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Saugatuck #1
Saugatuck Summer
One summer can change everything.
Hi, I’m Topher twenty-one, pretty, and fabulous. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But let’s get real. Walking the fake-it-til-you-make-it road to independence and self-respect isn’t easy. Especially since my mom’s a deadbeat alcoholic, and most of my family expects me to turn out just as worthless. Oh, and I’m close to losing my college swimming scholarship, so let’s add “dropout” to the list.
My BFF has invited me to stay at her beach house on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’ll give me one summer to make money and figure out what I want to do with my life. So of course I decide to have an affair with my BFF’s married, closeted dad. Because that always works out.
Now I’m homeless, friendless, jobless. Worthless. Just like my family expects, right? Except there’s this great guy, Jace, who sees it differently. He’s got it all together in ways I can only dream of—he’s hot, creative, insightful, understanding. He seems to think I don’t give myself enough credit. And if I don’t watch out, I may start to believe him.
Page 365. Word 100,7000.
Hi, I’m Topher twenty-one, pretty, and fabulous. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But let’s get real. Walking the fake-it-til-you-make-it road to independence and self-respect isn’t easy. Especially since my mom’s a deadbeat alcoholic, and most of my family expects me to turn out just as worthless. Oh, and I’m close to losing my college swimming scholarship, so let’s add “dropout” to the list.
My BFF has invited me to stay at her beach house on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’ll give me one summer to make money and figure out what I want to do with my life. So of course I decide to have an affair with my BFF’s married, closeted dad. Because that always works out.
Now I’m homeless, friendless, jobless. Worthless. Just like my family expects, right? Except there’s this great guy, Jace, who sees it differently. He’s got it all together in ways I can only dream of—he’s hot, creative, insightful, understanding. He seems to think I don’t give myself enough credit. And if I don’t watch out, I may start to believe him.
Page 365. Word 100,7000.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2014
23 people are currently reading
989 people want to read
About the author
Amelia C. Gormley
25 books226 followersAmelia C. Gormley published her first short story in the school newspaper in the 4th grade, and since then has suffered the persistent delusion that enabling other people to hear the voices in her head might be a worthwhile endeavor. She’s even convinced her hapless spouse that it could be a lucrative one as well, especially when coupled with her real-life interest in angst, kink, social justice issues, and pretty men.
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 11, 2014
**Awesome price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US, 12/11/14!**
Topher is a hot mess.
Self-destructive? Check!
Penchant for attracting trouble? Check!
Stabs best friend in the back? Check! (see blurb)
Life is not easy for a bi-racial, gay college student with a racist, narcissistic family, an alcoholic mom, and a major case of the "save-me"s.
Don't be fooled by the cover, readers. This is not a light beach read. This is angst to the max with lots of touchy, questionable situations that will alternatively make you want to smack and hug Topher. But it is also incredibly engaging and rich with realism. I think this is some of Amelia Gormley's best work.
It is a long book, long enough for readers to really get the full picture of Topher's life and see his complete story arc. This isn't a rushed tale; it takes its sweet, angsty time.
I liked that the characters were multidimensional. There are no "bad guys" per say, only really flawed people. Some, like Topher's sister, are more flawed than others, but I could see each character from multiple perspectives. For me, the most interesting subplot was for sure with his best friend's father. Their relationship was a study in screwedupness and I was hooked to the drama of that storyline. I think it made each of the characters grow and realize something about themselves, for better or for worse.
Jace was an interesting character. At times I wasn't sure what exactly made him so devoted to his tenuous relationship with Topher. He seemed doggedly determined to fix or save Topher in his own way, though I'm sure some readers would disagree with me, and it struck me as a little Cinder-fella. However, I liked the whole backstory of Jace's character and his chemistry with Topher was electric.
And that scene in the bath house... I mean... *no words* I could read that over and over again. Just scorching hot.
If you are into angsty reads that involve some seriously damaged characters, give this one a go.
P.S.- Dear Amelia Gormley. I'd love some more details about Robin and Geoff. That sounds like a veeeerrrry hot story in the making!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Topher is a hot mess.
Self-destructive? Check!
Penchant for attracting trouble? Check!
Stabs best friend in the back? Check! (see blurb)
Life is not easy for a bi-racial, gay college student with a racist, narcissistic family, an alcoholic mom, and a major case of the "save-me"s.
Don't be fooled by the cover, readers. This is not a light beach read. This is angst to the max with lots of touchy, questionable situations that will alternatively make you want to smack and hug Topher. But it is also incredibly engaging and rich with realism. I think this is some of Amelia Gormley's best work.
It is a long book, long enough for readers to really get the full picture of Topher's life and see his complete story arc. This isn't a rushed tale; it takes its sweet, angsty time.
I liked that the characters were multidimensional. There are no "bad guys" per say, only really flawed people. Some, like Topher's sister, are more flawed than others, but I could see each character from multiple perspectives. For me, the most interesting subplot was for sure with his best friend's father. Their relationship was a study in screwedupness and I was hooked to the drama of that storyline. I think it made each of the characters grow and realize something about themselves, for better or for worse.
Jace was an interesting character. At times I wasn't sure what exactly made him so devoted to his tenuous relationship with Topher. He seemed doggedly determined to fix or save Topher in his own way, though I'm sure some readers would disagree with me, and it struck me as a little Cinder-fella. However, I liked the whole backstory of Jace's character and his chemistry with Topher was electric.
And that scene in the bath house... I mean... *no words* I could read that over and over again. Just scorching hot.
If you are into angsty reads that involve some seriously damaged characters, give this one a go.
P.S.- Dear Amelia Gormley. I'd love some more details about Robin and Geoff. That sounds like a veeeerrrry hot story in the making!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
June 11, 2014
4.5--Angsty But Not Too Angsty--Stars!
LOVED this one!
And Lili....without you both I might not have survived!
I went in to this one prepared for lots of angst--how could I not with a blurb like that--but it wasn't nearly as bad as I was anticipating.
At times, this one got the heart pumping and the anxiety flowing.....but underneath all of that was an awesome story of moving on from your past, finding yourself, making mistakes and learning to forgive yourself, growing up and falling in love!
Saugatuck Summer is Topher's story. Poor sweet, damaged, broken Topher.
Topher is spending the summer in Saugatuck with his BFF Mo and Mo's father at their beach house. Mo spends most of her time working at a summer camp leaving Topher alone with Mo's married dad Brendan.
Topher swims, he job hunts, he goes out. He spends a fleeting moment with a sexy boy named Jace. A boy who makes him feel, who makes him want....a boy he thinks he'll never see again.
Topher's past has done a number on him. He has virtually no self-worth.
Spending the summer in Saugatuck, Brendan and Topher become friends. They talk, they share and for the first time in Topher's life an adult sees something more in Topher.
Topher and Brendan spend the next few weeks immersed in each other. Buried in the feelings they bring out in each other, despite how wrong they may be. Brendan exploring a part of himself that he kept hidden and Topher finally feeling acceptance and understanding for the first time in his life.
But it was never meant to be more.
When Jace returns to town, Topher is trying to move on from his affair with Brendan. Topher never thought he would see Jace again.
Jace sees inside Topher. Beyond his past. Beyond the pain. Beyond the hurt.
With the help of Jace, Topher grows...he learns from his mistakes, he faces his past, he stands up for who he is and what he wants. He learns to let go, to walk beside someone, to be better, to be more....and above all else, he learns what it's really like to be loved. Truly loved.
Two final thoughts...
First, alpha Jace was absolutely delicious!
And secondly, and it goes without saying, but that bathhouse scene.....holy hotness batman!
Highly recommend this one....my of my favorite MM reads to date!
LOVED this one!
And Lili....without you both I might not have survived!
I went in to this one prepared for lots of angst--how could I not with a blurb like that--but it wasn't nearly as bad as I was anticipating.
At times, this one got the heart pumping and the anxiety flowing.....but underneath all of that was an awesome story of moving on from your past, finding yourself, making mistakes and learning to forgive yourself, growing up and falling in love!
Saugatuck Summer is Topher's story. Poor sweet, damaged, broken Topher.
Topher is spending the summer in Saugatuck with his BFF Mo and Mo's father at their beach house. Mo spends most of her time working at a summer camp leaving Topher alone with Mo's married dad Brendan.
Topher swims, he job hunts, he goes out. He spends a fleeting moment with a sexy boy named Jace. A boy who makes him feel, who makes him want....a boy he thinks he'll never see again.
Topher's past has done a number on him. He has virtually no self-worth.
Spending the summer in Saugatuck, Brendan and Topher become friends. They talk, they share and for the first time in Topher's life an adult sees something more in Topher.
"My conscience said no, but my body--and perhaps some confused part of my heart that wanted to take all the kindness and understanding he'd offered me these last few weeks and make it into something more--said yes."
Topher and Brendan spend the next few weeks immersed in each other. Buried in the feelings they bring out in each other, despite how wrong they may be. Brendan exploring a part of himself that he kept hidden and Topher finally feeling acceptance and understanding for the first time in his life.
But it was never meant to be more.
When Jace returns to town, Topher is trying to move on from his affair with Brendan. Topher never thought he would see Jace again.
Jace sees inside Topher. Beyond his past. Beyond the pain. Beyond the hurt.
"I don't know your story, and I'm not going to ask for any more than you want to give. But I know, I can just tell from the way you act, that people tried to take things from you, tried to take you from you. They tried to take away something amazing, something that deserves more, something that wants to shine. I see it. I see the part they never managed to steal, no matter how hard they tried.
With the help of Jace, Topher grows...he learns from his mistakes, he faces his past, he stands up for who he is and what he wants. He learns to let go, to walk beside someone, to be better, to be more....and above all else, he learns what it's really like to be loved. Truly loved.
Two final thoughts...
First, alpha Jace was absolutely delicious!
And secondly, and it goes without saying, but that bathhouse scene.....holy hotness batman!
Highly recommend this one....my of my favorite MM reads to date!
October 2, 2014
This was close to a DNF. I never connected with Topher, and his first-person POV was like watching a video on fast forward. Topher was immature, selfish, and defensive. He had reasons to be, considering his family and childhood, but I hated watching the train veer ever closer to the inevitable wreck. The choices Topher made during the summer of the title were incredibly self-destructive.
There was too much family angst here, and the book was way too long, almost 400 pages of ramblings and events filtered through Topher’s brain on speed. I never saw much introspection out of him, and for all Topher calling Jace judgmental, I thought Topher was equally so.
Jace was never a fully realized character; why did he sacrifice so much for Topher? I never felt the chemistry between these two MCs.
The ending was at best a HFN. I never felt real closure.
I’m giving this book 2 stars because I realize that some of this is my own subjective reaction to a book I found unfocused and overly melodramatic. The writing was fine. The story was unique in a way, a twist on the "coming of age" tale, but it served to irritate more than entertain.
There was too much family angst here, and the book was way too long, almost 400 pages of ramblings and events filtered through Topher’s brain on speed. I never saw much introspection out of him, and for all Topher calling Jace judgmental, I thought Topher was equally so.
Jace was never a fully realized character; why did he sacrifice so much for Topher? I never felt the chemistry between these two MCs.
The ending was at best a HFN. I never felt real closure.
I’m giving this book 2 stars because I realize that some of this is my own subjective reaction to a book I found unfocused and overly melodramatic. The writing was fine. The story was unique in a way, a twist on the "coming of age" tale, but it served to irritate more than entertain.
December 29, 2018
Don’t let the pretty cover lull you into a false sense of security readers. Inside there lurks a powerful, somewhat angsty, utterly thought provoking, sometimes heart-breaking but ultimately positive, sensuous, hot (I’ll just say bath house, phew!!) and completely uplifting piece of fiction. And dare I say it, it will be following its predecessor Strain straight into my top 5 books of 2014 so far, and as with Strain, all and any superlatives applied to the writing are totally justified IMHO. 5 Golden Shimmering Stars from me 
for a story which left me with a big soppy grin on my face, and lasting memories of a bowed but unbeaten young man who has taken all the s**t that life has thrown at him and triumphed over that adversity.
Topher is...a beautiful man physically, but mentally?? Well, it's a different kettle of fish!! He’s a student on a swimming scholarship, which is not what he wanted to do but hey, beggars can’t be choosers…he wanted to sing but that chance went begging a long time ago thanks to his family, AND talking of his family, let’s have a chat about them shall we, his own personal users and abusers!! Mum, a major attention seeker and all-round show off 😕, whether it be getting drunk or taking drugs, sleeping with anyone that shows interest, and oh yes, let’s not forget the suicide attempts where she blames everyone else but herself for the life she’s led, she’s definitely her own pity party. She’s a really piss-poor version of anyone’s mum, but unfortunately she’s already got her claws into Topher and always guilt trips him into comforting her and making her feel better. Eventually Social Services sit up and take notice of Topher and his sisters Colleen (bitch) and Tonya after they’re found wandering the streets more or less starving, and the kids are taken away and placed with relatives.
Now, anyone with the slightest knowledge of how the brain works must know that the kids will be basically scarred for life after the upbringing they’ve had, but no, it’s not enough that they’ve had the rubbish start in life that they have, they’re put in the care of their grandfather and here things take a much more sinister turn, and there’s no pretty way to say it; Topher is sexually abused by his grandfather…everyone knows what’s going on, but no-one does a damn thing about it until his aunt and uncle step in some time later, and Topher is then subjected by them to really nasty verbal abuse and humiliation, he gets bullied at school and things are forever on a downward spiral.
Needless to say, after that childhood, it’s no wonder that Topher is in therapy and on meds for a long time, and as Topher himself says “I figured that if my family was going to accuse me of being a drama queen – which they’d done pretty much from the time I was able to talk – I might as well actually be one.” However I digress...at last things seem to be going his way, he’s got a wonderful BFF Morgan or Mo as she’s known, and she’s bringing Topher with her to spend the summer at her parent’s summer house on the beach in Saugatuck. Mo comes and goes, and her father Brendan also comes to stay at the house, and alarm bells gradually start going off….all of a sudden we have Topher fighting his attraction to Mo’s father cos a) he’s Mo’s father and b) he’s not even gay……but never fear, there’s plenty more to tell there folks!!
On his 21st birthday, rather than spend the day by himself at the beach house ignoring his attraction to Brendan, Topher goes down to the beach and is soon being checked out by a really hot guy who comes on to him and Jace enters the story. Jace has his own horrifying story to tell…now come on, it wouldn’t be m/m fiction if there wasn’t a little bit of angst would it!! I’ll just mention those words ‘straight camp’ and leave you to draw your own conclusions!!
Topher and Jace are broken men, ripped apart by the very people that gave them life and are supposedly there to protect them – their own families BUT they are also survivors, and finding each other at the beach that day looked like fate to me and the very best thing that could have happened to either of them.
This was another outstanding story from Amelia...Lady, you are one helluva writer, and there are loads of quotes I want to include here, and far too many more I can’t….
“I don’t know if I’ll ever go through with it. I’m just too much of a perfectionist, I guess.
I’d rather be nothing than be middle-of-the-road.”
She hugged me tightly.
“You’re not middle-of-the-road, Topher. You’re fast lane, all the way. You just, you know, need to find the right car.”
Mo didn’t press me to talk. She knew I’d open up in my own time. I wasn’t even close to manly enough to stuff down my feelings about shit. I wore them on my sleeve, and yes, that did get me my ass kicked regularly throughout my school years, thanks for asking. Finally she said softly “What do you think your mom will do if you go see her?”
I scrubbed my hands down my face. “Same thing she’s always done. Try to make me as sick as she is.”
I personally don’t care that you’re gay; Aunt Blythe had said when I accused her of being homophobic. It’s that you act so effeminate. We live in a society that has rules about how people should and shouldn’t behave and present themselves. When you break them, you’re not the only one who faces the consequences. You embarrass us all.
I shrugged off the memory.
“They think I draw too much attention to myself being, well, me. By not conforming. They think it makes them look bad. So, my choices are to try to pretend I’m not who I am, or find a way not to be answerable to them. And sorry,” I gave him a cheeky grin, pleased that he was being so cool about it. “I just can’t help it that I’m fabulous.”
“I don’t know your story, and I’m not going to ask for any more than you want to give. But I know, I can just tell from the way you act, that people have tried to take things from you, tried to take YOU from you. They tried to take away something amazing, something that deserves more, something that wants to shine. I see it. I see the part they never managed to steal, no matter how hard they tried…Your soul,” he whispered, answering the unspoken inquiry.”
If we’d been asking permission before, this time we were stating intent. A little rougher, a little less patient, a little more demanding. Our tongues stroked eagerly, our hands grasping and pulling at each other.
“May I take your picture?”
Like a needle scratching along a record, I zipped to a halt.
“What?”
He licked his lips, smiling at my sudden unease, his eyes dancing again. “I swear to God it’s not as sleazy as it sounds. I think I might like to paint you sometime, but obviously you won’t be able to model for me. So I wondered if I could take some photos to use as references”…..
“I’d like to do two sets, if you don’t mind. One nude before we fuck, and another when we’re done.” He pressed close, brushing his lips along my jaw until I turned to welcomed the kiss. His voice dropped to a sexy murmur. “I want to capture the look in your eyes, before and after. Hungry, then satisfied.”
I shuddered, clearing my throat. “Okay, I just, um….Hey, look, I know some scary-ass leather daddies, you hear me? If these end up on some internet porn site, I’m sending them after you.”
“Don’t you see, angel?” His arms tightened around me. “You’re still on your feet. You may hate yourself for every little mistake you make, but the fact that you’ve survived means you’ve come out on top. It might not be a perfect victory, but those are really, really rare. Every day you stand up and face life again is a win.”
ARC provided by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
for a story which left me with a big soppy grin on my face, and lasting memories of a bowed but unbeaten young man who has taken all the s**t that life has thrown at him and triumphed over that adversity.
Topher is...a beautiful man physically, but mentally?? Well, it's a different kettle of fish!! He’s a student on a swimming scholarship, which is not what he wanted to do but hey, beggars can’t be choosers…he wanted to sing but that chance went begging a long time ago thanks to his family, AND talking of his family, let’s have a chat about them shall we, his own personal users and abusers!! Mum, a major attention seeker and all-round show off 😕, whether it be getting drunk or taking drugs, sleeping with anyone that shows interest, and oh yes, let’s not forget the suicide attempts where she blames everyone else but herself for the life she’s led, she’s definitely her own pity party. She’s a really piss-poor version of anyone’s mum, but unfortunately she’s already got her claws into Topher and always guilt trips him into comforting her and making her feel better. Eventually Social Services sit up and take notice of Topher and his sisters Colleen (bitch) and Tonya after they’re found wandering the streets more or less starving, and the kids are taken away and placed with relatives.
Now, anyone with the slightest knowledge of how the brain works must know that the kids will be basically scarred for life after the upbringing they’ve had, but no, it’s not enough that they’ve had the rubbish start in life that they have, they’re put in the care of their grandfather and here things take a much more sinister turn, and there’s no pretty way to say it; Topher is sexually abused by his grandfather…everyone knows what’s going on, but no-one does a damn thing about it until his aunt and uncle step in some time later, and Topher is then subjected by them to really nasty verbal abuse and humiliation, he gets bullied at school and things are forever on a downward spiral.
Needless to say, after that childhood, it’s no wonder that Topher is in therapy and on meds for a long time, and as Topher himself says “I figured that if my family was going to accuse me of being a drama queen – which they’d done pretty much from the time I was able to talk – I might as well actually be one.” However I digress...at last things seem to be going his way, he’s got a wonderful BFF Morgan or Mo as she’s known, and she’s bringing Topher with her to spend the summer at her parent’s summer house on the beach in Saugatuck. Mo comes and goes, and her father Brendan also comes to stay at the house, and alarm bells gradually start going off….all of a sudden we have Topher fighting his attraction to Mo’s father cos a) he’s Mo’s father and b) he’s not even gay……but never fear, there’s plenty more to tell there folks!!
On his 21st birthday, rather than spend the day by himself at the beach house ignoring his attraction to Brendan, Topher goes down to the beach and is soon being checked out by a really hot guy who comes on to him and Jace enters the story. Jace has his own horrifying story to tell…now come on, it wouldn’t be m/m fiction if there wasn’t a little bit of angst would it!! I’ll just mention those words ‘straight camp’ and leave you to draw your own conclusions!!
Topher and Jace are broken men, ripped apart by the very people that gave them life and are supposedly there to protect them – their own families BUT they are also survivors, and finding each other at the beach that day looked like fate to me and the very best thing that could have happened to either of them.
This was another outstanding story from Amelia...Lady, you are one helluva writer, and there are loads of quotes I want to include here, and far too many more I can’t….
“I don’t know if I’ll ever go through with it. I’m just too much of a perfectionist, I guess.
I’d rather be nothing than be middle-of-the-road.”
She hugged me tightly.
“You’re not middle-of-the-road, Topher. You’re fast lane, all the way. You just, you know, need to find the right car.”
Mo didn’t press me to talk. She knew I’d open up in my own time. I wasn’t even close to manly enough to stuff down my feelings about shit. I wore them on my sleeve, and yes, that did get me my ass kicked regularly throughout my school years, thanks for asking. Finally she said softly “What do you think your mom will do if you go see her?”
I scrubbed my hands down my face. “Same thing she’s always done. Try to make me as sick as she is.”
I personally don’t care that you’re gay; Aunt Blythe had said when I accused her of being homophobic. It’s that you act so effeminate. We live in a society that has rules about how people should and shouldn’t behave and present themselves. When you break them, you’re not the only one who faces the consequences. You embarrass us all.
I shrugged off the memory.
“They think I draw too much attention to myself being, well, me. By not conforming. They think it makes them look bad. So, my choices are to try to pretend I’m not who I am, or find a way not to be answerable to them. And sorry,” I gave him a cheeky grin, pleased that he was being so cool about it. “I just can’t help it that I’m fabulous.”
“I don’t know your story, and I’m not going to ask for any more than you want to give. But I know, I can just tell from the way you act, that people have tried to take things from you, tried to take YOU from you. They tried to take away something amazing, something that deserves more, something that wants to shine. I see it. I see the part they never managed to steal, no matter how hard they tried…Your soul,” he whispered, answering the unspoken inquiry.”
If we’d been asking permission before, this time we were stating intent. A little rougher, a little less patient, a little more demanding. Our tongues stroked eagerly, our hands grasping and pulling at each other.
“May I take your picture?”
Like a needle scratching along a record, I zipped to a halt.
“What?”
He licked his lips, smiling at my sudden unease, his eyes dancing again. “I swear to God it’s not as sleazy as it sounds. I think I might like to paint you sometime, but obviously you won’t be able to model for me. So I wondered if I could take some photos to use as references”…..
“I’d like to do two sets, if you don’t mind. One nude before we fuck, and another when we’re done.” He pressed close, brushing his lips along my jaw until I turned to welcomed the kiss. His voice dropped to a sexy murmur. “I want to capture the look in your eyes, before and after. Hungry, then satisfied.”
I shuddered, clearing my throat. “Okay, I just, um….Hey, look, I know some scary-ass leather daddies, you hear me? If these end up on some internet porn site, I’m sending them after you.”
“Don’t you see, angel?” His arms tightened around me. “You’re still on your feet. You may hate yourself for every little mistake you make, but the fact that you’ve survived means you’ve come out on top. It might not be a perfect victory, but those are really, really rare. Every day you stand up and face life again is a win.”
ARC provided by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
August 6, 2014
Reviewed for
Grab some popcorn. It gets a little bumpy.
Saugatuck Summer is Topher’s story. Topher is a blunderbuss and an emotional black hole. He’s survived an abusive, chaotic and neglectful childhood. He’s got a truckload of baggage, his family is chock-a-block with pessimists and naysayers and he has a tendency to verbal vomit about it all over anyone who shows even an inkling of interest. I certainly empathize with him, but I didn’t like him. Not at all. As a matter of fact I disconnected from him and went straight into diagnostician mode. It’s a defense mechanism of mine since I’ve heard this story only a thousand times worse repeatedly. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but I can unequivocally tell you Ms. Gormley nailed this character. She crawled inside him and showed us all the ugly, the memories, the impulsiveness, the insecurities, the tantrums, everything. No, I didn’t like him but I understood him and what motivates him and so does Ms. Gormley.
I’m not as averse to cheating as some. I’m of the opinion that people make mistakes and characters that are realistic are fallible as well. Brendan and Topher are both culpable and equally deserving of their fair share of the blame for betraying not only Brendan’s wife but Topher’s best friend. Everything about this relationship had train wreck written all over it from the get go. The dichotomy of the situation and, really, the book as a whole is what Ms. Gormley does best. As I said I didn’t like Topher, I didn’t like that he was having an affair with his best friend’s father but I understood it and maybe even empathized with them both a bit. I’d even go so far as to say that I think both characters’ reactions to the whole situation and its demise were pitch perfect relative to their characterizations.
Jace is like the dawn breaking after this stormy night. He’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for Topher. The whole second half of Saugatuck Summer is the evolution of their relationship from hook-up to a possible HEA/HFN and was my favorite part of the book. Their chemistry is white hot. There is a sequence with them in a bathhouse with a bear and some exhibitionism that had me panting. I’m a sucker for dirty talk and-DA-YUM!-Jace has got a filthy mouth. The whole book is worth it for that sequence alone. No lie. Their relationship could quite possibly give Topher the strength to become the person he’s capable of becoming. And who doesn’t need a little help every now and then?
The end gets heavy on the feels, and I felt like it was extended beyond what was necessary, but I won’t deny being affected by it. I was reminded of a famous line in an old rom-com: ”even people who hate their mothers, love their mothers.” So true especially for Topher. This is an ARC and I’m becoming more accustomed to the wonky formatting, but it still needs an edit. I had to read several sentences more than once because they didn’t make sense. Other than these two issues, one of which is entirely subjective, the other of which could quite possibly be addressed prior to its actual release, it was an emotional and engaging read filled with some very interesting secondary characters. I’m hopeful the next installment will involve Geoff and Robin trying to juggle being new parents and their kinky shenanigans. I’ll beg if need be. And p.s. Robin has LOTS-O-TATTOOS. There’s got to be some piercings in there too, right? RIGHT?!?!
I would like to thank Riptide for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Welcome to the world of a dysfunctional twenty-one year old.
Grab some popcorn. It gets a little bumpy.
“What do you do when you discover you’re not the person you thought you were, when you realize you’re far, far worse? Horrible even?”
Saugatuck Summer is Topher’s story. Topher is a blunderbuss and an emotional black hole. He’s survived an abusive, chaotic and neglectful childhood. He’s got a truckload of baggage, his family is chock-a-block with pessimists and naysayers and he has a tendency to verbal vomit about it all over anyone who shows even an inkling of interest. I certainly empathize with him, but I didn’t like him. Not at all. As a matter of fact I disconnected from him and went straight into diagnostician mode. It’s a defense mechanism of mine since I’ve heard this story only a thousand times worse repeatedly. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but I can unequivocally tell you Ms. Gormley nailed this character. She crawled inside him and showed us all the ugly, the memories, the impulsiveness, the insecurities, the tantrums, everything. No, I didn’t like him but I understood him and what motivates him and so does Ms. Gormley.
I’m not as averse to cheating as some. I’m of the opinion that people make mistakes and characters that are realistic are fallible as well. Brendan and Topher are both culpable and equally deserving of their fair share of the blame for betraying not only Brendan’s wife but Topher’s best friend. Everything about this relationship had train wreck written all over it from the get go. The dichotomy of the situation and, really, the book as a whole is what Ms. Gormley does best. As I said I didn’t like Topher, I didn’t like that he was having an affair with his best friend’s father but I understood it and maybe even empathized with them both a bit. I’d even go so far as to say that I think both characters’ reactions to the whole situation and its demise were pitch perfect relative to their characterizations.
Jace is like the dawn breaking after this stormy night. He’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for Topher. The whole second half of Saugatuck Summer is the evolution of their relationship from hook-up to a possible HEA/HFN and was my favorite part of the book. Their chemistry is white hot. There is a sequence with them in a bathhouse with a bear and some exhibitionism that had me panting. I’m a sucker for dirty talk and-DA-YUM!-Jace has got a filthy mouth. The whole book is worth it for that sequence alone. No lie. Their relationship could quite possibly give Topher the strength to become the person he’s capable of becoming. And who doesn’t need a little help every now and then?
The end gets heavy on the feels, and I felt like it was extended beyond what was necessary, but I won’t deny being affected by it. I was reminded of a famous line in an old rom-com: ”even people who hate their mothers, love their mothers.” So true especially for Topher. This is an ARC and I’m becoming more accustomed to the wonky formatting, but it still needs an edit. I had to read several sentences more than once because they didn’t make sense. Other than these two issues, one of which is entirely subjective, the other of which could quite possibly be addressed prior to its actual release, it was an emotional and engaging read filled with some very interesting secondary characters. I’m hopeful the next installment will involve Geoff and Robin trying to juggle being new parents and their kinky shenanigans. I’ll beg if need be. And p.s. Robin has LOTS-O-TATTOOS. There’s got to be some piercings in there too, right? RIGHT?!?!
I would like to thank Riptide for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2017
Oh wow. This book. I am not going to lie; it hits you and it hits you hard. There is so much to it that hit home with me, at times too close to home that I had to take as step back but couldn't because no matter what I couldn't stop reading.
So I have this story about our boy Topher. Last year I read the short story from the m/m romance group The Field of Someone Else's Dreams. As I read the story of Matt and Chris a side character caught my eye; Topher Carlisle. Upon following the author I had noticed her tweeting about Topher and his story. I had an “ah ha” moment and decided to ask her if that Toper was THE Toper who is friends with Matt and Chris. To my wonderful surprise it was and from that moment, I became a bit obsessed with the boy. I can’t tell you why, it just happened. Well, now, after meeting him I know that as odd as it sounds, I was destined to meet Topher Carlise. To read his story and not only feel for him.
There was an extreme personal and emotional connection for me with this book. So much of Topher could be me in many ways. No, I am not a young bi-racial boy struggling with the screwed up dynamics of his family while having an affair with his BFF’s married/closeted father all why trying to figure his life out. But, the way Topher relates to music and parts of his past hit me hard and yes, did affect my reading experience of this story.
I adored the hell out of Topher, yes I clung to his name after I read it in a very short story but the boy, stole my heart. I loved watching him as he struggled, as he grew and even as he failed. Topher’s back story was heart breaking and the strength that he gains from it was gorgeous. Nothing is black and white, life isn’t made that way and for many of us, we have to fight each day to be what other’s refer to as normal. Did Topher make the best decisions? Eh…probably not but he only did what he could.
I won’t go into great detail about this book, I honestly think it is one to be read and I will shout my love for it off the rooftops to let everyone know to do so. I will say that the affair with the BFF’s dad, not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb was done so well. It was not the best thing for these men to get into and though I know it had to end it still choked me up to watch it happen. More to watch what happened to Topher because of it.
Confession; this author is one of my favorites. I have read everything but one story by her and I love her storytelling but this, this is by far my favorite of all. The beauty and rawness of Topher’s story still, months after reading it hits my so hard that I cannot go over my notes from it. I just can’t. It’s still so strong with me that I can sit her feeling it without looking at a single word from the pages I was lost in. That is a mark of talent for me.
