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javalenciaph's review
4.0
Note: An ARC was provided by the author.
Ah, I do love me a good friends-to-lovers romance, and that's exactly what Erin McLellan gives readers in her contribution to the multi-authored Bold Brew series. Perfect Matcha is the story of Camden Ray and Theodore Punch, two-thirds of the Three Mountaineers, which is what they called their trio of best friends. When the third of their group, Freddie O'Neil, names Camden his best man, it seems like a given; but waffling on whether or not to invite Theo highlights how frayed their friendship, even five years after they broke up as a romantic couple. Now, that Theo's received his invitation, he wants to make sure that he's got someone by his side, and he hopes Camden will help him find that someone. That's what best friends do for each other, right? But what if said best friend has been harboring not-so-platonic feelings for years?
I liked the banter between Theo and Cam, making it clear just how much these two adored each other, reaching a comfort level in their friendship that highlights the strong foundation it sits upon. This was a quick read, one that was enjoyable and without too much fussiness. The author not only did a great job showing readers why these two were perfect for each other, but also why Camden was as hesitant as he was being open about the fact that he's been in love with Theo for years. Introducing Theo to a side of himself he'd never explored before was fun and hot. There's a pinch of angst, but nothing overly heavy or heartbreaking, which allowed the story to stay fairly lighthearted throughout. I'm giving Perfect Matcha four stars!
Ah, I do love me a good friends-to-lovers romance, and that's exactly what Erin McLellan gives readers in her contribution to the multi-authored Bold Brew series. Perfect Matcha is the story of Camden Ray and Theodore Punch, two-thirds of the Three Mountaineers, which is what they called their trio of best friends. When the third of their group, Freddie O'Neil, names Camden his best man, it seems like a given; but waffling on whether or not to invite Theo highlights how frayed their friendship, even five years after they broke up as a romantic couple. Now, that Theo's received his invitation, he wants to make sure that he's got someone by his side, and he hopes Camden will help him find that someone. That's what best friends do for each other, right? But what if said best friend has been harboring not-so-platonic feelings for years?
I liked the banter between Theo and Cam, making it clear just how much these two adored each other, reaching a comfort level in their friendship that highlights the strong foundation it sits upon. This was a quick read, one that was enjoyable and without too much fussiness. The author not only did a great job showing readers why these two were perfect for each other, but also why Camden was as hesitant as he was being open about the fact that he's been in love with Theo for years. Introducing Theo to a side of himself he'd never explored before was fun and hot. There's a pinch of angst, but nothing overly heavy or heartbreaking, which allowed the story to stay fairly lighthearted throughout. I'm giving Perfect Matcha four stars!
geeknb's review
4.0
A very sweet best friend to lovers romance.
Camden doesn't think he's clever or together enough for his best friend, Theo. He's already seem their other friend, Freddie's, friendship with Theo implode after they started dating and knows he can't lose Theo the same way. Now Theo needs a date to Freddie's wedding and Camden will do anything for his friend. Anything. Including get him a date with Hawke the local sex shop owner. And teach him how to use sex toys.
Honestly, there were too many sex scenes for me. But it works within the story. Also they were achingly sweet even when they were instructional because of Camden's feelings for Theo and the way he battles against them.
Camden and Theo were perfect together and everyone could see it except them (for different reasons). Camden was scared and Theo oblivious.
The kink here is sex toys and role play.
As with the previous book, I thought the coffee shop didn't really play too much of a part. It's an occasional meeting place rather than a central point of the story.
Camden doesn't think he's clever or together enough for his best friend, Theo. He's already seem their other friend, Freddie's, friendship with Theo implode after they started dating and knows he can't lose Theo the same way. Now Theo needs a date to Freddie's wedding and Camden will do anything for his friend. Anything. Including get him a date with Hawke the local sex shop owner. And teach him how to use sex toys.
Honestly, there were too many sex scenes for me. But it works within the story. Also they were achingly sweet even when they were instructional because of Camden's feelings for Theo and the way he battles against them.
Camden and Theo were perfect together and everyone could see it except them (for different reasons). Camden was scared and Theo oblivious.
The kink here is sex toys and role play.
As with the previous book, I thought the coffee shop didn't really play too much of a part. It's an occasional meeting place rather than a central point of the story.
kle105's review
5.0
I’m not sure I will ever have the right words for this book, but I will humbly try my best. I had the biggest book hangover after finishing it.
Theo and Camden have been best friends for decades. When Theo’s ex, who was a part of their trio until their breakup made it weird, is getting married Theo decides he doesn’t want to be alone. He asks his best friend Camden to set him up.
Camden has been in love with Theo for decades, and as much as it pains him to set him up he just wants him to be happy. Not willing to ruin their friendship like it did with Theo’s ex.
Setting him up with his boss, the owner of the local sex toy shop is intimidating to Theo. So to make him more comfortable Camden gifts Theo with a basket of toys. Theo doesn’t know where to begin, and a call to Camden ends in role play, phone sex until they can’t control their emotions.
While Camden is more outgoing, Theo is more introverted and anxious. Camden knows just how to calm his worries. Their routines calm Theo but also show the love and care they have for each other. Each look, touch and act proves how well suited they are, they just need to realize that their relationship is worth taking it to the next level.
This book tore my heart out, you’ll yearn for a love like theirs, and swoon at them finding their happily ever after!
Even if you’ve never read a MM romance before I highly recommend this book. It is part of a series but this was the first one I’ve read, so it’s fine as a stand-alone.
Theo and Camden have been best friends for decades. When Theo’s ex, who was a part of their trio until their breakup made it weird, is getting married Theo decides he doesn’t want to be alone. He asks his best friend Camden to set him up.
Camden has been in love with Theo for decades, and as much as it pains him to set him up he just wants him to be happy. Not willing to ruin their friendship like it did with Theo’s ex.
Setting him up with his boss, the owner of the local sex toy shop is intimidating to Theo. So to make him more comfortable Camden gifts Theo with a basket of toys. Theo doesn’t know where to begin, and a call to Camden ends in role play, phone sex until they can’t control their emotions.
While Camden is more outgoing, Theo is more introverted and anxious. Camden knows just how to calm his worries. Their routines calm Theo but also show the love and care they have for each other. Each look, touch and act proves how well suited they are, they just need to realize that their relationship is worth taking it to the next level.
This book tore my heart out, you’ll yearn for a love like theirs, and swoon at them finding their happily ever after!
Even if you’ve never read a MM romance before I highly recommend this book. It is part of a series but this was the first one I’ve read, so it’s fine as a stand-alone.
heabooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
PERFECT MATCHA was such a great read and since I’m a sucker for friends to lovers it hit all the right spots. Cam and Theo have been friends for a long time but Cam is afraid to admit his feelings because he doesn’t want to lose Theo’s friendship if the relationship doesn’t work out. These two have so much pining and longing and I just wanted everything to work out for them because I loved them so much. Theo is especially precious and needs to be protected at all costs because he’s just too good for this world. He's a bit awkward and lacks some self-confidence but he's just the sweetest. In contrast, Cam is outgoing and extroverted but they balance each other out well. I also adored all the little ways Cam cared for Theo and understood him and loved him even when Cam wasn’t admitting it out loud.
Of course their friendship takes an unexpected turn when Theo asks Cam to set him up with someone and Cam suggests his boss, Hawk, who owns the local sex toy shop. Theo is immediately intimidated because of his lack of experience with sex toys and what starts out as a generous gift of toys from Cam turns into some very sexy phone calls and hands on lessons. These two had so much chemistry and I loved watching Theo discover his own interests in the bedroom. I do wish they had figured things out between them a little sooner but that's only because my heart was breaking for Cam and how much he quietly loved Theo.
One of the best things about Erin McLellan’s books is the way she normalizes sex toys and how they can be great for singles and for couples. I’m never disappointed with her books.
Of course their friendship takes an unexpected turn when Theo asks Cam to set him up with someone and Cam suggests his boss, Hawk, who owns the local sex toy shop. Theo is immediately intimidated because of his lack of experience with sex toys and what starts out as a generous gift of toys from Cam turns into some very sexy phone calls and hands on lessons. These two had so much chemistry and I loved watching Theo discover his own interests in the bedroom. I do wish they had figured things out between them a little sooner but that's only because my heart was breaking for Cam and how much he quietly loved Theo.
One of the best things about Erin McLellan’s books is the way she normalizes sex toys and how they can be great for singles and for couples. I’m never disappointed with her books.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
Needing to find a date to his ex-boyfriend's wedding, Theo looks to his best friend to play matchmaker. But when the guy he is going to be set up with happens to own an adult toy shop, Theo needs a crash course. Who does he look to to help - yup - Camden who not only is his best friend but also happens to be in love with him. Once the toys come into play, sparks fly. Will they act on their inner desires? Or will they ignore their feelings not to rock the boat with the friendship? This book certainly lived up to it's name as it had the perfect combination of wonderful characters, a cute storyline and perfect chemistry. Another great addition to the Bold Brew Series.
valerieullmerauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Theo calls Camden, his friend, when he decides to attend a wedding of his ex. Theo is happy for his ex, but doesn't want to go to the wedding alone and calls Cam in order to form a plan. Cam, who would do anything for Theo, mentions his boss and Theo agrees. But soon, Theo is calling Cam for advice and one thing leads to another, and their friendships grows into something more. It's a quick read and when the two men become something more, something deeper, you root for Camden and Theo and their HEA.
ofbooksandromance's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I really wish I liked this one more than I did. It was really cute and sweet, but a lot of things didn’t work for me and I had a hard time believing these two were made for each other.
Brief summary:Theo and Camden have been best friends for years. Camden has been in love with Theo for ages but he’s scared to tell him because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for him and because he’s scared of losing his best friend. Theo asks Camden to find him a date to Theo’s ex’s wedding. Camden decides to pair him up with his boss at the sex shop where he works at and he then introduces Theo to sex toys to prepare him for their date. Then they start to have sex and Theo realizes he loves Camden too.
The things I enjoyed:
Most of the stories where someone has been in love with someone for years but doesn’t want to tell them, it doesn’t really make sense why. And here, it kinda did make sense. Theo and Camden had a third best friend before Nd Theo and that guy started dating and when they broke up, they stopped breaking friends and Camden didn’t want to lose Theo and it made sense in this context and I could understand why Camden was scared of telling Theo he loves him.
I really liked Camden. He was so sweet and he was so good to Theo and I really appreciated his character. I also really liked Theo. He was really awkward and not the best at social cues and I really loved that about him. I like how obvious he was sometimes, he was very sweet. I also really enjoyed the little glimpses of them when they were actually together, they seemed like a cute couple, I really would have liked to see them as a couple more.
I also really enjoyed the sexual exploration, I really enjoy a good sexual exploration and it was nicely done here.
What I enjoyed less:
I felt so bad for Cadem for most of the book, he kept trying to get Theo to date him but Theo was so obvious and didn’t understand that Camden really wanted him.
But mostly my main problem was linked to Theo. For most of the book, I just couldn’t feel that he was in love with Camden. I thought there was a massive imbalance between them because you could feel how much Camden loved Theo, but I never felt the same love from Theo. I spent a lot of the book feeling like Theo was only with Cam because it was convenient and routine (they had been best friends for over 20 years), he’s used to having him around, and he didn’t have to try and get to know someon else, he already knew Cam. And to me that never really felt like love from Theo’s side. Also Theo didn’t seem to really care about how things would affect Cam and only cared about his own feelings and it bothered me. Also, I love a good roleplay during sex and it can be really hot but I really wasn’t a fan of how all of their sexual encounters seemed to be roleplay, expecially the first ones. In a way, it was really impersonal and I didn’t like how it seemed that they had to pretend to be other people to enjoy the sex. I really couldn’t see their connection during the sex scenes because they kept portraying other people.
I also feel like the ending of the conflict at the end happened too fast, it felt a little rushed and I really would have loved to get more of that part.
Also, this is a small niggle but I really would have liked some more kink. I find that i’m not really a fan of the stories where there is kink but it’s really light, I much prefer having more kink in my stories. This book really could have benefited from more than roleplaying and using sex toys.
Overall this was quite a cute and sweet book and I realy wish I had enjoyed it more.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion
I really wish I liked this one more than I did. It was really cute and sweet, but a lot of things didn’t work for me and I had a hard time believing these two were made for each other.
Brief summary:Theo and Camden have been best friends for years. Camden has been in love with Theo for ages but he’s scared to tell him because he doesn’t think he’s good enough for him and because he’s scared of losing his best friend. Theo asks Camden to find him a date to Theo’s ex’s wedding. Camden decides to pair him up with his boss at the sex shop where he works at and he then introduces Theo to sex toys to prepare him for their date. Then they start to have sex and Theo realizes he loves Camden too.
The things I enjoyed:
Most of the stories where someone has been in love with someone for years but doesn’t want to tell them, it doesn’t really make sense why. And here, it kinda did make sense. Theo and Camden had a third best friend before Nd Theo and that guy started dating and when they broke up, they stopped breaking friends and Camden didn’t want to lose Theo and it made sense in this context and I could understand why Camden was scared of telling Theo he loves him.
I really liked Camden. He was so sweet and he was so good to Theo and I really appreciated his character. I also really liked Theo. He was really awkward and not the best at social cues and I really loved that about him. I like how obvious he was sometimes, he was very sweet. I also really enjoyed the little glimpses of them when they were actually together, they seemed like a cute couple, I really would have liked to see them as a couple more.
I also really enjoyed the sexual exploration, I really enjoy a good sexual exploration and it was nicely done here.
What I enjoyed less:
I felt so bad for Cadem for most of the book, he kept trying to get Theo to date him but Theo was so obvious and didn’t understand that Camden really wanted him.
But mostly my main problem was linked to Theo. For most of the book, I just couldn’t feel that he was in love with Camden. I thought there was a massive imbalance between them because you could feel how much Camden loved Theo, but I never felt the same love from Theo. I spent a lot of the book feeling like Theo was only with Cam because it was convenient and routine (they had been best friends for over 20 years), he’s used to having him around, and he didn’t have to try and get to know someon else, he already knew Cam. And to me that never really felt like love from Theo’s side. Also Theo didn’t seem to really care about how things would affect Cam and only cared about his own feelings and it bothered me. Also, I love a good roleplay during sex and it can be really hot but I really wasn’t a fan of how all of their sexual encounters seemed to be roleplay, expecially the first ones. In a way, it was really impersonal and I didn’t like how it seemed that they had to pretend to be other people to enjoy the sex. I really couldn’t see their connection during the sex scenes because they kept portraying other people.
I also feel like the ending of the conflict at the end happened too fast, it felt a little rushed and I really would have loved to get more of that part.
Also, this is a small niggle but I really would have liked some more kink. I find that i’m not really a fan of the stories where there is kink but it’s really light, I much prefer having more kink in my stories. This book really could have benefited from more than roleplaying and using sex toys.
Overall this was quite a cute and sweet book and I realy wish I had enjoyed it more.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of my honest opinion
apappashorii's review against another edition
3.0
As the third of the Bold Brew series, Perfect Matcha was a fun read that matched the overall tone set by other two books. It was light and digestible. An easy read. Erin McLellan's writing style was definitely more accustomed to my tastes. Her descriptions and use of imagery felt a step up from those of the previous authors. I also loved her seamless inclusion of consent into the sex scenes. Theo and Camden were so considerate and careful not to take advantage of each other during their bouts of lust, never assuming consent but always waiting for consent to be explicitly expressed. That being said, this book did fall a bit flat for me.
While I have been enjoying the Bold Brew series, I'm getting rather tired of the general sameness of the books. Theo and Camden were different characters, but like the previous couples, they have explosive chemistry and awesome sex only to fail to admit their love for each other until the very end. Now this general plot is fine. I have no problems with it. But when it is used for the third time in the same series and in the same short-length format as the previous books, it fails to bring anything new to the table. Though the friends-to-lovers trope had not been used before, the conflict of misunderstanding and refusing to confess one's true feelings was the exact same. The reason I'm relating this problem with book length is because I do not think I would have noticed this similarity if all of the novels had expanded their stories and fleshed out each of their couples more.
Nonetheless, the Bold Brew series is quite fun and perhaps I'll return to it sometime later. But right now, I need a break. The similarities I noticed were perhaps the fault of me reading each book one after the next. While the series is easy to binge, I recommend not going down that path for a better reading experience.
While I have been enjoying the Bold Brew series, I'm getting rather tired of the general sameness of the books. Theo and Camden were different characters, but like the previous couples, they have explosive chemistry and awesome sex only to fail to admit their love for each other until the very end. Now this general plot is fine. I have no problems with it. But when it is used for the third time in the same series and in the same short-length format as the previous books, it fails to bring anything new to the table. Though the friends-to-lovers trope had not been used before, the conflict of misunderstanding and refusing to confess one's true feelings was the exact same. The reason I'm relating this problem with book length is because I do not think I would have noticed this similarity if all of the novels had expanded their stories and fleshed out each of their couples more.
Nonetheless, the Bold Brew series is quite fun and perhaps I'll return to it sometime later. But right now, I need a break. The similarities I noticed were perhaps the fault of me reading each book one after the next. While the series is easy to binge, I recommend not going down that path for a better reading experience.
robazizo's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute! Adorable characters, a beautiful friendship and great chemistry add up to a lovely and warm relationship that you can believe in.
luellen1990's review against another edition
4.0
Title - Perfect Macha (Bold Brew #3)
Author - Erin McLellan
Genre - MM Romance
Published - March 2021
Pages - 147 Pages
Summary - Theodore Punch has spent years focusing on his career and is tired of being alone when he gets an invite to his ex's wedding he decides he needs a date to the wedding, he asks his best friend Camden to play matchmaker and set him up on a date. Camden has been in love with Theo for as long as he can remember but after Theo and there other best friend dated and broke up horribly he's terrified the same would happen to them. So he keeps quiet. Camden agrees to set Theo up with his boss. Theo panics because Cam's boss owns a sex shop and Theo has never used any sex toys so Cam decides to help Theo explore sex toys. Things get heated and feelings rear their head can Theo and Cam's friendship survive or will they end up the way Theo's last relationship did?
What I thought about this book - I really enjoyed this book. I thought Cam's character development was really good throughout the book. I would have liked to see Cam get answers to the way Theo reacted and the things he said, I also think this would have added to the plot.
I did enjoy the plot and the overall story. I will go back and read the previous two books and any other that come out int his series. This is a new author to me so I shall now look into other books by this author.
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes
Rating - 4*
Reviewed by LucyLui
Author - Erin McLellan
Genre - MM Romance
Published - March 2021
Pages - 147 Pages
Summary - Theodore Punch has spent years focusing on his career and is tired of being alone when he gets an invite to his ex's wedding he decides he needs a date to the wedding, he asks his best friend Camden to play matchmaker and set him up on a date. Camden has been in love with Theo for as long as he can remember but after Theo and there other best friend dated and broke up horribly he's terrified the same would happen to them. So he keeps quiet. Camden agrees to set Theo up with his boss. Theo panics because Cam's boss owns a sex shop and Theo has never used any sex toys so Cam decides to help Theo explore sex toys. Things get heated and feelings rear their head can Theo and Cam's friendship survive or will they end up the way Theo's last relationship did?
What I thought about this book - I really enjoyed this book. I thought Cam's character development was really good throughout the book. I would have liked to see Cam get answers to the way Theo reacted and the things he said, I also think this would have added to the plot.
I did enjoy the plot and the overall story. I will go back and read the previous two books and any other that come out int his series. This is a new author to me so I shall now look into other books by this author.
Would I Recommend - Yes
Would I Read Again/Continue The Series - Yes/Yes
Rating - 4*
Reviewed by LucyLui