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Jay Northcote
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Starting from Scratch (Housemates Book 5) Kindle Edition

by Jay Northcote (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 694 ratings
Starting over isn’t easy, but Ben is ready to live his life as the man he was always meant to be.

Ben is transgender and back at university after hormone treatment and chest surgery. His new housemates have no idea about his history and Ben would prefer to keep it that way. He’s starting from scratch and his life is finally on track, except in the romance department. The idea of dating guys as a guy is exhilarating but terrifying, because if Ben wants a boyfriend he’ll have to disclose his secret.

Sid is drawn to Ben from the moment they meet. He normally gets what he wants—in the short term at least. Ben’s guarded at first, and Sid’s not used to guys rejecting his advances. He eventually charms his way through Ben’s defences and helps Ben on his journey of sexual awakening.

It doesn’t matter to Sid that Ben is trans. He’s attracted to the whole person, and isn’t worried about what is—or isn’t—in Ben’s pants. They’re good together, and both of them are falling hard and fast, but Ben’s insecurities keep getting in the way. If Sid can convince Ben he's committed, will Ben finally be able to put his heart on the line?

Although this book is part of the Housemates series, it has new main characters, a satisfying happy ending, and can be read as a standalone.
Length: 57,000 words approx.
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  1. Book 5 of 6
    Housemates
  2. Print length
    230 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    April 12, 2017
  6. File size
    2.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jay Northcote is brilliant at giving us well drawn characters and low angst stories and Starting From Scratch was no different. The writing was top notch as was the character and relationship development. I just loved Ben and Sid's story." - My Fiction Nook

"I was floored by the detail and delicacy of the book." - V's Reads

"Starting From Scratch is a very personal, open and honest insight intothe challenges, both emotional and physical, faced by a transman, taking his first steps into a relationship as his true self." - DivineMagazine

"For fans of the author and the series - this will be a must and a delight - if you are new to the author this is a great example of how well Jay creates wonderful characters who get delightful HEAs." - Open Skye Book Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06Y3YVY82
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jaybird Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 12, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 230 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 5 of 6 ‏ : ‎ Housemates
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 694 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jay Northcote

Jay Northcote

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn't stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

Web: www.jaynorthcote.com

Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/JN-readers

Twitter: @jay_northcote

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaynorthcotefiction

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
694 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a heartwarming love story that is educational and well-written, with one review noting how it portrays gender dysphoria with depth and understanding. Customers appreciate the characters and find it a comfort read that validates their experiences. They consider it the best installment in the series.

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31 customers mention "Story quality"31 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this heartwarming love story, describing it as beautiful and enlightening, with one customer noting that the relationship unfolds in a realistic way.

"...sexy, it's respectful, it's validating, and it's just a good love story between two good men, with a helpful sense of supportive community in the mix..." Read more

"...did that, not by lecturing, but by telling a very human, very becautiful story of two people falling in love and learning to navigate each other and..." Read more

"...(one of my favorites writers) for a wonderful and honest story of acceptance and love." Read more

"...third foray into the Housemates series, and in some ways the story was more informative and fleshed out than Books 1 and 4 but on the other hand the..." Read more

21 customers mention "Enlightenedness"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enlightening and educational, making them happy.

"...And Northcote did that, not by lecturing, but by telling a very human, very becautiful story of two people falling in love and learning to navigate..." Read more

"...I’m glad I did and love how the author dealt with the subject matter...." Read more

"...But what sets this book apart is the subject matter. Ben, one of the main characters is a trans man who is attracted to a cis man...." Read more

"...in the series, but this particular book and this character are so damn relevant and important and vital to so many people out there...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers like the characters in the book.

"...The side characters are all fun, too...." Read more

"...His characters are realistic and the stories heartwarming. His writing style is clear and clean, a pleasure to read...." Read more

"...It makes the characters feel real, and not just existing for the pleasure of the reader. Ben and Sid are sweet, fragile genuine young men...." Read more

"...I still liked the characters, Ben and Sid were a lovely couple. I'm glad Sid upgraded his former position as an awkward ex by going with Ben...." Read more

7 customers mention "Enlightened content"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enlightening, with one review noting how it portrays gender dysphoria with depth and understanding, while another describes it as a cute novella about a young transgender character.

"...I loved the balance of Ben's dysphoria and emotional struggles ~ mixed with the hot, sex scenes, and Ben's steamy masculine sexuality...." Read more

"Incredible book about a trans guy and his first boyfriend as such. It was amazing to get such insight...." Read more

"...All the insecurities and gender dysphoria feelings were portrayed with depth and understanding...." Read more

"...I read a lot of m/m romance and this book helps explain transgender people. It sounds like it can be really hard..." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book.

"...His writing style is clear and clean, a pleasure to read. But what sets this book apart is the subject matter...." Read more

"...on this book because I’d read an M/M book by Jay before and liked his writing style. And it was free. Bonus! I love reading about love...." Read more

"...I thought the book was really well written and is a favorite of mine in this series." Read more

"...Jay is a very good writer. He got a lot of good physical and mental details down in this story...." Read more

4 customers mention "Comfort"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comfortable to read, with one review noting its genuine chemistry between characters, while another describes it as very fluffy.

