Always Eli

Forever Love, Book 1

De: Charlie Novak

Narrado por: Dan Calley

What happens when a sassy drag queen falls for his brother’s best friend?

Eli Baker needs a job. Drag isn’t paying the bills and the life of a starving artist isn't as fun when he’s the one living it. Taking a temporary office job is meant to be a quick fix. It's not supposed to reintroduce him to the funny, sharp, and sweet Tristan Rose…who just so happens to be Eli's oldest brother’s best friend.

Eli can’t stand his brother, and the feeling is more than mutual. Getting involved with Tristan could mean family trouble, but Eli's never been one for following the rules, especially when breaking them means annoying his brother.

Tristan is far too intriguing to ignore, especially when he takes an interest in Eli’s life outside the office. He’s not at all what Eli expects, and maybe that’s exactly what Eli needs. But if push comes to shove, will Tristan choose Eli over his best friend?

Always Eli is a 78,000-word contemporary MM romance featuring fabulous drag shows, secret biscuits, an office romance, and numerous siblings who can't help getting involved.

©2021 Charlie Novak (P)2022 Charlie Novak

Really Enjoyed this Story

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. NOT that I thought I wouldn't like it .. just that I had an opinion on how I thought the characters would act or how the story would roll out and the author took me on the ride making me drop my expectations and fall into the writing and the story they wanted to tell.

That sounds way more cryptic than I meant it to be lol- I'm just trying to not say anything that's spoilerish .

Eli is charming and outgoing but not stereotypical and Tristan *sigh* he's twice as charming. I also enjoyed how things were resolved - ish . The author doesn't fall into the traditional "one talk is all it takes to make all of the issues resolved" train but you are given hope that it will all work out.

Of course now I have to read all the other books about this family!

Fun story

This was a fun story. I enjoyed all of the pop culture references. The tension between Eli and his brother was a nice plot point. It made for some crazy family dinners. I liked that Tristan was a bit submissive in the bedroom, it made for a fun dynamic between the two. Eli's drag scenes were entertaining and it was great seeing Tristan fully accept and support him. Dan Calley did a wonderful job with the narration.

My favorite trash goblin!

I adored this book so much!! The witty repartee between Eli and Tristan is the best part of the story! I really enjoyed getting to immerse myself in the drag culture.
It's got an amazing HEA and is super low angst (which is my favorite read/listen these days).
Dan Calley gives an amazing performance and nails the differences between the characters - sheer perfection!

Always Eli

I loved this one just like I knew I would. I love the world that this author has built and all the characters within. Through the interconnected series we have seen different types of unusual pairings and this one is no different. I wouldn’t have thought that Eli and Tristan wouldn’t have worked but they did. Low angst, sweet and sexy, and fun as well.
I loved Dan Calleys narration of the last Charlie Novak Audio I listened to, which was Strawberry Kisses, and this was no different, but I see that she is using him for more upcoming books and I’m a little worried that a lot of the characters are going to end up sounding the same, though he does have a pleasing cadence to his voice and does the female voices well.
In any case, another recommended listen.

5 stars

As the titular character, everything about Eli would have made it easy for him to overshadow everything about this romance. However, Novak is adept at character, which always brings her storytelling to the next level. Not only does Tristan’s solid sweetness function as more than a match for Eli’s sharper edges, but these men exist within the strong foundation of the supporting characters that truly bring this book to life.

I love the focus of drag as an art form that Novak emphasizes in this story, especially how Eli outlines how even this art form can be prescriptive and exclusionary and how he chooses to combat those notions. The fun climax of this story brings that to life while also featuring plenty of familiar faces from other Novak books that I thoroughly enjoyed. This book can stand alone, but Novak hits the perfect balance with her cameos to create a real treat for established fans.

Overall, this low-angst book highlights how much fun an opposites-attract dynamic can be to reveal when both main heroes are settled in their personalities. That’s when the differences between them can spark excitement in lives that are otherwise settled, which is always a fun ride. Though the spicy bits are fun (with a subtle touch of kink), I also thoroughly enjoyed the moments outside the bedroom when these characters truly deepened their emotional connection. Novak also capitalizes on the “brother’s best friend” trope by not shying away from creating a direct conflict between Eli and his brother that is a striking part of their relationship even before Eli and Tristan fall for each other. Tristan does not fix the bond between the two brothers, but his involvement in both of their lives brings the heart of their issues into stark relief.

This book sets up a wonderful new series of the delightful members of a blended family finding their happily ever afters (and forever loves). I look forward to the next installments and hope that Tristan, Eli, and Eli’s amazing alter ego continue to make appearances.