seriously romantic: better than people by roan parrish

in better than people two men who have, for the most part, given up on people, are astonished to find themselves drawn to one another and tumbling head over heels in love. 

jack who has retreated from the world after heartbreak, is fiercely independent. he relies on no one, except his pack of pets who give him an outlet for all the nurturing and care he has to give the world. when he meets simon he realizes that the only way to approach this painfully shy yet utterly gorgeous man is by applying the same patience, care and understanding he does to his rescues. 

simon is overwhelmed all the time. his social anxiety and selective mutism are crippling. but it's never going to go away. finding someone who allows him the time to get comfortable, someone who doesn't judge him, someone who desires him in spite of all the baggage—it's a rare gift. 

this love story is sweet (though plenty sexy) and has surprising amounts of emotional depth. even in the shorter category format, you'll feel thoroughly satisfied with how this one turns out. 

**better than people will publish on august 25, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press (adores) in exchange for my honest review.