The Worst Bad Thing

by J.E. Birk

Iceland, Stonehenge, London, Paris….

To the casual observer, it looks like a dream trip. For Tate O’Reilly, it’s anything but. He’s a man on a mission to rectify a critical mistake, and there’s nothing to hold him back—certainly not friends or family. For Tate, it all comes down to one simple thing—he must fix what he has broken.

What he doesn’t count on is meeting Gabriel Carillo. Gabriel is kind, mysterious, and seems to be on his own mission to ensure their paths keep crossing. But Tate’s hiding an awfully big secret—one he’s certain even Gabriel can’t forgive.

Does a man’s past have to determine his future? In the middle of cities filled with history, Tate is going to find out.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Dark, Mental Health, Mystery Thriller

123 pages, ebook

First published March 23, 2016

About the author

J.E. Birk was raised in Vermont and is now adulting in Colorado with intermittent success. She is a long-time lover of stories, and she writes and reads in worlds where imperfect characters find their happily ever after.

Reviews

[Bizzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: Suicide

Please do not read this book if you’re at all sensitive about the subject of suicide.

According to this book, here is an acceptable and effective way to respond when you learn someone you care about is actively taking steps to carry out a plan to commit suicide:

* Angrily confront them for keeping it a secret from you
* Yell at them until they have a panic attack and run away, and make no effort to go after them or comfort them
* Confront them again, this time by forcing them to explain their plan and telling them their plan makes them “quite the martyr”
* Watch your friend punch them in the face for being selfish for not caring about other people
* Tell them you’re not going to take any steps to get them help because you know it won’t do any good
* Tell them the only solution is for them to change their mind on their own
* Leave them to continue carrying out their plan

I wish I could be appalled by this sequence of events, but I’m not. This is how suicide is almost always presented: as the result of selfishness and weakness. As though people just need to be told to focus on how much their actions will hurt other people, as though they don’t already agonize over that very thing. As though the solution is for people to find some inner well of strength and just stop having suicidal thoughts, as though they’re not already fighting against those thoughts every single day.

If you thought your loved ones would respond with anger, blame, and abandonment if you admitted to having suicidal thoughts, would it make you more likely to seek help, or less?

Stories like the one told in this book hurt people. They reinforce the already unavoidable message that if you’re considering suicide, you’re being selfish. They make people afraid to seek help. They teach people that the way to help a suicidal person is tough love.

The way to actually help a suicidal person is acceptance, understanding, and compassion. It’s listening and not judging. It’s prioritizing their pain over yours. It’s showing them you don’t think they’re a bad, selfish, or weak person for having suicidal thoughts or for not having sought help sooner.

Please, if you think someone you know may be considering suicide, don’t react like the characters in this book. Find a way to let them know you’ll listen and support them without judgment.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

This story reaches out and grabs you within the first few pages, forcing you to continue on to figure out just what happened that day in the science lab. Told in Tate’s point of view, readers learn what happened that day and in the year afterwards and why Tate is taking this once in a lifetime vacation through a series of flashbacks. I will warn readers, while the story flows beautifully, it isn’t an easy read by any means as it deals with some very tough issues of depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts.

Tate is tired of living with the guilt of what happened in his science lab. Planning what seems like a dream vacation, he heads off without a camera and minimal luggage. He isn’t looking to purchase souvenirs; instead, he is looking for answers and peace. What he wasn’t expecting was to find someone who would have him questioning whether or not he wants his journey to end.

Gabriel knows all about having the worst bad thing happen and knows that finding your way forward from such an event is a monumental task. Though he knows Tate is depressed, he’s hoping to insinuate himself into his life and prevent him from making a rash decision. With the help of a friend and veteran who is dealing with his own issues in rehab, they try to show Tate that there is something worth living for.

I really loved this story because it reaffirmed my belief that one person can really make a difference in someone’s life. If you are looking for a story that doesn’t candy coat some really serious issues, you want to give this one a try. Highly recommend.

Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on the re-edited version released in May 2022. CWs for depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation.

This book is told entirely from Tate's POV. As we know from the blurb, Tate is on what's really a pilgrimage to Europe after causing a classroom accident that cost a student her life. At the beginning of his trip, he meets Gabe, an ex-Army Ranger and experienced traveler. Gabe offers Tate friendship and the benefit of his European experiences. Gabe is obviously hoping for more, but Tate's deep guilt and depression makes the connection difficult.

Tate is consumed with guilt, and while it may seem like his thoughts linger there too much, it felt true to life. His reaction to the accident felt organic. Becoming friends (and more) with Gabe was difficult for him, as he was always waiting for the other shoe to drop - and probably another shoe after that one.

The arc of their relationship, and the descriptions of the simple times they spent together, was so well done. The writing dug right into my emotions. I could feel Tate's relief in those moments where he felt at ease with Gabe, and I found myself holding my breath during his panic attacks.

The book alternates a present day timeline with an earlier post-accident timeline. It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm, but once I did, it really worked for me. It was never confusing, and it was a great way to impart a lot of important background about why Tate feels such deep grief and guilt. The progression toward the end, and the introduction of new info, was nicely paced.

Overall, a great read with a nice buildup of the relationship between the MCs, and a representation of depression and PTSD that felt realistic to me. Solid writing and editing. Recommend!

Some thoughts on the ending
The resolution was quick and perhaps a bit too deus ex machina. I like that we're left to wonder what exactly it was that changed Tate's mind in Paris. Was it the fact that Gabe saw him as three dimensional and not simply the person who caused such a tragic accident? Was it the hope for romance? Something internal? All of the above? He might not even be able to explain it, which felt true.

I appreciated that Emery was the one to see Tate's depression for what it was, because he had been there himself. It felt more real to me than Gabe having the realization all on his own. I'm not certain I understood the point of Emery needing to break out of rehab and get high to have that conversation with Tate, though, but I wonder if it's meant to show that tangled line that marks progress through both depression and addiction.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is something different. My heart, my head, my eyes, it all hurts, still are after finishing.
We get a glimpse of what happened, not the total picture at once. Alternating between then and now, through Tate’s point of view we meet Tate, and all that happened with him gets a form.
The now shows where he meets Gabriel on his trips through a few European countries, Tate has a purpose, he made choices and accepts his fate. The past shows Tate’s terror.

Weighed down by guilt Tate convinced himself he doesn’t deserve happiness and has to fulfill his debt. So he doesn’t enjoy life how he should. Gabriel is sweet, caring, and concerned. Tate doesn’t share what his plans are.
They have feelings for each other. But sadly it isn’t that simple.
There’s a long painful way of healing, acceptance, forgiveness and finally a hea, please read the bonus epilogue.
All the hurt was extremely palpable, a highly emotional story. Gabriel was alert regarding Tate. Gabriel has some dedicated friends who are so huge!
Me, I had to protect myself a bit by not diving too deep emotionally into all the tragedy. Still, my heart broke several times. What an impressive story!

There are some triggers, be aware!

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

People deal with tragedy in many different ways. ‘The Worst Bad Thing’ is the story of Tate, a chemistry teacher who has caused enormous suffering, even though he never intended to, and now tries to deal with the guilt in the only way he knows how. This novel comes in two tiers, two parts that unfold in parallel. One layer consists of flashbacks written in past tense – they reveal the accident he caused and what happened afterward up to the point where Tate leaves for his trip. They are short, and show only the essential pieces of the puzzle needed for understanding the full background and why he feels responsible. The second layer is about Tate's trip and his meeting Gabe. It is written in present tense and focuses on Tate's feelings of guilt and why he is making the trip to Europe. This combination of styles is done very well and was an effective mix for me to get into Tate’s mind bit by bit without too much back story being dumped at once.

Tate has gone through hell, and he blames himself for what happened. As bad as it seems initially - the book begins with a flashback to the day he caused the chemistry class accident that ends up killing a sixteen-year-old student and scarring three others, it gets worse. There are parts of the story that are only gradually revealed, and his real plan for "paying" for what he did only emerges at the very end. Tate grows and changes during the story due to his discussions with Gabe, but it is tough going for him and slow. The psychology behind what he feels and how he deals with it - or doesn't deal with it - are accurate and presented well, making it a deeply character-driven story.

Gabe is a man Tate meets on his flight to Iceland, the first stop on his trip. He goes from a mere seat-companion to someone who takes the journey with Tate – in more than the physical sense. Gabe is very secretive about his job in “private security”, and finding out more about him as the story developed was part of the fun for me. There are a few secondary characters, but they only really come into play in the last third of the book. Gabe's friend Emory is particularly important - he is crucial to finding out what is going on in Tate's head. The various locations Tate visits also deserve mentioning as their descriptions made the story come alive for me. The sights, sounds, smells, the food Tate tries and enjoys, all combine into a very enjoyable picture – one that is a huge contrast to the simmering mystery and darkness inside him.

If you like character-driven stories with an excellent sense of mystery that explodes into impending doom toward the end, if you can deal with an emotional roller coaster where the psychology behind a man’s way of dealing with guilt plays a significant role, and if you’re looking for a read full of sadness, guilt, mental trauma, and an encouraging message of hope, then you will probably like this book as much as I did. I never expected the ending to be as perfect as it ended up being!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how to write a novella that doesn't skimp on the the character introspection or relationship development. A novella that is tough to read but totally worth it. I was invested from the first page.

[Morgan Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Spoilers)

I can’t really review this without giving away something that I think is obvious but might not be so – stop here if you don’t want to know what happens.




**




This is a very hard book to read. Tate’s headspace is so dark and confused that it’s difficult to be “with him” while he’s so conflicted. This was well done by the author.

I knew what (or suspected) his end game from the beginning and as such it was so painful to watch him develop a relationship with Gabriel knowing that he planned on ending his own life.

As a result, I was not as “behind” the relationship as I could have been – it felt wrong in a way – for him to be involving himself – at whatever level – given his level of depression. I found the two parts hard to reconcile – his steadfast determination to end his life and yet his desire to be “happy” with Gabriel… it was a hard place to be.

The writing was good and the underlying messages were good – I almost wish that it hadn’t been a romance… in a way I needed Tate to decide his life was worth living without Gabriel.

I really didn’t get Gabriel’s ability to walk away knowing what Tate planned but then be willing to fly back to Paris at the drop of a hat…I’d have thought he’d have fought harder – especially considering his back ground.

So while I think this was a well-written and interesting book, I’m not sure I really bonded with either MC very well, nor did I see much hope for them long term, simply because we didn’t get enough time with them past the sudden ending at Notre Dame. So… as a piece of fiction involving a gay man, I think this is a well-written book. As a romance it didn’t quite fulfill my needs.

3 of 5 stars

[Sara]

This book is much deeper than I expected. I am not sure how much to divulge in this review but the first page, hits you hard and really makes you sit down and take notice. It makes you take notice and it intrigues you to know more.

* * * TRIGGER WARNING * * *

See Warning under the spoiler tag

 I am not one who reads and thinks of situations in a book that could be problematic because for me, reading is subjective, but I am learning. I feel I need to state this as a trigger as it was VERY unexpected for me. This story deals with PTSD and the planning of a suicide. Though the actual subject of suicide is not revealed until you are about 80% into the book, it came at me out of nowhere and shocked me. I did not think that is where the story would go or how the PTSD would be dealt with and yet it’s there. It’s intense and the planning is talked about with the details - read with caution.


We meet Tate O’Reilly on an Icelandic shuttle headed toward the Blue Lagoon. Tate seems to be on a vacation but that’s not really what he is doing. Tate is on a quest, a quest to attempt to make things better through a primary motivator, if only he can. On this shuttle, he meets the handsome and ridiculously charming Gabriel Carillo who takes it upon himself to infuse himself into Tate’s day.

It was great how these two met. I liked that it was purely a “let me show you how cool this place is” to the men truly finding camaraderie with one another and wanting to explore that once they realize they are both headed to London and oh how sweet the flight to London was.  Sigh.

Tate and Gabriel are wonderful tour guides. Taking us through first to bits of Iceland and the gorgeous Blue Lagoon that it felt like we were there with them. From touristy sites in London, to Stonehenge and even a ride on the London Eye, we experience these places as the men do and learn about who Tate and Gabriel are, just as they do. I love this way of storytelling though there is something the reader knows ahead of time and it’s the why of Tate is on this trip.

“But I don’t think it’s the same thing—what you’ve done and what I did.”

“Probably not… But it’s all ghosts and skeletons that live in our closets, no matter how they got there.”

I felt for Tate. I cannot imagine the worst bad thing that has made him take this “vacation.” Each time the reason is mentioned, each beginning to each day,  each time the thinks to the Tumblr page and how it would have been posted seeing, The Globe in London or any other landmark, I got sick to my stomach. I wondered how he would be able to tell Gabriel his secret and when.

Gabriel, I love that he had an instant attraction to Tate yet he took his time with it. He found someone during his work travels that he wanted to spend time with and took the attraction at an instinctual pace with Tate and I LOVE that he was the first person Tate called when, well when things happened.

We get a glimpse into the worst bad thing Tate was involved in before each day of his trip. It outlines not only the tragedy but it details the aftermath. I again, don’t know how to tell you what happened and if I do tell you would it be a spoiler… which I believe it would… so I won’t BUT you get it immediately and just, goodness. So much hurt.

Gabriel, he is a mystery when we meet him and yet as his feelings grow for Tate over the short but emotionally intense days they share, we get into his past as well. There is SO MUCH dark and intense emotion in this book that I am truly at a loss to describe it but it’s all so beautifully written.

Guilt is a strange thing.  I’ve felt it dividing me from others, constantly leaving me separated from all those who don’t carry its weight. And then there it is, all of the sudden, connecting me to this stranger I’ve only know for a few days. And the connection is stronger than any I’ve felt in years.

This book really makes you think about guilt and the right to move passed it and on with your life. It focuses on loss of life, even by accident, that burdens someone so much that they don’t know how to move forward and when they do, IF they feel happy for a moment and forget the past… are the allowed to feel that way? Ugh. This was such an emotional read for me. It went to places I didn’t expect and while the end was swift, I thought it was handled well.

The Worst Bad Thing, as I mentioned is a pretty dark and emotional read but under all of it there is a light of hope. A hope that the worst bad thing could lead to the best good thing you’ve ever found, if only you allow it to happen.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this story in one sitting. After the first page, which grabs your attention, the story reads quite smoothly and transitions very well. For the most part, this was an easy read, even with the reason as to why Tate started his journey. It was later, when clues kept being sprinkled in, that I puzzled together Tate’s secret. I was holding my breath and hoping that Gabriel would be able to help Tate in the way he needed. As the ending got closer, I was definitely on the edge of my seat, knowing what Tate was planning, and didn’t realize I had worked myself up until the end, when I was finally able to relax and with a smile.

Tate’s journey takes you on a tourist ride, but JE Birk does a fabulous job with the descriptions and the ‘whys’ behind it. I felt like I was there with Tate, seeing what he was seeing and feeling. This story is told from Tate’s POV. His flashbacks to the event that started his whole reason for doing what he was going to do and through to the day before he got on the plane was perfectly placed and well thought out.

JE Birk did a fabulous job writing this story with Tate and Gabriel about depression, PTSD and suicide. Suicide is not a subject to laugh at. Even though I say this was an easy read, it is because similar to suicide, you do not realize someone may be having those thoughts until it is almost too late. This read seemed to follow that, in that you are reading along at a good pace before any signs appear and then it is almost over before it begins.

I would completely recommend this book to everyone. It really goes to show how people in your life may need the help and you are not even aware of it. If you could help one person like Tate who can take the “worst bad thing” in his life and find the “best good thing” in his life, wouldn’t that be perfect?

*I received this ARC to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.*

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well then. That one will be sticking with me for a while.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is deliberately constructed, and it's easy to see how thoughtful the author was and maybe hopes the reader will be about the story. It’s not necessarily heavy-handed, but the authorial hand gently guides us through . We are flipping between two times, the present/the now and a year or so ago/the before, mostly in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy that happens to/because of the main character Tate.

On the way to The Blue Lagoon the first day of his trip, he meets Gabriel, and learns that they are both traveling on to London. They fall into each other's orbit and keep making plans to hang out together the next day and the next, opening up to each other more and more, while we keep getting glimpses of what happened to Tate that fateful day. We know he feels monumentally guilty and feels especially bad when he starts to enjoy himself more and more.

The reason I say this felt like a story the whole time is that it was on this timeline that, while plausible, is compressed purposefully. The way everything comes together in the end is how the story has to go, and the writing bears it out . . . it isn’t out of left field, but it is clever and tidy in a way that is designed to satisfy. (If that sounds like I’m annoyed about that, I’m really not!)

I also enjoyed the London trip, having been to London several times. I think the only thing I’d say the book maybe should have done was establish in the book itself that this was written prior to (and therefore takes place before) the Notre Dame fire. There is an author’s note about when it was written, but you can’t rely on everyone to read those.

As I would hope with any book that deals with mental health issues and thoughts/plans of suicide, I felt like the author portrayed this aspect with sensitivity and left the reader knowing that there was more work to be done on that front after the happy(ish) ending. Tate has PTSD and a panic disorder, and isn’t going to magically be healed because he’s in a relationship. However, he is allowing someone to reach out and support him in a way he hasn’t before, so we are left in a very hopeful place. Recommended!

I received a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and these are my honest opinions.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tough read, so I'm having trouble with saying I "enjoyed" it, or was "happy" to come across it. In that way, it reminds me of Olive Juice by TJ Klune. I loved that book, but it wrecked me. The Worst Bad Thing didn't hit me quite like Olive Juice, but it kind of had that same melancholy feel.
I hope Tate is really able to truly forgive himself and lives a good life with Gabriel.

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under 3 star reviews you’ll find a review by Morgan. It so perfectly summed up everything I wanted to say that I’m referring you to her review. Sorry for the cop out, but this was a hard book to read and to talk about.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so gorgeous and emotional and HOPEFUL despite the premise. Don’t miss.

[DLB2572 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Painfully Good

This is a book that is going to stay with me for a bit. This chance meeting between Tate and Gabriel brings to the forefront so much pain that a few of the characters have been dealing with. It also allows for some of the necessary healing and comfort to begin. Definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings for this but it is definitely worth reading.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk
1) I devoured this book. It was a deeply emotional, touching story for me, with beautiful setting descriptions and main characters so real they seemed to jump from the pages. The 1st person present tense POV was perfect to convey Tate's desperation, his agony of mind and his slow, almost reluctant awakening. Also, the writing style with interspersed flashbacks added to the pace of the story and made it even more gripping the longer it went on, the closer it drew to revealing Tate's real reason for his road trip. This was both a beautiful love story and a thought-provoking parable about how one single moment, even a single whim can change lives and fates forever. I couldn't put it down.
2) This book was awesome!

[Evelyn220 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️I love the premise of this story—MC1 goes on a pilgrimage to Europe full of guilt and depression with the intent to take his own life—but the execution was just not good. The romance was flat and unbelievable and the big reveal at the end was not worth the wait.

[Mads A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy before release in exchange for a review.

Non-spoiler thoughts: I enjoyed this but I feel like it’s not your normal light read in terms of romance novels. Heed any warnings you see! I enjoy Gabriel’s character a lot, I just wish we could have his pov, which makes me kind of sad.
Trigger warnings: death (not of main characters), suicide ideation and near attempt, addiction and drug use (side character), depression, ptsd

Spoiler review:
I don’t normally go for books this sad and it was surprising to run into how angsty this was. As someone with suicidal ideation and issues similar to Tate, it was hard to read at certain points. I think this book is really good but I don’t think I could read it again.
I like Gabriel and his characterization. I do wish that, instead of rotating timeline povs we could have seen his pov. While I appreciate the creativity of timeline switching, it became kind of hard to read and made the book feel less like a romance to me.
Overall, i enjoyed this, but it’s a book that you have to be careful going into. I’m excited for future releases from this author!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5 Stars out of 5

A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review

For the full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-79N

From that review: "After much speculation and denial, it looks as though the rules and regulations for conducting science and chemical experiments within a classroom or lab will be revised due to the accident above and others like it, apparently far too many. The author herself said the story was prompted by one like it as well. That ruling will protect future students, teachers and yes, the schools themselves. We all are there for the many students hurt or killed in these accidents. Rightfully so. But maybe now, with a powerful story like The Worst Bad Thing by J.E. Birk, we will also remember the human being on the other side, the one hurting deeply as well. Remember that the reverberations and consequences fall both ways. And that redemption can follow the worst that can happen, and perhaps even love...."


For more of our reviews, author interviews, giveaways and such, visit us at http://ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords...

[Feliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just so... I'm pretty much at a loss for words. The term "crushing guilt" materialized in a story so touching my heart hurt just reading about Tate's struggles. What should have been - and was at times - blackest darkness and despair turned into the one tiny sliver of hope that made all the difference. This is in no way a "love solves all problems" kind of story, and yet the message I took away from this book was "love conquers all". Not necessarily romantic love, let alone sex, but the kind of love that encompasses your fellow man, the world and its beauty, and last but not least, yourself.

The writing was a big part of what made this book the haunting, beautiful reading experience it was for me. Only one new-to-me author struck me this deep on my first encounter with their work, and I'll certainly keep my eyes open for anything J.E. Birk is going to publish in the future.

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Worst Bad Thing” was originally published in 2015 but was recently re-released and I’m reviewing the revised edition. I have to start by saying that this one left me quite conflicted; it is a beautifully written story and being in Tate’s head was really an experience, but I had a hard time with how some things were handled towards the end of the book and I felt like the story didn’t quite reach its full potential.

The suspense was well done, as the reader knows that Tate did something that cost someone their life, and more clues are revealed as the story goes on and so the picture about what happened gets clearer. It’s dark, it’s heavily emotional and don’t take the trigger warnings lightly. I figured out quite early on where the story was going, so I wasn’t too shocked when it was revealed, but I can imagine it throwing some people for a spin.

Or actually, let me rephrase that, the characters' reactions to the revelation heavily shocked me. I don’t want to spoil anything but I found it really hard to believe Gabriel’s reactions and actions towards the end of the book and I strongly disliked how some of the heavier topics were handled here.

So even if the beginning of the book had a lot of promise - the suspense and mystery aspects kept my interest up and later on Gabriel added some curiosity to the mix, the story was a bit rushed towards the end and the end itself was very abrupt and just didn’t feel like enough to me. I also didn’t feel as if I got to know Gabriel enough, maybe because the PoV is entirely Tate’s and they only spend a limited amount of time together.

It was a very emotional story to read and it’s one I’ll carry with me for a while, but I really wish the last few chapters of the book would have been handled better.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to read in places but so worth it.

The Worst Bad Thing is only the second book I’ve read by J.E. Birk and I loved it. Please use the “look inside” option on Amazon to read the “Author’s Note” for trigger warnings. The story has darkness to it but the MCs get an HEA.

Something horrible happened that Tate feels responsible for. It changed his life and not in a good way. He embarks on a journey to honor the person who died and he meets Gabriel. They really hit it off but Tate is certain that he doesn’t deserve to have any happiness ever again. He finally opens up to Gabriel and they become closer.

I don’t know how to describe how this book made me feel. Yes, it was dark in places but it also was engaging and interesting – especially when the places that Tate visited were described so beautifully. The story flashes back and forth between present day and before. I’m not usually a fan of stories where the timeline goes back and forth but it totally worked for this one. I think part of the reason might be that the before scenes were brief, giving just enough information to keep me wondering and wanting to continue reading so that I would eventually get the whole picture.

I really do think that this was a beautifully written story but I also realize that it might not be for everyone. If after reading the “Author’s Note” you don’t find anything that would be a trigger for you, I highly recommend this book.

A copy of this book was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

[Sophie ARGINTARU · Rating 5 out of 5]

C’est une histoire singulière et bouleversante. Ce que j’ai particulièrement apprécié, c’est que l’auteur a visé haut, ne se laissant pas de place pour des compromissions. Je m’attendais presque à ce qu’elle « facilite » la romance en créant un coup de théâtre arrangeant le passé de Tate, mais heureusement que non. Que faire quand on ne peut surmonter l’irréparable ? Comment vivre avec un énorme poids de culpabilité ? J. E. Birk va entraîner le lecteur dans un road trip initiatique où l’on ne parlera pas seulement de rédemption, mais aussi de passion, de partages, de traumatismes, d’entraide, de deuil.

Gabriel est peut-être trop parfait (on se demande s’il a un défaut !) mais intelligemment, l’auteur n’en fait pas l’ange salvateur. C’est un homme, un soutien… mais Tate doit faire aussi sa part du chemin pour avancer. Il doit trouver les ressources nécessaires pour recouvrer la force et les capacités de lutter. Parallèlement, comme une bouffée d’oxygène dans cette atmosphère tragique où la mort rôde constamment, nous visitons ces lieux chargés d’Histoire. Cela équilibre l’ensemble, lui ôte aussi le pathos qui pourrait plomber ce récit.

Un roman très touchant, traité avec une sensibilité à fleur de peau qui sonne parfaitement juste !

[Chelsea Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Worst Bad Thing is a beautiful hurt/comfort story. Tate is on a mission to right his wrongs. He is taking a trip through Iceland, England and France. He feels that he cost someone their life and he deserves to pay for that mistake. This story does deal with some very dark themes. Even thought there is an HEA at the end there is a lot of tough issues Tate is struggling with through the whole book. While Tate is on this mission he meets Gabriel. Gabriel is very persistent in his perusing of Tate. Tate is very hard on himself insisting he must pay for what he has done. Gabriel tries to make Tate see that he knows what he is going through. He wants to show Tate that there is a way forward and there is a way to forgive himself. Their story sucked me in from the first chapter and it was so beautifully written. I loved this story so much and I highly recommend this book!

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

POV: 1st Person (Tate)

Standalone or series: Standalone

Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩

Would I read it again: Most definitely!

[Alison Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...so beautiful and so horrible...all the feels with this one. If you love a good angsty romance, this book will pull you apart and put you back together again in the best way. The Worst Bad Thing is easily one of my top books this year! Tate and Gabriel are some of the most real and relatable characters I have read. J.E. Birk has a way of creating characters you are able to identify with (even if you don't share any of their life experiences) and empathize with their struggles and achievements. While it seems silly to say that I loved this story given everything that happens to these characters, I do love the beautifully tragic journey Tate and Gabriel take, both together and individually, to their HEA. The final few chapters of this book are so intense but the ending was so perfect! The bonus epilogue is a must read and is free through the author's newsletter! I loved getting to see Tate and Gabriel's lives in the future and see just how much happiness they have brought each other after so much darkness in each of their lives. Absolutely one of the most well written books I have read in a while with beautiful characters and storylines!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Worst Bad Thing is an intense story that left me sitting a while after reading it. First, readers should realize that this story deals with suicidal thoughts and severe depression, and those triggers should definitely be considered before starting the book. That said, this is definitely worth the read if you enjoy hurt-comfort stories that delve into raw emotion after characters experience a tragic event.

Gabriel and Tate are likable characters who are drawn to one another on a trip across the world. Although Tate’s story was difficult and very sad, I found this story, in general, one that makes you think and reflect on the beauty of life. I liked the vulnerability of all the characters in The Worst Bad Thing, and I enjoyed how the story developed steadily, exposing more pieces to the past events that shaped Tate’s plans.

If you enjoy emotional stories that aren’t scared to delve into the deep and sometimes sad thoughts a person may have, The Worst Bad Thing is a very good read that will definitely stick with you.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Roger R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a haunting, raw, and a tearjerking read for me! I was not expecting how raw it would be! Honestly, I thought it would be a story about a guy traveling to different countries but I did not expect that there would be a very RAW reason for that. Such a very good read for me!

This raw story focuses on Tate, a man who was somewhat disfigured from a scientific experiment gone wrong in a high school classroom. He was a pretentious prick who wanted to impress his students by doing an experiment against his colleagues’ recommendation not to which resulted in an explosion that killed a student. Couple months after the explosion, Tate decided to travel to different places to pay homage to the student killed. This is where it becomes raw. The places he visits are the ones the students had on her bucket list. Tate happened to meet Gabriel on the traveling and they had a friendship going on which led to other things. The travel starts in Iceland and continues in Europe. That’s where I’ll stop because it becomes more raw and emotional later on. I had to brush my tears off at the end!

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was different and a nice change of pace. The story follows Tate as he travels in Europe. He's had a horrible thing happen and he's suffering from depression and PTSD due to his role in the accident. Along the way he meets Gabriel who is an ex-soldier who knows all about PTSD and guilt first hand.

The story is partly about them falling for each other but more about coming to peace with your mistakes and trying to move past depression and guilt. I thought the entire book was well written and I couldn't put it down once I started it. It's short and I thought the ending was a little rushed. That's really my only complaint though. I thought the author did a great job of world building. I felt like I was on their travels with them.

This is a more somber type of story. There's a bit of melancholy that hangs over it but it's still lovely and worth the read.

*If you have triggers in regards to panic attacks, depression etc you may want to skip this one.*

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tate and Gabe ❤️

4 Solid Stars 🌟


This was a truly beautiful journey to forgiving yourself, learning to live again and finding love along the way.

Ok, first thing first ...this was extremely heavy....if certain subject matters are off limits, please read the trigger warnings. This wasn't an easy read, I may have shed tears on several occasions however in order for Tate's story to be told we needed the ugly of it to truly understand....Tate is at an extremely low point in life and just by chance he's meets what turns out to be the balm for his soul...Gabe. I really adored Gabe, I loved how he was persistent and became the epitome of comfort and healing for Tate ❤️slowly but surely Gabe is able to break down Tate's walls to show him that he is worthy.....It wasn't an easy road to love for these guys but it was so worth the journey. I would recommend this book for sure.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a book like this one that proves that you can, indeed, have notable character and story development regardless of the number of pages. This isn't my first J.E. Birk read either, having read Dating Ryan Alback and Booklover in the past, so I know what this author is capable of. Dare I say that The Worst Bad Thing is just about the best good thing I've read from Birk. I've enjoyed my previous reads from her, but this novella is, hands down, is my favorite. It isn't an easy read, particularly when we see what happened a year ago via the flashbacks. Both Tate and Gabriel were remarkable main characters, but I need to note that the supporting cast left quite an impression on me as well. I never got to read the original edition of this book, so I cannot compare it with this one, but either way, The Worst Bad Thing is a five-star read.