What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfect
Louis certainly isn't perfect. He leaves his dirty towels on the floor. He doesn't wash dishes. But mostly he shuts Avery out, refusing to let his lover in to his most private thoughts. Avery wants a designer house, a sensitive man, and lots of open communication. Louis is just a rough working man with a good heart but gruff ways. So is it really any surprise that Avery leaves him to look for his perfect lover? Both Avery and Louis move on, getting their lives back together slow but sure. Avery finds the refined, educated man he always thought he needed, and Louis starts dating a sweet, slob of a college kid. Both of them go back to school, intent on moving on, and on bettering themselves. They're dealing with their friends, their families, and learning that the qualities they thought they really wanted in a lover might not be so great after all. Perfect is the tale of how these two hot headed, stubborn men come back together, learning to work at what they have. They start to see their differences as a strength, finally realizing that love doesn't have to be perfect to be good.
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Julia Talbot
307 books266 followersJulia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia is a hybrid author, and has been published by many presses as well as self publishing. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved. Julia also writes as Minerva Howe. Find Julia at @juliatalbot on Twitter, or at www.juliatalbot.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 23, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book, although I cringed a bit when they meet and date other people. (I always feel bad when couples break up when they still love each other, and they have sex with other people in the mean time).
A beautiful book, and the reasons of their break up seem real. Any couple can attest that it is the little thing (especially when there are many of them) that usually leads to bad feeling toward another. If they are not addressed, they will accumulate into something that is dangerous to the relationship.
A beautiful book, and the reasons of their break up seem real. Any couple can attest that it is the little thing (especially when there are many of them) that usually leads to bad feeling toward another. If they are not addressed, they will accumulate into something that is dangerous to the relationship.
March 11, 2010
4.25 stars
THE BLURB
Louis certainly isn’t perfect. He leaves his dirty towels on the floor. He doesn’t wash dishes. But mostly he shuts Avery out, refusing to let his lover in to his most private thoughts
So is it really any surprise that Avery leaves him to look for his perfect lover? Both Avery and Louis move on, getting their lives back together slow but sure, and learning that the qualities they thought they really wanted in a lover might not be so great after all.
Perfect is the tale of how these two hot headed, stubborn men come back together, learning to work at what they have, finally realizing that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be good.
THE REVIEW
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed To Hell You Ride by Julia Talbot, I decided to give one of her contemporary novels a go to see if I enjoyed it as much. Although not quite a five star read, this was definitely entertaining and deserves a positive recommendation.
The blurb, for a change, is absolutely perfect and completely sums up the story in a nutshell. Sure, it gives away the ending, but that really isn’t a surprise. The story isn’t about whether Louis and Avery will get back together, but rather, the process they go through in doing so.
The story opens with a prologue. Louis and Avery are having a fight—a really stupid fight—and Avery ends it by saying, “That’s it, I’m leaving,” and does. When the story proper starts, it’s a few weeks later. Louis has had rotator cuff surgery—one of the things he hadn’t talked to Louis about. Avery calls to see if he is okay; Louis lets the call go to the message machine and doesn’t call back. Repeat the scenario one week later. Avery gets the hint and decides he has to figure out how to move on. So does Louis.
For six months, they don’t interact. Avery begins a relationship with a real estate developer named Gordon; Louis starts dating Kyle, a 21 year old college student. They both keep trying to convince themselves that they are happy but it’s pretty obvious that they aren’t.
Then, a coincidence: they both sign up for the same small business accounting class at the local community college. This gives them the chance to interact on neutral ground and begin the slow process of rediscovering their love for each other.
The story takes place over a year and the pacing really allows the reader to feel the anxiety and pain of their time apart. Louis and Avery are both stubborn and it takes time for both of them to learn that they need to bend a little to be able to forge a solid relationship. Their characters are very well written. I could easily picture Avery, hoping that his southern charm would soothe everything and make the hurt go away. Louis presented a solid façade to the world, hiding his vulnerability and the fact that his heart was totally shattered when Avery left. It was very clear that it was a terrible struggle for him to decide to offer up his heart and run the risk of having it be broken again..
In addition to Louis and Avery, the secondary characters, including Kyle, Gordon, and Avery’s mother Esther were very three-dimensional and added a great deal of depth and complexity to the story. Esther was the quintessential southern woman and her support of both Avery and Louis, even when they were apart, was great. Kyle was sweet and funny and when it seemed like the story might get a little bit too angsty, he would pop up to add a necessary bit of humor. And Gordon? Well, let’s just say I’ve known a few Gordons over the years, and I didn’t like them in real life, either.
All in all, a good book that I can recommend. Talbot has a folksy writing style that I enjoy, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. For me, it worked well and fit the characters and the story. My only (minor) complaint is that the ending dragged on a little bit. I would have liked it wrapped up slightly differently and ended it maybe a chapter sooner. It wasn’t a bad ending, it just wasn’t perfect, which, in thinking about it, probably fits well with the theme of the book.
NB: Louis and Avery are apart for a good chunk of the story and in that time, they are both having sex with their new boyfriends. This didn’t bother me but I bring it up because I know that some readers object to the “one true pairing” characters (in this case, Avery and Louis) being intimate with other people. Personally, I find that opinion to not be reflective of real life, but I mention it for those readers who would be turned off by this and appreciate a warning.
(posted at reviewsbyjessewave on 3/8/2010)
THE BLURB
Louis certainly isn’t perfect. He leaves his dirty towels on the floor. He doesn’t wash dishes. But mostly he shuts Avery out, refusing to let his lover in to his most private thoughts
So is it really any surprise that Avery leaves him to look for his perfect lover? Both Avery and Louis move on, getting their lives back together slow but sure, and learning that the qualities they thought they really wanted in a lover might not be so great after all.
Perfect is the tale of how these two hot headed, stubborn men come back together, learning to work at what they have, finally realizing that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be good.
THE REVIEW
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed To Hell You Ride by Julia Talbot, I decided to give one of her contemporary novels a go to see if I enjoyed it as much. Although not quite a five star read, this was definitely entertaining and deserves a positive recommendation.
The blurb, for a change, is absolutely perfect and completely sums up the story in a nutshell. Sure, it gives away the ending, but that really isn’t a surprise. The story isn’t about whether Louis and Avery will get back together, but rather, the process they go through in doing so.
The story opens with a prologue. Louis and Avery are having a fight—a really stupid fight—and Avery ends it by saying, “That’s it, I’m leaving,” and does. When the story proper starts, it’s a few weeks later. Louis has had rotator cuff surgery—one of the things he hadn’t talked to Louis about. Avery calls to see if he is okay; Louis lets the call go to the message machine and doesn’t call back. Repeat the scenario one week later. Avery gets the hint and decides he has to figure out how to move on. So does Louis.
For six months, they don’t interact. Avery begins a relationship with a real estate developer named Gordon; Louis starts dating Kyle, a 21 year old college student. They both keep trying to convince themselves that they are happy but it’s pretty obvious that they aren’t.
Then, a coincidence: they both sign up for the same small business accounting class at the local community college. This gives them the chance to interact on neutral ground and begin the slow process of rediscovering their love for each other.
The story takes place over a year and the pacing really allows the reader to feel the anxiety and pain of their time apart. Louis and Avery are both stubborn and it takes time for both of them to learn that they need to bend a little to be able to forge a solid relationship. Their characters are very well written. I could easily picture Avery, hoping that his southern charm would soothe everything and make the hurt go away. Louis presented a solid façade to the world, hiding his vulnerability and the fact that his heart was totally shattered when Avery left. It was very clear that it was a terrible struggle for him to decide to offer up his heart and run the risk of having it be broken again..
In addition to Louis and Avery, the secondary characters, including Kyle, Gordon, and Avery’s mother Esther were very three-dimensional and added a great deal of depth and complexity to the story. Esther was the quintessential southern woman and her support of both Avery and Louis, even when they were apart, was great. Kyle was sweet and funny and when it seemed like the story might get a little bit too angsty, he would pop up to add a necessary bit of humor. And Gordon? Well, let’s just say I’ve known a few Gordons over the years, and I didn’t like them in real life, either.
All in all, a good book that I can recommend. Talbot has a folksy writing style that I enjoy, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. For me, it worked well and fit the characters and the story. My only (minor) complaint is that the ending dragged on a little bit. I would have liked it wrapped up slightly differently and ended it maybe a chapter sooner. It wasn’t a bad ending, it just wasn’t perfect, which, in thinking about it, probably fits well with the theme of the book.
NB: Louis and Avery are apart for a good chunk of the story and in that time, they are both having sex with their new boyfriends. This didn’t bother me but I bring it up because I know that some readers object to the “one true pairing” characters (in this case, Avery and Louis) being intimate with other people. Personally, I find that opinion to not be reflective of real life, but I mention it for those readers who would be turned off by this and appreciate a warning.
(posted at reviewsbyjessewave on 3/8/2010)
September 12, 2011
A backwards courtship, extremely credible characters. A very good goodread!
June 30, 2010
Pretty good read with great, well developed characters all the way around.
November 12, 2017
I read this book ten years ago when MM fiction was tiny.
This book is very old southern I am assuming just by the way the characters talk. It sounds odd to a Brit like me. It reads cheesy but I found back then the authors wrote some odd prose.
The reason why I still like this book is that a simple fight can be a disguise for something much larger. Lou and Ave have been together for two years but they are the complete opposite. Their issues lies with not communicating and becoming angry and short with each other. They end breaking up over something so pointless but that was just their breaking point.
The author doesn't shy away from showing these guys in other relationships. The characters are quick to find someone else for sex or possibly a better relationship. They quickly realise that being with other people is easy but it doesn't change the fact they still love each other.
There is a lot wrong with this book. The writing can be better, the story tighter, and the characters a bit less cheesy. The heart is there and that's why I still like this book because when MM didn't exist much back then an ebooks were a bizarre concept I found comfort in these old books so maybe it's nostalgia keeping me from being unbiased...but after ten years I still know this book inside out and that say something.
This book is very old southern I am assuming just by the way the characters talk. It sounds odd to a Brit like me. It reads cheesy but I found back then the authors wrote some odd prose.
The reason why I still like this book is that a simple fight can be a disguise for something much larger. Lou and Ave have been together for two years but they are the complete opposite. Their issues lies with not communicating and becoming angry and short with each other. They end breaking up over something so pointless but that was just their breaking point.
The author doesn't shy away from showing these guys in other relationships. The characters are quick to find someone else for sex or possibly a better relationship. They quickly realise that being with other people is easy but it doesn't change the fact they still love each other.
There is a lot wrong with this book. The writing can be better, the story tighter, and the characters a bit less cheesy. The heart is there and that's why I still like this book because when MM didn't exist much back then an ebooks were a bizarre concept I found comfort in these old books so maybe it's nostalgia keeping me from being unbiased...but after ten years I still know this book inside out and that say something.
November 22, 2010
I really liked this story. There's not a lot out there with established couples, and this really goes to prove the old saying "the grass ISN'T always greener". I loved both Avery and Louis, such well-rounded, well-described and dialectical men who overall want the same thing, but just don't know how to accept how to get it. The story didn't pull any punches in letting both men explore what the rest of the world had to offer, to try and find that "perfect" man that they both sought, but in the end I'm really glad they just found each other again. Hot, emotional, believable read that I would definitely recommend.
May 22, 2011
This didn't change my life or anything and there were quite a few typos but overall a nice heartwarming story about a couple who breaks up and then finds a way to work through their problems and get back together. The characters were likeable and it was nice to see them find their way back to each other.
December 20, 2010
2.75
Lou and Avery did not fight for each other like I would have thought and it seemed as though they missed what they had together, more out of security and routine than any undying love.
Lou and Avery did not fight for each other like I would have thought and it seemed as though they missed what they had together, more out of security and routine than any undying love.
May 4, 2011
2.5 stars.
December 10, 2011
2.5 a couple that breaks up, then regrets it quite quickly even though they're both dating (or using more like it) other people. By the time they finally got back together I didn't care anymore.
Want to read
September 15, 2014Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US! 9/14/14
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews