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Dandelion
1973 – At 53 years old, Bill, hadn’t expected to run into Bobby when he signed up for that medical convention in Houston. Fair to say they didn’t exactly part on good terms last time.
Twenty years later, is Bill ready to finally admit his feelings, his sexuality, and to gather his courage to conquer his old lover and friend once more?
A second chance romance with flashbacks to young love, addressing the struggles of coming out in an unwelcoming environment and building the life you really want.
Twenty years later, is Bill ready to finally admit his feelings, his sexuality, and to gather his courage to conquer his old lover and friend once more?
A second chance romance with flashbacks to young love, addressing the struggles of coming out in an unwelcoming environment and building the life you really want.
481 pages, ebook
Published June 15, 2024
14 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Merlina Garance
8 books24 followersMerlina writes and lives in France, with a husband and their beloved dog. After a career as a social worker, Merlina first published a novel in 2023. Merlina's head is full of LGBTQ love stories, so keep an eye out for those to come...
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 24, 2024
TOP TIER ANGSTY OLD MAN YAOI!! 🗣️🗣️💕
Okay onto the real review LMAO
This book was SOOOO good. I loved reading about older characters, how they navigated their lives and made mistakes, only to be brought together after not seeing each other for twenty-two years. Holy cow!! The emotions felt REAL. These characters felt REAL, and I think what really added to understanding them were the flashbacks.
The "present day" in this book is 1973, and every other chapter or so we get a flashback chapter, detailing their lives how they met in 1932 and onwards. It made me realize how much I love stories told with flashbacks, honestly! It gave so much introspectiveness and depth to both Bill and Bobby, with Bill's POV being present day and Bobby's POV being in the flashbacks. Such a neat way to tell a story.
Also, can I just gush about the accurate portrayal of the 1970s? Not just about the aesthetics, but also the historical context and the realities of queer people of the time. Wonderfully done! I adore this book so much, glad to see such a sweet HEA too!! 💕💖
Okay onto the real review LMAO
This book was SOOOO good. I loved reading about older characters, how they navigated their lives and made mistakes, only to be brought together after not seeing each other for twenty-two years. Holy cow!! The emotions felt REAL. These characters felt REAL, and I think what really added to understanding them were the flashbacks.
The "present day" in this book is 1973, and every other chapter or so we get a flashback chapter, detailing their lives how they met in 1932 and onwards. It made me realize how much I love stories told with flashbacks, honestly! It gave so much introspectiveness and depth to both Bill and Bobby, with Bill's POV being present day and Bobby's POV being in the flashbacks. Such a neat way to tell a story.
Also, can I just gush about the accurate portrayal of the 1970s? Not just about the aesthetics, but also the historical context and the realities of queer people of the time. Wonderfully done! I adore this book so much, glad to see such a sweet HEA too!! 💕💖
May 6, 2024
What an absolute joy of a book.
Merlina let me read DANDELION early, and it’s always an honor to be trusted with something so precious. Writers pour their souls into their work, but the shine of particular books is hard to ignore, and for good reason.
DANDELION is a lot of things. It’s a love story. It’s a story set across decades, times changing as war ends and culture expands (as well as minds). It’s the story of friendship as young boys that turns into admiration and respect, then adoration. Then love. And it’s a story of heartbreak, the kind that’s so real you lose your breath reading it. But, for me, the true soul of this book is Garance’s writing. It’s a spark the moment you begin to read, and once lit, it’s impossible to look away. You don’t want to look away, because you know by the end everything will be okay, and it will be a brilliant ball of light and color.
I could talk about this book forever. I probably will. It’s firmly rooted in my mind as a prime example of queer historical fiction and romance, told through time and space and fear and desperate yearning, and one that ends with queer joy. An exceptional book all around.
Merlina let me read DANDELION early, and it’s always an honor to be trusted with something so precious. Writers pour their souls into their work, but the shine of particular books is hard to ignore, and for good reason.
DANDELION is a lot of things. It’s a love story. It’s a story set across decades, times changing as war ends and culture expands (as well as minds). It’s the story of friendship as young boys that turns into admiration and respect, then adoration. Then love. And it’s a story of heartbreak, the kind that’s so real you lose your breath reading it. But, for me, the true soul of this book is Garance’s writing. It’s a spark the moment you begin to read, and once lit, it’s impossible to look away. You don’t want to look away, because you know by the end everything will be okay, and it will be a brilliant ball of light and color.
I could talk about this book forever. I probably will. It’s firmly rooted in my mind as a prime example of queer historical fiction and romance, told through time and space and fear and desperate yearning, and one that ends with queer joy. An exceptional book all around.
May 29, 2024
Huge thank you to the author, who gave me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've read from Merlina Garance before and loved it, so I was very excited about Dandelion and I was not disappointed! I feel like the writing got even better with this novel.
Bill and Bobby have been friends since boarding school until something happened and they went their separate ways. Over twenty years later, they run into each other again at a conference and Bill is desparate to have Bobby back in his life again. However, Bobby isn't sure he is ready to forgive the past.
This book was so much more emotional than I was expecting but in a good way, showcasing the fear and the pain of being queer in a time where not only was it not accepted, but outright illegal. My heart hurt for both characters as they were struggling with trying to remain safe and still loving each other.
Normally, I don't love a timeline that goes back and forth but I think it worked really well here and was never confusing. It really helped to be able to go back and see what exactly happened in the past and how it contrasts with where the characters are now.
I absolutely adored Bobby from the very start and never wavered, he was an absolute delight. His love and devotion to Bill was just adorable, even when he was wary because of everything that happened in the past. Bill did have to grow on me a bit more, just because it was clear how much he had hurt Bobby with his actions, even though they were understandable. Fear is a strong motivator. Bill also has undiagnosed autism (according to the author who is also autistic) and that's another layer to their relationship and how Bill deals with both his fear and his desire for his life to be different. By the end, I was so proud of him, my heart was going to burst.
Overall, absolutely LOVED this book and would highly recommend, even if you aren't normally a romance person, because this is so much more than just a romance. It's about learning how to live the life you want, even when the world doesn't want you to.
I've read from Merlina Garance before and loved it, so I was very excited about Dandelion and I was not disappointed! I feel like the writing got even better with this novel.
Bill and Bobby have been friends since boarding school until something happened and they went their separate ways. Over twenty years later, they run into each other again at a conference and Bill is desparate to have Bobby back in his life again. However, Bobby isn't sure he is ready to forgive the past.
This book was so much more emotional than I was expecting but in a good way, showcasing the fear and the pain of being queer in a time where not only was it not accepted, but outright illegal. My heart hurt for both characters as they were struggling with trying to remain safe and still loving each other.
Normally, I don't love a timeline that goes back and forth but I think it worked really well here and was never confusing. It really helped to be able to go back and see what exactly happened in the past and how it contrasts with where the characters are now.
I absolutely adored Bobby from the very start and never wavered, he was an absolute delight. His love and devotion to Bill was just adorable, even when he was wary because of everything that happened in the past. Bill did have to grow on me a bit more, just because it was clear how much he had hurt Bobby with his actions, even though they were understandable. Fear is a strong motivator. Bill also has undiagnosed autism (according to the author who is also autistic) and that's another layer to their relationship and how Bill deals with both his fear and his desire for his life to be different. By the end, I was so proud of him, my heart was going to burst.
Overall, absolutely LOVED this book and would highly recommend, even if you aren't normally a romance person, because this is so much more than just a romance. It's about learning how to live the life you want, even when the world doesn't want you to.
August 27, 2024
4.5 Stars - Rounded Up
Merlina Garance is a new-to-me author who has written several books, all of which seem to have been discovered by only a few readers. That’s unfortunate, because if Dandelion is any indication of her writing ability, she definitely deserves a larger audience.
