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flamingo_punk's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
bientchat's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
ofbooksandromance's review
5.0
5 “You’re enough. Exactly how you are.” stars
“You gave me a home when I had none, showed me a life I truly want to lead, and loved me even when I wasn’t sure I was worthy.”
“You’ll always be Worthy. […] And this will always be your home”
“You. You will always be my home”
If there is a type of book that works for me more than any other type of book ever had it’s one full of hurt/comfort and someone making his lover feel loved and accepted for the first time in a long time and someone who has been for someone for a long time before they finally got together. And all those things perfectly describe this book, so no one should be shocked that I adored this book. Let’s be honest, if Annabeth Albert was able to do a scan of my brain and write a book based on that, this book would have been the exact book she would have written. This book was just the perfect match for everything I love reading about and everything I was in the mood for at this time of my life.
I have spoken a lot about how I’ve been in the worst reading slump ever for the last 3 months, and I’ve been really struggling to read book as quickly as I used to, and I was just so invested in this book that I almost read it in one sitting, which is definitely something to celebrate due to how hard the reading slump has been hitting me lately.
Brief Summary
Worth is down on his luck, depressed, alone and hates his life. He goes back to his hometown after not having been in a very long time and Sam finds him as Worth is mourning everything that he lost. Sam has been in love with Worth from a far for years ad all he wants is to take care of Worth, and that’s exactly what happens, and they fall in love in the process.
“Tell me how to be what you need.”
“Keep being you. That’s all. Just be you.”
This book seemed to know the way to my heart, because it just had all of my favourite tropes wrapped in one lovely package. This book had long term pining, hurt/comfort and some light kink with a lot of aftercare and the taking care of your partner part and if you know me, you will already know that those are my absolute favourite things to read about, so this book was the perfect match for me. It’s not shocking how well this book worked for me knowing it had everything I love reading about in it, but the way everything was don in this book was just so lovely and it really helped make this book one of my favourite book of the year. So not only did this book include all my favourite tropes, but it also did them in a way that I just loved and couldn’t get enough off. So, this book was just the perfect package of everything for me.
My favourite past time is crying at books and this book just had me. I cried so much while reading this book that I had to take breaks to wipe away my tears because I couldn’t see my kindle anymore. What really gets me is when I get attached to main characters and then they are troubled and feel sad. I always just feel so bad for them, and I keep crying because of the things that they are going through and this book just did that in the best way. I kept crying for Worth and all I wanted to do was reach through my kindle screen and give him a big hug.
Hurt/comfort is my favourite thing to read about and this book just had the best hurt/comfort I have ever read. Worth was super depressed and hated his life and Sam was always there to hug him and provide him a little bit of comfort and it was just so wonderful. I must admit that I cried many times while reading this book just because the comfort was hitting so well with me. I just adore reading about characters who are down in the dumps and who was comforted, and this book just hit all those things so well. I have always said that it’s the lower angst books that have angst related to the characters but not really the outside world that made me cry the most and this one just proved this so well. This book just kept playing with my strings and made me cry so much, just because everything in it just hit me like a ton of bricks.
All Sam wanted to do was to take care of Worth and I just loved that so much. Worth was super sad and alone and he needed someone who would listen to him and hug him and Sam was just the perfect person for that. Sam was just so nice and always listened to Worth and Sam did everything in his power to make Worth feel better and it was just so lovely to read about. I loved seeing how Sam would try to do everything he could think off to make sure that Worth was taken care off and felt comforted. I just loved all of the scenes of comfort in this book, whether it was Sam hugging Worth, Sam making baths for Worth so he could relax after a long day, them cooking for each other when the other needed it, them supporting each other and fighting for the other when it was needed, them being there for each other even when it was harder for them to do so, them being each other’s biggest cheerleader. Just everything about this part of the book was just perfect to me.
And all this blended so well into the romance in this book, which I just adored. Not only did I love how much they loved each other and how they showed it by always being there for each other, but I also loved their connection and how they interacted with each other. These two just had such cute interactions and you could see how much they appreciated and respected each other through all of them and it was just the cutest thing to read about. I found myself smiling through my tears a lot while I was reading this book just because I loved how they interacted with each other so much, I just found it so cute.
Worth is depressed, and this book might have the most vivid depiction of depression I have ever read in a book. There is something about it that just hit me like a ton of bricks because everything about how depression was shown in this book was just something I could deeply relate to. I just loved how Worth was so wishful for the past and how he kept reliving those memories because he wasn’t happy with his current life situations. And all the little ways how his depression was ingrained in all every thought and his everyday life, everything about it was just so well done. It’s the depiction of depression that reminded me the most of real life that I have ever in a long while, and I just loved how it was done so much.
There is a little kink in this book, and it’s mostly focused on aftercare, and Worth wanting someone to take care of him and to take control over him. And a lot of praise. Both of those things just really worked for me. I felt like it fit Sam and Worth’s personalities so well and it was just so lovely to read about. Plus it was hot, which is always a bonus in my book.
I loved how the small town in this book was depicted. I also live in a small town and I just could relate to how it shown in this book and I found it so much to read about. It just really enhanced my reading experience of the book because I could really relate to how everyone in the town acted, as it was so reminiscing of moments from my own life.
This book just came into my life at the perfect time and I had the best of time reading it. This was THE book I have been looking for for so long and I just adored everything about it.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
“You gave me a home when I had none, showed me a life I truly want to lead, and loved me even when I wasn’t sure I was worthy.”
“You’ll always be Worthy. […] And this will always be your home”
“You. You will always be my home”
If there is a type of book that works for me more than any other type of book ever had it’s one full of hurt/comfort and someone making his lover feel loved and accepted for the first time in a long time and someone who has been for someone for a long time before they finally got together. And all those things perfectly describe this book, so no one should be shocked that I adored this book. Let’s be honest, if Annabeth Albert was able to do a scan of my brain and write a book based on that, this book would have been the exact book she would have written. This book was just the perfect match for everything I love reading about and everything I was in the mood for at this time of my life.
I have spoken a lot about how I’ve been in the worst reading slump ever for the last 3 months, and I’ve been really struggling to read book as quickly as I used to, and I was just so invested in this book that I almost read it in one sitting, which is definitely something to celebrate due to how hard the reading slump has been hitting me lately.
Brief Summary
Worth is down on his luck, depressed, alone and hates his life. He goes back to his hometown after not having been in a very long time and Sam finds him as Worth is mourning everything that he lost. Sam has been in love with Worth from a far for years ad all he wants is to take care of Worth, and that’s exactly what happens, and they fall in love in the process.
“Tell me how to be what you need.”
“Keep being you. That’s all. Just be you.”
This book seemed to know the way to my heart, because it just had all of my favourite tropes wrapped in one lovely package. This book had long term pining, hurt/comfort and some light kink with a lot of aftercare and the taking care of your partner part and if you know me, you will already know that those are my absolute favourite things to read about, so this book was the perfect match for me. It’s not shocking how well this book worked for me knowing it had everything I love reading about in it, but the way everything was don in this book was just so lovely and it really helped make this book one of my favourite book of the year. So not only did this book include all my favourite tropes, but it also did them in a way that I just loved and couldn’t get enough off. So, this book was just the perfect package of everything for me.
My favourite past time is crying at books and this book just had me. I cried so much while reading this book that I had to take breaks to wipe away my tears because I couldn’t see my kindle anymore. What really gets me is when I get attached to main characters and then they are troubled and feel sad. I always just feel so bad for them, and I keep crying because of the things that they are going through and this book just did that in the best way. I kept crying for Worth and all I wanted to do was reach through my kindle screen and give him a big hug.
Hurt/comfort is my favourite thing to read about and this book just had the best hurt/comfort I have ever read. Worth was super depressed and hated his life and Sam was always there to hug him and provide him a little bit of comfort and it was just so wonderful. I must admit that I cried many times while reading this book just because the comfort was hitting so well with me. I just adore reading about characters who are down in the dumps and who was comforted, and this book just hit all those things so well. I have always said that it’s the lower angst books that have angst related to the characters but not really the outside world that made me cry the most and this one just proved this so well. This book just kept playing with my strings and made me cry so much, just because everything in it just hit me like a ton of bricks.
All Sam wanted to do was to take care of Worth and I just loved that so much. Worth was super sad and alone and he needed someone who would listen to him and hug him and Sam was just the perfect person for that. Sam was just so nice and always listened to Worth and Sam did everything in his power to make Worth feel better and it was just so lovely to read about. I loved seeing how Sam would try to do everything he could think off to make sure that Worth was taken care off and felt comforted. I just loved all of the scenes of comfort in this book, whether it was Sam hugging Worth, Sam making baths for Worth so he could relax after a long day, them cooking for each other when the other needed it, them supporting each other and fighting for the other when it was needed, them being there for each other even when it was harder for them to do so, them being each other’s biggest cheerleader. Just everything about this part of the book was just perfect to me.
And all this blended so well into the romance in this book, which I just adored. Not only did I love how much they loved each other and how they showed it by always being there for each other, but I also loved their connection and how they interacted with each other. These two just had such cute interactions and you could see how much they appreciated and respected each other through all of them and it was just the cutest thing to read about. I found myself smiling through my tears a lot while I was reading this book just because I loved how they interacted with each other so much, I just found it so cute.
Worth is depressed, and this book might have the most vivid depiction of depression I have ever read in a book. There is something about it that just hit me like a ton of bricks because everything about how depression was shown in this book was just something I could deeply relate to. I just loved how Worth was so wishful for the past and how he kept reliving those memories because he wasn’t happy with his current life situations. And all the little ways how his depression was ingrained in all every thought and his everyday life, everything about it was just so well done. It’s the depiction of depression that reminded me the most of real life that I have ever in a long while, and I just loved how it was done so much.
There is a little kink in this book, and it’s mostly focused on aftercare, and Worth wanting someone to take care of him and to take control over him. And a lot of praise. Both of those things just really worked for me. I felt like it fit Sam and Worth’s personalities so well and it was just so lovely to read about. Plus it was hot, which is always a bonus in my book.
I loved how the small town in this book was depicted. I also live in a small town and I just could relate to how it shown in this book and I found it so much to read about. It just really enhanced my reading experience of the book because I could really relate to how everyone in the town acted, as it was so reminiscing of moments from my own life.
This book just came into my life at the perfect time and I had the best of time reading it. This was THE book I have been looking for for so long and I just adored everything about it.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
mnhockeymomreads's review
4.0
Safe Harbor is definitely a place that welcomes folks, and makes them feel at home. And Sam Bookman and his family seem to always be at the center of welcoming them. Sam was the friend that was there for everyone. No matter how busy he was, he was there. He also does so much for the community. But it was clear, he was lonely. If there was ever a man that deserves love and his dreams to come true it was Sam. And let’s just say I think his friends underestimate him ... but man, oh man, am I happy readers get to see a side of Sam that a select few do.
Worth Stapleton hasn’t been back to Safe Harbor in a long time, not since his life basically imploded. Worth spent the last decade plus building a life in the bay area, but finds himself in the one place that he called home. I will say my heart literally broke for Worth. Albert did an amazing job of allowing readers to feel Worth’s pain and grief. The mental health rep was done beautifully, and I loved how Sam really encouraged but forced Worth to get the help and support he needed.
While Worth was working through his pain, Sam supported him and offered him so much of himself. Worth and Sam had an immediate connection that readers felt, and Sam quickly became a natural caretaker of Worth. I also want to say I was so very pleasantly surprised by Sam’s stern bruch daddy side. Friends, Albert did not disappoint in this area, and I do not want to spoil it for you. HOT DAMN!!!
In addition to previous characters we get more of Sam’s family, who are simply amazing. I adored his mom so much, it is obvious she is where Sam gets his care taking instincts from. She wrapped Worth up and gave him what he needed with what he needed it most! She is the mom that we all want to be and wish we had! I also appreciated the ASL aspect, it wasn’t just a mention, it was woven throughout the book and obviously played a role in the Bokman family and Safe Harbor community.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sam and Worth’s book, and their hard earned HEA. This amazing small town, found family, and a little mystery was just what I needed and I will miss this Safe Harbor crew so much! I cannot recommend this series enough. I adore it and think you will, too!
Worth Stapleton hasn’t been back to Safe Harbor in a long time, not since his life basically imploded. Worth spent the last decade plus building a life in the bay area, but finds himself in the one place that he called home. I will say my heart literally broke for Worth. Albert did an amazing job of allowing readers to feel Worth’s pain and grief. The mental health rep was done beautifully, and I loved how Sam really encouraged but forced Worth to get the help and support he needed.
While Worth was working through his pain, Sam supported him and offered him so much of himself. Worth and Sam had an immediate connection that readers felt, and Sam quickly became a natural caretaker of Worth. I also want to say I was so very pleasantly surprised by Sam’s stern bruch daddy side. Friends, Albert did not disappoint in this area, and I do not want to spoil it for you. HOT DAMN!!!
In addition to previous characters we get more of Sam’s family, who are simply amazing. I adored his mom so much, it is obvious she is where Sam gets his care taking instincts from. She wrapped Worth up and gave him what he needed with what he needed it most! She is the mom that we all want to be and wish we had! I also appreciated the ASL aspect, it wasn’t just a mention, it was woven throughout the book and obviously played a role in the Bokman family and Safe Harbor community.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sam and Worth’s book, and their hard earned HEA. This amazing small town, found family, and a little mystery was just what I needed and I will miss this Safe Harbor crew so much! I cannot recommend this series enough. I adore it and think you will, too!
mamasmutsalot's review
5.0
The first book in this series got a 3 star from me. It was pretty meh. But I was so intrigued by Worth and Sam that I kept reading. I liked book 2 a lot but then I got to this one and it was WORTH the wait.
After reading the content warnings, I looked at my husband and said "this one's gonna be rough but I have a feeling it's going to be worth it" and I was right.
I absolutely cried a bunch and although this book is full of some really heavy topics, it's also full of so much hope and love. Sam and Worth's dynamic is absolute goals ❤️
After reading the content warnings, I looked at my husband and said "this one's gonna be rough but I have a feeling it's going to be worth it" and I was right.
I absolutely cried a bunch and although this book is full of some really heavy topics, it's also full of so much hope and love. Sam and Worth's dynamic is absolute goals ❤️
laul's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
kevinscorner's review
4.5
Find Me Worthy is the third and final book in Annabeth Albert’s MM romance series Safe Harbor. Worth is a man in crisis as his life falls apart—he just found out that his missing mother was a victim of a serial killer, his dead dad everyone thought killed her was innocent the whole time, and the company he currently works for was running a financial scheme. Back home in Safe Harbor after 20 years away, he runs into Sam—a younger man who used to have a childhood crush on him and a severe case of hero worship.
This is by far my favorite book in the series. The romance was sweet and tender and probably had the softest D/s situation. The light kink wasn’t necessary, but it was certainly steamy. Not quite a second chance romance, there was still a lot of history there added layers to Worth and Sam’s relationship. Worth needed lifting up, and Sam has alway held a torch for him and refuses to let him fall. Both men were great and together they just worked. I managed to tear up quite a few times. Also, the mystery that was carried through the series was solved in the previous book, but we finally get closure in this one.
*I was provided an eARC in exchange for an honest review and as part of the release tour.
This is by far my favorite book in the series. The romance was sweet and tender and probably had the softest D/s situation. The light kink wasn’t necessary, but it was certainly steamy. Not quite a second chance romance, there was still a lot of history there added layers to Worth and Sam’s relationship. Worth needed lifting up, and Sam has alway held a torch for him and refuses to let him fall. Both men were great and together they just worked. I managed to tear up quite a few times. Also, the mystery that was carried through the series was solved in the previous book, but we finally get closure in this one.
*I was provided an eARC in exchange for an honest review and as part of the release tour.
wildfaeriecaps's review
5.0
Probably my favorite of the trilogy. Love the mental health rep. Love Sam's commitment to his kids. Love the dynamic he and Worth create between them. Seriously. Best read. Loved every page.
bekacrook's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
This books covered quite a few dark and difficult themes including grief and mental illness without feeling hopeless or showing the characters only as their grief and their mental illness. It was a dominant part of Worth's character, especially at the start but it was done in a way where it wasn't trivialised or became the only thing people saw about him. Sam saw the good in him and was patient and pushed him the right amount. He was there as a support and to care and love him but knew he couldn't do all the work for Worth, he needed to realise he was worth getting support and feeling better and that he deserved that. This realisation happened slowly throughout the book and was build upon by small actions and words that he took on board.
I also loved how Worth took care of and helped Sam, it wasn't a one sided relationship. There was a lot of small gestures and he really used his actions to show how he felt and help Sam.
Such a big community feel in this book which I really liked. It made them feel a part of something and showed their importance. This is continued in the epilogue which was interesting as it was told from the perspective of a completely new character.
The amount of Worth puns did get a bit old after a while and I wished we'd seen a bit more of Sam's struggle, especially around his sister. But it was a good book with interesting characters and a hopeful undertone throughout.
I also loved how Worth took care of and helped Sam, it wasn't a one sided relationship. There was a lot of small gestures and he really used his actions to show how he felt and help Sam.
Such a big community feel in this book which I really liked. It made them feel a part of something and showed their importance. This is continued in the epilogue which was interesting as it was told from the perspective of a completely new character.
The amount of Worth puns did get a bit old after a while and I wished we'd seen a bit more of Sam's struggle, especially around his sister. But it was a good book with interesting characters and a hopeful undertone throughout.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
endemictoearth's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.25
This series is tough for me to explain how I feel about it. I gave book one 3.5 stars (rounded down), book two 4 stars, and while I think the writing is better in book one, I think this gets 3.5 stars, too. I can't recommend it without all the caveats below, but it worked for me even though I can see most of its flaws.
Like, a lot of the dialogue is way too on the nose, there's more religion (tho very positive? non-toxic? religion) than I was expecting, the elements of the story feel patchworked together and kinda clunky. The part that worked best for me was Sam's outreach work with teens and quest to be a foster parent, and that was the stuff that made me tear up.
This book is super schmoopy and at the same time, there's a lot of mental health stuff, from suicidal thoughts/talk, PTSD, therapy, and while both characters say all the right stuff (Sam is all 'I can't fix you, I can only support you') the feeling I was left with was that the relationship is pretty key in Worth's recovery. Which, it's a romance, so . . . I don't know
This has the issue that I've had with a lot of recent books: an unrealistically short timeline from the beginning of a relationship to full commitment. Authors do seem to be self-aware about this and put in some commentary about how quick things are happening, and sometimes it gilds the pill and sometimes it just makes it more obvious that this could have been paced more realistically. I do think these two can and probably will work, but I could have felt even more strongly about them if we'd gotten more time for them to build their foundation.
I get that it's fiction, and Albert just about got away with it for ME in this instance, but if the writing had been a bit smoother, I might not have even noticed the things that pulled me out of the reading from time to time.
Like, a lot of the dialogue is way too on the nose, there's more religion (tho very positive? non-toxic? religion) than I was expecting, the elements of the story feel patchworked together and kinda clunky. The part that worked best for me was Sam's outreach work with teens and quest to be a foster parent, and that was the stuff that made me tear up.
This book is super schmoopy and at the same time, there's a lot of mental health stuff, from suicidal thoughts/talk, PTSD, therapy, and while both characters say all the right stuff (Sam is all 'I can't fix you, I can only support you') the feeling I was left with was that the relationship is pretty key in Worth's recovery. Which, it's a romance, so . . . I don't know
This has the issue that I've had with a lot of recent books: an unrealistically short timeline from the beginning of a relationship to full commitment. Authors do seem to be self-aware about this and put in some commentary about how quick things are happening, and sometimes it gilds the pill and sometimes it just makes it more obvious that this could have been paced more realistically. I do think these two can and probably will work, but I could have felt even more strongly about them if we'd gotten more time for them to build their foundation.
I get that it's fiction, and Albert just about got away with it for ME in this instance, but if the writing had been a bit smoother, I might not have even noticed the things that pulled me out of the reading from time to time.