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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
4.5
I was a bit wary going into this story because a lot of things were happening that had nothing to do with the book but I was afraid it was going to affect my enjoyment of the book.
I shouldn't have worry because if there's one thing Roan knows how to do is write stories that steal your heart and make you invest all your feelings in them. This was completely the case with Invitation to the blues for me.
The narrative was beautiful as usual, the way Roan makes you see their characters in the world is so well done, you feel like you are there with the characters.
Both characters were magnificent and I loved reading about Jude's struggles, I feel like the author did an amazing job portraying depression and anxiety. Faron was such a lovelt characters I swear he brought the tears to my eyes because he is such beautiful soul.
I lvoe reading the connection between the main characters and see their relationship develop, I didn't wanted this book to end because I was just so comfortable with this couple. I know need to get me someone that braids my hair T_T
This can perfectly be read as a standalone, I read that way. I would advise for people to at least read In The Middle of Somehwere though that way you get more of an idea of how everything started.
I was a bit wary going into this story because a lot of things were happening that had nothing to do with the book but I was afraid it was going to affect my enjoyment of the book.
I shouldn't have worry because if there's one thing Roan knows how to do is write stories that steal your heart and make you invest all your feelings in them. This was completely the case with Invitation to the blues for me.
The narrative was beautiful as usual, the way Roan makes you see their characters in the world is so well done, you feel like you are there with the characters.
Both characters were magnificent and I loved reading about Jude's struggles, I feel like the author did an amazing job portraying depression and anxiety. Faron was such a lovelt characters I swear he brought the tears to my eyes because he is such beautiful soul.
I lvoe reading the connection between the main characters and see their relationship develop, I didn't wanted this book to end because I was just so comfortable with this couple. I know need to get me someone that braids my hair T_T
This can perfectly be read as a standalone, I read that way. I would advise for people to at least read In The Middle of Somehwere though that way you get more of an idea of how everything started.
Read the authors warning and make sure you listen or are in good place to read this material. This main character deals with a few depressive episodes and explicitly discusses his anxiety and depression and addresses his suicide attempt.
I felt like this was a little too happy ending, but I’m glad the relationship didn’t “solve” Judes mental health. Overall, it felt genuine. The voices occasionally meshed a bit and Jude sounded a little young closer to 30 than 40.
I felt like this was a little too happy ending, but I’m glad the relationship didn’t “solve” Judes mental health. Overall, it felt genuine. The voices occasionally meshed a bit and Jude sounded a little young closer to 30 than 40.
I don’t even know what to say about this book, truly. Sometimes books are light and fluff - let me be clear, NOTHING wrong with those books - I read a lot of them and love them. But this is not THAT book. This is a book that is both heartbreaking and hopeful, full of raw pain and love and there’s so much in this book that made me feel...well, just feel.
The mental health representation in this book is one of the best I’ve ever read. Professional pianist Jude has depression, months before the start of the book, he had to be hospitalized after attempting suicide. Now back in his hometown, he’s struggling to slowly rebuild his life.
Tattoo artist and painter Faron works at Small Change, the tattoo place owned by Jude’s brother’s girlfriend. He has his own backstory and is the caretaking, nurturing hero we all need in our lives.
There’s a plot point in the book that involves Faron getting Jude this broken down piano and Jude spends much of the book essentially taking apart and fixing and rebuilding the piano and it’s such a beautiful metaphor for how, if you love something that’s so inherently broken and damaged, you try to fix it and even if it’s never perfect, it still has value and use. And so, while Jude carefully works on this piano, Faron’s love is the healing balm Jude needs to sort of get his life back. It’s really the loveliest book.
I cried because somehow I had landed somewhere I wanted to be and I realized perhaps it was the first time I’d wanted to be somewhere. I cried because I finally knew what it felt like to love someone more than I hated myself.
CW for mental health, depression, attempted suicide (off page), emotionally abusive ex.
The mental health representation in this book is one of the best I’ve ever read. Professional pianist Jude has depression, months before the start of the book, he had to be hospitalized after attempting suicide. Now back in his hometown, he’s struggling to slowly rebuild his life.
Tattoo artist and painter Faron works at Small Change, the tattoo place owned by Jude’s brother’s girlfriend. He has his own backstory and is the caretaking, nurturing hero we all need in our lives.
There’s a plot point in the book that involves Faron getting Jude this broken down piano and Jude spends much of the book essentially taking apart and fixing and rebuilding the piano and it’s such a beautiful metaphor for how, if you love something that’s so inherently broken and damaged, you try to fix it and even if it’s never perfect, it still has value and use. And so, while Jude carefully works on this piano, Faron’s love is the healing balm Jude needs to sort of get his life back. It’s really the loveliest book.
I cried because somehow I had landed somewhere I wanted to be and I realized perhaps it was the first time I’d wanted to be somewhere. I cried because I finally knew what it felt like to love someone more than I hated myself.
CW for mental health, depression, attempted suicide (off page), emotionally abusive ex.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Toxic relationship
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
This was one of the best portrayals or depression I've ever seen in fiction!! And it was wonderful to have the hero have this and still find a happy ending that wasn't something along the lines of "and my depression was magically fine and everything worked out perfectly".
I'm in love!
I'm in love!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
I was never really interested in Ginger or her story, so I actually opted to skip Small Change and dive into this one. Seeing as this is told strictly from Jude's POV and Small Change from Ginger's, as opposed to Christopher's, I figured there wouldn't be too much I was missing out on.
The only thing that I would say you miss out on from not reading Small Change is a better physical description of Faron and Jude, which at the halfway mark, I was still having a bit of difficulty in visualizing (seeing as I can't actually visualize things and just end up googling vague descriptions to find a reasonable facsimile)... especially since the model on the cover doesn't match Jude's description at all other than by also being a ginger. So, halfway through, I jumped over to my copy of Small Change and found the parts when Ginger first meets Faron and Jude, and those descriptions gave me a better idea, especially when it came for Faron. So, if you are like me and not keen on Ginger, I think you'd be fine to skip it.
So, yeah, my only complaints about this book is the slightly less descriptive appearance of the MCs than the book in which they are just side characters, and that the guy on the cover doesn't match Jude's description - as if that hair could be braided and where are the freckles that Faron so loves?!!! - which is why I prefer when authors don't have models on their covers. But, I think those are very minor issues to have with a book.
The only thing that I would say you miss out on from not reading Small Change is a better physical description of Faron and Jude, which at the halfway mark, I was still having a bit of difficulty in visualizing (seeing as I can't actually visualize things and just end up googling vague descriptions to find a reasonable facsimile)... especially since the model on the cover doesn't match Jude's description at all other than by also being a ginger. So, halfway through, I jumped over to my copy of Small Change and found the parts when Ginger first meets Faron and Jude, and those descriptions gave me a better idea, especially when it came for Faron. So, if you are like me and not keen on Ginger, I think you'd be fine to skip it.
So, yeah, my only complaints about this book is the slightly less descriptive appearance of the MCs than the book in which they are just side characters, and that the guy on the cover doesn't match Jude's description - as if that hair could be braided and where are the freckles that Faron so loves?!!! - which is why I prefer when authors don't have models on their covers. But, I think those are very minor issues to have with a book.