It's You

by D. Bunyan

A declaration of love that he fails to deal with both emotionally and professionally catapults Mark into a spiral of deceit and decline. His career, imminent marriage, friends, his belief in himself, implode.
The opinions of an ambitious headmaster, a best friend, jealous lovers, errant parents, a failed businessmen, a Brazilian taxi driver and a handsome backpacker all surprise and confound him over his love for Mark. Will he ever come to his senses?

Genres: Contemporary, M M Romance, Fiction, LGBT

340 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2014

Reviews

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have an issue with teachers having affairs with their students. I thought I would have a hard time reading this book but Bunyan does a great job of concentrating on the emotional attachment of the two men. David is a school teacher in England and works with a lot of Level 6 students who are probably an equivalent of U.S. seniors. Matt is in love with David and professes his love. Slowly David realizes that he has feelings for Matt too and then begins their relationship. Matt is 18 when they first have sex and I think David is probably around 28. David is also engaged to be married to Clare. Soon David is consumed by his love for Matt and needing to be with him.

This book is about how deep we can love someone no matter what sex they are. It's about sorrow and how deep you can hit bottom when that love is gone. I will say the ending was a little abrupt. I won't give anything away but I do want to know more of Matt's thinking. There were a few times I had to re-read something because I felt I got a little lost in what was going on. Don't know if it was becomes that instant the description was wordy or I was distracted. I did find I was pulled into the story and cared a little about the characters.

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway and I want to thank the author for sending an autographed copy.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not a bad story, and the author's writing strives to be articulate, insightful and smart, but with sporadic errors in grammar and spelling and the lengthy detail in spots, I was distracted from what I wanted to be a really great book. I identify a few moments when I was touched emotionally by David and Mark's courtship then relationship, but I wanted more character development, more labeling of boundaries of the two to help me understand why they made the choices they did with each other. I'm left with unanswered questions. I agree with with another comment about David being shallow and selfish, and I think he had a narcissistic injury when he didn't get what he wanted. The book seemed to end conveniently. I am on the fence whether to recommend this book.

[Vykki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out slow but it got better as I kept reading. It had really interesting characters and a great storyline. This book was a ready good read. I won this book on Goodreads Thank you.

[Justin Fraxi]

I think I made it maybe 5-10% in, but I couldn't get past the terrible writing. The story was interesting, but it was completely unreadable for me. If the author ever decides to re-write it or maybe gets an editor, I'd definitely give it another shot.

6/9 - I tried again last night and got a quarter of the way through. Still can't do it.

[Susie Bicknell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-observed tale that makes you want to read on. The main character David is built up believably into someone who deludes himself into thinking he will escape from this love affair with a boy at his school where he teaches. He organises his life minutely thinking that no-one else suspects anything but finds out that nearly everyone knows, except in fact the one person who he had intended to share his life with. He finds that such an affair is not easy to disguise and in fact key characters,unbeknown to him, are actually colluding in the affair continuing. As his life unravels, the description of how he reaches the bottom of the wheel is movingly and agonisingly described. In fact, throughout the book, the descriptions of the reactions between characters and how the smallest gestures count are convincingly portrayed. And the scenario is perfectly credible: if in real life (as happened a couple of years ago), you can have a teacher who seemed to think he could go off to France with one of his 15 year old pupils and live happily ever after, then this man becoming infatuated with one of his pupils is quite possible. Definitely should be read!

[Lesley Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eloquently and sensitively written, this book tells the story of forbidden love and its inevitable reprisals and recriminations. I was struck from the very first page by the richness and depth of the writing. I thought the dialogue between the characters was completely true to life, and I loved how the author explored the conflict within David, the main character, as he battled with his developing feelings for his young student. Although the book addresses romantic love between two men, and, perhaps, more to the point, romantic love between a teacher and pupil, I think this novel would resonate with anyone torn between head and heart, whatever the circumstances. We live in a world of ‘shoulds’ and ‘should nots’, and woe betide anyone who dares to rebel, and chooses to go against the norm.

To summarise, I think the subject matter is bold, brave and compelling from the outset. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good, old fashioned page-turner. It is one of those books that you are almost disappointed to finish! It’s well written, descriptive and luxuriously emotive. Definitely an author to watch out for in the future.

[LesH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel takes a while to get going, but whilst perseverance may be required, it's ultimately rewarded.
The author has woven issues of sexual identity, infidelity and professional ethics into a narrative that eventually compels the reader towards an insightful account of a life slowly disintegrating. I recommend it.

[Frederica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the basic story...all the ingredients of a good romance. However I felt that it meandered a bit, and at times I was a bit confused as to who was who. I got quite impatient at times and just wnated to know what happened in the end. Having said that, I would recommend this as a good holiday read.

[Ali Wisbeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story that left me wanting to keep on reading! Wrong footed me by page 11. At times a little self conscious but generally flows along easily. Likeable characters reflecting the turmoil of youth and on trend with the sexuality theme. This author will just get better and better.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ereally enjoyed this well written novel, which kept me engrossed until the end. I liked the characters and felt for them as matters progressed and was pleased with how it ended.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Note to self: I want to avoid this book because according to a 3-star reviewFeatures a British equivalent HS senior, 18, in relationship with teacher, approx age 28.