First Impressions

First Impressions #1

by Josephine Myles

When ugly socks attract.


Surly artist Jez just can’t help staring at the brightly colored socks of the businessman who sits opposite him on the train every day. He weaves a whole history for the mysterious stranger in a vain attempt to stave off his attraction, but it only ends up feeding his bizarre obsession. Then one hot morning, Jez finally snaps and starts sketching...


This is the 2nd electronic edition of this title, originally published by Torquere Press. The main updates are new cover art, typesetting and minor editorial corrections, so readers who own the first edition have no need to purchase it again.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Gay, Erotica, LGBT

23 pages, ebook

First published January 29, 2011

About the author

English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. She blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She's beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

***

Note to readers: I don't read reviews of my stories on here anymore, as I think they're geared for other readers, not the writers (plus I'm chicken and would rather stick my fingers in my ears going "la-la-la"). If you'd like to let me know what you thought about any of my stories, please PM me or send me an email. I'd be very happy to hear from you :)

Reviews

[SheReadsALot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this freebie! Jez and his blonde dreads were too cute. I love the theme of strangers falling for one another on public transportation. I used to create stories in my head for fellow passengers when riding the subway.

And the fact that Jez was so 'in his head'? Loved it. I will most definitely follow the rest of the series.

Great dialogue, great characters and great sex! (I will admit the last book I read glossed over the sex that I cheered out loud when I read the detailed blowjob in this one.)

And to believe Jez and Steve's love affair started with ugly socks?!

Love it!

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!

Everybody knows them - ugly socks. But while I prefer to bury them in the depths of my dresser, Josephine Myles pulled them out of the dark and transformed them into a sexy little kink.

Very cute short story!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sexy and a sock kink?
A stranger on the train? A free spirited artist and a suit? I really enjoy a mismatched perfect pair.
Yeah...this was good stuff. But of course, it's Jo Myles :)

Gotta dash, I need the next one!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay, for another sweet story with fun and colorful socks!
I want more.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simply loved this story. The vivid detail of Jez’s world as he looks at everything with an artist’s eye drew me in as much as the deeper truth underneath. The slow reveal of who this man is that he’s been admiring every morning on the train was very interesting, well paced and fun at the same time.

Jez has certain preconceived ideas about the world, as we all do. They extend to looking at someone’s way of dressing and figuring out what they do for a living. The colorful socks he describes were a clear warning signal (to me), a bi on irritating detail for him. At least at first. I think they are brilliant as a symbol for a lot of things: Steve’s rebellion against the banal office world he has to live in, a statement about who he really is inside, and a signal to like-minded people – even if Jez takes a while to catch on.

If you like fun stories with quirky details, a deeper message about how we as humans and as a society work and have always been wondering what sort of underwear goes with garish socks, you will love this story as much as I do.

[Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

When ugly socks attract. So very true.

I just love Myles' voice. This is a short but really detailed story about two strangers and a bizarrely adorable courtship on a train. They see each other month and month and Jez, an artist, fantasizes about the suit, Steve, who sits across from him and looks so buttoned down except for his neverending collection of lurid socks.

This is from Jez' POV and I love what's going on his head. This is a great little story. Lots of wonderful chemistry here.

[Cole Riann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written and poignant story that hit all of my buttons. I loved the characters, the premise, the idea of who someone is measured against what we assume they are. Jo did a wonderful job cutting right to those elements in a way that was more than a thrill and more than a scene. Extremely difficult to do in a short story. Without the sex scene, I wouldn't have been surprised to find it in a literary journal. I loved the socks -- oh yeah, and the underwear :)

[Macky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like this little story I love the idea of a pair of bright, garish socks bringing two complete opposites together on public transport. The dreadlocked artistic Jez and the suited city gent Steve. Cute and sexy. And thank you Jo.. At the moment free.

[atmatos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, fun, and very British, loved it!

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little tale of Jez, a surly artist and Steve, the guy whose socks blow Jez's mind whilst sitting opposite him on the Tube each morning. 4 stars

This was a cute shortie, mostly about Steve's brightly coloured socks and what Jez suspected they said about the man that wore them.

What they actually did say, and where it lead the two of them is for you to find out. I've also downloaded the freebie which follows on from this.

[Josephine Myles]

It all started with the socks...

I have one of those minds that likes to take up a challenge, and when I read somewhere that leaving your socks on during sex was a real turn off, I thought "why?" Somehow, from this strange beginning a whole story of erotic obsession grew. I loved the idea of pairing up two very different looking characters, both of whom were judged by their appearance. I also enjoy watching strangers on public transport and making up stories about them, so it felt natural to have Jez do this.

Also, I do have a bit of a thing for men in sock suspenders... ;D

[Eden Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the premise, being the proud owner of some pretty bizarre apparel choices myself. Lovely budding romance between angsty artist Jez and the man he creates his own ideas about, only to have them blown out of window by the reality of Steve. And it all started with a pair of socks.

A definite mood-lifting, fee-good little story. Highly recommended.

[Hal Evergreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I want to give Josephine Myles a hug now, because this story is just what I needed today. It's so cute and sweet and quirky. It's just a quick, comfortable read, the perfect companion for a comfy sofa and a cup of tea.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jez judges Steve by the crazy socks he wears not realizing that he is exactly who Jez has been looking for. Short, but not so short where I felt like I missed anything.

A fun, sexy short. I love these guys.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was $.99 of pure fluff and I loved it!! Blonde dreadlocked, blue eyed artist exchanges glances with sexy, ugly sock wearing business man on the train. Seriously cute story, with some sexy time thrown in to make me extra happy!

[Kassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll admit this short story had me at the opening line. “When ugly socks attract” just sounds fun and interesting. The story definitely lives up to that expectation with an entertaining and really enjoyable narrative. The short length is well used here to entice readers and leave them satisfied. As with any short I like I want more and that’s true here but I think the author does a really good job with this length and delivers a warm romance within the allotted pages. Definitely one to pick up for those that like short stories.

Artist Jez is distracted from his morning commute by a businessman’s incredibly loud, ugly socks. Every day for months Jez glimpses those eye catching errors in judgment and becomes more and more interested in the wearer. When the two finally do get together, Jez is worried if his expectations are too high.

This short story really hits the ground running with a description of some truly hideous socks. Being a fan of loud, obnoxious socks myself I found the various details really entertaining and fun. The socks draw Jez’s artist eye but then he starts to wonder about the person that would choose such things and then actually wear them with a conservative suit. The build up and expectation is part of the engaging manner and Jez makes for an entertaining, if surly, narrator. His slow excitement and later nerves are well portrayed and I connected with the character very early on.

The owner of the socks, Steve, is less well developed and remains more of a mystery. The few glimpses into his character reveal someone totally different than I’d imagined and yet still very intriguing. The combination of the artist and up and coming editor are nicely contrasted but given too little page time if anything. The build up to the meeting and great, truly great scene where Steve reveals his stripy briefs make the story so delightful. It’s not the actual pairing that I liked, though they’re cute together, but the details surrounding the two. There is a lot of subtle wit, humor, and great writing that delivers this charming short. One thing to note is that at the very end of the story the narrative switches tense from past to present. I could see why and it works in the story but the change does throw you slightly.

I believe I’ve read something by this author before, they’re popular in anthologies, but nothing comes to mind. This short story however really caught my attention and makes me very curious what else this author can do. I’m especially interested in any longer length stories. There is a follow up to First Impressions published for free on the author’s blog and I’d recommend you first buy this delightful gem then check out the follow up for more ugly sock fun.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

This is a lovely little short about opposites and assumptions about other people based on outward appearances. Jez is a hippy dippy artist. He’s got long dreadlocks, he’s constantly covered in paint and has great disdain for the establishment. The hottie he sits across from on the train every morning is everything he’s sure he finds repugnant. He likely comes from the well-to-do suburbs, wears a suit, is clean-cut and appears to be busily working taking over the world every morning scribbling on his papers. But there’s one little thing. Everyday he wears what Jez considers to be god awful socks. Bright colors, cartoon animals, clashing stripes, it’s confusing and despite being certain the guy is the antithesis of everything Jez believes in, he finally breaks down and throws out and invitation, then has to wait to see if it’s picked up.

Over half of this book is Jez scoping out the other man, and it is told from Jez’s point of view only, so you never have any clue what Steve is thinking, but I could feel Steve getting more and more under Jez’s skin despite the fact that he had barely acknowledged his existence more than a handful of times. When Steve finally agrees to pose for him in the nearly-nude, Jez is completely thrown off. The guy is not how he built him up in his head and it’s disconcerting when his world of neat little boxes is thrown off. I found it sweet, and amusing, to see him trying to figure out what the hell is going on and how he ended up in this position.

I found this a humorous read at times as Jez works through his attraction to, and then his nervousness about being with someone who is so different from himself, or who he thinks is different. My only complaint? Why does everyone think funky socks are ugly? I ADORE funky socks. I have socks with penguins, sparkly polka dots, fuzzy pink cheetah print, frogs, the wackier the better. I think I would totally fall in love with a guy who wore socks like Steve everyday. Yay for not following convention. So don’t be hating on Steve’s socks.

Readers who enjoy getting inside a character’s head and seeing his thought process roll and change as he’s forced to reassess his notions will especially enjoy this. And it’s sweet and funny and has a very satisfying ending. I found myself smiling often as I read, and inspired to go out and get myself some new funky socks.

[Cryselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first impression of this story involved cleaning coffee off the keyboard, because that blurb is so damned catchy.

"When ugly socks attract."

Jez sits across the aisle of the train from a suit who's only apparent non-conformity is owning an enormous collection of garish socks -- he's always got his head in a stack of papers. Making up stories about this man becomes nearly a full time occupation -- half the story goes by before Jez gets up the courage to approach, done in a very cute and artist's way.

Then once they meet, all those stories, beautifully crafted though they are, come apart to reveal truth after small beautiful truth. Being wrong has never been so right.

The original sidesplitter reaction doesn't carry into the story, it's more of a constant low level amusement, which is harder to sustain, I think. Jez knows he's obsessing, fights the obsessing, and then enjoys his obsessing, and then -- OMG has to find out the reality of Steve. The reality is wonderful. This is the first story I've read by Ms Myles, whose language is beautiful, descriptive without being dry, and economical -- this author gets a lot of nuance into every phrase. Just look at this:

He probably had one of those old-fashioned
wardrobes with labeled shelves for shirts, vests and
sundries, and a little container on the back of the door
for cuff links, just like Granddad used to have. He'd
come from the kind of family where you learned how to
dress properly and knew your way around a formal
dinner service before you were out of your nappies. My
school had been full of them, and they always knew how
to put you in your place when you were there on a
scholarship.

That is a huge amount of information in a little space -- we now have a very good idea of Jez's place in society, Steve's, or what Jez thinks it is, something about Jez' family, and a lot about what Jez thinks about other people, his childhood, and his resentments. All from wondering where Steve keeps his socks. *is blown away*

Just in case you wondered, everything that happens once Jez stops drawing is as good or better -- you can feel the breeze in your hair from the whoosh of him falling in love. Go read.

[Kaetrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Impressions This delightful little story is about Jez, a "Viking hippy" artist with long blond dreads and an attitude, who becomes fascinated by a man he sees on the train every morning. The man (Steve) wears the most lurid socks Jez has ever seen, even though the rest of him appears to be buttoned down tight. And he seems to have an endless supply of these socks - as there are a different pair every day. At about 25 pages, the story shows their growing interaction on the train, their sexy encounter where Jez finds out that appearances can be deceiving - Steve is much more like his socks than his suit - and gives a satisfying jump ahead to a HEA. It was good fun and as usual, I loved the sense of place Ms. Myles infuses into the story with the setting and the language.

http://kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com.a...

[Gillian Kevern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just plain fun. I enjoyed the premise, and found that Myles' treatment of it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the humour and how unapologetic the story was about being a quick bit of fun. I enjoyed the knitting, the socks, the hideous underwear, and the characterization of Jez, Steve and Kathy but what I really enjoyed most of all was how easily and well Myles conveyed location! I've only visited London twice, but I felt at once that I knew exactly where Myles had located her story, and that I could have identified Jez' neighbourhood.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super short, super goodness! I loved it! I loved that you can doubt yourself or someone else based on past experiences or those pesky first impressions. I loved the secret to someone's personality can be hidden or so tiny in something as mundane as socks. I loved that it was playful, yet had a deeper meaning. So adorable these two. There is a free sequel/short on the author's website that is not to be missed~I died from the warm fuzzy's.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book.
Jez gets the same subway train every day and sits opposite the same man who wears brightly colored socks. After a while Jez draw him and leaves the picture and his number with the guy.
Eventually, the guy models for Jez and they begin a relationship.
I would like this book to become a longer novel as there is so much more to say about the two.

[P.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully done short with an unconventional hook; those ugly socks have a lot to answer for, in a good way! I hear there's a followup short on the author's website, so off to read that.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short m/m romance about an artist who becomes fascinated by the guy wearing a suit and crazy socks who he sits across from on the train every day.

[MsMiz (Tina) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - This was just so....*sigh*...cute and just perfect even though it was short. It was still a beautiful breath of fresh air.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect in every way. The writing is clever and charming, and the story manages to do quite a lot in its short length, without feeling like it ended too soon.

[Jilrene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters. Fun story!

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this little gem by accident and it has saved my crappy day! Loving these little stories, so hot!

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 short and sweet