The Story of Us by Logan Meredith

The Story of Us Reviews

• 
  AussieMum

  Disclaimer: This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
  3.5 stars
  I love a May/December romance so I jumped at the chance to read this. But I gotta be honest and say it was not easy. Another reviewer has stated that they almost DNF, right from the start. And I felt the same. The introduction was such a turnoff. The MC, Kyle, speaks directly to the reader in what I assume is meant to be a witty piece of banter but just rubbed me completely the wrong way.
  
  So, right off the bat I am not a fan of Kyle. In the intro he’s almost smug and pretty offensive to romance readers as well as the genre. I forced myself to keep going. It took me up until almost 3/4 through this book to get invested in their story. But that last quarter was leaps and bounds above the beginning. It was passionate, fiery, romantic, sweet and had some moments that felt so true to life. With an epilogue that gave me the feels. Lucas was such a good match for Kyle that I forgot to hate him by the end.
  
  What I do want to make mention of is the sex. There’s a lot of it in this. Some off-page. Some recapped. Some in your face. But what I liked was that, as a couple, Kyle and Lucas tried so many different things. Role-play, kink, domination, power exchange. They were a couple who didn’t fit to stereotypes. Didn’t put themselves in a box. And Lucas was very sex-positive. He found so many ways to put Kyle at ease about what he liked.
  
  Overall this was an ok read for me. A few hiccups, a few inconsistencies, but the ending really saved this.
• 
  Joyfully Jay

  A
  Joyfully Jay review.
  
  3.75 stars
  
  This book starts with an introduction from Kyle that breaks the fourth wall. After reading this introduction, I closed the book, as it put me completely off wanting to continue and, had I not committed to a review, I most likely would not have picked it back up again. Kyle goes on to talk about all the things that the book isn’t, and from my perspective, pokes fun at a lot of tropes in the genre and came off in poor taste.
  
  After I moved on from there, I did like the book. Kyle is fine with his life. He has a good job, and friends and family, but his relationships have always lacked that spark. Lucas is a whirlwind in his life, but Kyle has a difficult time between the age difference and Lucas’ career as a porn star. The chemistry and attraction between the men is intense and they decide to casually date. That escalates quickly as the men can’t get enough of each other. Their bedroom dynamics are heated as Lucas wants Kyle to let go and wants to show him that their intimate time together can be fun and they play with daddy dynamics. Kyle is not as easy going in the bedroom and while he has hesitations, he is willing to follow Lucas almost anywhere.
  
  Read Michelle's review in its entirety
  here.
  
  
  
• 
  Angie

  I received a free copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
  
  This book was just ok for me. I couldn't stand Kyle right from the very first page. I really tried to like him but I just couldn't. I loved Lucas. The book was filled with sex and romance but I just couldn't get into it because of my feelings for Kyle, he was just a jerk. I think if the introduction from Kyle wasn't in the book I would have liked him and loved this story but sadly I just didn't. I liked the aspect of the age gap and then Lucas being a porn star but nothing could get me to like Kyle.
• 
  Michael Joseph

  My complete review of “The Story of Us” can be found at my
  web site.
• 
  Simon

  Interesting, feels very different in style from what I feel I usually read, though I can't put my finger on why that would be. Liked the characters, liked their story. We don't learn as much of Lucas' internal story but he's more sharing of himself, so there's enough. The ending/epilogue feels like a huge leap forward but it made sense, was just a leap.
• 
  ChaosMoondrawn

  I would rate this 5 stars.
  
  This is told in the first person POV of Kyle, a 40-year-old construction worker and part-time student. This is meant to be a standard, realistic man meets man romance without cliches, except he falls in love a gay porn star, Lucas, better known to fans as Tommy. Kyle tells the story looking back on how they met, the way people tell something when others ask them at a dinner party, through the lens of entertainment and nostalgia that turns into first person flashbacks so the author can add in all the world-building details for the reader to picture. Their meet cute is almost ruined by a misunderstanding, but Lucas persists. Yet, the porn star issue throws Kyle for a loop and it doesn't look like this thing is going to sprout wings.
  
