Review: Only You by Nicole Dykes

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Gay Romance Reviews.

Only You is a new standalone from Nicole Dykes, but it also serves as a companion novel to her previous release, Only Temporary, back in April. If you've read the latter, then you pretty much have an idea who the former is about. Tatum Luck, twenty-eight, is best friends with Kellan Rhodes, the main character of Only Temporary, with the two working together as mechanics, and Tatum becoming an older brother of sorts to Kellan's younger siblings. Tatum was in and out of foster homes; it was in one of those homes that he met Remy Valentine. Tatum was thirteen, and Remy was nine, and over the next few years, they would find each other living in the same places for periods of time. But then it isn't until Tatum attends a meeting with Kellan at the local high school that he lays eyes on Remy once again. Now twenty-four, Remy is Cason Rhodes's principal, and this grown-up version of the boy Tatum once knew is someone he wants to know better. He was always protective of Remy when they were younger, but the feelings this older version stirs up in Tatum give him pause, even as the urge to pursue them becomes undeniable.

I mentioned in my review of Only Temporary that the author had set the bar pretty high with Kellan and Phillip's story--shared with Kellan's four siblings, of course--and that I was looking forward to seeing what awaited Tatum, especially considering his reaction once he saw Remy in Cason's high school. Tatum and Remy's back story established the bond they shared, and I was relieved that it wasn't romantic nor sexual back then. The older versions of our main characters had something catching up to do, and while there was a bit of hesitation in the beginning, the rekindling of their friendship wasn't overly difficult. If anything, once they got over that first bit of awkwardness, they were super comfortable with each other. Tatum being as supportive as he was of Kellan, Phillip, and the kids back in Only Temporary already had me hoping he would get his own happily-ever-after. I will say, though, that this book didn't resonate with me as much as the previous standalone. I also wasn't a fan of Remy's handling of Cason's on-campus issues, especially that last altercation. Still, Only You was a good, thoughtful read, and it gets 3.5 stars.

Date Read: 14 September 2025

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