I received this book for free from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Building Home by J. MackenzieSeries: Home in the Berkshires #1
Publication Date: March 21, 2025
Pages: 262
StoryGraph
Goodreads
Source: Gay Romance Reviews
Genre: Fiction, LGBT, M M Romance, Romance
Rating: ★★★★★
This house isn’t the only one in need of a fresh start
Spencer Lim has a good life—a decent apartment, a job renovating houses with his best friend, and a dog who’s the goodest boy on the planet. So what if he hasn’t slept with the same guy twice since he moved to Pittsfield? It’s not like he’s looking for a relationship, anyway.
Then he gets a call from Ian Collier, who has a wreck of a house and no idea what to do with it. This should be just like any other job. Except that Ian is quiet and serious and looks at Spencer in a way that intrigues him like nothing has in a long time. There’s a reason Spencer doesn’t do repeats, but it’s getting harder and harder to remember the more time he spends with Ian.
When Spencer volunteers to help Ian clean out the house’s basement, he starts to understand why dealing with the place has been so hard for Ian, and he’s tempted to share in return. Will opening up to Ian be a mistake? Or is Spencer finally ready to put himself out there again?
I went into Building Home by J. Mackenzie with no expectations, and I came away absolutely loving it. The dynamic between Spencer and Ian was captivating, and their connection felt both genuine and deeply moving.
One of the standout aspects of this book was the personal growth of both characters. Watching Spencer and Ian not only navigate their relationship but also help each other through difficult times added such an emotional depth to the story. Their journey was raw, heartfelt, and beautifully written.
This was also my first time reading a book that included a non-monogamous relationship, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. The way it was handled felt natural, respectful, and integral to their story rather than just an added detail.
Overall, Building Home is a touching and well-crafted romance that explores love, healing, and the beauty of finding someone who truly understands you. Highly recommended!
Book Review Links
| Goodreads Review | https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7383672657 |
|---|---|
| StoryGraph Review | https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/96a2e044-7ff7-4160-8daa-cf4c0f9a97ba?redirect=true |
| BookBub Review | https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1489392518?source=link_share |
| Fable Review | https://fable.co/review/d0fabc3f-b2bc-4f89-9396-11542bc3c0c0/share |
| LibraryThing Review | |
| Hardcover Review |
About J. Mackenzie
J. Mackenzie is an avid reader and writer of queer romance. Her favorite tropes are friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and found family.