"...The sex scenes were not only hot but felt real...the author didn't just gloss over the realities of Ben being trans and Sid being cis...." Read more

"...I loved Ben and Sid and their chemistry was sizzling. A beautiful love story that I'd highly recommend." Read more

"Nice and sweet novel, rather informative and a comfort delight to read. Cutest characters as well! Can't wait for Johnny's now!!!" Read more

"Very fluffy and sexy. A comfort read." Read more

4 customers mention "Series content"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this installment of the series, with one customer noting it's the fifth book in the Housemates series.

"This is the fifth book in the Housemates series. I was so hoping that Jay would include a transman in the series...." Read more

"This is my favorite book in the series, I was pleasantly surprised with the authors ability to really understand what the characters felt throughout..." Read more

"Great addition to the series!..." Read more

"Best installment to this series so far..." Read more

3 customers mention "Authenticity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the book.

"...In any case, it's sexy, it's respectful, it's validating, and it's just a good love story between two good men, with a helpful sense of supportive..." Read more

"...Even if the writing is quite adolescent, it's correct (without spelling or syntax mistakes). I liked." Read more

"...Jay Northcote created MC's who were utterly authentic and extremely relatable. Their journey was sweet, tender and slow burning...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Michigan Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy, respectful, validating
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I was really excited getting into this book, because I know Jay Northcote is trans, and I love own-voices trans stories. I'm a trans man, and the way Northcote writes about desirability against dysphoria felt really strong and personal to me. The story is about a trans man learning to navigate sex after transition, and a cis man figuring out how best to support his trans boyfriend. The story has a narrow, personal focus, and the events are extremely ordinary; it's just a bunch of guys who live in the same neighborhood, being friends and supporting each other.

    I will say that because Ben's trans status is the main focus of the book, it sometimes felt heavy-handed, like it was being discussed in the text more often than it's a conscious aspect of my life. It reads like a primer for how trans men might usually feel about sex, written for someone without a very thorough understanding. In that aspect I think I would've been closer to the target audience a few years ago, when I was just starting hormones.

    Ben is never misgendered once. There are a few off jokes about dick size and the like, but the narrative acknowledges outright that those jokes hurt trans people, which is really nice. Ben and Sid have open conversations about boundaries and language, and Ben's body is only referred to with the terms he chooses himself. Nothing about the language in this book made me uncomfortable - which is really nice.

    In any case, it's sexy, it's respectful, it's validating, and it's just a good love story between two good men, with a helpful sense of supportive community in the mix. (I'm noticing a pattern - the sense of community might be one of Northcote's signatures.) Definitely picking up more books from this author when I can!
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Amanda Brooks
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Summary: Ben has recently returned to university after transitioning. His new year’s resolution is to try to be more social because despite not wanting anyone to know he’s trans he does want to make friends, and he really wants a boyfriend. Sid is attracted to Ben right away, and even though he keeps getting mixed signals, he’s determined to get to know Ben better.

    Review: This is a sweet, low angst story. Ben is finally living the life he wants—his roommates don’t question him being a guy, and he’s studying a subject he really enjoys. And as much as he wants to date, he’s nervous because he knows he’ll have to reveal his secret. Some bad experiences with dating while trans has made him understandably wary. Northcote does a good job of putting us in Ben’s head so we can see just how frustrating this situation is—to be lonely, and to want connections, but to have that fear of rejection if the other person can’t handle your truth. With zero personal experience to go by, I feel as if Northcote did a really great job not just explaining dysphoria but showing it—there are moments when Ben gets hit by a wave of dysphoria and it feels so visceral.

    And Sid is great, too. Even before Ben reveals that he’s trans, Sid is straightforward about what he wants and at the same time never pushy—he always respects Ben’s boundaries. After Ben tells him, Sid extends this to making sure to check in with Ben about what he’s comfortable with in terms not only of a physical relationship but also in terms of the language Ben prefers to use.

    The side characters are all fun, too. I especially liked Jude who is super supportive of Ben and Sid’s relationship right from the beginning, and not just because he used to date Sid himself. Since this is book five, most of the other characters already have their own stories, and I’m looking forward to reading them now.

    I’m so glad I read this. I feel as I learned a lot about some of the issues that transgender people face. And Northcote did that, not by lecturing, but by telling a very human, very becautiful story of two people falling in love and learning to navigate each other and a relationship.
    Helpful
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  • Christian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ben & Sid’s story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I just love coming out stories!

    This one is no different with the usual angst and fear of rejection except that it begins with acceptance of who you are. My heart went out to Ben, a trans man and Sid the guy who falls head over heels for Ben, the person.

    I have to be honest that I was reluctant to read Ben & Sid’s story because of the subject matter, even though I previously read every Housemates volume. Most M/M stories tend to overplay the sex. It is usually all about genitalia. So it was with trepidation that I read volume 5. I’m glad I did and love how the author dealt with the subject matter.

    Thank you Jay Northcote (one of my favorites writers) for a wonderful and honest story of acceptance and love.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Client Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in France on August 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Waouh quel magnifique moment passé à lire ce livre qui décrit tellement bien les difficultés que peuvent rencontrer les transgenres. J'ai adoré les personnages principaux : Ben inquiet de se faire confiance et de faire confiance et Sid prêt à s'ouvrir pour enfin connaître l'amour, le vrai !
    Je vous le conseille ce livre, vous allez définitivement l'adorer !!
    Report
  • Anon
    5.0 out of 5 stars love it
    Reviewed in Australia on February 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I really really loved this book, along with the whole series but it’s so great to see more Trans characters in books. This one was so different to the other ones i’ve read and opened my eyes up more to the internal and external struggles and barriers in the Trans community.
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  • Laberladen Blog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Süße Liebesgeschichte mit Tiefgang
    Reviewed in Germany on October 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Darum geht’s:

    Ben hält seinen Mitbewohnern gegenüber mit einer wichtigen Tatsache über sich hinterm Berg: Er wurde als Mädchen geboren und hat noch gar nicht so lange seine Transition zum Mann abgeschlossen. Inzwischen möchte er geselliger werden und traut sich Spielenachmittage mit seinen Mitbewohnern zu. Als er sich zu einem gemeinsamen Kneipenbesuch überreden lässt, trifft er auf Sid. Der macht klar, dass er an Ben sehr interessiert ist und ist erst einmal ziemlich irritiert, als er trotz Bens Interesse dann doch eine Abfuhr kassiert. Aber so schnell gibt Sid nicht auf.

    So fand ich’s:

    Jay Northcote steht für fluffig-leichte und optimistische gay Liebesgeschichten, die mal mehr und mal weniger erotische Funken sprühen lassen, aber immer voll ehrlicher Gefühle zwischen liebenswerten Jungs von nebenan sind. Das gilt ganz genauso für „Starting From Scratch“ und für alle, die keine schwerwiegenden Probleme wälzen, sondern sich einfach nur gut unterhalten lassen wollen, sind Jays Bücher alle sehr zu empfehlen.

    Und doch wird hier neben der geradlinigen und wundervollen Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ben und Sid auch noch Bens Geschichte als transidenter Mann erzählt. So lange er bekleidet ist, wird er inzwischen ganz selbstverständlich als Mann identifiziert. Doch irgendwann will er mit Sid zusammen auch mal die Kleidung fallen lassen – und das bedeutet, dass Sid seine Narben und seine körperliche Besonderheit bemerken wird. Ben hat Angst davor, und doch ist ihm Sid irgendwann einfach wichtig genug, dass er diesen Schritt wagt.

    Sid weiß zwar grundsätzlich über Transsexualität Bescheid, aber im Detail hat er sich noch nicht damit beschäftigt. Er weiß nicht wirklich, womit er Ben vor den Kopf stoßen könnte und womit Ben zu kämpfen hatte. Sid bemüht das Internet für Recherche und zusammen mit ihm erfahren auch wir Leser ein paar Hintergründe. Außerdem sind sich beide Männer darüber im Klaren, dass sie über dieses Thema offen reden müssen und das tun sie auch. Aus Bens Perspektive erfahren wir auch von seinen widersprüchlichen Gefühlen sich selbst gegenüber und dass er ganz durchschnittliche Wünsche hat, die die meisten von uns ganz selbstverständlich nehmen, die aber für ihn mit großen Hürden verbunden sind.

    Als Teil der „Housemates“-Serie bietet und „Starting From Scratch“ auch Einblicke in die Beziehungen der Pärchen aus den vorhergehenden Bänden, die kleinere oder auch größere Nebenrollen bekleiden.

    Der Ton ist leicht und positiv, auch wenn wegen der schwierigeren Umstände für Ben ein ernster Aspekt dazu kommt, der den Optimismus aber nicht dämpft, sondern eine zusätzliche Tiefe hinzufügt. Es gibt keinen belehrend erhobenen Zeigefinger, sondern wichtige Informationen werden einem in diese süße Liebesgeschichte verpackt wie nebenbei vermittelt – im Vordergrund steht wie immer bei Jay Northcote die kurzweilige und sexy Unterhaltung.
    Report
  • Eager Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Love Story
    Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I'm always on the hunt for trans fiction. Truly enjoyed this heartfelt, genuine story of a trans guy taking a risk with his heart and finding love. Sweet with just enough spice.
    Report
  • Daniel
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have no words
    Reviewed in Spain on October 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Bieng gay male with trans experience finding a book that shows exactly what I feel and how I experienced straight relationships before coming out.
    I'm sorry I am not the best at giving reviews. .This goes to my must reads recommendations and my top 3 romance books.

    I am so glad to be living right now because 50 years ago I would have not had any chance to read something I connect so deeply.
    Report

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