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Too Close
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B01MU4RX9U.
Skylar Orion's life has been complicated ever since his mother abandoned him and his sister Evie. Making ends meet seemed impossible until Tate Chandler took them in -- his knight in shining armor who promised to make life about more than just surviving. But Tate is not the man he seemed to be, and even his whispered I love yous and generous gifts do little to soothe the pain he causes. Knowing he can't give his sister all that she deserves without Tate, Skylar stays with him, relying on bad puns and a worse sense of humor to keep up the charade.
He will do anything for his sister, even if that means acting the responsible adult and going back to his old high school to meet Dexter Weston, the hot math teacher who can make even algebra interesting. Sparks fly between the two of them, but with his dependence on Tate, Skylar isn't free to follow his heart. He wants what is best for Evie, but can he pass up the chance to find love that heals instead of harms?
Warning: This book contains scenes of domestic violence/abuse that some may find triggering to read.
Skylar Orion's life has been complicated ever since his mother abandoned him and his sister Evie. Making ends meet seemed impossible until Tate Chandler took them in -- his knight in shining armor who promised to make life about more than just surviving. But Tate is not the man he seemed to be, and even his whispered I love yous and generous gifts do little to soothe the pain he causes. Knowing he can't give his sister all that she deserves without Tate, Skylar stays with him, relying on bad puns and a worse sense of humor to keep up the charade.
He will do anything for his sister, even if that means acting the responsible adult and going back to his old high school to meet Dexter Weston, the hot math teacher who can make even algebra interesting. Sparks fly between the two of them, but with his dependence on Tate, Skylar isn't free to follow his heart. He wants what is best for Evie, but can he pass up the chance to find love that heals instead of harms?
Warning: This book contains scenes of domestic violence/abuse that some may find triggering to read.
202 pages, ebook
First published December 26, 2016
141 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
R. Phoenix
80 books564 followersR. Phoenix has an unhealthy fascination with contrasts: light and dark, heroes and villains, order and chaos. She believes that love can corrupt and power can redeem. Her muse is a sadomasochistic slave driver who thinks it's terribly amusing to give her the best ideas when she just got comfortable and warm in bed, and she passes on that torture to her readers. She also tries entirely too hard to be funny, and she mercilessly inflicts her terrible sense of humor upon anyone who speaks to her. She'd love it if you'd say hello!
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June 28, 2024
I thought I was enjoying this but I think I was just appreciative of some things instead.
I normally don’t say this, but this should’ve been longer. Most of the book, at least ~70%, is spent between Skylar and Tate, and because of that relationship taking up most of the page time, we don’t really see any moments between Skylar and Dexter. The execution wasn’t exactly lacking for me, but it was missing more depth. I think Skylar and Dexter made a lovely pair. Some may be uncomfortable with their age gap, but I was actually glad to see nothing happened between them till later on. And I know 18 isn’t really…right for many…but for the sake of the book, you’re gonna need to put ethics and morals away to enjoy it. But I love age gap romances, so this didn’t bother me at all. I found it quite sweet, and I never once though Dexter took any sort of advantage of Skylar or used him for his own benefit just because of their age difference (Skylar is 18 and Dexter’s age is never mentioned but it’s mentioned Skylar is half Dexter’s age, so you do the math). Some of their only moments are spent at the school, and even those didn’t feel like enough. There was always a time limit, which maybe was a way for the author to show how the characters yearned for each other, but again, due to the unbalanced relationship, it felt too structured instead.
I like the approach the author took with domestic violence in a relationship, but it only added drama and suffering for most of the book without enough balance. 70% of the book is the suffering Skylar goes through and the rest of the 30% is the blooming relationship between Skylar and Dexter, but we don’t really see this. We skip some time, from days to weeks to months, and before we know it these two get their happy ever after of an epilogue a year later. Throughout this, there’s not that much showing of their relationship. They go on one date only, and even then that date turns into a sex scene. Before that, we’re told about their relationship but not shown. Honestly, as supportive as I wanna be about Skylar, it was difficult to root for him leaving in the end only because the author decided to wait till almost the end for the climax to take place. Had the novel been longer or we would’ve seen more moments between the two, then maybe it would’ve been easier to appreciate this side of vulnerability more. However, due to lack of showing versus telling, the time jumps, more than half of the story being of Skylar and Tate, and not really seeing any moments between Skylar and Dexter, the romance in this was severely lacking. Skylar’s relationship with Dexter moved moderately fast, in my opinion, because we don’t see much of it, or really any of it. Even though it’s possible the two did spend time together and grow their feelings little by little, the lack of showing is these moments was frustrating and didn’t help the relationship matters. Dexter was also sweet and caring, patient and analytical. He could read Skylar well and knew when something was up, and I appreciated his patient support and kindness that Skylar obviously needed. Their relationship had so much potential, yet with all the hurting that was happening, there wasn’t enough comfort. It could’ve provided a sweet but angsty enough love story, yet all we really get were brief interactions between the two that we were most likely supposed to accept as enough time. I could understand how they were attracted to each other in a physical sense, but the emotional connection was lacking a bit due to how little time they spent together.
My biggest reason for two stars is because I can’t deny that I went through some emotions reading this. Skylar’s experience of a toxic, unhealthy, abusive relationship was palpable. I felt like I was wrung out, experiencing this terrible journey with him, a visual that I couldn’t look away from. The authors message is conveyed realistically and properly, showing how difficult it really is to leave and how easy it can be for someone to be manipulated into thinking they are being loved. I couldn’t even blame Skylar, not really, because he didn’t really have other choices, and he was running out of options. There was so little he could do, and there was no guarantee of anything. He was selfless, putting his sister before himself, but also played with, manipulated and changed into someone he no longer recognized. I found his character realistic and flawed in its own way, with his inability to leave but acknowledgment of what was happening. Again, like the romance, I do wish we would’ve seen more character development instead of just being told how Skylar is doing.
All in all, this was my first R. Phoenix read, and I found it randomly while stumbling across hurt/comfort novels. The hurt/comfort aspect is there, but not nearly enough. There’s so much missing to make this romance more memorable, and most of my enjoyment, admittedly, comes from the emotional aspect of it. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it, and while I rooted for Skylar as a character, I was annoyed with how slow and then how fast everything happened. It may not have been my best introduction to this author, but this author is known for writing dark romance, so I’m kind of curious to see how that will be.
I normally don’t say this, but this should’ve been longer. Most of the book, at least ~70%, is spent between Skylar and Tate, and because of that relationship taking up most of the page time, we don’t really see any moments between Skylar and Dexter. The execution wasn’t exactly lacking for me, but it was missing more depth. I think Skylar and Dexter made a lovely pair. Some may be uncomfortable with their age gap, but I was actually glad to see nothing happened between them till later on. And I know 18 isn’t really…right for many…but for the sake of the book, you’re gonna need to put ethics and morals away to enjoy it. But I love age gap romances, so this didn’t bother me at all. I found it quite sweet, and I never once though Dexter took any sort of advantage of Skylar or used him for his own benefit just because of their age difference (Skylar is 18 and Dexter’s age is never mentioned but it’s mentioned Skylar is half Dexter’s age, so you do the math). Some of their only moments are spent at the school, and even those didn’t feel like enough. There was always a time limit, which maybe was a way for the author to show how the characters yearned for each other, but again, due to the unbalanced relationship, it felt too structured instead.
I like the approach the author took with domestic violence in a relationship, but it only added drama and suffering for most of the book without enough balance. 70% of the book is the suffering Skylar goes through and the rest of the 30% is the blooming relationship between Skylar and Dexter, but we don’t really see this. We skip some time, from days to weeks to months, and before we know it these two get their happy ever after of an epilogue a year later. Throughout this, there’s not that much showing of their relationship. They go on one date only, and even then that date turns into a sex scene. Before that, we’re told about their relationship but not shown. Honestly, as supportive as I wanna be about Skylar, it was difficult to root for him leaving in the end only because the author decided to wait till almost the end for the climax to take place. Had the novel been longer or we would’ve seen more moments between the two, then maybe it would’ve been easier to appreciate this side of vulnerability more. However, due to lack of showing versus telling, the time jumps, more than half of the story being of Skylar and Tate, and not really seeing any moments between Skylar and Dexter, the romance in this was severely lacking. Skylar’s relationship with Dexter moved moderately fast, in my opinion, because we don’t see much of it, or really any of it. Even though it’s possible the two did spend time together and grow their feelings little by little, the lack of showing is these moments was frustrating and didn’t help the relationship matters. Dexter was also sweet and caring, patient and analytical. He could read Skylar well and knew when something was up, and I appreciated his patient support and kindness that Skylar obviously needed. Their relationship had so much potential, yet with all the hurting that was happening, there wasn’t enough comfort. It could’ve provided a sweet but angsty enough love story, yet all we really get were brief interactions between the two that we were most likely supposed to accept as enough time. I could understand how they were attracted to each other in a physical sense, but the emotional connection was lacking a bit due to how little time they spent together.
My biggest reason for two stars is because I can’t deny that I went through some emotions reading this. Skylar’s experience of a toxic, unhealthy, abusive relationship was palpable. I felt like I was wrung out, experiencing this terrible journey with him, a visual that I couldn’t look away from. The authors message is conveyed realistically and properly, showing how difficult it really is to leave and how easy it can be for someone to be manipulated into thinking they are being loved. I couldn’t even blame Skylar, not really, because he didn’t really have other choices, and he was running out of options. There was so little he could do, and there was no guarantee of anything. He was selfless, putting his sister before himself, but also played with, manipulated and changed into someone he no longer recognized. I found his character realistic and flawed in its own way, with his inability to leave but acknowledgment of what was happening. Again, like the romance, I do wish we would’ve seen more character development instead of just being told how Skylar is doing.
All in all, this was my first R. Phoenix read, and I found it randomly while stumbling across hurt/comfort novels. The hurt/comfort aspect is there, but not nearly enough. There’s so much missing to make this romance more memorable, and most of my enjoyment, admittedly, comes from the emotional aspect of it. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it, and while I rooted for Skylar as a character, I was annoyed with how slow and then how fast everything happened. It may not have been my best introduction to this author, but this author is known for writing dark romance, so I’m kind of curious to see how that will be.
February 3, 2018
18 year Skylar is in an abusive relationship with Tate, who is a rich older man (I believe he's in his in his late 30's). The only reason Skylar puts up with the abuse is because he's the guardian of his 16 old sister, and they have no place else to go.
Skylar has a meeting with Dexter, his sister's algebra teacher, to discuss her declining grades. Skylar and Dexter are attracted to each other.
Skylar's relationship with his abuse boyfriend, Tate, took up most of this story. When I read a hurt/comfort, I need equal parts or more comfort than hurt. The hurt part lasted too long for my comfort and left me feeling down even with the HFN ending.
Skylar has a meeting with Dexter, his sister's algebra teacher, to discuss her declining grades. Skylar and Dexter are attracted to each other.
Skylar's relationship with his abuse boyfriend, Tate, took up most of this story. When I read a hurt/comfort, I need equal parts or more comfort than hurt. The hurt part lasted too long for my comfort and left me feeling down even with the HFN ending.
March 13, 2019
3.5 stars
So much hurt/comfort going on here that I was quite happy with this book. Even though the romantic relationship between the MCs only really developed in the last few pages.
18 year old Skylar is responsible for his 16 year old sister and tries his best to provide for her. He will do anything for her. Even sell his body to the man they are living with. Tate is controlling, possessive and demeaning to Sky. But every time he beats Skylar, he tries to make up for it by buying presents and acting all sweet.
Skylar knows he is in an abusive relationship, but he has nowhere else to go. He’s glad his sister doesn’t know the extent of his relationship with Tate. She just knows Tate is bad news.
When Sky gets a call from his sister’s school and has to come in for a meeting, he meets her math teacher, Dexter.
Dexter is instantly smitten with the sweet and funny brother of one of his students. He knows Skylar is much younger, but he can’t stay away from him.
The two continue to meet since Sky is accompanying his sister to her tutoring sessions with Dexter. Skylar feels happy there is someone who finally sees him, someone who laughs at his ridiculous math jokes. But Skylar also knows he doesn’t deserve a man like Dexter. How could someone ever love someone who sells his body so he has a roof over his head…
My heart went out to Skylar. The abuse he had to suffer was just awful. But it also showed how strong he really was, even though he didn’t believe that himself. He tried so hard to appear fine all the time.
And Dexter was sweet, caring and just overall awesome. He wasn’t some rich billionaire swooping in to save the abused guy, but he was simply there for Skylar and Evie.
I do have to admit that I was a bit annoyed it took Skylar so long to leave his abusive boyfriend. And I therefore felt that the relationship between Skylar and Dexter was rushed.
And for those who are wondering, this is light on steam. We do get one sex scene at the end, but sexy times are not the main focus of this story.
So much hurt/comfort going on here that I was quite happy with this book. Even though the romantic relationship between the MCs only really developed in the last few pages.
18 year old Skylar is responsible for his 16 year old sister and tries his best to provide for her. He will do anything for her. Even sell his body to the man they are living with. Tate is controlling, possessive and demeaning to Sky. But every time he beats Skylar, he tries to make up for it by buying presents and acting all sweet.
Skylar knows he is in an abusive relationship, but he has nowhere else to go. He’s glad his sister doesn’t know the extent of his relationship with Tate. She just knows Tate is bad news.
When Sky gets a call from his sister’s school and has to come in for a meeting, he meets her math teacher, Dexter.
Dexter is instantly smitten with the sweet and funny brother of one of his students. He knows Skylar is much younger, but he can’t stay away from him.
The two continue to meet since Sky is accompanying his sister to her tutoring sessions with Dexter. Skylar feels happy there is someone who finally sees him, someone who laughs at his ridiculous math jokes. But Skylar also knows he doesn’t deserve a man like Dexter. How could someone ever love someone who sells his body so he has a roof over his head…
My heart went out to Skylar. The abuse he had to suffer was just awful. But it also showed how strong he really was, even though he didn’t believe that himself. He tried so hard to appear fine all the time.
And Dexter was sweet, caring and just overall awesome. He wasn’t some rich billionaire swooping in to save the abused guy, but he was simply there for Skylar and Evie.
I do have to admit that I was a bit annoyed it took Skylar so long to leave his abusive boyfriend. And I therefore felt that the relationship between Skylar and Dexter was rushed.
And for those who are wondering, this is light on steam. We do get one sex scene at the end, but sexy times are not the main focus of this story.
December 31, 2019
One of the finest erotica, taboo, and dark romance authors out there, R. Phoenix writes a powerful tale. Her stories are intense, and whether it tugs on my heartstrings like Too Close or it’s one of her deliciously macabre sci-fi/fantasies, I know I’m always in for a treat.
Narrated by Michael Lesley, Too Close was recently released as an audiobook. Mr. Lesley has a beautiful voice, and he turns in a stunning performance. He captures every bit of angst, hope, and intense emotion the author has infused into these characters.
R. Phoenix digs deep inside these men. It’s not just the surface reactions that everyone can see, and what’s directly revealed in the story, this talented author gives us so much more. She explores how each action impacts their experiences, and there’s no doubt how they’re really feeling. And in audio? Michael Lesley makes the most of every opportunity to add to the feels.
I love how R. Phoenix finds redeeming qualities in all of her antagonists. Woven subtly throughout the story, there’s always something to help us relate (and even sympathize) with them. For me, this elevates her stories to a completely different level. Nothing’s black or white in R. Phoenix’s worlds, and Too Close is a prime example.
an audiobook copy of Too Close was provided to me by the author for the purpose of my honest review
Narrated by Michael Lesley, Too Close was recently released as an audiobook. Mr. Lesley has a beautiful voice, and he turns in a stunning performance. He captures every bit of angst, hope, and intense emotion the author has infused into these characters.
R. Phoenix digs deep inside these men. It’s not just the surface reactions that everyone can see, and what’s directly revealed in the story, this talented author gives us so much more. She explores how each action impacts their experiences, and there’s no doubt how they’re really feeling. And in audio? Michael Lesley makes the most of every opportunity to add to the feels.
I love how R. Phoenix finds redeeming qualities in all of her antagonists. Woven subtly throughout the story, there’s always something to help us relate (and even sympathize) with them. For me, this elevates her stories to a completely different level. Nothing’s black or white in R. Phoenix’s worlds, and Too Close is a prime example.
an audiobook copy of Too Close was provided to me by the author for the purpose of my honest review
January 2, 2017
***3.5 Stars***
Available on KU
Available on KU
January 7, 2017
I hate typing a review on a phone, but I'll try :D
____
I am one of those people who, when hearing about domestic abuse, ask "why can't she/he just leave"?
There are plenty of books out there describing the abuse itself, but very little in the terms of the reasoning or history behind it. This book, however short, manages to encompass not only the dynamics but each individual history, the reasoning, the emotions of both men involved. It even explains "but I love him/her" excuse most victims use to stay with the very person who treats them like crap. In the end, while hating Sky suffering, I felt sorry for Tate the Abuser. Really sorry, as in "please, let there be a sequel and may he find someone who will set him free".
5 stars.
____
I am one of those people who, when hearing about domestic abuse, ask "why can't she/he just leave"?
There are plenty of books out there describing the abuse itself, but very little in the terms of the reasoning or history behind it. This book, however short, manages to encompass not only the dynamics but each individual history, the reasoning, the emotions of both men involved. It even explains "but I love him/her" excuse most victims use to stay with the very person who treats them like crap. In the end, while hating Sky suffering, I felt sorry for Tate the Abuser. Really sorry, as in "please, let there be a sequel and may he find someone who will set him free".
5 stars.
June 15, 2024
It has been a long time since I read a book and cried and this book did just that. I saw a post about this book on Facebook and it was true this was a really a good book. Skylar Orion's life has been a mess every since his mother left him and his sister. Sky turns to working the streets to take care of his sister. His first night out he was a virgin he meets Tate Chandler a rich businessman. Sky and his sister Evie move in with Tate. When Evie begins having trouble in school Sky meets with her math teacher Dexter who can't seem to forget about Sky. Dexter knows that Sky is hiding something and he is. Turns out Tate has problems keeping his hands to himself. Sky feels that he has to be good to keep Tate from hitting him he is walking on egg shells. Evie hates Tate and she feels that Sky is putting Tate before her she doesn't know what he puts up with so they are not homeless. When Sky gives Dexter a ride home he stays too long and gets in trouble so he backs up from Dexter. I hated Tate you don't hurt someone you love or put them down. Sky let himself become weak to Tate and his situation. When Tate goes to far and gives Sky a black eye for talking to Dexter his sister is furious and so is Dexter when he sees it. Evie convinced him to leave and as they are packing Tate comes home and tries to kill Sky and when Evie comes in he goes after her and Sky knows its time for them to leave. I really liked Dexter he really wanted to help them and didn't want anything in return. Sky had to learn how to stand on his own two feet. I really liked this book. This was my first time reading this author. I usually read erotic books this one was not. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
"Abuse is never okay"
"Abuse is never okay"
January 1, 2017
*4.5 stars*
This was a hard book for me to read. I'm wrecked. A whole lot came very close to my very own experience.
The after effects of abuse will sometimes take a lifelong to recover from.
"Or I just don't care, because what I need doesn't really matter."
Skyler was so much stronger than he ever thought of himself.
I can't do this for me - I don't deserve better, a rancorous voice in the back of my mind suggests - but I can do it for her.
I'll always be strong for Evie.
Read
April 13, 20174.5 Hearts
This shouldn’t have been a book I could read until the end. It made me raw and was a bit too real for me and yet, I made it.
I’ll start off with letting you know, this book has abuse in it, both mental and on page physical abuse so if that could be a trigger for you, tread with caution.
This was such an emotional read and yet through all the angst, there was the underlined hope that kept me going.
Skylar Orion is doing what he has to do so that he can survive and take care of his younger sister Evie. At the young age of 18, Tate has gone through the death of one parent and the abandonment of another all while trying to make sure he and his sister aren’t separated. When he gets desperate, he decides to sell himself to make ends meet and falls into the arms and under the control of Tate Chandler. Tate is Skylar’s first and only customer as a prostitute and when Skylar gets robbed for having enough to live on, Tate offers Skylar to move in with him and Skylar counter offers with “not without my sister.” This leads us to the present day, of Skylar and Evie living with Tate and Tate controlling everything they do and taking anything and everything out on Skylar with the visible marks of his handy work on Skylar’s body as proof.
When Skylar receives a notice to meet with Evie’s math teacher to discuss her failing grade, he has an awkward yet adorable meet cute with Dexter Weston. Goodness. From the first meeting of these men you feel the chemistry and really want the bad math puns to continue so they can just flirt for hours. But when Skylar gets home and we officially meet Tate, you feel the anxiety, the stress and the fear that Skylar lives with on a daily basis. Through his POV we know that everything he does is for Evie; putting up with the abuse from Tate so that they have a place to live and food to eat until she graduates high school and we also know that it’s destroying Skylar.
I am so thankful that we get the POV of Dexter as well because I wanted to know how he would react to the situation. How he would find out or figure out what was happening at home with Skylar and Evie and how he would handle the attraction to a much younger man. And you know what? Dexter is a damn saint who adores ducks, quails and rabbits. He is amazing and there was never a time where his feelings felt inappropriate or pervy, they were just honest and amazing.
This book, I read it so damn fast because I was on edge with the whole situation. Tate is so controlling and manipulative and yet I am glad the author took care and respect to lay out the reasons and emotions of why Skylar was staying. Looking at abuse from the outside seems so simple and people are quick to judge when the abused doesn’t leave the abuser but love isn’t simple. It’s not an excuse but people stay for love, they endure because of love and sometimes, they love themselves enough to actually leave the one that hurts them.
With Skylar, he knows the situation is bad and he knows that what Tate does is wrong yet the moments of peace, when Skylar is “being good” and not being abused, he cherishes them and holds on for dear life. If he can forget that Tate hits, hates and belittles the holy hell out of Skylar and just remember the times Tate has bought Skylar‘s affection and not just his body, he can make it until Evie graduates. But the level of abuse worsens and when Skylar starts to see what a good man does and can do with the time spent with Dexter at Evie’s tutoring sessions, he begins to wonder how much more he can stand before it’s too late.
Wow. This book was intense. There were actual moments where I gasped and was so damn afraid of what would happen next. I felt the fear every time Skylar did and I felt his confusion, his uncertainty of a possible future away from Tate.
I truly adored Dexter. He was so patient and twisted with his feelings for Skylar. He was amazing every time they were together and his reaching out to Skylar and Evie with an offer of help. It broke my heart to see him so helpless when it came to Skylar and how much he wanted him to know he deserved better and not just in love but in life.
Wow.
I won’t go into much more but though this was heavy and intense, I did really like it and loved the romance. It’s hard with books that deal with real life issues such as abuse to be understanding with the person who doesn’t leave the abuser; they are judged and condemned them for being weak or even stupid to stay. I will say it again, the author does a respectful job of portraying Skylar as yes a victim, but also as someone who has the power to control his own future if he reaches out for support. They say staying is the easy part and leaving is hard but actually, they both are a terrifying struggle of human perseverance.
Too Close was a gripping and emotional tale of doing what one needs to for survival to find out, surviving doesn’t have to mean carrying the burden alone. It included a sweet romance between two men who truly fit into one another’s life and find the new beginnings can bloom when least expected.
This shouldn’t have been a book I could read until the end. It made me raw and was a bit too real for me and yet, I made it.
I’ll start off with letting you know, this book has abuse in it, both mental and on page physical abuse so if that could be a trigger for you, tread with caution.
This was such an emotional read and yet through all the angst, there was the underlined hope that kept me going.
Skylar Orion is doing what he has to do so that he can survive and take care of his younger sister Evie. At the young age of 18, Tate has gone through the death of one parent and the abandonment of another all while trying to make sure he and his sister aren’t separated. When he gets desperate, he decides to sell himself to make ends meet and falls into the arms and under the control of Tate Chandler. Tate is Skylar’s first and only customer as a prostitute and when Skylar gets robbed for having enough to live on, Tate offers Skylar to move in with him and Skylar counter offers with “not without my sister.” This leads us to the present day, of Skylar and Evie living with Tate and Tate controlling everything they do and taking anything and everything out on Skylar with the visible marks of his handy work on Skylar’s body as proof.
When Skylar receives a notice to meet with Evie’s math teacher to discuss her failing grade, he has an awkward yet adorable meet cute with Dexter Weston. Goodness. From the first meeting of these men you feel the chemistry and really want the bad math puns to continue so they can just flirt for hours. But when Skylar gets home and we officially meet Tate, you feel the anxiety, the stress and the fear that Skylar lives with on a daily basis. Through his POV we know that everything he does is for Evie; putting up with the abuse from Tate so that they have a place to live and food to eat until she graduates high school and we also know that it’s destroying Skylar.
I am so thankful that we get the POV of Dexter as well because I wanted to know how he would react to the situation. How he would find out or figure out what was happening at home with Skylar and Evie and how he would handle the attraction to a much younger man. And you know what? Dexter is a damn saint who adores ducks, quails and rabbits. He is amazing and there was never a time where his feelings felt inappropriate or pervy, they were just honest and amazing.
This book, I read it so damn fast because I was on edge with the whole situation. Tate is so controlling and manipulative and yet I am glad the author took care and respect to lay out the reasons and emotions of why Skylar was staying. Looking at abuse from the outside seems so simple and people are quick to judge when the abused doesn’t leave the abuser but love isn’t simple. It’s not an excuse but people stay for love, they endure because of love and sometimes, they love themselves enough to actually leave the one that hurts them.
With Skylar, he knows the situation is bad and he knows that what Tate does is wrong yet the moments of peace, when Skylar is “being good” and not being abused, he cherishes them and holds on for dear life. If he can forget that Tate hits, hates and belittles the holy hell out of Skylar and just remember the times Tate has bought Skylar‘s affection and not just his body, he can make it until Evie graduates. But the level of abuse worsens and when Skylar starts to see what a good man does and can do with the time spent with Dexter at Evie’s tutoring sessions, he begins to wonder how much more he can stand before it’s too late.
Wow. This book was intense. There were actual moments where I gasped and was so damn afraid of what would happen next. I felt the fear every time Skylar did and I felt his confusion, his uncertainty of a possible future away from Tate.
I truly adored Dexter. He was so patient and twisted with his feelings for Skylar. He was amazing every time they were together and his reaching out to Skylar and Evie with an offer of help. It broke my heart to see him so helpless when it came to Skylar and how much he wanted him to know he deserved better and not just in love but in life.
Wow.
I won’t go into much more but though this was heavy and intense, I did really like it and loved the romance. It’s hard with books that deal with real life issues such as abuse to be understanding with the person who doesn’t leave the abuser; they are judged and condemned them for being weak or even stupid to stay. I will say it again, the author does a respectful job of portraying Skylar as yes a victim, but also as someone who has the power to control his own future if he reaches out for support. They say staying is the easy part and leaving is hard but actually, they both are a terrifying struggle of human perseverance.
Too Close was a gripping and emotional tale of doing what one needs to for survival to find out, surviving doesn’t have to mean carrying the burden alone. It included a sweet romance between two men who truly fit into one another’s life and find the new beginnings can bloom when least expected.
December 29, 2016
4.5 Stars
This is a book about people and situations. How one person can change the entire course of things. How one person can hold so much power over you that you no longer live for yourself. Then you have the people who are strong and brave and never realize how amazing they are until someone comes along and makes them see it.
Skylar was once a happy go lucky kid who thrived at school. Then his life changed. He dropped out and became the guardian for his sister Evie. Where life took him from there was dark. But when we do first meet Sky he’s going to a meeting at the high school for his sister. Of course it’s math that’s the issue (I can relate) and OF COURSE her math teacher is a God! But Sky is what opens this book up. His personality. His cheesy jokes that are so bad you can’t help but laugh at them. His love and devotion to his sister. You just see and feel and wrap yourself around him. That’s what makes his situation so hard to read.
Dexter is quite a bit older than Sky but he’s the hero of this story. When we find ourselves in the dark we often hope a light will shine and show us the way. Dexter is that light for Sky. He saves Sky and Evie from a future that they may not have come out of without him.
This book focuses on abuse. About being abused and battling with the voices in your head about what to do. It’s easy to pass judgement on someone who stands by their partner who hurts them. But unless you’re in it; there’s no room for that type of judgement. Dalton never judges and I adored him for that.
I will say, because of the serious material of this book Skylar’s jokes were a blessing. It really balances out the heavy and the light stuff.
This was a great read. A bit powerful and a lot important. So, I recommend this!
This is a book about people and situations. How one person can change the entire course of things. How one person can hold so much power over you that you no longer live for yourself. Then you have the people who are strong and brave and never realize how amazing they are until someone comes along and makes them see it.
Skylar was once a happy go lucky kid who thrived at school. Then his life changed. He dropped out and became the guardian for his sister Evie. Where life took him from there was dark. But when we do first meet Sky he’s going to a meeting at the high school for his sister. Of course it’s math that’s the issue (I can relate) and OF COURSE her math teacher is a God! But Sky is what opens this book up. His personality. His cheesy jokes that are so bad you can’t help but laugh at them. His love and devotion to his sister. You just see and feel and wrap yourself around him. That’s what makes his situation so hard to read.
Dexter is quite a bit older than Sky but he’s the hero of this story. When we find ourselves in the dark we often hope a light will shine and show us the way. Dexter is that light for Sky. He saves Sky and Evie from a future that they may not have come out of without him.
This book focuses on abuse. About being abused and battling with the voices in your head about what to do. It’s easy to pass judgement on someone who stands by their partner who hurts them. But unless you’re in it; there’s no room for that type of judgement. Dalton never judges and I adored him for that.
