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Boyfriend Goals
Milo
Unusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. Maybe not anyone.
When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life.
Turns out, I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store for his tattoo parlor but my apartment too.
Did I mention he’s really hot?
And surprisingly sweet?
Gideon
I wasn’t looking for a roommate, but it’s not like I can stay at Milo’s place while he’s banished to a hotel.
Our unlikely friendship is instant. According to Milo, we’re bestie goals.
And if he doesn’t wear pants at home, who am I to complain?
Milo’s not like anyone I’ve ever known. I like laughing and flirting with him. He’s adorably honest, eager, and sexier than he realizes.
Now I just have to figure out how to convince him that maybe it’s time for an upgrade from bestie to boyfriend goals.
Unusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. Maybe not anyone.
When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life.
Turns out, I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store for his tattoo parlor but my apartment too.
Did I mention he’s really hot?
And surprisingly sweet?
Gideon
I wasn’t looking for a roommate, but it’s not like I can stay at Milo’s place while he’s banished to a hotel.
Our unlikely friendship is instant. According to Milo, we’re bestie goals.
And if he doesn’t wear pants at home, who am I to complain?
Milo’s not like anyone I’ve ever known. I like laughing and flirting with him. He’s adorably honest, eager, and sexier than he realizes.
Now I just have to figure out how to convince him that maybe it’s time for an upgrade from bestie to boyfriend goals.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2022
About the author
Riley Hart
104 books6,417 followersRiley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She's a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her reading.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,075 reviews
May 14, 2022
4.5 stars
This story was so lovely. I had certain expectations based on the blurb, but it actually turned out to be so much more.
I absolutely loved Milo. He is adorable with the way he acts, speaks and connects with other people, but also knows how to stand up for himself. He is somewhere on the autism spectrum and I think the author did a pretty good job with his character. His relationship with Gideon is so sweet and full of humor from the moment they meet. They are perfect together and Gideon is exactly what the title says – boyfriend goals.
I also really liked the setting of a small island town, Milo's bookstore and what he did with it and all the great side characters. Milo's relationship with Gene was one of my favorites, and I loved his friendship with Rachel and her daughter Cammy.
Personally, I could have done with less intimate scenes and parent monologues towards the end, but those are just minor niggles.
This story was so lovely. I had certain expectations based on the blurb, but it actually turned out to be so much more.
I absolutely loved Milo. He is adorable with the way he acts, speaks and connects with other people, but also knows how to stand up for himself. He is somewhere on the autism spectrum and I think the author did a pretty good job with his character. His relationship with Gideon is so sweet and full of humor from the moment they meet. They are perfect together and Gideon is exactly what the title says – boyfriend goals.
I also really liked the setting of a small island town, Milo's bookstore and what he did with it and all the great side characters. Milo's relationship with Gene was one of my favorites, and I loved his friendship with Rachel and her daughter Cammy.
Personally, I could have done with less intimate scenes and parent monologues towards the end, but those are just minor niggles.
May 11, 2022
I’m deeply troubled by the autism representation in this book and how it reflects a broader trend in romance.
Edited May 11, 2022 in response to edits made by the author after publication.
Authors should listen to the autistic community when deciding how to refer to us
Milo is autistic. Finding someone who accepts him for who he is, including his autistic traits, is his primary character arc in this book. Gideon’s primary arc is about learning to trust that Milo will assert his needs and boundaries and does not need others to decide for him what he’s capable of.
However, even though Milo’s autistic traits are the focus of the story, the words “autism” and “autistic” did not appear in the initially published version of this book. The word “neurodivergent” was used three times, and “on the spectrum” was used once. The blurb says only that he’s “unusual” and “quirky.” “Quirky” is also the only term applied to a relative of Milo’s who we’re meant to presume was also autistic.
The book has apparently been edited after publication to change one of the mentions of “neurodivergent” to “autistic” and “on the spectrum” to “on the autism spectrum.” (I asked friends to confirm the terminology changes after being informed of them.I have tried to get an updated version of the book from Amazon but am only able to download the version I previously had, and Amazon won’t give me the option to download an updated file, so at this time I’m unable to confirm whether any other changes were made to the book.)
I have to assume these changes were made in response to this review and others in which autistic readers stated that the decision not to use the words “autism” or “autistic” in this book was erasure. While I’m glad the author has made these changes to the book, they don’t fully address my concerns. They do not change my opinion that decisions about terminology in this book were made to prioritize allistic people’s comfort at the expense of the autistic community.
Neurodivergent is not a synonym for autism. “Neurodivergent” is an umbrella term for any “differing in mental or neurological function from what is considered typical or normal” and covers, at a minimum, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. When referring to other people, the term is properly used to refer to: (a) a person whose specific diagnosis is not known or undisclosed, (b) a group of people with unknown or varied diagnoses, or (c) a person who has specifically asked to be referred to this way.
The choice to publish the book initially without using the words “autism” or “autistic” indicates discomfort with those words and a preference for euphemisms. The choice to omit even the word “neurodivergent” from the blub, in favor of “unusual” and “quirky,” is especially telling. (The blurb has not been changed.) Not only does it indicate a reluctance to even mention that the presence of a neurodivergent main character, despite this being the key focus of the book, it’s also a pet peeve in the autism community to call us “quirky,” so the blurb not only erases Milo’s identity but uses a particularly annoying euphemism for it instead. Allistic people often use euphemisms to refer to so-called high-functioning autistics because they think the autism spectrum is a straight line from “a little quirky” to “tragic autism” and want to avoid all the stigma and baggage that goes along with public perception of the “bad” end of the spectrum.[1] But the problem isn’t the label, it’s how autistic people are treated because of our autistic traits. Our neurology is the same whether you give us a “nice” label or not, and any difficulties caused by our traits exist no matter how we’re labeled.
Allistic people constantly argue that autistic people should use different terminology to refer to ourselves because they believe that avoiding the autism label means avoiding the stigma. As a person who was not diagnosed with autism until well into adulthood, and who has spoken to and read the accounts of many autistic people in the same situation, I can tell you definitively that this idea is wrong. The label is stigmatized because of its association with stigmatized traits, not the other way around. I have known since I was in elementary school that I am different and have been treated differently for having autistic traits my whole life. Not having a label didn’t protect me from stigma, but it did isolate me, deprive me of a framework for self-understanding, and prevent me from accessing community and seeking accommodations. For most of my life, the only explanation I had for my obvious differences was, “something is wrong with me; I’m defective.” Learning that I’m autistic is one of the best things that has ever happened to me because I now have another explanation and access to community and resources I never had before. There are so many accounts in the autistic community of the massive, irreparable harm that has been done to us by denying us the label.[2]
Allistic people do not like the stigma and don’t want it applied to their friends, family, and other people they like, so they think the solution is to use other words that aren’t stigmatized. But until the stigma around autistic traits is addressed, the problem will not be solved. The stigma will eventually transfer to those other words, too. And in the meantime, the stigma around the words “autism” and “autistic” will only increase because people are accepting the stigma, not challenging it, by switching to other words.
This book is a prime example. How did publishing the initial version of the book without the words “autism” or “autistic” advance awareness or acceptance of autism? It prevented some readers from even realizing they were reading about an autistic character, and reinforced for others that autism is a bad word and “better” words should be used instead. Even now, the book hardly embraces Milo’s autistic identity; the words “autism” and “autistic” don’t appear until 77% and 95% into the book, respectively, and the majority of references are still to “neurodivergence.” This book is still accepting the stigma around the word autism instead of confronting it. Moreover, it remains clear that the author didn’t engage with the autistic community before writing to learn how we prefer to be labeled.
[1] I would love for you to read the Neuroclastic article “‘Autism Is a Spectrum’ Doesn’t Mean What You Think” for more on these concepts.
[2] Of course, the decision of any autistic person (or parents of an autistic child too young to decide for themselves) whether to disclose their diagnosis in specific situations is complicated. There are situations where disclosure is potentially harmful. Plenty of autistic people also choose to identify as neurodivergent, and I do not mean to erase or invalidate that. My review is intended to address the specific situation of an allistic person choosing a label for autistic people and the autistic community generally, out of a misguided sense of helpfulness.
Milo’s autistic traits
May 11, 2022 note: From this point forward, this review is the same as it was when I originally posted it. If the author has made any changes to the book besides the two terminology changes noted above, I currently have no way to know.
Here are the traits we’re told Milo has:
* He likes rules, structure, and routine. We’re also told that being impulsive makes everything “too overwhelming” for him.
* He has some issues with social awareness, including sometimes having difficulty with sarcasm, having difficulty “reading people,” and a “habit of always being honest” and saying “whatever words flit through his head.” He is aware that other people often think he’s weird, but he has trouble understanding why.
* He has some sensory processing issues, including difficulty being around loud people (though other loud noises are fine), difficulty sleeping in a new place due to unfamiliar sensory inputs, doesn’t like wearing pants at home, doesn’t like the feeling of liquids or fluids touching him, and doesn’t always like to be touched if he doesn’t know beforehand.
* We’re told he often sees things in black and white, but no specific examples are given.
* We’re told he can “flip the switch” between conversational topics “when he want[s] to,” but at other times “hyperfocuse[s] on things,” but his hyperfocus is never shown in the book.
* He is presumably of above-average intelligence because he started college at age sixteen.
* He doesn’t drive because it “stresses [him] out.”
* He doesn’t like elevators for unexplained reasons.
This is a pretty standard list of traits for an autistic character to have in romance (except the elevator thing), and is actually more comprehensive than you’d get in a lot of romances, especially ones where the autistic character is coded as autistic but never labeled – those are often limited to differences in social awareness. As a starting point for developing an autistic character, I don’t really have a problem with this list, other than the fact it’s a pretty stereotypical presentation of “high-functioning” autism and that some of the traits are mentioned in the book but never actually shown.
The problem arises when we consider how these traits are portrayed.
First, all of these traits are carefully written to be easily acceptable by Gideon and other allistic people in the story. We’re told that Milo doesn’t deal well with change because he finds it overwhelming, but he uproots his entire life without even one sentence about how the experience is overwhelming for him. He decides he wants to do it, so he does, and it apparently doesn’t bother him at all. We’re told that he has routines, but aside from eating the same (very normal) breakfast on Mondays and wanting all groceries to be written on the whiteboard immediately, we don’t see any. His rigidity and need for routine never affect any plans the characters make in the book; he’s able to just go with the flow whenever necessary, and none of his routines are disruptive or difficult for Gideon to adapt to. We’re told that he doesn’t like to be touched when he doesn’t know it’s coming, but Gideon does this constantly and it never bothers Milo. He didn’t think he’d like cuddling because “my space meant too much to me” but cuddling Gideon is fine. He has a hard time reading people, but he can immediately tell if Gideon is being sarcastic and eventually says, “I recognized so many of Gideon’s tells now, the little things unique to him, like how to tell when he was kidding or what each of his smiles meant.” Similarly, he has no trouble reading his mom. We’re told that he has sensitivity to noise, and he carries earplugs around with him often, but we never see him use them. The only thing we see him actually struggling with, loud groups of people, can be easily avoided and is an uncommon occurrence in his and Gideon’s lives.
Consequently, Milo’s autism is easy for Gideon to accept. His most difficult trait (in the book’s estimation, anyway) is his bluntness, but Gideon loves that immediately. Milo’s routines barely exist, his touch aversion magically disappears for Gideon, his difficulty reading people doesn’t apply to Gideon, and his sensory issues are all easily accommodated. This combination of convenient exceptions is implausible, to say the least.
Milo represents the myth that there’s a linear spectrum of functioning and being “high-functioning” means you’re basically just a typical person but with some quirks that might annoy other people from time to time. This myth doesn’t account for the “high-functioning” person with severe social awareness differences (or the “low-functioning” person whose aren’t), or severe sensory processing issues, or significant executive functioning differences, or who bears a significant mental health burden in exchange for being able to mask their autistic traits, or the many other ways the myth is incorrect.
Second, the book isn’t interested in where Milo’s traits fit in the broader autism spectrum, why his traits occur and how they’re interrelated, or what it’s like to have any of them. The only concern is showing what other people, especially his allistic love interest Gideon, think of them.
For example, one of his most developed traits is that he doesn’t like wearing pants at home. Why? Who knows! Preferring not to wear certain articles of clothing is pretty common among autistic people, but it’s usually because of sensory processing issues. Many autistic people get too much sensory input from certain things, and our brains don’t tune out irrelevant background sensations the way the typical brain can. I can’t wear certain cuts and fabrics because they are uncomfortable in a way that my brain won’t stop telling me about, no matter what I’m doing, and the discomfort and awareness only grows over time, to the point that the sensation is distracting and affects my concentration. Certain fabrics cause immediate and intense discomfort that does not subside. An autistic person who chooses to take their pants off as soon as they’re in a sufficiently private space is probably experiencing similar issues. In this book, though, no explanation is given and it’s presented as simply a preference, rather than something necessary for Milo to feel comfortable. His other sensory issues are presented in a similar way – simply as things he doesn’t like, rather than sensory inputs his brain processes in a non-typical way.
Similarly, the presentation of Milo’s social awareness differences lacks nuance and shows no understanding of what the experience is like for an autistic person. Milo is given the (extremely stereotypical) traits of being “honest” and literal, which means he says everything he thinks as he thinks it, even if it’s not polite. The social norms we see him violate are ones that are obvious and relatively black and white. Milo frequently recognizes that specific things he wants to say may not be socially acceptable, and then he either decides not to say them because he doesn’t want to offend the person he’s talking to, or decides to say it because “I wasn’t always good at listening to those thoughts reminding me how I should act or react. Most of the time, I just did what felt right.” Sometimes he says something and realizes immediately afterwards that it might be rude.
This appears to be what most allistic people think it means to be autistic: we knowingly say rude things to people because we don’t care about being rude. I’m not going to say that no autistic person ever does that, but for many (maybe even most?) of us, the experience is very different. And even to the extent that autistic people are choosing to violate social norms on purpose, the surface-level presentation in this book and others doesn’t capture the details.
Social awareness differences happen because autistic brains process information, including social norms, differently from allistic brains. To give one example of a common autistic experience (based on discussions I’ve had with other autistic people and what I’ve seen reflected in autistic spaces online) that I’ve personally experienced:
I want to have as much information as I can about things and how and why they work. It’s also important to me to give accurate and complete information to others. Making an unequivocal statement when I know there might be an exception feels like lying. Thus, when people ask me questions, I tend to give very thorough answers, and I often preemptively acknowledge opposing arguments or differences in opinion. I’ve had to learn over time that while this level of detail is sometimes fine, other times it’s seen as awkward, rude, patronizing, etc. Giving too little detail is also sometimes perceived poorly. There’s no concrete rule for how much detail to give when answering a question; it varies based on the context, the person, the relationship, and so on, meaning I often have to guess what level of detail is appropriate and wanted. But guessing is hard because the “right” answer doesn’t innately make sense or feel correct to me. I have to consciously sift through my mental rules and ignore my own instincts in order to converse “properly” with others and not be seen as rude.
I’m offering this example to show that social awareness differences occur for complicated, nuanced reasons. My point is not that every autistic person experiences the same things, or that all depictions of autistic characters must look like this. But a portrayal that starts and ends with “I’m rude because I don't care” is incomplete and inauthentic. It is so incurious about the autistic experience that it doesn’t even recognize there could be a reason for social awareness differences other than not caring about social norms. This stereotypical portrayal doesn’t acknowledge the possibility of being unable to identify social norms in the first place, or being uncertain whether they’ve been broken. Characters like Milo lack an authentic inner narrative because they reflect an allistic person’s sense of social norms and how they work.
Finally, the way other people respond to Milo is othering and patronizing. Any time Milo says something that Gideon doesn’t think a typical person would say, Gideon thinks or comments about how great it is. “He was refreshing. . . . I never knew what to expect, and everything was so damn pure with him.” Milo’s friend Rachel does this too, randomly hugging him more than once after Milo says something blunt.
Who wants their differences to be constantly pointed out, even in a good way? That’s not acceptance, that’s still noticing that the person is different and treating them differently for it. It’s like if you had a friend from another country and every time they said or did something that reflected their cultural norms you said, “I just love how exotic and non-American you are!”
Gideon also says, “The truth was, Milo was different, and I could see that, but that didn’t make him weird or wrong. I didn’t know if he had any kind of diagnosis, and honestly, I didn’t care.” In other words, “I don’t care if Milo’s differences are due to a diagnosis.” That’s not the accepting message it’s supposed to be. It’s saying that having a diagnosis is bad but magnanimously deciding not to be bothered by it. It’s not a surprising message from an author who thinks that the word “autism” is bad – of course she thinks it’s great to have someone say, “I don’t care if you have an autism diagnosis” like it’s a favor – but it still sucks.
(continued in the comments)
Edited May 11, 2022 in response to edits made by the author after publication.
Authors should listen to the autistic community when deciding how to refer to us
Milo is autistic. Finding someone who accepts him for who he is, including his autistic traits, is his primary character arc in this book. Gideon’s primary arc is about learning to trust that Milo will assert his needs and boundaries and does not need others to decide for him what he’s capable of.
