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A review by red3horn
The Hell You Say by Josh Lanyon
5.0
Rating 4.5 stars
This series hurts me. It hurts me and I love it for that fact. See, I am a self-proclaimed angst whore and I live for stories like this. A few months back, I wasn’t sure I was going to read this series even though I wanted to. The reaction it gets from readers is intense but I had to see for myself and well…
So this takes place a few months after book two ends. Adrien and Jake are doing okay in their one foot – meaning Jake – in the closet relationship. I know, I KNOW I should hate Jake for that, but I can’t. Not yet. I have a thing for the boys in the closet and the bits that Jake gives of himself to Adrien just kill me. I mean, how the hell does reading two sex scenes in this book make me break down and cry into my pillow so I don’t wake the man sleeping next to me? How would I explain that an act, so intimate and so seemingly foreign for Jake, when he does it and doesn’t expect nor want reciprocation, turns me into a sobbing girl? JHFC, yeah I was a mess and those moments are why I adore the holy hell out of him.
Now I will admit, I did want punch Jake in the nards a few times with the shit he pulls but WHY does Adrien put up with it? I mean, he is a grown man and I know his feelings are strong with Jake but, FFS dude! Man up and do something about your non-relationship!
I won’t bore you with a review of the story, this has been out for a bit, but I will say that this was the best mystery of the three books so far. I loved the layering with Angus and then meeting the handsome Guy Snowden. The whole occult business was fun and the bits of true Los Angeles history throughout the story really had my heart squeezed twice. Once again, Lanyon writes local and the small inclusion of the Beltane holiday had me in full swoon mode. *whispers* Beltane is my birthday. Yeah, I was born on an important pagan holiday where they dance naked around a fire under the full moon… if that doesn’t say something about me… *grins*
Adrien, while I think you are a bit of a doormat at times, I loved how strong you also were in this. You have come into your own and your wit is stunning. I highlighted so many one liners you tossed out because they were too good not to remember, as if I could forget.
Back to the story, I admit to skimming the mystery parts of the first books to get to the Jake and Adrien good stuff but this one, I read every last word. What I thought was going to happen, never happened and what did happened was all twisty and good. But then, then we get to the other stuff and that bit in the bookstore with Jake and Adrien… I still can’t form a proper thought on how angry and hurt I am at that. I mean, I get Jake to a point. I do. I understand his survival mode he goes in to but that? It hurt everyone in that scene and by everyone that includes me. Yeah, Jake. You hurt me.
So, the mystery has been solved and we are where we are with Jake and Adrien. Or well you know… you know? Ugh. I can’t say I hate Jake yet, I don’t think that will ever happen but I am disappointed in him, beyond the beyond I am disappointed. I know he loves Adrien, the things he does when he lets go shows me that but good lord, knock the shit off will you Riordan? I have a heart problem too… don’t break it.
Please.
This series hurts me. It hurts me and I love it for that fact. See, I am a self-proclaimed angst whore and I live for stories like this. A few months back, I wasn’t sure I was going to read this series even though I wanted to. The reaction it gets from readers is intense but I had to see for myself and well…
So this takes place a few months after book two ends. Adrien and Jake are doing okay in their one foot – meaning Jake – in the closet relationship. I know, I KNOW I should hate Jake for that, but I can’t. Not yet. I have a thing for the boys in the closet and the bits that Jake gives of himself to Adrien just kill me. I mean, how the hell does reading two sex scenes in this book make me break down and cry into my pillow so I don’t wake the man sleeping next to me? How would I explain that an act, so intimate and so seemingly foreign for Jake, when he does it and doesn’t expect nor want reciprocation, turns me into a sobbing girl? JHFC, yeah I was a mess and those moments are why I adore the holy hell out of him.
Now I will admit, I did want punch Jake in the nards a few times with the shit he pulls but WHY does Adrien put up with it? I mean, he is a grown man and I know his feelings are strong with Jake but, FFS dude! Man up and do something about your non-relationship!
I won’t bore you with a review of the story, this has been out for a bit, but I will say that this was the best mystery of the three books so far. I loved the layering with Angus and then meeting the handsome Guy Snowden. The whole occult business was fun and the bits of true Los Angeles history throughout the story really had my heart squeezed twice. Once again, Lanyon writes local and the small inclusion of the Beltane holiday had me in full swoon mode. *whispers* Beltane is my birthday. Yeah, I was born on an important pagan holiday where they dance naked around a fire under the full moon… if that doesn’t say something about me… *grins*
Adrien, while I think you are a bit of a doormat at times, I loved how strong you also were in this. You have come into your own and your wit is stunning. I highlighted so many one liners you tossed out because they were too good not to remember, as if I could forget.
Back to the story, I admit to skimming the mystery parts of the first books to get to the Jake and Adrien good stuff but this one, I read every last word. What I thought was going to happen, never happened and what did happened was all twisty and good. But then, then we get to the other stuff and that bit in the bookstore with Jake and Adrien… I still can’t form a proper thought on how angry and hurt I am at that. I mean, I get Jake to a point. I do. I understand his survival mode he goes in to but that? It hurt everyone in that scene and by everyone that includes me. Yeah, Jake. You hurt me.
So, the mystery has been solved and we are where we are with Jake and Adrien. Or well you know… you know? Ugh. I can’t say I hate Jake yet, I don’t think that will ever happen but I am disappointed in him, beyond the beyond I am disappointed. I know he loves Adrien, the things he does when he lets go shows me that but good lord, knock the shit off will you Riordan? I have a heart problem too… don’t break it.
Please.