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Something Like #3
Something Like Winter
There are two sides to every story. When you’re Tim Wyman, sometimes there are three.
Tim hoped moving to Texas would mean a new beginning, a chance to spread his wings, but he soon finds himself falling into the same tired patterns. Until he meets recklessly brave Benjamin Bentley. Suddenly a whole new world opens up to Tim—love, sex, warmth… home. Certain that society won’t understand what he and Ben have together, Tim struggles to protect their relationship, even if it means twisting the truth. As his lies slowly push Ben away, Tim learns that the greatest enemy can come from within. Buried beneath a decade of deceptions, Tim must claw his way to the surface in the hopes of learning to fly.
Something Like Winter, the companion novel to Something Like Summer , tells the story from Tim Wyman’s perspective, revealing new private moments and personal journeys.
Tim hoped moving to Texas would mean a new beginning, a chance to spread his wings, but he soon finds himself falling into the same tired patterns. Until he meets recklessly brave Benjamin Bentley. Suddenly a whole new world opens up to Tim—love, sex, warmth… home. Certain that society won’t understand what he and Ben have together, Tim struggles to protect their relationship, even if it means twisting the truth. As his lies slowly push Ben away, Tim learns that the greatest enemy can come from within. Buried beneath a decade of deceptions, Tim must claw his way to the surface in the hopes of learning to fly.
Something Like Winter, the companion novel to Something Like Summer , tells the story from Tim Wyman’s perspective, revealing new private moments and personal journeys.
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2012
256 people are currently reading
3707 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bell
47 books2,213 followersJay Bell is a proud gay man and the award-winning author behind dozens of emotional and yet hopelessly optimistic stories. His best-selling book, Something Like Summer, spawned a series of heart-wrenching novels, a musically driven movie, and a lovingly drawn comic. When not crafting imaginary worlds, he occupies his free time with animals, art, action figures, and—most ardently—his husband Andreas. Jay is always dreaming up new stories about boys in love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can get the kettle boiling by visiting www.jaybellbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
October 21, 2015
compassion.
What a wise man Jay Bell must be.
Also good at writing books that leave me utterly destroyed, listlessly thumbing through photo galleries of natural disasters, hoping for the moment my angstplosion is put into a more manageable perspective.
I don't understand all the railing and hissing for Tim's character in Something Like Summer.
I never did.
Love can be desperate. Love doesn't always win over fear.
It never wins over death at all.
***
My mother found out I'd been sneaking the love of my life into my tiny bedroom in my grandmother's house.
My granny knew—we kept it from my grandfather—but once my mother found out she made granny choose: your grandson, or your daughter.
I had to leave.
My boyfriend wept like a baby, watching me pack up my things and tidy up the space. He took pictures, and cried even harder. I cupped a cheek with a dusty hand, and asked him as tenderly as I could why he cried if we still had one another.
He said it wasn't right. He said it wasn't fair. And:
"This was where it at all started for us."
And it was.
Our first of everything that was everything together happened in that tiny room.
Maybe he sensed something I did not, but I was upbeat, and positive.
This wasn't the end for us.
It was a new beginning, somewhere else, and we could take what we loved about the past and cherish it next to the new memories we would make together.
It was harder than I thought.
But I know I was right.
And Jay Bell is right.
Love is love. It doesn't die, and it isn't exclusive. It can change, but it isn't finite.
It never ends, and somewhere a child of some new family—or even some broke hipster, maybe—lays their head in the room where my mother said goodbye, and my lover said yes, and all my world's beginnings came and went at once, in the house where my granny died without me.
What a wise man Jay Bell must be.
Also good at writing books that leave me utterly destroyed, listlessly thumbing through photo galleries of natural disasters, hoping for the moment my angstplosion is put into a more manageable perspective.
I don't understand all the railing and hissing for Tim's character in Something Like Summer.
I never did.
Love can be desperate. Love doesn't always win over fear.
It never wins over death at all.
***
My mother found out I'd been sneaking the love of my life into my tiny bedroom in my grandmother's house.
My granny knew—we kept it from my grandfather—but once my mother found out she made granny choose: your grandson, or your daughter.
I had to leave.
My boyfriend wept like a baby, watching me pack up my things and tidy up the space. He took pictures, and cried even harder. I cupped a cheek with a dusty hand, and asked him as tenderly as I could why he cried if we still had one another.
He said it wasn't right. He said it wasn't fair. And:
"This was where it at all started for us."
And it was.
Our first of everything that was everything together happened in that tiny room.
Maybe he sensed something I did not, but I was upbeat, and positive.
This wasn't the end for us.
It was a new beginning, somewhere else, and we could take what we loved about the past and cherish it next to the new memories we would make together.
It was harder than I thought.
But I know I was right.
And Jay Bell is right.
Love is love. It doesn't die, and it isn't exclusive. It can change, but it isn't finite.
It never ends, and somewhere a child of some new family—or even some broke hipster, maybe—lays their head in the room where my mother said goodbye, and my lover said yes, and all my world's beginnings came and went at once, in the house where my granny died without me.
December 16, 2018
4.5
I'm not apologizing for fangirling again here.I've read this and book one back to back and have absolutely loved the writing,the characters,the angst,the feelings.This Author's writing just pushed all my buttons.You know when something works for you,when you're glued to your kindle and cannot wait to get back to the story.
A companion novel to Something Like Summer but it's so much more than that.This isn't just the same story from a different POV.It takes the reader into Tim's world,his thoughts and his story when he wasn't with Ben....
I can imagine people not liking Tim in book one but I always knew there was so much more to him and you'll fall in love with him here.
This book,and book one,tells the story of two teenage boys whose connection is undeniable but life gets in the way with all the expectations and prejudices they face along the way.Spanning over a decade, it's a love story that I wouldn't have missed reading.
Highly Recommended.
I'm not apologizing for fangirling again here.I've read this and book one back to back and have absolutely loved the writing,the characters,the angst,the feelings.This Author's writing just pushed all my buttons.You know when something works for you,when you're glued to your kindle and cannot wait to get back to the story.
A companion novel to Something Like Summer but it's so much more than that.This isn't just the same story from a different POV.It takes the reader into Tim's world,his thoughts and his story when he wasn't with Ben....
I can imagine people not liking Tim in book one but I always knew there was so much more to him and you'll fall in love with him here.
This book,and book one,tells the story of two teenage boys whose connection is undeniable but life gets in the way with all the expectations and prejudices they face along the way.Spanning over a decade, it's a love story that I wouldn't have missed reading.
Highly Recommended.
December 17, 2022
Many of the events of Something Like Summer, and plenty more that contribute to that original story—but this time, told through Tim’s eyes.
Starting with one of the largest elephants in the room: coming out is an intensely personal matter. Ben, and his stans, gatekeeping when Tim should have come out is pretty crazy. This is fiction. This is not a true story. So…there’s that. Plus, the critical moment takes place in…1997. Bottom line, Ben was wrong to try to force Tim to come out. I’m glad that Ben sees that now.
Something about Jay Bell’s writing style really works for me. I loved being inside Tim’s head in this book. He is such a wonderful soul. Tim learns many lessons the hard way, but he’s a good and loving person.
Tim’s parents are absolutely heinous. To be unwanted hurts no matter what. But when it’s an only child that they didn’t want…it does hurts differently.
Tim may not be as out and proud as Ben is at first, but Tim learns to be courageous. Reading this truly made me realize how selfish, and self-righteous, Ben acts in the first installment. Winter illuminates more of the logic behind all of the events in Summer.
The way Tim chooses to come out is very brave. And understated.
All of the Eric chapters are stellar. It’s heartwarming for Tim to finally have a fellow gay friend. Eric is the best friend, and the father, that Tim never had.
I felt quite vindicated by this novel. Reading Summer, I knew that Tim and Ben belonged together. If anything, Jace was simply a limerent object for Ben. Tim and Ben are the actual, true love story—messy and unconventional as it is.
The final 10% is excellent. The ending is beautiful, and it is much more satisfying than the HFN conclusion in the first book.
Winter, surprisingly, is even better than Summer.
“Tim was willing to risk it one more time. Hell, he’d try a million more times, if that’s what it took."
Starting with one of the largest elephants in the room: coming out is an intensely personal matter. Ben, and his stans, gatekeeping when Tim should have come out is pretty crazy. This is fiction. This is not a true story. So…there’s that. Plus, the critical moment takes place in…1997. Bottom line, Ben was wrong to try to force Tim to come out. I’m glad that Ben sees that now.
Something about Jay Bell’s writing style really works for me. I loved being inside Tim’s head in this book. He is such a wonderful soul. Tim learns many lessons the hard way, but he’s a good and loving person.
Tim’s parents are absolutely heinous. To be unwanted hurts no matter what. But when it’s an only child that they didn’t want…it does hurts differently.
Tim may not be as out and proud as Ben is at first, but Tim learns to be courageous. Reading this truly made me realize how selfish, and self-righteous, Ben acts in the first installment. Winter illuminates more of the logic behind all of the events in Summer.
The way Tim chooses to come out is very brave. And understated.
All of the Eric chapters are stellar. It’s heartwarming for Tim to finally have a fellow gay friend. Eric is the best friend, and the father, that Tim never had.
I felt quite vindicated by this novel. Reading Summer, I knew that Tim and Ben belonged together. If anything, Jace was simply a limerent object for Ben. Tim and Ben are the actual, true love story—messy and unconventional as it is.
The final 10% is excellent. The ending is beautiful, and it is much more satisfying than the HFN conclusion in the first book.
Winter, surprisingly, is even better than Summer.
“Tim was willing to risk it one more time. Hell, he’d try a million more times, if that’s what it took."
October 7, 2020
4 Stars
Some ghosts haunt you for life. The best you can do is make room on the couch and get used to living with them.
Something Like Winter is the story of book 1 but this time in Tim’s POV. I liked book one a bit more but still, this one was enjoyable too. In this one, we got why Tim did what he did in book 1, still not acceptable but understanding and more importantly he got a good taste of what he put Ben through! I loved the ending so so much, it put a very big smile on my face.
There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.
Told in single POV, 3rd person, it’s the third installment in the "Something Like" series and I think it’s safe to say you can read it as a standalone but I think it’s better if you read book 1 first (you may enjoy it more this way). All in all, it was a good read, and hope you enjoy it as well!
Some ghosts haunt you for life. The best you can do is make room on the couch and get used to living with them.
Something Like Winter is the story of book 1 but this time in Tim’s POV. I liked book one a bit more but still, this one was enjoyable too. In this one, we got why Tim did what he did in book 1, still not acceptable but understanding and more importantly he got a good taste of what he put Ben through! I loved the ending so so much, it put a very big smile on my face.
There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.
Told in single POV, 3rd person, it’s the third installment in the "Something Like" series and I think it’s safe to say you can read it as a standalone but I think it’s better if you read book 1 first (you may enjoy it more this way). All in all, it was a good read, and hope you enjoy it as well!
May 6, 2021
Omg, I'm so glad it's finally over! This book was so long that I expected the epilogue to be us looking at their gravesites!
ooooh, I want this tombstone! I like how it is filled in for the future death like it was made for a psychic or something who saw their gruesome death in a vision.
I mean, sheesh! The timeline of the story was decades. If it wasn't for the fact that I felt obligated to finish this book because I read it as part of a reading challenge, I would have dnf-ed this sucker when they were in college.
See ya never!
But, oh no, it wasn't enough for us to suffer through years and years of these people's lives, there were also sad and tragic deaths. Please, just force me to stub my toe really hard instead of trying to make me cry. Because I did. Dammit! I cried over a fucking fictional character's death.
That does not please me.
stop that.
I'm not even going to review this thing. It was good, it was horrible, it was long. But, the best part is that it's over.
ooooh, I want this tombstone! I like how it is filled in for the future death like it was made for a psychic or something who saw their gruesome death in a vision.
I mean, sheesh! The timeline of the story was decades. If it wasn't for the fact that I felt obligated to finish this book because I read it as part of a reading challenge, I would have dnf-ed this sucker when they were in college.
See ya never!
But, oh no, it wasn't enough for us to suffer through years and years of these people's lives, there were also sad and tragic deaths. Please, just force me to stub my toe really hard instead of trying to make me cry. Because I did. Dammit! I cried over a fucking fictional character's death.
That does not please me.
stop that.
I'm not even going to review this thing. It was good, it was horrible, it was long. But, the best part is that it's over.
November 2, 2012
Up until now, Something Like Summer has been, hands down, my favorite book. Something Like Winter now shares that same spot (you should see it, Winter clings to Summer like a baby chimp to its mama—it's adorable). Winter has everything I loved about Summer: sweet romance; real, complicated love; searching for acceptance; and fighting for what you want. It also gave me something I wanted so badly in Summer: the chance to be in Tim Wyman's head.
I'll be honest and say Tim made me growl more than once while reading Something Like Summer. While that's still a bit true after reading Something Like Winter (he is human, after all), having insight to his family and social background, and the way he sees the world puts a lot of things in perspective. He's a flawed hero who is driven by his huge heart (yes, his heart… not his "European standard"… well, the former certainly more than the latter >.>). I cried for him more than once, lamenting his relationship with his parents, dealing with bigots, experiencing loss on so many levels… it was easy to forgive him his seemingly "selfish" moments that had niggled at me while reading Summer.
With Something Like Summer, I fell in love with Ben (and Jace ::le sigh::). Something Like Winter had me fall in love with Tim (and Eric – such a beautifully fascinating character!). While Winter is a companion novel to Summer, it's in no way a simple rehashing of events from Tim's perspective. There are new stories, revisiting of favorite events, and a fully-fleshed out (heh) tale of Tim's journey from boyhood to manhood in a novel that stands on its own just as much as it completes its predecessor.
Another winner from Jay Bell. Bravo, sir!
I'll be honest and say Tim made me growl more than once while reading Something Like Summer. While that's still a bit true after reading Something Like Winter (he is human, after all), having insight to his family and social background, and the way he sees the world puts a lot of things in perspective. He's a flawed hero who is driven by his huge heart (yes, his heart… not his "European standard"… well, the former certainly more than the latter >.>). I cried for him more than once, lamenting his relationship with his parents, dealing with bigots, experiencing loss on so many levels… it was easy to forgive him his seemingly "selfish" moments that had niggled at me while reading Summer.
With Something Like Summer, I fell in love with Ben (and Jace ::le sigh::). Something Like Winter had me fall in love with Tim (and Eric – such a beautifully fascinating character!). While Winter is a companion novel to Summer, it's in no way a simple rehashing of events from Tim's perspective. There are new stories, revisiting of favorite events, and a fully-fleshed out (heh) tale of Tim's journey from boyhood to manhood in a novel that stands on its own just as much as it completes its predecessor.
Another winner from Jay Bell. Bravo, sir!
February 20, 2014
2.5 stars
I just...can't! I can't muster it. I can't gather it up and have it take flight. Nope. Still no Tim-Love.
Odd thing is, I did want he and Ben to end up together eventually. I DID! But that's more about my NEED for a HEA then any affection towards Tim at all.
See, Tim...he's kinda...selfish? No? And really, weak and foolish? And a little bit mean and dishonest? And I can totally see why people love him as this "broken" character. I just...can't forgive his actions.
Granted, Winter helped me to understand him more. The scenes with Eric made me a little less angry with him. But, as soon as the scenes from Summer came back up (waterpark, the note...), I was livid all over again. And the bits with Travis and Ryan? Added to the aggravation.
Look, I don't judge anyone for loving Tim. But me? I just...can't.
**************************************************
GROUP CHALLENGE REVIEW @ Boys in our Books:
The amazing Jay Bell contacted the blog about reviewing his new release, "Something Like Spring". Being honest with him, we let him know that 3 of our reviewers (Jenni, Sheri, Susan) had read Summer and all didn't love it! So he challenged us to read Winter and see if the controversial character of Tim could win us over. Here is our review...
THE SETUP:
The 3 of us, at different times, all read Jay Bell’s “Something Like Summer” last year. Here are lines quoted directly from our past reviews:
Jenni (3 stars): “Tim was a jerk! And he never fully redeemed himself.”
Sheri (3 stars): “Tim is a selfish, spineless jerk.”
Susan (2.5 stars): “Adult Tim is creepy, overbearing, desperate, borderline pathetic and a stalker.”
Clearly, erm, we didn’t like the character of Tim Wyman. So, to find that he got his own book in the series, “Something Like Winter”, well, obviously none of us was going to run and read it. Until Jay Bell, the author, challenged us to do so.
THE REVIEW:
Jenni: After I read Something Like Summer last year, I was a hostile, angry mess. I couldn’t believe the outcome; it was my first experience reading a book where I actually liked the writing but hated one of the main characters. So imagine my reaction when the BioB team got the challenge to read the second book in the series, which, as it turns out, is in Tim’s POV, the very MC I despised from SLS.
Sheri: The timeline nearly matches the first book, with an extra peek into Tim Wyman’s life before Ben’s collision into his life and a lovely looksee as to what happened after ‘Summer’ ends. It was helpful watching things unroll from Tim’s eyes; it sprinkled understanding and compassion into their story. It pains me to say, however, my annoyances and irritations were not erased and quite possibly, intensified.
Susan: I wanted to believe that Tim acted the way he did out of youth (in the beginning) and out of love (in the end). But, honestly, I can’t say that. I think Tim acted out of…selfishness. The man loved himself so fully. And I don’t doubt that he could love Ben and Eric and others. But, I did doubt that he could love them more than he loved himself.
Jenni: But here’s what SLW DID do for me. I began to understand Tim a little. I related to his fear of coming out. I understood the way his past in Kansas haunted him. I worried for his parent’s rejection. And most of all, I forgave him for not fighting for the love he kept telling me he felt (whether I bought it or not is a whole other issue).
Sheri: Deprived of love, Tim is starved for attention. He is desperate for acceptance, dying for approval and most of all longing to be loved. Yes, I see the imbalance in his life loud and clear. He was alone, very alone. I feel terrible for the neglect he suffered and I do sympathize for his misfortunes. Unfortunately, he was the force of devastation more than once. Tim was Tim’s own worst enemy. He sabotaged his happiness and then persecuted himself to penance.
Susan: It was bad decision after bad decision…and that should made me feel sorry for him, right? But, I struggled. Treat Ben like crap? Try to force Travis into a relationship he’s not ready for? Even that weird photo shoot he did for Eric’s friend? And his crazy time with Ryan? Time and again, Tim’s choices frustrated beyond! But all of that could be forgivable and understandable if he wasn’t so SELFISH in so much of it.
Jenni: In SLW, we learned a lot about Eric, Tim’s (much) older, rich benefactor. I was happy about that for several reasons. In SLS, I was…uncomfortable with the idea of Tim and Eric, and I never fully believed Tim didn’t have an intimate relationship with Eric. What I discovered was that Eric was this loving, special, nurturing man, whom I REALLY liked.
Sheri: Did I understand him better? Sure.
Did I want his happiness? Absolutely.
Did I mourn with him? Damn straight I did.
Did this make everything better? *sigh* No, it didn’t.
Susan: I think by the end, I was so worn down by my Tim-hate, I actually kinda gave up. I confused even myself wanting Ben & Tim to be together, to be happy. Maybe I just wanted it all to end in a way that made the rest worth it. I’m not sure.
Jenni: This book gets two ratings from me: 4 stars for solid writing and 2 stars for the way things turned out. I’m splitting the difference on my overall rating and going with a bitter 3, in total.
Sheri: I respect solid writing and powerful stories when I see them, even if the characters infuriate me. I can say that this is an impressive tale that spans a decade of soul mates torn apart, brimming with dozens of emotions, and a guarantee that you will fall onto one side of the divide or the other. 3 stars
Susan: I think any book that makes me FEEL this strongly, not because of irritating writing, but because of thought-provoking and emotion-inducing characters is produced by true talent. I just don’t think I can get past the bad taste in my mouth that is Tim. I’ve read Jay Bell’s “Kamizake Boys” and really really enjoyed it. So, I admit he’s gifted. I guess if I was a literary critic, I could speak to the power of this book. But, I’m but a reader for entertainment and a reviewer for release. So, with that, 2.5 stars for me.
RATINGS:
Jenni - 3 stars
Sheri - 3 stars
Susan - 2.5 stars
February 19, 2014
The ship has sailed.
Team Tim’s fan boat is out to sea, and I’m left sitting on the dock. I shook my frustrations best I could. It was exactly one year ago when I first met Tim, so I assumed sufficient time had passed to allow my emotions to simmer down.
I was wrong, so very wrong.
The timeline nearly matches the first book, with an extra peek into Tim Wyman’s life before Ben’s collision into his life and a lovely looksee as to what happened after ‘Summer’ ends. It was helpful watching things unfold from Tim’s eyes; it sprinkled understanding and compassion into their story.
It pains me to say, my annoyances and irritations were not erased and quite possibly, intensified.
Deprived of love, Tim is starved for attention. He is desperate for acceptance, dying for approval and most of all longing to be loved. Yes, I see the voids in his life loud and clear. He was alone, deserted from those who should have cared the most. I feel terrible for the neglect he suffered and I do sympathize for his misfortunes.
His pain is magnified after his heart grieves from a poor decision.
No, not a poor decision. A grave mistake.
When he broke Ben’s heart, he destroyed his own. He had to swallow his sorrow and pick up the Tim pieces again and again.
Unfortunately, he was the force of devastation more than once. Tim was Tim’s own worst enemy. He sabotaged his happiness and then persecuted himself to penance. The cowardly selfish actions during high school were excusable (young and stupid we all once were), but the vicious daggers that spewed from his mouth left lasting scars.
Fast forward three years and things are not any better. Travis and the frat brothers were another cold shoulder, yet the shaming was worth the pain if only for four letters…Eric.
Eric was warmth, courage, and exactly what Tim needed. He saved Tim. He filled the emptiness Tim ached to have full. He led Tim down the road to self-acceptance and held his hand while he faced the regrets of his past. Their relationship was unique and puzzling. I did not see a lost father found, or a best friend bonding. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but regardless, it was beautiful and necessary.
Then Tim-da-Tornado tears through town. He has his sight set on a particular pair of chocolate brown eyes and he will stop at nothing to reach his goal. His path of destruction is severe and damage control may be hopeless. I began to wonder if he would even notice if he destroyed the prize in the fight to get to the finish line.
This is when any love I had gained was lost yet again. He would compromise anything for his personal gain….he was careless, reckless, and blinded with greed.
A poolside moment had my blood boiling. Austin? I have no words. Ryan? Another poisonous relationship he permitted. Ben swooped in and rescued him after witnessing the ugly secrets behind closed doors.
Between all three I’m still trying to close my jaw.
Did I understand him better? Sure.
Did I want his happiness? Absolutely.
Did I mourn with him? Damn straight I did.
Did this make everything better? *sigh* No, it didn’t.
Setting aside my aggravations, I did see him grow and become a man that would spend his life trying to make up for the mistakes that he made one fated summer’s night. I cannot deny the power of his love for Ben. I just can’t excuse his means to reclaim his lost love. He was a caretaker when it mattered the most and when he loved someone, he would literally sacrifice anything for them. I adored how he treasured his furry baby and cherished his Nana…two warm fuzzies that I clung to in the story.
I respect solid writing and powerful stories when I see them, even if the characters infuriate me. I can say that this is an impressive tale that spans a decade of soul mates torn apart, brimming with dozens of emotions, and a guarantee that you will fall onto one side of the divide or the other.
I may have missed the boat, but this time I was actually trying to board.
After ‘Something like Summer’ you could not have paid me to join the Team Tim’s fan boat, even if it was filled with Marcello’s boys and an open bar…
well, on second thought. ;)
Seriously though….it was a bumpy ride, for all parties involved and even if I’m not a fanatic of the Season series, I’m glad I held on and gave it another go because I am an admirer of Jay Bell.
For a chance to win all four books in The Seasons series, check out our giveaway and interview with the seriously kick-ass author himself ...here
Team Tim’s fan boat is out to sea, and I’m left sitting on the dock. I shook my frustrations best I could. It was exactly one year ago when I first met Tim, so I assumed sufficient time had passed to allow my emotions to simmer down.
I was wrong, so very wrong.
The timeline nearly matches the first book, with an extra peek into Tim Wyman’s life before Ben’s collision into his life and a lovely looksee as to what happened after ‘Summer’ ends. It was helpful watching things unfold from Tim’s eyes; it sprinkled understanding and compassion into their story.
It pains me to say, my annoyances and irritations were not erased and quite possibly, intensified.
Deprived of love, Tim is starved for attention. He is desperate for acceptance, dying for approval and most of all longing to be loved. Yes, I see the voids in his life loud and clear. He was alone, deserted from those who should have cared the most. I feel terrible for the neglect he suffered and I do sympathize for his misfortunes.
His pain is magnified after his heart grieves from a poor decision.
No, not a poor decision. A grave mistake.
When he broke Ben’s heart, he destroyed his own. He had to swallow his sorrow and pick up the Tim pieces again and again.
Unfortunately, he was the force of devastation more than once. Tim was Tim’s own worst enemy. He sabotaged his happiness and then persecuted himself to penance. The cowardly selfish actions during high school were excusable (young and stupid we all once were), but the vicious daggers that spewed from his mouth left lasting scars.
Fast forward three years and things are not any better. Travis and the frat brothers were another cold shoulder, yet the shaming was worth the pain if only for four letters…Eric.
Eric was warmth, courage, and exactly what Tim needed. He saved Tim. He filled the emptiness Tim ached to have full. He led Tim down the road to self-acceptance and held his hand while he faced the regrets of his past. Their relationship was unique and puzzling. I did not see a lost father found, or a best friend bonding. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but regardless, it was beautiful and necessary.
Then Tim-da-Tornado tears through town. He has his sight set on a particular pair of chocolate brown eyes and he will stop at nothing to reach his goal. His path of destruction is severe and damage control may be hopeless. I began to wonder if he would even notice if he destroyed the prize in the fight to get to the finish line.
This is when any love I had gained was lost yet again. He would compromise anything for his personal gain….he was careless, reckless, and blinded with greed.
A poolside moment had my blood boiling. Austin? I have no words. Ryan? Another poisonous relationship he permitted. Ben swooped in and rescued him after witnessing the ugly secrets behind closed doors.
Between all three I’m still trying to close my jaw.
Did I understand him better? Sure.
Did I want his happiness? Absolutely.
Did I mourn with him? Damn straight I did.
Did this make everything better? *sigh* No, it didn’t.
Setting aside my aggravations, I did see him grow and become a man that would spend his life trying to make up for the mistakes that he made one fated summer’s night. I cannot deny the power of his love for Ben. I just can’t excuse his means to reclaim his lost love. He was a caretaker when it mattered the most and when he loved someone, he would literally sacrifice anything for them. I adored how he treasured his furry baby and cherished his Nana…two warm fuzzies that I clung to in the story.
I respect solid writing and powerful stories when I see them, even if the characters infuriate me. I can say that this is an impressive tale that spans a decade of soul mates torn apart, brimming with dozens of emotions, and a guarantee that you will fall onto one side of the divide or the other.
I may have missed the boat, but this time I was actually trying to board.
After ‘Something like Summer’ you could not have paid me to join the Team Tim’s fan boat, even if it was filled with Marcello’s boys and an open bar…
well, on second thought. ;)
Seriously though….it was a bumpy ride, for all parties involved and even if I’m not a fanatic of the Season series, I’m glad I held on and gave it another go because I am an admirer of Jay Bell.
For a chance to win all four books in The Seasons series, check out our giveaway and interview with the seriously kick-ass author himself ...here
December 18, 2012
Jay Bell has cojones, as a particular granny in this book might say. It was no small risk to tinker with what is arguably the most beloved gay romance ever (I speak of Something Like Summer, of course). Even a sequel, if it were a stinker, could've been swept under the rug, as so many sequels are. But writing a companion that revisits the original story (and potentially sours us on it) was a bold move. As thrilled as I was to read it, part of me was nervous!
Pfft, I shouldn't have been nervous. Jay's significant skill and talent always make him a safe bet, and Something Like Winter is a blast from beginning to end. I loved seeing more of Tim's Kansas origin, his friendship with wealthy oldster Eric Conroy, his side romances with a closeted frat brother and a sexy bad-boy, and the mishap that got him his scar. The fleshing-out of his relationship with Ben was also very welcome. Rather than tarnishing our memories of SLS, Jay lovingly builds on them, and uses SLW to elevate the tale of Ben and Tim to a romantic epic.
Individually, the books aren't quite equal halves of a whole, though: Something Like Summer is the motorcycle, and Something Like Winter is the sidecar. So if you're a newcomer to these books, it's important to read SLS first. In SLW Jay tends to whisk us through the events already covered in SLS, probably under the assumption that we don't need to see them again. It's an understandable choice, but since a lot of the whisked-through scenes are the ones that lay the foundation of Tim and Ben's romance, the result is that SLW takes that romance somewhat for granted. I sometimes had to draw from my memories of SLS to remind myself of the chemistry these boys have. For SLW I would've liked less whisking and more illumination. However, since the bulk of the book is spent on previously unexplored events in Tim's life, it's a small quibble. (And it's a compliment to Jay that I DO want to see those scenes all over again.)
All in all, Jay should be proud of himself yet again. The most beloved gay romance now has a worthy companion.
And what a gorgeous cover, too!
Pfft, I shouldn't have been nervous. Jay's significant skill and talent always make him a safe bet, and Something Like Winter is a blast from beginning to end. I loved seeing more of Tim's Kansas origin, his friendship with wealthy oldster Eric Conroy, his side romances with a closeted frat brother and a sexy bad-boy, and the mishap that got him his scar. The fleshing-out of his relationship with Ben was also very welcome. Rather than tarnishing our memories of SLS, Jay lovingly builds on them, and uses SLW to elevate the tale of Ben and Tim to a romantic epic.
Individually, the books aren't quite equal halves of a whole, though: Something Like Summer is the motorcycle, and Something Like Winter is the sidecar. So if you're a newcomer to these books, it's important to read SLS first. In SLW Jay tends to whisk us through the events already covered in SLS, probably under the assumption that we don't need to see them again. It's an understandable choice, but since a lot of the whisked-through scenes are the ones that lay the foundation of Tim and Ben's romance, the result is that SLW takes that romance somewhat for granted. I sometimes had to draw from my memories of SLS to remind myself of the chemistry these boys have. For SLW I would've liked less whisking and more illumination. However, since the bulk of the book is spent on previously unexplored events in Tim's life, it's a small quibble. (And it's a compliment to Jay that I DO want to see those scenes all over again.)
All in all, Jay should be proud of himself yet again. The most beloved gay romance now has a worthy companion.
And what a gorgeous cover, too!
November 8, 2012
This is what i've been waiting since I finished his "brother-book" Something Like Summer. And is better to read SLS first to understand this one better (and suffer a whole lot more), making it one of my favorite books ever, it was heartbreaking but that made it even better.
Yeah, this book makes me suffer. It was all I needed to know after finishing SLS. The book takes almost the same time that the other one, this just start a few weeks earlier and ends a couple of years latter. Nothing was left untold this time, Tim's scars, the one on his shoulder and the ones in his inner self, the painting, nothing.
This told Tim's struggle. Ben, the most important thing in his life, was lost because of Tim's fears, in SLS this makes Tim a coward to Ben's eyes, but all those fears are there for a reason, a little of that was explained in SLS, but it was never considerate by Ben. This time, you can understand all those fears, that leave Tim to lose the love of his life, not just once, but 3 times.
Tim isn't redeemed because he didn't need to be redeemed. He was just a scary boy who grew up slower than Ben, having other people in his life, but only one who can really be someone to hold, Eric, showing an exquisit platonic love that somehow brings Tim's to life again, and show how resilient he can be. Ben, Travis, Eric, Ryan, everyone of the needed to make him grow, deal with his "friends" in highschool, society, his frathouse, family.
Tim's story is realistic, but cruel, well, life isn't a happy place for everyone, and personally, i got to a point where i didn't want to keep reading cuz' it was really cruel for Tim, it was hopeless (***spoiler***, srsly, the cathartic moment when he with Jace and Ben are watching "The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King", is just heartbreaking), but curiosity and hope, kept me going. Only hope in a happy ending kept me going. and it pay off. The book was amazing, and didn't leave that bittersweet taste that SLS gave you at the end. The doubts are cleared, the fears gone, and both are mature enough for each other.
Yeah, this book makes me suffer. It was all I needed to know after finishing SLS. The book takes almost the same time that the other one, this just start a few weeks earlier and ends a couple of years latter. Nothing was left untold this time, Tim's scars, the one on his shoulder and the ones in his inner self, the painting, nothing.
This told Tim's struggle. Ben, the most important thing in his life, was lost because of Tim's fears, in SLS this makes Tim a coward to Ben's eyes, but all those fears are there for a reason, a little of that was explained in SLS, but it was never considerate by Ben. This time, you can understand all those fears, that leave Tim to lose the love of his life, not just once, but 3 times.
Tim isn't redeemed because he didn't need to be redeemed. He was just a scary boy who grew up slower than Ben, having other people in his life, but only one who can really be someone to hold, Eric, showing an exquisit platonic love that somehow brings Tim's to life again, and show how resilient he can be. Ben, Travis, Eric, Ryan, everyone of the needed to make him grow, deal with his "friends" in highschool, society, his frathouse, family.
Tim's story is realistic, but cruel, well, life isn't a happy place for everyone, and personally, i got to a point where i didn't want to keep reading cuz' it was really cruel for Tim, it was hopeless (***spoiler***, srsly, the cathartic moment when he with Jace and Ben are watching "The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King", is just heartbreaking), but curiosity and hope, kept me going. Only hope in a happy ending kept me going. and it pay off. The book was amazing, and didn't leave that bittersweet taste that SLS gave you at the end. The doubts are cleared, the fears gone, and both are mature enough for each other.
August 8, 2013
4.5 Stars
This was a wonderful companion story to Something Like Summer. It covers the same time frame (plus a little more) but it's told from Tim's POV. As much as I enjoyed this story, in retrospect, I wish that I had taken a bit of a respite between books 1 and 2. It was draining. The roller coaster that is Tim and Ben is tough to experience back-to-back. Despite the areas of overlap (which was to be expected), there were a lot of new developments that weren't explored in Ben's story ... so, that was nice. One thing I didn't like: .
Bottom-line: a powerful companion to book 1; despite retelling the same story, Tim's voice was fresh enough and his experiences different enough that book 2 held its own. Just make sure you've got your hankies at the ready!
This was a wonderful companion story to Something Like Summer. It covers the same time frame (plus a little more) but it's told from Tim's POV. As much as I enjoyed this story, in retrospect, I wish that I had taken a bit of a respite between books 1 and 2. It was draining. The roller coaster that is Tim and Ben is tough to experience back-to-back. Despite the areas of overlap (which was to be expected), there were a lot of new developments that weren't explored in Ben's story ... so, that was nice. One thing I didn't like: .
Bottom-line: a powerful companion to book 1; despite retelling the same story, Tim's voice was fresh enough and his experiences different enough that book 2 held its own. Just make sure you've got your hankies at the ready!
February 15, 2014
I loved this just as much as I did the first!! I like Tim more as well. Trust me, he did some stupid shit, but he did it for love so I guess I can give him a break.
This book ties together some pieces that were missing from book 1 since it's from Tim's POV. We get to see him grow and mature from how he was in the Something Like Summer.
This book was still as messy as the first book. That's my best way to describe it in that life happens and life isn't always pretty and wrapped up in a neat bow. But that's what makes this book so special. I can't wait to read the next one, although I'm a little scared as I think it's probably going to be a little (or a lot) sad!
This book ties together some pieces that were missing from book 1 since it's from Tim's POV. We get to see him grow and mature from how he was in the Something Like Summer.
This book was still as messy as the first book. That's my best way to describe it in that life happens and life isn't always pretty and wrapped up in a neat bow. But that's what makes this book so special. I can't wait to read the next one, although I'm a little scared as I think it's probably going to be a little (or a lot) sad!
October 15, 2013
When I found out Tim was getting a book; I had a few emotions. I was happy, I was scared and I was so unsure how it would go. Talk about the talent of Jay Bell for delivering a sequel that is completely it's own book and not an instant replay of what happened in Something Like Summer. This, THIS is how you tell a story from the other perspective, this is how you once again tear my heart out in the best way possible.
After Something Like Summer, yeah, I was curious about what was going on in Tim's head for a decade. Did he ever notice Ben as he ran, did he notice him on his birthday when he almost ran him and his dog over, did he notice him at all? We get those answers and much more. I never disliked Tim in SLS, I thought he was a confused and neglected teenager who found someone who liked him for him and wanted to take care of him in Ben. But OH! His home life was nothing short of shit. We got a bit of it before but nothing like this. I wanted to shake the hell out of his mother and just drop kick his dad. They had their few and far between moments where they were semi human but they were not enough for me to ever like them.
The Tim that we get in SLW shattered my heart, just tore it to pieces. I knew that this would be different but his time in college, his time with Eric...Oh. My. God. I couldn't see through the massive amount of tears as I read some of those scenes. Just heart breaking what he went through but how he comes out of it all, the few times he reconnects with Ben and where it all ends were worth it and I would do it all over again.
Once again, this was not a direct retelling of Something Like Summer, that was Ben's story, this is Tim's and while we got new answers (how he got his scar for one) the few that I wanted were left out (why he said that certain phrase in Spanish to Ben) it was still a gorgeous book.
After Something Like Summer, yeah, I was curious about what was going on in Tim's head for a decade. Did he ever notice Ben as he ran, did he notice him on his birthday when he almost ran him and his dog over, did he notice him at all? We get those answers and much more. I never disliked Tim in SLS, I thought he was a confused and neglected teenager who found someone who liked him for him and wanted to take care of him in Ben. But OH! His home life was nothing short of shit. We got a bit of it before but nothing like this. I wanted to shake the hell out of his mother and just drop kick his dad. They had their few and far between moments where they were semi human but they were not enough for me to ever like them.
The Tim that we get in SLW shattered my heart, just tore it to pieces. I knew that this would be different but his time in college, his time with Eric...Oh. My. God. I couldn't see through the massive amount of tears as I read some of those scenes. Just heart breaking what he went through but how he comes out of it all, the few times he reconnects with Ben and where it all ends were worth it and I would do it all over again.
Once again, this was not a direct retelling of Something Like Summer, that was Ben's story, this is Tim's and while we got new answers (how he got his scar for one) the few that I wanted were left out (why he said that certain phrase in Spanish to Ben) it was still a gorgeous book.
September 20, 2013
This review will assume that you have read Something Like Summer, the first book in this series.
So now, we know. Tim Wyman loved Ben Bentley. He loved him deeply. He loved him secretly. He loved him completely. He loved him fearfully. He loved him sacrificially. He loved him immaturely. He truly loved him, for the most part, exclusively. And yet, for too long, he loved him inadequately. He loved him openly and honestly far too late. And it was this last flaw that was Tim's undoing, and the tragedy that sets this novel in motion. All of those contradictions notwithstanding, Jay Bell gives us an opportunity in this book that he denied us in "Something Like Summer": he allows us to see Tim through the lens of compassion, and we can walk away with the knowledge that Tim was not a monster, but instead, for most of the novel, was an emotionally isolated and broken child, and he paid for his sins and his repeated bad judgment by breaking his own heart again and again.
We learn about the influences that made Tim so afraid, and persuaded him to break up with Ben in high school; we learn how Tim nonetheless tried to change in college; we see how Jace was still the right man for Ben, an excruciatingly painful truth that a chastened Tim was forced to acknowledge; and we see Tim's humble gratitude for a second chance, even when the reason for it was so grim.
Jay Bell does something incredible here. He takes the weakest character in his prior novel, and he not only redeems him, he shows that he was worthy of love all along. The second-biggest tragedy of the series is the fact that Tim didn't figure this out until far too late (we all know what the biggest tragedy is).
This is the novel that repeatedly "gets me," just because of the loss, the waste, and the continued loop of sadness that characterized the events of Tim's life until he finally managed to get his happy ending. If you didn't like Tim the first time, give him a chance the second time. You won't change your mind about Ben and Jace, and you won't see Tim's worst actions in a golden light, but you might see the rest of him in a richer, kinder, more loving and sympathetic light, and it will make all the difference in the world.
So now, we know. Tim Wyman loved Ben Bentley. He loved him deeply. He loved him secretly. He loved him completely. He loved him fearfully. He loved him sacrificially. He loved him immaturely. He truly loved him, for the most part, exclusively. And yet, for too long, he loved him inadequately. He loved him openly and honestly far too late. And it was this last flaw that was Tim's undoing, and the tragedy that sets this novel in motion. All of those contradictions notwithstanding, Jay Bell gives us an opportunity in this book that he denied us in "Something Like Summer": he allows us to see Tim through the lens of compassion, and we can walk away with the knowledge that Tim was not a monster, but instead, for most of the novel, was an emotionally isolated and broken child, and he paid for his sins and his repeated bad judgment by breaking his own heart again and again.
We learn about the influences that made Tim so afraid, and persuaded him to break up with Ben in high school; we learn how Tim nonetheless tried to change in college; we see how Jace was still the right man for Ben, an excruciatingly painful truth that a chastened Tim was forced to acknowledge; and we see Tim's humble gratitude for a second chance, even when the reason for it was so grim.
Jay Bell does something incredible here. He takes the weakest character in his prior novel, and he not only redeems him, he shows that he was worthy of love all along. The second-biggest tragedy of the series is the fact that Tim didn't figure this out until far too late (we all know what the biggest tragedy is).
This is the novel that repeatedly "gets me," just because of the loss, the waste, and the continued loop of sadness that characterized the events of Tim's life until he finally managed to get his happy ending. If you didn't like Tim the first time, give him a chance the second time. You won't change your mind about Ben and Jace, and you won't see Tim's worst actions in a golden light, but you might see the rest of him in a richer, kinder, more loving and sympathetic light, and it will make all the difference in the world.
December 2, 2015
After having read Something like Summer, I just couldn't wait to read more about Tim (I totally fell in love with him in the first part). First, I was afraid that there might me not enough left to tell, but I was proved wrong. The author gave so many deeper insights, I feel much closer to Tom after reading this book. The writing style is fantastic, it pulled me in and I wasn't able to put the book aside. I definitly want to continue the series, but as I know that the next book will be about Jace, I might need to convince myself to give it a try. 5 stars for Something like Winter! And a thousand hearts!
Want to read
November 2, 2012Oh. Fuck. YES.
I will read this book so hard it will have trouble walking for a goddamn week. You hear me? A WEEK!
I would bitch slap a bustle of boy scouts for a copy of this book. And that's not an exaggeration. That is a FACT.
THANK YOU JAY BELL FOR BEING THE NORSE GOD OF FUCK YES.
I will read this book so hard it will have trouble walking for a goddamn week. You hear me? A WEEK!
I would bitch slap a bustle of boy scouts for a copy of this book. And that's not an exaggeration. That is a FACT.
THANK YOU JAY BELL FOR BEING THE NORSE GOD OF FUCK YES.
February 22, 2013
I have been sitting on this for a while now.
First, it took quite some time to get into the action seeing it all from Tim's side. I have problems with people who are untruthful, and Tim? He doesn't even tell the truth to himself.
Second, I was still angry with Tim from the last book, Something Like Summer, and I had to come to terms with that.
Third, it is a very hard book to sum up. At least, if you want to make a good job of it. And I do.
So here's me trying my best.
I loved it. Bet you didn't expect that, seeing the intro up there, huh? But I did love it, and I loved Tim, this broken, unhappy, sad and lonely character, who finally finds a voice to transmit what and who he is to me. A beautifully lost young man, who ends up finding himself.
Fantastic. Mr Bell, I hand it to you. A platter full of the most delicious kudos. I did not think you would be able to make me like Tim ever. But you were. You did it. I do. And I loved the epilogue that took us a bit further into the future.
I'm not big on spoilers, so I'm not going into the intricate dealings in this story. Suffice it to say that I adored many things in this book, but especially Tim's Mexican Nana, and her new priest. This is Tim's interaction with her on that, and it went straight to my heart:
"The priest, he is younger than me, but he says that love isn't a sin. You love a woman, you love a man, you love a tomato. God is happy, because he created love."
Tim stared at her. "Do you agree?"
Nana shook her head. "No one should love a tomato. But the rest, yes."
Gotta love that Nana. And her priest.
There are several more stories woven into this one, and Mr Bell intelligently gives us suffering and death, addiction and mental illnesses, without ever lecturing us on any of it. It just IS.
And while this is an M/M romance book, there is very little sexual action, (which I realize might be off-putting for some people), but holy hell! if it doesn't make it all the more fantastic. Some stories just don't need the sexing. This is one of them.
It broke my heart in all the right places. "...because of course it was summer. Whenever Tim pictured Ben, it was always summer."
Language-wise it would have benefited from one last editing run-through. I found both silly errors and the omnipresent confusion between the verbs lie and lay. I am fighting a losing battle, I believe.
***
I was NOT asked to read this book by anyone, I paid for it with my own money, as I do for all the books I read, all the music I listen to and the movies I watch
First, it took quite some time to get into the action seeing it all from Tim's side. I have problems with people who are untruthful, and Tim? He doesn't even tell the truth to himself.
Second, I was still angry with Tim from the last book, Something Like Summer, and I had to come to terms with that.
Third, it is a very hard book to sum up. At least, if you want to make a good job of it. And I do.
So here's me trying my best.
I loved it. Bet you didn't expect that, seeing the intro up there, huh? But I did love it, and I loved Tim, this broken, unhappy, sad and lonely character, who finally finds a voice to transmit what and who he is to me. A beautifully lost young man, who ends up finding himself.
Fantastic. Mr Bell, I hand it to you. A platter full of the most delicious kudos. I did not think you would be able to make me like Tim ever. But you were. You did it. I do. And I loved the epilogue that took us a bit further into the future.
I'm not big on spoilers, so I'm not going into the intricate dealings in this story. Suffice it to say that I adored many things in this book, but especially Tim's Mexican Nana, and her new priest. This is Tim's interaction with her on that, and it went straight to my heart:
"The priest, he is younger than me, but he says that love isn't a sin. You love a woman, you love a man, you love a tomato. God is happy, because he created love."
Tim stared at her. "Do you agree?"
Nana shook her head. "No one should love a tomato. But the rest, yes."
Gotta love that Nana. And her priest.
There are several more stories woven into this one, and Mr Bell intelligently gives us suffering and death, addiction and mental illnesses, without ever lecturing us on any of it. It just IS.
And while this is an M/M romance book, there is very little sexual action, (which I realize might be off-putting for some people), but holy hell! if it doesn't make it all the more fantastic. Some stories just don't need the sexing. This is one of them.
It broke my heart in all the right places. "...because of course it was summer. Whenever Tim pictured Ben, it was always summer."
Language-wise it would have benefited from one last editing run-through. I found both silly errors and the omnipresent confusion between the verbs lie and lay. I am fighting a losing battle, I believe.
***
I was NOT asked to read this book by anyone, I paid for it with my own money, as I do for all the books I read, all the music I listen to and the movies I watch
December 28, 2022
And just like that, I have finished the trilogy of books telling the story of Benjamin Bentley, Jace Holden, and Tim Wyman from all of their points of view. And oh boy, did I cry. A lot.
I have so much love for these three boys. They are vivid, three-dimensional, and loveable. They are resilient, brave, and forgiving.
In Something Like Summer, it was hard to like Tim at so many points. You can’t help but think that he was an asshole – for how he treated Ben, for how he hurt Ben, and for trying to end a relationship that he was perfectly happy in because he realized he had fucked up when they were teenagers.
After reading the story of him and Ben as teenagers from his point of view, his actions made perfect sense. They weren’t always totally justified, but they made sense – and made me have empathy for him.
Commence Spoiler Alerts…
Tim went through a lot of trauma, and it broke my heart for him. Tim’s parents were the absolute worst. His dad especially. There came a point where I knew we wouldn’t get any happy ending where he made up with his parents and knew that they wouldn’t be a part of his life. Which brings me to Eric. Eric was the best kind of character and human – one who never wanted anything but friendship, was generous & kind-hearted, and looked out for those he loved. Losing the man who was like the father he never had was devastating to read about. The way that he was treated by Travis and the fraternity brothers was cruel. The sequence where Travis left the cabin had me so upset. He deserved better. The emotional turbulence he went through when he had Ryan in his life was terrible. He tried his hardest to be there for the kid -- to a fault. (Honestly, would be interested to read more about Ryan in another book.)
Jace is one of my favorite characters of all time. His book was my favorite of the three in this trilogy. I felt so connected to him in a way I never have with others in the past. The man was literally perfect in my eyes. A saint. I hated that he passed away – I cried over it while reading Summer, but when I read the sequence in Autumn … I was a fucking wreck. I hate that Tim and Ben only ended up together because Jace passed away – but I am glad that Tim never tried to replace him, and always honored his legacy.
Let’s talk about that epilogue. Ben wearing Jace’s ring AND Tim’s ring at the end, and Tim mentioning that he felt a bond with Jace and was forever grateful for him taking care of Ben the way he deserved? That was one of the sweetest moments of all of the books. It was the perfect way to conclude the story of these three boys and their journeys.
“This love is good, this love is bad / this love is alive, back from the dead. This love left a permanent mark / this love is glowing in the dark. These hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me.” - Taylor Swift
Jay Bell is a gem, and it is my mission to read every one of the “Something Like … ” books. His writing style is so unique. He is beyond talented at writing characters who you can’t help but root for or love. He can make you laugh, cry, and turn up the spice like no other with his words. This series is one of the best I have ever read and I feel like I know these characters inside and out – they will have a special place in my heart. The one where I keep the fictional people who have left their mark on me.
I read Something Like Summer when I was healing from surgery to treat cancer and I was at a low point. It brought love and light to those challenging days of recovery, and I am just so grateful these stories exist. Thank you, Jay Bell – for giving us these incredible, vulnerable, moving books. You are the best.
I have so much love for these three boys. They are vivid, three-dimensional, and loveable. They are resilient, brave, and forgiving.
In Something Like Summer, it was hard to like Tim at so many points. You can’t help but think that he was an asshole – for how he treated Ben, for how he hurt Ben, and for trying to end a relationship that he was perfectly happy in because he realized he had fucked up when they were teenagers.
After reading the story of him and Ben as teenagers from his point of view, his actions made perfect sense. They weren’t always totally justified, but they made sense – and made me have empathy for him.
Commence Spoiler Alerts…
Tim went through a lot of trauma, and it broke my heart for him. Tim’s parents were the absolute worst. His dad especially. There came a point where I knew we wouldn’t get any happy ending where he made up with his parents and knew that they wouldn’t be a part of his life. Which brings me to Eric. Eric was the best kind of character and human – one who never wanted anything but friendship, was generous & kind-hearted, and looked out for those he loved. Losing the man who was like the father he never had was devastating to read about. The way that he was treated by Travis and the fraternity brothers was cruel. The sequence where Travis left the cabin had me so upset. He deserved better. The emotional turbulence he went through when he had Ryan in his life was terrible. He tried his hardest to be there for the kid -- to a fault. (Honestly, would be interested to read more about Ryan in another book.)
Jace is one of my favorite characters of all time. His book was my favorite of the three in this trilogy. I felt so connected to him in a way I never have with others in the past. The man was literally perfect in my eyes. A saint. I hated that he passed away – I cried over it while reading Summer, but when I read the sequence in Autumn … I was a fucking wreck. I hate that Tim and Ben only ended up together because Jace passed away – but I am glad that Tim never tried to replace him, and always honored his legacy.
Let’s talk about that epilogue. Ben wearing Jace’s ring AND Tim’s ring at the end, and Tim mentioning that he felt a bond with Jace and was forever grateful for him taking care of Ben the way he deserved? That was one of the sweetest moments of all of the books. It was the perfect way to conclude the story of these three boys and their journeys.
“This love is good, this love is bad / this love is alive, back from the dead. This love left a permanent mark / this love is glowing in the dark. These hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me.” - Taylor Swift
Jay Bell is a gem, and it is my mission to read every one of the “Something Like … ” books. His writing style is so unique. He is beyond talented at writing characters who you can’t help but root for or love. He can make you laugh, cry, and turn up the spice like no other with his words. This series is one of the best I have ever read and I feel like I know these characters inside and out – they will have a special place in my heart. The one where I keep the fictional people who have left their mark on me.
I read Something Like Summer when I was healing from surgery to treat cancer and I was at a low point. It brought love and light to those challenging days of recovery, and I am just so grateful these stories exist. Thank you, Jay Bell – for giving us these incredible, vulnerable, moving books. You are the best.
November 29, 2015
DNF at 75% of the book.
See, I read Something Like Summer and enjoyed a bit, though the ending sucked. I bought this copy in hopes of liking Tim a bit more but the hatred only intensified. This is probably the first book I'm giving up on so close to the ending (less than 100 pages away), but really, I just had no interest in knowing what Tim did and how he dealt with his supposed heartbreak. For all I care, he could die and that wouldn't be enough. I've already returned this through Amazon, and I realized I'm done with this story. I have no interest in reading Autumn (which I had bought as well), though Jace was such a gorgeous character.
What pains me mostly is the wrong portrait of love in such an abusive relationship. It's the author's insistent failed attempt to proclaim Tim as anything but damaged. He was a coward, broke the guy's heart and selfish. Honestly, the writing may have been good, but after finding out this was written by a gay male, it just saddens me, really.
We all have that feeling of first love, but when we grow up, we find better human beings and we leave them behind. I'm just like Ben: My first love was intense and the guy was a jerk. Feelings didn't hold for very long, because once you truly find love, a decent human being who's willing to commit everything just to be with you (like Jace), you'd never go back to the jerk who broke your heart, even if the sex was great. Because once you find what you deserve, you can't settle for such an abusive prick.
I'm saddened that this book is choosing to send this message out there. Twisting love as if it can go to dark lengths. Love is simple, love is kind, love is pure. If you have to come up with a whole plan to break a couple up, chances are the guy doesn't love you. Tim had no redeeming qualities, and truthfully, I just had to break away from him. I couldn't go on pretending that what he did was somehow justifiable.
After this, I'm left with so much anger that I want nothing more than to head to the author's page and tell him to love himself. I just really hate abusive relationships, and this one had abuse written from the very beginning. Newsflash: If the guy hides you and doesn't want to be associated with you, he doesn't really love you. If you weren't important enough for him to breakaway from his fears, why do you feel you're suddenly the reason of his existence five years later? I didn't have to go through that to love myself, thankfully.
See, I read Something Like Summer and enjoyed a bit, though the ending sucked. I bought this copy in hopes of liking Tim a bit more but the hatred only intensified. This is probably the first book I'm giving up on so close to the ending (less than 100 pages away), but really, I just had no interest in knowing what Tim did and how he dealt with his supposed heartbreak. For all I care, he could die and that wouldn't be enough. I've already returned this through Amazon, and I realized I'm done with this story. I have no interest in reading Autumn (which I had bought as well), though Jace was such a gorgeous character.
What pains me mostly is the wrong portrait of love in such an abusive relationship. It's the author's insistent failed attempt to proclaim Tim as anything but damaged. He was a coward, broke the guy's heart and selfish. Honestly, the writing may have been good, but after finding out this was written by a gay male, it just saddens me, really.
We all have that feeling of first love, but when we grow up, we find better human beings and we leave them behind. I'm just like Ben: My first love was intense and the guy was a jerk. Feelings didn't hold for very long, because once you truly find love, a decent human being who's willing to commit everything just to be with you (like Jace), you'd never go back to the jerk who broke your heart, even if the sex was great. Because once you find what you deserve, you can't settle for such an abusive prick.
I'm saddened that this book is choosing to send this message out there. Twisting love as if it can go to dark lengths. Love is simple, love is kind, love is pure. If you have to come up with a whole plan to break a couple up, chances are the guy doesn't love you. Tim had no redeeming qualities, and truthfully, I just had to break away from him. I couldn't go on pretending that what he did was somehow justifiable.
After this, I'm left with so much anger that I want nothing more than to head to the author's page and tell him to love himself. I just really hate abusive relationships, and this one had abuse written from the very beginning. Newsflash: If the guy hides you and doesn't want to be associated with you, he doesn't really love you. If you weren't important enough for him to breakaway from his fears, why do you feel you're suddenly the reason of his existence five years later? I didn't have to go through that to love myself, thankfully.
January 27, 2013
The soul he had managed to capture a glimpse of on canvas had gone home
For the love of jebus, if you have yet to read the book do NOT read the spoilers!
Ooops he did it again.. Another blubberfest for me this one.
This is Something Like Summer told from Tim's POV, we get the whole story from the other perspective which is a lovely novelty. A lot of things we were made to believe in SLS was things misunderstood from Ben's point of view. I didn't feel the same affection towards Tim as I had for Ben, I found him a bit thick in both books.
Meeting Eric was bitter-sweet
Getting an extended ending was the best part of this book by far, it made it all a bit more real, and of course he had me crying AGAIN! I'm still weeping writing this! I think the last book that had me this cut up was Special Forces. Jay Bell really has a way to make you fall in love with his characters, especially the secondary ones, both two and four legged. (exception Ryan..blergh! What a whining little shit stain)
If you have read Sls, read this too. It's worth it, I promise!
Nana nodded as if
satisfied. «Next time you come with me to my new church. The
priest, he’s younger than me, but he says that love isn't a sin.
You love a woman, you love a man, you love a tomato. God is happy,
because he created love.»
Tim stared at her. «Do you
agree?»
Nana shook her head. «No
one should love a tomato. But the rest, yes.»
Awesome Nana!
For the love of jebus, if you have yet to read the book do NOT read the spoilers!
Ooops he did it again.. Another blubberfest for me this one.
This is Something Like Summer told from Tim's POV, we get the whole story from the other perspective which is a lovely novelty. A lot of things we were made to believe in SLS was things misunderstood from Ben's point of view. I didn't feel the same affection towards Tim as I had for Ben, I found him a bit thick in both books.
Meeting Eric was bitter-sweet
Getting an extended ending was the best part of this book by far, it made it all a bit more real, and of course he had me crying AGAIN! I'm still weeping writing this! I think the last book that had me this cut up was Special Forces. Jay Bell really has a way to make you fall in love with his characters, especially the secondary ones, both two and four legged. (exception Ryan..blergh! What a whining little shit stain)
If you have read Sls, read this too. It's worth it, I promise!
Nana nodded as if
satisfied. «Next time you come with me to my new church. The
priest, he’s younger than me, but he says that love isn't a sin.
You love a woman, you love a man, you love a tomato. God is happy,
because he created love.»
Tim stared at her. «Do you
agree?»
Nana shook her head. «No
one should love a tomato. But the rest, yes.»
Awesome Nana!
November 16, 2012
Thank you, Jay, for giving us Tim's story. In some ways, this was a difficult read for me, because I knew when the sad parts were coming, but pressed on through the tears. It felt so much more heart-breaking this time around, now that I had a deeper understanding of why Tim made the choices he had. Even when reading Something Like Summer, I always felt sympathetic towards Tim. He was a jerk at times, but I knew underneath it all, he really loved Benjamin. I knew there was more to his story than what we were able to see through Ben's eyes. I enjoyed learning more about Tim's relationships with Eric and with Ryan. They really helped to define who Tim had become by the latter part of the story. I also loved that we went further into the timeline and got to see what happened after their final reunion. Their trip to Mexico City was beautifully written. This was such a wonderful love story.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who doesn't mind shedding a bucket of tears in the name of true love.
October 11, 2022
Tim is my least favourite character from this whole saga, so to have a whole book from his POV was... well, I definitely enjoyed it less than book 1 or 2. I liked his relationship with Eric and even his scenes with Marcello, but it made me cringe every time he tried to seduce Ben.
Also this book had a lot more fatphobic comments, and I wonder if the reason for that is because we have Tim's pov, who's quite vain, but anyway, can authors fucking stop equating extra weight with being unattractive? The scenes in Mexico City too made my eyes twitch here and there; I don't have an exact quote but Ben or Tim would make comments about how things are shabbier in Mexico than what they are used to in the US, and like??? can you stop with the US supremacy BS.
Rep: Mexican-American gay mc, gay love interest, gay side characters
Also this book had a lot more fatphobic comments, and I wonder if the reason for that is because we have Tim's pov, who's quite vain, but anyway, can authors fucking stop equating extra weight with being unattractive? The scenes in Mexico City too made my eyes twitch here and there; I don't have an exact quote but Ben or Tim would make comments about how things are shabbier in Mexico than what they are used to in the US, and like??? can you stop with the US supremacy BS.
Rep: Mexican-American gay mc, gay love interest, gay side characters
November 24, 2012
Something Like Winter is one of those books that makes me wish my English was better and I could be more articulate and eloquent about it.
As it stand, I will do my best with what I have.
When I read Something Like Summer, it feels like a lifetime ago, was one of the first M/M books I ever read. I remember liking it, I remember Ben & Jace's love story and wanting them to be together till the end.
Ben's book was a romance, pure and simple.
Now Tim's book was so much more!
Something Like Winter is Tim's story, the same as Ben with told from a new point of new, with new eyes.
Everything Tim did makes so much sense now. Not that it didn't before but seeing it in first person was absolutely amazing.
I cried and cried. And I wanted to hug Tim, so much.
It was so easy for me to go back to these characters I loved so much.
Everything was in my mind, and it was hard at times to read because I knew what was going to happen. I didn't want their hearts to break, but I knew it was coming.
Seeing Tim's journey, his regrets, the lessons learned in the hard way, his coming out...if I didn't love Tim before I would love him now.
How life will test you to the limit, and how you have to make choices that will affect not only you but the ones around you.
Tim learns to be brave, I lesson Ben tried to teach him when he was still a teen. But I guess Tim just wasn't ready.
I have to make a separate note for Eric. This character that we never got to see in SLS, the mysterious man behind Tim's money. Getting to know Eric was without a doubt a highlight in Something Like Winter. Their relationship, their love for each other, was so strong.
And the fact that even without being intimate Eric manage to be the closest person to Tim's heart (apart from Ben of course) A love so pure, that help Tim come out of his shell and work hard to be the man Eric knew he could be.
Even Marcello is a likeable character. I despise Ryan, all over again. But he had a purpose in this story and it worked. Allison was as adorable now as she was before, and it was nice to see how they interact.
I loved the Prologue, and Im glad Jay still gave us a little glimpse into their future. Happy couples are boring (maybe) but we still want to see them live HEA.
After everything these two went trough is the least they deserved.
I am ready to read it again! Crazy, I know.
If you haven't read Something Like Summer yet, please do so before joining Tim in Something Like Winter, it will all make more sense that way.
THANK YOU, Jay! for giving us Tim's story...such an incredible journey.
As it stand, I will do my best with what I have.
When I read Something Like Summer, it feels like a lifetime ago, was one of the first M/M books I ever read. I remember liking it, I remember Ben & Jace's love story and wanting them to be together till the end.
Ben's book was a romance, pure and simple.
Now Tim's book was so much more!
Something Like Winter is Tim's story, the same as Ben with told from a new point of new, with new eyes.
Everything Tim did makes so much sense now. Not that it didn't before but seeing it in first person was absolutely amazing.
I cried and cried. And I wanted to hug Tim, so much.
It was so easy for me to go back to these characters I loved so much.
Everything was in my mind, and it was hard at times to read because I knew what was going to happen. I didn't want their hearts to break, but I knew it was coming.
Seeing Tim's journey, his regrets, the lessons learned in the hard way, his coming out...if I didn't love Tim before I would love him now.
How life will test you to the limit, and how you have to make choices that will affect not only you but the ones around you.
Tim learns to be brave, I lesson Ben tried to teach him when he was still a teen. But I guess Tim just wasn't ready.
I have to make a separate note for Eric. This character that we never got to see in SLS, the mysterious man behind Tim's money. Getting to know Eric was without a doubt a highlight in Something Like Winter. Their relationship, their love for each other, was so strong.
And the fact that even without being intimate Eric manage to be the closest person to Tim's heart (apart from Ben of course) A love so pure, that help Tim come out of his shell and work hard to be the man Eric knew he could be.
Even Marcello is a likeable character. I despise Ryan, all over again. But he had a purpose in this story and it worked. Allison was as adorable now as she was before, and it was nice to see how they interact.
I loved the Prologue, and Im glad Jay still gave us a little glimpse into their future. Happy couples are boring (maybe) but we still want to see them live HEA.
After everything these two went trough is the least they deserved.
I am ready to read it again! Crazy, I know.
If you haven't read Something Like Summer yet, please do so before joining Tim in Something Like Winter, it will all make more sense that way.
THANK YOU, Jay! for giving us Tim's story...such an incredible journey.
January 20, 2013
Tim Wyman is an ass.
That was my first reaction to one of the main characters in Jay Bell's Something Like Summer , the novel that preceded Something Like Winter. Spoiled, selfish, and impetuous are all words that came to mind when reading about Tim and his antics throughout much of that book. But despite all of that, Tim is a loveable ass, one who redeems himself several times over. In Something Like Winter, Bell gives the reader much more insight into Tim's life and why he did the things he did.
Like Something Like Summer, this second installment in the "Seasons" series is funny, endearing, at times quite sad, and just plain wonderful. Reading about all of the characters, their loves, their losses, their accomplishments, and their troubles once again left me thoughtful and wistful. Unlike some sequel or companion novels, Something Like Winter was never boring, was always engaging, and made me long for the work day to end so I could once again pick up the book and read more.
And as much as I appreciated the depth that Bell added to Tim's character, I think the best part of this book for me was the return of Benjamin Bentley. My favorite character in all of the gay fiction I've read, Ben has always made me smile (and sometimes shed a tear or two).
Now, you may be thinking, what about the story? Tell me about the story! Well, I'm not going to go there because I know that a number of my goodreads friends have both books on their "to-read" lists but haven't read them yet (for shame!). And once you dive into these novels, you'll understand why you don't want even a hint of a spoiler to ruin the journey.
One more thing before I end: after reading Something Like Winter, I reconsidered and changed a goodreads book rating -- for the first time ever. Something Like Summer went from 4.5 to 5 stars after I pondered for a while. So Jay Bell, excellent work, and keep up your incredible storytelling.
That was my first reaction to one of the main characters in Jay Bell's Something Like Summer , the novel that preceded Something Like Winter. Spoiled, selfish, and impetuous are all words that came to mind when reading about Tim and his antics throughout much of that book. But despite all of that, Tim is a loveable ass, one who redeems himself several times over. In Something Like Winter, Bell gives the reader much more insight into Tim's life and why he did the things he did.
Like Something Like Summer, this second installment in the "Seasons" series is funny, endearing, at times quite sad, and just plain wonderful. Reading about all of the characters, their loves, their losses, their accomplishments, and their troubles once again left me thoughtful and wistful. Unlike some sequel or companion novels, Something Like Winter was never boring, was always engaging, and made me long for the work day to end so I could once again pick up the book and read more.
And as much as I appreciated the depth that Bell added to Tim's character, I think the best part of this book for me was the return of Benjamin Bentley. My favorite character in all of the gay fiction I've read, Ben has always made me smile (and sometimes shed a tear or two).
Now, you may be thinking, what about the story? Tell me about the story! Well, I'm not going to go there because I know that a number of my goodreads friends have both books on their "to-read" lists but haven't read them yet (for shame!). And once you dive into these novels, you'll understand why you don't want even a hint of a spoiler to ruin the journey.
One more thing before I end: after reading Something Like Winter, I reconsidered and changed a goodreads book rating -- for the first time ever. Something Like Summer went from 4.5 to 5 stars after I pondered for a while. So Jay Bell, excellent work, and keep up your incredible storytelling.
Read
November 16, 2012I'm having a hard time figuring out how to rate this. I was really excited to read it because of how much I loved Something Like Summer. And because I loved that book, and anything extra having to do with that book is a bonus, I liked this book.
But on its own merits, this book was very disappointing. It felt rushed and thrown together, and I didn't feel that the character of Tim was redeemed at all. Not having his POV in Something Like Summer, I was able to give him the benefit of the doubt. But having his POV in this book, he's just selfish and immature and absolutely doesn't deserve Ben. So that's frustrating.
The other problem is that I felt like there was a big wall between these characters the whole time. Ben was very difficult to see as a person, he was really just this smoky idea in Tim's head. There was no connection between them. I couldn't understand what either of them saw in the other. For Ben, Tim was the hot guy he fooled around with in high school, and I get that, but there was nothing beyond that. I don't think Ben ever really knew Tim at all, even at the end of the book. And for Tim, Ben was this idea of what he wished he could be. I don't see enough there to base a relationship on so it was very difficult to be engaged in wanting to see them together. I mostly wanted Tim to grow up and figure out life without Ben.
I felt a lot better about these characters in Something Like Summer. Something Like Winter was just... less. So much less. And yet I enjoyed reading it, was willing to ignore a lot of issues...
So yeah. I really can't rate this.
But on its own merits, this book was very disappointing. It felt rushed and thrown together, and I didn't feel that the character of Tim was redeemed at all. Not having his POV in Something Like Summer, I was able to give him the benefit of the doubt. But having his POV in this book, he's just selfish and immature and absolutely doesn't deserve Ben. So that's frustrating.
The other problem is that I felt like there was a big wall between these characters the whole time. Ben was very difficult to see as a person, he was really just this smoky idea in Tim's head. There was no connection between them. I couldn't understand what either of them saw in the other. For Ben, Tim was the hot guy he fooled around with in high school, and I get that, but there was nothing beyond that. I don't think Ben ever really knew Tim at all, even at the end of the book. And for Tim, Ben was this idea of what he wished he could be. I don't see enough there to base a relationship on so it was very difficult to be engaged in wanting to see them together. I mostly wanted Tim to grow up and figure out life without Ben.
I felt a lot better about these characters in Something Like Summer. Something Like Winter was just... less. So much less. And yet I enjoyed reading it, was willing to ignore a lot of issues...
So yeah. I really can't rate this.
September 8, 2016
This is a companion novel to Something Like Summer, and though I really, really liked Something Like Summer, I loved Something Like Winter. My biggest issue with the first novel is that I really didn't understand Tim and why he acted the way he did, or why he did the things that he did. And though I ended up liking Tim by the end of the book, I thought for the biggest part of the novel that he was a douchebag.
In Something Like Summer, you learn Ben's story; in Something Like Winter, you learn Tim's story. And if you're lucky, like I was, you kind of fall in love with Tim as a person and you see all of his douchebag moves as actually him doing whatever possible to be with the man that he loves more than life itself, and by seeing that, you see that in all actuality Tim is a wonderful human being.
And if you don't see that, then you need help.
Though I suppose you can read either of them in any order that you want, I highly suggest that you read them in the order in which they came out because it just makes the most logical sense to do so.
This is the third novel that I've read by Jay Bell, and again, I love it. I think he's a fantastic author, and I cannot wait to get a hold of Something Like Autumn, the third book in the Season series because I know it's going to be just as amazing as the first two. So, if you haven't already read Something Like Summer or Something Like Winter, then I highly suggest that you do so because you're missing out otherwise.
In Something Like Summer, you learn Ben's story; in Something Like Winter, you learn Tim's story. And if you're lucky, like I was, you kind of fall in love with Tim as a person and you see all of his douchebag moves as actually him doing whatever possible to be with the man that he loves more than life itself, and by seeing that, you see that in all actuality Tim is a wonderful human being.
And if you don't see that, then you need help.
Though I suppose you can read either of them in any order that you want, I highly suggest that you read them in the order in which they came out because it just makes the most logical sense to do so.
This is the third novel that I've read by Jay Bell, and again, I love it. I think he's a fantastic author, and I cannot wait to get a hold of Something Like Autumn, the third book in the Season series because I know it's going to be just as amazing as the first two. So, if you haven't already read Something Like Summer or Something Like Winter, then I highly suggest that you do so because you're missing out otherwise.
September 5, 2015
♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥ Tim, my dearest, first love. ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥
Having just read Spring I had to come back and read Winter, again. (And again 17/7/14)
I never left a proper review because my words will never do this story and characters any justice and I'd hate to ruin a single thing with my nonsense. Either way I have to say that....
Something Like Summer… was my first and so were Ben and Tim, and you know what they say about firsts ….
I discovered Summer in late summer '13, late I know, but it honestly was my first - young adult, m/m romance - and my first true love.
Ben and Tim. And in more than one ways Tim. He'll always remain in my heart as the most wonderful person. And Winter showed me once again just how wonderful he truly is. I've loved Tim the moment I met him and I always wanted him to be happy, with Ben.
Winter was another roller coaster ride, one you just can't get off from no matter how hard you try. I was stuck with Tim and the others until the very end. Who didn't enjoy to have heard the entire story once more from "the other guy's" POV? :)
Thank you Jay, you broke my heart all over again =D
Even though it was mostly the same story as we learned to love in Summer it was still new and refreshing and will remain my favorite - story, book, whatever - until forever.
I am also thrilled to have gotten the paperbacks in addition to my kindle files. A present that brought me to tears. Sometimes your friends are the most lovely thing in your life.
Having just read Spring I had to come back and read Winter, again. (And again 17/7/14)
I never left a proper review because my words will never do this story and characters any justice and I'd hate to ruin a single thing with my nonsense. Either way I have to say that....
Something Like Summer… was my first and so were Ben and Tim, and you know what they say about firsts ….
I discovered Summer in late summer '13, late I know, but it honestly was my first - young adult, m/m romance - and my first true love.
Ben and Tim. And in more than one ways Tim. He'll always remain in my heart as the most wonderful person. And Winter showed me once again just how wonderful he truly is. I've loved Tim the moment I met him and I always wanted him to be happy, with Ben.
Winter was another roller coaster ride, one you just can't get off from no matter how hard you try. I was stuck with Tim and the others until the very end. Who didn't enjoy to have heard the entire story once more from "the other guy's" POV? :)
Thank you Jay, you broke my heart all over again =D
Even though it was mostly the same story as we learned to love in Summer it was still new and refreshing and will remain my favorite - story, book, whatever - until forever.
I am also thrilled to have gotten the paperbacks in addition to my kindle files. A present that brought me to tears. Sometimes your friends are the most lovely thing in your life.
July 12, 2013
This booked packed a 5 star punch right from the beginning. Wow! I knew it would be painful to revisit these characters in this sequel to Something Like Summer but I didn't realize how painful it would be. The story was so full of angst, lost opportunitites for gaining self-respect, unfulfilled and unrequited love, emotion, emotion and more emotion.
Yet, I loved it. It was so much better than I thought it would ever be. We get to see Tim's perspective and watch him struggle with his love for Ben, grow and mature, find a deep and abiding non-sexual love with Eric, and get lost in a destructive relationship with Ryan.
But we do get to see more of what happens after Something Like Summer ends, more of how the boys finally come to terms with each other and forge a new relationship. Thank you for that, Jay Bell!
I highly recommend this to everyone who's read the first book. But, this one can be read as a stand alone for anyone who wants to start here. Guaranteed that you'd go back and read the first one, though. Super, super story.
Yet, I loved it. It was so much better than I thought it would ever be. We get to see Tim's perspective and watch him struggle with his love for Ben, grow and mature, find a deep and abiding non-sexual love with Eric, and get lost in a destructive relationship with Ryan.
But we do get to see more of what happens after Something Like Summer ends, more of how the boys finally come to terms with each other and forge a new relationship. Thank you for that, Jay Bell!
I highly recommend this to everyone who's read the first book. But, this one can be read as a stand alone for anyone who wants to start here. Guaranteed that you'd go back and read the first one, though. Super, super story.
September 20, 2021
Jay Bell has achieved a rare feat! Writing two novels, relating much of the same material which
was told so engagingly in the first book "Something Like Summer" and subsequently retelling it brilliantly from a fresh and original perspective in the second: "Something Like Winter."
Whereas the first volume was told from the viewpoint of Benjamin Bentley, this follow up (and stand alone) companion is from Tim Wyman's observations.
The romance of Ben and Tim has all the hallmarks of becoming one of the most memorable in modern gay fiction as the trials and tribulations of these young protagonists has been classically detailed by the author, from their first encounter as teenagers when Ben's skates plowed into the jogging Tim, to their final commitment of love some dozen years later.
This volume, some 360 pages in length, is a finely written, totally absorbing and believable saga of gay love, warts and all, with an intriguing array of well defined characters. Easy to read, never boring or repetitive, this is a first rate page turner. And proof you can write (and read and enjoy) a novel featuring enough M/M sexual situations without having to go over the top.
was told so engagingly in the first book "Something Like Summer" and subsequently retelling it brilliantly from a fresh and original perspective in the second: "Something Like Winter."
Whereas the first volume was told from the viewpoint of Benjamin Bentley, this follow up (and stand alone) companion is from Tim Wyman's observations.
The romance of Ben and Tim has all the hallmarks of becoming one of the most memorable in modern gay fiction as the trials and tribulations of these young protagonists has been classically detailed by the author, from their first encounter as teenagers when Ben's skates plowed into the jogging Tim, to their final commitment of love some dozen years later.
This volume, some 360 pages in length, is a finely written, totally absorbing and believable saga of gay love, warts and all, with an intriguing array of well defined characters. Easy to read, never boring or repetitive, this is a first rate page turner. And proof you can write (and read and enjoy) a novel featuring enough M/M sexual situations without having to go over the top.
December 20, 2012
It was nice getting to spend time with Ben Bentley and Tim Wyman again. Although I liked Tim from Something Like Summer, reading the story from his point of view made me adore him more. I found myself bawling my eyes out many times while reading and hoping the two of them would fall in love and live happily ever after. I enjoyed seeing how Jay told the story from a different perspective. It was amazing to see just how different the story unfolded and progressed seeing life through Tim.
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