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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
The Artist & The Musician. Need I Say More?
Okay. We all knew this was going to be some epic swoony romance based on the characters being in the fields they are with that emotional tortured artist stuff, but it was SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT! It’s strangers to lovers, fresh starts, healing, learning to love and accept yourself, growth, super steamy intimate moments, honest conversations, and so much more! I adored this book and I adored the audiobook as well. No one can deliver an emotionally satisfying read for me like Roan Parrish can!
Merged review:
The Artist & The Musician. Need I Say More?
Okay. We all knew this was going to be some epic swoony romance based on the characters being in the fields they are with that emotional tortured artist stuff, but it was SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT! It’s strangers to lovers, fresh starts, healing, learning to love and accept yourself, growth, super steamy intimate moments, honest conversations, and so much more! I adored this book and I adored the audiobook as well. No one can deliver an emotionally satisfying read for me like Roan Parrish can!
Okay. We all knew this was going to be some epic swoony romance based on the characters being in the fields they are with that emotional tortured artist stuff, but it was SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT! It’s strangers to lovers, fresh starts, healing, learning to love and accept yourself, growth, super steamy intimate moments, honest conversations, and so much more! I adored this book and I adored the audiobook as well. No one can deliver an emotionally satisfying read for me like Roan Parrish can!
Merged review:
The Artist & The Musician. Need I Say More?
Okay. We all knew this was going to be some epic swoony romance based on the characters being in the fields they are with that emotional tortured artist stuff, but it was SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT! It’s strangers to lovers, fresh starts, healing, learning to love and accept yourself, growth, super steamy intimate moments, honest conversations, and so much more! I adored this book and I adored the audiobook as well. No one can deliver an emotionally satisfying read for me like Roan Parrish can!
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
Ohh my goodness! Roan Parrish knows how to write complex characters that make me have allllll the feels! We got to meet Jude a little bit in Christopher's story, ADD LINK. And just from the bit that I got about him in Small Change I knew this was going to be an awesome book!
Jude is a pianist and was performing in the Boston orchestra until he ended up in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Jude has suffered with anxiety and depression since he was a teen and feels as though he ruins everything for everyone. This story picks up when he is back home with his family in Pittsburg trying to make some positive changes in his life. He meets Faron at Ginger's tattoo shop and the two form a friendship that leads to much more.
The connection between Faron and Jude is so real and so sweet. It made me so happy to see Jude feel safe and loved. This story is much more angsty than Small Change and was completely beautiful. I loved Faron and how he took care of Jude in ways that were subtle and meaningful and that Jude could also be there for Faron.
This is a really sweet and beautiful story. I found myself highlighting so many quotes because there was just so much sweetness and beauty in this story. Due to the topics it covers, I don't think it will be for everybody, but if you liked Small Change then I highly recommend this one.
My ARC copy of the book was provided in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
For more of my reviews:
* Main Blog: Fern's Book Blog
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I had a crush on Faron. A cringeworth, blush-inducing, heart-hammering crush on a man so glorious that I likely looked like a wisp of tatty shadow beside him. God Knew I hid away like one.
Jude is a pianist and was performing in the Boston orchestra until he ended up in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Jude has suffered with anxiety and depression since he was a teen and feels as though he ruins everything for everyone. This story picks up when he is back home with his family in Pittsburg trying to make some positive changes in his life. He meets Faron at Ginger's tattoo shop and the two form a friendship that leads to much more.
"I want you because something inside you vibrates just so with something inside me."
The connection between Faron and Jude is so real and so sweet. It made me so happy to see Jude feel safe and loved. This story is much more angsty than Small Change and was completely beautiful. I loved Faron and how he took care of Jude in ways that were subtle and meaningful and that Jude could also be there for Faron.
This is a really sweet and beautiful story. I found myself highlighting so many quotes because there was just so much sweetness and beauty in this story. Due to the topics it covers, I don't think it will be for everybody, but if you liked Small Change then I highly recommend this one.
My ARC copy of the book was provided in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
For more of my reviews:
* Main Blog: Fern's Book Blog
emotional
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
well written, well portrayed. a bit more depressing than I was hoping for. the depictions of depression are well done and kind if impacted me. the characters feel well developed. the braiding/hair playing is a bit on-the-nose.
Review from 2019
I've given this an A+ for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals, so I suppose that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
I suppose it was a given that a book written by Roan Parrish and narrated by Greg Boudreaux was going to hit me squarely in the feels; the author’s beautiful, lyrical writing combined with the narrator’s ability to zero in on and convey every single bit of emotion in that writing is a match made in audiobook heaven. Invitation to the Blues is a gentle and moving love story featuring a musician living with depression and the artist whose love and understanding makes a huge difference in his life. It’s the second book in the author’s Small Change series, but although characters from the first book appear in this one, Invitation to the Blues works perfectly well as a standalone.
Following a suicide attempt, Jude Lucens simply up and left his manipulative boyfriend and his life as a successful musician in Boston to return to his home town in Philadelphia, feeling like a complete failure and unsure what happens next. He’s moved into his brother’s apartment (Chris has moved in with his girlfriend, Ginger – their story can be found in the previous book, Small Change) and has taken a job for which he’s extremely ill-suited at the coffee shop Chris owns. Knowing things aren’t going well, Jude needs to find other work, but the question is what? Music and playing the piano are his life and all he really knows how to do, so he decides to see if he can find work as a piano teacher. It’s not ideal, but it will pay the bills. Chris suggests he should make some leaflets advertising his services and then sends him to ask Ginger if he can put one up in her tattoo parlour; but on seeing his… graphically challenged effort, Ginger immediately calls on tattoo artist Faron Locklear for help. Jude has had a crush on Faron for a while and watches, transfixed as Faron comes up with an eye-catching design far better than anything Jude could have come up with in a million years. And although he knows he shouldn’t, he can’t help agreeing to meet Faron the next day when the other man offers to help him to take the flyers around town.
It’s clear right away that Faron is every bit as smitten with Jude as Jude is with him, although Jude has no idea. Gradually, however, the two men start spending more time together and getting to know each other – and their mutual attraction begins to build and strengthen into a deep connection. Jude is resistant at first, believing that “desire is the beginning of disappointment”, and that his depression is responsible for the failure of his past relationships because of the burden it places on anyone who loves him. But whatever it is Jude has with Faron is like nothing else he’s had with anyone else; Faron understands Jude even when he can’t find the words to express how he’s feeling, and helps him feel calm, even when his anxieties threaten to overwhelm him.
Both Jude and Faron are complex, three-dimensional characters, their relationship is beautifully developed, and the book addresses the issue of race – Jude is white, Faron is black – in a subtle but insightful way. Faron is thoughtful, confident and talented, but his self-assuredness hides vulnerabilities surrounding his relationships with his family, especially his twin brother, whom he hasn’t seen for a number of years. My heart ached for Jude as I listened to his good days and bad days, to his frustration at not being able to do what he loved and his guilt over being (as he thought) such a burden to his loved ones. Roan Parrish does an amazing job of getting inside Jude’s head and it seemed to me that his depression and issues surrounding it were presented very realistically. The story is told from Jude’s PoV throughout, and while some of the things he says are completely heartbreaking:
“Tears pricked my eyes. It had been so damned long since anyone had held me, just held me, with nothing else at stake.”
– the story is never depressing or bogged down in misery and angst.
Jude and Faron have a lot in common in the way they think and talk about their passion for art and music and I loved listening to them falling for each other – especially as Jude finally starts to allow himself to hope and to let go of some of the guilt that’s been crushing him. I appreciated that Jude’s problems aren’t magically cured by love; by the end of the book he’s better than he was, but there’s an acknowledgement that this is something he’s going to live with and will have to manage for the rest of his life. Yet there’s the sense that, with Faron’s support and understanding, and his own determination to move forward, Jude is going to be okay; there’s a lovely moment near the end when Jude finally realises that he’s strong enough to offer support to Faron at a difficult time which is such a breakthrough for him that my heart did a happy dance.
Sometimes life is about the small victories.
Greg Boudreaux was the perfect narrator for this audiobook. There are very few performers who can match him when it comes to finding the emotional heart of a story like this one, and who can then convey that to the listener in a way that is so realistic, and above all, true. His portrayal of Jude is simply masterful, conveying every facet of his character from his wry humour and his longing to be really known to his deep-seated insecurities and guilt. The deeper tones and considered delivery used to depict Faron work extremely well to show him as the perceptive, compassionate and loving man he is. All the secondary characters are given distinct vocal personas and I especially loved Mr. Boudreaux’s interpretation of the forthright, no-nonsense Ginger, who is a real force of nature.
If it doesn’t sound odd to use the word “enjoyed” when talking about a book that deals with depression, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook, and can recommend it wholeheartedly. The characters are really well developed as are the various relationships between them, and Roan Parrish’s writing is filled with warmth, humour and incredible insight. Add in Greg Boudreaux’s wonderful performance and you’ve got a compelling listen that will make you laugh, cry and just about everything in between. Invitation to the Blues isn’t always an easy listen, but it’s an extremely moving one that more than rewards the listener for the time spent with it.
I've given this an A+ for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals, so I suppose that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
I suppose it was a given that a book written by Roan Parrish and narrated by Greg Boudreaux was going to hit me squarely in the feels; the author’s beautiful, lyrical writing combined with the narrator’s ability to zero in on and convey every single bit of emotion in that writing is a match made in audiobook heaven. Invitation to the Blues is a gentle and moving love story featuring a musician living with depression and the artist whose love and understanding makes a huge difference in his life. It’s the second book in the author’s Small Change series, but although characters from the first book appear in this one, Invitation to the Blues works perfectly well as a standalone.
Following a suicide attempt, Jude Lucens simply up and left his manipulative boyfriend and his life as a successful musician in Boston to return to his home town in Philadelphia, feeling like a complete failure and unsure what happens next. He’s moved into his brother’s apartment (Chris has moved in with his girlfriend, Ginger – their story can be found in the previous book, Small Change) and has taken a job for which he’s extremely ill-suited at the coffee shop Chris owns. Knowing things aren’t going well, Jude needs to find other work, but the question is what? Music and playing the piano are his life and all he really knows how to do, so he decides to see if he can find work as a piano teacher. It’s not ideal, but it will pay the bills. Chris suggests he should make some leaflets advertising his services and then sends him to ask Ginger if he can put one up in her tattoo parlour; but on seeing his… graphically challenged effort, Ginger immediately calls on tattoo artist Faron Locklear for help. Jude has had a crush on Faron for a while and watches, transfixed as Faron comes up with an eye-catching design far better than anything Jude could have come up with in a million years. And although he knows he shouldn’t, he can’t help agreeing to meet Faron the next day when the other man offers to help him to take the flyers around town.
It’s clear right away that Faron is every bit as smitten with Jude as Jude is with him, although Jude has no idea. Gradually, however, the two men start spending more time together and getting to know each other – and their mutual attraction begins to build and strengthen into a deep connection. Jude is resistant at first, believing that “desire is the beginning of disappointment”, and that his depression is responsible for the failure of his past relationships because of the burden it places on anyone who loves him. But whatever it is Jude has with Faron is like nothing else he’s had with anyone else; Faron understands Jude even when he can’t find the words to express how he’s feeling, and helps him feel calm, even when his anxieties threaten to overwhelm him.
Both Jude and Faron are complex, three-dimensional characters, their relationship is beautifully developed, and the book addresses the issue of race – Jude is white, Faron is black – in a subtle but insightful way. Faron is thoughtful, confident and talented, but his self-assuredness hides vulnerabilities surrounding his relationships with his family, especially his twin brother, whom he hasn’t seen for a number of years. My heart ached for Jude as I listened to his good days and bad days, to his frustration at not being able to do what he loved and his guilt over being (as he thought) such a burden to his loved ones. Roan Parrish does an amazing job of getting inside Jude’s head and it seemed to me that his depression and issues surrounding it were presented very realistically. The story is told from Jude’s PoV throughout, and while some of the things he says are completely heartbreaking:
“Tears pricked my eyes. It had been so damned long since anyone had held me, just held me, with nothing else at stake.”
– the story is never depressing or bogged down in misery and angst.
Jude and Faron have a lot in common in the way they think and talk about their passion for art and music and I loved listening to them falling for each other – especially as Jude finally starts to allow himself to hope and to let go of some of the guilt that’s been crushing him. I appreciated that Jude’s problems aren’t magically cured by love; by the end of the book he’s better than he was, but there’s an acknowledgement that this is something he’s going to live with and will have to manage for the rest of his life. Yet there’s the sense that, with Faron’s support and understanding, and his own determination to move forward, Jude is going to be okay; there’s a lovely moment near the end when Jude finally realises that he’s strong enough to offer support to Faron at a difficult time which is such a breakthrough for him that my heart did a happy dance.
Sometimes life is about the small victories.
Greg Boudreaux was the perfect narrator for this audiobook. There are very few performers who can match him when it comes to finding the emotional heart of a story like this one, and who can then convey that to the listener in a way that is so realistic, and above all, true. His portrayal of Jude is simply masterful, conveying every facet of his character from his wry humour and his longing to be really known to his deep-seated insecurities and guilt. The deeper tones and considered delivery used to depict Faron work extremely well to show him as the perceptive, compassionate and loving man he is. All the secondary characters are given distinct vocal personas and I especially loved Mr. Boudreaux’s interpretation of the forthright, no-nonsense Ginger, who is a real force of nature.
If it doesn’t sound odd to use the word “enjoyed” when talking about a book that deals with depression, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook, and can recommend it wholeheartedly. The characters are really well developed as are the various relationships between them, and Roan Parrish’s writing is filled with warmth, humour and incredible insight. Add in Greg Boudreaux’s wonderful performance and you’ve got a compelling listen that will make you laugh, cry and just about everything in between. Invitation to the Blues isn’t always an easy listen, but it’s an extremely moving one that more than rewards the listener for the time spent with it.
I was slow to start this one because I wasn't sure if it would be a downer due to the subject matter but after reading Book 1, I was very curious about the main characters. I'm glad my curiosity won out. I enjoyed the story and could really feel and understand the world from Jude's perspective.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
If I had read this book a month ago, I probably would have rated it higher, but right now, I'm so sick of those books. Nothing happens, it's simply 300 pages of nothingness. Jude's self-loathing was rather good, and the relationship was cute, but that's all there is to it. Moreover, I'm so sick of sex that I skipped every smut scene. Where is depth, where is emotion? I haven't read a single good book in the dozens of books I have tried these last few days. A waste of time.
This was such a beautiful, emotional love story, and I'm shocked that I had never run across/heard of it before. I just happened to find the audiobook on my local library's website and snagged it...I'm so glad I did!
The author has an amazingly balanced way of writing descriptive and atmospheric -- it was there, but not overly so to the point of being flowery and bogging the reader down. Kudos!
Jude is a man who is rebuilding his life after trying to commit suicide. He abruptly leaves his job as a pianist, his gaslighting (and low-key abusive) partner, and the home he had made in Boston. He struggles greatly with his self-esteem, which fuels his depression and anxiety issues. When he meets Faron, a model-esque artist, he feels he isn't worthy of Faron's attention...but luckily, Faron learns how to deal with Jude, and helps him deal with some of his more dramatic mental health issues.
The author has an amazingly balanced way of writing descriptive and atmospheric -- it was there, but not overly so to the point of being flowery and bogging the reader down. Kudos!
Jude is a man who is rebuilding his life after trying to commit suicide. He abruptly leaves his job as a pianist, his gaslighting (and low-key abusive) partner, and the home he had made in Boston. He struggles greatly with his self-esteem, which fuels his depression and anxiety issues. When he meets Faron, a model-esque artist, he feels he isn't worthy of Faron's attention...but luckily, Faron learns how to deal with Jude, and helps him deal with some of his more dramatic mental health issues.