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Slam!
Limericks, lies, and puppy-dog eyes…
Jude Biggerstaff is all the way out and loving it—mostly. The Anglo-Japanese university graduate is a carnivore working in a vegan café, an amateur poet with only one man in his life. His dog, Bubbles.
Then there’s “Karate Crumpet,” a man who regularly runs past the café with a martial arts class. Jude can only yearn from afar, until the object of his affection rescues him from muggers. And he learns that not only does this calm, competent hunk of muscle have a name—David—but that he’s gay.
Jude should have known the universe wouldn’t simply let love fall into place. First, David has only one foot out of the closet. Then there’s Jude’s mother, who lies about her age to the point Jude could be mistaken for jailbait.
With a maze of stories to keep straight, a potential stepfather in the picture, ex-boyfriends who keep spoiling his dates with David, and a friend with a dangerous secret, Jude is beginning to wonder if his and David’s lives will ever start to rhyme.
Warning: Contains a tangled web of little white lies, a smorgasbord of cheesy limericks, a violin called Vanessa, some boots that mean business, and the most adorable little dog ever. Poetry, it’s not…
Jude Biggerstaff is all the way out and loving it—mostly. The Anglo-Japanese university graduate is a carnivore working in a vegan café, an amateur poet with only one man in his life. His dog, Bubbles.
Then there’s “Karate Crumpet,” a man who regularly runs past the café with a martial arts class. Jude can only yearn from afar, until the object of his affection rescues him from muggers. And he learns that not only does this calm, competent hunk of muscle have a name—David—but that he’s gay.
Jude should have known the universe wouldn’t simply let love fall into place. First, David has only one foot out of the closet. Then there’s Jude’s mother, who lies about her age to the point Jude could be mistaken for jailbait.
With a maze of stories to keep straight, a potential stepfather in the picture, ex-boyfriends who keep spoiling his dates with David, and a friend with a dangerous secret, Jude is beginning to wonder if his and David’s lives will ever start to rhyme.
Warning: Contains a tangled web of little white lies, a smorgasbord of cheesy limericks, a violin called Vanessa, some boots that mean business, and the most adorable little dog ever. Poetry, it’s not…
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2013
25 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Merrow
145 books1,324 followersJL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
April 17, 2013
2.5 stars
Well…here’s where I’m conflicted.
This book was all kinds of ridiculous.
But some of that ridiculous was kinda hysterical: the first karate class? Had me in stitiches…
And some of that ridiculous is just the kind I like: closeted alpha being a jerk but eventually coming around. Swoon…
Yet some of that ridiculous was so eye-rolling: do I actually LIKE Jude the MC or does he bug the CRAP out of me until I want to scream?...
However, worst of all, much of that ridiculous was just boring: I skimmed all parts not Jude & David…and Bubbles…
I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if it was shorter. I wouldn’t have the time to get even more annoyed with Jude, Keisha might not have even existed, Kevin would be a non-factor, and I could still get my kicks at cracking up over a dude named Knut. PS – it has nothing to do with Slam performances…FYI…I mean it does, but not really…
Alas, I finished having sharpened my skimming skills and having a new desire to pen and perfect my own limericks.
"There was a young gal from the city
Who liked books that were smutty and witty
She preferred man on man
Zane, Hsin, Damen, Vadim were her clan
Such escape made her horny and giddy"
*Can you BELIEVE that was my FIRST? :)
October 7, 2016
Posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted
I liked this story…mostly.
Jude Biggerstaff is out and proud, loves his eyeliner, lives with his mom, is a meat eater who works at a vegan café, and looks younger than his 22 years. Though he has a degree, he’s unsure of what he wants to do long-term. The one thing he is certain about is his attraction to Karate Crumpet (aka Dave), who saves Jude from a trio of muggers.
This story made me laugh out loud…a lot.
Told from Jude’s perspective, the reader is privy to his insecurities, his directness, his creativity, and the deep affection and protectiveness he has for his mom, his best friend, Keisha, and his dog, Bubbles. The chatty dialogue and rambly inner thoughts wore me out at times, but I loved Jude so much that I was able to overlook this.
Still, this wasn’t free of problems.
While I appreciated the diversity of characters, and loved that Keisha is mixed race like Jude is, I didn’t appreciate the fact that Keisha was fraught with so many negative stereotypes that I couldn’t help but be offended despite my overall enjoyment of this story.
She also lives in a roach-infested flat with piece-of-shit roommates
I liked the sharp differences in Jude’s and David’s personalities, but I couldn’t help but find David in some ways was more immature than Jude was. I can't imagine these two men could have a future together.
So this book was a mixed bag for me.
Thanks to Vicki from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
I liked this story…mostly.
Jude Biggerstaff is out and proud, loves his eyeliner, lives with his mom, is a meat eater who works at a vegan café, and looks younger than his 22 years. Though he has a degree, he’s unsure of what he wants to do long-term. The one thing he is certain about is his attraction to Karate Crumpet (aka Dave), who saves Jude from a trio of muggers.
This story made me laugh out loud…a lot.
Told from Jude’s perspective, the reader is privy to his insecurities, his directness, his creativity, and the deep affection and protectiveness he has for his mom, his best friend, Keisha, and his dog, Bubbles. The chatty dialogue and rambly inner thoughts wore me out at times, but I loved Jude so much that I was able to overlook this.
Still, this wasn’t free of problems.
While I appreciated the diversity of characters, and loved that Keisha is mixed race like Jude is, I didn’t appreciate the fact that Keisha was fraught with so many negative stereotypes that I couldn’t help but be offended despite my overall enjoyment of this story.
“It’s not her fault she’s skint. She’s applied for loads of jobs, but she never finished uni and she got fired from her last job because she had a shouting match with the boss in full view of all the customers.”
She also lives in a roach-infested flat with piece-of-shit roommates
I liked the sharp differences in Jude’s and David’s personalities, but I couldn’t help but find David in some ways was more immature than Jude was. I can't imagine these two men could have a future together.
So this book was a mixed bag for me.
Thanks to Vicki from Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group for lending this to me.
April 13, 2013
I disliked mostly everything about this book. I made myself finish and I'm not willing to spend more than five minutes more on this book, review included. So this is going to be all over a bit...
Thoughts:
*first 30% was extremely forced, OTT, ridiculously quip-filled and tiresome with Jude convincing me he had ADHD.
*the humour was of the bang you over the head variety.
*the characters were caricatures and highly unlikable.
*there were serious race-related issues that disturbed me.
*there was zero romance. None.
*Jude's discomforting insistence on sex now, within a day of knowing David, and the continuing persistence at every opportunity with desperate innuendo was unnerving.
*one movie does not "our thing" make.
* maybe because I live in NYC, but slam poetry seems dated to me.
*the poetry was meh.
*the Disney-accepting, more best friend than parent mum is without any credibility and is just aggravating. (Not parents who accept their child's sexuality in general, mind you. Just this mother).
*there are several similarities to the author's story in Winter Warmers.
*what do the MC's see in each other?
*the story itself has no substance whatsoever.
Anyway...I'm coming in at four minutes. Time to conclude. I am putting this author on pause. Her last few books failed to impress me really. I think that which used to be subtle and gracefully executed has now become mechanical, soulless and unfunny. Plus, the racist characterisations in this have turned me off the author.
Not a great review, but I am anxious to move on to a better read.
Thoughts:
*first 30% was extremely forced, OTT, ridiculously quip-filled and tiresome with Jude convincing me he had ADHD.
*the humour was of the bang you over the head variety.
*the characters were caricatures and highly unlikable.
*there were serious race-related issues that disturbed me.
*there was zero romance. None.
*Jude's discomforting insistence on sex now, within a day of knowing David, and the continuing persistence at every opportunity with desperate innuendo was unnerving.
*one movie does not "our thing" make.
* maybe because I live in NYC, but slam poetry seems dated to me.
*the poetry was meh.
*the Disney-accepting, more best friend than parent mum is without any credibility and is just aggravating. (Not parents who accept their child's sexuality in general, mind you. Just this mother).
*there are several similarities to the author's story in Winter Warmers.
*what do the MC's see in each other?
*the story itself has no substance whatsoever.
Anyway...I'm coming in at four minutes. Time to conclude. I am putting this author on pause. Her last few books failed to impress me really. I think that which used to be subtle and gracefully executed has now become mechanical, soulless and unfunny. Plus, the racist characterisations in this have turned me off the author.
Not a great review, but I am anxious to move on to a better read.
May 12, 2013
4.5*
I thought at first that my best review would probably just be:
HAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *snort* * snigger* *giggle * HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!
ROFL... LMFAO!! " oh god I'm wetting my pants" .............
But I though later that was probably a bit of a cop out! LOL!
This type of humour is right up my street, from the word go I was in seventh heaven. So what or who should I say, was the pull of this book? No need to think too hard because for me it was Jude Biggerstaff The snarky, pretty Euro Asian, flaming, flamboyant, all up in your face twink with the wicked one liners and loopy limericks. Then following a close second was his sarky bezzie mate Keisha with the butt that could blot out the sun and make lesser planets feel inferior, and of course who could leave out Bubbles the cutie mutt.
All my stars are related to how this story made me feel. I love stories that actually evoke physical responses, and this did just that. I don't know how many times I found myself giggling out loud and actually snorting, and to be honest it came at a time when I really needed a laugh.
It just didn't quite reach the full five stars because I did think the ending was very abrupt and I woud have liked just a tad more sexual tension between Karate Crumpet David and Jude. Unfortunately I think Davids character is slightly overshadowed by the force that is Jude, but I had to round it up just for the pure fun I got from reading it. I think this is probably going to be either a yay or a nay book depending on whether this sort of humour has you in tucks or rolling your eyes, its very full on in its nature. I loved it and if I need cheering up it'll be a cuppa and a heavy dose of Jude the not so obscure!
There once was a book name of slam
A book I'm real fond of I am
Made me feel lots of glee
Want to laugh till I'd pee
And frankly I don't give a damn!
INNIT !!!
Thanks to my besties Mark, Tina, Gina and Bev for another great buddy read. Thanks guys! :D
I thought at first that my best review would probably just be:
HAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *snort* * snigger* *giggle * HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!
ROFL... LMFAO!! " oh god I'm wetting my pants" .............
But I though later that was probably a bit of a cop out! LOL!
This type of humour is right up my street, from the word go I was in seventh heaven. So what or who should I say, was the pull of this book? No need to think too hard because for me it was Jude Biggerstaff The snarky, pretty Euro Asian, flaming, flamboyant, all up in your face twink with the wicked one liners and loopy limericks. Then following a close second was his sarky bezzie mate Keisha with the butt that could blot out the sun and make lesser planets feel inferior, and of course who could leave out Bubbles the cutie mutt.
All my stars are related to how this story made me feel. I love stories that actually evoke physical responses, and this did just that. I don't know how many times I found myself giggling out loud and actually snorting, and to be honest it came at a time when I really needed a laugh.
It just didn't quite reach the full five stars because I did think the ending was very abrupt and I woud have liked just a tad more sexual tension between Karate Crumpet David and Jude. Unfortunately I think Davids character is slightly overshadowed by the force that is Jude, but I had to round it up just for the pure fun I got from reading it. I think this is probably going to be either a yay or a nay book depending on whether this sort of humour has you in tucks or rolling your eyes, its very full on in its nature. I loved it and if I need cheering up it'll be a cuppa and a heavy dose of Jude the not so obscure!
There once was a book name of slam
A book I'm real fond of I am
Made me feel lots of glee
Want to laugh till I'd pee
And frankly I don't give a damn!
INNIT !!!
Thanks to my besties Mark, Tina, Gina and Bev for another great buddy read. Thanks guys! :D
April 9, 2013
Wonderful. I'm laughing thinking about Jude and thinking about this book.
It's clever and funny and has a nice twist of angst to it as things play out. The angst is totally telegraphed but it didn't stop me loving everything this story is and ever wants to be.
Go read it now.
It's clever and funny and has a nice twist of angst to it as things play out. The angst is totally telegraphed but it didn't stop me loving everything this story is and ever wants to be.
Go read it now.
April 16, 2013
I usually enjoy J.L. Merrow's books. I find her style refreshing, and her Briticisms are right up my alley. But, after reading Slam!, I feel she's reached a plateau and things are about to take a turn toward failure.
Merrow's writing is rapidly becoming stale and at the same time too apparent, making her stories dull and more or less predictable.
So. J.L. Merrow's formula. Let's see what we have here, in no particular order:
*A blue-collar (first person) narrator.
* A more well-off and/or more highly educated love interest (sometimes it's the other way around, with the narrator being the well-off one, but that's the dynamic between the MCs.)
* A single working-class mother who was abandoned by the narrator's father and raised her only child alone.
* The narrator has one or more pets that are treated almost like separate characters in the story.
* The narrator or his love interest does karate. Sometimes, they both do karate.
* There are references to car brands (usually it's a VW model, but here it was a Ka) and how people drive them. Several scenes take place in cars and there is at least one reference to the hand brake.
* The characters drive around and/or sightsee and/or eat out in local old pubs. Said pubs are described in detail. There is also at least one reference to some British celebrity living in the area or frequenting said pubs.
* There is one/one-and-a-half mediocre sex scene(s) and it usually appears near the end of the book (at around 80%).
* Despite the sex scene appearing so late in the story, there is no sexual tension between the main characters and sometimes it's a bit unclear what they find in each other.
* There's some kind of minor or major misunderstanding between the MCs. Sometimes it keeps them apart for a while.
* Expect to stumble over certain (BrEn) expressions, like "I don't give a monkey's," "Keep your hair on", et al.
* Expect to stumble over certain Merrow-isms, like "my flabber had been gasted" or "my gob had been well and truly smacked".
Apart from the above, in Slam!, Jude (the hero) also kept saying "ew" and pouting, kept finding things "lush," and kept going all warm and gooey or tingly or whipped-creamy inside, to name a few of his habits.
So, I got it. Jude was a young, loud, flamboyant kind of person. And it would have been okay if his love interest, David, wasn't the exact opposite. He was older, restrained, unflashy. And exactly because of that, and because of the fatherly way he reacted to Jude's dramatic mannerisms, he came across as much older than he really was, which was a bit disturbing, even though it was alluded in the book that Jude always went for much older men. The plot didn't help much in this respect, either, because David kept having to protect Jude from dangerous situations and take him to the A&E. Much like a father would do with his son.
I won't comment on Jude's mother, her age and the role it played in the story. I'm willing to let it pass, since she was an undereducated woman with self-esteem issues trying to rebuild her life with a new man.
I can't say the same about Keisha, Jude's best friend, though. Too many times her side story felt redundant. Unless the author plans to do a sequel featuring her,
I fail to see why she needed to take up so much space in the book.
The salacious limericks didn't bother me, but that side of the story (the slams, the open mics, etc.) felt a bit desultory; it didn't mesh well with the rest of the plot.
Ms Merrow isn't very well-known for her fascinating and intriguing plots (it's usually her characters that captivate the reader) but here she gave up altogether. The story could be summed up as follows: Jude and David meet, they go out on a few dates, they have sex, they spend some time apart and then they get back together. The End.
I'm giving this 2.5 stars (rounded up to three) because I two-starred Wight Mischief and I may have not enjoyed Slam much, but it wasn't nearly as frustrating a reading experience as Wight Mischief.
Merrow's writing is rapidly becoming stale and at the same time too apparent, making her stories dull and more or less predictable.
So. J.L. Merrow's formula. Let's see what we have here, in no particular order:
*A blue-collar (first person) narrator.
* A more well-off and/or more highly educated love interest (sometimes it's the other way around, with the narrator being the well-off one, but that's the dynamic between the MCs.)
* A single working-class mother who was abandoned by the narrator's father and raised her only child alone.
* The narrator has one or more pets that are treated almost like separate characters in the story.
* The narrator or his love interest does karate. Sometimes, they both do karate.
* There are references to car brands (usually it's a VW model, but here it was a Ka) and how people drive them. Several scenes take place in cars and there is at least one reference to the hand brake.
* The characters drive around and/or sightsee and/or eat out in local old pubs. Said pubs are described in detail. There is also at least one reference to some British celebrity living in the area or frequenting said pubs.
* There is one/one-and-a-half mediocre sex scene(s) and it usually appears near the end of the book (at around 80%).
* Despite the sex scene appearing so late in the story, there is no sexual tension between the main characters and sometimes it's a bit unclear what they find in each other.
* There's some kind of minor or major misunderstanding between the MCs. Sometimes it keeps them apart for a while.
* Expect to stumble over certain (BrEn) expressions, like "I don't give a monkey's," "Keep your hair on", et al.
* Expect to stumble over certain Merrow-isms, like "my flabber had been gasted" or "my gob had been well and truly smacked".
Apart from the above, in Slam!, Jude (the hero) also kept saying "ew" and pouting, kept finding things "lush," and kept going all warm and gooey or tingly or whipped-creamy inside, to name a few of his habits.
So, I got it. Jude was a young, loud, flamboyant kind of person. And it would have been okay if his love interest, David, wasn't the exact opposite. He was older, restrained, unflashy. And exactly because of that, and because of the fatherly way he reacted to Jude's dramatic mannerisms, he came across as much older than he really was, which was a bit disturbing, even though it was alluded in the book that Jude always went for much older men. The plot didn't help much in this respect, either, because David kept having to protect Jude from dangerous situations and take him to the A&E. Much like a father would do with his son.
I won't comment on Jude's mother, her age and the role it played in the story. I'm willing to let it pass, since she was an undereducated woman with self-esteem issues trying to rebuild her life with a new man.
I can't say the same about Keisha, Jude's best friend, though. Too many times her side story felt redundant. Unless the author plans to do a sequel featuring her,
I fail to see why she needed to take up so much space in the book.
The salacious limericks didn't bother me, but that side of the story (the slams, the open mics, etc.) felt a bit desultory; it didn't mesh well with the rest of the plot.
Ms Merrow isn't very well-known for her fascinating and intriguing plots (it's usually her characters that captivate the reader) but here she gave up altogether. The story could be summed up as follows: Jude and David meet, they go out on a few dates, they have sex, they spend some time apart and then they get back together. The End.
I'm giving this 2.5 stars (rounded up to three) because I two-starred Wight Mischief and I may have not enjoyed Slam much, but it wasn't nearly as frustrating a reading experience as Wight Mischief.
April 10, 2013
Really funny story with my favourite kind of MC. Jude is 22 (although he looks like a teenager), part Japanese, wears eyeliner, writes poetry, plays the violin and talks a mile-a-minute. He's taking a year off after finishing Uni to get over a broken heart and to decide what he wants to do with his life. He lives with his very cool Mum and has a ferociously loyal best friend, Keisha. He's been eyeing the leader of the local karate club (David) as the group jog past his cafe every afternoon. Then one day Jude is attacked and David comes to his rescue.
I was laughing out loud all the way through this book. I love Jude so much. He's so out and PROUD and in-your-face! I don't think I've met a romantic hero (or heroine) who wore their heart on their sleeve as openly as Jude. He tries so hard. I felt really protective of him because he was so extroverted but I, the reader, could see his vulnerabilities. I didn't miss David's POV at all because I could understand completely why he fell for Jude. The secondary characters are all a lot of fun.
The book is made up mostly of very funny rapid-paced dialogue. But there is a good balance with the more serious issues that Jude, his Mum and his friend face. It's written in British English and has quite a strong regional slang on top of that, innit! I loved every word of it but if you only like American English you might not appreciate it as much.
My only gripe was that it ended fairly abruptly. One minute David was being all asshole-y, the next minute Jude had forgiven him with no real grovelling on David's part. I hate it when that happens. I'm the sort of reader that really needs the hero to stand up for himself and make the wrong-doer work hard to get him back. But it's still a HEA and I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I can give it 4 stars. It's the kind of book that I will enjoy rereading because I know I'll get a lot more out of it the second time around.
P.S. I could have done with another sex scene at the end. Particularly with Jude wearing that skirt of Keisha's! Maybe the author could do a little Christmas short story starring Jude and David and some exotic piece of clothing under the Xmas tree! hint, hint!
I was laughing out loud all the way through this book. I love Jude so much. He's so out and PROUD and in-your-face! I don't think I've met a romantic hero (or heroine) who wore their heart on their sleeve as openly as Jude. He tries so hard. I felt really protective of him because he was so extroverted but I, the reader, could see his vulnerabilities. I didn't miss David's POV at all because I could understand completely why he fell for Jude. The secondary characters are all a lot of fun.
The book is made up mostly of very funny rapid-paced dialogue. But there is a good balance with the more serious issues that Jude, his Mum and his friend face. It's written in British English and has quite a strong regional slang on top of that, innit! I loved every word of it but if you only like American English you might not appreciate it as much.
My only gripe was that it ended fairly abruptly. One minute David was being all asshole-y, the next minute Jude had forgiven him with no real grovelling on David's part. I hate it when that happens. I'm the sort of reader that really needs the hero to stand up for himself and make the wrong-doer work hard to get him back. But it's still a HEA and I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I can give it 4 stars. It's the kind of book that I will enjoy rereading because I know I'll get a lot more out of it the second time around.
P.S. I could have done with another sex scene at the end. Particularly with Jude wearing that skirt of Keisha's! Maybe the author could do a little Christmas short story starring Jude and David and some exotic piece of clothing under the Xmas tree! hint, hint!
April 9, 2013
Pre-ordered, now I just have to remember to download it.
ha, a miracle has occurred, I got the email from Samhain and I downloaded it- go me! ;)
4.5*
Ok, I had to slay the laundry, fight the kids homework, wrestle meals , accompany the dog on sniffing odysseys and I still prevailed and finished this book today.
Not because I have superpowers, although I really wish I did, but no, it's because this is an awesomely funny, entertaining yet actually very meaningful story.
Jude Biggerstaff ( yes, poor Jude had to hear a lot of those jokes growing up, I'm sure) works in a Vegan cafe, loves his mother, his dog and his best friend Keisha. All the funny and sometimes touching poetry in this story just adds that little something extra that takes a book from good to really good!
Jude's inner and outer voice is hilarious, I actually did laugh out loud a few times, he is also an accident waiting to happen, and he has a really good heart, and he is far deeper than he lets on.
He falls for his Knight in shining JimJams ( PJs) David.
David wants to take it slow and Jude the king or maybe princess of innuendos doesn't make it easy for him to withstand his charms, and I'm glad David saw what a gem Jude really is.
I really enjoyed this story, Keisha's sidestory and Jude's mom's all added to it, if I had a complaint it was that I wanted to know more about David, and a bit more of how their story continues, but seriously, I had fun reading this one and it was worth all the harrowing adventures I had to overcome to get to read it all in one day. :)
ha, a miracle has occurred, I got the email from Samhain and I downloaded it- go me! ;)
4.5*
Ok, I had to slay the laundry, fight the kids homework, wrestle meals , accompany the dog on sniffing odysseys and I still prevailed and finished this book today.
Not because I have superpowers, although I really wish I did, but no, it's because this is an awesomely funny, entertaining yet actually very meaningful story.
Jude Biggerstaff ( yes, poor Jude had to hear a lot of those jokes growing up, I'm sure) works in a Vegan cafe, loves his mother, his dog and his best friend Keisha. All the funny and sometimes touching poetry in this story just adds that little something extra that takes a book from good to really good!
Jude's inner and outer voice is hilarious, I actually did laugh out loud a few times, he is also an accident waiting to happen, and he has a really good heart, and he is far deeper than he lets on.
He falls for his Knight in shining JimJams ( PJs) David.
David wants to take it slow and Jude the king or maybe princess of innuendos doesn't make it easy for him to withstand his charms, and I'm glad David saw what a gem Jude really is.
I really enjoyed this story, Keisha's sidestory and Jude's mom's all added to it, if I had a complaint it was that I wanted to know more about David, and a bit more of how their story continues, but seriously, I had fun reading this one and it was worth all the harrowing adventures I had to overcome to get to read it all in one day. :)
June 18, 2014
This is a new review due to second read-through!
***** 5 I-love-you-book stars *****
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
I love it so much I want to buy a HARDBACK (yes, a hardback) and do this!
And maybe do a little happy dance!
This book is all kinds of ridiculous, but ridiculously funny, hysterically funny!
It's very OTT, so it's kind of a hit or miss type of book depending on if the humor hit your nail on the head. Ha!
This is my second read-through, and I enjoyed it so much, even though I knew what was going to happen. I was eagerly reading and enjoying the character of Jude.
Jude is the voice of the book. He is the book. He is the reason I love it. The story almost gets the backseat, since his character is so big. He is young, sassy, flamboyant, effeminate, over the top enthusiastic, talks a mile a minute and so totally in-your-face out and proud! He's basically the typical gay stereotype. So either you're going to roll your eyes at him and the book, or you're going to laugh yourself silly and give the book a big hug (see first GIF).
**************************************************************
"Look, I really appreciate you bringing me here, but I think there’s something you ought to know about me."
David smiled. "If it’s that you’re gay—"
Oh, puh-leeze. “No— God, no. I mean, yes, obviously, I’m fruitier than a greengrocers’ convention, but no, that wasn’t what I was about to say."
**************************************************************
Jude works at a vegan cafè (despite not being one, which he makes a point out of too), and the highlight of his week is when a "pyjama posse" (martial art class) jogs by in their "jim-jams" as Jude puts it. The tasty one in front is David, the other MC. David is pretty much Jude's opposite. Where as Jude is the gay stereotype, David is the guy-next-door normal straight guy stereotype. He's a bit older, more down to earth, responsible, conservative and not so out and open, because he is gay.
***************************************************************
"I was worried I’d scared you off,"I said as I slid into the passenger seat."Being too gay and all."
"No— I, er..." He hesitated, and I looked at him sharply. Well, slightly less bluntly, anyway. My head still hurt.
"I don’t have a problem with you being gay, Jude. I’m... well, I’m into blokes myself."
You are?" I may have squeaked a bit.
"But you’re so..." Butch, I should have said. And manly, and muscular, and gorgeous, and I bet you’re hairy too in all the right places.
What came out was, "Straight."
***************************************************************
The setting is in the UK, so the humor is very British. Their rapid-paced dialogue is typically British-English with a bit of slang. Like "bloody hell", "innit", "dead tasty", "sod it", "bugger" and "All right, keep your knickers on."
I bloody loved it! Maybe because I'm more used to the British spoken language than American?
It was like reading a sit-com, with a series of mishaps and misunderstandings causing hilarious situations.
I don't want to give away what the story is about, you should read it yourself and experience the the hilarious ridiculousness! Starring Jude Biggerstaff... great last name, huh?
**************************************************************
“Jude Biggerstaff?”
David did a double-take. “Biggerstaff?”
I was still miffed with him. “Yes. Bigger. Staff.”
**************************************************************
And it is too!
I leave you with a little limerick from Jude
"There was a young girl from Nantucket
Whose bum size was measured in buckets
She cried bitter tears
For her humongous rear
Because nobody wanted to—”
Did you get the limerick? Haha! I didn't at once, probably since English is not my mother tongue. I had to read it out loud for myself like a limerick... and I finally got it. Thank god I was alone! And not commuting on the train or something. I laughed so hard!
I tell you, Jude's voice is awesome. If you like it, you'll love the book. Several laughs awaits you :D
And btw, "Slam!" was the WINNER of the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy.
***** 5 I-love-you-book stars *****
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
I love it so much I want to buy a HARDBACK (yes, a hardback) and do this!
And maybe do a little happy dance!
This book is all kinds of ridiculous, but ridiculously funny, hysterically funny!
It's very OTT, so it's kind of a hit or miss type of book depending on if the humor hit your nail on the head. Ha!
This is my second read-through, and I enjoyed it so much, even though I knew what was going to happen. I was eagerly reading and enjoying the character of Jude.
Jude is the voice of the book. He is the book. He is the reason I love it. The story almost gets the backseat, since his character is so big. He is young, sassy, flamboyant, effeminate, over the top enthusiastic, talks a mile a minute and so totally in-your-face out and proud! He's basically the typical gay stereotype. So either you're going to roll your eyes at him and the book, or you're going to laugh yourself silly and give the book a big hug (see first GIF).
**************************************************************
"Look, I really appreciate you bringing me here, but I think there’s something you ought to know about me."
David smiled. "If it’s that you’re gay—"
Oh, puh-leeze. “No— God, no. I mean, yes, obviously, I’m fruitier than a greengrocers’ convention, but no, that wasn’t what I was about to say."
**************************************************************
Jude works at a vegan cafè (despite not being one, which he makes a point out of too), and the highlight of his week is when a "pyjama posse" (martial art class) jogs by in their "jim-jams" as Jude puts it. The tasty one in front is David, the other MC. David is pretty much Jude's opposite. Where as Jude is the gay stereotype, David is the guy-next-door normal straight guy stereotype. He's a bit older, more down to earth, responsible, conservative and not so out and open, because he is gay.
***************************************************************
"I was worried I’d scared you off,"I said as I slid into the passenger seat."Being too gay and all."
"No— I, er..." He hesitated, and I looked at him sharply. Well, slightly less bluntly, anyway. My head still hurt.
"I don’t have a problem with you being gay, Jude. I’m... well, I’m into blokes myself."
You are?" I may have squeaked a bit.
"But you’re so..." Butch, I should have said. And manly, and muscular, and gorgeous, and I bet you’re hairy too in all the right places.
What came out was, "Straight."
***************************************************************
The setting is in the UK, so the humor is very British. Their rapid-paced dialogue is typically British-English with a bit of slang. Like "bloody hell", "innit", "dead tasty", "sod it", "bugger" and "All right, keep your knickers on."
I bloody loved it! Maybe because I'm more used to the British spoken language than American?
It was like reading a sit-com, with a series of mishaps and misunderstandings causing hilarious situations.
I don't want to give away what the story is about, you should read it yourself and experience the the hilarious ridiculousness! Starring Jude Biggerstaff... great last name, huh?
**************************************************************
“Jude Biggerstaff?”
David did a double-take. “Biggerstaff?”
I was still miffed with him. “Yes. Bigger. Staff.”
**************************************************************
And it is too!
I leave you with a little limerick from Jude
"There was a young girl from Nantucket
Whose bum size was measured in buckets
She cried bitter tears
For her humongous rear
Because nobody wanted to—”
Did you get the limerick? Haha! I didn't at once, probably since English is not my mother tongue. I had to read it out loud for myself like a limerick... and I finally got it. Thank god I was alone! And not commuting on the train or something. I laughed so hard!
I tell you, Jude's voice is awesome. If you like it, you'll love the book. Several laughs awaits you :D
And btw, "Slam!" was the WINNER of the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy.
April 18, 2013
Disclaimer: Contains spoilers, and disdain…lots of disdain.
I was so looking forward to this book, and it was a horrible let down. I need to stop having high expectations for books, every time I have of late they have been complete crap.
This book has so much going wrong with it I don’t know where to start. I had issues with the characters, the dialog, the morals, and the plot. The book was just asinine, the more I read the more I didn’t care for anything or anyone.
Let’s start with Jude, the main character; the farther I got into the book the less I liked him. Jude was a cartoon character of a person, with every interaction with another character a scripted show. The dialog in this was so phony, so fake it was hard to read, the side characters just perfect opportunities for Jude to show off his skills at sexual innuendo.
The other main character, David, I never liked. He was an immature, clueless, asshole of a man. I mean he tries to bring Jude to a restaurant owned by his ex-boyfriend on their first date, and succeeds on their second. I don’t care who you are, I think most of us know this is a really bad idea.
So you have that drama, and the fact that Jude is 12 years younger than David. I am not big on age gap relationships, but there are exceptions to every rule. This was not one of them, this relationship came off more as Jude having father issues due to his dad abandoning him and his mother, because he sure as hell wasn’t mature or adult enough to relate and have a connection to someone older.
Now the big reason I hated David was the cause of the “big fight” of the book, the break up before the make up. David is in the closet at work, he doesn’t want his employer and coworkers to know that he is gay. He works for a construction company and feels that it would put his job in jeopardy.
I hate this, because this means he can never be honest about his relationship with Jude. Jude who wears makeup, who is proud of his sexuality, who has never lied about who he is will never be fully in David’s life.
Ever.
So how can they have a real relationship, David can never really be in love with him because there will always be that fear of being outed. David even admits after his big show of love and apology he would never have done what he did if it wasn’t for the fact that it wasn’t in their home district, and the surety that none of his coworkers would be there.
Fuck you David, fuck you sideways.
So yeah this book was an epic fail.
I was so looking forward to this book, and it was a horrible let down. I need to stop having high expectations for books, every time I have of late they have been complete crap.
This book has so much going wrong with it I don’t know where to start. I had issues with the characters, the dialog, the morals, and the plot. The book was just asinine, the more I read the more I didn’t care for anything or anyone.
Let’s start with Jude, the main character; the farther I got into the book the less I liked him. Jude was a cartoon character of a person, with every interaction with another character a scripted show. The dialog in this was so phony, so fake it was hard to read, the side characters just perfect opportunities for Jude to show off his skills at sexual innuendo.
The other main character, David, I never liked. He was an immature, clueless, asshole of a man. I mean he tries to bring Jude to a restaurant owned by his ex-boyfriend on their first date, and succeeds on their second. I don’t care who you are, I think most of us know this is a really bad idea.
So you have that drama, and the fact that Jude is 12 years younger than David. I am not big on age gap relationships, but there are exceptions to every rule. This was not one of them, this relationship came off more as Jude having father issues due to his dad abandoning him and his mother, because he sure as hell wasn’t mature or adult enough to relate and have a connection to someone older.
Now the big reason I hated David was the cause of the “big fight” of the book, the break up before the make up. David is in the closet at work, he doesn’t want his employer and coworkers to know that he is gay. He works for a construction company and feels that it would put his job in jeopardy.
I hate this, because this means he can never be honest about his relationship with Jude. Jude who wears makeup, who is proud of his sexuality, who has never lied about who he is will never be fully in David’s life.
Ever.
So how can they have a real relationship, David can never really be in love with him because there will always be that fear of being outed. David even admits after his big show of love and apology he would never have done what he did if it wasn’t for the fact that it wasn’t in their home district, and the surety that none of his coworkers would be there.
Fuck you David, fuck you sideways.
So yeah this book was an epic fail.
April 15, 2013
4.5 stars. And most of them for the humor in Jude's character.
I'm betting this book will have big fans and others perhaps less enamored, completely depending on how they feel about Jude. I loved him, giggled at his OTT enthusiasms, enjoyed his limericks, and didn't find his immaturity irksome. I liked his British language and idiosyncratic phrases, his unapologetic flaming, and his dog. A character like that is difficult to pull off, and for me, J.L. Merrow did it very well. There were enough little touches of emotion to keep this from being pure comedy, and I enjoyed some of the secondary characters.
The romance in this story takes a bit of a backseat to Jude's larger-than-life antics, and it happens over a fairly short span. David is a bit of an enigma, since this is written in Jude's first person POV. The end could have come a bit slower and less neatly, with a bit more romance in between. But this is one that will go on my comfort-reread shelf, for making me laugh out loud several times, something that's rare and which I value in a book that also ended in warmth.
I'm betting this book will have big fans and others perhaps less enamored, completely depending on how they feel about Jude. I loved him, giggled at his OTT enthusiasms, enjoyed his limericks, and didn't find his immaturity irksome. I liked his British language and idiosyncratic phrases, his unapologetic flaming, and his dog. A character like that is difficult to pull off, and for me, J.L. Merrow did it very well. There were enough little touches of emotion to keep this from being pure comedy, and I enjoyed some of the secondary characters.
The romance in this story takes a bit of a backseat to Jude's larger-than-life antics, and it happens over a fairly short span. David is a bit of an enigma, since this is written in Jude's first person POV. The end could have come a bit slower and less neatly, with a bit more romance in between. But this is one that will go on my comfort-reread shelf, for making me laugh out loud several times, something that's rare and which I value in a book that also ended in warmth.
Read
April 15, 2013Nope, I do not like this book.
Tis stupid: stupid childish over the top, hyperactive MC who speaks like a 10 year old and acts like a two year old. Not sexy or appealing - I don't care how funny he's suppose to be. I gave up before I had to imagine him in a sexual situation - ack *gag*.
The love interest David? Uh ... er <- that's all he says, and I don't see why he's even interested in Jude? Is he a weirdo or something?
Nearly half way through and I'm still looking for a plot line to save the book. Pft!
I don't recognise this work as done by the J.L Merrow I usually enjoy.
Sorry Ms Merrow, this ones a bust for me.
DNF at 45%
Tis stupid: stupid childish over the top, hyperactive MC who speaks like a 10 year old and acts like a two year old. Not sexy or appealing - I don't care how funny he's suppose to be. I gave up before I had to imagine him in a sexual situation - ack *gag*.
The love interest David? Uh ... er <- that's all he says, and I don't see why he's even interested in Jude? Is he a weirdo or something?
Nearly half way through and I'm still looking for a plot line to save the book. Pft!
I don't recognise this work as done by the J.L Merrow I usually enjoy.
Sorry Ms Merrow, this ones a bust for me.
DNF at 45%
May 13, 2013
Another great Buddy read with Mark, Macky, Gina & Bev.:D
I guess I could outline the book with only one smiley:
Slam! is hilarious, especially Jude's limericks are snarky and witty.
”There once was a Cheltenham lad
Whose musical skills were not bad
Till a flesh-eating bug
That just laughed at their drugs
Made his fingers all fall off—how sad.“
Jude is such a lovely mess. A swishy, effeminate guy, who lives out teen-girl speech and stereotypes. But you can't help it, you fall in love with him.
Almost every character in this book is loveable even if their purpose seem single-minded - Keisha the sharp-tongued faghag, Marina the unusual single mom and David the butch closeted gay type. I like Jude's mom but kind of got annoyed with her in certain spots. Keisha is a wonderful secondary character and an incredibly loyal friend to Jude. And I instantly fell in love with Bubbles, Jude's dog.
”There once was a doggie called Bubbles
Whose owner was nothing but trouble
So Bubbs traded him in
For a bottle of gin
And pretty soon Bubbles saw double.“
What bothered me was David's breakup with Jude. At several points David could have cleared up the conflict if he had just talked to Jude. Yes, we needed a conflict, but it just seemed like the author could have done something a little more creative.
So if you’re looking for a very funny, light romance and if you are okay with a very campy British narrator then this might hit all your buttons.
April 25, 2013
EDIT (yes, I change my mind a lot)
So I've thought about this some more, and I realized, coming out of the haze of happiness that captured me as soon as I read the first page, that there were some things that bothered me - actually, just one: David. I loved all of the characters I was supposed to love, and hated Keisha's Dad as I was meant to, and absolutely adored Jude, but David remained kind of a side character all throughout the book. I now know nothing more about him than I did in the beginning, except that he's thick. I mean, dude, is it so weird that your boyfriend is bothered by the fact that you regularly hang out with your ex? And do you think it's normal to (Oh, go on, read that. It's public knowledge by now, anyway.)
So, David is a knob. But this is still an absolutely delightful, funny little read.
{original review}
Delightful.
That's all I've got to say.
Mostly because I'm basically a puddle of mushy gushy fangirl on the floor at the mo (I love this expression, picked it up from Jude).
Migraine is killing me (although I didn't give up until I finished the book) so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.
I loved Keisha, Vince (BAMF!), Marina and even Kevin more than I ever thought possible, but most of all I adored Jude. I want to be his best friend. Honestly. David was a bit more of a mystery for me - but that's mainly because the story is narrated by Jude and they're only just now starting to really get to know each other. What everybody's saying about how Jude's Mom, Marina, made some big mistakes that I will not spoil is absolutely true, but that was actually a plus for me. In books, Moms are usually portrayed either as total bitches or as understanding, sweet, wise angels; well, here we have one that is normal, and nothing can beat that.
Also, it's JL Merrow: her trademark Britishness and quirkiness are like a guarantee of success for me.
Loved loved loved it.
Read it if you like funny, sexy, British and a dash of angst.
Try this one. It's all true, except for the fact that I actually really like "lush". Also, limericks ! *hand heart*
So I've thought about this some more, and I realized, coming out of the haze of happiness that captured me as soon as I read the first page, that there were some things that bothered me - actually, just one: David. I loved all of the characters I was supposed to love, and hated Keisha's Dad as I was meant to, and absolutely adored Jude, but David remained kind of a side character all throughout the book. I now know nothing more about him than I did in the beginning, except that he's thick. I mean, dude, is it so weird that your boyfriend is bothered by the fact that you regularly hang out with your ex? And do you think it's normal to (Oh, go on, read that. It's public knowledge by now, anyway.)
So, David is a knob. But this is still an absolutely delightful, funny little read.
{original review}
Delightful.
That's all I've got to say.
Mostly because I'm basically a puddle of mushy gushy fangirl on the floor at the mo (I love this expression, picked it up from Jude).
Migraine is killing me (although I didn't give up until I finished the book) so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.
I loved Keisha, Vince (BAMF!), Marina and even Kevin more than I ever thought possible, but most of all I adored Jude. I want to be his best friend. Honestly. David was a bit more of a mystery for me - but that's mainly because the story is narrated by Jude and they're only just now starting to really get to know each other. What everybody's saying about how Jude's Mom, Marina, made some big mistakes that I will not spoil is absolutely true, but that was actually a plus for me. In books, Moms are usually portrayed either as total bitches or as understanding, sweet, wise angels; well, here we have one that is normal, and nothing can beat that.
Also, it's JL Merrow: her trademark Britishness and quirkiness are like a guarantee of success for me.
Loved loved loved it.
Read it if you like funny, sexy, British and a dash of angst.
Try this one. It's all true, except for the fact that I actually really like "lush". Also, limericks ! *hand heart*
April 11, 2013
Another very enjoyable and entertaining (funny as hell) read by J L Merrow.
Jude was a wonderful character, both funny and sweet. His limericks were one of the highlights as was his sense of humour.
David was a bit more complicated. At times he seemed a little to cavalier in his attitude with Jude, but by the end you realise he is more unaware of his actions than merely not caring.
I had mixed feelings towards Kevin. At times he seemed a bit of an arrogant jerk, but then at others he was almost a Knight in Shining Armour.
Marina was a much more likeable mother, down to earth and fun.
I did have a few minor niggles, one being Jude acted a bit to young at times, and I hate the word lush used as slang, but that’s a purely personal peeve lol.
A 4.5 star rating due to the lack of chemistry between David and Jude, and for the lack of detail with Jude's ex. Being mentioned through out and seeing as Jude was very much still hung up on him in the begining, I would of liked a little more insight/revenge lol.
Jude was a wonderful character, both funny and sweet. His limericks were one of the highlights as was his sense of humour.
David was a bit more complicated. At times he seemed a little to cavalier in his attitude with Jude, but by the end you realise he is more unaware of his actions than merely not caring.
I had mixed feelings towards Kevin. At times he seemed a bit of an arrogant jerk, but then at others he was almost a Knight in Shining Armour.
Marina was a much more likeable mother, down to earth and fun.
I did have a few minor niggles, one being Jude acted a bit to young at times, and I hate the word lush used as slang, but that’s a purely personal peeve lol.
A 4.5 star rating due to the lack of chemistry between David and Jude, and for the lack of detail with Jude's ex. Being mentioned through out and seeing as Jude was very much still hung up on him in the begining, I would of liked a little more insight/revenge lol.
January 6, 2016
PSA: This is a terrible review (even by my standards) and you shouldn't read it. I advise you to go and read this review by Mr Incompetent Esq instead.
First things first. Rating clarification:
+ 10 stars for the buddy read and my buddy reader.
+ 5 stars for Bubbles.
- 7 stars for me not liking the MCs or any character that wasn't a dog.
+ 1/2 a star for the karate class.
- 3 stars for the stereotypical bitchy female Best Friend Forever.
+ 1/2 a star for the ginja line.
+ 1/2 a star for Slam! being British but not "Too British".
- 4 stars for my irritation every time Jude said "ew."
- 5 stars for my disappointment that this didn't come anywhere close to being on a par with Muscling Through or It's All Geek to Me.
If I just do the maths... that makes... *counts*
That makes... 2 and a 1/2 stars!
Okay. Now second things second. (Shuddup. That is totally what comes after first things first.) My "review" *cough* which is inspired by the limericks featured throughout the book.
The Buddy Read by Ginja Easy-Girl AKA Kat is a Glitter Pirate
A first buddy read with my fave
He was brave because I'm quite depraved
The book was quite blah
And made us go argh!
I'm bored now so back to my crime wave
Um, yeah. I'll just show myself out.
April 12, 2013
3-3.5 stars – Parts of this book I really enjoyed, and parts of it I found really frustrating. I’m just going to list them.
What I liked:
Jude: Merrow excels at creating realized narrative voices, and Jude’s is no exception. Like Al in Muscling Through, or Tom in Pressure Head, Jude’s voice, both internally and very-externally, is alive and real and his presence is very easy to picture as he saunters down the street. Although I found his mile-a-minute thoughts quite tiring, I did like his character, and props to Merrow for creating such a consistently real and upbeat voice for him. (He could star in his own tv show, and I’d watch it.)
Side Characters: Like in her other works, Merrow creates real, multi-dimensional side characters, ones so rich that they could walk off and star in their own book. In this one, I particularly like Jude’s friend Keisha, who was so beyond the gay-guy’s-best-girl-friend trope. She’s funny, strong, and struggling with her own conflicts outside of Jude’s sparkly sphere of influence. And because Jude’s POV is a bit self-absorbed, there are lots of fun hints for the reader to find in other character’s actions, so you get a better reading of what’s really going on (even if Jude himself hasn’t noticed yet.)
Focus on story: Like Hard Tail and Pressure Head, the focus is on the story more so than the sexy times. There’s a lot of enforced-UST. (David is very chivalrous to Jude’s chagrin). There’s a scene and a half of sexy times in the later parts, but personally, I didn’t really miss the lack of explicit intimacy here.
The setting and overall British-ness: Sometimes I don’t get the slang, but I also really enjoy Merrow’s *very British* writing and how it colors her character’s voices. It’s a real pleasure, and it keeps my mind busy as sometimes I have to back-up and interpret what Jude just said. (Ohhhh, “wacky backy,” that’s pot...) :-)
What was harder for me:
Jude’s voice is wonderfully realized, but exhausting at times, especially during the first 30%. Maybe I got used to it, but I had to take breaks, step away, read something else. He is a bright bulldozer, which is both great, and reallllly tiring.
Too much dialogue: I LOVE DIALOGUE. LOVE IT. It’s one of my favorite parts of stories. But Slam! is very dialogue-heavy, and I feel some of it is not needed and could have been edited down to make the pacing tighter. At times, I felt like I was in a scene where a writer just loved the voices so much, that it just kept going and going for the sake of writing the voices and lost some of the point of the scene or the driving force for the story.
Chemistry: Jude and David’s chemistry was okay, but not my fave of Merrow’s relationships. Maybe it was lighter in tone because it was a lighter story, but I wished for a little more depth here. (Maybe that low chemistry was one of the reasons why I didn’t really miss the lack of sexy times.)
Lame conflicts: Part of this might be my issue with straight-up contemporary romances in general, but I really dislike it when the story conflicts rest on misunderstandings, lies, and miscommunications. If a character just ran one step faster and said something, everything could be fixed. Or pushing a falsehood through most of the story and having that falsehood be the dynamite that blows things up (or in this case, the sparkler.)
I found the characters and their voices much stronger than the conflicts that were used in the story. I wish something more worthwhile had been used. And I wish the solution had been more satisfying. (
Before you get mad with me, know that it has a sweet HFN ending. Most things aren’t fixed , but I’d say it’s on par with the HFN ending of Hard Tail--feel good, happy, and hopeful.
And I would put this on par with Hard Tail, another Merrow work that had parts that I loved and parts that I found problematic. But this also might be just me. I’m finding that I have a low tolerance for contemporary romances when there isn’t something like a mystery or an adventure or ghosts or shifters or spaceships involved. (Just something to shake up the plot so it’s not just based on that one thing the MC didn’t share.)
Your mileage may vary though, and I know some who loved this story to pieces. So, if you’re looking for a funny, lighter contemporary romance, are okay with a very British narrator, and are okay with a little bit more UST, then this might hit all your buttons. (And Jude’s poetry is very fun.)
What I liked:
Jude: Merrow excels at creating realized narrative voices, and Jude’s is no exception. Like Al in Muscling Through, or Tom in Pressure Head, Jude’s voice, both internally and very-externally, is alive and real and his presence is very easy to picture as he saunters down the street. Although I found his mile-a-minute thoughts quite tiring, I did like his character, and props to Merrow for creating such a consistently real and upbeat voice for him. (He could star in his own tv show, and I’d watch it.)
Side Characters: Like in her other works, Merrow creates real, multi-dimensional side characters, ones so rich that they could walk off and star in their own book. In this one, I particularly like Jude’s friend Keisha, who was so beyond the gay-guy’s-best-girl-friend trope. She’s funny, strong, and struggling with her own conflicts outside of Jude’s sparkly sphere of influence. And because Jude’s POV is a bit self-absorbed, there are lots of fun hints for the reader to find in other character’s actions, so you get a better reading of what’s really going on (even if Jude himself hasn’t noticed yet.)
Focus on story: Like Hard Tail and Pressure Head, the focus is on the story more so than the sexy times. There’s a lot of enforced-UST. (David is very chivalrous to Jude’s chagrin). There’s a scene and a half of sexy times in the later parts, but personally, I didn’t really miss the lack of explicit intimacy here.
The setting and overall British-ness: Sometimes I don’t get the slang, but I also really enjoy Merrow’s *very British* writing and how it colors her character’s voices. It’s a real pleasure, and it keeps my mind busy as sometimes I have to back-up and interpret what Jude just said. (Ohhhh, “wacky backy,” that’s pot...) :-)
What was harder for me:
Jude’s voice is wonderfully realized, but exhausting at times, especially during the first 30%. Maybe I got used to it, but I had to take breaks, step away, read something else. He is a bright bulldozer, which is both great, and reallllly tiring.
Too much dialogue: I LOVE DIALOGUE. LOVE IT. It’s one of my favorite parts of stories. But Slam! is very dialogue-heavy, and I feel some of it is not needed and could have been edited down to make the pacing tighter. At times, I felt like I was in a scene where a writer just loved the voices so much, that it just kept going and going for the sake of writing the voices and lost some of the point of the scene or the driving force for the story.
Chemistry: Jude and David’s chemistry was okay, but not my fave of Merrow’s relationships. Maybe it was lighter in tone because it was a lighter story, but I wished for a little more depth here. (Maybe that low chemistry was one of the reasons why I didn’t really miss the lack of sexy times.)
Lame conflicts: Part of this might be my issue with straight-up contemporary romances in general, but I really dislike it when the story conflicts rest on misunderstandings, lies, and miscommunications. If a character just ran one step faster and said something, everything could be fixed. Or pushing a falsehood through most of the story and having that falsehood be the dynamite that blows things up (or in this case, the sparkler.)
I found the characters and their voices much stronger than the conflicts that were used in the story. I wish something more worthwhile had been used. And I wish the solution had been more satisfying. (
Before you get mad with me, know that it has a sweet HFN ending. Most things aren’t fixed , but I’d say it’s on par with the HFN ending of Hard Tail--feel good, happy, and hopeful.
And I would put this on par with Hard Tail, another Merrow work that had parts that I loved and parts that I found problematic. But this also might be just me. I’m finding that I have a low tolerance for contemporary romances when there isn’t something like a mystery or an adventure or ghosts or shifters or spaceships involved. (Just something to shake up the plot so it’s not just based on that one thing the MC didn’t share.)
Your mileage may vary though, and I know some who loved this story to pieces. So, if you’re looking for a funny, lighter contemporary romance, are okay with a very British narrator, and are okay with a little bit more UST, then this might hit all your buttons. (And Jude’s poetry is very fun.)
September 28, 2013
Giving a JL Merrow book one star is causing me physical pain. I mean, surely I could spare another? For old time's sake? But no. This book doesn't deserve even a pity star. Let me preface the review by saying that I've mostly enjoyed Merrow's work so far; she's one of my favourite British M/M authors, but heavens did I not enjoy this. To go from the wry, self-effacing humour of Tom in the lovely Pressure Head, to Jude was jarring. Jude is annoying, obnoxious, needy and not at all funny. I actually wanted to stab him. I could not fathom what David saw in him. I guess he might appeal to a certain type of person, but that person is not me. I also mostly disliked the supporting cast; from his boozy, desperate mum to his tough-as-old-leather best friend, I couldn't connect to them. The plot was like Jude's dad - woefully absent and the humour was like being hit repeatedly in the face with a bag full of rainbows. I just basically skimmed the last 30% or so because I hate DNFing things, but I just did not care about all the manufactured drama. I'm really sorry I couldn't appreciate this more, because I love how British the writing was in places and I remain a fan of Ms Merrow. Oh well, maybe next time.
April 15, 2013
Let me start off by saying I've read a few of Merrow's other works and loved them. I'm going to make this brief because there are so many issues that I could sit and complain about and I am completely worn out from reading this book. It was boring and tiring. There was nothing going on to make this worth the read.
Jude is whiny, rude, and obnoxious. I've been known to like obnoxious characters from time to time and in the beginning of this book, I thought Jude was kind of funny but by 30% he turned into an immature brat. He was either pouting or "ewwing" all the time! Yes, pouting was used 24 times (thanks Kate for looking it up) and I get that he's young but that doesn't mean he should act like a 15 year old.
There was zero chemistry between Jude and David. All we get is that Jude wants the hot older man and well, nothing from David. I typically like when there's an age difference in the MC's but the author made such a big deal about it that it felt not only contrived but also sordid. I felt like the author was beating me over the head with this big "sin". There was an age difference between the MC's and also between Jude's mother and her boyfriend, there was the big lie covering the mother's true age, the misunderstanding that a 50 year old was Jude's boyfriend, and all the eye-rolling age comments. It never ended.
I also thought the limericks were corny and didn't add anything to the story. Last but not least was the spirit of the ex-boyfriend that never went away. He was in Jude's limerick's, Jude wouldn't dine in a restaurant because he was there, and he was a constant reminder that another person left Jude. Was this suppose to make me feel bad for Jude because his ex cheated on him and left? All it served was to irritate me more that Jude couldn't let it go.
Bottom line, I thought everything felt forced, including Jude's personality.
Jude is whiny, rude, and obnoxious. I've been known to like obnoxious characters from time to time and in the beginning of this book, I thought Jude was kind of funny but by 30% he turned into an immature brat. He was either pouting or "ewwing" all the time! Yes, pouting was used 24 times (thanks Kate for looking it up) and I get that he's young but that doesn't mean he should act like a 15 year old.
There was zero chemistry between Jude and David. All we get is that Jude wants the hot older man and well, nothing from David. I typically like when there's an age difference in the MC's but the author made such a big deal about it that it felt not only contrived but also sordid. I felt like the author was beating me over the head with this big "sin". There was an age difference between the MC's and also between Jude's mother and her boyfriend, there was the big lie covering the mother's true age, the misunderstanding that a 50 year old was Jude's boyfriend, and all the eye-rolling age comments. It never ended.
I also thought the limericks were corny and didn't add anything to the story. Last but not least was the spirit of the ex-boyfriend that never went away. He was in Jude's limerick's, Jude wouldn't dine in a restaurant because he was there, and he was a constant reminder that another person left Jude. Was this suppose to make me feel bad for Jude because his ex cheated on him and left? All it served was to irritate me more that Jude couldn't let it go.
Bottom line, I thought everything felt forced, including Jude's personality.
March 30, 2014
J.L. Merrow has the gift to create the most funny and captivating characters! Jude is hilarious... his actions and thoughts are absolutely amazing! I laugh and laugh with him!
I just have a little complain... the ending... I would like that it was more elaborated so I could have the perfect vision (sexual of course) of Jude&David's HEA!!!
I just have a little complain... the ending... I would like that it was more elaborated so I could have the perfect vision (sexual of course) of Jude&David's HEA!!!
May 12, 2013
Another Great Buddy read with Mark, Bev, Tina and Macky!! Thanks for including me my friends!!
Jude Biggerstaff is working as a waiter and living with his mother after a bad break up, trying to lick his wounds before deciding what direction he wants his career to go after recently graduating college. Jude also writes poetry (well limericks really). Also in this story you meet his friend Keisha, his mom and his dog Bubbles! (Bubbles...love that name). I found all of these characters charming and funny.
Jude is outrageous, laugh out loud funny and quite flamboyant, a totally out and proud gay man. I gotta admit at times i found him irritating (well immature really), but his campy humor made me overlook that part of his personality. I laughed out loud through this entire book! It honestly felt like a sitcom I would make sure to watch every week because it would give me the “pick up” I needed!
I would have also liked to see more of the romance in this and seen more sides to Jude. But like i said earlier this book had me laughing all the way through, I can totally forgive what I was missing from this book for this reason.
whenever I need a little “pick up” I will reading parts of this hilarious book again!
4 Laughing Out Loud Stars!
Jude Biggerstaff is working as a waiter and living with his mother after a bad break up, trying to lick his wounds before deciding what direction he wants his career to go after recently graduating college. Jude also writes poetry (well limericks really). Also in this story you meet his friend Keisha, his mom and his dog Bubbles! (Bubbles...love that name). I found all of these characters charming and funny.
Jude is outrageous, laugh out loud funny and quite flamboyant, a totally out and proud gay man. I gotta admit at times i found him irritating (well immature really), but his campy humor made me overlook that part of his personality. I laughed out loud through this entire book! It honestly felt like a sitcom I would make sure to watch every week because it would give me the “pick up” I needed!
I would have also liked to see more of the romance in this and seen more sides to Jude. But like i said earlier this book had me laughing all the way through, I can totally forgive what I was missing from this book for this reason.
whenever I need a little “pick up” I will reading parts of this hilarious book again!
