Somewhere In Between: Fifty Shades of Sam

by Kristin Marzullo

When love feels like a game, the real challenge is finding yourself.

Before there was Sam and Mia, there was just Sam.

Charismatic, witty, and unapologetically single, Sam thought he had dating all figured out. But as his misadventures pile up, he finds himself at a crossroads.

With friends settling down and starting families, Sam is left to navigate the chaos of his own love life. From flings that catch feelings to old flames reigniting, he begins to question everything he knows about relationships.

In a raw, unfiltered tale of passion and self-discovery, Sam’s story is a bold exploration of love, lust, and what it means to be single in the city that never sleeps. He’s not quite where he wants to be yet—he’s just somewhere in between.

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2024

Reviews

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Sam in Losing You and I adored his friendship with Mia. So I was so excited to get a book about about him. This book puts us right before Mia moved in across the hall and gives us some fantastic backstory to the all too loveable Sam. Sam trying to navigate life without taking the same path as everyone else is one I know all too well. Getting to see him advocate for himself and actively participating in therapy was awesome. Who doesn't love a man, well aware of his struggles and working on them for himself? That's one thing I love about Kristin, she is always including mental health representation. Oh and can we talk about the spice! I knew this one was going to be spicy but had no idea it would come in right out the gate, guns blazing. If you've read the Remember Me series, this one is definitely one to add to your list. If you haven't read the series yet, why? What are you waiting for? I've only been gushing about Kristin for over a year and I can promise I won't be stopping any time soon. Now go read her books!

Thank you to the author for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Shana Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Sam before Sam and Mia from the Remember Me series that I own and haven’t had a chance to read yet but I certainly will be moving it up my list to see why everyone already loved Sam and why Kristin was begged to write a book just about him to tell us his story and it is written so well.

As Kristin states, Sam’s story is bold exploration of love, lust and what it means to be single in the city that never sleeps and try to find yourself in the process. We see Sam go through a lot and at times you might not like how he is but this book gives us his story and we realize why Sam is the way he is. His growth throughout the book is amazing and wonderful. The spice was a bit much at first and felt there was no plot but it truly all goes the way it needed to and then you realize why everyone loves Sam (me included of course).

A favorite part of the book. ….like any of us fellow good humans know, that shit is hard. You make mistakes, and you try your best to make peace with them. You meet people who change you for the better and some who you wish you could erase from your ledger. You sometimes say the wrong things and hurt the people you care about most. But if you keep showing up, if you keep doing the work, life doesn't necessarily become easier. You just get a hell of a lot better at navigating it.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this wonderful book.

[Taylor Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristin has returned with a spinoff from her Remember Me series following everyone’s favorite best friend, Sam. This story takes place before the series as we get to learn more about Sam’s history and what makes him him. Sam’s outlook on relationships and romance is pretty dire to say the least. But as the story unfolds, we find out why he feels that way. We see Sam’s growth throughout the story in his interactions with his friends, reconnection with his family, and honest conversations with both his therapist and himself. As usual, Kristen writes a moving and real story about coming to terms with difficult things in your past, excepting yourself for who you are, prioritizing your mental health and well-being, and leaving the reader optimistic for the future of the character.

As Kristen promised, the story has a lot more spice than some of her previous ones, which is not always my cup of tea. 😅🌶️ But I can appreciate Sam’s passion and outlook on life. His sexual escapades are very entertaining to say the least.

At times this might be categorized as a romance novel. But really, Sam is just trying to love himself. This is a short and sweet story about a very lovable character who could so easily be your best friend.

This book comes out in October! I highly recommend reading the Remember Me series as well. Or any of Kristin’s books!

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristtttinnn you’ve once again done that shit *inset flipping hair here*

The way that Sam loves women without relationship is so intriguing to me. Like he describes the women he sleeps with as if he’s in love with them and idk but I just love that.

As expected, I loved Sam’s book and getting to be in his head/again see why he is the way he is and some of the pivotal moments we get glimpses of in the remember me series aka thinking about LA or mending relationships with his siblings.

As someone who has read the entire series, Sam’s story doesn’t feel rushed, it gave us a better glimpse of who he is and why he is. The ending being the moment that he meets Mia and then addressing that with his therapist felt like exactly where it should have ended. I loved getting to see his first interactions with Mia from his POV. He definitely still feels loveable, goofy and overprotective but we also get to see underneath that-as he said he was hiding things under the humor. The spice was perfectly balanced as we got to see the respectable womanizer coming to the forefront and some of the “relationships” that he experienced.

[Vyerna Kwakkel ( Vyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author, and let me start by saying this is another five-star read!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I knew from reading the author's note that Sam is a character from another book. I never felt like I was missing anything or needed more of a backstory.📚

I loved every second of this book. Sam was a great character to get to know. I loved how unapologetically real he is and how his struggles were described. It made me look at MMCs and men in general with another lens. It made me appreciate how even with generational trauma, men today step up, knowing there is more to being a man. That they too are allowed to just be.

Kristin knows her stuff!! And she writes divinely!! ✍️ And let's not forget the spice she manages to add to her stories. 🔥🔥

This might not be your typical book, but give it a chance! It's a completely new view on relationships and what constitutes a romance novel.

I'm so glad I signed up for an ARC with this book!!

[Kabobs Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere in Between: 50 shades of Sam by Kristen Marzullo

Sam is trying to find a meaningful relationship, but first he needs to work on himself. He has been holding onto a painful childhood, and he didn't realize just how holding onto all that trauma made him a person he didn't necessarily like. He had become known for being a "player/ladies man" and never committing to any type of relationship. Sam got to a point where this lifestyle became trivial and annoying. Especially when a woman he just met thinks he is seeing another woman and threatens to set his clothes on fire lol.

I think this is the first book I have read with a male POV, but it was beautifully written. I honestly felt for Sam, and how he struggled with getting over his childhood pain to move on as an adult. Childhood trauma can really effect people as they grow and form their own relationships. I think this book could help a lot of people who are not a kid, but not yet a full adult, and are stuck somewhere in between.

Favorite quote:
"I thought of all the times I demanded that I was fine, shutting down and shutting the people closest to me out. What I needed in those moments wasn't more isolation. It was connection. I didn't need someone to fix me or try to offer me unsolicited advice. I just needed someone--anyone--to witness my pain and love me just the same."--Kristen Marzullo

[Tristan Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been DYING to get this story. When Kristin announced she would write it for all of us who loved Sam so much in the Remember Me Series, I was ecstatic.
This book is the perfect addition to the Remember Me Series as it deals with a lot of the same topics. Sam and Mia and kindred souls both healing from their own unique life circumstances. Sam is fiercely loyal best friend in the first 3 books and having his main character moment brought so much to his character that I was so excited to read about.
And the spice was SO GOOD!

[Brandy Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere in Between Fifty Shades of Sam tells the story of Sam’s past and reluctance of getting close to someone or even letting anyone in. He’s afraid to be hurt because of his past with his family. Well more with his mother and father. This story shines a light on how society and culture plays in mental health and therapy. Getting to read and go along with Sam in his journey to make his life the way he wants it and to grow is wonderful. I’ve been cheering Sam on since the beginning of this book! Kristin Marzullo did an amazing job portraying Sam and mental health due to family trauma.

[Morgan Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I love this author so much. Everything she writes is perfect. I loved sam from the Remember me series, so i was really excited about this book. It did not disappoint. I was crying and kicking my feet the entire time. I loved getting to know sams backstory. I loved how she brought it back to the Remember me seires. My only complaint is that it's too short 🥺 i need more sam.

[Printessan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book related to the Remember me series. Written from the perspective of Sam who, if I have understood correctly, has been one of the readers' favorite characters in Remember me.

Even though I haven't read the series, I don't feel that anything is missing or that I would have liked to know more to understand. It is a good book. However, I have added the Remember me series to my TBR list. I need to know more. 🥰

Thank you for letting me be part of your team. 🌺❤️

[Jalesa Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Kristin’s books and this one was no different! Sam’s story was so raw, but so amazing at the same time. Throughout the whole story he grows and starts realizing more and more about himself and how to handle his past to make a better future, but not just that but also finding out that maybe he has been lovable this whole time, but he’s been holding himself back.

[Peggy Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!!! It follows Sam and it is a must read!

[Brittany Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO GOOD! Knowing Sam’s background wants to have me rereading the Remember Me series. Kristin, thank you for giving me the opportunity to BETA read this book! It was good getting to know Sam better!!! 🥹🥹🥹