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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Updating my star rating made me realise I never added my actual review.
TW: Death of a loved one (of mine mentioned)
This book broke me in the best way. It hurt so good. I read it because I was looking to be wrecked. I was wrecked.
I was also put back together.
This story was an emotional one for me. It deals with grief and it hits you hard. “It’s not easy remembering, and it’s impossible to forget.”
This line. Killed me.
My father abruptly and unexpectedly passed away in a freak accident when I was sixteen. I’ve never heard it so simply, yet so accurately described.
“The understanding that we share a break that can never be fixed, a void that can never be filled; a life that is now irrevocably different.” Losing a loved one is a club. One no one wants to be in. But it’s also one you don’t understand until you’re in it. This line is the comfort I find in my friends/loved ones who have also lost parents. The comfort I find in people I don’t really know, but know they have lost a parent. It’s a shitty club to be in, but there is that understanding. There’s something you share that no one else shares fully unless they’re in it too.
Besides the grief resonating with me this was a beautiful story of two souls finding each other through their pain. Healing themselves and each other. Enemies to lovers in a way. Grumpy x Sunshine in a way. Not really, sunshine since they’re both filled with grief, but grumpy x friendly, maybe is better.
Both Deacon and Julian broke my heart in different ways. Julian was broken, having lost his boyfriend and best friend. He was a shell, just existing. Deacon was “the strong one” the one who was often pushed to the side and forgotten. He wasn’t loved like Rhett (the brother that died) was. He didn’t know what being loved like that was like. Julian shows him this. It’s heart wrenching and beautiful. Deacon allowed people around him to use him as a punching bag and broke my heart. I wanted to hug the poor man.
The spice in this book also. Deacon has a bi-awakening or just a Julian-awakening, but it was perfect. I read a lot of filth, like a lot of it. This book has some of the absolutely most steamy spice while most of it being non-penetrative sex. I was so hot and bothered by some of the scenes in this book and some of them, pants didn’t even come off!
Lastly: “You don’t have to move on to move forward, Julian.” I think a lot of people feel like “moving forward” is forgetting your loved one, or disrespectful to them. It’s not. It’s life. Life keeps going. Life doesn’t stop. Eventually you have to keep going with it, but you’re not doing so at the expense of forgetting them or moving on from them. You’re moving through, moving forward. You never truly move on. Loss changes you, forever.
Overall, JUST READ THIS BOOK.
TW: Death of a loved one (of mine mentioned)
This book broke me in the best way. It hurt so good. I read it because I was looking to be wrecked. I was wrecked.
I was also put back together.
This story was an emotional one for me. It deals with grief and it hits you hard. “It’s not easy remembering, and it’s impossible to forget.”
This line. Killed me.
My father abruptly and unexpectedly passed away in a freak accident when I was sixteen. I’ve never heard it so simply, yet so accurately described.
“The understanding that we share a break that can never be fixed, a void that can never be filled; a life that is now irrevocably different.” Losing a loved one is a club. One no one wants to be in. But it’s also one you don’t understand until you’re in it. This line is the comfort I find in my friends/loved ones who have also lost parents. The comfort I find in people I don’t really know, but know they have lost a parent. It’s a shitty club to be in, but there is that understanding. There’s something you share that no one else shares fully unless they’re in it too.
Besides the grief resonating with me this was a beautiful story of two souls finding each other through their pain. Healing themselves and each other. Enemies to lovers in a way. Grumpy x Sunshine in a way. Not really, sunshine since they’re both filled with grief, but grumpy x friendly, maybe is better.
Both Deacon and Julian broke my heart in different ways. Julian was broken, having lost his boyfriend and best friend. He was a shell, just existing. Deacon was “the strong one” the one who was often pushed to the side and forgotten. He wasn’t loved like Rhett (the brother that died) was. He didn’t know what being loved like that was like. Julian shows him this. It’s heart wrenching and beautiful. Deacon allowed people around him to use him as a punching bag and broke my heart. I wanted to hug the poor man.
The spice in this book also. Deacon has a bi-awakening or just a Julian-awakening, but it was perfect. I read a lot of filth, like a lot of it. This book has some of the absolutely most steamy spice while most of it being non-penetrative sex. I was so hot and bothered by some of the scenes in this book and some of them, pants didn’t even come off!
Lastly: “You don’t have to move on to move forward, Julian.” I think a lot of people feel like “moving forward” is forgetting your loved one, or disrespectful to them. It’s not. It’s life. Life keeps going. Life doesn’t stop. Eventually you have to keep going with it, but you’re not doing so at the expense of forgetting them or moving on from them. You’re moving through, moving forward. You never truly move on. Loss changes you, forever.
Overall, JUST READ THIS BOOK.
5✨
This was actually less angsty than I thought. Elaine is still the worst and that last chapter had me SOBBING like I knew it would.
I still wish I knew what the other letters said tho
This was actually less angsty than I thought. Elaine is still the worst and that last chapter had me SOBBING like I knew it would.
I still wish I knew what the other letters said tho
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this
I loved this book so much it’s so different than your normal brothers best friend books and the growth and love between the couple is gorgeous
I loved this book so much it’s so different than your normal brothers best friend books and the growth and love between the couple is gorgeous
THIS.BOOK!
It always feels like such a rarity to find a book that's just simply, a love story. I mean don't get me wrong, there was steam but this was just purely a love story.
It is literally one of my favorite books. Period.
My heart broke, I laughed at the wit, I experienced the pain that both Jullian and Deacon felt cause it just opens you up and beats your raw. This book was E V E R Y T H I N G! I couldn't put it down like...please read this. Don't read it to add It to the list. Read it for the love that's melting off the page. Read it so it can break your heart and put you back together again.
10 out of 10, HIGHLY recommend.
It always feels like such a rarity to find a book that's just simply, a love story. I mean don't get me wrong, there was steam but this was just purely a love story.
It is literally one of my favorite books. Period.
My heart broke, I laughed at the wit, I experienced the pain that both Jullian and Deacon felt cause it just opens you up and beats your raw. This book was E V E R Y T H I N G! I couldn't put it down like...please read this. Don't read it to add It to the list. Read it for the love that's melting off the page. Read it so it can break your heart and put you back together again.
10 out of 10, HIGHLY recommend.
Amazing!!
Omg I read this today and I LOVED IT. There’s just something about MM romance that hits different and this book was just amazing. I loved the story and the characters.. Deacon & Julian were
Omg I read this today and I LOVED IT. There’s just something about MM romance that hits different and this book was just amazing. I loved the story and the characters.. Deacon & Julian were
Right in the feels
Grief and loss, awakenings, acceptance, and beautiful love are the perfect words to describe this book. Deacon and Julian’s healing is a sight to see. The spice was on the lighter side, but the intimacy is sky high. Enjoyed this
Grief and loss, awakenings, acceptance, and beautiful love are the perfect words to describe this book. Deacon and Julian’s healing is a sight to see. The spice was on the lighter side, but the intimacy is sky high. Enjoyed this
I will forever and always continue to read MM romances. I swear they just hit a completely different romantic bone in my body that gets me every single time! This was no exception.
⠀
Starting out as a heartbreaking and devastating story about love and loss, Deacon must deal with the death of his younger brother, while also finding a way to control his growing feelings for his brother’s best friend. His brother’s boyfriend. His dead brother’s boyfriend.
⠀
This book broke my heart, healed it, made me believe in the power of love healing all wounds and solidified my sappy obsession with all things MM. I love a forbidden slow burn romance. Without You was sexy and sweet, steamy and romantic as hell. I can’t wait to read more by Marley Valentine!
⠀
Starting out as a heartbreaking and devastating story about love and loss, Deacon must deal with the death of his younger brother, while also finding a way to control his growing feelings for his brother’s best friend. His brother’s boyfriend. His dead brother’s boyfriend.
⠀
This book broke my heart, healed it, made me believe in the power of love healing all wounds and solidified my sappy obsession with all things MM. I love a forbidden slow burn romance. Without You was sexy and sweet, steamy and romantic as hell. I can’t wait to read more by Marley Valentine!