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hidees13's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Riley Hart is really Riley Hart-ing in this book. She knows how to bring the feels, especially childhood friends to lovers. I rarely shed tears during a book especially when I know it has a reputation of being sad. But this one got me -- got me good. Gage & Joey "JoJo" -- I wanted so bad for them to make it. Despite knowing it was a HEA book ahead of time, I still felt all the angst. I am rating this book 4.25 because although I probably won't read it again, it's a story that will stick with me for a long time.
sonialusiveira's review
2.0
" Life was full of terrible things, full of tragedy, but it was full of so much beauty to. If you focused on the terrible, if you lived in the shadows of fear, you robbed yourself of the beautiful."
I like the message of the story but it is the only thing I like about the book, and perhaps the first part of the story were Joey and Gage were still cute little boys and life was not so f*cked up for them. I felt like the story went downhill from the second part onwards; it sounded too frustrating and depressing, and not in a good way at all. I listened to the audiobook and I think that's the only reason I finished it since I just let the audio played while I multitasked.
Gage and Joey were childhood friend whose dads were in the opposite side of the law - one is the town's very conservative chief police and the other is the town's troublemaker. Despite the odds, the two formed a very unlikely friendship and fell in love which led to a tragedy on the day after Joey's eighteenth birthday. That's when the stupidly annoying plot device of 'I let you go because I love you so much' was introduced and kinda ruined the story for me.
I like the message of the story but it is the only thing I like about the book, and perhaps the first part of the story were Joey and Gage were still cute little boys and life was not so f*cked up for them. I felt like the story went downhill from the second part onwards; it sounded too frustrating and depressing, and not in a good way at all. I listened to the audiobook and I think that's the only reason I finished it since I just let the audio played while I multitasked.
Gage and Joey were childhood friend whose dads were in the opposite side of the law - one is the town's very conservative chief police and the other is the town's troublemaker. Despite the odds, the two formed a very unlikely friendship and fell in love which led to a tragedy on the day after Joey's eighteenth birthday. That's when the stupidly annoying plot device of 'I let you go because I love you so much' was introduced and kinda ruined the story for me.
sdipenti's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
vickyramirezy's review against another edition
3.0
I keep telling myself that I'm going to stop reading this kind of books because it's not like I like them all that much, and I'm kind of burnt out on them. Then I don't know what else to fill my ears with while I do something else and I keep reading them. And then I say "eh, it was fine. 3 stars?".
micha_23's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
winter_is_reading's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
I recommend not reading the synopsis, just knowing it’s childhood best-friends-to-lovers contemporary with higher angst, and starting it. I’ll include TWs at the bottom if you want some warnings.
If you’re familiar with Riley Hart’s other work, it’s pretty similar to Broken Pieces but with an m/m story instead of m/m/m. Please someone give hugs to all these characters, I love them.
There’s some nice dyslexia rep featured too!
Spice: 4/5
Angst: 5/5
If you’re familiar with Riley Hart’s other work, it’s pretty similar to Broken Pieces but with an m/m story instead of m/m/m. Please someone give hugs to all these characters, I love them.
There’s some nice dyslexia rep featured too!
Spice: 4/5
Angst: 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Death
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review
4.0
Highly emotional journey from childhood to adulthood between Joey and gage. A time for discovery, a time for connections and a time for disaster to strike. But it is what you do when the smoke clears and how you fight for your future that made every step that took gage and Joey away from each other and then miraculously brought them back together again which makes this a story worth reading. This book will make you laugh, make you cry and hopefully leave you will a smile on your face.
layla87's review against another edition
5.0
My first full length of 2021, and what a book it was...
****Spoiler Free Review****
****Highly Recommended Healing****
Why read this book….
The Characters….
- Joey aka Jojo: Innocent, ambitious and shooting for the stars. He was gay in a town where he couldn’t be, but he had his rock… his best friend Gage. #YouGiveMeStrength
- Gage: He was the hero, wanting to save anyone, especially his Jojo. That is what ultimately changes the course of their lives. #AnythingForYou
The Plot….
An epic love and a heartbreaking 10-year separation, followed by reconnection, relearning and forgiveness. This book has it all. You’ll smile, cry, laugh and cry some more. It is truly terrible and beautiful, in all the right ways. #TrueToTheTitle
The Romance…
From the innocent tentative love of their teenage years…. to the healing, intense love of their adulthood. It was a love like no other, a romance written in the stars. #IAmWhatYouAre
The Heat…
Progressed fluidly from fumbling and sweet, to sure and carnal. #MyBodyBelongsToYou
The HEA…
Hard-earned, after years of pain, separation, vices and mental healing. They overcome their demons and become stronger together. #Inevitable
#HappyReading
****Spoiler Free Review****
****Highly Recommended Healing****
Why read this book….
The Characters….
- Joey aka Jojo: Innocent, ambitious and shooting for the stars. He was gay in a town where he couldn’t be, but he had his rock… his best friend Gage. #YouGiveMeStrength
- Gage: He was the hero, wanting to save anyone, especially his Jojo. That is what ultimately changes the course of their lives. #AnythingForYou
The Plot….
An epic love and a heartbreaking 10-year separation, followed by reconnection, relearning and forgiveness. This book has it all. You’ll smile, cry, laugh and cry some more. It is truly terrible and beautiful, in all the right ways. #TrueToTheTitle
The Romance…
From the innocent tentative love of their teenage years…. to the healing, intense love of their adulthood. It was a love like no other, a romance written in the stars. #IAmWhatYouAre
The Heat…
Progressed fluidly from fumbling and sweet, to sure and carnal. #MyBodyBelongsToYou
The HEA…
Hard-earned, after years of pain, separation, vices and mental healing. They overcome their demons and become stronger together. #Inevitable
#HappyReading
jamie_w's review against another edition
5.0
Gage and Jojo broke my heart! Their story was so tragic. Their love for the other was so deep. I love how the story didn’t have time magically heal all wounds but rather had each of them facing their pasts and the outcomes of abuse and truly horrible circumstances.
I adored their friendship with Mouse and Romeo. They made such a beautiful surrogate family.
I think what broke my heart the most was that neither Gage or Jojo had anyone at home. They were basically on their own. Gage’s father was a worthless drunk and Jojo’s dad was a homophobic bigot of a cop with no moral compass at all, who totally abused his power. He was scum.
I adored their friendship with Mouse and Romeo. They made such a beautiful surrogate family.
I think what broke my heart the most was that neither Gage or Jojo had anyone at home. They were basically on their own. Gage’s father was a worthless drunk and Jojo’s dad was a homophobic bigot of a cop with no moral compass at all, who totally abused his power. He was scum.