Served Hot

I was looking forward to reading this because it sounded like some of my favourite fanfiction (the “coffee shop AU” is a favourite trope) but the characters themselves left me disappointed. I just didn't care about either of these people and they didn't seem compatible at all. When you force a fluffy romance between two characters with zero chemistry, it just reads very uncomfortable and somewhat one-sided. In this case, Robby seemed domineering and internally used his controlling ex-boyfriend as a comparison in this new relationship constantly. The reader isn't given really any background information on that relationship though besides that the ex was also a customer and was in the closet. Robby doesn't want a relationship like that again where he feels he's a dirty secret so he kind of forces David's hand. David seems like a wet towel, is very self-conscious with low self esteem with a lot of trauma and abuse in his past, so he lets Robby take the lead but because he's so uncomfortable with it, withdrawals and Robby feels he has to confront him publicly and make an ultimatum. Basically, it's not a healthy relationship and these two are not good together. If this is your idea of a good relationship, you might need to reassess things.
Overall, while I did finish the entire story, I have no interest in reading more from this series or author.

** 3.5 **
This was a sweet, slow burn romance between a still grieving and previously closeted David and Robbie and outwardly easy going barista who is yearning for a real relationship after having been kept a secret by his prior boyfriend.

There is no kink, Alphas or super heroes here, just two everyday flawed people trying to cope with past experiences yet recognizing and reaching for love, plain & ordinary love when it's within grasp.

“Since David had come into my life I'd learned a lot more about hope. It looks like ivory sheets and stacks of paint cans and two pairs of shoes next to the bed. It sounds like rustling bed covers and murmured endearments. Hope tastes like skin and soap and victory and coffee.”

A sweet read for an afternoon, maybe with a nice mug of coffee too.