One and Done is such an important book. In a world where 80% of the romance books sold last year were written by two white authors and feature straight protagonists, and where “diverse” representation is often reduced to a white main character and a BIPOC love interest, this proudly Black and openly queer novel is much needed. This delightful book tells the story of Dustin and Taylor, two successful Black gay professionals who meet by chance in a bar in San Francisco during a drag brunch. Will their initial impressions of each other hold or will their simmering physical attraction grow into something more substantial?

The story that follows hits a lot of favourite romance tropes – forced proximity, only one bed, miscommunication, and so on – but in a way that feels fresh and original. There was so much to like about this book but some of the things I particularly appreciated included the age and maturity of the main characters. It was so refreshing to read a queer romance which definitively asserts that there is life and love after the age of 30. Dustin also captured my heart and sympathy with his insecurities about his upbringing and how he was so deeply invested in being someone’s number 1. Similarly, I really loved how embedded into their community Taylor especially was. The friendships he had and the way he was able to use his position to benefit others was genuinely inspirational. It is clear that the author has a particular appreciation for this kind of altruism as his dedication so movingly attests.

One thing that didn’t work so well for me was the way that some of the mannerism of certain characters were repeated so much it became irritating. In one conversation between Taylor, his best friend Markell, and a drag queen Manessa, the drag queen tongue pops almost every time she speaks. This ended up feeling unbelievably overdone and stereotypical and really took away from the depth of the conversation the characters were trying to have.

Overall though this was a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read. It took me less than a day to finish and I look forward to engaging with more of this author’s work.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The story overall had a good message but the romance fell flat. I just couldn’t connect with the characters and so it was hard reading the story. I loved the blurb and I was so excited, I feel it had so much potential it just didn’t hit the mark.

This was super cute. Probably 3.75 stars.

I loved reading about two Black men who (eventually, not a spoiler I don't think) fall in love. Especially with all the nods to nerdery and family ties and communities where you can be who you are, through and through.

I saw some reviewers mentioning being confused by the character of Wes, but he read very true to me. The minor background annoyance of Black (and in his case queer) colleagues who choose to use "their own" as stepladders to try to succeed. Not a major villain, just something mundane that happens so the time.

It was not the best written novel that I have read this year, but it felt like home, and described a world I *want* to live in, so I recommend it!

Oh my heart!

It's rare to find queer books that center couples over 40, and author Frederick Smith has done just that with ONE AND DONE. I loved it - grown people relationships, dealing with aging parents, real-life work woes - all of it came together beautifully. I did think the pacing of the story could be stronger (sometimes too fast or too slow, plot-wise), but I rooted for Dustin and Taylor. Can we get a sequel with the rest of the friend group, please?

This book feels like when you go out with your partner or friend and then they run into an old coworker, and then they talk shop for the next three hours and you are out of the loop. I also wish there had been more romance between the characters. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I love when a book is set where I live and know. I live in between Oakland and SF in a way so I was familiar with so much discussed and totally agreed. It's so different now than even 15 years ago when I was going to school in SF.
Loved these two successful professional men. They were both so different but in intersecting industries within education. They didn't have the best start but close proximity in the workplace and a one bed situation and they started to get close, very close.

The community described in the Castro being small and close knit was very interesting. This book includes love between two gay black men, lots of queer people and drag performers. Loved the rep in this book and the loving families.

I found it odd that we only said the antagonists name by saying the whole name but Wes Jenkins does sound villainous. Honestly I used to get called by my whole name a lot when I was younger maybe they were telling me something. But he was awful to his coworkers and truly was awful all around.
Such a sweet ending to this one.

This book was going for all the right things theme-wise and plot-wise, but unfortunatley I didn't completely love the writing style, and it felt like some big things were rushed. I think some moments needed to be dropped to keep this as a novella and give more space to things that were kind of rushed over, or just be made into a novel that would dive deeper and give time, because I felt a lack of build up.

I couldn’t finish this book, unfortunately. I found it to be repetitive and the writing to be crude, at times. I’m so sorry I didn’t enjoy it, as I really was excited about all of the romance tropes featured and the lgbtqia+ representation!

3.75 rounded up. i really enjoyed this book once it got going. i loved dustin and taylors relationship and the forced proximity of them having to work together professionally after the time they first met being not so smooth. they worked so well together. i loved the commentary on uplifting minorities in the community and advocating for them as well.

I'd like to start by thanking Pride Book Tours, Bold Stroke Books, and Frederick Smith for the opportunity to participate in this book tour and to receive an ebook of One and Done to review!! This is my first ever book tour AND my first of Frederick's books. I'm sure it won't be the last of either, especially given how much I adored the characters and world of this wonderful story.

