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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
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:
Yes
Oh this one was EMOTIONAL!
<i>"Sometimes I wonder if death really is the worst thing, because being alive and feeling so empty and hollow seems to be much worse."</i>
Deacon was incredibly emotionally constipated but who can blame him? His mother was really hard work and we learn as we read that her grief is not the actual reason for her behaving so badly, she has been like that Deacon's entire existence. It's so bad that she even treats Julian as more of a son then she does Deacon. It makes total sense to me why Deacon was so angry and jealous of Julian!
Deacon working through all his feelings and Julian beginning to live again after they lose Rhett was utterly bittersweet. There were lots of ups and downs for them both emotionally and there were times I wasn't sure why either one behaved the way they did but then again grief often doesn't make sense and it felt like they needed to go through all the feelings to get their HEA!
Turns out they were both teddy bears and once the communication started they became A+ communicators and so protective of each other. It was adorable!
<i>“You’re the beat of my heart, the blood in my veins, the strength in my bones. None of me works without you. And if you need me to tell you every fucking day for the rest of our lives, then I will, because you are more than enough. You’re everything.”</i>
<i>"Sometimes I wonder if death really is the worst thing, because being alive and feeling so empty and hollow seems to be much worse."</i>
Deacon was incredibly emotionally constipated but who can blame him? His mother was really hard work and we learn as we read that her grief is not the actual reason for her behaving so badly, she has been like that Deacon's entire existence. It's so bad that she even treats Julian as more of a son then she does Deacon. It makes total sense to me why Deacon was so angry and jealous of Julian!
Deacon working through all his feelings and Julian beginning to live again after they lose Rhett was utterly bittersweet. There were lots of ups and downs for them both emotionally and there were times I wasn't sure why either one behaved the way they did but then again grief often doesn't make sense and it felt like they needed to go through all the feelings to get their HEA!
Turns out they were both teddy bears and once the communication started they became A+ communicators and so protective of each other. It was adorable!
<i>“You’re the beat of my heart, the blood in my veins, the strength in my bones. None of me works without you. And if you need me to tell you every fucking day for the rest of our lives, then I will, because you are more than enough. You’re everything.”</i>
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The author nailed it with what grief feels like. The back and forth. The wishing you could move forward while feeling guilty for ever feeling like that. 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Grief
Thoughts while reading:
-I still don’t understand why Deacon went home early just as he’s getting closer to Julian
-I was curious if Julien told Elaine and Bill he was going to Seattle and what their reaction would be. They’d have to know or figure it out since Bill goes to Julian’s bar once a week.
-Wade is a really good friend
-I think Julian could really benefit from therapy
So beautiful and well written! I loved it!
Read on kindle
-I still don’t understand why Deacon went home early just as he’s getting closer to Julian
-I was curious if Julien told Elaine and Bill he was going to Seattle and what their reaction would be. They’d have to know or figure it out since Bill goes to Julian’s bar once a week.
-Wade is a really good friend
-I think Julian could really benefit from therapy
So beautiful and well written! I loved it!
Read on kindle
I didn’t know what to expect-I listened to this book because of Teddy Hamilton. First book by this author but it definitely won’t be the last.
I love the brother’s best friend trope. In this case the brother’s best friend was also the brother’s boyfriend, and the brother has died. The surviving brother (who is straight) and the boyfriend aren’t friends-they don’t even get along. The brother is jealous of the boyfriend, of the atttention he still gets from his family.
They have a couple of encounters where the brother looks at the boyfriend a little more closely, and things start to shift. If there’s a hole in the plot it’s how little the brother questions his feelings given everything, but it’s written in a way that I didn’t even care. The journey was happening and I was there for the ups and downs in their emotions and family dynamics. Not everything is tied up neatly in a bow at the end but there’s enough, combined with the HEA, to be satisfying.
I love the brother’s best friend trope. In this case the brother’s best friend was also the brother’s boyfriend, and the brother has died. The surviving brother (who is straight) and the boyfriend aren’t friends-they don’t even get along. The brother is jealous of the boyfriend, of the atttention he still gets from his family.
They have a couple of encounters where the brother looks at the boyfriend a little more closely, and things start to shift. If there’s a hole in the plot it’s how little the brother questions his feelings given everything, but it’s written in a way that I didn’t even care. The journey was happening and I was there for the ups and downs in their emotions and family dynamics. Not everything is tied up neatly in a bow at the end but there’s enough, combined with the HEA, to be satisfying.
This was a beautiful story expertly written. I'd been wanting to find a story about a character getting involved with a deceased sibling's significant other. This was perfect. The characters were realistic, the slow burn of their attraction was believable, the tension was palpable. Very believable GFY. Just excellent storytelling, I will for sure read more Marley Valentine.
Another thing I liked was how the family drama was realistic and though it was addressed, it was never perfectly resolved. It was more representative of reality than family drama that suddenly fixes itself and wraps nearly into the main characters' HEA.
Fantastic. Highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys contemporary MM romance.
Another thing I liked was how the family drama was realistic and though it was addressed, it was never perfectly resolved. It was more representative of reality than family drama that suddenly fixes itself and wraps nearly into the main characters' HEA.
Fantastic. Highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys contemporary MM romance.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first Marley Valentine, and I’m still willing to try out more of her work. I just wasn’t sold on the romance here. I felt there wasn’t enough to justify the attraction between the two MCs. I can’t even say they were really that remarkable either. I liked Julian’s characterization. I felt Deacon was a little flat. Despite not sold on the premise, I completed the book, and I had to force myself to just accept things. I did enjoy the epilogue. In regard to burying Rhett’s letters, I understand… a little bit. As the reader, I’m so torn because I would have loved to see what he wanted to say to Julian.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
They were so good together. But man, Deacon's relationship with his mom was rough. When Julien said "I won't let you ruin him" that was the best book moment I've had in ages. And I loved the ending. The decision of who was in their family was valid and I'm so glad it went the way it did. Forgiveness doesn't always mean allowing the person back in. So good.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A