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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
I've rushed through this book as I wanted to get the backstory to Symphonies, the second title in the series. Because of the speed, I won't rate the book because I didn't give it enough time to affect me as much as it could.
Therefore, this "review" is not really a review but disorderly ramblings about what didn't make a hundred percent sense to me.
I liked both Koa and Jersey, but honestly, I didn't quite get Jersey's reaction at 14 to their kiss that caused their rift. Especially after their promise to stay friends. Yes, on one hand I understand that one can be completely oblivious about the other one's feelings, but Jersey was so in-tune with Koa's nonverbal signals. And yes, if one cannot understand and accept revelations about oneself's feelings, especially when they are not accepted in their peer group and society, one can lash out more viciously than expected. But still.
But maybe not getting this maybe is a consequence to me rushing through the story.
Also, the big reveal as to why Koa was so damaged was exspectedly awful yet sadly left many question marks: why did the tragedy happen, why did Koa's brother do what he did? Just out of the blue? Such a massive act would not just happen without any build-up, I'd say. The family might have been innocent bystanders/ victims, but WHY did it come to this tragedy?
I get it that Koa couldn't talk about it himself, but did he know what the newspaper clippings revealed and if they were true about what had happened?
Similarly with Jersey and his life and relationship with his family:
As a mother myself, I cannot fathom to choose my daughter-in-law (a former puck bunny) over my son and cut him off completely. Yes, keeping contact with the grandchild would be a very high priority, but keeping in contact with the dil is no guarantee and a reconciliation would be VERY high on my wish-list.
Then Jersey's son and their radio-silence: after soooo many years of blocked contact from the son's side, it was both nice to read in the epilogue that the reconnected when Jersey insisted on getting to talk to his boy. And that they rebuild their relationship over shared love for hockey is nice, I'm hesitant to buy into them repairing a long silence and reparation that easily. Teenagers are difficult creatures (said based on past own experiences and those with my kids) and it's possible that his re-connecting came just at the right moment to be successful. But still. There's so much missed childhood. And it's possible that his ex didn't sabotage this when she saw the reformed Jesper, but his beat his pain-med-addiction quite some time ago, so why not try to reconnect earlier?
But all this nitpicking is just me - overall, the story was compelling so much so that I stayed up much later than reasonable.
Therefore, this "review" is not really a review but disorderly ramblings about what didn't make a hundred percent sense to me.
I liked both Koa and Jersey, but honestly, I didn't quite get Jersey's reaction at 14 to their kiss that caused their rift. Especially after their promise to stay friends. Yes, on one hand I understand that one can be completely oblivious about the other one's feelings, but Jersey was so in-tune with Koa's nonverbal signals. And yes, if one cannot understand and accept revelations about oneself's feelings, especially when they are not accepted in their peer group and society, one can lash out more viciously than expected. But still.
But maybe not getting this maybe is a consequence to me rushing through the story.
Also, the big reveal as to why Koa was so damaged was exspectedly awful yet sadly left many question marks: why did the tragedy happen, why did Koa's brother do what he did? Just out of the blue? Such a massive act would not just happen without any build-up, I'd say. The family might have been innocent bystanders/ victims, but WHY did it come to this tragedy?
I get it that Koa couldn't talk about it himself, but did he know what the newspaper clippings revealed and if they were true about what had happened?
Similarly with Jersey and his life and relationship with his family:
As a mother myself, I cannot fathom to choose my daughter-in-law (a former puck bunny) over my son and cut him off completely. Yes, keeping contact with the grandchild would be a very high priority, but keeping in contact with the dil is no guarantee and a reconciliation would be VERY high on my wish-list.
Then Jersey's son and their radio-silence: after soooo many years of blocked contact from the son's side, it was both nice to read in the epilogue that the reconnected when Jersey insisted on getting to talk to his boy. And that they rebuild their relationship over shared love for hockey is nice, I'm hesitant to buy into them repairing a long silence and reparation that easily. Teenagers are difficult creatures (said based on past own experiences and those with my kids) and it's possible that his re-connecting came just at the right moment to be successful. But still. There's so much missed childhood. And it's possible that his ex didn't sabotage this when she saw the reformed Jesper, but his beat his pain-med-addiction quite some time ago, so why not try to reconnect earlier?
But all this nitpicking is just me - overall, the story was compelling so much so that I stayed up much later than reasonable.
Wow!!!! Promises of Forever is a powerfully emotional slow-burn second-chance romance. I felt so much for these characters, their journey, and their eventual reconciliation. Jersey and Koa are two complicated guys who shared four summers at camp when they were children and reconnected thirty years later. In thirty years many life-changing moments occurred, but what remained was their affection and fondness for one another.
In a fated moment, Jersey decides to reconnect with his long-lost childhood pen pal, which begins one of the most heartfelt second-chance romances I have ever read. They are both haunted by their past, but together they finally feel connected to another person. I loved seeing their relationship develop and grow in a sincere way, which made for a fantastic romance.
Overall I cannot say enough amazing things about this story. It grabbed me with its premise and kept me hooked with the characters, their history, and their deep emotional bond making for an intense and tear-inducing story. I never thought a bracelet would cue the waterworks, but my goodness that passage was so beautifully stated I could not get enough of these two together.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
In a fated moment, Jersey decides to reconnect with his long-lost childhood pen pal, which begins one of the most heartfelt second-chance romances I have ever read. They are both haunted by their past, but together they finally feel connected to another person. I loved seeing their relationship develop and grow in a sincere way, which made for a fantastic romance.
Overall I cannot say enough amazing things about this story. It grabbed me with its premise and kept me hooked with the characters, their history, and their deep emotional bond making for an intense and tear-inducing story. I never thought a bracelet would cue the waterworks, but my goodness that passage was so beautifully stated I could not get enough of these two together.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
Complicated
I did not think I was ever going to stop crying with this book. Nicky James always finds a way to rip open my chest and twist my heart up. And Nick J Russo is the cherry on top who delivers an amazing narration.
I love me a hurt comfort, but this was so much more. We’re talking trauma to the 10th power. You go through the journey of a friendship within a 10 year span going back-and-forth trying to figure out what happened. Why these two friends no longer talked and they were so innocent . Yet. One of them was not because he had a huge traumatizing life and you know nothing of what happened throughout the whole story until the end and when you find out, it’s way too heartbreaking. So please please check your trigger warnings.
After Jersey hurt Kao many years ago, you would think that after Jersey tries to apologize that it would take maybe a couple of weeks before Kao gives in? Nope. Kao really makes Jersey work Do you have any kind of place in his life.
I don’t want to ruin this for anyone. I say go in on this blind, but I have never read a story like this and I need more time to process.
I love me a hurt comfort, but this was so much more. We’re talking trauma to the 10th power. You go through the journey of a friendship within a 10 year span going back-and-forth trying to figure out what happened. Why these two friends no longer talked and they were so innocent . Yet. One of them was not because he had a huge traumatizing life and you know nothing of what happened throughout the whole story until the end and when you find out, it’s way too heartbreaking. So please please check your trigger warnings.
After Jersey hurt Kao many years ago, you would think that after Jersey tries to apologize that it would take maybe a couple of weeks before Kao gives in? Nope. Kao really makes Jersey work Do you have any kind of place in his life.
I don’t want to ruin this for anyone. I say go in on this blind, but I have never read a story like this and I need more time to process.
Nicky James can do no wrong. This book was sensation; Koa - complex trauma, PTSD - he is a character that will get under you skin, into your soul, & stay there. Jersey’s respect of Koa’s boundaries, his conscious decision / actions to be patient and calm, was everything.
I need more Niles.
FRTC
I need more Niles.
FRTC
Such a beautiful story. Nicky does it again. This is angst at its best. I didn't want it to end. If you want to read a story of two men healing and moving forward with life, this is the story for you. Just a gem of a story!
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5⭐️ I had a very difficult time with this book and I’m still on the fence as to whether I like it or not.
I found it quite beautiful in its own way, Nicky James is obviously very smart and a good writer, and I certainly appreciated parts of it. But it’s so tragically morose and depressing that I can’t really say I enjoyed myself. It felt like trudging through the swamp of sadness with the characters’ constant thoughts and discussions of the meaninglessness of life, paired with Koa’s intense apathy and mental illness.
I honestly had such a hard time connecting with Koa, but I think that was part of the point of the story. He’s so closed off and emotionally shut down due to his childhood trauma, and yet Jersey and his best friend, Niles, both loved him unconditionally—and there is beauty in that, in being worthy of love when you have absolutely nothing to give and are unable to reciprocate that love.
The romance was so very slow and there was just so much philosophical talk, which made sense since Koa was a philosophy professor, but it felt tedious at times. What kept me reading was the hope that Koa could turn things around and come to love Jersey in his own way, and also wanting to find out what actually happened to him in his past to cause so much debilitating trauma. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite feel satisfied with amount of romance we were given in exchange for all the hardship and sadness we had to slog through. Things didn’t really come together until 95% and I was left wanting more of them together and happy.
I will say, I did love Niles. He wins the award for the most supportive and selfless best friend, and I will definitely read his book.
I found it quite beautiful in its own way, Nicky James is obviously very smart and a good writer, and I certainly appreciated parts of it. But it’s so tragically morose and depressing that I can’t really say I enjoyed myself. It felt like trudging through the swamp of sadness with the characters’ constant thoughts and discussions of the meaninglessness of life, paired with Koa’s intense apathy and mental illness.
I honestly had such a hard time connecting with Koa, but I think that was part of the point of the story. He’s so closed off and emotionally shut down due to his childhood trauma, and yet Jersey and his best friend, Niles, both loved him unconditionally—and there is beauty in that, in being worthy of love when you have absolutely nothing to give and are unable to reciprocate that love.
The romance was so very slow and there was just so much philosophical talk, which made sense since Koa was a philosophy professor, but it felt tedious at times. What kept me reading was the hope that Koa could turn things around and come to love Jersey in his own way, and also wanting to find out what actually happened to him in his past to cause so much debilitating trauma. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite feel satisfied with amount of romance we were given in exchange for all the hardship and sadness we had to slog through. Things didn’t really come together until 95% and I was left wanting more of them together and happy.
I will say, I did love Niles. He wins the award for the most supportive and selfless best friend, and I will definitely read his book.