Crossroads by Riley Hart

Tropes: friends to lovers, mm/gay romance, queer awakening

Buy it on Amazon

☕️ Cozy ↔ Angst Scale

2: Soft Landing

🔥 Heat Level

3/5 Explicit

💕 Instalove ↔ Slow Burn Pace

3: Slow Burn

Synopsis

Nick is starting over after a divorce from the woman he married at seventeen, determined to build a new life around the restaurant he’s always wanted. His new neighbor Bryce is along for the ride — a self-described good-time guy who offers to help Nick get back out there. Neither man has ever been drawn to another guy before, but the spark between them is undeniable, and soon they’re facing a choice between the safe, familiar path and the one that could upend everything they thought they knew about themselves.

Why We Loved It

The perfect execution of friends-first romance. Meg’s favorite scene is when Bryce plays Nick’s wingman at the bar and feels that tug of jealousy that often shows up as part of the The Friendship GAMBLE.

Where We've Discussed This

THe book is the perfect overlap of two of our frameworks. Both of the characters start the book as straight-identifying and each separately works through the The Identity Disco five-step process to recognize their bisexuality; then once they realize their feelings for their neighbor, they each have to work through The Friendship GAMBLE, where they have to choice whether to risk their friendship in exchange for something more.