Tell Me Again

by Becca Neil

Every minute away from you is a minute too long.


Coop

It’s been ten years since he kissed me, and I can still feel it—his warm lips, his soft touch. He was my best friend, but then he abandoned me just before my entire life fell apart.

When he shows up at the diner where I work, with his fancy job, new car, and beautiful fiancée, my heart feels like it’s being ripped in two. Should I bury my feelings, forget the past, and give him a second chance at rebuilding our friendship, even though I know it can never be anything more than that?


Josh

Ten years ago, I made the worst decision of my life in the aftermath of the only kiss that ever meant something to me. I never stopped loving him, even if I didn’t get to tell him that.

When I run into Coop at a small diner in rural Nebraska, all those feelings I suppressed for years are back, threatening to upend the perfect life I’d built. I’ve got two weeks to convince him I’m sorry. But can I keep my other feelings locked away, or will that sexy baseball cap of his be my undoing?


Tell Me Again is a high-emotion, slow-burn(ish), second-chance(ish) MM contemporary romance set in a small town in rural Nebraska. It’s a story of best friends to strangers to lovers, featuring past emotional trauma, found family, virgin MCs, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.


Trigger references to alcoholism and an alcoholic parent, references to parental homophobia, mention of a parent who passed away from cancer, mention of past homelessness.

Genres: M M Romance, Second Chance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Romance, Queer, Slow Burn

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2024

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️

“Tell me again,” I say quietly. And he kisses the top of my head, pulls me tighter against his chest, and whispers, “I love you. Always.”

Two best friends have a falling out, but still love each other. Enough to fix what was broken ten years ago?

A tale as old as time.
I’ve gotta say, though, I really enjoyed the first half more than I enjoyed the rest.
The initial pining and angst and heartache was so so emotional and achy and good, but then..they get together?

What started as a nice and slow burn, builds up into this mega fire of spice and sexiness, and explodes with all the I love yous and the forgiving and them getting together right away. I know they’ve been pining and in love w each other for years, but I still felt they moved from hurt and pining to in love too fast. I wanted maybe more groveling, more of that slow simmer goodness, more sweet flustered timid boys going on cute dates.

As for the spice, yes it was hot and sexy and passionate, but it felt like their relationship consisted of only sex. The lack of more emotional connections between the MCs made the smut lose some of its feeling.

Extra points for the characterization of the female side. Instead of the stereotypical villainized ex/fiancée, Brenna was wonderful and understanding and real. I loved how she was portrayed.

Despite my various complaints, I still found this an enjoyable and romantic read, and I still really really love this author’s writing style.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- References to alcoholism
- Mentions of abusive parent
- Homophobia
- Off page parental death (cancer)
- Grief
- Mentions of past homelessness
- Friends to strangers to lovers
- Second chance
- Small town
- Strict top/bottom
- Virgin MCs
- Dry humping & frotting
- Rimming

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Josh is engaged to a woman for a third of the story, even though he knows he's not attracted to the opposite sex. He's not sleeping with her because they're saving themselves for marriage. LMAO Riiiight. They're not religious or anything, and it's not for lack of instigating on her part, yet it takes this woman five years to figure out that her boyfriend is gay.

Now, mind you, Josh LURVES her, just not like THAT. She's amazing and wonderful and his "babe." But he's been lying to her for half a decade because he's scared of his daddy.

Coop lives in a mobile home, works at a diner, and drives an old beater that barely starts most days. All he needs is a dog, and we have ourselves a country song.

Josh can't stop apologizing for something he did at age 15. Coop has a low self-esteem and an even lower vocabulary.

The word "fuck" and its variations are used 660 times. You all know I swear like a sailor, but that might be one fuckety fuck too many.

[Emna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
It Could’ve Been Everything—But It Chose to Be a MESS.

This book left me torn—not in the good way, not in the emotional, cathartic way. Just frustrated. It had the potential to break my heart beautifully, but instead, it broke the story.

Let me be clear: I love Second Chance romances. I LIVE for them. That slow build, the longing, the weight of unresolved history—it’s everything I crave in a love story. And at first, I felt that here. The connection between Coop and Josh was real. Their chemistry was strong, their intimate moments were slow, tender, and incredibly well written. Those scenes carried weight, softness, and something honest.And I FELT THAT.

But the rest of the book?
GARBAGE.

These two hadn’t spoken in ten years. They shared one meaningful moment, and then Josh vanished. He didn’t call. He didn’t apologize. He didn’t even think about him—by his own admission.
And yet we’re meant to believe this is some fated, epic love?
We’re supposed to believe that after a DECADE of complete silence, unresolved heartbreak, and straight-up abandonment, all it takes is one awkward reunion and a few emotional glances to undo all that?
...Seriously?

Meanwhile, he gets engaged to a woman he’s been with for five years—knowing he’s gay. That’s not romantic. It’s careless, cruel, confusing, and soooo stupid.
Josh, you chose that life.

And then suddenly, he comes back to town and—within one fucking week—everything changes.
The pacing completely destroyed any believability the story had built. You don’t ghost someone for a decade and then show up, say “sorry,” and expect a full reunion arc.
But that’s exactly what happens. 😭

Now, let’s talk about the fiancée. I’m sure the author inserted her character just to create some drama, but honestly? It was soooo STUPID and so unnecessary.
Her character felt like a prop. She was too perfect, too forgiving, too okay with being lied to and emotionally discarded. It wasn’t just unrealistic—it was infuriating.
And honestly? Her inclusion made the entire story feel even more hollow.
BECAUSE I COULLLLLLLLD NEVERRRRR.

I wanted to love this.
I REALLY DID.
I should have loved this. But the pacing was a mess, the drama was unnecessary, the conflict was weak, and the redemption arc was basically non-existent. Josh didn’t earn a second chance. He ran away, stayed gone for ten years, and expected everything to fall back into place after one emotionally intense week?

Absolutely not.

And worst of all?
It could’ve been so good.
The emotions were there. The writing was undeniably beautiful. The connection between the leads was solid. But it was all buried under bad choices, weak execution, and a storyline that rushed what should’ve been slow and sacred.

This wasn’t a Second Chance romance.
It was a missed opportunity.
And I’m so mad about it.

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance is usually not my favourite trope in romance, but this was done in a way that I loved. How Josh decided to repair his relationship with Coop was beautiful, as well as how Coop took a while to trust him again. Their relationship from before was broken when Josh's dad, a disgusting homophobe, discovers them kissing and Josh, being a teenager, buries his sexuality so deep inside that 10 years later he's engaged to a woman. We need to take a minute to appreciate the loving and understanding fiancée. She was a true friend and her support was perfect. Coop is almost broke and has lost his mum, who was a great parent. But he's found a family at his job, and I loved that for him too. He helps Josh overcome his internalised homophobia.
I loved the hurt/comfort in this story, how they both help each other become stronger and more confident. Josh being there for him unconditionally made my little black heart happy.
Their love story was beautiful and it developed little by little. Their HEA was lovely.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I'm not sure I took a breath through this whole book. It is so intense and moving, this is real deep seated love; the type you get from your first and only love. I absolutely loved Cooper, he was so vulnerable, yet so strong and Josh was just in so much turmoil. Full of angst and hurt you could feel each tremble of emotion. This is a story of childhood best friends who got ripped apart and suddenly come face to face again with an enemies to lovers vibe. It was written so well, trust takes time and we are alongside them the whole way as they learn to trust and admit feelings. Brenna was an incredible character, she needs to be mentioned. So refreshing to have a female character not raging with hate. This is a 5 star read, for the angst and emotion and how their love was written so vividly. They were shaking with emotion and I could feel every goosebump. The epiogue bought soothing and closure and a really happy ever after. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tell Me Again" Tells a story of love, loss, and second chances. Coop and Josh's journey is a beautiful tale of friendship evolving into something deeper through past traumas and life's challenges. Becca Neil really weaved the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and self-discovery into a heartfelt narrative set in rural Nebraska. My heart broke and melted in equal measure. I loved the emotional depth of the characters and their journey towards a happily-ever-after.

[Emma Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazingly beautiful and heart wrenching story this was! I absolutely loved it! The plot was very well thought out and executed wonderfully, as well as the character development being very good. Both of the MMCs were so relatable, as was Bren…she was such an important person in this story! I'm glad that she was as nice as she was and wasn't a raging lunatic, which she could have been. I think that this fact helped make the story as beautiful as it was. There were a few points when I was reading that I felt like my heart was shattering…I just wanted to scoop them all up and give them a massive hug! I'm soooo glad Coop and Josh finally got their happily ever after, both of them more than deserved it! It was slow burn in terms of spice but was well worth the wait soooo i'm not going to complain about that ☺️
Would certainly recommend the read!

[Krissreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5⭐️ 2.5/5🌶️ (4.19⭐️ overall my asshole!)

The cover got me but it was truly disappointing 😔

Books like this annoy the crap out of me because the story itself has the potential to be a good one but the whole thing was a mess and had absolutely no depth whatsoever!

80% of this book was nothing but a stuttering mess, with nearly every single sentence throughout the book tripping over words. I get that they’re both shy but this type of stuttering was like they were fucking little teenagers kissing for the first time.🥴

40% of this book continuously had “he/I rubbed the back of his/my neck”.. to the point it was on nearly every single page I doubt they had any fucking skin left AND I swear to god the word “um” made up half of the book!😫

This author needs to fix this shit asap and everyone giving it 4-5 stars needs their fucking eyes checked. 😒

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

already 20% into this book, i knew i was going to give it 5 stars. this was my first book by this author, and it definitely won't be my last

tell me again gave me all of the emotions - if a book can make me both smile and cry, then it's pretty damn good, imo. it's a best friends to strangers to lovers with a dash of second chance type of book. my heart ached for coop and josh, and i wanted desperately for them to get their hea (which, spoiler: they did).

this book does come with a couple of tws, so please check them out.

thank you to grr for this arc.

[Joanna Grosz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But the moment is over in an instant, crushed by the weight of the
thousands of days since, the thousands of lies since."

What Becca Neil excels at is undoubtedly writing about emotions! Like no one else, she can portray them incredibly deeply; every detail takes us into the depths of the characters' minds, allowing us to feel exactly what the characters feel. The author has achieved true mastery in depicting even the most subtle feelings and impressions, which is an amazing talent that makes me love reaching for her books.

This is already my second meeting with this author; the first book was also full of emotions, although of course the plot was significantly different. But certain similarities put both of these books really high on my list of favorites from the past year.

This story follows Cooper and Josh as they try to find a way to each other again after 10 years of separation. Once, when they were teenagers, they shared a close bond that was particularly strong, even exceptional, but due to Josh's father's intervention, their connection was severed. Now they unexpectedly get a second chance when Josh shows up in the town where Cooper now lives. At first, they keep their distance, especially because Josh has a fiancée, but soon old feelings resurface, and the two regain their former chemistry and passion that once bound them together. Bye, bye, fiancée!

The book is truly close to perfection when it comes to describing emotions and chemistry between the characters.

Although I'm not a fan of the "bad parents" trope, fortunately, in this case, the parents weren't such a significant plot point that would disrupt everything, and in the end, there was a slight change shown - at least in Josh's mother - which revealed a bit of human emotion, so that's a plus!

I'm aware that in the world of queer romance, the theme of bad parents or people who are homophobic often arises, and I've learned to accept that, so I'm not complaining; in this book, this theme wasn't described in an annoying way, and that's undoubtedly something I credit to the author.

Another positive aspect is that this author tries to avoid any contentious social and political issues that mainstream authors' books abound with.

This is exactly why I avoid mainstream authors - I stopped reading them because every book felt like one big manifesto presenting certain views - often the author made it a point to "enlighten" people about a certain topic - without considering how people differ greatly from each other and how reality is much more complicated than just black and white.

Also, readers aren't just from the American cultural sphere!
There are many shades of gray and many valid points of view. As a resident of Eastern Europe, I'm not part of American culture, nor am I part of some social topics that are popular in America, so sometimes I'm annoyed by books saturated with a kind of "standardized" views.

Indie authors - they are my only refuge! It is with them that you can find books simply written about people and their intimate dealings and dramas, deep and true and lifelike - and they're not political-view manifestos that mainstream authors' books from the top 50 of Amazon often turn into.

Becca's book proved to me once again that I stick with indie authors because they simply write true stories about people, not about views which kills creativity!

Oh, I almost forgot, the book is about characters who do not hook up, so it's another bonus point for me, as I like characters that search for meaningful sexual experiences. They don't have to be virgins, but I'm just not convinced when reading about characters that are super experienced and suddenly the hookup number 244 is more meaningful than 243? Nope, it's hard to believe for me. So I love that about Becca's book; she portrays people who prefer meaningful sex :D

I heard that her new book is coming out soon - which makes me very happy, and I intend to reach for this book; apparently, there's not going to be a "bad parents" theme in it, so maybe this time we'll get to experience the perfection? :) For now my rating is 4.9 stars! :D

Very solid and satisfying read! I greatly recommend it!

This is a review from an ARC, and it's my honest opinion.

[Megan Gustafson · Rating 2 out of 5]

These two might be the most inarticulate literary couple in history. I almost expired from the uh, um, …, and stuttering count alone. They were also so emotionally on edge, they were constantly shaking or trembling like a couple of wet chihuahuas. Except two wet chihuahuas would be fun, and this duo was more like two blobs of cold, gloopy oatmeal. On top of that, this book had a weirdly low character count with not a lot of anything going on. I started skimming at some point because it became so repetitive.

[SJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it a good try, but I can’t keep reading conversation that is made up of stops and starts with words, hemming and hawing to get a thought out, MCs who look up, down, anywhere but at each other and never complete a sentence, much less a conversation. For pages and pages and pages.

I had high hopes that a book not proclaiming on the cover that it is by a ‘USA Today Best Selling Author’ would have thoughtful words and characters. Totally disappointed with this second chance romance, especially after seeing the cover.

The angst is laid on with a trowel between every main character and a side one, too, the diner owner. MC Josh has a longtime girlfriend turned fiancée and they have never been physical besides touching. He can’t get it up for her because he loves his long lost best friend.
Girlfriend believes him that they are saving themselves for marriage while sleeping in the same bed every night.
Now I’m embarrassed that I kept reading after learning this.

Coop, the left behind former best friend, is a mess. A depressed, panicky mess for whom nothing goes right. As mentioned above, any dialogue from him is excruciating to read. And the f bombs? My gosh, every third word out of his mouth is some variation of f*! Thank you, reviewer who counted them!

The scenes and story line are similar to Leta Blake’s, ‘Mr. Frosty Pants’, which is a far better book than this one. I highly recommend it. This one? Yikes, no.
DNF 34%

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love a well written second chance romance.
This was such a heart wrenching story and I am so glad Coop and Josh finally got their HEA.

Josh and Coop were BFFs since childhood. They decide to kiss (for science) and Josh’s dad catches them, kicking Coop out and being a rude person to Josh. That sends Josh into tailspin, where in he hides his sexuality in a hetero relationship for years. Him and Coop run into each other again and well…the rest is history.

I did feel for Bren. It’s so hard to root for the MCs when other people get hurt in their story. But she was such a trooper 😭 she deserves all of the good in the world and her own HEA. 🖤

This is a slow burn in terms of relationship formation but it’s high in intensity and anticipation which kept me fully enthralled 🥹🥹

I received a complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary opinion!🖤

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becca's stories are so heartwarming.

Coop and Josh share such an intense connection and chemistry from the moment they meet again, something that they used to have but was stolen from them. Neither of them had managed to move on and they were both so completely in love with each other.

However Josh was engaged with Brenna who was actually a wonderful person. I would have loved for her to be more involved in the second part of the book and meet Coop, and I'd hope she remains in their life as a best friend.

My heart broke for both Coop and Josh. While Coop had felt abandoned by Josh in the past and had never dated anyone, Josh was in a relationship with someone he loved but was not in love with, because he was terrified by his father. Brenna was fantastic in helping Josh even though she was so hurt, she really cared for him to be happy.

Once they meet again, they couldn't hide their feelings any longer. Their scenes together are so intense and full of love, need, craving for each other. Lovely read!

[paula reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars ☆⋆˙

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Love Forever- MM First Timers

I loved the artwork on this cover and the blurb drew me in. However, the first 50% was hard going for me. I wasn’t in the best frame of mind to start with and Josh’s behaviour with Brenna, dithering and apologising and repeating this over and over
again for his lack of spontaneity. They were engaged and he knew it wasn’t right. Brenna is apparently the best friend ever and she loves him but knows something is amiss very soon after they arrive back in her hometown to see to wedding arrangements.

Josh knows though. Something just happened when they were in the local Diner and his heart is thumping out of his chest. He is sure he has just seen his best childhood friend Coop Jackson, and he didn’t even notice him. Josh has so much he would love to say to him, to apologise for what happened when they were 17 years old.

I got very annoyed with his lack of backbone and stopped reading for a few days. With some to-ing and fro-ing the read begins to lighten up and the HEA is adorably romantic. I was so glad I picked up the story and finished it to the fabulous ending.

[cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

give me second chance, small town romances any day. i eat that up and this is no exception to that. i really enjoyed this book. it was easy to read while also having its harder moments. josh and coop see each other again for the first time after 10 years and feelings start to come up for both of them. these two characters go through so much before they see each other again and even when they rekindle their friendship. i really enjoyed how josh’s ex was insanely supportive of him regardless of how things ended between them. coop had friends around him who supported him throughout the book and the 10 years prior. these two were just so cute and lovely. this is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last, that’s for sure!

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute and sweet second chance/estranged best friends to lovers romance! And all the proceeds are donated to a charity for homeless LGBT youth which is a slay.

Coop and Josh were childhood best friends and got caught kissing by Josh’s (horrible) dad and then didn’t see each other for 10 years. Now Josh is engaged to a woman and runs into Coop in his small town. This was MUCH less angsty than I was expecting and was honestly really cute and sweet and a little sad, but I really liked it! Lots of hurt/comfort. Very cute!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to Becca Neil. But the combination of an illustrated cover and a blurb that promises angst and emotion drew me in like catnip does a cat. I am leaving this story with a very good impression of Becca's work. She managed the flow of the story really well, as in no point it fell dull, flat or stagnant. The characters feel full and fleshed out, down to the background characters we see only in a couple of scenes. You can tell they have a life, even if we never touch it due to the fact that it doesn't really affect Coop and Josh.
The relationship moves fast, but the way the plot is set it doesn't feel like an out of the blue, "stuck in there for the plot" kind of thing. The characters push the story, and the way they do so makes sense for them and who they are, and it is palpable.

I did find it strange that we have two more chapters after The End shows up. Keep on reading! Do not close the book after The End! There is more! Beware! They are good, do not leave without them!

[Eden West · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was truly a wonderful experience to immerse myself in the world of Coop and Josh!
This was exactly what I needed – the warmth, the emotions.
I read with bated breath and a racing heart: their first meeting after years apart, their nervousness, their excitement, slowly rediscovering each other, gradually realizing their feelings had never completely disappeared.

I read the book with a smile on my face; it had such a positive effect on me. I really needed it because my anxiety has been overwhelming lately, paralyzing me and making it hard to do anything. But reading this book was almost a healing experience, and it even inspired me to start writing again. So, thank you the author for such wonderful emotions!

Josh and Coop are the perfect couple. Their closeness and the need to make up for lost time are almost palpable, as is the chemistry between them.

This beautifully written and carefully crafted book is something I highly recommend to all fans of double gay first times! And I know there are many of you out there – pick up this book, it's wonderful and truly unique!
Becca has a marvelous style!

5*****

[River · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an arc. It’s a very cute story. There is communication issues and raging anxiety and tones of big feelings. I really enjoyed this!

[anna_79_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading as soon as it dropped in my inbox and I couldn’t put it down. It had me crying 100 pages in and I just love Coop and Josh and their story 🥰

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, this book. Add Coop(er) and Josh to my list of men who have my heart. This book is beautiful and the boys are awkward and the story is amazing. I was sucked in from the first chapter.

Coop and Josh were best friends. Inseparable. They had a sort of love that not everyone is lucky enough to find. But they only expressed it once, in a kiss, ten years ago. And then...Josh shut Coop out. Closed the door, shattering Cooper deep down to his core.

Josh started living his life - living his lie. Ten years later, he's back and he and Cooper come face to face. So much time has passed but their hearts have not changed. Can they recover from the hurt and work to make a life?

The way that this book handles these men is just beautiful. Your heart is instantly drawn to them and I was rooting for them from day one. The angst is not like normal, broody angst. It's more of an anxiety angst. The immediate, unconditional and slow(ish) burn love is so endearing and enjoyable. The side characters are special too. I just cannot say enough about this book. Oh, and the spice. The spice is perfection. Read it. You won't be disappointed.

🍽️ Childhood best friends to lovers
🎳 Small town
🍽️ Redemption
🎳 You're my family
🍽️ Slow(ish) burn
🎳 Spice
🍽️ Awkward together

[Lore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novella disguised as a novel

I adore this author. Pieces of Home is genuinely one of my favorite books ever, but this one was a miss for me.

The opening had me hooked. I really thought I was headed toward another 5-star emotional wrecking. And I’m a total sucker for second chance romances, so the premise was basically a guaranteed win in my mind.

But the pacing… was rough.

I just couldn’t buy that Coop would forgive and forget that fast. It felt like all the emotional work happened off screen like the plot had the emotional beats of a novella instead of a full novel, and everything jumped from point A to point B without letting us sit in the fallout.

That said, I really did love both characters individually. They’re so genuinely sweet, and the way they both kind of tripped over their words or weren’t sure how to say what they meant was actually my favorite part of the book.

so yeah: great start, great characters, but the relationship arc needed space to breathe.

It missed the mark for me but I'm excited to continue other books Becca Neil has written.

tropes:
second chance
friends to strangers to lovers
slow burn
virgin mmc's

spice:
2.5

[Jordan Fischer | julietfoxreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, what a sweet story! I've been dying to try one of Becca Neil's books, and Tell Me Again was a great place to start. It's a second chance romance full of pining and angst, and I just fell in love with Coop and Josh. Such a great read from a new to me indie author you need you check out!

There is INTENSE chemistry between Coop and Josh from the moment they see each other again. While their situation is pretty upsetting after the way their last interactions together went ten years before and seems impossible due to the fact that Josh is engaged, it quickly becomes evident that they really are meant for each other. For such a slow burn, these guys move fast once they realize that their childhood friendship is intact and their attraction is mutual. I LOVED of the caretaking and how careful they are with each other. On top of that, it was so sweet that both Josh and Coop were virgins and got to share so many firsts with each other after so many years. I also very much appreciate that Brenna, Josh's ex fiancé, was not vilified in this story - she knows something is up with Josh and is so incredibly supportive when he finally comes out.

While this story was amazing on it's own, DO NOT miss out on the bonus epilogue available on Becca's website! Highly recommend as a way to see these two guys happy AND the spice is HOT. If you've seen the special edition cover of this book - the art comes from the bonus story. Highly recommend, and I cannot wait to read more of Becca's stories!

[Dino Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: alcoholism, abusive parent, homophobia, broken engagement, death of a parent (cancer, recounted), homelessness
standalone: yes
final thoughts: I love when an LBGT+ story doesn’t have homophobia as the main focal point of the plot. Though since Josh has stayed closeted and engaged in a fake relationship that isn’t fully true but it moved the plot along where it needed to go. The side characters in this book were wonderful, including the fiancée who was sidelined only a month before their wedding.
Here’s some things I really enjoyed about this book:
•I love a dual 1st person POV romance where we get to see both MCs pining for each other 😍
•I’m glad Coop made Josh work for it a bit since he broke his heart 10 years ago
•If there’s a third act breakup there better be a grand gesture and this one was perfect for the boys
• Almost every side character in this small town was wonderful
• There was no cheating!! Even though Josh was engaged when he ran back into his childhood love, he didn’t act on his desires until the engagement was broken


read this book if you love

💞 mutual pining
🏡 small town
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
😬 angst
💞 childhood crush
🌈 LGBT+ representation
💞 friends-to-lovers
2️⃣ 2nd chance romance
💓 slowburn
💳 virgin
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell Me Again is the second book by Becca Neil, and I must say, I am a fan. Her writing feels realistic, with the situations and reactions making the scenes so clear.

Coop didn't have an easy life after his mom died. Becoming self-sufficient after dropping out of school, Coop lives day by day trying to make ends meet.

Josh, on the other hand, went to college and is now a successful physical therapist. When he comes into town with his fiancee, Josh is overwhelmed with so many feelings after seeing Coop at the diner.

The way things ended the first time does not make for an easy second chance story. It does, however, help navigate where do they go from here... and it's not always the simple route.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing this is only Becca Neil's second novel makes it that much more impressive. Tell Me Again is just as emotionally powerful as More Than Words, and feels as though the two stories could have brought all the MCs together and they'd have been great friends.
The experiences in this novel are fairly low angst, but the past memories for both men bring tension and tragedy. Both Coop & Josh have loved one another for 10+ years, but never told one another, and didn't keep in touch. When they're surprisingly brought back together, they realize their feelings never changed, even though life's circumstances are very different than what they'd known.

A few slower parts, especially for Josh when working to shift his current circumstances. It felt almost repetitive in those moments. Once Josh & Coop are given the freedom to be together, the overall mood of the book is lifted, and it pushes through to the end of the book, even with a bit of an interaction with Josh's family/past. The local townspeople love Coop & are very supportive of his & Josh's relationship.
The couple are given a wonderful epilogue glimpse into their future, even if it only jumps up to about 6 months in time.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you're already familiar with Becca's More Than Words novel. Her writing style is emotional & beautiful, and you're easily left wanting more from the characters.

I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[GreenwingReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Becca Neil and I loved it. I was a little nervous at first because I struggle with books that include cheating and it wasn't stated one way or another if there is cheating in this one. While there is some emotional cheating on Josh's part, he is really torn up about it and there is no physical cheating. Since that is something that made me consider not reading this book, I hope that clarification helps anyone else on the fence. Ultimately, I wasn't upset by what was in this book because of the way it was addressed and how the characters responded to the changes in their dynamics.

Coop and Josh are both complex characters that have been through it. All of the characters in the book are great and well-rounded. Coop especially has been and is still going through a lot. He is a mess. When Josh returns ten years after a kiss that rocked both their worlds, his life his turned upside down all over again.

Josh grew up in a house with an abusive alcoholic whose expectations of their son were exact and specific. Even as an independent adult, he feels immense pressure to live up to his parents' expectations of him. He's forced to hide his true self and live a lie for a decade, but when he unexpectedly encounters Coop again, his carefully constructed facade begins to crack.

This story was angsty and emotional. Coop and Josh have to fight hard for their HEA and overcome trauma that they have caused each other and that has been dealt to them by outside forces. While they do get their happy ending, it is hard won, which makes it all the sweeter.

I look forward to more from this author and am so glad to have discovered them!

[Nicole M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely adored these two guys 😍 and their story. Sorry Josh, as much as I do love you. Coop stole my ❤️ right from the very start. My heart hurt 💔 for them and other characters (not giving more info- I refuse to spoil 😂)

I love a good second chance story and I love how quickly two people who once were best friends could fit the puzzle pieces back together, like they were where they were supposed to be all along. Quickly, doesn't mean easy and like I said, my heart hurt, but it is just a good story.