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Something Like #6
Something Like Thunder
This isn’t a coming out story. Nor is it the tale of a lonely heart seeking companionship. This is about how I learned to fight.
My name is Nathaniel Courtney and I’m a survivor. I didn’t let the cruelty of others wear me down, and I’ve weathered the more subtle hardships of the heart. Love is a Trojan horse, slipping past your guard and leaving you ransacked and vulnerable. I emerged from that war not unscathed but as a new man. The only mistake I ever made was letting the right guy get away. Now I’ve got one more chance. This is the final battle, because if I fail now… I won’t. You’ll see. Just listen to my story, Kelly Phillips, and when I’m done, please don’t walk away. Take this weary soldier into your arms so we can find peace together.
Something Like Thunder is the sixth book in the ongoing Something Like… series, shedding light on past events while leading the reader toward an exciting new future.
Something Like Thunder is the second book in the Storms Series, one that reveals Nathaniel’s secrets while furthering the events of Something Like Lightning.
My name is Nathaniel Courtney and I’m a survivor. I didn’t let the cruelty of others wear me down, and I’ve weathered the more subtle hardships of the heart. Love is a Trojan horse, slipping past your guard and leaving you ransacked and vulnerable. I emerged from that war not unscathed but as a new man. The only mistake I ever made was letting the right guy get away. Now I’ve got one more chance. This is the final battle, because if I fail now… I won’t. You’ll see. Just listen to my story, Kelly Phillips, and when I’m done, please don’t walk away. Take this weary soldier into your arms so we can find peace together.
Something Like Thunder is the sixth book in the ongoing Something Like… series, shedding light on past events while leading the reader toward an exciting new future.
Something Like Thunder is the second book in the Storms Series, one that reveals Nathaniel’s secrets while furthering the events of Something Like Lightning.
456 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2015
About the author
Jay Bell
164 books2,245 followersJay Bell is a proud gay man and the award-winning author behind dozens of emotional and yet hopelessly optimistic stories. His best-selling book, Something Like Summer, spawned a series of heart-wrenching novels, a musically driven movie, and a lovingly drawn comic. When not crafting imaginary worlds, he occupies his free time with animals, art, action figures, and—most ardently—his husband Andreas. Jay is always dreaming up new stories about boys in love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can get the kettle boiling by visiting www.jaybellbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 13, 2015
Jay Bell has always been a pillar of MM Romance for me. Ever since I stumbled upon Something Like Summer in Goodreads by chance, I didn't sway to other genres other than MM Romance since then. And his work has been one of my hallmarks in gauging whether a book is good or not.
His Something Like series has been a life changer for me. Although the Storms series focuses on survival; for me, all of his books talk about one vital message. Hope. Hope in love, hope in something close to a forever, hope for a good future, and hope for happiness. Ever since I knew I am gay, I reached a point in my life when I concluded that I will grow up alone. But his books started a fire that burns feverishly inside me. A promise. A promise of a good life shared with someone else -- a relationship grounded on commitment, trust, and friendship, not just nameless hookups and chance encounters. His characters had opened my eyes to the possibilities of getting my own happy ending.
Nathaniel is one of those characters. Ever since I met him in Something Like Spring, I had been intrigued. How had his past shaped the man that he is now? Back then, I always thought of him as someone dark and shady. Even Caesar. Although I despised them then for hurting Jason, they were still a mystery waiting to be uncovered. Something Like Thunder finally had that mystery unraveled.
Jay has this ability of turning villains into heroes. I had seen it in Kelly in Something Like Lightning and again in Nathaniel in this book. Jay's talent in making his characters likable lies in breaking a character's life into pieces and making you understand where the character is coming from. Knowing a character's past helps you understand his fears and apprehensions in the present and of the future. The same holds true for his personality and shortcomings. Part 1 and 2 of the book allowed me to catch a side of Nathaniel (and Caesar) that I never deemed possible. Whereas my initial impression had been dark, Jay Bell writes a teenage love story full of vibrancy, longing, and color, a shocking contrast to what I perceived it would be. Then again, it just proves Jay's brilliance in adding depth to all of his characters. Throughout the entire Something Like series, it has been one beautiful metamorphosis after the next. We get to appreciate the timeline of each story by seeing a character grow, bloom, and evolve. In this book, I had the pleasure of seeing a playful, perky, and immature Caesar. One who is unguarded and carefree. I also got to see a side of Nathaniel I haven't seen before. One who is generous and loyal, forgiving and kind, vulnerable and afraid.
This evolution is also apparent in other characters in the latter portion of the book. Kelly is one of those pleasant surprises. In Spring and Lightning, I held a certain annoyance for his feisty, obnoxious, and strong personality. But towards the end of Thunder, I got to see a version of him which I had been waiting to see in Lightning. Marcello is another character which surprised me. Since Something Like Winter, I only got to see his manipulative and intrusive side. But in Thunder, we get to see his softer side -- a father figure at best.
The best surprise though, is how Jay had cleverly designed this book to come full circle. The book starts where Lightning ended, Nathaniel trying to win Kelly back by telling him the truth of his past. How Nathaniel hopes the truth will help reestablish what they had and build a foundation for their future. A story within a story. But not only in this regard has this book come full circle. I thought I'd only get to see characters as far as Something Like Spring. What I didn't expect was to see a connection with characters like Jace and Tim. I had goosebumps when I realized each character in the series is tightly woven and deeply connected with each other. That was a surreal yet amazing experience for me.
Jay certainly has his trademark way of writing. Although the story pacing is quite slow in this particular installment, Jay has his Jay Bell way of telling a story. And it's always a good one. His writing style always puts the reader's comfort first above all. He has this easy way of structuring ideas and words into sentences and paragraphs. It's very clean and non-presumptuous. Comforting...familiar...amiable...authentic.
I am excited to find out what's next for all of his characters which we've all grown to love. I can't imagine their stories ever ending seeing as they've altered a lot of people's lives for the best. Like mine...
May 27, 2015
Rereading this sucker! Best series I've ever read
"You didn't want me to get hurt, you didn't want to hurt me, but you ended up doing both. Cheating on me would have hurt less because I would have gotten over it. I could have villainized you and made you one more challenge to overcome. Instead I spent the last three years doubting myself and wondering what I did wrong."
This picks up with Nathan and Kelly set up, forced to talk face to face after years of being broken up. We are taken through how Nathan came to be who he is and why he left Kelly. Once the readers and Kelly are caught up, we get to see Nathan try to win Kelly back! It's delicious, amazing, and the writing is flawless. It's Jay Bell, duh!
You would think that after six books the series would lose a little bit of steam, but it's quite the contrary. We get to visit our old favorite characters while being introduced to new ones, so it's hard to ever feel the need to compare. Each builds upon the prior book and the story lines are so effortlessly woven together to become one. It's a world that you want to be a part of. For those of you who read Summer and Winter or the four seasons and then stopped, you NEED to read lightning and thunder. Kelly and Nathanael's stories are my favorites thus far.
Other reasons to read:
-more steamy scenes than other books
-MARCELLO is everywhere in these two books
-some delicious angst (they separated in last book)
-grand, romantic gestures
-Layne, my favorite new character. He is from the gay youth club and is all fan boy.
"You're just going to sit outside his apartment and hope to be noticed?" Layne sighed wistfully. "I wish I had a stalker."
"You know he's gone, right?"
Layne nodded. "He came to one last meeting to say goodbye. It was heartbreaking and deliciously dramatic. He's got amazing style."
-Not as heavy as the first three books. Is definitely filled with heartfelt moments, but other than brief mentions of Jace, death isn't present in the plot.
-A furry friend named Zero who plays an essential role in finally getting these two back together
5 STARS!
"You didn't want me to get hurt, you didn't want to hurt me, but you ended up doing both. Cheating on me would have hurt less because I would have gotten over it. I could have villainized you and made you one more challenge to overcome. Instead I spent the last three years doubting myself and wondering what I did wrong."
This picks up with Nathan and Kelly set up, forced to talk face to face after years of being broken up. We are taken through how Nathan came to be who he is and why he left Kelly. Once the readers and Kelly are caught up, we get to see Nathan try to win Kelly back! It's delicious, amazing, and the writing is flawless. It's Jay Bell, duh!
You would think that after six books the series would lose a little bit of steam, but it's quite the contrary. We get to visit our old favorite characters while being introduced to new ones, so it's hard to ever feel the need to compare. Each builds upon the prior book and the story lines are so effortlessly woven together to become one. It's a world that you want to be a part of. For those of you who read Summer and Winter or the four seasons and then stopped, you NEED to read lightning and thunder. Kelly and Nathanael's stories are my favorites thus far.
Other reasons to read:
-more steamy scenes than other books
-MARCELLO is everywhere in these two books
-some delicious angst (they separated in last book)
-grand, romantic gestures
-Layne, my favorite new character. He is from the gay youth club and is all fan boy.
"You're just going to sit outside his apartment and hope to be noticed?" Layne sighed wistfully. "I wish I had a stalker."
"You know he's gone, right?"
Layne nodded. "He came to one last meeting to say goodbye. It was heartbreaking and deliciously dramatic. He's got amazing style."
-Not as heavy as the first three books. Is definitely filled with heartfelt moments, but other than brief mentions of Jace, death isn't present in the plot.
-A furry friend named Zero who plays an essential role in finally getting these two back together
5 STARS!
April 23, 2015
A few years ago, a slender orange book began popping up in my Amazon recommendations. It was called Something Like Summer, by Jay Bell. At first, I wasn't quite sure what to think. It didn't look like a slick, publishing house novel, and I had never heard of the author before. The plot sounded a bit far-fetched to me. Then I saw it was independently published, and I groaned inwardly because until that point, I had had bad luck with books like that. But I kept it in my recommendations because something had caught my attention.
Eventually, I bought the book, and so began this incredible journey that Jay has taken me and all of his readers on since that first book in the Something Like... series. Now here we are at book 6, and the writing is just as strong, the stories just as moving and powerful, the characters just as loveable and/or loathable (because love and life are complicated, you know).
As in Something Like Lightning, Jay took a character I nearly despised in Something Like Spring and Something Like Lightning and told his story from his perspective. Not only did I end up appreciating Nathaniel Courtney, I ended up feeling an intense amount of affection for his character. And because this is a Something Like... novel, a whole host of our old friends from past books showed up to make the story feel complete.
By the time I finished this book, I found myself reduced to tears, laughing out loud, and smiling like an idiot, all in the course of around 450 pages. It was an excellent entry into the series, and judging by the ending, there's another intriguing story to come.
Jay, if you're reading this, I don't know if I'll ever be able to express just how much these books mean to me. I'm a grown man, and I know these are technically supposed to be YA novels, but they have moved me and inspired me. I've made and strengthened friendships over these books, and they've made me more deeply appreciate my loved ones and my relationships with them. Thank you, and keep bringing us these amazing stories!
Eventually, I bought the book, and so began this incredible journey that Jay has taken me and all of his readers on since that first book in the Something Like... series. Now here we are at book 6, and the writing is just as strong, the stories just as moving and powerful, the characters just as loveable and/or loathable (because love and life are complicated, you know).
As in Something Like Lightning, Jay took a character I nearly despised in Something Like Spring and Something Like Lightning and told his story from his perspective. Not only did I end up appreciating Nathaniel Courtney, I ended up feeling an intense amount of affection for his character. And because this is a Something Like... novel, a whole host of our old friends from past books showed up to make the story feel complete.
By the time I finished this book, I found myself reduced to tears, laughing out loud, and smiling like an idiot, all in the course of around 450 pages. It was an excellent entry into the series, and judging by the ending, there's another intriguing story to come.
Jay, if you're reading this, I don't know if I'll ever be able to express just how much these books mean to me. I'm a grown man, and I know these are technically supposed to be YA novels, but they have moved me and inspired me. I've made and strengthened friendships over these books, and they've made me more deeply appreciate my loved ones and my relationships with them. Thank you, and keep bringing us these amazing stories!
May 20, 2015
5 Stars
WARNING MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
I misjudged this book while reading 3/4 of it. I was angry, bored, angry again, sad, groaned again and then at the end, I was giggling. You read it right, GIGGLING You don't get super angry, sad and then giggle at the same time with the same book!
When I have decided to pick this book already for my next reading, I was very scared. Lightning gave me hurt so much that I wasn't able to sleep for the next 3 nights (me being that affected) and then I immediately succumbed to an equally painful book (much MORE painful) in the form of Anyta Sunday's ROCK that I really tried to shy away from this book for at least a couple of months. But I can't stop thinking about Nathaniel and my book-crush on him so against my heart's wishes, I picked it up.
Honestly, I was apathetic when I read the first half. Don't get me wrong, Nathaniel's story is really good (and shocking because of a revelation) but the first 3/4 of the book is a very long flashback that centered so much on Nathaniel's past romantic escapade, which for me is very important but I wish it wasn't THAT detailed. I looked forward for this book to have more of Kelly and Nathaniel in it but they only have a few more scenes at the end of the book, which made me wanting more. I thought the last 4% of the book was already short enough to dedicate only for them but I was frustrated that most of that was taken by the dying dog arc. I love Zero, though. Just pissed that he had to have a moment at the end of the story when all I am really trying to read is what happens to Kelly and Nathaniel.
But I was also angry and seething again because all my negative vices that I fear the most were tackled once again in this book (i.e. infidelity) but as I got into the last part of the book, I now understand why it must happen. Jay made us experience the hurt and the pain, not to torture us, readers, but to teach a lesson about love. Something that I honestly didn't know before I read this book but now, I was enlightened. Nathaniel must learn that to love means to hurt, which is something that I personally learned as well together with Nathaniel. I always ask myself Why Jay has to always, ALWAYS has to use the cheating twist that honestly, I grew tired with already. But then taking this book as a whole, Jay is only trying to say that love can make people do stupid things. I can;t give the lesson the justice it deserves if I included the summary here in this review (since I can't do it even.)
Despite my subjective opinions about this book, I am rating this a 5 star because of its sheer impact on me. I LEARNED from this book, learned something that I thought I would never learn anywhere. Jay has this vast understanding of Love that I thought I was able to grasp already by now. And because of that, I am putting this book in my heart and will surely re-read passages that I am pretty sure will help me personally.
Looking forward to the next Jay Bell Book!
Personal Notes:
These are my notes while reading the book. Not necessarily they were my final judgement on the book, but these are just things that I took note while experiencing the story:
*I get Jay now. After reading this book, I realized how I am personally very rooted on my belief in monogamy, fidelity, loyalty and promise, which I still am. But I have to accept that there are people out there who is very opposite of me. They are not necessary horrible people. They are just like that. Understanding these people doesn’t mean I won't be annoyed or get hurt by them. That’s part of being human, too. My personality and humanity asks me to despise these people. But it’s not my fault as much as it’s theirs. I don't know what I am saying here. LOL
*I would have hated this book. Cheating is a hard limit for me when I am reading. Well, it can be present as long as there is a very justifying reaction to that kind of betrayal. ANd I mean revenge (lol) but aside from revenge, I want an explanation. A mature, objective kind of philosophizing in the nature of cheating, which I am surprised that Jay was able to squeeze into this book. I was starting to frown at him for playing the cheating card over and over again. But there are different kinds/facets in the nature of love (and the pain it surely brings) and he’s just bringing it up. Not necessarily reflecting his own vidication about Loyalty.
*I was wondering when will Jay Bell tackle Homophobia to an extent. I thought this book is about that, but I guess it’s more of a psychotic sadism and abuse, but not really related to Homophobia.
*Another girl friend is featured in this book.
*I really hated that Charity Ball scene. No matter what angle or POV I read that includes that scene, my heart crushes for Kelly. I don’t get the message of that scene at all. Everyone helped to do something wrong. Everyone helped to make someone hurt and betrayed. Love is cruel, true. But what the people did here was pointblank cruel, too. I just can't move on from it. I don't see the grand, final lesson than to never trust anyone.
*Nathaniel got hurt and be devastated because of cheating. How can he stomach to be part of a plan that allowed one person to cheat in a relationship?!
*These questions sparked in me after reading Lightning and still do while reading Thunder. What is Jay Bell’s notion of Love in relation to Fidelity, Commitment, Promise and Loyalty? Does every action, every move and every decision have to be based on feelings? Ben cheated Jace with Tim because “Ben is the type of person who follows his heart.” William cheated Kelly in the most terrible and horrific manner, all because…. actually I don’t know what he was thinking during that time and I really don’t give a fuck. Nathaniel here kissed Caesar while the latter is still in a relationship (take note: Caesar eagerly kissed him back) because he felt he “deserved” that one kiss after all the hell he’d been through. Caesar admitted to Nathaniel that he is in love with him while still in a relationship with Steph. The asshole eventually broke up with Steph via PHONE after that kiss, smiling and saying he did the right thing (which technically he did) but I mean, what the efff?!! Can you really brush off a person whom you are with for almost a year that easily? Can you delve into another relationship that early just after ending another? Why is everyone here in these books take cheating and relationship very lightly? I know love is fickle, but not this fickle. Where is the respect, where is the honor?! All I’ve been reading, all the flowery explanations to justify the actions, still boils down to selfish feelings and selfish reactions that leads to selfish happiness, which I find so hard to celebrate. I’ve tried to reason out these notions that I have in the previous books, but we’ve reached into this installment and I just can’t understand it anymore. It’s all still here. Everybody, everyone does it. Does a relationship only last when the euphoria of love is present and after it dies out, it’s time to move on to the next person?
*How can you have SEX and get into a relationship with someone merely hours after you broke up with another? It’s so unfair to the person being left behind. Not because you are ending it with the person, doesn’t mean he/she won’t get hurt to see you with another person. Again, respect to other people’s feelings. Sorry, this might be an angry comment or maybe even harsh but I think because of what is happening in all of these books, but either they were all young, foolish, “human,” and prone to commit mistakes OR everyone in this series are just plain sluts. *rolls eyes*
*I think Jay knew what kind of person Caesar is to the readers, that is why he didn’t put much detail on the sex scenes after his reunion with Nathaniel. Good thing since, it won’t be hot at all.
*Jay has this gift of weaving, not just interconnected books or stories, but even emotions and personalities. To relate someone from a past character, with the emotions intact and the essence of them visible in the words he used. I am in awe. God, I don’t like this story much but I am still a die-hard fan of his.
*I HATE this book for all the cheating, the deceit, the lies and everything! I haven’t been in a relationship at all and all the philosophies here is driving me crazy and away from love…. But on another side, I guess what Jay is trying to say here that the world is, indeed, cruel. Love is cruel. And as human beings, we will love no matter what, and we will get hurt because it’s part of love. And no matter how we hurt, we will survive, we will be okay. And for me that’s a nice gift from an author who are so much like Marcello, himself. But for now, let me hate you, Jay Bell. Because I am still human AND I am currently still hurting for Kelly. But I’ll definitely sure to buy your next book *dammit* and support all of your works *DANG IT* because I really love you *ugh*
The second half of the book is a bit rushed, which for me, is the most important one. Comparing it to the very draggy first half, the second part didn’t seem to get the attention it deserves. We’ve almost seen Tim’s POV in his relationship to Ben point by point in Winter. And for me, Nathaniel deserves to be able to share his POV in his relationship to Kelly.
WARNING MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
I misjudged this book while reading 3/4 of it. I was angry, bored, angry again, sad, groaned again and then at the end, I was giggling. You read it right, GIGGLING You don't get super angry, sad and then giggle at the same time with the same book!
When I have decided to pick this book already for my next reading, I was very scared. Lightning gave me hurt so much that I wasn't able to sleep for the next 3 nights (me being that affected) and then I immediately succumbed to an equally painful book (much MORE painful) in the form of Anyta Sunday's ROCK that I really tried to shy away from this book for at least a couple of months. But I can't stop thinking about Nathaniel and my book-crush on him so against my heart's wishes, I picked it up.
Honestly, I was apathetic when I read the first half. Don't get me wrong, Nathaniel's story is really good (and shocking because of a revelation) but the first 3/4 of the book is a very long flashback that centered so much on Nathaniel's past romantic escapade, which for me is very important but I wish it wasn't THAT detailed. I looked forward for this book to have more of Kelly and Nathaniel in it but they only have a few more scenes at the end of the book, which made me wanting more. I thought the last 4% of the book was already short enough to dedicate only for them but I was frustrated that most of that was taken by the dying dog arc. I love Zero, though. Just pissed that he had to have a moment at the end of the story when all I am really trying to read is what happens to Kelly and Nathaniel.
But I was also angry and seething again because all my negative vices that I fear the most were tackled once again in this book (i.e. infidelity) but as I got into the last part of the book, I now understand why it must happen. Jay made us experience the hurt and the pain, not to torture us, readers, but to teach a lesson about love. Something that I honestly didn't know before I read this book but now, I was enlightened. Nathaniel must learn that to love means to hurt, which is something that I personally learned as well together with Nathaniel. I always ask myself Why Jay has to always, ALWAYS has to use the cheating twist that honestly, I grew tired with already. But then taking this book as a whole, Jay is only trying to say that love can make people do stupid things. I can;t give the lesson the justice it deserves if I included the summary here in this review (since I can't do it even.)
Despite my subjective opinions about this book, I am rating this a 5 star because of its sheer impact on me. I LEARNED from this book, learned something that I thought I would never learn anywhere. Jay has this vast understanding of Love that I thought I was able to grasp already by now. And because of that, I am putting this book in my heart and will surely re-read passages that I am pretty sure will help me personally.
Looking forward to the next Jay Bell Book!
Personal Notes:
These are my notes while reading the book. Not necessarily they were my final judgement on the book, but these are just things that I took note while experiencing the story:
*I get Jay now. After reading this book, I realized how I am personally very rooted on my belief in monogamy, fidelity, loyalty and promise, which I still am. But I have to accept that there are people out there who is very opposite of me. They are not necessary horrible people. They are just like that. Understanding these people doesn’t mean I won't be annoyed or get hurt by them. That’s part of being human, too. My personality and humanity asks me to despise these people. But it’s not my fault as much as it’s theirs. I don't know what I am saying here. LOL
*I would have hated this book. Cheating is a hard limit for me when I am reading. Well, it can be present as long as there is a very justifying reaction to that kind of betrayal. ANd I mean revenge (lol) but aside from revenge, I want an explanation. A mature, objective kind of philosophizing in the nature of cheating, which I am surprised that Jay was able to squeeze into this book. I was starting to frown at him for playing the cheating card over and over again. But there are different kinds/facets in the nature of love (and the pain it surely brings) and he’s just bringing it up. Not necessarily reflecting his own vidication about Loyalty.
*I was wondering when will Jay Bell tackle Homophobia to an extent. I thought this book is about that, but I guess it’s more of a psychotic sadism and abuse, but not really related to Homophobia.
*Another girl friend is featured in this book.
*I really hated that Charity Ball scene. No matter what angle or POV I read that includes that scene, my heart crushes for Kelly. I don’t get the message of that scene at all. Everyone helped to do something wrong. Everyone helped to make someone hurt and betrayed. Love is cruel, true. But what the people did here was pointblank cruel, too. I just can't move on from it. I don't see the grand, final lesson than to never trust anyone.
*Nathaniel got hurt and be devastated because of cheating. How can he stomach to be part of a plan that allowed one person to cheat in a relationship?!
*These questions sparked in me after reading Lightning and still do while reading Thunder. What is Jay Bell’s notion of Love in relation to Fidelity, Commitment, Promise and Loyalty? Does every action, every move and every decision have to be based on feelings? Ben cheated Jace with Tim because “Ben is the type of person who follows his heart.” William cheated Kelly in the most terrible and horrific manner, all because…. actually I don’t know what he was thinking during that time and I really don’t give a fuck. Nathaniel here kissed Caesar while the latter is still in a relationship (take note: Caesar eagerly kissed him back) because he felt he “deserved” that one kiss after all the hell he’d been through. Caesar admitted to Nathaniel that he is in love with him while still in a relationship with Steph. The asshole eventually broke up with Steph via PHONE after that kiss, smiling and saying he did the right thing (which technically he did) but I mean, what the efff?!! Can you really brush off a person whom you are with for almost a year that easily? Can you delve into another relationship that early just after ending another? Why is everyone here in these books take cheating and relationship very lightly? I know love is fickle, but not this fickle. Where is the respect, where is the honor?! All I’ve been reading, all the flowery explanations to justify the actions, still boils down to selfish feelings and selfish reactions that leads to selfish happiness, which I find so hard to celebrate. I’ve tried to reason out these notions that I have in the previous books, but we’ve reached into this installment and I just can’t understand it anymore. It’s all still here. Everybody, everyone does it. Does a relationship only last when the euphoria of love is present and after it dies out, it’s time to move on to the next person?
*How can you have SEX and get into a relationship with someone merely hours after you broke up with another? It’s so unfair to the person being left behind. Not because you are ending it with the person, doesn’t mean he/she won’t get hurt to see you with another person. Again, respect to other people’s feelings. Sorry, this might be an angry comment or maybe even harsh but I think because of what is happening in all of these books, but either they were all young, foolish, “human,” and prone to commit mistakes OR everyone in this series are just plain sluts. *rolls eyes*
*I think Jay knew what kind of person Caesar is to the readers, that is why he didn’t put much detail on the sex scenes after his reunion with Nathaniel. Good thing since, it won’t be hot at all.
*Jay has this gift of weaving, not just interconnected books or stories, but even emotions and personalities. To relate someone from a past character, with the emotions intact and the essence of them visible in the words he used. I am in awe. God, I don’t like this story much but I am still a die-hard fan of his.
*I HATE this book for all the cheating, the deceit, the lies and everything! I haven’t been in a relationship at all and all the philosophies here is driving me crazy and away from love…. But on another side, I guess what Jay is trying to say here that the world is, indeed, cruel. Love is cruel. And as human beings, we will love no matter what, and we will get hurt because it’s part of love. And no matter how we hurt, we will survive, we will be okay. And for me that’s a nice gift from an author who are so much like Marcello, himself. But for now, let me hate you, Jay Bell. Because I am still human AND I am currently still hurting for Kelly. But I’ll definitely sure to buy your next book *dammit* and support all of your works *DANG IT* because I really love you *ugh*
The second half of the book is a bit rushed, which for me, is the most important one. Comparing it to the very draggy first half, the second part didn’t seem to get the attention it deserves. We’ve almost seen Tim’s POV in his relationship to Ben point by point in Winter. And for me, Nathaniel deserves to be able to share his POV in his relationship to Kelly.
April 3, 2015
"The thunder rolls and the lightening strikes. Another love grows cold on a sleepless night. As the storm blows on out of control, deep in [his] heart, the thunder rolls.” ~ "The Thunder Rolls" by Garth Brooks
Some people keep repeating the same mistake, hoping for a different result each time. Nathaniel Courtney, of 'Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell, has learned the hard way that loving someone with his whole heart is the fastest way to destroy himself. In his defense, he's decided to flip the switch which controls his emotions for self preservation. It's been years since he has been hurt, but when he falls in love with Kelly Phillips, he lets his guard down; for the first time in years Nathaniel is happy, but it doesn't last. Through no fault of Kelly's, Nathaniel begins to feel the vulnerability which comes with caring for someone and panics. Instead of staying and riding it out, he runs, leaving Kelly brokenhearted and wondering why.
Nathaniel is a good man, but he has had a rotten life. There are many secrets in his past. When he discovers them, he feels bewildered and betrayed. Everything he thought was true, whether desirable or not, suddenly isn't true. There's nothing to cling to anymore and nowhere to go. When all else fails, he gets a dog and names him Zero; Zero is his lifesaver and the only one Nathaniel will allow himself to love. Zero will never cheat on him, lie to him, or hurt him, and Nathaniel needs that reassurance like he needs to breathe. Fortunately, Marcello, a businessman of somewhat shady repute but a generous heart, presents Nathaniel with an opportunity to build a new life. This allows Nathaniel to put some distance between him and his life of disappointment and pain. Nathaniel works hard to become successful. He has no room for relationships that, for him, have been nothing but endless nightmares of anguish and betrayal.
When Nathaniel meets Kelly, he tries not to fall in love with him but fails miserably. Things are wonderful for a while, but something happens to remind Nathaniel that with love sometimes comes pain and he freaks. Instead of allowing himself to trust in the ability of his and Kelly's love to bind them together, Nathaniel lets memories of the past engulf him, casting a dark shadow over their love with catastrophic and entirely avoidable results. Kelly, unaware of Nathaniel's dismal past and suffering from his own failed attempts at love, is crushed, wondering what he has done wrong. Without the knowledge to combat Nathaniel's fears, Kelly has no choice but to walk away.
Jay's 'Something' series present a unique viewpoint into his characters. Since all the stories are bound together, parts are familiar from other books, but always have a different perspective which further explains the characters’ motives and feelings. The emotional turmoil I felt merely from the mention of a character's name, i.e., Jace, transported me mentally and emotionally back to his story. I felt lightbulbs going off as my mind started piecing together the events of the present story with the past ones. As with all the stories in the series, it's a well written complex, compelling story which will invoke a myriad of emotions, sometimes even simultaneously, making it virtually impossible for me not to become intimately invested in the characters, so I don't even bother to wait; I get out the tissues before I start reading, knowing that for either sad or happy times, I will need them.
Fans of the 'Something' series will love reading 'Something Like Thunder' and adding to their already bountiful knowledge of its characters and their lives. To those new to the series, welcome; you are in for an intense reading experience. Thanks for continuing this series, Jay. I marvel at how you can keep these stories going, but I hope you do for a very long time to come.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Some people keep repeating the same mistake, hoping for a different result each time. Nathaniel Courtney, of 'Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell, has learned the hard way that loving someone with his whole heart is the fastest way to destroy himself. In his defense, he's decided to flip the switch which controls his emotions for self preservation. It's been years since he has been hurt, but when he falls in love with Kelly Phillips, he lets his guard down; for the first time in years Nathaniel is happy, but it doesn't last. Through no fault of Kelly's, Nathaniel begins to feel the vulnerability which comes with caring for someone and panics. Instead of staying and riding it out, he runs, leaving Kelly brokenhearted and wondering why.
Nathaniel is a good man, but he has had a rotten life. There are many secrets in his past. When he discovers them, he feels bewildered and betrayed. Everything he thought was true, whether desirable or not, suddenly isn't true. There's nothing to cling to anymore and nowhere to go. When all else fails, he gets a dog and names him Zero; Zero is his lifesaver and the only one Nathaniel will allow himself to love. Zero will never cheat on him, lie to him, or hurt him, and Nathaniel needs that reassurance like he needs to breathe. Fortunately, Marcello, a businessman of somewhat shady repute but a generous heart, presents Nathaniel with an opportunity to build a new life. This allows Nathaniel to put some distance between him and his life of disappointment and pain. Nathaniel works hard to become successful. He has no room for relationships that, for him, have been nothing but endless nightmares of anguish and betrayal.
When Nathaniel meets Kelly, he tries not to fall in love with him but fails miserably. Things are wonderful for a while, but something happens to remind Nathaniel that with love sometimes comes pain and he freaks. Instead of allowing himself to trust in the ability of his and Kelly's love to bind them together, Nathaniel lets memories of the past engulf him, casting a dark shadow over their love with catastrophic and entirely avoidable results. Kelly, unaware of Nathaniel's dismal past and suffering from his own failed attempts at love, is crushed, wondering what he has done wrong. Without the knowledge to combat Nathaniel's fears, Kelly has no choice but to walk away.
Jay's 'Something' series present a unique viewpoint into his characters. Since all the stories are bound together, parts are familiar from other books, but always have a different perspective which further explains the characters’ motives and feelings. The emotional turmoil I felt merely from the mention of a character's name, i.e., Jace, transported me mentally and emotionally back to his story. I felt lightbulbs going off as my mind started piecing together the events of the present story with the past ones. As with all the stories in the series, it's a well written complex, compelling story which will invoke a myriad of emotions, sometimes even simultaneously, making it virtually impossible for me not to become intimately invested in the characters, so I don't even bother to wait; I get out the tissues before I start reading, knowing that for either sad or happy times, I will need them.
Fans of the 'Something' series will love reading 'Something Like Thunder' and adding to their already bountiful knowledge of its characters and their lives. To those new to the series, welcome; you are in for an intense reading experience. Thanks for continuing this series, Jay. I marvel at how you can keep these stories going, but I hope you do for a very long time to come.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 28, 2020
I would actually rate this a 3.5, which would make it the lowest rating I've given to any of the Something Like series. Overall, Bell has given us another solid entry into the series. I enjoyed it, but i had more issues with this book then I've had with any of the others.
Firstly, and most importantly, I don't like Nathanial. I actually liked him more before I read his side of the story. This has never happened. Previously, Bell has been able to change my mind on characters like Tim and Kelly, by offering up their solo novels and showing me a new perspective. He did not accomplish this for me with Nathanial. I found him judgemental, whiny, overdramatic, and violent. Now much of this can be attributed to his past, but what bothered me most is he judged these qualities in others but not once realized he exhibited them himself and ever really tried to make a change. As far as protagonists go, Nathaniel has been my least favorite in the series. It was bound to happen though. Surely Bell can't write every protagonist in a way that every reader loves!
Secondly, I am starting to feel like the more effeminate gay men in the stories are mostly relegated to be sidekicks and offer zingy one liners. Yet every main character worthy of a love story are straight acting men who live heteronormative lives. This may be Bell's experience, but there isn't any gay culture brought into the books and its somewhat of a shame. The character Layne for example is mostly presented as annoying and sleezy, and only really mostly just tolerated. For much of the series, Marcello has been presented as a sleezy gay man with a heart of gold. But neither are presented as any way any of the characters would feel comfortable loving or acting like. There's a whole world out there of various types of gay men, living in a beautiful gay community, and Bell mostly has presented one kind of gay man as his protagonists. Dont get me wrong, each protagonist has been their own unique character with varying flaws, and character traits. Yet they are all very straight acting and extremely far removed from any gay culture.
Thirdly I have a huge issue with how Ceasar is villianized in this novel. Of course Nathanial is going to he hurt by his actions. Essentially though, what we learn over time is that Ceasar is not a monogamous person, and instead of using that as a tool to discuss various ways people can love, its used to allow the readers to judge and vilify him. Not everyone can be monogamous. It seemed a wasted opportunity for Bell to discuss various ways people love. Sure, he could never be with Nathanial who very clearly only believes in monogamy, but that didn't mean Ceasar needed to become a villian. Its teaching young gay men who read this that we should judge anyone who doesn't love exactly like we love.
With all that said, I did like the book. I LOVED the way Bell continues to connect these characters in such small and wonderful ways keeping each narrative familiar while also telling a new story.
I loved that he tackled the subject of abuse. That's one he hadn't really delved into before and I think he really captured what kind of mental damage can happen.
Bell's series is still one of my favorites and while I didn't love this narrative, I still liked it and will not stop reading the series to its completion!
Also can we all just admit that Marcello is the unsung hero of the series! Sure he works in unorthodox ways, but there isnt a greater heart in all the series then his. Im curious what fuels his desire to he such a matchmaker and true believer in love. Whats in his past?? Will we ever know?? Either way, he really is the true hero in these stories.
Firstly, and most importantly, I don't like Nathanial. I actually liked him more before I read his side of the story. This has never happened. Previously, Bell has been able to change my mind on characters like Tim and Kelly, by offering up their solo novels and showing me a new perspective. He did not accomplish this for me with Nathanial. I found him judgemental, whiny, overdramatic, and violent. Now much of this can be attributed to his past, but what bothered me most is he judged these qualities in others but not once realized he exhibited them himself and ever really tried to make a change. As far as protagonists go, Nathaniel has been my least favorite in the series. It was bound to happen though. Surely Bell can't write every protagonist in a way that every reader loves!
Secondly, I am starting to feel like the more effeminate gay men in the stories are mostly relegated to be sidekicks and offer zingy one liners. Yet every main character worthy of a love story are straight acting men who live heteronormative lives. This may be Bell's experience, but there isn't any gay culture brought into the books and its somewhat of a shame. The character Layne for example is mostly presented as annoying and sleezy, and only really mostly just tolerated. For much of the series, Marcello has been presented as a sleezy gay man with a heart of gold. But neither are presented as any way any of the characters would feel comfortable loving or acting like. There's a whole world out there of various types of gay men, living in a beautiful gay community, and Bell mostly has presented one kind of gay man as his protagonists. Dont get me wrong, each protagonist has been their own unique character with varying flaws, and character traits. Yet they are all very straight acting and extremely far removed from any gay culture.
Thirdly I have a huge issue with how Ceasar is villianized in this novel. Of course Nathanial is going to he hurt by his actions. Essentially though, what we learn over time is that Ceasar is not a monogamous person, and instead of using that as a tool to discuss various ways people can love, its used to allow the readers to judge and vilify him. Not everyone can be monogamous. It seemed a wasted opportunity for Bell to discuss various ways people love. Sure, he could never be with Nathanial who very clearly only believes in monogamy, but that didn't mean Ceasar needed to become a villian. Its teaching young gay men who read this that we should judge anyone who doesn't love exactly like we love.
With all that said, I did like the book. I LOVED the way Bell continues to connect these characters in such small and wonderful ways keeping each narrative familiar while also telling a new story.
I loved that he tackled the subject of abuse. That's one he hadn't really delved into before and I think he really captured what kind of mental damage can happen.
Bell's series is still one of my favorites and while I didn't love this narrative, I still liked it and will not stop reading the series to its completion!
Also can we all just admit that Marcello is the unsung hero of the series! Sure he works in unorthodox ways, but there isnt a greater heart in all the series then his. Im curious what fuels his desire to he such a matchmaker and true believer in love. Whats in his past?? Will we ever know?? Either way, he really is the true hero in these stories.
November 21, 2023
I'm struggling with my rating on this one, but a 4 (rather than a 4.5 or even 5) feels justified.
I have loved every Something Like ... book that I have read. The original is one of my favorite books of all time. I will admit that Something Like Lightning was my least favorite, because I'm still not the hugest fan of Kelly. It was also long -- like, really long. The book probably could've been 50 pages shorter and accomplished the same results.
I think Nathaniel is a fascinating, complex character -- which he was very much portrayed as in Lightning. He is a strong protagonist with a turbulent and traumatic background, and that showed in the writing. I loved getting to understand where he came from, and thoroughly enjoyed his story.
Here are the few issues I had. Nathaniel keeping tabs on Kelly for years just felt ... wrong. It felt obsessive and intrusive, and up until this part of the novel, I felt that Nathaniel was neither of those things -- he was actually guarded and private, and I thought that he would be someone who respects boundaries. I didn't like what that disconnect did to my interpretation of Nathaniel. I also didn't like how big of a role miscommunication played in his relationship with Kelly. Their relationship ending for years based on a single incident just felt like a bit of an overreaction and something that could've been worked through.
What I truly appreciated was Jay Bell exploring violence and abuse and its never-ending cycle as a core part of the book. The abuse went further than Nathaniel and his brother -- domestic violence portrayal also included Nathaniel's mother, his sister-in law, and his nephew. I also appreciated how the mental pain that results from being a victim of violence was explored and examined. Trauma has both physical and emotional consequences, and seeing those themes addressed added an important layer to the book. Watching Nathaniel develop his resilience was an incredible journey, and he is one of my favorite characters from the series by far.
Some of my issues aside, this is still a fantastic addition to the Something Like... series. I will never get tired of reading Jay Bell books. I'm officially halfway through the series, with no signs of fatigue. I am excited to read the first Stories entry next.
I have loved every Something Like ... book that I have read. The original is one of my favorite books of all time. I will admit that Something Like Lightning was my least favorite, because I'm still not the hugest fan of Kelly. It was also long -- like, really long. The book probably could've been 50 pages shorter and accomplished the same results.
I think Nathaniel is a fascinating, complex character -- which he was very much portrayed as in Lightning. He is a strong protagonist with a turbulent and traumatic background, and that showed in the writing. I loved getting to understand where he came from, and thoroughly enjoyed his story.
Here are the few issues I had. Nathaniel keeping tabs on Kelly for years just felt ... wrong. It felt obsessive and intrusive, and up until this part of the novel, I felt that Nathaniel was neither of those things -- he was actually guarded and private, and I thought that he would be someone who respects boundaries. I didn't like what that disconnect did to my interpretation of Nathaniel. I also didn't like how big of a role miscommunication played in his relationship with Kelly. Their relationship ending for years based on a single incident just felt like a bit of an overreaction and something that could've been worked through.
What I truly appreciated was Jay Bell exploring violence and abuse and its never-ending cycle as a core part of the book. The abuse went further than Nathaniel and his brother -- domestic violence portrayal also included Nathaniel's mother, his sister-in law, and his nephew. I also appreciated how the mental pain that results from being a victim of violence was explored and examined. Trauma has both physical and emotional consequences, and seeing those themes addressed added an important layer to the book. Watching Nathaniel develop his resilience was an incredible journey, and he is one of my favorite characters from the series by far.
Some of my issues aside, this is still a fantastic addition to the Something Like... series. I will never get tired of reading Jay Bell books. I'm officially halfway through the series, with no signs of fatigue. I am excited to read the first Stories entry next.
February 24, 2015
Let's make it clear in the beginning: I love this series.
This is how I discovered MM Romance as a genre and fell in love with it, and for this I'll ever be grateful. Jay Bell has a way of writing great characters. None of the MCs in all these six books is shallow, nor they are some perfect little boy with no flaws, respectful manners and the ideal role-model. This is important, I think, because all sorts of readers can connect deeply with at least one of them - because they feel real. They have fears, make mistakes, have pasts. You see a lot of picture-perfect good boys on this genre, and it sort of feels fake (and a bit bigoted, I'd add).
So let's concentrate on Nathaniel's story. The guy with Victor Hemingway's blood and a heart of his own. He is the result of a loving home with a real monster under his bed - one who would hurt and abuse him, and make him fear. He grew up a strong and decided man, but a hard-hearted one. Caesar really did break him in some ways, and falling in love with Kelly was a rough path for him.
I still don't like Kelly, btw. Nor Caesar. Please don't make a Caesar book next, 'cuz I don't want to like him. Give me William, will you?
I loved Star as a mom. Loved to hate Dwight - but he gave us Sheila, and she was a nice buddy too. Oh, and Zero was the cutest thing. Every book should have pets ugh (R.I.P. Samson).
Really, I loved this book. More than the previous one, in fact. I grew really fond of Nathaniel and I'll love seeing him make quick appearances on the next books Jay brings us.
Oh, and Marcello: I want to be him one day. ♥
This is how I discovered MM Romance as a genre and fell in love with it, and for this I'll ever be grateful. Jay Bell has a way of writing great characters. None of the MCs in all these six books is shallow, nor they are some perfect little boy with no flaws, respectful manners and the ideal role-model. This is important, I think, because all sorts of readers can connect deeply with at least one of them - because they feel real. They have fears, make mistakes, have pasts. You see a lot of picture-perfect good boys on this genre, and it sort of feels fake (and a bit bigoted, I'd add).
So let's concentrate on Nathaniel's story. The guy with Victor Hemingway's blood and a heart of his own. He is the result of a loving home with a real monster under his bed - one who would hurt and abuse him, and make him fear. He grew up a strong and decided man, but a hard-hearted one. Caesar really did break him in some ways, and falling in love with Kelly was a rough path for him.
I still don't like Kelly, btw. Nor Caesar. Please don't make a Caesar book next, 'cuz I don't want to like him. Give me William, will you?
I loved Star as a mom. Loved to hate Dwight - but he gave us Sheila, and she was a nice buddy too. Oh, and Zero was the cutest thing. Every book should have pets ugh (R.I.P. Samson).
Really, I loved this book. More than the previous one, in fact. I grew really fond of Nathaniel and I'll love seeing him make quick appearances on the next books Jay brings us.
Oh, and Marcello: I want to be him one day. ♥
May 18, 2022
Again just WOW! Another great Jay Bell book. I love the Something Like series very much.
May 7, 2015
4.5 (extra half star for Marcello) I started Thunder immediately after Lightning. I grew to like Nathaniel in Lightening after he intrigued me in Spring. I knew there was more to him although I wasn't prepared for how much more. I ended up wanting to wrap him in bubble wrap somewhere along the line just so he would stop getting hurt and reacting instead of finding happiness.
I have read other reviews and I think the reason that I didn't have such a negative reaction to a lot of the horrible things these characters do to each other is because I never allow myself to forget that they are so terribly young. Most of the hurt and pain they inflict on each other comes between the ages of 16 and 25. Those years are not only formative but humans seem to make the most life changing mistakes during that time. That doesn't mean that it hurts any less, it just means that, for me, I can forgive.
I hope to see Kelly & Nathaniel's story HEA in stories down the line which I'm sure Jay could completely pull off considering how long I waited for the ultimate HEA for other couples.
I loved the revealed secrets and would absolutely love to see that truth come out to some more of the characters just to witness their reactions but only time will tell if that ever comes to be. I was satisfied with how this book came to an end even if I don't want the overall story to be over.
Lastly, I have to mention Marcello. He made this book for me. He is one of my absolute favorite characters and I just simply adore every quirky part of him. His relationship with Nathaniel was beautiful. Twisted perhaps, but beautiful nonetheless.
I have read other reviews and I think the reason that I didn't have such a negative reaction to a lot of the horrible things these characters do to each other is because I never allow myself to forget that they are so terribly young. Most of the hurt and pain they inflict on each other comes between the ages of 16 and 25. Those years are not only formative but humans seem to make the most life changing mistakes during that time. That doesn't mean that it hurts any less, it just means that, for me, I can forgive.
I hope to see Kelly & Nathaniel's story HEA in stories down the line which I'm sure Jay could completely pull off considering how long I waited for the ultimate HEA for other couples.
I loved the revealed secrets and would absolutely love to see that truth come out to some more of the characters just to witness their reactions but only time will tell if that ever comes to be. I was satisfied with how this book came to an end even if I don't want the overall story to be over.
Lastly, I have to mention Marcello. He made this book for me. He is one of my absolute favorite characters and I just simply adore every quirky part of him. His relationship with Nathaniel was beautiful. Twisted perhaps, but beautiful nonetheless.
August 13, 2023
Picking up directly where Lightning left off and recounting Nathaniel's history, Something Like Thunder is another great entry in the Something Like... series.
Nathaniel is stoic and it's hard to understand where he's coming from with some of his actions until you start learning about his past. This book very long and felt it. It was interesting that Nathaniel's mother is Star from Autumn...
All in all I love this series and am happy with how this pair's books have ended.
Nathaniel is stoic and it's hard to understand where he's coming from with some of his actions until you start learning about his past. This book very long and felt it. It was interesting that Nathaniel's mother is Star from Autumn...
All in all I love this series and am happy with how this pair's books have ended.
May 12, 2015
Another awesome entry in the series. Full review to follow...
June 19, 2015
Wonderful audiobook. This series is one of my favorites.
December 21, 2016
EXCELLENT! It's Jay Bell... nuff said :^)
November 7, 2020
2.5/5
This series really be giving me brain damage... all I know is that I need more.
This series really be giving me brain damage... all I know is that I need more.
May 4, 2021
I liked this book much more than I thought I would. However it still bugs me that most of this book's good parts for me were things missing from the last book. I don't like it when something is good because it fixed another bad thing. They should have separate reasons to be good. But I guess that's what the author intended, so be it.
Some fixations from the author are also starting to bug me a bit more by every book.
Firstly, this need to have two characters cum at the same time every single book, to make their "synchrony" show more passion or more connection might have worked the first few uses, but it seems that this is the authors way of describing.
Secondly, few sex scenes were "different". Besides Caesar, some of Ben and Tim and even Ryan; they all seem to be "the same". I don't mean that loads of kinky stuff should be added, but people are different, they have different tastes in bed, and this could have been more explored.
I really love the series, it might be my favorite, and that's why I feel like complaining about these details. If I didn't like, I wouldn't bother, but I just hope some of these things get better.
Some fixations from the author are also starting to bug me a bit more by every book.
Firstly, this need to have two characters cum at the same time every single book, to make their "synchrony" show more passion or more connection might have worked the first few uses, but it seems that this is the authors way of describing.
Secondly, few sex scenes were "different". Besides Caesar, some of Ben and Tim and even Ryan; they all seem to be "the same". I don't mean that loads of kinky stuff should be added, but people are different, they have different tastes in bed, and this could have been more explored.
I really love the series, it might be my favorite, and that's why I feel like complaining about these details. If I didn't like, I wouldn't bother, but I just hope some of these things get better.
June 1, 2015
Jay Bell has a gift of telling the other side of the story. When I read about Nathaniel's and Kelly's characters from Something Like Spring, I didn't like them. They seemed to be the villain to me. However, like how Jay managed to flesh out Jace in Autumn, he was able to breathe life into Nathaniel's character in Thunder, similar to how he showed a different side to Kelly in Lightning.
But unlike the first few books in the series, Thunder lacks that thunderous impact. Sure, the reader gets a better understanding and appreciation of Nathaniel. And how his story connected with the rest of the characters in the series, like Tim and Victor was a treat. But instead of being blown away, the approach now felt tired and dragging.
The pacing, including the Interludes, was very slow... I kept wondering when is the other show gonna drop? And when it finally did, ends were tied so loosely that instead of having a grand finale to the story, it felt too rushed.
For fans of the series, this is a delight but might also be disappointing. Delightful because it explores another character of the beloved universe, but disappointing because it doesn't live up to its predecessors.
At this point, the questions are: will there be another book in the series? I'm looking forward to a book on Caesar—like how will Jay redeem that character?
But unlike the first few books in the series, Thunder lacks that thunderous impact. Sure, the reader gets a better understanding and appreciation of Nathaniel. And how his story connected with the rest of the characters in the series, like Tim and Victor was a treat. But instead of being blown away, the approach now felt tired and dragging.
The pacing, including the Interludes, was very slow... I kept wondering when is the other show gonna drop? And when it finally did, ends were tied so loosely that instead of having a grand finale to the story, it felt too rushed.
For fans of the series, this is a delight but might also be disappointing. Delightful because it explores another character of the beloved universe, but disappointing because it doesn't live up to its predecessors.
At this point, the questions are: will there be another book in the series? I'm looking forward to a book on Caesar—like how will Jay redeem that character?
March 22, 2015
This was a fun addition to the "Something Like" series. If you read Something Like Lightning, you know that the protagonist in this story, Nathaniel, ended SLL on the verge of explaining why he had broken up with Kelly, the main character of that novel. His flashback/explanation constitutes the plot of SLT. This book was a good, solid read, but my primary critique lies in the fact that nothing in his background really justified his decision to cause that much pain. Moreover, there were a few coincidences in the novel that were fun for long-time fans of the series, but probably required a bit too much suspension of disbelief. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it. Nathaniel is not my favorite character from the series, but he was perfect for Kelly (who I adored!), and the resolution of the story worked out fairly well. I am admittedly a total fangirl of this series, so if Jay wants to keep writing, I'll keep reading (especially if he wants to project into Ben and Tim's future - I'm all there!).
October 10, 2024
This book was great! I liked it far more than lightning and spring actually. Nathanial’s growth and the journey he went through was really captivating to read touching on various themes.
The epilogue made me melt into a puddle!
The epilogue made me melt into a puddle!
April 10, 2020
There should be a disclaimer before starting the 'Something Like' series; one being that you will cry (or sob for hours even after the book is over), and two being that once you read one, you can't stop reading the series and you will find your world revolving around these characters even after you've put the book down. I mean this in the best possible way and as a compliment to the author. I haven't been able to put these books down and SLT (Something Like Thunder) did not disappoint at all. **Spoilers ahead**
I'd first like to start with Zero. Not just because, numerically, he would come first - but because he really just makes such a big impact even though it's done in such a simple and heartwarming way. Jay Bell must have had or has a dog because you can just feel Zero's spirit so strongly through this book and I know it might seem silly for a dog to have such a strong impact from a book, but I connected very heavily to the animal having saved Nathaniel and I just found every word written about Zero captivating. The ending almost had me inconsolable, but luckily there was a saving grace. I won't forget Zero and the friendship and connection between him and Nathaniel was so fun, heartwarming and filled with love.
Secondly, I'd just like to quickly touch on how masterfully the connections and the inception level of character cross-overs are in this book - NEXT LEVEL! I actually gasped a few times during this book with some old faces popping up here and there with the story line taking me places I really did not think about and I was left shocked. It made me think that Jay had picked certain names so that we wouldn't have to think it was a different character (e.g. Star), how can you forget that name?! Anyway, without spoiling too much - SLT perfectly interwove the web that Jay Bell has been spinning, crossing over previously loved characters, getting more insight into stories we would never have otherwise been told, and just worked perfectly in tying up some loose ends I didn't realise I needed until the words were written.
Next, I also finished reading Something Like Lightning (SLL), and to be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of Nathaniel. I loved Kelly's story and attitude, so I went into SLT thinking I was going to be getting the same story but just with the reasons behind Nathaniel's moodiness and heartbreak. What you get in SLT is much, much more. The style is completely different to any of the other 'Something Like' books, as the book evolves, we get to see the story told as Nathaniel is explaining it to Kelly, which I found refreshing and quite special. Being able to take SLL further and giving the reader closure to their happy ever after, personally, I found romantic and perfect.
I think it would be remiss of me if I didn't mention a very special character that really had his moment in this book: Marcello. I never thought I'd say this, but I could even imagine reading a Something Like book now based solely on Marcello's life. I honestly didn't think Marcello would ever come up after the first couple of Something Like books, but here we are. He really got his 'leading lady' role in this book if you will. He's always been lurking in the background and always seems to provide a lifeline to so many of the main characters, Nathaniel being no exception. But, in SLT, you really get to see a father figure in Marcello and can really appreciate him for who he is and what he has accomplished. I always find myself laughing out loud when he makes his way into the chapters and you can't help but have a soft spot for him. Anyway, I just wanted to touch on his character as I found him particularly lovable in SLT.
I could write many, many more words about this book and how good it was, but I think you should just read the Something Like series and find out for yourself. I shall continue my journey and find out what else Jay Bell has in store for me soon.
I'd first like to start with Zero. Not just because, numerically, he would come first - but because he really just makes such a big impact even though it's done in such a simple and heartwarming way. Jay Bell must have had or has a dog because you can just feel Zero's spirit so strongly through this book and I know it might seem silly for a dog to have such a strong impact from a book, but I connected very heavily to the animal having saved Nathaniel and I just found every word written about Zero captivating. The ending almost had me inconsolable, but luckily there was a saving grace. I won't forget Zero and the friendship and connection between him and Nathaniel was so fun, heartwarming and filled with love.
Secondly, I'd just like to quickly touch on how masterfully the connections and the inception level of character cross-overs are in this book - NEXT LEVEL! I actually gasped a few times during this book with some old faces popping up here and there with the story line taking me places I really did not think about and I was left shocked. It made me think that Jay had picked certain names so that we wouldn't have to think it was a different character (e.g. Star), how can you forget that name?! Anyway, without spoiling too much - SLT perfectly interwove the web that Jay Bell has been spinning, crossing over previously loved characters, getting more insight into stories we would never have otherwise been told, and just worked perfectly in tying up some loose ends I didn't realise I needed until the words were written.
Next, I also finished reading Something Like Lightning (SLL), and to be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of Nathaniel. I loved Kelly's story and attitude, so I went into SLT thinking I was going to be getting the same story but just with the reasons behind Nathaniel's moodiness and heartbreak. What you get in SLT is much, much more. The style is completely different to any of the other 'Something Like' books, as the book evolves, we get to see the story told as Nathaniel is explaining it to Kelly, which I found refreshing and quite special. Being able to take SLL further and giving the reader closure to their happy ever after, personally, I found romantic and perfect.
I think it would be remiss of me if I didn't mention a very special character that really had his moment in this book: Marcello. I never thought I'd say this, but I could even imagine reading a Something Like book now based solely on Marcello's life. I honestly didn't think Marcello would ever come up after the first couple of Something Like books, but here we are. He really got his 'leading lady' role in this book if you will. He's always been lurking in the background and always seems to provide a lifeline to so many of the main characters, Nathaniel being no exception. But, in SLT, you really get to see a father figure in Marcello and can really appreciate him for who he is and what he has accomplished. I always find myself laughing out loud when he makes his way into the chapters and you can't help but have a soft spot for him. Anyway, I just wanted to touch on his character as I found him particularly lovable in SLT.
I could write many, many more words about this book and how good it was, but I think you should just read the Something Like series and find out for yourself. I shall continue my journey and find out what else Jay Bell has in store for me soon.
January 15, 2018
Possibly the darkest of the "Something Like..." series so far, definitely an immediate follow on from "Something Like Lightning", but it does stand as worthy of having a whole book dedicated to this part of the story itself.
Is that sense of darkness a reflection of the growth of the writing talents of an experienced author? I find that there were many sub themes of the human condition that were eluded to that are familiar from many other sources of dramatic art and social media these days.
The play list is dotted with cameo appearances of old favourite characters from earlier books from the Something Like series; however a considered effort has been made to start to brig some of these together. More complicated than a family tree, the dendrites of multitudes of association in the web of friends, family, gay and straight relationships were welcome and well delivered in this work by Jay Bell. The sudden appearance of some character threads from previous novels was a very pleasant surprise.
As usual there were overt displays of loving altruism, as well as occasional selfishness; and this can be seen as the black-hat vs. white-hat development of a tale. However, the reflection of individual actions, choices and consequence that are the progression of the Something Like series calls into question some of that good vs. bad viewpoint that a reader may take as assumptions.
Some assumptions are total however; that this is a work that assumes to correctness of respect irrespective of race, disability or orientation is a given. In many respect this body of work does demand a leftist wing frame of mind in the reader.
At the end of the day, this book, and the whole "Something Like..." series is a gay romance novel, that will tug at the emotional heart strings of fans of Jay Bell as an author and the genre in general.
Is that sense of darkness a reflection of the growth of the writing talents of an experienced author? I find that there were many sub themes of the human condition that were eluded to that are familiar from many other sources of dramatic art and social media these days.
The play list is dotted with cameo appearances of old favourite characters from earlier books from the Something Like series; however a considered effort has been made to start to brig some of these together. More complicated than a family tree, the dendrites of multitudes of association in the web of friends, family, gay and straight relationships were welcome and well delivered in this work by Jay Bell. The sudden appearance of some character threads from previous novels was a very pleasant surprise.
As usual there were overt displays of loving altruism, as well as occasional selfishness; and this can be seen as the black-hat vs. white-hat development of a tale. However, the reflection of individual actions, choices and consequence that are the progression of the Something Like series calls into question some of that good vs. bad viewpoint that a reader may take as assumptions.
Some assumptions are total however; that this is a work that assumes to correctness of respect irrespective of race, disability or orientation is a given. In many respect this body of work does demand a leftist wing frame of mind in the reader.
At the end of the day, this book, and the whole "Something Like..." series is a gay romance novel, that will tug at the emotional heart strings of fans of Jay Bell as an author and the genre in general.
June 27, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Where to begin is easy, where to stop, not so much. I feel like this is a short review for a long book, but if you read Something Like Lightning, you already know some of what goes on between Nathaniel, Caesar, and even Jason Grant and the Hubbards.
The focus of Something Like Thunder is Nathaniel Courtney, who played a big role in Something Like Lightning, but here we get to see his past, his pain, and what made him the man he was in the previous book. Nathaniel was a very different boy, growing up as a mama’s boy with an abusive brother, and an indifferent father. These circumstances could have broken a lesser man, but instead brought out Nathaniel’s sensitive and overly forgiving side. But a man can only forgive so much before he insulates his heart from further pain.
We also meet up with Caesar again, and are given further insight into his personality and what made him tick from then until now. One thing I am sure you will notice in his journey is that he may appear the confident hot-shot, but he is fragile and insecure underneath all of the bravado.
Each time I read a book by Bell, I am astounded by his ability to world build and to interconnect all of the stories and characters so seamlessly. It doesn’t matter that I know something will happen or that I have inside information. Every time a new piece is added to the story or series, I describe it as a piece of a puzzle that I did not know was missing, but once in play, feels like it was always meant to be.
Read Jason’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Where to begin is easy, where to stop, not so much. I feel like this is a short review for a long book, but if you read Something Like Lightning, you already know some of what goes on between Nathaniel, Caesar, and even Jason Grant and the Hubbards.
The focus of Something Like Thunder is Nathaniel Courtney, who played a big role in Something Like Lightning, but here we get to see his past, his pain, and what made him the man he was in the previous book. Nathaniel was a very different boy, growing up as a mama’s boy with an abusive brother, and an indifferent father. These circumstances could have broken a lesser man, but instead brought out Nathaniel’s sensitive and overly forgiving side. But a man can only forgive so much before he insulates his heart from further pain.
We also meet up with Caesar again, and are given further insight into his personality and what made him tick from then until now. One thing I am sure you will notice in his journey is that he may appear the confident hot-shot, but he is fragile and insecure underneath all of the bravado.
Each time I read a book by Bell, I am astounded by his ability to world build and to interconnect all of the stories and characters so seamlessly. It doesn’t matter that I know something will happen or that I have inside information. Every time a new piece is added to the story or series, I describe it as a piece of a puzzle that I did not know was missing, but once in play, feels like it was always meant to be.
Read Jason’s review in its entirety here.
May 2, 2015
Wow! Something like Thunder is the sixth Something Like book by Jay Bell. Since I had read the other five books in the series, I was very excited to get my hands on this one, and it was everything I had hoped for and more! Something Like Thunder is Nathaniel's story, which I was very eager to read. We met Nathaniel briefly in Something Like Spring and got to know more about him in Something Like Lightning, but now we get to learn about what Nathaniel has been through, why he did what he did in Lightning, and just how big his heart is. While getting to know Nathaniel better, the reader also gets to visit old friends from previous books. The tie-ins in this one are epic!
The banter between Nathaniel and Kelly is awesome! There is romance, angst, a lovable dog, laughter, and tears. What more could one ask for?
I am not quite sure how Jay Bell does it, but he really brings his characters to life. The entire Something Like series has many characters who are like old friends of mine. It would be cool to spend a few hours in the author's brain, just to hang out with these characters whom I know so well. I strongly recommend this entire series. Seriously, read them all. You will be completely hooked!
The banter between Nathaniel and Kelly is awesome! There is romance, angst, a lovable dog, laughter, and tears. What more could one ask for?
I am not quite sure how Jay Bell does it, but he really brings his characters to life. The entire Something Like series has many characters who are like old friends of mine. It would be cool to spend a few hours in the author's brain, just to hang out with these characters whom I know so well. I strongly recommend this entire series. Seriously, read them all. You will be completely hooked!
January 7, 2016
What can I say but booming, crashing, startling, fearful, quaking, deafening, sometime tentative… The sounds of thunder, all describing the audio performance of Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell.
I love an author who gives me depth of characters. I yearn for the whole story about them. I want to know why…why…why. In the case of Nathaniel Courtney, I want to know why he pushed away the love of his life, Kelly. But sometimes, I want to just have very strong hateful thoughts about Nathaniel too, and wonder why Jay Bell even wasted his time writing about such a character. This is what a Jay Bell book narrated by Kevin R. Free does to me. That’s seventeen hours of becoming invested in one character—the best way to spend those hours, I assure you. Mr. Bell does intertwine other characters in the plot, but essentially, this is Nathaniel’s story and how he came to make one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
Kevin R. Free really sets up the tone of the book. When Nathaniel is showing weakness, you hear the weakness portrayed in Free’s voice. When Nathaniel’s voice is booming while protecting his Mom, the narration Booms! Free has all the sounds of thunder mixed into the narration of Something Like Thunder. An excellent writer and an excellent narrator=perfection!
Reviewed by Kathie for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
I love an author who gives me depth of characters. I yearn for the whole story about them. I want to know why…why…why. In the case of Nathaniel Courtney, I want to know why he pushed away the love of his life, Kelly. But sometimes, I want to just have very strong hateful thoughts about Nathaniel too, and wonder why Jay Bell even wasted his time writing about such a character. This is what a Jay Bell book narrated by Kevin R. Free does to me. That’s seventeen hours of becoming invested in one character—the best way to spend those hours, I assure you. Mr. Bell does intertwine other characters in the plot, but essentially, this is Nathaniel’s story and how he came to make one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
Kevin R. Free really sets up the tone of the book. When Nathaniel is showing weakness, you hear the weakness portrayed in Free’s voice. When Nathaniel’s voice is booming while protecting his Mom, the narration Booms! Free has all the sounds of thunder mixed into the narration of Something Like Thunder. An excellent writer and an excellent narrator=perfection!
Reviewed by Kathie for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
November 15, 2015
I love how this series folds back to the original trilogy. Even if a character is only mentioned, and not seen, it's nice to remember them. The time line was a little hard for me to get right in my head...but it does work.
Every story has been an emotional roller coaster. It's amazing, how, even knowing part the story from another's POV, that it's still so new. Seeing it from another set of eyes, with different background and perspective, and it's completely different.
I was so interested in Caesar's POV, but I'm a little afraid of it now. But I'm sure Jay Bell will make it amazing.
If you haven't read anything in the Something Like series, they are better read in order.
I think most of them would stand alone if need be...but I'm really glad I did not read this one out of order. And if you have read Kelly's story, then you know you only have 1/2 the story, and really need to read Nathaniel's.
~~~~~~~
reread
Huh, a little weird reading out of order.
I r=remember a little bit about Kelly's story. Enough not to be lost.
It was interesting to read this one prior to Kelly's.
Every story has been an emotional roller coaster. It's amazing, how, even knowing part the story from another's POV, that it's still so new. Seeing it from another set of eyes, with different background and perspective, and it's completely different.
I was so interested in Caesar's POV, but I'm a little afraid of it now. But I'm sure Jay Bell will make it amazing.
If you haven't read anything in the Something Like series, they are better read in order.
I think most of them would stand alone if need be...but I'm really glad I did not read this one out of order. And if you have read Kelly's story, then you know you only have 1/2 the story, and really need to read Nathaniel's.
~~~~~~~
reread
Huh, a little weird reading out of order.
I r=remember a little bit about Kelly's story. Enough not to be lost.
It was interesting to read this one prior to Kelly's.
August 13, 2016
Excellent! Brilliant! Amazing! This would have to have been the best book yet. Even if the character connections are beginning to get a tad confusing.
Nathan went through a brilliant transformation in this book. At the beginning he was a nervous, quiet and normal person. He did not seem to be all that interesting. But over the course of the book he transformed into an entirely new character. Admittedly every trait I grew to love I previously hated, but seeing him from his perspective was excellent. His relationship with Marcello was brilliant, every book is bringing out more and more of Marcello and I am truly excited to see what the future involves.
Nathan went through a brilliant transformation in this book. At the beginning he was a nervous, quiet and normal person. He did not seem to be all that interesting. But over the course of the book he transformed into an entirely new character. Admittedly every trait I grew to love I previously hated, but seeing him from his perspective was excellent. His relationship with Marcello was brilliant, every book is bringing out more and more of Marcello and I am truly excited to see what the future involves.
June 12, 2020
Now that I saw Nathaniel's perspective, I can finally forgive him for what happened in the last book.
Yay.
I still can't believe he's Victor and Star's son. He is like Victor in some way but I like Nathaniel way better. I never liked Star when I read Something Like Autumn(maybe I am biased) but she has grown into a wonderful person. I didn't like Caesar though. But this was an interesting read and I am happy Kelly and Nathaniel got a happy ending after all.
And I love this series. The writing is so good. It brings out so many emotions at the same time and gives me feels. Best series ever ;)
Yay.
I still can't believe he's Victor and Star's son. He is like Victor in some way but I like Nathaniel way better. I never liked Star when I read Something Like Autumn(maybe I am biased) but she has grown into a wonderful person. I didn't like Caesar though. But this was an interesting read and I am happy Kelly and Nathaniel got a happy ending after all.
And I love this series. The writing is so good. It brings out so many emotions at the same time and gives me feels. Best series ever ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2018
Thunder is loud and cannot be seen. For Nathaniel it was being abused physically by his brother and emotionally. Turning off feelings never solves anything and it cannot be done. When Nathaniel reached Kelly, he knew that he had to prove that things will be different and he did just that. It is also interesting how Zero brought them together like how Samson was part of Ben's life with Jace and with Tim after he passed. This series just keeps amazes me and or course love is one complex emotion.
April 26, 2015
4.5☆☆☆☆*
May 20, 2015
Such a great book! The characters feel like friends! Love everything Jay writes!
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