This comes across in subtle ways, like how he automatically seems to pick up on pronouns, and more overt ways, like bringing coffee to a coworker who is having a tough day, even though Declan doesn’t necessarily like that coworker. I understood Declan to be a very compassionate friend who is concerned with respecting individuals. Both his inner monologue and audible dialogue reflect his world view. The story is told in first-person narrative from Declan’s perspective, so readers can get a great feel for the events that have shaped him as a character.

The Love Study is a contemporary novel featuring a colorful cast of millennials exploring their lives through the lenses of friendship and love. Can he really learn the lessons of The Love Study? On top of all that, Declan’s work expectations are mounting and it’s only a matter of time before Declan convinces himself there is nowhere to go but down, down, down. Plus, Declan is worried he will expect too much or be too conventional for a relationship with Sidney. However, the fact that he “left his last boyfriend at the altar” is an albatross around his neck. The dates Sidney picks for Declan run the gamut from “fine” to “very not fine.” But the longer the two collaborate on the program, the more Declan realizes he doesn’t want Sidney’s advice, he just wants Sidney. The dates Sidney sets up play into their YouTube program as a new feature called “The Love Study” that aims to explore queer relationships and provide answers. Soon, Declan discovers that he very much might like to jump back into conventional dating, but only if gender-queer Sidney can serve as a guide. Sure, their mutual friends were thinking of connecting Declan’s ex with this new person, Sidney Ertz-Scott…but after one night of hanging out at the bar, suddenly Declan finds himself starring in Sidney’s YouTube program “Your Spinster Uncle” and crushing hard. But relationships have soured for Declan, which is why it feels so odd to him that a new comer to their circle sparks a bit of interest.

Time even seems to have healed the chasm that opened in his chest after refusing the man he thought he loved hell, his ex is still very present in their group of friends and they talk frequently. And for a while, that suits his needs just fine. He’ll go out with someone for a good time, just not a long time. True, Declan got cold feet some six years ago, but the tagline hasn’t worn off any more than Declan’s feet have thawed.

Declan Swick-Smith’s group of tight-knit friends have given him his very own tagline: he left his last boyfriend at the altar, so watch out.

The love study kris ripper