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A review by ladymacbeth2024
Skin and Bones by Sophia Soames
5.0
5 stars
Sophia Soames really outdid herself with this story. It was angsty, emotional, painful but, above all, hopeful.
Ben appeares for the first time in Taste he's Mark's best friend, they have a strong bond and Ben helps him coping with his depressive episodes. Hugo is the new congierge, a smiling, carefree, easygoing dude everyone wants to date.
Ben is strangley intrigued by him and finds himself pushing to be friends.
Hugo hides a lot, though: he has an eating disorder and he lives with his very abusive boyfriend; he's been in a toxic relationship with him, on and off, for over 10 years and doesn't know how to escape from it.
When he reaches his breaking point (please be aware that there is a very painful sexual assault scene in this book), Hugo will be there to help him.
Writing of victims of abuse is not easy, but the author let us understand Hugo's headspace very well: the mental conditioning Lewis put him through is strong and he seemes incapable of leaving him. Ben says a very truthful thing about that:
"You were silently crying out fo help, yet you wouldn't accept it from anyyone."
Hugo cannot be helped from outside but when finally founds the strenght to leave Lewis, he discovers that there are a lot of people ready to help him (besides his family): Ben, Mark, Finn, Mabel and other collegues from the hotel.
Ben also has his own problems: a brain injury that makes his life very difficult, a trauma from the past that still haunts him, his sexuality tha doesn't allow him to connect with people in a "normal" way. And his friendship/codependency with Mark.
Ben is also brave, though, and when he realise he's in love with Hugo, he's unhesitant to support him, until Hugo is ready to love him back.
I found the physical side of their relationship so beautiful: their intimacy is different, yet so very strong. They found comfort, safety, love, understanding into each other's arms.
Hugo's recovery is not easy and straightforward, but Ben doesn't back out: their journey as a couple will include a lot of tears but it will worth every single one of them.
Absolutely recommended
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
Sophia Soames really outdid herself with this story. It was angsty, emotional, painful but, above all, hopeful.
Ben appeares for the first time in Taste he's Mark's best friend, they have a strong bond and Ben helps him coping with his depressive episodes. Hugo is the new congierge, a smiling, carefree, easygoing dude everyone wants to date.
Ben is strangley intrigued by him and finds himself pushing to be friends.
Hugo hides a lot, though: he has an eating disorder and he lives with his very abusive boyfriend; he's been in a toxic relationship with him, on and off, for over 10 years and doesn't know how to escape from it.
When he reaches his breaking point (please be aware that there is a very painful sexual assault scene in this book), Hugo will be there to help him.
Writing of victims of abuse is not easy, but the author let us understand Hugo's headspace very well: the mental conditioning Lewis put him through is strong and he seemes incapable of leaving him. Ben says a very truthful thing about that:
"You were silently crying out fo help, yet you wouldn't accept it from anyyone."
Hugo cannot be helped from outside but when finally founds the strenght to leave Lewis, he discovers that there are a lot of people ready to help him (besides his family): Ben, Mark, Finn, Mabel and other collegues from the hotel.
Ben also has his own problems: a brain injury that makes his life very difficult, a trauma from the past that still haunts him, his sexuality tha doesn't allow him to connect with people in a "normal" way. And his friendship/codependency with Mark.
Ben is also brave, though, and when he realise he's in love with Hugo, he's unhesitant to support him, until Hugo is ready to love him back.
I found the physical side of their relationship so beautiful: their intimacy is different, yet so very strong. They found comfort, safety, love, understanding into each other's arms.
Hugo's recovery is not easy and straightforward, but Ben doesn't back out: their journey as a couple will include a lot of tears but it will worth every single one of them.
Absolutely recommended
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.