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A review by endemictoearth
And Then You by Briar Prescott
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I've read almost everything this author has written, and it's all been solidly four stars. Occasionally, a 3.5 rounded up, once or twice a 4.25 that didn't quite make it high enough to be rounded up to five.
That's not a bad thing, to be consistent and solid and make me want to read everything you've written. This book, without really trying, is my first five star from this author. (I mean, maybe 4.75 if you squint, but let's not split hairs.)
When an author can take a trope I've read literally hundreds of times and make it feel both different and familiar, that's good work. The way these characters tumble haphazardly into a fake relationship because Steph was being a little shit -- chef's kiss. I loved how getting warned off Quinn only made him realize how much he didn't want to break up with him (even though they weren't dating, of course). And no third act break up--only a teensy escape where Quinn assumes Steph is planning to break up, but nope! All was well.
There's real pain in this book; the first scene prologue is Steph losing his identical twin in a freak accident and he spends most of the book feeling that survivor's guilt and keeping his story bottled up tight. I never urged him in futile whispers to my Kindle to 'just tell him!" or "say something!" like I've done for lots of other books, because this was totally a "Steph needs to do this on his own terms and timeline" situation. (And the scene where he revealed that the first time he met Quinn wasn't really the first time hurt just as bad as I thought it would.)
But despite that pain, the book is told with a light touch and made me happy reading it. I stayed up way too late and subsequently neglected work to finish it because I was totally engrossed. I'm 99% sure I'll re-read it when it releases on KU (something I reserve for my very favorite arcs.)
I kindly received an advanced copy from Gay Romance Reviews.
That's not a bad thing, to be consistent and solid and make me want to read everything you've written. This book, without really trying, is my first five star from this author. (I mean, maybe 4.75 if you squint, but let's not split hairs.)
When an author can take a trope I've read literally hundreds of times and make it feel both different and familiar, that's good work. The way these characters tumble haphazardly into a fake relationship because Steph was being a little shit -- chef's kiss. I loved how getting warned off Quinn only made him realize how much he didn't want to break up with him (even though they weren't dating, of course). And no third act break up--only a teensy escape where Quinn assumes Steph is planning to break up, but nope! All was well.
There's real pain in this book; the first scene prologue is Steph losing his identical twin in a freak accident and he spends most of the book feeling that survivor's guilt and keeping his story bottled up tight. I never urged him in futile whispers to my Kindle to 'just tell him!" or "say something!" like I've done for lots of other books, because this was totally a "Steph needs to do this on his own terms and timeline" situation. (And the scene where he revealed that the first time he met Quinn wasn't really the first time hurt just as bad as I thought it would.)
But despite that pain, the book is told with a light touch and made me happy reading it. I stayed up way too late and subsequently neglected work to finish it because I was totally engrossed. I'm 99% sure I'll re-read it when it releases on KU (something I reserve for my very favorite arcs.)
I kindly received an advanced copy from Gay Romance Reviews.