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raana328's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
casmonido's review
This one also got boring quickly just like the next one, too much constructive life-building in this series I guess, not enough falling in love & second guessing the other person's feelings.
mattycakkes28's review against another edition
2.0
In terms of M/M, this was just 'OK'. The chemistry between the two mains is just convincing enough, but nothing terribly engrossing or memorable. The one glaring problem is the almost total lack of any real conflict. The few moments of danger- most of which occur at the end- never feel very high stakes and all get resolved almost immediately. In the end, what's you're left with is a mediocre melodrama that you don't hate but that you forget about almost as soon as finishing it.
vkelt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.0
kimali96's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Homophobia
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
bfdbookblog's review
4.0
Whew…I’m not going to lie, I didn’t like Jonas at all when we meet him…even knowing there was probably a good reason for his attitude I didn’t want to forgive it at first. Tate sees something in Jonas and doesn’t want to give up even after he’s a jerk on their first couple of encounters. As Tate uncovers the real Jonas we see what an amazing young man he is and how just a little bit of belief in him goes a long way.
Both men have some growing up to do – Jonas more than Tate, as well as self-acceptance, release of guilt and acceptance of help and love from others. There are several issues these men deal with, either directly or indirectly – homophobia, parental rejection, death of parents, too much responsibility at too young an age, sexual abuse and a physical attack. While Jonas really does need Tate, I think Tate needs Jonas too and they really are perfect for each other. The growth of their relationship is so, so good and I loved every part of it.
It was great seeing other characters from other stories, which I’m learning is something this author does quite a bit. I loved seeing Ezra, Donner and Brendan from the Belonging series…I loved them so much in that series so this was a great crossover! I’m guessing book 2 will be about Marc and it sounds like that one might be a hard one to read. There were a few characters that I hope we see in future books…Will and Ice especially.
Both men have some growing up to do – Jonas more than Tate, as well as self-acceptance, release of guilt and acceptance of help and love from others. There are several issues these men deal with, either directly or indirectly – homophobia, parental rejection, death of parents, too much responsibility at too young an age, sexual abuse and a physical attack. While Jonas really does need Tate, I think Tate needs Jonas too and they really are perfect for each other. The growth of their relationship is so, so good and I loved every part of it.
It was great seeing other characters from other stories, which I’m learning is something this author does quite a bit. I loved seeing Ezra, Donner and Brendan from the Belonging series…I loved them so much in that series so this was a great crossover! I’m guessing book 2 will be about Marc and it sounds like that one might be a hard one to read. There were a few characters that I hope we see in future books…Will and Ice especially.
fredbooklover's review
5.0
This is a 4.5 stars review round up to 5
Coming out as a gay man is not easy at all. Even though it is getting easier as the time goes by, there is always a fear that is brewing inside of us. In her book Come What May, A.M. Arthur is taking us on an emotional journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.
What an intimate look we’ve got into the life of Jonas. All his life he wanted to fit in, do what the others expected of him and he has been hiding his deepest desires. It only took one prank that went bad to change the course of his life. He never worked in his life and always relied on his good looks and his father money to get by. He was irresponsible and did not care to change it. In fact, he did not care about anything except having some fun. His family is all about materialism and how they look to others. His parents want him to act and react as he is expected and his father is trying to control his life. Working at his aunt Doris thrift store was a first to him and meeting Tate changed his life forever. It is a character that grew on me, feeling the turmoil in his life, we can only love him.
Tate is the opposite of Jonas. He is completely at peace with his sexuality and his is taking care of his younger sisters. He his giving himself heart and soul to make sure that they have everything they need. He is working at a homeless LGBT center, hoping to make a change in the life of those that are going through a rough time. He is someone that deeply cares about others and he has a massive crush on Jonas. He is not quite sure how this story will turn out, but he decided to be there every step of the way to support Jonas in becoming who he truly is. He took a leap of faith that ultimately could pay off.
The support of Jonas extended family is playing a huge role in his decision to be himself and live as a gay man. We tend to forget that when the closest to us are have a hard time accepting who we are, there is always someone available to give us that unconditional love and support. To those still on the fence whether coming out or not, this story will bring them peace and courage. That the strength of this book. A.M. Arthur decided to focus on the positive elements instead of going into all the drama surrounding a coming out. It is that positive outlook that set this book apart.
Personally, the road of self-acceptance has been an emotional rollercoaster and reading this book would have given me hope when I needed it the most. It is a novel, but the emotions are raw and the message is delivered with gentleness. This is the proof that a book does not need to have over the top drama to make it enjoyable and to help others. To be of service is another theme that the author explores in Come What May. The LGBT shelter is at the center of the story, and it is a good reminder of how useful it is to have them in today’s world. When we are in touch with who we are, there is a natural tendency to give a hand and help others in their journey. Tate was the perfect reflection of this heart generosity toward others.
If you know someone that is struggling with self-acceptance or if you want to read an extra special book, this one is for you!
*I was gifted this ebook by Jeep Diva in exchange of a honest review.
Coming out as a gay man is not easy at all. Even though it is getting easier as the time goes by, there is always a fear that is brewing inside of us. In her book Come What May, A.M. Arthur is taking us on an emotional journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.
What an intimate look we’ve got into the life of Jonas. All his life he wanted to fit in, do what the others expected of him and he has been hiding his deepest desires. It only took one prank that went bad to change the course of his life. He never worked in his life and always relied on his good looks and his father money to get by. He was irresponsible and did not care to change it. In fact, he did not care about anything except having some fun. His family is all about materialism and how they look to others. His parents want him to act and react as he is expected and his father is trying to control his life. Working at his aunt Doris thrift store was a first to him and meeting Tate changed his life forever. It is a character that grew on me, feeling the turmoil in his life, we can only love him.
Tate is the opposite of Jonas. He is completely at peace with his sexuality and his is taking care of his younger sisters. He his giving himself heart and soul to make sure that they have everything they need. He is working at a homeless LGBT center, hoping to make a change in the life of those that are going through a rough time. He is someone that deeply cares about others and he has a massive crush on Jonas. He is not quite sure how this story will turn out, but he decided to be there every step of the way to support Jonas in becoming who he truly is. He took a leap of faith that ultimately could pay off.
The support of Jonas extended family is playing a huge role in his decision to be himself and live as a gay man. We tend to forget that when the closest to us are have a hard time accepting who we are, there is always someone available to give us that unconditional love and support. To those still on the fence whether coming out or not, this story will bring them peace and courage. That the strength of this book. A.M. Arthur decided to focus on the positive elements instead of going into all the drama surrounding a coming out. It is that positive outlook that set this book apart.
Personally, the road of self-acceptance has been an emotional rollercoaster and reading this book would have given me hope when I needed it the most. It is a novel, but the emotions are raw and the message is delivered with gentleness. This is the proof that a book does not need to have over the top drama to make it enjoyable and to help others. To be of service is another theme that the author explores in Come What May. The LGBT shelter is at the center of the story, and it is a good reminder of how useful it is to have them in today’s world. When we are in touch with who we are, there is a natural tendency to give a hand and help others in their journey. Tate was the perfect reflection of this heart generosity toward others.
If you know someone that is struggling with self-acceptance or if you want to read an extra special book, this one is for you!
*I was gifted this ebook by Jeep Diva in exchange of a honest review.
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
3.5 Stars ~ Jonas has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle after being expelled from the university he is attending. A freshman hazing gone wrong, Jonas is now, more than ever, the disappointment of his state senator father and distant mother. Jonas not only regrets the hazing but also is struggling with the reality that he will never measure up to his father’s rigid standards, particularly since he is hiding the fact that he is gay. But he has been deep in the closet for a long time and he is not about to change that—that would mean he would lose everything, and Jonas is very used to eating from a silver spoon. But there is much more to Jonas than meets the eye, and it will take someone special to see beneath the rich, bad boy exterior he keeps in place in order to survive.
Tate lost his parents at an early age and did everything possible to save his two sisters from foster care. After gaining emancipation from the courts, he was able to get his sisters back and now keeps his tiny family afloat while running an LGBT shelter for homeless teens. He is very careful about whom he lets into his life, so it was a shock to himself that Jonas managed to wiggle under the careful wall he has erected in order to keep both his heart and his sisters safe. The two boys meet and they work together to create a safe place for Jonas to “come out” to everyone—except his parents. When a furious senator invades that safe haven, Tate and Jonas stand to lose everything they have built with one another. The real question is, can Jonas be brave enough to stand up against his own family? Or will he lose the man he loves?
