REVIEW: The Guy on the Left by Kate Stewart

The Guy on the Left by Kate Stewart is LIVE!

This is a standalone contemporary romance packed with all the feels!

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In Kate Stewart’s The Guy on the Right, readers were introduced to Troy Jenner, the ‘guy on the left’, but we met him through Theo Houseman’s eyes, not his own, and for that reason, readers only saw the part of Troy’s personality that Theo wanted us to see or maybe what Theo saw as completely contrary to himself. Either way, we were given a bias perspective and led to perceive Troy in the exact light that the main characters in the first book wanted us to view him, which means that Troy appeared to be nothing but a womanizing douchebag – a guy who only wanted one thing from girls and didn’t mind doing whatever needed to be done to achieve his goal.

It’s amazing what a change of perspective does for an outsider’s view of someone and now that readers are privy to Troy’s own thoughts and the reasons behind his actions, it’s clear that he was misjudged or perhaps simply shown as one-dimensional, but this time, we see him in all his glory, which is exactly how a hero like him deserves to be characterized because it’s clear there is way more to this complicated guy and while the young guy he was, was not completely honest or upfront, the way he transforms himself to be someone Clarissa and Dante deserve is what truly makes him an amazing book boyfriend. 

In my opinion, there’s nothing like a father fighting for his son…to have a relationship with him…to show him just how much he’s wanted and needed. Troy missed out on the beginning years of Dante’s life due to a lie that categorically changed many people’s lives, which means he has a lot to make up for, and that’s exactly what he wants to do, so when he finally gets to be a constant presence in his son’s life, those scenes are incredibly rich with feelings of love and devotion.

There are times in the story where I truly didn’t understand why Clarissa continued to punish Troy for his past mistakes. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understood the hurt and anger she felt when she found out that he lied to her, but he proves himself time and time again when he comes back into her life, so I just couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that she refused to see just how much Troy has grown up and that he deserves a chance, not just with his son but with her as well.

There’s something about second chance romances that stand out among the other romantic tropes, and I know I’ve said numerous times how a foundation between the hero and heroine is an aspect of these stories that I adore, but it truly solidifies the connection, and in the case of Troy and Clarissa, it allows for an understanding of the slow burn of their second chance, especially given the fact that their one-night stand all those years ago created Dante who both would do anything for.

The Guy on the Left is such a great story, and while I agree that it illustrates, in some ways, Troy’s redemption, what I think it does more so is demonstrate the man he is and has worked to be, not just to prove himself to Clarissa or even himself, but to be the man who Dante needs him to be.

4.5 Poison Apples 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2PmwlRs
AmzonUK: https://amzn.to/38j4dHh
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/351VsPQ
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2YpMhXf