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zaza_bdp's review
3.0
3.5 ⭐
Voilà bien longtemps que je devais lire ce livre de Keira Andrews, acheté dès la jour de sa sortie, et puis il a pris la poussière dans mon kindle ... Je me souviens à l'époque avoir été emballée par le résumé et par l'avis d'Isa, et là, le fait de le revoir de nouveau m'a encouragée à me botter les fesses pour enfin lire ce roman !
Si j'ai plutôt passé un agréable moment, je ne suis pas non plus complètement convaincue, ni conquise par ce couple. Keira Andrews a fait un très joli travail sur ses personnages et a pour moi très bien traité la question du handicap d'Ethan, de toutes les frustrations, souffrances et petites agaceries que cela entraîne au quotidien. Et cela fait d'autant plus ressortir la bienveillance de Clay à l'égard du jeune touriste, ce qui est pour moi une bonne chose, car Clay fait preuve d'une gentillesse et d'une attention plutôt rare de nos jours. Ethan en a bavé, et même si l'autrice ne tombe pas dans le pathos, j'ai trouvé qu'elle cumulait quand même beaucoup de choses pour son personnage. Si on ne verse pas dans la souffritude, j'ai quand même trouvé que c'était trop, mais heureusement, Ethan s'en sort bien et fait preuve d'un sacré courage, il a une force de caractère et une détermination qui offrent un contraste saisissant avec ce qu'il traverse. Clay est un homme rassurant, bon et gentil, plein de compassion, le genre d'épaule rassurante sur laquelle on a envie de s'appuyer.
La romance est truffée de tropes que j'affectionne particulièrement, on a du slow-burn, les joies des premières découvertes du sexe gay ... Ça va à la fois très lentement et très vite entre les deux hommes, et les choses évoluent de façon fluide et naturelle entre eux.
On voyage aux côtés d'Ethan dans ce roman, ça m'a rappelé des souvenirs de minibus au fin fond de l'Écosse, avec un chauffeur tout aussi roux et charmant que Clay (n'est-ce pas Isa ^^). Cela dit, je n'aurais pas été contre davantage de descriptions de ces paysages, histoire de voyager encore plus. Et on prolonge l'expérience avec une plongée dans l'argot australien pur et dur (à ce titre, je ne vois pas comment la traduction pourra faire ressortir ce décalage de vocabulaire, ce qui me semble bien dommage), là, on peut dire que l'autrice n'y est pas allée de main morte !
C'est donc une histoire charmante, qui prend son temps, et dépeint des personnages que la vie n'a pas épargnée, pourtant, si charmante soit-elle, je n'y ai pas été aussi sensible que je l'avais imaginée.
Voilà bien longtemps que je devais lire ce livre de Keira Andrews, acheté dès la jour de sa sortie, et puis il a pris la poussière dans mon kindle ... Je me souviens à l'époque avoir été emballée par le résumé et par l'avis d'Isa, et là, le fait de le revoir de nouveau m'a encouragée à me botter les fesses pour enfin lire ce roman !
Si j'ai plutôt passé un agréable moment, je ne suis pas non plus complètement convaincue, ni conquise par ce couple. Keira Andrews a fait un très joli travail sur ses personnages et a pour moi très bien traité la question du handicap d'Ethan, de toutes les frustrations, souffrances et petites agaceries que cela entraîne au quotidien. Et cela fait d'autant plus ressortir la bienveillance de Clay à l'égard du jeune touriste, ce qui est pour moi une bonne chose, car Clay fait preuve d'une gentillesse et d'une attention plutôt rare de nos jours. Ethan en a bavé, et même si l'autrice ne tombe pas dans le pathos, j'ai trouvé qu'elle cumulait quand même beaucoup de choses pour son personnage. Si on ne verse pas dans la souffritude, j'ai quand même trouvé que c'était trop, mais heureusement, Ethan s'en sort bien et fait preuve d'un sacré courage, il a une force de caractère et une détermination qui offrent un contraste saisissant avec ce qu'il traverse. Clay est un homme rassurant, bon et gentil, plein de compassion, le genre d'épaule rassurante sur laquelle on a envie de s'appuyer.
La romance est truffée de tropes que j'affectionne particulièrement, on a du slow-burn, les joies des premières découvertes du sexe gay ... Ça va à la fois très lentement et très vite entre les deux hommes, et les choses évoluent de façon fluide et naturelle entre eux.
On voyage aux côtés d'Ethan dans ce roman, ça m'a rappelé des souvenirs de minibus au fin fond de l'Écosse, avec un chauffeur tout aussi roux et charmant que Clay (n'est-ce pas Isa ^^). Cela dit, je n'aurais pas été contre davantage de descriptions de ces paysages, histoire de voyager encore plus. Et on prolonge l'expérience avec une plongée dans l'argot australien pur et dur (à ce titre, je ne vois pas comment la traduction pourra faire ressortir ce décalage de vocabulaire, ce qui me semble bien dommage), là, on peut dire que l'autrice n'y est pas allée de main morte !
C'est donc une histoire charmante, qui prend son temps, et dépeint des personnages que la vie n'a pas épargnée, pourtant, si charmante soit-elle, je n'y ai pas été aussi sensible que je l'avais imaginée.
rellimreads's review against another edition
5.0
10/13/2023 - Update for audio.
This is actually the second time I've listened but forgot to update my review last time.
I love this story more every time I experience it. I love age gap - especially the kind where there's some hurt/comfort but the younger half of the couple isn't completely helpless. Andrews writes these so well (and a lot! ❤️).
While Ethan being Hard of Hearing does put him at a disadvantage, Clay does what he can to help but without infantilizing. It's such a short period of time but these two really get to know each other and I adore the evolution of their relationship. Plus, all the Australian sight-seeing and the fun vocabulary differences.
Their HEA is lovely and the epilogue is perfection.
Narration:
I know Joel Leslie is talented, but he gets to shine here. On top of giving all the characters unique voices, accents, and emotions - he does a fantastic job truly bringing through what every single day is like for Ethan. Plus! Leslie reads the chapter's from Ethan's POV with his American accent and Clay's POV with the Australian. When they're conversing - it sounds like a duet narration with the seamless switching between voices. I'm in awe!
10/28/2019 - KU. I *almost* didn't read this because I tend to be disappointed by GFY and that's what I took from the blurb ~ but I was looking for May/December and the folks at Lucy's Lair were raving, so here I am. And I am so glad I didn't miss out.
1. This isn't really GFY. Re-reading the blurb it says Clay has "long suppressed desires" and that's really what this is about for him.
2. May/December! Clay is 44 and Ethan is 27.
3. Ethan is hard of hearing and this is such a unique take on his coming to terms with this happening to him in his early 20's.
4. I just adore these guys... er "blokes". As individuals and as a couple. There's a little angst, but most of it is external and anything between them is resolved maturely and quickly. So, I just got to adore their blooming relationship.
5. That epilogue. So sweet.
6. As I went to write this review, I realized this is the same author that I stumbled upon her audiobook for "Kidnapped by the Pirate" which I also loved. I will now stalk... uh, follow her on all the places.
This is actually the second time I've listened but forgot to update my review last time.
I love this story more every time I experience it. I love age gap - especially the kind where there's some hurt/comfort but the younger half of the couple isn't completely helpless. Andrews writes these so well (and a lot! ❤️).
While Ethan being Hard of Hearing does put him at a disadvantage, Clay does what he can to help but without infantilizing. It's such a short period of time but these two really get to know each other and I adore the evolution of their relationship. Plus, all the Australian sight-seeing and the fun vocabulary differences.
Their HEA is lovely and the epilogue is perfection.
Narration:
I know Joel Leslie is talented, but he gets to shine here. On top of giving all the characters unique voices, accents, and emotions - he does a fantastic job truly bringing through what every single day is like for Ethan. Plus! Leslie reads the chapter's from Ethan's POV with his American accent and Clay's POV with the Australian. When they're conversing - it sounds like a duet narration with the seamless switching between voices. I'm in awe!
10/28/2019 - KU. I *almost* didn't read this because I tend to be disappointed by GFY and that's what I took from the blurb ~ but I was looking for May/December and the folks at Lucy's Lair were raving, so here I am. And I am so glad I didn't miss out.
1. This isn't really GFY. Re-reading the blurb it says Clay has "long suppressed desires" and that's really what this is about for him.
2. May/December! Clay is 44 and Ethan is 27.
3. Ethan is hard of hearing and this is such a unique take on his coming to terms with this happening to him in his early 20's.
4. I just adore these guys... er "blokes". As individuals and as a couple. There's a little angst, but most of it is external and anything between them is resolved maturely and quickly. So, I just got to adore their blooming relationship.
5. That epilogue. So sweet.
6. As I went to write this review, I realized this is the same author that I stumbled upon her audiobook for "Kidnapped by the Pirate" which I also loved. I will now stalk... uh, follow her on all the places.
becksgoesbookish's review
5.0
When it rains it pours, literally every instance of bad luck that could’ve happened to Ethan did. Luckily he met a hot Aussie while on his honeymoon alone
lalalindlein's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sharpsilver's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Cute enjoyable story. I really like the main characters and the relationship development between them. My only critique was that it was a little slow to get started and I think this could have been fixed with tighter editing in the early chapters.
casadilla12's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
casadilla12's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
theoguinto's review
3.0
Was alright. Having one of the MCs be hard of hearing and having to deal with the ramifications of people being unaware or impatient was really interesting and showed me a possibility of something I never would've thought about.
Ethan's ex and best friend were clearly assholes but I applaud the author for trying to give them a believe-able reason for their cheating.
I wasn't a fan of how Ethan constantly commented on Clay's sexiness in his head. A little too much on the objectification imo
I think Clay was written nicely, maybe a little too quick with going from "am I attracted to men" to "I'll give Ethan a BJ". Definitely would've appreciated a slower progression, but with the short timeframe of their time together I can see how that might speed things up a little.
Ethan's ex and best friend were clearly assholes but I applaud the author for trying to give them a believe-able reason for their cheating.
I wasn't a fan of how Ethan constantly commented on Clay's sexiness in his head. A little too much on the objectification imo
I think Clay was written nicely, maybe a little too quick with going from "am I attracted to men" to "I'll give Ethan a BJ". Definitely would've appreciated a slower progression, but with the short timeframe of their time together I can see how that might speed things up a little.
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
4.0
Very cheesy and predictable but I still cried at the ending.