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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Silly and lighthearted romance between two objectively incompatible Englishmen. One a posh Londoner with bipolar disorder, the other a boy-toy male model from Essex (the UK’s answer to the Jersey Shore).
I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. I think it requires a certain taste, and it's just not my thing. The two main turn-offs for me were the writing style and the characterization of Darian. This book is saturated with similes and metaphors, to the point that they completely distracted me from the story and interrupted the flow of the writing. I like to become immersed and lose myself in what I'm reading, and I wasn't able to do that with this book.
As for Darian, I just couldn't get into him. I know the author was trying to write his words in a way that helped the reader imagine the Essex dialect, but it just made him sound like a young child to me, which felt all kinds of wrong! He was also much too unintelligent for my tastes. I personally think Richard Rider wrote a much better romance between a working class, ridiculously dressed younger man and a reserved, posh, intelligent older man in [b:Stockholm Syndrome|9788080|Stockholm Syndrome (Stockholm Syndrome, #1)|Richard Rider|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1291018502s/9788080.jpg|14678106]. Pip is similar to Darian, except he's got so much more depth of personality. Of course, his and Lindsay's relationship is completely twisted and deliciously wrong on so many levels, and I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. So if you love metaphors and find dense models adorable, you'll probably like this book. Otherwise, give Stockholm Syndrome a try :)
As for Darian, I just couldn't get into him. I know the author was trying to write his words in a way that helped the reader imagine the Essex dialect, but it just made him sound like a young child to me, which felt all kinds of wrong! He was also much too unintelligent for my tastes. I personally think Richard Rider wrote a much better romance between a working class, ridiculously dressed younger man and a reserved, posh, intelligent older man in [b:Stockholm Syndrome|9788080|Stockholm Syndrome (Stockholm Syndrome, #1)|Richard Rider|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1291018502s/9788080.jpg|14678106]. Pip is similar to Darian, except he's got so much more depth of personality. Of course, his and Lindsay's relationship is completely twisted and deliciously wrong on so many levels, and I know that's not everyone's cup of tea. So if you love metaphors and find dense models adorable, you'll probably like this book. Otherwise, give Stockholm Syndrome a try :)
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
This book was so sweet. Like, it wasn't, really, it was quite filthy, but really lovely at the same time. Ash is bipolar and also an asshole, but he's trying. To quote the greatest poet out there, Dr. Taylor Alison Swift, "At least I'm trying". No, but really, Ash has this is me trying vibes through and through. Mental illness isn't a way to justify being a bad person, but it certainly doesn't make being good any easier. It's constant self-sabotage and everyone who loves you is collateral. I thought it had a good depiction of mental illness and I liked Ash's character very much.
Darian was a manic pixie dream boy, though. It's kinda acknowledged towards the end, but still. Self-awareness doesn't make up for everything. I also thought the written down accent was annoying and a bit classist tbh.
I found the writing really beautiful, with rich language and colourful descriptions.
In the end, I'm a softie for clinically insane people finding love, so I really enjoyed myself.
Darian was a manic pixie dream boy, though. It's kinda acknowledged towards the end, but still. Self-awareness doesn't make up for everything. I also thought the written down accent was annoying and a bit classist tbh.
I found the writing really beautiful, with rich language and colourful descriptions.
In the end, I'm a softie for clinically insane people finding love, so I really enjoyed myself.
A book that can make my eyes tear up a little deserves all the stars I can give it.
I'm not so easily moved to tears in written narratives so a little dampness around the eyes is always a good sign.
Unless it's so terrible that I'm weeping over my wasted time.
Well, dear readers, I'm happy to say that is NOT the case at all. I enjoyed this lovely romance between a clinically depressed author and a full-of-life model with the oddest written accent I have ever seen.
At first, I was put off by all the twenty dollar words. It seemed a bit like I was being talked down to, but I soon became utterly charmed by both Ash and Darian. Of course, we were put off by Ash's narrative in the beginning. He was pushing everyone away. Even the reader.
But we soon saw through all of that. Darian snuck his way past Ash's defenses and brought us along for the ride.
What a ride it was.
Living with clinical depression isn't easy and I am glad to see that aspect is handled with that in mind. I was absolutely moved by how accepting Darian is about Ash's illness and he clearly went in with eyes open.
The moments when Ash was painfully honest about his insecurities moved me almost to tears. I could feel his sense of shame, low self-worth and pain.
If you're not a fan of written accents, this book might bother you because Darian has a really thick accent in this book.
This book was truly beautiful to me.
I'm not so easily moved to tears in written narratives so a little dampness around the eyes is always a good sign.
Unless it's so terrible that I'm weeping over my wasted time.
Well, dear readers, I'm happy to say that is NOT the case at all. I enjoyed this lovely romance between a clinically depressed author and a full-of-life model with the oddest written accent I have ever seen.
At first, I was put off by all the twenty dollar words. It seemed a bit like I was being talked down to, but I soon became utterly charmed by both Ash and Darian. Of course, we were put off by Ash's narrative in the beginning. He was pushing everyone away. Even the reader.
But we soon saw through all of that. Darian snuck his way past Ash's defenses and brought us along for the ride.
What a ride it was.
Living with clinical depression isn't easy and I am glad to see that aspect is handled with that in mind. I was absolutely moved by how accepting Darian is about Ash's illness and he clearly went in with eyes open.
The moments when Ash was painfully honest about his insecurities moved me almost to tears. I could feel his sense of shame, low self-worth and pain.
If you're not a fan of written accents, this book might bother you because Darian has a really thick accent in this book.
This book was truly beautiful to me.
Not my usual cup of tea.
More literature than romance.
Would never have guessed that I could fall in love with a story about a very prickly toff with bi polar disorder and one eho sounds like chatty man Alan Carr.
But Alexis Hall once again managed to suck me into a story and create his magic. It's simply a magical story of a somewhat lost soul who doesnt believe to be worthy of love. Who more or less by accident finds the one sparkling, glittering jewel of a man who defies all the stereotypes and makes you realize how incredibly stupid and cruel those people are who judge by surface criteria only. Darian is such a wonderful soul, Ash really struck gold here!!
I read and listened to the new edition that contains the new epilogue Aftermath which was the dearly needed endnote. WE also get the story of what really happened between Max and Niall the night of Ash and Darian's first meeting. Not what I expected, better than hoped. Gosh, is this group of friends complicated. Poor Niall who lashed out horribly a couple of times, but I really hope he gets his HEA himself.
Torn between 4 (without Aftermath) and 5 stars (new edition with those two more novellas).
More literature than romance.
Would never have guessed that I could fall in love with a story about a very prickly toff with bi polar disorder and one eho sounds like chatty man Alan Carr.
But Alexis Hall once again managed to suck me into a story and create his magic. It's simply a magical story of a somewhat lost soul who doesnt believe to be worthy of love. Who more or less by accident finds the one sparkling, glittering jewel of a man who defies all the stereotypes and makes you realize how incredibly stupid and cruel those people are who judge by surface criteria only. Darian is such a wonderful soul, Ash really struck gold here!!
I read and listened to the new edition that contains the new epilogue Aftermath which was the dearly needed endnote. WE also get the story of what really happened between Max and Niall the night of Ash and Darian's first meeting. Not what I expected, better than hoped. Gosh, is this group of friends complicated. Poor Niall who lashed out horribly a couple of times, but I really hope he gets his HEA himself.
Torn between 4 (without Aftermath) and 5 stars (new edition with those two more novellas).
My favorite thing about this book is that my friend kat gave it to me. She saw herself in it and thought I would too :)
I just couldn't get into it even though I tried to. I was not really liking the writing style and just was not in the mood for this book.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes