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endemictoearth's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
3.0
I think the conflict that led to one of the MCs running away was a little convoluted, and the back story kind of clumsy. Their ultimate reunion was sweet, tho.
kumabear's review
4.0
This book was awesome. It had drama but not too much. The only thing i was not fond of was each chapter was a time jump and i feel like so much could have been done with the time we are missing.
the_novel_approach's review
3.0
A quick little read, coming in at seventy-four pages, and, for its length, I found it cute. Though there is a romance, I found this to be a sweet little story about finding oneself.
Elliot is having a bit of self-crisis. He hates living in the city and he has a difficult time at the school where he is teaching. And, ultimately, an event leads to him heading home to really think about what he wants and needs.
Mick is a closeted attorney whose boss is clearly a jerk, making it difficult for him to take that final step in coming out. Elliot gets it—for the most part—but it doesn’t make it any easier, and with everything else going on, it’s just another thing adding to his current unhappiness about where he is in life.
The story mainly follows Elliot over the course of several months, as he remembers the good and the bad, and as he contemplates how to move forward. I liked the concept a lot. The story doesn’t focus on any real angst with Mick and Elliot. They love each other and communicate very well, which I always appreciate. What it focuses on is Elliot trying to figure himself out, and what he wants and what he is willing to compromise. It’s a nice little change of pace, and slightly different than what I am used to, which was definitely a plus.
Though the story was nice, and I mostly enjoyed it, there were a few things that didn’t work for me. Each chapter is a new month, and I think the model mostly worked, except there were a couple times where, in the chapter for one month, there would be a flashback to something that had occurred during the previous month. It had me scratching my head and wondering why it wasn’t just put in the month where it happened. Why was it a flashback when it could have just occurred in real time in the previous chapter? I couldn’t see a reason for it in this case.
Also, given the length, there just wasn’t a lot of fleshing out for me, and there were times I wanted to understand both Elliot and Mick more. It could have used a lot more building, and there are areas that perhaps needed a little more actualization. One of the biggest was when a person from Elliot’s past makes an appearance, and I had zero context or background on the relationship. It was never developed before or after the appearance, so it made it difficult for me to really understand the situation on the whole. Sort of like the foundation was set and the framework was there, but the story lacked the completed product in some ways. It was often like I was being told rather than shown, not experiencing it on a deeper level.
Mick and Elliot’s relationship was a nice little change, their banter was funny and charming, and I liked the fact they were both open with each other and their feelings when they spoke. The main premise was a nice change from what I usually go for, and, when it is all said and done, I still liked the story. I think a lot of people will truly enjoy this quick novella about self-discovery, and if you have an hour or so, it’s not a bad way to pass the time!
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
Elliot is having a bit of self-crisis. He hates living in the city and he has a difficult time at the school where he is teaching. And, ultimately, an event leads to him heading home to really think about what he wants and needs.
Mick is a closeted attorney whose boss is clearly a jerk, making it difficult for him to take that final step in coming out. Elliot gets it—for the most part—but it doesn’t make it any easier, and with everything else going on, it’s just another thing adding to his current unhappiness about where he is in life.
The story mainly follows Elliot over the course of several months, as he remembers the good and the bad, and as he contemplates how to move forward. I liked the concept a lot. The story doesn’t focus on any real angst with Mick and Elliot. They love each other and communicate very well, which I always appreciate. What it focuses on is Elliot trying to figure himself out, and what he wants and what he is willing to compromise. It’s a nice little change of pace, and slightly different than what I am used to, which was definitely a plus.
Though the story was nice, and I mostly enjoyed it, there were a few things that didn’t work for me. Each chapter is a new month, and I think the model mostly worked, except there were a couple times where, in the chapter for one month, there would be a flashback to something that had occurred during the previous month. It had me scratching my head and wondering why it wasn’t just put in the month where it happened. Why was it a flashback when it could have just occurred in real time in the previous chapter? I couldn’t see a reason for it in this case.
Also, given the length, there just wasn’t a lot of fleshing out for me, and there were times I wanted to understand both Elliot and Mick more. It could have used a lot more building, and there are areas that perhaps needed a little more actualization. One of the biggest was when a person from Elliot’s past makes an appearance, and I had zero context or background on the relationship. It was never developed before or after the appearance, so it made it difficult for me to really understand the situation on the whole. Sort of like the foundation was set and the framework was there, but the story lacked the completed product in some ways. It was often like I was being told rather than shown, not experiencing it on a deeper level.
Mick and Elliot’s relationship was a nice little change, their banter was funny and charming, and I liked the fact they were both open with each other and their feelings when they spoke. The main premise was a nice change from what I usually go for, and, when it is all said and done, I still liked the story. I think a lot of people will truly enjoy this quick novella about self-discovery, and if you have an hour or so, it’s not a bad way to pass the time!
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
anitalouise's review
4.0
Wonderful short but moving and emotional read about Elliot and Mick, boyfriends for two years. Elliott is a teacher and Mick a high-powered divorce lawyer. Sadly, Mick is still closeted at work and that creates tension between them. Elliot has to pretend to be Mick's friend at work events. Elliot is not happy for many reasons but after a traumatic event at the school where he teaches, he leaves to go back to the small town where he grew up so he can breathe fresh air and just be. The book takes place over the months he's away. He misses Mick terribly but can't figure out what to do. Very well written. Captures the feelings between Elliot and Mick beautifully. Cried several times at what these two guys go through though the book ends in a lovely HEA. This is my first by this author and yay me, I have her other book on my Kindle!!
amyaislin's review
5.0
Nell Iris is a new-to-me author so I wasn't sure what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised when I loved this book. Told in third-person from Elliot's POV, this is a story about finding a middle ground between what you want and what you need.
Elliot and Mick were both sympathetic characters, and despite being told only from Elliot's perspective, you get a feel, through Elliot, about Mick's struggles and you can't help but feel for him too. Even though Nell Iris has written a story about a couple who has been in a relationship for almost two years at the start of the story, it didn't feel like I got thrown into the mix with no warning. Nell does a great job of weaving backstory into the plot.
This novella was nicely paced, well-written, with fully developed characters you root for until their HEA. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Elliot and Mick were both sympathetic characters, and despite being told only from Elliot's perspective, you get a feel, through Elliot, about Mick's struggles and you can't help but feel for him too. Even though Nell Iris has written a story about a couple who has been in a relationship for almost two years at the start of the story, it didn't feel like I got thrown into the mix with no warning. Nell does a great job of weaving backstory into the plot.
This novella was nicely paced, well-written, with fully developed characters you root for until their HEA. I look forward to reading more by this author.
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