Beneath the Bruises

Beneath the Bruises

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WpMetadataReadOngoing<5 mins
WpMetadataNoticeLast published Wed, Jul 9, 2025
Five years ago, Lukas Ettans was the kind of boy people avoided - angry, cruel, and broken in ways no one could see. Especially not Charlie Reeves, the quiet, openly gay classmate who became his favorite target. Now? Lukas is older, sober-ish, and scraping by in a New York dive bar with more regrets than rent money. He's not looking for redemption - he doesn't believe he deserves it. But fate has other plans. When Charlie walks into the bar one night - older, stronger, and startlingly kind - Lukas is forced to confront the damage he caused... and the truth he spent years running from. An unexpected apology turns into an unlikely friendship. And when Charlie offers to set Lukas up with someone - someone Lukas doesn't yet know is his intimidatingly handsome new boss - everything starts to unravel.
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#315
boyxboyromance
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[Formerly titled Ice Cold Eyes] Phil Stevens is pretty sure that his life is how he wants it to be. He's got great friends, he's in a band, he does pretty well at school, and his family are great, if a bit over-protective. He might be hiding the great big whacking secret that he's gay, but his twin sister Tammy knows and loves him anyway. He's Christian, but he's not worried that God will particularly mind that he likes boys. He is, however, a bit worried that his parents will mind. Phil's got his plan; once he moves away from his parents and his religious community, he can come out at a safe distance and hope the dust settles swiftly. But a chance meeting with a guy from another school throws a major spanner in the works. Paul is funny, kind, talented, and openly gay. And he's interested in Phil. Phil never thought he'd want to risk everything for a boy, but Paul isn't the kind of guy who wants to go back in the closet. Tammy, along with Jason, Dave, and Lily, want to support Phil to be the happiest he could possibly be, queer or not, but can Phil handle the complications that come with liking a boy? Join Phil in this coming-of-age love story as he navigates friendship dramas, underage drinking at messy house parties, balancing religion and queerness, and finding family along the way. PLEASE NOTE: This book is not anti-religion, the main character has a good relationship with his religion, it just looks at some of the difficulties faced by modern day religious queers. All religious beliefs are respected here!

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