Moving back and forth between the years, two physicians who were high school and medical school classmates before becoming estranged, are reunited in a loving story of finding themselves.
As one of the protagonists, Bill, noted about half way through the novel, “They wanted different things. Bill wanted safety. Bobby, freedom.”
How they reconcile their differences is the crux of the story.
Merlina Garance is a new-to-me author who has written several books, all of which seem to have been discovered by only a few readers. That’s unfortunate, because if Dandelion is any indication of her writing ability, she definitely deserves a larger audience.
Moving back and forth between the years, two physicians who were high school and medical school classmates before becoming estranged, are reunited in a loving story of finding themselves.
As one of the protagonists, Bill, noted about half way through the novel, “They wanted different things. Bill wanted safety. Bobby, freedom.”
How they reconcile their differences is the crux of the story.
June 13, 2024
This is an ARC review.
This is an adorable second chance, later in life queer romance that chronicles the life and story of two men from when they become friends in the 1930s, to lovers who part ways, and ultimately to their reconciliation in the 1970s.
The timelines are explored through mostly alternating chapters and POVs, which was really fun. We see the two meeting as boys through Bobby’s eyes, and when they come back together in their 50s mostly through Bill’s perspective. The flashbacks of the two coming to know each other were SO sweet, and watching how earnestly Bill wants to win Bobby back is SO precious. Seeing the way the two characters care for each other, and mutually support the other when needed, really highlights how this is a book where the characters genuinely belong together.
The story is sweet and touching as it shows the realistic path of people who were meant to be, but maybe not quite yet, separated by life and the circumstances of being openly gay at the time, and the need to grow and change themselves as well. Topics aren’t shied away from, and things are messy, but ultimately there is a message of hope and love that permeates the story.
I loved the characters a lot, and I was particularly touched by the portrayal of Bill’s autism and Bobby’s appreciation for the man’s mind. Also Bill is bi which is always a win for me! There’s a lot of rep you don’t usually see that’s woven organically through the story. It’s impossible not to root for Bobby and Bill, and seeing their love stretch across the decades to finally coming back together is so heartwarming. This would be the perfect book to read for Pride, or any time of the year!
This is an adorable second chance, later in life queer romance that chronicles the life and story of two men from when they become friends in the 1930s, to lovers who part ways, and ultimately to their reconciliation in the 1970s.
The timelines are explored through mostly alternating chapters and POVs, which was really fun. We see the two meeting as boys through Bobby’s eyes, and when they come back together in their 50s mostly through Bill’s perspective. The flashbacks of the two coming to know each other were SO sweet, and watching how earnestly Bill wants to win Bobby back is SO precious. Seeing the way the two characters care for each other, and mutually support the other when needed, really highlights how this is a book where the characters genuinely belong together.
The story is sweet and touching as it shows the realistic path of people who were meant to be, but maybe not quite yet, separated by life and the circumstances of being openly gay at the time, and the need to grow and change themselves as well. Topics aren’t shied away from, and things are messy, but ultimately there is a message of hope and love that permeates the story.
I loved the characters a lot, and I was particularly touched by the portrayal of Bill’s autism and Bobby’s appreciation for the man’s mind. Also Bill is bi which is always a win for me! There’s a lot of rep you don’t usually see that’s woven organically through the story. It’s impossible not to root for Bobby and Bill, and seeing their love stretch across the decades to finally coming back together is so heartwarming. This would be the perfect book to read for Pride, or any time of the year!
June 4, 2024
This is a perfect read for Pride!
Dandelion is a wonderful dual POV romance that integrates really well into the time period it's placed in. You could tell a second chance story in any period and you could show what it was like to be LGBT+ pre-(and around)Stonewall, but the sheer fact that Merlina Garance chooses to do both makes this into a much more powerful story.
The story of Bill and Bobby feels like it can't be anything BUT a second chance. And that's not because these boys mess up (though they do a lot of that, admittedly) but because the world they live in won't let it be anything else.
