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The Love Song
How can you trust a second chance with the love of your life?
Casey has never met anyone like Grant: smart, mysterious, and utterly alone.
Grant walks through Casey’s life like a ghost, showing up in the middle of their senior year with no explanation, no history, and no interest in knowing anyone. Casey has plenty of friends, supportive parents to pay for college, and a solid future ahead of him. It should be easy to ignore a new outcast on campus.
But try as he might, Casey is drawn to Grant—and the more he learns, the more he wants to learn.
How do you go back to being strangers with someone who has seen your soul?
Grant left a broken life behind him in Georgia. When his mom moves them to Middle-of-Nowhere, Nebraska, he wants a fresh start, setting his sights on a future when he’ll be done with school, helping his mom make ends meet, and able to forget all of his mistakes.
The last thing he needs is someone getting in the way of that—someone feeling sorry for him. So why can’t he bring himself to stay away from Casey Dunne?
I don’t want us to be strangers again.
When circumstances tear them apart, it seems unlikely that they’ll ever be reunited. But when their paths do cross again, against all odds, their positions are reversed.
Casey doesn’t believe that Grant will recognize—or want—the person he’s become since high school.
Grant doesn’t know if he can give Casey the life he deserved all along… But he’s damned well going to try.
The Love Song is a steamy and emotional standalone romance with second chance themes, hurt/comfort, and a happy ending.
Casey has never met anyone like Grant: smart, mysterious, and utterly alone.
Grant walks through Casey’s life like a ghost, showing up in the middle of their senior year with no explanation, no history, and no interest in knowing anyone. Casey has plenty of friends, supportive parents to pay for college, and a solid future ahead of him. It should be easy to ignore a new outcast on campus.
But try as he might, Casey is drawn to Grant—and the more he learns, the more he wants to learn.
How do you go back to being strangers with someone who has seen your soul?
Grant left a broken life behind him in Georgia. When his mom moves them to Middle-of-Nowhere, Nebraska, he wants a fresh start, setting his sights on a future when he’ll be done with school, helping his mom make ends meet, and able to forget all of his mistakes.
The last thing he needs is someone getting in the way of that—someone feeling sorry for him. So why can’t he bring himself to stay away from Casey Dunne?
I don’t want us to be strangers again.
When circumstances tear them apart, it seems unlikely that they’ll ever be reunited. But when their paths do cross again, against all odds, their positions are reversed.
Casey doesn’t believe that Grant will recognize—or want—the person he’s become since high school.
Grant doesn’t know if he can give Casey the life he deserved all along… But he’s damned well going to try.
The Love Song is a steamy and emotional standalone romance with second chance themes, hurt/comfort, and a happy ending.
559 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2016
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296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 21, 2017
En muchos sentidos, una belleza de libro, pero tengo algunos sentimientos encontrados. Kay Simone sabe desarrrollar sus personajes de una forma maravillosa, nos hace conocerlos, preocuparnos por ellos y quererlos. Con una forma de escribir en cierta forma poética, y con un tono melancólico, es capaz de hacer que te metas en la historia y por muy larga que sea no quieras parar hasta saber qué va a pasar. La relación entre los protagonistas, su amor, se siente, es fácil dejarse llevar y emocionarse, saltar alguna lágrima o sonreir al infinito.
Pero, a pesar de esa belleza, no puedo evitar pensar que el libro no está bien balanceado. La autora lo divide en tres partes, aunque para mi hay dos claras, cuando ellos tienen 18-19 años y cuando se reencuentran años después. La primera parte es mucho más larga y en ella vemos cómo Grant y Casey se enamoran, cómo se sienten, qué han vivido y están viviendo, conocemos a los MC perfectamente. En contraposición, en la segunda parte todo parece un poco apresurado, no da tiempo a comprender bien cómo se desarrolla el reencuentro y cómo ellos vuelven a reenganchar la relación. Me encanta la forma de escribir de la autora, pero creo que se beneficiaría muchísimo de un buen editado, alguna cosa queda escasa y muchas sobran, haciendo que la historia pierda ritmo en algunas ocasiones.
A pesar de que creo que no es perfecto, la historia entre ellos es muy bella, ellos son bellos. Me ha parecido un buen libro, con un editado sería todavía mejor.
Pero, a pesar de esa belleza, no puedo evitar pensar que el libro no está bien balanceado. La autora lo divide en tres partes, aunque para mi hay dos claras, cuando ellos tienen 18-19 años y cuando se reencuentran años después. La primera parte es mucho más larga y en ella vemos cómo Grant y Casey se enamoran, cómo se sienten, qué han vivido y están viviendo, conocemos a los MC perfectamente. En contraposición, en la segunda parte todo parece un poco apresurado, no da tiempo a comprender bien cómo se desarrolla el reencuentro y cómo ellos vuelven a reenganchar la relación. Me encanta la forma de escribir de la autora, pero creo que se beneficiaría muchísimo de un buen editado, alguna cosa queda escasa y muchas sobran, haciendo que la historia pierda ritmo en algunas ocasiones.
A pesar de que creo que no es perfecto, la historia entre ellos es muy bella, ellos son bellos. Me ha parecido un buen libro, con un editado sería todavía mejor.
November 9, 2023
For the first 60% or so, I was sailing along thinking happily about how some books are much better than the sum of their parts. Jug-eared, poverty-stricken, prickly survivor of homophobic attacks / sunshiny dude with a nice family and a rescue complex, but THEY BOTH LOVE POETRY YO. So what if the dialogue didn't always ring quite true? So what if Kay Simone seems to think that only buttsex counts as sex? Mainly, I loved jug-eared, poverty-stricken, prickly Grant.
And then our poetry-loving protagonists are torn apart -- by circumstance, thankfully, rather than by Romance Misunderstanding Trope (TM) -- and ten years go by during which Sunshiny Casey gets his heart stomped on by his cheating bastard of a fiance and his faithless bastard of a best friend. These events get the shortest possible narrative shrift, so let's just take Kay Simone's word for it that Casey's self-image and his trust in people are trashed; fortunately for him and Grant, they both attend their tenth high-school reunion (which: Grant attended the high school for less than three months and was expelled before graduation, so how did he make it onto the alum list? but okay okay whatever). Cue Peaches and Herb, "Reunited."
Um so the thing is that Grant is now a rich techbro who lives in a penthouse and avoids introspection because it gave him an ulcer. Vast quantities of therapy have been applied to his traumatic history, so he has a nice little repertoire of affirmations to trot out whenever he feels shaky and wow was he ever a more interesting and complicated person as a traumatized 19-year-old and after a longish phase of skimming I couldn't stand to read one more word. DNF at, like, 87 percent.
You know what's depressing? High-school Casey gives Grant a notebook, which Grant uses as a journal, and his writing is ... really good! Really, really good. (No way did the author of Grant's journal entries grow up to be a techbro. I refuse to believe it.) The last third of this book should be shrunk down very very very small and placed in the dictionary next to the definition of "tailspin." The End.
And then our poetry-loving protagonists are torn apart -- by circumstance, thankfully, rather than by Romance Misunderstanding Trope (TM) -- and ten years go by during which Sunshiny Casey gets his heart stomped on by his cheating bastard of a fiance and his faithless bastard of a best friend. These events get the shortest possible narrative shrift, so let's just take Kay Simone's word for it that Casey's self-image and his trust in people are trashed; fortunately for him and Grant, they both attend their tenth high-school reunion (which: Grant attended the high school for less than three months and was expelled before graduation, so how did he make it onto the alum list? but okay okay whatever). Cue Peaches and Herb, "Reunited."
Um so the thing is that Grant is now a rich techbro who lives in a penthouse and avoids introspection because it gave him an ulcer. Vast quantities of therapy have been applied to his traumatic history, so he has a nice little repertoire of affirmations to trot out whenever he feels shaky and wow was he ever a more interesting and complicated person as a traumatized 19-year-old and after a longish phase of skimming I couldn't stand to read one more word. DNF at, like, 87 percent.
You know what's depressing? High-school Casey gives Grant a notebook, which Grant uses as a journal, and his writing is ... really good! Really, really good. (No way did the author of Grant's journal entries grow up to be a techbro. I refuse to believe it.) The last third of this book should be shrunk down very very very small and placed in the dictionary next to the definition of "tailspin." The End.
January 5, 2017
Yet another 5 star romance from Kay Simone
I don't know how she does it but each book Kay Simone has released has been an absolute triumph of how to craft words into a real and truly beautiful romance.
This is a second chance story and, while it feels slightly unbalanced with almost two thirds of the book taking place in the past, she still weaves a wondrous love story between two teenagers and their older selves.
Casey wasn't quite the golden child but he was happy in himself and secure in his love for Grant before it all went horribly wrong with one little mistake.
Grant had been broken before Casey's love showed him there could be more and instead of letting the mistake bury him, he instead used it to carve out a new life for himself which, while financially successful, still had a Casey shaped hole in it.
Ten years later their paths cross again at the school reunion and all bets are off as Grant seeks to show Casey that he's all he's ever wanted.
I don't know how she does it but each book Kay Simone has released has been an absolute triumph of how to craft words into a real and truly beautiful romance.
This is a second chance story and, while it feels slightly unbalanced with almost two thirds of the book taking place in the past, she still weaves a wondrous love story between two teenagers and their older selves.
Casey wasn't quite the golden child but he was happy in himself and secure in his love for Grant before it all went horribly wrong with one little mistake.
Grant had been broken before Casey's love showed him there could be more and instead of letting the mistake bury him, he instead used it to carve out a new life for himself which, while financially successful, still had a Casey shaped hole in it.
Ten years later their paths cross again at the school reunion and all bets are off as Grant seeks to show Casey that he's all he's ever wanted.
December 18, 2016
Good but too long
I really enjoyed the first 50% of this story. The characterizations are very nice, dialog is genuine, and the author really created a lovely and insightful analysis of class differences and the effects of childhood trauma.
Casey and Grant are my favorite kind of characters - cobbled together of real human traits like impatience and compassion and anger and love and confusion, but in different ratios. They come together with great chemistry and break each other's hearts by being young and human.
But the pacing in this book is just terrible. The first part goes fairly well - it describes their meeting and falling in love, and they are very much young adult boys and amazing for it.
But part 2 is a mess. The two parts should break into the youth and adult episodes of their romance, but instead part 2 picks up exactly where part 1 leaves off - and goes on and on. In fact, between about 50% and 70% the book honestly doesn't move at all. It'd just day to day stories about teens dating and going to school. I skipped a lot of it - it was uneccesary. The connection had been established.
The pacing issues affected the rest of the book for me. It totally set the rhythm off. And I didn't find the adult segment as compelling as the youth segment for various reasons.
First, the author had used a "changing places" trope - adult Casey is now insecure and adult Grant has found his center. However, she really didn't develop it well enough. Casey is supposedly destroyed by a relationship gone wrong. In the end there was a sort of message that one relationship can make or break a person no matter how solid they are. I wasn't impressed by that.
Second, the pacing remained off, and she seemed to be hunting for the chemistry between the adult characters. It seemed like even she couldn't find a way to make the characters she had created come together naturally, so it was kind of forced.
And as a result of that, the story used more and more cliches. The young adult Casey and Grant naturally came together in their own way. Late 20s Casey and Grant come together in erotica and romance tropes.
As an aside, adult Casey is a professor, but the story around that is off. The made up university he works for is unconvincing, and people with master's degrees don't become professors.
Overall my impression is that she had the characters as young adults (they are never minors in the story), but was never able to quite mesh them as adults. But the first half is worth reading on its own.
I really enjoyed the first 50% of this story. The characterizations are very nice, dialog is genuine, and the author really created a lovely and insightful analysis of class differences and the effects of childhood trauma.
Casey and Grant are my favorite kind of characters - cobbled together of real human traits like impatience and compassion and anger and love and confusion, but in different ratios. They come together with great chemistry and break each other's hearts by being young and human.
But the pacing in this book is just terrible. The first part goes fairly well - it describes their meeting and falling in love, and they are very much young adult boys and amazing for it.
But part 2 is a mess. The two parts should break into the youth and adult episodes of their romance, but instead part 2 picks up exactly where part 1 leaves off - and goes on and on. In fact, between about 50% and 70% the book honestly doesn't move at all. It'd just day to day stories about teens dating and going to school. I skipped a lot of it - it was uneccesary. The connection had been established.
The pacing issues affected the rest of the book for me. It totally set the rhythm off. And I didn't find the adult segment as compelling as the youth segment for various reasons.
First, the author had used a "changing places" trope - adult Casey is now insecure and adult Grant has found his center. However, she really didn't develop it well enough. Casey is supposedly destroyed by a relationship gone wrong. In the end there was a sort of message that one relationship can make or break a person no matter how solid they are. I wasn't impressed by that.
Second, the pacing remained off, and she seemed to be hunting for the chemistry between the adult characters. It seemed like even she couldn't find a way to make the characters she had created come together naturally, so it was kind of forced.
And as a result of that, the story used more and more cliches. The young adult Casey and Grant naturally came together in their own way. Late 20s Casey and Grant come together in erotica and romance tropes.
As an aside, adult Casey is a professor, but the story around that is off. The made up university he works for is unconvincing, and people with master's degrees don't become professors.
Overall my impression is that she had the characters as young adults (they are never minors in the story), but was never able to quite mesh them as adults. But the first half is worth reading on its own.
August 18, 2024
How is this the first book I'm reading by this author?? I have been reading this all day including when I could squeeze it in at work and it has been so engrossing, at one point I got up to use the bathroom and was surprised to see it was not dark and snowy outside.
There's a finite amount of angst that I'm ok with in a book. I like the threat of something bad coming up ahead, but when it hits I don't like wallowing in it. I want enough despair that my heart gets involved but not so much that I start to actually get depressed; I have my own life for that, after all.
This book has the perfect balance and I freakin loooove it. Oh man. So good.
Unfortunately it's 10:17 pm and I can tell my resolve to go to bed early will once again be worthless as I will need to go find more of their books immediately.
(8/17/2024 Just a note for myself that this was a Misha Horne rec)
There's a finite amount of angst that I'm ok with in a book. I like the threat of something bad coming up ahead, but when it hits I don't like wallowing in it. I want enough despair that my heart gets involved but not so much that I start to actually get depressed; I have my own life for that, after all.
This book has the perfect balance and I freakin loooove it. Oh man. So good.
Unfortunately it's 10:17 pm and I can tell my resolve to go to bed early will once again be worthless as I will need to go find more of their books immediately.
(8/17/2024 Just a note for myself that this was a Misha Horne rec)
December 6, 2016
Love Belongs to Us All.
The Love Song by Kay Simone is a beautiful, wildly emotional and sometimes disturbing story of a young adult gay relationship. The author is new to me and I am thankful for the recommendation by my very exclusive review group and especially thankful to find this book on Kindle Unlimited. This is a fascinating coming of age love story that will touch your heart and leave you speechless. Setting: Two young men with entirely different backgrounds and home life reality are in their senior year of high school in a small Nebraska town. The reader will come to understand why they are absolutely perfect for each other in all of the seasons of their lives.
Grant is new in town and from a very conservative Georgia city where he learned some terrible lessons about being gay, especially in the South. After the trauma associated with being outed in Georgia, he has no intention of letting anyone close to him at all. Casey is an open-hearted young man with a loving family who doesn’t understand why Grant is so closed off and solitary with no friends. Even worse, it doesn’t seem like Grant even cares to meet people and have friends and that is a challenge that bi-sexual Casey cannot resist.
Parts of this ‘can’t put it down story’ were very funny, i.e. when Grant is amazed at the waffle maker and Casey educated him about waffles saying that waffles happen “when a mom waffle and dad waffle love each other very much”. The story was, at other times, terribly sad and finally hopeful and optimistic. Character development was exquisite, highlighting the personality changes, confidence development and capacity for love related to milestone life events and maturity. Intimacy and need were part of the total picture and perfect. A truly remarkable love story, there is a happy every after ending involving lovable but sometimes flawed main characters. The journey is one you won’t want to miss.
The Love Song by Kay Simone is a beautiful, wildly emotional and sometimes disturbing story of a young adult gay relationship. The author is new to me and I am thankful for the recommendation by my very exclusive review group and especially thankful to find this book on Kindle Unlimited. This is a fascinating coming of age love story that will touch your heart and leave you speechless. Setting: Two young men with entirely different backgrounds and home life reality are in their senior year of high school in a small Nebraska town. The reader will come to understand why they are absolutely perfect for each other in all of the seasons of their lives.
Grant is new in town and from a very conservative Georgia city where he learned some terrible lessons about being gay, especially in the South. After the trauma associated with being outed in Georgia, he has no intention of letting anyone close to him at all. Casey is an open-hearted young man with a loving family who doesn’t understand why Grant is so closed off and solitary with no friends. Even worse, it doesn’t seem like Grant even cares to meet people and have friends and that is a challenge that bi-sexual Casey cannot resist.
Parts of this ‘can’t put it down story’ were very funny, i.e. when Grant is amazed at the waffle maker and Casey educated him about waffles saying that waffles happen “when a mom waffle and dad waffle love each other very much”. The story was, at other times, terribly sad and finally hopeful and optimistic. Character development was exquisite, highlighting the personality changes, confidence development and capacity for love related to milestone life events and maturity. Intimacy and need were part of the total picture and perfect. A truly remarkable love story, there is a happy every after ending involving lovable but sometimes flawed main characters. The journey is one you won’t want to miss.
December 14, 2016
I must say this book left me speechless and quite a bit emotional. A beautiful love story that will make your heart swell then tear it apart. The storyline was strong and amazing. The characters were Brilliantly written from the onset to their second chance meeting a decade later. Casey and Grant met in the middle of their senior year. Total opposites from one another and yet who seemed to compliment each other. They needed one another and then they were torn apart due to unfortunate circumstances. Both were inexperienced with sex, but it was all apart of coming in age. You come to love these two boys as their hearts were broken never to see one another again. Ten years later Casey has gone through a traumatic breakup as his fiancé cheats on him leaving him distrustful of relationships. He's not the same Casey of 10 years ago. He's hurt. As the high school reunion is upon them He knows that Grant might be there. Grant has changed into a confidant, successful millionaire, but he has never stopped loving Casey. He is hoping to change what has been strangers for the past ten years into something more. But he knows if he sees Casey with a significant other he will walk away. Their chance meeting is one of skepticism especially on Casey's part. But the night ends with them in bed having the best SEX either has ever had. Their journey from there is heart warming and heart wrenching. Can Casey get past his recent heart break? Can he open his heart back up to Grant, the first
Boy he has ever loved and that has always loved him. Loved this story. THE SEX was HOT with a very emotional ride and the poetry was a great foundation. Don't dare miss this one. ❤️
Boy he has ever loved and that has always loved him. Loved this story. THE SEX was HOT with a very emotional ride and the poetry was a great foundation. Don't dare miss this one. ❤️
February 3, 2017
4.25 Stars! This is a brilliant, beautiful story, I absolutely loved it (except for the time lapse-that knocked off half a star). Totally worth the time to read.
December 29, 2016
A Beautiful Love Story.
Kay Simone writes stunning love stories. The depth of feeling and emotion packed into them astounds me. Why then, not 5 stars? Well, there are a few niggly errors that should have been picked up by a proof reader. There is also one phrase "the other senior" which would have been acceptable used once or twice during scenes set in the school or when the characters were doing their homework. In every other instance of its use, the character's name would have been more fitting. I'm being really nit-picky here. This probably won't bother most readers.
Kay Simone writes stunning love stories. The depth of feeling and emotion packed into them astounds me. Why then, not 5 stars? Well, there are a few niggly errors that should have been picked up by a proof reader. There is also one phrase "the other senior" which would have been acceptable used once or twice during scenes set in the school or when the characters were doing their homework. In every other instance of its use, the character's name would have been more fitting. I'm being really nit-picky here. This probably won't bother most readers.
December 15, 2016
Gosh, what a beautiful story! It has such a peppermint-y sweetness. Strong, bold, burns a bit, but still sweet nonetheless. It lingers, feeling cool and refreshing. I fell in love with everything- from the scenery to the supporting characters. The book hooked me, and I dove right in. I was thrown into a roller coaster of feelings; not expecting where it would take me next. I feel like I grew up with Grant and Casey as I made my way through the book. I'm a sucker for coming of age stories, so this was extremely satisfying.
From sweet to heartbreaking, every scene had me wanting more. I have to say, I ended up accidentally sleeping in a few times because I stayed up way too late reading this before bed, LOL!
This is a story I will never forget. Fantastic job!
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC in exchange of a honest review.
From sweet to heartbreaking, every scene had me wanting more. I have to say, I ended up accidentally sleeping in a few times because I stayed up way too late reading this before bed, LOL!
This is a story I will never forget. Fantastic job!
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC in exchange of a honest review.
December 6, 2016
This is such a beautifully written story of two teenage boys who meet during their senior year and fall in love. Casey has everything, a loving family, beautiful home and lots of friends. Grant has almost nothing. He lives in a trailer with his mother who is always working to pay their mounting bills and leaves him alone for days on end. Eventually you find out why Grant appeared out of nowhere part way through the school year and the reason behind the medical bills which are being paid off slowly which is the reason why Grant's mother is working so hard.
This book is an amazing read. It is so emotive and draws you right in and keeps you reading right to the very end.
I received a complimentary ARC and this is my voluntary review
This book is an amazing read. It is so emotive and draws you right in and keeps you reading right to the very end.
I received a complimentary ARC and this is my voluntary review
December 11, 2016
Poetry in motion
This book is wonderful. I love Casey and Grant. Grant was definitely a hard nut to crack but he opened himself up to Casey. I was so happy to see that grant was successful but I wished we got to read about their 10 yrs apart. There were a couple of editing issues misspelling and typing errors but I didn't skip a beat just kept on reading. I love Kay Simone's writing - her characters are always well developed and the story lines always pull you in and hard to put down until the last page.
This book is wonderful. I love Casey and Grant. Grant was definitely a hard nut to crack but he opened himself up to Casey. I was so happy to see that grant was successful but I wished we got to read about their 10 yrs apart. There were a couple of editing issues misspelling and typing errors but I didn't skip a beat just kept on reading. I love Kay Simone's writing - her characters are always well developed and the story lines always pull you in and hard to put down until the last page.
December 27, 2016
If the quality of the writing kept up to the standards set in part one, I would have given this book 5 stars. Part one was exquisite perfection. A roller-coaster of emotions I never wanted to end. But part two just didn't sit right with me. Ten years later. Fine. Emotional role reversal, a bit forced, but okay. But it just dragged on and on. Even the romantic scenes weren't that great. It was all just a bit far-fetched. Then the end was completely abrupt about face with little explanation. It really made no sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2016
Well it's right fortunate that today was a Sunday!
This gorgeous book enthralled me with its poetic language, wove spells around me with one heck of a romantic plot and made me care so much for its characters and their stories I basically I almost never left my reading spot. Beautiful book, highly recommended
This gorgeous book enthralled me with its poetic language, wove spells around me with one heck of a romantic plot and made me care so much for its characters and their stories I basically I almost never left my reading spot. Beautiful book, highly recommended
January 7, 2021
La historia resultaría bonita si no fuera porque la primera parte se me hizo tan sumamente larga y la segunda tan poco realista que no se daba acabado el libro.
3* siendo muy pero que muy benévola.
3* siendo muy pero que muy benévola.
January 7, 2017
Too much feels.
I need some time to think and rethink, then think some more.
This books left me with so many... Things. Things to think and rethink.
God, first impression is 5 stars, will probably cut it down... Or increase it to 6, damnit.
UPDATE:
One month later. This book is still amazing. It left a strong impact in me, with lots of ARGH moments, when I desperately tried to find a way to crawl into the story and slap some sanity to tbe caracters.
I also realised the anger I felt at how the book ended was based on the bond I made with the characters. I wasn't angry at them but for them!
So, no one hopp on this book thinking it's a fluffy love story. Someone said it's not even a love story, but I would argue with that. Love comes in many forms. But truth to be said, it's really is mostly about scars and issues, some heavy topics one tends not to think about.
Hate and hate crimes are often mentioned in this genre of books, but is often outshined by a hero or an understanding lover, how things changed for the better... Which kinda happened in this book as welk, but all through the book, and even while I read the last sentence I felt sad. Deeply sad for them.
Only one thing I didn't like in this book. And that is the abrupt cut before the final few chapters of the book. I knew nothing about the characters, who were suddenly like total strangers. Yes, it was a good enough way to demonstrate things and place us in the characters skin, but... I just couldn't feel Casey's angst so much this way. And still cannot comprehend how easily he was out of it with a few magic sentences .
I'm not taking any stars away. I'll prodly say I LOVED this long -maybe a tad bit too long, taking how emotionally exhausting it was- angst-ball of a book!
Loved -and hated- the characters, to I'm still processing the gender queer -kinda being one myself, but it's a topic with many diferent views on it, so let's not go there now. :)
4,8. MUCH LOVE. I'll definetely re-read it sometime in the future. (What I don't do much, taken all the new books out there and the limited time I have.)
I need some time to think and rethink, then think some more.
This books left me with so many... Things. Things to think and rethink.
God, first impression is 5 stars, will probably cut it down... Or increase it to 6, damnit.
UPDATE:
One month later. This book is still amazing. It left a strong impact in me, with lots of ARGH moments, when I desperately tried to find a way to crawl into the story and slap some sanity to tbe caracters.
I also realised the anger I felt at how the book ended was based on the bond I made with the characters. I wasn't angry at them but for them!
So, no one hopp on this book thinking it's a fluffy love story. Someone said it's not even a love story, but I would argue with that. Love comes in many forms. But truth to be said, it's really is mostly about scars and issues, some heavy topics one tends not to think about.
Hate and hate crimes are often mentioned in this genre of books, but is often outshined by a hero or an understanding lover, how things changed for the better... Which kinda happened in this book as welk, but all through the book, and even while I read the last sentence I felt sad. Deeply sad for them.
Only one thing I didn't like in this book. And that is the abrupt cut before the final few chapters of the book. I knew nothing about the characters, who were suddenly like total strangers. Yes, it was a good enough way to demonstrate things and place us in the characters skin, but... I just couldn't feel Casey's angst so much this way. And still cannot comprehend how easily he was out of it with a few magic sentences .
I'm not taking any stars away. I'll prodly say I LOVED this long -maybe a tad bit too long, taking how emotionally exhausting it was- angst-ball of a book!
Loved -and hated- the characters, to I'm still processing the gender queer -kinda being one myself, but it's a topic with many diferent views on it, so let's not go there now. :)
4,8. MUCH LOVE. I'll definetely re-read it sometime in the future. (What I don't do much, taken all the new books out there and the limited time I have.)
December 7, 2016
I absolutely fell in love with this coming of age m/m romance. This is a lengthy book, but I devoured it quickly and wished for more! Broken down into three parts, spanning their senior year of high school and then 10 years later with the high school reunion. Casey and Grant live in the middle of nowhere Nebraska and Casey can't stand the new kid. Grant keeps to himself and no one really knows anything about him. Grant is basically raising himself as his mom works constantly.
Forced to work on a project together, the boys can't deny their attraction no matter if Grant keeps pushing Casey away. Casey a loving, generous young man who's pretty open about his bisexuality, where Grant is afraid of his feelings and what would happen if he were to admit that he was was falling for Casey. He's running from his past and the ramifications if his mother ever found out about Casey. Sometimes it's just easier to walk away to spare everyone heartache, but life rarely works out how you plan it.
One of my favorite reads of the year. These two boys captured my heart, brought me to tears and left me with hope. A solid five stars!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Forced to work on a project together, the boys can't deny their attraction no matter if Grant keeps pushing Casey away. Casey a loving, generous young man who's pretty open about his bisexuality, where Grant is afraid of his feelings and what would happen if he were to admit that he was was falling for Casey. He's running from his past and the ramifications if his mother ever found out about Casey. Sometimes it's just easier to walk away to spare everyone heartache, but life rarely works out how you plan it.
One of my favorite reads of the year. These two boys captured my heart, brought me to tears and left me with hope. A solid five stars!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2016
This book is told in two parts, one when they're still teenagers and Grant and Casey meet and fall in love and then the second part takes place 10 years later, so it's a first love YA story and a second chance at love story wrapped into one enticing package.
While it was awesome to follow them as teenagers and I was completely invested in everything that happened in that portion of the book, I would've liked to read a bit more of them as adults in love working together to get their HEA. Still, it was undeniable there was a powerful connection between them, and they were really hot together. I just wanted to see more of that translated into the future.
I have to admit that the size of the book felt a bit daunting at first, but it's such an emotional, angsty, well-written story, with fantastic leads that you will care about and root for, that I barely felt the length once I got into it. It's a rollercoaster, but it's one you won't want to go down from until the last page.
Recommendable!
Rating: 4 Stars!!!
*** Copy provided to the reviewer by the author for my reading pleasure. ***
While it was awesome to follow them as teenagers and I was completely invested in everything that happened in that portion of the book, I would've liked to read a bit more of them as adults in love working together to get their HEA. Still, it was undeniable there was a powerful connection between them, and they were really hot together. I just wanted to see more of that translated into the future.
I have to admit that the size of the book felt a bit daunting at first, but it's such an emotional, angsty, well-written story, with fantastic leads that you will care about and root for, that I barely felt the length once I got into it. It's a rollercoaster, but it's one you won't want to go down from until the last page.
Recommendable!
Rating: 4 Stars!!!
*** Copy provided to the reviewer by the author for my reading pleasure. ***
December 7, 2016
I received an advance review copy from the author in exchange for a written review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Love Song is a compelling story about two teenagers - Casey and Grant. These two boys are great at sharing their love of english literature, but not so much their feelings. This heartfelt teen romance fills all the gaps in a love story so original it can only have been written by Kay themself.
Simone does a great job of creating a world that you can slip into as a reader and not only watch, but feel apart of the events that unfold between these two boys. Through emotional character arcs I found myself rooting for Casey and Grant's stuborness to make things work. This realistic take on what some usually brush off as "high school flings" proves to be much more than meets the eye. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventurous love story and the suprisingly delightful outcome.
If you're a fan of a more delicate, push and pull type of romance with both parties putting their hearts on the line, then this is the book for you.
The Love Song is a compelling story about two teenagers - Casey and Grant. These two boys are great at sharing their love of english literature, but not so much their feelings. This heartfelt teen romance fills all the gaps in a love story so original it can only have been written by Kay themself.
Simone does a great job of creating a world that you can slip into as a reader and not only watch, but feel apart of the events that unfold between these two boys. Through emotional character arcs I found myself rooting for Casey and Grant's stuborness to make things work. This realistic take on what some usually brush off as "high school flings" proves to be much more than meets the eye. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventurous love story and the suprisingly delightful outcome.
If you're a fan of a more delicate, push and pull type of romance with both parties putting their hearts on the line, then this is the book for you.
December 21, 2016
Most of the book takes place when Casey and Grant are teens and I loved that stuff. The characters are described and explored so wonderfully until they feel like close imperfectly perfect friends. It was heart warming and heart wrenching. It was funny and tragic. It was so good.
The stuff that takes place when they are adults didn't work for me as well. It felt like less time was taken letting the reader understand what is pulling them together and what is pushing them apart. As a result I felt less sympathetic. I felt frustrated that I was never told why certain decisions were made during the 10 years between the sections of the book.
Given how long the book is it is weird to want it longer but I did. The I felt like there was a tonal shift from when they were teens compared to when they were adults and I didn't want the change because I loved the earlier stuff so much.
Despite this criticism the book is well worth reading like all Kay Simone books I've read.
The stuff that takes place when they are adults didn't work for me as well. It felt like less time was taken letting the reader understand what is pulling them together and what is pushing them apart. As a result I felt less sympathetic. I felt frustrated that I was never told why certain decisions were made during the 10 years between the sections of the book.
Given how long the book is it is weird to want it longer but I did. The I felt like there was a tonal shift from when they were teens compared to when they were adults and I didn't want the change because I loved the earlier stuff so much.
Despite this criticism the book is well worth reading like all Kay Simone books I've read.
February 10, 2017
I just finished this book, and it has left me emotionally wrung out and euphorically happy. It felt like I took a long, leasurly drive through the most beautiful country side, fell off a cliff into a stormy ocean, got tossed around until I washed out on a desolate beach, and then watched the sun set over paradise with an umbrella drink in hand. Seriously, this book did a number on me. It's the first book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more from her
December 7, 2016
I really loved The Love Song. It is a true second chance romance. The story begins when Grant and Casey meet in high school. The story then shifts to 10 years later when Grant and Casey reconnnect. The writing allows you to feel the emotional pull between these to characters. This was a pleasure to read.
December 18, 2016
I loved this author's "The Aftermath." So I thought I would try another by her. This book started out slowly and unfortunately kept up that pace until I started to skim and skip to get to something interesting and every once in awhile there was. But overall, for me, this one was just too long and tedious to keep my interest.
December 21, 2016
The first part of this story was quite good but I sort of lost interest halfway through. The switching POV's was fine, but it happened so bloody often that I never really got a feel for either character beyond the superficial. Given all the love this book has gotten, I'm sure this just wasn't the book for me.
December 7, 2016
What can I say, I loved it. These characters and this great story pulled me out of a reading funk that was a mile wide. I love all the beautiful poetry throughout as well. I really enjoyed this book and would read more by this author for sure.
I received an exclusive arc, btw.
I received an exclusive arc, btw.
December 8, 2016
Oh man.. this was like being part of highschool/college again... in the good ways and the bad. Lol these 2 guys are so ridiculously naive and annoying yet sweet and amazing in the same way. lol This was so much fun to read and was an easy fast read for me. I am so glad I got to review it
February 3, 2020
O livro foi incrível! Amei e me envolvi demais com os personagens. A primeira parte do livro foi perfeita, a forma como o Cassey e o Grant foram apresentados, seus dilemas e suas paixões pela literatura foram elementos que me cativaram e me prenderam tanto que eu mal podia parar de pensar nesse livro o dia inteiro.
Me identifiquei muito com o Grant, não só pela paixão pela literatura mas também com sua personalidade antisocial e sua situação financeira apertada. O Cassey na primeira parte do livro é como um sol atraindo uma mariposa, é impossível não ama-lo!
Eu estava muito ansiosa para a segunda parte do livro, mas infelizmente deixou a desejar. Apesar de eu ter amado completamente o fato do Grant ter vencido na vida (o que foi muito merecido) e o Cassey ter se tornado professor (o que já era esperado), o que me deixou decepcionada foi a forma como o livro se apresentou corrido nessa última parte, com fatos se atropelando. Os personagens agora são outras pessoas com uma bagagem emocional e muita vivência no meio e infelizmente 150 páginas não foram o suficientes para passar profundidade a essa nova fase.
Amei conhecer Prof e amei que Val ainda é incrível, amei completamente a representatividade no relacionamento dos dois. Senti falta dos pais do Cassey, queria o reencontro deles o Grant, era muito merecido.
O problema emocional do Grant na primeira parte foi belamente trabalhado, já o do Cassey nessa segunda parte teve um desenvolvimento raso e vago no final. Gostaria que também tivesse apresentado o ex noivo do Cassey não só por lembranças e citações dele, teria sido uma boa história a se ouvir.
Apesar da segunda parte, eu amei muito esse livro, ele com certeza me marcou com vários momentos engraçados e frases reflexivas. Valeu muito a pena essa história!
Me identifiquei muito com o Grant, não só pela paixão pela literatura mas também com sua personalidade antisocial e sua situação financeira apertada. O Cassey na primeira parte do livro é como um sol atraindo uma mariposa, é impossível não ama-lo!
Eu estava muito ansiosa para a segunda parte do livro, mas infelizmente deixou a desejar. Apesar de eu ter amado completamente o fato do Grant ter vencido na vida (o que foi muito merecido) e o Cassey ter se tornado professor (o que já era esperado), o que me deixou decepcionada foi a forma como o livro se apresentou corrido nessa última parte, com fatos se atropelando. Os personagens agora são outras pessoas com uma bagagem emocional e muita vivência no meio e infelizmente 150 páginas não foram o suficientes para passar profundidade a essa nova fase.
Amei conhecer Prof e amei que Val ainda é incrível, amei completamente a representatividade no relacionamento dos dois. Senti falta dos pais do Cassey, queria o reencontro deles o Grant, era muito merecido.
O problema emocional do Grant na primeira parte foi belamente trabalhado, já o do Cassey nessa segunda parte teve um desenvolvimento raso e vago no final. Gostaria que também tivesse apresentado o ex noivo do Cassey não só por lembranças e citações dele, teria sido uma boa história a se ouvir.
Apesar da segunda parte, eu amei muito esse livro, ele com certeza me marcou com vários momentos engraçados e frases reflexivas. Valeu muito a pena essa história!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2016
One of my favourite aspects of Simone's writing is their ability to create very human and relatable characters. I find that there is always one in every book that particularly grabs me, though it's easy to appreciate the interesting and diverse cast that is always provided. The premise of this book alone managed to capture all of that, and it certainly delivered.
It was easy to immerse myself in the emotions the two main characters, Casey and Grant, felt at every turn - whether it was longing, their affection, or the sense that everything was too good to be true. I find it difficult to really phrase just how brilliant Simone was in this novel at pulling the reader in; it's to the extent that, despite the length of the story already, I found myself desperately wanting more at the end and wishing I could know the progression of their relationship after the book. However, the ending felt perfect for Casey and Grant and for the arc of the story, particularly where they were as people at that point in their lives. Without giving away any spoilers, I particularly loved the shift towards the end, the way their positions flipped in some ways, making it clear how they had each grown and learned from each other in the past.
'The Love Song' was an incredibly satisfying story in all aspects. I would always eagerly read any more content set in this universe, particularly after the ending the book due to my desire to see how their relationship develops again, but I feel like Simone rounded it all off in a truly perfect ending.
It was easy to immerse myself in the emotions the two main characters, Casey and Grant, felt at every turn - whether it was longing, their affection, or the sense that everything was too good to be true. I find it difficult to really phrase just how brilliant Simone was in this novel at pulling the reader in; it's to the extent that, despite the length of the story already, I found myself desperately wanting more at the end and wishing I could know the progression of their relationship after the book. However, the ending felt perfect for Casey and Grant and for the arc of the story, particularly where they were as people at that point in their lives. Without giving away any spoilers, I particularly loved the shift towards the end, the way their positions flipped in some ways, making it clear how they had each grown and learned from each other in the past.
'The Love Song' was an incredibly satisfying story in all aspects. I would always eagerly read any more content set in this universe, particularly after the ending the book due to my desire to see how their relationship develops again, but I feel like Simone rounded it all off in a truly perfect ending.
March 3, 2019
All those freaking hours spent on this book... I have to be more discriminating - for my own good and mental health!
And it's not even like I can say this book is bad! It's probably just my feelings but oh, how fu..dged up those are, you don't even know.
First - the first time they were together. Really threw me back to those early days I read YA contemporary romance. It was, in many aspects, way, way better the only thing, surprisingly, was the romance aspect. I am no longer used to that teenage-oriented writing and it was so awkward to read about that first fragile bud of young love.
But no, I did not stop, I was boosted by the short stories I read yesterday. Mistake.
Ten years happened. TEN. YEARS. I despise from the bottom of my heart wasted time and ten years after... that? Just no. NO. It was almost as bad as what happened after they met again! Which was terrible.
I get it people, everyone has issues but this was just... so. messing. with. my. mind.
It was just all wrong. Made me feel all the wrong things. And... this is really subjective feeling and I am ranting because I totally need to get off this awful feeling for a book that may not deserve it, because it had a lot of going on for it even if for me, it feels, right now, like a terrible book.
And let me not even start on that ending. So much drama and problems just to suddenly... ghhhr. No. Just... I am not sure I can recommend it. Approach it with caution. And hope my reaction is just me-specific. I mean, the ratings are good, you know?
And it's not even like I can say this book is bad! It's probably just my feelings but oh, how fu..dged up those are, you don't even know.
First - the first time they were together. Really threw me back to those early days I read YA contemporary romance. It was, in many aspects, way, way better the only thing, surprisingly, was the romance aspect. I am no longer used to that teenage-oriented writing and it was so awkward to read about that first fragile bud of young love.
But no, I did not stop, I was boosted by the short stories I read yesterday. Mistake.
Ten years happened. TEN. YEARS. I despise from the bottom of my heart wasted time and ten years after... that? Just no. NO. It was almost as bad as what happened after they met again! Which was terrible.
I get it people, everyone has issues but this was just... so. messing. with. my. mind.
It was just all wrong. Made me feel all the wrong things. And... this is really subjective feeling and I am ranting because I totally need to get off this awful feeling for a book that may not deserve it, because it had a lot of going on for it even if for me, it feels, right now, like a terrible book.
And let me not even start on that ending. So much drama and problems just to suddenly... ghhhr. No. Just... I am not sure I can recommend it. Approach it with caution. And hope my reaction is just me-specific. I mean, the ratings are good, you know?
August 4, 2017
So this book really disappointed me and pissed me off. The first part was fine. Damaged young dude. Slow reveal of why damaged. Fine.
The forced apart by horrid mother. Okay. He's under age? No? Then...okay, so why not ring him up when he gets somewhere? Or email?
And then the stupid bit - they stay apart for 10 years. Dude 1 never contacts dude 2 even though he knows where he is and how to contact him.
So then Dude 1 goes to their high school reunion to meet up with dude 2. Dude 2 has since been massively damaged by a relationship fail, and lost his ability to trust. Dude 1 now, arbitrarily, after no contact for 10 years, wants forever with dude 2 (plus, super duper multi millionaire). Dude 2 has to do lots of angst and drama and being damaged. Plus I wouldn't trust dude 1 either.
So while all this ridiculousness is going on, I'm thinking "10 years? Wtf? This is bullshit.....10 years....wtf..."
In other words my willing suspension of disbelief was totally trashed. I was completely jolted out of the story.
I guess this author is usually good for me, with a couple of epic fails. This one, and crims in love.
The forced apart by horrid mother. Okay. He's under age? No? Then...okay, so why not ring him up when he gets somewhere? Or email?
And then the stupid bit - they stay apart for 10 years. Dude 1 never contacts dude 2 even though he knows where he is and how to contact him.
So then Dude 1 goes to their high school reunion to meet up with dude 2. Dude 2 has since been massively damaged by a relationship fail, and lost his ability to trust. Dude 1 now, arbitrarily, after no contact for 10 years, wants forever with dude 2 (plus, super duper multi millionaire). Dude 2 has to do lots of angst and drama and being damaged. Plus I wouldn't trust dude 1 either.
So while all this ridiculousness is going on, I'm thinking "10 years? Wtf? This is bullshit.....10 years....wtf..."
In other words my willing suspension of disbelief was totally trashed. I was completely jolted out of the story.
I guess this author is usually good for me, with a couple of epic fails. This one, and crims in love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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