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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Engaging and absorbing read, as all Parrish's books are. Faron was an absolute delight, and my heart ached for Jude through the whole story. It was also nice to see more of the characters from the first Small Change book (and the cameos from the other series).
Mind the content notes/warnings at the start of this one particularly-there's some heavy themes in this one. (And as ever, much appreciation to authors who label/trigger warn/content note their work. <3)
Mind the content notes/warnings at the start of this one particularly-there's some heavy themes in this one. (And as ever, much appreciation to authors who label/trigger warn/content note their work. <3)
I haven’t read the first book in this series, and I’ll admit it’s been a couple of years since I read the Middle of Somewhere books. That being said, I didn’t feel lost with this book at all. It reads as a standalone.
This novel was beautiful. Jude and Faron both have their own problems and issues to deal with, and I loved that them meeting and being a part of each other’s lives wasn’t a fix for everything. Neither was a saviour to the other, but more of a grounding stone to keep the other steady. It was a wonderful relationship. And I loved that they actually talked to each other like mature adults. The communication in this story is amazing.
I could totally relate to Jude. Not to his depression and anxiety so much as his issue with talking. Sometimes Jude simply lacks the energy to talk even though he has something to say. I get that. I get it so much because that’s me about 70% of the time, if not more. It was refreshing to see it in a character like Jude.
Now let’s talk about the sex. I don’t read sex scenes in 99% of the books I read. That’s not why I read. I read for the plot. However, the sex scenes in this novel are incredibly sensuous and so different from many books out there. They didn’t feel like filler, but actually advanced the plot in a beautiful way.
A wonderful novel, with wonderful chemistry between the main characters, a fun cast of side characters, and a happily ever after. Five stars and highly recommended. This is going on my re-read shelf and my best of 2018 shelf!
This novel was beautiful. Jude and Faron both have their own problems and issues to deal with, and I loved that them meeting and being a part of each other’s lives wasn’t a fix for everything. Neither was a saviour to the other, but more of a grounding stone to keep the other steady. It was a wonderful relationship. And I loved that they actually talked to each other like mature adults. The communication in this story is amazing.
I could totally relate to Jude. Not to his depression and anxiety so much as his issue with talking. Sometimes Jude simply lacks the energy to talk even though he has something to say. I get that. I get it so much because that’s me about 70% of the time, if not more. It was refreshing to see it in a character like Jude.
Now let’s talk about the sex. I don’t read sex scenes in 99% of the books I read. That’s not why I read. I read for the plot. However, the sex scenes in this novel are incredibly sensuous and so different from many books out there. They didn’t feel like filler, but actually advanced the plot in a beautiful way.
A wonderful novel, with wonderful chemistry between the main characters, a fun cast of side characters, and a happily ever after. Five stars and highly recommended. This is going on my re-read shelf and my best of 2018 shelf!
Sometimes you’re looking for a light book, sometimes you’re looking for a more meaningful one, and sometimes you’re looking for something funny, you know? Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish is one of the more meaningful books that has some weight behind it. I don’t always read blurbs or even content warnings because I know authors that I like and I am almost never disappointed. I’m glad I was warned about this one going in just so that I could prepare myself. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVED this book. But it dealt with depression, anxiety, and mentions of previous suicide attempts, so not the easiest topics. If those things are hard to read about this book might not be for you.
Jude Lucens was introduced in Small Change and in Invitation the POV is all him which is intense because we get to hear everything he is thinking. Which I think was a really great author choice. I usually prefer dual POVs in books but here it is a very effective way to get across exactly how depression and anxiety works. Jude has dealt with these his entire life but also is dealing with the after effects of an emotionally abusive boyfriend. So this POV is extremely effective to have the reader get to hear what is going through his mind at all times.
Representation matters. I cannot express how dead on Parrish got both depression and anxiety. I highlighted so much in this book, which I generally just don’t do. These things are so isolating and make one feel so debilitated and insecure. I literally have never read a fiction book that portrayed these things so matter of factly – but not only that this is *still* a romance!
"It wasn’t that I was shy exactly. It was just that the prospect of talking to people required so many dozens of decisions that I preemptively felt exhausted at having to make them."
Faron has his own issues to deal with but he is incredibly kind to Jude and loves him…for him. Their relationship is beautiful and I really enjoyed seeing it develop and how the relationship helps them both grow separately as well as a couple.
"I let people do the work for me because I didn’t have the energy to do it for myself."
Yet another aspect this book gets so right is the friendships. I loved seeing people from Middle of Nowhere – Daniel and Rex. I really enjoyed Jude becoming friends with Ginger and Daniel and seeing Ginger’s mother hen personality coming out. Seeing how friends can help so much with depression and anxiety was portrayed so accurately.
"But that’s part of the problem. My parents are lovely people. They’re incredibly kind to me. They love me so much. And I can’t be…I can’t BE around them. I can’t be myself. I can’t be what they want. When I’m near them, all I can think about is how I’ve made their lives ten million times harder than they would’ve been otherwise."
I just can’t say enough how much I love this book. I hope that people who could use this book get to read it, it meant the world to me.
Jude Lucens was introduced in Small Change and in Invitation the POV is all him which is intense because we get to hear everything he is thinking. Which I think was a really great author choice. I usually prefer dual POVs in books but here it is a very effective way to get across exactly how depression and anxiety works. Jude has dealt with these his entire life but also is dealing with the after effects of an emotionally abusive boyfriend. So this POV is extremely effective to have the reader get to hear what is going through his mind at all times.
Representation matters. I cannot express how dead on Parrish got both depression and anxiety. I highlighted so much in this book, which I generally just don’t do. These things are so isolating and make one feel so debilitated and insecure. I literally have never read a fiction book that portrayed these things so matter of factly – but not only that this is *still* a romance!
"It wasn’t that I was shy exactly. It was just that the prospect of talking to people required so many dozens of decisions that I preemptively felt exhausted at having to make them."
Faron has his own issues to deal with but he is incredibly kind to Jude and loves him…for him. Their relationship is beautiful and I really enjoyed seeing it develop and how the relationship helps them both grow separately as well as a couple.
"I let people do the work for me because I didn’t have the energy to do it for myself."
Yet another aspect this book gets so right is the friendships. I loved seeing people from Middle of Nowhere – Daniel and Rex. I really enjoyed Jude becoming friends with Ginger and Daniel and seeing Ginger’s mother hen personality coming out. Seeing how friends can help so much with depression and anxiety was portrayed so accurately.
"But that’s part of the problem. My parents are lovely people. They’re incredibly kind to me. They love me so much. And I can’t be…I can’t BE around them. I can’t be myself. I can’t be what they want. When I’m near them, all I can think about is how I’ve made their lives ten million times harder than they would’ve been otherwise."
I just can’t say enough how much I love this book. I hope that people who could use this book get to read it, it meant the world to me.
I loved this. I loved Jude and Faron and their relationship and I felt Jude's depression was portrayed well. The only fault this book has is that it's so short :)
TW: discussions of attempted suicide.
This book was jus beautifully written which not surprising because that's what Roan does. Her words always grip you and jus never let go.
I loved that Faron loves Jude as he was, even as he was honest with him about things. He never tried to change Jude or make him feel bad for his depression and anxiety.
The way they each interact with their art and music respectively was just so lushly described !! I dont know how Roan just perfectly captures an intense and beautiful moment but she's a master of that.
I enjoyed seeing Ginger and Christopher and Daniel and rex. I always wanna catch up with past couples in a series :)
This book was gut wrenching at times but i love to feel allll the feels so i really enjoyed this
This book was jus beautifully written which not surprising because that's what Roan does. Her words always grip you and jus never let go.
I loved that Faron loves Jude as he was, even as he was honest with him about things. He never tried to change Jude or make him feel bad for his depression and anxiety.
The way they each interact with their art and music respectively was just so lushly described !! I dont know how Roan just perfectly captures an intense and beautiful moment but she's a master of that.
I enjoyed seeing Ginger and Christopher and Daniel and rex. I always wanna catch up with past couples in a series :)
This book was gut wrenching at times but i love to feel allll the feels so i really enjoyed this
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes