So, I was wrong about my gut feeling and I couldn’t have been happier. This didn’t end badly, it ended exactly how it should. I can’t recommend this sSo, I was wrong about my gut feeling and I couldn’t have been happier. This didn’t end badly, it ended exactly how it should. I can’t recommend this series enough, it’s truly one of the best mystery books around with one of the most memorable and interesting (gay) protagonists I ever came across. I love Henry and I’m not ready to say goodbye to him yet. But since this is the final book, I think re-reading this series in the future will be my only option....more
I really loved this! It’s a well written slow burn about a forbidden romance between a teacher (who’s only 25, btw), and his 17 years old student, andI really loved this! It’s a well written slow burn about a forbidden romance between a teacher (who’s only 25, btw), and his 17 years old student, and it hit me with a lot of feels. The sex is off page, but that didn’t even bother me. This book is more about how two people find their other significant half and society has decided they can’t be together because of the student/teacher relationship. And I get that, sure, but in this case the whole world was against them and all they did was love each other. There are some side plots that might make this book a tough read for some, so be aware of them before you proceed. (A terminal sick parent, a very bad parent-son relationship, interfering family members who shouldn’t be as hateful as they are for example). I’ll definitely read more by this author. ...more
John Boyne is such an extraordinary writer, I haven’t read a book by him that I didn’t love. He is a master at unfolding the story, twisting and turniJohn Boyne is such an extraordinary writer, I haven’t read a book by him that I didn’t love. He is a master at unfolding the story, twisting and turning unexpectedly and leaving me so engaged that it’s hard to put the book down. Even when there were times I was in doubt whether to like Evan or not, I can still feel sorry for him. He only wanted someone to love him and when a childhood friend had treated him bad, something broke inside of him. With a father like the one he had it’s a miracle he turned out the way he did. Because deep down I know Evan was one of the good guys, he was just dealt a shitty hand and his lack of self worth took him places he might not have gone when he’d had a solid home, parents who listened and believed in him. Because in the end, that was all he really needed. ...more
I know I read this book a long time ago, in a translated version. I didn't remember much of it, other than that I liked it. But I'm convinced that traI know I read this book a long time ago, in a translated version. I didn't remember much of it, other than that I liked it. But I'm convinced that translated versions never (or hardly) do the original version justice, so that's why I wanted to read it again, and an original copy too.
I loved everything about it. The writing is beautiful and Charlie is such a beautiful, sensitive soul, and dare I say, not your typical 15 year old? Of course his struggles are in some ways quite similar to what most young teens go through when transferring from kids to adults. The fears of how to be, of how to act, if people will like you, if you can make friends who sincerely care about you, to ignore what others think of you...most of the time life lessons are being taken at this age. I am quite certain that this period in a human life is the most difficult and most exhausting and yet most educating one. It's something you have to get through in order to become you, to find out who you really are and where you want to go in life.
I haven't read a lot of other reviews about this book, so I'm not sure if it's mentioned before, but the whole book I got this feeling that Charlie might be neurodivergent? Other than just a struggling teen, he has some very specific things that made me question if he wasn't. He takes things very literally, for example, and he has a very bright mind. He's emotionally ill equipped, seeing that he doesn't know how to act or react to other people in situations he has never found himself in before. The reason I question this, is because I'm neurodivergent myself and I recognised so much of myself in Charlie!
I loved the whole set of characters, Sam, Patrick, Charlie's parents, his sister and brother, Bill. Specially Bill. I really loved how he treated Charlie as the bright student he was, and not like 'the weirdo' a lot of people saw when they looked at him. I loved the talk he had with Charlie where he told him he was such a smart kid, he could probably be anything he wanted to be. I loved the books he had Charlie read, loved how they talked about them, and what they meant to Charlie.
I think this is a book for a wide audience, many people have already read it, but if you haven't, I highly recommend you do. It's a book that takes you back to being a teen with all the insecurities that come with that period of time. I think we all had them, some were just better in hiding than others. And even though most people come out of it without scars, a lot of people don't. Charlie was almost one of them, and if there ever was a book that needed that epilogue, then it's this one, and I'm glad Charlie was there to tell us he came out okay.
The best one in this excellent series if you ask me. Henry Rios is an extraordinary protagonist, a brilliant character who seems to be just as real asThe best one in this excellent series if you ask me. Henry Rios is an extraordinary protagonist, a brilliant character who seems to be just as real as you and I. This was a tough case, both in the way it had me guessing, but also the case itself was brutal. Henry solves it and should be the hero of the book, but the way Michael Nava writes his character doesn’t make him all that heroic, if that makes any sense. I’m savouring this series because I”m not ready to say goodbye to Henry yet. ...more
**spoiler alert** While reading this, at times it was hard to remind myself this book was written and published in the early 70's. It definitely stand**spoiler alert** While reading this, at times it was hard to remind myself this book was written and published in the early 70's. It definitely stands the test of time, it could have been written and published recently instead of decades ago. What I hadn't expected was that the sex scenes between Harlan and Billy often were described vividly. Not in all detail, but with enough use of language and words that there was no doubt in what was happening. It wasn't the fade to black or off page sex I had expected. Maybe that's why this was such a groundbreaking book - it calls the things by its name, which I doubt was a common thing in those days.
This is one of those books I regret not having read sooner, as it leaves a lasting imprint in my mind. It's not just the story itself, it's also the superb writing, the unforgettable characters, that ending. Lots of readers complain - and a lot of times I understand, but also many times I don't - about how the gays never get a happily ever after in books written before the 21st century. But imagine the life they were leading back in these days. And this book is a truthful reminder of how gay people had to live their lives, most of the time in hiding, secretly loving their partners, but not able to show the world, to talk about it, to be open about it. Most of the time they were rejected by society, by everyone surrounding them, even their families, their friends. The hatred they would receive if they dared to be open about their sexuality. And even in this century, in this period of time, for a lot of gay people this is still their daily life. And even if we have come a long way since the publishing of this book, there is still a lot of work to do. When will society ever not care about someone's sexuality? What is it about it that people can't seem to accept? I mean, straight people might do the strangest things in their bedroom (which they have every right to do) but nobody cares. A vanilla kind of gay gets shunned and receives hatred because he or she happens to like their same sex. I just don't get it, not even when being a cis woman myself. But I did have a deeply closeted gay father and I know what it did to him and to us as a family. And as a daughter and a mother, I try to pass on to my own children to be open minded at all times and to accept people for who they are, and that their sexuality is not something to care about. Besides, 2 of my daughters are bi-sexual, and even though they currently are in a man-woman relationship (while having had girlfriends before), that doesn't mean they are still not part of the LGBTQI+ community and I support them how, whenever and wherever I can.
This book also doesn't end on a happy note. On the contrary. I hadn't seen this one coming, even though the author had included so many hints here and there that I could hardly have missed them. But I had. I thought this book was finally showing the hatred wouldn't win, despite the threats Billy and Harlan had received after coming out. But then it did and it's part of the reason I can't possibly forget about this book. I was heartbroken after finishing it. ...more
4,5 stars. Not exactly a romance book, but there’s kissing and a romantic interest and mentions of d!ck pics, so it’s not all about being queer in a p4,5 stars. Not exactly a romance book, but there’s kissing and a romantic interest and mentions of d!ck pics, so it’s not all about being queer in a popular boy and. But most of it is. It’s about surviving when the whole world knows your private story, including the fact you are gay and a bottom. It’s about surviving judgement and not being able to be yourself. About how a label has the power to create your image, to mess with your private life and all because it sells. I felt sad for Hunter, who went through it all. How he lost himself along the way just doing what he loved to do and being good at it. I kept wondering about Kaivan, about what he really felt, what he wanted from Hunter. Maybe I secretly hoped Hunter and Aiden would kiss and make up!
There’s a lot of inclusivity in this book and chapeau for that! In these days it feels important to be as inclusive as possible in books young people are going to read. It should be something natural, not even something to point out and shout out about. But unfortunately that’s still how the world works right now.
I have to admit I haven’t read Darius the great and maybe it’s better that I haven’t. Many readers were disappointed by this book because they expected another Darius, and from what I understood, this is very different. Maybe because of that, I was able to dive into this without expectations and just appreciate this author’s great writing skills.
I loved how this story included notes from (fake) media, chats between management and label, excerpts from interviews and magazines, because all of these showed exactly the pressure Hunter was under, and how he was manoeuvred into a role model rather than being allowed to just be himself.
All in all, this was an enjoyable, highly entertaining read and I will certainly check out more by this author. ...more
Certainly one of the most beautiful books I read this year! So many feelings and such wonderful storytelling, looking out for more by this author for Certainly one of the most beautiful books I read this year! So many feelings and such wonderful storytelling, looking out for more by this author for sure. ...more
Florian stayed silent, just a gentle squeeze of his fingers at my waist told he understood. "It's okay to not be okay sometimes."
I know where I will b
Florian stayed silent, just a gentle squeeze of his fingers at my waist told he understood. "It's okay to not be okay sometimes."
I know where I will be spending my summer this year: Île de Ré, a small island off the French coast where this story takes place. Unfortunately I won't be coming across Florian, because he's all made up by Fearne Hill, but the idyllic descriptions of this island tempt me to pick this destination for my summer holidays.
This book tells the beautiful, heartfelt story of Florian and Charles. Charles has come to the island to find some peace and quiet after his mother's passing and his declining mental health. He's rented a house and is mostly keeping to himself until he encounters Florian's lost grandfather, who is suffering from the early stages of dementia. Despite their age difference, Florian and Charles immediately find a connection and attraction towards each other. They first become friends before anything else, Florian showing Charles about his profession as one of the last independent salt workers. It's clear Florian takes pride in what he does and owns! Charles's mental health is fragile, though, and what he and Florian have is nothing more than a summer fling. Or is it? When Charles's stressful job comes back in the form of his work partner (and former best friend) and he has to return to London, his mind is not in a right place yet, and once he is back to his old life, things go downhill very fast.
I really loved this new book by Fearne Hill. I love how she handles heavy topics. As she says herself, always with a light touch, and she does. Charles's mental health is very prominent in this story - it's threatening and disturbing. I loved how Florian wanted to be there for Charles, how he, despite his young age, tried to help him. But whatever he wanted to be or do, Charles's disturbing mind was too strong for them to fight. I wondered how he would ever heal enough for them to stand a chance, but this is a romance and so of course the happy ever after is there. It's one very hard fought for and very well deserved.
As always, Fearne's writing is with a light touch but still trigger warnings are in place because the subject of Charles's mental health is a heavy one, and as I mentioned before, very prominent. Florian was such a delight, he was a beautiful character with a soft, loving and caring soul. I loved how his grandfather's mental state played an important role next to Charles's and how there were some similarities too. This was a delightful read, one I truly enjoyed reading, despite the heaviness of it. Yes, it was heartbreaking at times, but knowing things were going to be okay made it more bearable. I've reached a point where Fearne Hill can hardly do any wrong with her books. I have enjoyed every single one of them so far, and they always end up on my list of best books I read in a year. I don't think this year will be any different!
I kindly received an arc from gaybookpromotions and this is my own, unbiased and honest opinion
Merged review:
Florian stayed silent, just a gentle squeeze of his fingers at my waist told he understood. "It's okay to not be okay sometimes."
I know where I will be spending my summer this year: Île de Ré, a small island off the French coast where this story takes place. Unfortunately I won't be coming across Florian, because he's all made up by Fearne Hill, but the idyllic descriptions of this island tempt me to pick this destination for my summer holidays.
This book tells the beautiful, heartfelt story of Florian and Charles. Charles has come to the island to find some peace and quiet after his mother's passing and his declining mental health. He's rented a house and is mostly keeping to himself until he encounters Florian's lost grandfather, who is suffering from the early stages of dementia. Despite their age difference, Florian and Charles immediately find a connection and attraction towards each other. They first become friends before anything else, Florian showing Charles about his profession as one of the last independent salt workers. It's clear Florian takes pride in what he does and owns! Charles's mental health is fragile, though, and what he and Florian have is nothing more than a summer fling. Or is it? When Charles's stressful job comes back in the form of his work partner (and former best friend) and he has to return to London, his mind is not in a right place yet, and once he is back to his old life, things go downhill very fast.
I really loved this new book by Fearne Hill. I love how she handles heavy topics. As she says herself, always with a light touch, and she does. Charles's mental health is very prominent in this story - it's threatening and disturbing. I loved how Florian wanted to be there for Charles, how he, despite his young age, tried to help him. But whatever he wanted to be or do, Charles's disturbing mind was too strong for them to fight. I wondered how he would ever heal enough for them to stand a chance, but this is a romance and so of course the happy ever after is there. It's one very hard fought for and very well deserved.
As always, Fearne's writing is with a light touch but still trigger warnings are in place because the subject of Charles's mental health is a heavy one, and as I mentioned before, very prominent. Florian was such a delight, he was a beautiful character with a soft, loving and caring soul. I loved how his grandfather's mental state played an important role next to Charles's and how there were some similarities too. This was a delightful read, one I truly enjoyed reading, despite the heaviness of it. Yes, it was heartbreaking at times, but knowing things were going to be okay made it more bearable. I've reached a point where Fearne Hill can hardly do any wrong with her books. I have enjoyed every single one of them so far, and they always end up on my list of best books I read in a year. I don't think this year will be any different!
I kindly received an arc from gaybookpromotions and this is my own, unbiased and honest opinion
I once read this book a long time ago in a translation. I never forgot about it, and now I’ve read the original version, i can only say it’s just as rI once read this book a long time ago in a translation. I never forgot about it, and now I’ve read the original version, i can only say it’s just as raw, gritty, intense and haunting as I remember. Unsettling. Maybe even more. Translations don’t always do justice to the original and it feels that way with this book as well.
Harley is a difficult protagonist. When you refuse to look closer, you could almost dislike him. On the surface he seems selfish, only trying to get what he wants and how he wants it, not caring if he hurts others in the process. He tries to hide his caring personality, his troubled love for his sisters, who depend on him now their father was shot by their mother, who serves time in jail. But Harley is only a 19 year old confused and hurt boy, barely a man. He has 2 jobs, worries about finances, worries about his sisters and how to get their lives back on track again after all the trauma they went through. But he comes from a disfunctional family long before the tragedy and he can no longer keep it together. He slowly loses touch with reality, a downhill ride specially when he starts te realise what truly happened the day his mother shot his father.
I couldn’t help but feel for Harley. He tried to fight his psychological downfall, but he couldn’t win that battle. Under the surface of a typical 19 years old adolescent was a caring person who tried to do whatever he could, but he was severely traumatised himself. He had obligations and responsibilities he was too young and too damaged to deal with.
The writing was excellent, the whole story told from Harley’s pov, which was exhausting at times, but I don’t think it could have been done differently in order to understand him and his actions or his character. This author has a way of revealing the story bit by bit, and it made a lasting impression on me. I wasn’t able to forget about it after the first time I read it, and now I’m sure it will stay with me for a long time to come....more
Wow…this was just… Wow. I don’t think I ever read anything like this before. Fascinating, erotic and very interesting characters. It was intriguing to Wow…this was just… Wow. I don’t think I ever read anything like this before. Fascinating, erotic and very interesting characters. It was intriguing to see how it all came together in the end. I loved the historical settings.
This was quite a remarkable book. It tells the story's of Jack, Colin and David, all 3 living a life on the edges of society in a different era in London, all three ending up selling sex for money and how they got there. I loved the lyrical writing and the historical setting of all three men. It gives you an interesting look at queer life and history in the city of London. And it's, I must admit, quite unexpectedly erotic too at times!...more
I’m overcome with sadness. The way this book tells the story of being gay in the early 80’s in San Francisco, when AIDS made its first victims in a tiI’m overcome with sadness. The way this book tells the story of being gay in the early 80’s in San Francisco, when AIDS made its first victims in a time when finally progress seemed to have been made in the gay community for people to be free to be themselves, AIDS struck and forcefully and brutally ended that period of hope and progress. It’s the fear and shame, the inability to accept oneself and the unaccepting society, that harshly and without any doubt concluded that this was all because the homosexuals and lesbians brought this upon themselves for being who they were, being unnatural and freaks, that Michael Nava writes about in this second book of Henry Rios and he writes it down so well that I feel the sadness within my heart and my bones.
This story of all these men, rejected by their families for being gay, and eventually rejected by a society that condemned them too, is heartbreakingly real. In particular Bill Ryan’s story, that begins when he’s caught with a guy in his bedroom. His father physically abuses him before he is thrown out of the house, put on a bus to San Francisco to start a new life on his own. Barely 18 years old and from a small town where being gay was a major sin, he has to find his way in a world he is unfamiliar with, but where he does find others like him. Told in different pov’s and in time jumps, this story is not only a recount of this black period in human history, but also a suspense story, where Henry Rios investigates Bill’s death before the life insurance company will be able to pay the money to his sole beneficiary Nick, the guy who was Bill’s lover at the time he died. What should have been an easy job, ends up being a little more complicated than Henry thought. It was interesting to see how Bill’s story unfolded and simultaneously see how Henry goes on after he lost his lover in the first book.
This is so well written with Henry being such an interesting mc, that I already look forward to pick up the other books in this series. Highly recommended!...more
I thought this was a fascinating fictional story about Eleanor Roosevelt's friendship with reporter and author Lorena Hickok, "Hicks". Amy Bloom's excI thought this was a fascinating fictional story about Eleanor Roosevelt's friendship with reporter and author Lorena Hickok, "Hicks". Amy Bloom's excellent writing kept me captivated and engaged enough that I even took the time to do some research myself. Though this is indeed a fictional story, the special friendship that these two women developed onto a deep level, and might have been taken further and more intimate, seems not far from the truth. I loved where Amy Bloom took this story, even though it did leave me with an overall feeling of sadness. ...more
I can't find any coherent words right now. This was the sweetest, heartwarming, funny and beautiful book I read this year. Cat Sebastian is my heroineI can't find any coherent words right now. This was the sweetest, heartwarming, funny and beautiful book I read this year. Cat Sebastian is my heroine....more
What a beautiful, moving coming of age book. It’s about a period in our history that’s had a huge impact on millions of lives, and yet there aren’t enWhat a beautiful, moving coming of age book. It’s about a period in our history that’s had a huge impact on millions of lives, and yet there aren’t enough books left that tell about the subject of AIDS and the fear and harm it caused back then. We all remember the famous people who died from it, like Freddy Mercury for example, but we hardly take time to remember the hundred thousands of anonymous people who suffered and died, and left so many friends and families devastated and scared. With an ignorant government that did literally nothing to acknowledge and fight the crisis where their own people were being killed by a virus that spread widely, it is no wonder there was shame and anger and silence and ignorance. This book is a very good start if you want to read more, if you want to educate yourself. At some point it reminded me of Like a love story by Abdi Nazemian, one of the most beautiful YA books I read. It speaks of the fear of AIDS, of ACT UP, just like this book does.
I was a young woman, growing from a teenager into adulthood in this period of time, so I remember. There was hardly any information what to do to prevent it and how to get it. I was just as much in the unknown as most people, and it made me unnecessarily scared and afraid, as it did with a lot of people my age back then. And I wasn’t even gay. This is a book that needs to be read in order to not forget this period in history. It’s a moving account of a teenager who loses her gay dad to AIDS. It’s about grief and about acting up, about not wanting to be ignored and about being taken care of. It’s really beautifully written, it feels very much like the protagonist is a struggling teenager. I loved the found family, I loved how Danielle grew in this story and how she stood up for her father and his friends, how she wanted to break the silence with her art and stop the world from being ignorant and her father’s people from being ignored. Just read it, it’s such a relevant story. ...more
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