I'm HIGHLY annoyed. This started off funny and nice, but then I got totally lost in Shelby's POV. First, though I AM a girl of the 90s, I am still too young (was at high school at the time, not college) and second Shelby is WAY WAY WAY too competitive for me. Everything with her was SO OTT I was just annoyed with her. Everything was a game to be won and everything was done with the highest of emotions - winning, fucking, whichever. I don't have one competitive bone in my body and if I wanted someone BADLY, the one LAST thing I would do is try to destroy everything he (in this case she) achieved. It started with Trivia nights and went to a game of assassin.
Beautiful, so so beautiful and heartfelt. The only thing I could have asked for isn't from Amy.. There was a party at my neighbors the day I started reading and so at a certain point I literally got nauseated from the loud HORRIBLE music (karaoke included...) and I just couldn't continue.. my only complaint is I couldn't read the book in one gulp as I wished (finished it the day after). Why am I mentioning this? because in a way it "worked" with the fact both MC in this book are a sort of loners and I can certainly fit the bill. Like Eddie and Grayson - sitting in the quiet of my home and enjoying a book is really most of what I ask for in life. I freaked out because I couldn't do that, I was DENIED my peace of mind which left me absolutely INSANE. Like Eddie and Gray I could totally be a people's person (when I choose) but deep down inside, the most appealing thing for me is reading in my quiet house (for me it also HAS to include my dogs).
Magda and Javi are celebrating a year together in the honeymoon they only now found the time for. Though they love each other dearly - which is clear from their every move (even though we only get Magda's POV) there is a HUGE gap between them, it seems mostly because they are SO different from one another yet it's not exactly that.
This is a holiday anthology I was really excited to read. First it contains a novella by Joanna Chambers - no doubt it means it's a MUST read, then I realized it also has novellas by Amy Jo Cousins and Megan Erickson! Yeah, I clicked on the buy button without thinking more about it. I recently read a short story by Kaje Harper I really enjoyed and planned on reading more by her so I was happy about that as well. I haven't read anything by the other authors and so it's a good opportunity to sample more "new" (=to me) authors.
Another reason to grab this anthology is its worthy cause! The proceedings will be donated to "Lost-N-Found" youth - a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to take LGBTQ youths off the streets into permanent housings.
This one was everything I could have hoped for and more. I can't express how happy I am with the way this one turned out. I LOVED both Tom and Reese in the 1st installment in the series, and yeah, it was obvious that their problems won't just disappear when they are finally committed to one another but here we got to see them 4 years later and though there's much of the same (no one changes over night..), it's different, their relationship is stronger, their connection is beautiful and even when they are both making mistakes it's obvious where their heart are.
I loved the little glimpse I got of Denny and Rafi in the previous installment and was really interested in getting their story. Through the synopsis it's quite obvious we are going to get Rafi's POV, with his struggles in a new place (Carlisle College) where he doesn't fit in, for too many reasons.. his color, being gay, lacking academically, not coming from "money" and especially since he is only there because of a scholarship he got from Cash and Denny's family heavy meddling.
If someone can get what it feels like being an outsider it's me. Though I never had any of the specific problems Rafi has. I could totally get the feeling of inferiority and what it made him think, but I couldn't understand what it made him DO - mostly toward Denny - his only point of support.
This wasn't exactly what I was expecting.. I mean, I LOVED Cash, he is one of my absolute favorite male characters. He's got it all, mostly a BIG heart and no prejudice no matter the subject. It's exactly what makes him such a good friend not only to Reese and Tom, but also to Steph, even if back in college their friendship had a bit more.. Now, a few years later, he is living in Chicago, has left all his fortune behind to coach young kids through a none profit organization.
While I absolutely LOVED the previous one this one was VERY disappointing. I didn't know what I would feel about Jack who was really mean to Tom in the previous installment. The question of "is he redeemable" was asked and the answer is - there is nothing to redeem. If I would have heard/read about him without knowing his age, I won't give him more than 9 years old and that's me being generous.. The point where I stopped (32%) was after he and Mike/Miguel were on a mission to hang a poster of Batman on the school's wall. Well, I think it was a wall, frankly in a certain point I started skimming this chapter, not understanding what the F I'm reading here..
Though I was really looking forward to reading this series, when it was right there in it's scheduled spot I was a bit worried.. I've just put aside a series people were raving about and now here's another series I heard so many great things about and I wasn't sure what to expect. So when I finally had the time Friday evening I just opened the book and started reading (then stopped and remembered I didn't even read the synopsis! went back to read it and continued on). It was 1 AM in the morning when I realized I WANT to keep on reading but my eyes are burning with how tired I am. Reluctant I went to sleep only to wake up two hours later to read a bit more, then woke up in the morning to finish it. Didn't even have my coffee..
I was really floored by just HOW amazing this book was. In a way I don't like writing a raving review of a book I absolutely love because I feel like I'm screwing it up! There is NO WAY I'm able to express how good it was, how and why I liked it that much and here it's the same. I loved both MC, they both dealt with horrible experiences, were doing the best they could on their own and it just didn't cut it. Because as much as we want to be big heroes and deal with life, sometimes it's a bit too much for us on our own, especially since we adapt a certain world view according to our experiences (not always positive or adaptive) so another person's perspective is a good idea. I'm saying here that not only Reese and Tom were PERFECT for one another they genuinely NEEDED each other.
I'm not sure how to rate this short novella. Partly because it took me a whole freaking week to read it! I don't blame anything but myself, not having the time or the ability to concentrate (and not fall asleep) whenever there is a possibility to actually sit and read. I can't wait for this month to be over, getting my LIFE back! I miss reading and who happy and relax it makes me.
The whole story is told from Evan's POV. He is invited by his brother to help with a photo shoot of Riley Flood - a celebrity pop star. The tension between Evan and Riley was totally fun to read. Riley has such an influence on Evan who is mostly shy unless he is in an adventurous mood :) But the things he blurbs when he is nervous!
This short novella was so damn CUTE and funny and heart warming! Devin made a few choices in his life he ISN'T sorry about, most have to do with being there for his sister when she found out she was pregnant and the age of 18. Now, more than ten years later after losing (another!) bet to her she makes him go on 5 dates so he can do something for himself for a change.
Labels:
1★,
Amy Jo Cousins,
Bend or Break,
LGBTQ,
New Adult,
Novella
