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Bent
Bent Backwards
A story retold - straight to gay erotic romance
One very average day, Ethan Quinn walks into a pub and in a split second, his entire life is turned upside down. A chance encounter with sexy, sweet Oliver, gives rise to an addiction that can't be ignored or overcome.
If you've read Bent, you might have found yourself wondering about what enigmatic and at times, maddening, Ethan was thinking. No need to wonder - Bent Backwards retells the story from Ethans perspective.
One very average day, Ethan Quinn walks into a pub and in a split second, his entire life is turned upside down. A chance encounter with sexy, sweet Oliver, gives rise to an addiction that can't be ignored or overcome.
If you've read Bent, you might have found yourself wondering about what enigmatic and at times, maddening, Ethan was thinking. No need to wonder - Bent Backwards retells the story from Ethans perspective.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2021
53 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Jesse H. Reign
19 books1,464 followersI'm Jesse, and I write contemporary and paranormal MM romance.
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 12, 2025
This one follows the same timeline as Bent, but from Ethan’s POV, while in Bent, we have to suffer through Oliver’s pinning and feelings that certainly seemed unrequited, in this one, we get to experience all the angst and denial from Ethan; it’s clear he was as obsessed, if not a bit more, than Oliver.
I honestly don’t understand why I decided to read this duet. I hate cheating in books, and somehow I still decided to read a book where that’s mainly the most important storyline 🤷🏻♀️.
You might think this is just 🌽 and like yes, but there’s also some plot and a lot of inner monologues from two stunned, emotionally dudes that show they have more feelings than they’d like to accept. Overall, I had a good time reading this.
Reading it at the same time as Bentwas the best decision Gaby from yesterday could have made.
I honestly don’t understand why I decided to read this duet. I hate cheating in books, and somehow I still decided to read a book where that’s mainly the most important storyline 🤷🏻♀️.
You might think this is just 🌽 and like yes, but there’s also some plot and a lot of inner monologues from two stunned, emotionally dudes that show they have more feelings than they’d like to accept. Overall, I had a good time reading this.
Reading it at the same time as Bentwas the best decision Gaby from yesterday could have made.
February 15, 2025
6 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
Bent Backwards is the same story as Bent, but from Ethan’s POV. Crazy enough, I think I liked book two more than book one.
I worried it would be boring to read the same book twice, but it truly wasn’t for me. Many of the scenes from the first book were in here, and being able to see it from a different perspective was interesting. But there were also a handful of new scenes we got to read about, and conversations Ethan had with Liza. Plus the extra BDSM scenes were so fucking hot.
I also loved being in Ethan’s head. Where he comes off as the more aloof partner in Bent, I feel like his POV here shows him falling a bit earlier than Oliver. And the amount of times he called Oliver “baby” in his head just kept me on my knees.
The story felt a bit more tense and emotional from Ethan’s perspective, and I think the third act hit me so much harder. I just love these two so, so much.
Again, the plot of this duet revolves around cheating. And not cheating where the significant other is written to be a terrible person so the cheating doesn’t feel as gross. But both the women getting hurt in these books are genuinely good people. So maybe don’t read if that will bother you.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: ebook
Bent Backwards is the same story as Bent, but from Ethan’s POV. Crazy enough, I think I liked book two more than book one.
I worried it would be boring to read the same book twice, but it truly wasn’t for me. Many of the scenes from the first book were in here, and being able to see it from a different perspective was interesting. But there were also a handful of new scenes we got to read about, and conversations Ethan had with Liza. Plus the extra BDSM scenes were so fucking hot.
I also loved being in Ethan’s head. Where he comes off as the more aloof partner in Bent, I feel like his POV here shows him falling a bit earlier than Oliver. And the amount of times he called Oliver “baby” in his head just kept me on my knees.
The story felt a bit more tense and emotional from Ethan’s perspective, and I think the third act hit me so much harder. I just love these two so, so much.
Again, the plot of this duet revolves around cheating. And not cheating where the significant other is written to be a terrible person so the cheating doesn’t feel as gross. But both the women getting hurt in these books are genuinely good people. So maybe don’t read if that will bother you.
January 14, 2025
Asking your girlfriend to invite her bestie's boyfriend(whom you JUST met) to hang out at your place while they go out THEN cupping his dick out of the blue is the kind of shot you absolutely don't take unless you're 120% sure.
Some people really do live life on the edge.
And it turned out well? What sort of instant feral lust is this? Gimme it.
***this book requires a 'Please don't try this at home' disclaimer.
Also featuring....Sentient Dick®
'I feel pressure in every cell in my body, as My Dick starts to chant: Thrust…thrust…thrust!'
'Yield, I think desperately, yield.'
His ring is fighting hard, but I’m fighting harder.
💀💀💀
And once Ethan got him some Ollie, it was basically a wrap.
'New plan. I am going to fuck Oliver. I’m going to fuck him every chance I get. I’m going to fuck him until I can’t walk. Until I can’t stand. Until I can’t think. Until something breaks.'
But only sexually🙄
'It’s simple. It’s fucking with Oliver, and it’s love with Liza. It’s not rocket science.'
This was unique in that Oliver absolutely fell in love the usual way. Meet a guy, have chemistry, fuck, get to know him, fall in love.
Ethan fell in hindsight. After the breakup. During the affair, sure, he had moments where he'd like things about Ollie. But he always swept them under the rug. His mantra, 'Liza is for loving, Oliver is for fucking' held true.
Until after. And it wasn't even a lightning bolt kind of realization. It took him a while to appreciate all the little Ollie things he missed and took for granted. It read like once he let himself entertain the idea, all the memories took on a whole other light.
See, until this 'after', I wasn't buying what the author was selling. I was like sure, Ollie seems into this but Ethan's kinda checked out. He treated it like an ordinary affair, albeit with the kind of combustible chemistry usually found in paranormal fated mates romances.
But after? Ethan falling into depression without realizing why his world held no light anymore? Yeah I ate that shit right up.
If he'd had some magical epiphany about being in love with Ollie, I'd be unconvinced. But it took him 2 months of not knowing why nothing interested him anymore to finally get there.
Somehow the slower pace made more sense for him. He's absolutely the type that would methodically eliminate every other possibility before he realized he's just in love (and absolutely fucked for walking away from his person for 2 months and change).
I WANT to give Ollie his tens for ending the affair and going hardcore no contact but he ruined it by folding like a wet napkin the literal second Ethan's knee touched his in a bar.
His KNEE.
Didn't even wait for an apology. Spine made of spaghetti.
In retrospect, it's probably for the best that Ollie's kink was tying Ethan up and beating his ass.
If anyone deserves to get their ass beat, it's Ethan.
Some people really do live life on the edge.
And it turned out well? What sort of instant feral lust is this? Gimme it.
***this book requires a 'Please don't try this at home' disclaimer.
Also featuring....Sentient Dick®
'I feel pressure in every cell in my body, as My Dick starts to chant: Thrust…thrust…thrust!'
'Yield, I think desperately, yield.'
His ring is fighting hard, but I’m fighting harder.
💀💀💀
And once Ethan got him some Ollie, it was basically a wrap.
'New plan. I am going to fuck Oliver. I’m going to fuck him every chance I get. I’m going to fuck him until I can’t walk. Until I can’t stand. Until I can’t think. Until something breaks.'
But only sexually🙄
'It’s simple. It’s fucking with Oliver, and it’s love with Liza. It’s not rocket science.'
This was unique in that Oliver absolutely fell in love the usual way. Meet a guy, have chemistry, fuck, get to know him, fall in love.
Ethan fell in hindsight. After the breakup. During the affair, sure, he had moments where he'd like things about Ollie. But he always swept them under the rug. His mantra, 'Liza is for loving, Oliver is for fucking' held true.
Until after. And it wasn't even a lightning bolt kind of realization. It took him a while to appreciate all the little Ollie things he missed and took for granted. It read like once he let himself entertain the idea, all the memories took on a whole other light.
See, until this 'after', I wasn't buying what the author was selling. I was like sure, Ollie seems into this but Ethan's kinda checked out. He treated it like an ordinary affair, albeit with the kind of combustible chemistry usually found in paranormal fated mates romances.
But after? Ethan falling into depression without realizing why his world held no light anymore? Yeah I ate that shit right up.
If he'd had some magical epiphany about being in love with Ollie, I'd be unconvinced. But it took him 2 months of not knowing why nothing interested him anymore to finally get there.
Somehow the slower pace made more sense for him. He's absolutely the type that would methodically eliminate every other possibility before he realized he's just in love (and absolutely fucked for walking away from his person for 2 months and change).
I WANT to give Ollie his tens for ending the affair and going hardcore no contact but he ruined it by folding like a wet napkin the literal second Ethan's knee touched his in a bar.
His KNEE.
Didn't even wait for an apology. Spine made of spaghetti.
In retrospect, it's probably for the best that Ollie's kink was tying Ethan up and beating his ass.
If anyone deserves to get their ass beat, it's Ethan.
April 20, 2023
Rating: 4 Stars
Spice: 5/5
Bent Backwards by Jesse Reign is the a retelling of Bent, except this is from Ethan’s perspective, instead of Oliver’s. I think I liked this one a little more than Bent. I didn’t realize it was the same book or I might not of bought it. I thought this was a continuation of their story but it’s not. I still think it’s worth reading.
Happy Reading ♥️
Spice: 5/5
Bent Backwards by Jesse Reign is the a retelling of Bent, except this is from Ethan’s perspective, instead of Oliver’s. I think I liked this one a little more than Bent. I didn’t realize it was the same book or I might not of bought it. I thought this was a continuation of their story but it’s not. I still think it’s worth reading.
Happy Reading ♥️
April 28, 2024
But, if you’re asking if I would do anything to change what happened between us, well, then I guess, yes. One thing.” He eyes me, as I take a deep breath, “If I could go back in time, I would. I’d go back to the day that we met, and I’d set my alarm a little earlier. I’d leave home a little sooner, I’d walk to the bar a little quicker… just so I could get to you a little faster.”
Swoon! I think I loved the re-telling more than the Oliver version in Bent. With Bent, you knew what Oliver was feeling and that he was all-in with Ethan. Yet Ethan was an enigma and so hard to figure out. Here, we get all the answers and it’s everything I wanted and then some. Absolutely loved this! I wish it would’ve been longer.
Swoon! I think I loved the re-telling more than the Oliver version in Bent. With Bent, you knew what Oliver was feeling and that he was all-in with Ethan. Yet Ethan was an enigma and so hard to figure out. Here, we get all the answers and it’s everything I wanted and then some. Absolutely loved this! I wish it would’ve been longer.
December 14, 2022
Someone suggested on tik-tok to read "Bent" and "Bent Backwards" together and it was the best suggestion ever!! glad i took it.
I love the experience of reading the same situation from two separated points of view, and i think i would have hated Ethan if I didn't have the chance to see the story through his eyes right away.
That being said... I'm not sure if i loved the experience more than the story because now that i think about it the story wasn't that impressive and there were parts that irritated me and felt like they came out of nowhere...
also warning: there were too many sax scenes at one point that i started skimming through some, if you plan to read these two together as me just have that in mind.
I love the experience of reading the same situation from two separated points of view, and i think i would have hated Ethan if I didn't have the chance to see the story through his eyes right away.
That being said... I'm not sure if i loved the experience more than the story because now that i think about it the story wasn't that impressive and there were parts that irritated me and felt like they came out of nowhere...
also warning: there were too many sax scenes at one point that i started skimming through some, if you plan to read these two together as me just have that in mind.
April 4, 2022
This was just a smidgen better. More communication and interaction from this MCs POV. Very enjoyable.
April 22, 2024
4 stars
I found hilarious Ethan's constant internal debate between his Common Sense, The Dreamer and his Dick, but it was funny until Ollie got hurt, then I just wanted to smack him in the head: I cannot believe how naive and insensitive he was, how he could think about still marrying his girlfriend after months of loving Oliver, about keeping their relationship just on a physical level when it was so clear they had a strong connection not only in bed but also emotionally?
I'm still not sold on the BDSM part and I think there were way too much sex scenes.
But I adored the final part because I was dying to know more about their coming out and their families and, overall, I think this is a very good love story.
I found hilarious Ethan's constant internal debate between his Common Sense, The Dreamer and his Dick, but it was funny until Ollie got hurt, then I just wanted to smack him in the head: I cannot believe how naive and insensitive he was, how he could think about still marrying his girlfriend after months of loving Oliver, about keeping their relationship just on a physical level when it was so clear they had a strong connection not only in bed but also emotionally?
I'm still not sold on the BDSM part and I think there were way too much sex scenes.
But I adored the final part because I was dying to know more about their coming out and their families and, overall, I think this is a very good love story.
August 11, 2024
The author did a wonderful job reworking the original story into one told from an opposite viewpoint, that of Ethan, the other half of the scorching hot couple.
The writer did a great thing, they showed the vulnerability of Ethan that was missing in ‘Bent’. Oh, he was still a great character in that book, but I thought he was cocky and a bit arrogant and that he had hand in the relationship. This version in Ethan’s POV shows his interior thoughts, motives, and emotions in almost all of the same scenes from the first book. It worked so well! Where I thought that Ethan was holding himself back in emotional clinches with Oliver, he was holding back his fear of hurting everyone if he admitted the depth of his feelings for Oliver. He still ended up hurting Oliver, and Liza, the girlfriend. When Ethan comes to his senses and admits the truth to himself, his tears and anguish were so very well written.
I loved the writing device of Ethan’s interior thoughts being labeled ‘Common Sense’, ‘The Dreamer’, and, ‘My Dick.’ Lol How true that our psyche’s have different motivations. I loved when Ethan let ‘The Dreamer’ into his thoughts again with their dialogue, which he had quashed since he was a teenager. The scene where all three voices, who always disagreed with each other, often very amusingly, when all their voices joined in unison telling Ethan what to do, what he wanted and needed, it was a wonderful scene!
An excellent and rewarding read.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The writer did a great thing, they showed the vulnerability of Ethan that was missing in ‘Bent’. Oh, he was still a great character in that book, but I thought he was cocky and a bit arrogant and that he had hand in the relationship. This version in Ethan’s POV shows his interior thoughts, motives, and emotions in almost all of the same scenes from the first book. It worked so well! Where I thought that Ethan was holding himself back in emotional clinches with Oliver, he was holding back his fear of hurting everyone if he admitted the depth of his feelings for Oliver. He still ended up hurting Oliver, and Liza, the girlfriend. When Ethan comes to his senses and admits the truth to himself, his tears and anguish were so very well written.
I loved the writing device of Ethan’s interior thoughts being labeled ‘Common Sense’, ‘The Dreamer’, and, ‘My Dick.’ Lol How true that our psyche’s have different motivations. I loved when Ethan let ‘The Dreamer’ into his thoughts again with their dialogue, which he had quashed since he was a teenager. The scene where all three voices, who always disagreed with each other, often very amusingly, when all their voices joined in unison telling Ethan what to do, what he wanted and needed, it was a wonderful scene!
An excellent and rewarding read.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 11, 2025
4⭐️
Bent Backwards takes us through the same timeline as Bent, but this time from Ethan’s POV and it’s just as intense. While Oliver’s longing felt painfully unrequited in Bent, here we see Ethan drowning in just as much (if not more) obsession, denial, and angst. He may be better at lying to himself, but his feelings for Ollie were undeniable, and watching him finally fall and fight to make things right, was incredibly satisfying. Paired with Bent, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a love story. Just a heads-up for readers who dislike cheating, but if you love angst with a rewarding HEA, this one won’t disappoint!
Bent Backwards takes us through the same timeline as Bent, but this time from Ethan’s POV and it’s just as intense. While Oliver’s longing felt painfully unrequited in Bent, here we see Ethan drowning in just as much (if not more) obsession, denial, and angst. He may be better at lying to himself, but his feelings for Ollie were undeniable, and watching him finally fall and fight to make things right, was incredibly satisfying. Paired with Bent, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a love story. Just a heads-up for readers who dislike cheating, but if you love angst with a rewarding HEA, this one won’t disappoint!
February 23, 2024
The story from Bent told by Ethan. At least we know that he falls as hard and as fast as Ollie, though he is more adept at lying to himself than our good Irishman. Love how Ethan makes up for hurting Ollie so much. The ending was so beautiful. Together with Bent, it's an emotional love story.
Beware those of you who dislike cheating in books. Though as I said on my Bent review, it makes sense for the kind of story.
Beware those of you who dislike cheating in books. Though as I said on my Bent review, it makes sense for the kind of story.
January 9, 2022
It’s official!! A go-to author hence forward. And one of my favorite books of ALL TIME!!! It was lovely and heartfelt. The internal monologue explains so much from the previous book.
February 2, 2024
3.5 stars. There’s not a lot to add here. This is the exact same story as Bent, just told from the opposite perspective. I wondered whether it would add anything to the narrative, but it actually did. The romance is so intense and crazy, and the emotional aspect felt so one-sided in the first book, that getting Ethan’s take on it was pretty enlightening. I still wish these two books had been combined into a full-length novel with more build-up before the MCs get together, but beggars can’t be choosers.
