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jessilwow12's review
4.0
This isn't my usual trope to read but I enjoyed the way it was handled in this book. What I really liked was the handling of mental illness and not shying away from how it can control a person. It gave insight and awareness that often gets exploited or avoided. So I appreciate that. Jace and Lincoln are a sweet but spicy combination that I wanted to see overcome and succeed so badly. There are a lot of great moments in this book to see their connection and interspersed with glimpses into their history without it being too much. Looking for a hot new series to get addicted to, pick up Face the Music.
linda_marian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
3.5
feistyredhead82's review against another edition
5.0
Gawd this book! It gets you right in the heart right from the start! You just want to give Lincoln a huge hug and tell him it’s gonna be alright. This book isn’t for the faint of heart that’s for sure. Suicide attempts and cutting are a huge part of this book. Also mental illness so if you can’t handle that sort of angst this book isn’t for you. I found myself crying several times in this book and if you knew me you would not I’m not an overly emotional person. So that’s says a lot.
It’s like you can feel Linc and Jace’s pain. You want to be by their side for all a good times and the bad. And there is a lot of bad. The past destroyed Jace, and Linc will do anything to get their life back. Jace says he hates Linc but how do you hate the only person you truly loved?
You will de rooting for these to till they finally get their HEA. And it’s epic!
It’s like you can feel Linc and Jace’s pain. You want to be by their side for all a good times and the bad. And there is a lot of bad. The past destroyed Jace, and Linc will do anything to get their life back. Jace says he hates Linc but how do you hate the only person you truly loved?
You will de rooting for these to till they finally get their HEA. And it’s epic!
nina_readsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia
feistyredhead82's review
5.0
Gawd this book! It gets you right in the heart right from the start! You just want to give Lincoln a huge hug and tell him it’s gonna be alright. This book isn’t for the faint of heart that’s for sure. Suicide attempts and cutting are a huge part of this book. Also mental illness so if you can’t handle that sort of angst this book isn’t for you. I found myself crying several times in this book and if you knew me you would not I’m not an overly emotional person. So that’s says a lot.
It’s like you can feel Linc and Jace’s pain. You want to be by their side for all a good times and the bad. And there is a lot of bad. The past destroyed Jace, and Linc will do anything to get their life back. Jace says he hates Linc but how do you hate the only person you truly loved?
You will de rooting for these to till they finally get their HEA. And it’s epic!
It’s like you can feel Linc and Jace’s pain. You want to be by their side for all a good times and the bad. And there is a lot of bad. The past destroyed Jace, and Linc will do anything to get their life back. Jace says he hates Linc but how do you hate the only person you truly loved?
You will de rooting for these to till they finally get their HEA. And it’s epic!
onyerbike's review
4.0
Lincoln and Jace were summer sweethearts when they were teenagers. When they were 18, Linc's band got a record deal, and Jace was preparing to head to university to become a doctor. Jace was going to put university off for a while to follow Linc and the band, and then go to school when they were settled. Rather than allow him to give up on his dreams, Linc leaves Jace without a word, and Jace never hears from him again.
Ten years later, Linc and the band are superstars, and Jace is an epidemiologist, but things aren't very good for either of them.
Linc's battling undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and self-harms when things get to be overwhelming, and the band is on the verge of breaking up. After an incident where Linc gets drunk and passes out on his balcony in subzero temperatures, the band's manager cancels their upcoming tour, and puts the band on hiatus so they can clear their heads.
Linc doesn't care what happens to the band, or himself. He has become numb to everything, and the only thing he cares about anymore is Jace, and when they were together and happy. So when he's forced to take time off, he has his manager buy his childhood cottage, and heads there over Christmas.
Jace's fiancée has just dumped him, and he needs to get out of town. So he heads to the cottage where he remembers being happiest, even if he now hates Linc.
The men come face to face with each other in the town's only grocery store. Linc can't believe his lost love is Right There, and wants to apologize and make things right with Jace, naïvely hoping he can win him back. Jace doesn't give him that chance, and cusses him out before storming off, but the seed is planted in Linc's head. He is going to win Jace back, and everything will be all right again.
To Jace's annoyance, Linc is persistent in making overtures. While still angry with Linc, Jace does still actually love him, so he slowly allows himself to lower the walls he's erected. But Linc has his demons to battle, and Jace sees him in both a manic and a depressive state, and because he still cares for him, he helps him, and finally realizes why Linc did what he did all those years ago.
The journey the two take is beautiful, winding from despair and anger, to forgiveness and healing, and to love, this time as adults with all the cracks and dents that that brings. There's no magic cure-all here. Both men accept that they will be dealing with Linc's mental issues for the rest of their lives.
“He said it sounds like I’m bipolar.”