That factor of tragedy built into the fabric of the setting makes every small win in their relationship all that much sweeter. We see the fear, we see the fight, then we cheer for the love that reminds us why we have Pride.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dandelion is a wonderful dual POV romance that integrates really well into the time period it's placed in. You could tell a second chance story in any period and you could show what it was like to be LGBT+ pre-(and around)Stonewall, but the sheer fact that Merlina Garance chooses to do both makes this into a much more powerful story.
The story of Bill and Bobby feels like it can't be anything BUT a second chance. And that's not because these boys mess up (though they do a lot of that, admittedly) but because the world they live in won't let it be anything else.
That factor of tragedy built into the fabric of the setting makes every small win in their relationship all that much sweeter. We see the fear, we see the fight, then we cheer for the love that reminds us why we have Pride.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2024
What a way to spend the first week of pride - reading the new Merlina Garance! It's a special treat to be whisked away by the flow of their writing, and Dandelion in particular, with its historical setting and dual timeline, delights in Garance's nostalgic voice and feelings-driven narrative.
Garance writes masterfully about two men who have loved each other since they were boys, finally building a future together later in life. They have lived a lot, both together and apart, but still have a lot of learning and growing to do together that was in the past stunted by fear and homophobia. I loved how this was navigated; Bill and Bobby never blame each other for their feelings, only for the barriers they put up to avoid working through their feelings together. They are clearly happiest and healthiest when they are growing together and Garance shows this again and again in a story so rich with soft and touching scenes you'll be giddy with it.
Along with all the softness and the touchingness, we are blessed with a sustained horniness throughout the book. The sex is just superb. And there's a lot of it. But it's perfectly balanced with an undercurrent of warm emotion, messiness, laughter; never sensationalised, always satisfied.
Did I tell you how cathartic this book is? With the catharsis building from the start, every moment and revelation feels gorgeously earned. Along with all the heavy themes of systemic homophobia, single mothers and absent fathers, PTSD and undiagnosed autism and how they interact with toxic masculinity, there is a quintessential arc of healing. And it's a tough road for Bill, who over the years has harmed and wronged some of the people who needed him most. He often acts like kind of an asshole and this book charts only the very early stages of him learning to break the cycles - it's funny because he has already contributed to the cycles, already caused great harm to his ex-wives and children. But, crucially, he still deserves love. The book is almost like a thesis to convince not just Bill himself but also the reader that he can do better and he does deserve to be happy. I was very proud of him by the end and hopeful for his future.
Garance outdoes themself with every new project they take up, and I know they have so much planned for the future...a writer to watch. I know I will love whatever they do next.
Garance writes masterfully about two men who have loved each other since they were boys, finally building a future together later in life. They have lived a lot, both together and apart, but still have a lot of learning and growing to do together that was in the past stunted by fear and homophobia. I loved how this was navigated; Bill and Bobby never blame each other for their feelings, only for the barriers they put up to avoid working through their feelings together. They are clearly happiest and healthiest when they are growing together and Garance shows this again and again in a story so rich with soft and touching scenes you'll be giddy with it.
Along with all the softness and the touchingness, we are blessed with a sustained horniness throughout the book. The sex is just superb. And there's a lot of it. But it's perfectly balanced with an undercurrent of warm emotion, messiness, laughter; never sensationalised, always satisfied.
Did I tell you how cathartic this book is? With the catharsis building from the start, every moment and revelation feels gorgeously earned. Along with all the heavy themes of systemic homophobia, single mothers and absent fathers, PTSD and undiagnosed autism and how they interact with toxic masculinity, there is a quintessential arc of healing. And it's a tough road for Bill, who over the years has harmed and wronged some of the people who needed him most. He often acts like kind of an asshole and this book charts only the very early stages of him learning to break the cycles - it's funny because he has already contributed to the cycles, already caused great harm to his ex-wives and children. But, crucially, he still deserves love. The book is almost like a thesis to convince not just Bill himself but also the reader that he can do better and he does deserve to be happy. I was very proud of him by the end and hopeful for his future.
