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kaitlin_durante's review against another edition
4.0
Because so many MM I read are parts of series I enjoyed this being a stand alone.
I really liked both characters and the slow burn building to their relationship.
4.5 stars.
I really liked both characters and the slow burn building to their relationship.
4.5 stars.
writtenechoes's review
5.0
That was a really beautiful portrayal of grief and overcoming it while simultaneously falling in love. It was moving in so many ways. Especially so to someone that lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s, that part was beautifully written with a lot of heart.
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. It grabbed my attention from the first page, and I enjoyed it from start to finish.
Enzo is a 30 year old carpenter, who specializes in doing cabinets, and loves what he does. But he feels like he's never good enough compared to his older brother Ricky, who seems to be perfect, and who his mother seems to compare him to and want him to aspire to be instead of being who he is. It affects Enzo greatly over his life, and when Ricky dies in a fire at the night club Enzo asked him to come to him with, it adds on guilt and grief.
Damon in a 37 year old hospital administrator who makes a good amount of money. He doesn't get out a lot and is dedicated to his work, but his younger sister Katie managed to get him to come out with her that night at that club, and she died in the fire at the night club as well.
Both Enzo and Damon are not only suffering from the grief of losing their siblings, but from misplaced guilt as well. About nine months after the fire, Damon is trying to will himself to go into a bar, still not able to since the fire, when he sees Enzo across the street seeming to go hook up with a woman in an alley, with three men then following them into the alley.
Turns out they were trying to rob Enzo, and Damon gets them to back off. From there these two form a friendship, and they get even closer when they find out that they both experienced the fire at the nightclub, and then both lost siblings as well.
Thing is, they both thought they were straight before they met each other. They had only even been attracted to women, but the more they fall for each other - and realize they're falling - the more attracted they are to each other.
I liked how low the freak outs were for these two. Enzo got uncomfortable at times and freaked out majorly once, but for the most part these two were okay with being with each other, with a man, and just going with it. I mean certainly, they went slow, explored each other and what the other liked, and got more settled into their relationship before they ever even told anyone, but it was a nice change of pace for there not to be a "i don't like guys, stay away from me" moment. Enzo had more of a "we're moving too fast, this is too much" moment, but that's understandable.
These two were just amazing together, and I loved every moment they were together. They weren't perfect, but they were perfect for each other.
Also, I can't say how happy I am that
Overall this was just an amazing story, with a great main couple who had amazing chemistry - I felt it when that first kiss came, and I was into all their smutty scenes, they just worked so well together - and an amazing romance. The secondary characters were good too and complemented the story so well.
Two big thumbs up for me, this was a win for me. Highly recommend!
Enzo is a 30 year old carpenter, who specializes in doing cabinets, and loves what he does. But he feels like he's never good enough compared to his older brother Ricky, who seems to be perfect, and who his mother seems to compare him to and want him to aspire to be instead of being who he is. It affects Enzo greatly over his life, and when Ricky dies in a fire at the night club Enzo asked him to come to him with, it adds on guilt and grief.
Damon in a 37 year old hospital administrator who makes a good amount of money. He doesn't get out a lot and is dedicated to his work, but his younger sister Katie managed to get him to come out with her that night at that club, and she died in the fire at the night club as well.
Both Enzo and Damon are not only suffering from the grief of losing their siblings, but from misplaced guilt as well. About nine months after the fire, Damon is trying to will himself to go into a bar, still not able to since the fire, when he sees Enzo across the street seeming to go hook up with a woman in an alley, with three men then following them into the alley.
Turns out they were trying to rob Enzo, and Damon gets them to back off. From there these two form a friendship, and they get even closer when they find out that they both experienced the fire at the nightclub, and then both lost siblings as well.
Thing is, they both thought they were straight before they met each other. They had only even been attracted to women, but the more they fall for each other - and realize they're falling - the more attracted they are to each other.
I liked how low the freak outs were for these two. Enzo got uncomfortable at times and freaked out majorly once, but for the most part these two were okay with being with each other, with a man, and just going with it. I mean certainly, they went slow, explored each other and what the other liked, and got more settled into their relationship before they ever even told anyone, but it was a nice change of pace for there not to be a "i don't like guys, stay away from me" moment. Enzo had more of a "we're moving too fast, this is too much" moment, but that's understandable.
These two were just amazing together, and I loved every moment they were together. They weren't perfect, but they were perfect for each other.
Also, I can't say how happy I am that
Spoiler
both of these guys got into therapy, and they decided to go on their own. They both needed it and without I feared they would become too dependent on each other for their happiness. I'm happy they got help in a healthy way.Overall this was just an amazing story, with a great main couple who had amazing chemistry - I felt it when that first kiss came, and I was into all their smutty scenes, they just worked so well together - and an amazing romance. The secondary characters were good too and complemented the story so well.
Two big thumbs up for me, this was a win for me. Highly recommend!
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review
5.0
“You make me feel like anything is possible when I used to wish I wouldn’t wake up in the morning.”
This book has a lot of feels, not all of them good. It's about two men who have both experienced a great loss and because of that are lost themselves. I'm talking these two are barely hanging on. They each have no one to confide it, keeping their grief bottled up as it slowly eats away at them.
That slowly starts to change when they find each other. Suddenly Enzo and Damon have someone who understands, someone they can talk to about all their guilt and dark thoughts without feeling judged. These two men help each other start living again. They grow incredibly close as friends until a kiss makes them both realize they want more.
This is a double GFY (which just happens to be my favorite trope). Neither have even felt an inkling of attraction to men before. However, neither have they felt this type of attraction/need for any woman they have been with either. The bond between these two goes deep. They help heal each other, but both come to understand they need some outside help too if they are ever going to truly be better.
Although being inside Damon and Enzo's head was quite depressing and sad at times, you could really feel the melancholy of their lives. You rooted for them and hoped like hell these two found happiness because you just wanted their suffering to end. This is not an upbeat read, but it is a good one. Life isn't always fair and it doesn't always turn out the way you thought it should.
This book has a lot of feels, not all of them good. It's about two men who have both experienced a great loss and because of that are lost themselves. I'm talking these two are barely hanging on. They each have no one to confide it, keeping their grief bottled up as it slowly eats away at them.
That slowly starts to change when they find each other. Suddenly Enzo and Damon have someone who understands, someone they can talk to about all their guilt and dark thoughts without feeling judged. These two men help each other start living again. They grow incredibly close as friends until a kiss makes them both realize they want more.
This is a double GFY (which just happens to be my favorite trope). Neither have even felt an inkling of attraction to men before. However, neither have they felt this type of attraction/need for any woman they have been with either. The bond between these two goes deep. They help heal each other, but both come to understand they need some outside help too if they are ever going to truly be better.
Although being inside Damon and Enzo's head was quite depressing and sad at times, you could really feel the melancholy of their lives. You rooted for them and hoped like hell these two found happiness because you just wanted their suffering to end. This is not an upbeat read, but it is a good one. Life isn't always fair and it doesn't always turn out the way you thought it should.
runningonbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
boyanna's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
cameron_banks's review against another edition
5.0
Blue
You will devour this one! Damon and Enzo's story is told so beautifully and with such finesse. It's a sweet story about love, acceptance, loss, and moving forward. Their story will leave you with all the feels! Read it. You won't regret it!
You will devour this one! Damon and Enzo's story is told so beautifully and with such finesse. It's a sweet story about love, acceptance, loss, and moving forward. Their story will leave you with all the feels! Read it. You won't regret it!