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Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Homophobia
Graphic: Addiction, Homophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Outing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence
Max and Silas meet serendipitously at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting and turns out that Silas is the son of Max's new employer. Their attraction isn't instantaneous, with Silas being wary of Max's intentions. But Max endeared himself quickly as he treated people with sincerity and kindness.
Silas, on the other hand, is cold and unfeeling and we learn it is because of his trauma from CT that made him so.
I was really impressed in the beginning with Max's character as he had the tenacity to overcome his adversities and grew up no longer taking bullshit from anyone, but I wasn't so happy with him with how he expected Silas to do the same in a short amount of time. It's not easy to break free from the chains that tie you down, especially if those chains have been in place for so long, like how Silas had been ingrained to disregard his own feelings, and face brutal consequences if he succumbs to his so-called "weaknesses."
Although I'm happy that everything gets resolved in the end, I wasn't sure if it's realistic for both their fathers to change their stance if they've been deeply homophobic all their lives. I realize that people can change but not sure if I believe that it could be that "easy" to do so.
I both like and cringe at the clichéd moments, I.e Silas big confession, but I think this was the Disney moment at the ball that every romance fiction needs to have.
Other characters are adorable, and I especially loved Eddie and Silas' BFF/Beard Faith.
All in all I appreciated how both Max and Silas are "good people" in their own way, despite having suffered hardships in their lives.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Medical trauma
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Death of parent, Outing, Abandonment
Moderate: Self harm
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abandonment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Torture