REVIEW: Side by Side by Jordan Clayden-Lewis

- May 26, 2026

SIDE BY SIDE

Games We Play - Book One

by Jordan Clayden-Lewis

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Review

This is a cute co-worker rivalry turned romance, between Kallen and Dan. Trying to make it in a competitive industry of media and content writing. Working for a company that doesn’t much care for their workers and forbids relationships because, for no better reason than the boss doesn’t like it.

As Kallen and Dan feel the pressure at worker, they are feeling something else when they end up sharing a bed on assignment.

Now they are sorting out their feelings, worrying about their jobs, living, and life, but when they start working on those things together, they find themselves a pretty sweet life.

I enjoyed the writing, but I felt they could have used a bit more time on the page to better establish their connection. But I’ll definitely be back for more.

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Synopsis

Love wasn't in the job description.

Kallen Jeffries has reached a few milestones before turning twenty-seven: stable writing job, a few friends who've turned into found family, and a place to live where he can be himself. What he didn't expect this year, however, was for his handsome new neighbour, Dan, to become his new coworker. And now, he's not just living next to the man – he has to sit next to him in the office every day.

Dan Byers has just moved to Brisbane from Melbourne for a fresh start in a content writing job at Untold Media. The position seems like the perfect fit, but with one major problem: he can't stop thinking about his new coworker, Kallen. Not wanting to complicate things at work with a silly crush, Dan does everything in his power to forget about it.

Kallen, on the other hand, is intimidated by Dan's impressive resume and starts seeing Dan as competition for a new position opening up in the office, something Kallen desperately wants. However, as Kallen and Dan work together, their one-sided rivalry soon softens into mutual respect, then something more.

But workplace romance is strictly banned in the office. Will Kallen and Dan risk their jobs for a shot at something real?

About Jordan Clayden-Lewis

Jordan Clayden-Lewis was born and raised in Australia, and loves queer stories of all sorts. These stories have inspired him to write his own.

When Jordan's not reading or writing, he's parenting his overactive kelpie Misty, hiking a trail in the forest somewhere, or thinking about Mexican food.

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