I can’t believe that Style of Love is the first book I’ve read by AJ Sherwood. I have several of her books in my digital library but just haven’t made time to read them before. (I will be reading more of them now. 😊)

Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and I like it even more when they’re oblivious BFFs. 😊 Asher and Zar have known each other since they were in diapers; their families live next door to each other. They’ve been BFFs for over 20 years; one innocent photo shoot together changes all of that in a heartbeat.

I love how this author has blended comedy, romance, family drama, and a bit of suspense into such a fun book to read. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down; the writing just flowed for me and I love it when that happens. I really needed this kind of book to read as I had just finished one that didn’t work for me at all.

Asher and Zar are oblivious to the fact that nearly everyone in town already considers them a couple. There’s even a betting pool on the county website. I not only loved the slow-burn romance between Asher and Zar, I also loved the cast of secondary characters that are Asher’s business partners. I hope each of them will be getting their own book.

There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this story (except Asher’s homophobic family that we are supposed to hate) but one question wasn’t answered: what is Zar’s real name? 😊 I hope we find out in one of the upcoming books. 😊

Reviews for AJ Sherwood

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I called him as I walked—more like stomped—along the sidewalk. As soon as the call connected, I demanded, “Where are you?”

“Leaning against your car.”

I almost stumbled over thin air. Had he seriously circled this entire area until he found my car? At least he realized we had to talk this out, though. It was smart of him to wait. I didn’t want to have this conversation over a phone. “Fine. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Okay.”

I vibrated in place, waiting for the walk sign at the crosswalk, then hurried across. I’d parked toward the back of the lot, away from most of the streetlights, so there wasn’t the best illumination back here. Still, enough light to see by, and I could see that Zar was good to his word. He was leaning against my car, legs crossed at the ankles, as if he had all the time in the world. That look was back on his face, too, the one that said he was hiding something from me. His eyes locked on me as I stalked over.

“What the hell was that?” I demanded, coming in close enough to slam my portfolio on the trunk.

“Me checking on you.”

“The hell it was. I realize it looked like a date at first glance, but I have never asked you to pull me out of a date with a man. It’s only when my mother tricks me that I call you in! So, I repeat, what the hell was that? You were acting jealous and possessive, like I was cheating on you. Even Wesley picked up on it, and he doesn’t know you at all.”

Zar stopped leaning against the car, turning to face me dead-on. “Maybe I was. Maybe I was feeling jealous and possessive.”

I had no words for a second. What the hell? Since when did my straight best friend care if I was on a date with a man?

“Zar, I’m seriously lost here. What? What are you even thinking?”

“I think I’ve been fucking blind. I think I’ve ignored or found reasons for things that I shouldn’t have.”

“If you’re trying to be cryptic, congrats, you’ve succeeded. Now start making sense.”

“I’m attracted to you, Ash.”

I stared at him, waiting for the words to make sense. They didn’t. I had literally been naked in front of this man several times and he’d never batted an eye, and now suddenly things had changed? The fuck?

“You don’t believe me,” Zar said with resignation.

“Uh…no?” I kept staring at him, not sure where this was coming from. Or how I felt about this sudden declaration out of the blue. “No, I don’t. When the hell did you decide this?”

“Saturday made it clear to me.”

“Okay, no, Saturday was just us playing at being lovers—”

“Yeah, and that playing brought feelings out in me I didn’t realize were there. Ash, you have no idea how many times I almost kissed you.”

Ever get so startled you feel unbalanced, enough that you almost fall even though you’re standing still? Yeah. Me in that moment. “I’m sorry, what?!”

“Surprised the hell out of me too. I’ve thought about it, slept on it…hasn’t changed the realization any. I want you, Asher.”