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Olive Juice
It begins with a message that David cannot
I want to see you.
He agrees, and on a cold winter’s night, David and Phillip will come together to sift through the wreckage of the memory of a life no longer lived.
David is burdened, carrying with him the heavy guilt of the past six years upon his shoulders.
Phillip offers redemption.
I want to see you.
He agrees, and on a cold winter’s night, David and Phillip will come together to sift through the wreckage of the memory of a life no longer lived.
David is burdened, carrying with him the heavy guilt of the past six years upon his shoulders.
Phillip offers redemption.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2017
72 people are currently reading
2195 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Klune
69 books61k followersTJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
January 25, 2025
if i poured acid all over myself it would hurt less
April 27, 2017
I will try to be as spoiler-free with this review as I can be, but, honestly, I never put spoilers in my reviews.
Now, here is the rub: I'm giving this book 4-stars for writing quality but I didn't actually like this book much at all. Olive Juice was like getting punched in the face.
Unlike some other reviewers, I knew EXACTLY what the plot-line was going to be right from the start. I'm talking at 5% in, my shields were UP. My shields were so high up, in fact, that I barely felt emotion during the story. I sort of recognized emotion from afar, but I had already removed myself to Pluto by that point.
Some things to know:
This book has absolutely no sex content in it.
It is angsty beyond angsty.
It is not a romancy-romance.
You only get one MC's POV.
It is interesting to me that I gave this book 4-stars yet I couldn't wait for it to end. I just knew that I wasn't going to get my neat, little, happy cherry on top, and I simply had to power my way through it. Pain on top of pain on top of pain.
Why this book merits a high rating from me is simply due to the writing. T.J. Klune is a truly talented author, and this book was meaningful and thoughtful and so freaking timely. Really, T.J. writes his guts out, and the book was lovely in the way that a heart-breaking poem is lovely.
Beautiful writing, but give me a happy T.J. book next, please.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Now, here is the rub: I'm giving this book 4-stars for writing quality but I didn't actually like this book much at all. Olive Juice was like getting punched in the face.
Unlike some other reviewers, I knew EXACTLY what the plot-line was going to be right from the start. I'm talking at 5% in, my shields were UP. My shields were so high up, in fact, that I barely felt emotion during the story. I sort of recognized emotion from afar, but I had already removed myself to Pluto by that point.
Some things to know:
This book has absolutely no sex content in it.
It is angsty beyond angsty.
It is not a romancy-romance.
You only get one MC's POV.
It is interesting to me that I gave this book 4-stars yet I couldn't wait for it to end. I just knew that I wasn't going to get my neat, little, happy cherry on top, and I simply had to power my way through it. Pain on top of pain on top of pain.
Why this book merits a high rating from me is simply due to the writing. T.J. Klune is a truly talented author, and this book was meaningful and thoughtful and so freaking timely. Really, T.J. writes his guts out, and the book was lovely in the way that a heart-breaking poem is lovely.
Beautiful writing, but give me a happy T.J. book next, please.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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April 26, 2017Updated 4/26/17:
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April 27, 2017
Little deaths.
TJ's latest story was all about those, where small parts of your soul die piece by piece with each repeated blow, which made this book extremely difficult for me to read.
As far as internal angst goes, this one definitely wins the Gold Star Family medal.
Throughout the story, we got fleeting, momentary glances of a shared life that had previously been good. Great even. Better than great. Amazing.
Then it was like taking a deep breath and diving back underwater again.
For more of those little deaths.
I must admit that when I first began reading the story, my initial assumptions as to what was actually going on were way off base. As in, 'I thought we were headed to Kalamazoo, but ended up in Fairbanks' off.
Yes, TJ is a sneaky bastard, that one.
Mostly, this story was about when "THE MOST TERRIBLE THING IMAGINEABLE" happens.
How you survive it.
The awful things that you say, which can never, ever be unsaid. And the immeasurable collateral damage that ensues.
Then, hopefully, finding a way to hang on and bring yourself back from the brink of oblivion.
If I didn't know better, I'd think that TJ had been secretly attending Amy Lane's Angst Master Class. And I'm not even joking here, folks.
While this was not a happy story, it was a compelling read and I would say that I liked the book quite a bit. However, I'm not sure if that 'like' would fall into the ' enjoyed ' category -- given the nature of the terrible event on which the story is predicated.
All things considered, I'm rating this story at around 4.25 stars and close the book thankful that, as the story says, " At least it didn’t happen to me. "
And I pray to God that it never does.
------------------------------------------------
My ARC copy of the story was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
March 27, 2017
This will be a completely spoiler free review. It'll also be short because I want to make sure it stays spoiler free. My advice would to be to stay away from spoilers of any kind before reading this book. The emotional impact will be so much greater and more meaningful if you just let the story unfold as you read it.
I didn't know much about Olive Juice before I read it. Just the blurb and TJ's blog post, so, you know - not a lot. I didn't know what to expect.
When I started reading, I could tell it would be heavy. That, even though it's fairly short, I would still feel all the feelings. How could I not? This is a story written by TJ Klune, we're talking about here.
So whatever my expectations and thoughts were as I started reading, the story still turned out different. And there were tears. I didn't ugly cry, but it was close (I'm a cold hearted bitch). I wanted to ugly cry though, I really did (I am also a touch stubborn).
Olive Juice is a bit bittersweet. It's about two men finding their way. It's about love. And life. And uncertainty. It's about holding on and letting go. And love. Did I mention love?
Dammit, TJ, I still want to cry. I guess your job is done. I can hear you cackling from here.
--------------------
ARC of Olive Juice was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know much about Olive Juice before I read it. Just the blurb and TJ's blog post, so, you know - not a lot. I didn't know what to expect.
When I started reading, I could tell it would be heavy. That, even though it's fairly short, I would still feel all the feelings. How could I not? This is a story written by TJ Klune, we're talking about here.
So whatever my expectations and thoughts were as I started reading, the story still turned out different. And there were tears. I didn't ugly cry, but it was close (I'm a cold hearted bitch). I wanted to ugly cry though, I really did (I am also a touch stubborn).
Olive Juice is a bit bittersweet. It's about two men finding their way. It's about love. And life. And uncertainty. It's about holding on and letting go. And love. Did I mention love?
Dammit, TJ, I still want to cry. I guess your job is done. I can hear you cackling from here.
--------------------
ARC of Olive Juice was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2025
you don’t know pain until you read this book and i will probably never know happiness again now that i read this book
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November 16, 2023
tj klune making me cry and feel things: a never-ending saga. 😭😭
April 1, 2017
I don’t know what to write. Olive Juice by TJ Klune shattered me. As TJ mentioned in his blog post, this book is one that a reader must go into blind. No spoilers, no expectations- just go in and experience. It reads like a poem, one that no matter how painful it becomes you won’t be able to put down; you’ll feel compelled to see it to the end. It’s a bittersweet story about life and second chances. I don’t have much more than that. A few days after finishing it and I’m still digesting. I keep wondering what was going through his mind when he was writing it?
The only thing I can say is that this is a brilliant piece of literature. I’m kind of in awe honestly.
That's all I got.
September 28, 2024
Well, I just spent the last hour like this:
I loved this book. DON'T READ SPOILERS, GO IN BLIND!
What a beautiful and heartbreaking story! This reminded me a bit of a play; I know Klune had a blog post referencing a one shot scene but honestly this felt like something you would see on a stage. Extremely well written, Klune is obviously very talented and there's a reason why I will read anything he writes.
I loved this book. DON'T READ SPOILERS, GO IN BLIND!
What a beautiful and heartbreaking story! This reminded me a bit of a play; I know Klune had a blog post referencing a one shot scene but honestly this felt like something you would see on a stage. Extremely well written, Klune is obviously very talented and there's a reason why I will read anything he writes.
March 28, 2017
There is no way to write a review for this book. Stay far, far away from spoilers, readers! I am a spoiler whore. There is no spoiler tag that I won't uncover. It doesn't take anything away from my reading experience, and I just have to know. Do not read spoilers for
THIS
book. And shame on reviewers who give anything away.
Because of reasons, this is the most gut-wrenching story TJ has written, for me. From my perspective and life experiences. I didn't Wookie Cry Face, though it was a close call with leaky eyes and I'm a stubborn woman who can compartmentalize like nobody's business.
What is the book even about? Wellllllllll......there's a reason the blurb is so vague. You have to go into it blind. It's about several things, and I'm going to be vague too. It's about two men finding their way back to each other. It's about second chance romance. It's about life's tragedies and those fallouts.
There is no TJ humor to be found in this one. This is a dark book. Probably his darkest, imho, though I'm sure that's debatable. There are no smexy times - it wouldn't have gone with the themes here at all. Just trust on that.
TJ has proven time and again that he can write anything. This would qualify as "anything." He's amazingly talented. But I can't say I enjoyed reading this book. I'm still in awe of his writing capabilities.
Above all, this book is about hope and never giving up.
Because of reasons, this is the most gut-wrenching story TJ has written, for me. From my perspective and life experiences. I didn't Wookie Cry Face, though it was a close call with leaky eyes and I'm a stubborn woman who can compartmentalize like nobody's business.
What is the book even about? Wellllllllll......there's a reason the blurb is so vague. You have to go into it blind. It's about several things, and I'm going to be vague too. It's about two men finding their way back to each other. It's about second chance romance. It's about life's tragedies and those fallouts.
There is no TJ humor to be found in this one. This is a dark book. Probably his darkest, imho, though I'm sure that's debatable. There are no smexy times - it wouldn't have gone with the themes here at all. Just trust on that.
TJ has proven time and again that he can write anything. This would qualify as "anything." He's amazingly talented. But I can't say I enjoyed reading this book. I'm still in awe of his writing capabilities.
Above all, this book is about hope and never giving up.
December 8, 2018
5 STARS
How can T.J. Klune break your heart in 130 pages? Read this book and you'll find out.
I've read this one right after finishing a very light and funny story. The angst here took me by surprise. I wasn't ready for so much heartbreak, but we never are, right?
I dived in clueless and I'm really glad I did. This book is really sad, but what I loved most here is the way the story is revealed, with tiny pieces, until we get the whole puzzle. And what a story it was!
Somewhere along the way I got a BIG surprise. I didn't expect what the author had prepared for us. I thought I figured out the characters and their pasts, but I didn't for a second think about what David and Phillip were to each other.
I shed some tears while reading. It's impossible not to. I told my husband that I don't think we always appreciate all the people in our lives. We never stop and think about how our life would be without them. And also, tell them how much they mean to us. We never know if we're going to see them again.
I absolutely adored the writing style, but this isn't something new. And the ending was better than I could have hoped. After all the sadness and angst, we get hope.
Olive Juice, T.J. Klune!
How can T.J. Klune break your heart in 130 pages? Read this book and you'll find out.
I've read this one right after finishing a very light and funny story. The angst here took me by surprise. I wasn't ready for so much heartbreak, but we never are, right?
I dived in clueless and I'm really glad I did. This book is really sad, but what I loved most here is the way the story is revealed, with tiny pieces, until we get the whole puzzle. And what a story it was!
Somewhere along the way I got a BIG surprise. I didn't expect what the author had prepared for us. I thought I figured out the characters and their pasts, but I didn't for a second think about what David and Phillip were to each other.
I shed some tears while reading. It's impossible not to. I told my husband that I don't think we always appreciate all the people in our lives. We never stop and think about how our life would be without them. And also, tell them how much they mean to us. We never know if we're going to see them again.
I absolutely adored the writing style, but this isn't something new. And the ending was better than I could have hoped. After all the sadness and angst, we get hope.
Olive Juice, T.J. Klune!
November 15, 2024
I advise you not to read this book if you are running out of tissues.
Olive Juice has made me realize that every time I said that I didn’t like reading novellas because they always feel too short or too rushed or too fast, I was wrong. I hadn’t found the right one yet. I wished this was longer but just because I loved it a lot: I fell in love with the characters and sobbed along with them, so of course I wished for more. However, I’m aware T.J.Klune nailed the pacing as much as the ending: it was perfect.
There isn’t much I can say about this; a big part of its charm is being able to be surprised by it. The only thing you need to know it’s that it deals with a man grieving a missing woman. I think that’s important because it’s a heavy theme, one that T.J.Klune handled with care.
Reading this broke me in the best way (olive juice). It made me believe in books again. If you’ve been feeling like all you’ve been reading lately lacks feelings and you think you can endure the theme, I can’t recommend this book enough.
Olive Juice has made me realize that every time I said that I didn’t like reading novellas because they always feel too short or too rushed or too fast, I was wrong. I hadn’t found the right one yet. I wished this was longer but just because I loved it a lot: I fell in love with the characters and sobbed along with them, so of course I wished for more. However, I’m aware T.J.Klune nailed the pacing as much as the ending: it was perfect.
There isn’t much I can say about this; a big part of its charm is being able to be surprised by it. The only thing you need to know it’s that it deals with a man grieving a missing woman. I think that’s important because it’s a heavy theme, one that T.J.Klune handled with care.
Reading this broke me in the best way (olive juice). It made me believe in books again. If you’ve been feeling like all you’ve been reading lately lacks feelings and you think you can endure the theme, I can’t recommend this book enough.
December 30, 2019
4 Hearts
I agree with the majority of the people out there regarding all the pros and cons of this story and to definitely avoid any spoilers if possible.
Is it angsty? As all get out.
Will you cry? If you have a heart, yes.
What about the writing? Phenomenal.
Is there romance? Well… there’s definitely love. So much love and how that can tear someone apart and put them back together.
There’s no doubt Klune is talented, and now I realize that he can definitely do more than silly, funny, poignant. This was a kick in the proverbial balls, as it stabbed me repeatedly in the chest. It will definitely move you. It was raw, heartfelt, and I suppose in away, all about surviving to live another day. I honestly had no clue what this was about and that was both good and bad.
If you want to feel something, and feel it strongly and deeply, then give this a go. I didn’t enjoy it, but I appreciated it.
On a side note, my official rating won’t reflect how I feel about the audio. There’s something about Derrick McClain that was horribly reminiscent of Mark Westfield (the only narrator I’ve ever dnf’d) but to a lesser degree, and I gritted my teeth throughout the entire 5 plus hours of this audio. Obviously, this is all very subjective because many loved his narration, but what I heard was McClain ending pretty much every sentence with a forced grunt that drove me absolutely bonkers. I sampled the rest of his works and some had it to a varying degree, while others did not, ones that I’d probably enjoy. So, take this with a grain of salt - opinions vary greatly and what might work for some, won’t for others. It’s quite the testament that despite my negative feelings toward the audio, Klune’s genius still strongly shines through!
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
I agree with the majority of the people out there regarding all the pros and cons of this story and to definitely avoid any spoilers if possible.
Is it angsty? As all get out.
Will you cry? If you have a heart, yes.
What about the writing? Phenomenal.
Is there romance? Well… there’s definitely love. So much love and how that can tear someone apart and put them back together.
There’s no doubt Klune is talented, and now I realize that he can definitely do more than silly, funny, poignant. This was a kick in the proverbial balls, as it stabbed me repeatedly in the chest. It will definitely move you. It was raw, heartfelt, and I suppose in away, all about surviving to live another day. I honestly had no clue what this was about and that was both good and bad.
If you want to feel something, and feel it strongly and deeply, then give this a go. I didn’t enjoy it, but I appreciated it.
On a side note, my official rating won’t reflect how I feel about the audio. There’s something about Derrick McClain that was horribly reminiscent of Mark Westfield (the only narrator I’ve ever dnf’d) but to a lesser degree, and I gritted my teeth throughout the entire 5 plus hours of this audio. Obviously, this is all very subjective because many loved his narration, but what I heard was McClain ending pretty much every sentence with a forced grunt that drove me absolutely bonkers. I sampled the rest of his works and some had it to a varying degree, while others did not, ones that I’d probably enjoy. So, take this with a grain of salt - opinions vary greatly and what might work for some, won’t for others. It’s quite the testament that despite my negative feelings toward the audio, Klune’s genius still strongly shines through!
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
April 28, 2017
I work with terminally ill people and sometimes when I walk into a house the grief is so thick that you can literally feel it. The air is heavy with it. That's what reading this book felt like. When I leave those homes I struggle to push the grief off of myself. And that's what it felt like when I was finished with this book.
I'm struggling with what else to say. I know the author recommends people go into without reading reviews etc so I'm going to keep this short (& spoiler free). This book is told from David's point of view as he tries to find his way out of the grief and loss he's experiencing. You find out in pieces what has brought David to the place he is at in the beginning of the story. And....your heart will break for him. (& it has nothing to do with terminal illness btw)
This is a hard book to rate. I'm giving it 5 stars because I think the writing was fantastic and deserves it. If I based it on enjoyment of the book......I don't know. This was a very hard read for me. David's grief is so heavy I felt like I was drowning in it too. The reason for his grief was super hard for me to read. His grief was based on my worst nightmare. I cried in places and twice I had to stop reading and take a break before I could get back to it.
The one thing I want to stress is this is not a romance. It is a love story though. A story about how true love can find it's way even in the darkest days. There was a lot of pain in this story but also a lot of beauty. Be ready for a heavy read.
I'm struggling with what else to say. I know the author recommends people go into without reading reviews etc so I'm going to keep this short (& spoiler free). This book is told from David's point of view as he tries to find his way out of the grief and loss he's experiencing. You find out in pieces what has brought David to the place he is at in the beginning of the story. And....your heart will break for him. (& it has nothing to do with terminal illness btw)
This is a hard book to rate. I'm giving it 5 stars because I think the writing was fantastic and deserves it. If I based it on enjoyment of the book......I don't know. This was a very hard read for me. David's grief is so heavy I felt like I was drowning in it too. The reason for his grief was super hard for me to read. His grief was based on my worst nightmare. I cried in places and twice I had to stop reading and take a break before I could get back to it.
The one thing I want to stress is this is not a romance. It is a love story though. A story about how true love can find it's way even in the darkest days. There was a lot of pain in this story but also a lot of beauty. Be ready for a heavy read.
September 29, 2017
No spoilers, okay? Because you have to go into this blind, okay? Seriously, please don't read any spoilers because you'll miss out on the total emotion of this story. Seriously.
Okay. That was fucking heartbreaking. Sure there's a happy-ish kind of ending, but the reality of the story (of how this happens every day) leaves me...bereft and just kind of...shattered.
This is so well crafted, it's almost like a movie script where I could see it in my mind. This beautiful, fragile, wonderful, horrible, worthwhile life together. Seen solely through David's POV, it renders your heart in two while still giving glimpses of hope and redemption and love and perseverance.
I just want to find David and Phillip and give them long hugs.
Look, A+ for the writing. I mean it. Total aces, even though this damn near killed me, because TJ Klune knows how to weave a story. He knows how to pull your heart out, stomp it into little pieces, and then pick it up and cradle it and piece it back together...and while this hurt, it is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
If you love a good Hurt/Comfort story and can stand some heartbreak and maybe even some wookiee cry face...buy this.
For my review of the audiobook click here.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Olive Juice provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Okay. That was fucking heartbreaking. Sure there's a happy-ish kind of ending, but the reality of the story (of how this happens every day) leaves me...bereft and just kind of...shattered.
“This needs to stop,” Phillip finally said.
David thought about ignoring him.
Instead, he said, “What does?”
“This.” He sounded frustrated. “You. Existing like this. Like you have nothing else. Like everything was taken from you.”
It might as well have been, but David didn’t say that aloud. He wasn’t cruel. At least not anymore. “I don’t know how else to be,” he said, admitting more than he wanted to. “This is all I’ve got right now. I’m sorry if that’s not enough for you.” Okay, yeah, maybe a little cruel.
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
“Do I?”
This is so well crafted, it's almost like a movie script where I could see it in my mind. This beautiful, fragile, wonderful, horrible, worthwhile life together. Seen solely through David's POV, it renders your heart in two while still giving glimpses of hope and redemption and love and perseverance.
Because the not knowing was the worst thing of all.
When you didn’t know, you were stuck in this limbo.
You didn’t know who to focus your anger on.
Your confusion.
Your fear.
Your anguish.
So it went wherever it could, that focus.
And sometimes, it went toward the wrong person.
I just want to find David and Phillip and give them long hugs.
Look, A+ for the writing. I mean it. Total aces, even though this damn near killed me, because TJ Klune knows how to weave a story. He knows how to pull your heart out, stomp it into little pieces, and then pick it up and cradle it and piece it back together...and while this hurt, it is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
If you love a good Hurt/Comfort story and can stand some heartbreak and maybe even some wookiee cry face...buy this.
For my review of the audiobook click here.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Olive Juice provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
April 18, 2017
This is my first TJ Klune read, and it broke my heart. I have read reviews of his other books and thought "yeah, I should add TJ Klune to my list and read him sometime" never realizing that I was missing out on an amazing author.
This book is subtly and beautifully written. It leads the reader down a path where we think we know the cliched destination, but then reveals we were mistaken. It's like the first time viewing "The Sixth Sense" or perhaps "Leaving Las Vegas" (not saying that this book is anything like these movies), it's just that you needed to go into those movies fresh, without any preconceptions. Resist delving for spoilers, and read this book. 5 stars.
July 6, 2019
Once again, T.J. Klune has reduced me to a crying, sobbing mess!
November 3, 2024
Me: well, I think I need something short now, a palate cleanser of a sort
Also me, a few hours later: ...oh you dumb bitch
Utterly raw. I don't even know what else to say.
My throat still feels a bit too tight. Damn you, TJ. Damn you, and thank you.
I'm not okay.
Also me, a few hours later: ...oh you dumb bitch
Utterly raw. I don't even know what else to say.
My throat still feels a bit too tight. Damn you, TJ. Damn you, and thank you.
I'm not okay.
April 6, 2017
This is not easy to do. *cringes* I hate writing poor reviews.
My last TJ book was not a successful read for me but the one before that was my book of the year read. Soo, I was hoping to wipe the slate clean per say, and start over. And yet, I find myself frustrated and upset when this story finished...again. I can't honestly say I enjoyed any of it.
It's complicated and choppy but I understand this is intentional. I'm okay with that.
It's confusing and sad and so angst heavy without any balance. This does not work for me.
I usually love my angst, but you gotta give me something to make it better before it's over.
If my heart is going to be battered and bruised, I expect, no I need it to be soothed.
I like to FEEL when I read but I don't like anguish upon anguish without any solace.
Break my heart if you must but you had better put it back together.
What I can tell you:
This story involves three people.
Something tragic has happened. That's all you know.
The trail tries to lead you astray, to a different path. You will presume it's something that it's not. When you discover the truth, it's crushing.
This story felt like an accident. A tragic accident. The severity similar to an amputated limb. And after we experience the agony of the trauma, a band-aid is placed on the truncated extremity. It wasn't enough. Not even close.
I can't tell you much more. Except a romance it is not.
I appreciate the quality of writing but good writing does not automatically generate good stories. This story hurts in the worst way and left me sad and depressed.
Therefore I can't rate it any higher.
My last TJ book was not a successful read for me but the one before that was my book of the year read. Soo, I was hoping to wipe the slate clean per say, and start over. And yet, I find myself frustrated and upset when this story finished...again. I can't honestly say I enjoyed any of it.
It's complicated and choppy but I understand this is intentional. I'm okay with that.
It's confusing and sad and so angst heavy without any balance. This does not work for me.
I usually love my angst, but you gotta give me something to make it better before it's over.
If my heart is going to be battered and bruised, I expect, no I need it to be soothed.
I like to FEEL when I read but I don't like anguish upon anguish without any solace.
Break my heart if you must but you had better put it back together.
What I can tell you:
This story involves three people.
Something tragic has happened. That's all you know.
The trail tries to lead you astray, to a different path. You will presume it's something that it's not. When you discover the truth, it's crushing.
This story felt like an accident. A tragic accident. The severity similar to an amputated limb. And after we experience the agony of the trauma, a band-aid is placed on the truncated extremity. It wasn't enough. Not even close.
