Brilliant review & observations. I am quite bothered by these category-style m/m books, and I can't quite articulate why. Part of it is what you say about the repetition of tropes like village-good-city-bad we wish would go away in mainstream romance. And I think it's also the blatant way in which the couple reflects the same dynamic as an m/f couple does.

Also, a rock star who can't be gay or bi? Huh? Hello, David Bowie, just for a start.