THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE DUET : CLOSE + CLOSER
OMG!! Is it terrible of me to ENJOY a GROVELLING, DESPERATE MALE who wants his girl back? This was an emotional rollercoaster I did not see coming!! Blindsided me in a good way!
CLOSE features SEBASTIAN & LILLIAN's story when they were in college, and CLOSER is the 7 year time skip that features them as adults. If you ask me, the time skip was so unnecessary and I can't believe they broke up and saw other people!! It's such a betrayal to this reader's heart. The amount of time wasted and the insignificant partners they slept with? Ughh!
SEBASTIAN is one of the best yet flawed MMC's written that I can appreciate. I'll blame his IDIOCY for believing his father over ASKING Lillian about the truth before he broke them up and fuck it all up, thus resulting in the 7 year time skip. Sorry, I had to get that off my chest. I WAS SO FUCKING PISSED AT HIS STUPIDITY and THE AUDACITY to show up at her wedding later as if HE NEVER DID HER ANY WRONG? BOY, THAT GOT ON MY NERVESS!!! As the reader, we will know that Sebastian was the one who THREW THEM AWAY first, so HE NEEDED TO GROVEL!
And yes dear readers, the MAN DELIVERS! Sebastian was the active pursuer in their relationship, several times over and I liked how proactive and determined he was to not let Lillian slip away. He was so sure she was "The One". I LIKED HOW HE NEVER GOT COLD FEET despite having the reputation of a player.
Naturally, I wish LILLIAN gave him more shit and hell, because she was a victim of many manipulative shit heads. Some may say Lillian's character is weak or soft, and partially true, but I didn't dislike her for it. Her softness and vulnerability is likely what attracts Sebastian to her like moth to flame.
SEBASTIAN for all his faults was truly devoted to Lillian when they were together, and when he was determined to win her back. Those were the highlights of the story for me, and there were PLENTY. Chemistry was never a problem, their sex life was passionately vivid. Emotional connection? They had it in spades. I guess they can't be perfect and someone had to muddy the waters before they could have their HEA.
Lillian and Sebastian were cute together. Minus the faults, they would be what every in-love couple would be like in a better world without divorce, unhappy couples and etc. It's the DREAM relationship that you can imagine will last until death do they part, with a beautiful family, kids and the fact that their love for each other WILL NEVER DIE.
OVERALL this was real fucking sweet and despite the road bumps that would make you swear out loud and want to punch Sebastian in the face?? This duet really made my Sunday.