This was ridiculous. And I liked it anyway.

Cody’s hero is his older brother, Mike. Cody wants to be like Mike, even though Mike is big and muscular and Cody is tiny and skinny. So when Mike announces he is gay, Cody announces this too. Of course Cody is 12 at the time and has no idea what being gay means.

When Cody is 18, he attends the same university as his brother, so they both share an apartment. It is there that Cody meets Jared, a friend of Mike, but also the owner of the gay bar where Mike works. Jared eventually persuades protective Mike to let Cody work at the same bar.

Cody is totally clueless to all things gay. So when Mike tries to explain what a top or a bottom means, Cody is confused. But since Mike proclaims to be a total top, Cody just says he is too.

Mike doesn’t quite want to leave small twinky Cody so clueless, but their conversation also helps protect Cody.

“So, this is important, and I need you to trust me on this; when you get hit on at the bar, and you will get hit on, you need to be honest and upfront about which kind of gay you are. You know, so you don’t lead anybody on. If another guy asks you out, or wants to take you home, the first thing you need to say to them is ‘I only top’. Understand?”
“I only top,” Cody said slowly.
Mike nodded, “Yes, exactly right, and say it just like that. And if they lose interest, well then, they aren’t worth your time anyway. Okay?”
“Okay. But if someone is fine with it, that's good with you?”
His brother smiled widely, “If someone is willing to let you top them, then yeah, they are good in my book.”

But luckily Jared is there to help ‘educate’ sweet innocent Cody…

Cody was EXTREMELY naive. It was kind of adorable, but felt very very childlike. But hey, once you decide to ignore this (and the ridiculous things being said about being a top or a bottom), this was a fun read.

We already know Julian from Top Me Maybe?, and I was happy to read his own story.

And what could be wrong with a hot Twink meeting his total opposite and fall in love? Not much, in the grand scheme of things. And I enjoyed that part of the story. It was funny, it was sweet, it was hot.

But.

And I realize I should have gone with my gut feeling, and read the blurb more carefully. But the whole sexual assault plot was so not my thing. Because honestly, I'm tired of reading about rape/assault as a mere plot device that has nothing to do with core of the story. I'm not a fan of the" young reckless twink getting saved by the manly man"-trope. A character can grow and two people can get closer without this particular kind of drama. It's the same with "near death" situation outside of crime/mystery books for me.

I'm not saying authors shouldn't write about rape. All I'm trying to say is: If you want to write about that topic, make it the main theme of your book, handle it with care and sensibility, and let the reader know beforehand what he/she is getting into by picking this book up. But don't use it as a dramatic device to make your characters grow, change or get closer. And for the love of the deity you believe in, don't gloss over the effects an attack like that has on a person! There is no magic dick or magic big arms to cure you of the aftermath of sexual assault!

That's all.

I am glad I stuck with the book.

Not sure if the overload of sexual innuendos and jokes was actually funny, but it was somewhat amusing. The story straightened out (no pun, no girl cooties) closer to 50% and turned to be a pretty cute read.