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the_argumentative_bong's review
4.0
This is a heartwarming story about two men, Carter who has Tourette's syndrome and Ethan with Traumatic Brain Injury, who find music with each other. This is really an #OwnVoices book as the author herself has TS. Ethan and Carter's love is truly amazing to read, the purity and the innocence of these two characters enchant the heart.
The mental age of Ethan (more often than not) reads like a child, even though he is twenty-seven. However, it's probably unfair to judge someone with TBI on normative terms, and doing so is a form of ableism in my opinion. He has no impulse control, and sees the world in absolute black and white, but he is intelligent, smart, kind and more astute than a lot of people. The way these two men come together, is beautiful and explosive.
As much as I understand (not much literally) Ethan's obsession with his d*ck, 36 mentions of the word 'penis' is probably too disconcerting.
The mental age of Ethan (more often than not) reads like a child, even though he is twenty-seven. However, it's probably unfair to judge someone with TBI on normative terms, and doing so is a form of ableism in my opinion. He has no impulse control, and sees the world in absolute black and white, but he is intelligent, smart, kind and more astute than a lot of people. The way these two men come together, is beautiful and explosive.
As much as I understand (not much literally) Ethan's obsession with his d*ck, 36 mentions of the word 'penis' is probably too disconcerting.
baylan's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
achillespatroclus's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
endemictoearth's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.0
This one is hard to rate. One of the MCs had a traumatic brain injury and has intellectual impairments. The other MC has Tourette's Syndrome. It was sensitively told, but still some of the stuff Ethan would say takes the reader right out of the more intimate scenes. (Also, there's a big twist that makes everything ten times sadder toward the end . . . I don't know.) I was using up some hoopla borrows, so I could have bailed, but it was a compelling story. Not sure I'd recommend it, tho.
jkh107's review
4.0
Finally a more uplifting romance with depth--the story of a man with a traumatic brain injury and his neighbor with Tourettes--these characters are more than their conditions, of course, and they have to deal with family, anger, depression, and forgiveness, as well as love. Also, music. I really liked it. And it's good I did because the books I read earlier this week? Not so good.
galinette's review
3.0
For some reason the final chapters of the book felt disconnected from the first ones, as if the whole story had already been told and extra chapters were added on because a book needs a certain number of words.
anitalouise's review
4.0
Beautiful and sweet. Both conditions handled with respect and humor. Strong writing. Ethan stole the show!!!
thebroadsheets's review
5.0
What an unforgettable story. I couldn't possibly do it justice by writing some pithy review. It was just filled with so much love and strength. Amazing.
lauraadriana78's review
5.0
I'm just going to put it out there...This book is sentimental to the extreme, it is sappy, and it is sweet, it's meant to make you cry and get all goofy over two men who are a little broken and different and who get a happy ending the likes of which will make you want to hug a stanger and break into song...ALL those things happened to me.
If sappy annoys you, it may not be for you...Personally I do not mind having my SAPPY buttons pushed if I am thoroughly enjoying a story, and I really loved this one.
Carter has Tourette's syndrome, which has made him very shy and fearful of social situations. A lot of times he can't control his body and feeling embarassed all the time is exhausting. This made him decide to move from LA to a small town called Santa Josephina. He bought a home there and since he can work from home the move seems like the right thing. So at 24 he is setttled in more or less pretty comfortable but lonely life.
The day he moves in to his new house he sees a young man in his neighbor's backyard, a really beautiful young man. It turns out the young man is Ethan who lives next door with his parents and teenage brother. He is so beautiful, Carter can't stop looking. But very quickly after talking with Ethan, Carter realizes that there is something different about him.
Ethan received a brain injury in an accident almost ten years earlier, which changed his life, mad things more challenging, but Ethan is FULL of life. He does not let those things that make him different keep him from going out in the world and working, making friends and just LIVING.
As soon as Ethan sees Carter he wants him, wants to date him, touch him, kiss him...BE HIS BOYFRIEND. But Carter is cautious, it's a bit scary to think he could be taking advantage of Ethan, or that Ethan could get tired of his awkwardness. Ethan does not give up, he just LOVES Carter, he just does, and it works, and then Carter loves Ethan, and they are so fucking sweet your heart will ache.
It's a lovely story, it really is. Ethan's character is so wonderful. So guileless and open. His world is black and white. He loves, he lives, he says what he wants...and the wants Carter. Man I just loved him. The author did such a respectful and dignified job in writing him. Really well done.
Carter had been so hurt by people's careless teasing and cruelty that he was content with having a lonely life, but with Ethan he got love, and friends and a new way to see himself. Because through Ethan's eyes Carter was everything that was beautiful and graceful.
The secondary characters were outstanding the friends, Ethan's parents, his little brother was such a complex character (so well written), even the bad guys were good.
This book hit the spot for me, LOVED IT. Would reread it in a second, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good cry and a second chances, beating the odds story.
Seriously loved these men. Get your tissues out. YOU WILL CRY.
If sappy annoys you, it may not be for you...Personally I do not mind having my SAPPY buttons pushed if I am thoroughly enjoying a story, and I really loved this one.
Carter has Tourette's syndrome, which has made him very shy and fearful of social situations. A lot of times he can't control his body and feeling embarassed all the time is exhausting. This made him decide to move from LA to a small town called Santa Josephina. He bought a home there and since he can work from home the move seems like the right thing. So at 24 he is setttled in more or less pretty comfortable but lonely life.
The day he moves in to his new house he sees a young man in his neighbor's backyard, a really beautiful young man. It turns out the young man is Ethan who lives next door with his parents and teenage brother. He is so beautiful, Carter can't stop looking. But very quickly after talking with Ethan, Carter realizes that there is something different about him.
Ethan received a brain injury in an accident almost ten years earlier, which changed his life, mad things more challenging, but Ethan is FULL of life. He does not let those things that make him different keep him from going out in the world and working, making friends and just LIVING.
As soon as Ethan sees Carter he wants him, wants to date him, touch him, kiss him...BE HIS BOYFRIEND. But Carter is cautious, it's a bit scary to think he could be taking advantage of Ethan, or that Ethan could get tired of his awkwardness. Ethan does not give up, he just LOVES Carter, he just does, and it works, and then Carter loves Ethan, and they are so fucking sweet your heart will ache.
It's a lovely story, it really is. Ethan's character is so wonderful. So guileless and open. His world is black and white. He loves, he lives, he says what he wants...and the wants Carter. Man I just loved him. The author did such a respectful and dignified job in writing him. Really well done.
Carter had been so hurt by people's careless teasing and cruelty that he was content with having a lonely life, but with Ethan he got love, and friends and a new way to see himself. Because through Ethan's eyes Carter was everything that was beautiful and graceful.
The secondary characters were outstanding the friends, Ethan's parents, his little brother was such a complex character (so well written), even the bad guys were good.
This book hit the spot for me, LOVED IT. Would reread it in a second, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good cry and a second chances, beating the odds story.
Seriously loved these men. Get your tissues out. YOU WILL CRY.