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Two Million
Theo, an anxiety ridden Londoner, wakes up to find his drunken one-night stand has bought them both flights to Japan. Max won the lottery and is spending his winnings on classic cocktails and increasingly self-destructive behaviour. Theo makes it his mission to save Max from himself as they set off on a bender across East Asia.
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Published April 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 18, 2021
Thank you very very much to the author who sent me a copy of his book for an honest review.
What an absolute wild ride of a book.
Two Million is about Theo, who decides to travel to Asia the morning after a drunken One-Night-Stand with said drunken - and also rich - One-Night-Stand! Any why ever not? His companion, whose name is Max, is paying for everything and is carrying a portable bar around with him. Ideal, isn’t it?
And it is all fun and games, until it‘s not.
The two men find themselves on a right rollercoaster of experiences and emotions and take us along for the ride. From fancy hotel suites and expensive shopping trips, to prison and rioting at a wildcat zoo (my vegan self was SCREAMING with delight), there are a lot of motions to go through.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. The line Alex Fear walks here is a thin one: trauma but still fun, a trip that seems like a dream come true but has seriously dark sides. At no point does the novel feel too much. In fact, I thought the balance was perfect all the way through and that just seems so so hard to achieve. And yet here we are. This is a roaring 5 star book for me.
If I had to pick on anything, I’d say that I wished that the ending wouldn’t have been quite this abrupt and rushed. But then again, the whole book lives from quick storytelling and short but intense paragraphs. It‘s what makes the reader feel part of the whirlwind that is this story.
I heartily recommend this to anyone who loves a good roadtrip story, unapologetically queer books and who likes a bit of good old fashioned drama with their reading.
Before you start reading though: do as Max would and settle down with a nice Cocktail. I promise you, it only heightens your enjoyment of this gem!
What an absolute wild ride of a book.
Two Million is about Theo, who decides to travel to Asia the morning after a drunken One-Night-Stand with said drunken - and also rich - One-Night-Stand! Any why ever not? His companion, whose name is Max, is paying for everything and is carrying a portable bar around with him. Ideal, isn’t it?
And it is all fun and games, until it‘s not.
The two men find themselves on a right rollercoaster of experiences and emotions and take us along for the ride. From fancy hotel suites and expensive shopping trips, to prison and rioting at a wildcat zoo (my vegan self was SCREAMING with delight), there are a lot of motions to go through.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. The line Alex Fear walks here is a thin one: trauma but still fun, a trip that seems like a dream come true but has seriously dark sides. At no point does the novel feel too much. In fact, I thought the balance was perfect all the way through and that just seems so so hard to achieve. And yet here we are. This is a roaring 5 star book for me.
If I had to pick on anything, I’d say that I wished that the ending wouldn’t have been quite this abrupt and rushed. But then again, the whole book lives from quick storytelling and short but intense paragraphs. It‘s what makes the reader feel part of the whirlwind that is this story.
I heartily recommend this to anyone who loves a good roadtrip story, unapologetically queer books and who likes a bit of good old fashioned drama with their reading.
Before you start reading though: do as Max would and settle down with a nice Cocktail. I promise you, it only heightens your enjoyment of this gem!
April 9, 2021
I could do the pretentious thing, get a thesaurus out and find outrageous and empty words to describe this novel. I will do not do that because I'm not a pompous toff, however this book deserves the biggest pretentious words you can think of. Some people have described it as a "wild ride" and a "rollercoaster" so I will stick to those metaphores. It is a rollercoaster, with the same highs and lows: the exciting parts that make you exhilarated and the falling parts, where you feel nauseus, in the verge of having a proper anxiety attack.
But at the end of the day, if we ignore the outrageous self destructive adventures and drunken slurs, this is just the heartbreaking story of two guys that are lost in life. And like in a real car crash, you can't help but stop and look.
Hilarious and dramatic in equal parts - this is a must read.
But at the end of the day, if we ignore the outrageous self destructive adventures and drunken slurs, this is just the heartbreaking story of two guys that are lost in life. And like in a real car crash, you can't help but stop and look.
Hilarious and dramatic in equal parts - this is a must read.
April 14, 2021
Such a wild ride! Once I started this book, I literally couldn't put it down. The author had me laughing and cringing in equal measure as I followed Max and Theo on their bender through Asia, the intensely visual imagery making me feel like I was right alongside them.
The setting and antics these two got up to were completely over the top at times, while their struggles were *intensely* relatable. While most of us probably haven't been on a cocktail-fueled tour of Thailand, most of us have experienced some degree of existential crisis about our lives, and the author combining this familiar human struggle with the backdrop of excess was the perfect recipe for success.
I can't wait to see what this author writes next!
The setting and antics these two got up to were completely over the top at times, while their struggles were *intensely* relatable. While most of us probably haven't been on a cocktail-fueled tour of Thailand, most of us have experienced some degree of existential crisis about our lives, and the author combining this familiar human struggle with the backdrop of excess was the perfect recipe for success.
I can't wait to see what this author writes next!
July 4, 2021
Two Million by Alex Fear
Compelling and Creative
How far into a life of decadence can one fall? Max, the lottery winner, is determined to find out. Theo, his repressed companion, with only his Mecha-droid to protect him, goes along for the ride.
"Everything can be going wrong...but if you're drunk enough and you're wearing the right clothes, it doesn't matter."
The author brilliantly uses these characters and situations to convey what it means to survive, to love, to live.
Their adventures are fun, funny, unpredictable and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Compelling and Creative
How far into a life of decadence can one fall? Max, the lottery winner, is determined to find out. Theo, his repressed companion, with only his Mecha-droid to protect him, goes along for the ride.
"Everything can be going wrong...but if you're drunk enough and you're wearing the right clothes, it doesn't matter."
The author brilliantly uses these characters and situations to convey what it means to survive, to love, to live.
Their adventures are fun, funny, unpredictable and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Read
April 5, 2021a wild ride!!
November 15, 2021
What a wild ride! I went into this book completely open-minded and unsure of what I was going to find. I found myself completely enthralled in this story. If you want a quick and utterly chaotic (in a good way) read, this is the one!
Read
November 21, 2022A remarkable first novel from Alex Fear. Flashes of comic genius. The best read I've had this year.(Peter duxbury, Brighton & Hove)
May 18, 2021
Two Million by author, Alex Fear, is a quick read filled with ridiculous drama fueled by a concoction of alcohol, anxiety and depression. The story, told from Theo’s perspective, details a torrid two weeks of binge drinking as he follows Max from England to Thailand to Singapore to Taiwan. The story opens with Theo waking up hungover in Max’s hotel room, trying to piece together what happened the night before. It turns out, Theo was trying to get over a recent break up, and went out to try to forget about his ex and somehow ended up meeting Max. Theo strikes me as hurt, angry and a bit lost, which is probably why he follows Max despite his antics and appalling behavior.
The book makes for a good beach or vacation read because it has short easy to read chapters. The plot doesn’t deviate and the characters exhibit the same behavior throughout, until a surprisingly touching phone call at the end. The heavy drinking and disgraceful behavior is a bit much for me, but might make for a good read while on an Atlantis Cruise or summer vacation in Provincetown or Fire Island.
Read the full review here: https://bosguy.com/2021/05/18/book-re...
The book makes for a good beach or vacation read because it has short easy to read chapters. The plot doesn’t deviate and the characters exhibit the same behavior throughout, until a surprisingly touching phone call at the end. The heavy drinking and disgraceful behavior is a bit much for me, but might make for a good read while on an Atlantis Cruise or summer vacation in Provincetown or Fire Island.
Read the full review here: https://bosguy.com/2021/05/18/book-re...
May 16, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Two Million follows Theo and Max, as the former deals with a recent breakup, and the latter embarks on a self-destructive attempt to "make ripples". Theo has a tendency to try and "save" people, and Max does not want to be saved.
Equal parts hilarious (the debauchery and alcohol fuelled insanity) and devastating (realising that not everybody can, or would want to, be saved), this book really takes you on a ride. I really identified with the character Theo, as he struggled with his anxiety, and felt as though he had to go along with situations he found himself in.
Also, major props for anime geekiness!
I am so happy to have read this, thankyou so much to Alex Fear for the copy!
Two Million follows Theo and Max, as the former deals with a recent breakup, and the latter embarks on a self-destructive attempt to "make ripples". Theo has a tendency to try and "save" people, and Max does not want to be saved.
Equal parts hilarious (the debauchery and alcohol fuelled insanity) and devastating (realising that not everybody can, or would want to, be saved), this book really takes you on a ride. I really identified with the character Theo, as he struggled with his anxiety, and felt as though he had to go along with situations he found himself in.
Also, major props for anime geekiness!
I am so happy to have read this, thankyou so much to Alex Fear for the copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2021
This tale’s got a kick like a Moscow Mule!
I rattled through Two Million in just two sittings. In fact, once on this bullet train to self-destruction, I didn’t want to get off. Alex’s prose is clipped, witty and caustic. Like one of the many, many cocktails Theo and Max down as they fritter their way through the best part of two million quid. But this isn’t simply a joy-ride of conspicuous consumption. Laced with some cracking one-liners and Catch 22-like nuggets of wisdom, just like the best cocktails, Two Million will have you grinning from ear to ear long after you put it down.
I rattled through Two Million in just two sittings. In fact, once on this bullet train to self-destruction, I didn’t want to get off. Alex’s prose is clipped, witty and caustic. Like one of the many, many cocktails Theo and Max down as they fritter their way through the best part of two million quid. But this isn’t simply a joy-ride of conspicuous consumption. Laced with some cracking one-liners and Catch 22-like nuggets of wisdom, just like the best cocktails, Two Million will have you grinning from ear to ear long after you put it down.
June 21, 2021
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars!
May 29, 2021
First of all, many congratulations on the publication. The story revolves around two men (Theo and Max) who, after their drunken one-night stand, decided to travel together through Asia and subsequently found themselves in all sorts of ridiculously dramatic incidents and events that were fueled by alcohol, depression, anxiety, and existential crisis.
Two Million moves at such a fast pace I find it difficult to pinpoint what exactly the author is trying to say. As the dramatic, over-the-top sequences became repetitive, it left me wondering if I will ever be allowed to see an evolution in the characterisation. There is an interesting juxtaposition here, where the time and plot move way faster than the character development, leaving me a bit exhausted and doubtful of the purpose of some of the storylines. There are a few slowed-down moments that almost blossomed into something more thoughtful but I sense that the author never dived deep enough.
While Theo is the first-person narrator, the story oddly places heavier focus on Max. In this, I find it a wasted opportunity. The author seems persistent in expanding the character arc for Theo via his memories with his ex, but I felt zero connection to those snipets because the readers have no prior relationship with the ex! And all these are happening while Max are indulged in a destructive depression and/or crisis that started to become too much to bear.
One thing that unexpectedly surprised me, in a not so nice way, was when Theo wanted to become an Asian. It's one thing to like Asian cultures (Kpop, Jpop, anime, etc), it's another wanting to be an Asian (or Asian fetishisation) while the entire story reeks of white privilege wreaking havoc in Asian countries and homes and cultures. Was I offended? Perhaps mildly so.
Ultimately, it depicts the manifestation of loneliness. There is Eat Pray Love. And here is Two Million.
CW: suicidal thoughts, mention of self harm, alcohol consumption as coping mechanism
Two Million moves at such a fast pace I find it difficult to pinpoint what exactly the author is trying to say. As the dramatic, over-the-top sequences became repetitive, it left me wondering if I will ever be allowed to see an evolution in the characterisation. There is an interesting juxtaposition here, where the time and plot move way faster than the character development, leaving me a bit exhausted and doubtful of the purpose of some of the storylines. There are a few slowed-down moments that almost blossomed into something more thoughtful but I sense that the author never dived deep enough.
While Theo is the first-person narrator, the story oddly places heavier focus on Max. In this, I find it a wasted opportunity. The author seems persistent in expanding the character arc for Theo via his memories with his ex, but I felt zero connection to those snipets because the readers have no prior relationship with the ex! And all these are happening while Max are indulged in a destructive depression and/or crisis that started to become too much to bear.
One thing that unexpectedly surprised me, in a not so nice way, was when Theo wanted to become an Asian. It's one thing to like Asian cultures (Kpop, Jpop, anime, etc), it's another wanting to be an Asian (or Asian fetishisation) while the entire story reeks of white privilege wreaking havoc in Asian countries and homes and cultures. Was I offended? Perhaps mildly so.
Ultimately, it depicts the manifestation of loneliness. There is Eat Pray Love. And here is Two Million.
CW: suicidal thoughts, mention of self harm, alcohol consumption as coping mechanism
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2022
Wild.
That’s probably the best way I can sum up this book. It’s just insanely, incredibly WILD.
While it appears to be a crazy, fun adventure of two guys with money to burn… It’s so much more than that. “Two Million” is deep to the point that it hurts my soul how addictive it was to read this story.
First, I love how it has narration like The Great Gatsby with Theo’s perspective in TM. I absolutely adore Theo because I relate to him in many ways - the dorky, Japanese stuff he likes in particular! His softer way of perceiving Max’s self-destructive behaviors is sweet, though also shows Theo’s own insecurities (on top of his obvious insecurities).
Second, I found Max’s personality and mannerisms to be HILARIOUS! I can picture how over-the-top and impulsive many of the ‘public’ scenes are. Of course, in TM, the more you see of one side of a person, you’ll see the other side equally. Poor thing sounds like he has Bipolar disorder or is just so traumatized by his past that it’s twisted his mind. Alex really does have an amazing way of drawing out my confliction alongside Theo’s thoughts, actions, and outside events that happen to them.
Moreover, I’m seriously impressed by the inclusion of culture, knowledge of alcoholic beverages, and intellectual, thought-provoking moments of clarity between Theo and Max that matches society to a T - a drunken mess that knows it’ll end up sober eventually but only wants to get drunk again.
Lastly, that ending left me with a big question - WHAT HAPPENED WITH MAX AND THEN THEO’S RELATIONSHIP??? (I won’t say anything more because I don’t want to leave a review with too many spoilers.)
I am, however, leaving 4 stars instead of 5 because I did feel like the pacing was a bit rushed. This could have been a longer, novel-length story with more of Max’s past and Theo’s growth…though it still works as a novella, in my opinion.
That’s probably the best way I can sum up this book. It’s just insanely, incredibly WILD.
While it appears to be a crazy, fun adventure of two guys with money to burn… It’s so much more than that. “Two Million” is deep to the point that it hurts my soul how addictive it was to read this story.
First, I love how it has narration like The Great Gatsby with Theo’s perspective in TM. I absolutely adore Theo because I relate to him in many ways - the dorky, Japanese stuff he likes in particular! His softer way of perceiving Max’s self-destructive behaviors is sweet, though also shows Theo’s own insecurities (on top of his obvious insecurities).
Second, I found Max’s personality and mannerisms to be HILARIOUS! I can picture how over-the-top and impulsive many of the ‘public’ scenes are. Of course, in TM, the more you see of one side of a person, you’ll see the other side equally. Poor thing sounds like he has Bipolar disorder or is just so traumatized by his past that it’s twisted his mind. Alex really does have an amazing way of drawing out my confliction alongside Theo’s thoughts, actions, and outside events that happen to them.
Moreover, I’m seriously impressed by the inclusion of culture, knowledge of alcoholic beverages, and intellectual, thought-provoking moments of clarity between Theo and Max that matches society to a T - a drunken mess that knows it’ll end up sober eventually but only wants to get drunk again.
Lastly, that ending left me with a big question - WHAT HAPPENED WITH MAX AND THEN THEO’S RELATIONSHIP??? (I won’t say anything more because I don’t want to leave a review with too many spoilers.)
I am, however, leaving 4 stars instead of 5 because I did feel like the pacing was a bit rushed. This could have been a longer, novel-length story with more of Max’s past and Theo’s growth…though it still works as a novella, in my opinion.
December 18, 2023
I'm so glad I came across this book while scrolling through the LGBTQ section on the Libby app. It is about Theo, an anxious English man who has broken up with his boyfriend. After waking from a one-night stand, his date Max tells him that he's won two million pounds in the lottery and proposes that they take a trip to Japan. Theo is hesitant but accepts anyway. Max is a huge mess of a person and gets Theo into many dangerous situations. Some of the stuff that is examined in this book are capitalism, mental health, and conformity. I am definitely gonna check out more of Alex Fear's books.
April 21, 2021
This book is fun and stressful at the same time. It’s a harsh lesson to never try and save anyone. I recommend you read Two Million if you’re in need of a reminder of this. The end is also very satisfying!
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