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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
MM Romance
Teacher-Student Sobfest
3 I’m so torn stars
I’ve never started to cry while reading the first chapter of a book before. I had no idea who this letter was being written to or who any of these people were and yet I was sobbing. It was surreal and it would continue as I read this book because there was so much heartbreak. And then when I found out who the letter was addressed to, way later in the book, it made me teary again. Usually when a book evokes that much emotion out of me, it’s instantly a 5 star read but I couldn’t quite get there and I’m not sure why.
This is unlike any teacher student romance I’ve ever read and that’s a good thing however I wish this had taken place in college instead of high school. While Phoenix appeared mature for his age and knew profound loss, he didn’t have a lot of life experience and some of the things that happened in this book were life changing heavy events. It was hard to believe at times that this 18 year old would have accepted what was happening and have patience for the future.
Also, I found the sex scenes to be a bit cringy especially when he was still in high school. That stuff usually doesn’t bother me but because Phoenix was portrayed as being so innocent, it almost felt creepy reading about how he responded to being touched. I know by that point he was touch starved but it just made me cringe. However, once they reunited I no longer felt it was cringy and I loved how their future together progressed and the multiple epilogues. Once again I found myself crying. So because I’m so torn on this book, I’m giving it 3 stars. I loved all the emotion this author pulled from me and really want to read her other books but there’s also something missing for me and I’m not sure what it is.
Also, can we talk about the cover???? I would have read this a lot sooner had the model not been this guy because he looks soooo young and part of me wonders if that was part of my hang up during the sex scenes. I’d rather have Sebastian on there with his Angel tattooed chest or like anything else.
Teacher-Student Sobfest
3 I’m so torn stars
I’ve never started to cry while reading the first chapter of a book before. I had no idea who this letter was being written to or who any of these people were and yet I was sobbing. It was surreal and it would continue as I read this book because there was so much heartbreak. And then when I found out who the letter was addressed to, way later in the book, it made me teary again. Usually when a book evokes that much emotion out of me, it’s instantly a 5 star read but I couldn’t quite get there and I’m not sure why.
This is unlike any teacher student romance I’ve ever read and that’s a good thing however I wish this had taken place in college instead of high school. While Phoenix appeared mature for his age and knew profound loss, he didn’t have a lot of life experience and some of the things that happened in this book were life changing heavy events. It was hard to believe at times that this 18 year old would have accepted what was happening and have patience for the future.
Also, I found the sex scenes to be a bit cringy especially when he was still in high school. That stuff usually doesn’t bother me but because Phoenix was portrayed as being so innocent, it almost felt creepy reading about how he responded to being touched. I know by that point he was touch starved but it just made me cringe. However, once they reunited I no longer felt it was cringy and I loved how their future together progressed and the multiple epilogues. Once again I found myself crying. So because I’m so torn on this book, I’m giving it 3 stars. I loved all the emotion this author pulled from me and really want to read her other books but there’s also something missing for me and I’m not sure what it is.
Also, can we talk about the cover???? I would have read this a lot sooner had the model not been this guy because he looks soooo young and part of me wonders if that was part of my hang up during the sex scenes. I’d rather have Sebastian on there with his Angel tattooed chest or like anything else.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
This book fucking hurt. Hit me in all the places and made me think too much, honestly. I loved it so much
C.P. Harris is now 3 for 3. What an incredible book. I don’t cry and she had me going at 6%. This story brings out every emotion. I’ve got a real soft spot for the teacher/student dynamic, but Ms. Harris’s writing and raw descriptions brought me to my knees....again. You are riding the relationship up and down with Phoenix and Sebastian. She take you into every thought and reaction. Definitely a one click author for me. Well done and highly recommended.
Whew! This was such an amazing read. I devoured this book in less then a day. I can't even remember when I last gave a book five stars...but this deserves all the stars. Incredible story that went in directions I didn't expect. It was a breath of fresh air! Highly recommend everyone read it!
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Lives up to the hype
This was a journey, both heartbreaking and joyfilled.
Excellently written, with vivid, flawed, human characters.
You won't regret reading this book.
This was a journey, both heartbreaking and joyfilled.
Excellently written, with vivid, flawed, human characters.
You won't regret reading this book.
An angsty teacher-student forbidden relationship story (the student is 18) with two flawed main characters who latch onto each other in a passion that is as abrupt and intense as it is a bad idea. Phoenix is touch-starved and mentor-starved after the death of his philosophy-professor father, who was the nurturer in his family. He sees his attractive new high school philosophy teacher, and in the span of a few interactions, where his philosophical aspirations are taken seriously and encouraged, he becomes intrigued. It turns out the teacher, Sebastian Wicked, lives in the house behind his, and nights spent spying on him both increase Phoenix's attraction, and show him that Mr. Wicked's marriage does not appear to be a happy one.
Sebastian is still, down underneath, grieving a young, optimistic version of himself, and the doomed boy he loved back then. Phoenix's youth, his intelligence, his admiration, and his neediness, match needs of Sebastian's own. And against all his common sense, he begins to spend more and more time with Phoenix outside of school. Eventually, the inevitable happens.
This book is an intense, angsty, emotion-laden ride from irrational beginnings to a solid HEA. Both main characters are so isolated (despite Phoenix's best friends, and Sebastian's wife) that they come together like the two survivors on a desert island, investing every bit of their passion and intellect in each other. Both are jealous, and sometimes irrational. I really appreciated the friends in this book, as they injected a bit of balance and a reality check into the situation. The slow burn on the physical side, to balance the fast-leap on the emotional one, is also well done.
The plot twist in the middle that gives the story a big helping of more angst annoyed me a bit. This is the second student-teacher book I read where the older man, after claiming that the relationship is okay because they are equal enough to be a match, turns around and makes an arbitrary choice for both of them, without discussion, without compromise, and in an absolute and hurtful way like he was entitled to do so by virtue of who he was. Unlike the other book (which I 1-starred) this time, Sebastien was messed up enough mentally and emotionally to make it believable, and there was a plausible impetus.
But for all the rest of the book, I wanted some acknowledgement from him of how badly he'd screwed that up. I wanted the moment that regained equality for them. And instead, his actions got a pass as a reasonable choice. So while the ending begins to work out in a plausible way, and becomes warm and sweet and settled, it was not quite as satisfying as it might have been for me.
A talented author, with the ability to create an emotionally compelling story, though. If you like damaged heroes, intense codependent passion, age gap, jealousy, and a solid HEA, try this one.
Sebastian is still, down underneath, grieving a young, optimistic version of himself, and the doomed boy he loved back then. Phoenix's youth, his intelligence, his admiration, and his neediness, match needs of Sebastian's own. And against all his common sense, he begins to spend more and more time with Phoenix outside of school. Eventually, the inevitable happens.
This book is an intense, angsty, emotion-laden ride from irrational beginnings to a solid HEA. Both main characters are so isolated (despite Phoenix's best friends, and Sebastian's wife) that they come together like the two survivors on a desert island, investing every bit of their passion and intellect in each other. Both are jealous, and sometimes irrational. I really appreciated the friends in this book, as they injected a bit of balance and a reality check into the situation. The slow burn on the physical side, to balance the fast-leap on the emotional one, is also well done.
The plot twist in the middle that gives the story a big helping of more angst annoyed me a bit. This is the second student-teacher book I read where the older man, after claiming that the relationship is okay because they are equal enough to be a match, turns around and makes an arbitrary choice for both of them, without discussion, without compromise, and in an absolute and hurtful way like he was entitled to do so by virtue of who he was. Unlike the other book (which I 1-starred) this time, Sebastien was messed up enough mentally and emotionally to make it believable, and there was a plausible impetus.
But for all the rest of the book, I wanted some acknowledgement from him of how badly he'd screwed that up. I wanted the moment that regained equality for them. And instead, his actions got a pass as a reasonable choice. So while the ending begins to work out in a plausible way, and becomes warm and sweet and settled, it was not quite as satisfying as it might have been for me.
A talented author, with the ability to create an emotionally compelling story, though. If you like damaged heroes, intense codependent passion, age gap, jealousy, and a solid HEA, try this one.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Wow…this is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was impressed. I was terrible at philosophy in college, but I appreciated the theme of the book surrounding the subject. There is nothing earth-shattering here…as far as the teacher/student relationship goes…but I was pulled in from the prologue and had a hard time putting this down.
I appreciated that Dr. Wicked eventually did the right thing twice in his teaching positions. I never felt he pressured Phoenix into anything. In fact, Phoenix pursued him, and he resisted for a bit.
While it hurt, I thought their separation and growth during that separation was absolutely necessary…for both of them. They both needed closure and healing on outside life issues before being able to forge a solid relationship.
I think one of my favorite parts of the book was the letters…
I loved the last couple of chapters…getting to view their relationship after their hard-fought battle. It made the struggles and pain worth it.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
I appreciated that Dr. Wicked eventually did the right thing twice in his teaching positions. I never felt he pressured Phoenix into anything. In fact, Phoenix pursued him, and he resisted for a bit.
While it hurt, I thought their separation and growth during that separation was absolutely necessary…for both of them. They both needed closure and healing on outside life issues before being able to forge a solid relationship.
I think one of my favorite parts of the book was the letters…
I loved the last couple of chapters…getting to view their relationship after their hard-fought battle. It made the struggles and pain worth it.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!