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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh, my heart. There are a fair amount of people who have told me that M/M romances tend to be mostly about sex. I know for a fact that isn't true, and my latest bit of evidence is none other than Marley Valentine's Without You. This was, hands down, one of the most heartrending yet soul-healing novels I've ever had the privilege of reading. Julian's life after the loss of Rhett had him in limbo, while Deacon's own relationship with his family, particularly with his mother, had him in his own purgatory. The main thing that tied Deacon and Julian together was their love for Rhett, but I appreciated that the author didn't use that is the impetus for these two to forge a friendship. If anything, there was an organic feeling to the growth and evolution of their relationship, and I loved having this front-row seat to them creating their own bit of history together. Aside from being a romance, this book was also about family--both the one we're born into and the one we create for ourselves. I won't suggest you add Without You to your to-be-read list ASAP; rather, I seriously recommend you read it NOW. This gets five-plus stars. ♥
Deacon & Julian
Spice = 4
Family Death, Sibling death, Julian(dead) Brothers boyfriend, Deacon - mechanic, MM, Grief, Deacon & his mom have a bad relationship. She treats him like crap and expects the bad from him. He moved from his family to try to get his own life so he could feel needed/wanted. Deacon becomes obsessed with Julian. They kiss & Deacon takes it way better than Julian. He immediately feels guilty. 1st kiss was 🥵 It’s hot when they get bossy with each other 🥵 Mine. The way deacon accepts loving Julian is so magical. He’s never been with a man & he says he doesn’t want men but he wants Julian ❤️ When they tell his parents, his mom slaps him & tells him that Julian belongs to his brother & Deacon can’t have him. Heartbroken 😭 Flash forward 4 years - Julian gets his teaching degree & graduates. Deacon proposes to him at his graduation 🥰 Forbidden
Spice = 4
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
average - enjoyable. Wish there was more angst.
Dead sibling's partner is such a hard story to get into and make it feel natural but I think it happened here. The two of them were absolutely not into each other when Rhett was alive which helped.
Julian has been in a rut since his high school sweetheart Rhett died. The monotony of his days is comforting to him because nothing there will wreck him. Deacon is Rhett's brother and is going through it. His mother is a nightmare and clearly preferred the brother that died. Slowly they gravitate to each other and start to live again. It was lovely.
Julian has been in a rut since his high school sweetheart Rhett died. The monotony of his days is comforting to him because nothing there will wreck him. Deacon is Rhett's brother and is going through it. His mother is a nightmare and clearly preferred the brother that died. Slowly they gravitate to each other and start to live again. It was lovely.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes