The holiday season goes awry when Mark brings his boyfriend home to Chicago and comes out to his parents. His younger brother Peter is used to parental disapproval but Mark was the favourite - not any more. Colin is the polite English boyfriend who had a good experience telling his educated family, and he encouraged Mark to break the news. They're in their twenties and Peter, who'd guessed the truth, is nineteen.

SIBLING RIVALS shows the brothers at first presenting a united front, with Peter insisting that the lovers can't be kicked out of the house in snow at night. And it's Christmas, and they're old enough to know what they are doing. Sadly that taut visit is too much for the older men's relationship. Two years later, Colin has moved to Boston and gets an invite to Peter's graduation. He doesn't go but keeps in touch. Then both brothers show up in Boston, where Peter will be taking a course and has begged a bed until he finds his feet. Mark has done some growing up and regrets breaking up with Colin. But the English lad isn't interested and for no sensible reason he's much more attracted to Peter, though he has a rule of never chatting up anyone straight. And what exactly is going through Peter's head?

I was interested in seeing how the family situation worked out, and a realistic part was the two brothers getting to know each other again after leading separate lives during several years of study and work. Their parents haven't become reconciled to Mark's orientation but it seemed to me that they were mainly hurting themselves. Peter, who is studying physical therapy, is a great ad for fitness and enjoys outdoor life, a good contrast with more serious Colin who enjoys galleries and museums and literature. Becoming friends is the most important part of this tale, and accepting others for who they are. When a family difficulty occurs, Colin the outsider proves his worth as a stalwart friend and helper.

SIBLING RIVALS is a readable adult romance by Summer Devon with a serious message.

Book Summary

Meeting the family shouldn’t be this complicated.

As the designated slacker of the family, Peter Stevens was accustomed to being eclipsed by his “perfect” older brother, Mark. But when Mark came out to their parents one Christmas vacation, it was his turn to be the black sheep.

Even more surreal was Peter’s brief encounter with his brother’s boyfriend, Colin. The unmistakable sparks between them shook the foundations of his confirmed heterosexuality. Years later, when they meet again as graduate student and professor, that bone-deep attraction is still there.

Thanks to the emotional scars Mark left behind, Colin has had his fill of Stevens men. Having Peter at his university shouldn’t be a problem though, as he knows the younger man is straight. But when Colin realizes the electricity sizzles both ways, he can’t resist indulging in a passionate affair.

Yet some old flames stubbornly refuse to die. This time, Peter refuses to step aside—and when an emergency brings the family together again, Colin must decide if it’s worth the risk to trust another Stevens brother with his heart.

Warning: This book contains an adorable professor who gets invited home for a very complicated holiday, a perfect relationship with “Mr. Right”, and a dangerous crush on “Mr. Wrong”.