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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
" 'It wasn't real. It was a biochemical blip.'
Niall shrugged. 'When you put it like that, so is everything. That doesn't make it worthless. Or any less real.' "
Niall shrugged. 'When you put it like that, so is everything. That doesn't make it worthless. Or any less real.' "
" 'It wasn't real. It was a biochemical blip.'
Niall shrugged. 'When you put it like that, so is everything. That doesn't make it worthless. Or any less real.' "
Niall shrugged. 'When you put it like that, so is everything. That doesn't make it worthless. Or any less real.' "
4.5. Wasn’t sure I was going to like this at first, since Ash is a tough character to like, but it was sweet and funny. I loved Darian and felt bad for Niall (though he was a jerk when he met Darian). Loved how different Ash and Darian were. Would have liked to see Darian’s reaction to Ash’s tattoo. Read on Overdrive
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
So for the first bit of this book I didn’t like it. I mean I really didn’t like it. In fact I was mentally freaking out thinking how in the hell am I going to finish this book. I severely disliked Darian. I have this thing about characters intentionally written to be dumb, it annoys the crap out of me. Add on top of that the obnoxiously written phonetically spelled accent and I swear all I wanted to do was have a *headdesk* moment. The one saving grace for me was Ash. As despondent and melancholy as he was I seem to have a thing for mental cases and wishing for them to get their happily ever afters. I liked his inner voice it kept me at least interested. Then something happened…I’m not ever really sure what but suddenly I was finding Darian just a tad big charming, with such a wonderful heart, and even the accent became cute. I was no longer bashing my head against anything I could find and instead was avidly devouring pages.
Ash Winters had his life crash down around his ears after college in one humongous manic-depressive bipolar fit. A fit that left him in a mental institution for awhile trying to regain any sense of his own self. It’s taken years and ultimately almost destroyed every friendship he’s ever had, but he’s finally as stable as he gets. He’s still clinically depressed, bi-polar, and unhappy, but at least he’s alive and not actively trying to kill himself. The one thing that’s manage to remain stable is his writing so at least he’s managed to make a living for himself. Dragged out into the land of the uncomfortable for his friends stag party Ash finds his eyes drawn to one bright spot on the dance floor, glitter and all.
Darian Taylor wants to be a model and knows how to turn an eye or two. But the ones looking down on him from the VIP area have a sad glint to them he wants to make go away. Sure he’s just a low class Essex boy, but Ash’s posh accent and attitude doesn’t put off the bundle of good will and energy that makes Darian who he is. He may not be the smartest guy around, but he’s happy with who he is and where he is at in life. He knows how to present himself in the best light for the photos he takes and he’s happy to enjoy each opportunity as it comes. Getting the downtrodden Ash to laugh is a happy event in and of itself.
Despite all the random strange amalgamations of words in this story (some of which were just unusual British phrases I was unfamiliar with) I think my favorite was “glitter pirate”! I don’t know why it’s was just too f-in’ cute! I loved the way that Ash thought about Darian when he wasn’t being a condescending prick trying to hide from his own insecurities. Darian made him loosen up and reminded him that there was a life to be lived out there even if he was sick and that it was ok to enjoy life. Ultimately I think that’s what won me over to Darian in the end.
See I think I shuddered reading about Darian to begin with because I felt like I was watching someone crawl straight out of an episode of “The Jersey Shore” but with some almost indecipherable strange British accent. Not that the Jersey Shore accent can’t be indecipherable at times as well. ;) I don’t know if I’m the first one to comment on the strange parallels there, but all I could think when I first met Darian was, “damn, he’s a British Jersey Shore boy.” Granted I’ve never even seen an episode of the show or anything, but that’s what was racing through my head. I dislike stupid, and the initial encounter between Ash and Darian rammed me up against stupid hard. Eventually though I came to find Darian’s charm underneath it all and while he’s not the brain that Ash is, he’s not stupid either. He doesn’t have the fine polish of an elite education, but there are worthwhile thoughts and ideas about the way the world works and his philosophy on it all that come through all of that accent.
In the end though I think I would like Darian solely for what he does for Ash. Ash won over my heart with his twisted messed up head and I wanted him to have that guy that just plain made him happy. I just might have killed Niall if he had gone on one minute longer the day he decided to be a complete and utter douchebag tool!!! He redeems himself a little bit, but while I enjoyed Max and Amy, Niall wouldn’t be on my Christmas list anytime soon. Super dicky move dude! GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Don’t you go hurting my poor Ash. I’m the over-protective mama bear with her cub apparently this morning.
If I had one big problem with this book, and it’s a minor personal thing… I mean Ash pours his heart out and he and Darian finally talk about their feelings and make up after Ash was a dickweed and I don’t get that moment?!?!?!?! Now I have looked and there is a short story sort of epilogue which I admit I’m going to go read as soon as I finish this review, and if the moment isn’t there I just might loose my shit. :D I want the reaction dagnabit!
Still all in all I giggled, I shed a few tears, it was an enjoyable read once I got into the story a bit. I adore my broken characters as when they find themselves and a new strength it always gives me hope. As hard as being in Ash’s head could be, I love the fact that this story is told from his perspective. Depression is hell and it doesn’t matter how many times people tell you to get over it, it isn’t that simple. Panic attacks can be the scariest thing in the world because there’s nothing you can do. Doesn’t matter that it’s over the simplest thing, doesn’t matter how many people tell you it’s not that big a deal, you know it’s not that big a deal, but there’s nothing you can do about the freak out. I empathize with Ash and I’m so happy he found the person that allows him to forget about all his problems for a moment and just live. ☺ 4.5 stars overall, but I’ll probably round down for the beginning taking me out of the story for a bit.
Ash Winters had his life crash down around his ears after college in one humongous manic-depressive bipolar fit. A fit that left him in a mental institution for awhile trying to regain any sense of his own self. It’s taken years and ultimately almost destroyed every friendship he’s ever had, but he’s finally as stable as he gets. He’s still clinically depressed, bi-polar, and unhappy, but at least he’s alive and not actively trying to kill himself. The one thing that’s manage to remain stable is his writing so at least he’s managed to make a living for himself. Dragged out into the land of the uncomfortable for his friends stag party Ash finds his eyes drawn to one bright spot on the dance floor, glitter and all.
Darian Taylor wants to be a model and knows how to turn an eye or two. But the ones looking down on him from the VIP area have a sad glint to them he wants to make go away. Sure he’s just a low class Essex boy, but Ash’s posh accent and attitude doesn’t put off the bundle of good will and energy that makes Darian who he is. He may not be the smartest guy around, but he’s happy with who he is and where he is at in life. He knows how to present himself in the best light for the photos he takes and he’s happy to enjoy each opportunity as it comes. Getting the downtrodden Ash to laugh is a happy event in and of itself.
Despite all the random strange amalgamations of words in this story (some of which were just unusual British phrases I was unfamiliar with) I think my favorite was “glitter pirate”! I don’t know why it’s was just too f-in’ cute! I loved the way that Ash thought about Darian when he wasn’t being a condescending prick trying to hide from his own insecurities. Darian made him loosen up and reminded him that there was a life to be lived out there even if he was sick and that it was ok to enjoy life. Ultimately I think that’s what won me over to Darian in the end.
See I think I shuddered reading about Darian to begin with because I felt like I was watching someone crawl straight out of an episode of “The Jersey Shore” but with some almost indecipherable strange British accent. Not that the Jersey Shore accent can’t be indecipherable at times as well. ;) I don’t know if I’m the first one to comment on the strange parallels there, but all I could think when I first met Darian was, “damn, he’s a British Jersey Shore boy.” Granted I’ve never even seen an episode of the show or anything, but that’s what was racing through my head. I dislike stupid, and the initial encounter between Ash and Darian rammed me up against stupid hard. Eventually though I came to find Darian’s charm underneath it all and while he’s not the brain that Ash is, he’s not stupid either. He doesn’t have the fine polish of an elite education, but there are worthwhile thoughts and ideas about the way the world works and his philosophy on it all that come through all of that accent.
In the end though I think I would like Darian solely for what he does for Ash. Ash won over my heart with his twisted messed up head and I wanted him to have that guy that just plain made him happy. I just might have killed Niall if he had gone on one minute longer the day he decided to be a complete and utter douchebag tool!!! He redeems himself a little bit, but while I enjoyed Max and Amy, Niall wouldn’t be on my Christmas list anytime soon. Super dicky move dude! GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Don’t you go hurting my poor Ash. I’m the over-protective mama bear with her cub apparently this morning.
If I had one big problem with this book, and it’s a minor personal thing…
Spoiler
it’s that I was denied seeing Darian’s reaction to Ash’s tattoo in this book!Still all in all I giggled, I shed a few tears, it was an enjoyable read once I got into the story a bit. I adore my broken characters as when they find themselves and a new strength it always gives me hope. As hard as being in Ash’s head could be, I love the fact that this story is told from his perspective. Depression is hell and it doesn’t matter how many times people tell you to get over it, it isn’t that simple. Panic attacks can be the scariest thing in the world because there’s nothing you can do. Doesn’t matter that it’s over the simplest thing, doesn’t matter how many people tell you it’s not that big a deal, you know it’s not that big a deal, but there’s nothing you can do about the freak out. I empathize with Ash and I’m so happy he found the person that allows him to forget about all his problems for a moment and just live. ☺ 4.5 stars overall, but I’ll probably round down for the beginning taking me out of the story for a bit.
This was a really sweet book. It was a same-sex rom-com, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were interesting, as were the spicy scenes. Definitely worth the read, and I will look for other books by this other.
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
wasn’t expecting this to be the first thing I said about this book but, it’s actually pretty special.
Ash isn’t the most likeable character I’ve ever read but that kind of adds to how valuable he is. His anxiety and depression is incredibly relatable and the way that Darian is and the feelings he develops for him, are described through his eyes made my heart hurt and feel so full at the same time.
On that note, Darian is an absolute delight from start to finish! I think I fell in love with him at his first ‘babes’ and by the end I felt kind of obsessed with him! Ash describes him as a glitter pirate and how can anyone not love someone like that?
The plot is great in general. I feel like most Alexis Hall novels follow a similar pattern but this one was a particularly shiny example of the genre.
Ash isn’t the most likeable character I’ve ever read but that kind of adds to how valuable he is. His anxiety and depression is incredibly relatable and the way that Darian is and the feelings he develops for him, are described through his eyes made my heart hurt and feel so full at the same time.
On that note, Darian is an absolute delight from start to finish! I think I fell in love with him at his first ‘babes’ and by the end I felt kind of obsessed with him! Ash describes him as a glitter pirate and how can anyone not love someone like that?
The plot is great in general. I feel like most Alexis Hall novels follow a similar pattern but this one was a particularly shiny example of the genre.
Very good gay romance. The pacing was good, the characters were both lovabale although while listening to the audiobook, it took me a while to get used to Darian’s voice XD. The narrator did the most stereotypical gay voice. Its fine though, theyre both super cute. The author depicts depression pretty well too and the daily life of someone with it. I dont fully relate to Ash though because of how he is always pretty open about his mental state and brings it up often, but you do you, Ash. It also had the miss-communication trope a bit at the end which i didnt like but overall amazing cute gay little story :>
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes