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Believing Rory
Will Rory bring them together or stand between them?
Eighteen-year-old Lane Graham has always relied on his braver, more confident buddy, Rory. But Rory’s sudden suicide blindsides Lane and sends him into an emotional tailspin. How’s he supposed to start college in a few months feeling this damaged?
Baron MacDonald knew Rory from playing League of Legends together. He was always intrigued by Lane’s online presence, and Rory had promised to set them up. Now that Rory’s gone, Baron has to approach Lane on his own.
On the surface, Baron and Lane couldn’t seem more different. Baron is confident and serious, and Lane is guarded and uncertain. But it’s the pain beneath the flesh that binds these two souls together like barbed wire and cement.
Eighteen-year-old Lane Graham has always relied on his braver, more confident buddy, Rory. But Rory’s sudden suicide blindsides Lane and sends him into an emotional tailspin. How’s he supposed to start college in a few months feeling this damaged?
Baron MacDonald knew Rory from playing League of Legends together. He was always intrigued by Lane’s online presence, and Rory had promised to set them up. Now that Rory’s gone, Baron has to approach Lane on his own.
On the surface, Baron and Lane couldn’t seem more different. Baron is confident and serious, and Lane is guarded and uncertain. But it’s the pain beneath the flesh that binds these two souls together like barbed wire and cement.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2016
9 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Wynne
62 books588 followersS.C. Wynne is a Lambda Award-winning author for Gay Romance. S.C. started writing m/m romance and mystery in 2013. Her characters are usually a little jaded, funny, and ultimately redeemed through love.
If you’d like to contact S.C. Wynne she'd love to hear from you. You can contact her at scwynne@scwynne.com
If you’d like to contact S.C. Wynne she'd love to hear from you. You can contact her at scwynne@scwynne.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 24, 2018
This is a very deep and emotional story. I do not recommend this for those sensitive to suicide themes or rape.
Wow. I can't believe how well this was written. I think this is my first by Wynne and it won't be my last. Baron and Lane meet under the saddest of circumstances, but as sad as it is I felt they needed to meet then. They were both going thru something that was painful and pushing them to their dark places and they helped each other.
The end of the story does close with our MCs together, but it felt like their story wasn't over. I don't think either of them will never think of suicide again. It just doesn't turn off like that. And Baron and his father still need to work thru their differences. But I think Baron and Lane have finally found a place where they can finally trust the other and be happy. They will have their struggles I am sure, but if they hold true to their promises of never keeping secrets, they will be ok.
As I said at the beginning, if you are sensitive to rape and suicide, this may not be the book for you. But if you are ok with reading drama and angst, I do recommend this and know that there is an HEA, well HFN since they are only 18. :)
Wow. I can't believe how well this was written. I think this is my first by Wynne and it won't be my last. Baron and Lane meet under the saddest of circumstances, but as sad as it is I felt they needed to meet then. They were both going thru something that was painful and pushing them to their dark places and they helped each other.
The end of the story does close with our MCs together, but it felt like their story wasn't over. I don't think either of them will never think of suicide again. It just doesn't turn off like that. And Baron and his father still need to work thru their differences. But I think Baron and Lane have finally found a place where they can finally trust the other and be happy. They will have their struggles I am sure, but if they hold true to their promises of never keeping secrets, they will be ok.
As I said at the beginning, if you are sensitive to rape and suicide, this may not be the book for you. But if you are ok with reading drama and angst, I do recommend this and know that there is an HEA, well HFN since they are only 18. :)
April 29, 2016
***Trigger Warnings: Suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, mention of past sexual abuse.***
I had a hard time collecting my thoughts about this one, mainly because there were things I absolutely loved about the story, and things that left me very unimpressed. I have enjoyed books by this author before and if I had to rate the book solely on the very first part where Lane’s emotions after Rory’s passing are in the forefront, I would give the book a solid 5-star rating. Alas, the mess that followed would drop my rating to 1-1.5 stars. So, 3 stars is a good compromise.
This book deals with suicide in a very real, intense way. As the blurb says, Lane was devastated after his best friend’s suicide. So, of course, there’s a lot of page time devoted to Lane reflecting on his time with Rory and the pain of not realising how desperate Rory must have felt to end his life. But it does not end there. Suicide, in this story, is not just addressed as a horrible, hurtful thing that happened to someone else. Lane did not get affected by suicide by proxy. He was suicidal himself in the past. Baron, Rory’s online friend who met Lane at Rory’s funeral, was also suicidal.
Suicidality is very much a living, breathing thing in this story and completely in your face.
To Baron and Lane, continuing to live is an everyday struggle and a conscious choice that has to be made almost daily. It’s here in the present. This is even more highlighted with the very blunt and to the point way of thinking that we’re subjected to in Lane’s head. I was very impressed by his internal monologue. Yes, he sounded depressed and hopeless but his awkward, almost antisocial personality came through 100%.
The writing created a very heavy, depressing atmosphere that really put me down and I struggled to keep reading because of how intense and heart-breaking some of the scenes were.
But then the story lost focus entirely. Lane and Baron developed a relationship and the book was all about the drama. I can’t say I’ve missed reading about teenage angst. And I’m not referring to their respective personal issues. I’m talking about petty jealousy, drunken fights, breaking up, making up, miscommunication, and the cherry on the pie: how dare you go to college on the other side of the country? Don’t you love meeeeeeeeee?
This wasn’t a quote from the book but that’s the gist of what their fights were about. And there went a huge part of the book, describing a disastrous meeting of the parents, more petty fights, some sex scenes, and too much stuff that could have been edited out.
Some of Baron’s issues became the forefront again, towards the end, like something forgotten, a loose end that needed to be tied. The godforsaken separation for college ensued and a good 10+% was just Lane in college. Lane with his roommate getting to know each other. Lane at a karaoke. I wanted to yell “This isn’t supposed to be what the story is about! Why I am reading pages and pages of this?”
The HFN was predictable. My disappointment mainly stems from the fact that the book dealt with serious issues that got lost in the haze of teenage antics. And yes, real life is messy, it’s not outlined and planned beforehand so everything can happen at the right pace and at the right time. Life throws you curve balls and you just deal. What happened here was that a bunch of fantastic, brilliant ideas got by the wayside because the book couldn't decide what it was going to be when it grew up. And that’s a damn shame.
Heed the warnings and read with caution. Like I said, there were parts I found absolutely stunning and parts where the characters sounded and acted like 12 year olds. This book can be heart-breakingly beautiful and entirely annoying in equal measure. But for the really good parts in the beginning, this is a story that deserves to be read.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. See this review at Gay Book Reviews.
I had a hard time collecting my thoughts about this one, mainly because there were things I absolutely loved about the story, and things that left me very unimpressed. I have enjoyed books by this author before and if I had to rate the book solely on the very first part where Lane’s emotions after Rory’s passing are in the forefront, I would give the book a solid 5-star rating. Alas, the mess that followed would drop my rating to 1-1.5 stars. So, 3 stars is a good compromise.
This book deals with suicide in a very real, intense way. As the blurb says, Lane was devastated after his best friend’s suicide. So, of course, there’s a lot of page time devoted to Lane reflecting on his time with Rory and the pain of not realising how desperate Rory must have felt to end his life. But it does not end there. Suicide, in this story, is not just addressed as a horrible, hurtful thing that happened to someone else. Lane did not get affected by suicide by proxy. He was suicidal himself in the past. Baron, Rory’s online friend who met Lane at Rory’s funeral, was also suicidal.
Suicidality is very much a living, breathing thing in this story and completely in your face.
To Baron and Lane, continuing to live is an everyday struggle and a conscious choice that has to be made almost daily. It’s here in the present. This is even more highlighted with the very blunt and to the point way of thinking that we’re subjected to in Lane’s head. I was very impressed by his internal monologue. Yes, he sounded depressed and hopeless but his awkward, almost antisocial personality came through 100%.
The writing created a very heavy, depressing atmosphere that really put me down and I struggled to keep reading because of how intense and heart-breaking some of the scenes were.
But then the story lost focus entirely. Lane and Baron developed a relationship and the book was all about the drama. I can’t say I’ve missed reading about teenage angst. And I’m not referring to their respective personal issues. I’m talking about petty jealousy, drunken fights, breaking up, making up, miscommunication, and the cherry on the pie: how dare you go to college on the other side of the country? Don’t you love meeeeeeeeee?
This wasn’t a quote from the book but that’s the gist of what their fights were about. And there went a huge part of the book, describing a disastrous meeting of the parents, more petty fights, some sex scenes, and too much stuff that could have been edited out.
Some of Baron’s issues became the forefront again, towards the end, like something forgotten, a loose end that needed to be tied. The godforsaken separation for college ensued and a good 10+% was just Lane in college. Lane with his roommate getting to know each other. Lane at a karaoke. I wanted to yell “This isn’t supposed to be what the story is about! Why I am reading pages and pages of this?”
The HFN was predictable. My disappointment mainly stems from the fact that the book dealt with serious issues that got lost in the haze of teenage antics. And yes, real life is messy, it’s not outlined and planned beforehand so everything can happen at the right pace and at the right time. Life throws you curve balls and you just deal. What happened here was that a bunch of fantastic, brilliant ideas got by the wayside because the book couldn't decide what it was going to be when it grew up. And that’s a damn shame.
Heed the warnings and read with caution. Like I said, there were parts I found absolutely stunning and parts where the characters sounded and acted like 12 year olds. This book can be heart-breakingly beautiful and entirely annoying in equal measure. But for the really good parts in the beginning, this is a story that deserves to be read.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. See this review at Gay Book Reviews.
April 29, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
This is a story that will rip your heart out within the first few pages and keep squeezing until there is almost nothing left to get out of it before slowly bringing it back to life. I will warn readers that this is not an easy read because it does deal with some serious issues – depression, suicide, and childhood molestation and rape. The raw emotions in this book gave the story an authentic feel.
Though we don’t actually meet Rory in this story, his memory is very much alive as both Lane and Baron struggle with their own issues of depression and suicidal thoughts. For some reason, Rory’s wish was for Lane and Baron to meet one another – unfortunately it took his death for this to happen.
Lane is the more shy and timid of the characters. He has always seen his best friend, Rory, as being the one to protect him. When Rory commits suicide, Lane thinks he is lost without his friend, but it takes the death of his friend for him to realize that he is stronger than he gives himself credit for. It will break your heart watching Lane come to terms with his anger, hurt, and sadness over his friend’s death and his own realization of how his own issues with depression and suicide affected those around him.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
This is a story that will rip your heart out within the first few pages and keep squeezing until there is almost nothing left to get out of it before slowly bringing it back to life. I will warn readers that this is not an easy read because it does deal with some serious issues – depression, suicide, and childhood molestation and rape. The raw emotions in this book gave the story an authentic feel.
Though we don’t actually meet Rory in this story, his memory is very much alive as both Lane and Baron struggle with their own issues of depression and suicidal thoughts. For some reason, Rory’s wish was for Lane and Baron to meet one another – unfortunately it took his death for this to happen.
Lane is the more shy and timid of the characters. He has always seen his best friend, Rory, as being the one to protect him. When Rory commits suicide, Lane thinks he is lost without his friend, but it takes the death of his friend for him to realize that he is stronger than he gives himself credit for. It will break your heart watching Lane come to terms with his anger, hurt, and sadness over his friend’s death and his own realization of how his own issues with depression and suicide affected those around him.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
May 16, 2016
Reviewed for From Top to Bottom Reviews.
Trigger Warnings:
- Suicidal thoughts,
- suicide attempts
- mention of sexual abuse.
After reading the blurb I was prepared for a book that isn't fluffy and all hearts and roses. But what the blurb doesn't tell you, and I only saw it mentioned in ONE review, is that Lane and Baron are suicidal too. And it should have been mentioned somewhere! So if any of the above mentioned themes are triggery for you, don't read the book.
It took me a while to figure out how to write this review, because Believing Rory isn't an easy book and I'm not sure if I really liked it or not.
What I liked about it was that the book portrays depression in a real and gripping way. Nothing is glossed over or softened to make it easier. The writing is raw and real and painful. It shows that depression is an everyday struggle. That one day you can feel almost "normal" and the next day you don't know how to go on.
But then somewhere along the way the author focused more on stupid fights and jealousy; things that seemed so unimportant, until almost to the end of the book when Baron's issues came to the forefront again like she remembered that she needed to tie that up before the book was over.
I understand that both protags are teenagers and they're supposed to react that way but come on! It was just too much drama. And I had expected more after the first half of the book.
And why the hell didn't Lane's mum make him go to a psychiatrist? He's tried to kill himself before, then his best friend commits suicide and his mom doesn't make him go and see someone professional? I just can't believe that and it seems so unrealistic! And don't get me started on the whole thing that love makes them feel better and they just need to be together..
This one had a lot of potential but sadly fell short for me.
Trigger Warnings:
- Suicidal thoughts,
- suicide attempts
- mention of sexual abuse.
After reading the blurb I was prepared for a book that isn't fluffy and all hearts and roses. But what the blurb doesn't tell you, and I only saw it mentioned in ONE review, is that Lane and Baron are suicidal too. And it should have been mentioned somewhere! So if any of the above mentioned themes are triggery for you, don't read the book.
It took me a while to figure out how to write this review, because Believing Rory isn't an easy book and I'm not sure if I really liked it or not.
What I liked about it was that the book portrays depression in a real and gripping way. Nothing is glossed over or softened to make it easier. The writing is raw and real and painful. It shows that depression is an everyday struggle. That one day you can feel almost "normal" and the next day you don't know how to go on.
But then somewhere along the way the author focused more on stupid fights and jealousy; things that seemed so unimportant, until almost to the end of the book when Baron's issues came to the forefront again like she remembered that she needed to tie that up before the book was over.
I understand that both protags are teenagers and they're supposed to react that way but come on! It was just too much drama. And I had expected more after the first half of the book.
And why the hell didn't Lane's mum make him go to a psychiatrist? He's tried to kill himself before, then his best friend commits suicide and his mom doesn't make him go and see someone professional? I just can't believe that and it seems so unrealistic! And don't get me started on the whole thing that love makes them feel better and they just need to be together..
This one had a lot of potential but sadly fell short for me.
April 29, 2016
4.75 gorgeous, heartbreaking, gritty stars. I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. It made me cry and smile in equal parts. I love the way it was handled. Suicide is a terrible thing that has rippling effects. This book didn't gloss over any of the hard facts of suicide. There was no insta-love or magic grief cure and I loved the way the author handled the entire situation. It was an amazing book that I will never forget.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2016
A beautiful emotional story.
December 11, 2016
Loved, loved, loved this book!
May 8, 2016
Title:Believing Rory
Author:S.C. Wynne
Publisher:Dreamspinner Press
Reviewer:Melissa
Release Date:April 29, 2016
Genre(s):M/M Romance
Page Count:200
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Review:
“He kisses my wrist softly and then asks, ‘Doesn’t it feel like we’ve known each other forever?’”
5 believe in me stars!!! Emotional and powerful!!
When Lane’s best friend, Rory, commits suicide it sends him over the edge. His world comes to a screeching halt right before he starts his new life in college. How is he supposed to do this? Baron was a friend of Rory, and he was supposed to hook Baron up with Lane, but now that Rory is gone, Baron has to approach Lane on his own. But with Baron and Lane opposites definitely attract. While reeling with pain, these two end up connecting on different levels, but it’s definitely emotional and beautiful!
Such an emotional book, it deals with traumatic experiences and it’s so well told! Your heart will be squeezed out of your chest! There’s no way this book won’t touch you on some level!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club
Author:S.C. Wynne
Publisher:Dreamspinner Press
Reviewer:Melissa
Release Date:April 29, 2016
Genre(s):M/M Romance
Page Count:200
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Blurb:
Will Rory bring them together or stand between them?
Eighteen-year-old Lane Graham has always relied on his braver, more confident buddy, Rory. But Rory’s sudden suicide blindsides Lane and sends him into an emotional tailspin. How’s he supposed to start college in a few months feeling this damaged?
Baron MacDonald knew Rory from playing League of Legends together. He was always intrigued by Lane’s online presence, and Rory had promised to set them up. Now that Rory’s gone, Baron has to approach Lane on his own.
On the surface, Baron and Lane couldn’t seem more different. Baron is confident and serious, and Lane is guarded and uncertain. But it’s the pain beneath the flesh that binds these two souls together like barbed wire and cement.
Review:
“He kisses my wrist softly and then asks, ‘Doesn’t it feel like we’ve known each other forever?’”
5 believe in me stars!!! Emotional and powerful!!
When Lane’s best friend, Rory, commits suicide it sends him over the edge. His world comes to a screeching halt right before he starts his new life in college. How is he supposed to do this? Baron was a friend of Rory, and he was supposed to hook Baron up with Lane, but now that Rory is gone, Baron has to approach Lane on his own. But with Baron and Lane opposites definitely attract. While reeling with pain, these two end up connecting on different levels, but it’s definitely emotional and beautiful!
Such an emotional book, it deals with traumatic experiences and it’s so well told! Your heart will be squeezed out of your chest! There’s no way this book won’t touch you on some level!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from Alpha Book Club
July 1, 2016
Lane is in his last days of high school when his best friend, Rory, kills himself. He had no idea and the loss of his friend is only a little worse than the feeling that he didn’t really know him or the feeling that he couldn’t save him.
At the funeral for Rory Lane meets Baron. Baron and Lane and Rory all attended the same high school but Lane has never met Baron. Baron knew Rory through an on-line game and had asked Rory to set him up on a date with Lane because Lane intrigued him. Before Rory could do that, he died.
Though Lane is immensely leery, he agrees to meet and talk with Baron. After hearing Baron’s own attempt at suicide and why, Lane feels a bond with him and they begin as friends.
But… Baron has plans to move across the country for college in a few months and Lane is not stable enough emotionally to have yet another person he loves leave him, so he does everything he can to give Baron the brush off. But… Baron’s current crisis calls to him and he can’t leave Baron alone to deal with it.
**
I’m having a hard time evaluating this. For one, it’s a young adult/new adult title and that kinda gives it different rules. So… if you put it in that category I think it really does a great job of speaking to that age group about pain, loss, suicide and the bonds of friendship.
As a romance, it’s kind of all over the place. The boys are dealing with SO MUCH that the romance – though vital – is sort of secondary to the entire story line.
I found it easy to fall into and was captivated to keep reading in one sitting. I really liked Lane and though I knew him less well, Baron was intriguing, too.
I guess I wanted their story to go beyond the summer they got together so I could see them heal and see them as a functioning couple for longer. It left me just a little dissatisfied with where they left off.
I was also scratching my head at Rory. Part of the whole thing is that nobody saw it coming but we never even really get to speculate why he killed himself and that bugged me.
But… I think the book really did a good job of representing some of the anguish and pain surrounding suicide and I appreciated how honest these young men were with one another in handling their emotions.
So, overall, I think this is a good book if you’re in the mind-set of a young adult/new adult novel. It’s chock full of angst but brimming with hope and young love.
4 of 5 stars
At the funeral for Rory Lane meets Baron. Baron and Lane and Rory all attended the same high school but Lane has never met Baron. Baron knew Rory through an on-line game and had asked Rory to set him up on a date with Lane because Lane intrigued him. Before Rory could do that, he died.
Though Lane is immensely leery, he agrees to meet and talk with Baron. After hearing Baron’s own attempt at suicide and why, Lane feels a bond with him and they begin as friends.
But… Baron has plans to move across the country for college in a few months and Lane is not stable enough emotionally to have yet another person he loves leave him, so he does everything he can to give Baron the brush off. But… Baron’s current crisis calls to him and he can’t leave Baron alone to deal with it.
**
I’m having a hard time evaluating this. For one, it’s a young adult/new adult title and that kinda gives it different rules. So… if you put it in that category I think it really does a great job of speaking to that age group about pain, loss, suicide and the bonds of friendship.
As a romance, it’s kind of all over the place. The boys are dealing with SO MUCH that the romance – though vital – is sort of secondary to the entire story line.
I found it easy to fall into and was captivated to keep reading in one sitting. I really liked Lane and though I knew him less well, Baron was intriguing, too.
I guess I wanted their story to go beyond the summer they got together so I could see them heal and see them as a functioning couple for longer. It left me just a little dissatisfied with where they left off.
I was also scratching my head at Rory. Part of the whole thing is that nobody saw it coming but we never even really get to speculate why he killed himself and that bugged me.
But… I think the book really did a good job of representing some of the anguish and pain surrounding suicide and I appreciated how honest these young men were with one another in handling their emotions.
So, overall, I think this is a good book if you’re in the mind-set of a young adult/new adult novel. It’s chock full of angst but brimming with hope and young love.
4 of 5 stars
April 6, 2016
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
So...I am not a reader that is usually interested in school age/coming of age type of stories. But when one of my favorite authors, S. C. Wynne wrote this book, I knew I wanted to read it, no matter the storyline. And I was most certainly not disappointed.
This book is full of the angst of the normal teenage growing pains of several characters who are on the cusp of graduation from high school, in preparation for the road to college, including the 2 MCs, eighteen year olds Lane and Baron. They do not know each other, but are unknowingly connected by their friend Rory, who knew each of them.
When Rory commits suicide, it is a terrible shock to his best friend, Lane, who had no idea that Rory was in the frame of mind to take such a permanent, irrevocable step. He is drowning in loss, misery and loneliness, and when he sees the tall, blond young man across from him at Rory's funeral, he doesn't understand why the guy seems intent on him, as if he knows him.
When he approaches Lane and introduces himself as Baron, explaining to Lane that he knew Rory from playing an online game that Lane played as well, Lane recognizes the young man's screenname and that opens up a dialogue with them.
Finding out that Baron had previously asked Rory to introduce him to Lane throws Lane into confusion, as he has no idea why such a put together, rich looking guy would want to know him in the first place.
As the relationship progresses towards friendship, they find out that they both have had brushes with attempted suicides in the past, each for very different reasons, with very different triggers. In some ways that draws them together but pushes them apart at the same time.
What follows is a flawed but beautiful struggle towards finding that one person who understands the person inside and then the journey to allow them into the inner santum of the heart. This is a story of learning how to trust in someone again when trust has been ripped away in the most damaging way possible. It is a story of relearning self worth by understanding that someone else sees something worth knowing, worth loving.
This book is well worth the time and the price.
It would be worth a read at any price.
Well Done, Ms. Wynne, you have another winner on your hands.
So...I am not a reader that is usually interested in school age/coming of age type of stories. But when one of my favorite authors, S. C. Wynne wrote this book, I knew I wanted to read it, no matter the storyline. And I was most certainly not disappointed.
This book is full of the angst of the normal teenage growing pains of several characters who are on the cusp of graduation from high school, in preparation for the road to college, including the 2 MCs, eighteen year olds Lane and Baron. They do not know each other, but are unknowingly connected by their friend Rory, who knew each of them.
When Rory commits suicide, it is a terrible shock to his best friend, Lane, who had no idea that Rory was in the frame of mind to take such a permanent, irrevocable step. He is drowning in loss, misery and loneliness, and when he sees the tall, blond young man across from him at Rory's funeral, he doesn't understand why the guy seems intent on him, as if he knows him.
When he approaches Lane and introduces himself as Baron, explaining to Lane that he knew Rory from playing an online game that Lane played as well, Lane recognizes the young man's screenname and that opens up a dialogue with them.
Finding out that Baron had previously asked Rory to introduce him to Lane throws Lane into confusion, as he has no idea why such a put together, rich looking guy would want to know him in the first place.
As the relationship progresses towards friendship, they find out that they both have had brushes with attempted suicides in the past, each for very different reasons, with very different triggers. In some ways that draws them together but pushes them apart at the same time.
What follows is a flawed but beautiful struggle towards finding that one person who understands the person inside and then the journey to allow them into the inner santum of the heart. This is a story of learning how to trust in someone again when trust has been ripped away in the most damaging way possible. It is a story of relearning self worth by understanding that someone else sees something worth knowing, worth loving.
This book is well worth the time and the price.
It would be worth a read at any price.
Well Done, Ms. Wynne, you have another winner on your hands.
April 28, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
This book started off so great. Within the first 5 minutes I had tears in my eyes and had to stop reading in public for fear of having people see my ugly cry face. Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide right before the story starts, and we see Lane trying to figure out how to cope and move forward. Lane was a quiet and shy person who only really let Rory in. As the story goes on, we find out about things Rory did without Lane knowing about or hid from Lane, and Lane struggles with how much he can’t believe Rory. The most important person in the world lied to him and kept things from him, and Lane struggled with believing anything anyone said to him.
Baron had become friends with Rory. He knew who Lane was and wanted to get to know him, and Rory was supposed to introduce them. Baron had a troubled past (sexual abuse) and previously attempted suicide. Lane also had issues with depression and suicidal attempt, so they had a lot in common when they got to know each other. Lane was very hesitant and afraid. They ended up with a very special connection, though. The boys were young (just turned 18 and getting ready to leave for college), so there was a bit of uncertainty for where the future would bring them. It wasn’t an easy road navigating the emotions and doubt and trauma from the past, but it was very well written. I thought all of the emotion portrayed was believable and honest. I thought the path the story took made so much sense, and they worked through so much together that I could imagine the two of them sitting side by side 50 years later.
I loved how the emotions that were written for Lane and Baron were not glossed over. Suicide is not an easy topic, and often people talk about the depression and sadness, but Lane went through his anger and it was refreshing to see. The emotions were written so well, and I was able to feel for both boys so deeply. Great story.
This book started off so great. Within the first 5 minutes I had tears in my eyes and had to stop reading in public for fear of having people see my ugly cry face. Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide right before the story starts, and we see Lane trying to figure out how to cope and move forward. Lane was a quiet and shy person who only really let Rory in. As the story goes on, we find out about things Rory did without Lane knowing about or hid from Lane, and Lane struggles with how much he can’t believe Rory. The most important person in the world lied to him and kept things from him, and Lane struggled with believing anything anyone said to him.
Baron had become friends with Rory. He knew who Lane was and wanted to get to know him, and Rory was supposed to introduce them. Baron had a troubled past (sexual abuse) and previously attempted suicide. Lane also had issues with depression and suicidal attempt, so they had a lot in common when they got to know each other. Lane was very hesitant and afraid. They ended up with a very special connection, though. The boys were young (just turned 18 and getting ready to leave for college), so there was a bit of uncertainty for where the future would bring them. It wasn’t an easy road navigating the emotions and doubt and trauma from the past, but it was very well written. I thought all of the emotion portrayed was believable and honest. I thought the path the story took made so much sense, and they worked through so much together that I could imagine the two of them sitting side by side 50 years later.
I loved how the emotions that were written for Lane and Baron were not glossed over. Suicide is not an easy topic, and often people talk about the depression and sadness, but Lane went through his anger and it was refreshing to see. The emotions were written so well, and I was able to feel for both boys so deeply. Great story.
April 29, 2016
Reviewed by Brandyjo Newton for QUEERcentric Books
I just finished another all nighter, being kept awake by S.C. Wynne’s Believing Rory. I thought, I’ll start it tonight and then sleep and enjoy reading the rest while drinking the delicious nectar of coffee.
Nope, that so did not go as planned. I started reading and next thing I knew it was three o’clock in the morning and I had THE FEELS!
STRUGGLING WITH HIS BEST FRIEND’S DEATH
Lane, who just lost his best friend to suicide is struggling with his best friend’s death, trying to figure out how he missed the signs. Having attempted suicide himself a few years before, he sees now how he hurt those around him. Rory was the only friend Lane really had, being an introvert, Lane pretty much kept to himself.
BOTH HAVING A DARK PAST, THEY GREW CLOSER
At the funeral Lane meets Baron. Baron is not at all what Lane thinks upon first meeting him and the two of them become close. Both having a dark past, they grew closer even while experiencing a few bumps in the road, and a few fights, but it was so well written, it didn’t come off as cliche or too over the top.
A BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT SURVIVORS LEFT BEHIND BY SUICIDE
A beautiful story about survivors left behind by suicide, this book was incredibly insightful. A well deserved 5-stars for opening that door and shedding light onto what people really think and feel after someone they love has chosen to take their own lives.
It was no holds barred, and really as a reader, you are presented with two perspectives to look at. What happens to the people left behind, and what happens in a family after an attempt has been made.
I look forward to adding many more of S.C. Wynnes books to my TBR list for future reads!
I just finished another all nighter, being kept awake by S.C. Wynne’s Believing Rory. I thought, I’ll start it tonight and then sleep and enjoy reading the rest while drinking the delicious nectar of coffee.
Nope, that so did not go as planned. I started reading and next thing I knew it was three o’clock in the morning and I had THE FEELS!
STRUGGLING WITH HIS BEST FRIEND’S DEATH
Lane, who just lost his best friend to suicide is struggling with his best friend’s death, trying to figure out how he missed the signs. Having attempted suicide himself a few years before, he sees now how he hurt those around him. Rory was the only friend Lane really had, being an introvert, Lane pretty much kept to himself.
BOTH HAVING A DARK PAST, THEY GREW CLOSER
At the funeral Lane meets Baron. Baron is not at all what Lane thinks upon first meeting him and the two of them become close. Both having a dark past, they grew closer even while experiencing a few bumps in the road, and a few fights, but it was so well written, it didn’t come off as cliche or too over the top.
A BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT SURVIVORS LEFT BEHIND BY SUICIDE
A beautiful story about survivors left behind by suicide, this book was incredibly insightful. A well deserved 5-stars for opening that door and shedding light onto what people really think and feel after someone they love has chosen to take their own lives.
It was no holds barred, and really as a reader, you are presented with two perspectives to look at. What happens to the people left behind, and what happens in a family after an attempt has been made.
I look forward to adding many more of S.C. Wynnes books to my TBR list for future reads!
April 29, 2016
4.5 stars
I do so enjoy my SC Wynne books. Well written with great characters and sweet romance, they are usually just what the doctor ordered: a pick-me-up after one of my gut wrenching reads. I've often wondered how this author would do with a more angsty book. Well, I wonder no more.
SC Wynne has outdone herself. Suicide is far from an easy topic to read and/or write about but she has more than done it justice. While Rory does have a significant role to play, this story is less about the act he committed and more about its repercussions - how it affects the two MCs.
Lane and Baron are multi-layered characters that evoke emotion and make you care, even when they are doing what teenagers do best - screwing up. They drove me crazy. I loved them, I got annoyed at them, but mostly I couldn't get enough of them and oh, my goodness, did I want them to get their happy! I loved learning who Rory was through their eyes, loved that in his departure he brought them together.
Lane and Baron, their journey, their friendship and their love were very honest, real, and believable. With happy, sad and angsty moments, this was a nonstop read for me - from start to finish. These two puzzle pieces of MCs, far from perfect individually, were perfect together, and perfect for me.
Hands down the best book that I have read from this author, and one I easily recommend.
**Received an ARC from author for honest review**
I do so enjoy my SC Wynne books. Well written with great characters and sweet romance, they are usually just what the doctor ordered: a pick-me-up after one of my gut wrenching reads. I've often wondered how this author would do with a more angsty book. Well, I wonder no more.
SC Wynne has outdone herself. Suicide is far from an easy topic to read and/or write about but she has more than done it justice. While Rory does have a significant role to play, this story is less about the act he committed and more about its repercussions - how it affects the two MCs.
Lane and Baron are multi-layered characters that evoke emotion and make you care, even when they are doing what teenagers do best - screwing up. They drove me crazy. I loved them, I got annoyed at them, but mostly I couldn't get enough of them and oh, my goodness, did I want them to get their happy! I loved learning who Rory was through their eyes, loved that in his departure he brought them together.
Lane and Baron, their journey, their friendship and their love were very honest, real, and believable. With happy, sad and angsty moments, this was a nonstop read for me - from start to finish. These two puzzle pieces of MCs, far from perfect individually, were perfect together, and perfect for me.
Hands down the best book that I have read from this author, and one I easily recommend.
**Received an ARC from author for honest review**
April 29, 2016
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. I’ve started shying away from books with such young characters. I’m glad I didn’t miss this one. The writing is really good…I felt every emotion these characters felt. The story is heavy…very heavy. Not only are these kids dealing with the normal coming-of-age stressors, they are dealing with suicide and a couple other bad situations that I don’t want to give away.
Both characters suffer from depression. Lane completely lacks self-confidence. Baron seems so confident at times and so broken at others. They feed off each other and become strong for each other when one of them is feeling weak. They balance each other perfectly and their two halves make a whole.
I hope we get more of their story…I so want to see where life takes them.
This is an absolute must read, even if you typically don't like NA books...
Both characters suffer from depression. Lane completely lacks self-confidence. Baron seems so confident at times and so broken at others. They feed off each other and become strong for each other when one of them is feeling weak. They balance each other perfectly and their two halves make a whole.
I hope we get more of their story…I so want to see where life takes them.
This is an absolute must read, even if you typically don't like NA books...
September 14, 2019
A beautiful emotionally charged story!
Warning: Triggers - Suicide/Depression/Rape
Believing Rory was very well written and at time difficult to get through. I found my emotions going all over the place throughout this book. You may want to prepare yourself and grab a box of tissues. It's a story that touches on suicide, depression and low self-esteem. The characters in this book are struggling through that. And there are also those that are left behind, the parents, the siblings and the friends. Lane and Baron made a wonderful team in battling all of what life threw at them, including their own suicidal thoughts/intentions, depression and rape and together they found the strength in each other to continue to live and love and be happy.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest review! And please remember, there IS someone out there who cares and will listen and help.
Warning: Triggers - Suicide/Depression/Rape
Believing Rory was very well written and at time difficult to get through. I found my emotions going all over the place throughout this book. You may want to prepare yourself and grab a box of tissues. It's a story that touches on suicide, depression and low self-esteem. The characters in this book are struggling through that. And there are also those that are left behind, the parents, the siblings and the friends. Lane and Baron made a wonderful team in battling all of what life threw at them, including their own suicidal thoughts/intentions, depression and rape and together they found the strength in each other to continue to live and love and be happy.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest review! And please remember, there IS someone out there who cares and will listen and help.
May 2, 2016
Loved this story. It had everything for me. Love, friendship and second chances. The beginning of course broke my heart when Lane loses his best friend Rory to suicide and he doesnt know why he left him. Lane is lost, broken hearted and angry. He is trying not to follow Rory. He then meets Baron who was friends with Rory from his on-line gaming. Rory wanted Baron to meet Lane but it never happened. Baron has his own issues and you need to read this book to find out. These 2 broken boys fall in love but thru mis communication and self doubt they break up before leaving for college. Lane is lost without Baron and they find their way back to each other and hopefully HEA. This story moved me and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Beautifully written by SC.
Received an arc for an honest review. Reviewed by Jodi Marinich for Alpha Book Club.
Received an arc for an honest review. Reviewed by Jodi Marinich for Alpha Book Club.
April 29, 2016
I received an arc of this book from the author for an honest review.
Life for Lane and Baron our two main characters is definitely no where near easy. Both stuggle with very dark thoughts and yet they are each others salvation. Far from being perfect they struggle with letting people in to see who they really are. Their problems bring them both together yet it also pushes them away. I normally stay away for any books that may make me cry...even though this book did make a few tears for me I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I do not know if there will be a second book or not, but I hope so; I would love to see what happens next in their lives.
Life for Lane and Baron our two main characters is definitely no where near easy. Both stuggle with very dark thoughts and yet they are each others salvation. Far from being perfect they struggle with letting people in to see who they really are. Their problems bring them both together yet it also pushes them away. I normally stay away for any books that may make me cry...even though this book did make a few tears for me I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I do not know if there will be a second book or not, but I hope so; I would love to see what happens next in their lives.
June 4, 2016
This is my very favorite S.C. Wynne book so far! It's gripping, dramatic, sad, sweet, heart wrenching, hopeful. Such a well written story of bad growing pains, depression and even much worse problems! It made me cry, but it made me smile, too.
Warning though — be aware that it deals with tough issues like suicide and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Not easy topics by any means, but S.C. Wynne pulls the story off skillfully, beautifully.
Warning though — be aware that it deals with tough issues like suicide and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Not easy topics by any means, but S.C. Wynne pulls the story off skillfully, beautifully.
March 15, 2017
This is a story about suicide, all from 18-year-old Lane's point of view. We do not see his best friend's suicide, nor Lane attempted suicide, but we see all of the aftermath that dogs Lane. If this topic affects you badly, please don't read, but please do seek help if & when you need it. It's written by a person whose own teen years were challenging, as she says in her afterward. My only major point against it is Lane's attitude about his meds -- but that is so in Lane's character that I suspect it's deliberate on the author's part.
The shifts in attitude and mental health Lane goes through are messy and sometimes frustrating to read. I stomped off to read something else for awhile more than once. Some of it was the characters not talking, but some of it is the author glossing over things I consider important, like communication and failures of, and that cost her a star. But the end hits that perfect final note. This is a romance, but it is as much a coming of age story as a love story.
The shifts in attitude and mental health Lane goes through are messy and sometimes frustrating to read. I stomped off to read something else for awhile more than once. Some of it was the characters not talking, but some of it is the author glossing over things I consider important, like communication and failures of, and that cost her a star. But the end hits that perfect final note. This is a romance, but it is as much a coming of age story as a love story.
April 4, 2022
Eighteen-yr-old Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide. At his funeral Lane discovers Rory had meant to set him up with Hunky Jock Baron when Baron approaches him. Lane wonders at how little he seemed to know about his best friend in particular his intention to end his life. The book is about the growing relationship between these two and the confidences that they share.
That a strong, confident young athlete should be demeaned and demoralized by being drugged and raped is made worse when he comes forward after the suicide of another victim to testify in court and is traumatized all over again.
Aside from a propensity toward suicide this pair have little in common. The reason arranged marriages work is simple. The pair are likely to share a common cultural and economic background, move in the same social circles, share common interests and world view. This pair have none of this going for them.
Do you think the cop would have left Lane off without a speeding ticket?
This being a romance M+M novel there’s an implied HEA.
That a strong, confident young athlete should be demeaned and demoralized by being drugged and raped is made worse when he comes forward after the suicide of another victim to testify in court and is traumatized all over again.
Aside from a propensity toward suicide this pair have little in common. The reason arranged marriages work is simple. The pair are likely to share a common cultural and economic background, move in the same social circles, share common interests and world view. This pair have none of this going for them.
Do you think the cop would have left Lane off without a speeding ticket?
This being a romance M+M novel there’s an implied HEA.
September 12, 2019
Believing Rory is a New Adult Gay Romance by S.C. Wynne. This book is enotional... make sure to prepare yourself, for you will feel like your heart has been ripped out before it gets slowly stitched back together. There is pain, angst, heartache, feelings of betrayal and loss... but there is a budding romance and learning to live on and love and breathe. Lane and Baron are characters that reach out to you and make you care about them and their journey, makes you feel their angst and pain and ultimately their hope for their future.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
September 18, 2019
When Lane’s best friend Rory kills himself, Lane is shocked when Baron introduces himself at the funeral. Rory had asked Baron to take care of Lane.
Such a great story of healing. Both guys had plenty of trauma to deal with. Sensitive issue were discussed with care. Wonderfully sweet and angsty read.
Such a great story of healing. Both guys had plenty of trauma to deal with. Sensitive issue were discussed with care. Wonderfully sweet and angsty read.
January 21, 2018
This was a nice read and I liked the concept of the story. I felt Baron's attachment to Lane a bit too rushed and I was hoping for certain aspects of the background to be explored further. Also - what happened to the blogging - it just stopped midway through the book which felt unpolished.
October 28, 2019
Intense...important topics not discussed frequently enough told in a sensitive manner with well developed characters.
April 30, 2016
https://justloveromance.wordpress.com...
This was a tough one for me. Not the subject matter so much, although stories about suicide and depression aren’t exactly my go-to books. No, it was more the fact that I never really got a handle on who Lane and Baron really were. Maybe that was a deliberate decision on the author’s part because I got the sense that Lane and Baron were both figuring out who they were too; on the cusp of adulthood and evolving from the teens they once were to the adults they are about to become. And in the middle of all that, still having to deal with personal events that have changed them irrevocably.
Both MC’s have been personally traumatized by the time the story begins. Lane is trying to recover from his best friend Rory’ suicide days earlier and is wandering around in a fog of anger and betrayal as he tries to navigate his way through his first day back at school after Rory’s death. He’s feeling alone and lost because Rory was not only his friend, but his protector and had made sure Lane was okay after his own suicide attempt a few years earlier. When he runs into Baron at school, he has no idea that the handsome, popular student is hiding terrible secrets of his own. After meeting Baron unexpectedly at Rory’s funeral, Lane realizes that Baron knew Rory too and with that tenuous common thread, they begin to confide their secrets to each other, forming a friendship and the first blooms of romance. But as Lane gets to know Baron better, he learns that Baron is still dealing with legal ramifications of his own trauma and isn’t nearly as confident and unflappable as he appears to be. As things progress, Lane has to come to terms with the fact that he didn’t know Rory nearly as well as he thought he did and if he wants things to progress with Baron, he’ll need to move out from Rory’s shadow and be stronger than he thought possible.
I thought the topics presented in this book were dealt with sensitively and in a manner that a YA/NA audience could appreciate. The reason for Rory’s suicide is never mentioned and although that bothered me at first, I realized that this book was never about Rory or honoring the dead. This is a story of survival; of choosing to live even when circumstances make it difficult to do so. I really liked Lane’s anger towards Rory in the days and weeks after Rory’s suicide as it felt very real and is something many people feel but can’t always talk about when a loved one takes their own life.
I did find parts of Lane and Baron’s relationship a little angsty with those deliberate misunderstandings that lead to separation and eventual reconciliation, but it probably isn’t atypical of teen romances in general. But I did like the evolution of their romance and thought it was well done.
I found this to be an honest portrayal of two teens who are struggling to work through their relative issues and are learning to trust each other in order to move on from the past. Although I did find some parts of the story to be completely unrealistic (how many kids with access to private planes attend public schools?), it was decently done and contained relevant topics that should be talked about more openly. 3.5 stars
** I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review**
This was a tough one for me. Not the subject matter so much, although stories about suicide and depression aren’t exactly my go-to books. No, it was more the fact that I never really got a handle on who Lane and Baron really were. Maybe that was a deliberate decision on the author’s part because I got the sense that Lane and Baron were both figuring out who they were too; on the cusp of adulthood and evolving from the teens they once were to the adults they are about to become. And in the middle of all that, still having to deal with personal events that have changed them irrevocably.
Both MC’s have been personally traumatized by the time the story begins. Lane is trying to recover from his best friend Rory’ suicide days earlier and is wandering around in a fog of anger and betrayal as he tries to navigate his way through his first day back at school after Rory’s death. He’s feeling alone and lost because Rory was not only his friend, but his protector and had made sure Lane was okay after his own suicide attempt a few years earlier. When he runs into Baron at school, he has no idea that the handsome, popular student is hiding terrible secrets of his own. After meeting Baron unexpectedly at Rory’s funeral, Lane realizes that Baron knew Rory too and with that tenuous common thread, they begin to confide their secrets to each other, forming a friendship and the first blooms of romance. But as Lane gets to know Baron better, he learns that Baron is still dealing with legal ramifications of his own trauma and isn’t nearly as confident and unflappable as he appears to be. As things progress, Lane has to come to terms with the fact that he didn’t know Rory nearly as well as he thought he did and if he wants things to progress with Baron, he’ll need to move out from Rory’s shadow and be stronger than he thought possible.
I thought the topics presented in this book were dealt with sensitively and in a manner that a YA/NA audience could appreciate. The reason for Rory’s suicide is never mentioned and although that bothered me at first, I realized that this book was never about Rory or honoring the dead. This is a story of survival; of choosing to live even when circumstances make it difficult to do so. I really liked Lane’s anger towards Rory in the days and weeks after Rory’s suicide as it felt very real and is something many people feel but can’t always talk about when a loved one takes their own life.
I did find parts of Lane and Baron’s relationship a little angsty with those deliberate misunderstandings that lead to separation and eventual reconciliation, but it probably isn’t atypical of teen romances in general. But I did like the evolution of their romance and thought it was well done.
I found this to be an honest portrayal of two teens who are struggling to work through their relative issues and are learning to trust each other in order to move on from the past. Although I did find some parts of the story to be completely unrealistic (how many kids with access to private planes attend public schools?), it was decently done and contained relevant topics that should be talked about more openly. 3.5 stars
** I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review**
May 3, 2016
**Originally Posted on Kiki's Kinky Picks**
4.5 stars
Believing Rory by S.C. Wynne was as tough to read–and as wonderful–as I thought it would be. This one really brought the angst but I’m glad S.C. wasn’t too afraid to tackle this topic.
So many of us have dealt with, or are currently struggling with, mental illness. It’s not always something we want to even admit to ourselves, let alone talk about, but this book really shines a spotlight on these issues.
It was difficult to read, but well worth it.
The book begins immediately after Rory kills himself and Lane has been left to pick up the pieces of his life without his best friend. He’s so angry, betrayed and uncertain he wants to be in a world without Rory.
The beginning of the book was by far the hardest to read. Lane is in such a dark place that it really affected me. Multiple times I had to put it down and walk away but I never considered not finishing. The writing and the story were just too good.
Baron comes across as this guy who has life completely figured out–smart, confident, popular. Looks are deceiving though and it turned out that Baron was just as damaged (if not more so) than Lane. I loved how they balanced each other out and were anchors for each other. There relationship probably wouldn’t have worked otherwise.
I wish there had been just a little bit more with the ending, but I can also understand why S.C. left it how she did. Lane and Baron are at the beginning of their lives so a big, flashy HEA would have rang as false. Don’t get me wrong–there isn’t a cliff hanger or anything. I’m just greedy.
This story has trip wires for triggers all over it, so be very careful. Personally, I had to wait over a week to start it after it came up in my TBR list, because I knew that if I wasn’t in the right headspace this book could completely fuck me up.
Believing Rory is the kind of book that may not necessarily appeal to the general masses. There are some intense moments dealing with depression, self medicating and suicidal ideation that won’t be suitable for everyone. But anyone who has ever felt alone or like their existence doesn’t matter to the world will relate to Lane and Baron and will feel their pain. Hopefully, their story of triumph will inspire others to not give up.
Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4.5 stars
Believing Rory by S.C. Wynne was as tough to read–and as wonderful–as I thought it would be. This one really brought the angst but I’m glad S.C. wasn’t too afraid to tackle this topic.
So many of us have dealt with, or are currently struggling with, mental illness. It’s not always something we want to even admit to ourselves, let alone talk about, but this book really shines a spotlight on these issues.
It was difficult to read, but well worth it.
The book begins immediately after Rory kills himself and Lane has been left to pick up the pieces of his life without his best friend. He’s so angry, betrayed and uncertain he wants to be in a world without Rory.
The beginning of the book was by far the hardest to read. Lane is in such a dark place that it really affected me. Multiple times I had to put it down and walk away but I never considered not finishing. The writing and the story were just too good.
Baron comes across as this guy who has life completely figured out–smart, confident, popular. Looks are deceiving though and it turned out that Baron was just as damaged (if not more so) than Lane. I loved how they balanced each other out and were anchors for each other. There relationship probably wouldn’t have worked otherwise.
I wish there had been just a little bit more with the ending, but I can also understand why S.C. left it how she did. Lane and Baron are at the beginning of their lives so a big, flashy HEA would have rang as false. Don’t get me wrong–there isn’t a cliff hanger or anything. I’m just greedy.
This story has trip wires for triggers all over it, so be very careful. Personally, I had to wait over a week to start it after it came up in my TBR list, because I knew that if I wasn’t in the right headspace this book could completely fuck me up.
Believing Rory is the kind of book that may not necessarily appeal to the general masses. There are some intense moments dealing with depression, self medicating and suicidal ideation that won’t be suitable for everyone. But anyone who has ever felt alone or like their existence doesn’t matter to the world will relate to Lane and Baron and will feel their pain. Hopefully, their story of triumph will inspire others to not give up.
Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 5, 2016
4.5 rounded up.
This story starts with a suicide of a close friend, and I must admit the subject material made me a little wary that it might be a very angsty read. However, although there is angst—and it wouldn’t be appropriate for there not to be—I thought it was handled realistically and without being over the top.
The two main characters, Lane and Baron, have very real responses to the situations they’re in. Both are working through memories of bad things that have happened in their past, and it does affect the way they react to various situations, and each other. They’re also young adults, and logic doesn’t always come into it especially when in emotional pain. In reading Believing Rory I always felt as though I was reading about characters in this age group, rather than adults.
Despite the serious theme of the book, it’s not all dark, and I loved Lane’s sense of humour. He really grows as a character through the story, despite the difficulty in getting past his emotional scars. I thought the author wrote very realistically about the aftermath of suicide and how it effects those left behind, especially the way it makes someone question their friendship with the person who is gone. The characters’ pain is not sugar coated, but there’s hope for the future too, and the development of a new romance.
It isn’t just the main characters who are well written in this story. It’s populated by friends and family who are three dimensional in their own right. I particularly liked Lane’s friend, Judy, and Baron’s mother. Despite the story beginning with his suicide, Rory—or rather others’ memories of him—is also a very real character in the story, and drives quite a bit of it.
The story is written in present tense, which gave me a sense of the story unfolding as I read, rather than being told about something that had already happened. This worked well especially with Lane’s struggle to move forward, and not let the past shadow the way he interprets the situation he’s now in.
I’d recommend this book for readers who like contemporary new adult stories that don’t shy away from very real issues, with engaging characters who grow through the story and the development of a new friendship and romance.
This story starts with a suicide of a close friend, and I must admit the subject material made me a little wary that it might be a very angsty read. However, although there is angst—and it wouldn’t be appropriate for there not to be—I thought it was handled realistically and without being over the top.
The two main characters, Lane and Baron, have very real responses to the situations they’re in. Both are working through memories of bad things that have happened in their past, and it does affect the way they react to various situations, and each other. They’re also young adults, and logic doesn’t always come into it especially when in emotional pain. In reading Believing Rory I always felt as though I was reading about characters in this age group, rather than adults.
Despite the serious theme of the book, it’s not all dark, and I loved Lane’s sense of humour. He really grows as a character through the story, despite the difficulty in getting past his emotional scars. I thought the author wrote very realistically about the aftermath of suicide and how it effects those left behind, especially the way it makes someone question their friendship with the person who is gone. The characters’ pain is not sugar coated, but there’s hope for the future too, and the development of a new romance.
It isn’t just the main characters who are well written in this story. It’s populated by friends and family who are three dimensional in their own right. I particularly liked Lane’s friend, Judy, and Baron’s mother. Despite the story beginning with his suicide, Rory—or rather others’ memories of him—is also a very real character in the story, and drives quite a bit of it.
The story is written in present tense, which gave me a sense of the story unfolding as I read, rather than being told about something that had already happened. This worked well especially with Lane’s struggle to move forward, and not let the past shadow the way he interprets the situation he’s now in.
I’d recommend this book for readers who like contemporary new adult stories that don’t shy away from very real issues, with engaging characters who grow through the story and the development of a new friendship and romance.
October 6, 2016
3.5 stars!
Believing Rory is S.C. Wynne’s newest novel. It is the first book of this author that I’ve read and I can say I will definitely be checking out more in the future. This was a fast read, and though not all sunshine and roses, it was enjoyable and I was invested in the story from beginning to end.
Coming of age stories are among my favorites. I love the angst of characters discovering themselves; the way an author takes experiences—both good and bad—and helps shape them, and leads them on their path. Believing Rory starts out sad—Rory has committed suicide and left behind his best friend Lane who is struggling to come to terms not only with his death, but the aftermath of moving forward as well. Lane is awkward and shy, unsure of himself in most situations, and missing Rory so much that he has a hard time coping day to day. He meets Baron McDonald at Rory’s funeral and from there, the two develop a friendship based on their shared sadness over losing Rory.
Believing Rory is told in first person, solely from Lane’s POV. There were times I found the story telling a bit abrupt and choppy, but Lane’s “voice” is unique and often full of all the emotion a struggling eighteen year old might have. I like the way Wynne develops the friendship then the romantic relationship between Lane and Baron, it was realistic and I found myself very invested in both characters. Wynne also deals with the subject of suicide and depression well and in a very real way. It’s an emotional, heavy topic and one that faces many teens today.
All in all this was a very enjoyable read. There were a few parts where both Lane and Baron are frustrating, but being that they’re teenagers, I suppose it’s realistic for them to be less than perfect. Believing Rory is a story about friendship and forgiveness. About learning to trust again after your heart has been broken, and about finding and learning to love yourself. Give this one a chance, you won’t be sorry.
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com.*
Believing Rory is S.C. Wynne’s newest novel. It is the first book of this author that I’ve read and I can say I will definitely be checking out more in the future. This was a fast read, and though not all sunshine and roses, it was enjoyable and I was invested in the story from beginning to end.
Coming of age stories are among my favorites. I love the angst of characters discovering themselves; the way an author takes experiences—both good and bad—and helps shape them, and leads them on their path. Believing Rory starts out sad—Rory has committed suicide and left behind his best friend Lane who is struggling to come to terms not only with his death, but the aftermath of moving forward as well. Lane is awkward and shy, unsure of himself in most situations, and missing Rory so much that he has a hard time coping day to day. He meets Baron McDonald at Rory’s funeral and from there, the two develop a friendship based on their shared sadness over losing Rory.
Believing Rory is told in first person, solely from Lane’s POV. There were times I found the story telling a bit abrupt and choppy, but Lane’s “voice” is unique and often full of all the emotion a struggling eighteen year old might have. I like the way Wynne develops the friendship then the romantic relationship between Lane and Baron, it was realistic and I found myself very invested in both characters. Wynne also deals with the subject of suicide and depression well and in a very real way. It’s an emotional, heavy topic and one that faces many teens today.
All in all this was a very enjoyable read. There were a few parts where both Lane and Baron are frustrating, but being that they’re teenagers, I suppose it’s realistic for them to be less than perfect. Believing Rory is a story about friendship and forgiveness. About learning to trust again after your heart has been broken, and about finding and learning to love yourself. Give this one a chance, you won’t be sorry.
*This review will also be posted on www.diversereader.blogspot.com.*
June 8, 2016
4.5 stars
Oh. My. God! This book was simply amazing. Heart breaking and sweet and romantic all at the same time. S.C. Wynne did utterly fabulous with this story. This one sucked me in so much I read it in one sitting at a coffee shop.
I never imagined such a great couple would be the result of a young man committing suicide. Lane is devastated when Rory, his best friend, takes his own life. He isn’t sure he can keep going but is buoyed by a couple of new friendships, once of which is with Baron McDonald. It turns out that Baron knew Rory from an online game called League of Legends. Rory had planned on introducing the two but ended up killing himself first.
Initially, Baron and Lane’s relationship is based around their shared friend but it soon becomes more than that. As they get to know each other they open up about their individual secrets; both of which are heartbreaking.
Despite the fact that they share a bond of depression and suicide, they still form a very romantic duo. The growth of their friendship to a romantic level was realistic for two young men nearing adulthood.
There were times when both Baron and Lane frustrated the hell out of me. However, I had to remind myself that these are young men and not full-grown adults.
The supporting characters were also fully drawn, especially Baron’s parents. Baron’s father could’ve been the clichéd homophobic asshole but instead Wynne gave him multiple layers. He still wasn’t likable but he wasn’t stereotypical at all.
I especially loved Baron’s mother who aided in giving Lane and Baron the happily ever after they so richly deserved.
This was an amazing story and I urge everyone to go get this book right away.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2016...
Oh. My. God! This book was simply amazing. Heart breaking and sweet and romantic all at the same time. S.C. Wynne did utterly fabulous with this story. This one sucked me in so much I read it in one sitting at a coffee shop.
I never imagined such a great couple would be the result of a young man committing suicide. Lane is devastated when Rory, his best friend, takes his own life. He isn’t sure he can keep going but is buoyed by a couple of new friendships, once of which is with Baron McDonald. It turns out that Baron knew Rory from an online game called League of Legends. Rory had planned on introducing the two but ended up killing himself first.
Initially, Baron and Lane’s relationship is based around their shared friend but it soon becomes more than that. As they get to know each other they open up about their individual secrets; both of which are heartbreaking.
Despite the fact that they share a bond of depression and suicide, they still form a very romantic duo. The growth of their friendship to a romantic level was realistic for two young men nearing adulthood.
There were times when both Baron and Lane frustrated the hell out of me. However, I had to remind myself that these are young men and not full-grown adults.
The supporting characters were also fully drawn, especially Baron’s parents. Baron’s father could’ve been the clichéd homophobic asshole but instead Wynne gave him multiple layers. He still wasn’t likable but he wasn’t stereotypical at all.
I especially loved Baron’s mother who aided in giving Lane and Baron the happily ever after they so richly deserved.
This was an amazing story and I urge everyone to go get this book right away.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2016...
April 29, 2016
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Rory was Lane's best friend. Rory broke Lane when he did what he did, and left him all alone. Baron was friends with Rory via an online game and he had wanted to meet Lane before Rory...went. When Baron meets Lane properly, the two boys bond over Rory, the shared experience and over each other.
I usually steer clear of books with high school/college aged characters, but something about this one grabbed me. I'm so glad it did.
Although these boys (and I will call them boys, even though they are 18 and technically, adults) are finishing up high school, they have both been through a great deal. Different trauma, but equally heart breaking. I won't tell you what, exactly, for that will be spoiler-ish but the trigger warning at the end of my review will give you some idea. It makes for very difficult reading in places. At one point, I wasn't sure I was going to continue, but I am so glad I did.
I'm glad that Lane and Baron get their *mostly* happy ever after but I would have loved an epilogue. Didn't have to be too far ahead of the end of this one, just to show us how well they were getting on, together.
Also, Baron needed a say. Because he has a lot to say and we don't get it. Only Lane is given a voice here and I would love for Baron to be able to tell us what happened to him, to be able to get into his mind as much as we do Lane's.
Bereavement, suicide (attempted and actual) child rape by a teacher (and the aftermath of that) are contained in this book and reader discretion is advised.
Because I wanted and epilogue, and because Baron did not have his say...
4 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
Rory was Lane's best friend. Rory broke Lane when he did what he did, and left him all alone. Baron was friends with Rory via an online game and he had wanted to meet Lane before Rory...went. When Baron meets Lane properly, the two boys bond over Rory, the shared experience and over each other.
I usually steer clear of books with high school/college aged characters, but something about this one grabbed me. I'm so glad it did.
Although these boys (and I will call them boys, even though they are 18 and technically, adults) are finishing up high school, they have both been through a great deal. Different trauma, but equally heart breaking. I won't tell you what, exactly, for that will be spoiler-ish but the trigger warning at the end of my review will give you some idea. It makes for very difficult reading in places. At one point, I wasn't sure I was going to continue, but I am so glad I did.
I'm glad that Lane and Baron get their *mostly* happy ever after but I would have loved an epilogue. Didn't have to be too far ahead of the end of this one, just to show us how well they were getting on, together.
Also, Baron needed a say. Because he has a lot to say and we don't get it. Only Lane is given a voice here and I would love for Baron to be able to tell us what happened to him, to be able to get into his mind as much as we do Lane's.
Bereavement, suicide (attempted and actual) child rape by a teacher (and the aftermath of that) are contained in this book and reader discretion is advised.
Because I wanted and epilogue, and because Baron did not have his say...
4 stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
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