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Stacked

Mars Fitness, Book Two

by Linden Bell

Blurb:

Sawyer

I’ve been in love with my best friend and roommate since the first day of boarding school over a decade ago. But Preston has always been oblivious, obsessed with his PhD research, and more importantly, straight.

When the new, sexy grad student walks into my gym, I have to wonder… is it time for me to move on?

Preston

Some guy is trying to steal my best friend. I won’t let him. Sawyer’s mine.

Maybe I haven’t appreciated Sawyer enough over the years, but that’s going to change now. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him by my side. Even if it means kissing him.

Stacked is a best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, nerd/jock MM romance between possessive, protective, and co-dependent roommates. Expect the most tender caretaking, slipping into each other’s beds in the middle of the night, and adorable clinginess. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.

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*****

Review:

**minor spoilers ahead**

I’ll be honest, love triangles are just not my thing. I think that’s a really important CW for this one because Sawyer does have a relationship – romantic and sexual – with someone else. He does it with good intentions, believing that Preston will never return his feelings, but it’s still a thing. Do they handle it the best way? No. But it seems pretty realistic all things considered.

Sawyer is a genuinely nice guy – kind, considerate, and giving. I’m not sure I quite understand his attraction to Preston but the heart is a force unto itself 🙂 Not to say he doesn’t do some stupid things, but I think he means well.

Preston is a bit self-absorbed and quite clueless on just about everything because he’s been cared for by others pretty much all his life. He’s neurodivergent at least and likely somewhere on the aromantic/asexual scale. But getting his side of things, I kinda like him. I’m not sure why, maybe because Sawyer does, but while he’s problematic I also found myself rooting for them.

I feel like Bell does a good job of handling the changing dynamic of Preston & Sawyer’s relationship. Preston struggles with even normal human interactions but throwing in new sexual & romantic feelings for his best friend is huge. With Sawyer’s help, he eventually figures things out. And while I was happy they got their HEA, I hope that Bell has something in mind for Fitz because he definitely deserves better than he got.

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