4 Laughing Out Loud Stars!
September 13, 2013
Hmmmm. I read 'Muscling through' quite by chance and had really enjoyed it so I downloaded this onto my kindle with a little hope in my heart.............really disappointed.
There is so much wrong here. Jude, the hero, is appalling and not really believable. He is whiney and self obsessed and you really want to just give him a good shaking. I worry saying that just in case his character leaps up and says I am being anti gay or homophobic but I am not in any way shape or form. He is just 100% arse. I loathe him not because he is gay but because he is a waste of good data space on my kindle.
His lover, David,is equally appalling but for different reasons but is still a false and unconvincing character. He is a muscular fit bloke and moves from being a closeted gay who sleeps with his equally butch and muscley ex to being a muscular fit bloke who for some ridiculous reason realizes that all he ever needed to be out and proud was to fall for a mincing queen of the first order. Jude does not make sense. He is not a believable character and from this lack of real the whole book implodes. The dialogue is very artificial and, as I have seen mentioned elsewhere, it is shoe-horned in just so as to enable Jude to sound witty(ish) and clever(ish). Jude speaks street, writes doggerel, plays the violin and is camp as Christmas. Oh and he is willowy and looks very young.
The plot is hacked out of a block of lifeless polystyrene. What I found endearing and only a little frustrating in 'Muscling through' here I found rampantly maddening. The stupidity of people who do not communicate or leap to conclusions or the contrived nature of almost every situation so as to enable misunderstanding and confusion to drag the story out for many many more pages then was needed.
'Muscling through' was a lovely book in its own way; this thing takes all the downside of that book with none of the positives. None of the characters convinced really and don't get me started on Keisha and Lauren.......for the love of God....
There is so much wrong here. Jude, the hero, is appalling and not really believable. He is whiney and self obsessed and you really want to just give him a good shaking. I worry saying that just in case his character leaps up and says I am being anti gay or homophobic but I am not in any way shape or form. He is just 100% arse. I loathe him not because he is gay but because he is a waste of good data space on my kindle.
His lover, David,is equally appalling but for different reasons but is still a false and unconvincing character. He is a muscular fit bloke and moves from being a closeted gay who sleeps with his equally butch and muscley ex to being a muscular fit bloke who for some ridiculous reason realizes that all he ever needed to be out and proud was to fall for a mincing queen of the first order. Jude does not make sense. He is not a believable character and from this lack of real the whole book implodes. The dialogue is very artificial and, as I have seen mentioned elsewhere, it is shoe-horned in just so as to enable Jude to sound witty(ish) and clever(ish). Jude speaks street, writes doggerel, plays the violin and is camp as Christmas. Oh and he is willowy and looks very young.
The plot is hacked out of a block of lifeless polystyrene. What I found endearing and only a little frustrating in 'Muscling through' here I found rampantly maddening. The stupidity of people who do not communicate or leap to conclusions or the contrived nature of almost every situation so as to enable misunderstanding and confusion to drag the story out for many many more pages then was needed.
'Muscling through' was a lovely book in its own way; this thing takes all the downside of that book with none of the positives. None of the characters convinced really and don't get me started on Keisha and Lauren.......for the love of God....
May 12, 2013
Two complete opposites fall for each other. Actually, Jude and David couldn't be more further apart on the gay universe poles. Jude is young, camp, outrageous, effeminate, sassy, out and proud and doesn't care who knows. Your typical gay stereotype that fits all the media norms. David is a little older, more conservative, responsible, normal, straight male, karate instructor and only really halfway out of the closet. Two worlds collide when these two meet and the scene is set for a light-hearted sitcom and that's exactly how I see this book.
To be taken light-heartedly with Merrow playing on typical stereotypes. The way these two meet sets the scene for the book with Jude being a recipe for disaster. Mishaps seem to follow him whever he goes. David has a hard time dealing with Jude being so out and feels threatened and insecure with it although falling madly in love with him. However, this challenges his thinking and finally pushes him to acknowledge the fact that he doesn't need to hide and for the most part if family and friends love you for who you are then you have nothing to fear.
The humour mainly comes from Jude with his quips and view on life. For him the whole world is gay and the acid humour that accompanies him is brilliant. So many laugh out loud moments, I could have highlighted the whole book! However, the humuor still very British in style. Also the supporting characters, Keisha and Jude's mum were also brilliant.
Why I didn't give four stars is that I found the ending, although very fitting, somehwhat abrupt like the book ran out of steam. Also the plot development for me was a little weak, just being used as a vehicle for hiliarous moments which they definitely were to say the least.
All in all a funny and hilarious book for light entertainment.
A fun buddy read with Macky, Gina, Tina and Bev
To be taken light-heartedly with Merrow playing on typical stereotypes. The way these two meet sets the scene for the book with Jude being a recipe for disaster. Mishaps seem to follow him whever he goes. David has a hard time dealing with Jude being so out and feels threatened and insecure with it although falling madly in love with him. However, this challenges his thinking and finally pushes him to acknowledge the fact that he doesn't need to hide and for the most part if family and friends love you for who you are then you have nothing to fear.
The humour mainly comes from Jude with his quips and view on life. For him the whole world is gay and the acid humour that accompanies him is brilliant. So many laugh out loud moments, I could have highlighted the whole book! However, the humuor still very British in style. Also the supporting characters, Keisha and Jude's mum were also brilliant.
Why I didn't give four stars is that I found the ending, although very fitting, somehwhat abrupt like the book ran out of steam. Also the plot development for me was a little weak, just being used as a vehicle for hiliarous moments which they definitely were to say the least.
All in all a funny and hilarious book for light entertainment.
A fun buddy read with Macky, Gina, Tina and Bev
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March 3, 2013I had so much fun writing this one! Not just in the writing, but also in the research, which involved attending poetry slams and other performance poetry events. Amongst other things, I got to know some great people, made a tour of the bars of Cheltenham, and was able to indulge my love of cheesy limericks. :)
Dog-lovers can find a picture of my main character Jude's canine co-star here: http://www.jlmerrow.com/slam.html
Dog-lovers can find a picture of my main character Jude's canine co-star here: http://www.jlmerrow.com/slam.html
May 13, 2013
Buddy read with Gina, Tina, Mark and Macky - thank you.
This was a really funny book, but that's about all I can say about it. I went into the buddy read knowing that I have a problem with the author's other work, but I did enjoy the limericks, and the interaction between Jude and Keisha; however, there wasn't much of a plot-line, and Jude was way too 'over the top' and camp for my liking. 'Karate Crumpet' needed a good kick (martial arts or not) up the backside to get his act together.
So if you like funny and light, with hardly any storyline, this one's for you!!
October 31, 2013
Goodreads TOS-compliant review: (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are).
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
For my honest and true view of the same book, please read more here: ... more.
DISCLAIMER: As of today my reviews will all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind.
April 13, 2013
3.5 stars
Uhhh...this one is difficult to rate for me. Although I enjoyed reading it the characters and humor didn't worked that well for me *shrugs*
Uhhh...this one is difficult to rate for me. Although I enjoyed reading it the characters and humor didn't worked that well for me *shrugs*
April 10, 2013
Another one for my comfort-reads-shelf! Although the end felt a bit rushed, I liked the whole book very much, Jude had me giggling through it :)
August 30, 2013
Okay, so it's been a bad reading week. I haven't read as many books as I'd like, and one book I read made me really unhappy, so this was such a treat to read because i laughed through the whole book, and i desperately needed that.
Jude is hilarious, and a little obnoxious, and i love him. I could take or leave David, but Jude was awesome. I also found it refreshing to read a really flamboyant gay character after reading so many m/m romances where the guys are uber-butch.
The plot was all a little silly and mostly a frame on which to hang a bunch of silly limericks and one really hot sex scene, but i don't really care because it made me laugh, and i needed that.
Jude is hilarious, and a little obnoxious, and i love him. I could take or leave David, but Jude was awesome. I also found it refreshing to read a really flamboyant gay character after reading so many m/m romances where the guys are uber-butch.
The plot was all a little silly and mostly a frame on which to hang a bunch of silly limericks and one really hot sex scene, but i don't really care because it made me laugh, and i needed that.
April 10, 2013
3.5 stars Really enjoyed this funny, sweet read, with just a tiny bit of angst. Loved Jude, but wish we got a little more about David and that the ending was less abrupt.
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