Wish

A Male/Male Westbrook Elite Stand-Alone

By: Cambria Hebert

Narrated by: Owen Keith, Scott Rose

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

For me, choice might as well be a wish. My parents died in a fiery car crash when I was barely sixteen. I’m gay. I’m also totally in love with my brother. I didn’t choose any of that. In fact, I’ve tried like hell to deny it. But here I am in all my gay, brother-loving, no-parentals glory.

Technically, Max isn’t my brother. Not by blood anyway. That should make it less ick, right? Considering he calls my parents mom and dad, probably not. Also, did I mention he’s straight?

So that’s me: the freestyle swimmer doing my best to keep my sexuality on the down-low while simultaneously wishing my feelings for Max will evaporate into thin air. Too bad he acts like he’s my keeper and my heart shakes every time his eyebrow ring glints in the sun or he levels his opaque stare on me with an intensity matched by nothing else.

My desire to keep my personal life personal drowns at the bottom of the pool when a fellow Elite lets everyone in on my business, which throws Max into macho protective mode all over again.

Enough is enough, though. I’m forcing myself to move on.

Maybe the best way to forget about my forbidden crush is to find a new one. I have options. More than I realized.

Unfortunately, none of them are leather-wearing, tattoo-sporting, motorcycle-riding grumpholes.

So here I am wishing for Max while someone else wishes for me.

Someone who decides if they can’t have me…

No one will.

Please note that Wish contains homophobia. There is also mention of child abuse and parental death. This book also contains a male/male sibling-esque relationship and mentions of male assault. Some listeners may find these things uncomfortable.

©2023 Cambria Hebert Books, LLC (P)2023 Pink Flamingo Productions

It Keeps Getting Better!

Since Wes was younger there was one near constant presence in his life besides his family and that was Max. While Max isn’t his biological older brother, he had a terrible family life and Wes' family essentially made him one of their own. After the loss of his parents Max stepped up into the role of his protector and guardian placing him firmly off limits.

Coming out to his swim team wasn't anything Wes had planned to do especially given the disastrous consequences of his last coming out but surprisingly most of the team has accepted him with no issue. Everything is finally starting to go right for him but there's still a Max shaped hole in his heart that nothing else can seem to fill.

Just when it seems all hope is lost an accident seems to shake Max's firm resolve apart. He can't lose Wes. And despite how hard he's tried to tamp down his feelings now that the reality of Wes being lost to him is tangible, he'll have to decide if he's willing to risk it all or if he's going to let it go.

Unrequited love trope always hits me right in the feels and this one especially tugged hard on my heart strings. It was obvious to everyone but Wes how gone Max was for him, but their complicated family dynamics made them both feel their happy ending would always be out of reach. As with all the books in the series, I adore this found family that has been slowly building. Especially as the banter has evolved between the swimmers and their respective loved ones as their found family expands.

The narrators for this one drew me into the story, and I feel like they perfectly embodied the push and pull between Max and Wes. Sometimes with two male narrators it can be more difficult to know whose speaking when but these two made it easy which I always appreciate. I continue to adore listening to this series and I can't wait for the next one to come out on audio so I can continue my binge.

Elite Swimmer Wes

Max is Wes brother’s best friend and comes from an abusive home. Wes’ family took him in and treated him as one of their own. However, Max and Wes had always had a connection. That connection might have fallen into place as expected, but due to a car accident Wes’ parents died leaving Wes his brother and Max alone. At the time Max was the only one of age. Wes mother asked Max to take over guardianship of both Wes who was 16 and his brother who was 17. Max would do anything to keep everyone together agreed. Years later Wes and Max’s connection is still there and after Wes gets into a car accident Max can no longer stay away. Wes suffers a lot thought this story but his connection to Max just gets stronger.

Just okay

This book was just okay for me. Nothing much about it. It’s just safe. Both narrators did an excellent job

Loved these two, great love and chemistry!

I am loving this series, this author has become one of my all-time favs at this point. I am so happy I was put on to this series. I am going to be grabbing the rest as they come out on audio because they are done so well and I love the experience of listening to these characters.

I will be honest and say I was dying for Max and Wes after listening to books 1 and 2. I love M/M and the tension between them was so palpable, I was needed to see them fall in love and tell each other their feelings. I liked the push and pull between them. I felt bad for Wes for all that he has had to endure in his short life. Max hasn’t had an easy upbringing either though and the trauma and responsibility he had to shoulder was a lot for an 18 year old. I really enjoyed their dynamic and was happy to see Max finally letting go and realizing his love for Wes was more important than anything else. I loved how protective and possessive he was but then Wes turned around and did the same thing haha. I liked that Wes pushed back on Max but there was a D/S low-key relationship going on with the good boys and praise/dom tendencies and kinks slipped in. So hot and swoonworthy! I loved their intimate moments, how Max showed/revealed how much he loved him years before. The Nemo references and the tattoo made my heart flutter 😍

The plot was intriguing too. I could tell the baddie was going to be intense haha, I saw that coming relatively early on, but I wasnt expecting the team up and that is all I will say on that matter. I will say I was surprised Max’s dad didnt make a reappearance, not sure if he will come back in book 4 since we finally get the brother and his love interest! I loved the cameos from the other Elite and loved the new characters and so happy they are getting their own stories. I also really liked Coach in this one and hope he gets a HEA as well. He was there this time for Wes and showed more care and responsibility compared to books 1 and 2.

Narration was phenomenal, I loved both narrators and didnt want this audiobook to end haha. I did try to make it last longer but I needed to get to the HEA haha. I thought the internal turmoil between the two was done so well, the love came through the audio so well. The anger from Max and the sadness from Wes was palpable. So good, no critiques from me at all besides I think how some of the other guys from previous books was done a little OTT (Jamie in particular brooooo hahaha) but that would be it haha.

I will say this again is an easy 5/5 from me and this series has been one of my favs of 2023 BUT you really need to listen/read books 1 and 2 before this one. I think the push and pull with Wes and Max is amplified after listening to books 1 and 2 and seeing how they interacted before we get to book 3. I don’t think it would have been as impactful if you started on book 3. Also the little nods to books 1 and 2 and the characters wouldn’t have made sense. Highly recommend this series ❤️

🎧 Audiobook Obsession Reviewer - Flock Team 🎧

Loved this read

Wes and Max’s relationship was EVERYTHING I was expecting from the previous story. The friendship between all the characters and the support that they provide Wes is phenomenal especially because he’s scared of what they’ll think. The push and pull between Max and Wes is a little expected because Wes has always been in love with Max and Max has always seen Wes as more than his “brother” but doesn’t want to betray his best friend and their parents. When he finally lets his walls down and starts loving Wes out loud it’s everything! Some ups and downs and some people trying to do Wes harm, but never fear the girls show up with a trauma caramel latte. Good read and great narration. Love Cambria’s books in this series!!

Great story with ups and downs

The story was solid with well developed characters. The narration didn't do it justice. Max's character sounded like a grumpy old uncle instead of a hot in love sexy guy in the prime of his life. And when he did Wesleys voice it was awful! Meal and feeble, just terrible. I'll skip the next book with these guys narrating.

Wes & Max

This is a new author to me. I listened to the audio. The narrators did a excellent job. I enjoyed listening to their story, poor Wes and everything he had and is going through. Max is sexy and possessive. Not only did I love the interaction between these two I also liked the side characters especially Wes's brother/Max's best friend. Hopefully he gets his own story too. Look forward to more from this author.

Had a hard time with this one

I had a hard time with this book. Not because the characters are gay, but because all I could think about was incest. Technically it's not, but it just has that vibe for me. Max became guardian to Wes when Max was only 18, when Wes' parents died in a car accident. Ever since then, he has taken care of Wes, making sure he was protected. Both have been attracted to each other since they were younger. So it was inevitable they would ultimately end up together.

Enter Wyn, Wes' biological brother. Wyn knows the attraction is there and it has become blatant. So he offers fatherly advice to Max. Pretty funny, but a good reminder. When Wes is in trouble, Max and Wyn track him and call in the troops to help.

Elite has taken several hits to its team and reputation in the last three books. Have they weeded out the bad seeds, or are there still some out there? Will it continue to fall to Ryan and Jamie to find these bad seeds?

Owen Keith and Scott Reid are both new narrators to me. They handled the subject matter well, as well as the angry, mature nature of Max and the youthful, happy go lucky nature of Wes.

Loved Wes' and Max's Story!

We finally get to listen to Wes’ story in this book.  I loved this book, but not as much as the previous books.  This book had the usual cast of the Elite swimming group characters from the previous books, whom I happen to love, and you can listen to it as a stand-alone book, but it is better if you have listened to the previous books first.  You will learn about Wes’, Max’s, Wes’ brother Win and their family’s history in this book so you have a better understanding of how they grew up together and the tough childhood that Max had.  Max and Wes have a complicated but loving life and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow.  There was also some suspense in this book like in the previous books.  I thought the narrations was very good in this book.  
#AudiobookObsession #TheFlock

Incredibly sweet, a little suspense-y at times.

Books 1-2 had such a hold on me, imagine my excitement when this one landed in my inbox! While the others were M/F, this one is M/M the continuity for this world is on-point. This author does a great job at pulling the reader back into this world and incorporating familiar characters while showing us what’s going on with the leads and introducing us to them. Honestly, this is some advanced writing.

Before long, there’s some pretty intense action and a bit of danger—in true Hebert fashion (as I’m learning) this book gripped me.

🏊 “Taboo” subject, as the leads grew up together like brothers. Pseudo-inc3st? (They’re not related.)
💙 College setting.
🏊 Small town.
💙 Longtime best friends to lovers.
🏊 Sports stars (swimmers).
💙 Rich kids (new adults, really).
🏊 Lovable group of friends/ secondary characters who have bigger roles in this series.
💙 Standalone read.
🏊 Forbidden (one’s family took in the other—they’re like brothers).
💙 Grumpy / sunshine vibes.
🏊 Broken heroes.
💙 V!rgin lead.
🏊 Fight scenes / action.
💙 Lots of angst, plenty of drama.
🏊 Danger, suspense, a bit of action.
💙 Artist lead (tattoo artist)

Overall:
This was an incredibly sweet read, I enjoyed this installment and will read on in the series.

4 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Audio:
🦩 The overall production was flawless and both narrators were amazing—5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️