Scan barcode
nasaje's review
1.0
I completely understood what I was supposed to feel with this book. I was supposed to feel angry with Jessen for leaving, and I was supposed to feel all of Ian's hurt. However, it all stayed pretty shallow, and I never really could connect with the characters and their emotions. There was an imbalance in their relationship that I felt was too great to make them a believeable couple. Jessen was honestly a little condescending, and I couldn't help but think of Ian as being much younger than he was. Also, I wish we wouldn't have to wait until ~30% before the first flashback, because before we find out WHY Ian is mad at Jessen, it is hard to sympathize. Additionally, I felt Ian was quick to forgive and forget, which to me doesn't correlate with the level of anger he has in the beginning. The ending felt a little rushed.
Advanced Readers Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
Advanced Readers Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
breadedbookpages's review
4.0
kcsunshine25's review
5.0
That feeling when you read an anthology and find a diamond. I found my diamond in the Mix Tape anthology.
And now I have Ian and Jesson in my heart.
I just made a huge mistake! Something I rarely do. I read the other reviews. Oh my oh my oh my!
I loved this book because I love falling in love. I want to feel the love. Share the love. Be involved in the love. I could not give a flying fuck if it is insta love or 7 years in the making.
Ian and Jessen made my heart sing. It is a lovely story of love.
And now I have Ian and Jesson in my heart.
I just made a huge mistake! Something I rarely do. I read the other reviews. Oh my oh my oh my!
I loved this book because I love falling in love. I want to feel the love. Share the love. Be involved in the love. I could not give a flying fuck if it is insta love or 7 years in the making.
Ian and Jessen made my heart sing. It is a lovely story of love.
elliottjunkyard's review
2.0
I was really enjoying this book until about 90% in. The angst was spot on, the UST was great, the writing is good! And then the last chapter not only switches from Ian's POV to Jess's, it switches from third person to first. What?
Spoiler
After Jess said he wanted to Ian back, I was sold. I totally believed him. But then it was like the author just said, eh that's good enough and wanted to write a sex scene instead. All it needed was like two chapters of Jess "earning" Ian back and I would have loved it. But now I just feel cheated.ladydewinter's review
2.0
Ian is a young professor at the University of Philadelphia whose life is interrupted by the reappearance of the man who broke his heart seven years ago - Jessen, brother to a famour rockstar and a successful musician in his own right.
This may have had potential, but didn't work for me for several reasons.
First of of all, novella or not, it was too short and felt more like an excerpt of a book than the book itself. That may explain my second issue with it, which was the way the flashbacks were woven in - actually, pasted in is more like it because it didn't come across as if much thought had been put into it.
The characters also could've used some more work, especially Ian - considering the story is told from his POV I couldn't really get a grip on him. Jessen was slightly better, but the descriptions of him were bordering on ridiculous and made me roll my eyes. It would have been nice to get to known them more and being shown them rather than told about them - flashbacks tend to add to the "I am being told rather than shown" feeling to me unless done very well, and unfortunately they weren't done that well.
I also didn't care for the random Norwegian thrown in; that the translation was at the end of each chapter didn't make them any less annoying. It's too bad, because otherwise I mostly enjoyed the way the sentences flowed - it was the bigger structure that I had problems with, not the style of writing.
The thing that annoyed me the most was the POV switch just for the last chapter. I love alternating POVs, but they have to be done right. If it's just for one chapter it feels like a cop out to me, like the author couldn't deal with their chosen structure of the story.
Overall, it felt too hastily written. If redone and fleshed out and structured better this could turn into a good and interesting story, but as it is I can't really recommend it.
A free copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
This may have had potential, but didn't work for me for several reasons.
First of of all, novella or not, it was too short and felt more like an excerpt of a book than the book itself. That may explain my second issue with it, which was the way the flashbacks were woven in - actually, pasted in is more like it because it didn't come across as if much thought had been put into it.
The characters also could've used some more work, especially Ian - considering the story is told from his POV I couldn't really get a grip on him. Jessen was slightly better, but the descriptions of him were bordering on ridiculous and made me roll my eyes. It would have been nice to get to known them more and being shown them rather than told about them - flashbacks tend to add to the "I am being told rather than shown" feeling to me unless done very well, and unfortunately they weren't done that well.
I also didn't care for the random Norwegian thrown in; that the translation was at the end of each chapter didn't make them any less annoying. It's too bad, because otherwise I mostly enjoyed the way the sentences flowed - it was the bigger structure that I had problems with, not the style of writing.
The thing that annoyed me the most was the POV switch just for the last chapter. I love alternating POVs, but they have to be done right. If it's just for one chapter it feels like a cop out to me, like the author couldn't deal with their chosen structure of the story.
Overall, it felt too hastily written. If redone and fleshed out and structured better this could turn into a good and interesting story, but as it is I can't really recommend it.
A free copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
atheresa's review
1.0
Very shallow. A lot of telling but no background or substance to support it. The MCs' physical attraction was OTT. Ian was a doormat. Jessen was slimy. DNF.
anitalouise's review
5.0
Quirky, real, emotional second chance romance between Ian and Jessen. Told from Ian's perspective until the very end. Ian and Jessen meet when Ian is a postgrad. Their brief relationship is hot and heavy with both gobsmacked by the intensity of their feelings for each other. Until Jessen messes up. Seven years later... loved they switch in POV until the very end. You could feel their love. There is a book 2. Can't wait.
More...