Scan barcode
a_reader_obsessed's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Aww this was sooo sweet.
Since this was written all in communication form between the 2 MC's, this took my slow brain a bit of time to adjust to this kind of storytelling. Once I reoriented myself, I enjoyed it immensely.
Millar has a blog and he posts about his current travels. Jake is an interested follower and they strike up a friendship that of course, turns into something more.
Different, but in a good way, this was a funny, touching and inspiring, feel good story about two people who fall for each other despite some significant obstacles.
Aww this was sooo sweet.
Since this was written all in communication form between the 2 MC's, this took my slow brain a bit of time to adjust to this kind of storytelling. Once I reoriented myself, I enjoyed it immensely.
Millar has a blog and he posts about his current travels. Jake is an interested follower and they strike up a friendship that of course, turns into something more.
Different, but in a good way, this was a funny, touching and inspiring, feel good story about two people who fall for each other despite some significant obstacles.
papercranestitches's review
3.0
Please note that my middling rating has less to do with the author's writing ability than with my newly discovered dislike of epistolary novels.
Overall, I liked what Heysham did with the writing prompt. Centering her story around two characters who meet through one of the character's travel blog was a smart choice that gave the story a unique sense of place and time and pace. It also gave us a chance to get to know two entirely different personalities - one, the adventuresome slacker, and the other, a complicated, brainy tutor - who you believe might never have made the same connection if they had met for the first time in person rather than online.
The story also had a solid sense of realism to it. Let's be real: no one immediately reveals their true self to people they meet on the internet. No, we all wear masks - layers and layers of masks - and it takes time to peel them away and make yourself vulnerable to people you've never met in person. Because of this, I could totally relate to Jake's actions and to Millar's reactions in this story and the conflict between the two men felt entirely plausible.
Unfortunately, as much as I loved the witty banter and easy flow of the blog comments and email threads, I couldn't help but want the story to move beyond the blog and into real life. I wanted to witness Jake and Millar meeting for the first time. And, to be honest, I felt cheated by missing out on that scene, even though I can't see a single way for the author to have included it given the prompt parameters.
I'm willing to chalk this one up as an "it's not you, it's me" read.
My thanks to the the author for lending her talents to this year's DRitC event - the time and effort you spent on your tale was appreciated.
Overall, I liked what Heysham did with the writing prompt. Centering her story around two characters who meet through one of the character's travel blog was a smart choice that gave the story a unique sense of place and time and pace. It also gave us a chance to get to know two entirely different personalities - one, the adventuresome slacker, and the other, a complicated, brainy tutor - who you believe might never have made the same connection if they had met for the first time in person rather than online.
The story also had a solid sense of realism to it. Let's be real: no one immediately reveals their true self to people they meet on the internet. No, we all wear masks - layers and layers of masks - and it takes time to peel them away and make yourself vulnerable to people you've never met in person. Because of this, I could totally relate to Jake's actions and to Millar's reactions in this story and the conflict between the two men felt entirely plausible.
Unfortunately, as much as I loved the witty banter and easy flow of the blog comments and email threads, I couldn't help but want the story to move beyond the blog and into real life. I wanted to witness Jake and Millar meeting for the first time. And, to be honest, I felt cheated by missing out on that scene, even though I can't see a single way for the author to have included it given the prompt parameters.
I'm willing to chalk this one up as an "it's not you, it's me" read.
My thanks to the the author for lending her talents to this year's DRitC event - the time and effort you spent on your tale was appreciated.
tiggers_hate_acorns's review
4.0
Great story! Agree Jake's sister needed a good slapping, good to see that she ended up with egg on her face. I wonder if she was invited to the wedding?
maya56's review
4.0
Absolutely loved the format (after the few secs it took for me to figure out what was what)! Thoroughly enjoyed the interaction through blog posts, comments and e-mails.
msmiz95's review
3.0
Really really really enjoyed this one. It was fun and captured the spirit of the two MCs really well.
rissa53's review
5.0
Dearest Vicky,
I know I'm about two years late but I LOVE it! <3
Thank you so much for picking my prompt and fulfilling everything I asked for!
I got the HEA (which awwww), the humor (I adore Millar's family), and of course, the EPISTOLARY!
You are awesome, I'm just sorry it took so long for me to read this (personal family issues).
Again, thank you so, so, so much! I couldn't ask for anything more! :)
I know I'm about two years late but I LOVE it! <3
Thank you so much for picking my prompt and fulfilling everything I asked for!
I got the HEA (which awwww), the humor (I adore Millar's family), and of course, the EPISTOLARY!
You are awesome, I'm just sorry it took so long for me to read this (personal family issues).
Again, thank you so, so, so much! I couldn't ask for anything more! :)
moonwillow's review
5.0
This is just so awesomely quirky and different. I love the way it is written, set out as a travel blog with replies from friends and family, all with believably weird usernames.
Vicky makes it look so easy, but I just know there has got to have been a ton of notes backing this story up in order to make it flow so effortlessly.
It is quick paced but lengthy enough for me to get my teeth into the story, even though it seems such a deceptively simple format.
I got into and totally believed the relationship that built between the two main characters and the clever way in which we are drawn into their romance. Their voices are incredibly real.
Well done. I loved it.
Vicky makes it look so easy, but I just know there has got to have been a ton of notes backing this story up in order to make it flow so effortlessly.
It is quick paced but lengthy enough for me to get my teeth into the story, even though it seems such a deceptively simple format.
I got into and totally believed the relationship that built between the two main characters and the clever way in which we are drawn into their romance. Their voices are incredibly real.
Well done. I loved it.
More...