I can't tell you much more. Except a romance it is not.
I appreciate the quality of writing but good writing does not automatically generate good stories. This story hurts in the worst way and left me sad and depressed.
Therefore I can't rate it any higher.
February 6, 2022
You breathe.
You ache.
You live.
You die inside, sometimes. These little deaths. It’s how you know you’re still living.
[4.4~4.5] i’ve come to the very scientific conclusion that vague blurbs = sad, sad times ahead 🤧
i recommend going into this novella as blind as possible, but if you’re concerned about triggers, lmk and i’d be happy to share 😊
either way, prepare for ouchies in, around, and outside your heart 🤕
April 27, 2017
Phenomenal piece of writing.
March 29, 2017
Sorry, Tj. I love you, I do, but you should already know why I'm struggling with the words while writing this review. I'm not even sure you should expect anyone to review this book coherently. You know this, don't you? Don't you? I'm almost certain you're reading this review and others like mine, maniacally laughing at us. You are, aren't you?
For all you folks out there, thinking about possibly buying this book - yeah... you want to. You do. Because you need to read this.
Please don't read any spoilerish reviews before reading this book. It's best to go in fully blind, just like I did, with only the blurb as a hint, for maximum impact.
Read this, I BEG YOU!
This is Tj Klune's best work yet. The emotional depth, the realism of it all - I haven't got words to describe it.
Read this. Don't even hesitate.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
For all you folks out there, thinking about possibly buying this book - yeah... you want to. You do. Because you need to read this.
Please don't read any spoilerish reviews before reading this book. It's best to go in fully blind, just like I did, with only the blurb as a hint, for maximum impact.
Read this, I BEG YOU!
This is Tj Klune's best work yet. The emotional depth, the realism of it all - I haven't got words to describe it.
Read this. Don't even hesitate.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
April 28, 2017
This story got 5 stars from me just because of how much it made me feel.
May 18, 2017
How TJ Klune broke me in less than 100 pages...
So this is going to be a short review because I am definitely keeping it spoiler free. 'Olive Juice' starts off on a heartbreaking but definitely an elusive note. It's only as the reader continues to read that the reason for the heartache becomes revealed.
As my friend and fellow reviewer, Todd said:
There really is no happiness and light with this one but I can't imagine not reading it. The writing, in true TJ fashion, is both gripping and compelling and while I definitely felt emotionally wrung out at the end I was also left with the tiniest spark of hope that said 'It's ok, they'll be ok." and maybe that's not the HEA that we all love so much but sometimes the HEA that life gives us isn't tied up with a bow or covered in rainbows and sprinkles... sometimes the HEA that we get is having gone through the storm and having the strength to put ourselves back together...to keep trying.
Be brave read this, it's less than 100 pages (on my Kobo), it's heartbreaking and amazing. It'll leave you saying 'thank god it's not me' only don't let yourself be fooled because sadly it could be you, it could be any of us and that's why you need to read this story.
*******************
An ARC of 'Olive Juice' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
So this is going to be a short review because I am definitely keeping it spoiler free. 'Olive Juice' starts off on a heartbreaking but definitely an elusive note. It's only as the reader continues to read that the reason for the heartache becomes revealed.
As my friend and fellow reviewer, Todd said:
"Mostly, this story was about when "THE MOST TERRIBLE THING IMAGINABLE" happens.""Olive Juice" is a story filled with the heartache and despair of two men as they struggle to survive and get past having their world torn apart...to find a way past it, living with the aftermath and reshaping their lives to find a way back to each other.
There really is no happiness and light with this one but I can't imagine not reading it. The writing, in true TJ fashion, is both gripping and compelling and while I definitely felt emotionally wrung out at the end I was also left with the tiniest spark of hope that said 'It's ok, they'll be ok." and maybe that's not the HEA that we all love so much but sometimes the HEA that life gives us isn't tied up with a bow or covered in rainbows and sprinkles... sometimes the HEA that we get is having gone through the storm and having the strength to put ourselves back together...to keep trying.
Be brave read this, it's less than 100 pages (on my Kobo), it's heartbreaking and amazing. It'll leave you saying 'thank god it's not me' only don't let yourself be fooled because sadly it could be you, it could be any of us and that's why you need to read this story.
*******************
An ARC of 'Olive Juice' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2017
2 Stars
This story had a really good potential but its writing didn’t let me enjoy it as much as I wanted. My issues:
1. repetitive words in a sentence or sentences in a paragraph. Some examples:
… The hotel? It’s just a staycation, after all. That’s it. That’s all it is. Right? Right? Right? ...
… anytime he put the phone to his ear and said, hello, hello, hello, …
… It was still on the message tree from before—ok ok ok ok—and …
… saying, this is my sister, this is my sister and she—and she—it’s been two years, oh God, two years and …
“Hi,” David said. “Hi. Hello.” …
… So he said, “Fine, fine. I’m fine. Just… thinking. About things.” …
2. Most of sentences are incomplete, like:
… He started to reach for his wallet. “I’m sorry. Here I am prattling on, and—”
… “Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t trying to—”
“No, no,” David said hastily. “I should have—”
“Thanks,” David said. “I’m not the—thanks.”
“I don’t—probably now? It’s just, I drove, and I probably shouldn’t—”
Come ON! What’s the meaning of “—” in the sentences?!? I think I’m going to hate “—”!!
3. David (one of the main characters) was in his fifties but his behavior is something like he is from another planet or he’s in his seventies or eighties! His insecurity was really on my nerves!
4. Most of the time (and I’m emphasize on most of the time) David was in his mind to remember something from the past and that was so annoying for me.
Please remember this was my opinion so you can pay no attention to it and read it! Hope you enjoy it!
This story had a really good potential but its writing didn’t let me enjoy it as much as I wanted. My issues:
1. repetitive words in a sentence or sentences in a paragraph. Some examples:
… The hotel? It’s just a staycation, after all. That’s it. That’s all it is. Right? Right? Right? ...
… anytime he put the phone to his ear and said, hello, hello, hello, …
… It was still on the message tree from before—ok ok ok ok—and …
… saying, this is my sister, this is my sister and she—and she—it’s been two years, oh God, two years and …
“Hi,” David said. “Hi. Hello.” …
… So he said, “Fine, fine. I’m fine. Just… thinking. About things.” …
2. Most of sentences are incomplete, like:
… He started to reach for his wallet. “I’m sorry. Here I am prattling on, and—”
… “Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t trying to—”
“No, no,” David said hastily. “I should have—”
“Thanks,” David said. “I’m not the—thanks.”
“I don’t—probably now? It’s just, I drove, and I probably shouldn’t—”
Come ON! What’s the meaning of “—” in the sentences?!? I think I’m going to hate “—”!!
3. David (one of the main characters) was in his fifties but his behavior is something like he is from another planet or he’s in his seventies or eighties! His insecurity was really on my nerves!
4. Most of the time (and I’m emphasize on most of the time) David was in his mind to remember something from the past and that was so annoying for me.
Please remember this was my opinion so you can pay no attention to it and read it! Hope you enjoy it!
February 27, 2018
OMG this story just broke my heart. I am debating between 4 & 5 stars because as awesome as this book was, it still hurt to read and I know the ending was the way it was for a reason that I 100% completely understand and agree with, it still hurt. I want the answers just as much as David and Phillip do, and it's so heartbreaking to see them suffer. While this story might be fiction, it is still oh so real for millions of people in this world. I can't even imagine and yes when we see things like this on the news, we sympathize but as David said, we all think thank god this wasn't me and go on with our lives.
This book is heavy on the angst and if that's NOT your thing, even if TJ is your thing, this book will break you and not put you back together 100%.
I think I will leave this at 4 stars because yes this book was amazing and awesome and gut wrenching, it was also sad, and so very, very bittersweet. But in my heart of hearts, I guess this really does deserve 5 stars. So it's both.
This book is heavy on the angst and if that's NOT your thing, even if TJ is your thing, this book will break you and not put you back together 100%.
I think I will leave this at 4 stars because yes this book was amazing and awesome and gut wrenching, it was also sad, and so very, very bittersweet. But in my heart of hearts, I guess this really does deserve 5 stars. So it's both.
do-not-read
September 2, 2018Because I'm the only one who gets to decide what I need to know about a book before reading it, and what I'm allowed to include in my reviews.
September 4, 2018
Like I'm going to sleep after that. 🙄
June 3, 2017
Well this broke my little fragile heart into pieces . A box of tissues was involved.
I feel like I knew David and Phillip, felt their love, their pain and everything in between.
You breathe.
You ache.
You live.
You die inside, sometimes.
These little deaths. It’s how you know you’re still living.
Read
May 2, 2017 5 Hearts
This book simply cannot be spoiled and I don’t spoil books. What I will do is talk about is how this book made me feel and what it made me think about.
The story isn’t one that’s new, sadly enough the basics of it is something we have seen numerous times over our lives and either been affected by it, pushed it aside or tried our hardest to forget it happened, grateful that it wasn’t us or someone we knew. It doesn’t need to directly happen to us to feel the damage, the heartbreak, hopelessness and utter lack of answers it brings.
This story for me is about the need for closure or to use a psychological term, the Need for Cognitive Closure. *** Closure or need for closure (NFC) (used interchangeably with need for cognitive closure (NFCC)) are psychological terms that describe an individual's desire for a firm answer to a question and an aversion toward ambiguity. The term "need" denotes a motivated tendency to seek out information. ***
Told from the singular perspective of David, we meet him as he is sitting outside a fancy hotel going to meet Philip. From his detailed internal dialogue, we know Philip is someone of great importance to David and someone he loves deeply though they have been separated for years. There is an infusion of a third party that isn’t completely solid as who they are to both men until later. Many times, I thought I knew and while my first guess was right, it didn’t lessen the impact of getting it from David himself.
When something tragic happens to us, no matter what it might be, not knowing is the beast of burden. It’s terrible to have so many questions that cannot be answered by anyone and not getting them can cause people to act irrational. I am not in the field of psychology nor do I have any experience other than my own therapy sessions dealing with the Need for Cognitive Closure but I recognize it in David. I see it the way he decides to live his life after the tragedy, how he treats Philip when he doesn’t act the same as David and in his regrets of what he lost. David feels as if his weekly calls and all that he does is being productive when it’s really a distraction of dealing with… it.
Goodness. I have so much I want to say about this book. So much I identified with about meeting, the food and the people that attend. Though again, my experience isn’t the same, it’s one that can almost be felt on a level of empathy with a side of tangible understanding.
While some say this isn’t a romance, I beg to differ. Just because a book doesn’t have on page sex or doesn’t begin with the meet cute to the over the top HEA, doesn’t make it not a romance. What David and Philip have will forever be a romance. Their love story is one for the books with how amazing it all has been. What they have been dealing with is beyond their control but with a chance and a want for change, there can be a new romance between them.
I have to admit, I thought I was made of tougher stuff while reading this but I got to a certain part and lost it. Full on tears and snot but it was such a beautiful moment that I couldn’t help it and honestly didn’t care.
Klune is a master with words and his story telling with Olive Juice is stunning. He has taken what should be recognized nationally at the minimum, but is all too often only covered by the few that acknowledge it’s actually happening, and provided readers with a glimpse into the lives it tears apart. Klune provides readers with facts without shoving it down your throat but making you pause and think… what have you seen? It’s a way of opening your eyes to what you don’t want to see in a place you’d least expect it. Well done, sir.
Olive Juice is simply an achingly bittersweet and heartbreaking story that truly makes you feel and makes you think beyond the lines of what you think you should. It’s just… yeah.
This book simply cannot be spoiled and I don’t spoil books. What I will do is talk about is how this book made me feel and what it made me think about.
The story isn’t one that’s new, sadly enough the basics of it is something we have seen numerous times over our lives and either been affected by it, pushed it aside or tried our hardest to forget it happened, grateful that it wasn’t us or someone we knew. It doesn’t need to directly happen to us to feel the damage, the heartbreak, hopelessness and utter lack of answers it brings.
This story for me is about the need for closure or to use a psychological term, the Need for Cognitive Closure. *** Closure or need for closure (NFC) (used interchangeably with need for cognitive closure (NFCC)) are psychological terms that describe an individual's desire for a firm answer to a question and an aversion toward ambiguity. The term "need" denotes a motivated tendency to seek out information. ***
Told from the singular perspective of David, we meet him as he is sitting outside a fancy hotel going to meet Philip. From his detailed internal dialogue, we know Philip is someone of great importance to David and someone he loves deeply though they have been separated for years. There is an infusion of a third party that isn’t completely solid as who they are to both men until later. Many times, I thought I knew and while my first guess was right, it didn’t lessen the impact of getting it from David himself.
When something tragic happens to us, no matter what it might be, not knowing is the beast of burden. It’s terrible to have so many questions that cannot be answered by anyone and not getting them can cause people to act irrational. I am not in the field of psychology nor do I have any experience other than my own therapy sessions dealing with the Need for Cognitive Closure but I recognize it in David. I see it the way he decides to live his life after the tragedy, how he treats Philip when he doesn’t act the same as David and in his regrets of what he lost. David feels as if his weekly calls and all that he does is being productive when it’s really a distraction of dealing with… it.
Goodness. I have so much I want to say about this book. So much I identified with about meeting, the food and the people that attend. Though again, my experience isn’t the same, it’s one that can almost be felt on a level of empathy with a side of tangible understanding.
While some say this isn’t a romance, I beg to differ. Just because a book doesn’t have on page sex or doesn’t begin with the meet cute to the over the top HEA, doesn’t make it not a romance. What David and Philip have will forever be a romance. Their love story is one for the books with how amazing it all has been. What they have been dealing with is beyond their control but with a chance and a want for change, there can be a new romance between them.
I have to admit, I thought I was made of tougher stuff while reading this but I got to a certain part and lost it. Full on tears and snot but it was such a beautiful moment that I couldn’t help it and honestly didn’t care.
Klune is a master with words and his story telling with Olive Juice is stunning. He has taken what should be recognized nationally at the minimum, but is all too often only covered by the few that acknowledge it’s actually happening, and provided readers with a glimpse into the lives it tears apart. Klune provides readers with facts without shoving it down your throat but making you pause and think… what have you seen? It’s a way of opening your eyes to what you don’t want to see in a place you’d least expect it. Well done, sir.
Olive Juice is simply an achingly bittersweet and heartbreaking story that truly makes you feel and makes you think beyond the lines of what you think you should. It’s just… yeah.
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