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mini_elsa's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
hellishlyawkward's review
Added this to my kindle library about four months ago and still can’t bring myself to finish it. Might come back to it at a later date though. The writing was great as always, but I struggled with this as I sometimes do when reading about mentally ill/neurodiverse characters.
nyeran's review against another edition
2.0
“Up and down.
Yellow and black.”
♠ Esempio di come una stupidaggine riesca a rovinarmi un buon libro. Ludo vede per la prima volta Aidan a pagina 10 circa, ha un ginocchio rotto in tre parti, sangue rappreso addosso e un tubo ficcato nel petto per farlo viver e il suo primo pensiero è che è bellissimo. Da quel momento in poi è tutta ossessione, lo pensa, lo guarda, gli parla, gli si avvicina. Ossessivo e inquietante. Aidan non è meglio perché anche lui quando vede Ludo per la prima volta, circa due pagine dopo, lo trova immediatamente interessante e anche lui diventa ossessionato. Lo cerca, vuole sentire la sua voce, il suo tocco non lo infastidisce, quando lo trasferiscono in un altra stanza e non può più vederlo va nel panico dalla preoccupazione. È tutto così...senza senso.
Se poi ho apprezzato il fatto che la Leigh si sia informata sul disturbo bipolare ed io da non esperta non mi senta di voler commentare ne giudicare il suo lavoro posso però dire che la personalità di Aidan è completamente sbagliata. Dovrebbe essere una persona asociale che ama la solitudine e la tranquillità, tutto questo però nella testa dell'autrice si è trasformato in una testa di cazzo che odia tutto e tutti, a cui tutti stanno sul cazzo per nessun motivo e che si rivolge sgarbatamente a qualsiasi essere umano che prova solo ad avvicinarglisi e a rivolgergli la parola. Al cugino che lo va a trovare tutti i giorni in ospedale, al tipo che gli paga lo stipendio, all'infermiera che lo accudisce. Dico solo che la prima frase che rivolge a Ludo è: Che cazzo guardi? Che voglio dire gli stai nel letto di fronte che altro può fare? Niente, una testa di cazzo completa. Però appunto Ludo è diverso, lui lo vuole intorno e non ne capiva il motivo. No ma neanche io.
Ah si, insta-love.
E quindi? Niente, mi dai l'instalove, lo odio e tutto ciò che c'è di buono nella storia mia passa vicino.
Yellow and black.”
♠ Esempio di come una stupidaggine riesca a rovinarmi un buon libro. Ludo vede per la prima volta Aidan a pagina 10 circa, ha un ginocchio rotto in tre parti, sangue rappreso addosso e un tubo ficcato nel petto per farlo viver e il suo primo pensiero è che è bellissimo. Da quel momento in poi è tutta ossessione, lo pensa, lo guarda, gli parla, gli si avvicina. Ossessivo e inquietante. Aidan non è meglio perché anche lui quando vede Ludo per la prima volta, circa due pagine dopo, lo trova immediatamente interessante e anche lui diventa ossessionato. Lo cerca, vuole sentire la sua voce, il suo tocco non lo infastidisce, quando lo trasferiscono in un altra stanza e non può più vederlo va nel panico dalla preoccupazione. È tutto così...senza senso.
Se poi ho apprezzato il fatto che la Leigh si sia informata sul disturbo bipolare ed io da non esperta non mi senta di voler commentare ne giudicare il suo lavoro posso però dire che la personalità di Aidan è completamente sbagliata. Dovrebbe essere una persona asociale che ama la solitudine e la tranquillità, tutto questo però nella testa dell'autrice si è trasformato in una testa di cazzo che odia tutto e tutti, a cui tutti stanno sul cazzo per nessun motivo e che si rivolge sgarbatamente a qualsiasi essere umano che prova solo ad avvicinarglisi e a rivolgergli la parola. Al cugino che lo va a trovare tutti i giorni in ospedale, al tipo che gli paga lo stipendio, all'infermiera che lo accudisce. Dico solo che la prima frase che rivolge a Ludo è: Che cazzo guardi? Che voglio dire gli stai nel letto di fronte che altro può fare? Niente, una testa di cazzo completa. Però appunto Ludo è diverso, lui lo vuole intorno e non ne capiva il motivo. No ma neanche io.
Ah si, insta-love.
E quindi? Niente, mi dai l'instalove, lo odio e tutto ciò che c'è di buono nella storia mia passa vicino.
bookpimpfairy's review against another edition
5.0
audiobook done by Dan Calley and wow just wow makes every little moment hit harder, you feel everything soul deep, the love, the pain, the confusion, everything, can't recommend the audiobook enough.
Aiden has always lived a solitary life, thats the way he chooses it, people make him uncomfortable. when a freak accident lands him in the hospital he meets Ludo, Ludo helps make the time not so slow and gives him hope. Thier paths seperate and both men have trouble with believing this encounter was real or was dream.
Some time later, Ludo spots Aiden coming out of the woods, he takes him home to feed him and see how hes doing. The two pick up an immediate friendship, what Aiden doesn't know is Ludo has bipolar and if unmedicated things can go from amazing to catastrophe in a matter of moments.
When Ludo does eventaully have an episode, Aiden comes to the rescue for him this time. He finds out what needs to be done when an episode is happening and does what needs to be done to make Ludo feel safe and loved. Truly beautiful what these two men will do to protect the other.
Aiden has always lived a solitary life, thats the way he chooses it, people make him uncomfortable. when a freak accident lands him in the hospital he meets Ludo, Ludo helps make the time not so slow and gives him hope. Thier paths seperate and both men have trouble with believing this encounter was real or was dream.
Some time later, Ludo spots Aiden coming out of the woods, he takes him home to feed him and see how hes doing. The two pick up an immediate friendship, what Aiden doesn't know is Ludo has bipolar and if unmedicated things can go from amazing to catastrophe in a matter of moments.
When Ludo does eventaully have an episode, Aiden comes to the rescue for him this time. He finds out what needs to be done when an episode is happening and does what needs to be done to make Ludo feel safe and loved. Truly beautiful what these two men will do to protect the other.
purple676's review
5.0
this is the first book of this author I’ve read and it got me hooked so bad.It was sometimes as soft as marshmellow and sometimes sad.I just loved it so much.The dynamic between the characters was amazing and I could connect with them on a personal level
jamie_w's review
5.0
I loved everything about this book!! It was tragic and painful but so beautiful in mental health representation and allowing oneself to be loved in spite of it.
Ludo was a sweet angel coping with life as someone afflicted with bipolar. He was basically abandoned by his family and spent most of his life waiting for the next episode. He had so much life inside of him but was horribly scared he’d lose any joy he found. His capacity for love was so vast and he deserved to find his happiness.
Aiden was lonely. He was void of most emotions. He clearly suffered from undiagnosed depression which didn’t help in any way when he had his debilitating accident. He also had almost no one in his life. He actually seemed to isolate himself so he didn’t have to trouble with anyone.
When the two meet in the hospital, it’s under less than desirable circumstances, to say the least. But they formed this odd and inexplicable bond.
They definitely took their time getting to know each other, which they both needed. They needed to find and build trust. Their bond became so strong and they built a sweet friendship that turned to love.
While this wasn’t spicy, it was incredibly emotional. They didn’t have an easy love story and they wouldn’t have an easy life coping with their issues but they would be able to do it together and never have to be alone again.
Ludo was a sweet angel coping with life as someone afflicted with bipolar. He was basically abandoned by his family and spent most of his life waiting for the next episode. He had so much life inside of him but was horribly scared he’d lose any joy he found. His capacity for love was so vast and he deserved to find his happiness.
Aiden was lonely. He was void of most emotions. He clearly suffered from undiagnosed depression which didn’t help in any way when he had his debilitating accident. He also had almost no one in his life. He actually seemed to isolate himself so he didn’t have to trouble with anyone.
When the two meet in the hospital, it’s under less than desirable circumstances, to say the least. But they formed this odd and inexplicable bond.
They definitely took their time getting to know each other, which they both needed. They needed to find and build trust. Their bond became so strong and they built a sweet friendship that turned to love.
While this wasn’t spicy, it was incredibly emotional. They didn’t have an easy love story and they wouldn’t have an easy life coping with their issues but they would be able to do it together and never have to be alone again.
alexisisreading's review
4.0
Kiss Me again is the story of Aidan and Ludo who meet during not the best of circumstances. An accident finds Aidan in the hospital with his bedmate being Ludo. Ludo is bipolar and has anxiety, depression, and paranoia. The two have an instant connection but do not exchange any information when leaving the hospital. They run into each other by chance but again do not exchange anything more than a “hello”. Third times the charm and they run into each other again only this time they actually make plans to go out.
And there’s the problem I’ve always had with loving things . . . people, animals, whichever. With love comes fear of living without it. Of breaking it. Hurting it. Of doing the wrong thing, like I’ve done over and over my entire life.
I think what really got me about their relationship was that they were both so understanding of each other. Ludo describes his bipolar experience as being yellow and black. While with Aidan he’s afraid to get too close because he doesn’t want it to be taken away from him. Aidan has this blunt way of speaking that actually Ludo ends up appreciating because he doesn’t have to overthink if Aidan means something else. Throughout Aidan is so gentle with Ludo. They really do have a slow burn relationship because they both have a bit of hesitance because of how much they like each other.
There’s no question in the way he says my name. He isn’t asking me if I’m okay, and I’m thankful for that too. So much of my life is wasted checking and testing my emotions. Right now I don’t need that. I just need him to keep gazing at me like I’m his most precious thing.
I really just loved the dynamic Aidan and Ludo had with each other. I thought they fit well and balanced each other out. I thought they had mostly good communication and just in general I really liked them together.
My only minor meh moment was how I felt like I didn’t have enough backstory for either characters. There were things mentioned that were never really addressed that I felt like should have been. Like I wanted to know a little more about Aidan’s relationship with his cousin Michael, and I wanted to know more about Angelo as well but I suppose I could always read his book for that.
Despite that, Garrett Leigh stays a top rated author for me. The hurt/comfort always hits the spot and I did enjoy reading this book.
Aidan loves me and I love him, but that doesn’t mean we’ve healed each other. Pain is still real. Black is still black. The only difference is that we’re both still there at the end.
And there’s the problem I’ve always had with loving things . . . people, animals, whichever. With love comes fear of living without it. Of breaking it. Hurting it. Of doing the wrong thing, like I’ve done over and over my entire life.
I think what really got me about their relationship was that they were both so understanding of each other. Ludo describes his bipolar experience as being yellow and black. While with Aidan he’s afraid to get too close because he doesn’t want it to be taken away from him. Aidan has this blunt way of speaking that actually Ludo ends up appreciating because he doesn’t have to overthink if Aidan means something else. Throughout Aidan is so gentle with Ludo. They really do have a slow burn relationship because they both have a bit of hesitance because of how much they like each other.
There’s no question in the way he says my name. He isn’t asking me if I’m okay, and I’m thankful for that too. So much of my life is wasted checking and testing my emotions. Right now I don’t need that. I just need him to keep gazing at me like I’m his most precious thing.
I really just loved the dynamic Aidan and Ludo had with each other. I thought they fit well and balanced each other out. I thought they had mostly good communication and just in general I really liked them together.
My only minor meh moment was how I felt like I didn’t have enough backstory for either characters. There were things mentioned that were never really addressed that I felt like should have been. Like I wanted to know a little more about Aidan’s relationship with his cousin Michael, and I wanted to know more about Angelo as well but I suppose I could always read his book for that.
Despite that, Garrett Leigh stays a top rated author for me. The hurt/comfort always hits the spot and I did enjoy reading this book.
Aidan loves me and I love him, but that doesn’t mean we’ve healed each other. Pain is still real. Black is still black. The only difference is that we’re both still there at the end.
kady_cordova's review
4.0
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.25 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3
Tender and heartwarmingly beautiful
I love Garrett’s writing and this is no exception. A beautiful story of two people finding each other and loving each other against the odds. I thought Garrett’s approach to a character such as Ludo and his Bipolar condition very well done and felt the respect and care Garrett put into creating Ludo and dealing with his condition. Ludo condition is extreme and can be confronting at times. I felt he paralleled myself in many ways and I loved him for it.
Adian and Ludo are great for each other and manage to balance each other out and bring out the love, joy, hope, and happiness they both sorely need and definitely deserve. Their journey is a hard one but the connection they have is worth fighting for. Great writing by Garrett, I loved it!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3
Tender and heartwarmingly beautiful
I love Garrett’s writing and this is no exception. A beautiful story of two people finding each other and loving each other against the odds. I thought Garrett’s approach to a character such as Ludo and his Bipolar condition very well done and felt the respect and care Garrett put into creating Ludo and dealing with his condition. Ludo condition is extreme and can be confronting at times. I felt he paralleled myself in many ways and I loved him for it.
Adian and Ludo are great for each other and manage to balance each other out and bring out the love, joy, hope, and happiness they both sorely need and definitely deserve. Their journey is a hard one but the connection they have is worth fighting for. Great writing by Garrett, I loved it!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚
lalauren04's review
5.0
This book was wonderful. Garrett Leigh is one of my all time favourite authors and her new novel Kiss Me Again certainly does not disappoint.
Kiss Me Again has pretty much everything you might expect from a Garrett Leigh novel. It’s angsty and makes your heart hurt, but it’s also beautiful and so full of love that I actually wanted to weep a few times. As always with Garrett’s work, I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down. My weakness for hurt/comfort, slow burn romance, tortured souls, and snarky main characters seems to only ever be truly satisfied when I’m reading a Garrett Leigh novel, and this one ticked ALL the boxes. Every single bloody one.
This story hit home for me in a big way. I grew up in a house where bipolar was kind of just our normal. My mum suffered with the disease when I was young (and still does, but over the past few years it has been to a slightly lesser extent) and parts of this story felt so real to me that it actually hurt to read it. Parts of Ludo were EXACTLY my mum. I don’t talk about my Mum’s battles often, but I’m not ashamed of it or of her. She is an amazing woman, much like Ludo was a wonderful and sweet man who was absolutely deserving of love and contentment. The scenes where Ludo spirals and becomes manic and hyper active, where he loses time to his disease and to his own thoughts, where he empties his cupboards and rearranges everything... there were many days where I came home from school to things like that. Garrett Leigh hit the nail on the head sooo many times, she clearly did her research and due diligence to make this story as accurate and as respectful as possible, and boy oh boy did she write a story that packed a punch so hard that I wanted to cry but also NEEDED to keep reading. I needed to see these two men find love and overcome their struggles, and to see them supporting each other in the most beautiful way was WONDERFUL.
Ludo and Aidan were perfect together. At first glance, maybe they didn’t seem like they fit. And their first official meeting made me howl, when Aidan notices Ludo watching him and is all “the fuck you looking at?” I snort laughed because it was soooo Aidan, and Ludo isn’t phased one bit. Soulmates, I’m telling you!
They were actually so right for each other and together they were possibly one of the most real, and most pure romances I’ve read in bloody AGES. I loved how Ludo saw through Aidan’s “I’m an arsehole” bullshit, and I loved how they just worked so well. I loved how affectionate and understanding Aidan was, how he understood Ludo without even having to try. PERFECT.
Now what I need more than anything is a Ludo and Angelo reunion. I want the whole bloody gang (Angelo and Dylan, Joe and Harry, Rhys and Jevon) to meet them and love them and give them the family and the unconditional love they deserve!! But honestly, I’d just settle for Ludo getting to finally see Angelo again, because I know that’s something he needs ❤️
This is a FABULOUS five star read that I wholeheartedly recommend. Garrett Leigh can honestly do no wrong!
Kiss Me Again has pretty much everything you might expect from a Garrett Leigh novel. It’s angsty and makes your heart hurt, but it’s also beautiful and so full of love that I actually wanted to weep a few times. As always with Garrett’s work, I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down. My weakness for hurt/comfort, slow burn romance, tortured souls, and snarky main characters seems to only ever be truly satisfied when I’m reading a Garrett Leigh novel, and this one ticked ALL the boxes. Every single bloody one.
This story hit home for me in a big way. I grew up in a house where bipolar was kind of just our normal. My mum suffered with the disease when I was young (and still does, but over the past few years it has been to a slightly lesser extent) and parts of this story felt so real to me that it actually hurt to read it. Parts of Ludo were EXACTLY my mum. I don’t talk about my Mum’s battles often, but I’m not ashamed of it or of her. She is an amazing woman, much like Ludo was a wonderful and sweet man who was absolutely deserving of love and contentment. The scenes where Ludo spirals and becomes manic and hyper active, where he loses time to his disease and to his own thoughts, where he empties his cupboards and rearranges everything... there were many days where I came home from school to things like that. Garrett Leigh hit the nail on the head sooo many times, she clearly did her research and due diligence to make this story as accurate and as respectful as possible, and boy oh boy did she write a story that packed a punch so hard that I wanted to cry but also NEEDED to keep reading. I needed to see these two men find love and overcome their struggles, and to see them supporting each other in the most beautiful way was WONDERFUL.
Ludo and Aidan were perfect together. At first glance, maybe they didn’t seem like they fit. And their first official meeting made me howl, when Aidan notices Ludo watching him and is all “the fuck you looking at?” I snort laughed because it was soooo Aidan, and Ludo isn’t phased one bit. Soulmates, I’m telling you!
They were actually so right for each other and together they were possibly one of the most real, and most pure romances I’ve read in bloody AGES. I loved how Ludo saw through Aidan’s “I’m an arsehole” bullshit, and I loved how they just worked so well. I loved how affectionate and understanding Aidan was, how he understood Ludo without even having to try. PERFECT.
Now what I need more than anything is a Ludo and Angelo reunion. I want the whole bloody gang (Angelo and Dylan, Joe and Harry, Rhys and Jevon) to meet them and love them and give them the family and the unconditional love they deserve!! But honestly, I’d just settle for Ludo getting to finally see Angelo again, because I know that’s something he needs ❤️
This is a FABULOUS five star read that I wholeheartedly recommend. Garrett Leigh can honestly do no wrong!
bookish_notes's review
3.0
This was okay? It’s a slower paced story but I just spent the entire time waiting for the other shoe to drop. The beginning of the story is pretty rough, because you just know Aiden is going to wind up in a bad accident, and then later, with Ludo and his manic episodes.
Ludo is bipolar and one thing I did appreciate is that he wasn’t magically fixed or anything like that at the end of the story.
The characters are very loosely tied to the Skins series.
TWs for suicidal ideation and depression.
Ludo is bipolar and one thing I did appreciate is that he wasn’t magically fixed or anything like that at the end of the story.
The characters are very loosely tied to the Skins series.
TWs for suicidal ideation and depression.