Book Talk Review; Half As Much

My love for this book is half as much...

Rider Dillinger likes who he is and he knows what he wants. He works hard for one of the toughest teachers on campus and he likes to unwind the same way any other twenty-something does; with sex. When his friends with benefits arrangement ends badly, Rider finds himself at the school health clinic where he meets campus nurse, Eli James. Rider thinks this will be a simple hook-up, but he doesn’t count on the connection that forms between them. He sees this as his golden opportunity to tell Eli his secret desires, after all, what has he got to lose?

Eli James was enamoured with Rider from the moment he saw him. His round eyes, and pouty, innocent mouth hid a man who wanted sinfully delicious things. The idea of sharing Rider appeals to Eli, but only on his terms. As they navigate a relationship based on emotional exclusivity and sexual variety, they end up falling deeper and deeper in love.

When an event neither see coming rocks their world, Rider knows he needs to do something drastic to rectify the situation or risk losing Eli to the crushing weight of guilt.

***Half As Much is the story of two men who enjoy emotional exclusivity and sexual variety. It is 100% consensual and is not cheating, but if sex outside the OTP isn't your thing, this is not the book for you. In my usual style however, it is 100% sweet and has a guaranteed HEA***

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 Because I'm all about honesty I'll admit gang bangs aren't my usual cup of tea. I've only read one other book like this before and I loved it. And because I love EM Denning and all the wonderful words she writes I shrugged at the premise of this book and started reading. 

Holy hotness am I glad I read this. Half As Much may be a book about sexual variety but it is so much more than that. Eli and Rider love each other, hard. They're funny, Rider especially, they have a good group of friends, and they're so sweet together it's almost sickening. 

Eli is sweet and caring and would do anything for Rider. I love him and how he didn't balk at Rider's desires, but how he tried his best to give him what he wanted. 

Rider is funny and a bit awkward at times, but then so is Eli. The trust Rider finds in Eli, even so early in their relationship is special. 

Let's talk about the gang bang aspect for a second. I can get down with a threesome or foursome, but I'm usually not into more than that. But there's a  difference  between straight up erotica where it's a love story that just has some kinky sex. And Half As Much is the latter. It's sweet in so many places and hot in others. 

Everything that is done in this book is safe and consensual. It won't be for everyone because not everyone can get behind one half of a committed couple having sex with other people. Committed is the key word here. Even though Eli and Rider like to play with others, they are committed to each other. The love they have for each other is real and sweet and I love them together. 

I love how EM Denning took a trope I don't normally read and made me fall in love with two men who enjoy it. I love reading love stories and seeing the characters find someone who accepts all of them and loves them not despite their kinks, but for them. The emotional connection is what made this book for me. While I enjoyed the scenes in which they played with others it made it better for them and for me because they had so much love and trust. 

For someone who doesn't like love in real life, I love it in the books I read. Even though the sweetness can make me squirm, it also makes my heart jump for joy. There were times where I squealed with happiness because of how cute Eli and Rider are together.

I am so excited for the next books in the series because there are so many characters I want to know more about and so many ways their stories can go.

*Quote-  

"Without knowing it, Eli had shown Rider a scrap of something he'd always wanted. Someone to cherish him, then use him." 

"Rider's fingers slotted perfectly between his own, like puzzle pieces locking together." 

"Eli never know that a kiss could be more than a kiss, that it could be more than lips touching, and tongues sliding, breath mingling. Not until this trembling moment when he eased his way into Rider's mouth and poured all his affection for him into it." 

"Rider had no doubt that without Eli, he'd be a sadder version of himself. A version that might believe this was bad, or that it was wrong to want it, to enjoy it, to love it, even. Without Eli, Rider would be a smaller version of himself. A person who would still be overlooked. A person who might not believe in their own power."

"I'm lucky because I found you. I'm lucky because you gave me a chance. I'm lucky because you love me half as much as I love you...because I love you immeasurably, so to have you love me even half as much as I love you, it's still immeasurable." 

-Abri