Review: Ruined by Ally Avery 4 of 5 stars

Ruined by Ally Avery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ollie reunites with Logan years after the man who once cared for him like family suddenly walked out of his life. Logan wants to make up for the time they lost, but Ollie’s feelings have shifted into something far more complicated — and far less appropriate. Despite knowing it’s wrong and fearing he’ll be hurt again, Ollie can’t deny how strongly he’s drawn back to him.

This was a forbidden romance filled with plenty of emotions and complicated feelings as Logan struggled with his conscience and both men wrestled with how or whether to tell Ollie’s family. The tension around their past and the weight of what their relationship meant added a strong emotional pull throughout the story. It also touched on several clear tropes, including former stepdad and stepson, age gap (24 years), hurt/comfort, caretaking, and a size difference. These elements shaped the dynamic between them without ever overshadowing the emotional core of the story. There were plenty of feelings throughout, and watching both men navigate guilt, longing, fear, and hope made the story compelling. It’s a messy, emotional journey — but one that keeps you invested in how they’ll handle the fallout of loving someone they’re not supposed to. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like Daddy/boy dynamic.

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Review: Bruised by Ally Avery 2 of 5 stars

Bruised by Ally Avery
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Lane expects a quiet, easy summer at his best friend’s house — until Mason, Oliver’s ex‑con older brother, returns home on parole. Everyone warns Lane to stay away, calling Mason dangerous and guaranteed trouble. But Lane is drawn to him immediately, craving the danger and the pain Mason seems destined to bring. Maybe the warnings are right… but Lane isn’t sure he can stay away, and he’s not sure Mason will let him.

I came away disappointed with this book. Most of the story focused on sex between Lane and Mason, and because there was so little real conversation or emotional development between them, I struggled to understand how that was meant to turn into love. Their connection never felt fully built, just assumed. There was also a lot about Lane’s feelings surrounding Oliver leaving for college, but very little insight into Oliver’s side of that until the very end — when everything suddenly shifted for all of them. The imbalance made the emotional arc feel uneven and left me wanting far more depth from every relationship in the story. This was an MM story with mature content.

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