• Except You

  • Our Exception, Book 1
  • By: Cora Rose
  • Narrated by: Zachary Zaba
  • Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (31 ratings)

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Except You  By  cover art

Except You

By: Cora Rose
Narrated by: Zachary Zaba
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Publisher's summary

A straight man walks into a gay bar searching for meaning…It sounds like the start of a lousy joke.

And honestly, that’s what my life is beginning to feel like.

I look back at all the hateful things I’ve said and done—so many things I can’t take back—and I’m not proud. I let my ignorance steal my relationship with my youngest brother, Magnus. He and his husband, Sem, are now happily married with kids, and all I want is to be a part of their lives.

But I need help to get there.

Help in the form of a sweet man so open-hearted and optimistic that he’s willing to take on and teach a lost cause like me.

Because I don’t know if people are truly capable of change. But the way Beau looks at me with his pretty eyes and cheeky smile, the way he openly shows me friendship, love, and affection…he sure makes me wonder, if a person can change, can they also earn forgiveness?

©2024 Cora Rose (P)2024 Cora Rose

What listeners say about Except You

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Amazing Performance

I first heard Zachary in Hamartia, he was amazing. Hearing him in different rolls and narrating both characters was amazing. He is so talented, he really brought both characters to life perfectly. Especially Beaus character, it was exactly how I imagined him. Really enjoyed this audiobook and I can’t wait to hear more audiobook performances by him. I will definitely be hearing this one again.

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Great Start to a Promising Series

Great start to what I'm certain will be an excellent series! Likable characters, interesting storyline, and all the feels. Flawless narration. Highly recommend!

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fun, sweet and spicy, great narration

this is an Unexpected Series spin-off with a villain redemption story

here we have Maggie's brother Max who's been going to therapy and educating himself to try to become a better person that accepts and understands his brother, trying to be the brother Maggie needed and rebuilding those burnt bridges

this was an easy read like all CR's books, very spicy, with surprisingly sweet moments, with a lot of really funny lines as expected

as Max tries to learn more he goes to a gay bar where he meets Beau who helps him out answering questions about the LGBTQ+ community... but Beau is pretty much the ray of sunshine Max's life needed and his support leads to a bit of codependency and a lot of funny moments and interesting conflicting thoughts making Max question even more everything he used to belive

“Look at you, straight man, opening your mind. Those hinges are rusty as f* and they creak really loudly, but you’re doing it. It’s an inch, but that door is opening.”

I loved how this story was approached, there's no gaslighting here and even though this is an easy no-angst read and focuses on our main characters falling for each other, we clearly see Max's intention and effort to learn and acknowledge his mistakes

I can't wait to read the next book in the series











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Loved this couple & their story <3

This audiobook was so well done! And I absolutely love Cora’s writing. It always feels like home to me. Beau and Max were everything! I also loved that we got some cameos of Sem & Maggie, I love them so much and am always missing them.

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My new favorite Cora Rose book!

I absolutely adored everything about this audio! Zachary Zaba has such a range of voices that i forgot it was a single narrator half the time. This was such a fantastic story with the cutest nickname I've ever heard, an adorable Doggo, and true love. Max and Beau are adorable together, and Zachary's portrayal of them was perfection. 🥰 Don't miss this one!

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SO OBSESSED!!!!

This is now one of my favorite Cora Rose books, EASILY!! Omg. This is up there with Whit & Emery for me. Once I started I could NOTTTTT stop!!!! I had no control. The characters took over my life and I was at their mercy until it ended.

-Bi Awakening
-Possessive MCs
-Friends to Lovers
-Codependency
-Medium Level Slow Burn

CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THE NEXT ONE?!?!?!?!?!?

Side Note: I looove Zachary Zaba's narration!

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What a narrator!!

I have never listened to a solo narrator where I felt like I was listening to two different people. Zachary is amazing; he has distinct ways of speaking for Max and Beau and it elevated the experience! His voice is so calming and relaxing but those 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵 scenes! Whew I needed a cold drink afterwards! What a treat of a book, and one made better by audio!

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Fast and furious

Look if it’s one thing about Cora Rose, she’s gonna write a couple that has knows each other for a ridiculously short amount of time and fall fast and hard. But somehow do in a way that doesn’t feel annoying or rushed. She writes obsession so well and I’m an here for it.

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Low Angst Obsession That Makes You Feel Good

The story? This book was like a warm blanket on a cold night. It was such a comforting read 😭 from the very beginning, we got to watch this wonderful friendship form and develop, and then morph into more so beautifully and organically. Max and Beau just WORK. They just fit together from page one. Beau is so sweet, you just want to die for him 🥲 he’s earnest in his love for his friend and free with his affection but he struggles with his heart and it makes you just want to squeeze him! Max is one of the most intriguing Cora Rose characters I’ve ever read. His redemption was so interesting and natural and I was so proud to watch him go from the Max of Sem to this Max here with Beau. I loved this book so damn much 😭❤️ the Sem and Maggie content also? TOP TIER. Everything I didn’t know I needed!

The narration? Zach is a favourite for me. He brings life to characters and adds depth to dialogue that makes you want to continue listening. This audio had me swooning, sweating and laughing all the way through! This is a favourite of mine on all accounts!

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A cute yet beautiful redemption story with an outstanding narration!!!

I absolutely adored this MM romance on audio and just fell in LOVE with Max & Beau!!! From the storyline to the narration, I did not want to hit pause on this one!! It’s the cutest friendship to lovers story that is full of so many adorable moments, has lots of witty banter and includes one of my favorite new nicknames ever!! There is also so much incredible character growth as Max goes on a beautiful journey of redemption with all the learning, healing and exploration.

🎧This story is all brought to life in the audiobook by Zachary Zaba. He did an outstanding job using his voice to showcase the two distinct and different personalities of Max & Beau which brought everything to life making it such an enjoyable listen!

It’s a dual POV with a single narrator but Zachary has such an amazing range to his voice and makes you forget it is just him narrating. For Max, he uses a lower tone that fit his character perfectly and would even use deeper sounds for things like grunting or moans as he stayed completely in character. Then for Beau, he used a soft, higher pitch voice and just captured everything about his constant sunshine personality. He kept both of these voices consistently throughout the whole narration which was just remarkable. It made the story feel so real and allows you to get completely lost in the audiobook. This is one of those audios that completely enhances the words of the book!

MM Romance
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Bi Awakening
Villian Redemption
Co Dog Parents

📖The story all begins with Max, who wants to be back in his brother’s life after years of a severed relationship. Things between them ended badly when Max was very homophobic towards him in the book, Sem. He goes to therapy, but also decides to do his own research to learn more so he goes to a gay club. While there he meets Beau, who offers to help Max with all of his questions. It turns into the cutest friendship until things start to develop into more with some steamy exploration as well!

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