I let his words roll around in my head for a few seconds and then a certain amount of relief whooshes through me.
“Have,” I correct.
“What?”
“You aren’t your mental illness. No one would ever say I am cancer, so why would it be different for a mental illness?” I place a comforting hand on Linc’s. “You seem upset about it. But It sounds like good news.”
“In what universe is having bipolar good news?” he snaps.
“In what universe is having an undiagnosed and untreated mental illness good news?” I counter. “At least now you know what you’re dealing with. I’ll help you do some research on it, the doctor will get you on the right meds or whatever it is you need to feel better. And we’ll get through this together.”
“Together?” he asks with an insecure tremble in his voice. “You still want to be with me?”
“Oh, Linc, of course I do.”
ALL. THE. FEELS.
Neuhold deftly and sensitively handles the mental illness without exploiting it, and it's a beautiful thing to see. The book is angsty, but not overly so, and it reads honest and true, and not just to move the plot. It had me in tears at times, but not ugly tears. Sad tears, and schmoopy tears, and happy tears, but not devastated tears. I was very happy to see these two deserving men get their long-awaited HEA. And I can't wait to read about how the other band members spend their hiatus time!
Ten years later, Linc and the band are superstars, and Jace is an epidemiologist, but things aren't very good for either of them.
Linc's battling undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and self-harms when things get to be overwhelming, and the band is on the verge of breaking up. After an incident where Linc gets drunk and passes out on his balcony in subzero temperatures, the band's manager cancels their upcoming tour, and puts the band on hiatus so they can clear their heads.
Linc doesn't care what happens to the band, or himself. He has become numb to everything, and the only thing he cares about anymore is Jace, and when they were together and happy. So when he's forced to take time off, he has his manager buy his childhood cottage, and heads there over Christmas.
Jace's fiancée has just dumped him, and he needs to get out of town. So he heads to the cottage where he remembers being happiest, even if he now hates Linc.
The men come face to face with each other in the town's only grocery store. Linc can't believe his lost love is Right There, and wants to apologize and make things right with Jace, naïvely hoping he can win him back. Jace doesn't give him that chance, and cusses him out before storming off, but the seed is planted in Linc's head. He is going to win Jace back, and everything will be all right again.
To Jace's annoyance, Linc is persistent in making overtures. While still angry with Linc, Jace does still actually love him, so he slowly allows himself to lower the walls he's erected. But Linc has his demons to battle, and Jace sees him in both a manic and a depressive state, and because he still cares for him, he helps him, and finally realizes why Linc did what he did all those years ago.
The journey the two take is beautiful, winding from despair and anger, to forgiveness and healing, and to love, this time as adults with all the cracks and dents that that brings. There's no magic cure-all here. Both men accept that they will be dealing with Linc's mental issues for the rest of their lives.
“He said it sounds like I’m bipolar.”
I let his words roll around in my head for a few seconds and then a certain amount of relief whooshes through me.
“Have,” I correct.
“What?”
“You aren’t your mental illness. No one would ever say I am cancer, so why would it be different for a mental illness?” I place a comforting hand on Linc’s. “You seem upset about it. But It sounds like good news.”
“In what universe is having bipolar good news?” he snaps.
“In what universe is having an undiagnosed and untreated mental illness good news?” I counter. “At least now you know what you’re dealing with. I’ll help you do some research on it, the doctor will get you on the right meds or whatever it is you need to feel better. And we’ll get through this together.”
“Together?” he asks with an insecure tremble in his voice. “You still want to be with me?”
“Oh, Linc, of course I do.”
ALL. THE. FEELS.
Neuhold deftly and sensitively handles the mental illness without exploiting it, and it's a beautiful thing to see. The book is angsty, but not overly so, and it reads honest and true, and not just to move the plot. It had me in tears at times, but not ugly tears. Sad tears, and schmoopy tears, and happy tears, but not devastated tears. I was very happy to see these two deserving men get their long-awaited HEA. And I can't wait to read about how the other band members spend their hiatus time!
ladylaurenexplorer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The angst I needed to feel. This was perfect to help get me back into my dark romance reading again. I will say, this might be triggering because their if very graphic scenes of self harm. But I think it goes with the story of a hurt and undiagnosed rockstar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
bfdbookblog's review
3.0
2.5 Stars so rounding up to 3
This book started out really strong – like 5 stars strong - and I was really excited because I’ve been on a bit of a bad book stretch. I was slow going with the reading, preparing for some major pain and heavy angst. I love second chance romances even if I’m not a huge fan of heavy angst and agony. The writing is really good at the beginning as well and I hated to put it down but I had to pace myself because the emotions were so strong at first, I was sure I would be a mess. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to learn the full history of Lincoln’s pain…and it was palpable. And Jace is ANGRY and they have this amazing history that we see with their flashbacks. And I was anticipating this really messy confrontation that leads to amazing make-up sex and some major groveling that leads to a slow re-building of their relationship as Lincoln gets the help he needs and starts to heal.
