US DUET
BLURB, TROPES & PLAYLIST
ECHOES OF US
Atticus King had his life mapped out—train hard, play volleyball, keep to himself.
That is, until Noah Rossi burst onto the scene: charismatic, impulsive, a storm that tore through Atticus’s carefully built walls and set his world on fire. They didn’t fit—Noah was everything Atticus wasn’t—but somehow, they found a rhythm in their shared love for the game and an undeniable pull toward each other. It was everything Atticus never knew he wanted.
But just as quickly as Noah entered his life, he disappeared. No explanation. No goodbye. Only silence that left Atticus drowning in confusion and pain.
Two years later, Noah walks back into Atticus’s world as if nothing ever happened, stirring up old feelings Atticus has tried to bury. The bond they shared is undeniable, but so is the hurt that lingers beneath the surface. Why did Noah leave? And can they rebuild something from the shattered pieces of their past?
Love isn’t easy. But for Atticus and Noah, it might be the only thing worth fighting for.
An MM story about real love—messy, complicated, and raw. About addiction, toxic relationships, and the struggle to claw your way out of the trenches. About facing the truth, even when it’s ugly. About second chances that may or may not come with new heartbreak.
BOOK
ONE
TROPES YOU’LL FIND
SECOND CHANCE
FIRST LOVES
COLLEGE
DUAL TIMELINE
TOXIC RELATIONSHIP
CODEPENDENCY TO THE MAX
ADDICTION REP
MENTAL HEALTH REP
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?
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"I’m ruined. This book has ruined me. Perfect characters, perfect story, perfect angst and groveling. This is going on a list of books I will hold on a pedestal and think about forever but will never, ever reread because it hurts too fucking much."
-from Goodreads
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"This was my first time reading a book by Alex Cross, and let me tell you, she knocked it out of the park with this one. This story has everything you’d expect a toxic relationship to have. Substance abuse, codependency, Isolation, and probably several other red flags you choose to look past because she really does make you fall in love with these characters."
-from Goodreads
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"I have many more thoughts on this book, but its already getting a little long. What I will say is that Alex Cross has done a phenomenal job with this book and done its story justice. I felt all of the journey these two went through and find myself appreciative for having something so close to my own personal experience put down on the page in an authentic way."
-from Goodreads
This novel explores the complexities of a deeply emotional and often unhealthy relationship between two young men navigating trauma, grief, mental health challenges, and addiction. It contains depictions of toxic behavior and self-destructive coping mechanisms that may be triggering to some readers.
Please prioritize your emotional well-being while reading. If you are sensitive to any of the following topics, we encourage you to take breaks, skip scenes, or step away if needed.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Potentially triggering themes include:
Verbal and emotional conflict between romantic partners
Disordered coping mechanisms (e.g., using sex for validation, emotional suppression)
Implied parental neglect and lack of support
Self-blame and guilt in response to trauma
Mild queer identity conflict and emotional repression
Sexually explicit scene outside the main relationship (not infidelity).
Substance abuse including drug use, withdrawal, and relapse
Codependency and emotionally manipulative dynamics
Toxic romantic relationships
Mental health struggles (including depression and emotional instability)
Death of a parent and depictions of unresolved grief
Isolation, loneliness, and internalized shame
BLURB, TROPES & PLAYLIST
BECOMING US
Noah Rossi met Atticus King in the worst year of his life.
While everything around him was falling apart, Atticus stood out like a lifeline. They were nothing alike, but Noah was drawn to him, to the quiet warmth he never believed he deserved.
Now, two years later, they’re finally finding their way back to each other. Picking up the pieces of a love that never really ended, Noah and Atticus are trying to move forward. But rebuilding trust doesn’t erase the wreckage left behind, and Noah’s past still lingers in the shadows of everything they’re trying to become.
As their relationship deepens, the story shifts between present day and the past, revealing the grief, trauma, addiction, and emotional scars Noah has spent years trying to outrun. Slowly, piece by piece, he begins to heal, not just for Atticus, but for himself.
A companion novel to Echoes of Us, Becoming Us is an MM story about recovery and redemption. About choosing love in the aftermath of destruction. About learning that you can be broken and still be worthy.
And that sometimes, the hardest person to forgive… is yourself.
BOOK
TWO
TROPES YOU’LL FIND
SECOND CHANCE
ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP
ADDICTION REP
MENTAL HEALTH REP
FOUND FAMILY
GRIEF AND HEALING
CODEPENDENCY
NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP
This story includes emotionally intense and potentially triggering content. Please prioritize your mental and emotional well-being as you read. If you are sensitive to any of the following topics, we encourage you to take breaks, skip scenes, or step away if needed. Your health always comes first.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Addiction and substance abuse (including recovery and relapse)
Depression, suicidal ideation, and an on-page suicide attempt with medical intervention
Emotional and verbal abuse from a parent
Narcissistic parental behavior
Sexual assault (kiss at fifteen), grooming, and an emotionally harmful relationship between a minor and an adult
Potential triggers include:
Terminal illness of a parent: depiction of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional experience of watching a loved one deteriorate
Death of a parent
Grief and survivor’s guilt
Emotionally intense therapy scenes
Toxic relationships and emotional manipulation
Disordered coping mechanisms (e.g., sex as validation, emotional repression)
Mild eating disorder behaviors and body dysmorphia
Mild queer identity struggles and internalized shame
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