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Popped: A funny contemporary mm romance (Barbacks Book 1)
by Casey MoralesPublish: Apr 23, 2026Romance LGBTBook Overview
He came for the burger but stayed for the bartender.Finn O'Brien had two skills: making a killer cocktail and spectacularly bad decisions. So naturally, he quit his soul-crushing job to co-own a gay sports bar in Tampa with his best friend. What could go wrong?
Well, forgetting to actually promote their grand opening, for one.
On the bright side, while Finn stood behind a bar with no customers and a growing pile of bills, a rumpled blonde in a crooked tie shuffled in and parked himself in a corner booth.
Chase didn't talk much.
Finn talked too much.
Chase was buttoned-up, guarded, and allergic to fun.
Finn was a mess of freckles and bad jokes who didn't know when to quit.
They had absolutely nothing in common—except the way Chase kept showing up, night after night, claiming he was just there for the burger.
Between a meddling best friend, a kitchen staff placing bets on when Finn would finally make a move, and the world's slowest-burning attraction, Finn had a bar to save, a found family to build, and a grumpy lawyer to crack—one colorfully named drink at a time.
Popped! is the first book in the Barbacks series—a slow-burn rom-com for anyone who's ever stress-organized a spreadsheet, crushed on someone completely unavailable, or wondered if it's weird to learn a regular's order by heart.
(It was weird. Finn knew it was weird.)
If you like the swoony slow burns of Riley Hart, the sharp banter of Eden Finley, or the found-family warmth of a TJ Klune novel—but with a lot more whiskey, you'll love this series.
What Readers Love About This Book/Series
This enemies-to-lovers MM romance delivers everything fans crave: laugh-out-loud humor, steamy slow-burn chemistry, and the nostalgic warmth of classic ensemble shows like Cheers meets Queer as Folk. Set in a gay sports bar in Tampa where everybody knows your name (and your drama), this grumpy-sunshine romance captures authentic queer joy through viral kiss videos, chaotic found family interventions, and the messy, beautiful process of building a life with your person. Perfect for readers who love workplace romance with heart, forced proximity that sparks real feelings, and LGBTQ romance that celebrates community alongside the love story. Fans describe this gay romance as comfort food for the soul—a feel-good, heartwarming read with genuine emotion that'll make you cry and witty banter that'll have you laughing out loud. First in the Barbacks series, each book features a new couple while beloved characters find love, laughter, and belonging.
What Readers Love About the Characters in Popped!
Finn and Chase are the ultimate grumpy-sunshine pairing—the charming Irish bartender with anxiety and overthinking tendencies meets the uptight divorce lawyer learning to let go and live. Their enemies-to-lovers journey from sidewalk collision to slow-burn romance to steamy nights and heartfelt declarations hits every emotional beat perfectly. But the found family supporting cast is what readers truly obsess over: Benji, the chaos agent barback with TikTok fame and perfect comedic timing; Jacks, the former college football player with golden retriever energy who rambles adorably when nervous; Priya, the protective ER resident best friend who threatens bodily harm while fiercely loving her people; and Mark, the wise investor-mentor watching it unfold. These characters feel authentic and real—funny, loyal, flawed, and so genuinely human that readers finish wishing they could grab a beer at this gay bar in Tampa where chosen family gathers, love blooms, and everyone gets their happy ending.