However, even though Milo’s autistic traits are the focus of the story, the words “autism” and “autistic” did not appear in the initially published version of this book. The word “neurodivergent” was used three times, and “on the spectrum” was used once. The blurb says only that he’s “unusual” and “quirky.” “Quirky” is also the only term applied to a relative of Milo’s who we’re meant to presume was also autistic.
The book has apparently been edited after publication to change one of the mentions of “neurodivergent” to “autistic” and “on the spectrum” to “on the autism spectrum.” (I asked friends to confirm the terminology changes after being informed of them.I have tried to get an updated version of the book from Amazon but am only able to download the version I previously had, and Amazon won’t give me the option to download an updated file, so at this time I’m unable to confirm whether any other changes were made to the book.)
I have to assume these changes were made in response to this review and others in which autistic readers stated that the decision not to use the words “autism” or “autistic” in this book was erasure. While I’m glad the author has made these changes to the book, they don’t fully address my concerns. They do not change my opinion that decisions about terminology in this book were made to prioritize allistic people’s comfort at the expense of the autistic community.
Neurodivergent is not a synonym for autism. “Neurodivergent” is an umbrella term for any “differing in mental or neurological function from what is considered typical or normal” and covers, at a minimum, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. When referring to other people, the term is properly used to refer to: (a) a person whose specific diagnosis is not known or undisclosed, (b) a group of people with unknown or varied diagnoses, or (c) a person who has specifically asked to be referred to this way.
The choice to publish the book initially without using the words “autism” or “autistic” indicates discomfort with those words and a preference for euphemisms. The choice to omit even the word “neurodivergent” from the blub, in favor of “unusual” and “quirky,” is especially telling. (The blurb has not been changed.) Not only does it indicate a reluctance to even mention that the presence of a neurodivergent main character, despite this being the key focus of the book, it’s also a pet peeve in the autism community to call us “quirky,” so the blurb not only erases Milo’s identity but uses a particularly annoying euphemism for it instead. Allistic people often use euphemisms to refer to so-called high-functioning autistics because they think the autism spectrum is a straight line from “a little quirky” to “tragic autism” and want to avoid all the stigma and baggage that goes along with public perception of the “bad” end of the spectrum.[1] But the problem isn’t the label, it’s how autistic people are treated because of our autistic traits. Our neurology is the same whether you give us a “nice” label or not, and any difficulties caused by our traits exist no matter how we’re labeled.
Allistic people constantly argue that autistic people should use different terminology to refer to ourselves because they believe that avoiding the autism label means avoiding the stigma. As a person who was not diagnosed with autism until well into adulthood, and who has spoken to and read the accounts of many autistic people in the same situation, I can tell you definitively that this idea is wrong. The label is stigmatized because of its association with stigmatized traits, not the other way around. I have known since I was in elementary school that I am different and have been treated differently for having autistic traits my whole life. Not having a label didn’t protect me from stigma, but it did isolate me, deprive me of a framework for self-understanding, and prevent me from accessing community and seeking accommodations. For most of my life, the only explanation I had for my obvious differences was, “something is wrong with me; I’m defective.” Learning that I’m autistic is one of the best things that has ever happened to me because I now have another explanation and access to community and resources I never had before. There are so many accounts in the autistic community of the massive, irreparable harm that has been done to us by denying us the label.[2]
Allistic people do not like the stigma and don’t want it applied to their friends, family, and other people they like, so they think the solution is to use other words that aren’t stigmatized. But until the stigma around autistic traits is addressed, the problem will not be solved. The stigma will eventually transfer to those other words, too. And in the meantime, the stigma around the words “autism” and “autistic” will only increase because people are accepting the stigma, not challenging it, by switching to other words.
This book is a prime example. How did publishing the initial version of the book without the words “autism” or “autistic” advance awareness or acceptance of autism? It prevented some readers from even realizing they were reading about an autistic character, and reinforced for others that autism is a bad word and “better” words should be used instead. Even now, the book hardly embraces Milo’s autistic identity; the words “autism” and “autistic” don’t appear until 77% and 95% into the book, respectively, and the majority of references are still to “neurodivergence.” This book is still accepting the stigma around the word autism instead of confronting it. Moreover, it remains clear that the author didn’t engage with the autistic community before writing to learn how we prefer to be labeled.
[1] I would love for you to read the Neuroclastic article “‘Autism Is a Spectrum’ Doesn’t Mean What You Think” for more on these concepts.
[2] Of course, the decision of any autistic person (or parents of an autistic child too young to decide for themselves) whether to disclose their diagnosis in specific situations is complicated. There are situations where disclosure is potentially harmful. Plenty of autistic people also choose to identify as neurodivergent, and I do not mean to erase or invalidate that. My review is intended to address the specific situation of an allistic person choosing a label for autistic people and the autistic community generally, out of a misguided sense of helpfulness.
Milo’s autistic traits
May 11, 2022 note: From this point forward, this review is the same as it was when I originally posted it. If the author has made any changes to the book besides the two terminology changes noted above, I currently have no way to know.
Here are the traits we’re told Milo has:
* He likes rules, structure, and routine. We’re also told that being impulsive makes everything “too overwhelming” for him.
* He has some issues with social awareness, including sometimes having difficulty with sarcasm, having difficulty “reading people,” and a “habit of always being honest” and saying “whatever words flit through his head.” He is aware that other people often think he’s weird, but he has trouble understanding why.
* He has some sensory processing issues, including difficulty being around loud people (though other loud noises are fine), difficulty sleeping in a new place due to unfamiliar sensory inputs, doesn’t like wearing pants at home, doesn’t like the feeling of liquids or fluids touching him, and doesn’t always like to be touched if he doesn’t know beforehand.
* We’re told he often sees things in black and white, but no specific examples are given.
* We’re told he can “flip the switch” between conversational topics “when he want[s] to,” but at other times “hyperfocuse[s] on things,” but his hyperfocus is never shown in the book.
* He is presumably of above-average intelligence because he started college at age sixteen.
* He doesn’t drive because it “stresses [him] out.”
* He doesn’t like elevators for unexplained reasons.
This is a pretty standard list of traits for an autistic character to have in romance (except the elevator thing), and is actually more comprehensive than you’d get in a lot of romances, especially ones where the autistic character is coded as autistic but never labeled – those are often limited to differences in social awareness. As a starting point for developing an autistic character, I don’t really have a problem with this list, other than the fact it’s a pretty stereotypical presentation of “high-functioning” autism and that some of the traits are mentioned in the book but never actually shown.
The problem arises when we consider how these traits are portrayed.
First, all of these traits are carefully written to be easily acceptable by Gideon and other allistic people in the story. We’re told that Milo doesn’t deal well with change because he finds it overwhelming, but he uproots his entire life without even one sentence about how the experience is overwhelming for him. He decides he wants to do it, so he does, and it apparently doesn’t bother him at all. We’re told that he has routines, but aside from eating the same (very normal) breakfast on Mondays and wanting all groceries to be written on the whiteboard immediately, we don’t see any. His rigidity and need for routine never affect any plans the characters make in the book; he’s able to just go with the flow whenever necessary, and none of his routines are disruptive or difficult for Gideon to adapt to. We’re told that he doesn’t like to be touched when he doesn’t know it’s coming, but Gideon does this constantly and it never bothers Milo. He didn’t think he’d like cuddling because “my space meant too much to me” but cuddling Gideon is fine. He has a hard time reading people, but he can immediately tell if Gideon is being sarcastic and eventually says, “I recognized so many of Gideon’s tells now, the little things unique to him, like how to tell when he was kidding or what each of his smiles meant.” Similarly, he has no trouble reading his mom. We’re told that he has sensitivity to noise, and he carries earplugs around with him often, but we never see him use them. The only thing we see him actually struggling with, loud groups of people, can be easily avoided and is an uncommon occurrence in his and Gideon’s lives.
Consequently, Milo’s autism is easy for Gideon to accept. His most difficult trait (in the book’s estimation, anyway) is his bluntness, but Gideon loves that immediately. Milo’s routines barely exist, his touch aversion magically disappears for Gideon, his difficulty reading people doesn’t apply to Gideon, and his sensory issues are all easily accommodated. This combination of convenient exceptions is implausible, to say the least.
Milo represents the myth that there’s a linear spectrum of functioning and being “high-functioning” means you’re basically just a typical person but with some quirks that might annoy other people from time to time. This myth doesn’t account for the “high-functioning” person with severe social awareness differences (or the “low-functioning” person whose aren’t), or severe sensory processing issues, or significant executive functioning differences, or who bears a significant mental health burden in exchange for being able to mask their autistic traits, or the many other ways the myth is incorrect.
Second, the book isn’t interested in where Milo’s traits fit in the broader autism spectrum, why his traits occur and how they’re interrelated, or what it’s like to have any of them. The only concern is showing what other people, especially his allistic love interest Gideon, think of them.
