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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This is my first book by Alex, but it will definitely not be my last. This story gave me all the feels. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming in a perfect balance. Ziggy and Marc are so lovely and they are supported by some great side characters too. And off course there is a very satisfying HEA at the end.
If you love dark mm romances like me, you should put it on your tbr list right away!
I received this book as an arc, and this is my honest review.
If you love dark mm romances like me, you should put it on your tbr list right away!
I received this book as an arc, and this is my honest review.
Poor sweet Ziggy. This story pulled at all my heartstrings. The first part of this book takes you in detail through all the rough life experiences of Ziggy on the Street. How he is so desperate just to survive and to be loved that he puts his trust in the wrong person and gets emotionally and physically hurt. I was so invested in Ziggy pulling through I could not put this story down. Everything feels so real, you go through all of it with Ziggy and it is gritty, violent and depressing! But this makes his hard-earned love found with Marc and his Family all the more emotional and special. I do not want to give the entire journey of recovery away, but I will say this is a beautiful HEA epilogue! I received an ARC of this book, and I am looking forward to more from this author. I hope they give the detective and Liam a story!!!
The first thing I would say about this book is that you need to heed the trigger warnings – there is some pretty strong verbal, physical and sexual assault in the book and this might be difficult for some people to read.
The first half of the book I found very realistic. Ziggy is making his living as a sex worker and this isn’t romanticised in the slightest. His first interaction with Damian, his feelings of concern, were quite visceral and the caution he displayed was very realistic. The insidious manner in which Damian slithered his way into Ziggy’s life and affections was actually sort of difficult to read – it was like watching a friend ignore all of the red flags and falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole.
The (inevitable) turn in Damian’s behaviour was signposted so well for an outsider – as a reader, I almost felt like shouting at Ziggy to get out of there, to stop ignoring the signs like love bombing, etc. but it was also so clear that there was no way out. Where else did he have to go?
Stuart I found a bit one-dimensional and a bit of a caricature, and although I liked the character of Liam, it did feel a little like he was shoe-horned in there for plot/sequel purposes.
I had more issues with the second half of the book. I thought Marc sounded amazing, but the idea that his involvement with Ziggy would extend to finding him a place to stay where he did felt a little far-fetched. I did enjoy watching as Ziggy discovered there were kind people in the world and that he had friends – it was lovely to watch him being built up, finding love and acceptance. It would have been good to know more about Marc, his background – thinking about it, I can’t even picture Marc in my head apart from the tattoos and big build, which for me shows that he wasn’t fully fleshed out, although it might just be that I missed it in reading the story.
The difficulties Ziggy experienced with handling the sexual assault and trust-issues were dealt with very well and not simply brushed under the carpet. I just think that, for me, the second half lacked the realism of the first half and that affected my enjoyment. It was a bit like going from a gritty crime drama to a hallmark romance, complete with romantic misunderstanding, before the happily ever after. I think I would have preferred the second half to be longer and more in-depth, but I completely understand that that might not have been possible.
I enjoyed reading the book and the author did a very good job in pulling me into the story and caring for the characters, so I will look out for more books by them. A solid 4/5 from me and I recommend if the subject matter isn’t triggering that you give it a read.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of the book I found very realistic. Ziggy is making his living as a sex worker and this isn’t romanticised in the slightest. His first interaction with Damian, his feelings of concern, were quite visceral and the caution he displayed was very realistic. The insidious manner in which Damian slithered his way into Ziggy’s life and affections was actually sort of difficult to read – it was like watching a friend ignore all of the red flags and falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole.
The (inevitable) turn in Damian’s behaviour was signposted so well for an outsider – as a reader, I almost felt like shouting at Ziggy to get out of there, to stop ignoring the signs like love bombing, etc. but it was also so clear that there was no way out. Where else did he have to go?
Stuart I found a bit one-dimensional and a bit of a caricature, and although I liked the character of Liam, it did feel a little like he was shoe-horned in there for plot/sequel purposes.
I had more issues with the second half of the book. I thought Marc sounded amazing, but the idea that his involvement with Ziggy would extend to finding him a place to stay where he did felt a little far-fetched. I did enjoy watching as Ziggy discovered there were kind people in the world and that he had friends – it was lovely to watch him being built up, finding love and acceptance. It would have been good to know more about Marc, his background – thinking about it, I can’t even picture Marc in my head apart from the tattoos and big build, which for me shows that he wasn’t fully fleshed out, although it might just be that I missed it in reading the story.
The difficulties Ziggy experienced with handling the sexual assault and trust-issues were dealt with very well and not simply brushed under the carpet. I just think that, for me, the second half lacked the realism of the first half and that affected my enjoyment. It was a bit like going from a gritty crime drama to a hallmark romance, complete with romantic misunderstanding, before the happily ever after. I think I would have preferred the second half to be longer and more in-depth, but I completely understand that that might not have been possible.
I enjoyed reading the book and the author did a very good job in pulling me into the story and caring for the characters, so I will look out for more books by them. A solid 4/5 from me and I recommend if the subject matter isn’t triggering that you give it a read.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 Stars
A lot of potential, but not a great delivery. The second MC isn’t even introduced until well into the book, making the fist part drag on. I did like when Ziggy and Marc finally met and their whole hurt/comfort dynamic, but in the end it was just OK.
A lot of potential, but not a great delivery. The second MC isn’t even introduced until well into the book, making the fist part drag on. I did like when Ziggy and Marc finally met and their whole hurt/comfort dynamic, but in the end it was just OK.
Ziggy and Marc we’re great, such a perfect couple. Marc’s acceptance of who Ziggy is, their clear love for each other was really perfect. Ziggy’s story was so sad, check TWs, but I did expect a little more. This is a hurt/comfort, age-gap, mm romance with darker themes.
The book had a lot of darker themes but for me it was a little dull. I definitely thought there would be a little more drama near the end, dealing with the abusive men who hurt Ziggy. I also wish Ziggy’s abusive and toxic relationship wasn’t almost half the book. I understand that it was a big part of Ziggy’s story but I think it could hav been done in less chapters. I would have loved Marc to be introduced sooner, so more of the book could have been about them.
The book had a lot of darker themes but for me it was a little dull. I definitely thought there would be a little more drama near the end, dealing with the abusive men who hurt Ziggy. I also wish Ziggy’s abusive and toxic relationship wasn’t almost half the book. I understand that it was a big part of Ziggy’s story but I think it could hav been done in less chapters. I would have loved Marc to be introduced sooner, so more of the book could have been about them.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
I really liked it, but there was something that bothered me, though I can’t figure it out. It didn’t hit me as deep as I was expecting.
Firstly, read the trigger warnings, they hit hard here. With saying that though, this book was absolutely wonderful. When I started reading this I wanted to scoop Ziggy up myself and give all kinds of mom hugs and try to help him. Marc helped Ziggy through so much and was so patient with everything. This was a great read, but definitely not an easy one, and there was no way I could read it without shedding a few tears. Just know you have to go through a lot of the book before Ziggy even meets with Marc, so it's a hard read through almost half the book and then you get to the happier parts.
Powerful
Prior to reading this book I tried this author in another genre where i may not have loved that book I could tell they had the potential to write something remarkable, and I'm so glad to say that I was right.
For the first part of this book, you see Ziggy fall for then being taken apart systematically and brutally by a man he thought loved him. You feel him losing his self worth and what makes him shine. When they take it too far, they dump him and leave him for dead, which ends up being the best thing to ever happen to Ziggy.
When he is found and saved by Marc and his partner , Marc doesn't understand the draw but knows he was meant to be in this man's life. The healing of Ziggy to be accepting of love again is so profound and real world you feel his pain and can understand his setbacks. Marc and his family are so extraordinary in their care for this man they all can tell from getting to know him he was meant to be apart of this family.
Take note of the trigger warnings, Adams doesn't use them lightly they are in your face and done in such a way you won't soon forget what you experienced reading this journey.
Prior to reading this book I tried this author in another genre where i may not have loved that book I could tell they had the potential to write something remarkable, and I'm so glad to say that I was right.
For the first part of this book, you see Ziggy fall for then being taken apart systematically and brutally by a man he thought loved him. You feel him losing his self worth and what makes him shine. When they take it too far, they dump him and leave him for dead, which ends up being the best thing to ever happen to Ziggy.
When he is found and saved by Marc and his partner , Marc doesn't understand the draw but knows he was meant to be in this man's life. The healing of Ziggy to be accepting of love again is so profound and real world you feel his pain and can understand his setbacks. Marc and his family are so extraordinary in their care for this man they all can tell from getting to know him he was meant to be apart of this family.
Take note of the trigger warnings, Adams doesn't use them lightly they are in your face and done in such a way you won't soon forget what you experienced reading this journey.
3.2 star read for me. The book started intense and I understand the build up to see how Ziggy was abused but the short turnaround time from his beating to trusting the paramedic, Marc was very quick for me. I felt that Ziggy was in a horrible place but he made the worst decisions and lashed out at those helping him when he had no where else to turn. Don't get me wrong the book was well written but I just could not connect with the overall characters. I also get that Ziggy did not like his family but after he explained what happened with them I still didn't see how his situation was worse than what he found himself doing.