I was immediately drawn in by the snappy-yet-descriptive writing and lovable, diverse cast. The pace was perfect for me - not fast enough for any of the emotional moments to lose their depth, but fast enough to make for a quick and joyful summer read. I really loved Frederick's ability to create beautifully three-dimensional characters. I adored everyone in the book so much (well, ALMOST everyone - I won't say more for spoiler's sake) and really felt like a part of their lives and community by the time I was done.

Taylor and Dustin's romance felt so genuine and and was a delight to experience. I loved seeing their relationship grow and change throughout the story and could feel the happiness they brought each other through the pages. They're dedinitely a couple who I was rooting for from the first pages through to the end! And getting to read a book that focused on so much warmth and joy in regards to characters and communities who don't always get those types of stories and endings was a pleasure and a privilege.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, heartfelt read with some bickering, some business...and occasionally only one bed. 😁

This book had such promise but to me, the execution failed to deliver. The start of the book pulled me in and I enjoyed the banter between the two MMC’s, but as the plot went on and the characters developed the book became more disappointing. I did not enjoy the repetitive nature of the use of the characters first and last name while in dialogue and the repetition of certain character traits when they did them. The last couple of chapters specifically made me angry and turned off from the book. I would have preferred if the communication between the characters was handled better and maybe that’s a “me” probably of not loving the miscommunication trope but I also didn’t think the ex, Silas, was necessary to the plot line. It felt weird and forced like the author needed a hindrance or problem per se with the characters. I think if the book went through another round of edits or beta readers this would have been a hit.

There were some great ingredients here: particularly the perspectives - the two main charcters, two Black, older (for rom com world), highly educated main characters, the setting - SF, Castro, Oakland. These were all FANTASTIC and pretty refreshing and new and cool to see in a romance.

However, someone needs to get this author a superstar editor, because this is still a soup of ideas, the writing is choppy, the dialogues don't sound like spoken voices, and there are a lot of interesting storylines, but it never flows. There's no cohesive build-up; it just doesn't work.

Taylor is hyper-focused on his career and on his goal of becoming the youngest black and openly queer college president in history; love and relationships simply do not factor into his life equation.

On the Sunday before a big accreditation project, Dustin "bumps" into Taylor at a drag show but Taylor doesn't fall for Dustin's confidence and the two don't exactly hit it off. But Taylor is suddenly forced to spend a month or so with Dustin when Taylor finds out that Dustin is heading the accreditation team at Taylor's college - expect a little:
- Forced proximity
- Only one bed
- Found family
- Happily ever after

I enjoyed the story and I liked the characters; the author tried to create two people who grew up in vastly different ways. Dustin is a much more layered character than is Taylor, but I think they are both great and relatable. There is something about this author's writing style that is a little weird; I can't put my finger on it, exactly, but I got confused a few times.

The only thing I didn't like, though, was that there were too many things happening off-page only to be "resolved" later - the Wes Jenkins plot-line, the third act break-up, etc.

Overall, One & Done has some super cute moments and some gorgeous landscapes and I enjoyed this a lot.

3.5 stars rounded up

2.5 stars rounded down and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.
Disclaimer: I am not the fully intended audience for this novel and my review probably reflects that. But bad writing is bad writing...

I'll start off with what I liked about One and Done.
I really loved Taylor and his drive to succeed, even at the cost of his own personal happiness. I liked that he knew what he wanted and wasn't going to compromise, even if that word ended up being a bad idea for his relationship.

Unfortunately, that's probably the only thing I didn't have an issue with. Whether it was the dialog, the "chemistry," and the never ending (dear sweet lord never ending) Beyoncé references, One and Done might be my one and done with Smith.

The dialog and banter between Taylor and Dustin was...clunky at best. Smith does a great job at telling us everything we need to know about their personalities and their work in the community without actually showing us. They spoke so many times about what it means to be black, queer, black and queer, and in academia, but it got so repetitive at times with the same people, it seemed like all anyone does in this world is go around and around about drag brunch. Where is the outreach in the community? We get throwaway lines about Taylor getting ready for graduation and commencement, but no interaction with the students?
I'm also begging Smith to find another singer. Beyoncé is queen, obviously, but for so much of the book's plot focusing on being black and queer, they had no black and queer artists to be obsessed with? Janelle, Lil Nas X, Megan, Frank, Kehlani??? Just to name some of the popular ones.

The chemistry between Taylor and Dustin was cringe-worthy. They had a lot in common, they seemed to enjoy each other's company, but there wasn't much substance. They talked about their pasts and how they had vastly different upbringings, but any talk of the future? Any talk of what they want in life away from their careers? Not a word.

Finally, and I promise this is the last bit, Wes Jenkins. What a waste of a "villain." He could have been something interesting, but he ended up being a catty bitch for no reason and then his downfall was relegated of off-screen in the epilogue.

I really enjoyed this book and because I was invested in their relationship it was a quick read. Taylor was loveable from the start, a man who knew what he wanted. He was ambitious and had a big heart who was willing to help anyone, an outsider would say he was straight-laced but to his close friends he showed his fun side. He wanted to see the best in folk except Dustin, who got his back up on their first meeting, Dustin came across as cocky, a bit flashy, it took me a few chapters to warm up to him, but as more of his story came out, I could understand why he put up a front.
Written from both their POV, it was easy to flip between the characters without being confused. The secondary characters were fleshed out and I was wishing for a certain character to get his comeuppances.
I was glad they got their HEA and I would be interested to read some of the secondary characters stories. This was a new to me author and I want to read more of their work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, & Frederick Smith for generously providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review 💚 
 
So 
 
I really, really wanted to like this. Two Black, Gay Academics. San Francisco. Will they or Won’t they? These are all things I enjoy reading about! 
 
One and Done is flat and a tad boring (I completed several books in between reading this one). The characters are two-dimensional, with one character, in particular, rubbing me the wrong way; there is a fine line between being authentic and being unnecessarily stereotypical, and Manessa went way over into stereotypical. It doesn’t help that our MMCs are ehhhhhhh. Dustin was aight, but Taylor was not likable in the least. While it was clear they were physically attracted to one another, I do not get how they genuinely fell for each other. Plus, they both needed some therapy in the worst way. There was a lack of romance and intimacy between Taylor and Dustin, which made me more invested in the secondary plotline instead of the main one, their romance. 
 
The dialogue was bland and often came off as if the author was trying too hard to assert that these characters were centered and secure in their Blackness. Nothing about it read “things regular people in this demographic say in real life,” which is unfortunate. My issue with the dialogue extends to another problem I had with the writing throughout the book - there was so much over-explaining. Something I’ve seen from some Black authors is them going into extraneous details about different subjects that the average person, especially a member of the book’s target audience, does not need to be reminded of because they already know and understand the context. There was no reason for there to be fifty-leven overly-detailed explanations about Beyoncé and Renaissance because this was a global pop culture moment throughout 2023; the overwhelming majority of people, including this book’s audience, already know the context behind the references, so who exactly are you explaining this to? Because of this, there was way more telling than showing with so many aspects of this narrative. There is so much expository dialogue and thoughts that should have been actions happening at the moment. 
 
The timeline and pacing of the narrative are not explained well, so as someone very familiar with the academic year calendar, I often had to reorient myself to when things were happening. When the epilogue came around, I was like “wait, how did we get here?” The rushed 90s movie “Where Are They Now?” final chapter and epilogue were also abrupt and jarring while simultaneously super neat and wrapped up with a bow, which was not great. 
 
There were also so many lost and buried plotlines. The most egregious is the Wes Jenkins plotline; so many subtle and unsubtle hints were dropped and left undiscussed until the epilogue with a quick explanation that needed so deserved more regarding the secondary plot of the accreditation renewal and the main plot of this romance. How do you give us a villain character and don’t show them being villainous? Why did I have to (quickly) put two and two together and wait until the end for confirmation? 
 
Like I said at the beginning of my review, I really wanted to like this book. I’ve been reading a lot of books with Black and Queer characters lately, so I was hopeful this would be another book I would wholeheartedly share with others, but I, unfortunately, cannot do that with this book. It just wasn’t a right fit for me.

I loved this book so much! As someone in student affairs, I really appreciated the work storylines of Taylor and Dustin! I loved the romance and very human nature of their relationship! I can’t give this book enough love!

This was a cute romance with what felt like authentic queer characters, but the ending was a bit rushed and a lot of the conflict was just from the main characters not communicating just because, which was frustrating. There was an antagonist character that should have been utilised in a bigger way.

Thank you to Frederick Smith, Bold Strokes Books, Inc., and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of One and Done.

This book get 3.5 stars for me. I wanted this book to be a 4 or 5 start read but I feel like the writing was drawn out and some of the plot could have been progressed a little faster. I loved the two main characters (Dustin and Taylor), the chemistry was definitely there but it moved so slow and when they finally became a couple, the romance was cute but not grown like I suspected. I also was expecting more spice but it was sort of glazed over like when you watch a film that gives you the kissing and then a cut scene that makes you infer they are have relations.

This book definitely read like a movie script or adaptation. I could see this being adapted into a really good movie special. Overall, for this be an LGBTQIA+ romance, in the academia setting, and have BIPOC characters, this was a good read! I would also consider it a slow burn in a sense so if that's up your ally, then you'll like it even more!

one and done had some much potential to be a good book but it fell flat for me. I loved how the author focused on the challenmges that Black openly gay men face in higher education, the importance of sexual health and how important it is so volunteer and give back to the queer community, but i feel this completely overhsdowd the romance in this book. Dustinrubbed me the wrong way and it took a while for me to even arm up to him. i anted more romantic development between the characters and more of the maor events to be flesed out on page. over this is not my favorite book from thi authir and i look forward to reading more from him