A review by thegreatmanda
It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If I can reasonably draw this conclusion after reading only two of her books, Cat Sebastian has a particular talent for creating couples with palpable magnetism, who have so many reasons not to fall in love but can't stop themselves anyway.

Sometimes I get frustrated watching two characters agonize over the life they want together but have convinced themselves isn’t possible, and I felt a little of that while reading this book. The thing is, though, when everything that feels true and right to two people has no name or place in their larger society, they have to fight for one another’s trust and safety and to carve out space for a life together. For Ben and Phillip, it’s a fight against everything they ever believed they wanted, and against the clearly marked, safe paths their lives were taking before they got to know each other. Every small victory along that path is thrilling and rewarding to witness.

Favorite Quotes:

If there was a way to resist this man, he hadn’t found it.

He hadn't meant to admit that, but this was Sedgwick, this was Benedict, this was a man who played with ducklings and sang lewd songs to the elderly, and Phillip didn't need to worry about dignity, or whatever it was that usually hampered his desire. He knew in his heart he could tell him everything, anything, and it would be fine. He was safe. His heart was safe, or as safe as it ever would be.

It felt somehow easier to touch and hold Ben than it was not to touch him, which made no sense, because Phillip had never in his life touched anyone like this. He had never run his hands soothingly down anyone's back; he had never kissed anyone's temple; he had never whispered nonsense into anyone's ear as he was doing now. But it all felt right, like he was finally in his native habitat.

Their shoulders touched, and the familiarity of the contact warmed Phillip in a way he hadn't thought possible. Touching Ben, even being near him, felt like being joined with a half he hadn't known was missing.

"If we can all quietly agree that eating pork and shaving aren’t sinful, I don’t see why we can’t extend that same grace to men like us."

"This is all new to me. I’m in a new world without a map or a chart, but you’re my compass, Ben, and I know we’ll find a way."