Garance outdoes themself with every new project they take up, and I know they have so much planned for the future...a writer to watch. I know I will love whatever they do next.
June 13, 2024
Merlina is once again proving me right when I say they're my favorite author because I haven't read a single bad book by her and I swear every book is better than the previous one✨👏. Not that I would manage to pick just ONE favorite, you can't legally force me to do that 😂.
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Merlina is one of those authors that are rearanging my favorite trope list because I swear I wasn't really fan of second chance romances before this one, now I feel like I need more (by Merlina ideally 😂❤️)... There's dual POV, Bill and Bobby... two different timelines at first, then for the second half of the book there's mainly present in both POVs 😁. And when I tell you that it was an effing roller coaster 😂! One chapter cute and fluffy and cute again and the next one depressing and bringing me a lot of anxiety 😂. I was not okay. Not for a minute. It did encourage me to keep reading, yes, but I didn't need a lot of encouragement really 😂... But I wouldn't have it any other way, it brought so much depth to both of these characters and their relationship ❤️.
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Bill and Bobby went through a lot together and I love how that "second chance" worked - how Bill had to work for it, his redemption arc if you will... was spectacular. And the mutual pining once things started clearing up? ✨ I might have annoyed some of my friends with that 😂 but I just needed to vent.
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There was quite a lot of side characters I came to know and love 🥹 (don't wanna spoil anything but it was nearly every one of them really 😂). It was just so good! As expected! Oh well just thinking about this now is making me incredibly happy again 🥰.
.
Merlina is one of those authors that are rearanging my favorite trope list because I swear I wasn't really fan of second chance romances before this one, now I feel like I need more (by Merlina ideally 😂❤️)... There's dual POV, Bill and Bobby... two different timelines at first, then for the second half of the book there's mainly present in both POVs 😁. And when I tell you that it was an effing roller coaster 😂! One chapter cute and fluffy and cute again and the next one depressing and bringing me a lot of anxiety 😂. I was not okay. Not for a minute. It did encourage me to keep reading, yes, but I didn't need a lot of encouragement really 😂... But I wouldn't have it any other way, it brought so much depth to both of these characters and their relationship ❤️.
.
Bill and Bobby went through a lot together and I love how that "second chance" worked - how Bill had to work for it, his redemption arc if you will... was spectacular. And the mutual pining once things started clearing up? ✨ I might have annoyed some of my friends with that 😂 but I just needed to vent.
.
There was quite a lot of side characters I came to know and love 🥹 (don't wanna spoil anything but it was nearly every one of them really 😂). It was just so good! As expected! Oh well just thinking about this now is making me incredibly happy again 🥰.
February 17, 2025
This book was beautiful and heartwarming, but also completely heartbreaking. A dual POV, second-chance romance set in 1973 America, with flashbacks going back to the 1930s, it follows Bill and Bobby—two men who find their way back to each other after parting ways 20 years earlier.
I absolutely adored their love story, but it was devastating to see them have to navigate a relationship in a world that refused to accept them. The historical setting makes it even more impactful, really highlighting the realities queer people faced at the time.
This one has taken up a special place in my heart, and I can’t recommend it enough!
I absolutely adored their love story, but it was devastating to see them have to navigate a relationship in a world that refused to accept them. The historical setting makes it even more impactful, really highlighting the realities queer people faced at the time.
This one has taken up a special place in my heart, and I can’t recommend it enough!
May 12, 2024
I never thought I liked romance until I finally started encountering queer love stories. Now I realize that I actually do love romance; it's just that I never found myself in it before. Now romance is one of my favorite genres (as long as it's queer), and "Dandelion" is one of the most real love stories that I know of. I love how the book follows parallel story lines between the present and the past that come together like a zipper to tell the complete story. I also love how the historical contexts of the 1930s-1970s, with WWII and also the gay rights movement, are used to build the story and the characters' experiences. The characters are so well-realized, flawed and beautiful, and they were so easy to quickly care about and get invested in. Bill and Bobby have so much chemistry on the page, which is a really hard thing to demonstrate in words. I feel like I want homophobic people to read this book because I don't know how you could not be moved by all of the love, hurt, happiness, and humanity in Bobby and Bill and their love story.
April 29, 2024
There were a lot of things to love about the story of Bill and Bobby, which spanned decades. I enjoyed the coming of age ‘flashbacks’ interwoven with the ‘present’ day (1973) and I loved the almost sepia-tinted descriptions of the seventies and the nostalgia of this time, although a difficult time to be LGBTQ. Bobby and Bill are fully realised characters and as such their chemistry is palpable - I liked the dual POV and they were both lovable characters, even if Bill was more than a little frustrating at times (he’s supposed to be!). Personally I feel like the story lost some of its momentum when things start to settle into place for B&B (around the scene with the kids) and through to the end. I’d have liked to have seen the story with Bobby’s sister develop more - she sort of disappears after the festival and the end focuses on Bill’s exes but no one from Bobby’s ‘world’.
All in all this was an enjoyable read (And I think the first MLM novel I’ve read) and I was swept up in it early on.
I read Dandelion as an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All in all this was an enjoyable read (And I think the first MLM novel I’ve read) and I was swept up in it early on.
I read Dandelion as an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
Dandelion is a tender story about carving out enough space for yourself when you feel like everything says no.
I love queer historical romances and this book delivers on it. The book is set in the early 70s with flashbacks going from the 30s with the beginning of their budding relationship through to 60s. Through it all it really shows some of the changes the queer community faced in terms of treatment and visibility, exploring how all that affected Bill and Bobby and their relationship.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was the dual timelines. One would be angsty and the other full of developing sweetness. Sometimes that was a soothing balm, other times very bittersweet. The different POVs in each timeline were also incredible at characterising and bringing me closer to each mc, both by understanding their thoughts and viewing the other from an outside perspective.
I often can struggle with visualising stories but the writing style in all of Merlina's books is always so effortlessly smooth and enrapturing. In Dandelion I felt I could envision everything so cinematically and the amount of detail and action was always balanced. This really helps with keeping me stuck in the flow of the story and unable to put it down.
All in all this is definitely my favourite book by Merlina Garance so far.
I love queer historical romances and this book delivers on it. The book is set in the early 70s with flashbacks going from the 30s with the beginning of their budding relationship through to 60s. Through it all it really shows some of the changes the queer community faced in terms of treatment and visibility, exploring how all that affected Bill and Bobby and their relationship.
One of my favourite aspects of the book was the dual timelines. One would be angsty and the other full of developing sweetness. Sometimes that was a soothing balm, other times very bittersweet. The different POVs in each timeline were also incredible at characterising and bringing me closer to each mc, both by understanding their thoughts and viewing the other from an outside perspective.
I often can struggle with visualising stories but the writing style in all of Merlina's books is always so effortlessly smooth and enrapturing. In Dandelion I felt I could envision everything so cinematically and the amount of detail and action was always balanced. This really helps with keeping me stuck in the flow of the story and unable to put it down.
All in all this is definitely my favourite book by Merlina Garance so far.
February 14, 2024
I had the honor of beta reading for this book and I must say if one day Merlina Garance’s books stop replacing themselves in my favorite reads ranking, that will be the day I’ve lost all sense and taste and you might as well just put me out of my misery.
Dandelion has the beautifully crafted characters and relationships we’re used to by now, but the writing style and tone have significantly shifted if you take the Leicester trilogy as comparison. This book is sweet, angsty and thoughtful like them, but somehow more intense, more real, more cruel in a way and more reassuring in others.
This book shows the amount of dedicated research and careful drafting that Merlina Garance puts in all their works, and I would recommend it to every fan of historical romance, queer history nerds and readers who live for a good dose of “anxiously pining x pining with fake composure” in their books.
Dandelion has the beautifully crafted characters and relationships we’re used to by now, but the writing style and tone have significantly shifted if you take the Leicester trilogy as comparison. This book is sweet, angsty and thoughtful like them, but somehow more intense, more real, more cruel in a way and more reassuring in others.
This book shows the amount of dedicated research and careful drafting that Merlina Garance puts in all their works, and I would recommend it to every fan of historical romance, queer history nerds and readers who live for a good dose of “anxiously pining x pining with fake composure” in their books.
March 14, 2025
3.5 stars
POV: 3rd person, past tense
Bill and Bobby haven't seen each other for 20 years, when Bill realized that he just couldn't live with society thinking he might be in a relationship with a guy. He walked out on 20 years of friendship and years of a relationship when he did. When Bill and Bobby meet again at a conference, Bill decides that he just might be ready to be brave enough to face what people might think.
I liked this. It didn't blow me out of the water, but it was a very pleasant way to pass the time. And I learned a lot. (Because every time I saw something that I didn't think was quite right - microwaves, fanny packs, and rolling suitcases in the 1970s? - I looked it up.) This was very slow build with gradual opening of a relationship and a friendship. Which really makes sense, given what I think is going on with Bill. We really only get Bobby's POV through the flashbacks, and Bill is all in the present. I liked seeing Bobby encourage him in opening up and letting his kids and family in. It was nice to see this man who wanted a relationship with his kids actually start to have one. And the ending was awesome.
POV: 3rd person, past tense
Bill and Bobby haven't seen each other for 20 years, when Bill realized that he just couldn't live with society thinking he might be in a relationship with a guy. He walked out on 20 years of friendship and years of a relationship when he did. When Bill and Bobby meet again at a conference, Bill decides that he just might be ready to be brave enough to face what people might think.
I liked this. It didn't blow me out of the water, but it was a very pleasant way to pass the time. And I learned a lot. (Because every time I saw something that I didn't think was quite right - microwaves, fanny packs, and rolling suitcases in the 1970s? - I looked it up.) This was very slow build with gradual opening of a relationship and a friendship. Which really makes sense, given what I think is going on with Bill. We really only get Bobby's POV through the flashbacks, and Bill is all in the present. I liked seeing Bobby encourage him in opening up and letting his kids and family in. It was nice to see this man who wanted a relationship with his kids actually start to have one. And the ending was awesome.
September 1, 2024
Heartfelt and charming read
I found this book through Skye Kilaen’s newsletter. I’ve had it on my Kindle since July and of course when I finally read it I love it!! It has serious Cat Sebastian vibes. Both MMC are older, in their 50’s, but have known each other since they were teenagers at the same boarding school. One of the MMC’s is probably neurospicy, but being the story takes place largely in the 70’s, is never diagnosed. And also given the time period, living out and proud is difficult too. I really enjoyed their journey to their HEA and loved the ending.
I connected really well with the author’s writing style and while it doesn’t have the spice level I tend to prefer reading, I found the characters and story very engaging to read. Reunions after a long separation are one of my favorite things to read too.
I found this book through Skye Kilaen’s newsletter. I’ve had it on my Kindle since July and of course when I finally read it I love it!! It has serious Cat Sebastian vibes. Both MMC are older, in their 50’s, but have known each other since they were teenagers at the same boarding school. One of the MMC’s is probably neurospicy, but being the story takes place largely in the 70’s, is never diagnosed. And also given the time period, living out and proud is difficult too. I really enjoyed their journey to their HEA and loved the ending.
I connected really well with the author’s writing style and while it doesn’t have the spice level I tend to prefer reading, I found the characters and story very engaging to read. Reunions after a long separation are one of my favorite things to read too.
September 6, 2024
Love a second chance romance. This very much feels like what if Brokeback Mountain but they were doctors in a slightly different time, really felt like a fanfic. I liked having both timelines a lot. I thought it was good at feeling like it took place in those times, although of course I wouldn't know. The animals were a little too Aware for my preferences haha. I had some frustrations with the unbalanced nature of the relationship but that was definitely the point of the story, so it's not a writing criticism. But I'm not personally into that vibe, or the hurt/comfort-ness of it all. It has that lines written more for impact on the reader than realistically imaginable scenarios vibe sometimes. I actually liked that the female characters in here were allowed to be messy and make mistakes instead of being perfect supports.
July 11, 2024
I loved this book so much and enjoyed every bit of it. This book pulled on my heartstring so much that I opened up a list for how many times I cried while reading (7 times, sometimes out of joy, sometimes out of sadness). It was all worth it to see the two protagonists Bill and Bobby develop troughout the story and mend their relationship. Every side character was a delight to meet too and made me fall in love with the book even more.
Possibly my favourite book Merlina wrote so far. Having read her previous books I can confidently say that their personality shines the brightest in this impressive piece of literature. I found both protagonists very relatable and it felt so good to read a story about characters that hit so close to home.
Possibly my favourite book Merlina wrote so far. Having read her previous books I can confidently say that their personality shines the brightest in this impressive piece of literature. I found both protagonists very relatable and it felt so good to read a story about characters that hit so close to home.
May 6, 2024
I loved this book. The relationships between the characters were really lovely and above all the characters were genuinely kind, if at times a little misguided, which made it really easy to actually root for these characters and to want it to all work out.
The plot was quite calm, despite the subject matter being a little dark at times. I'm very used to queer stories set in this time period having tragic endings, so reading one where the characters just get to be happy was really refreshing.
I'm actually not used to my reviews being this short but I don't really have any comments beyond that this was a nice, feel good story.
The plot was quite calm, despite the subject matter being a little dark at times. I'm very used to queer stories set in this time period having tragic endings, so reading one where the characters just get to be happy was really refreshing.
I'm actually not used to my reviews being this short but I don't really have any comments beyond that this was a nice, feel good story.
January 6, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. A story about two guys who met as teenagers fell for each other but eventually drifted from each other's lives. That is until they meet again in the mid 70s and start seeing each other for a second chance.
The writing is easy to follow, simple but beautiful. The characters are crafted wonderfully, and it's so great to read a positive LGBTQ story with characin their 50s. Even when set during a time in America where it wasn't fully accepted, this book is still able to make you feel positive and happy by the time it ends. An easy 5 star read.
The writing is easy to follow, simple but beautiful. The characters are crafted wonderfully, and it's so great to read a positive LGBTQ story with characin their 50s. Even when set during a time in America where it wasn't fully accepted, this book is still able to make you feel positive and happy by the time it ends. An easy 5 star read.
August 13, 2024
This is an absolutely gorgeous novel set in an unusual period for historical romance. The characters are well developed, the story is beautiful, and the sex is A+.
4 stars because the novel needs one more pass by a copy editor. I realize English isn't Garance's first language—there are several examples of very awkward usage that a first-language speaker could easily clear up. (That said, it's an extraordinary novel written in a second language so I mean absolutely no offense.)
4 stars because the novel needs one more pass by a copy editor. I realize English isn't Garance's first language—there are several examples of very awkward usage that a first-language speaker could easily clear up. (That said, it's an extraordinary novel written in a second language so I mean absolutely no offense.)
December 8, 2024
Hope really was a pesky thing, seeping into the cracks when you weren’t looking, until all of a sudden it was all around you, and you couldn’t stop from wanting more."
These lines reflect so much on what this book is about, considering it is set in the 1970's.
What you will find in this book-
Second chance
Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Middle Age MC and LI
These lines reflect so much on what this book is about, considering it is set in the 1970's.
What you will find in this book-
Second chance
Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Middle Age MC and LI
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews