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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
This might be an it's-not-you-it's-me situation. I can totally see why someone would love this book. I just never connected to either of the characters or their feelings. And there were a couple of things that irked me.
I liked both parts of the story—the main one and the one in the journal. I like that the book took the time to develop a tentative friendship between Tanner and Cole. And I loved the concept of the journals. The book has so much heart to it, and it's beautiful at times. Like in the way it treats Tanner's late wife and Cole's grandfather. But, for some reason, I never got invested enough in the current story, nor did I truly liked the characters.
The first thing that bothered me was Cole's "pride." It was supposed to be a good thing, but I couldn't help but find it so dumb. If a kind and well-meaning person offers to help you when you desperately need it, why say no? And how is being too prideful to accept help admirable?
There were also the journal entries. I liked the story of the two boys in the journal, Tom and Charlie, but the entries read nothing they're supposed to. I mean, how often do people write full conversations (in dialogue form) into their journals? The authors should have made them feel like actual journal entries, and, if they still wanted scenes between the two, added a small flashback at the beginning of each chapter, like a page or so.
There were parts about this book that I really liked, but those parts didn't click together for me. Even the romance, the slow build was great, but then it was rushed. And the visceral reaction Tanner and Cole had to reading the journal was awkward. There was an attempt to justify it, but I disliked the reason given.
Overall, I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading the book. I didn't hate it. And, again, I can see why so many people love it. But I had some issues, and if those are things likely to bother you as well, then maybe this is one to avoid. I'm still open to reading other books by the authors, though. I mean, I've already read a book by Riley Hart that I liked (Fired Up). So hopefully, I'll have better luck next time.
I liked both parts of the story—the main one and the one in the journal. I like that the book took the time to develop a tentative friendship between Tanner and Cole. And I loved the concept of the journals. The book has so much heart to it, and it's beautiful at times. Like in the way it treats Tanner's late wife and Cole's grandfather. But, for some reason, I never got invested enough in the current story, nor did I truly liked the characters.
The first thing that bothered me was Cole's "pride." It was supposed to be a good thing, but I couldn't help but find it so dumb. If a kind and well-meaning person offers to help you when you desperately need it, why say no? And how is being too prideful to accept help admirable?
There were also the journal entries. I liked the story of the two boys in the journal, Tom and Charlie, but the entries read nothing they're supposed to. I mean, how often do people write full conversations (in dialogue form) into their journals? The authors should have made them feel like actual journal entries, and, if they still wanted scenes between the two, added a small flashback at the beginning of each chapter, like a page or so.
There were parts about this book that I really liked, but those parts didn't click together for me. Even the romance, the slow build was great, but then it was rushed. And the visceral reaction Tanner and Cole had to reading the journal was awkward. There was an attempt to justify it, but I disliked the reason given.
Overall, I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading the book. I didn't hate it. And, again, I can see why so many people love it. But I had some issues, and if those are things likely to bother you as well, then maybe this is one to avoid. I'm still open to reading other books by the authors, though. I mean, I've already read a book by Riley Hart that I liked (Fired Up). So hopefully, I'll have better luck next time.
Story of Cole and Tanner
This is well worth the read. I won’t say anything that will spoil it but I will say I cried a lot.
This is well worth the read. I won’t say anything that will spoil it but I will say I cried a lot.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The start was alright. I really enjoyed how Tanner and Cole bonded over having things in their past that they didn't want to talk about.
I was a little confused with some of the pacing though. Like Tanner seemed to be ok with falling in love with Cole in the scene where he talked to Emma, but then suddenly had reservations after he said "I love you"?
Also, I think I was more invested in Tom and Charlie's love story tbh. There was real conflict and pining there that seemed to be more interesting than Tanner and Cole's seemingly conflict-less romance. Even the bi-awakening wasn't really met with any sort of resistance or fighting. The only true sources of conflict between the two was when Tanner found out that Cole was a felon (which was resolved immediately when Tanner asked Cole to come back) and when Tanner briefly doubted Cole's innocence (which Cole seemed to immediately forgive even after he was offended at it)
I also wasn't a big fan of the supernatural part of the story. Tom and Charlie having the same initials as Tanner and Cole was cute (especially when Tanner found the T + C in his closet)
The parallels between Tom and Charlie were also interesting as a sort of foil towards Tanner and Cole's story.
Having Paige be a surrogate for Emma was a little too on the nose for me, so I legitimately rolled my eyes when her daughter reveals that Paige's full name was actually "Emma Paige".
Also, Tom and Charlie dying in a fire was super annoying (I get that I was just complaining about the lack of conflict, but this was not at all satisfying). It would've been a great ending to have the two come back as an older couple and see the remade barn.
Don't even get me started on Tanner and Cole dreaming about how Tom and Charlie died. If supernatural/fantasy elements exist in an otherwise contemporary story, I prefer if the stories went all in and explicitly introduce those elements as part of the universe. Otherwise, if they go and just sprinkle them in, it feels incredibly cheap because I can't suspend my disbelief.
If I see the world of the story as taking place in the real world, then I won't be able to accept that ghosts or visions of the past are natural things because it's incongruous with the setting. Ghosts and visions don't exist in modern contemporary settings in my mind, and the book doesn't really do anything to justify their existence in the story.
I was a little confused with some of the pacing though. Like Tanner seemed to be ok with falling in love with Cole in the scene where he talked to Emma, but then suddenly had reservations after he said "I love you"?
Also, I think I was more invested in Tom and Charlie's love story tbh. There was real conflict and pining there that seemed to be more interesting than Tanner and Cole's seemingly conflict-less romance. Even the bi-awakening wasn't really met with any sort of resistance or fighting. The only true sources of conflict between the two was when Tanner found out that Cole was a felon (which was resolved immediately when Tanner asked Cole to come back) and when Tanner briefly doubted Cole's innocence (which Cole seemed to immediately forgive even after he was offended at it)
I also wasn't a big fan of the supernatural part of the story. Tom and Charlie having the same initials as Tanner and Cole was cute (especially when Tanner found the T + C in his closet)
The parallels between Tom and Charlie were also interesting as a sort of foil towards Tanner and Cole's story.
Having Paige be a surrogate for Emma was a little too on the nose for me, so I legitimately rolled my eyes when her daughter reveals that Paige's full name was actually "Emma Paige".
Also, Tom and Charlie dying in a fire was super annoying (I get that I was just complaining about the lack of conflict, but this was not at all satisfying). It would've been a great ending to have the two come back as an older couple and see the remade barn.
Don't even get me started on Tanner and Cole dreaming about how Tom and Charlie died. If supernatural/fantasy elements exist in an otherwise contemporary story, I prefer if the stories went all in and explicitly introduce those elements as part of the universe. Otherwise, if they go and just sprinkle them in, it feels incredibly cheap because I can't suspend my disbelief.
If I see the world of the story as taking place in the real world, then I won't be able to accept that ghosts or visions of the past are natural things because it's incongruous with the setting. Ghosts and visions don't exist in modern contemporary settings in my mind, and the book doesn't really do anything to justify their existence in the story.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was already finding myself a bit bored. There's just nothing special going on here and the characters are pretty run of the mill - two dimensional. It's not that it's bad it's just nothing special and forgettable. I also was pretty sure I knew how this was going with the story within the story, and while normally I like that trope, this was missing depth for me to care. I spoiled myself with reviews before stopping and yeah, I guessed right. Also, Tanner, my dude, never explored any possible gay feelings ever before? Really thinks attraction to a man is like a stomach bug?
Of Sunlight and Stardust was hauntingly beautiful. The story is quiet yet powerful and the slow burn friendship turned romance made my heart thump in my chest. Even though the magical realism of Tom and Charlie's story was predictable, it did not take away from the impact it had on Tanner or Cole's story. I often hate when I know where the story will be headed right out of the gate, but in this case I loved watching the two stories past and present intertwine, and the use of magical realism to show how all four men were connected was so sweet.
It was interesting to see how in the present the story of Tom and Charlie was still being suppressed allowing lies to taint the beauty of love. I think in the end the text did justice to putting old ghosts to rest while paying honor to two souls that wanted nothing more than to love. Tanner and Cole represent so much more than just what it is to love. They represent moving forward while honoring the past.
It was interesting to see how in the present the story of Tom and Charlie was still being suppressed allowing lies to taint the beauty of love. I think in the end the text did justice to putting old ghosts to rest while paying honor to two souls that wanted nothing more than to love. Tanner and Cole represent so much more than just what it is to love. They represent moving forward while honoring the past.