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hedgehogbookreviews's review against another edition
5.0
You can also find this review on Hedgehog Book Reviews!
4.5/5 stars
I haven’t read a romance in so long. But, man, did I love this. It’s full of EVERYTHING—passion, fluffiness, parts that make you smile so wide your face hurts, and parts that make you put down the book and cry for a quick second. I’m so happy I picked up Idlewild at the Interlude Press booth at BookCon. This is my first ever review of a romance, and I’m so, so excited to write this!
Asher is starting anew. He’s firing his entire staff at his restaurant, Idlewild, and clearing the slate. He and his partner, John, started Idlewild back when they both dreamed of owning a restaurant in Detroit. Now, years after John’s death, Asher wants a crew that never knew his old life. Tyler, a young man with passion-filled eyes, joins his team as a rookie server. From the beginning, Asher is drawn to Tyler in ways that he cannot explain, and the feeling is mutual. Tyler, in an unsteady relationship, yearns to find a place at Idlewild and Asher searches for someone to connect with after John’s death. Perhaps, these two men can find what they’re looking for in each other.
Let’s start with the quotation I highlighted above—
Idlewild brings up the parts of grief that aren’t usually talked about in romance novels that involve love after loss. Asher has long accepted that he’ll never again have what he and John had, but he’s at the point where he can see himself having some sort of relationship with someone new. This realization brings up its own kind of mourning. Asher is torn because finding solace in Tyler can feel like pushing John out of his mind and life. Tyler does an amazing job showing Asher that talking about John instead of bottling his grief up can be very healing and release so much guilt about starting a new relationship. This is something beautiful.
I loved the contrast between Tyler and Asher. Tyler is young, he is not quite sure who he wants to be, and he’s full of light and charisma. Asher has more life experience under his belt, he keeps to himself, and he doesn’t show emotions easily. The two men are very different, but they complete each other in ways that make their relationship function well. It was such a journey to see Asher help Tyler find his place in the world, as well as Tyler help Asher confront his grief. Many scenes with the two of them together were so moving that I actually cried. Yes, this is the first book to make me cry real, physical tears in 2017. Idlewild certainly put me through it.
Well, now I really want to read more romance. But seriously, it was such a pleasure getting to witness Asher and Tyler’s budding relationship. I can’t believe I actually cried, but I’m also not too surprised because there were many emotion-filled scenes. This novel left me feeling very pleased, which I’m grateful for. I’m not one for books that make me uncomfortable, so Idlewild was right up my alley. I’m excited to read the other Interlude Press books that I got at BookCon!
4.5/5 stars
“It’s been more than long enough for Asher to move past the debilitating stages of grief, past the longing and loneliness, past knowing he’d never be able to love someone else that way and past the moment he realized that though he’d never have that again, he could have something.
Somehow, that realization required it’s own grief.”
I haven’t read a romance in so long. But, man, did I love this. It’s full of EVERYTHING—passion, fluffiness, parts that make you smile so wide your face hurts, and parts that make you put down the book and cry for a quick second. I’m so happy I picked up Idlewild at the Interlude Press booth at BookCon. This is my first ever review of a romance, and I’m so, so excited to write this!
Asher is starting anew. He’s firing his entire staff at his restaurant, Idlewild, and clearing the slate. He and his partner, John, started Idlewild back when they both dreamed of owning a restaurant in Detroit. Now, years after John’s death, Asher wants a crew that never knew his old life. Tyler, a young man with passion-filled eyes, joins his team as a rookie server. From the beginning, Asher is drawn to Tyler in ways that he cannot explain, and the feeling is mutual. Tyler, in an unsteady relationship, yearns to find a place at Idlewild and Asher searches for someone to connect with after John’s death. Perhaps, these two men can find what they’re looking for in each other.
Let’s start with the quotation I highlighted above—
Idlewild brings up the parts of grief that aren’t usually talked about in romance novels that involve love after loss. Asher has long accepted that he’ll never again have what he and John had, but he’s at the point where he can see himself having some sort of relationship with someone new. This realization brings up its own kind of mourning. Asher is torn because finding solace in Tyler can feel like pushing John out of his mind and life. Tyler does an amazing job showing Asher that talking about John instead of bottling his grief up can be very healing and release so much guilt about starting a new relationship. This is something beautiful.
I loved the contrast between Tyler and Asher. Tyler is young, he is not quite sure who he wants to be, and he’s full of light and charisma. Asher has more life experience under his belt, he keeps to himself, and he doesn’t show emotions easily. The two men are very different, but they complete each other in ways that make their relationship function well. It was such a journey to see Asher help Tyler find his place in the world, as well as Tyler help Asher confront his grief. Many scenes with the two of them together were so moving that I actually cried. Yes, this is the first book to make me cry real, physical tears in 2017. Idlewild certainly put me through it.
Well, now I really want to read more romance. But seriously, it was such a pleasure getting to witness Asher and Tyler’s budding relationship. I can’t believe I actually cried, but I’m also not too surprised because there were many emotion-filled scenes. This novel left me feeling very pleased, which I’m grateful for. I’m not one for books that make me uncomfortable, so Idlewild was right up my alley. I’m excited to read the other Interlude Press books that I got at BookCon!
pattydsf's review
3.0
Every so often I remember that I can use Hoopla for my ebooks. I know I can’t read everything or all the time, but all my unused credits at Hoopla drive me crazy. I do know that those credits cost my library so when I use them, I want them to be for a good read.
This book fit the bill. I like books about restaurants, chefs, and romance. This ticked all the boxes and I enjoyed every moment. So glad I learned about Ms Sierra.
This book fit the bill. I like books about restaurants, chefs, and romance. This ticked all the boxes and I enjoyed every moment. So glad I learned about Ms Sierra.
tellingetienne's review against another edition
4.0
A very gentle romance, I really loved it. Particularly as someone from Michigan who lived/worked/went to school in Detroit for several years.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Awwww! This was my very first steamy male-male romance and I adored the emotional connection that these two men had. The restaurant storyline was great, and I loved the Detroit setting. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
sarful's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
I found a lot about this book so great. We see Detroit as a culturally thriving city and from the perspectives of two very different men. Tyler is androgynous, young, he’s had plans that have folded as he’d gone through college. He tries to be what he feels people need and sometimes loses himself. Asher is a little older, he’s a widower and he’s trying his hardest to run the restaurant he’d opened with his husband. He hasn’t dealt with his husbands death in a healthy way. But when they meet, they realize they bring a joy to each other’s life, they bring a new perspective on each other’s world and it takes a long time for the two of them to realize they can honestly be themselves with each other.
However, the writing didn’t work for me, like it did for so many others. These two men, vibrant and fascinating, got lost to me, as things felt over explained and began to get a bit boring. I found myself skimming a lot, which is never a good sign. Detroit didn’t feel like a character, felt more like an argument for why we should love it. I was being told everything and I just didn’t feel that love of the city these men inhabited on a gut level. I felt the author’s note had more heart and love than the story itself.
I feel bad, and I wanted to love it. Sorry.
I found a lot about this book so great. We see Detroit as a culturally thriving city and from the perspectives of two very different men. Tyler is androgynous, young, he’s had plans that have folded as he’d gone through college. He tries to be what he feels people need and sometimes loses himself. Asher is a little older, he’s a widower and he’s trying his hardest to run the restaurant he’d opened with his husband. He hasn’t dealt with his husbands death in a healthy way. But when they meet, they realize they bring a joy to each other’s life, they bring a new perspective on each other’s world and it takes a long time for the two of them to realize they can honestly be themselves with each other.
However, the writing didn’t work for me, like it did for so many others. These two men, vibrant and fascinating, got lost to me, as things felt over explained and began to get a bit boring. I found myself skimming a lot, which is never a good sign. Detroit didn’t feel like a character, felt more like an argument for why we should love it. I was being told everything and I just didn’t feel that love of the city these men inhabited on a gut level. I felt the author’s note had more heart and love than the story itself.
I feel bad, and I wanted to love it. Sorry.
agmaynard's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Very well done! Warm and sexy. Asher has largely come out of his constant grief over the loss of his husband. Tyler realizes his relationship with his live-in boyfriend has run its course. Both need to work through some things together as well as apart. A satisfying ending with hope for the future that involves reconnecting with family (for Asher.)
butteredgarbage's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lizzyreads411's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.5
consultantames's review against another edition
4.0
Ok so this is a weird book. I completely adored it up to the first half. Then it seemed to drag and I just wanted it over? But I also acknowledged the decision that the characters needed more time to grow. Still the pacing was a bit off. I'd say a 3.75 but with a plus and remembering it in fondness
thewolvesread's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25