Come Closer to Me

Rock U, Book 2

Getting asked to tutor my brother's best friend should've been simple. Instead, it's turning into the one thing I can't control.

Axel

Remy Hall has been my obsession for years.

My older brother's best friend. My first crush. My biggest mistake waiting to happen.

He's straight. Closed off. Carrying grief so heavy it shadows everything he does.

And me? I joke. I tease. I push—because if I don't, I might actually tell him the truth.

But now he needs me.

Late nights. Close quarters. Stolen glances that linger a little too long.

And suddenly, the lines between us aren't so clear anymore.

Because the way he looks at me?

The way his body reacts when I get too close?

That's not nothing.

But if I let myself believe he could want me, I risk losing him completely.

And I don't think I could survive that.

Remy

I don't do attachments.

Not anymore.

Everyone I've ever loved has been taken from me, and I'm not stupid enough to go through that again.

Then Axel crashes back into my life.

Loud. Reckless. Infuriatingly gorgeous.

He gets under my skin like no one else ever has.

Makes me feel things I don't understand… things I don't want.

Because I'm not like him.

I can't be.

Except my body didn't get that memo.

And every touch, every look, every moment alone with him is pushing me closer to something I can't take back.

Because wanting Axel?

That means facing everything I've buried.

And if I let him in…

I might lose more than just control.

I might lose my heart.

Come Closer to Me is book 2 in the Rock U series and is a steamy, emotional MM romance featuring a lifelong crush, bi awakening, best friend's brother tension, forced proximity tutoring, grief and healing, and an attraction that refuses to stay buried.

Fall for the boy who's always wanted him, and the one who's terrified to want him back.

©2023 Christie Gordon (P)2026 Christie Gordon

Flirting and Feelings!

Axel and Remy!! We have Axel who is absolute about his forever love of Remy his older brother's best friend. We have Remi who does not have a clue that he could possibly love Axel in return. All Remi knows is that all of Axel's flirting makes him uncomfortable, but somehow in a good way! Axel uses all his flirting to try to mask how strong his feelings are for Remy. It was lovely to watch Remy slowly grow closer to Axel and start to discover that Axel was a big part of what was missing in his life and in his heart! I enjoyed the tentative, honest progression of Remy's feelings for Axel. These two were fun and sweet together. It was so rewarding to see Axel finally get the love his man. Finnley Cole was a fun and flirty narrator!

Great Characters

Christie Gordon writes great characters and hearing them come to life narrated by Finnley Cole makes them that much more enjoyable! Take time to enjoy this Rock U series, you won’t be disappointed!

Pining and Discovery

2024 AUDIOBOOK (10h42m), Narrated by Finnley Cole: 4.5 stars
1st person, past tense, dual POV
Axel Sandstrom (23), senior at ASU studying business with a concentration on business analytics
Remy Hall (27), security installation, studying business with a concentration on business analytics at ASU part-time
This narrator continues to do an excellent job narrating the series. The voices for Remy and Axel were subtly different, Remy was softer while Axel was a little gravelier, which I thought suited their characters. I did find them similar enough that if I had left the book and come back to it I would have to double check whose chapter I was reading, unlike with Devin/Brandon. I love the emotion he imbues into the characters, especially during intense scenes and had me tearing up at certain points.
I listened at 1.15x for reasons and it sounded great, I might even try that again since slower speeds sometimes allow my mind to wander.

I was given an Audible code and voluntarily wrote an honest review.


2023 ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Note: There is a short prequel to this series called The Perfect Front Man (Rock U #0.5) that contains background for this story and insight into Axel's character (it is also told from his POV). While it isn't necessary to read to enjoy this book, I highly recommend doing so.
On a Different Mission (Rock U #1) is a good read as well, but does not need to be read first, though it will help you enjoy the Rock U world a little more.

Axel Sandstrom has been in love with his older brother's best friend, Remy Hall, pretty much since the moment he realized he was gay. Nothing can ever come of it though because Remy is straight and would never give him a second glance. So, Axel teases Remy with sexually charged double-entendres every chance he gets and has one-night stands with men that look an awful lot like his grey-eyed, wavy brown-haired crush. Remy is oblivious to the real reason Axel teases him, but wishes he'd stop because the responding flutters in his stomach are confusing. Even if he's never really had a girlfriend before, he knows he likes girls, though there was that one time... In either case he's pretty sure his traumatic childhood losses mean he'll never fall in love, with anyone.

I was pretty excited to read Axel's story since I had read the prequel and was dying for him to get his HEA. He's such a great and self-assured character. I love how he lives life to the fullest, single-mindedly going for what he wants and he wants Remy. When Remy was off-limits, he respected that, in his own way, but the moment there was hope he was all in. Remy was a little more difficult to get to know as a character, both because this is our first real introduction to him as a character and because he's not nearly as boisterous and confident as Axel. He's had to work through some trauma and he's naturally more reserved. I would have enjoyed a little more of an awakening from his POV because it kind of felt like they got together out of nowhere, but that kind of suits him too.

I loved that Axel said those three little words first and that there was no expectation to have them returned or awkwardness when Remy couldn't say them back. I loved the scenes when the band was performing - I have to go add a bunch of old favourites to my Spotify playlist now, lol. I was pleasantly surprised that the fallout from the forth quarter twist didn't result in Remy spiraling too badly and that it galvanized him into realizing the depth of his feeling for Axel. This was a pretty perfect read for me.

I can't wait to read Caleb and the rest of the guys' stories (I hope Samuel gets his own HEA at some point, even tangentially).

I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.

another great in this series

Axel is the guitarist in Knot You. He has always had a crush on his brothers best friend, Remy. Axel has always flirted with Remy. However, that has made Remy uncomfortable.  Alex offers to tutor Remy. Axel just thinks if nothing else, they can be friends. Until Remy realizes he is developing feelings for Axel and not just the friendly kind.

I listened to the audio book narrated by Finnely Cole. I enjoyed listening. He makes the story come alive.

When I first started this series, i was reading / listening out of order. As these can be read as standalones, the whole series is amazing. I have enjoyed each characters story thus far.

Beautiful Love Story

Axel has been in love with Remy since childhood but Remy out of reach because he was straight. Remy, has walls up to protect himself from heartache and pain.
While helping Remy with a class Remy realizes how attracted he is to Axel and a little bit jealous when
thus begins a love that Remy never thought he'd be able to feel. I loved the Story of Remy and Axel. Christie evokes you all the emotions and Finney Cole narrating just puts the cherry on top of a beautiful love story.