Review: Save The Date (Square Mile Rogues #4) by Sophia Soames
- Debbie
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
Book Details:
Book Title: Save The Date
Author/Publisher/Cover Artist: Sophia Soames
Release Date: May 1 2026
Tense/POV: first person/alternating POV
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance
Tropes: Bi awakening, age gap, forced proximity, only one bed, hurt-comfort, single Dad
Themes: TV Married at first sight style show
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 100k words/350 pages
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
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Peter Felton
If there was a meme for being a total cliché?
That would be me.
It wouldn’t even need a description, just a pathetic snapshot of me in my threadbare pyjamas, standing at my filthy kitchen table, staring into the wall like a loser.
Because that is exactly who I was. The middle-aged widower caught up in his very own hell of a midlife crisis. The guy who wasn’t over his dead wife. The single dad. Pathetic, Peter. Utterly pathetic.
The guy who thought… I didn’t know what I’d been thinking. Because if someone had told me that at forty-five, I’d willingly go on a reality-TV dating show?
Yeah. You get the picture. The memes were brutal. Every single one of them was bouncing around the internet like a contagious super virus. The internet was forever. And so was love.
It wasn’t who I was, this…this joke of a man I’d become. It never was, and now? Now I was standing here wondering how I would ever leave the house again.
Oliver Jacobs
When I was a kid, I thought I was invincible. Turns out…sometimes I was. Sometimes my confidence took me places, and anyway. When I fell? I got up. Made a plan, organised my options and ran with the obvious solution. I was good like that.
But I hadn’t counted on…this one plan going so very, very wrong. So terribly, awfully wrong.
Because my requests were simple and easy. Youngish, around my age. No facial hair. Nice. No kids, no baggage.
Also gay.
And then? They gifted me…Peter Fenton. Everything I hadn’t asked for. And now he is all I want.
So…should I save the date? Or just swallow down the fact that Oliver Jacobs…just made the biggest mistake of his life.
Save the Date is a standalone novel set in the Square Mile Rogues universe. Content warnings for death of a partner, violent grief and finding out that love…really matters.
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“Oh god,” he groaned, rolling over on the bed where he’d simply thrown himself down on top of the covers. To be honest? I wanted to do the same, tea and all. But thankfully he sat himself back up and received the teacup from my outstretched hands.
“The cups are from Darcie Blush. Gorgeous design.”
“You have to stop with the product promotions. You’re making me look bad!”
“I’m saving your arse here, Peter. Now, Anne. What do we think?”
“She’s with Jorge, and he says she’s pleasant enough, but she’s a good two feet taller than him and he’s as intimidated as anything. His words.”
“Oh. Good gossip. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“It’s all gossip.” The groans coming from him, as sipped the tea, were almost hilarious. But I got it. We were both wrung out and I did… surprisingly… make a good cup of tea.
“And it will all be public gossip. ”I agreed. “Did you read the call sheet? The first episode will air in two weeks. Two! They don’t hang around here, the editing team is working 24/7, so no wonder they’re all shouting at us to say the right things.”
“Instead we’re all gossiping and namedropping.” He rolled his shoulders, again loudly sipping his tea. “And drinking tea like two little grannies.”
“Granddads.” I laughed. “Well, you’re the Granddad.”
“Which makes you what? What was it you called yourself? A hot twink?”
I liked that he was so easy to get on with. Just simple conversation and ready smiles. He had no idea how much I had needed just this. Something un-complicated. Straightforward.
“I thought you were straight, Peter.”
“Labels are for jam, at least that’s what Wren was saying. But I am starting to question everything. Is every single couple on this show awfully mismatched or what?”
“I think that’s the whole point of the show. One of the production team was talking to someone else, Gina was talking to Jorge I think, I was waiting to film with her so I kind of eavesdropped, that when the first episode goes live, the voting will start. The viewing public will matchmake and then on the Friday, we will all get recoupled. I am assuming that’s why. Someone in here is the perfect match for us, but we don’t know who yet. And I suppose…”
“So… I will be moving in with someone else?”
“What do I know?”
“Oh.” He looked genuinely shocked. “It’s only been a day, but I like being… with you.” He suddenly looked embarrassed, his cheeks blushing under an awkward smile. “I don’t mean like that. You know. I was just settling into that fact, and now…this?”
“I’m trying to figure out who was meant for who. I mean, you have options. We have Diane, who fancies you, and Anne who kept trying to talk to you. Then there was Xanthe.”
“Xanthe is trans. And only interested in men her age. I’m too old.”
“Well, who’s prejudiced now?”
“I’m not, I had a quick chat with her, her teeth are fantastic. Done locally, and I know her dentist. I’m just being sensible here. I can’t see anyone else being an option for me, but Xanthe? No. She’s as confused as we are as to why she’s with… Gerald.”
“Chloe-Catherine doesn’t seem confused?” I was just kidding, and his eyeroll made me laugh.
“Thank you, but no. I have no intention of becoming Chloe-Catherine’s sugar-daddy.” He said quietly, staring me down. I’d noticed that earlier, he could be a little intense at times. I didn’t think I minded.
“What even is that?” Tea. I rarely drank tea, but I think I liked it. Calming. I needed to be calm. Don't panic. “The double-barrelled thing. She’s obsessed.”
“A brand…” he rolled his eyes. I think I liked him. Funny. Normal.
“No I meant, thank you. To you.”
“I’ve done nothing. Just tea.”
“For doing this with me. You could have walked out.”
Strangely, I smiled. A warmth filling in my chest. I was rarely… appreciated. And this somehow felt just like that.
“Not giving up yet.” I gulped out, trying to swallow another mouthful of hot liquid. ”But, at least you have options. There’s only Bi-sexual-Ben left for me, and he scares me. And to be honest? I don’t think I’m his type at all.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He gave off those vibes. I mean, you meet people, and you kind of know. Straight away, virtual thorns out, all prickly.”
“Like me.” “Just like you”. I smiled. I wasn’t being rude, but he got that. Got me. The relief was like another welcome balm to my soul.
“Tell me about that.” He continued, getting comfortable on the bed. “These sheets are from Donna Truham’s private luxury range. Did you know that, Oliver?”
“I did not know that, Peter. And are they available to purchase from her website?”
He was holding that laughter in, as I smiled at the camera attached to the wall.
“They are indeed, Oliver. Donna Truham dot com. Use the code Save the date for your exclusive ten percent off!”
“That is such a good deal!” I squealed. Then I rolled my eyes. “That’s enough of that stuff. Tell me about your work.”
“Nahahahah… I asked first. Tell me about this instant vibe. In my days, we used to go out and meet girls. You had to compliment them on their hair, their dress, and how nice they smelled. Then you had to ask them to dance. It was really simple because they could just say no and then you knew and moved on. Dignity intact. These days?”
“It’s not that complicated. You meet someone. Stare at them. They stare back. If they hold eye contact, you might, you know? Clink glasses. Have a little snog.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Well, you have to kind of… be in a gay club if you wanna kiss boys. So, I have no idea how it works for women…”
“You’ve never been with a woman I assume?”
“Absolutely not. I’m a gold star gay me.”
“Fair enough. Wait… Gold star?”
“A gay guy who's never been with a woman. Never been inside a vagina.”
“Okay?”
“Not a Platinum star gay though sadly. That’s a…” I leaned over and whispered into his ear. “A platinum star gay is a gay guy who's never been inside a vagina at all. C-section baby.”
I pulled back slowly for effect, laughing out loud as his face bloomed red.
“I’ve never met someone who blushes as much as you.”
“I’m a sheltered middle-aged dentist, mate!” He shrieked, but he was laughing. Good for him.
“I think you just made yourself another meme there.” I declared, boldly throwing my arms out.
“Well. I’m ticking them off one by one. Here’s the next one. What if you’re just an ordinary bloke who suddenly has a male partner? What are you then? A brick gay or something?”
“I don’t think that’s a thing.” I smiled.
“It’s just human, isn’t it. We like who we like.” Peter was a nice guy. I had to admit it.
“It’s just who we are, isn’t it? I just always knew. Never hid it. Life can be stupid that way, I mean, what’s the point of hiding what you are? What you’re into?”
“Very true. And I mean, my darling wife was a staunch defender of everyone’s right to love whomever they wanted to love. She… sorry. I shouldn’t talk about my wife.”
“You should. Because she is still important to you?”
“She is. Her name was Mary.”
“Mary. And how did you meet Mary?”
I had no idea where the questions were coming from, but now I was lying down on the bed next to him, still fiddling with my empty cup, listening to stories from his university days, and laughing at his… plain naivety with all of this.
“I like that you don’t care.” Came out of my mouth in the middle of some rant about the pitfalls of fame. Because apparently, he’d been… some kind of celebrity. And he was honestly as far away from what I assumed a celebrity would be. He was… “You’re like the most normal person I’ve ever met.”
“Careful, you’ll end up a meme on the interweb too.” he grinned.
“Nah, no more space on that internet, you’ve already taken them all. I mean, I want to meet someone, but they have to accept that I’m still a married man.”
“Yeah. Probably not the greatest catchphrase.” He admitted.
4 out of 5 (very good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is my review, and I am going to be honest, ok?
In the beginning, I hated this book. It was making no sense. Oliver and Peter had a say but also a third person, and I couldn't see why this other person had a say for such a long time. Worse still, the third person kept talking about "him", and a name was not used, and I was getting frustrated so bad! I really considered dumping this book; I was that cross with it.
And then! I have absolutely no idea what happened, but it kept me reading, and then suddenly everything made perfect sense, and I actually found this a very good read in the end.
I HATED absolutely hated what they did on that game show. The person in charge was a b!tch of the highest order, and just wanted ratings; she wasn't at all bothered by what they did to people. Just gotta get that in! The fact that this came with a Married at First Sight-style game show tag makes me think about that show (cos I've watched it, don't judge me!) and what happens in the background on that one.
But I loved that both Peter and Oliver managed to walk away at the very right time for them both.
Opposites really do attract, and Oliver and Peter were polar opposites. I loved that neither saw the past of the other as a problem, once they actually talked about things away from the dating show. Their respective history doesn't all come out in one go, and I loved being able to catch my breath before the next bit was thrown at me.
And there were some corkers thrown at me! Peter's marriage and how that worked was one. Much of Oliver's past comes out in the book, though.
And that third person's mysterious he?? I got that so very wrong! But I loved the way it all came together, I really did.
This is the first book I've read by Ms Soames, and now I know how she likes to mess things up in my head, I might venture into her world again. OH, and before I go, this book is billed as book 4 in the Square Mile Rogues series, and a quick look at books one and two (cos I can't find book 3!) shows me that this can be read as a stand-alone to those books. I don't think any of those main characters pop up here.
Because it took me a while to start to enjoy, . . .
4 very good stars
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
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Sophia Soames should be old enough to know better but has barely grown up. She has been known to fangirl over TV shows, has fallen in and out of love with more popstars than she dares to remember, and has a ridiculously high-flying (un-)glamourous real-life job.
Her long-suffering husband just laughs at her antics. Their children are feral. The dogs are too.
She lives in a creaky old house in rural London, although her heart is still in her native Scandinavia.
Discovering that the stories in her head make sense when written down has been part of the most hilarious midlife crisis ever, and she hopes it may long continue.
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