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The Other Guy
Emory James is, by his own admission, not the type of person the adjective exciting would ever deign to touch with a ten-foot pole. Cautious, reserved and staid, however, all crowd around him like best friends. Still, he gets by -- or at least he gets by up until his fiancée dumps him at the altar. Out of spite, he takes a solo honeymoon to Thailand, where he can pretend to be someone better than himself for a little while. In meeting Nate, a fellow traveler, Emory slowly discovers how to stop pretending.
Word Count: 58,561 (approx.)
Word Count: 58,561 (approx.)
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2012
16 people are currently reading
1052 people want to read
About the author
Cary Attwell
3 books88 followersI am a first-time author living in Seattle, Washington, where it rains and rains like the dickens, except when it doesn't. Fretting occurs on a daily basis, and small acts of idiocy are perpetrated with stunning proficiency much more often.
If, every so often, you hear the trace of a little whisper-scream on the evening breeze as it swirls past you, that's probably just me still not having gotten over the fact that I managed to write a novel. Sorry about that; it's a condition. I'm trying to get it looked at.
If, every so often, you hear the trace of a little whisper-scream on the evening breeze as it swirls past you, that's probably just me still not having gotten over the fact that I managed to write a novel. Sorry about that; it's a condition. I'm trying to get it looked at.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
July 21, 2016
This thing starts off so intensely funny it's like a shock-and-awe campaign: Operation Rolling Chucklethunder.
But once you get into the meat of the story, you find a certain number of troubling things to consider:
1. A delusional MC too chickenshit to do anything but wait for his life to deteriorate around him.
2. A kind of oddly anachronistic, condescendingly fustian attitude towards sex that produces a situation where two grown men circle round one another sniffing one another's balls—but heaven forfend actually fucking—for months, without any indication that this is in any way HIGHLY IMPROBABLE or at the least UNIQUELY EXCITING, as per a two-headed calf or a kitten born with a disapproving face.
3. The odd moment where you read something that you're not sure is a joke, but sort of assume probably is, as when Emory squawks "this is untoward!" when his lover piles into the same bed. But as per point 2, they lie quietly after lights-out, holding hands but six inches apart, until they drift off to sleep.
4. The above was after a funeral, granted—but I can tell you the last thing I wanted after my last 3 funerals was to be any distance whatsoever from the one I loved. And while that is an edge-case scenario—where my experiences almost certainly do not align with everyone's—it is hardly so fringe as to sound that crazy, either, given a libido like dead lizard, like Emory's, or one like a fire in a henhouse, with starving wolves gathered round waiting for the timbers to cool, like mine.
5. WTH were we talking about, again?
But if you ignore the sundry headdeskery of some truly gothic sexual politics and some slightly alien ideas about Whose Life Is This, Anyway, you'll find the kind of scary-good word-smithing that makes a lesser talent weep in despair. For Cary Attwell is, if not the reincarnation of a Lesser Bronte, at the least supremely gifted with a sense of comic timing, and the kind of literary instincts I find enviable.
This book is funny, and touching, and frustrating as all fuck—but I inhaled this puppy all the same, with "untoward" relish, until I collapsed into bed to sleep at 6AM.
Chastely.
But once you get into the meat of the story, you find a certain number of troubling things to consider:
1. A delusional MC too chickenshit to do anything but wait for his life to deteriorate around him.
2. A kind of oddly anachronistic, condescendingly fustian attitude towards sex that produces a situation where two grown men circle round one another sniffing one another's balls—but heaven forfend actually fucking—for months, without any indication that this is in any way HIGHLY IMPROBABLE or at the least UNIQUELY EXCITING, as per a two-headed calf or a kitten born with a disapproving face.
3. The odd moment where you read something that you're not sure is a joke, but sort of assume probably is, as when Emory squawks "this is untoward!" when his lover piles into the same bed. But as per point 2, they lie quietly after lights-out, holding hands but six inches apart, until they drift off to sleep.
4. The above was after a funeral, granted—but I can tell you the last thing I wanted after my last 3 funerals was to be any distance whatsoever from the one I loved. And while that is an edge-case scenario—where my experiences almost certainly do not align with everyone's—it is hardly so fringe as to sound that crazy, either, given a libido like dead lizard, like Emory's, or one like a fire in a henhouse, with starving wolves gathered round waiting for the timbers to cool, like mine.
5. WTH were we talking about, again?
But if you ignore the sundry headdeskery of some truly gothic sexual politics and some slightly alien ideas about Whose Life Is This, Anyway, you'll find the kind of scary-good word-smithing that makes a lesser talent weep in despair. For Cary Attwell is, if not the reincarnation of a Lesser Bronte, at the least supremely gifted with a sense of comic timing, and the kind of literary instincts I find enviable.
This book is funny, and touching, and frustrating as all fuck—but I inhaled this puppy all the same, with "untoward" relish, until I collapsed into bed to sleep at 6AM.
Chastely.
December 16, 2012
Dear book, you made me HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, with warm and fuzzy feeling. I wanted to squeeze you and hug you and kiss you all over. Thank you for putting a huge smile to my face ... because I rarely get that these days from this genre. You are like a ray of sunshine after a huge amount of rainy days. MWAH MWAH MWAH!!!
-------------
This was the story about The Other Guy. The guy that the heroine left at the altar to be with the True Love. The guy whose only fault was being boring or less-handsome or flawed...
My original review was about 1500+ words, that was how much I was in love with this story, I wanted to mention every single things that I love about it. BUT, I am able to control myself and instead, I will give you a list instead.
The Things I Love
+ The story didn't describe Emory drowning in sorrow or unhappiness or hating women in general. It was really well-written, with a dose of humor and dignity, in which Emory discovered how to find his new-self and true love along the way. I laughed with him, felt frustrated when he was acting stupid ... because Emory was not without flaws. He had tendency to pick the 'safe' road, that he preferred to run away from his problems or put them in a box to deal with another day. But because of that, it made him human too :). I smiled happily when he finally grabbed his own chance of happiness.
+ Even if the story was written solely from Emory's perspective, the rest of the characters were shining in their own way. Nate, the love interest. Linn and Hal, the best friends. Julie, Nate's big sister. Heck, even Michelle, the ex, whom I wanted to hate, ended up being kind of decent. Her return gave the right amount of drama without being overboard.
+ The story might start with long sentences of inner monologues -- but hey, Emory was just left at the altar, okay? He wasn't ready to bitch at it with other people. But once he made that connection with Nate, there were fresh and AMUSING banters.
+ AWESOME chemistry.
+ No personal pet peeves (THANK YOU, BOOK!)
The Things I Don't Love
Well, NONE, duh! Okay, maybe one, I wanted more pages *grin*
Advisory : If you are trying to get this book and looking for smut, you will NOT get it. All of the sex scenes are done behind closed door; which is like, YAY, for me *hahaha*
-------------
This was the story about The Other Guy. The guy that the heroine left at the altar to be with the True Love. The guy whose only fault was being boring or less-handsome or flawed...
My original review was about 1500+ words, that was how much I was in love with this story, I wanted to mention every single things that I love about it. BUT, I am able to control myself and instead, I will give you a list instead.
The Things I Love
+ The story didn't describe Emory drowning in sorrow or unhappiness or hating women in general. It was really well-written, with a dose of humor and dignity, in which Emory discovered how to find his new-self and true love along the way. I laughed with him, felt frustrated when he was acting stupid ... because Emory was not without flaws. He had tendency to pick the 'safe' road, that he preferred to run away from his problems or put them in a box to deal with another day. But because of that, it made him human too :). I smiled happily when he finally grabbed his own chance of happiness.
+ Even if the story was written solely from Emory's perspective, the rest of the characters were shining in their own way. Nate, the love interest. Linn and Hal, the best friends. Julie, Nate's big sister. Heck, even Michelle, the ex, whom I wanted to hate, ended up being kind of decent. Her return gave the right amount of drama without being overboard.
+ The story might start with long sentences of inner monologues -- but hey, Emory was just left at the altar, okay? He wasn't ready to bitch at it with other people. But once he made that connection with Nate, there were fresh and AMUSING banters.
+ AWESOME chemistry.
+ No personal pet peeves (THANK YOU, BOOK!)
The Things I Don't Love
Well, NONE, duh! Okay, maybe one, I wanted more pages *grin*
Advisory : If you are trying to get this book and looking for smut, you will NOT get it. All of the sex scenes are done behind closed door; which is like, YAY, for me *hahaha*
February 2, 2013
4.5 stars!!!!
My love letter to this book…
Dear Emory “Archibald” James:
Hello! How are you? What a pleasure to get to know you in “The Other Guy”. Will you be my best friend forever? As I see it, we are kindred spirits and are MEANT to know each other. I love that you are witty, self-deprecating, silly, cracked in places, yet so kind. You’re totally unaware of how awesome you are…which just makes you…MORE AWESOME.
Your man, Nate, is quite possibly one of the swoon-worthiest men around. I so love the story of your travel escapes, your friendship, and your growing relationship. Please do what you can to make sure you’re worthy of his devotion and goodness. He deserves it.
Yes, there are times when your cowardice, your fear, and your insensitivity made me very, very angry. You can be quite dense and clueless, you know.
But, it does not stop me from adoring you.
And to your creator, Cary Attwell…please write MORE!
When do you want to move in? Or I can just come down to Chicago and move in with you. Let me know what works best.
Thanks,
Susan
Read
January 3, 2013Serves me right, next time I will listen to the warning bells that kept going off in my head, this is why I stayed away from Mechanical Heart. I should have known it wouldn't work its magic on me. Sorry, "runs and hides" tiny lone voice of didn't love it here. Likable and cute in parts and frustratingly difficult to get through in other parts. Its not a bad book, I can see the appeal and all my friends so far have loved it, I only wish I could have felt that connection to the story too. No rating from me for now.
December 17, 2012
4.75
The best thing that happened to Emory was being left at the altar. He goes on his honeymoon in Thailand and meets a photographer who is also on holiday. They become friends, chums, pals, companions for the remainder of their time there and just maybe more than that but with the holiday over and real life back in swing there's no chance for them to ever cross paths again...or is there.
I loved being in Emory's head. He is so clever and snarky and fun. This is a wonderful read. Nate, the photographer, is a great character as well. Who has a very real and poignant storyline of his own to work through here. The secondary characters are fleshed out as well, I especially loved the stoic Hal and the completely awesome Linn.
There is a lot of emotion here and fantastic chemistry. Recommended.
The best thing that happened to Emory was being left at the altar. He goes on his honeymoon in Thailand and meets a photographer who is also on holiday. They become friends, chums, pals, companions for the remainder of their time there and just maybe more than that but with the holiday over and real life back in swing there's no chance for them to ever cross paths again...or is there.
I loved being in Emory's head. He is so clever and snarky and fun. This is a wonderful read. Nate, the photographer, is a great character as well. Who has a very real and poignant storyline of his own to work through here. The secondary characters are fleshed out as well, I especially loved the stoic Hal and the completely awesome Linn.
There is a lot of emotion here and fantastic chemistry. Recommended.
November 22, 2012
I'm stuck between 3 and 4 stars for this one. I enjoyed the basic elements of the story and the settings in Thailand and Chicago were described well enough to make you think the author actually has a working knowledge of both places. Both of the main characters were likeable and believeable, not pedestal-worthy idealized super heroes. But I definitely agree that the book could have used some more editing, tightening up the story and descriptions and cutting out some of the lengthier sections of Emory's internal dialogue. The first person narrative was interesting for a while but eventually I tired of Emory wrestling with the same issues over and over. I would have appreciated knowing Nate's thoughts - I was never completely clear WHY he liked Emory so much.
In other reviews I've complained of gratuitous sex scenes and of skimming to get to where the story actually moves ahead. I didn't think I'd ever ask for MORE in a story but I would have appreciated ANY in this book. Not for a need to be titillated but to flesh out the character of Emory and his realization that he is actually gay. The guy was exclusively dating women, engaged and left at the altar, and within, say, five days had his first sexual experience with another man. Here is where a larger portion of the story (any portion) should have been, for me at least. Emory grappling with this terrifying and new experience of another guy's junk. And of how Nate handled the situation. Instead, one moment they are making the momentous decision to go to one or the other's room and the next, Emory is missing Nate because Nate has flown home. That is a hell of a lot to leave out of the story of a man's life changing realization that he is gay. Sure, Emory struggles with telling his friends and family about this, but he doesn't really have any internal struggle with hey, I'm sleeping with a guy now. It's just accepted, nothing to see here, move along. *shrug*
So I liked the story and I liked the characters. I just think a little bit of polishing would turn it into a story I REALLY liked.
In other reviews I've complained of gratuitous sex scenes and of skimming to get to where the story actually moves ahead. I didn't think I'd ever ask for MORE in a story but I would have appreciated ANY in this book. Not for a need to be titillated but to flesh out the character of Emory and his realization that he is actually gay. The guy was exclusively dating women, engaged and left at the altar, and within, say, five days had his first sexual experience with another man. Here is where a larger portion of the story (any portion) should have been, for me at least. Emory grappling with this terrifying and new experience of another guy's junk. And of how Nate handled the situation. Instead, one moment they are making the momentous decision to go to one or the other's room and the next, Emory is missing Nate because Nate has flown home. That is a hell of a lot to leave out of the story of a man's life changing realization that he is gay. Sure, Emory struggles with telling his friends and family about this, but he doesn't really have any internal struggle with hey, I'm sleeping with a guy now. It's just accepted, nothing to see here, move along. *shrug*
So I liked the story and I liked the characters. I just think a little bit of polishing would turn it into a story I REALLY liked.
December 18, 2012
4.5 stars. This book has one of the most irresistible first chapters I've read in a while. It's impossible not to relate to good-guy Emory and his bad luck with love. After being jilted at the altar he goes to Thailand alone and meets Nate who re-ignites his passion for life. But Emory is still too wounded emotionally to let someone in, so they part, not thinking they will ever meet again. Several months later Nate turns up and a beautiful friendship starts.
This is just a lovely gentle story. Emory is quite flawed in many ways. He seems to let things happen to him rather than go out and grab life by the balls. But the author is able to make him totally relatable. I was so invested in his journey to a HEA with the steadfast Nate. There's no sex and even though I didn't miss it I would have liked to see Emory questioning the physical side of his new-found gayness amongst all his internal dialogue.
This is just a lovely gentle story. Emory is quite flawed in many ways. He seems to let things happen to him rather than go out and grab life by the balls. But the author is able to make him totally relatable. I was so invested in his journey to a HEA with the steadfast Nate. There's no sex and even though I didn't miss it I would have liked to see Emory questioning the physical side of his new-found gayness amongst all his internal dialogue.
January 7, 2013
This book was sweet and funny and passed the time perfectly on a 4 hour plane ride. I really enjoyed the story but it missing that extra umph that makes up a 5 star read. A very nice clean romance!
December 17, 2012
4.5*
I have to thank Ami for bringing this book to my attention. Smooches Ami! :)
Emory is great, his humor is exactly my kind of humor, very dry and self-depricating.
After being left at the alter ( literally ) he is understandably sad and mourning, but I loved that he didn't make Michelle
( the now ex) into an evil caricature, he never talked about her or put her down, yes he was mad and upset, but we didn't hear about all the things he had to put up with while being with her, no she was actually pretty ok.
So anyway, like any jilted groom he goes on his honeymoon and meets Nate.
They spend their days and evenings exploring Thailand and have one night together before they go their separate ways, not expecting to see each other again.
But his thoughts go back to Nate often and he confides in his good friend Linn about him, Linn also reminds me a bit of jiminy cricket, helping Em along the way to what he actually already knows!
Imagine Emory's surprise when Nate is in his office to bring his niece to an appointment. Their friendship picks back up and develops nicely, it was so much fun to watch this part, without everything ending about sex, or innuendos, just real relationship building!
Finally they move into being a couple territory but as Em still isn't all that sure and self aware they hit road bumps, but thank goodness for mature thinking and acting.
There is no real way to describe how sweet this story is, although the humor keeps it from being sugary, and I have to reiterate Emory's thoughts are so much fun, even when he is dealing with shit, his thoughts are still a real nice place to be.
We don't get anyone else's POV, but I didn't miss it, and all I can say, is if you like a cute, entertaining,no on page sex, and humorous, a story of a man not only falling in love but finally also realizing that yes, his life was fine before, but now it's as it should be then this is the book for you, it certainly was for me!
I have to thank Ami for bringing this book to my attention. Smooches Ami! :)
Emory is great, his humor is exactly my kind of humor, very dry and self-depricating.
After being left at the alter ( literally ) he is understandably sad and mourning, but I loved that he didn't make Michelle
( the now ex) into an evil caricature, he never talked about her or put her down, yes he was mad and upset, but we didn't hear about all the things he had to put up with while being with her, no she was actually pretty ok.
So anyway, like any jilted groom he goes on his honeymoon and meets Nate.
They spend their days and evenings exploring Thailand and have one night together before they go their separate ways, not expecting to see each other again.
But his thoughts go back to Nate often and he confides in his good friend Linn about him, Linn also reminds me a bit of jiminy cricket, helping Em along the way to what he actually already knows!
Imagine Emory's surprise when Nate is in his office to bring his niece to an appointment. Their friendship picks back up and develops nicely, it was so much fun to watch this part, without everything ending about sex, or innuendos, just real relationship building!
Finally they move into being a couple territory but as Em still isn't all that sure and self aware they hit road bumps, but thank goodness for mature thinking and acting.
There is no real way to describe how sweet this story is, although the humor keeps it from being sugary, and I have to reiterate Emory's thoughts are so much fun, even when he is dealing with shit, his thoughts are still a real nice place to be.
We don't get anyone else's POV, but I didn't miss it, and all I can say, is if you like a cute, entertaining,no on page sex, and humorous, a story of a man not only falling in love but finally also realizing that yes, his life was fine before, but now it's as it should be then this is the book for you, it certainly was for me!
November 3, 2012
4.5 stars
You know those stories in sitcom or romantic comedy where the girl is about to marry the other guy until the love of her life suddenly appears in the church, declaring his undying love, and then they run away? Great for the girl and the her lover. Suck for the other guy. This is the story of that other guy. The one who was left at the altar. Emory.
Since everything was already paid for, Emory went alone to Thailand (where they were supposedly to have honeymoon) and had vacation by himself. There, he met Nate, a fellow American. They enjoyed each other's company, and slept once at the end of their vacation, thinking they were not going to see each other again. It turned out, Nate was an uncle of one of Emory's patients (he's a speech therapist). From then, they forged a close friendship. Just when they started to take the relationship to the next level, Michelle--the ex fiancee who left Emory at the altar--returned and asked for a second chance. What would he do?
A sweet (but not tooth-aching level) and nice story. The scenes in Thailand ends at around 40% into the book, and the rest are Chicago. I appreciate that when they got back to the US, it took long time before they slept together again. For months, it was purely platonic friendship although not without a lot flirting on both sides.
While the writing is a bit heavy with long sentences at the beginning, it gets better later. I enjoyed the banters and the inner thoughts that often were funny. There is no explicit sex scenes.
"Well, it's romantic... And also pretty depressing."
"All great love stories are," he said. "You know, your standard Romeo and Juliet..."
"That," I interrupted, "is a story about a couple of infatuated kids with poor communication skills."
That the plot involves the innocent party that often has to be sacrificed for the sake of the romantic story makes this more interesting for me.
You know those stories in sitcom or romantic comedy where the girl is about to marry the other guy until the love of her life suddenly appears in the church, declaring his undying love, and then they run away? Great for the girl and the her lover. Suck for the other guy. This is the story of that other guy. The one who was left at the altar. Emory.
Since everything was already paid for, Emory went alone to Thailand (where they were supposedly to have honeymoon) and had vacation by himself. There, he met Nate, a fellow American. They enjoyed each other's company, and slept once at the end of their vacation, thinking they were not going to see each other again. It turned out, Nate was an uncle of one of Emory's patients (he's a speech therapist). From then, they forged a close friendship. Just when they started to take the relationship to the next level, Michelle--the ex fiancee who left Emory at the altar--returned and asked for a second chance. What would he do?
A sweet (but not tooth-aching level) and nice story. The scenes in Thailand ends at around 40% into the book, and the rest are Chicago. I appreciate that when they got back to the US, it took long time before they slept together again. For months, it was purely platonic friendship although not without a lot flirting on both sides.
While the writing is a bit heavy with long sentences at the beginning, it gets better later. I enjoyed the banters and the inner thoughts that often were funny. There is no explicit sex scenes.
"Well, it's romantic... And also pretty depressing."
"All great love stories are," he said. "You know, your standard Romeo and Juliet..."
"That," I interrupted, "is a story about a couple of infatuated kids with poor communication skills."
That the plot involves the innocent party that often has to be sacrificed for the sake of the romantic story makes this more interesting for me.
August 8, 2016
The Other Guy has been hanging out on my kindle for ages. I’m so happy I finally clicked it open! It’s lovely. From the beach to the wide open starry sky to the chemistry between the main characters. It all felt so natural and lovely to me.
Emory and Nate meet in Thailand. First off—I love Thailand as a romantic setting. There’s just something special about the warmth and mystery and faraway-ness of Thailand. It’s a magical place to meet someone in my opinion. These guys have such a “see you around” easy chemistry together too, which only adds to the magic. They spend their days talking and exploring new foods and places together. I adored walking with them. But can their warm, sweet attraction continue back home?
I enjoyed just being in this book. The way the days and nights slowly melted into the next felt lovely to me. There was very little angst or sex on the page. But the emotion got me right in the heart! Plus the words! I stopped and whispered “gorgeous” under my breath several times. Cary Attwell has a beautiful way with words. Listen…
“My fingers dug furrows into his hair, and his gripped at my back, clutching me closer and closer as if the laws of physics would even allow it. There were tongues and teeth, and gasped, airless breaths, searing brands onto each other’s skin, the heat between us blindingly delicious as a dying winter wind coiled around us, as though hoping to preserve us forever in that moment.”
Hope you meet The Other Guy soon.
Recommended.
February 24, 2013
Likes:
I enjoyed this author's vocabulary. Her word choices were great overall, though there were points at which she made some errors, seemingly having chosen the wrong synonym from the thesaurus. Those few occurrences gave the impression of trying a tad bit too hard.
I feel the same way about the witticisms and quippy banter. I had a general appreciation for it, thought there were a few places where it could have been reeled in a bit so as to avoid coming across deliberately cutesy-clever.
The trajectory of this relationship's development was well plotted.
Linnea :-) She was a great friend and character.
The setting in Thailand. Ohhh, the gorgeous beaches and sunsets are beautifully evoked and lovely to envision.
Nate's chill forwardness in pursuing Em in Thailand.
Nate and Em in Thailand, particularly on their excursions and while taking pictures. Cute, sweet and funny.
Neutral:
The first 75% of the book. I wasn't overly excited. But it was a calm read with some delights along the way and a good way to pass a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon.
Not my favourite -- considering I am all about seize the day, love will make a way, trust your heart, and belief in love at first sight -- but I guess it was understandable that Em and Nate took time to develop a solid friendship once they'd reconnected in The States. For me, it just struck me as a waste of time; they've slept together already and know they have genuine feelings for each other.
Dislike:
The sex. Or utter lack of it on the page. Okay, PWP exhausts me and I have no real pleasure in it. But no sex at all? Seriously? No bueno. I believe it was especially necessary to have put the sex on the page the first time they slept together. This is the first time Em is intimate with a man. Fading to black and telling the reader after the fact that sex occurred does a serious disservice to the plot's advancement and the reader's engagement with the text.
Em's spinelessness. I blinking hate it when adults can't just be mature and accept who they are, world be damned, and would prefer to sacrifice love to fear and false loyalty. HATE IT. Let one's battles be against compromise of self and those whose love is conditional not against one's truth and opportunities to self-actualise.
Nate's patience. Self-worth demands that one's partner acknowledges you and your love. That much patience just becomes enabling.
Emory's borderline chicklitiness. Self-image issues, malleability etc etc. *sigh*
The last 25% of the book. Serious skimming. Yaaay, reconnection and all that, but the re-entry of Michelle nearly made this a DNF.
Errors:
A few missing words.
The use of the word "describe" for "circumambulate".
The use of "whose" for "who's"
Some run-on sentences.
A few typos.
I enjoyed this author's vocabulary. Her word choices were great overall, though there were points at which she made some errors, seemingly having chosen the wrong synonym from the thesaurus. Those few occurrences gave the impression of trying a tad bit too hard.
I feel the same way about the witticisms and quippy banter. I had a general appreciation for it, thought there were a few places where it could have been reeled in a bit so as to avoid coming across deliberately cutesy-clever.
The trajectory of this relationship's development was well plotted.
Linnea :-) She was a great friend and character.
The setting in Thailand. Ohhh, the gorgeous beaches and sunsets are beautifully evoked and lovely to envision.
Nate's chill forwardness in pursuing Em in Thailand.
Nate and Em in Thailand, particularly on their excursions and while taking pictures. Cute, sweet and funny.
Neutral:
The first 75% of the book. I wasn't overly excited. But it was a calm read with some delights along the way and a good way to pass a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon.
Not my favourite -- considering I am all about seize the day, love will make a way, trust your heart, and belief in love at first sight -- but I guess it was understandable that Em and Nate took time to develop a solid friendship once they'd reconnected in The States. For me, it just struck me as a waste of time; they've slept together already and know they have genuine feelings for each other.
Dislike:
The sex. Or utter lack of it on the page. Okay, PWP exhausts me and I have no real pleasure in it. But no sex at all? Seriously? No bueno. I believe it was especially necessary to have put the sex on the page the first time they slept together. This is the first time Em is intimate with a man. Fading to black and telling the reader after the fact that sex occurred does a serious disservice to the plot's advancement and the reader's engagement with the text.
Em's spinelessness. I blinking hate it when adults can't just be mature and accept who they are, world be damned, and would prefer to sacrifice love to fear and false loyalty. HATE IT. Let one's battles be against compromise of self and those whose love is conditional not against one's truth and opportunities to self-actualise.
Nate's patience. Self-worth demands that one's partner acknowledges you and your love. That much patience just becomes enabling.
Emory's borderline chicklitiness. Self-image issues, malleability etc etc. *sigh*
The last 25% of the book. Serious skimming. Yaaay, reconnection and all that, but the re-entry of Michelle nearly made this a DNF.
Errors:
A few missing words.
The use of the word "describe" for "circumambulate".
The use of "whose" for "who's"
Some run-on sentences.
A few typos.
February 17, 2013
Hugs adorable ebook in my Kindle tightly to my chest!
OK, so this had the dreaded last 1/3 of the book a character does something that makes you go, "noooooooooooesss!" It bothered me, obviously. But, I thought on it, and as much as it hurt, I realized it felt natural for that character. I may have not liked it, but I could at least understand it.
The rest of the book though was pure joy. I had a perma-grin on my face from the first page, and literally laughed out loud throughout my reading. It was nice because the humor never tried too hard. It was just quick wit.
I fell in love with both characters. That's sometimes hard from first person, but the author truly made me see what each character found attractive in the other. I believed absolutely in their chemistry, and the author did it all with zero sex on page. Awesome.
Also, I want to thank the skies for how all the female characters were written. I was so prepared for them to be one dimensional, and they absolutely had mutiple sides. So, kudos.
I simply adored this book.
OK, so this had the dreaded last 1/3 of the book a character does something that makes you go, "noooooooooooesss!" It bothered me, obviously. But, I thought on it, and as much as it hurt, I realized it felt natural for that character. I may have not liked it, but I could at least understand it.
The rest of the book though was pure joy. I had a perma-grin on my face from the first page, and literally laughed out loud throughout my reading. It was nice because the humor never tried too hard. It was just quick wit.
I fell in love with both characters. That's sometimes hard from first person, but the author truly made me see what each character found attractive in the other. I believed absolutely in their chemistry, and the author did it all with zero sex on page. Awesome.
Also, I want to thank the skies for how all the female characters were written. I was so prepared for them to be one dimensional, and they absolutely had mutiple sides. So, kudos.
I simply adored this book.
February 18, 2013
This story could have been an angst-fest, beginning as it does with the narrator, Emory, jilted at the altar by his fiancee. But the self-deprecating, determined tone of Emory's first-person narration keeps that from happening. Instead this is a light, funny, sometimes sweet, sometimes frustrating book. Although Emory and Nate come together in very early in the story, in Thailand, as Emory determinedly takes his planned honeymoon alone, this is a slow-build relationship.
Emory's somewhat hands-off attitude to life both provides the low-key humor and also makes him prone to drifting, clinging to the status quo rather than taking risks. At times I wanted to shake him (and once could not believe his passivity) but the author makes him plausible. For me this was not laugh-out-loud funny or deeply emotional, but a book I did enjoy reading.
Emory's somewhat hands-off attitude to life both provides the low-key humor and also makes him prone to drifting, clinging to the status quo rather than taking risks. At times I wanted to shake him (and once could not believe his passivity) but the author makes him plausible. For me this was not laugh-out-loud funny or deeply emotional, but a book I did enjoy reading.
February 17, 2013
Average of 4 stars -
The writing and hilarious narration: 4/4.5 stars
The story: 3.5 stars
The MC/narrator, Emory: 3.5 stars
The love interest, Nate: 4.5 stars
I very much enjoyed most of this book. Emory's commentary was absolutely hilarious, and I thought the beginning of the book was a clever spin on a more "traditional" GFY plot. And who wouldn't fall in lust on a Thai beach, right?! That is the stuff fantasies are made of, right there.
There were some things that bugged me about the Thailand portion of the book, however. For one thing, Emory had NO reaction to Nate revealing he was gay (other than confirming that Nate had been flirting with him when they met). But what I found even more unsatisfying was . I had a lot of questions afterwards.
I was also nervous about Nate being the rebound guy. He was waaaaaaaay too wonderful to just be THAT. However, the author did a good job overcoming my fears about that with their months-long "friendship" in Chicago, before they start an actual relationship. It convinced me that Emory really did fall in love with Nate for the right reasons. The ONE fade-to-black in the book that I wish had really been more than that was . *wistful sigh*
After that point, things were mostly going along swimmingly (apart from Emory being )... until . I was soooooooo frustrated with both the plot AND Emory from about 70% to 90%. And, I'm sorry, but was I supposed to feel sorry for that bitch? Or like her when she's all, "I'm glad someone realized how great you are"? 'Cause... I DIDN'T.
The last 10% worked for me, though. The ending was a bit abrupt, but I liked it.
Overall, it was a very funny, sweet, and entertaining love story, and I LOVED Nate.
The writing and hilarious narration: 4/4.5 stars
The story: 3.5 stars
The MC/narrator, Emory: 3.5 stars
The love interest, Nate: 4.5 stars
I very much enjoyed most of this book. Emory's commentary was absolutely hilarious, and I thought the beginning of the book was a clever spin on a more "traditional" GFY plot. And who wouldn't fall in lust on a Thai beach, right?! That is the stuff fantasies are made of, right there.
There were some things that bugged me about the Thailand portion of the book, however. For one thing, Emory had NO reaction to Nate revealing he was gay (other than confirming that Nate had been flirting with him when they met). But what I found even more unsatisfying was . I had a lot of questions afterwards.
I was also nervous about Nate being the rebound guy. He was waaaaaaaay too wonderful to just be THAT. However, the author did a good job overcoming my fears about that with their months-long "friendship" in Chicago, before they start an actual relationship. It convinced me that Emory really did fall in love with Nate for the right reasons. The ONE fade-to-black in the book that I wish had really been more than that was . *wistful sigh*
After that point, things were mostly going along swimmingly (apart from Emory being )... until . I was soooooooo frustrated with both the plot AND Emory from about 70% to 90%. And, I'm sorry, but was I supposed to feel sorry for that bitch? Or like her when she's all, "I'm glad someone realized how great you are"? 'Cause... I DIDN'T.
The last 10% worked for me, though. The ending was a bit abrupt, but I liked it.
Overall, it was a very funny, sweet, and entertaining love story, and I LOVED Nate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2012
Like How to Repair a Mechanical Heart I've been wondering how to review this book without it falling into babbling joy.
I really liked the main character. His personality, sense of humor, and way of looking at the world were very relatable to me. I may or may not have some very similar theories on life, and love.
The love story was well developed, and the ending made me very happy. One of my new favorites.
I really liked the main character. His personality, sense of humor, and way of looking at the world were very relatable to me. I may or may not have some very similar theories on life, and love.
The love story was well developed, and the ending made me very happy. One of my new favorites.
December 16, 2012
I love holiday romances - not for myself, of course, I'd never have the guts! - but I love them for other people. There's something about the quality of the light when you're traveling that lends itself to romance, so I adored the first third of this book like nobody's business. It's about how Emory gets jilted and tries to escape himself by going to Thailand (and would that we all could run away to Thailand when the going gets tough - it's amazingly restorative). There he meets Nate, a charming photographer and, well, romance doesn't ensue. Not immediately, anyway. The two of them become friends while Emory sorts out what he wants. They have one night of fade-to-black bittersweetness and then it's back to real life. The rest of the book I enjoyed less, but still quite a lot. It's really all about Emory, who is a funny, insecure, lovable mess. Although there were moments when I wanted to punch him, hard. Also, warning to my more discerning friends: it is written in the first person. Ultimately, though, this a great summer read and is heartwarming and sweet. It's a 3.5 rounded up for me.
February 3, 2013
2.5 stars
This is a good book but there are a few things that bugged me.
It starts out with Emory (a speech therapist) being left at the altar by his (female) fiance, Michelle, when her ex crashes the wedding and sweeps her off feet. The way this is told is quite humorous and I found myself giggling a little bit over Emory's descriptions. He decides at the last minute to go on the planned honeymoon to Thailand alone. He has a week before he has to start facing those who are no doubt whispering about him behind his back so a "forget about Michelle" week is planned. While there, he meets Nate, another American. They strike up a quick friendship that quickly turns to more before the week is out. They part believing they will never see each other again. The only problem is that once Emory gets back home to Chicago, he can't stop thinking about Nate and the time they had together. About the time he is finally starting to get on with his life and Nate is not in his every thought, Nate shows up at Emory's workplace with his niece, a patient of Emory's. This leads to coffee dates, dinners and then on to more as time goes by. The relationship is going well but Emory is afraid to come out to people, especially his parents who are not exactly gay-friendly. He keeps the nature of his relationship with Nate completely secret from everyone except his best friend (a female) who lives in Scotland.
I was really enjoying this. There is a lot of humor throughout and I immediately fell in love with both Emory and Nate. The love for Emory, however, took a nosedive three quarters in. While he somewhat redeemed himself in my eyes later it was not enough to make me continue to love the story as a whole. What was a possible 4+-star read dropped immediately when this (mentioned in the spoiler) happened. Also, there is no sex in this book. Well, there is but it's off-page. I'm perfectly fine with reading books that do not have sex in them usually. My favorite M/M book of all time is The Curtis Reincarnation and most (if not all) sex in that story is off-page. But then again, it wasn't necessary in that one as the author wrote about two men who knew they were gay. In this case, however, Emory is only now discovering that he is attracted to men so I felt that the intimacy was necessary to see him as he discovers himself with Nate. I felt that by not having any at all, it downplayed the relationship and Emory coming to terms with who he is. It would not have to be all out graphic sex... just a little more intimacy and feeling than what was there.
Overall, a good book that took a downhill spiral. I went from loving one character to thinking he needed to man up and grow a pair. Unfortunately, I could not recover from that.
This is a good book but there are a few things that bugged me.
It starts out with Emory (a speech therapist) being left at the altar by his (female) fiance, Michelle, when her ex crashes the wedding and sweeps her off feet. The way this is told is quite humorous and I found myself giggling a little bit over Emory's descriptions. He decides at the last minute to go on the planned honeymoon to Thailand alone. He has a week before he has to start facing those who are no doubt whispering about him behind his back so a "forget about Michelle" week is planned. While there, he meets Nate, another American. They strike up a quick friendship that quickly turns to more before the week is out. They part believing they will never see each other again. The only problem is that once Emory gets back home to Chicago, he can't stop thinking about Nate and the time they had together. About the time he is finally starting to get on with his life and Nate is not in his every thought, Nate shows up at Emory's workplace with his niece, a patient of Emory's. This leads to coffee dates, dinners and then on to more as time goes by. The relationship is going well but Emory is afraid to come out to people, especially his parents who are not exactly gay-friendly. He keeps the nature of his relationship with Nate completely secret from everyone except his best friend (a female) who lives in Scotland.
I was really enjoying this. There is a lot of humor throughout and I immediately fell in love with both Emory and Nate. The love for Emory, however, took a nosedive three quarters in. While he somewhat redeemed himself in my eyes later it was not enough to make me continue to love the story as a whole. What was a possible 4+-star read dropped immediately when this (mentioned in the spoiler) happened. Also, there is no sex in this book. Well, there is but it's off-page. I'm perfectly fine with reading books that do not have sex in them usually. My favorite M/M book of all time is The Curtis Reincarnation and most (if not all) sex in that story is off-page. But then again, it wasn't necessary in that one as the author wrote about two men who knew they were gay. In this case, however, Emory is only now discovering that he is attracted to men so I felt that the intimacy was necessary to see him as he discovers himself with Nate. I felt that by not having any at all, it downplayed the relationship and Emory coming to terms with who he is. It would not have to be all out graphic sex... just a little more intimacy and feeling than what was there.
Overall, a good book that took a downhill spiral. I went from loving one character to thinking he needed to man up and grow a pair. Unfortunately, I could not recover from that.
February 2, 2013
4.25 stars
I've always thought self deprecation is a pretty hard thing to successfully pull off. I mean, if done with too little sincerity, the character comes off as an arrogant rat bastard. If the character is too sincere, however, they're just being pathetic and don't really deserve to headline a book. There has to be this balance of brutally honest self reflection, hope, and humor if someone wants to actually sound charming while hurting their own feelings. I'm happy to report that Emory James, erstwhile altar dumpee, successfully self deprecated the shit out of his unfortunate experience with charm and grace.
A lot of wonderful things have already been said about this book and I categorically agree with every last one of them. I love this book and I would have given it 5 stars but there was just not enough, as we call it in the Philippines, kilig in this for me.
Writing was brilliant, characters were awesome, pacing was pretty good, and the visit to Thailand got me making reservations, but this fell a bit short in the "shortness of breath and tingle in the nether regions while reading" requirements I have when it comes to romance novels. It's not because the sex was off page. There was enough chemistry between the two MCs without an explicit look into their bedroom activities. Sometimes a great book just doesn't have that thing that gets me all tingly inside and in this case, I was entertained all throughout but my kilig meter was just on 7 (at times, a weak 8).
Still a recommended read, though. Never mind me and my need to make judgments based on how tingly I fucking get.
I've always thought self deprecation is a pretty hard thing to successfully pull off. I mean, if done with too little sincerity, the character comes off as an arrogant rat bastard. If the character is too sincere, however, they're just being pathetic and don't really deserve to headline a book. There has to be this balance of brutally honest self reflection, hope, and humor if someone wants to actually sound charming while hurting their own feelings. I'm happy to report that Emory James, erstwhile altar dumpee, successfully self deprecated the shit out of his unfortunate experience with charm and grace.
A lot of wonderful things have already been said about this book and I categorically agree with every last one of them. I love this book and I would have given it 5 stars but there was just not enough, as we call it in the Philippines, kilig in this for me.
Writing was brilliant, characters were awesome, pacing was pretty good, and the visit to Thailand got me making reservations, but this fell a bit short in the "shortness of breath and tingle in the nether regions while reading" requirements I have when it comes to romance novels. It's not because the sex was off page. There was enough chemistry between the two MCs without an explicit look into their bedroom activities. Sometimes a great book just doesn't have that thing that gets me all tingly inside and in this case, I was entertained all throughout but my kilig meter was just on 7 (at times, a weak 8).
Still a recommended read, though. Never mind me and my need to make judgments based on how tingly I fucking get.
March 1, 2014
3.5 stars rounded down because the last 40% or so of the book dragged a bit and it was predictable and a bit unoriginal too. .
Also, seriously, where was the sex?
Also, seriously, where was the sex?
February 13, 2013
I loved Emory's voice, I found his narration so very adorable and funny . I did not laugh out loud much, but I giggled many times and I am unlikely to forget his voice any time soon. His meeting with Ned was entertaining, but what I was so very impressed with was their chemistry and the writer managed it without explicit sex scenes too. All sex fades to black in this book and yes, romance without explicit sex is still a romance :)
I have read romances which have great characterization, plot and hot sex scenes. I however also read so many romances where sex *becomes* a plot and I usually really dislike it. That is why I am always so very pleased when I discover a romance which has plot, wonderful characters and sex fades to black - as far as I am concerned it only gives a good writer more space to concentrate on characters and chemistry between them. Nothing wrong with good sex, do not get me wrong, but if I were to choose, I will always choose characters and chemistry between them over the explicit sex scenes. If you can do all three good - awesome, but if not, please concentrate on plot and characters. I know that I am in the minority, but readers like me really do exist :-)
I have read romances which have great characterization, plot and hot sex scenes. I however also read so many romances where sex *becomes* a plot and I usually really dislike it. That is why I am always so very pleased when I discover a romance which has plot, wonderful characters and sex fades to black - as far as I am concerned it only gives a good writer more space to concentrate on characters and chemistry between them. Nothing wrong with good sex, do not get me wrong, but if I were to choose, I will always choose characters and chemistry between them over the explicit sex scenes. If you can do all three good - awesome, but if not, please concentrate on plot and characters. I know that I am in the minority, but readers like me really do exist :-)
November 6, 2012
This book was surprisingly great and I'm only saying that because it's a new author and the authors first book. Normally when you've read more than one book of an author you know their style so when you try a new author you never know :-) I loved Emory's humor we only got his view of everything but I still felt like I knew Nate. I thought they were perfect for each other from the day they met. They were just easy with each other and I loved their banter back and forth. When Emory's ex fiancée came back and he didn't throw her to the curb right away I wanted to Gibbs slap him(If you watch NCIS, you know what I'm talking about, hehe) He got it right though:-) and FYI all the sex is off page but it worked I still enjoyed it. Don't let that stop you from reading it. I would definitely read another book from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2013
this book was adorable perfection. i don't really have much else to say. great characters and just a lot of awesome.
February 4, 2013
I can't tell you how happy I am I picked up this book. I've been in a book funk this past week, a slump. I'd picked up 4 books that I never got past page 40 on. I'd almost given up hope, but then a friend of mine recommended this one (Thank you, Susan!) and presto, book funk gone. This was exactly what I needed.
The Characters
Emory - The story is told from his POV, which I thought was brilliant, even though I'm not usually one for a first-person narrative. I loved his sarcasm and dry humor and self-deprecation, and I admired him for the strength it took to not only pick himself back up after being left at the alter but to finally face up to something that he previously been afraid to. This book definitely wouldn't have been what it was if not told from his perspective, and I thought his character development was perfect.
Nate - One of those people naturally blessed with zero shyness and the ability to make friends with complete strangers in 2 seconds, he's exactly what Emory needs while on his vacation in Thailand. Now as I'm a lot like Emory (seriously, a little too much like him at times, in ways that were a bit uncomfortable to read about, lol) I found myself reacting exactly like he does in the book to a random person sitting down at his breakfast table (I'm anti-social; so sue me. And, honestly, who does that?), but like Emory, I couldn't be annoyed with him. It's impossible. He's just somebody who can get away with something like that because of who he is. Which is awesome.
The Story
Is exactly what I look for in a romance novel. The chemistry is on page between the two of them from their very first meeting, and I love books like this where a romantic relationship blossoms over a period of time between two people who start out as friends. Their friendship is as fun to read about as their relationship as the two of them together are completely hysterical. I spent most of the book cracking up. It isn't always sunshine and rainbows, though. The book takes a serious turn about 3/4 in, but I thought it was a good thing. At the end, when everything that needs to be worked out is worked out, the reader can finish the book secure in the knowledge that it truly is HEA for Nate and Emory. Very highly recommended.
The Characters
Emory - The story is told from his POV, which I thought was brilliant, even though I'm not usually one for a first-person narrative. I loved his sarcasm and dry humor and self-deprecation, and I admired him for the strength it took to not only pick himself back up after being left at the alter but to finally face up to something that he previously been afraid to. This book definitely wouldn't have been what it was if not told from his perspective, and I thought his character development was perfect.
Nate - One of those people naturally blessed with zero shyness and the ability to make friends with complete strangers in 2 seconds, he's exactly what Emory needs while on his vacation in Thailand. Now as I'm a lot like Emory (seriously, a little too much like him at times, in ways that were a bit uncomfortable to read about, lol) I found myself reacting exactly like he does in the book to a random person sitting down at his breakfast table (I'm anti-social; so sue me. And, honestly, who does that?), but like Emory, I couldn't be annoyed with him. It's impossible. He's just somebody who can get away with something like that because of who he is. Which is awesome.
The Story
Is exactly what I look for in a romance novel. The chemistry is on page between the two of them from their very first meeting, and I love books like this where a romantic relationship blossoms over a period of time between two people who start out as friends. Their friendship is as fun to read about as their relationship as the two of them together are completely hysterical. I spent most of the book cracking up. It isn't always sunshine and rainbows, though. The book takes a serious turn about 3/4 in, but I thought it was a good thing. At the end, when everything that needs to be worked out is worked out, the reader can finish the book secure in the knowledge that it truly is HEA for Nate and Emory. Very highly recommended.
February 7, 2014
4.5 stars - This was surprisingly great. It was funny, cute, and also a little bit angsty in places (particularly the last third or so of the book). I really enjoyed the first half for its comedy value (some parts were friggin' hilarious) whereas I enjoyed the second half for its more serious side. What caused my rating to lose half a star was Em's stubborn nature. At some point, Em started to annoy me a little. I just wanted him to be honest, and his constant refusal to pull himself out of his shitty situation started to bug the hell out of me. He seemed content to just sit there and do nothing, to lose the person he loved and let the world fall down around him, rather than get up and fight for what he wants and be honest with himself. So yeah, I got a bit annoyed ;) The story was really funny in places (although sometimes it felt as if it was trying too hard to be funny), but there were a lot of things that made me laugh out loud. I'm also grateful for the ending, which sort of made me forgive Emory for being such a pain in the arse most of the time.
April 27, 2014
3.5 Stars
This book was hard to rate. The writing was wonderful and I found myself laughing out loud throughout. Having said that, first person narration is tough. I was stuck with Emory's mental meanderings and he often wandered, which proved frustrating at times. I LOVED Nate but I felt that he got short-changed by the predictable plot twists near the end ... I'm not saying I didn't like this book, but I was underwhelmed with the ending. Oh, and the no sex on-page thing ... um, that kinda blew chunks ... says my inner smut-lover.
Bottom line: let down by the plot twists at the end but I'm definitely going to read more by this author.
This book was hard to rate. The writing was wonderful and I found myself laughing out loud throughout. Having said that, first person narration is tough. I was stuck with Emory's mental meanderings and he often wandered, which proved frustrating at times. I LOVED Nate but I felt that he got short-changed by the predictable plot twists near the end ... I'm not saying I didn't like this book, but I was underwhelmed with the ending. Oh, and the no sex on-page thing ... um, that kinda blew chunks ... says my inner smut-lover.
Bottom line: let down by the plot twists at the end but I'm definitely going to read more by this author.
May 11, 2013
Absolute perfection.
I have no objections or complaints other than superficial ones of the "NOOOO! CAN'T YOU SEE YOU'RE DRIVING THIS INTO DISASTER?" sort.
It was witty, it was soulful, it was profound, ALL OF THE CHARACTERS WERE QUITE FLESHED OUT, EVEN THAT MARYBETH LADY WHOSE NAME UNFORTUNATELY KEPT REMINDING ME OF LADY MACBETH AND WAS ONLY IN 1 SCENE.
This calls for this meme:
I have no objections or complaints other than superficial ones of the "NOOOO! CAN'T YOU SEE YOU'RE DRIVING THIS INTO DISASTER?" sort.
It was witty, it was soulful, it was profound, ALL OF THE CHARACTERS WERE QUITE FLESHED OUT, EVEN THAT MARYBETH LADY WHOSE NAME UNFORTUNATELY KEPT REMINDING ME OF LADY MACBETH AND WAS ONLY IN 1 SCENE.
This calls for this meme:
December 16, 2012
3.5 stars. Liked it, got a bit irritated in the end with Emorys tendency to not face his problems.
February 13, 2013
4.5
The Other Guy is a story about, well, the other guy. The guy that stands left at the altar after the female lead chooses the good-looking ex-boyfriend who thinks that crashing the wedding is just the romantic thing to do. And while they run off into the sunset in their supposed-to-be HEA, the other guy is the one that has to deal not only with being rejected in front of everyone they know but also with the gifts, the money deposits, and the pity.
Emory James is that other guy (has been in the other guy before, although not in such a blatantly humiliating way) and in a sudden exclamation of spite, he says 'screw it all' and leaves for his planned honeymoon to Thailand anyway, on his own. And decides that just for this one week he'll stop being the old Emory, the guy too cautious to really ever try something, to leave the safety of what he knows behind, and too inflexible to do something out of the ordinary. Instead, he's going to be a new Emory, someone who is daring enough to go out there and experience life.
That doesn't turn out to be so easy, though. It's a good thing that he meets Nate at his destination in Thailand, because Nate knows what he's doing and he takes Emory by the hand and helps him to have fun for once. And it turns out that they're just really great together.
But the holidays are short and the separation inescapable. What Emory doesn't expect it that he can't get Nate out of his mind. What he also doesn't expect is to run into him again several months later. So they meet again and they still just fit, and the ensuing friendship is really beautiful to watch. But there's a lot of the old Emory even in this new version of him and it's hard to make changes real when one desperately clings to the safety of the known. So Emory will just have to let that go. But that is easier said than done...
I really liked the story, it was very well written, with a lot of humour (it had me laughing out loud at times, especially in the beginning, and that doesn't happen all that often), great dialogues, and well described characters.
I'd definitely recommend reading this story. It is a very nice love story, beautifully written, and full of humour. It is non-explicit, so there are no written-out sex scenes in this book, but that doesn't take away from the story that is told. Great book!
The Other Guy is a story about, well, the other guy. The guy that stands left at the altar after the female lead chooses the good-looking ex-boyfriend who thinks that crashing the wedding is just the romantic thing to do. And while they run off into the sunset in their supposed-to-be HEA, the other guy is the one that has to deal not only with being rejected in front of everyone they know but also with the gifts, the money deposits, and the pity.
Emory James is that other guy (has been in the other guy before, although not in such a blatantly humiliating way) and in a sudden exclamation of spite, he says 'screw it all' and leaves for his planned honeymoon to Thailand anyway, on his own. And decides that just for this one week he'll stop being the old Emory, the guy too cautious to really ever try something, to leave the safety of what he knows behind, and too inflexible to do something out of the ordinary. Instead, he's going to be a new Emory, someone who is daring enough to go out there and experience life.
That doesn't turn out to be so easy, though. It's a good thing that he meets Nate at his destination in Thailand, because Nate knows what he's doing and he takes Emory by the hand and helps him to have fun for once. And it turns out that they're just really great together.
But the holidays are short and the separation inescapable. What Emory doesn't expect it that he can't get Nate out of his mind. What he also doesn't expect is to run into him again several months later. So they meet again and they still just fit, and the ensuing friendship is really beautiful to watch. But there's a lot of the old Emory even in this new version of him and it's hard to make changes real when one desperately clings to the safety of the known. So Emory will just have to let that go. But that is easier said than done...
I really liked the story, it was very well written, with a lot of humour (it had me laughing out loud at times, especially in the beginning, and that doesn't happen all that often), great dialogues, and well described characters.
I'd definitely recommend reading this story. It is a very nice love story, beautifully written, and full of humour. It is non-explicit, so there are no written-out sex scenes in this book, but that doesn't take away from the story that is told. Great book!
January 10, 2013
This book could have been successfully ended at the halfway mark and left as a short warm story.
The premise is great; what happens to the 'other guy' Emory - mr dependable whose left at the altar for mr dynamic. The books starts off with a light chatty air that I associate with fanfics, from that halfway point though it gets all serious and turns into a different style of book, for me it felt dragged out and I got bored.
Emory goes alone on his honeymoon and meets Nate who comes across as sweet and lively and deserving far better. As it’s all told from Emory’s pov it’s hard to see what the attraction is for Nate.
Generally I prefer plot to porn so it’s strange that with this book I was disappointed that the sex scenes where off page. Emory and Nate are shown building a friendship which is really great but the chemistry is lacking because there’s no indication that Emory has ever had a gay thought previously (or presently), it’s his pov yet there’s no doubts, curiosity or obvious attraction. A very casually taken step. Sharing something of their first time together would have made this book so much better, not explicit C into A, just affection, some spark to take what they had beyond friendship.
Then after their idyllic getting together we have some angst. Michelle the ex comes back. Until this point I thought she’d been handled well but her return made her the bad person, it smacked of taking Emory for granted and I didn’t like that he let her, too much a doormat. Nate should have turned and kept walking, that‘s not someone willing to make a big lifestyle choice. Then all the fuss about telling people changing to just straight up telling people with no issues at all. Then that ending. So abrupt.
Starting a warm light-hearted read only to find myself reading a slower drawn out story, that ending came as a slap. Seriously? That’s it?
I can see why it’s popular, the growing friendship was lovely to read, but it needs that spark to take it from ok to great, or a good editor to better balance the story. I really wanted to like it more than I did, but apparently it's a first novel, hopefully Attwell will continue writing and the next book will fully deliver.
The premise is great; what happens to the 'other guy' Emory - mr dependable whose left at the altar for mr dynamic. The books starts off with a light chatty air that I associate with fanfics, from that halfway point though it gets all serious and turns into a different style of book, for me it felt dragged out and I got bored.
Emory goes alone on his honeymoon and meets Nate who comes across as sweet and lively and deserving far better. As it’s all told from Emory’s pov it’s hard to see what the attraction is for Nate.
Generally I prefer plot to porn so it’s strange that with this book I was disappointed that the sex scenes where off page. Emory and Nate are shown building a friendship which is really great but the chemistry is lacking because there’s no indication that Emory has ever had a gay thought previously (or presently), it’s his pov yet there’s no doubts, curiosity or obvious attraction. A very casually taken step. Sharing something of their first time together would have made this book so much better, not explicit C into A, just affection, some spark to take what they had beyond friendship.
Then after their idyllic getting together we have some angst. Michelle the ex comes back. Until this point I thought she’d been handled well but her return made her the bad person, it smacked of taking Emory for granted and I didn’t like that he let her, too much a doormat. Nate should have turned and kept walking, that‘s not someone willing to make a big lifestyle choice. Then all the fuss about telling people changing to just straight up telling people with no issues at all. Then that ending. So abrupt.
Starting a warm light-hearted read only to find myself reading a slower drawn out story, that ending came as a slap. Seriously? That’s it?
I can see why it’s popular, the growing friendship was lovely to read, but it needs that spark to take it from ok to great, or a good editor to better balance the story. I really wanted to like it more than I did, but apparently it's a first novel, hopefully Attwell will continue writing and the next book will fully deliver.
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