Reviews - Vespertine | The StoryGraph

95 reviews for:

What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be - it has been on my Kindle for a long time, but I’ll admit that it was forgotten about and I kept passing over it. I finally sat down to read it, and boy do I regret how long it took me to do that, because I absolutely fell in love with the story. It is beautifully written, such a perfect slow-burn, with a wonderful ending and characters I genuinely cared about.

missysreadingcorner's review against another edition

5.0

This was a great story. I enjoyed the slow burn as Jasper and Nicky reconnected. I decided to read this on a whim and wasn't disappointed.

robazizo's review

4.0

A beautiful story of love lost and found. I loved Nicky from the start (that confession!) and Jasper really grew on me. I usually stay away from stories involving religion, but this one handled the issue well. I also liked how the authors managed to incorporate the boys' past without the use of flashbacks. The denouement felt a bit like a deus ex machina and Jasper's issues surrounding his priesthood and Blue Oasis were solved a bit too quickly and easily, but overall I really enjoyed this one.

nicola949's review

5.0

I was intrigued to see how a relationship between a priest and a recovering drug-addicted musician would be handled and I wasn't disappointed. The hard issues are tackled, not just glossed over. Such a lovely story and with a sense of realism.

aimora's review

5.0

I did not expect to like this as much as I did. Both main characters well developed and their childhood friendship broke my heart.

maggiec25's review against another edition

5.0

This book is definitely a work of art. I have no words, it is inexplicable. It's not enough for me to give it 5 stars. The way it is written, goosebumps all the time. The characters, the story, the ending. It's perfect. I love you Leta Blake and Indra Vaughn.

"You have a lot of beautiful gifts. And, maybe someday you can share some of those with a man who loves you"

friends2lovers's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Content Warnings

janetted's review

5.0

If you’re looking for a book that will completely destroy you, rip your heart to shreds and put it back together again over and over, Vespertine is that book. It’s not often I’ve felt this bone deep ache and longing between two lovers, although I should expect no less from Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn. There were times when I wanted to put it in the freezer Joey Tribbiani-style because I just knew whatever was coming, it was going to hurt so damn much.

I definitely wasn't prepared for the onslaught of emotions that came along with Jasper's reunion with his childhood best friend and ex-lover Nicky. To say this is a second chance romance feels like an understatement; theirs is a once-in-a-lifetime, all-consuming kind of love. It's that swing for the fences, home run kind of feeling Kirstie Alley talks about in that 90's Olsen Twins flick, It Takes Two. A love that hasn't been lessened by 17 years apart, Jasper becoming an ordained priest and pledging himself to God, or by Nicky's rise to fame and struggles with addiction. Everything in this one is emotionally charged: the hurt, the denial, the forgiveness and the sacrifice. All of which gives a measure of power to Jazz & Nicky's relationship that is next-level, unique and special.

sinceslicedread's review

4.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

loulou87's review

5.0

***** SPOILER FREE REVIEW*****

****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SECOND CHANCES****

Audiobook narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo
WHAT I LOVED...

1. The Characters:
Nicky is a Rockstar on the mend after years of drug abuse. He comes back home for down time and healing, but he never knew what was waiting for him... #HomeAgain

Jasper is an out and proud priest, speaking out for LGBTQ community and the church's acceptance. That is until Nicky comes back to town. #BlastFromThePast

2. The Plot:
The book is all about struggle... Jasper struggling with his feelings and attraction and his faith, Nicky struggling with addiction and forgiveness, and his music, Both of them struggling to stay friends and ignore their feelings that never went away... #TheStruggleIsReal

3. The Romance:
This progressed so flawlessly... the way they came back to each other, the way their feelings manifested again, and the way they let go and became happy.... #GrabThatSecondChance