For example, one of his most developed traits is that he doesn’t like wearing pants at home. Why? Who knows! Preferring not to wear certain articles of clothing is pretty common among autistic people, but it’s usually because of sensory processing issues. Many autistic people get too much sensory input from certain things, and our brains don’t tune out irrelevant background sensations the way the typical brain can. I can’t wear certain cuts and fabrics because they are uncomfortable in a way that my brain won’t stop telling me about, no matter what I’m doing, and the discomfort and awareness only grows over time, to the point that the sensation is distracting and affects my concentration. Certain fabrics cause immediate and intense discomfort that does not subside. An autistic person who chooses to take their pants off as soon as they’re in a sufficiently private space is probably experiencing similar issues. In this book, though, no explanation is given and it’s presented as simply a preference, rather than something necessary for Milo to feel comfortable. His other sensory issues are presented in a similar way – simply as things he doesn’t like, rather than sensory inputs his brain processes in a non-typical way.
Similarly, the presentation of Milo’s social awareness differences lacks nuance and shows no understanding of what the experience is like for an autistic person. Milo is given the (extremely stereotypical) traits of being “honest” and literal, which means he says everything he thinks as he thinks it, even if it’s not polite. The social norms we see him violate are ones that are obvious and relatively black and white. Milo frequently recognizes that specific things he wants to say may not be socially acceptable, and then he either decides not to say them because he doesn’t want to offend the person he’s talking to, or decides to say it because “I wasn’t always good at listening to those thoughts reminding me how I should act or react. Most of the time, I just did what felt right.” Sometimes he says something and realizes immediately afterwards that it might be rude.
This appears to be what most allistic people think it means to be autistic: we knowingly say rude things to people because we don’t care about being rude. I’m not going to say that no autistic person ever does that, but for many (maybe even most?) of us, the experience is very different. And even to the extent that autistic people are choosing to violate social norms on purpose, the surface-level presentation in this book and others doesn’t capture the details.
Social awareness differences happen because autistic brains process information, including social norms, differently from allistic brains. To give one example of a common autistic experience (based on discussions I’ve had with other autistic people and what I’ve seen reflected in autistic spaces online) that I’ve personally experienced:
I want to have as much information as I can about things and how and why they work. It’s also important to me to give accurate and complete information to others. Making an unequivocal statement when I know there might be an exception feels like lying. Thus, when people ask me questions, I tend to give very thorough answers, and I often preemptively acknowledge opposing arguments or differences in opinion. I’ve had to learn over time that while this level of detail is sometimes fine, other times it’s seen as awkward, rude, patronizing, etc. Giving too little detail is also sometimes perceived poorly. There’s no concrete rule for how much detail to give when answering a question; it varies based on the context, the person, the relationship, and so on, meaning I often have to guess what level of detail is appropriate and wanted. But guessing is hard because the “right” answer doesn’t innately make sense or feel correct to me. I have to consciously sift through my mental rules and ignore my own instincts in order to converse “properly” with others and not be seen as rude.
I’m offering this example to show that social awareness differences occur for complicated, nuanced reasons. My point is not that every autistic person experiences the same things, or that all depictions of autistic characters must look like this. But a portrayal that starts and ends with “I’m rude because I don't care” is incomplete and inauthentic. It is so incurious about the autistic experience that it doesn’t even recognize there could be a reason for social awareness differences other than not caring about social norms. This stereotypical portrayal doesn’t acknowledge the possibility of being unable to identify social norms in the first place, or being uncertain whether they’ve been broken. Characters like Milo lack an authentic inner narrative because they reflect an allistic person’s sense of social norms and how they work.
Finally, the way other people respond to Milo is othering and patronizing. Any time Milo says something that Gideon doesn’t think a typical person would say, Gideon thinks or comments about how great it is. “He was refreshing. . . . I never knew what to expect, and everything was so damn pure with him.” Milo’s friend Rachel does this too, randomly hugging him more than once after Milo says something blunt.
Who wants their differences to be constantly pointed out, even in a good way? That’s not acceptance, that’s still noticing that the person is different and treating them differently for it. It’s like if you had a friend from another country and every time they said or did something that reflected their cultural norms you said, “I just love how exotic and non-American you are!”
Gideon also says, “The truth was, Milo was different, and I could see that, but that didn’t make him weird or wrong. I didn’t know if he had any kind of diagnosis, and honestly, I didn’t care.” In other words, “I don’t care if Milo’s differences are due to a diagnosis.” That’s not the accepting message it’s supposed to be. It’s saying that having a diagnosis is bad but magnanimously deciding not to be bothered by it. It’s not a surprising message from an author who thinks that the word “autism” is bad – of course she thinks it’s great to have someone say, “I don’t care if you have an autism diagnosis” like it’s a favor – but it still sucks.
(continued in the comments)
May 10, 2022
If hot chocolate were a book, it would be this one: comforting and delicious.
Milo and Gideon are adorable together. They just click from day one and are #boyfriend goals for sure.
Low angst, high steam, perfect HEA.
The one thing I didn't understand was why the author didn't use the words "autism" and "autistic" to describe Milo. Autism isn't a dirty word and shouldn't be euphemized with "quirky" and "neurodivergent" (an umbrella term that includes ADHD, dyslexia, etc.). This was an odd choice imo, but I still enjoyed the book.
Milo and Gideon are adorable together. They just click from day one and are #boyfriend goals for sure.
Low angst, high steam, perfect HEA.
The one thing I didn't understand was why the author didn't use the words "autism" and "autistic" to describe Milo. Autism isn't a dirty word and shouldn't be euphemized with "quirky" and "neurodivergent" (an umbrella term that includes ADHD, dyslexia, etc.). This was an odd choice imo, but I still enjoyed the book.
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May 29, 2022
Boyfriend Goals is a stand alone, MM romance by Riley Hart that will both make your glasses fog and your heart melt. I swear, I don’t think I could love both Milo and Gideon more. What an amazing book.
Milo Copeland is twenty four years old and has autism. He is very high functioning. He works and lives in San Diego. His mom tries her best to be over protective of him but Milo craves his independence. Milo is perhaps the most self accepting man I have ever known, or ever read about. He knows who he is, his limits and is completely honest, always. Maybe sometimes too much so! The one thing he wishes for but doesn’t think he will ever find is a man to share his life with.
It is just a regular day for Milo. Get up. Go to his accounting job which he doesn’t really enjoy, and go home. Until he got the phone call informing him he had inherited a book store. In fact he owned the entire building which included a tattoo parlor next door and an upstairs apartment on Little Beach Island, just off the coast of Portland, Maine. He inherited the building from a grandmother he didn’t even know existed. This is it. He can feel it. A chance to find where he really belonged doing something he loved.
Gideon Barlow is twenty six years old and is a tattoo artist in his shop, Conflicting Ink. Gideon loves living on the island where his family has always lived. He loves his little shop. But he has always felt like a bit of an outsider, even with his own family.
Gideon and Milo become fast friends. Gideon can’t make Milo stay in a hotel when he technically owns the apartment he’s living in so they also become roommates. And then there’s Milo’s habit of never wearing pants while at home. Something Gideon very much enjoys. It doesn’t take long for these two to go from besties to besties with benefits. But as their connection strengthens, they both start to feel much more than friendship.
“I’d really like to kiss you now.”
“I’d like to kiss you all the time.”
“Me too. I like that. I change my answer to that.”
These two were the BEST together. They just both accepted each other. They made each other happy. They just fit! Milo seemed to be so perceptive of others around him. This is one of those books that just makes your heart full. Full with all the Milo and Gideon goodness. On a day that started out as any other, Milo found his place. A place where he fit. A place with friends, family and love.
“When you feel like you don’t fit, just know you fit with me.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Milo Copeland is twenty four years old and has autism. He is very high functioning. He works and lives in San Diego. His mom tries her best to be over protective of him but Milo craves his independence. Milo is perhaps the most self accepting man I have ever known, or ever read about. He knows who he is, his limits and is completely honest, always. Maybe sometimes too much so! The one thing he wishes for but doesn’t think he will ever find is a man to share his life with.
It is just a regular day for Milo. Get up. Go to his accounting job which he doesn’t really enjoy, and go home. Until he got the phone call informing him he had inherited a book store. In fact he owned the entire building which included a tattoo parlor next door and an upstairs apartment on Little Beach Island, just off the coast of Portland, Maine. He inherited the building from a grandmother he didn’t even know existed. This is it. He can feel it. A chance to find where he really belonged doing something he loved.
Gideon Barlow is twenty six years old and is a tattoo artist in his shop, Conflicting Ink. Gideon loves living on the island where his family has always lived. He loves his little shop. But he has always felt like a bit of an outsider, even with his own family.
Gideon and Milo become fast friends. Gideon can’t make Milo stay in a hotel when he technically owns the apartment he’s living in so they also become roommates. And then there’s Milo’s habit of never wearing pants while at home. Something Gideon very much enjoys. It doesn’t take long for these two to go from besties to besties with benefits. But as their connection strengthens, they both start to feel much more than friendship.
“I’d really like to kiss you now.”
“I’d like to kiss you all the time.”
“Me too. I like that. I change my answer to that.”
These two were the BEST together. They just both accepted each other. They made each other happy. They just fit! Milo seemed to be so perceptive of others around him. This is one of those books that just makes your heart full. Full with all the Milo and Gideon goodness. On a day that started out as any other, Milo found his place. A place where he fit. A place with friends, family and love.
“When you feel like you don’t fit, just know you fit with me.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
May 6, 2022
The amount of happiness this book gave me!!! 🥰💕 Yeah this was perfect in every way. I love that in the author’s note Riley said that Milo was one of her favorite characters to write because he’s definitely one of my favorite characters like…ever. Well plotted with just the right amount of pages plus that epilogue though!! The banter!! So I’ve already declared my love for Milo but Gideon is no slouch! He’s kind, flirty, wise, hot. Like Milo - I could list a billion things I love about Gideon. The conflicts were interesting and engaging. The family and interpersonal drama and dynamics had me as glued to my kindle just as much as the romance did. Gene and Milo’s dynamic reminded me of the one I had with my Grandma and was just so beautiful to watch unfold and might have made me shed a tear or two. This book is such a gift. Literally clutched my kindle whilst swooning.❤️
September 9, 2023
Milo and Gideon have some of the sweetest and most heartwarming moments that absolutely melted my heart. They are opposites who couldn't be more different, but the are surprisingly compatible. They both have an instant understanding of how the other communicates, which only grows and intensifies their feelings for one another.
Milo is blunt, rigidly organized person with a strong determination streak. Milo is one of the most unique characters I have ever encountered and I was blissfully surprised at the depth of his feelings despite his own communication style shortcomings.
Gideon on the other hand has a more chill relaxed attitude and openness to others. They are the perfect pair and watching their friendship blossom and grow into such an earnest love is so sickly beautiful that it left me swooning.
This is one of the sweetest romances I have ever read. Milo and Gideon are adorably cute. Loved this story so much!!!
Milo is blunt, rigidly organized person with a strong determination streak. Milo is one of the most unique characters I have ever encountered and I was blissfully surprised at the depth of his feelings despite his own communication style shortcomings.
Gideon on the other hand has a more chill relaxed attitude and openness to others. They are the perfect pair and watching their friendship blossom and grow into such an earnest love is so sickly beautiful that it left me swooning.
This is one of the sweetest romances I have ever read. Milo and Gideon are adorably cute. Loved this story so much!!!
October 22, 2023
|| 3.5 stars ||
I feel like the title for this book is extremely accurate: This was 100% boyfriend goals.
Milo and Gideon were basically perfect for each other: They understood each other, felt safe with each other, took care of each other and truly loved each other.
It was sweet and soft and cute.
I do have to say that I would have liked a little more oomph within this story.
I mean, of course it was lovely to read about such kind and genuine characters who went so well together, but it also meant that everything went so incredibly smoothly that sometimes it could feel a little too cheesy or even become a bit repetitive.
I was definitely surprised to see such little drama in this book or that the relationship went on without a hitch, especially considering one of the main characters is neurodivergent, and that can bring about its own issues.
However, in this case Milo’s autism only meant that he was a bit quirky and overly honest, so it wasn’t a big deal at all. I’m still not sure if I liked that or not, since I don’t think it’s realistic, but oh well. Maybe Milo is just really high-functioning for someone on the spectrum? It’s possible.
All in all, I thought this was enjoyable and sweet, but I’m not really blown away or anything. It did make me smile and chuckle, and it also gave me a warm-gooey feeling, so it really was a nice read overall.
I feel like the title for this book is extremely accurate: This was 100% boyfriend goals.
Milo and Gideon were basically perfect for each other: They understood each other, felt safe with each other, took care of each other and truly loved each other.
It was sweet and soft and cute.
I do have to say that I would have liked a little more oomph within this story.
I mean, of course it was lovely to read about such kind and genuine characters who went so well together, but it also meant that everything went so incredibly smoothly that sometimes it could feel a little too cheesy or even become a bit repetitive.
I was definitely surprised to see such little drama in this book or that the relationship went on without a hitch, especially considering one of the main characters is neurodivergent, and that can bring about its own issues.
However, in this case Milo’s autism only meant that he was a bit quirky and overly honest, so it wasn’t a big deal at all. I’m still not sure if I liked that or not, since I don’t think it’s realistic, but oh well. Maybe Milo is just really high-functioning for someone on the spectrum? It’s possible.
All in all, I thought this was enjoyable and sweet, but I’m not really blown away or anything. It did make me smile and chuckle, and it also gave me a warm-gooey feeling, so it really was a nice read overall.
May 11, 2022
One of the best stories I have read by this author.
I bonded immediately with the MCs and got attached to them.🥰
Millo's representation felt genuine, making me feel very protective of his character. That being said, I think he went a bit out of character around 95% when he was preaching to Gideon about giving him choices.
My shout out to secondary characters. They were rich and well done.🔝🤩
I bonded immediately with the MCs and got attached to them.🥰
Millo's representation felt genuine, making me feel very protective of his character. That being said, I think he went a bit out of character around 95% when he was preaching to Gideon about giving him choices.
My shout out to secondary characters. They were rich and well done.🔝🤩
May 4, 2022
Finally a breath of fresh air from Riley Hart!!! I almost didn’t read it because I kind of felt disappointed by her latest books and honestly, the title and the blurb sounded a bit boring and cliche (You know, the guy who inherits a book store from a relative he didn’t know -why they always have to inherit book stores ? Why not a grocery store or a barber shop? - and then he shows up and falls for a local after becoming BFF first. I’ve read this trope 10 times before so I was reluctant to start it but oh, man , I’m so freaking glad I did because this book was a gem. I think I fell in love with Milo from the moment he put the porn on mute so he can “masturbate in peace” haha . He was absolutely ADORABLE !!! I’m always intrigued by neurodivergent characters and though I can’t tell if they’re correctly represented I enjoy reading about such characters. Milo stole my heart and the show in this book. He was so ..very him. Blurting his ideas without filter and what’s most important, WITHOUT turning into a balabbering mess (which is typical for this kind of characters as a way for an author to achieve humor) . And he loved himself just the way he was, he liked his quirkiness, he knew himself and he respected himself even though he felt that everybody around him found him weird and that,my friend, was so fucking sexy!!!
Gideon was amazing too (a little too good to be true sometimes but eh, it’s called fiction lol) . The dialogues were delicious, the humor spot on and everything was so delightful , light and angst-free and just feel good . Even the sex scenes were fun and hot and so …Milo !!! (No more boring sex scenes like in the last 3 books and no more boring and predictable MCs this time , thank God)
Wonderful book .
Gideon was amazing too (a little too good to be true sometimes but eh, it’s called fiction lol) . The dialogues were delicious, the humor spot on and everything was so delightful , light and angst-free and just feel good . Even the sex scenes were fun and hot and so …Milo !!! (No more boring sex scenes like in the last 3 books and no more boring and predictable MCs this time , thank God)
Wonderful book .
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September 13, 2023
3.5**** stars
It’s probably me not the book. I need it fast-paced at the moment and this wasn’t. And besides the neurodivergent rep with Milo’s character there was nothing really special or exciting about the plot itself so I had a hard time being invested in the romance. The story was still cute and I adored Milo A LOT!
Rounding up for the sensible and well done representation of a neurodivergent character and displaying how really nothing is wrong with you even if you don’t fit "the norm".
Iggy Toma did a fine job narrating the audiobook.
It’s probably me not the book. I need it fast-paced at the moment and this wasn’t. And besides the neurodivergent rep with Milo’s character there was nothing really special or exciting about the plot itself so I had a hard time being invested in the romance. The story was still cute and I adored Milo A LOT!
Rounding up for the sensible and well done representation of a neurodivergent character and displaying how really nothing is wrong with you even if you don’t fit "the norm".
Iggy Toma did a fine job narrating the audiobook.
Read
May 18, 2022DNF at 50%
Milo doesn’t feel real to me, and his autism especially feels fake. I’m not autistic, and I’m definitely not an expert, but I do have an autistic child. I know every autistic person is different. But even then, Milo feels off.
It’s the inconsistencies.
He hates tattoos, but he likes them on Gideon.
He hates bodily fluids, but Gideon’s semen is ok.
He doesn’t understand sarcasm, unless it comes from Gideon, and he can even be sarcastic with Gideon.
He likes routine, but he moves away, quits his job, and starts over. With a random roommate.
It might make sense if they were lifelong best friends or something, but they literally just met.
I had more examples, I should have written them down.
And the constant please and thank you. Milo feels like an actor playing an autistic character.
And Gideon likes Milo because his quirkiness is apparently adorable, which just feels so condescending.
And overall, I just don’t feel the romance between these two characters. It might just be time for me to give up this author. 😭
Milo doesn’t feel real to me, and his autism especially feels fake. I’m not autistic, and I’m definitely not an expert, but I do have an autistic child. I know every autistic person is different. But even then, Milo feels off.
It’s the inconsistencies.
He hates tattoos, but he likes them on Gideon.
He hates bodily fluids, but Gideon’s semen is ok.
He doesn’t understand sarcasm, unless it comes from Gideon, and he can even be sarcastic with Gideon.
He likes routine, but he moves away, quits his job, and starts over. With a random roommate.
It might make sense if they were lifelong best friends or something, but they literally just met.
I had more examples, I should have written them down.
And the constant please and thank you. Milo feels like an actor playing an autistic character.
And Gideon likes Milo because his quirkiness is apparently adorable, which just feels so condescending.
And overall, I just don’t feel the romance between these two characters. It might just be time for me to give up this author. 😭
July 7, 2022
"He looks at you like... I don't know, like sometimes he can't believe you're real."
this book was actually good. not my favorite but got me going from start to finish. i highly appreciate riley hart's talent in weaving and writing these usual tropes into something really interesting.
August 21, 2022
Audiobook - 4 Stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Fluff, fluffity, fluff-fluff.
Story - 3.5 stars
Fluff, fluffity, fluff-fluff.
May 7, 2022
4.5 stars
“Some people can hide things about themselves. I can’t.” He shifted. “Like it’s totally inappropriate, but it’s killing me not to take my pants off right now.”
“Huh? Ouch! Shit!” A burning sensation shot through my finger with a slice of the knife.”
What an enchanting book! It made me feel all warm and happy and laugh like a loon! Milo, an accountant who inherits a bookstore, is one of the most delightful characters I’ve ever come across. He’s a breath of fresh air who will fill your heart with joy. Neurodivergent and proud of it, he embraces his quirks and makes no apologies for being the way he is. His bluntness will have you dying of laughter. He’s incredibly smart and just so sweet.
Gideon aka Tattoo Guy, owns a tattoo parlor and is total boyfriend goals. He rents an office and apartment in Milo’s building and soon becomes his roommate. He’s supportive of Milo without ever being condescending. Gideon accepts Milo as he is and loves him with all his idiosyncrasies, and indeed because of them. I love how protective he is. He’s grateful to have Milo in his life and so proud to be his boyfriend.
Their relationship is the best kind of friends-to-lovers romance as we get to see every step of Milo’s and Gideon’s friendship, from friends to “bestie goals” to so much more. The sex is hot and sweet, but also hilarious as Milo experiences everything for the first time in his uniquely unfiltered way—from his very first kiss to losing the v-card.
And I leave you with some of my favorite quotes:
“Why are you grinning at me like that? It’s creepy.”
“Creepy wasn’t the vibe I was going for.”
“Did I hurt your feelings?”
I shoved off the wall. “No.” God, he was refreshing. I didn’t know another word to use for him other than that. I never knew what to expect, and everything was so damn pure with him.”
“And there’s a chance I might have overreacted a little, but I’m really strung tight. I haven’t had an orgasm in weeks because of you.”
My mouth dropped open…
“I need visual stimulation to have an orgasm, and I feel uncomfortable watching porn when you’re in the next room. I tried once when you weren’t home, but my brain kept telling me you could walk upstairs at any moment, so I couldn’t get off. I asked Rachel if it would be rude to see if you can leave for a couple of hours and promise you won’t come back. I think it’ll help with my tension if I can come a few times.”
“Say what?”
“I love you.”
“I just wanted to hear the words. You didn’t actually use them.”
“But I’m still frustrated you said it first.”
“Milo, your boyfriend just admitted he’s crazy in love with you, and you’re annoyed he said it before you?”
“Yes, yes I am.”
I laughed. “God, I love you.”
“Some people can hide things about themselves. I can’t.” He shifted. “Like it’s totally inappropriate, but it’s killing me not to take my pants off right now.”
“Huh? Ouch! Shit!” A burning sensation shot through my finger with a slice of the knife.”
What an enchanting book! It made me feel all warm and happy and laugh like a loon! Milo, an accountant who inherits a bookstore, is one of the most delightful characters I’ve ever come across. He’s a breath of fresh air who will fill your heart with joy. Neurodivergent and proud of it, he embraces his quirks and makes no apologies for being the way he is. His bluntness will have you dying of laughter. He’s incredibly smart and just so sweet.
Gideon aka Tattoo Guy, owns a tattoo parlor and is total boyfriend goals. He rents an office and apartment in Milo’s building and soon becomes his roommate. He’s supportive of Milo without ever being condescending. Gideon accepts Milo as he is and loves him with all his idiosyncrasies, and indeed because of them. I love how protective he is. He’s grateful to have Milo in his life and so proud to be his boyfriend.
Their relationship is the best kind of friends-to-lovers romance as we get to see every step of Milo’s and Gideon’s friendship, from friends to “bestie goals” to so much more. The sex is hot and sweet, but also hilarious as Milo experiences everything for the first time in his uniquely unfiltered way—from his very first kiss to losing the v-card.
And I leave you with some of my favorite quotes:
“Why are you grinning at me like that? It’s creepy.”
“Creepy wasn’t the vibe I was going for.”
“Did I hurt your feelings?”
I shoved off the wall. “No.” God, he was refreshing. I didn’t know another word to use for him other than that. I never knew what to expect, and everything was so damn pure with him.”
“And there’s a chance I might have overreacted a little, but I’m really strung tight. I haven’t had an orgasm in weeks because of you.”
My mouth dropped open…
“I need visual stimulation to have an orgasm, and I feel uncomfortable watching porn when you’re in the next room. I tried once when you weren’t home, but my brain kept telling me you could walk upstairs at any moment, so I couldn’t get off. I asked Rachel if it would be rude to see if you can leave for a couple of hours and promise you won’t come back. I think it’ll help with my tension if I can come a few times.”
“Say what?”
“I love you.”
“I just wanted to hear the words. You didn’t actually use them.”
“But I’m still frustrated you said it first.”
“Milo, your boyfriend just admitted he’s crazy in love with you, and you’re annoyed he said it before you?”
“Yes, yes I am.”
I laughed. “God, I love you.”
May 15, 2022
5 Absolutely Loved it Stars!! ❤️🤩 Such an amazingly unique and heartwarming story. 😍 I just loved Milo and his quirkiness For him to have found his perfect soulmate in Gideon? How awesome was that?
It is understood and not overstated that Milo falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, but every person is very unique with their very own triggers. Knowing someone who is also on the spectrum made me adore Milo even more, because just like Milo I hope that one day they are able to find love and friendships beyond their family. 🥺 I also loved that so many people around Gideon and Milo were accepting and understanding. Gideon’s own breakthrough with his family was gratifying.
However, I did read a few critical reviews and although I understand that they have every right to voice their opinion, I have to disagree with the whole negative reviews of "it’s 2022, do better, etc etc” First and foremost, yes it’s 2022…. and have you watched the news? There are bigger things to worry about than how a character is depicted in an m/m romance novel. 🙄. This is fiction and every author should have the creative license to make his/her character unique in his/her way. I mean this is same genre where there are story-lines with vampires, shifters, alien MCs and mpreg themes. 😳. I recommend not getting into the weeds of the accurate depiction argument in your wokeness. Lighten up, and enjoy this beautiful book which has a little bit of everything; romance, sentiment, steam, emotion, tears and joy. 👍🏻👍🏻Why else are you reading this genre if not for a little bit of escapism? ✌️
It is understood and not overstated that Milo falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, but every person is very unique with their very own triggers. Knowing someone who is also on the spectrum made me adore Milo even more, because just like Milo I hope that one day they are able to find love and friendships beyond their family. 🥺 I also loved that so many people around Gideon and Milo were accepting and understanding. Gideon’s own breakthrough with his family was gratifying.
However, I did read a few critical reviews and although I understand that they have every right to voice their opinion, I have to disagree with the whole negative reviews of "it’s 2022, do better, etc etc” First and foremost, yes it’s 2022…. and have you watched the news? There are bigger things to worry about than how a character is depicted in an m/m romance novel. 🙄. This is fiction and every author should have the creative license to make his/her character unique in his/her way. I mean this is same genre where there are story-lines with vampires, shifters, alien MCs and mpreg themes. 😳. I recommend not getting into the weeds of the accurate depiction argument in your wokeness. Lighten up, and enjoy this beautiful book which has a little bit of everything; romance, sentiment, steam, emotion, tears and joy. 👍🏻👍🏻Why else are you reading this genre if not for a little bit of escapism? ✌️
July 20, 2022
I enjoyed Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart, even if my 3-stars seems middling... okay, it is sort of middling.
I was really drawn to this book with the promise of a neurodivergent, VIRGIN MC, and we for sure get all of that, but I felt like something was off or missing throughout the story.
There is no right or wrong way to be neurodivergent, but I found Milo to be a bit... much. I think was often inconsistent as a character, and I didn't love how Gideon was Mr. Perfect who wasn't able to make any missteps. There were also some things that I thought were building to be sources of tension but then those plot points sort of petered out and we were left with just spotty communication causing the majority of the drama in the story. I appreciated that it was low angst, but I also felt like nothing much happened.
Riley Hart often gets 3-stars from me and this book felt like pretty standard fare from her, even if Milo was a quirky character. Hoping for some more deeper, gutsy stuff from this author in the future.
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I was really drawn to this book with the promise of a neurodivergent, VIRGIN MC, and we for sure get all of that, but I felt like something was off or missing throughout the story.
There is no right or wrong way to be neurodivergent, but I found Milo to be a bit... much. I think was often inconsistent as a character, and I didn't love how Gideon was Mr. Perfect who wasn't able to make any missteps. There were also some things that I thought were building to be sources of tension but then those plot points sort of petered out and we were left with just spotty communication causing the majority of the drama in the story. I appreciated that it was low angst, but I also felt like nothing much happened.
Riley Hart often gets 3-stars from me and this book felt like pretty standard fare from her, even if Milo was a quirky character. Hoping for some more deeper, gutsy stuff from this author in the future.
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January 4, 2024
reread/relisten #2: January 2024
they are #couplegoals! love these two and Iggy Toma's narration!
reread/relisten #1: March 2023
to be honest, not sure why haven't reread this book before now. this was just a warm hug on a cold day. i had a smile on my face the whole time reading this. Lo and Gid, are definitely #boyfriendgoals.
4-4.5 stars: May 2022
The amount of sweetness in this book was unreal, both main characters were so 🥰🥰 no words Gideon and Milo are #boyfriendgoals
And Iggy Toma narrated yes this book was a win!!
they are #couplegoals! love these two and Iggy Toma's narration!
reread/relisten #1: March 2023
to be honest, not sure why haven't reread this book before now. this was just a warm hug on a cold day. i had a smile on my face the whole time reading this. Lo and Gid, are definitely #boyfriendgoals.
4-4.5 stars: May 2022
The amount of sweetness in this book was unreal, both main characters were so 🥰🥰 no words Gideon and Milo are #boyfriendgoals
And Iggy Toma narrated yes this book was a win!!
June 8, 2022
Boyfriend Goals is the first and not the last book I have read from this author. Boyfriend Goals is a corky, unique and adorable read.
What I loved about this book is how the author portrayed Milo. He is my precious sweet man. But he is no delicate flower. He wants to be on his own. Make a life he wants, not his mother’s. He finds out he had a grandmother who left him a building with a tattoo parlor, an apartment, and a bookstore that she ran; Milo packs up and moves to run the building and bookstore.
Gideon is the owner of the tattoo parlor. Gideon doesn't feel like he fits in well with his loved ones. Something about these two fit so perfectly well together. He is an all-around nice guy and very thoughtful.
The process and character development are just spot on. Both men are equally hot. The book is just beautiful and left me happy, with giddiness inside. The banter between the two was fun to read.
I did change my rating from a four to five as I was typing out this review. I realized the book was perfect in my eyes and left me wanting more.
May 16, 2022
4,5 stars
This was a highly enjoyable read.
Milo is autistic (and yes this is mentioned at one point later in the book) and he is what he is, unapologetically. I loved him. And Gideon.
And the romance that ensues when they are thrown together through circumstances.
Maybe Adrienne Wilder's In the Absence of Light is slightly more realistic (sorry I could not help compare as both books deal with autism) but although this is a slightly 'lighter' version, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I loved the romance and the 'feel good' vibe of the book, just what I needed.
This was a highly enjoyable read.
Milo is autistic (and yes this is mentioned at one point later in the book) and he is what he is, unapologetically. I loved him. And Gideon.
And the romance that ensues when they are thrown together through circumstances.
Maybe Adrienne Wilder's In the Absence of Light is slightly more realistic (sorry I could not help compare as both books deal with autism) but although this is a slightly 'lighter' version, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I loved the romance and the 'feel good' vibe of the book, just what I needed.
May 6, 2022
Milo is adorable.
I really enjoyed the book. It is light, low pressure and so sweet.
I really enjoyed the book. It is light, low pressure and so sweet.
May 10, 2022
I f@cking LOVED this book so much!!!
Milo and Gideon are definitely goals 😍
As a mum to an autistic boy it's so good and refreshing to see a neurodivergent main character that's so well written ❤️
Milo and Gideon are definitely goals 😍
As a mum to an autistic boy it's so good and refreshing to see a neurodivergent main character that's so well written ❤️
June 17, 2023
Totally Adorable! 😍😍 4.5 Stars ⭐️
I ATE UP this audiobook! What a delightful, funny, angst-free novel!
Neurodivergent Milo meets laid back Gideon. Friends from the start.
Milo is refreshingly honest. About everything. All the time.
Gideon is enchanted by Milo. Drawn to him.
Story stuff happens.
Mutual hand jobs happen.
BJ’s happen.
Sex happens.
And it’s the best ever for Milo.
It’s the best for Gideon, too.
They fall in love.
Conflict stuff (just a second of it).
All ends HEA 😍
Definitely a comfort read/listen!
I ATE UP this audiobook! What a delightful, funny, angst-free novel!
Neurodivergent Milo meets laid back Gideon. Friends from the start.
Milo is refreshingly honest. About everything. All the time.
Gideon is enchanted by Milo. Drawn to him.
Story stuff happens.
Mutual hand jobs happen.
BJ’s happen.
Sex happens.
And it’s the best ever for Milo.
It’s the best for Gideon, too.
They fall in love.
Conflict stuff (just a second of it).
All ends HEA 😍
Definitely a comfort read/listen!
May 6, 2022
DNF @ 19%. [05/06/2022]
As another autistic reader — read this well thought out review. It is 2022, people. Give us better rep.
As another autistic reader — read this well thought out review. It is 2022, people. Give us better rep.
January 10, 2024
Re-read January 10, 2024 💜💜
Re-read January 18, 2023 still loved it💜
Milo and Gideon are amazing. I loved them and their story. I hated to see it come to an end!
Re-read January 18, 2023 still loved it💜
Milo and Gideon are amazing. I loved them and their story. I hated to see it come to an end!
July 31, 2022
***3.75 rating***
"Gideon stares at you like he’s lucky to even be in your orbit, Milo, like if you leave a room, you’re going to take everything good with you. Like maybe he doesn’t know how he ever survived without you.”
Well this was positively charming and delightful. I haven't read a book in about like 10 days, the last one was July 19th😭. I am happy to be back among the living and rid of stupid covid that kicked my ass most of the month. I sincerely missed reading a lot, so I am happy to be able to read again.
I have wanted to read this book since it got released but for some reason, I was hesitant. I have a love/hate relationship with RH. None of her new releases hold a candle to her older books and they were often at times predictable and boring but I was surprised that I enjoyed this one. There were many mixed reviews regarding this book, since one of the MCs was autistic. I know from reading people's reviews RH's portrayal of autism was flawed and contradictory at times, I guess I am in the minority because I didn't mind it as much? I cared more about the romance and I liked the relationship between Milo and Gideon.
Milo was adorable and very direct, he was precious at times and I loved that Gideon was patient with him and did not judge him for who he was, he simply accepted him. I also liked that they started out as friends, their friendship was genuine and cute. But I could do without Milo constantly wanting to take off his pants lmao, that tad bit was somewhat extra. However, for the most part this book was an enjoyable read, I also liked the side characters especially Rachel, Gene, and the others. One thing about RH that I feel like she needs to work on is less family meddling and more romance is needed in her books. There is always some family meddling going on in her books but this one was fine, just something that I have seen reoccur a lot in her books. Anyways I am done ranting, this was a cute light read, now I am in a mood for something twisted and dark🥴.
"Gideon stares at you like he’s lucky to even be in your orbit, Milo, like if you leave a room, you’re going to take everything good with you. Like maybe he doesn’t know how he ever survived without you.”
Well this was positively charming and delightful. I haven't read a book in about like 10 days, the last one was July 19th😭. I am happy to be back among the living and rid of stupid covid that kicked my ass most of the month. I sincerely missed reading a lot, so I am happy to be able to read again.
I have wanted to read this book since it got released but for some reason, I was hesitant. I have a love/hate relationship with RH. None of her new releases hold a candle to her older books and they were often at times predictable and boring but I was surprised that I enjoyed this one. There were many mixed reviews regarding this book, since one of the MCs was autistic. I know from reading people's reviews RH's portrayal of autism was flawed and contradictory at times, I guess I am in the minority because I didn't mind it as much? I cared more about the romance and I liked the relationship between Milo and Gideon.
Milo was adorable and very direct, he was precious at times and I loved that Gideon was patient with him and did not judge him for who he was, he simply accepted him. I also liked that they started out as friends, their friendship was genuine and cute. But I could do without Milo constantly wanting to take off his pants lmao, that tad bit was somewhat extra. However, for the most part this book was an enjoyable read, I also liked the side characters especially Rachel, Gene, and the others. One thing about RH that I feel like she needs to work on is less family meddling and more romance is needed in her books. There is always some family meddling going on in her books but this one was fine, just something that I have seen reoccur a lot in her books. Anyways I am done ranting, this was a cute light read, now I am in a mood for something twisted and dark🥴.
May 30, 2022
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
No filter Milo....ADORABLE!!
Story - 4 Stars
No filter Milo....ADORABLE!!
October 2, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
I felt like I was smiling, even though I wasn’t. It was the most foreign feeling, like Milo had injected happiness inside me.
This is one of those books that I can never figure out if I actually *love* or just like it a lot. I guess it all comes down to the MC, Milo, who is both super charming and funny, and a bit too OTT as the ‘comedic relief’ sometimes.
I do like Milo, and I really love Gideon a lot. There’s also a good cast of side characters who add to the story. I’m not a fan of the friends-with-benefits trope, but in this it’s mostly because Milo can’t possibly imagine that Gideon would want to be his boyfriend, which is very sad, as well as leads to a couple of pretty funny moments. I feel like reading this book is like a rite of passage for new MM readers, and I totally understand why. It’s charming, funny, emotional at times, and sexy. Definitely recommend if you haven’t read it already.
“Gideon,” I whispered. When he didn’t budge, I cleared my throat. Nothing. How in the hell did he not wake up? I took a step back, planning on sneaking out of his room, but again, bored. So I resorted to a totally fake cough and squeezed his name in there. Cough, Gideon, cough. His eyes slowly fluttered open. “Oh, you’re awake.” “I wonder how that could have happened?” I shrugged. “Beats me,” […]
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Neurodivergent MC
Roommates with benefits to lovers
Small town
Tattoo artist
Sexual exploration
Best friends
Virgin MC
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Grief
Mentions of ableism
Explicit sexual content
Mentions of abandonment
Brief mentions of cheating ex (no details)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
“I’m twenty-four years old. I’ll do what I want.” Wow. I was pretty sure I sounded more like a teenager right then than I ever had.
The whole time to his parents’ house, I stressed out about the sign. “Why is micromanaging such a bad thing?” “Do you like it when people do it to you?” Gideon asked. “We’re not talking about me.”
I felt like I was smiling, even though I wasn’t. It was the most foreign feeling, like Milo had injected happiness inside me.
This is one of those books that I can never figure out if I actually *love* or just like it a lot. I guess it all comes down to the MC, Milo, who is both super charming and funny, and a bit too OTT as the ‘comedic relief’ sometimes.
I do like Milo, and I really love Gideon a lot. There’s also a good cast of side characters who add to the story. I’m not a fan of the friends-with-benefits trope, but in this it’s mostly because Milo can’t possibly imagine that Gideon would want to be his boyfriend, which is very sad, as well as leads to a couple of pretty funny moments. I feel like reading this book is like a rite of passage for new MM readers, and I totally understand why. It’s charming, funny, emotional at times, and sexy. Definitely recommend if you haven’t read it already.
“Gideon,” I whispered. When he didn’t budge, I cleared my throat. Nothing. How in the hell did he not wake up? I took a step back, planning on sneaking out of his room, but again, bored. So I resorted to a totally fake cough and squeezed his name in there. Cough, Gideon, cough. His eyes slowly fluttered open. “Oh, you’re awake.” “I wonder how that could have happened?” I shrugged. “Beats me,” […]
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Neurodivergent MC
Roommates with benefits to lovers
Small town
Tattoo artist
Sexual exploration
Best friends
Virgin MC
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Grief
Mentions of ableism
Explicit sexual content
Mentions of abandonment
Brief mentions of cheating ex (no details)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
“I’m twenty-four years old. I’ll do what I want.” Wow. I was pretty sure I sounded more like a teenager right then than I ever had.
The whole time to his parents’ house, I stressed out about the sign. “Why is micromanaging such a bad thing?” “Do you like it when people do it to you?” Gideon asked. “We’re not talking about me.”
May 17, 2022
3.75 stars
I liked this just fine. But I didn’t love it. There was nothing wrong with it. The characters were well developed, the plot made sense, the romance progressed with minimal angst. Maybe that was the issue - there really was no drama or angst apart from minor communication issues.
Milo was a fun character who I liked a lot, with one of the most original “voices” I’ve heard in a while. His “flow-of-consciousness” style of talking was great. And I loved Gideon’s unquestioning admiration and acceptance from the beginning. As someone who loves someone on the autism spectrum, I found it realistic and showed knowledge & understanding of autism. Apparently some readers kicked up a stink about the use of “neurodivergent” rather than “autistic” and so the author added both. Seriously??! Each individual in the autistic community has different preferences, because they’re INDIVIDUALS. Some like the labels, others don’t. Some identify with the community, others don’t. We need to stop this slamming of authors for minor wording issues when they’re trying to improve visibility by creating diverse characters. Fair enough if they do no research and lean into inaccurate stereotypes, but when it’s over a couple of words? Just stop. I think Riley did a great job at creating a realistic character with autism, who achieved highly in education & career but struggled with communication & relationship connection (which isn’t often written about or represented). It’s an important insight into the struggles of people on the spectrum who may be seen as “high functioning” because they can study & work, but just have significant challenges in other ways. That’s why high & low functioning aren’t ok terms in the autistic community.
Aaaaaaanyway. It was a nice story, which I missed a little bit more drama, but I would definitely recommend everyone to read it.
I liked this just fine. But I didn’t love it. There was nothing wrong with it. The characters were well developed, the plot made sense, the romance progressed with minimal angst. Maybe that was the issue - there really was no drama or angst apart from minor communication issues.
Milo was a fun character who I liked a lot, with one of the most original “voices” I’ve heard in a while. His “flow-of-consciousness” style of talking was great. And I loved Gideon’s unquestioning admiration and acceptance from the beginning. As someone who loves someone on the autism spectrum, I found it realistic and showed knowledge & understanding of autism. Apparently some readers kicked up a stink about the use of “neurodivergent” rather than “autistic” and so the author added both. Seriously??! Each individual in the autistic community has different preferences, because they’re INDIVIDUALS. Some like the labels, others don’t. Some identify with the community, others don’t. We need to stop this slamming of authors for minor wording issues when they’re trying to improve visibility by creating diverse characters. Fair enough if they do no research and lean into inaccurate stereotypes, but when it’s over a couple of words? Just stop. I think Riley did a great job at creating a realistic character with autism, who achieved highly in education & career but struggled with communication & relationship connection (which isn’t often written about or represented). It’s an important insight into the struggles of people on the spectrum who may be seen as “high functioning” because they can study & work, but just have significant challenges in other ways. That’s why high & low functioning aren’t ok terms in the autistic community.
Aaaaaaanyway. It was a nice story, which I missed a little bit more drama, but I would definitely recommend everyone to read it.
April 21, 2022
There are books that when you start them you’re like “well this is going to be a special one.” Being on the neurodiverse spectrum myself, I’m always cautious when approaching a book with a character that is. But this was done well. It was done right. Milo is impossibly endearing and sweet and “quirky” in that way neurodivergent people can seem, but to them it’s just who they are. I felt Milo’s fear of being a burden to his loved ones or a potential boyfriend. I get his acceptance that he may never find someone who could just roll with his specific needs. Which is why Gideon is the perfect person for him. The way he interacts with Milo from the first meeting and on, was just perfection. I know I harp on about how much I love Riley’s books, but this one is special. Add in the absolutely lovely side characters that are all unique and have depth… this book was just all around so. dang. good. I had the doofiest grin on my face pretty much the whole time. And if you’re worried about steam, don’t be. This was also sexy as hell and from Milo’s perspective, also really fun and endearing. I have a feeling I’ll be revisiting these guys many times over. This is at the top of my favorite reads of 2022.
October 31, 2023
i can't believe it took me until now to read this.
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