April 2, 2023
I really enjoyed reading Ethan's side of this story. I found myself wanting to go back to Oliver's thoughts a lot of the times. Althought this retelling was amazing, I think, and believe me when I say I'm surprising even myself when I say this, I think I would have been ok with just an epilogue with Ethan's POV at the end of Bent. In Bent, there wasn't a lot of mention of the girfriends, and I get it, since Oliver had not been as involved in his relationship as Ethan was in his. But in the end, I think it's the reason why I slightly prefered the first book of the duet. That being said, once again, Jesse's writing is just perfection and I strongly recommend this series. Make sure the cheating trope isn't a trigger for you, and dive in!
4.5 🌟
4.5 🌟
July 5, 2023
Absolutely what I needed it to be and more 💖🌈
July 11, 2023
Man, this author can WRITE.
Read
December 25, 2025I’m really not a fan of this type of book/format. I don’t want to read the same book twice with minimal changes just told from an alternate perspective. When I took a moment to consider if I got more from Ethan’s view, the answer is not really. In fact, the characters weren’t very different. Again, this is mostly just smut with some emotion at the end. The lack of editing is still frustrating.
I didn’t dislike it I just need more - more romance and connection. I start to skim/skip the sex.
I didn’t dislike it I just need more - more romance and connection. I start to skim/skip the sex.
January 9, 2023
This was the perfect addition to Ollie and Ethan’s story. It was still hot AF, but though Ethan seems so much more stoic in book one you find out this man is teeming with emotions. The poor thing was just too far in denial to acknowledge them. 🤦🏻♀️ I loved how he tried so hard to compartmentalize his thoughts, his feelings, his life, but Ollie was too much to contain.
Though this is a retelling of book one from Ethan’s POV and there is quite a bit of overlap of pivotal events, there are also so many more moments we get to see that broaden your perspective of their relationship (and of Oliver too!). You are not left feeling like you just read the same story all over again. It’s genius.
Though this is a retelling of book one from Ethan’s POV and there is quite a bit of overlap of pivotal events, there are also so many more moments we get to see that broaden your perspective of their relationship (and of Oliver too!). You are not left feeling like you just read the same story all over again. It’s genius.
November 6, 2024
This short story happens in the exact time line of Bent, but from Ethan's POV, and now we enter the mind of Ethan...
And It's crowed, because all those dialogues with Comman Sense, The Dreamer, and My Dick were just fucking hilarious:
"I will Common Sense to take the reins, but this time, I’m a little too slow.
Call him, whispers The Dreamer, just call him to see if he’s okay.
Call him, says My Dick, call him and fuck him."
Or
"Just to be clear, says Common Sense firmly, stalking is a big no-no.
Oooh, says The Dreamer, sounding a little defensive, ‘stalking’ is a bit strong, wouldn’t this just be observing intently?
Stalk him, pulses My Dick, stalk him and fuck him and fuck him."
In book 1, we get the feeling Ethan is just there for the sex, and ok, maybe it's what he tells himself, but no... He takes more time to process his feelings, to get to the point when, after all that MIND BLOWING PINING and suffering, he finally goes to get his man!
He really makes up to Oliver in the end, and again, forever will not be enough for these guys. We have more dialogue in this one, but it would enrich the story to have more...
PS: Ethan loves all the weight lifting Oliver makes him do on those benches...
And It's crowed, because all those dialogues with Comman Sense, The Dreamer, and My Dick were just fucking hilarious:
"I will Common Sense to take the reins, but this time, I’m a little too slow.
Call him, whispers The Dreamer, just call him to see if he’s okay.
Call him, says My Dick, call him and fuck him."
Or
"Just to be clear, says Common Sense firmly, stalking is a big no-no.
Oooh, says The Dreamer, sounding a little defensive, ‘stalking’ is a bit strong, wouldn’t this just be observing intently?
Stalk him, pulses My Dick, stalk him and fuck him and fuck him."
In book 1, we get the feeling Ethan is just there for the sex, and ok, maybe it's what he tells himself, but no... He takes more time to process his feelings, to get to the point when, after all that MIND BLOWING PINING and suffering, he finally goes to get his man!
He really makes up to Oliver in the end, and again, forever will not be enough for these guys. We have more dialogue in this one, but it would enrich the story to have more...
PS: Ethan loves all the weight lifting Oliver makes him do on those benches...
August 29, 2024
A man walks into a bar…
No, it’s not a joke. It’s the beginning of everything…
Oliver’s POV in Bent is a prelude to Ethan’s POV in Bent Backwards. I finished reading Bent and although they got their HEA I, personally, felt incomplete (in a good way) and intrigued… I had to know Ethan’s story as well… so I dived into Bent Backwards and while reading it I caught myself having internal dialogs just like Ethan did #iykyk
“I pause for a second, giving Common Sense a chance to make its voice heard. I don’t hear a thing. There’s nothing but silence. Common Sense has left the building”
Bent gives you the story and Bent Backwards completes it in a perfect way. Retells it.
“In the end everything is confused, I can’t tell where I end, or you start… I can’t tell the difference between right and wrong or between pleasure and pain”
I absolutely loved Ollie and Ethan. Two straight men falling in lust and getting their HEA. Their story is emotional, raw, bland at times, real. They struggle with their emotions and their actions, trying to understand the why behind everything. They are not perfect, they have flaws and they will eventually, inevitably cause pain to others. They are only humans after all…
“I don’t know what it’s called when you’ve always been straight, you’ve never questioned it once, but that guy at the bar? That guy is your soulmate”
After reading oh so many emotional, angsty, hurt/comfort books I came to realize I have no triggers. But I’ll mention here that there’s cheating in both books. If this is a hard no for you, unfortunately Ethan’s and Oliver’s story is not for you. Otherwise… make yourself comfortable and enjoy…
“Damn Irish… why you gotta look like that?”
No, it’s not a joke. It’s the beginning of everything…
Oliver’s POV in Bent is a prelude to Ethan’s POV in Bent Backwards. I finished reading Bent and although they got their HEA I, personally, felt incomplete (in a good way) and intrigued… I had to know Ethan’s story as well… so I dived into Bent Backwards and while reading it I caught myself having internal dialogs just like Ethan did #iykyk
“I pause for a second, giving Common Sense a chance to make its voice heard. I don’t hear a thing. There’s nothing but silence. Common Sense has left the building”
Bent gives you the story and Bent Backwards completes it in a perfect way. Retells it.
“In the end everything is confused, I can’t tell where I end, or you start… I can’t tell the difference between right and wrong or between pleasure and pain”
I absolutely loved Ollie and Ethan. Two straight men falling in lust and getting their HEA. Their story is emotional, raw, bland at times, real. They struggle with their emotions and their actions, trying to understand the why behind everything. They are not perfect, they have flaws and they will eventually, inevitably cause pain to others. They are only humans after all…
“I don’t know what it’s called when you’ve always been straight, you’ve never questioned it once, but that guy at the bar? That guy is your soulmate”
After reading oh so many emotional, angsty, hurt/comfort books I came to realize I have no triggers. But I’ll mention here that there’s cheating in both books. If this is a hard no for you, unfortunately Ethan’s and Oliver’s story is not for you. Otherwise… make yourself comfortable and enjoy…
“Damn Irish… why you gotta look like that?”
April 21, 2024
Oliver and Ethan
— double bi awakening
— instalust
— cheating
This was the follow up novella about Oliver and Ethan, this one from Ethan’s POV. Oliver has been with his girlfriend for about 8 months. One night, they go to meet a friend of hers and her boyfriend. Immediately Oliver is taken aback by his feelings for Ethan. He’s never had feelings for a man before, but there is a pull to Ethan.
The next time Oliver and Ethan hang out things ramp up pretty quickly. After that, these two quickly find themselves in a situation they can’t explain or understand, but both can’t stay away.
I enjoyed getting a better look into Ethan’s thoughts with this book. I still hated how long it took him to break up with Liza and the pain he caused Oliver, but hearing his thoughts behind it helped. He was extremely conflicted with his feelings, and what he thought he always wanted for his future. Seeing his internal struggle made him seem more genuine, and not as cold as he appeared in Bent.
I loved the extra peek into their lives we got at the end of this as well. I feel like the how it ended was perfect for them.
— double bi awakening
— instalust
— cheating
This was the follow up novella about Oliver and Ethan, this one from Ethan’s POV. Oliver has been with his girlfriend for about 8 months. One night, they go to meet a friend of hers and her boyfriend. Immediately Oliver is taken aback by his feelings for Ethan. He’s never had feelings for a man before, but there is a pull to Ethan.
The next time Oliver and Ethan hang out things ramp up pretty quickly. After that, these two quickly find themselves in a situation they can’t explain or understand, but both can’t stay away.