I am a big A.M. Arthur fan. While I felt this story had some pacing issues and was often just a bit too easy when it came to leaping over what were huge emotional issues, this was still a sweet coming out story that had solid characters and a strong plot overall. I did enjoy the beginning of this novel when Tate and Jonas sparred with each other verbally, and the small flicker of attraction reared its head again and again. Had this beginning taken just a bit more time when it came to building the relationship between the two men, I felt the story would have been much more believable. Unfortunately, the rush to get these two together really weakened the idea of Jonas grappling with his sexuality—here was a young man who had dated countless girls and had very little real contact with other guys. While this made the sexual intimacies between Jonas and Tate much more realistic and sweet, the speed with which these two fell into each other’s arms seemed way too fast for a boy who had spent his twenty-one years on earth denying what he felt for other boys.
While this was undeniably a tender coming of age story that had moments that tore at your heartstrings, the pacing of the whole thing felt alternately rushed and sometimes flat. There was so much doubt on Tate’s part about getting involved with someone so deeply closeted, and yet time and again, he fell into Jonas’s arms and seemed to cave in against his better judgment. I must admit after this happened several times, the whole idea got a bit stale by story’s end. What never got old, however, was the love these two boys obviously had for each other. Even though it was rushed at times—this was a love story that often hit the mark.
Come What May is the start of a new series by this author, and I am interested in seeing where the author takes this one. I am hoping we see more focus on the shelter and its inhabitants, as well as catching up with what happens to Jonas and Tate. All in all, this was a good coming-of-age story that just needed some small fixes to make it more solid and realistic.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-come-what-may-by-a-m-arthur/
Tate lost his parents at an early age and did everything possible to save his two sisters from foster care. After gaining emancipation from the courts, he was able to get his sisters back and now keeps his tiny family afloat while running an LGBT shelter for homeless teens. He is very careful about whom he lets into his life, so it was a shock to himself that Jonas managed to wiggle under the careful wall he has erected in order to keep both his heart and his sisters safe. The two boys meet and they work together to create a safe place for Jonas to “come out” to everyone—except his parents. When a furious senator invades that safe haven, Tate and Jonas stand to lose everything they have built with one another. The real question is, can Jonas be brave enough to stand up against his own family? Or will he lose the man he loves?
I am a big A.M. Arthur fan. While I felt this story had some pacing issues and was often just a bit too easy when it came to leaping over what were huge emotional issues, this was still a sweet coming out story that had solid characters and a strong plot overall. I did enjoy the beginning of this novel when Tate and Jonas sparred with each other verbally, and the small flicker of attraction reared its head again and again. Had this beginning taken just a bit more time when it came to building the relationship between the two men, I felt the story would have been much more believable. Unfortunately, the rush to get these two together really weakened the idea of Jonas grappling with his sexuality—here was a young man who had dated countless girls and had very little real contact with other guys. While this made the sexual intimacies between Jonas and Tate much more realistic and sweet, the speed with which these two fell into each other’s arms seemed way too fast for a boy who had spent his twenty-one years on earth denying what he felt for other boys.
While this was undeniably a tender coming of age story that had moments that tore at your heartstrings, the pacing of the whole thing felt alternately rushed and sometimes flat. There was so much doubt on Tate’s part about getting involved with someone so deeply closeted, and yet time and again, he fell into Jonas’s arms and seemed to cave in against his better judgment. I must admit after this happened several times, the whole idea got a bit stale by story’s end. What never got old, however, was the love these two boys obviously had for each other. Even though it was rushed at times—this was a love story that often hit the mark.
Come What May is the start of a new series by this author, and I am interested in seeing where the author takes this one. I am hoping we see more focus on the shelter and its inhabitants, as well as catching up with what happens to Jonas and Tate. All in all, this was a good coming-of-age story that just needed some small fixes to make it more solid and realistic.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-come-what-may-by-a-m-arthur/