There is something I took from this book, a cause and effect lesson if you will. There is saying in the Master Student class of “I create it all” and oh boy was it ever present in Saugatuck Summer. Topher never ran from the shit that followed him or the shitty situations he got himself into. He met them head on and with some help from a set of fabulous side characters he thrived. Speaking of side characters, um Robin and Geoff really need their own story. Just saying…
Now, I have to talk about Jace…OMG Jace. This man is amazing. I questioned his want to help Topher the way that he does, so truly and so passionately but once you meet him you get lost in him and it’s inevitable that you fall for Jace as he does what he does best, take care, encourage and love the hell out of Topher. To use two words or ‘actions’ to describe Jace…swoon and unf!
This book, I really can’t go into much more without getting spoiliery or emotional. I will admit to there being a scene I did not read. I completely skipped over it when I knew it was coming and have not gone back to read it. I won’t go back and read it and that is strictly for personal reasons. Not that there is anything wrong with it, I just emotionally cannot read it.
Saugatuck Summer is one hell of an intense, gorgeous and wonderful book. I was lost in the tangled weave of Topher and his rocky navigation throughout his summer. I loved him more than I thought possible when I realized he was getting his story and the boy is so with me it’s insane. This is one of those books that I find difficult to review, if you can’t tell, because it did hit so close to home but if there is one thing I could say about this book; read it.
Just read it.
Rating: 4.5 stars
So I have this story about our boy Topher. Last year I read the short story from the m/m romance group The Field of Someone Else's Dreams. As I read the story of Matt and Chris a side character caught my eye; Topher Carlisle. Upon following the author I had noticed her tweeting about Topher and his story. I had an “ah ha” moment and decided to ask her if that Toper was THE Toper who is friends with Matt and Chris. To my wonderful surprise it was and from that moment, I became a bit obsessed with the boy. I can’t tell you why, it just happened. Well, now, after meeting him I know that as odd as it sounds, I was destined to meet Topher Carlise. To read his story and not only feel for him.
There was an extreme personal and emotional connection for me with this book. So much of Topher could be me in many ways. No, I am not a young bi-racial boy struggling with the screwed up dynamics of his family while having an affair with his BFF’s married/closeted father all why trying to figure his life out. But, the way Topher relates to music and parts of his past hit me hard and yes, did affect my reading experience of this story.
I adored the hell out of Topher, yes I clung to his name after I read it in a very short story but the boy, stole my heart. I loved watching him as he struggled, as he grew and even as he failed. Topher’s back story was heart breaking and the strength that he gains from it was gorgeous. Nothing is black and white, life isn’t made that way and for many of us, we have to fight each day to be what other’s refer to as normal. Did Topher make the best decisions? Eh…probably not but he only did what he could.
I won’t go into great detail about this book, I honestly think it is one to be read and I will shout my love for it off the rooftops to let everyone know to do so. I will say that the affair with the BFF’s dad, not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb was done so well. It was not the best thing for these men to get into and though I know it had to end it still choked me up to watch it happen. More to watch what happened to Topher because of it.
Confession; this author is one of my favorites. I have read everything but one story by her and I love her storytelling but this, this is by far my favorite of all. The beauty and rawness of Topher’s story still, months after reading it hits my so hard that I cannot go over my notes from it. I just can’t. It’s still so strong with me that I can sit her feeling it without looking at a single word from the pages I was lost in. That is a mark of talent for me.
There is something I took from this book, a cause and effect lesson if you will. There is saying in the Master Student class of “I create it all” and oh boy was it ever present in Saugatuck Summer. Topher never ran from the shit that followed him or the shitty situations he got himself into. He met them head on and with some help from a set of fabulous side characters he thrived. Speaking of side characters, um Robin and Geoff really need their own story. Just saying…
Now, I have to talk about Jace…OMG Jace. This man is amazing. I questioned his want to help Topher the way that he does, so truly and so passionately but once you meet him you get lost in him and it’s inevitable that you fall for Jace as he does what he does best, take care, encourage and love the hell out of Topher. To use two words or ‘actions’ to describe Jace…swoon and unf!
This book, I really can’t go into much more without getting spoiliery or emotional. I will admit to there being a scene I did not read. I completely skipped over it when I knew it was coming and have not gone back to read it. I won’t go back and read it and that is strictly for personal reasons. Not that there is anything wrong with it, I just emotionally cannot read it.
Saugatuck Summer is one hell of an intense, gorgeous and wonderful book. I was lost in the tangled weave of Topher and his rocky navigation throughout his summer. I loved him more than I thought possible when I realized he was getting his story and the boy is so with me it’s insane. This is one of those books that I find difficult to review, if you can’t tell, because it did hit so close to home but if there is one thing I could say about this book; read it.
Just read it.
Rating: 4.5 stars
June 27, 2014
This one left me a bit cold and I didn't find Topher's character to really be someone I'd even remotely want to just hang out with. The prospect of that leaves me feeling completely exhausted. *shudder*
Plus the whole aiding and abetting adultery aspect of the story made me want to punch a couple of selfish bitches in the throat. It's not *that* hard to be a stand up guy and keep it in your pants vs. screwing your only true friend's dad. Repeatedly. "Oops, I fell on your dick again. My bad." (not)
Soooooo after Topher's 15th or 10,000th angsty whine, I honestly lost count, I would have been fine with reading the following:
"... and then Topher stepped in front of a speeding bus and that was the end of that. Now let's continue on with the (much more interesting) story of Jace, Robin & Geoff and how they got to where they are today."
I think that would have been a story that REALLY kept me entertained and wanting more. The ink-free tattoo artist and his tatted up partner and best friend do Chicago. *Sizzling* ;- )
But as it was, I mainly kept plodding through until the book was done while thinking about what I'd like to read next. Picture being on a date with someone kinda cute, but you have zero chemistry. "Me, meet this book. Book, meet me."
Plus the whole aiding and abetting adultery aspect of the story made me want to punch a couple of selfish bitches in the throat. It's not *that* hard to be a stand up guy and keep it in your pants vs. screwing your only true friend's dad. Repeatedly. "Oops, I fell on your dick again. My bad." (not)
Soooooo after Topher's 15th or 10,000th angsty whine, I honestly lost count, I would have been fine with reading the following:
"... and then Topher stepped in front of a speeding bus and that was the end of that. Now let's continue on with the (much more interesting) story of Jace, Robin & Geoff and how they got to where they are today."
I think that would have been a story that REALLY kept me entertained and wanting more. The ink-free tattoo artist and his tatted up partner and best friend do Chicago. *Sizzling* ;- )
But as it was, I mainly kept plodding through until the book was done while thinking about what I'd like to read next. Picture being on a date with someone kinda cute, but you have zero chemistry. "Me, meet this book. Book, meet me."
August 12, 2016
Shoot, I never wrote a review! Short and sweet on this one. Some words to describe it:
^^^Ok, I know the two gifs together are a sentence not a word. Lol
My advice:
P.S. If you're worried about the angst factor- it is not that bad, and that is coming from someone who doesn't handle angst that well.
P.P.S. I just want to say- Jace:
I wish you were real :)
^^^Ok, I know the two gifs together are a sentence not a word. Lol
My advice:
P.S. If you're worried about the angst factor- it is not that bad, and that is coming from someone who doesn't handle angst that well.
P.P.S. I just want to say- Jace:
I wish you were real :)
June 1, 2014
I'm simply blown away, brilliant book!
Can a book kill you, turn you inside out and make you grieve deeply over a cute guy and his lost youth, and make you simultaneously smile with him and jump for joy when you see his burning desire to just live, make his music and be happy? Saugatuck Summer made me feel this way, it took me on a roller coaster ride of deep misery, overwhelming emotions and the blossoming hope that even the most lost souls can find their true love and a happily ever after.
When you first meet the exotic looking twenty-one year old Christopher Carlisle he seems to be pretty, confident, defiant, loud, proud and fabulous (these are his own words) and you actually think that nothing on earth can ever hurt him. He is comfortable identifying and presenting himself mostly as male, but he definitely floats somewhere in the middle of the gender spectrum and he doesn’t mind showing it, swinging from mildly flaming to downright campy. Openly gay, not giving a shit about what anyone thinks and going his own way, coming across as independent and full of self confidence.
After reading a few pages though you realise that Topher’s world is quite different from that. His mother is a deadbeat alcoholic and the rest of his family label him as self absorbed, screwed-up worthless gay trash. Abused and neglected he somehow managed to survive his worthless mother and his shitty upbringing, even when it has taken hours of therapy and tons of pharmaceuticals to get him to the point where he was able to go on with his life.
Out of money he is close to losing his college swimming scholarship, so when his best friend Morgan invites him to stay at her beach house on the shores of Lake Michigan he takes a chance. It gives him one summer to make money and figure out what to do with his fucked up life. Oh, I loved Mo, she’s such a tough girl, she’s Topher’s lifeline every time he’s on the verge of drowning in his self-doubts.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever go through with it. I’m just too much of a perfectionist, I guess. I’d rather be nothing than be middle-of-the-road.”
She hugged me tightly. “You’re not middle-of-the-road, Topher. You’re fast lane, all the way. You just, you know, need to find the right car.”
Mo has a job counselling at a summer camp in Traverse City and can’t stay with Topher all the time so he is grateful that her father keeps him company. If only Brendan wasn’t so hot and kind and sensitive and if only Topher wasn’t so attracted to the man who persuades him to finally unburden his heart. Then there’s Jace, wonderful, creative, insightful and understanding, who seems to think Topher doesn’t give himself enough credit. But just because he is who he is everything he does has to be wrong or dirty by default, right? Or can one summer change everything?
Oh Jace… gorgeous, dark-haired, sassy, Jace, covered with hot tattoos and even hotter piercings. He’s the only one who sees him in a way Topher never has seen himself. He’s exactly what Topher has always needed in his life. It seems like his soul, the depths of his being, is stripped bare in front of Jace,
“I don’t know your story, and I’m not going to ask for any more than you want to give. But I know, I can just tell from the way you act, that people have tried to take things from you, tried to take you from you. They tried to take away something amazing, something that deserves more, something that wants to shine. I see it. I see the part they never managed to steal, no matter how hard they tried…Your soul,” he whispered, answering the unspoken inquiry.
The chemistry between those two… Holy mother of HAWT! They just cannot keep their hands of each other and believe me when I tell you it is HOT! There’s one scene at a bath house… holy hell Amelia, you got me there!
The sex is intense, tender and passionate, the emotion between these two is electric, the intensity and rawness of it is definitely cold shower worthy. But the passion between them is so much more than just the sex… and the love they have for each other truly touched me and left me speechless. I fell utterly and totally head over heels for Jace and Topher.
Amelia Gormley’s writing style is powerful, gripping, and so emotional. You don’t feel like watching from the side-lines, you’re living within the story. You suffer with Topher, you laugh and smile with him, you hug (or slap) him and make it all better. The skill to write like this is a true gift and I’m simply in awe.
What I’d especially like to mention is the wonderful way the book combines and makes connections between the lyrics of the talented musician Casey Stratton. Every chapter is introduced with the lyrics of one of his songs. Marvellously done! Especially his song Cloudbusting which seems to have been just written just for Topher.
Overall, Saugatuck Summer is one brilliantly written book, about learning to put a shitty past behind, it’s about accepting oneself and not giving up hope. It’s about making peace with one’s family, getting rid of guilt and embracing life in all it’s glorious colours. And…that was so emotional to watch… it’s about making dreams come true, finding the perfect guy and building a future with him. It’s a true coming of age story. Highly recommended! I really look forward to reading the next instalment of the Saugatuck universe. Scratch that! I can’t fucking wait!
Btw, Topher was first mentioned in The Field of Someone Else’s Dreams, Amelia’s Love Has No Boundaries freebie for the Goodread’s M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Read in the Closet event last year. That short story isn’t necessary to read Saugatuck Summer, but for those of you who enjoyed Matt and Chris from The Field of Someone Else’s Dreams, be aware that Amelia will be continuing the Saugatuck universe and giving them their own novel in the near future, so go ahead and check that out!
I want to finish my review with one my of favourite quotes. Did I mention that Jace is my newest book-boyfriend crush? Jace... *dreamy sigh* ... gorgeous, dark-haired, sassy Jace, covered with hot tattoos and even hotter piercings... Oh girls and boys… what a guy!
“I don’t need you to be perfect. I don’t need you to never make mistakes. I just need you to let me give you as much of myself as I can, and to trust that I will try as hard as possible never to hurt you intentionally. Can you do that? Can you just let me love you?”
August 12, 2016
Blown. Away. 5 stars and straight to my favorites shelf. Review to come.
Edit: 26/03/2014
Ladies and Gents, meet Christopher Carlisle, aka Topher. This book is about him, his past, his present, and his future. He is a lovely character and I would happily read 500 more pages about him. Alas, I'll take what I can get. There are different aspects of the book that I loved and to save you from an incoherent jumble of thoughts, I'll just make a list.
TOPHER
Topher is 21, comes from a trulyfucked up dysfunctional family, and is struggling to maintain his swimming scholarship in college. He is anything but simple. He can be a diva, wearing outrageous outfits, out and proud and loud and what have you. He can also be shy, withdrawn, defensive, and vulnerable. He is a rare creature, one that can let go and indulge in hedonistic pleasures and one that will forcefully remove himself from a chance at trusting someone and being happy. Learning about his past was no picnic, let me tell you. Some of the things he went through were the stuff of nightmares. Topher often refers to himself as having a pity party and wallowing in misery but he does anything but. The author's writing style is stunning. Simply stunning. She managed to described painful, traumatic events using Topher's voice through and through in a way that made all of it real and so freaking authentic, NOT ONCE did I think something was introduced to advance the plot. From a psychological point of view, Topher's way of thinking is fascinating and truly reflective of a person with his experiences. He has had years of therapy which actually show in the way his inner monologues are constructed. It was so refreshing to read about a damaged character who's had therapy and does not dismiss the therapeutic benefit of the interactions with his psychologist. So often I read about a character who is damaged, who might have undergone therapy, but nothing in the way the character is described remotely indicates any sort of learning from the experience. The character simply eventually
gets better.
This is not the case here. The author has clearly done extensive homework and Topher's psychosynthesis is a very good example of what a person with his past is like.
The Affair
Topher's exotic looks get him a lot of attention, including his best friend's closeted dad. Yes, there is an affair, and if you are 100% repulsed by cheating, do not read this because the event is not glossed over. We get a crystal clear view of what Topher is going through throughout the affair, his emotional ups and downs, his guilt, his excitement, and the inevitable crash and burn when it's over. Not surprisingly, the whole process is pivotal to Topher's growth as a character and dare I say necessary to see him escape his "scared rabbit" emotional persona after it ends. It's during this time that Topher meets Jace, a talented artist who takes an immediate interest to Topher that actually means something more than f*cking a beautiful body. However, Jace doesn't really get his chance until later, because Topher is truly messed up with everything that's happening, including the affair, his fear of losing his best friend over it, and his financial stability.
Topher's family
I haven't mentioned anything that's not in the blurb yet, but from this point on I don't want to spoiler anyone, so I will keep it vague. The second part of the book is about Topher's disentanglement from a wrong choice, his decision to start something with Jace, and his emotional growth. His self-awareness reaches new levels which are portrayed especially well in the dealings with his family. There are certain things that happen which require him to interact with family members that he is not close to or feels loved and accepted by, and his struggle to rise above the feelings of inadequacy truly shine. I fell in love with Topher during this part because at times he resembled a frightened and sad little boy who just craves a little affection. Then the survivor in him would kick in and I would be in awe of his inner strength and ability to adapt to challenges. I LOATHE his sister and by God if she was real she would need a restraining order because seriously, the girl is a serious case of narcissistic personality/psychopathy. She made me so freaking angry and I wished her character horrible things, agh!
Topher and Jace
Holy hotness Batman! Topher and Jace. Jace and Topher. Hot. Kinky. Emotional. Breathtaking. Amelia Gormley knows her shit when it comes to erotica and boy does she deliver. The sex scenes are beyond hot. Seriously. Sizzling, scorching, off-the-charts hot. Did I mention hot? Okay. There is one scene in particular that I. Can't. Even! One word for you: Steam-room. You'll know when you get there. Besides that though, there is such beauty in Topher and Jace's bonding that left me almost in tears. Topher is so sensitive and it would take a special kind of person to break through those 10-feet cement walls he's built around himself. Jace is that sort of person. Topher is stripped-bare on a level I haven't read in a while. His soul is bared open to Jace and Jace takes great care in the honor to protect it and cherish it.
There really isn't more I could say without revealing major plot points. This is a wonderful book, with excellent characterisations, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Word of warning: Topher's voice sounded a little annoying in the very first few pages but once I got to know him more, all that went away. Should you feel that way, stick through it. It is so damn worth it.
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review*
Edit: 26/03/2014
Ladies and Gents, meet Christopher Carlisle, aka Topher. This book is about him, his past, his present, and his future. He is a lovely character and I would happily read 500 more pages about him. Alas, I'll take what I can get. There are different aspects of the book that I loved and to save you from an incoherent jumble of thoughts, I'll just make a list.
TOPHER
Topher is 21, comes from a truly
The Affair
Topher's exotic looks get him a lot of attention, including his best friend's closeted dad. Yes, there is an affair, and if you are 100% repulsed by cheating, do not read this because the event is not glossed over. We get a crystal clear view of what Topher is going through throughout the affair, his emotional ups and downs, his guilt, his excitement, and the inevitable crash and burn when it's over. Not surprisingly, the whole process is pivotal to Topher's growth as a character and dare I say necessary to see him escape his "scared rabbit" emotional persona after it ends. It's during this time that Topher meets Jace, a talented artist who takes an immediate interest to Topher that actually means something more than f*cking a beautiful body. However, Jace doesn't really get his chance until later, because Topher is truly messed up with everything that's happening, including the affair, his fear of losing his best friend over it, and his financial stability.
Topher's family
I haven't mentioned anything that's not in the blurb yet, but from this point on I don't want to spoiler anyone, so I will keep it vague. The second part of the book is about Topher's disentanglement from a wrong choice, his decision to start something with Jace, and his emotional growth. His self-awareness reaches new levels which are portrayed especially well in the dealings with his family. There are certain things that happen which require him to interact with family members that he is not close to or feels loved and accepted by, and his struggle to rise above the feelings of inadequacy truly shine. I fell in love with Topher during this part because at times he resembled a frightened and sad little boy who just craves a little affection. Then the survivor in him would kick in and I would be in awe of his inner strength and ability to adapt to challenges. I LOATHE his sister and by God if she was real she would need a restraining order because seriously, the girl is a serious case of narcissistic personality/psychopathy. She made me so freaking angry and I wished her character horrible things, agh!
Topher and Jace
Holy hotness Batman! Topher and Jace. Jace and Topher. Hot. Kinky. Emotional. Breathtaking. Amelia Gormley knows her shit when it comes to erotica and boy does she deliver. The sex scenes are beyond hot. Seriously. Sizzling, scorching, off-the-charts hot. Did I mention hot? Okay. There is one scene in particular that I. Can't. Even! One word for you: Steam-room. You'll know when you get there. Besides that though, there is such beauty in Topher and Jace's bonding that left me almost in tears. Topher is so sensitive and it would take a special kind of person to break through those 10-feet cement walls he's built around himself. Jace is that sort of person. Topher is stripped-bare on a level I haven't read in a while. His soul is bared open to Jace and Jace takes great care in the honor to protect it and cherish it.
There really isn't more I could say without revealing major plot points. This is a wonderful book, with excellent characterisations, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Word of warning: Topher's voice sounded a little annoying in the very first few pages but once I got to know him more, all that went away. Should you feel that way, stick through it. It is so damn worth it.
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review*
dnf
February 8, 2017DNF. Yeah so blurb stated cheating and it's a hard, hard limit for me but I was hoping the book would be good enough for me to push through it or maybe there would be some kind of grey area. But nope....no grey area. He legit fucked his best friends married father which happened AFTER meeting and fucking the other MC, Jace. No loyalty, man. I didn't like the main MC before that occurred and after I definitely didn't like him enough to finish.
August 1, 2019
I'll try to write a review later...once I stop crying.
No, it's not sad as a whole - but so much of this felt too familiar, too personal. It's hard to read a book where it feels like someone biographied you; I'm not a bit like Topher physically, and yet so much of what he experienced, how he feels, what he thinks and how he acts (and especially some parts of his upbringing)...well, it was like looking in a mirror and seeing my younger self.
I knew Amelia could write but dayum.
No, it's not sad as a whole - but so much of this felt too familiar, too personal. It's hard to read a book where it feels like someone biographied you; I'm not a bit like Topher physically, and yet so much of what he experienced, how he feels, what he thinks and how he acts (and especially some parts of his upbringing)...well, it was like looking in a mirror and seeing my younger self.
I knew Amelia could write but dayum.
February 3, 2019
I can't say that I liked this story. In fact, I had to push myself to finish the story, especially because I did not connect with the character or the plot. I'm not sure how much it has to do with being written in 1st person POV or how much I felt that this character was a self-centered train wreck, committing mistakes, especially the big one that we could see a mile away. I think I'm just going to wuss out, and make it an issue that this story just wasn't for me, and leave it unrated because I like this author so much.
May 25, 2014
I think I'm going to be the odd one out, but I didn't love this. It's not badly written, and there were elements that I usually would have liked, but as a whole the story felt flat and uneven. Jace's character seemed particularly underdeveloped. I'm having a hard time articulating where this book went wrong for me, since almost everyone else loved it. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for angsty family drama, infidelity drama, etc.
Also, I didn't like the relentless inclusion of song lyrics (along with Topher giving a lengthy in-story plug for that particular musician). It seemed intrusive and out of place, like the author was really inserting her own tastes in the story. Again, your mileage may vary.
Also, I didn't like the relentless inclusion of song lyrics (along with Topher giving a lengthy in-story plug for that particular musician). It seemed intrusive and out of place, like the author was really inserting her own tastes in the story. Again, your mileage may vary.
dnf
July 23, 2015So - sorry, but I won't be back. At least not to finish. I did a last try and made it up to 41%, but I don't like Topher (started already with the name) and I don't like any of what he's doing. I don't like any of the other characters in this book and really - there are so many books waiting tbr, hopefully lots of them more interesting to me than this one, so I decided to quit.
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November 29, 2018Freebie at the zon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Sea-Change-S...
April 3, 2014
I read Saugatuck Summer right after I read Strain from Amelia C. Gormley. I was pleasantly surprised by the polar opposites these stories presented. Strain is for another review, but just so you know; you need to read it. Saugatuck Summer introduces us to Topher Carlisle. Twenty-one years old, Topher is a college student with a swimming scholarship. He works summers to earn enough money to cover his expenses not paid for by his scholarship. His best friend Morgan offers him the opportunity to spend the summer rent-free at her family’s beach house on Lake Michigan. Even though she won’t be there most of the time, Topher jumps at the chance.
The lake house is perfect for Topher. It is rent free. There is a lake right there so he can keep up his busy workout schedule. It is a gay vacation destination, so there should be lots of men to choose from… The one thing Topher didn’t count on was Morgan’s father, Brendan, being so delicious. And married. And straight. And there all summer alone with Topher. But is anyone ever totally straight?
Then there’s Jace. Topher and Jace meet on Topher’s 21st birthday and the angst wouldn’t be perfect unless Jace was only in town for a short time and living in Chicago. It’s a one night stand with a twist. Extra points for degree of difficulty. The cover of this book looks all peaceful and sweet summer nights making love after a day spent together at the beach. While this would make an okay book, Ms. Gormley does a better job than that by giving the reader an angsty, sweaty, scary, tragic, sexy, love/lust/love(?) story.
Topher winds up homeless, but I’m sure you saw that coming. For a little while I was really rooting for him and Brendan, but then Brendan does something so epically stupid that even the die hard romantic in me couldn’t be team Brendan any more. Topher fears he may have lost his best and only true friend as well as his rent-free living situation.
At this point, Topher still hasn’t found a job. But the little pieces of the puzzle that he thought made up his life are coming back together and they look a lot like something painted one enchanted evening spent with a sexy artist. Then there’s a job. And a sofa, followed by another job in an art gallery. The owner of the gallery recognizes Topher immediately. See, he just returned from a buying trip to Chicago where he bought a series of sexy new paintings from one of the artists he carries at the gallery.
I love me a messed up starving college boy who needs some love to help him figure his shit out. In Saugatuck Summer, Amelia C. Gormley provides that, in spades. We see a young man in an important and formative part of his young adulthood screw up massively. I cried so hard for Topher. He seemed so lost. It was clear that he had it in himself to fix himself, he just needed to feel like he deserved it. Jace already had his own shit together and made it his mission to show Topher that despite all that he hadn’t had as a child, he deserved love and happiness and a good life now.
The family who had never been there for Topher suddenly needs Topher to be there for them. Thanks to Jace and the new family Topher is building for himself in Saugutuck, he can step up and be the man he’s been afraid to be up until now. Topher doesn’t even need Jace next to him, just knowing he has and returns his love is enough to make Topher be the man he has been told for years that he isn’t capable of being.
This is not a light summer beach read. But hell, your make up and hair product will already be trashed from the sand/wind/salt trifecta anyway, so why not take Saugatuck Summer along and cry, too? This hurricane of emotion is a category five recommendation.
The lake house is perfect for Topher. It is rent free. There is a lake right there so he can keep up his busy workout schedule. It is a gay vacation destination, so there should be lots of men to choose from… The one thing Topher didn’t count on was Morgan’s father, Brendan, being so delicious. And married. And straight. And there all summer alone with Topher. But is anyone ever totally straight?
Then there’s Jace. Topher and Jace meet on Topher’s 21st birthday and the angst wouldn’t be perfect unless Jace was only in town for a short time and living in Chicago. It’s a one night stand with a twist. Extra points for degree of difficulty. The cover of this book looks all peaceful and sweet summer nights making love after a day spent together at the beach. While this would make an okay book, Ms. Gormley does a better job than that by giving the reader an angsty, sweaty, scary, tragic, sexy, love/lust/love(?) story.
Topher winds up homeless, but I’m sure you saw that coming. For a little while I was really rooting for him and Brendan, but then Brendan does something so epically stupid that even the die hard romantic in me couldn’t be team Brendan any more. Topher fears he may have lost his best and only true friend as well as his rent-free living situation.
At this point, Topher still hasn’t found a job. But the little pieces of the puzzle that he thought made up his life are coming back together and they look a lot like something painted one enchanted evening spent with a sexy artist. Then there’s a job. And a sofa, followed by another job in an art gallery. The owner of the gallery recognizes Topher immediately. See, he just returned from a buying trip to Chicago where he bought a series of sexy new paintings from one of the artists he carries at the gallery.
I love me a messed up starving college boy who needs some love to help him figure his shit out. In Saugatuck Summer, Amelia C. Gormley provides that, in spades. We see a young man in an important and formative part of his young adulthood screw up massively. I cried so hard for Topher. He seemed so lost. It was clear that he had it in himself to fix himself, he just needed to feel like he deserved it. Jace already had his own shit together and made it his mission to show Topher that despite all that he hadn’t had as a child, he deserved love and happiness and a good life now.
The family who had never been there for Topher suddenly needs Topher to be there for them. Thanks to Jace and the new family Topher is building for himself in Saugutuck, he can step up and be the man he’s been afraid to be up until now. Topher doesn’t even need Jace next to him, just knowing he has and returns his love is enough to make Topher be the man he has been told for years that he isn’t capable of being.
This is not a light summer beach read. But hell, your make up and hair product will already be trashed from the sand/wind/salt trifecta anyway, so why not take Saugatuck Summer along and cry, too? This hurricane of emotion is a category five recommendation.
July 4, 2014
*sighs* Loving. LOVING. Finally, Jace is back in the picture...such a hot scene.
Need to get some words in today so I can reward myself with more reading...*side eyes Kindle* Or maybe I'll just keep reading...
***
UPDATED
Amazing. It's going to become a comfort reread.
Need to get some words in today so I can reward myself with more reading...*side eyes Kindle* Or maybe I'll just keep reading...
***
UPDATED
Amazing. It's going to become a comfort reread.
May 17, 2014
3.5 stars
Saugatuck Summer is Topher Carlisle’s coming of age story, an interlude by a great lake where he learns to let go of childhood fear, guilt and recrimination, to stretch himself and fly.
And here I thought I was gonna get a light fluffy beach read…
Topher is spending the summer with his BFF, Mo, at her family’s vacation home. He’s job hunting to help pay for college, and he works laps in the lake, training to stay on the swim team. And he celebrates his twenty-first birthday, a big milestone. He also meets Jace, a talented artist, and they hit it off right away. So, a confluence of events that move Topher from teen-hood to young adult in a most remarkable summer.
It all starts off innocently enough, but the author drops in nuggets of information, important information, with a kind of sneaky ease. We’re given this effervescent guy who seems to have so much going for him…
On the outside… Topher is gorgeous and fabulous, mixed-race exotic, and sexually flexible-- “I definitely floated somewhere on the middle of the gender spectrum… could swing from mildly flaming to downright campy… I sashayed before I could walk. It is what it is… might as well own it.” And own it he does.
But it doesn’t take long before we discover that, deep down, there is a little boy who is still scared-shitless, who feels all alone in the world.
On the inside… so many issues… Topher seems to be constantly digging himself out of an ever re-filling sand hole of self contempt and victim-hood that threatens to suck him under for good.
“… sometimes in my melodramatic moments it felt like… the only thing at which I’d ever truly excel was fucking up…That’s me. Christopher Carlisle: Professional Fuck-Up Artist.”
His childhood of neglect and abuse-- an alcoholic mother, a molesting uncle, domineering caretakers-- constantly haunts him. So much so that you wonder if he can ever overcome it. He’s been in therapy, and depends on a cocktail of anti-depressants that allow him to function. He continually brings these issues up, which enables him to make some stupid, thoughtless decisions that not only hurt himself but those dear to him.
Wait… I did say he’s only twenty-one…
But I can’t completely forgive Topher some of the choices he makes in the story. He’s a smart guy, he’s fully aware of the consequences of his actions. His complicity in hooking up with his best friend’s father, Brendan, when he knew the stakes (the blurb gave this away), is hard to read. It would be too easy to say that it’s another case of the small head acting for the big. But what saves Topher for me, is that he’s just looking for love, approval and acceptance. He needs an authority figure who cares. When Mo’s father makes a connection with him, it’s hard for Topher to resist a strong visceral response. What saves him is his introspection, he owns up to his mistakes.
Topher’s tendency to wallow in his early life trauma does get old after a while, but we’ve become invested in him finding his way. And then, the author throws in some very hot scenes with new boyfriend, Jace-- a life-line if there ever was one-- that keep things from stewing in the maudlin. In particular, there’s a five-alarm visit to a public bath house involving some raunchy public sexing and dirty talk all orchestrated by Jace, as he strips Topher bare in front of an audience:
“He has the prettiest cock, too.” Jace said… I felt a tug and the ends of the towel slid loose… He drew the sides apart like a curtain… unveiling me with deliberate showmanship. “Look at that. Just perfect.”
The sex is great, and Jace also helps Topher find his true worth, to see the beauty within that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
Saugatuck Summer is an engaging read, even if it was difficult at times. It looks like there’ll be a sequel which is a good thing… I wonder how Topher and Jace will manage. And Brendan, who risks so much… I wonder what becomes of him. I’d also like more of secondary characters, Geoff and Robin, a gay married couple who help the guys out in a big way. I think there’s more in their story, too. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more of her work.
For this and other great reviews, author interviews, and general fabulousness, visit Love Bytes:
March 27, 2014
Apparently college age gay boys who are complete and utter wrecks are an enjoyable read for me. I can think of quite a few of these guys that have stayed with me long after I finished their book. Topher will be one of those guys! Jace and all his hotness and handseyness is a definite added bonus.
Oh Topher, where to start with you… Topher makes a very bad decision repeatedly for several weeks, along with some good decisions after the fact. The bad decision, sleeping with his best friends father while by far the worst had some very interesting positive effects on Topher’s life. He has many major issues going on in his head the entire time. His constant self doubt and pessimistic outlook on all things makes his pragmatic views normal to him. This kid simply has problems.
Jace is one of the few people to see Topher in a way Topher never saw himself. To say Jace is a soothing balm to Topher is an understatement. Jace is exactly what Topher has always needed in his life. The problem that Topher will continually run into is not knowing what to do with someone like Jace. Jace knows what he wants and is willing to keep pursuing Topher. Topher is conflicted at times about Jace. It’s almost one of those too good to be true things.
The secondary characters were great. The new friends that completely understood all things Topher were a little too convenient, understanding, and overly helpful at times. Yet they were great additions to the book. More importantly they were perfect additions in Topher’s life. He met some of the greatest people at a time in his life when he would need that kind of support network.
My one and only disappointment is Jace and Brendan and the division of their page time. I would have liked more Jace and Topher time and less Topher and Brendan time. I do however see and understand all the Brendan time. There is much that goes on between Topher and Brendan besides the obvious affair that will lead to all sorts of trouble. The whole thing and the snowballing effect his has in Topher’s problems keeps the books pace moving. I just liked Jace to the point I wanted more good times for him and Topher.
Favorite quote, Jace to Topher: “I think because whenever you’re within arm’s reach, it seems like my hands would feel more natural on you than they would hanging at my sides.”
Oh Topher, where to start with you… Topher makes a very bad decision repeatedly for several weeks, along with some good decisions after the fact. The bad decision, sleeping with his best friends father while by far the worst had some very interesting positive effects on Topher’s life. He has many major issues going on in his head the entire time. His constant self doubt and pessimistic outlook on all things makes his pragmatic views normal to him. This kid simply has problems.
Jace is one of the few people to see Topher in a way Topher never saw himself. To say Jace is a soothing balm to Topher is an understatement. Jace is exactly what Topher has always needed in his life. The problem that Topher will continually run into is not knowing what to do with someone like Jace. Jace knows what he wants and is willing to keep pursuing Topher. Topher is conflicted at times about Jace. It’s almost one of those too good to be true things.
The secondary characters were great. The new friends that completely understood all things Topher were a little too convenient, understanding, and overly helpful at times. Yet they were great additions to the book. More importantly they were perfect additions in Topher’s life. He met some of the greatest people at a time in his life when he would need that kind of support network.
My one and only disappointment is Jace and Brendan and the division of their page time. I would have liked more Jace and Topher time and less Topher and Brendan time. I do however see and understand all the Brendan time. There is much that goes on between Topher and Brendan besides the obvious affair that will lead to all sorts of trouble. The whole thing and the snowballing effect his has in Topher’s problems keeps the books pace moving. I just liked Jace to the point I wanted more good times for him and Topher.
Favorite quote, Jace to Topher: “I think because whenever you’re within arm’s reach, it seems like my hands would feel more natural on you than they would hanging at my sides.”
December 11, 2014
On sale for .99 cents on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Saugatuck-Summe... and Kobo through 12/15/2014.
August 13, 2016
4.5 Deliciously Hot Stars!
Wow. Loved this book! I'll be 100% honest and say my initial draw to reading this was that I'm very familiar with the city in which this book is based. It was awesome to hear everything familiar to me, but the story took the prize. I really enjoyed it! But I digress...
Topher is a student at GVSU in a swimming scholarship. He's got a lot of emotional baggage from his childhood and battles with trusting people to not hurt him as a result of it. When his BFF Mo (Morgan) invites him to stay up at her summer cottage in Saugatuck, he can't pass it up. Get a job to help offset tuition costs, train for swim team in Lake Michigan...PERFECT. Until he meets Mo's dad Brendan, a total Robert Redford look-alike, a straight man...and a man he finds hard to resist. He inner monologue kicks in...
Brendan... Mr Gardner. He's Mr. Gardner. Mo's dad, your BFF. Totally off limits. Straight. Married. No chance in hell, so don't even think about getting too familiar.
Topher and Brendan spend a lot of time together while Mo is off at a camp. His wife is working hours away. Their strictly platonic friendship grows...and becomes physical. A huge mistake...one that needs to end pronto.
Enter Jace. Jace is an artist visiting from Chicago, picks up Topher on the beach one day and the sparks fly! To say Topher is confused and conflicted is a given. With Jace, the sparks are off the charts and he just seems to ground him. He lives day to day knowing it's just a matter of time before Mo finds out about his past affair with her dad.
This book has it all. It's written in Topher's POV and the reader can't help but fall for him. His childhood was tragically sad and in looking at Brendan as almost a father figure, he nearly loses it all by turning their relationship sexual. You feel his struggle emotionally and fear of losing his friend when she finds out.
Jace is the perfect "alpha" hero to find Topher and make him realize his worth. Topher struggles to trust in Jace but his walls gradually fall.
"Forget that voice that says you're a failure if you can't do it yourself. Listen to the people who are saying you can for once, instead of all the ones who have told you that you can't."
Holy mother of bath house sex scenes! Lordy be, it was hot. This is my first book I've read by this author and she can write! It's got the perfect blend of angst, humor, and heat....all perfectly balanced. I was actually quite surprised how emotional the book was. It's not your typical fluffy MM romance. There's a lot of emotional angsty baggage for Topher and it isn't a quick fix by any means. The character development was perfection! I had the perfect visual of biracial blonde haired Topher, slightly femme meets dark, muscular tatted Jace.
And I thank you!
Advanced readers copy received from Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
January 19, 2019
Not a fan of this book. Topher was a cliche and so obnoxious, I had no idea why Jace or Brenden were so enthralled with him! Jace was too good for him. Brenden was a selfish asshole. I’m all for being true to yourself, but your sexuality is something you should explore before committing yourself to someone for life! Also, it is no excuse to have an affair. If you are not happy get a divorce, don’t run around. It also was not that convincing, Brenden was aprenrtly bi and determined not to leave his wife. Then he loses Jace and comes out to his wife.l? Also, I hate selfish assholes, he wants a separation to figure himself out (code for fuck around), but understands if she wants to divorce him? So basically he wants to get his dick wet and possibly get back with his wife if he doesn’t find a better option or gets it out of his system? What a catch! Felt sorry for Morgan more than anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2014
DNF
I struggled for over two weeks to make it through half of the story then I just gave up. The story felt cold, flat and unemotional. The main character, Topher, is so immature and whiny and teary all the time. When a book leaves me feeling exhausted in trying to finish it and I'm distracted with thoughts of what I want to read next, I know it's time to move on.
I'll give it two stars for the fact that it was well written and the author did a good job describing the location/setting. I felt like I was at the beach. I just didn't want to be there with the characters in the story.
April 25, 2019
3 Stars
I knew going into this one there was a big chance the affair was going to hamper my enjoyment, but I ignored that in favor of positive reviews. I shouldn’t have. I really just couldn’t look past that portion of the book. It tainted my view of Topher a lot. I found the repetitive rehashing of his childhood unnecessary and his tantrum-y behavior a bit much; but I feel I would’ve had more sympathy if not for his earlier indiscretion. Next time I’ll know better than to ignore what I know are hard limits for me in stories.
That being said, if you’re more understanding or just don’t care about infidelity then I’d definitely try this one out. The other MC Jace was absolutely adorable, their connection was great, and the steam was top-notch.
I knew going into this one there was a big chance the affair was going to hamper my enjoyment, but I ignored that in favor of positive reviews. I shouldn’t have. I really just couldn’t look past that portion of the book. It tainted my view of Topher a lot. I found the repetitive rehashing of his childhood unnecessary and his tantrum-y behavior a bit much; but I feel I would’ve had more sympathy if not for his earlier indiscretion. Next time I’ll know better than to ignore what I know are hard limits for me in stories.
That being said, if you’re more understanding or just don’t care about infidelity then I’d definitely try this one out. The other MC Jace was absolutely adorable, their connection was great, and the steam was top-notch.
April 16, 2014
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2014/04/review-...
Topher Carlisle; young, gay, and fabulous (if he says so himself) has just scored a summer at his best friend’s parent’s home on Lake Michigan. A whole summer to work towards college without his dysfunctional family constant interference and judgemental comments. When he meets his best friend’s heavily closeted father, all his functioning brain cells go south and he finds himself involved in a clandestine affair that eventually leaves him homeless, friendless, and jobless. In a nutshell, Topher is a screw up. Just like his family always says.
When he meets Jace, a visiting artist, he finds a man who likes him for who he is. Jace doesn’t see a screw up and fights to get Topher to see himself as Jace sees him. But old ideas are hard to shake and when everything comes toppling down on Topher, Jace’s love may not be enough to pull Topher out from beneath the weight he’s buried under.
I admit I wasn’t gung ho to read this. A new adult M/M romance? Too many genres mixing it up was my first thought. Plus, I think that NA has a tendency to stereotype this age group and goes overboard on the angst and emo feelings. Imagine my surprise when I started reading and realised that regardless of my misgivings, Saugatuck Summer was an enjoyable story about a young man’s coming of age and learning to accept himself-flaws and all.
Told completely from Topher’s point of view, we see a flamboyant, enthusiastic, slightly narcissistic, twenty one year old man who is unknowingly at a cross road in his life. He’s not a likeable character at times but Gromley portrays him honestly. A product of an abusive family, Topher’s self esteem is at ground zero. We get interjections from his past that shows he both loves and hates his family; especially his mother. His mother is an alcoholic whose erratic behavior left an ineradicable impression on Topher. Sent to live with his aunt and uncle, he was taught that his homosexuality and behavior were a direct reflection on them and to never make waves. He is distrustful and questions everyone’s intentions. He cannot ask for help and views any offers with suspicion. Yet, despite his obviously less than stellar childhood, he is amazingly happy about life if not a little too self deprecating.
Gormley builds her story around such themes as prejudice, bigotry, ignorance, pride, and how the need for family approval can shape us. She doesn’t climb on a soap box and lecture the reader. Rather, she uses the people in Topher’s life to show us an emotional timeline of Topher’s state of mind during the story. From rock bottom to on top of the world, Topher goes through the gauntlet as he make some questionable decisions that sets forth a series of chaotic events. Heavily character driven, the people we encounter in this small lakeside town all affect Topher in some form or fashion. Some lift him up while others try to bring him down. Topher expects to fail at every avenue and his journey is filled with both joy and sorrow.
Though there is some cheating, I didn’t find myself as affected as I normally would. I felt the circumstances surrounding the affair went much deeper than the normal excuses that are often given. I do wish we could have gotten some explanations from the Braeden, though. He felt more like a plot device to push Topher onto a certain path rather than a real emotional connection in his life.
The romance between Jace and Topher is a mash up of sweet and erotic interludes. The bathhouse scene…goodness gracious. *fanning myself* Jace is delightful in his charm and sincerity. A virtual neverending font of dirty talk and touch feely hands, Jace confounds, titillates, and takes Topher on sexual journey he never thought possible. Older than Topher, Jace has been where Topher is at now and understands the emotional turmoil Topher is experiencing. Jace gives Topher the personal space he needs but also provides him with the unconditional support and affection he has craved all his life.
My only qualm is the story had too much of a Cinderella theme to it. Topher is always ‘saved’ by someone in some form or fashion and it lends an unrealistic air to the story. You never really get to see him stand on his own two feet for very long.
Overall I enjoyed, though the ending dragged on past the necessary cut off. It’s a sweet sexy fast read that addresses some of the misconceptions and problems many LBGT teens and young adults face.
RATING: C+
Topher Carlisle; young, gay, and fabulous (if he says so himself) has just scored a summer at his best friend’s parent’s home on Lake Michigan. A whole summer to work towards college without his dysfunctional family constant interference and judgemental comments. When he meets his best friend’s heavily closeted father, all his functioning brain cells go south and he finds himself involved in a clandestine affair that eventually leaves him homeless, friendless, and jobless. In a nutshell, Topher is a screw up. Just like his family always says.
When he meets Jace, a visiting artist, he finds a man who likes him for who he is. Jace doesn’t see a screw up and fights to get Topher to see himself as Jace sees him. But old ideas are hard to shake and when everything comes toppling down on Topher, Jace’s love may not be enough to pull Topher out from beneath the weight he’s buried under.
I admit I wasn’t gung ho to read this. A new adult M/M romance? Too many genres mixing it up was my first thought. Plus, I think that NA has a tendency to stereotype this age group and goes overboard on the angst and emo feelings. Imagine my surprise when I started reading and realised that regardless of my misgivings, Saugatuck Summer was an enjoyable story about a young man’s coming of age and learning to accept himself-flaws and all.
Told completely from Topher’s point of view, we see a flamboyant, enthusiastic, slightly narcissistic, twenty one year old man who is unknowingly at a cross road in his life. He’s not a likeable character at times but Gromley portrays him honestly. A product of an abusive family, Topher’s self esteem is at ground zero. We get interjections from his past that shows he both loves and hates his family; especially his mother. His mother is an alcoholic whose erratic behavior left an ineradicable impression on Topher. Sent to live with his aunt and uncle, he was taught that his homosexuality and behavior were a direct reflection on them and to never make waves. He is distrustful and questions everyone’s intentions. He cannot ask for help and views any offers with suspicion. Yet, despite his obviously less than stellar childhood, he is amazingly happy about life if not a little too self deprecating.
Gormley builds her story around such themes as prejudice, bigotry, ignorance, pride, and how the need for family approval can shape us. She doesn’t climb on a soap box and lecture the reader. Rather, she uses the people in Topher’s life to show us an emotional timeline of Topher’s state of mind during the story. From rock bottom to on top of the world, Topher goes through the gauntlet as he make some questionable decisions that sets forth a series of chaotic events. Heavily character driven, the people we encounter in this small lakeside town all affect Topher in some form or fashion. Some lift him up while others try to bring him down. Topher expects to fail at every avenue and his journey is filled with both joy and sorrow.
Though there is some cheating, I didn’t find myself as affected as I normally would. I felt the circumstances surrounding the affair went much deeper than the normal excuses that are often given. I do wish we could have gotten some explanations from the Braeden, though. He felt more like a plot device to push Topher onto a certain path rather than a real emotional connection in his life.
The romance between Jace and Topher is a mash up of sweet and erotic interludes. The bathhouse scene…goodness gracious. *fanning myself* Jace is delightful in his charm and sincerity. A virtual neverending font of dirty talk and touch feely hands, Jace confounds, titillates, and takes Topher on sexual journey he never thought possible. Older than Topher, Jace has been where Topher is at now and understands the emotional turmoil Topher is experiencing. Jace gives Topher the personal space he needs but also provides him with the unconditional support and affection he has craved all his life.
My only qualm is the story had too much of a Cinderella theme to it. Topher is always ‘saved’ by someone in some form or fashion and it lends an unrealistic air to the story. You never really get to see him stand on his own two feet for very long.
Overall I enjoyed, though the ending dragged on past the necessary cut off. It’s a sweet sexy fast read that addresses some of the misconceptions and problems many LBGT teens and young adults face.
RATING: C+
February 6, 2017
The first half of 'Saugatuck Summer' didn't read like a romance at all. The love interest, Jace, only appears once in the first half. It's all about Topher and the awful choices he makes. Like sleeping with his best friend's married closeted father.
I did warm up to Topher eventually. And I got where he was coming from, given his age and his childhood. It's just that his decisions were so obviously self-destructive, and even Topher knew that.
I considered DNFing at one point simply because I was so annoyed by Topher's stupid decisions.
But then Jace re-appeared in the second half, and Topher finally started making better choices. Honestly, Jace was the only reason I kept reading. He's perfect boyfriend material - patient, understanding, has his act together, and he's great in bed.
Also, despite Topher's antics, I really liked his relationship with Jace. They have an immediate connection, both physical and emotional. I like how they just got each other from the start. It was clear that they belonged together, and so was easy to root for the two.
The HEA was hard-won, and so perfect. Also, I loved getting to see Geoff and Robin in the future, whose romance I thoroughly enjoyed in Risk Aware.
I think I would have rounded up to 4 had Topher's affair with Denver, and the emotional drama that went with it, not taken up half the book. But I did really like Jace and Topher's romance, so 3 stars for that.
I did warm up to Topher eventually. And I got where he was coming from, given his age and his childhood. It's just that his decisions were so obviously self-destructive, and even Topher knew that.
I considered DNFing at one point simply because I was so annoyed by Topher's stupid decisions.
But then Jace re-appeared in the second half, and Topher finally started making better choices. Honestly, Jace was the only reason I kept reading. He's perfect boyfriend material - patient, understanding, has his act together, and he's great in bed.
Also, despite Topher's antics, I really liked his relationship with Jace. They have an immediate connection, both physical and emotional. I like how they just got each other from the start. It was clear that they belonged together, and so was easy to root for the two.
The HEA was hard-won, and so perfect. Also, I loved getting to see Geoff and Robin in the future, whose romance I thoroughly enjoyed in Risk Aware.
I think I would have rounded up to 4 had Topher's affair with Denver, and the emotional drama that went with it, not taken up half the book. But I did really like Jace and Topher's romance, so 3 stars for that.
August 9, 2014
Well this one packed quite a punch I was not expecting. This book was a journey for sure, not an easy beach read. If I'm being honest, it took me a bit to get into the story but it was worth the wait. I was so frustrated but also so engaged in this story. These characters were DEEPLY flawed and sometimes their motives and actions I just couldn't wrap my mind around. I found myself internally screaming..."WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" However, these characters were so deliciously multidimensional and written so well I couldn't help but invest myself in their story.
I was haunted a bit by poor, sweet Topher's history and his journey through the summer. It was a rocky road for him. I LOVED JACE!!! He was such an integral part in Topher's journey in self acceptance and love. He was also incredibly delish!!!
Oh, did I mention that this book was hot? No. It was H.O.T.!!!! The steam room...Holy Guacamole!
"Forget that voice that says you're a failure if you can't do it all yourself. Listen to the people who are saying you can for once, instead of all the ones who have told you that you can't.”
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I was haunted a bit by poor, sweet Topher's history and his journey through the summer. It was a rocky road for him. I LOVED JACE!!! He was such an integral part in Topher's journey in self acceptance and love. He was also incredibly delish!!!
Oh, did I mention that this book was hot? No. It was H.O.T.!!!! The steam room...Holy Guacamole!
"Forget that voice that says you're a failure if you can't do it all yourself. Listen to the people who are saying you can for once, instead of all the ones who have told you that you can't.”
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
December 29, 2014
I honestly couldn't stand the MC for three seconds. He was incredibly whiny and self-pitying, even as he continually got himself into deeper and deeper shit, and never really seemed to take responsibility for his actions. At the end, everything is resolved (sort of?) but I didn't find it satisfying. Everything was very angsty and complicated, but since I didn't care if Tucker lived or died, I found it hard to be engaged. The plot also meandered and I didn't find the writing particularly engaging.
dnf
April 20, 2023DNF at 21%
I really enjoyed Risk Aware when I read it a few years ago. I was excited to read the next book in the series. However, Topher is too much of a hot mess for me. The author put trauma on top of trauma in his backstory to the point where I don’t know that any of it will be handled well or not used in an emotionally manipulative way. This is really dragging so I looked at a few reviews to see if it might be worth persevering. Topher is a college student and entitled to make really bad decisions, like But I don’t want to read about said mistakes.
Characters: Topher is a 21 year old gay genderfluid biracial college student and swimmer. Jace is a white artist. This is set in Ann Arbor, MI.
Content notes: emotionally abusive family, past child neglect (removed from mother’s care and lived with family), past physical abuse by aunt and uncle, depression, past suicide attempt by Topher’s mom (he found her body; she has some brain damage), alcoholic mother, on page sex, erotic photos, alcohol, underage drinking, gendered pejorative, gender essentialist language
I really enjoyed Risk Aware when I read it a few years ago. I was excited to read the next book in the series. However, Topher is too much of a hot mess for me. The author put trauma on top of trauma in his backstory to the point where I don’t know that any of it will be handled well or not used in an emotionally manipulative way. This is really dragging so I looked at a few reviews to see if it might be worth persevering. Topher is a college student and entitled to make really bad decisions, like But I don’t want to read about said mistakes.
Characters: Topher is a 21 year old gay genderfluid biracial college student and swimmer. Jace is a white artist. This is set in Ann Arbor, MI.
Content notes: emotionally abusive family, past child neglect (removed from mother’s care and lived with family), past physical abuse by aunt and uncle, depression, past suicide attempt by Topher’s mom (he found her body; she has some brain damage), alcoholic mother, on page sex, erotic photos, alcohol, underage drinking, gendered pejorative, gender essentialist language
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