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Skeleton
Jan has given up on love, at least the romantic kind.He loves his five-year-old son Henry more than anything.
But when Henry starts school, Jan is introduced to Matthew, a very sweet but shy young man who helps out in Henry’s class. Although he tries desperately to ignore his attraction, Jan finds himself falling for Matthew—he's everything Jan needs.
But amid creepy silent phone calls and possible break-ins, things start to fall slowly apart for Jan. Matthew wants to trust Jan, but the skeleton Jan has been trying to keep buried in his closet and the guilt he feels threatens to destroy everything good in his life.
But when Henry starts school, Jan is introduced to Matthew, a very sweet but shy young man who helps out in Henry’s class. Although he tries desperately to ignore his attraction, Jan finds himself falling for Matthew—he's everything Jan needs.
But amid creepy silent phone calls and possible break-ins, things start to fall slowly apart for Jan. Matthew wants to trust Jan, but the skeleton Jan has been trying to keep buried in his closet and the guilt he feels threatens to destroy everything good in his life.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
81 people want to read
About the author
Suki Fleet
33 books681 followersAbout the author:
Suki Fleet is an award winning author, a prolific Reader (though less prolific than they'd like), and a lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.
They write lyrical stories about memorable characters and believe everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.
Their first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards. Their novel Foxes won Best Gay Young Adult in the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
If you’d like to offer your support and buy Suki Fleet a coffee you can do that here: https://ko-fi.com/sukifleet
If you would like info on upcoming releases and the occasional free story, please sign up to Suki’s newsletter: https://sukifleet.wordpress.com/newsl...
If you’re interested in reading first drafts of Suki’s new stories, or reading stories that are no longer available or cuts that can’t be published on Amazon, and other extras, please consider signing up to Suki’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sukifleet
Suki Fleet is an award winning author, a prolific Reader (though less prolific than they'd like), and a lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.
They write lyrical stories about memorable characters and believe everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.
Their first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards. Their novel Foxes won Best Gay Young Adult in the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
If you’d like to offer your support and buy Suki Fleet a coffee you can do that here: https://ko-fi.com/sukifleet
If you would like info on upcoming releases and the occasional free story, please sign up to Suki’s newsletter: https://sukifleet.wordpress.com/newsl...
If you’re interested in reading first drafts of Suki’s new stories, or reading stories that are no longer available or cuts that can’t be published on Amazon, and other extras, please consider signing up to Suki’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sukifleet
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 30, 2014
A few years back I painted my sitting room grey and desperately wanted the project finished before a house party that weekend. I kept feeling the paint, staring at it, wishing it would dry faster.
I spent hours watching paint dry.
That's what reading this book was like. I don't dole out 1 stars lightly, but I can't in good conscience leave this one unrated.
This was one of the worst M/M "romances" I have ever read, and I've read hundreds upon hundreds. It was dry; it was boring; it was diluted. There was no chemistry or relationship development. It was almost all telling, no showing.
There's insta love and a psychotic ex thrown in...why exactly? Drama? God knows, it did NOTHING to save the book, just muddled it some more.
The story is told in the third-person present-tense POV, and the tone is detached, distant, like a higher power looking, observing, and narrating.
The MCs exchange a few smiles and spend perhaps a couple hours together before they're madly in love. There's a kid who likes to count and a nice ex-wife.
The entire thing was preposterous and painful. The ONLY good thing about this novella was that it was blessedly short, but even the half hour I spent on it felt wasted. I could have painted my nails. Or something.
I spent hours watching paint dry.
That's what reading this book was like. I don't dole out 1 stars lightly, but I can't in good conscience leave this one unrated.
This was one of the worst M/M "romances" I have ever read, and I've read hundreds upon hundreds. It was dry; it was boring; it was diluted. There was no chemistry or relationship development. It was almost all telling, no showing.
There's insta love and a psychotic ex thrown in...why exactly? Drama? God knows, it did NOTHING to save the book, just muddled it some more.
The story is told in the third-person present-tense POV, and the tone is detached, distant, like a higher power looking, observing, and narrating.
The MCs exchange a few smiles and spend perhaps a couple hours together before they're madly in love. There's a kid who likes to count and a nice ex-wife.
The entire thing was preposterous and painful. The ONLY good thing about this novella was that it was blessedly short, but even the half hour I spent on it felt wasted. I could have painted my nails. Or something.
January 11, 2015
Another lovely, emotional story from Suki Fleet. Great characters and a short story that packs a punch.
April 26, 2015
I am a big fan of Suki Fleet. After reading and loving This is Not a Love Story and Innocence, I have been going through her back catalogue and reading all her other books. This one was relatively short compared to her others, so I didn’t feel quite as connected to Jan and Matthew as I was to some of her other characters, but it was an enjoyable read.
November 25, 2015
This is the book of I don't care. And I'll explain.
Suki Fleet is very quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. She has a way of writing that's astoundingly good. And that it gets to me in horrible ways that I don't want to analyse too much.
This book has a lot of things I don't usually like. It's painfully short for the many things that are simultaneously happening in it. It has a somewhat insta-love thingy. It has a psycho ex. It has an overbearing someone (in this case an ex- wife, but be it a mother/father, sibling, friend, I always hate it). It has POV shifts in the middle of paragraphs... But I don't care!
Suki Fleet stories are always angsty and gut- wrenching and hurtful. And I don't care.
Fleet can write magnificently and keep me glued to the pages (or tablet in this case).
The one thing I do care about is that I wish I'd had a longer ending. Maybe a tiny epilogue?
I received a copy of this book in exchange of nothing after winning one for a comment in the QRM post Suki Fleet did in October 2015
Suki Fleet is very quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. She has a way of writing that's astoundingly good. And that it gets to me in horrible ways that I don't want to analyse too much.
This book has a lot of things I don't usually like. It's painfully short for the many things that are simultaneously happening in it. It has a somewhat insta-love thingy. It has a psycho ex. It has an overbearing someone (in this case an ex- wife, but be it a mother/father, sibling, friend, I always hate it). It has POV shifts in the middle of paragraphs... But I don't care!
Suki Fleet stories are always angsty and gut- wrenching and hurtful. And I don't care.
Fleet can write magnificently and keep me glued to the pages (or tablet in this case).
The one thing I do care about is that I wish I'd had a longer ending. Maybe a tiny epilogue?
I received a copy of this book in exchange of nothing after winning one for a comment in the QRM post Suki Fleet did in October 2015
December 7, 2014
Ever finish a book and think "that was pretty good except for that one little niggle" - only to find that once you start your review and you bring up the one little niggle, you end up writing a big long rant about equal to the length of the story because apparently that one little niggle was just oh-so-slightly bigger than you realized? I was originally going to rate this three stars, then found myself raging through the review, so we'll say 2/2.5. Enter rest of review at your own risk - look out for flying rage monkeys.
Had we not gone there, meaning the whole Jack bit, I probably would have stuck with three stars. This started out as a rather understated, but sweet, little story. At least until the monkeys arrived. :/
Had we not gone there, meaning the whole Jack bit, I probably would have stuck with three stars. This started out as a rather understated, but sweet, little story. At least until the monkeys arrived. :/
October 6, 2014
I was a little nervous picking up this book, because last time Suki Fleet ripped my heart to shreds with This Is Not A Love Story (and I had to give her 5 stars for that!) I didn't know if I could survive the angst and despair of that again.
But by the second page of Skeleton I was settled in and enjoying myself immensely. This story is nothing like Suki's first release. This is sweet and romantic and I sat reading it with a little half-smile on my face the whole time. I was caught up in the world of Jan and Matthew (and Henry), and it was just one of those stories than left you with a warm feeling when it was over.
Jan - I felt like slapping the man and telling him to get to it! I was behind him the whole time, pushing him toward Matthew. Come on! Don't hold back, dude. Are you blind? The man needed a rocket up his bum and I liked that felt I was in his cheer squad. It was a great feeling. Matthew - shy but forthright. Mysterious but open. Mature despite his age. Two men and an attraction that wasn't just going to go away.
I would've liked to explore the character of Matthew a little more, and I did feel that some of the problems remained unresolved at the end, but this is a novella. This is what you get.
Whereas I was thinking this was a Halloween novel, it wasn't. It is just a nice little package, an unpretentious story, and a wonderful charming read. Enjoyed it! (thumbs up)
But by the second page of Skeleton I was settled in and enjoying myself immensely. This story is nothing like Suki's first release. This is sweet and romantic and I sat reading it with a little half-smile on my face the whole time. I was caught up in the world of Jan and Matthew (and Henry), and it was just one of those stories than left you with a warm feeling when it was over.
Jan - I felt like slapping the man and telling him to get to it! I was behind him the whole time, pushing him toward Matthew. Come on! Don't hold back, dude. Are you blind? The man needed a rocket up his bum and I liked that felt I was in his cheer squad. It was a great feeling. Matthew - shy but forthright. Mysterious but open. Mature despite his age. Two men and an attraction that wasn't just going to go away.
I would've liked to explore the character of Matthew a little more, and I did feel that some of the problems remained unresolved at the end, but this is a novella. This is what you get.
Whereas I was thinking this was a Halloween novel, it wasn't. It is just a nice little package, an unpretentious story, and a wonderful charming read. Enjoyed it! (thumbs up)
September 30, 2014
Such a lovely story and told in a way that captures the emotions beautifully. The characters are wonderful - from Jan and his tremendous sense of guilt, Henry with his quiet counting and Matthew with his own troubled background.
There is a real sense of tension running through the story as Jan battles with his feelings. This story is told in the present tense which enhanced the tension. The descriptions immersed me in the story and pulled me on the emotional journey. Plus there is an element of mystery.
This is a novella. I read it in one sitting. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the detail between Jan and Matthew falling in love, but I was drawn to the end for a very satisfying short read.
There is a real sense of tension running through the story as Jan battles with his feelings. This story is told in the present tense which enhanced the tension. The descriptions immersed me in the story and pulled me on the emotional journey. Plus there is an element of mystery.
This is a novella. I read it in one sitting. I would have enjoyed seeing more of the detail between Jan and Matthew falling in love, but I was drawn to the end for a very satisfying short read.
October 5, 2014
Lovely story. Really atmospheric, as I expect from Suki Fleet now.
The tension had me on the end of my seat when Jan comes downstairs and finds... no, I won't spoil it. But it's built up slowly but inexorably until the tension has to burst, like a balloon with too much air.
Suki Fleet is an auto-read for me.
What are you reading this for? Read the story, it's much better than my rambling!
The tension had me on the end of my seat when Jan comes downstairs and finds... no, I won't spoil it. But it's built up slowly but inexorably until the tension has to burst, like a balloon with too much air.
Suki Fleet is an auto-read for me.
What are you reading this for? Read the story, it's much better than my rambling!
October 1, 2014
4.5 Sweet and gentle. I liked the style a lot. Have read it twice already!
September 30, 2014
Oh my god this story. It's so beautiful. I'm so glad that I had a free morning to read it otherwise I would have gone crazy and locked myself away somewhere quiet to give it my undivided attention.
Everything here is just so right and it all fits into place like a jigsaw, or tetris pieces. I found myself, halfway through and needing a comfort break, rushing there and back like I was watching a movie and didn't want to miss any action. Stupid I know, but that's how caught up I was in this story. Of course it didn't help that the part I had to stop at was just at a particularly stress filled scene.
The images Suki creates are always so colourful and deep and real. The rain that seemed to be the theme running through this entire story just called to mind wet, dull autumn days, running into winter, and of course that is exactly when it was set. Like I said everything just fit so well.
I love the way Suki gives her characters little idiosyncrasies: Matthew and Henry with their counting; Jan with his larger than life appearance (I know someone who is called Jan, and he is German and exactly like the way Suki describes her Jan: Tall, shy, unable to blend in and has such a deep, accented voice he can't not be listened to).
I know Suki probably considers this story finished with, but the characters are so well written it is impossible to not imagine how they will continue on afterwards. It's not just Jan and Matthew, it's all the secondary characters who have such depth. Some only get a few lines written about them but I can imagine a wealth of notes written about each one. It is obvious that Suki spends a great deal of time thinking about each character and doesn't ever include anyone in her story unless she has at least some background information on each of them.
This story just cries out to be dramatized. The images Suki creates are just made to be seen. I even felt cold when I was reading about poor Matthew stood out there in the rain. I had to go and put a jumper on :).
Matthew was made to fit into Jan and Henry's life like a glove fits onto a hand, but of course Suki wrote him that way, it's just that sometimes, when I read a story I think 'Oh, how convenient' but with Suki's stories I always think, 'oh how lovely'.
So, yes, I liked this very much, could you guess?
Everything here is just so right and it all fits into place like a jigsaw, or tetris pieces. I found myself, halfway through and needing a comfort break, rushing there and back like I was watching a movie and didn't want to miss any action. Stupid I know, but that's how caught up I was in this story. Of course it didn't help that the part I had to stop at was just at a particularly stress filled scene.
The images Suki creates are always so colourful and deep and real. The rain that seemed to be the theme running through this entire story just called to mind wet, dull autumn days, running into winter, and of course that is exactly when it was set. Like I said everything just fit so well.
I love the way Suki gives her characters little idiosyncrasies: Matthew and Henry with their counting; Jan with his larger than life appearance (I know someone who is called Jan, and he is German and exactly like the way Suki describes her Jan: Tall, shy, unable to blend in and has such a deep, accented voice he can't not be listened to).
I know Suki probably considers this story finished with, but the characters are so well written it is impossible to not imagine how they will continue on afterwards. It's not just Jan and Matthew, it's all the secondary characters who have such depth. Some only get a few lines written about them but I can imagine a wealth of notes written about each one. It is obvious that Suki spends a great deal of time thinking about each character and doesn't ever include anyone in her story unless she has at least some background information on each of them.
This story just cries out to be dramatized. The images Suki creates are just made to be seen. I even felt cold when I was reading about poor Matthew stood out there in the rain. I had to go and put a jumper on :).
Matthew was made to fit into Jan and Henry's life like a glove fits onto a hand, but of course Suki wrote him that way, it's just that sometimes, when I read a story I think 'Oh, how convenient' but with Suki's stories I always think, 'oh how lovely'.
So, yes, I liked this very much, could you guess?
February 28, 2015
2.5/5 stars...
Jan (pronounced Yan) is a divorced, single father that hasn't had the best of luck in the love department. He and his son Henry's mom are best friends, her having figured out somewhere along the way that the reason they weren't compatible as a couple was her lack of certain anatomy, but there remains an amount of love and respect. It's actually his ex and his son Henry that push Jan to act on his attraction to Matthew, an aide at Henry's school.
I do love a good May to December romance and that aspect of this story I really enjoyed. Henry and Matthew both struggled with their growing romance, for different reasons, and it provided sometimes passionate and sometimes volatile storyline. It's also a plus for me when a female supporting or secondary character in mm romance is written in a positive light, as Henry's ex wife was. It was the rest of this story that was awkward and confusing for me.
There are a couple of twists along the way that had the potential to give this story an interesting edge, but the delivery was broken and confusing, the story didn't flow well from one part to the next. If you like stories with a little bit of mystery and some decent plot twists, then you'll probably enjoy this novella.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Jan (pronounced Yan) is a divorced, single father that hasn't had the best of luck in the love department. He and his son Henry's mom are best friends, her having figured out somewhere along the way that the reason they weren't compatible as a couple was her lack of certain anatomy, but there remains an amount of love and respect. It's actually his ex and his son Henry that push Jan to act on his attraction to Matthew, an aide at Henry's school.
I do love a good May to December romance and that aspect of this story I really enjoyed. Henry and Matthew both struggled with their growing romance, for different reasons, and it provided sometimes passionate and sometimes volatile storyline. It's also a plus for me when a female supporting or secondary character in mm romance is written in a positive light, as Henry's ex wife was. It was the rest of this story that was awkward and confusing for me.
There are a couple of twists along the way that had the potential to give this story an interesting edge, but the delivery was broken and confusing, the story didn't flow well from one part to the next. If you like stories with a little bit of mystery and some decent plot twists, then you'll probably enjoy this novella.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
May 5, 2015
Not my favorite of Suki Fleet's stuff, but an easy story with a good balance of sweet and angst. As some novellas are, it was a bit shallow in places--we could have gotten to know Matthew better, there could have been a tiny bit more build-up or depth with the Jack stuff--but overall, it was engaging and enjoyable. No real complaints about spending time with this 20k.
September 16, 2016
One hundred plus one hundred...
Suki delivers another great short story. Well developed characters. I cared for Everyone. Amazing how feeling love and building friendships can be to a person. I'd give the story 5 stars of there was another 100 plus 100 pages.
Suki delivers another great short story. Well developed characters. I cared for Everyone. Amazing how feeling love and building friendships can be to a person. I'd give the story 5 stars of there was another 100 plus 100 pages.
June 26, 2015
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews