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Unfix Me
Unfix Me
At twenty years old, Sen didn't imagine that something could profoundly change his life in a matter of weeks. After he leaves Colorado to attend university, he's forced to face a truth that his parents attempted to bury a long time ago. Every day, he struggles to piece together his fractured identity and confront his past- the haunting memories of a place that was meant to fix him.
When he crosses paths with Kai, a fearless, openly gay football player, his presence ignites a dormant ember within Sen's soul. Amidst the whispers of doubt and the suffocating weight of societal expectations, Sen grapples with the profound realization that his identity isn't broken - t's beautifully unique.
With Kai, his beacon of hope amidst the darkness, he embarks on a tumultuous journey of self-discovery, navigating the treacherous waters of shame, fear, and societal prejudice. With every step forward, Sen confronts the demons of his past and the daunting prospect of living authentically in a world that seeks to erase his truth.
When he crosses paths with Kai, a fearless, openly gay football player, his presence ignites a dormant ember within Sen's soul. Amidst the whispers of doubt and the suffocating weight of societal expectations, Sen grapples with the profound realization that his identity isn't broken - t's beautifully unique.
With Kai, his beacon of hope amidst the darkness, he embarks on a tumultuous journey of self-discovery, navigating the treacherous waters of shame, fear, and societal prejudice. With every step forward, Sen confronts the demons of his past and the daunting prospect of living authentically in a world that seeks to erase his truth.
270 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2024
54 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
May 25, 2024
Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing Emory Weste's book, Unfix me. This was my first time reading one of their work and after reading this one I do think that I would like to give Emory's other book's a go.
I'd like to extend a huge thank you to booksirens for providing a copy of 'Unfix me' as an E-ARC in exchange for an optional honest review.
Unfix me is set to be Published June 20, 2024. The narrative, told using first person perspective following Sen and Kai, which spans 38 chapters and 258 pages which incudes a prologue at the start and an epilogue at the end.
Summary: At the age of twenty, Sen never anticipated that his life could undergo a profound transformation in just a few weeks. Leaving Colorado for university, he is confronted with a long-buried truth by his parents. Struggling daily to reconcile his fractured identity and confront the haunting memories of a place meant to “fix” him, Sen’s path crosses with Kai, an openly gay and fearless football player. Kai’s presence reignites a dormant spark within Sen, leading him to realize that his identity is not broken but beautifully unique. With Kai as his guiding light through the darkness, Sen embarks on a turbulent journey of self-discovery, navigating the challenges of shame, fear, and societal prejudice. Each step forward brings Sen face to face with his past demons and the daunting task of living authentically in a world that often denies his truth.
Review: -I appreciated the inclusion of a trigger warning page at the beginning of the book. The detailed descriptions of characters and places made it easy to visualize the story. Although some parts were challenging to read, the humorous scenes provided a nice balance. The engaging plot made it difficult to set the book aside; I was eager to continue reading. I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of a picture inside the book that mirrored an item from the story. The mention of ice skating resonated with me, as I could relate to Sen’s character on the ice.
I adored the concept of the Jar game and the thoughtful Christmas gifts exchanged between Sen and Kai. It was incredibly endearing. However, in chapter 34, I did catch a mistake where a wrong character’s name was mentioned in the book.
-I loved witnessing Sen’s profound journey of self-discovery and self-love, a beautiful narrative where he encounters a young man who initially doubts his own worth until an encounter prompts him to question his beliefs. Throughout the story, we observe Sen’s transformative realization that his past experiences constituted abuse, inflicted by those who should have offered unconditional love.
I was captivated by Kai’s remarkable personality. His authenticity, honesty, positivity, and warmth shone through in his interactions with Sen, his friends, and his parents. Kai embodies the qualities of an ideal partner. Witnessing the deepening bond between Kai and Sen was both endearing and moving. I admired Kai’s circle of friends, particularly West and Brook, who demonstrated unwavering support for Sen in a truly heart-warming manner.
-As I delved into the pages of “Unfix Me,” my emotions were a whirlwind. The book evoked both heartbreak with its poignant moments of trauma and sadness, leading me to tears, yet it also warmed my heart with its tender and sweet instances. While the story was captivating, there were some aspects I longed for. I yearned to witness the reunion of Travis and Sen, hoping to see them rebuild their friendship. I would like an update on Dr. Derek across the series; despite disliking his actions, I wondered if his perspective evolved and if he sought the necessary help in the end. As I reached the final pages, my thoughts lingered on Kai and Sen, characters who had truly touched my heart.
-I am excited for West’s upcoming book and hope to see more of Kai and Sen in it. West was a captivating character, and I am eager to follow his journey. The release date for West’s book. Resist Me is set for November 8, 2024, which also follows Lincoln’s story.
-I eagerly anticipate the release of this book and hope that an audiobook version will be available. Personally, I enjoy both listening and reading simultaneously. Providing an audiobook rendition would not only enhance the accessibility of this narrative but also attract a broader and more diverse audience.
I rate each story I read out of 10 and for this one, I give it an 9.1. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
I'd like to extend a huge thank you to booksirens for providing a copy of 'Unfix me' as an E-ARC in exchange for an optional honest review.
Unfix me is set to be Published June 20, 2024. The narrative, told using first person perspective following Sen and Kai, which spans 38 chapters and 258 pages which incudes a prologue at the start and an epilogue at the end.
Summary: At the age of twenty, Sen never anticipated that his life could undergo a profound transformation in just a few weeks. Leaving Colorado for university, he is confronted with a long-buried truth by his parents. Struggling daily to reconcile his fractured identity and confront the haunting memories of a place meant to “fix” him, Sen’s path crosses with Kai, an openly gay and fearless football player. Kai’s presence reignites a dormant spark within Sen, leading him to realize that his identity is not broken but beautifully unique. With Kai as his guiding light through the darkness, Sen embarks on a turbulent journey of self-discovery, navigating the challenges of shame, fear, and societal prejudice. Each step forward brings Sen face to face with his past demons and the daunting task of living authentically in a world that often denies his truth.
Review: -I appreciated the inclusion of a trigger warning page at the beginning of the book. The detailed descriptions of characters and places made it easy to visualize the story. Although some parts were challenging to read, the humorous scenes provided a nice balance. The engaging plot made it difficult to set the book aside; I was eager to continue reading. I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of a picture inside the book that mirrored an item from the story. The mention of ice skating resonated with me, as I could relate to Sen’s character on the ice.
I adored the concept of the Jar game and the thoughtful Christmas gifts exchanged between Sen and Kai. It was incredibly endearing. However, in chapter 34, I did catch a mistake where a wrong character’s name was mentioned in the book.
-I loved witnessing Sen’s profound journey of self-discovery and self-love, a beautiful narrative where he encounters a young man who initially doubts his own worth until an encounter prompts him to question his beliefs. Throughout the story, we observe Sen’s transformative realization that his past experiences constituted abuse, inflicted by those who should have offered unconditional love.
I was captivated by Kai’s remarkable personality. His authenticity, honesty, positivity, and warmth shone through in his interactions with Sen, his friends, and his parents. Kai embodies the qualities of an ideal partner. Witnessing the deepening bond between Kai and Sen was both endearing and moving. I admired Kai’s circle of friends, particularly West and Brook, who demonstrated unwavering support for Sen in a truly heart-warming manner.
-As I delved into the pages of “Unfix Me,” my emotions were a whirlwind. The book evoked both heartbreak with its poignant moments of trauma and sadness, leading me to tears, yet it also warmed my heart with its tender and sweet instances. While the story was captivating, there were some aspects I longed for. I yearned to witness the reunion of Travis and Sen, hoping to see them rebuild their friendship. I would like an update on Dr. Derek across the series; despite disliking his actions, I wondered if his perspective evolved and if he sought the necessary help in the end. As I reached the final pages, my thoughts lingered on Kai and Sen, characters who had truly touched my heart.
-I am excited for West’s upcoming book and hope to see more of Kai and Sen in it. West was a captivating character, and I am eager to follow his journey. The release date for West’s book. Resist Me is set for November 8, 2024, which also follows Lincoln’s story.
-I eagerly anticipate the release of this book and hope that an audiobook version will be available. Personally, I enjoy both listening and reading simultaneously. Providing an audiobook rendition would not only enhance the accessibility of this narrative but also attract a broader and more diverse audience.
I rate each story I read out of 10 and for this one, I give it an 9.1. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.
June 18, 2024
Seneca (Sen) & Malachi (Kai)
Rating: 4.7 ⭐
- Football WR
- Conversion Therapy Trauma
- Found Family
- Friends-to-Lovers
- Mental Health Themes
- Gay Awakening
- College Romance
Oh how this book got me when I was just in the right headspace for it. Kai is God tier green flag boyfriend all day long and he was everything in this book, for his family, friends, and for Sen. You feel so much of the pain that Sen went through and you want to hold him up right along with Kai, while he tries to unravel all of his abuse. When Kai said "I deserve recompense for the emotional pain and suffering for the past few days", yeah, I felt that sir. I was so angry on Sen's behalf, along with Kai and their friends. I was also angry for what West went through and I was glad that Kai was there for him and keeping him grounded.
Sen's parents are the worst kind of people for what they put him through and how unaccepting they were of his interest in boys. The manipulation and how they treated him when he was "fixed" versus when he would "slip". They guilt tripped him so much I don't know how he could even breathe. Ugh, I'm getting heated again. Sen was thirteen the first time they sent him to a conversion therapy camp, he went two more times before he started high school. Sen will never forget what happened to him at that camp and what happened to Travis, a boy he got close to there.
He went to community college first and now he's going to a university in Seattle, away from his parents at the age of 20. He instantly makes some new friends in West and Brook during orientation. Later in the day he runs into his dorm neighbor, Kai. Their first meeting ends in some pain for Kai and his delicate areas. Sen's thoughts are immediately centered on him being attracted to Kai, so he freaks and tries to avoid him at all cost, too bad they have the same major and classes.
Kai is confused at Sen's behavior and can tell that something is "off". He is still kind to Sen and tries to get him to relax around him and open up. They have a little hiccup when Sen finds out that Kai is gay and starts to spiral due to his brainwashing, his parents being overbearing, and the therapist his dad made him see confusing him further. Kai is going through some emotional stuff himself with his dad in the latter stages of Alzheimer's and keeping an eye on West, who is concerned about his twin sister still being at home with their abusive drunken father. When I say this book causes pain, there is no shortage here. The flashbacks, the current trials, possible future drama, it hurt!
Once Kai starts to find out Sen's past, he jumps in to help Sen regain his sense of self-worth and confidence. He allows Sen to keep their relationship secret while he figures stuff out and dismantling all of the lies from his childhood. Kai loves on him and is oh so patient with him on his journey, even when he's frustrated. Sen's father throughout the book is hard to take and he ups the pressure several times on the poor boy. Now when Kai came to bat for Sen to that whack job therapist Sen's parents made him go to, I whooped like an idiot because he slapped that man with words so hard and left him in a tizzy. It was glorious!!! Also, West is possibly one of the strongest and most loyal human beings ever and when he came to Sen's rescue it was a huge moment for their friendship.
The second book will be West's story and I know that one will hurt just as bad or worse. He deserves so much happiness though, so I hope it's a healing experience.
Content Warnings :
-Conversion therapy
-Disownment & parental rejection
-Prejudice pertaining to sexual orientation
-Explicit sexual content between men
-Child endangerment in the form of forced conversion scenarios, control of finances & autonomy, bribery, shaming, manipulation, emotional abuse, some physical abuse, etc.
-Stereotyping (in both a joking and serious context)
-Alzheimer’s disease/ ill parent
-Depression, anxiety & mild suicidal ideation
-Self- hatred, internal shame, repression
-Profanity
-Some violence
-Some things are meant in a light- hearted manner as banter between friends. This in no way excuses anything that is said or deems it as acceptable.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Verse: No
HEA: HFN
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheating: No
Ages: 20 & 19
Rating: 4.7 ⭐
- Football WR
- Conversion Therapy Trauma
- Found Family
- Friends-to-Lovers
- Mental Health Themes
- Gay Awakening
- College Romance
Oh how this book got me when I was just in the right headspace for it. Kai is God tier green flag boyfriend all day long and he was everything in this book, for his family, friends, and for Sen. You feel so much of the pain that Sen went through and you want to hold him up right along with Kai, while he tries to unravel all of his abuse. When Kai said "I deserve recompense for the emotional pain and suffering for the past few days", yeah, I felt that sir. I was so angry on Sen's behalf, along with Kai and their friends. I was also angry for what West went through and I was glad that Kai was there for him and keeping him grounded.
Sen's parents are the worst kind of people for what they put him through and how unaccepting they were of his interest in boys. The manipulation and how they treated him when he was "fixed" versus when he would "slip". They guilt tripped him so much I don't know how he could even breathe. Ugh, I'm getting heated again. Sen was thirteen the first time they sent him to a conversion therapy camp, he went two more times before he started high school. Sen will never forget what happened to him at that camp and what happened to Travis, a boy he got close to there.
He went to community college first and now he's going to a university in Seattle, away from his parents at the age of 20. He instantly makes some new friends in West and Brook during orientation. Later in the day he runs into his dorm neighbor, Kai. Their first meeting ends in some pain for Kai and his delicate areas. Sen's thoughts are immediately centered on him being attracted to Kai, so he freaks and tries to avoid him at all cost, too bad they have the same major and classes.
Kai is confused at Sen's behavior and can tell that something is "off". He is still kind to Sen and tries to get him to relax around him and open up. They have a little hiccup when Sen finds out that Kai is gay and starts to spiral due to his brainwashing, his parents being overbearing, and the therapist his dad made him see confusing him further. Kai is going through some emotional stuff himself with his dad in the latter stages of Alzheimer's and keeping an eye on West, who is concerned about his twin sister still being at home with their abusive drunken father. When I say this book causes pain, there is no shortage here. The flashbacks, the current trials, possible future drama, it hurt!
Once Kai starts to find out Sen's past, he jumps in to help Sen regain his sense of self-worth and confidence. He allows Sen to keep their relationship secret while he figures stuff out and dismantling all of the lies from his childhood. Kai loves on him and is oh so patient with him on his journey, even when he's frustrated. Sen's father throughout the book is hard to take and he ups the pressure several times on the poor boy. Now when Kai came to bat for Sen to that whack job therapist Sen's parents made him go to, I whooped like an idiot because he slapped that man with words so hard and left him in a tizzy. It was glorious!!! Also, West is possibly one of the strongest and most loyal human beings ever and when he came to Sen's rescue it was a huge moment for their friendship.
The second book will be West's story and I know that one will hurt just as bad or worse. He deserves so much happiness though, so I hope it's a healing experience.
Content Warnings :
-Conversion therapy
-Disownment & parental rejection
-Prejudice pertaining to sexual orientation
-Explicit sexual content between men
-Child endangerment in the form of forced conversion scenarios, control of finances & autonomy, bribery, shaming, manipulation, emotional abuse, some physical abuse, etc.
-Stereotyping (in both a joking and serious context)
-Alzheimer’s disease/ ill parent
-Depression, anxiety & mild suicidal ideation
-Self- hatred, internal shame, repression
-Profanity
-Some violence
-Some things are meant in a light- hearted manner as banter between friends. This in no way excuses anything that is said or deems it as acceptable.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Verse: No
HEA: HFN
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheating: No
Ages: 20 & 19
January 1, 2025
kai and sen were really cute together, but omg how i wanted them to have at least one fight or disagreement as a couple. i enjoyed the push and pull between them before they were official, but once they got together, everything seemed a bit too easy. sen basically spent most of his life believing that being gay was wrong, yet came to terms with dating kai pretty quickly. idk i’m just a sucker for a good grovel scene and i haven’t gotten one lately, so i guess i’m kinda taking it out on this book
September 28, 2024
This book was such an emotional and ultimately beautiful read for me. The memories and experiences of Sen’s multiple summers spent at a conversion camp in Texas begin the book and are woven throughout as Sen moves away from his parent’s influence, both physically and emotionally. 20 yo Seneca leaves Colorado to transfer to a college in Seattle where he meets what will become his friend group & found family. He first meets Brooks and West - both MCs of future books - and literally runs into Kai, his next door neighbor in the dorms & also West’s childhood friend. (I don't think I've given anything away, but just in case, I'm placing a spoiler shield here)
I guess I should say that Kai gifts Sen with so much throughout this book, not just at the end. Kai is a god-tier boyfriend - kind, supportive, generous with his time and love - and he helps Seneca find his way back to himself, a kind, beautiful, compassionate self that may have buried for years, but that was never really gone. The chemistry and tenderness between these MCs is stunning and yes, they find their HEA. This book gave me all the feels and then some.
Conversion therapy & healing
Emotional abuse/shaming/physical abuse
Football player MCs (one former, one current)
Protective and possessive MC
Hurt/comfort
Found Family
Memory as a theme
Parent with Alzheimer’s
Homophobia
I guess I should say that Kai gifts Sen with so much throughout this book, not just at the end. Kai is a god-tier boyfriend - kind, supportive, generous with his time and love - and he helps Seneca find his way back to himself, a kind, beautiful, compassionate self that may have buried for years, but that was never really gone. The chemistry and tenderness between these MCs is stunning and yes, they find their HEA. This book gave me all the feels and then some.
Conversion therapy & healing
Emotional abuse/shaming/physical abuse
Football player MCs (one former, one current)
Protective and possessive MC
Hurt/comfort
Found Family
Memory as a theme
Parent with Alzheimer’s
Homophobia
March 24, 2025
Contemporary MM
Gay Awakening
Sweet, Protective MC
College Age
Hurt/Comfort
Fun Side Characters
Dark Themes, Check TW
🔥🔥🔥
Man, this broke my heart so many different ways. Both of the MCs are dealing with a completely different breed of trauma, but both are heartbreaking and take their toll on these poor guys.
Sen comes from a family that under no circumstances will accept a gay son. In fact, they put him through absolute hell most of his life to 'fix' him. Now he is off to a big college and begins to feel cracks in that toxic armor... especially once he meets Kai. Kai is an all around fantastic guy - he sweet, supportive and very protective of his friends. He is also very out and comfortable with himself and that's just something that is foreign to Sen. But it's definitely something he needs in his life. The two have chemistry right away, and amongst all the pain, a wonderful love story unfolds.
As a parent, I will never ever understand the mindset of people like Sen's parents. I was reading this, just hoping that the descriptions of some of these events were exaggerated, but I have a feeling they aren't, and that fucking sucks, to put it mildly. I can only hope that people can find love and acceptance apart from those that hurt them. That's why I love books like this, its nice to read these happy endings.
Gay Awakening
Sweet, Protective MC
College Age
Hurt/Comfort
Fun Side Characters
Dark Themes, Check TW
🔥🔥🔥
Man, this broke my heart so many different ways. Both of the MCs are dealing with a completely different breed of trauma, but both are heartbreaking and take their toll on these poor guys.
Sen comes from a family that under no circumstances will accept a gay son. In fact, they put him through absolute hell most of his life to 'fix' him. Now he is off to a big college and begins to feel cracks in that toxic armor... especially once he meets Kai. Kai is an all around fantastic guy - he sweet, supportive and very protective of his friends. He is also very out and comfortable with himself and that's just something that is foreign to Sen. But it's definitely something he needs in his life. The two have chemistry right away, and amongst all the pain, a wonderful love story unfolds.
As a parent, I will never ever understand the mindset of people like Sen's parents. I was reading this, just hoping that the descriptions of some of these events were exaggerated, but I have a feeling they aren't, and that fucking sucks, to put it mildly. I can only hope that people can find love and acceptance apart from those that hurt them. That's why I love books like this, its nice to read these happy endings.
June 5, 2025
DNF @ 90%
This books went from "Not for me" to "unrealistic garbage" with a single moment at the 90% mark.
There are a LOT of aspects of this book that make it hard to be immersed in the story. Like, Sen fell on Kai's dick with his whole body, and there was barely a reaction. If someone fell knee-first on my clit, you'd best believe there would be a ruckus.
Kai accosts Sen in the shower like a maniac when Sen is trying to leave and jokes about his injured dick. Predator shit.
Later on, Kai throws a taco at Sen, which explodes its taco goodness all over, and they just laugh it off. The taco DIED for this whack-a-doo "cutesy" moment.
This books went from "Not for me" to "unrealistic garbage" with a single moment at the 90% mark.
There are a LOT of aspects of this book that make it hard to be immersed in the story. Like, Sen fell on Kai's dick with his whole body, and there was barely a reaction. If someone fell knee-first on my clit, you'd best believe there would be a ruckus.
Kai accosts Sen in the shower like a maniac when Sen is trying to leave and jokes about his injured dick. Predator shit.
Later on, Kai throws a taco at Sen, which explodes its taco goodness all over, and they just laugh it off. The taco DIED for this whack-a-doo "cutesy" moment.
May 22, 2024
I was given an arc of this book by BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of the book was very intriguing but then it just went downhill…
I think the main problem with this book that it’s trying to tackle an extremely horrible experience in a very shallow way. Sen have grown up with homophobic parents and have been trough conversion therapy, so understandably he is traumatized from it. In the beginning I think the book does a great job in explaining Sen’s experience. But it’s after he gets closer to Kai that things just get too shallow. The book never deal with Sen’s trauma in a satisfactory way. It’s like the author wanted an easy way out and took Sen’s trauma in a very light manner.
Another problem I have is that the romance is very fast paced. The characters don’t get that much time together and what we do get to see feels rushed. There is barely any build up, and when the characters have gotten to know each other there aren’t any moments where the reader can understand why they fall in love.
I like the idea of this story, but it could have been executed in a better way. The characters are likable, albeit not that memorable, but they are enough to carry the story. The story itself is intriguing and I will stick around to read the next book.
The beginning of the book was very intriguing but then it just went downhill…
I think the main problem with this book that it’s trying to tackle an extremely horrible experience in a very shallow way. Sen have grown up with homophobic parents and have been trough conversion therapy, so understandably he is traumatized from it. In the beginning I think the book does a great job in explaining Sen’s experience. But it’s after he gets closer to Kai that things just get too shallow. The book never deal with Sen’s trauma in a satisfactory way. It’s like the author wanted an easy way out and took Sen’s trauma in a very light manner.
Another problem I have is that the romance is very fast paced. The characters don’t get that much time together and what we do get to see feels rushed. There is barely any build up, and when the characters have gotten to know each other there aren’t any moments where the reader can understand why they fall in love.
I like the idea of this story, but it could have been executed in a better way. The characters are likable, albeit not that memorable, but they are enough to carry the story. The story itself is intriguing and I will stick around to read the next book.
August 28, 2024
that was everything
September 25, 2024
It’s been a while since I’ve had a good cry like this from a book. That said, there was a good balance between the heavier topics and more lighthearted moments between the MCs. This is the author’s debut novel, and I have to say I enjoyed their writing style, although I could have done without all the lip rolling. (What does that even mean??)
4/5 stars.
4/5 stars.
June 21, 2024
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟- MM College Friends
“I deserve recompense for the emotional pain and suffering for the past few days” so says Malachi aka Kai, one of the MC’s in ‘Unfix Me’. Well I want to join him in his claim. My heart was beating out of my chest for most of this story because I felt so angry on behalf of Seneca aka Sen and to a bit of a lesser degree, for West and Kai.
Sen’s life and his mental health are in turmoil after being forced to spend three consecutive summers at Dumont, a conversion therapy establishment. His parents had forced him to attend there each summer since he was 13 years old!!!!!!!!! to get rid of his sickness. 👿😱
He will never forget what was done to him and his friend Travis who he met there each year. Somehow Sen survived but it was too much for Travis. Sen’s father also inflicted guilt on him for what happened to Travis. Sen vowed he will never to back there again.
Now 19, Sen moved away from Colorado to Seattle for College, happy to get away, he just signs up for Course without much thought. Luckily he has a full scholarship and a room to himself so there is no temptation. Joining the Campus Orientation Tour a couple of friendly guys join him,West and Brook. Later when heading to their dorms among the crowds of other students, Sen trips and crashes into a guy, knocking him to the ground, kneeing him in the most delicate of places. That was Kai’s introduction to Sen.
Due to his years of brainwashing to ‘cure his illness’, Sen tries so hard to avoid any eye or body contact with other guys. He fights so hard to keep his feelings in check, but Kai, sensing something ‘off’ with Seneca over time, makes it his business to find out what makes him so skittish around him. He is so good with Seneca in so many ways that Sen begin to open up and gain some confidence to start fighting back at last. His life is becoming more bearable due to Kai’s nurturing despite the recent extra ‘helicoptering’ that he’s suffering from his obnoxious father. Kai and West are the best friends ever to Sen.
Both of them has serious stuff happening in their own lives. Kai’s beloved father is in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and West’s twin sister Willow is still living under the same roof as their abusive drunk of a father. They still prioritise helping Sen loosen the chains that bind him. That is how Kai discovered something serious relating to Sen on the Web. He doesn’t say anything to Sen about it. Now obnoxious father is upping the ante with even more pressure on Sen.
***************
I never thought I’d develop triggers just from reading books. ‘Unfix Me’ is the second book in succession I’ve read this week with Conversion Therapy being used as a torture by parents to control their sons. Each time I’ve cried my eyes out and had to stop reading to quell the emotional pain I was feeling for the characters suffering. I need to read Authors TW and prepare myself in advance. ‘Unfix Me’ was worth the emotional effects, which I rank as a favourable factor when reviewing.
I loved reading about these wonderful guys, Kai, West and Brook. They were amazing friends to Sen and the ends they went to to help was so unbelievably heart warming.
I have no qualms in recommending ‘Unfix Me’ as a worthwhile addition to your WTR list. Shame I’ve got to wait till November to read all about West and his locker room fights with the quarterback, Lincoln.
PS. I loved the artwork on the cover.
I received a free ARC copy of ‘Unfix Me’ via BookSirens, and this is my unbiased review, freely given.
“I deserve recompense for the emotional pain and suffering for the past few days” so says Malachi aka Kai, one of the MC’s in ‘Unfix Me’. Well I want to join him in his claim. My heart was beating out of my chest for most of this story because I felt so angry on behalf of Seneca aka Sen and to a bit of a lesser degree, for West and Kai.
Sen’s life and his mental health are in turmoil after being forced to spend three consecutive summers at Dumont, a conversion therapy establishment. His parents had forced him to attend there each summer since he was 13 years old!!!!!!!!! to get rid of his sickness. 👿😱
He will never forget what was done to him and his friend Travis who he met there each year. Somehow Sen survived but it was too much for Travis. Sen’s father also inflicted guilt on him for what happened to Travis. Sen vowed he will never to back there again.
Now 19, Sen moved away from Colorado to Seattle for College, happy to get away, he just signs up for Course without much thought. Luckily he has a full scholarship and a room to himself so there is no temptation. Joining the Campus Orientation Tour a couple of friendly guys join him,West and Brook. Later when heading to their dorms among the crowds of other students, Sen trips and crashes into a guy, knocking him to the ground, kneeing him in the most delicate of places. That was Kai’s introduction to Sen.
Due to his years of brainwashing to ‘cure his illness’, Sen tries so hard to avoid any eye or body contact with other guys. He fights so hard to keep his feelings in check, but Kai, sensing something ‘off’ with Seneca over time, makes it his business to find out what makes him so skittish around him. He is so good with Seneca in so many ways that Sen begin to open up and gain some confidence to start fighting back at last. His life is becoming more bearable due to Kai’s nurturing despite the recent extra ‘helicoptering’ that he’s suffering from his obnoxious father. Kai and West are the best friends ever to Sen.
Both of them has serious stuff happening in their own lives. Kai’s beloved father is in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and West’s twin sister Willow is still living under the same roof as their abusive drunk of a father. They still prioritise helping Sen loosen the chains that bind him. That is how Kai discovered something serious relating to Sen on the Web. He doesn’t say anything to Sen about it. Now obnoxious father is upping the ante with even more pressure on Sen.
***************
I never thought I’d develop triggers just from reading books. ‘Unfix Me’ is the second book in succession I’ve read this week with Conversion Therapy being used as a torture by parents to control their sons. Each time I’ve cried my eyes out and had to stop reading to quell the emotional pain I was feeling for the characters suffering. I need to read Authors TW and prepare myself in advance. ‘Unfix Me’ was worth the emotional effects, which I rank as a favourable factor when reviewing.
I loved reading about these wonderful guys, Kai, West and Brook. They were amazing friends to Sen and the ends they went to to help was so unbelievably heart warming.
I have no qualms in recommending ‘Unfix Me’ as a worthwhile addition to your WTR list. Shame I’ve got to wait till November to read all about West and his locker room fights with the quarterback, Lincoln.
PS. I loved the artwork on the cover.
I received a free ARC copy of ‘Unfix Me’ via BookSirens, and this is my unbiased review, freely given.
June 20, 2024
**Check your triggers** One MMC has conversion therapy PTSD.
1st person POV
Dual POV
Grumpy/sunshine
Hurt/comfort
Golden retriever
Past trauma
Found family
Gay awakening
Touch aversion
This book was a wonderful hurt/comfort read. I highly recommended this book to everyone that loves a good hurt/comfort story. Sen is a very repressed college student that has a heavy dose of PTSD from conversion therapy. He has a bit of a touch aversion and can be broody- totally understandable. But he’s also so sweet and I just want to adopt him. BUT he did get on my nerves sometimes. Kai is the perfect sunshine golden retriever boyfriend. His love language is definitely physical touch so I loved the touch aversion meets touchy feely type. This was overall a very good story about overcoming past trauma and finding yourself. Has that wholesome found family effect. This is a the first in an interconnected standalone series. I absolutely cannot wait for Wests book!
1st person POV
Dual POV
Grumpy/sunshine
Hurt/comfort
Golden retriever
Past trauma
Found family
Gay awakening
Touch aversion
This book was a wonderful hurt/comfort read. I highly recommended this book to everyone that loves a good hurt/comfort story. Sen is a very repressed college student that has a heavy dose of PTSD from conversion therapy. He has a bit of a touch aversion and can be broody- totally understandable. But he’s also so sweet and I just want to adopt him. BUT he did get on my nerves sometimes. Kai is the perfect sunshine golden retriever boyfriend. His love language is definitely physical touch so I loved the touch aversion meets touchy feely type. This was overall a very good story about overcoming past trauma and finding yourself. Has that wholesome found family effect. This is a the first in an interconnected standalone series. I absolutely cannot wait for Wests book!
May 11, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kai captivated me completely within the pages of this novel. His presence was magnetic, drawing me with a depth that resonated with topics of acceptance, self-love, and the courage to seek support. Words fail to capture the reluctance I felt each time I considered setting the book aside I was compelled to continue, to delve deeper. The chemistry between Kai and Sen was created to perfection, mirroring the idea of balance in their POVS. Despite being central figures, Kai and Sen stood out for their compelling dichotomy. Sen, rejected by his parents, retained a remarkable capacity for compassion, contrasting with Kai, whose parents embraced him wholeheartedly. The portrayal of their innermost reflections was executed with profound finesse that left me in awe. A solitary grammatical slip occurred towards the end of the book, within Sen POV, where he was mistakenly addressed as Kai. Aside from this minor oversight, the prose was exquisitely composed.
The book embodies everything, tenderness, romance, and vital discussion that were long overdue. It was an unexpected journey that struck a chord with me on a profound emotional level. As a pansexual woman accepted by my family, I found parallels between my life and the characters. My partner, akin to Sen, remains undisclosed and uncertain about revealing their truth to their family. In Kai and Sen, I saw reflections of my partner and myself, a connection that deeply moved me and kept the pages turning, each word stirring my emotions.
Kai captivated me completely within the pages of this novel. His presence was magnetic, drawing me with a depth that resonated with topics of acceptance, self-love, and the courage to seek support. Words fail to capture the reluctance I felt each time I considered setting the book aside I was compelled to continue, to delve deeper. The chemistry between Kai and Sen was created to perfection, mirroring the idea of balance in their POVS. Despite being central figures, Kai and Sen stood out for their compelling dichotomy. Sen, rejected by his parents, retained a remarkable capacity for compassion, contrasting with Kai, whose parents embraced him wholeheartedly. The portrayal of their innermost reflections was executed with profound finesse that left me in awe. A solitary grammatical slip occurred towards the end of the book, within Sen POV, where he was mistakenly addressed as Kai. Aside from this minor oversight, the prose was exquisitely composed.
The book embodies everything, tenderness, romance, and vital discussion that were long overdue. It was an unexpected journey that struck a chord with me on a profound emotional level. As a pansexual woman accepted by my family, I found parallels between my life and the characters. My partner, akin to Sen, remains undisclosed and uncertain about revealing their truth to their family. In Kai and Sen, I saw reflections of my partner and myself, a connection that deeply moved me and kept the pages turning, each word stirring my emotions.
June 9, 2024
I’m not sure why I expected this to be light and fluffy. The cover is cute and the blurb is honest but I just pictured something happy.
It is not. Well, for the most part.
It covers some heavyyyy stuff and it hurt my heart.
Sen is just heartbreaking. I wanted to wrap him up and never let him go. I hope his parents stub their toes on every corner they walk by.
Kai is book boyfriend goals. He’s patient and kind while understanding where to push. He’s hot? Duh. He’s there for everyone while battling his own stuff.
Together they’re perfect. Drowning in trauma, but perfect 😭
I received a complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary opinion! 🖤
It is not. Well, for the most part.
It covers some heavyyyy stuff and it hurt my heart.
Sen is just heartbreaking. I wanted to wrap him up and never let him go. I hope his parents stub their toes on every corner they walk by.
Kai is book boyfriend goals. He’s patient and kind while understanding where to push. He’s hot? Duh. He’s there for everyone while battling his own stuff.
Together they’re perfect. Drowning in trauma, but perfect 😭
I received a complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary opinion! 🖤
January 18, 2025
"𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘢𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘤𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮."
This book made me incredibly emotional. Shout out to the author because it isn't a long book, but it has substance and is written very well.
Sen moves to Seattle to finish college, leaving his parents and their judgements behind. Unfortunately, Sen has severe trauma from his past and his parents are refusing to let him live his best authentic life. Sen is a tortured soul, torn between breaking free from the shadows of everything he's ever been taught, and starting a new life and leaving his parents behind. He meets a couple friends at orientation, and he starts to slowly spiral once he forms an attraction to Kai.
Kai is such a sweet, sweet soul. He's such a fascinating character and I found myself just waiting to see how he would react to certain situations. He's very confident in himself and he stands up for what is right and for himself as well. He's also dealing with pretty intense family stuff, but always keeps a very positive attitude about it.
The push and pull between the two gave me whiplash lol but Kai handled Sen perfectly. Helping him deal with the monsters of his past, providing a safe space, and showing him to understand his body and what he wants. He's the perfect blend of patient and kind, meets protective and possessive.
I like that their relationship progressed at a believable rate, and that there was a very healthy conversation when they needed to get some space. The story overall had me super invested and I was rooting for Sen to find his inner peace the whole time.
Plot: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Banter: 🌟
Chemistry: 🌟🌟🌟
Tension: 🌟🌟🌟
Angst: 🌟🌟🌟
Spice: ❤️🔥❤️🔥
This book made me incredibly emotional. Shout out to the author because it isn't a long book, but it has substance and is written very well.
Sen moves to Seattle to finish college, leaving his parents and their judgements behind. Unfortunately, Sen has severe trauma from his past and his parents are refusing to let him live his best authentic life. Sen is a tortured soul, torn between breaking free from the shadows of everything he's ever been taught, and starting a new life and leaving his parents behind. He meets a couple friends at orientation, and he starts to slowly spiral once he forms an attraction to Kai.
Kai is such a sweet, sweet soul. He's such a fascinating character and I found myself just waiting to see how he would react to certain situations. He's very confident in himself and he stands up for what is right and for himself as well. He's also dealing with pretty intense family stuff, but always keeps a very positive attitude about it.
The push and pull between the two gave me whiplash lol but Kai handled Sen perfectly. Helping him deal with the monsters of his past, providing a safe space, and showing him to understand his body and what he wants. He's the perfect blend of patient and kind, meets protective and possessive.
I like that their relationship progressed at a believable rate, and that there was a very healthy conversation when they needed to get some space. The story overall had me super invested and I was rooting for Sen to find his inner peace the whole time.
Plot: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Banter: 🌟
Chemistry: 🌟🌟🌟
Tension: 🌟🌟🌟
Angst: 🌟🌟🌟
Spice: ❤️🔥❤️🔥
November 13, 2024
Z cyklu: gdzieś już to wszystko czytałam... Nic tu nie było porywające i godne zapamiętania. Poprawne, co najwyżej. Ale dla niepokornego Westa idę po 2 część ;)
June 12, 2025
Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Kai & Sen
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Kai & Sen
May 19, 2024
♥ Sen & Kai ♥
Genre: M/M Romance
Format: Advanced Reader Copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Character Development: 4.5/5 • Each character felt like they could exist in the real world. The past details about the characters didn't overwhelm you and was necessary for the story. Sen's story is so sad. I've never wanted to hug a book character more than Sen. Kai is so positive and bubbly for watching his dad struggle with Alzheimer. These characters were so real and so raw.
Plot: 4.8/5 • The plot was engaging and well written. Unfortunately, the things that Sen went through could happen to someone in the real world.
Writing Style: 4/5 • The book was well written, with no grammatical or spelling errors. It was not too wordy. Things were explained in a way that didn't feel like overkill.
Spice Level: 2.5/5 • There was not a lot of spice. However, the times the characters were intimate it felt necessary to the story. It grew with what Sen and Kai were going through and experiencing.
Overall Rating: 4.8/5 • I loved Sen and Kai. Kai is so pure and feisty. Sen has a tender heart and just needs to be loved and shown that who he is, is perfect. I really loved this book. It had me sobbing a few times but it was because I could understand and feel what the main characters were going through. My only wish was that I could have more Sen and Kai. The story did not feel rushed I just wish that there was more of them. Hopefully in West's book we get a glimpse at how their relationship is evolving. Overall, a great debut novel from Emory Weste.
Tropes:
• Footballer MMC
• Conversion Camp
• Found Family
• HEA
• Dual POV (First Person POV)
♥ Favorite Quote ♥
"All of the things I'd been taught and the years of being normal were just demolished by a man with eyes the color of pine and the purest soul I'd ever encountered. And they wanted me to think there was something wrong with him? Had they fucking met him?" -- Sen
"Kissing Kai was delirium and ecstasy. It took those pieces of resistance that were barely hanging on and completely disintegrated them. I didn't even miss them as they returned to whatever black void they'd been conjured from. All that exited in this moment was him" -- Sen
"Something about the way Sen kissed me felt like he'd put the force of his entire soul into it. And he gave me the damn thing as if I knew what the hell to do with it."--Kai
"Every time Derek's words started to make me doubt myself, I thought of Kai. He was my lighthouse, the only thing that could guide me out of the storm. No matter how many times I got swept out by the waves, I hoped he would still be there to bring me back. To save me." --Sen
Genre: M/M Romance
Format: Advanced Reader Copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Character Development: 4.5/5 • Each character felt like they could exist in the real world. The past details about the characters didn't overwhelm you and was necessary for the story. Sen's story is so sad. I've never wanted to hug a book character more than Sen. Kai is so positive and bubbly for watching his dad struggle with Alzheimer. These characters were so real and so raw.
Plot: 4.8/5 • The plot was engaging and well written. Unfortunately, the things that Sen went through could happen to someone in the real world.
Writing Style: 4/5 • The book was well written, with no grammatical or spelling errors. It was not too wordy. Things were explained in a way that didn't feel like overkill.
Spice Level: 2.5/5 • There was not a lot of spice. However, the times the characters were intimate it felt necessary to the story. It grew with what Sen and Kai were going through and experiencing.
Overall Rating: 4.8/5 • I loved Sen and Kai. Kai is so pure and feisty. Sen has a tender heart and just needs to be loved and shown that who he is, is perfect. I really loved this book. It had me sobbing a few times but it was because I could understand and feel what the main characters were going through. My only wish was that I could have more Sen and Kai. The story did not feel rushed I just wish that there was more of them. Hopefully in West's book we get a glimpse at how their relationship is evolving. Overall, a great debut novel from Emory Weste.
Tropes:
• Footballer MMC
• Conversion Camp
• Found Family
• HEA
• Dual POV (First Person POV)
♥ Favorite Quote ♥
"All of the things I'd been taught and the years of being normal were just demolished by a man with eyes the color of pine and the purest soul I'd ever encountered. And they wanted me to think there was something wrong with him? Had they fucking met him?" -- Sen
"Kissing Kai was delirium and ecstasy. It took those pieces of resistance that were barely hanging on and completely disintegrated them. I didn't even miss them as they returned to whatever black void they'd been conjured from. All that exited in this moment was him" -- Sen
"Something about the way Sen kissed me felt like he'd put the force of his entire soul into it. And he gave me the damn thing as if I knew what the hell to do with it."--Kai
"Every time Derek's words started to make me doubt myself, I thought of Kai. He was my lighthouse, the only thing that could guide me out of the storm. No matter how many times I got swept out by the waves, I hoped he would still be there to bring me back. To save me." --Sen
June 17, 2024
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, BookSirens and the author, for the opportunity.
4.8 ⭐
Another amazing discovery! I've been so lucky recently 🥹. This time is an author's debut novel. An outstanding debut, at that.
«Unfix me» it's the first book of what seems to be a series of interconnected stand alones. There's so much to say about the book and how much I enjoyed it, but it won't make justice to it.
Once I realized what the title of the story meant and I read the part where it was explained, I was left emotionally destroyed. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was extremely hard to read Sen's POV sometimes. I cried (a lot) with him and felt helpless for his situation 😭. That's why if you are a sensible reader, you better check the comprehensive list of trigger warnings the author added. There's not much explicit content but just knowing that it happened and a character is suffering because of it can be triggering for some people.Take care of yourself first 💛.
I was not ready for such an emotional book. Not only because of Seneca (loved that name), there was also Kai. A very mature MC, although he's only 19, he has an old soul, which makes sense considering he was rise by an amazing older couple. Reading about his dad's Alzheimer and his mother's struggles was difficult, and painfully beautiful at the same time.
Besides, I'm not an expert or anything, but I believe author did great with those tricky subjects. At least, I truly enjoyed reading the book and nothing bothered me.
Okay, that's no true, there was a tiny detail that annoyed me. It's related to save sex! They never talked about not using a condom, not even the first time. It could have been discussed or just mentioned that they agree to it beforehand. It was difficult to enjoy the otherwise incredible smut scenes because I was focussing on that relatively small fact, but that it is very important on my mind.
Everything else was perfect: the pace of the story, the chemistry between the main couple, the attitude and distinctive personalities of the side characters, the beautiful messages about love, freedom and self discovery. I totally recommend this book if you want a romance that will break you 🥲, and then, make your life better again.
As a message to the author, I would like to quote Kai when he said: “What I deserve is recompense for emotional pain and suffering the past few days.” 🙂
PS: A special mention to their wonderful friends, whom would probably be the future protagonists of their own books (🤞🏻). It was so fun to read their interactions! By the end of the book, Sen had a strong support group that went beyond his boyfriend (that's not something you see often in books and it made me really happy for him).
4.8 ⭐
Another amazing discovery! I've been so lucky recently 🥹. This time is an author's debut novel. An outstanding debut, at that.
«Unfix me» it's the first book of what seems to be a series of interconnected stand alones. There's so much to say about the book and how much I enjoyed it, but it won't make justice to it.
Once I realized what the title of the story meant and I read the part where it was explained, I was left emotionally destroyed. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was extremely hard to read Sen's POV sometimes. I cried (a lot) with him and felt helpless for his situation 😭. That's why if you are a sensible reader, you better check the comprehensive list of trigger warnings the author added. There's not much explicit content but just knowing that it happened and a character is suffering because of it can be triggering for some people.Take care of yourself first 💛.
I was not ready for such an emotional book. Not only because of Seneca (loved that name), there was also Kai. A very mature MC, although he's only 19, he has an old soul, which makes sense considering he was rise by an amazing older couple. Reading about his dad's Alzheimer and his mother's struggles was difficult, and painfully beautiful at the same time.
Besides, I'm not an expert or anything, but I believe author did great with those tricky subjects. At least, I truly enjoyed reading the book and nothing bothered me.
Okay, that's no true, there was a tiny detail that annoyed me. It's related to save sex! They never talked about not using a condom, not even the first time. It could have been discussed or just mentioned that they agree to it beforehand. It was difficult to enjoy the otherwise incredible smut scenes because I was focussing on that relatively small fact, but that it is very important on my mind.
Everything else was perfect: the pace of the story, the chemistry between the main couple, the attitude and distinctive personalities of the side characters, the beautiful messages about love, freedom and self discovery. I totally recommend this book if you want a romance that will break you 🥲, and then, make your life better again.
As a message to the author, I would like to quote Kai when he said: “What I deserve is recompense for emotional pain and suffering the past few days.” 🙂
PS: A special mention to their wonderful friends, whom would probably be the future protagonists of their own books (🤞🏻). It was so fun to read their interactions! By the end of the book, Sen had a strong support group that went beyond his boyfriend (that's not something you see often in books and it made me really happy for him).
July 16, 2024
“Every time Derek’s words started to make me doubt myself, I thought of Kai. He was my lighthouse, the only thing that could guide me out of the storm. No matter how many times I got swept out by the waves, I hopped he would still be there to bring me back. To save me.”
Unfix Me by Emory Weste is the first book I read from this author. I'm sure it won't be the last. This book has removed so many things in me that I’m not sure I’ll be able to recover from what I’ve felt while reading it. It has left me breathless but I absolutely adored it.
Sen had to first face conversion therapy the summer before he turned 14. He returned to Camp Dumont the two following summers. There was a bunch of religious stuff there among other terrible things. His resilience and how he had to face adversity and everything his parents made him go through was unbearable.
After going to University and meeting Kai, he really had to struggle with his identity and the trauma that conversion therapy left in him. He had to deal with his past while starting a relationship with Kai. How they navigate their relationship was both highly emotional and heartwarming. He had a long journey of self-discovery and acceptance in front of him.
Kai is such a sweet guy. Although all the setbacks he had with his dad’s illness, he is kind, considerate, patient, and an absolute sunshine. He accepts Sen’s baggage and supports him in his darkest moments. Their relationship endured challenges and difficult moments, but it was a beacon of the power of love as the most powerful weapon to heal and transform a broken soul.
Emory writes about sensitive topics like conversion therapy, disownment and parental rejection or prejudice pertaining to sexual orientation. It’s well written and I really could feel Sen and Kai’s emotions throughout the book. This book is a powerful message of resilience, love and the importance of being true to oneself.
Unfix Me has captivated me from the first page. It was difficult for me to tear myself away of this book. I’m sure Sen and Kai will wander in my mind for a long time. I would have liked to read more of Sen and Kai’s relationship (some years later) in the epilogue, although I understand that it’s written as a teaser for the next novel with West and Lincoln’s story.
I highly recommend Unfix me, it is one of the best reads this year so far. If you are looking for a poignant and impactful read, this is your book. You should be aware of the CW before reading it.
“… for all intents and purposes, we’d be roommates, just like all those lovers that historians dug up. Just roommates.”
I received an ARC from Indie Author Creative for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
June 13, 2024
"If they want to hurt you, they'll have to make it through the massive barrier of my love for you." - Kai
I'm speechless. This is a debut novel for Emory Weste. A debut!! She blew it out of the water. This book is literally everything.
Kai, West, Brooks and Sen. These boys will forever have my heart. Kai and West have been friends forever. They are at school on football scholarships and living their best lives. Brooks is a friend they meet the first day, along with Senior, who has not one but TWO *unfortunate* run-ins with Kai to make his acquaintance.
We learn about Sen's disturbing past and his homophobic family. He is fighting daily to be what is expected of him and not to give in to his "urges."
Kai is who he is and he doesn't care what other people think. As he and Sen begin to become better friends, feelings start to emerge and it throws Sen into a whirlwind.
The 2 of them learn to navigate their new relationship and the shyness and doubt that Sen carries starts to fade, much to his family's disgust. Kai is a shield. He's fully dedicated to Sen and would do anything for him. Sen leans on him and learns to love the way he deserves.
The moments, the banter, the conversations, the spicy scenes and the end all made me swoon. I laughed and cried and wanted to scream. I'm so glad I read this book.
I'm speechless. This is a debut novel for Emory Weste. A debut!! She blew it out of the water. This book is literally everything.
Kai, West, Brooks and Sen. These boys will forever have my heart. Kai and West have been friends forever. They are at school on football scholarships and living their best lives. Brooks is a friend they meet the first day, along with Senior, who has not one but TWO *unfortunate* run-ins with Kai to make his acquaintance.
We learn about Sen's disturbing past and his homophobic family. He is fighting daily to be what is expected of him and not to give in to his "urges."
Kai is who he is and he doesn't care what other people think. As he and Sen begin to become better friends, feelings start to emerge and it throws Sen into a whirlwind.
The 2 of them learn to navigate their new relationship and the shyness and doubt that Sen carries starts to fade, much to his family's disgust. Kai is a shield. He's fully dedicated to Sen and would do anything for him. Sen leans on him and learns to love the way he deserves.
The moments, the banter, the conversations, the spicy scenes and the end all made me swoon. I laughed and cried and wanted to scream. I'm so glad I read this book.
June 21, 2024
“Unfix Me” by Emory Weste is a compelling and deeply emotional novel that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. At just twenty years old, Sen’s life is turned upside down when he moves away from home and is forced to confront long-buried truths about his identity. Weste does an excellent job of depicting Sen’s internal struggles as he pieces together his fractured past and comes to terms with his unique identity.
The introduction of Kai, an openly gay football player, serves as a catalyst for Sen’s transformation. Their relationship is beautifully portrayed, highlighting the importance of love and support in overcoming personal demons and societal prejudice. The chemistry between Sen and Kai is palpable, and their journey together is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
The writing is poignant and evocative, capturing the raw emotions and challenges that come with seeking authenticity in a world that often demands conformity. While some parts of the story felt a bit predictable, the overall narrative is powerful and moving.
“Unfix Me” is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt lost or struggled with their identity. Emory Weste has crafted a story that is not only about finding oneself but also about the courage it takes to live one’s truth. This novel is a heartfelt exploration of identity, love, and the unyielding human spirit.
The introduction of Kai, an openly gay football player, serves as a catalyst for Sen’s transformation. Their relationship is beautifully portrayed, highlighting the importance of love and support in overcoming personal demons and societal prejudice. The chemistry between Sen and Kai is palpable, and their journey together is both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
The writing is poignant and evocative, capturing the raw emotions and challenges that come with seeking authenticity in a world that often demands conformity. While some parts of the story felt a bit predictable, the overall narrative is powerful and moving.
“Unfix Me” is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt lost or struggled with their identity. Emory Weste has crafted a story that is not only about finding oneself but also about the courage it takes to live one’s truth. This novel is a heartfelt exploration of identity, love, and the unyielding human spirit.
May 24, 2024
"I love you, Dad. See you in the stands, yeah?''
''Always."
Unfix me was both a sweet romance and an emotional story. Sen, who had to endure a bigoted family and conversion therapy. Kai, who had a loving family but is about to lose one. While Sen and Kai's first friendship then romance was a sweet story, their lives were an emotional roller coaster. We are seeing both sides of a family with a queer child. While it is a romance, I would say it is more than a romance. It is also a gay kid trying to understand the traumas his bigoted family caused him, trying to understand himself and love. It is also about Kai, a kid who idolizes his dad trying to accept that his dad slowly fading away.
Love, family, friendships... It is a great college romance with more than just romance. I think it was somehow fast paced but also not? Still while it took me some time to finish it, it was easy to get into the world and the characters. If you are looking for an emotional story with great friendships definitely give it a read!
I received a review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you for the free copy! :)
''Always."
Unfix me was both a sweet romance and an emotional story. Sen, who had to endure a bigoted family and conversion therapy. Kai, who had a loving family but is about to lose one. While Sen and Kai's first friendship then romance was a sweet story, their lives were an emotional roller coaster. We are seeing both sides of a family with a queer child. While it is a romance, I would say it is more than a romance. It is also a gay kid trying to understand the traumas his bigoted family caused him, trying to understand himself and love. It is also about Kai, a kid who idolizes his dad trying to accept that his dad slowly fading away.
Love, family, friendships... It is a great college romance with more than just romance. I think it was somehow fast paced but also not? Still while it took me some time to finish it, it was easy to get into the world and the characters. If you are looking for an emotional story with great friendships definitely give it a read!
I received a review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you for the free copy! :)
May 21, 2024
5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶
Unfix me was a hard book to read, it touches a very hard reality of a lot of queer young people in the US but even with all this heaviness I feel like you can appreciate the love that we get in this book.
Unfix me is about first love, chance to be yourself and dealing with trauma.
We follow Sen and Kai as the two of them meet in a very unusual way, after the meeting their lives become interwind with friends and attraction with each other.
Sen can't handle that he is attracted to Kai due to a very traumatic camp in his early teens, he is scared to be who he really is and not the person that his parents wanted him to be, in this regard I related to Sen, with toxic parenting and dysfunctional environment.
Kai in the other hand had wonderful parents that supported him in everything they could, he had to deal with a different set of trauma, he had to deal with a deathly illness. Kai, even at his weakest, he as a kind hearth and a open mind for those that him and his best friend want to let in.
In this book we get to see how two broken people can help each other through tough situations and first times. I honestly could not recommend more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3.5/5 🌶
Unfix me was a hard book to read, it touches a very hard reality of a lot of queer young people in the US but even with all this heaviness I feel like you can appreciate the love that we get in this book.
Unfix me is about first love, chance to be yourself and dealing with trauma.
We follow Sen and Kai as the two of them meet in a very unusual way, after the meeting their lives become interwind with friends and attraction with each other.
Sen can't handle that he is attracted to Kai due to a very traumatic camp in his early teens, he is scared to be who he really is and not the person that his parents wanted him to be, in this regard I related to Sen, with toxic parenting and dysfunctional environment.
Kai in the other hand had wonderful parents that supported him in everything they could, he had to deal with a different set of trauma, he had to deal with a deathly illness. Kai, even at his weakest, he as a kind hearth and a open mind for those that him and his best friend want to let in.
In this book we get to see how two broken people can help each other through tough situations and first times. I honestly could not recommend more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2024
Incredible!!! And I’m pretty sure everything I’ve seen says this was a debut novel for this author? ✍️ I would never have guessed because it was SOO good! The writing was phenomenal and I felt every ounce of feeling and the character connections. Kai has a heart of gold, the most insane maturity for a 19 year old college kid and his soul is so innately good. It was exactly what our broken boy, trauma-ridden Sen needed after multiple dealings with conversion therapy over his teen years.
Check TW: features trauma/anxiety/depression surrounding conversion therapy, parental illness (Alzheimer’s)
KAI deserves ALL the medals. He was so good for Sen. So patient and understanding as Sen battled his confusion with being gay. A top book boyfriend. 🥹 This book was fantastic and I fell in love with the side characters too and cannot wait for the next book in November!
Check TW: features trauma/anxiety/depression surrounding conversion therapy, parental illness (Alzheimer’s)
KAI deserves ALL the medals. He was so good for Sen. So patient and understanding as Sen battled his confusion with being gay. A top book boyfriend. 🥹 This book was fantastic and I fell in love with the side characters too and cannot wait for the next book in November!
March 29, 2025
Welp…that got me right in the feels
🚨 Always check your TWs. This book has heavy subject matter. Your mental health matters. 🚨
HOLY EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER BATMAN!!! 😵💫
The amount of times I was ready to rage against fictional characters was •unreal• GEESUS my heart was destroyed for Sen. That man has to be one of the strongest characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. 👏👏👏
And Kai…that sweet Angel baby of a man. Where were all the emotionally developed 19year olds when I was that age?! 🧐 Goodness, the way he protected Sen gave me palpitations! 😮💨🪭
These two definitely had a hard fought well deserved HEA & I just know it’s gonna be full of all the jars 🫙💕
West!! My man!!! YOU ARE THE REAL MVP!!! And I love you 🥹
🚨 Always check your TWs. This book has heavy subject matter. Your mental health matters. 🚨
HOLY EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER BATMAN!!! 😵💫
The amount of times I was ready to rage against fictional characters was •unreal• GEESUS my heart was destroyed for Sen. That man has to be one of the strongest characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. 👏👏👏
And Kai…that sweet Angel baby of a man. Where were all the emotionally developed 19year olds when I was that age?! 🧐 Goodness, the way he protected Sen gave me palpitations! 😮💨🪭
These two definitely had a hard fought well deserved HEA & I just know it’s gonna be full of all the jars 🫙💕
West!! My man!!! YOU ARE THE REAL MVP!!! And I love you 🥹
June 18, 2024
Lovely writing with lots of complicated feelings and more than enough trauma for a number of characters. Just the timeline didn't fit well for me - after all that conversion therapy and family pressure on Sen it feels a bit odd that he wouldn't be able to have such a deep relationship within a few months. It was good that he was going to start the right kind of therapy. The alzheimer part was done really well. I'm looking forward to more depth for West in the next book.
July 6, 2024
Wow what a debut this is! I am truly a fan now!
Love everything about this book.
Kai is perfect. He’s everything. The way he took care of Sen and walk with him through all the tough times. His parents are the best parents I read in books. They raised such a wonderful man.
Sen baby. So proud of you!
West is the embodied of the perfect best friend and I cannot wait to read his book.
Highly recommended!
Love everything about this book.
Kai is perfect. He’s everything. The way he took care of Sen and walk with him through all the tough times. His parents are the best parents I read in books. They raised such a wonderful man.
Sen baby. So proud of you!
West is the embodied of the perfect best friend and I cannot wait to read his book.
Highly recommended!
June 24, 2024
This was fantastic. I truly enjoyed it. Sen endured so much, and my heart ached for him. Everything he went through was incredibly sad, and I felt anger on his behalf. His parents were awful people. I’m so relieved he found Kai, though watching him grapple with his feelings for Kai made me adore Sen even more. Kai’s love was exactly what Sen needed to finally become his true self.
December 31, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ Oh, sweet baby Sen! This story beautifully blends hurt/comfort with a steady pacing that makes working through trauma feel authentic. I absolutely loved Sen’s relationship with Kai—Kai brings so much warmth and strength, providing a steady anchor for Sen. Their dynamic is heartwarming and deeply emotional, making the healing journey all the more believable.
June 19, 2024
Poor, sweet Seneca. There’s something about a beautifully written M/M romance that gets me all in my feels. Sen’s struggles in coming to terms with the way he’s been taught to live versus how he wants to live was heartbreaking. Kia’s determination to be patient and give Sen the strength to do so was amazing. Kai really is the ultimate boyfriend, friend, and son. I cannot wait for West’s story!
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