What do you think?
Rate this book
Little Squirrels #1
Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees
Kyle Miller is a rare breed. Though born to conservative parents and raised in small-town Oklahoma, Kyle realized young that he had to escape rural America. Now he’s living in New York City, working as an ER doctor, and paying off his massive student loans. He’s never been on a plane and never seen a movie, but he is worldly enough to recognize attraction when it smacks him in the forehead. Not that he knows how he managed to crack heads with Joseph, who’s a good foot shorter than Kyle’s six and a half feet.
Joseph is Kyle’s polar opposite in other ways too, well-off where Kyle is poor, and self-assured while Kyle is insecure. He’s also determined to show Kyle what a great guy he is and bring the confidence Kyle shows in the ER out in his everyday life. But Kyle’s hectic work schedule and inexperience with relationships won’t make for an easy romance.
Joseph is Kyle’s polar opposite in other ways too, well-off where Kyle is poor, and self-assured while Kyle is insecure. He’s also determined to show Kyle what a great guy he is and bring the confidence Kyle shows in the ER out in his everyday life. But Kyle’s hectic work schedule and inexperience with relationships won’t make for an easy romance.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
13 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Michael Murphy
25 books126 followersWho am I? One of these days I need to decided what I want to be when I grow up.
I am a middle-aged man, born in the far reaches of upstate New York - parts that give the word "rural" meaning. Now I live in Washington, DC.
When one of those milestone birthdays hit me and scared the crap out of me, I realized there were more years behind me than there were in front of me. My mortality hit me like someone dropping a load of bricks on me.
With that realization, I constructed a bucket list of things I absolutely had to do in the years (hopefully many) that I have left. Writing a book was one of them and was near the top.
My biggest influences when growing up were my two grandmothers. Both were ferociously strong women who were widowed way too young and had to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and try to put them back together again. And they did! They were incredible women and I adored them both.
These women loved to read and to tell stories, so it just always seemed a natural thing for me to want to do the same. One Christmas when I had a break from work for a few days I had an idea - just a simple single flash of an idea. I sat down at my computer and typed out the one sentence idea. And then I thought for a moment. And then I started typing again - and like magic this story started to pour out of me. I was amazed, in awe, floored by what was happening.
It was like the characters were coming to life and telling their story and I was just tagging along for the ride. I typed as fast as my fingers would fly across the keys (one of the 17 jobs I had while I was going to college was typist, so I'm a pretty fast typist). I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It was the most amazing experience I think I've ever had. Okay, maybe not THE most amazing, but it ranks right up there near the top.
My boyfriend finally came to me a couple of days into this,sat down, looked so serious, and asked, "Are you mad at me?" I assured him that no, I was not mad; I had just been kidnapped by my two characters who refused to let me go. He sort of believed me. When I handed him a printout of the entire book he really believed me, although he wasn't all that thrilled about the book. What can I say, he is a biomedical scientist who primarily reads non-fiction. The fact that I got him to read any fiction was a huge step.
I sent my finished book to Dreamspinner Press. Much to my shock and surprise they accepted it. Out of the hundreds of unsolicited manuscripts that they receive every year they only accept a tiny fraction from new, unknown authors - and I was part of that tiny fraction.
When I got the news I was riding on the subway to work one morning. I screamed and hugged the man sitting next to me - I don't have a clue who he was and I'm sure I scared the crap out of him, even though I tried to explain why I was so happy. When I got to work, a co-worker joined me in doing a happy dance.
Once I started writing the spirit of my departed grandmothers started taking over and story after story started to come out. Dreamspinner and Harmony Ink Press have published a total of eight books so far, with the next one due out in a few weeks. Three additional books are under contract, scheduled to appear in the months ahead.
When I'm not writing, I'm editing and proofing, proofing and editing. When not doing that I work for a small organization in downtown DC located a few hundred yards from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. My work is primarily IT project management which can be thrilling and at other times drive me to distraction.
All in all, I'd rather be writing. If people keep buying my books in the same way they have I might actually be able to consider that as an option. Oh, please! Oh, please! Oh, please!
I am a middle-aged man, born in the far reaches of upstate New York - parts that give the word "rural" meaning. Now I live in Washington, DC.
When one of those milestone birthdays hit me and scared the crap out of me, I realized there were more years behind me than there were in front of me. My mortality hit me like someone dropping a load of bricks on me.
With that realization, I constructed a bucket list of things I absolutely had to do in the years (hopefully many) that I have left. Writing a book was one of them and was near the top.
My biggest influences when growing up were my two grandmothers. Both were ferociously strong women who were widowed way too young and had to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and try to put them back together again. And they did! They were incredible women and I adored them both.
These women loved to read and to tell stories, so it just always seemed a natural thing for me to want to do the same. One Christmas when I had a break from work for a few days I had an idea - just a simple single flash of an idea. I sat down at my computer and typed out the one sentence idea. And then I thought for a moment. And then I started typing again - and like magic this story started to pour out of me. I was amazed, in awe, floored by what was happening.
It was like the characters were coming to life and telling their story and I was just tagging along for the ride. I typed as fast as my fingers would fly across the keys (one of the 17 jobs I had while I was going to college was typist, so I'm a pretty fast typist). I couldn't wait to see what happened next. It was the most amazing experience I think I've ever had. Okay, maybe not THE most amazing, but it ranks right up there near the top.
My boyfriend finally came to me a couple of days into this,sat down, looked so serious, and asked, "Are you mad at me?" I assured him that no, I was not mad; I had just been kidnapped by my two characters who refused to let me go. He sort of believed me. When I handed him a printout of the entire book he really believed me, although he wasn't all that thrilled about the book. What can I say, he is a biomedical scientist who primarily reads non-fiction. The fact that I got him to read any fiction was a huge step.
I sent my finished book to Dreamspinner Press. Much to my shock and surprise they accepted it. Out of the hundreds of unsolicited manuscripts that they receive every year they only accept a tiny fraction from new, unknown authors - and I was part of that tiny fraction.
When I got the news I was riding on the subway to work one morning. I screamed and hugged the man sitting next to me - I don't have a clue who he was and I'm sure I scared the crap out of him, even though I tried to explain why I was so happy. When I got to work, a co-worker joined me in doing a happy dance.
Once I started writing the spirit of my departed grandmothers started taking over and story after story started to come out. Dreamspinner and Harmony Ink Press have published a total of eight books so far, with the next one due out in a few weeks. Three additional books are under contract, scheduled to appear in the months ahead.
When I'm not writing, I'm editing and proofing, proofing and editing. When not doing that I work for a small organization in downtown DC located a few hundred yards from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. My work is primarily IT project management which can be thrilling and at other times drive me to distraction.
All in all, I'd rather be writing. If people keep buying my books in the same way they have I might actually be able to consider that as an option. Oh, please! Oh, please! Oh, please!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
October 22, 2012
Holy crap, all I can picture in my head about the main character is that he is a yappy little terrier dog.
I mean I love the exclamation point, I use it a lot on comments, but to use it this much in a published book? It’s a bit much, and it made me dislike the main character.
So it’s not that I hated this book, it’s just that if I ever met the main character of this book in real life I would probably want to punch him.
No thank you.
I mean I love the exclamation point, I use it a lot on comments, but to use it this much in a published book? It’s a bit much, and it made me dislike the main character.
So it’s not that I hated this book, it’s just that if I ever met the main character of this book in real life I would probably want to punch him.
No thank you.
September 18, 2012
From the excerpt at DSP: "And remember, I was a professor of penis, a connoisseur of cock, a devotee of dick, an epicure of erections. I had made it my life’s work to worship the male member. And what a member this one was." -Michael Murphy
I've got to read this book! Love this line :D
I've got to read this book! Love this line :D
July 29, 2012
2.5 stars
I think this could have worked out how the author wanted, if it had been edited and tightened up more. I can see where he was going with the storyline but it didn't quite work. There were some funny moments and it was cute in parts. The continuous inner musings and obsession with body parts (penis and nipples) from Joseph were over the top, annoying and unnecessary. It dragged the story down. If Kyle had been given a voice and opinion as well it would have held up much better. His POV was the vital piece missing. Unfortunately this was trying too hard, sadly it was a disappointment, I was expecting more from the romance and story.
I think this could have worked out how the author wanted, if it had been edited and tightened up more. I can see where he was going with the storyline but it didn't quite work. There were some funny moments and it was cute in parts. The continuous inner musings and obsession with body parts (penis and nipples) from Joseph were over the top, annoying and unnecessary. It dragged the story down. If Kyle had been given a voice and opinion as well it would have held up much better. His POV was the vital piece missing. Unfortunately this was trying too hard, sadly it was a disappointment, I was expecting more from the romance and story.
March 27, 2022
When my two guys that bring me most of the books of this genre brought this one, I thought by the title that it was a comedy or a joke. They both assured me that it wasn't a joke, but they couldn't guarantee about the comedy. In their opinion it was a very good M/M romance with really lovable characters. Since the title had already intrigued me, I started reading...and reading...and reading..., long story short, I finished it in one day. I found that it was witty, geeky, very well written, and just freaking hilarious more often than not. It was also sweet and heartwarming. The two guys were just adorable together. I wondered how in the world Kyle could have possibly never been on a plane or seen a movie??? Then I read about the environment that he grew up in. Creatures that live under a rock have had more freedom to grow than Kyle did. Quiet frankly I'm amazed that he turned out as well as he did. His childhood environment was a closed, judgmental, suffocating, constricted and basically unhealthy mess, but here we have a healthy, loving, sweet, giving gay man with a mind of his own and the ability to love and forgive. I enjoyed going with Kyle and Joseph through the misadventure of literally bumping into love and then figuring out how to hold on to it.
August 18, 2012
1.5 stars. Extremely uneven but ultimately meh m/m romance set in NYC about a short and excessively exuberant guy who woos a much taller and rather naive doctor from Oklahoma. The biggest problems I had with the book were the ludicrous number of exclamation points and the tendency to go into excessive detail during scenes that didn't seem to belong in the book, then skim quickly over things that merited more detail.
April 27, 2021
I'm going to need a day or two to figure out my feelings when it comes to this book. There were moments that I loved and moments that I really couldn't stand and I don't know which one of those feelings that weights the most...
Overall, I got a little tired of being in Joseph's head. And listen, I love talking about penises as much as every other gay man but even I found the constant penis talk annoying after a while.
Overall, I got a little tired of being in Joseph's head. And listen, I love talking about penises as much as every other gay man but even I found the constant penis talk annoying after a while.
October 27, 2014
Main Characters:
Joseph – works in finance, kind of a man whore, great family
Kyle – ER doctor who just finished residency, ultra conservative family who doesn’t know he’s gay, very few relationships in his past
I adore writing in first person. I like being inside a character’s head and hearing their inner ramblings. Joseph is a fun narrator. The locker room scene was amusing. The rest of the story though, fell a little flat. I became bored after awhile and probably would have DNF’d, but I was far enough along, I decided just to stick with it.
Joseph – works in finance, kind of a man whore, great family
Kyle – ER doctor who just finished residency, ultra conservative family who doesn’t know he’s gay, very few relationships in his past
I adore writing in first person. I like being inside a character’s head and hearing their inner ramblings. Joseph is a fun narrator. The locker room scene was amusing. The rest of the story though, fell a little flat. I became bored after awhile and probably would have DNF’d, but I was far enough along, I decided just to stick with it.
October 7, 2015
****audio review only****
I enjoyed the audio version of this book just as much as just reading. Nick J Russo did very good job with this over the top book. I was cackling at some points. Would definitely recommend this audio.
I enjoyed the audio version of this book just as much as just reading. Nick J Russo did very good job with this over the top book. I was cackling at some points. Would definitely recommend this audio.
March 4, 2021
Fortunately I listened to the audio, fabulously narrated by Nick J. Russo, which definitely improved my enjoyment of this story.
October 1, 2016
So the final rating for this one is around 3.69, and I rounded it up to 4, both because --> mathematics and because I laughed a lot.
Also I loved the foreword!
So Joseph is a bumbling/rambling MC (my favourite), he's 32 and can be unsure of himself, but mostly he's a-okay. Joseph is the only POV we get in this book, but he was a lot of fun to follow, so that was okay. He hasn't yet found 'the one', but he's not actively looking, just enjoying life. That is until he meets Kyle -a newly-minted doctor- at the gym. Kyle is smart, he's gorgeous and he's 'down-to-earth'.
I mean, really! Who can talk presidential politics while prying their sweaty nuts away from their penis? Well, clearly this guy! That's who!
*snicker* Kyle is QUITE unsure of himself, he was raised in Oklahoma and his family is very religious! He is a butt-virgin when they meet, but he's not quite honest about it.
They talk, they date and they develop a solid relationship.
There were quite a few fun moments here, and I loved that Kyle did not give up, when he sort of fucked up (no cheating or anything, just a fun development since he works a lot).
Kyle is unsure yes, but Joseph does such a good job of making him believe he is awesome, and I loved that Kyle wasn't a total push-over or idiot from the beginning, but that he believed Joseph when he told him how great he is.
There is some angst, especially in the beginning, when Kyle is struggling with himself, but he soon chills out, and becomes an even sweeter character.
There's a LOT of penis-talk, I thought it was fun, but some might find it too much. But since it is written by a man, I took it on good faith, that men are simple creatures, that spend a lot of time conversing with their dick. The smexy times were nice, and I liked their banter in and out of bed.
Joseph keeps up his rambling during the whole book, and that was both great and not so great. The great parts, were moments like this:
Crap! So many questions with so very few answers. I needed more data, a LOT more data. So much for the careful analytical approach. Unintentionally score two points for testosterone.
The not-so-great parts were when he got too shrill, and at one point became a "travel agent" where you had to read through of 3-4 pages of rambling on travel destinations. (We never got his profession, which also made me wonder quite a bit.)
But mostly I was entertained, and I was glad Also bonus points for Kyle and his standing up for himself and the LGBT community!
All in all a sweet, fun read that had me entertained throughout.
Also I loved the foreword!
So Joseph is a bumbling/rambling MC (my favourite), he's 32 and can be unsure of himself, but mostly he's a-okay. Joseph is the only POV we get in this book, but he was a lot of fun to follow, so that was okay. He hasn't yet found 'the one', but he's not actively looking, just enjoying life. That is until he meets Kyle -a newly-minted doctor- at the gym. Kyle is smart, he's gorgeous and he's 'down-to-earth'.
I mean, really! Who can talk presidential politics while prying their sweaty nuts away from their penis? Well, clearly this guy! That's who!
*snicker* Kyle is QUITE unsure of himself, he was raised in Oklahoma and his family is very religious! He is a butt-virgin when they meet, but he's not quite honest about it.
They talk, they date and they develop a solid relationship.
There were quite a few fun moments here, and I loved that Kyle did not give up, when he sort of fucked up (no cheating or anything, just a fun development since he works a lot).
Kyle is unsure yes, but Joseph does such a good job of making him believe he is awesome, and I loved that Kyle wasn't a total push-over or idiot from the beginning, but that he believed Joseph when he told him how great he is.
There is some angst, especially in the beginning, when Kyle is struggling with himself, but he soon chills out, and becomes an even sweeter character.
There's a LOT of penis-talk, I thought it was fun, but some might find it too much. But since it is written by a man, I took it on good faith, that men are simple creatures, that spend a lot of time conversing with their dick. The smexy times were nice, and I liked their banter in and out of bed.
Joseph keeps up his rambling during the whole book, and that was both great and not so great. The great parts, were moments like this:
Crap! So many questions with so very few answers. I needed more data, a LOT more data. So much for the careful analytical approach. Unintentionally score two points for testosterone.
The not-so-great parts were when he got too shrill, and at one point became a "travel agent" where you had to read through of 3-4 pages of rambling on travel destinations. (We never got his profession, which also made me wonder quite a bit.)
But mostly I was entertained, and I was glad Also bonus points for Kyle and his standing up for himself and the LGBT community!
All in all a sweet, fun read that had me entertained throughout.
August 9, 2012
This was just an absolutely cute and sweet story. Joseph was just hilarious. It’s told as if he’s recounting the story (I know there’s probably a name for that style, but I’m too lazy to look it up) of how he met Kyle and how they got together. Joseph’s brain was a wondrous thing. It reminded me very much of a squirrel, leaping from idea to idea, getting totally distracted by Kyle and his amazing body, and he was quite aware of all this, but yet admitted that he was shy too, despite wanting to climb Kyle and hump his leg.
It was very sweet how Kyle seemed totally oblivious to the sexual attraction and was just enjoying Joseph for who he was, and even though he was “technically” a virgin, he was more than happy to try anything Joseph had in mind. But there were little humorous points, like Kyle was absolutely scandalized to be naked in any room but the bedroom, and he just couldn’t do it. And Joseph’s acceptance of Kyle’s wacky upbringing, able to distinguish between Kyle and his family’s beliefs, and his attempts to prop up Kyle’s self-esteem were very sweet.
It wasn’t all roses and rainbows, there were a few small blips on the road, but both were determined to see it out and I have to say, when Kyle and his new lesbian friend stood up to a room full of “Christian” bigots, quoting Independence Day no less, I wanted to cheer. There were just so many good thing, seeing Kyle’s mother attempt to understand him and his relationship, seeing his first trips on a plane and I could kind of relate to Joseph’s delight in watching Kyle’s joy in things that so many of us find humdrum and everyday, it’s kind of like having children. Sometimes the joy in an event or trip is watching your kids’ reactions, not your own joy in the moment.
There are just so many amusing moments, their banter was cute and funny and didn’t feel forced. Joseph’s brain does kind of calm down later in the book, not sure I could have taken 200 pages of a squirrel on crack, but his unwavering support and acceptance of Kyle was really sweet and heartwarming and if you need a book that will lighten your day, this is an excellent choice. I barely stopped smiling the whole time I was reading. I highly recommend it.
It was very sweet how Kyle seemed totally oblivious to the sexual attraction and was just enjoying Joseph for who he was, and even though he was “technically” a virgin, he was more than happy to try anything Joseph had in mind. But there were little humorous points, like Kyle was absolutely scandalized to be naked in any room but the bedroom, and he just couldn’t do it. And Joseph’s acceptance of Kyle’s wacky upbringing, able to distinguish between Kyle and his family’s beliefs, and his attempts to prop up Kyle’s self-esteem were very sweet.
It wasn’t all roses and rainbows, there were a few small blips on the road, but both were determined to see it out and I have to say, when Kyle and his new lesbian friend stood up to a room full of “Christian” bigots, quoting Independence Day no less, I wanted to cheer. There were just so many good thing, seeing Kyle’s mother attempt to understand him and his relationship, seeing his first trips on a plane and I could kind of relate to Joseph’s delight in watching Kyle’s joy in things that so many of us find humdrum and everyday, it’s kind of like having children. Sometimes the joy in an event or trip is watching your kids’ reactions, not your own joy in the moment.
There are just so many amusing moments, their banter was cute and funny and didn’t feel forced. Joseph’s brain does kind of calm down later in the book, not sure I could have taken 200 pages of a squirrel on crack, but his unwavering support and acceptance of Kyle was really sweet and heartwarming and if you need a book that will lighten your day, this is an excellent choice. I barely stopped smiling the whole time I was reading. I highly recommend it.
August 5, 2012
I quite enjoyed this 'nice and easy' story of self-discovery and romance. It is a straightforward and uncomplicated story about 'sophisticated wealthy city boy' who meets a 'nerdy (but very well educated) country bumpkin' who has never been on a plane, even though he swotted his way through Harvard. Stranger things have happened!!
This story made me laugh. I think in some places there was a little too much internal dialogue from Joseph and it would have been great to have some from Kyle, especially as he goes through new experiences, and gets to live his life as an openly gay man, but I enjoyed reading this.
I liked the fact that although there was religious homophobia it wasn't over done. I liked the way the book managed to capture some very serious issues but in a way that was humorous and some how light hearted. There are plenty of families from conservative religious backgrounds who do come to terms with their children's sexuality because they love their children, and they re-learn about life and faith, and I think the book some how manages to capture this in its own quirky way.
I also liked the way Kyle and Joseph came together especially after the initial hiccup, and the way in which their love for each other built each other up. For Kyle it was discovering new things in life and for Joseph seeing the things that he had taken for granted in the past with fresh eyes and a new gratitude.
Some times it is nice to read a book which isn't full of angst and pain, and which doesn't have werewolves, vampires, shifters or cowboys etc etc. Not that there is anything wrong with these, but having the story about ordinary guys from New York is good. In any case any story which includes a trip to Hawaii is always going to be a good one for me.
This story made me laugh. I think in some places there was a little too much internal dialogue from Joseph and it would have been great to have some from Kyle, especially as he goes through new experiences, and gets to live his life as an openly gay man, but I enjoyed reading this.
I liked the fact that although there was religious homophobia it wasn't over done. I liked the way the book managed to capture some very serious issues but in a way that was humorous and some how light hearted. There are plenty of families from conservative religious backgrounds who do come to terms with their children's sexuality because they love their children, and they re-learn about life and faith, and I think the book some how manages to capture this in its own quirky way.
I also liked the way Kyle and Joseph came together especially after the initial hiccup, and the way in which their love for each other built each other up. For Kyle it was discovering new things in life and for Joseph seeing the things that he had taken for granted in the past with fresh eyes and a new gratitude.
Some times it is nice to read a book which isn't full of angst and pain, and which doesn't have werewolves, vampires, shifters or cowboys etc etc. Not that there is anything wrong with these, but having the story about ordinary guys from New York is good. In any case any story which includes a trip to Hawaii is always going to be a good one for me.
October 27, 2014
I'd say that pretty much sums it up. Oh! and if I hear "awesome man" any more than the 25 times I already did, then I'm gonna scream - "I'm an awesome woman for listening to it"!
Sweeeeeet & adorable read/audio.
January 2, 2016
I definitely won't be climbing that tree again. The MC's act like they're no more than five, the writing is chaotic, and Joseph's internal monologue is painfully tiring.
Audible Edition:
Story - 1.5 stars
Performance - 3.5 stars
Overall - 2.5 stars
Audible Edition:
Story - 1.5 stars
Performance - 3.5 stars
Overall - 2.5 stars
August 3, 2012
In *really* wanted to like this, but it didn't work for me. I love the "big country guy" and the "twinky city kid" story line, but I just didn't gel with this one. I read some reviews, but I dove in, ready to love it. Here were the issues:
- the dialogue. It was forced and just off. No one talks like that. I can't believe that Kyle is just going to announce that he has poor self esteem. Really? Let us discover that...this type of thing popped up a few times where the MC's just said things that we would have been much better discovering ourselves. Joseph also says a lot of things that I do not think a rich city kid would say. I expected him to be a lot slicker, and not tripping over his tongue to say how hot Kyle is. I like a compliment, but they were way over!
- Inconsistencies. Kyle went to med school in Boston and *never* went to the movies? I might buy that if he was just entering his undergrad, but I'm supposed to believe he went through YEARS of schooling in major cities and still never went to a film? He doesn't live his family's ideals, so this felt weird. It also feels weird that he is still a virgin.
Also, Kyle experienced maple syrup twice "for the first time" on page. huh?
Kyle's mom is super religious, and he tells us that she wouldn't like Joseph's language. When we meet her she swears like a truck driver.
Also, we hear Joseph is 5'5'', and he tells us that is average. 5'5'' is average for a US woman...5'10'' is for a man. It just felt kind of sloppy and off. It's OK if Joseph is 5'5'', but having that info off threw me out of the story.
I liked the idea, and there were parts that were entertaining, but it had too many issues for me to fully lose myself and enjoy it. Each one popped me out of the narrative.
- the dialogue. It was forced and just off. No one talks like that. I can't believe that Kyle is just going to announce that he has poor self esteem. Really? Let us discover that...this type of thing popped up a few times where the MC's just said things that we would have been much better discovering ourselves. Joseph also says a lot of things that I do not think a rich city kid would say. I expected him to be a lot slicker, and not tripping over his tongue to say how hot Kyle is. I like a compliment, but they were way over!
- Inconsistencies. Kyle went to med school in Boston and *never* went to the movies? I might buy that if he was just entering his undergrad, but I'm supposed to believe he went through YEARS of schooling in major cities and still never went to a film? He doesn't live his family's ideals, so this felt weird. It also feels weird that he is still a virgin.
Also, Kyle experienced maple syrup twice "for the first time" on page. huh?
Kyle's mom is super religious, and he tells us that she wouldn't like Joseph's language. When we meet her she swears like a truck driver.
Also, we hear Joseph is 5'5'', and he tells us that is average. 5'5'' is average for a US woman...5'10'' is for a man. It just felt kind of sloppy and off. It's OK if Joseph is 5'5'', but having that info off threw me out of the story.
I liked the idea, and there were parts that were entertaining, but it had too many issues for me to fully lose myself and enjoy it. Each one popped me out of the narrative.
January 13, 2022
Ok. Che cosa ho appena letto? Cosa diavolo ho appena letto???!
Non so se questo libro è geniale o una profonda cagata. Non so davvero come definirlo.
Anni fa, adorai il tf Queer As Folk... e leggendo questo libro mi è sembrato di rivedere Michael e tutti i suoi problemi da ragazzo carino in cerca di un uomo per la vita.
Aggiungo anche che non avevo mica capito che la casa editrice facesse solo libri per gay e che non ho mai letto un Harmony ma, forse, posso azzardare a definire tale libro un Harmony per gay...forse?
Onestamente non ho idea di quante stelline dare, penso che opterò per 3, una via di mezzo.
Per quanto riguarda lo stile del libro, ci tenevo a dire un paio di cose: 1) i dialoghi non ho idea di come definirli...geniali o una merda? Cioè sono a tratti divertenti ma il 90% delle volte vorrebbero esserlo ma non lo sono. 2) Io non sono un uomo e non sono un uomo gay e quindi identificarmi nella storia è stato particolarmente difficile, soprattutto perchè manca la descrizione di uno dei due protagonisti...me lo devo immaginare completamente? Boh? 3) In questo libro ci sono troppi peni giganti. Va bene che è per gay, va bene che il pene alla fine piace a tutti...ma troppo. E troppo giganti.
Non so cosa altro aggiungere. Non so nemmeno se questa si possa definire una recensione.. Sono ancora così: O___o
Non so se questo libro è geniale o una profonda cagata. Non so davvero come definirlo.
Anni fa, adorai il tf Queer As Folk... e leggendo questo libro mi è sembrato di rivedere Michael e tutti i suoi problemi da ragazzo carino in cerca di un uomo per la vita.
Aggiungo anche che non avevo mica capito che la casa editrice facesse solo libri per gay e che non ho mai letto un Harmony ma, forse, posso azzardare a definire tale libro un Harmony per gay...forse?
Onestamente non ho idea di quante stelline dare, penso che opterò per 3, una via di mezzo.
Per quanto riguarda lo stile del libro, ci tenevo a dire un paio di cose: 1) i dialoghi non ho idea di come definirli...geniali o una merda? Cioè sono a tratti divertenti ma il 90% delle volte vorrebbero esserlo ma non lo sono. 2) Io non sono un uomo e non sono un uomo gay e quindi identificarmi nella storia è stato particolarmente difficile, soprattutto perchè manca la descrizione di uno dei due protagonisti...me lo devo immaginare completamente? Boh? 3) In questo libro ci sono troppi peni giganti. Va bene che è per gay, va bene che il pene alla fine piace a tutti...ma troppo. E troppo giganti.
Non so cosa altro aggiungere. Non so nemmeno se questa si possa definire una recensione.. Sono ancora così: O___o
July 29, 2012
2.5
This should have been a fun quirky light hearted read, sadly for me it turned out to be a long winded narrative of Joseph’s obsession with the male anatomy, especially nipples, with occasional side stories. Almost like the author had a bunch of ideas that he then pushed altogether to make one whole book.
For me this would of worked better if we had just had a short story on Kyle and Joseph meeting and falling in love, with the side stories added as quirky extras and not part of the main story.
The side story with Kyle’s mother should have been a major part of the story, but sadly it felt rushed and any emotional drama that might of built up was quickly squashed with her rapid turn around.
I failed to feel any real chemistry between Kyle and Joseph, which I put down to never really getting to know Kyle. As this book is told entirely from Joseph point of view it’s a very one sided story.
This should have been a fun quirky light hearted read, sadly for me it turned out to be a long winded narrative of Joseph’s obsession with the male anatomy, especially nipples, with occasional side stories. Almost like the author had a bunch of ideas that he then pushed altogether to make one whole book.
For me this would of worked better if we had just had a short story on Kyle and Joseph meeting and falling in love, with the side stories added as quirky extras and not part of the main story.
The side story with Kyle’s mother should have been a major part of the story, but sadly it felt rushed and any emotional drama that might of built up was quickly squashed with her rapid turn around.
I failed to feel any real chemistry between Kyle and Joseph, which I put down to never really getting to know Kyle. As this book is told entirely from Joseph point of view it’s a very one sided story.
March 12, 2015
The blurb states that “Kyle's hectic work schedule and inexperience with relationships won't make for an easy romance”—and I found that to be very true. At the same time, the narrator’s style is so funny that, on the whole, this made for an extremely entertaining novel. The deeper truth of these two men finding exactly what they want and need in each other made me smile, and the way both characters learn and grow as they “drift” into a relationship without really noticing it at first is very cute. It is also very romantic (without being too sweet) and definitely hot!
Joseph is the narrator of the story, and his somewhat manic thought processes and hilarious comments had me laughing all the way through. He has an opinion about everything, and is very determined to help Kyle become more self-confident. But Joseph also understands why Kyle is hesitant to come out, and never pushes him into a direction he isn’t ready for. Joseph is a pretty unique guy all around—while he sounds totally focused on the physical side of things, he is actually very good at picking up Kyle’s cues regarding everything else as well.
Kyle is a contradiction in terms. Tall, professionally successful, and a great catch due to his friendly and compassionate nature, he was raised by conservative parents in a small town. To get away from the stifling atmosphere he managed to “escape” to New York City, but he hasn’t really had time to focus on anything other than becoming an ER doctor. All that changes when he runs into Joseph, and he begins a journey of discovery that has him experience new things. The scene where he stands up to his mother was amazing and brought tears to my eyes. Go Kyle!
If you like unusual romances, if you enjoy a bit (okay, a lot) of humor in your love stories, and if you’re looking for a read that is as meaningful as it is funny and hot, then you will probably like this novel. I definitely loved it and look forward to reading more from this author.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
Joseph is the narrator of the story, and his somewhat manic thought processes and hilarious comments had me laughing all the way through. He has an opinion about everything, and is very determined to help Kyle become more self-confident. But Joseph also understands why Kyle is hesitant to come out, and never pushes him into a direction he isn’t ready for. Joseph is a pretty unique guy all around—while he sounds totally focused on the physical side of things, he is actually very good at picking up Kyle’s cues regarding everything else as well.
Kyle is a contradiction in terms. Tall, professionally successful, and a great catch due to his friendly and compassionate nature, he was raised by conservative parents in a small town. To get away from the stifling atmosphere he managed to “escape” to New York City, but he hasn’t really had time to focus on anything other than becoming an ER doctor. All that changes when he runs into Joseph, and he begins a journey of discovery that has him experience new things. The scene where he stands up to his mother was amazing and brought tears to my eyes. Go Kyle!
If you like unusual romances, if you enjoy a bit (okay, a lot) of humor in your love stories, and if you’re looking for a read that is as meaningful as it is funny and hot, then you will probably like this novel. I definitely loved it and look forward to reading more from this author.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
August 18, 2012
What a sweet and sexy romantic comedy! I loved Joseph's voice and inner dialog. My brain runs constantly too, producing the weirdest thoughts at the weirdest times, so I totally related. Seldom have I seen a literary pairing that fit as well together as Joseph (rabid tree squirrel) and Kyle (the redwood). The dialog was refreshing, realistic, and laugh out loud funny. I'm so glad no one was around the first time I read about the rabid tree squirrels! Major coffee spew on the keyboard!
The author has such a way with words, winning the battle with my ADHD to capture and keep my full attention.
A funny, charming, uncomplicated love story! Highly recommended. And that has to be one of the most intriguing titles ever!
The author has such a way with words, winning the battle with my ADHD to capture and keep my full attention.
A funny, charming, uncomplicated love story! Highly recommended. And that has to be one of the most intriguing titles ever!
August 20, 2012
Being inside of Joseph’s head was so much fun. I’m a big fan of the inner monologue and his running commentary about everything. The things that pop into the man’s mind were so funny; I found myself laughing out loud. But what I enjoyed most was his relationship with Kyle and how that grew, each man balancing out the other. I hope to see these two again.
August 10, 2012
ADORABLE. This is a really sweet love story. Great characters and dialog. I haven't had a book make me feel this happy in a while.
July 23, 2017
Oh je, oh je. Michael Murphy und ich werden definitiv keine Freunde.
Die Grundgeschichte ist eigentlich ziemlich gut, aber die Umsetzung leider überhaupt nicht mit mir kompatibel. Außerdem ging mir der Schwanzfetisch des erzählenden Protagonisten einfach nur mehr auf die Nerven, ach ja, und Nippel. Wie konnte ich die nur vergessen?
Warum dennoch 2 Sterne? Weil Kyle liebenswürdig war, auch wenn er mir ab und zu für einen Arzt einfach zu naiv war. Joseph hingegen ging mir meinstens auf die Nerven mit seinen inneren Monologen und seinen ständig um Penisse und Nippel kreisenden Gedanken.
Die Grundgeschichte ist eigentlich ziemlich gut, aber die Umsetzung leider überhaupt nicht mit mir kompatibel. Außerdem ging mir der Schwanzfetisch des erzählenden Protagonisten einfach nur mehr auf die Nerven, ach ja, und Nippel. Wie konnte ich die nur vergessen?
Warum dennoch 2 Sterne? Weil Kyle liebenswürdig war, auch wenn er mir ab und zu für einen Arzt einfach zu naiv war. Joseph hingegen ging mir meinstens auf die Nerven mit seinen inneren Monologen und seinen ständig um Penisse und Nippel kreisenden Gedanken.
September 16, 2012
What a lovely story. I found this by accident a few weeks ago when I popped on here and caught some of the statuses of an author that I follow (Eden Winters) who was reading it. I knew then that I had to read it. I finally found the time and I am so glad I did.
Kyle is an ER physician working in New York. He's a southern boy who was raised in a very conservative southern town. He's never flown on a plane and he's never even seen a movie. He doesn't have much other than substantial debt from graduating from an Ivy League medical school. He's very tall and awkward and has very little as far as self-esteem as a result. He's also very intelligent (as I said... Ivy League medical school). Kyle meets Joseph by literally bumping heads with him. Joseph is a city boy who works in the financial industry. He is well traveled and quite comfortable financially. Kyle and Joseph have an instant attraction to each other. They become instant friends and then more.
This was just so sweet. That's really the only way to describe it. Kyle is so insecure and it's such a pleasure watching as Joseph brings him out of that. There is no real major drama. It's mainly watching as the two get together and form a beautiful relationship. Sure, there were a couple of things that bugged me (constant use of exclamation points) but nothing that involved the story as a whole. It was mainly editing stuff. I smiled quite a bit while reading Joseph's internal dialogue during the moments after meeting Kyle. Parts of it were downright silly but that's okay. It was exactly what I was looking for today.
The title, while quirky as hell, is perfect. There's no real drama... no misunderstandings or any complications. It's simply a very sweet love story between two very different men. A very nice read.
Kyle is an ER physician working in New York. He's a southern boy who was raised in a very conservative southern town. He's never flown on a plane and he's never even seen a movie. He doesn't have much other than substantial debt from graduating from an Ivy League medical school. He's very tall and awkward and has very little as far as self-esteem as a result. He's also very intelligent (as I said... Ivy League medical school). Kyle meets Joseph by literally bumping heads with him. Joseph is a city boy who works in the financial industry. He is well traveled and quite comfortable financially. Kyle and Joseph have an instant attraction to each other. They become instant friends and then more.
This was just so sweet. That's really the only way to describe it. Kyle is so insecure and it's such a pleasure watching as Joseph brings him out of that. There is no real major drama. It's mainly watching as the two get together and form a beautiful relationship. Sure, there were a couple of things that bugged me (constant use of exclamation points) but nothing that involved the story as a whole. It was mainly editing stuff. I smiled quite a bit while reading Joseph's internal dialogue during the moments after meeting Kyle. Parts of it were downright silly but that's okay. It was exactly what I was looking for today.
The title, while quirky as hell, is perfect. There's no real drama... no misunderstandings or any complications. It's simply a very sweet love story between two very different men. A very nice read.
August 12, 2012
I am glad that I finished the book.
The MCs sounded like a pair of fool, it's supposed to be funny but I didn't catch it.....
The only thing I loved was the book title, it's very cute, it's also the reason why I wanted to read the book.
The MCs sounded like a pair of fool, it's supposed to be funny but I didn't catch it.....
The only thing I loved was the book title, it's very cute, it's also the reason why I wanted to read the book.
January 9, 2016
3.5 Stars
April 18, 2021
slightly humorous, certainly implausible. Kyle, Naive Okie from uber conservative family, but now a doctor in NYC? Never been to a movie? What? Made it through medical school with his naiveté intact. I call bull. As someone in the medical field I find that to be an utter fallacy. No way did his innocence survive the morbid humor of medicine. Joseph, annoyed me to no end. You know that little chihuahua that jumped around the bulldog in those old cartoons. That was Joseph, a hyper, bouncy little dog who only thinks of penis. I struggled to get through the story. I've enjoyed other books by Mr. Murphy but this one just wasn't for me.
August 25, 2021
3.5
Il libro è gradevole e nella prima parte divertente. Andando avanti però, per me, ha perso di mordente.
Non ci sono errori formali, è scritto bene anche se sembra quasi un diario. Diciamo che ha una potenzialità, per me, non sfruttata al massimo e alcune situazioni sviluppate forse in modo semplice.
Consigliato per una lettura senza pretese.
Il libro è gradevole e nella prima parte divertente. Andando avanti però, per me, ha perso di mordente.
Non ci sono errori formali, è scritto bene anche se sembra quasi un diario. Diciamo che ha una potenzialità, per me, non sfruttata al massimo e alcune situazioni sviluppate forse in modo semplice.
Consigliato per una lettura senza pretese.
March 12, 2021
Dai, veramente, come si fa a resistere a un romanzo con un titolo del genere? Sono rimasta totalmente sopraffatta, durante le prime 15 e 20 pagine, dai pensieri vulcanici, irriverenti, buffi da morire e divertenti, di Joseph. Poi, piano piano, il libro prende un ritmo più tranquillo, più pacato, comunque frizzante e ilare ma meno soverchiante. La storia è semplice, lineare, piena di allegria. La voce è solo quella di JoJo ma, visto che i suoi pensieri sono sempre rivolti Kyle, anche di lui sappiamo a sufficienza.
I due protagonisti sono delineati in modo essenziale, ma non si sente la mancanza di un maggiore approfondimento.
Lo stile é coivolgente, a tratti travolgente!
Insomma una lettura fresca e divertente.
Hugs&kisses
I due protagonisti sono delineati in modo essenziale, ma non si sente la mancanza di un maggiore approfondimento.
Lo stile é coivolgente, a tratti travolgente!
Insomma una lettura fresca e divertente.
Hugs&kisses
January 13, 2018
Absolutely loved this story. It was funny and sweet. Great read!!
November 16, 2014
Note: This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
Looking for a humorous M/M romance? Enjoy a snarky, sweet and sometimes sarcastic character? Opposites attract? Hot, virgin, first time, homophobia? This story has it all, and the audiobook is well-narrated by Nick J. Russo.
When Joseph, personable, experienced, short-of-stature gay man, first spots a tall, uber-masculine, nearly naked, and very hot man in the gym, he’s not sure what to look at first—the body or the face of this gorgeous guy. When he gets to meet the guy in the locker room, his tongue nearly falls out when the man just drops his pants unashamedly and stands there talking to him while scratching his balls. Seems the guy is just totally relaxed and okay with his body and Joseph, experienced though he is, has really never met anyone quite like him. Later, when the guy comes out of the shower, water dripping down his long, naked torso (and other places!), Joseph finds out his name is Kyle and the two decide to go grab coffee. This is the start of a beautiful friendship, as the saying goes.
Kyle is an ER physician at a local hospital and is from a small town in Oklahoma where “good Christian family values” are considered the rule in his household. He knows he’s gay but has never acted on it. He’s also never seen a movie, ridden in an airplane or any number of other pleasures which his God-fearing parents would have considered immoral. He certainly would never tell them of his sinful thoughts toward other men and he’s extremely self-deprecating, never seeing how beautiful he is, both inside and outside. But Joseph sees it, and he sets about to convince Kyle of his worth.
Joseph, a chatterbox, is nicknamed Squirrel by Kyle after a comment Joseph makes about little squirrels climbing tall trees. In this case, Kyle is the tree. The first part of the story was quite fast-paced as the two went through the typical dating ritual, or as much as you can when you are an ER doc working 12-hour shifts. They finally made love and Kyle faced some important decisions like moving in with Joseph and then how much to tell his mother when she showed up in town with a group of women from her church. Kyle’s coming out moments were a bit unrealistic, but still somewhat feasible, but his mother’s reaction was not at all what I would have expected. From that point on in the book, the story became a travelogue and “how to” journal as we experienced Kyle’s first travels on an airplane with Joseph, first to Key West, then to Hawaii. We also got to see an inflight medical emergency which was described in enough detail to allow a reader to someday operate a defibrillator in an emergency.
If the story had ended with the trip to Key West, that would have been enough. I can’t say the balance of the story was boring, but it was unnecessary and seemed more like filler than romance. The scenes with the young man they met in Hawaii were completely off the wall, and I never did get the point of any of it.
All that being said, the first person POV from Joseph, a witty and frequently funny narrative, and a great narrator in Nick J. Russo takes this story from a 3.5 to a 4 star review for me. The narrator’s delivery of Joseph’s humor was right on target, and the vocalizations were varied enough to be able to tell which character was speaking at any given time.
This is a good choice for a medium-length audiobook, one that will make you smile. I recommend it to those looking for something light and fun in M/M romance.
Looking for a humorous M/M romance? Enjoy a snarky, sweet and sometimes sarcastic character? Opposites attract? Hot, virgin, first time, homophobia? This story has it all, and the audiobook is well-narrated by Nick J. Russo.
When Joseph, personable, experienced, short-of-stature gay man, first spots a tall, uber-masculine, nearly naked, and very hot man in the gym, he’s not sure what to look at first—the body or the face of this gorgeous guy. When he gets to meet the guy in the locker room, his tongue nearly falls out when the man just drops his pants unashamedly and stands there talking to him while scratching his balls. Seems the guy is just totally relaxed and okay with his body and Joseph, experienced though he is, has really never met anyone quite like him. Later, when the guy comes out of the shower, water dripping down his long, naked torso (and other places!), Joseph finds out his name is Kyle and the two decide to go grab coffee. This is the start of a beautiful friendship, as the saying goes.
Kyle is an ER physician at a local hospital and is from a small town in Oklahoma where “good Christian family values” are considered the rule in his household. He knows he’s gay but has never acted on it. He’s also never seen a movie, ridden in an airplane or any number of other pleasures which his God-fearing parents would have considered immoral. He certainly would never tell them of his sinful thoughts toward other men and he’s extremely self-deprecating, never seeing how beautiful he is, both inside and outside. But Joseph sees it, and he sets about to convince Kyle of his worth.
Joseph, a chatterbox, is nicknamed Squirrel by Kyle after a comment Joseph makes about little squirrels climbing tall trees. In this case, Kyle is the tree. The first part of the story was quite fast-paced as the two went through the typical dating ritual, or as much as you can when you are an ER doc working 12-hour shifts. They finally made love and Kyle faced some important decisions like moving in with Joseph and then how much to tell his mother when she showed up in town with a group of women from her church. Kyle’s coming out moments were a bit unrealistic, but still somewhat feasible, but his mother’s reaction was not at all what I would have expected. From that point on in the book, the story became a travelogue and “how to” journal as we experienced Kyle’s first travels on an airplane with Joseph, first to Key West, then to Hawaii. We also got to see an inflight medical emergency which was described in enough detail to allow a reader to someday operate a defibrillator in an emergency.
If the story had ended with the trip to Key West, that would have been enough. I can’t say the balance of the story was boring, but it was unnecessary and seemed more like filler than romance. The scenes with the young man they met in Hawaii were completely off the wall, and I never did get the point of any of it.
All that being said, the first person POV from Joseph, a witty and frequently funny narrative, and a great narrator in Nick J. Russo takes this story from a 3.5 to a 4 star review for me. The narrator’s delivery of Joseph’s humor was right on target, and the vocalizations were varied enough to be able to tell which character was speaking at any given time.
This is a good choice for a medium-length audiobook, one that will make you smile. I recommend it to those looking for something light and fun in M/M romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews