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The Seafare Chronicles #3
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Tyson Thompson si diploma all’età di sedici anni e lascia Seafare, Oregon, diretto verso quelli che spera saranno migliori e più ampi orizzonti. Scopre però in fretta che il mondo vero ha le zanne e torna verso la costa portandosi dietro quattro anni di fallimenti, dipendenza da farmaci e la diagnosi di un disturbo da attacchi di panico. Suo fratello Bear, con il marito Otter, è convinto che tornare a casa sia esattamente ciò di cui Tyson ha bisogno per ritrovare se stesso. Circondato dalla propria famiglia nella Mostruosità Verde, Tyson cerca così di rimettere insieme i pezzi della sua vita problematica.
Ma poco dopo il suo arrivo, si trova a dover affrontare l’inevitabile nella forma del suo vecchio amico d’infanzia e primo amore, Dominic Miller, che non vede dal giorno in cui ha lasciato Seafare. Mentre i loro cammini tornano a incrociarsi, vecchie ferite si riaprono e nuovi segreti vengono svelati, Tyson scopre anche che la sua vita è un mosaico con molti più tasselli di quanti gli siano stati mostrati anni prima.
In un mare di volti familiari, nuovi amici e il ricordo della scelta devastante di una madre, Tyson dovrà imparare che se vuole sperare di avere un futuro, dovrà prima di tutto lottare contro i fantasmi del passato.
Tyson Thompson si diploma all’età di sedici anni e lascia Seafare, Oregon, diretto verso quelli che spera saranno migliori e più ampi orizzonti. Scopre però in fretta che il mondo vero ha le zanne e torna verso la costa portandosi dietro quattro anni di fallimenti, dipendenza da farmaci e la diagnosi di un disturbo da attacchi di panico. Suo fratello Bear, con il marito Otter, è convinto che tornare a casa sia esattamente ciò di cui Tyson ha bisogno per ritrovare se stesso. Circondato dalla propria famiglia nella Mostruosità Verde, Tyson cerca così di rimettere insieme i pezzi della sua vita problematica.
Ma poco dopo il suo arrivo, si trova a dover affrontare l’inevitabile nella forma del suo vecchio amico d’infanzia e primo amore, Dominic Miller, che non vede dal giorno in cui ha lasciato Seafare. Mentre i loro cammini tornano a incrociarsi, vecchie ferite si riaprono e nuovi segreti vengono svelati, Tyson scopre anche che la sua vita è un mosaico con molti più tasselli di quanti gli siano stati mostrati anni prima.
In un mare di volti familiari, nuovi amici e il ricordo della scelta devastante di una madre, Tyson dovrà imparare che se vuole sperare di avere un futuro, dovrà prima di tutto lottare contro i fantasmi del passato.
598 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2014
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3079 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Klune
69 books61.1k followersTJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.
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May 20, 2014Pre-Order Now Available Ahead of June 16th Release!
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
As a way of saying thank you for your patience, I give you the blurb for BOATK3, The Art of Breathing. Much love.
Tyson Thompson graduated high school at sixteen and left the town of Seafare, Oregon, bound for what he assumed would be bigger and better things. He soon found out the real world has teeth, and he returns to the coast with four years of failure, addiction, and a diagnosis of panic disorder trailing behind him. His brother, Bear, and his brother's husband, Otter, believe coming home is exactly what Tyson needs to find himself again. Surrounded by family in the Green Monstrosity, Tyson attempts to put the pieces of his broken life back together.
But shortly after he arrives home, Tyson comes face to face with inevitability in the form of his childhood friend and first love, Dominic Miller, who he hasn't seen since the day he left Seafare. As their paths cross, old wounds reopen, new secrets are revealed, and Tyson discovers there is more to his own story than he was told all those years ago.
In a sea of familiar faces, new friends, and the memories of a mother's devastating choice, Tyson will learn that in order to have any hope for a future, he must fight the ghosts of his past.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
As a way of saying thank you for your patience, I give you the blurb for BOATK3, The Art of Breathing. Much love.
Tyson Thompson graduated high school at sixteen and left the town of Seafare, Oregon, bound for what he assumed would be bigger and better things. He soon found out the real world has teeth, and he returns to the coast with four years of failure, addiction, and a diagnosis of panic disorder trailing behind him. His brother, Bear, and his brother's husband, Otter, believe coming home is exactly what Tyson needs to find himself again. Surrounded by family in the Green Monstrosity, Tyson attempts to put the pieces of his broken life back together.
But shortly after he arrives home, Tyson comes face to face with inevitability in the form of his childhood friend and first love, Dominic Miller, who he hasn't seen since the day he left Seafare. As their paths cross, old wounds reopen, new secrets are revealed, and Tyson discovers there is more to his own story than he was told all those years ago.
In a sea of familiar faces, new friends, and the memories of a mother's devastating choice, Tyson will learn that in order to have any hope for a future, he must fight the ghosts of his past.
June 22, 2014
*4.5 stars*
What a long, crazy journey folks!! I read this book feverishly all day yesterday and I am BURSTING with things to say! Can I spew them out in anything that resembles coherency? Only time will tell...
My favorite part of reading this book was the familiarity of it. I wanted to cry with joy at seeing my favorite characters again. Seriously. I've been waiting for this book for so long and just reading the first few pages brought tears to my eyes. I knew I was in for an EPIC angsty journey and I was along for the ride!
And for the first 50% of the book, I loved the story unconditionally.
I cried, I laughed, I felt at peace, at home, and in the zone.
I got to see Bear, Otter, Tyson (all gown up and twinky hot, I see!!) and Dom (aka sexy man mountain). I fell in love with them all, all over again, and got to see them grow and mature (well... kinda).
I LOVED the angst, the twists, the drama. I loved the longing, the unrequited love (or what was thought to be unrequited). Did I mention the angst??
And then things slid away from me a bit.
Now, don't get me wrong, this book never dropped down from ADORE territory. It was fabulous and funny and all things T.J. Klune. However, I knew if just a few things were different, it would be on my all time favorites list.
While I loved Kori/Corey as a character, I felt her/his storyline caused the book to veer off track. I'm the first to tell everyone to read Tell Me It's Real. It is one of my favorite hilarious comfort reads. T.J.'s humor in that book is SPOT ON. However, the mash up between the Bear, Otter, and the Kid characters and the Tell Me It's Real characters caused something of an issue for me.
I'm just going to put it right out there. They are too similar! I started to get frustrated, realizing that all of the characters in BOTH books talked the same, made the same jokes. They started to fuse together in my mind into one big character-blob.
Which leads me to my further issue... the focus in the second half of the book felt less on Dom and Ty and more on everyone else. I wanted MORE of just Dom and Ty! I wanted more of them together, more of them discovering one another... more of their relationship blossoming. I felt like skipping past all of the Tell Me It's Real parts and just getting back to the good stuff (aka Dom and the Kid).
That being said, can I give this book anything less than 4.5 stars?? No way, and I'm stingy with stars. It just felt too wonderful being with all of these characters again. Also the ROMANCE in this book is epic and should not be missed. I love how T.J. goes balls to the wall with the romance.
I can't leave this review without a couple of casting photos. I kept picturing Dom and Ty in my mind and so I want to put it out there for all of you!
Ty
Dom
Can't wait for the next in the series! Get to writing, Mr. Klune!!
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
June 17, 2014
This book!!!!!!!
I AM EXHAUSTED.
Breathe.
GAHHHH...but this book!!!!!!!
It’s long.
It’s manic.
It's familiar.
It’s emotional.
It’s frustrating.
But it’s HOME.
When I go home for the holidays, I typically face 50+ extended family members speaking in various forms of English, broken English, or Korean. Asking me why I’m not married, aren’t I going to have children, why my hair is so long, if I’ve gained weight, how my job is going, will I ever move back to San Diego…it’s INSANITY. And I go every year, because it’s family. It’s, well, it’s HOME.
I felt that way reading The Art of Breathing…coming back to the characters that I love most of the time, want to strangle some of the time. I’ve missed them. I will miss them more now that it’s done. They drive me crazy…and I want nothing more than for them to be happy.
There's still Bear and there's still Otter (yay!)...
But in the center of it all is Tyson. It’s weird…for having only briefly met TJ Klune but once and only seen bits of him online, it’s eerie how clearly I see and hear and read him in Tyson. It’s hysterical, it’s neurotic (sorry TJ! hee!), it's endearing, it’s at times a bit much, and other times it's exactly what I need.. It’s The Kid. And it’s TJ. And I love this guy…and I love that guy.
Tyson has had it rough the past 4 years. (And just typing that last sentence makes me cry). Cause it’s tough to be a ‘little guy’, gifted, traumatized a bit, beyond your years…and then heartbroken. And it’s tough to watch our ‘little guy’ fight to grow up, fight to stand on his own. So yeah, I fucking cried…a lot.
But I laughed a lot too. Out loud. And I rolled my eyes sometimes (as I do). And I smiled big and my heart stretched lots of times.
And then there’s the Tucson Crew, who I'm told are crossover from Klune's other book "Tell Me It's Real". I loved these guys! I want more of their stories (guess I know what I'll be reading soon!) And I love love love Corey/Kori. This character is SUPER special and I'm hoping gets his/her own book! (*hint* *nudge*...where Tyson & Dominic play prominent roles please... :) (subtle I am not))
And lastly, who I kinda loved best of all in this book? Dominic. Dom grew up to be quite THE MAN. I feel almost guilty lusting over him. But whooo wheee…he’s hot…and perfect. Honestly though…what I like most about him? He loves Tyson. And that deep, deep, forever-you-and-me kinda love…the one refined by fire, trials, separation, growth, and time…damn that’s good love. It's inevitable. (GAHHHHH...freaking most romantic hook EVER!)
And though most of the intimate moments were glossed over on page or happen off, I found their interactions SO SEXY...(that could also be my HUGE and hugely inappropriate crush on Dom...but we've already gone over that...)
*sigh*...*deep sigh*...ok, I can do this...
So...I guess it's time to say goodbye Bear & Otter, bye Creed & Anna & JJ, bye most of all to Tyson & Dominic. (*bawling*)
But, um…TJ? That ending? Are you suuuuure we can’t talk you into writing one more?
ETA: Turns out I was wrong (*gasp* *shock*). This isn't the last one! WHEEEE! I've never been so happy to be wrong! There will be another BOATK book and Corey will show in another "Tell Me It's Real" book. And...I should have probably read the Author's Note at the end huh? *smh*
My heart says "ALL THE STARS, AS MANY STARS IN THE SKY AND UNTIL MY * KEY BREAKS ON MY KEYBOARD!", while I hug my kindle, contemplate reading it again, sob some more, and think inappropriate thoughts about Dom in his police uniform. BUT...the responsible reviewer in me admits the book itself was repetitive at parts and I feel it could have been edited & streamlined to be a cleaner read (and I might have skimmed one (or two) of Tyson's political rants *ducks*)...so...
I'll settle at 4 stars, though I feel like I'm betraying them a bit... :-/
June 19, 2014
The Art of Breathing by TJ Klune is the third in the Bear, Otter, and the Kid. In this book we get Tyson, the Kid's, POV. This book has three different parts and follows Ty from his childhood to the four years following his high school graduation. This book is typical Klune. It was full of endearing characters, angst, and humor. Here we got to catch up with the whole gang from Seafare and are introduced to Corey/Kori (<---CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR. HIS. BOOK!). This book also includes the mother of all crossovers! It was awesome!
There were parts of the book that were at times heartbreaking and difficult to read. Poor Kid, I just wanted to hug him so hard and never let him go. Not only does he feel lost because of the events that took place in his child but he's also never gotten over his first love and old best friend, Dominic.
Dominic... all I'll say is swooooon ♥
In this book you'll laugh, cry, silently scream (you don't want to look like a total loon after all), and fall in love. Once I started readng it- it consumed me. I was exhausted when I finished it but it so worth it. Reading this book felt very much like coming home. To me TJ Klune is simply a brilliant writer and his stories will forever hold a special place for me. This was a 5+ star read for me & best of the best for 2014.
By now we are all aware of everything going on with TJ and his fiance, Eric. If you'd like to help them ♥
http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fund...
***Thank you Meli Mel for the BR ***
May 19, 2021
4/18/19 Needed to do another re-read after reading Corey/Kori's story !!
I absolutely loved "the Kid's" story. Probably because I absolutely love and adore "the Kid". Ever since the beginning of this series, he has been my favorite character and this book solidified my feelings even more.
This book starts when Ty is 9 years old and living in "The Green Monstrosity". This is when he first meets Dominic (Dom), who's 15 years old and a giant :).
From that moment on, the two of them are the best of friends. They are inseparable and inevitable.
"Friends until we're old and gray. Beginning to end. Day after day. Because we're inevitable"
When Ty is 15 years old, he finds himself in love with his best friend. He is also 15 years old when he feels his heart breaking for the first time.
I can honestly say, that I was right there with Ty...my heart breaking just as much as his.
I wish I could say that this was the only time during the book, that my heart broke and I made "ugly cry face", but that would be a big fat lie. Ty was put through the wringer in this book and he took me along for the ride. I was right there with him...trying to breathe.
I know a lot of readers felt anger towards him, because of his reactions and decisions. I, however, am not one of them. I'm team TYSON all the way !!!
Thankfully, there were also a lot of happy/fun times as well. Tears were rolling down my face either from sadness or from laughing so hard.
That is the magic of TJ Klune !!
Also, this book isn't just about Ty and Dom. We get introduced to a lot of new characters, who were all amazing on their own.
It's also about Bear and Otter and even Creed (who always makes me laugh). It's about the amazing bond that two brothers can share. I love Bear to pieces, he's the best big brother!
"What do we do?"
"Breathe".
"That's right. We breathe, Kid. Just Breathe"
This series has definitely earned a spot in my top 5 of m/m series !! I'm so happy there is gonna be more !!
My reviews are posted on
I absolutely loved "the Kid's" story. Probably because I absolutely love and adore "the Kid". Ever since the beginning of this series, he has been my favorite character and this book solidified my feelings even more.
This book starts when Ty is 9 years old and living in "The Green Monstrosity". This is when he first meets Dominic (Dom), who's 15 years old and a giant :).
From that moment on, the two of them are the best of friends. They are inseparable and inevitable.
"Friends until we're old and gray. Beginning to end. Day after day. Because we're inevitable"
When Ty is 15 years old, he finds himself in love with his best friend. He is also 15 years old when he feels his heart breaking for the first time.
I can honestly say, that I was right there with Ty...my heart breaking just as much as his.
I wish I could say that this was the only time during the book, that my heart broke and I made "ugly cry face", but that would be a big fat lie. Ty was put through the wringer in this book and he took me along for the ride. I was right there with him...trying to breathe.
I know a lot of readers felt anger towards him, because of his reactions and decisions. I, however, am not one of them. I'm team TYSON all the way !!!
Thankfully, there were also a lot of happy/fun times as well. Tears were rolling down my face either from sadness or from laughing so hard.
That is the magic of TJ Klune !!
Also, this book isn't just about Ty and Dom. We get introduced to a lot of new characters, who were all amazing on their own.
It's also about Bear and Otter and even Creed (who always makes me laugh). It's about the amazing bond that two brothers can share. I love Bear to pieces, he's the best big brother!
"What do we do?"
"Breathe".
"That's right. We breathe, Kid. Just Breathe"
This series has definitely earned a spot in my top 5 of m/m series !! I'm so happy there is gonna be more !!
My reviews are posted on
September 24, 2025
5.0 stars ...
Re-read: Sept '25
Bear said once that family isn’t defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole, who make us who we are. He’s a smart one, that Bear. Sometimes.
So, you see, I’m gonna do what I think I’m meant to do surrounded by the people I’m meant to be with. I think it was inevitable. I can stand on my own, and I can carve my own path, but I’m not whole without my family. They’re the ones who have made me who I am and have helped me to see who I’m supposed to be.
Creed and Anna.
JJ.
Jerry and Alice Thompson.
Stephanie and Ian Grant.
Stacey. Ben.
Julie McKenna, my mother.
Mrs. Paquinn, my real mother.
Izzie, who I have not forgotten.
Otter, my almost-father.
Dominic. My love. My life. My future.
But if you were to strip them all away, if you were to reduce this story, my story, to the most single common denominator that there is, what has this been about? What has it been about since you and I met so very long ago?
My brother and me. That’s what this has been about. The whole time.
There are others to our story. Great people and grand loves. They surround us just as surely as we surround them. But it always comes back to Derrick and Tyson McKenna. Bear and the Kid.
He is the reason I can breathe.
Re-read: Sept '25
Bear said once that family isn’t defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole, who make us who we are. He’s a smart one, that Bear. Sometimes.
So, you see, I’m gonna do what I think I’m meant to do surrounded by the people I’m meant to be with. I think it was inevitable. I can stand on my own, and I can carve my own path, but I’m not whole without my family. They’re the ones who have made me who I am and have helped me to see who I’m supposed to be.
Creed and Anna.
JJ.
Jerry and Alice Thompson.
Stephanie and Ian Grant.
Stacey. Ben.
Julie McKenna, my mother.
Mrs. Paquinn, my real mother.
Izzie, who I have not forgotten.
Otter, my almost-father.
Dominic. My love. My life. My future.
But if you were to strip them all away, if you were to reduce this story, my story, to the most single common denominator that there is, what has this been about? What has it been about since you and I met so very long ago?
My brother and me. That’s what this has been about. The whole time.
There are others to our story. Great people and grand loves. They surround us just as surely as we surround them. But it always comes back to Derrick and Tyson McKenna. Bear and the Kid.
He is the reason I can breathe.
June 18, 2014
Oh my God, I loved it! I mean seriously, seriously, loved it! I'm not shocked because I think TJ Klune is a brilliant writer. I love the characters that he brings to life. Do they get on my nerves sometimes?? Hell yes...but aren't they supposed to? My friends in real life (no one on Goodreads of course LOL) get on my aggravate me sometimes too. OK, enough about how much I love TJ and his books and let's get back to the current book at hand.
Rest assured, there will be SPOILERS ahead so please don't read on if you don't want anything to be revealed.
Here are my *LOVE IT* highlights from the book:
*Dominic - I love you. Break out the handcuffs and do whatever you want to me. If you were mine, I wouldn't run away from you. In fact, I would probably glue myself to you and you would never get rid of me.
When he told Tyson "If you try to run again, I will find you. That's a promise. This bullshit is over." OMG! I think I yelled 'Take me Dominic' to myself in my apartment. He was always so silent and quiet before that moment and it was just a pivotal point where I really, really, started to love him.
What about the present he gave to Ty for his birthday. I fell in love with him all over again when Ty was going through it and looking at everything. That right there, was love. No doubt about it.
My heart broke for him when Tyson cut him off. I give him credit as he tried and tried to contact Tyson and was shot down at every turn. Four years is a long ass time to love and miss someone without any contact. I think if it were me, and I were Dom, my sadness would have eventually turned to anger. I'm sure that he was angry because he wasn't given a chance to explain, but that man has the patience of a saint (is he secretly related to Otter), and he *knows* Tyson so well. He gives him time to breathe and it all works out in the end. He was never vindictive toward Tyson because he cut him off, even though he did arrest him. But that was kind of funny :) Goddamn beach hippies lol
*Creed - I've always had a soft spot for Creed. Have you ever had a friend that's always saying stupid shit and doesn't always think before he talks, but has a heart of gold? This is how I feel about Creed. I think is relationship with JJ is awesome. Is it conventional? Um, I guess not, but it sure is fun to read. I was cracking up with JJ when telling the joke that Creed told him at the dinner table. Oh, I'm sorry, it wasn't Creed, it was someone named.....Leed. No one would have ever known it was Creed. LMAO. Anyone who has read the previous books knows that no one can write a dinner scene like TJ Klune. They are always classic and this one was no exception....but I will get to that later.
Even though Creed has some questionable parenting skills, you can see that he LOVES his child. They have a unique relationsihp, but it works for them. I think he would be an awesome dad to have in real life. Plus, he has Anna to help balance him so it's all good.
I loved when they were on Skype and he was looking at Ryan while he was naked. That is classic Creed right there when he says "What has my life come to? Asking to see penis on the internet?". Love him!
*Corey/Kori - I'm always going to refer to him as a *he* just for ease in this review. But think of it as *he/she* even though I don't type that out every time :) So, I think the introduction of this new character was fabulous. It was refreshing to see someone to could compete with Tyson and it's exactly what Tyson needed in his life. What an awesome best friend! When he was spinning his tangled web in order to get Dom to come to Tucson with them I was loving it. It seemed that he was always one step ahead when it came to Tyson and Dom. How nice was it that he made sure that the sex dungeon came equipped with condoms, lube, and dildos? That's true friendship. I loved how he flirted with Otter as well as his relationship with Helena. I also loved that we got to see brief moments where he was slightly vulnerable as well in speaking about his life in Tucson. I'm very excited that he will be in future books.
*Stacey - I admit it, I hated her at first. How could I not? She was taking Dom away from Ty and I wasn't having it. Well, guess what, I ended up liking her. Miss Thing can give a good little speech. When she was talking with Tyson in Dom's kitchen toward the end of the book I gained a lot of respect for her. She really drove it home on what Tyson did to Dom when he stopped communicating with him. "You broke him"....ugh! Let's face it, this wasn't easy for her. She got pregnant and married someone whom she pretty much knew loved a man the entire time. Sounds like a great time for her, right? But out of that came Ben, and Dom and Stacey make some pretty great parents even though they aren't a couple.
*Helena - She is sassy! I love the interactions between her and Paul and I can't wait to read more about her with Darren. Those two can give as good as they get so that book is going to be G-O-O-D!
*Dinner - What? I know, I know, *dinner* isn't a character, but how can I not talk about the dinner. Again, I love dinner scenes in TJ's books as they are classic. I mean, come on. We get to here what makes a bunny Fucks Funny. Bear is drinking and let's everyone know that they want to have a baby. Bear and Tyson get into it a little and we get to see Otter show his authority by getting Ty to apologize to Bear (God, I love Otter too). Plus, we get to see an awesome side to Creed's parenting skills when JJ says "Dad says that's not what family does. He says we can get mad, but we always forgive." Damn straight Creed!
*Izzie - Is she Tyson Junior or what? How could you not love her? And how could you not feel for her when Tyson had to leave. It was so sad because you knew what he was leaving her with. Before his mom came home, I really loved the conversation between those two. They are two peas in a pod for sure.
Of course, I totally love Bear, Otter, and Tyson. They might not be everyone's definition of a family, but they are my definition of a family. A true family that loves, fights, and forgives. They are there for each other and only want the best for each other.
The ending....WTF....when is the next book coming out? :) What an ending it was, O-M-G!
All right, my fingers are getting tired and I could gush and gush for days. I laughed. I cried. And I did that within pages of each other. I loved it, just as I knew I would! Seriously, read this series. I don't think you will be disappointed!
Rest assured, there will be SPOILERS ahead so please don't read on if you don't want anything to be revealed.
Here are my *LOVE IT* highlights from the book:
*Dominic - I love you. Break out the handcuffs and do whatever you want to me. If you were mine, I wouldn't run away from you. In fact, I would probably glue myself to you and you would never get rid of me.
When he told Tyson "If you try to run again, I will find you. That's a promise. This bullshit is over." OMG! I think I yelled 'Take me Dominic' to myself in my apartment. He was always so silent and quiet before that moment and it was just a pivotal point where I really, really, started to love him.
What about the present he gave to Ty for his birthday. I fell in love with him all over again when Ty was going through it and looking at everything. That right there, was love. No doubt about it.
My heart broke for him when Tyson cut him off. I give him credit as he tried and tried to contact Tyson and was shot down at every turn. Four years is a long ass time to love and miss someone without any contact. I think if it were me, and I were Dom, my sadness would have eventually turned to anger. I'm sure that he was angry because he wasn't given a chance to explain, but that man has the patience of a saint (is he secretly related to Otter), and he *knows* Tyson so well. He gives him time to breathe and it all works out in the end. He was never vindictive toward Tyson because he cut him off, even though he did arrest him. But that was kind of funny :) Goddamn beach hippies lol
*Creed - I've always had a soft spot for Creed. Have you ever had a friend that's always saying stupid shit and doesn't always think before he talks, but has a heart of gold? This is how I feel about Creed. I think is relationship with JJ is awesome. Is it conventional? Um, I guess not, but it sure is fun to read. I was cracking up with JJ when telling the joke that Creed told him at the dinner table. Oh, I'm sorry, it wasn't Creed, it was someone named.....Leed. No one would have ever known it was Creed. LMAO. Anyone who has read the previous books knows that no one can write a dinner scene like TJ Klune. They are always classic and this one was no exception....but I will get to that later.
Even though Creed has some questionable parenting skills, you can see that he LOVES his child. They have a unique relationsihp, but it works for them. I think he would be an awesome dad to have in real life. Plus, he has Anna to help balance him so it's all good.
I loved when they were on Skype and he was looking at Ryan while he was naked. That is classic Creed right there when he says "What has my life come to? Asking to see penis on the internet?". Love him!
*Corey/Kori - I'm always going to refer to him as a *he* just for ease in this review. But think of it as *he/she* even though I don't type that out every time :) So, I think the introduction of this new character was fabulous. It was refreshing to see someone to could compete with Tyson and it's exactly what Tyson needed in his life. What an awesome best friend! When he was spinning his tangled web in order to get Dom to come to Tucson with them I was loving it. It seemed that he was always one step ahead when it came to Tyson and Dom. How nice was it that he made sure that the sex dungeon came equipped with condoms, lube, and dildos? That's true friendship. I loved how he flirted with Otter as well as his relationship with Helena. I also loved that we got to see brief moments where he was slightly vulnerable as well in speaking about his life in Tucson. I'm very excited that he will be in future books.
*Stacey - I admit it, I hated her at first. How could I not? She was taking Dom away from Ty and I wasn't having it. Well, guess what, I ended up liking her. Miss Thing can give a good little speech. When she was talking with Tyson in Dom's kitchen toward the end of the book I gained a lot of respect for her. She really drove it home on what Tyson did to Dom when he stopped communicating with him. "You broke him"....ugh! Let's face it, this wasn't easy for her. She got pregnant and married someone whom she pretty much knew loved a man the entire time. Sounds like a great time for her, right? But out of that came Ben, and Dom and Stacey make some pretty great parents even though they aren't a couple.
*Helena - She is sassy! I love the interactions between her and Paul and I can't wait to read more about her with Darren. Those two can give as good as they get so that book is going to be G-O-O-D!
*Dinner - What? I know, I know, *dinner* isn't a character, but how can I not talk about the dinner. Again, I love dinner scenes in TJ's books as they are classic. I mean, come on. We get to here what makes a bunny Fucks Funny. Bear is drinking and let's everyone know that they want to have a baby. Bear and Tyson get into it a little and we get to see Otter show his authority by getting Ty to apologize to Bear (God, I love Otter too). Plus, we get to see an awesome side to Creed's parenting skills when JJ says "Dad says that's not what family does. He says we can get mad, but we always forgive." Damn straight Creed!
*Izzie - Is she Tyson Junior or what? How could you not love her? And how could you not feel for her when Tyson had to leave. It was so sad because you knew what he was leaving her with. Before his mom came home, I really loved the conversation between those two. They are two peas in a pod for sure.
Of course, I totally love Bear, Otter, and Tyson. They might not be everyone's definition of a family, but they are my definition of a family. A true family that loves, fights, and forgives. They are there for each other and only want the best for each other.
The ending....WTF....when is the next book coming out? :) What an ending it was, O-M-G!
All right, my fingers are getting tired and I could gush and gush for days. I laughed. I cried. And I did that within pages of each other. I loved it, just as I knew I would! Seriously, read this series. I don't think you will be disappointed!
June 20, 2014
♥♥♥ 5 "Inevitable" Stars ♥♥♥
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"Took us a while."
He chuckles. "You could say that."
"It won't be easy."
"Nothing worth having ever is."
I smile. "That's pretty damn cheesy. Lucky for you it worked."
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I am a HUGE fan of this series and this author, ever since I read the first book. So, when I heard a third book was coming out, I. Could. Not. Wait. And now that I have finished reading it, I am happy to say that it did not disappoint.
As soon as I opened the book, I was hit hard with nostalgia. I freaking missed the crap out of all of these characters!! And once I started, I had a real hard time putting this one down. So, this book starts off with an adorable prologue that had me smiling with joy at how Ty a.k.a "The Kid" met Dominic. So sweet!!
======TY======
Oh, how much Ty has grown, or maybe not so much in stature, but he has come along way from the intelligent little boy he once was. In fact, he has become a little bit like his older brother Bear a.k.a. Derrick. Which was really funny to see. This book goes from Ty being a kid to Ty the college student. There are so many things Ty has to get over that still affect him from his past. He also has to figure out his feelings and relationship with Dom. It was a crazy long journey and one hell of an emotional one. My heart broke for my little Ty, that I cried on multiple ocassions. Because funny thing, I still saw him as Ty "The Kid", he feels like family which is why I got what Bear was going through. I didn't want him to suffer, instead I wanted him to have love and all the success and eco-terrorist like him could have.
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"We're good together. You and I."
"I know," he says. "We always have been." And we always could be goes unsaid.
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So many things took place in this book. Stuff I won't get into detail about so as to not spoil it for anyone. Yes, a lot of it was heartbreaking but there were also a lot of laugh out loud moments that you come to expect from a T.J. Klune book. I love the over the top banter and humour. I simply couldn't get enough of them all.
======DOM=====
Then there is Dom, who I'm not going to lie, I REALLY wished I could have gotten a bit of his POV to know what was running through his head, but oh, well. I will say that Dom made me swoon really freaking hard. I love the way he is with Ty. He is his protector, his friend, anything Ty needs him to be. They share this unconditional love for one another that no matter how much time goes by, didn't seem to diminish it. I just loved that and them together. It totally melted my heart.
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"You and me? It might take time. It might be hard. But I will stand by you and I will help you breathe, and if there are days when there are earthquakes, I promise you I'll protect you from anything that falls."
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I've got to say that one of my favourite scenes from the book was having the characters from Tell Me It's Real, (another absolute favourite of mine) and the characters from BOATK all together. It was so freaking hilarious and so much fun that I was high from it all. It really was awesome and I loved the way T.J. wrote those parts and kind of poked fun of it all. I also really loved Kori/Corey, the best this character really was. I could not stop snickering during his/her scenes.
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"I don't need any other home," he tells me roughly. "I don't need any other home than you, so you don't ever forget that, you hear me? You don't ever forget me. You can't. You just can't."
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I really had a blast reading this book, well except for the really emotional parts that had me weeping. But I loved it all!! Like I mentioned before, these characters feel so real that they feel like family. Each and everyone of them have a spot in my heart. I loved the writing. I loved Ty and Dom together. And that ending...seriously!! That epilogue has me wanting more!! Now!! Overall, it was en emotional but very EPIC read that I truly loved. I can't wait to see what comes next!!
~Buddy read with Lili~ <3
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November 7, 2022
"And I'm still going to be slightly manic."
"Probably," he says. "Slightly." He moves his hands up and down my back.
"And I come with a whole shitload of issues."
"Nothing I can't handle," he says, kissing my forehead.
"And I never stop talking."
"Noted," he says, lifting my shirt so he can touch bare skin.
"We need to make plans," I tell him as he kisses my neck.
"We have been," he says. "And we will."
"Dom?"
"Ty?"
"We're inevitable. Aren't we?"
He stands up tall and cups my face in his hands. His gaze locks onto mine, and I tremble. "Yeah, Ty. We are. We always have been. And we always will be." 🥹🥹
literally me throughout 90% of this book:
oh who am i kidding. it's me through most of tj klune's works simply bc his words have the ability to make me feel so fucking much for the characters he creates. they make me happy. cry. laugh. smile. they aren't perfect. they fuck up. they make mistakes. they get scared and run away. however, it's exactly why i find them so realistic and relatable. even likable in other ways, although i tend to love certain type of characters that others may not completely understand and that's okay lol. similar to how i felt about Bear, i also understand Tyson (aka Kid). his mindset. insecurities. fears. i felt so much for him. the way Dominic was his quiet, strong protector had me sobbing. these two are soulmates and it's something i believed even from the moment they first met. they just clicked. as Dom had stated since the very beginning, they were always meant to be inevitable. the side characters!! i loved how they felt so important to the story and both mcs lives—the new characters we've been introduced to in this book, as well as older characters we've grown to love and cherish in the first two books. there wasn't a side character that felt out of place or pointless, but they each had their own story, their significance, to add on and, by this point, it's quite clear i'm almost always going to end up falling in love with tj klune's characters (The House in the Cerulean Sea, Green Creek series and now this). despite the emotional damage this book put me through, Ty and Dom's story is one i wouldn't ever change. it was perfect in every way to me.
But everything changed.
Because of Helmholtz Watson. And the little boy with all the words. The little boy demanding friendship and promising books about brave new worlds and a brother named Bear and a partner named Otter in a place known as the Green Monstrosity.
And for the first time since his mother had been covered in paint on the floor, he found himself curious. He found himself talking. He found himself answering questions.
He found himself hopeful.
"Probably," he says. "Slightly." He moves his hands up and down my back.
"And I come with a whole shitload of issues."
"Nothing I can't handle," he says, kissing my forehead.
"And I never stop talking."
"Noted," he says, lifting my shirt so he can touch bare skin.
"We need to make plans," I tell him as he kisses my neck.
"We have been," he says. "And we will."
"Dom?"
"Ty?"
"We're inevitable. Aren't we?"
He stands up tall and cups my face in his hands. His gaze locks onto mine, and I tremble. "Yeah, Ty. We are. We always have been. And we always will be." 🥹🥹
literally me throughout 90% of this book:
oh who am i kidding. it's me through most of tj klune's works simply bc his words have the ability to make me feel so fucking much for the characters he creates. they make me happy. cry. laugh. smile. they aren't perfect. they fuck up. they make mistakes. they get scared and run away. however, it's exactly why i find them so realistic and relatable. even likable in other ways, although i tend to love certain type of characters that others may not completely understand and that's okay lol. similar to how i felt about Bear, i also understand Tyson (aka Kid). his mindset. insecurities. fears. i felt so much for him. the way Dominic was his quiet, strong protector had me sobbing. these two are soulmates and it's something i believed even from the moment they first met. they just clicked. as Dom had stated since the very beginning, they were always meant to be inevitable. the side characters!! i loved how they felt so important to the story and both mcs lives—the new characters we've been introduced to in this book, as well as older characters we've grown to love and cherish in the first two books. there wasn't a side character that felt out of place or pointless, but they each had their own story, their significance, to add on and, by this point, it's quite clear i'm almost always going to end up falling in love with tj klune's characters (The House in the Cerulean Sea, Green Creek series and now this). despite the emotional damage this book put me through, Ty and Dom's story is one i wouldn't ever change. it was perfect in every way to me.
But everything changed.
Because of Helmholtz Watson. And the little boy with all the words. The little boy demanding friendship and promising books about brave new worlds and a brother named Bear and a partner named Otter in a place known as the Green Monstrosity.
And for the first time since his mother had been covered in paint on the floor, he found himself curious. He found himself talking. He found himself answering questions.
He found himself hopeful.
July 1, 2019
Honestly, I never know where I stand with Klune's books. It's either meh or 5 stars. I loved this as fiercely as I loved Wolfsong.
August 27, 2014
AN INEVITABLE HIT!
ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS I'VE READ THIS YEAR SO FAR!
I've read some of Mr. TJ Klune's books already and I can already tell (I think) his writing style. I call it "ALL-OUT". Let it all out there, no holding back kind of writing. And with that, he gets ALL MY EMOTIONS OUT when I read his books.
Into This River I Drown has All Out Grief
Tell Me It's Real has All Out Laughter
and the Bear, Otter, and the Kid has All Out Drama.
And its third installment also has that. This third book has got me crying a lot (really, so much.) just like what BOATK did to me. And that's a great thing because I don't cry that much when reading. I'm so invested with all of the characters (especially Tyson here) that every little thing they've done affects me so much. And reading Ty's story, it helped me understand him more, feel and symphatize for him more, and love him a lot more.
SPOILER ALERT: Some spoilers ahead...
Tyson & Dominic
I loved Ty & Dom's story. When I've read about them in Who We Are, I just knew they would be together (even before I heard the announcement of this book). And their story was a joy to read. Their "INEVITABLE" beginning, though a little cheesy, it was so damn adorable. On the part where Ty is about to leave for college, it was heartbreaking. I ached for them! I cried on that part where Gosh, they loved each other so much already but they couldn't see it yet. And both of them are still young (especially Ty) that I knew they just can't get together yet. And when the crazy happened? It was so bad I felt sour reading it. Good thing they started to but it didn't happened easy I tell you and I felt really giddy on that part when Their trip to Tucson, that was a lovely part!!! When that was one of my SQUEEEEE!!!!! moments.
I gotta say I loved how the author did their love scenes. It was tamed but still very romantic. I think it would be really weird to read something very sexual between these two because I treat Ty & Dom like my nephews so reading something vividly sexual might feel weird. I actually still can't get over the fact that Dominic turned into this hot beefcake cop from what he was in Who We Are. I also loved that their relationship started from friendship and love not from lust like some of the other M/Ms I've read already. I felt how their love story was done fitted Ty & Dom really well.
Bear & Otter. Sigh...though I know Bear had a lot more appearances here than Otter, I loved Otter's steady comforting presence in Ty's life. It was super duper lovely to see these two still so much together after all these years.
Oh gosh that was such a treat! Seeing them all over again was a nice nice bonus!
I loved the rest of the characters as well. I really enjoyed Creed, Anna, and their son JJ's banter. It's just so damn funny, that family.
Some issues for me, the time setting. I was wondering how will the author pull off a story that is set 10 years later from the previous book if that previous book was published only 3 years ago. This story was set in the present with Facebook, Candy Crush, and the other very now jokes. But it got me confused, was BOATK set in the 90s? Early 2000s? I keep thinking back, trying to remember when the other books was set.
I also have some other issues with Dom's sincerity for his love for Ty but it didn't really affected my enjoyment with the story, so it's alright.
The cliffhanger! It's quite cruel! Expect a Book #4 guys.
I am very very grateful that I've read this story. I loved Bear, Otter, and The Kid and Who We Are and this just made me love Bear, Otter, and Ty's family even more. What a freaking emotional rollercoaster ride that I truly truly had a pleasure of reading. It might be THE BEST of what I've been reading for the past months. It was THAT GOOD.
Mr. T.J. Klune you're such a great great writer. I enjoyed this so much. Thank you and God bless! (to you and your partner)
Bear, Otter, and The Kid series is A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED series for every M/M Romance lover out there. And this third installment is A MUST READ for those who loved the first two books.
Please read this after BOATK, Who We Are, and Tell Me It's Real so it will make more sense for you.
ENJOY!!! :D
my BOATK review
my not so elaborate Who We Are review
my Tell Me It's Real review
ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS I'VE READ THIS YEAR SO FAR!
I've read some of Mr. TJ Klune's books already and I can already tell (I think) his writing style. I call it "ALL-OUT". Let it all out there, no holding back kind of writing. And with that, he gets ALL MY EMOTIONS OUT when I read his books.
Into This River I Drown has All Out Grief
Tell Me It's Real has All Out Laughter
and the Bear, Otter, and the Kid has All Out Drama.
And its third installment also has that. This third book has got me crying a lot (really, so much.) just like what BOATK did to me. And that's a great thing because I don't cry that much when reading. I'm so invested with all of the characters (especially Tyson here) that every little thing they've done affects me so much. And reading Ty's story, it helped me understand him more, feel and symphatize for him more, and love him a lot more.
SPOILER ALERT: Some spoilers ahead...
Tyson & Dominic
I loved Ty & Dom's story. When I've read about them in Who We Are, I just knew they would be together (even before I heard the announcement of this book). And their story was a joy to read. Their "INEVITABLE" beginning, though a little cheesy, it was so damn adorable. On the part where Ty is about to leave for college, it was heartbreaking. I ached for them! I cried on that part where Gosh, they loved each other so much already but they couldn't see it yet. And both of them are still young (especially Ty) that I knew they just can't get together yet. And when the crazy happened? It was so bad I felt sour reading it. Good thing they started to but it didn't happened easy I tell you and I felt really giddy on that part when Their trip to Tucson, that was a lovely part!!! When that was one of my SQUEEEEE!!!!! moments.
I gotta say I loved how the author did their love scenes. It was tamed but still very romantic. I think it would be really weird to read something very sexual between these two because I treat Ty & Dom like my nephews so reading something vividly sexual might feel weird. I actually still can't get over the fact that Dominic turned into this hot beefcake cop from what he was in Who We Are. I also loved that their relationship started from friendship and love not from lust like some of the other M/Ms I've read already. I felt how their love story was done fitted Ty & Dom really well.
Bear & Otter. Sigh...though I know Bear had a lot more appearances here than Otter, I loved Otter's steady comforting presence in Ty's life. It was super duper lovely to see these two still so much together after all these years.
Oh gosh that was such a treat! Seeing them all over again was a nice nice bonus!
I loved the rest of the characters as well. I really enjoyed Creed, Anna, and their son JJ's banter. It's just so damn funny, that family.
Some issues for me, the time setting. I was wondering how will the author pull off a story that is set 10 years later from the previous book if that previous book was published only 3 years ago. This story was set in the present with Facebook, Candy Crush, and the other very now jokes. But it got me confused, was BOATK set in the 90s? Early 2000s? I keep thinking back, trying to remember when the other books was set.
I also have some other issues with Dom's sincerity for his love for Ty but it didn't really affected my enjoyment with the story, so it's alright.
The cliffhanger! It's quite cruel! Expect a Book #4 guys.
I am very very grateful that I've read this story. I loved Bear, Otter, and The Kid and Who We Are and this just made me love Bear, Otter, and Ty's family even more. What a freaking emotional rollercoaster ride that I truly truly had a pleasure of reading. It might be THE BEST of what I've been reading for the past months. It was THAT GOOD.
Mr. T.J. Klune you're such a great great writer. I enjoyed this so much. Thank you and God bless! (to you and your partner)
Bear, Otter, and The Kid series is A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED series for every M/M Romance lover out there. And this third installment is A MUST READ for those who loved the first two books.
Please read this after BOATK, Who We Are, and Tell Me It's Real so it will make more sense for you.
ENJOY!!! :D
my BOATK review
my not so elaborate Who We Are review
my Tell Me It's Real review
July 13, 2017
I want to say I'm ready for the fourth book. And I am...I so am. But I'm not ready to say goodbye. I doubt I ever will be.
---From my second reading (23-25 Nov 2015)---
The Art of Breathing grounds me like no other book manages to accomplish. When I am feeling out of sorts or can't seem to get into another book, sometimes I will just pick this book up and start reading from a random-ish point and just read for a while. It never fails to get me back on track. This time, I decided to read it from beginning to end, and what it journey. I cannot wait until book 4 comes out. I'll probably reread the whole series then. Thank you, TJ, for this amazing book and series!
---Review from my first reading (1-2 June 2015)---
This is the first series by TJ Klune that I have read and I think it might just go down as one of my favorite series ever. I love the writing, the story and the characters so much, that even the lack of steam didn't take away from how much I loved it. It's such a highly emotional series - I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I was happy, I was sad and everything in between. And, I am ecstatic there will be a fourth book.
Pretty much as soon as I read Who We Are, and I saw just how wonderful Dom and Ty were together (even just as best friends), I could not wait to dive in and take a long swim in their story. And it's heartbreaking and I had to practice the art of breathing some myself, since I was feeling so much, my chest constricted.
In the epilogue of Who We Are, we learn that Ty is gay and that he is in love with his best friend Dom. In the beginning of The Art of Breathing we learn that Dom got involved with a woman that Bear introduced to him. Is Dom bi or is he just trying to play it straight? We know from a comment that he made to Bear in Who We Are, that he is attracted to guys, but maybe he felt he couldn't explore that and be a cop in their small conservative town. So, there's a whole clusterfuck of events that happen that tear Dom and Ty apart and hurt them both deeply.
Ty seems so lost in The Art of Breathing. He's the most vulnerable I've seen him. He's not nearly so sure of himself and he is finally old enough to realize that he doesn't know everything.
Now, I have lots of opinions on what went down and how everyone handled it. I think Bear made a mistake by allowing Ty to shut Dom out. I get it, I do. He couldn't stand to see Ty hurting. But allowing that situation to go unresolved for so long had dire consequences because Ty wasn't being honest with Bear and Otter or his therapist or himself about his mental state. He pushed it away and hid behind his meds instead of dealing with it all head on. He was just a kid and as mature and adult as he often seemed, he just didn't have the life experience to cope with what he saw as a betrayal by Dom. Hindsight is 20/20, though. I probably would have reacted much like Bear in the heat of things and so I can't judge too much, I suppose.
In the, almost, 4 years that Dom and Ty are apart, Ty meets Corey/Kori, a bigender young person who is really extraordinary. They date for awhile, but Corey breaks up with Ty saying they would be better off as friends. When we first meet Corey/Kori, I didn't want to like them. At all. They were encroaching on what was Dom's (but, of course that wasn't really true, was it). It didn't take me long to be completely thankful that Corey/Kori came into Ty's life. Ty needed someone that would tell him things he doesn't want to hear, but needs to. Ty needed an ally. Ty needed a friend that wasn't not a parental figure.
Once the family went back in Seafare, my heart broke all over again every time Dom and Ty interacted. Ty knew he was being unreasonable and he knew he owed Dom an apology, but every time he saw Dom, he felt so angry, he had trouble getting past it. It took Ty weeks to get up the nerve to actually talk to Dom and he got some questions answered but he was afraid to ask what he really wanted to know. They danced around each other expertly. Thank goodness for Corey. Corey/Kori also, very expertly, manipulated both Dom and Ty to force them (particularly Ty) to face what they really meant to each other. And it's a process.
It takes them some time, but Dom is a patient man and he is not letting go this time. When Dom and Ty finally came together, it made my heart sing. they still have a ways to go, but they will get there. They are strong. Stronger than they know. And I really look forward to the rest of their story.
---From my second reading (23-25 Nov 2015)---
The Art of Breathing grounds me like no other book manages to accomplish. When I am feeling out of sorts or can't seem to get into another book, sometimes I will just pick this book up and start reading from a random-ish point and just read for a while. It never fails to get me back on track. This time, I decided to read it from beginning to end, and what it journey. I cannot wait until book 4 comes out. I'll probably reread the whole series then. Thank you, TJ, for this amazing book and series!
---Review from my first reading (1-2 June 2015)---
This is the first series by TJ Klune that I have read and I think it might just go down as one of my favorite series ever. I love the writing, the story and the characters so much, that even the lack of steam didn't take away from how much I loved it. It's such a highly emotional series - I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I was happy, I was sad and everything in between. And, I am ecstatic there will be a fourth book.
Pretty much as soon as I read Who We Are, and I saw just how wonderful Dom and Ty were together (even just as best friends), I could not wait to dive in and take a long swim in their story. And it's heartbreaking and I had to practice the art of breathing some myself, since I was feeling so much, my chest constricted.
In the epilogue of Who We Are, we learn that Ty is gay and that he is in love with his best friend Dom. In the beginning of The Art of Breathing we learn that Dom got involved with a woman that Bear introduced to him. Is Dom bi or is he just trying to play it straight? We know from a comment that he made to Bear in Who We Are, that he is attracted to guys, but maybe he felt he couldn't explore that and be a cop in their small conservative town. So, there's a whole clusterfuck of events that happen that tear Dom and Ty apart and hurt them both deeply.
Ty seems so lost in The Art of Breathing. He's the most vulnerable I've seen him. He's not nearly so sure of himself and he is finally old enough to realize that he doesn't know everything.
Now, I have lots of opinions on what went down and how everyone handled it. I think Bear made a mistake by allowing Ty to shut Dom out. I get it, I do. He couldn't stand to see Ty hurting. But allowing that situation to go unresolved for so long had dire consequences because Ty wasn't being honest with Bear and Otter or his therapist or himself about his mental state. He pushed it away and hid behind his meds instead of dealing with it all head on. He was just a kid and as mature and adult as he often seemed, he just didn't have the life experience to cope with what he saw as a betrayal by Dom. Hindsight is 20/20, though. I probably would have reacted much like Bear in the heat of things and so I can't judge too much, I suppose.
In the, almost, 4 years that Dom and Ty are apart, Ty meets Corey/Kori, a bigender young person who is really extraordinary. They date for awhile, but Corey breaks up with Ty saying they would be better off as friends. When we first meet Corey/Kori, I didn't want to like them. At all. They were encroaching on what was Dom's (but, of course that wasn't really true, was it). It didn't take me long to be completely thankful that Corey/Kori came into Ty's life. Ty needed someone that would tell him things he doesn't want to hear, but needs to. Ty needed an ally. Ty needed a friend that wasn't not a parental figure.
Once the family went back in Seafare, my heart broke all over again every time Dom and Ty interacted. Ty knew he was being unreasonable and he knew he owed Dom an apology, but every time he saw Dom, he felt so angry, he had trouble getting past it. It took Ty weeks to get up the nerve to actually talk to Dom and he got some questions answered but he was afraid to ask what he really wanted to know. They danced around each other expertly. Thank goodness for Corey. Corey/Kori also, very expertly, manipulated both Dom and Ty to force them (particularly Ty) to face what they really meant to each other. And it's a process.
It takes them some time, but Dom is a patient man and he is not letting go this time. When Dom and Ty finally came together, it made my heart sing. they still have a ways to go, but they will get there. They are strong. Stronger than they know. And I really look forward to the rest of their story.
May 27, 2015
I was getting ready to bitch and moan, "Wait! This isn't a HEA, it's totally a HFN! I need more!!" Because I thought this was a trilogy. But, fuck me running, there is another book in the works!! To say I'm excited would be an understatement!
Loved this book. Cried like a baby, but loved it.
Loved this book. Cried like a baby, but loved it.
August 2, 2017
Sometimes 5 stars just don’t seem like enough…
I seriously had trouble putting this one down when I had to go be an adult and actually do important shit, and sleep was definitely lost as a result of my (obsessive) late night reading – but it was all totally worth it!
The Kid’s story was everything I wanted it to be.
For me, Tyson Thompson (nè McKenna) is a high ranking member of my all-time favourite book characters list, which is no easy feat. I made this decision when he was only a little guy and I regret nothing. He and his brother Bear, along with all the other fantastically drawn characters in this series, have rooted their way into my heart and I highly doubt they will ever leave.
The Art of Breathing (again) showcased Klune’s exquisite writing skills, his mastery of creating phenomenally complex and lovable characters, and his a knack for weaving an emotionally charged and heart-warming story, that will undoubtedly have me coming back for countless re-reads.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
I seriously had trouble putting this one down when I had to go be an adult and actually do important shit, and sleep was definitely lost as a result of my (obsessive) late night reading – but it was all totally worth it!
The Kid’s story was everything I wanted it to be.
For me, Tyson Thompson (nè McKenna) is a high ranking member of my all-time favourite book characters list, which is no easy feat. I made this decision when he was only a little guy and I regret nothing. He and his brother Bear, along with all the other fantastically drawn characters in this series, have rooted their way into my heart and I highly doubt they will ever leave.
The Art of Breathing (again) showcased Klune’s exquisite writing skills, his mastery of creating phenomenally complex and lovable characters, and his a knack for weaving an emotionally charged and heart-warming story, that will undoubtedly have me coming back for countless re-reads.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
June 12, 2023
Relisten #4
I just wish we would have seen more of Dom and Ty's relationship.
Reslisten #3
Bumping it up to 5 stars because I can.
Reread/Relisten #2
4.5 stars
You know...
Otter and Dominic are just the perfect Significant Others. Bear and Ty are so lucky.
I loved this book. It was deep and profound, without being overwhelming.
The sprinkled comedy made sure of that.
The cameos! Sandy and Kori/Cori and the whole gang.
I loved everything about it.
I also LOVED the fact that Sean Crisden is back narrating this
The only thing that I didn't like is that I wanted more Dom and Ty together. I love domesticity in my MM romance, and I wanted to be privy to their everyday lives like we were with Bear and Otter.
I just wish we would have seen more of Dom and Ty's relationship.
Reslisten #3
Bumping it up to 5 stars because I can.
Reread/Relisten #2
4.5 stars
You know...
Otter and Dominic are just the perfect Significant Others. Bear and Ty are so lucky.
I loved this book. It was deep and profound, without being overwhelming.
The sprinkled comedy made sure of that.
The cameos! Sandy and Kori/Cori and the whole gang.
I loved everything about it.
I also LOVED the fact that Sean Crisden is back narrating this
The only thing that I didn't like is that I wanted more Dom and Ty together. I love domesticity in my MM romance, and I wanted to be privy to their everyday lives like we were with Bear and Otter.
August 6, 2017
Reread August 2017:
Ok. It took one rainy day and absolutely no self control - but I finished this in one go. (again)
And I loved it - ok, I may have skimmed over some of Bear's outbursts, but in essence all I can say - I am in awe of TJ Klune. Always will be. For some reason Tyson's story just gets me on a very personal level. His panic attacks are so real. His courage is breathtaking.
And Dominic is just so awesome I can hardly express it. A bit emotional at the moment. So I leave you with my original thoughts:
How does TJ Klune manage to make me care so much? For all his characters.
Maybe it's because we get to know each of them so well, almost better than yourself. You know all their insecurities, their faults, their craziness and yet, you can't help loving them. And there is so much love in these three books - and not 'just' (and I don't mean that in any derogative way) romantic love, but love that's pure and sweet and something we all crave for in our lives.
This is Tyson's story. But it's not 'just' (and there is that word again) about him and Dominic, it is about Tyson finding himself, making peace deep within himself. Of course Dom is part of this journey, of course he does play an important role in Ty's development, but there is so much more. Tyson is growing up, really growing up, not just by age default, and following this process deeply moved me. Again and again. And, I might have encountered some home truths there.
Before I get too philosophical though (no chance of that anyway because I'm simply not that way inclined) - this book is as brilliantly written as the other two - the slant is slightly different, but it simply fits and it feels right.
In case this all sounds a bit serious - don't worry. This is TJ Klune! Who else could write a line like this?
United States of America? More like United States of Extraordinary Injustice Against Certain Segments of the Population All Because Rednecks Are Scared of Butt Sex.
I had to laugh at the idea of Bear as a teacher - I just visualize his pupils' little faces when Bear lets one of his infamous thought hurricanes loose! And meeting the guys from 'Tell me it's Real' was fun, too. I really must read Sandy and Darren's story soon!
This series though is something special, and something you really shouldn't miss.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Ok. It took one rainy day and absolutely no self control - but I finished this in one go. (again)
And I loved it - ok, I may have skimmed over some of Bear's outbursts, but in essence all I can say - I am in awe of TJ Klune. Always will be. For some reason Tyson's story just gets me on a very personal level. His panic attacks are so real. His courage is breathtaking.
And Dominic is just so awesome I can hardly express it. A bit emotional at the moment. So I leave you with my original thoughts:
How does TJ Klune manage to make me care so much? For all his characters.
Maybe it's because we get to know each of them so well, almost better than yourself. You know all their insecurities, their faults, their craziness and yet, you can't help loving them. And there is so much love in these three books - and not 'just' (and I don't mean that in any derogative way) romantic love, but love that's pure and sweet and something we all crave for in our lives.
This is Tyson's story. But it's not 'just' (and there is that word again) about him and Dominic, it is about Tyson finding himself, making peace deep within himself. Of course Dom is part of this journey, of course he does play an important role in Ty's development, but there is so much more. Tyson is growing up, really growing up, not just by age default, and following this process deeply moved me. Again and again. And, I might have encountered some home truths there.
Before I get too philosophical though (no chance of that anyway because I'm simply not that way inclined) - this book is as brilliantly written as the other two - the slant is slightly different, but it simply fits and it feels right.
In case this all sounds a bit serious - don't worry. This is TJ Klune! Who else could write a line like this?
United States of America? More like United States of Extraordinary Injustice Against Certain Segments of the Population All Because Rednecks Are Scared of Butt Sex.
I had to laugh at the idea of Bear as a teacher - I just visualize his pupils' little faces when Bear lets one of his infamous thought hurricanes loose! And meeting the guys from 'Tell me it's Real' was fun, too. I really must read Sandy and Darren's story soon!
This series though is something special, and something you really shouldn't miss.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
June 17, 2014
This book started off really well and it jerked my heart strings nicely with some good old fashioned angst. Unfortunately I had one big problem about the story which started happening when Ty got back to seafare. and unfortunately the story didn't really recover for me. Except that I loved loved loved catching up with the crew from Tell Me It's Real . and a big damn you tj klune for that teaser ending!
August 19, 2014
2.5
This will be very long because I'm very frustrated.
Anyway, this was seriously overwrought, but from what I can tell, this is the sequence of events:
-Ty realizes just a bit before turning 16 that he's in love with his best friend, Dom.
-At the party, Ty decides to find Dom and basically tell him he loves him.
-Ty finds Dom making out with Stacey. Ty has a panic attack and decides then that he won't stay in Seafare after all.
-Dom sees Ty's look of betrayal and heartbreak and realizes what Ty feels for him.
-Dom also realizes his own feelings for Ty at Ty's graduation speech.
-But Dom's been seeing Stacey and continues to see Stacey.
-Turns out that Stacey realized before Ty left (she confesses it near the end of the book) that Dom was in love with Ty, like seriously, deeply, Ty's-his-whole-world in love. She keeps dating Dom anyway...
-Ty leaves for college. Dom continues to see Stacey, despite everything.
-Ty and Dom are still in contact, still talk on the phone, until...
-Ty gets a invitation in the mail for Stacey & Dom's wedding. That he totally had no warning about.
-Dom calls him to try to stop him from opening the envelope but it's too late!
-Ty has a terrible panic attack.
-Dom gets on a plane to NH to talk to Ty and explain (though I don't know what he thought he'd be explaining since he had every plan to go through with the wedding) but Bear doesn't let him see Ty.
-Turns out (another Stacey confession!) that the invitation to Ty was sent early by Stacey.
-There's no contact between them for 4 years. Bear and Otter make no mention of Dom or anything happening in his life.
-Ty gets addicted to prescription meds for his panic attacks and other problems.
-His grades suffer. He's near to being expelled.
-He returns to Seafare to try to get himself back in order again.
But!
Back in Seafare:
-It turns out that Dom's got a son with Stacey. No one told Ty in order to "protect" him and because Dom was also careful to keep it all from Ty.
-Everyone blames Ty because he "ran away" from the problem.
-Nobody says that what Dom did was shitty. NO ONE.
-People keep telling Ty he's got to act like an adult, "man up", etc. because he's the one in the wrong here. He gets this constantly shoved in his face.
-Dom straight out tells Ty he'd do it all again because he's got Ben now. Not that he loves Ben but would have handled it differently. No, he'd do it all that way again.
-Dom also makes sure to mention that Ben's numero uno in his life now, not anyone else, and will always be number one.
-There is absolutely no apology from Dom. In fact, Dom acts like he's the one that was wronged, that he's the only one that was hurt and broken.
-Stacey even gives Ty a big talk (this is where she confesses she knew way before that Dom had a thing for Ty and that she sent the invitation to Ty early) about how Ty broke Dom when he cut him off. Like Dom didn't break Ty with what he did. No, it was only Ty that did anything wrong and Dom was just being a good guy, forget the fact that he was breaking Ty's heart and he knew it.
Okay. That's what seems to me to be what happened, in which case:
1) Stacey is kind of shitty. I mean, you know the guy you're sexing up is in love with someone else and doesn't love you the same way, but you're going to keep on with the relationship anyway, and then you go ahead and marry him. Then you lecture the kid you and your ex (Dom) basically broke about what a shitty thing the kid did to your ex (yeah, it was so shitty for Ty to be hurt and to try to protect what was left of himself the only way he knew how).
2) Dom's kind of shitty, too. I mean, he knew how Ty felt. He felt the same way. He knew how much he could hurt Ty. What'd he do? Keep dating Stacey, then marry her when he knew perfectly well what it would do to Ty and that he didn't love Stacey the way he loved Ty.
3) Everyone else is shitty. Ty gets his heart shattered into a million pieces and his ground crumbling beneath his feet while he's still pretty much a child and they're all down on him for not being a level-headed mature adult about this? I don't know why everyone's all worked up about the damage done to poor Dom, but no one (except maybe Bear and Otter) gives a shit about how much Ty was damaged by it all, too. I loved Ty's extended family in the first two books, but now I pretty much dislike them (with the exception of Otter and maybe Bear) and can't really stand to read about them.
4) There's a whole thing about how terribly cruel it was of Ty to cut Dom out for 4 years (because it wasn't cruel, what Dom did to Ty) without even listening to Dom's explanation. I don't know why every character acts like Dom's explanation would have fixed anything. What was he going to say? It's not like he wasn't going to marry Stacey, because he was. It's not like he wasn't having a baby with Stacey, because he was. It's not like he did it all without knowing how Ty felt, because he did. What explanation could he have given? "I love you, you're my whole world, but I'm going to marry Stacey because I'm in a relationship with her and she's pregnant"? How would that have fixed any damn thing? I think it would have just made it worse for Ty, knowing that Dom was deliberately hurting him.
5) I'm not too sure I like how everyone's telling Ty that he shouldn't be having such a hard time getting over his panic attacks and abandonment issues because he's smart. 'Cause they make it sound like, really, if you're smart enough, you can just snap yourself out of it, it's not that hard at all. Mental illness and psychological problems can be fixed. It's just mind over matter. Depression? Bah, just be happy! Panic attacks? Pish-tosh, you can just tell yourself to calm down if you're smart enough!
Also, what is with all these characters in books constantly thinking that they have to get married if they have sex and one of them gets pregnant? Because it's so obviously better for children to be raised by married couples, no matter how unhappy they are together, than adults who are happier not married to each other? Do so many people still really think this? Is this why all the fictional characters think this, too? Guess that means no fictional character approves of divorce or separation or single parents.
This will be very long because I'm very frustrated.
Anyway, this was seriously overwrought, but from what I can tell, this is the sequence of events:
-Ty realizes just a bit before turning 16 that he's in love with his best friend, Dom.
-At the party, Ty decides to find Dom and basically tell him he loves him.
-Ty finds Dom making out with Stacey. Ty has a panic attack and decides then that he won't stay in Seafare after all.
-Dom sees Ty's look of betrayal and heartbreak and realizes what Ty feels for him.
-Dom also realizes his own feelings for Ty at Ty's graduation speech.
-But Dom's been seeing Stacey and continues to see Stacey.
-Turns out that Stacey realized before Ty left (she confesses it near the end of the book) that Dom was in love with Ty, like seriously, deeply, Ty's-his-whole-world in love. She keeps dating Dom anyway...
-Ty leaves for college. Dom continues to see Stacey, despite everything.
-Ty and Dom are still in contact, still talk on the phone, until...
-Ty gets a invitation in the mail for Stacey & Dom's wedding. That he totally had no warning about.
-Dom calls him to try to stop him from opening the envelope but it's too late!
-Ty has a terrible panic attack.
-Dom gets on a plane to NH to talk to Ty and explain (though I don't know what he thought he'd be explaining since he had every plan to go through with the wedding) but Bear doesn't let him see Ty.
-Turns out (another Stacey confession!) that the invitation to Ty was sent early by Stacey.
-There's no contact between them for 4 years. Bear and Otter make no mention of Dom or anything happening in his life.
-Ty gets addicted to prescription meds for his panic attacks and other problems.
-His grades suffer. He's near to being expelled.
-He returns to Seafare to try to get himself back in order again.
But!
Back in Seafare:
-It turns out that Dom's got a son with Stacey. No one told Ty in order to "protect" him and because Dom was also careful to keep it all from Ty.
-Everyone blames Ty because he "ran away" from the problem.
-Nobody says that what Dom did was shitty. NO ONE.
-People keep telling Ty he's got to act like an adult, "man up", etc. because he's the one in the wrong here. He gets this constantly shoved in his face.
-Dom straight out tells Ty he'd do it all again because he's got Ben now. Not that he loves Ben but would have handled it differently. No, he'd do it all that way again.
-Dom also makes sure to mention that Ben's numero uno in his life now, not anyone else, and will always be number one.
-There is absolutely no apology from Dom. In fact, Dom acts like he's the one that was wronged, that he's the only one that was hurt and broken.
-Stacey even gives Ty a big talk (this is where she confesses she knew way before that Dom had a thing for Ty and that she sent the invitation to Ty early) about how Ty broke Dom when he cut him off. Like Dom didn't break Ty with what he did. No, it was only Ty that did anything wrong and Dom was just being a good guy, forget the fact that he was breaking Ty's heart and he knew it.
Okay. That's what seems to me to be what happened, in which case:
1) Stacey is kind of shitty. I mean, you know the guy you're sexing up is in love with someone else and doesn't love you the same way, but you're going to keep on with the relationship anyway, and then you go ahead and marry him. Then you lecture the kid you and your ex (Dom) basically broke about what a shitty thing the kid did to your ex (yeah, it was so shitty for Ty to be hurt and to try to protect what was left of himself the only way he knew how).
2) Dom's kind of shitty, too. I mean, he knew how Ty felt. He felt the same way. He knew how much he could hurt Ty. What'd he do? Keep dating Stacey, then marry her when he knew perfectly well what it would do to Ty and that he didn't love Stacey the way he loved Ty.
3) Everyone else is shitty. Ty gets his heart shattered into a million pieces and his ground crumbling beneath his feet while he's still pretty much a child and they're all down on him for not being a level-headed mature adult about this? I don't know why everyone's all worked up about the damage done to poor Dom, but no one (except maybe Bear and Otter) gives a shit about how much Ty was damaged by it all, too. I loved Ty's extended family in the first two books, but now I pretty much dislike them (with the exception of Otter and maybe Bear) and can't really stand to read about them.
4) There's a whole thing about how terribly cruel it was of Ty to cut Dom out for 4 years (because it wasn't cruel, what Dom did to Ty) without even listening to Dom's explanation. I don't know why every character acts like Dom's explanation would have fixed anything. What was he going to say? It's not like he wasn't going to marry Stacey, because he was. It's not like he wasn't having a baby with Stacey, because he was. It's not like he did it all without knowing how Ty felt, because he did. What explanation could he have given? "I love you, you're my whole world, but I'm going to marry Stacey because I'm in a relationship with her and she's pregnant"? How would that have fixed any damn thing? I think it would have just made it worse for Ty, knowing that Dom was deliberately hurting him.
5) I'm not too sure I like how everyone's telling Ty that he shouldn't be having such a hard time getting over his panic attacks and abandonment issues because he's smart. 'Cause they make it sound like, really, if you're smart enough, you can just snap yourself out of it, it's not that hard at all. Mental illness and psychological problems can be fixed. It's just mind over matter. Depression? Bah, just be happy! Panic attacks? Pish-tosh, you can just tell yourself to calm down if you're smart enough!
Also, what is with all these characters in books constantly thinking that they have to get married if they have sex and one of them gets pregnant? Because it's so obviously better for children to be raised by married couples, no matter how unhappy they are together, than adults who are happier not married to each other? Do so many people still really think this? Is this why all the fictional characters think this, too? Guess that means no fictional character approves of divorce or separation or single parents.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2022
Dos 3, esse foi meu favorito, Ty é meu personagem favorito dessa família. Amava sua energia quando era criança, era encantadoramente engraçado. Foi difícil vê-lo passar por tantos problemas psicológico, foi doloroso, mas o importante é que ele conseguiu vencer seus medos. Sua história com Dom foi linda, era realmente inevitável! Quando Ty no segundo livro agradeceu por Dominic naquela oração com toda família, eu já senti que seria inevitável. Tj klune tem o poder de me emocionar, fez eu ler 3 livros de com uma mesma família em menos de 1 mês.. Valeu a pena. Sei que ainda tem o livro 4 e mais confusão chegando, uma família muito unida essa. É uma grande família 💞💝♥️🌹💯
July 9, 2021
Audio reread/listen July 2021
I did forget just how much I loved Dom, just how very perfect he was for Ty. 💕
This whole family, which grows and grows as they collect people, are completely, certifiably nuts. I love them with all my heart, still. 🥰
First read April 2017
I freaking cried as I closed it. Don't know why, as I was happy. Laughing my ass off but crying. I love all these guys so, so much. This journey with them all, this life I got to live with them was a treasure. One more trip home to come.
I did forget just how much I loved Dom, just how very perfect he was for Ty. 💕
This whole family, which grows and grows as they collect people, are completely, certifiably nuts. I love them with all my heart, still. 🥰
First read April 2017
I freaking cried as I closed it. Don't know why, as I was happy. Laughing my ass off but crying. I love all these guys so, so much. This journey with them all, this life I got to live with them was a treasure. One more trip home to come.
August 10, 2023
I absolutely love this series. ❤️
This is the story of Tyson (the Kid). And be prepared for it to be hard to read in places, which was to be expected considering what Tyson went through in his childhood. 🥹
I tell you, TJ is a master at creating real characters that sneak into your heart and hold it tight. I'm glad there's one more book in this epic series before it's over. 🥰
This is the story of Tyson (the Kid). And be prepared for it to be hard to read in places, which was to be expected considering what Tyson went through in his childhood. 🥹
I tell you, TJ is a master at creating real characters that sneak into your heart and hold it tight. I'm glad there's one more book in this epic series before it's over. 🥰
April 21, 2017
4 Stars
Another heartfelt win, this brought all the elements I loved in the first two books and applied it to Ty and his journey which is tightly interwoven with that of his BFF Dominic - their first meet cute, their deep friendship, and a devastating turn of events that definitely tests what they mean to each other and how they reconcile their issues.
As Ty comes to learn some facts and accept some truths, this was never short on the drama, as it often takes obliviousness and denial to new levels. By no means was Ty and Dom’s journey easy, as Klune knows just how to kick a reader hard in the proverbial balls, while wrenching out tears one second, and causing fits of laughter in the next.
Always entertaining in its absurd and gleeful humor, this also was so adept at the amount of feels, bringing Ty back full circle to his staunchest supporter, Bear, showing beautifully just how strong their brotherly bonds are and always will be.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this, but for me, Bear and Otter reign supreme as the star couple of this series (“I love you Otter!!”). Nonetheless, it’s with bittersweet, conflicting emotions that I eagerly await the conclusion of this entire amazing ragtag family. If the last 3 books tells us anything, I know Klune will not disappoint!
Another heartfelt win, this brought all the elements I loved in the first two books and applied it to Ty and his journey which is tightly interwoven with that of his BFF Dominic - their first meet cute, their deep friendship, and a devastating turn of events that definitely tests what they mean to each other and how they reconcile their issues.
As Ty comes to learn some facts and accept some truths, this was never short on the drama, as it often takes obliviousness and denial to new levels. By no means was Ty and Dom’s journey easy, as Klune knows just how to kick a reader hard in the proverbial balls, while wrenching out tears one second, and causing fits of laughter in the next.
Always entertaining in its absurd and gleeful humor, this also was so adept at the amount of feels, bringing Ty back full circle to his staunchest supporter, Bear, showing beautifully just how strong their brotherly bonds are and always will be.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this, but for me, Bear and Otter reign supreme as the star couple of this series (“I love you Otter!!”). Nonetheless, it’s with bittersweet, conflicting emotions that I eagerly await the conclusion of this entire amazing ragtag family. If the last 3 books tells us anything, I know Klune will not disappoint!
November 21, 2018
So, so awesome, fantastic, and amazing!! I have no words!
I can't wait to start the last book but I already know that I'm going to be really sad when I finish this series.
I can't wait to start the last book but I already know that I'm going to be really sad when I finish this series.
March 5, 2016
I loved this book a bit less than the previous one, but a 5 star rating nonetheless. I liked Ty's POV very much. Sometimes he seems so naive and cute, despite the GENIOUS he is and claims to be.
There were so many tender moments, so many moments Ty feels unsure and all his suffering with the panic disorder. I loved how he sees his relationship between Bear and Otter:
"I've never understood how people could be so against them when they look at each other the way they do. All they've ever really wanted is each other and to exist in their own little corner of the world."
Ty is so similar to Bear. He adores him so much. He thinks Bear is his whole world. I'm so glad they have each other. Their brotherly love is such a wonderful thing. I cried so much when he said he considered Mrs. Paquinn his mother rather than his biological one:
"She taught me that family's not always defined by blood. It's those who make us whole. Those who make us who we are."
The funny moments are so consuming, I swear I've never laughed so much with another series before:
"I laugh too, but only because I don't know what we're laughing at. His is the most erotic laugh I've ever heard, all dusky and full of gravel. I sound like a chipmunk getting run over by a car. "
I loved Corey/Kori and how he/she helped Ty. And I loved little Izzy too. She stole my heart.
And of course Dominic. His best friend, his partner, his lover. I'm so intrigued with the way the author chose to develop their story. How are they gonna sort out everything? What's gonna happen with little Ben?
I heard there's a 4rth book coming out this year, and I can't wait. So excited :)
There were so many tender moments, so many moments Ty feels unsure and all his suffering with the panic disorder. I loved how he sees his relationship between Bear and Otter:
"I've never understood how people could be so against them when they look at each other the way they do. All they've ever really wanted is each other and to exist in their own little corner of the world."
Ty is so similar to Bear. He adores him so much. He thinks Bear is his whole world. I'm so glad they have each other. Their brotherly love is such a wonderful thing. I cried so much when he said he considered Mrs. Paquinn his mother rather than his biological one:
"She taught me that family's not always defined by blood. It's those who make us whole. Those who make us who we are."
The funny moments are so consuming, I swear I've never laughed so much with another series before:
"I laugh too, but only because I don't know what we're laughing at. His is the most erotic laugh I've ever heard, all dusky and full of gravel. I sound like a chipmunk getting run over by a car. "
I loved Corey/Kori and how he/she helped Ty. And I loved little Izzy too. She stole my heart.
And of course Dominic. His best friend, his partner, his lover. I'm so intrigued with the way the author chose to develop their story. How are they gonna sort out everything? What's gonna happen with little Ben?
I heard there's a 4rth book coming out this year, and I can't wait. So excited :)
June 20, 2014
4.5 stars
My all time favorite author! I want Tj and Eric strong,healthy,HAPPY and married.
My all time favorite author! I want Tj and Eric strong,healthy,HAPPY and married.
October 11, 2017
This series is MAGICAL! I have completely fallen for Bear, Otter and Tyson. I wish each of these guys were real. Actually I wish all the characters in this book were real. Dominic, Creed, Anna and all the others. ❤
These people have become one of my favorite book families and I am dreading letting them go. I’ve already started book #4 and it is shaping up to be just as fabulous as the other three.
In The Art of Breathing we get mostly Tyson’s (Kid) voice. This kid, now a young man, has been through more than any young person should. The story covers a time where we have Tyson returning home. A place that four years earlier all he could think about was running away from. Running from the pain.
Things changed for him at Dartmouth. New people, new pain, new struggles. But Tyson is strong. He is resilient. Ready or not he heads back to Seafare and to Dominic. What would become of Ty? His family? Would there be a Ty and Dominic?
Well, you have to read the book to find out but I will say nothing is ever simple. Not when you have Bear worrying about you, Otter taking your back and Corey/Kori interfering as he has Ty’s best interest at heart. There were tears and laughter and OMG moments that made it so hard for me to set this book down. I. LOVED. IT.
May 23, 2015
Re-read in Audio, April 20th
- Narrator Sean CrisdenFirst of all, I want to say the audio makes this book/this series so much better!! So, Yay to Sean Crisden… What a terrific job he did!!!
What a journey this series has been….
I have laughed my ass off, cried ugly tears… These characters feel so real to me.
Bear, Otter and the Kid… Creed, Anna, JJ, mrs Paquin, Dom etc.
This book is about the Kid who isn’t a kid anymore. He’s Tyson. Ty still has issues, major panic attacks where he doesn’t remember how to breath.
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"Life can suck. It can hurt. It has teeth and won’t hesitate to bite you."
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Ty hasn’t come to grip yet with his mother abandoning him and Bear at a young age. And on top of that he realizes he is in love with his best friend Dom (Dominic). But he runs, the only reaction he knows, the only reaction he’s learned.
Ty, Bear and Otter leave Seafare, Oregon. Ty attends to University for four years and then returns home finding that everything has changed.
All the hurt between Dom and Ty resurfaces and he learns that not everything went as Ty thought it did.
“Without you, I was barely breathing. And I’m lost, Dom. I’m so fucking lost, and it’s so hard to breathe and- ”
“All you need to do is breathe. Just breathe for me……”
I loved Dom… He was such a caring man, cared so much for Ty.
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“You’re not lost,” he says. “Not anymore. I’ve found you now, Ty. I’ve got you and I will never let you get lost again.”
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“Took us a while.”
He chuckles. “You could say that.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“Nothing worth having ever is.”
I smile. “That’s pretty damn cheesy.” I reach for him. He lets me pull him down. “Lucky for you it worked.”
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And the epilogue…. That was kind of crazy!!! Bear’s rambling.. again…
I can’t wait to read more.
“You and me, Bear.”
First-read 2014, September 29th - 4 stars
Read
June 17, 2014I haven't decided on a star rating yet, but here goes!
Of the three books in this series, this is the first I read in ebook form--the other two I listened to in audiobook. I have to say, reading, actually READING, the McKenna patented inner monologue is kind of exhausting--I think I prefer this series in audio!
On the subject of the writing--TJ Klune is a very talented writer who is really good at guiding a reader through a host of emotions, making them cry and then offering comedic relief, followed by another emo-charged sobfest, rinse repeat etc. etc. It's all very carefully done and orchestrated. I enjoyed, once again, being led through this emotional purging, because that's what TJ Klune does, and that's what you're signing up for when you read a TJ Klune book.
My biggest issue with this book was the character of Ben. Mind the spoiler tags. They are really, honest to god, spoilery.
Recommended for angst-lovers and TJ Klune fans. Enjoy!
Of the three books in this series, this is the first I read in ebook form--the other two I listened to in audiobook. I have to say, reading, actually READING, the McKenna patented inner monologue is kind of exhausting--I think I prefer this series in audio!
On the subject of the writing--TJ Klune is a very talented writer who is really good at guiding a reader through a host of emotions, making them cry and then offering comedic relief, followed by another emo-charged sobfest, rinse repeat etc. etc. It's all very carefully done and orchestrated. I enjoyed, once again, being led through this emotional purging, because that's what TJ Klune does, and that's what you're signing up for when you read a TJ Klune book.
My biggest issue with this book was the character of Ben. Mind the spoiler tags. They are really, honest to god, spoilery.
Recommended for angst-lovers and TJ Klune fans. Enjoy!
August 21, 2016
Yes, after years of waiting for BOATK3, I *L-O-V-E-D* this story. It was *inevitable*, after all.
I honestly expected this one to mainly be a love story between Ty and Dom. And it was. But it wasn't, too.
Much of the story was centered around Ty and Bear, with only a smidge devoted to Otter (who I love, love, love.) Also, we get quite a bit of back story from Ty's perspective early on through present.
It wasn't quite what I expected, but that wasn't a bad thing, just different. And I was glad to see Paul and Vince (and Wheels & Johnny Depp) rolled into the story as a cool bonus.
And Bear's meltdown at a family dinner ("Put a baby in me, Otter!") had me laughing so hard I cried. Plus the fact that Corey,/Kori Ty's best friend from school and ex-boyfriend/girlfriend was getting his/her first, much-anticipated 'Bear implosion'? --> “No words. Should… have sent… a poet.” Funny as hell.
It's a blast to read, but not quite as tear jerking (for me at least) as the first books, which I enjoyed a little more, if you twisted my arm and absolutely made me pick faves.
Definitely worthy of being counted in the series. Highly recommended.
March 15, 2016
"Here are the places of my youth.
Here are the things I've tried to forget.
Here they all are, spread out around me, and it's like I've never left.
Here is where it began.
And here is where it begins again."
Oh Tyson. Poor, poor Tyson.
The Kid is in a bad place, I guess it's not really surprising that the events of Ty's past have begun to weigh heavily on him. Ty is lost, lost and confused and his way of dealing with his ghosts really isn't working.
'The Art of Breathing' is more than Ty and Dom's story though, it like what has come before is a story about family, about brothers but it is also a story about a boy trying to become a man, Ty has always been old beyond his years and because of that I think he is stunted emotionally. For someone who, like his brother, talked incessantly his inability to communicate was outstanding. I wanted to shout at him. I wanted to shout at him so bad. But as with Bear I can understand why he is the way he is. It's easier to push people away, to be the one who leaves, than to be the one left behind. And when you were left behind at five years old by someone who is meant to love you unconditionally I guess running and pushing away the people you love before they do it to you is understandable.
Ty and Dom's relationship was a frustrating one, it was also a thing of beauty and a thing of heartbreak. Two broken kids meet in the most adorable (and gross) way and become best friends. They become each other's cornerstone, they become family and eventually they become each other's everything.
"Bear may be my rock, but Dom is the force that moves me."
"Because it has always come back to you. Without you, I didn't have a home. Without you, I was barely breathing."
But as is the way in the world of Bear, Otter and the Kid, Ty and Dom take the hard road. Seriously I'm all for the angst but I thought I was going to have to smack some people up the side of the head. TJ Klune is mean, he made me not want to put down the book, because I really, really, REALLY needed to know how things were going to go. I almost cancelled a night of wine with my girls because of this book. I think TJ is a magician of some kind, or a warlock, or (this is closer to the truth) a freaking awesome writer. I am invested in these people now. I'm a little bit in love with each and every one. They are completely crazy and over the top and oh my goodness but they are the best. Add to this crazy bunch the beautiful and fabulous Corey/Kori and the awesomeness of all from 'Tell Me It's Real' and it's just one big bag of crazy beautiful. So much fun and also so sad.
Ty's constant. The person who won't allow him to be completely on his own is Bear. Bear has passed his crazy onto Ty and when I started this I really thought I was going to miss Bear's voice, but fear not, Ty is even more neurotic than Bear. Their relationship is totally co-dependant but I'm not sure it could ever have gone any other way.
"We're little guys, he and I. Just little guys."
'The Art of Breathing' is tough to read at times and it's frustrating but it is also hopeful. Obviously the major theme throughout this is the art of breathing. Knowing TJ and his fiancé Eric's story makes this theme both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Ty and Dom's relationship is complicated, it drove me crazy, their inability to sit down and talk about their feelings was so annoying but you know what? It's a really lovely story. The reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because I spent most of it frustrated and also like the first in this series, this book sets us up for Ty and Dom's part two. I need that book, I can't wait to get it and after that cliffhanger if I don't get it within the next year I will chain TJ to a desk. Just so you know.
So.
Dom and Ty?
It's inevitable.
"Friends until we're old and gray.
Beginning to end, day after day."
Update 19 January 2015:
Oh, oh, oh! So it looks like I won't have to chain TJ to his desk, by the looks of it he is going to do that himself. According to his Facebook page this is his 2015 schedule and book four set to be completed in December. Fingers crossed!
Also 'Tell Me It's Real 2!! I may pass out from the excitement, Sandy is going to own Darren I just know it!
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