But…the story really fizzled and lost steam after their first couple of run-ins and I’m little disappointed. Everything else was so predictable and worked out just too perfectly. The hints dropped for future stories were blatant bombs instead of being subtle foreshadowing organically worked into the story. Unfortunately, I probably won’t stick with this series after this disappointment.
This book started out really strong – like 5 stars strong - and I was really excited because I’ve been on a bit of a bad book stretch. I was slow going with the reading, preparing for some major pain and heavy angst. I love second chance romances even if I’m not a huge fan of heavy angst and agony. The writing is really good at the beginning as well and I hated to put it down but I had to pace myself because the emotions were so strong at first, I was sure I would be a mess. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to learn the full history of Lincoln’s pain…and it was palpable. And Jace is ANGRY and they have this amazing history that we see with their flashbacks. And I was anticipating this really messy confrontation that leads to amazing make-up sex and some major groveling that leads to a slow re-building of their relationship as Lincoln gets the help he needs and starts to heal.
But…the story really fizzled and lost steam after their first couple of run-ins and I’m little disappointed. Everything else was so predictable and worked out just too perfectly. The hints dropped for future stories were blatant bombs instead of being subtle foreshadowing organically worked into the story. Unfortunately, I probably won’t stick with this series after this disappointment.
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
~ 3.5 Stars ~
Face the Music is the first book in a new series about the members of a rock band that somehow all get their happily ever after in the form of second chance romances during a much-needed break to recharge and keep going. In this book, it’s Lincoln who gets his second chance with his childhood best friend, Jace, who was also Lincoln’s first boyfriend. There is a certain amount of struggle for them to get over past hurts and betrayals, but it was necessary that they go through that first in order to make a new start together.
I very much appreciated the realistic way that Lincoln’s mental health was dealt with. I won’t tell you what the diagnosis was, but if you have the slightest knowledge about it, you will figure it out for yourselves pretty easily and pretty early on. There was no magic cure even if there were no setbacks and everything went smoothly from the start, which I don’t imagine happens in real life, and he had a long road ahead of him, but the overall message was full of hope. Jace was amazing with his support and encouragement and exactly what Lincoln needed to turn his life around and start living again.
One of the things I liked the most about this story is how every book in the series seems to be taking place at the same time. I’m just speculating here, based on what I read in this book, but if I’m right, I’m even more excited for the rest of the guys to get their stories! There is an endless opportunity for scenes to be told from different perspectives or to leave us wondering from one book to the next until we get the whole story behind a scene we already read about. It happened here a few times and one that pops up in my mind is a phone call where Benji picked up laughing. I hope we see that same phone call from Benji’s POV and learn what had him in such a good mood. The same goes for Archer too with his secret smiles.
Important note: The warnings in the blurb weren’t put there just for show; read them and take them into serious consideration before you open this book.
Reviewed by Ky for The Novel Approach
Face the Music is the first book in a new series about the members of a rock band that somehow all get their happily ever after in the form of second chance romances during a much-needed break to recharge and keep going. In this book, it’s Lincoln who gets his second chance with his childhood best friend, Jace, who was also Lincoln’s first boyfriend. There is a certain amount of struggle for them to get over past hurts and betrayals, but it was necessary that they go through that first in order to make a new start together.
I very much appreciated the realistic way that Lincoln’s mental health was dealt with. I won’t tell you what the diagnosis was, but if you have the slightest knowledge about it, you will figure it out for yourselves pretty easily and pretty early on. There was no magic cure even if there were no setbacks and everything went smoothly from the start, which I don’t imagine happens in real life, and he had a long road ahead of him, but the overall message was full of hope. Jace was amazing with his support and encouragement and exactly what Lincoln needed to turn his life around and start living again.
One of the things I liked the most about this story is how every book in the series seems to be taking place at the same time. I’m just speculating here, based on what I read in this book, but if I’m right, I’m even more excited for the rest of the guys to get their stories! There is an endless opportunity for scenes to be told from different perspectives or to leave us wondering from one book to the next until we get the whole story behind a scene we already read about. It happened here a few times and one that pops up in my mind is a phone call where Benji picked up laughing. I hope we see that same phone call from Benji’s POV and learn what had him in such a good mood. The same goes for Archer too with his secret smiles.
Important note: The warnings in the blurb weren’t put there just for show; read them and take them into serious consideration before you open this book.
Reviewed by Ky for The Novel Approach