What an incredibly emotional, sweet, hopeful read. I absolutely adored this story and it's this author's debut album? That's hard to believe, it was almost perfect... I'll get to the almost in a minute, but let's talk about why it just was....
This story is told in Caleb's POV. He was horribly tortured and abused by his brother and father until he was 14 and adopted by his best friend and their family. There is quite a bit of child abuse that could be triggering, a little in the beginning, a little explaning and then a little towards the end... so, just a warning... It isn't terrible (I mean, all child abuse is terrible), but it wasn't anything that took away from the book. It just made you hurt for those involved. So, cut to, years later when Caleb is grown and working at an ad agency with the guy he's had a crush on for the last 4 years, Reese. Everyone has a crush on Reese, though Caleb is so adorably cute with his crushing. His internal dialogue is so funny at times that I'd go from tearing up to laughing.
Reese, has also had a crush on Caleb and finally gets the nerve to ask him out once Caleb gets his brother to help out Reese. You'll find Caleb's entire family, pretty dang hilarioud. I loved all the secondary characters; Caleb's adopted parents, mainly his mother, is a nut case-in the best possible way. His adopted family is so supportive and loving and understanding and I loved them all so much. His brothers are his best friends and they treat each other like siblings, not adopted or otherwise. I loved that too.
I loved Reese's bestie, Declan, even though I was sure he was going to be a problem.... He wasn't and he quickly turned into a big part of the family.
I was so happy that they included Harley and I cannot wait for his story next. I have a feeling, his too, will be a heartbreaking one.
So, Caleb and Reese are happy and together and everything seems to happen exactly how it's supposed to. There isn't any big angst or trouble... just them growing in their relationship, happy and healthy and in love.....Its such a sweet love story, they're perfect for each other and it shows in everything they do.
Then, something terrible happens and Caleb finds out that he not only has one half brother from his abusive brother, but he has two.... 11 year old Sammy and 6 year old Jacob.... Caleb knows exactly what kind of person his brother is and judging by the looks of his siblings, he knows that they've had a similar life that he had when he lived with him...Thank goodness for small favors, his abusive dad was dead so at least we didn't have to deal with him....
I loved the part that they took in these kids' lives. I loved how honestly the feelings and the trust was portrayed. It felt real to the story and it showed the good, bad and the ugly. I was glad they all got to a happy, healthy place at the end. Those kids deserved the best life and I knew that Caleb and Reese could give it to them... not only that they could, but they honestly wanted to. They loved them.
The only part I didn't like, was that we didn't get any karmatic justice with the abusive brother/dad to the kids. He deserved a fate so terrible that it all made us feel better for those kids, no matter fictional, had to endure it. I wish he would have went to prison for the rest of his life, or gotten his teeth kicked in, or something that'd give us the satisfaction of knowing he lost his kids to his queer brother and they were all happy and together. Ughhhh, I can't stand when a bad guy gets away with being a bad guy, and even though he didn't in the long run.... he still kind of did because I wanted a fate worse than death for him.
I should probably keep an eye on that, cuz it's a little crazy but still lol
I hated the abusive brother....
Overall, this was such a beautiful, heartbreaking yet hopeful, wonderful read and I am so very much looking forward to the next one!
5 well deserved stars from me!