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1bookobsessionconfessions's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 Stars
This was such a unique romance in a way I was not expecting.
Both main characters are dealing with past traumas.
They aren’t looking for a serious relationship, and then things just have a way of sneaking up.
That’s all “standard, enjoyable romance.” However, there’s much more happening!
-The physical pain and issues that is brought into the mix was really very refreshing to have in a romance, and handled with respect (my opinion.)
The long term affects of injury and chronic pain on sexuality is important and I really was so impressed with this storyline. (I really got teary-eyed and emotional both in sadness and happiness.)
I enjoyed the tenderness, the kindness and the romance.
That doesn’t mean it’s lacking in steam or heat! It’s not!
I love both of these guys! I was definitely rooting for them!
The deeper things are what shone through for me.
Really different MM romance, loved it!
This was such a unique romance in a way I was not expecting.
Both main characters are dealing with past traumas.
They aren’t looking for a serious relationship, and then things just have a way of sneaking up.
That’s all “standard, enjoyable romance.” However, there’s much more happening!
-The physical pain and issues that is brought into the mix was really very refreshing to have in a romance, and handled with respect (my opinion.)
The long term affects of injury and chronic pain on sexuality is important and I really was so impressed with this storyline. (I really got teary-eyed and emotional both in sadness and happiness.)
I enjoyed the tenderness, the kindness and the romance.
That doesn’t mean it’s lacking in steam or heat! It’s not!
I love both of these guys! I was definitely rooting for them!
The deeper things are what shone through for me.
Really different MM romance, loved it!
kj468's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really really good book. I loved both of the MCs; they both had excellent journeys in the book (Brent with reinventing himself after hockey and John finding himself after divorce). I loved seeing a bi man who married a woman & when he married her, everyone knew he was bi.
The communication between the MCs and their inner dialogue were two of the best parts in the book. The author really dived into their thoughts and emotions, and they seemed so realistic for the circumstances they were both in.
Brent’s journey with his chronic pain was wonderful. I loved seeing a character with chronic pain in such detail, hearing how the pain affected him both mentally and physically. I thought this rep was excellent.
John had a compelling journey too, even thought I got annoyed with a major action of his in the third act.
Still, I could understand why he was doing the annoying thing and it felt very human. The way he apologized for the annoying thing was too notch though.
The ex wife character bothered me a little — partially because she sucked, and partially because she fell into the stereotype of mean ex wife.
The communication between the MCs and their inner dialogue were two of the best parts in the book. The author really dived into their thoughts and emotions, and they seemed so realistic for the circumstances they were both in.
Brent’s journey with his chronic pain was wonderful. I loved seeing a character with chronic pain in such detail, hearing how the pain affected him both mentally and physically. I thought this rep was excellent.
John had a compelling journey too, even thought I got annoyed with a major action of his in the third act.
Still, I could understand why he was doing the annoying thing and it felt very human. The way he apologized for the annoying thing was too notch though.
The ex wife character bothered me a little — partially because she sucked, and partially because she fell into the stereotype of mean ex wife.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Chronic illness, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal cruelty and Infertility
bexbookrex's review against another edition
5.0
2 broken guys, healing together
I loved this book. One of the heroes has severe chronic pain. I've been living with some severe chronic pain for 11 years and the way LA Witt handled the subject was incredibly knowledgeable, understanding, and insightful. It honestly helped me deal with some of the issues in my own personal struggle.
Plus it was a great love story!
I loved this book. One of the heroes has severe chronic pain. I've been living with some severe chronic pain for 11 years and the way LA Witt handled the subject was incredibly knowledgeable, understanding, and insightful. It honestly helped me deal with some of the issues in my own personal struggle.
Plus it was a great love story!
eliezrah's review
5.0
This was an amazing book by a new to me author. It's the 5th Vino and Veritas book in the True North world, and I'm enjoying all of them. Aftermath is just that, two people who meet while trying to deal with the aftermath of problems that occurred in their lives. One of the things that really sat with me, and gave me a personal connection to this story, was Brent's injury. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the way he has to learn to deal with the emotions of his limitations is exactly what I'm going through with some limitations of my own. There were so many times when he was expressing his feelings when I thought it could be me saying that exact same thing. This book will definitely stick with me for a long time.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
atravellingpenguin's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Kinda felt like the book could have been shorter, there were a lot of repetitions, whether in the character's inner monologues or their actual conversations, that I feel could have been avoided.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the realistic romance and mention of the real issues that can be caused by injuries or a divorce, the trials of a new relationship in the wake of a life-altering event.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the realistic romance and mention of the real issues that can be caused by injuries or a divorce, the trials of a new relationship in the wake of a life-altering event.
brutalistemerald's review against another edition
2.0
Pity parties and penis pumps
This was a difficult book to rate; I wavered between rating it 2 or 3. It felt like a repetitive pity party, but it was also a real look at disability, chronic pain and sex in a genre that’s not great at tackling things in much depth. As someone with a chronic illness and pain (although not to the same extent as Brent) I found it a difficult read, but I thought it was handled quite well. What I didn’t like was that there was so little fun in the relationship and so much self-doubt, it made the book a bit of a drag.
This was a difficult book to rate; I wavered between rating it 2 or 3. It felt like a repetitive pity party, but it was also a real look at disability, chronic pain and sex in a genre that’s not great at tackling things in much depth. As someone with a chronic illness and pain (although not to the same extent as Brent) I found it a difficult read, but I thought it was handled quite well. What I didn’t like was that there was so little fun in the relationship and so much self-doubt, it made the book a bit of a drag.
jennp28's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a surprising read. I was expecting the chronic pain/disability to be a minor plot point but instead it was a main feature of the story and the romance aspect worked around it. There was lots of honest modified-sex scenes and lots of comfort and no magic cures. I thought it was really well done!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident, Medical content, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infertility and Infidelity
smelsela's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma
Minor: Infidelity and Infertility
elmead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was genuinely so good. The narrators did a wonderful job of bringing this book to life. It’s really refreshing to read a romance where the main characters aren’t bright and shiny twentysomethings. One is a single dad who is finally ready to put himself out there after his divorce, and the other is a former hockey player whose career ends early after as horribly car accident that leaves him with chronic pain. Together they are able to work past their flaws and bring out the best in each other.