  With the 17 year age difference Kyle is worried that he's at a different place in his life; he wants marriage, kids, pets, and a home that he's built. This is Kyle's POV, so the reader sees his journey to become more open minded, to overcome his doubts, learn to compromise better, and not to care so much about what other people think. Many times when I only have one point of view, I feel like I missed things or that I don't know the other characters as well--not so here! These characters come alive and feel real. Kyle and Lucas suffer from the same insecurities many of us do. As Kyle and Lucas fall into a relationship, it's in a bubble, so I was waiting for it to pop which the author acknowledges. This doesn't feel cliched or full of tropes. It can be difficult to integrate two lives together with work, family, friends, schedules, belongings, hobbies, etc. This doesn't have manufacturered crises, real life gives all of them plenty; much of the drama in our lives comes from family and friends and trying to navigate to find our own path.
  
  Here's the thing: porn is a job and actors are people. I have met plenty of people who chose porn as a career. I think this was mostly realistic, if romanticized and less jaded. I have gone to AEE (Adult Entertainment Expo) in Vegas, although I didn't get to go to the AVN Award Show. At one point Kyle thinks he knows why Lucas does porn and thinks he can fix him. Thankfully he gets over himself, because he's wrong. Lucas loves his career and he's not ashamed of what he does for a living. The sex scenes between Kyle and Lucas are not just smoking hot, but intimate. Top, bottom, dominant, submissive, Daddy, vers--these are all just words but Lucas and Kyle make them real by roleplaying and having fun. That's what trust is. The difference between the porn scenes and the real sex is very clear. The moment when Kyle is all in, is perfect: "I would love him like I’d learned to ride a bike—scared, but reckless, without pads or training wheels. If I crashed, my scars would tell our story." I smiled so much, my face hurt. I don't think I've read this author before, but I definitely will again. If you support choice and want a story where sex workers are positively depicted with heartwarming, real characters, give this a chance.
  
  The cover art is by Cherith Vaughan and shows a romantic scene from one of their dates.
• 
  blub

  The title of the book pretty much sums up what this book is about. Kyle McMillan is forty year old adult learner, going back to school to pursue an engineering degree. On a rainy day while trying to find somewhere to study for finals he and a couple of strangers get caught up in a revolving door. Therein begins his first meeting with Lucas Cass, a twenty-three year old pursuing a degree in business and Kyle finds out on their first date a porn star. Kyle isn't so accepting of this since he's quite conservative but the attraction they feel towards each other is too strong to ignore.
  
  I think I got what I expected from this book which isn't a bad thing. I enjoyed getting to know Kyle and Lucas and seeing them tackle their multiple issues together. Kyle at the start isn't exactly the most likable character but I think I could understand his feeling in regards to monogamous relationships and people in the adult entertainment industry (I'm going to ignore his introduction/preface at the start of the book) and insecurity about their age difference and how they would handle family, friends and fans. Lucas was the saving grace and I'm glad that he was willing to pursue Kyle even after Kyle's rejection and even get Kyle to explore more of his sexuality. It was a learning experience for the two of them.
  
  A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Amber

  The opening of this story is kind of deceiving because it made me think it was a humorous book. Instead I found a lovely romantic story of two guys falling in love. Kyle and Lucas aren't an insta-love couple but they are drawn together. They spend time together getting to know each other and they work on the problems they do have. I liked that Lucas didn't instantly give up porn and Kyle didn't have a big revelation that made Lucas doing porn ok. There wasn't a breaking point for either one of them where they were going to break up or one give up on their feelings. Kyle spends much of the book working through his misgiving while being head of heels in love with Lucas. Lucas doesn't dig his heels in or just give up on his job for Kyle. They work through the problem together which I love.
• 
  Marla Dudak

  A lovely sexy M/M romance between a 40 yr old contractor and a 23 year old porn star.