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A review by filosophicfoton
One Night in Garoureve by Elle M. Drew
4.0
(I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Spoilers contained below; CW: body image, sex, mild cursing)
She had crossed the milestones for her age. Friends? Check. Business degree? Check. Apartment with her Boyfriend? Corporate job? Check check. Except, it had all crumbled to nothing.
Ariana is driving away from one place and towards another - neither of which she calls home - and stumbles upon a small town. After deciding to spend the night and checking into her hotel room, she heads over to the local bar. The bartender looks like he could make her forget all her problems for this one night, but really, isn’t he out of her league? Blinded by her poor self-esteem, she finds his desperation to touch her perplexing, but as she will learn, she can trust him. Well - his intentions, at least. Because he is definitely hiding something. Or, maybe more than one thing.
Elle M. Drew’s debut publication puts the reader into the life of a woman who has hit rock bottom, and discovers that she needs to only look inward to find out where to go next.
Ariana’s perception of herself leads to some uncomfortable conversations and thoughts, during which any reader who struggles with self-esteem or body image will relate to the emotional pain. The internal conflict and dissonance are worth it, though, to experience Ariana weaving her way to a resolution. Away from everyone in her life, in the town of Garoureve, she sees the differences between how they treated her - and how Colburn treats her. This comparison sparks a change in how she views herself. The removal of toxic people and spaces leave her voice alone the only one to listen to, rather than absorbing and reflecting the opinions of others. She changes for no one; instead, the evolution of her mental health isn’t for anyone but herself. This newfound clarity is reaffirmed by Colburn’s respect, care, and passion for helping her climax in a myriad of positions and methods.
“Her skin burned each place he touched, drawing little gasps with each kiss.”
Colburn will indeed, light you aflame. If you have any self-conscious thoughts about your body, he will fuck them from your mind. Repeatedly. With your most enthusiastic consent. Via the many, many, heated, explicitly intimate scenes, Drew addresses several common insecurities and through the characters, simultaneously puts the reader at ease and roasts them in a sexual fire.
The only things left to figure out are: Why isn’t Garoureve on any map? And- What is with the giant pack of dogs - or wolves - roaming the town? And why does Colburn like to go for jogs in the middle of the night? Why do the townsfolk call him boss? Where are all the women?
What is he hiding?
Drew’s writing is clear, simple, and fluid - the kind of writing where a reader forgets they are reading because the words smoothly sail into the movie in one’s mind. This book is the perfect evening treat, or perhaps a bathtub read for a night of escape. This story is driven by dialogue and action, and still Drew managed to make the character development - Ariana’s mental health - feel impactful, not dramatically forced, but like the natural reaction of a woman facing and processing the events in her life. While the story carried me away into a place of sexual tension, release, angst, and at times, mental anguish for the protagonist - it caught me off guard when bits of humor snuck up on me. I found myself laughing aloud a number of times.
I’m sorry to see this story end, but excited to meet the next couple in the town of Garoureve.
She had crossed the milestones for her age. Friends? Check. Business degree? Check. Apartment with her Boyfriend? Corporate job? Check check. Except, it had all crumbled to nothing.
Ariana is driving away from one place and towards another - neither of which she calls home - and stumbles upon a small town. After deciding to spend the night and checking into her hotel room, she heads over to the local bar. The bartender looks like he could make her forget all her problems for this one night, but really, isn’t he out of her league? Blinded by her poor self-esteem, she finds his desperation to touch her perplexing, but as she will learn, she can trust him. Well - his intentions, at least. Because he is definitely hiding something. Or, maybe more than one thing.
Elle M. Drew’s debut publication puts the reader into the life of a woman who has hit rock bottom, and discovers that she needs to only look inward to find out where to go next.
Ariana’s perception of herself leads to some uncomfortable conversations and thoughts, during which any reader who struggles with self-esteem or body image will relate to the emotional pain. The internal conflict and dissonance are worth it, though, to experience Ariana weaving her way to a resolution. Away from everyone in her life, in the town of Garoureve, she sees the differences between how they treated her - and how Colburn treats her. This comparison sparks a change in how she views herself. The removal of toxic people and spaces leave her voice alone the only one to listen to, rather than absorbing and reflecting the opinions of others. She changes for no one; instead, the evolution of her mental health isn’t for anyone but herself. This newfound clarity is reaffirmed by Colburn’s respect, care, and passion for helping her climax in a myriad of positions and methods.
“Her skin burned each place he touched, drawing little gasps with each kiss.”
Colburn will indeed, light you aflame. If you have any self-conscious thoughts about your body, he will fuck them from your mind. Repeatedly. With your most enthusiastic consent. Via the many, many, heated, explicitly intimate scenes, Drew addresses several common insecurities and through the characters, simultaneously puts the reader at ease and roasts them in a sexual fire.
The only things left to figure out are: Why isn’t Garoureve on any map? And- What is with the giant pack of dogs - or wolves - roaming the town? And why does Colburn like to go for jogs in the middle of the night? Why do the townsfolk call him boss? Where are all the women?
What is he hiding?
Drew’s writing is clear, simple, and fluid - the kind of writing where a reader forgets they are reading because the words smoothly sail into the movie in one’s mind. This book is the perfect evening treat, or perhaps a bathtub read for a night of escape. This story is driven by dialogue and action, and still Drew managed to make the character development - Ariana’s mental health - feel impactful, not dramatically forced, but like the natural reaction of a woman facing and processing the events in her life. While the story carried me away into a place of sexual tension, release, angst, and at times, mental anguish for the protagonist - it caught me off guard when bits of humor snuck up on me. I found myself laughing aloud a number of times.
I’m sorry to see this story end, but excited to meet the next couple in the town of Garoureve.