Take a photo of a barcode or cover
*takes a few deep breaths*
Okay. Let's do this.
Many of you probably don't know this, because I don't typically bring it up on my own, but I have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. I likely always will. I was also in a very abusive relationship for many years. So reading this book was bound to bring up... a lot of things. And while it did do that, while it did make me emotional at how painfully accurate these issues are portrayed, it also healed something in me a little bit.
Jude's voice is one that very much mirrors my own. I mean, I'm not a musician at all, but I do understand the power of music, because it's always managed to soothe and heal me just a little bit. I felt so much for Jude because I saw myself in him. There's so much strength in him and I'm so glad that he found Faron because Faron sees him. Their relationship is beautiful, and when they come together it's intense and passionate and intimate. It almost feels wrong to call it spicy because it's so much more than that.
The writing is so beautiful and lyrical, almost poetic. Very much like the MC's, who are both artists, and I loved that! Honestly, so many good quotes. I may also have shed a tear... a few times.
I highly recommend this book because it's gorgeous. Also, Kaspar is the worst and if someone could... shove a cactus up in a certain area of his, I'd appreciate it.
Okay. Let's do this.
Many of you probably don't know this, because I don't typically bring it up on my own, but I have struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my life. I likely always will. I was also in a very abusive relationship for many years. So reading this book was bound to bring up... a lot of things. And while it did do that, while it did make me emotional at how painfully accurate these issues are portrayed, it also healed something in me a little bit.
Jude's voice is one that very much mirrors my own. I mean, I'm not a musician at all, but I do understand the power of music, because it's always managed to soothe and heal me just a little bit. I felt so much for Jude because I saw myself in him. There's so much strength in him and I'm so glad that he found Faron because Faron sees him. Their relationship is beautiful, and when they come together it's intense and passionate and intimate. It almost feels wrong to call it spicy because it's so much more than that.
The writing is so beautiful and lyrical, almost poetic. Very much like the MC's, who are both artists, and I loved that! Honestly, so many good quotes. I may also have shed a tear... a few times.
I highly recommend this book because it's gorgeous. Also, Kaspar is the worst and if someone could... shove a cactus up in a certain area of his, I'd appreciate it.
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
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
Roan Parrish is ridiculously talented. It’s almost a guarantee that whatever you read after a Roan book will feel straight up terrible in comparison, and this book was no exception.
I cried because I finally knew what it felt like to love someone more than I hated myself.
Initially I was a little sad about it being single POV, but it made sense for the story and was done well. The book is full of beautiful writing and relatable experiences with depression and anxiety.
Usually I don’t notice the spice in a book all that much and 98% of the time most sex scenes are forgotten as soon as I’ve finished reading them. However. . This little book about depression and finding love might be the hottest thing I’ve read. It was just so intimate and sensual. A lot of it was important for the characters and the story, which made it more impactful.
I really appreciated that there was no ✨magic dick✨ and there’s a focus on living a full life *with* depression, not magically being cured.
Probably my only ‘criticism’ is Jude’s age. I know someone’s age doesn’t tell you everything about them, but I had a really hard time reconciling his behavior and personality with being 36 years old. He felt more like someone in their early 20s.
Highly recommend this one. I will certainly be rereading it.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Mental illness
Eating disorder
Size difference
Edging
Black MC
Lots of foreplay
Following orders in bed
Hands-free orgasms
Age gap
Tattoo artist MC
Caretaking
Hurt/comfort
Depression and anxiety
Prostate orgasm
Blindfolded sex
Sensation play
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Past — recent — suicide attempt (few details)
Smoking cigarettes
Symptoms of depression
Detailed struggle with eating disorder
Harry Potter reference
Alcohol consumption
Prescription drug use
Explicit sexual content
MC emotionally abused by ex (past, details)
Anxiety attacks
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: Almost
POV: 1st person, single
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 27 and 36
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 286
Happy ending: Yes
I made my father uncomfortable. He loved me, no doubt. But love without intimacy is lonelier than indifference.
“[…] Something doesn’t have to be forever to be the most important thing you do.”
Roan Parrish is ridiculously talented. It’s almost a guarantee that whatever you read after a Roan book will feel straight up terrible in comparison, and this book was no exception.
I cried because I finally knew what it felt like to love someone more than I hated myself.
Initially I was a little sad about it being single POV, but it made sense for the story and was done well. The book is full of beautiful writing and relatable experiences with depression and anxiety.
Usually I don’t notice the spice in a book all that much and 98% of the time most sex scenes are forgotten as soon as I’ve finished reading them. However. . This little book about depression and finding love might be the hottest thing I’ve read. It was just so intimate and sensual. A lot of it was important for the characters and the story, which made it more impactful.
I really appreciated that there was no ✨magic dick✨ and there’s a focus on living a full life *with* depression, not magically being cured.
Probably my only ‘criticism’ is Jude’s age. I know someone’s age doesn’t tell you everything about them, but I had a really hard time reconciling his behavior and personality with being 36 years old. He felt more like someone in their early 20s.
Highly recommend this one. I will certainly be rereading it.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Mental illness
Eating disorder
Size difference
Edging
Black MC
Lots of foreplay
Following orders in bed
Hands-free orgasms
Age gap
Tattoo artist MC
Caretaking
Hurt/comfort
Depression and anxiety
Prostate orgasm
Blindfolded sex
Sensation play
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Past — recent — suicide attempt (few details)
Smoking cigarettes
Symptoms of depression
Detailed struggle with eating disorder
Harry Potter reference
Alcohol consumption
Prescription drug use
Explicit sexual content
MC emotionally abused by ex (past, details)
Anxiety attacks
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: Almost
POV: 1st person, single
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 27 and 36
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 286
Happy ending: Yes
I made my father uncomfortable. He loved me, no doubt. But love without intimacy is lonelier than indifference.
“[…] Something doesn’t have to be forever to be the most important thing you do.”
emotional
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
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
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know... I... um... yeah... don’t know what to say about this one... I can’t put my finger on why, but I never bonded with Jude or Faron. I liked each of them well enough but didn’t really connect with either of them. Moreover, I spent a lot of time squinting and thinking, “I don’t know about this...” I just wasn’t feelin it.
I didn’t dislike Invitation to the Blues. I didn’t find it problematic or offensive. But I don’t feel comfortable rating it when I can’t even figure out how and why it didn’t work for me.
No rating.
I didn’t dislike Invitation to the Blues. I didn’t find it problematic or offensive. But I don’t feel comfortable rating it when I can’t even figure out how and why it didn’t work for me.
No rating.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
“I felt so loved.”
I could feel Faron hear it. His arms tightened around me convulsively and his breath caught. I started really crying, and the harder I cried, the closer he held me. 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.
these two are so sweet together, i love them. jude's journey was sad and realistic and it's refreshing to read a book about depression where they aren't magically cured just because they fell in love.
i love the caretaking and how affectionate they are and i loved their comfortable silence and how they could just exist in the same space so sweetly without always interacting.
“Since we were talking about skin color. You’re all the colors of a sunset. And I’m gonna paint the fuck out of you.”
I could feel Faron hear it. His arms tightened around me convulsively and his breath caught. I started really crying, and the harder I cried, the closer he held me. 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.
these two are so sweet together, i love them. jude's journey was sad and realistic and it's refreshing to read a book about depression where they aren't magically cured just because they fell in love.
i love the caretaking and how affectionate they are and i loved their comfortable silence and how they could just exist in the same space so sweetly without always interacting.
“Since we were talking about skin color. You’re all the colors of a sunset. And I’m gonna paint the fuck out of you.”
Light in the darkness
How can a book that deals with such a difficult subject matter feel so light? There is so much hope in it. So much understanding. A rope down the well to help you back out when there's no hope left. Sigh.
Merged review:
Light in the darkness
How can a book that deals with such a difficult subject matter feel so light? There is so much hope in it. So much understanding. A rope down the well to help you back out when there's no hope left. Sigh.
How can a book that deals with such a difficult subject matter feel so light? There is so much hope in it. So much understanding. A rope down the well to help you back out when there's no hope left. Sigh.
Merged review:
Light in the darkness
How can a book that deals with such a difficult subject matter feel so light? There is so much hope in it. So much understanding. A rope down the well to help you back out when there's no hope left. Sigh.
Another comfort read for me, and I think a genuinely good representation of living with clinical depression and what it does to you and your relationships. I also love when couples are incredibly into each other.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes