Review: Off Balance – Jay Hogan

If you’re searching for an MM romance that blends small-town charm, emotional healing, and the beauty of New Zealand’s coastal life, Off Balance by Jay Hogan is a perfect pick. This novel delivers a heartfelt journey of rediscovery as a fallen ballet star and a rugged fisheries officer find love where they least expect it. Featuring themes of grief, acceptance, and starting over, this story will resonate with readers who enjoy heartfelt romances set against stunning backdrops.

Off Balance by Jay Hogan
Series: Painted Bay #1
Genres: Contemporary, MM Romance

Buy Links:Buy on Amazon

When JUDAH MADDEN flees his tiny suffocating home-town in New Zealand, for the dream of international ballet stardom, he never intends coming back. Not to Painted Bay. Not to his family’s struggling mussel farm. Not to his jerk of a brother. Not with his entire life plan in shreds. And certainly not into the tempting arms of MORGAN WIPENE, the older, ruggedly handsome fisheries officer who seems determined to screw with Judah’s intention to wallow in peace.

But dreams are fickle things. Shatter them and it’s hard to pick up the pieces. Hard to believe. Hard to start again.

But the hardest thing of all? Finding the courage to trust in love and build a new dream where you least expected it.

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Off Balance was my first read by Jay Hogan, and I must admit I picked it up because of the gorgeous cover. I’m used to NR Walker’s books set in Australia, and Hogan gives the same immersive vibe with New Zealand. Even though Painted Bay is fictional, many other places mentioned are real, which makes the experience even more engaging if you like to Google locations while reading (like I do).

The story takes place in a tiny town in northern New Zealand, full of gossip, friendly faces, cute little shops, no public transportation, and plenty of boats and marine life. This is where we meet Judah and Morgan.

Judah is a professional ballet dancer whose career is cut short by Ménière’s disease, a condition affecting the inner ear that causes severe vertigo. Forced to return to Painted Bay, he stays close to his family while figuring out his future and how to cope with his illness.

Morgan, a fisheries officer, moved to Painted Bay five years ago after losing his wife. Still grieving, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Judah before he even knows his name. Ten years older than Judah, Morgan loves the small-town life despite its solitude.

I really enjoyed Hogan’s writing, although it does border on too much internal monologue for my taste, especially the “poetic” kind. However, the characters are so layered and complex that this flaw is easy to forgive. The dialogues are natural, and the interactions between characters feel real.

The relationship dynamic is compelling: Judah’s struggles with returning to a place where he endured bullying, dealing with his illness, and mourning the loss of his career contrast beautifully with Morgan’s grounded and caring nature. Morgan balances out Judah’s sometimes spoiled and stubborn personality, making their romance feel authentic.

The downside for me was the unnecessary subplot involving illegal shellfish harvesting. It seemed forced, serving only to create a dramatic scene at the end, which was poorly timed and filled with inconsistencies.

Despite its flaws, I loved the ending and the vibrant cast of secondary characters. Knowing that the second book in the Painted Bay series focuses on Leroy, Judah’s brother, makes me even more excited to continue reading this series.

Final Rating: 4 stars!

Have you read Off Balance? Did Judah and Morgan’s journey touch your heart as much as it did mine? Share your thoughts in the comments below!