"Better Than People," by Roan Parrish

Contemporary MM Romance

Book Blurb

It’s not long before their pet-centric arrangement sparks a person-centric desire…

Simon Burke has always preferred animals to people. When the countdown to adopting his own dog is unexpectedly put on hold, Simon turns to the PetShare app to find the fluffy TLC he’s been missing. Meeting a grumpy children’s book illustrator who needs a dog walker isn’t easy for the man whose persistent anxiety has colored his whole life, but Jack Matheson’s menagerie is just what Simon needs.

Four dogs, three cats and counting. Jack’s pack of rescue pets is the only company he needs. But when a bad fall leaves him with a broken leg, Jack is forced to admit he needs help. That the help comes in the form of the most beautiful man he’s ever seen is a complicated, glorious surprise.

Being with Jack—talking, walking, making out—is a game changer for Simon. And Simon’s company certainly…eases the pain of recovery for Jack. But making a real relationship work once Jack’s cast comes off will mean compromise, understanding and lots of love.

My Review

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am providing a voluntary review. All thoughts and views are my own.

This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by Roan Parrish, although I’ve definitely heard her name floating around the queer reading community, so I was stoked to get a chance to read Better Than People. Especially when I read the blurb. What more could an animal lover who lives for LGBTQ+ romance want from a love story? A lovable pack of dogs and cats who play a major role in the plot—and get some adorable on page time too!—and two unique and sweet cinnamon role heroes to pine after? Yes, please!

I loved Simon and Jack so, so much. As someone who suffers from anxiety—with some seriously heightened social anxiety aspects—I could feel for Simon like there was no tomorrow. He spoke to me on a bone-deep level that made my soul sing. It was like being seen in a way I’m not used to being seen, especially when viewed through the lens of a fictional character. Most especially a romance lead. Far too often characters in romance are given “safe” flaws. Ones that readers can easily forgive. Ones that don’t always resonate with those of us who are a bit harder to “handle.” But Parrish’s portrayal of Simon and his crippling social anxiety was genuine and real to a degree I wasn’t expecting. And absolutely adored. More than once, I mentally screamed Hallelujah because—yes!—I’ve been there. Or I’ve wished someone would’ve reacted to me that way when I went through something similar.

Then there was Jack. I’ll admit, he was a tad more difficult for me to fall for. I struggled a bit to understand his motivations, and the way he treated his brother Charlie raised my hackles all the way up until the end. (I hope Charlie gets his own book, because he’s a sweet and broken man who deserves to find love. And I, as a reader, need to see him get his HEA!) However, it was pretty easy to overlook my reservations, especially when Jack was with his pack—Simon included.

Overall, this was a sweet, mostly angst-free read. I appreciated the way Parrish handled Simon’s mental health, and I really appreciated the way Jack eventually came to the conclusion that he couldn’t help—i.e. change—Simon. He simply accepted him for who he was—flaws and all. Again, as someone who suffers from pretty extreme anxiety, I know how much of a struggle it can be to find people who understand me. They either want to find a way to fix me—something I wish was possible, but simply isn’t—or they get scared off by the amount of work that goes into a relationship with someone living with anxiety. This story was so raw, true, and real in the way it portrayed both Simon’s experiences and Jack’s evolution from that place of wanting to “fix” Simon to eventually realizing he loved him because of his flaws, not despite them. Just beautiful.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

A new Carina Adores title is available each month in trade paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.

The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover (available now!)
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron (available now!)
Just Like That by Cole McCade (available now!)
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters (available now!)
The Love Study by Kris Ripper (available September 29)
The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher (available October 27)
Just Like This by Cole McCade (available November 24)
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love by Kim Fielding (December 29)

Sneak peek ExCerpt!

Title: Better Than People
Author: Roan Parrish
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Imprint: Carina Press (Carina Adores)
On-Sale: August 25, 2020
Format: Trade Paperback (ebook & audio also available!)

A few days later, a storm blew in while Simon was out walking the pack. It started as a shower that sent Mayonnaise and Pickles scampering inside, but within twenty minutes was a gusting squall that darkened the sky and drove rain sideways against the windows.
Jack paced. Well. Jack swung himself back and forth in front of the living room window on his crutches until he had to stop because it was too tiring. It hadn’t had the same effect, anyway.
After another ten minutes, he lowered himself to the floor gingerly and built up a fire, wanting the animals to be able to warm up when they got home.
Yeah, the animals. It’s definitely them that you want to warm up.
After another ten, he brought armloads of towels from the bathroom to the couch so he could dry the pack off when they got home.
After another ten, he was able to admit he was worried. Puddles hated the rain. Rat was so small, and…and… He huffed out a breath.
Simon. He was worried about Simon.
Simon felt like part of the pack.
As if conjured by the thought, Simon burst through the door, a sodden, dripping mess. Pirate, seeming unperturbed, made a beeline for the fire and began to clean herself, and Rat followed, shaking off her skinny legs as she went; Dandelion ran right to the kitchen in hopes of a snack.
If Jack had been in fighting form, he would’ve had the towels on Bernard faster, but as it was, just as he turned to grab them, the huge dog shook himself, and Jack watched as if in slow motion as Simon got sprayed with another round of rain.
“Oh Jesus,” Jack said, as Simon slumped resignedly, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at the picture it made. Bernard, satisfied he’d wrung himself out, flopped in front of the fire to toast, which left only Puddles and Simon, leaning against each other, soaked and miserable.
“Aw, buddy,” Jack said. He was talking to Puddles, whom he approached with the towels he hadn’t been quick enough with for Bernard, but he included Simon in his sentiment, if only to himself.
He rubbed Puddles as dry as he could and then the dog slunk off to the bedroom, no doubt to soak a dog-shaped damp spot into his blanket and sheets. Making a mental note to change them later—fine, to ask Charlie to change them—Jack turned to Simon.
“Simon,” he said, and the man’s eyes met his. “Come inside, man, let me get you some dry clothes.”
Simon eyed his soaked boots, jeans, and sweater currently dripping onto the doormat. Jack wanted to tell him he’d already have to clean everything to get rid of the wet dog smell so a little more rain wasn’t a big deal. But for some reason, instead, he picked up the remaining towel from the couch and swung over to stand in front of Simon.
“Here,” he said, and he wrapped the towel around Simon’s shoulders and drew him close enough to rub his arms through it.
He heard Simon’s intake of breath and had the brief wild wonder if Simon’s mouth would taste of rain if he kissed him.
Then Simon let the breath out and leaned ever so slightly into Jack.
“Get your boots off and you can take a hot shower, okay? I’ll get you some clothes.”
Simon blinked up at him.
“Okay?”
Simon nodded and gave a ghost of a smile.
Since the first time they’d really talked the week before, they’d lingered over pickups and drop-offs, sometimes talking; sometimes Jack talking and Simon texting. Jack still couldn’t tell what made the difference in the times when Simon could speak and when he couldn’t. He appreciated the gift of Simon’s words when he managed them. But Simon via text was smart and honest and a little bit snarky, and he liked that too.
Now, standing so close, he felt like he should be able to tell whether words were forthcoming or not, as if the fanfare that announced their appearance would stir the very air between them.
But, no. He still couldn’t tell. What he could tell was that Simon was shaking with cold and his wool sweater was so sodden that it might as well have been dumping water down his back.
“C’mere, let me take this,” Jack said, tugging at the sweater. Simon’s eyelashes, spiked with rain, fluttered and he lifted his arms to help take the sweater off. It was plastered to his shirt beneath, so when the sweater came off so did it.
Jack couldn’t help but notice that Simon was lovely beneath his clothes. Angular and smoothly put together, though he was shivering. Jack dropped the sweater to the floor with a thlump and slung the towel back around Simon’s shoulders.
“Come on,” he said softly, and led the way to the bathroom.
He left Simon to his shower and fetched sweats for him to wear from his bedroom, where he did, indeed, find a sheepish Puddles on the bed.
He stroked Puddles’ damp nose and Puddles licked his hand. Worried Puddles might be chilly, Jack slung the blanket over him and gave him a rub.
“You like Simon?” he whispered. Puddles yipped. “Yeah. Yeah, me too.”

ROAN PARRISH
SHE/HER

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Connect with Roan below!

So, what are you waiting for? Better Than People is available for your reading pleasure on or after its release date, August 25th, 2020! Get your copy today!! 📖