practice makes perfectRating: 4.25 stars
Buy Links: 
 Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novel


After a rough start his first year at school, Dev has moved into a new house off campus and out of the residence hall. Now that he lives somewhere comfortable and safe, Dev is determined to finally get moving on his plan to make some new friends and get some sexual experience. After an awkward meeting with Ewan, the cute boy next door, the guys get to talking and Ewan offers to help teach Dev about sex in exchange for some math tutoring.

At first things start off as a friends-with-benefits arrangements with regular “study” dates where Dev helps Ewan with school, and Ewan helps Dev tick off items on his sexual to-do list. The guys are hot together and the sex is amazing, but they both are also drawn to one another. As time passes, both Ewan and Dev begin thinking how nice if this arrangement could be something more, something real between them. But neither man wants to push the boundaries of their initial agreement for some no strings attached sex. Now both Ewan and Dev must work up the nerve to confess their feelings before their agreement ends and they lose each other for good.

Practice Makes Perfect is the third book in Jay Northcote’s Housemates series and I am really enjoying these fun, sexy, romps about young love. Like the other two books, this story can stand alone, but both couples from earlier in the series make appearances, so you can catch up with them if you are a fan. All three stories share a similar theme where things begin as friends (or in Josh and Rupert’s case as prostitute/client) and ultimately the guys want to take things further into something real, but aren’t sure how to change the direction of the relationship. And we see that again here as both guys fall for each other and want something more, but worry that they will mess things up by confessing unwanted and unrequited feelings.

Northcote continues to get a nice balance in this series between lots of sexy fun, but also a nice story underneath. As with the other books, sex is the primary focus here. It is the reason these guys meet and the initial connection between them. Things are super hot as geeky, virginal Dev learns all about the fun things two guys can do together. He is a fun character (oh, do I love the geeky virgins!), all anxious and excited, but easily falling into things with Ewan’s tutelage. There is not a ton of background or character development, but at the same time, I felt like I got to know these guys and enjoyed their connection to each other, both in and out of the bedroom. The weight definitely goes toward the sex end of things, but not to the exclusion of the story or of developing the relationship between Dev and Ewan.

So if you are looking for a fun, easy read that is sexy and has some enjoyable characters, definitely give Practice Makes Perfect a try. And while you are at it, check out the other books in the series as well.

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