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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This book could not have a better title, it was a quite different and original MM romance for me, the story of Gael & Jordan is one full of pain, doubtful, insecurities, but especially love on the part of each and every one of its characters.
Jordan is a man who has been forced to face difficult situations from a very young age, has been rejected by his family for being who he is and has found in Gael and los Herrera the love and understanding he need. He’s a kind man, with a huge heart and with an even greater fear of losing his best friend, who is also the man he’s in love with, he’s vulnerable and insecure, although he doesn’t show it often a loyal friend who is willing to do anything for love, even hurting himself. I think Jordan is quite a complex character because he knows what his feelings are for Gael but he also knows, or believes, that there can never be anything between them, he suffers constantly because of his jealousy towards Elena, Gael's fiancée, but he feels guilty about it and when she goes through a difficult time, Jordan is the first to do his part to soften everything, and in the process he makes it clear that he isn’t a bad person, just a very confused and a little lost, who does the best he can with the resources he has. And for a long time the only support he's had has been Gael and his family, who saved him when they met in the worst of times, which only complicates things further.
Gael is in an equally difficult situation, as he is engaged to Elena but for some time has known that he feels more than friendship for Jordan, but a series of misunderstandings, doubts and insecurities have led him to hide his feelings for him, also, their friendship is at a very tense moment and he doesn’t know what to do with all of it, and things get even more complicated due to the nature of Gael, who is a kind, funny, loving boy who loves to take care of the important people in his life. And there is no denying that Elena is one of those people, it's obvious that he loves her, but sometimes it doesn't seem enough against the feelings he has for Jordan.
For her part, Elena lives a situation similar to Jordan's: she has a dysfunctional family, she was first a friend of Gael and the Herrera family has welcomed her as another member, Gael also represents her salvation and has been the only person who has shown her true love, so I think it is very easy to understand her behavior, which can sometimes be a bit evil, because she knows about Gael's feelings for Jordan, but she's unwilling to let the best thing that happened to her slip out of her life.
And the suffering these three go through is huge, because all they want is to be loved by the people who are important in their live. Jordan & Gael are a walking dilemma, because Jordan is afraid to express his feelings and Gael doesn’t want to feel rejected, they both share super intense moments that are very interesting to read, they can be very tender and cute, but also hot and fun. I fell in love with them with every page I read because they really are the true love for each other, and although life keeps putting obstacles in their way their hearts find a way to return to each other. One of the things I loved most about them was the unconditional friendship they have always shared and that they both care for Elena's well-being and feel remorse for hurting her. In addition, there is a twist in the plot that is super surprising and helps to put much more tension in the relationship between Gael & Jordan, but that ends up working perfectly and makes the ending of the story perfect.
And without a doubt one of the things I loved the most was the family vibe in the book, I think Marley Valentine did an incredible job representing the Herrera family, she doesn't. stereotyped and his research work on our culture and prevailing beliefs is amazing I also love each of the supporting characters, including Seth & Ray, and of course Deacon & Julian, who I'm dying to read about, I also fell in love a little of Frankie and I hope both, he and Elena have their own book in which they find the love they deserve.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Jordan is a man who has been forced to face difficult situations from a very young age, has been rejected by his family for being who he is and has found in Gael and los Herrera the love and understanding he need. He’s a kind man, with a huge heart and with an even greater fear of losing his best friend, who is also the man he’s in love with, he’s vulnerable and insecure, although he doesn’t show it often a loyal friend who is willing to do anything for love, even hurting himself. I think Jordan is quite a complex character because he knows what his feelings are for Gael but he also knows, or believes, that there can never be anything between them, he suffers constantly because of his jealousy towards Elena, Gael's fiancée, but he feels guilty about it and when she goes through a difficult time, Jordan is the first to do his part to soften everything, and in the process he makes it clear that he isn’t a bad person, just a very confused and a little lost, who does the best he can with the resources he has. And for a long time the only support he's had has been Gael and his family, who saved him when they met in the worst of times, which only complicates things further.
Gael is in an equally difficult situation, as he is engaged to Elena but for some time has known that he feels more than friendship for Jordan, but a series of misunderstandings, doubts and insecurities have led him to hide his feelings for him, also, their friendship is at a very tense moment and he doesn’t know what to do with all of it, and things get even more complicated due to the nature of Gael, who is a kind, funny, loving boy who loves to take care of the important people in his life. And there is no denying that Elena is one of those people, it's obvious that he loves her, but sometimes it doesn't seem enough against the feelings he has for Jordan.
For her part, Elena lives a situation similar to Jordan's: she has a dysfunctional family, she was first a friend of Gael and the Herrera family has welcomed her as another member, Gael also represents her salvation and has been the only person who has shown her true love, so I think it is very easy to understand her behavior, which can sometimes be a bit evil, because she knows about Gael's feelings for Jordan, but she's unwilling to let the best thing that happened to her slip out of her life.
And the suffering these three go through is huge, because all they want is to be loved by the people who are important in their live. Jordan & Gael are a walking dilemma, because Jordan is afraid to express his feelings and Gael doesn’t want to feel rejected, they both share super intense moments that are very interesting to read, they can be very tender and cute, but also hot and fun. I fell in love with them with every page I read because they really are the true love for each other, and although life keeps putting obstacles in their way their hearts find a way to return to each other. One of the things I loved most about them was the unconditional friendship they have always shared and that they both care for Elena's well-being and feel remorse for hurting her. In addition, there is a twist in the plot that is super surprising and helps to put much more tension in the relationship between Gael & Jordan, but that ends up working perfectly and makes the ending of the story perfect.
And without a doubt one of the things I loved the most was the family vibe in the book, I think Marley Valentine did an incredible job representing the Herrera family, she doesn't. stereotyped and his research work on our culture and prevailing beliefs is amazing I also love each of the supporting characters, including Seth & Ray, and of course Deacon & Julian, who I'm dying to read about, I also fell in love a little of Frankie and I hope both, he and Elena have their own book in which they find the love they deserve.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dnf @ 28%
Trigger warning would have been nice, because I just wasted time reading a book I have no interest in. Cheating is not my cup of tea. Even before the cheating, it wasn't great.
Trigger warning would have been nice, because I just wasted time reading a book I have no interest in. Cheating is not my cup of tea. Even before the cheating, it wasn't great.
If this was anyone other than Marley Valentine, I'm not sure that I would have liked this as much as I did.
I was surprised at how much of the book Elena was going to be featured in since she was clearly not endgame on page 1. She begged Gael to come home to her after his bachelor party and we all knew how that was going to turn out before he left.
I thought the relationship between Gael and Jordan was shocking to both of them considering they have been in love for years without telling the other. If you set the whole cheating thing aside, the relationship was lovely. I was surprised at myself for how personally I took everything after the race car accident of the book.
I was surprised at how much of the book Elena was going to be featured in since she was clearly not endgame on page 1. She begged Gael to come home to her after his bachelor party and we all knew how that was going to turn out before he left.
I thought the relationship between Gael and Jordan was shocking to both of them considering they have been in love for years without telling the other. If you set the whole cheating thing aside, the relationship was lovely. I was surprised at myself for how personally I took everything after the race car accident of the book.
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia, Abandonment
The angst, the drama, the Herrera family, Jordan and Gael, Elena, and all of the characters here - the diversity, the ANGST, the drama….I really loved this short novel, and am so surprised by Valentine in her second book that I read compared to my disappointment with her first book. While I have some hang ups with the use of “baby”, the rushed ending and epilogue, this was great from start to finish.
I thought this book was very cute, big my favourite Marley Valentine but you can tell it’s her.