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jasminenoack's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lizshayne's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I skimmed the last third of this book because I was getting so tired.
It is possible that I'm just the wrong audience, but this went from enjoyable for about a third to boring but like maybe it'll pick up to just...why.
1) The complete lack of plot. Just like absolute PWP for the entire book and most fanfiction this length trips over the plot at some point. Not this book.
2) Characters have described traits, but they don't like actually act like they've had the experiences they had. Particularly the one where Blake is killed a certain way and that's consuming Mal at the beginning of the book and then he does the exact same thing to Kyle and, like, NO MENTION IS MADE OF BLAKE?? But it's pretty constant.
3) Form recapitulates content. There's a lot of edging the reader to think that there might be narrative satisfaction in this book but NOPE. Unlike Kyle, who eventually gets off, this book doesn't pay off the vast majority of plot points or character arcs.
4) This is mild but like, what the hell was up with Kyle's parents? Like, it felt like a very shallow depiction of people who care very strongly about appearances and also this might be the gap between 2015 and now in terms of how extremely wealthy conservatives present themselves. They struck me as the type to fix Kyle rather than immediately disown. Whatever, again, window dressing not people makes it hard for the events of the book to feel real.
Anyway. 1.5 stars for a book that is ostensibly about caring about both relationship dynamic and the people in it and only succeeds in doing the former in print.
This is the second time this year I've been burnt by picking up a romance novel by an author who wasn't recommended by someone whose taste I trust. We'll see how long it takes me to learn...
It is possible that I'm just the wrong audience, but this went from enjoyable for about a third to boring but like maybe it'll pick up to just...why.
2) Characters have described traits, but they don't like actually act like they've had the experiences they had. Particularly the one where Blake is killed a certain way and that's consuming Mal at the beginning of the book and then he does the exact same thing to Kyle and, like, NO MENTION IS MADE OF BLAKE?? But it's pretty constant.
3) Form recapitulates content. There's a lot of edging the reader to think that there might be narrative satisfaction in this book but NOPE. Unlike Kyle, who eventually gets off, this book doesn't pay off the vast majority of plot points or character arcs.
4) This is mild but like, what the hell was up with Kyle's parents? Like, it felt like a very shallow depiction of people who care very strongly about appearances and also this might be the gap between 2015 and now in terms of how extremely wealthy conservatives present themselves. They struck me as the type to fix Kyle rather than immediately disown. Whatever, again, window dressing not people makes it hard for the events of the book to feel real.
Anyway. 1.5 stars for a book that is ostensibly about caring about both relationship dynamic and the people in it and only succeeds in doing the former in print.
This is the second time this year I've been burnt by picking up a romance novel by an author who wasn't recommended by someone whose taste I trust. We'll see how long it takes me to learn...
chocolatemeerkat's review
4.0
So I really enjoyed this book. Grace did a fantastic job with Mal and Kyle. I also loved her side characters Sammy and Cam. The only thing that really disappointed me was that the conflict with Kyle's parents was at the very end of the book. I found myself skipping chapters and having to go back and read them after I finished because I wanted to get to the conflict with Kyle coming out to them. I had hoped for the aftermath and fallout to be shown a bit more rather than being at the very end. Overall it is a wonderful book.
teenykins's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this!!! The reason it's up for 4 stars and not 5 is because it was insta-love and not only thinking and feeling it but declaring it as well.
I loved the BDSM scenes, I loved how it was portrayed both by the Kyle's (sub) and Mal's (dom) side. The vanilla interactions and scenes made it everything all the more better showing us that both of them are more than Dom and sub and that their relationship goes beyond the D/s.
Joel Leslie breathed life to the characters like no one's business and I think made the story all the more better.
The only niggling I have is that although we got to see Kyle's mother side on him being gay, we didn't see his father. Maybe, just to spite his wife, he would have been ok with Kyle's sexual orientation. Well anyways, if you want to read a BDSM story give this a try and I would suggest to go for the audio!!
I loved the BDSM scenes, I loved how it was portrayed both by the Kyle's (sub) and Mal's (dom) side. The vanilla interactions and scenes made it everything all the more better showing us that both of them are more than Dom and sub and that their relationship goes beyond the D/s.
Joel Leslie breathed life to the characters like no one's business and I think made the story all the more better.
The only niggling I have is that although we got to see Kyle's mother side on him being gay, we didn't see his father. Maybe, just to spite his wife, he would have been ok with Kyle's sexual orientation. Well anyways, if you want to read a BDSM story give this a try and I would suggest to go for the audio!!
ladyonequestion's review
3.0
Fine for the BDSM elements (altho this is from a vanilla with an interest in erotic novels), I think where it falls down badly is the assumption that the characters want to settle down and get married as soon as they look at each other. I think I just prefer a slower build.
knrt_17's review
5.0
New to me author. A wonderful audiobook about a m/m bdsm story. Will definitely be reading more from this author.
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