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raynebair's review
4.0
I loved this book. Archer was an ass in the beginning but people can change and it was great to see how Ryan affected him. The kids were awesome! Too many times kids in stories appear older or younger than they should for the age. But the author got it right in this one. Their emotions pulled at my heartstrings and they definitely showed how life is with kids underfoot. It was so fun. This was a heartwarming read that I couldn't put down once I started.
jrv45's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
brokenrecord's review
3.0
3.5 stars. This was just… fine? I was actually super into the premise/set-up, but I just didn’t really connect to either Archer or Ryan, and like, the romance was nice, but that’s it — it didn’t really make me feel anything.
suze_1624's review against another edition
3.0
I was hoping for a bit more angsty depth to this one so left me feeling quite warm and fuzzy rather than invested. All a bit rosy and playing to stereotypes for me.
However it did engage and I’m glad Sonia’s story didn’t get the sappy ending it may have and that Archer was ultimately doing something about it.
It may be that the narrators voice always made Archer sound grumpy that didn’t endear me to him over much. Maybe that one tone affected my whole view. Generally I don’t find narrators doing kids/females good but I don’t know the answer either.
However it did engage and I’m glad Sonia’s story didn’t get the sappy ending it may have and that Archer was ultimately doing something about it.
It may be that the narrators voice always made Archer sound grumpy that didn’t endear me to him over much. Maybe that one tone affected my whole view. Generally I don’t find narrators doing kids/females good but I don’t know the answer either.
fredbooklover's review
5.0
I received this book free from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review.
Chris Scully did a wonderful job by including aboriginal culture and current issues throughout the book. It is an excellent way to bring awareness on a situation that is not discussed enough. That being said, it is a love story, not a social/political essay.
Archer is aboriginal, he was bullied, sexually abused and he blocked love from its life. All that matters for him is sex, sex and more sex. When he is not thinking about or doing sex, his focus is on his career. He is not likable at all and doesn’t care about it. Ryan is completely at the other end of the spectrum. He is a sweet and gentle soul that would do anything for the sake of a family and just to be of service. His heart is huge, but it is also his downfall, not being able to protect himself enough. This is a story of those 2 realities colliding when trying to do the best for Dillon and Emma, two adorable children left behind when Marguerite died. Characters are all strongly built. I like them all, especially silly Dilly and Archer.
This is also a story of hope, redemption and soul searching. This is a story that is inspiring and touching. It tackles a lot of current affair in our society: same sex marriage, same sex adoption, aboriginal rights and most of all our own judgment towards the others and how we hold on to it and close our heart. Language is crude and for mature readers. Sex scenes were explicit but construct with finesse and it served the story well. The attraction between the Archer and Ryan was magical and love with all its subtleties was present all the way through. Passion has a lot of way to show up in life, this story is one of them.
I recommend this book, in fact that is a must read and it is the best that I read this year. I surely hope that the author would write a second book with Ryan and Archer. I already miss them!!
Chris Scully did a wonderful job by including aboriginal culture and current issues throughout the book. It is an excellent way to bring awareness on a situation that is not discussed enough. That being said, it is a love story, not a social/political essay.
Archer is aboriginal, he was bullied, sexually abused and he blocked love from its life. All that matters for him is sex, sex and more sex. When he is not thinking about or doing sex, his focus is on his career. He is not likable at all and doesn’t care about it. Ryan is completely at the other end of the spectrum. He is a sweet and gentle soul that would do anything for the sake of a family and just to be of service. His heart is huge, but it is also his downfall, not being able to protect himself enough. This is a story of those 2 realities colliding when trying to do the best for Dillon and Emma, two adorable children left behind when Marguerite died. Characters are all strongly built. I like them all, especially silly Dilly and Archer.
This is also a story of hope, redemption and soul searching. This is a story that is inspiring and touching. It tackles a lot of current affair in our society: same sex marriage, same sex adoption, aboriginal rights and most of all our own judgment towards the others and how we hold on to it and close our heart. Language is crude and for mature readers. Sex scenes were explicit but construct with finesse and it served the story well. The attraction between the Archer and Ryan was magical and love with all its subtleties was present all the way through. Passion has a lot of way to show up in life, this story is one of them.
I recommend this book, in fact that is a must read and it is the best that I read this year. I surely hope that the author would write a second book with Ryan and Archer. I already miss them!!
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Have you ever come across a book you almost passed up because you just went, “Oh, another one involving kids…blah, blah, blah,” but then you bought it anyway, for the fact that you’ve liked a couple of previous books by the author? And then, when you finally find the time to sit down to read it, you expect not much from it but a few hours of what I liked to call a lazy and relaxing reading evening?
Well…
What happened after I finished reading Until September was a dire need to grab someone’s arm, drag them to sit down, and then demand that they just read this book! Until September turned out to be very well written and captivated me from the first page onward—beginning with life on a reservation for a young boy without parents. I was drawn to learn more about how Archie and Ryan could possibly develop a relationship, and how, especially with the children who had just lost their mother, they would fit and make this family work.
There wasn’t a bunch of unnecessary drama in this novel, and the plot didn’t drag out or end with a bunch of unanswered questions. It’s the kind of book I want to read when I’m missing someone, or life is so chaotic that I need something to ground me and remind me of what’s important. I actually had a moment or two where I was crying with Archie!
I so would love to listen to this one on audio and, as it turned out, after I finished reading the ebook, I immediately bought the paperback since it’s what I do with favorites. Ereaders are ok but paperbacks ROCK when holding something you’ve come to love. Chris Scully has officially become an auto-buy and an insta-read author for me.
Until September just hit all my 5 star buttons!
Reviewed by Kim for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-until-september-by-chris-scully/
Well…
What happened after I finished reading Until September was a dire need to grab someone’s arm, drag them to sit down, and then demand that they just read this book! Until September turned out to be very well written and captivated me from the first page onward—beginning with life on a reservation for a young boy without parents. I was drawn to learn more about how Archie and Ryan could possibly develop a relationship, and how, especially with the children who had just lost their mother, they would fit and make this family work.
There wasn’t a bunch of unnecessary drama in this novel, and the plot didn’t drag out or end with a bunch of unanswered questions. It’s the kind of book I want to read when I’m missing someone, or life is so chaotic that I need something to ground me and remind me of what’s important. I actually had a moment or two where I was crying with Archie!
I so would love to listen to this one on audio and, as it turned out, after I finished reading the ebook, I immediately bought the paperback since it’s what I do with favorites. Ereaders are ok but paperbacks ROCK when holding something you’ve come to love. Chris Scully has officially become an auto-buy and an insta-read author for me.
Until September just hit all my 5 star buttons!
Reviewed by Kim for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-until-september-by-chris-scully/
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