I enjoyed getting a better look into Ethan’s thoughts with this book. I still hated how long it took him to break up with Liza and the pain he caused Oliver, but hearing his thoughts behind it helped. He was extremely conflicted with his feelings, and what he thought he always wanted for his future. Seeing his internal struggle made him seem more genuine, and not as cold as he appeared in Bent.
I loved the extra peek into their lives we got at the end of this as well. I feel like the how it ended was perfect for them.
April 6, 2024
🫗🫗
Bent Backwards || Jesse H Reign
“I see him immediately.
There he is.
There. He. Is.”
Loved getting this story again from Ethan’s perspective. It’s always so great to get both sides of the story. I love that Ethan calls Oliver, baby in his head. It’s so sweet and cute.
Getting Ethan’s internal struggles with his feelings for Oliver while still convincing himself that he would stay with Liza was pretty heart hurting and made me feel even more for Oliver than I already did. Oliver at least ended things with Jess pretty quickly but then is stuck waiting for Ethan to figure out what Oliver already had - that they belong together.
Such a sweet retelling, definitely great to read these back to back and be emersed in it all over again.
““If I could go back in time, I would. I’d go back to the day that we met, and I’d set my alarm a little earlier. I’d leave home a little sooner, I’d walk to the bar a little quicker… just so I could get to you a little faster.””
🫗MM Romance
🫗Cheating (Mac’s have girlfriends)
🫗BDSM Elements
🫗HEA
March 27, 2025
So this book explains a lot of what happened in Bent!! This is the story from Ethan's POV and now I understand Oliver better, particularly the kink. Found I loved both of these guys more. Also, this book does something with the cheating theme that so many other books don't. I'll spoiler tag it since it reveals some of the story . This is the third book from this author that I've read. Loving the witty, breezy and emotional stories.
September 30, 2025
🔥 Yes, that's what I want. That's what I need. His poison is my poison 🔥
"I feel alone and afraid. I can't believe the void that he's left. Dark and unending. I'm in a black hole."
"There was something about him that reminded me of a soft place. A soft place to land. He was my soft place."
"If I could go back in time, I would. I'd go back to the day we met, and I'd set my alarm a little earlier. I'd leave home a little sooner, I'd walk to the bar a little quicker...just so I could get to you a little faster."
This was a fantastic follow-up to Bent. I loved seeing this book in an entirely different POV. This book follows Ethan's POV this time. I loved seeing how conflicted he was within himself. He had many voices pulling him in different ways. The spice was hot and sexy 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I was happy we got some new scenes or dialog told differently. I'm so happy these boys got their HEA and we saw a bit more into their future.
"I feel alone and afraid. I can't believe the void that he's left. Dark and unending. I'm in a black hole."
"There was something about him that reminded me of a soft place. A soft place to land. He was my soft place."
"If I could go back in time, I would. I'd go back to the day we met, and I'd set my alarm a little earlier. I'd leave home a little sooner, I'd walk to the bar a little quicker...just so I could get to you a little faster."
This was a fantastic follow-up to Bent. I loved seeing this book in an entirely different POV. This book follows Ethan's POV this time. I loved seeing how conflicted he was within himself. He had many voices pulling him in different ways. The spice was hot and sexy 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I was happy we got some new scenes or dialog told differently. I'm so happy these boys got their HEA and we saw a bit more into their future.
November 25, 2025
who is cutting onions in here?!?
Wow, what an amazing ending to the journey of Ethan and Ollie. I love how this book was Ethan’s story, not just another viewpoint of Oliver’s experiences. This story had its own voice and tone. Id have believed another author wrote this one. Yes, there were different interpretations of things we read from Ollie, but there were also moments and scenes Ethan found significant between them that Ollie never mentioned. I loved the gaps that were filled in with Ethan’s viewpoint, gaps I didn’t even know existed, conversation that were had that Ethan never mentioned.
Did anyone else notice that they both paid the full bar tab at the end, not realizing the other did the same? That was a perfect touch showcasing how gone they were at that moment.
Where book 1 was heavy on the hots and lighter on the feels, this one really filled in those feels in abundance. Seems Ethan really was good at that part after all. 12 stars.
Wow, what an amazing ending to the journey of Ethan and Ollie. I love how this book was Ethan’s story, not just another viewpoint of Oliver’s experiences. This story had its own voice and tone. Id have believed another author wrote this one. Yes, there were different interpretations of things we read from Ollie, but there were also moments and scenes Ethan found significant between them that Ollie never mentioned. I loved the gaps that were filled in with Ethan’s viewpoint, gaps I didn’t even know existed, conversation that were had that Ethan never mentioned.
Did anyone else notice that they both paid the full bar tab at the end, not realizing the other did the same? That was a perfect touch showcasing how gone they were at that moment.
Where book 1 was heavy on the hots and lighter on the feels, this one really filled in those feels in abundance. Seems Ethan really was good at that part after all. 12 stars.
January 31, 2025
I read Bent a while ago but I think I preferred it. Ethan seemed cold in the first one and turns out he was kind of emotionally detached. also I don’t mind the cheating trope (not between MCs), but in this case it was such a dick move, especially in Ethan’s case with his long term girlfriend who was legitimately cool and who he legitimately loved.
I love steam and physical attraction, but I did feel like this was missing an emotional connection. I also forgot about the BDSM part, which I am not a fan of, so I started skimming.
This author’s writing improved with later books but damn did they misuse/overuse commas. It was almost comical. I mean, whether or not an Oxford comma is appropriate can happen to anyone. But the random commas in this book would have made an actual conversation awkward. Every independent writer should have one grammar Nazi friend to proofread for them.
I love steam and physical attraction, but I did feel like this was missing an emotional connection. I also forgot about the BDSM part, which I am not a fan of, so I started skimming.
This author’s writing improved with later books but damn did they misuse/overuse commas. It was almost comical. I mean, whether or not an Oxford comma is appropriate can happen to anyone. But the random commas in this book would have made an actual conversation awkward. Every independent writer should have one grammar Nazi friend to proofread for them.
May 27, 2023
Yes! This did live up to all the hype thank you very much! After reading Bent, I didn't think I needed to read Bent Backwards because it is essentially the same story but from Ethan's point of view. I'm not going to lie, I might have wanted to kick him a time or two. ;) But don't worry, he figures it out and gets it all together in the end! There is also a bit of an epilogue in this story so it goes further than in Bent which is nice. A great and of course super spicy read!
Notes:
Read Bent first!
Warnings - cheating - not on one another but they both have girlfriends during much of their relationship.
Notes:
Read Bent first!
Warnings - cheating - not on one another but they both have girlfriends during much of their relationship.
February 12, 2025
Although Bent Backwards is a bit rough around the edges, it tells a compelling story and provides glimpses of the fantastic author Jesse Reign will become. This is the second book in the series, detailing Oliver's and Ethan's relationship from Ethan's POV. It contains utterly convincing depictions of an erotic addiction between two men who are, ultimately, soulmates. While it takes a long time to sink in for both men, their HEA is inevitable from the instant they set eyes upon each other. I was frustrated with Ethan's emotional blindness, but once he realized his own truth the story blossomed beautifully. The final chapter was truly lovely and ended this book on a 5-star note.
August 6, 2025
Deep, delicious sexiness! Crazy bent!!!😍😍😍
Gah! Really?! Could you yank my heart out any harder? I mean, Bent and Bent Backwards are mind blowing; pushing and pulling at something deep inside! Ethan's POV is intensely dark that twists you in the most delicious ways. My heart is still hammering. Fierce and predatory, Ethan strikes deep and precise. This second novel is a trip through glorious madness! An absolute delight and simultaneous assault to your senses. It's violently sensual! Mmmmhmmm!😏 I delighted my recommend this treat!😘 As a!ways, check those triggers
Gah! Really?! Could you yank my heart out any harder? I mean, Bent and Bent Backwards are mind blowing; pushing and pulling at something deep inside! Ethan's POV is intensely dark that twists you in the most delicious ways. My heart is still hammering. Fierce and predatory, Ethan strikes deep and precise. This second novel is a trip through glorious madness! An absolute delight and simultaneous assault to your senses. It's violently sensual! Mmmmhmmm!😏 I delighted my recommend this treat!😘 As a!ways, check those triggers
January 23, 2024
This story is a retelling of Bent with the other MC’s perspective. So right after I read the first book, I immediately bought this one. Yes I reread this numerous times too. I also found the interactions between the 2 MCs absolutely, fanning my face hot. There were parts of the book that repeated passages from the first one but I didn’t mind that. I absolutely enjoyed this duet alot.
Hmm… I do have one criticism though, I wish it was longer.
Hmm… I do have one criticism though, I wish it was longer.
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