I will say, because of the serious material of this book Skylar’s jokes were a blessing. It really balances out the heavy and the light stuff.
This was a great read. A bit powerful and a lot important. So, I recommend this!
July 16, 2018
This story gave us a glimpse, how hard it is for someone in an abusive relationship to leave, whether it is physical or emotional abuse, or both. What I liked about this story is that Tate wasn’t all bad. Or maybe, just like Sky, I want to believe he wasn’t. But I saw a flicker of something in him that made me hope. I always wonder what could’ve gone wrong in a person’s life, that they become a monster.
When Sky met Dex he instantly lit up, maybe it was a facade at first, because he wanted everyone to believe he was fine. Dex was so patient with him, and he backed off and gave the reins to Sky.
My only complaint is that I would’ve liked a bit more detail. Like how the friendship between Dex and Sky progressed, when he took his sister tutoring. It was kind of off-page. But I also understand the romance wasn’t the first priority in this story.
I’m going to let the book speak for itself.
Beautiful, beautiful. Highly recommended!
When Sky met Dex he instantly lit up, maybe it was a facade at first, because he wanted everyone to believe he was fine. Dex was so patient with him, and he backed off and gave the reins to Sky.
My only complaint is that I would’ve liked a bit more detail. Like how the friendship between Dex and Sky progressed, when he took his sister tutoring. It was kind of off-page. But I also understand the romance wasn’t the first priority in this story.
I’m going to let the book speak for itself.
Beautiful, beautiful. Highly recommended!
February 12, 2020
Audiobook reviewI find myself in this position often. Finishing a wonderful book, and lacking the words to tell you about how much I loved it. I’m going to do my best to try. There was so much hurt, so much pain. If you aren’t looking for an angsty story, you might want to sit this one out. It’s a wonderful story, but it’s also one that will hurt to read.
This isn’t so much as a romance as it is a story of breaking free and starting over. In the attempt to provide for his sister and keep custody of her Skylar made a deal with the proverbial devil. Not that he knew it at the time. In exchange for Tate giving them both a roof over their head and provide for them, Skylar had to keep him happy. No matter what. When Evie starts fall behind in school things gets much worse, and better for Skylar.
Domestic abuse happens everywhere. It’s too common. I heard someone say that the person that doesn’t know one domestic abusive relationship in their circle of friends, family and acquaintances has their eyes closed. Sadly that’s too true. That’s why these kinds of stories are so important. To remind us that it can happen to anyone but also that there is hope for something better in the future.
R. Phoenix did a great job crafting a relatable and genuine story. It felt real. Too real at times. She showed us the devastation of an abusive relationships, of how dependent Skylar was to Tate. That while he desperately wanted to leave, he couldn’t, wouldn’t. I also loved that while dealing with all the heaviness, the listener wasn’t boggled down with all the angst, there was a lightness to it, hope. Phoenix found that balance and rode it all the way home.
While romance isn’t the main focus of this book, there is a love interest from early on and I felt that even that was handled with great care and credibility. I loved the banter between Skylar and Dexter, the happiness he brought to both Skylar and Evie. Their relationship doesn’t happen until the very end of the book, when Skylar has broken free of Tate and had some time to start getting his feet on the ground. We aren’t really there for the development, but are shown moments in time of their story.
I also have to mention the cover. I love that cover so much. Not only is it different, but more than that it fits so perfectly with the story. The darkness, the hands. The sapling. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is worth so much more, so many feelings more. It’s beautiful and perfect.
This was a new side of Michael Lesley. I’ve only listened to him narrating comedies before. There was banter in this book, but there was so much more angst and seriousness and he handled it all, I won’t say ease as I don’t think reading, writing or narrating this kind of story is ever easy, but it was great. He added is usual flare to it, some extra feeling, pensive pauses and so on. He’s definitely doing a wonderful job bringing the story and characters to life.
I don’t know if I liked that Lesley made me feel everything Skylar felt. Because he made me feel. A lot. There was so much pain and fear, hopelessness. None of which I particularly enjoy feeling. At the same time I love that he made me feel so much. Connect to the story. He made it mean more, and I can’t and won’t ask for anything more than that.
Highly recommended.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
dnf
February 18, 2017Everything about this book rubbed me in a wrong way. I can hardly believe it, it seemed the book was, like, cut specially for my taste. Everything I could dream about: hurt/comfort, abuse, a new love, a future... Maybe my expectations were too high. Oh, I don't know; it was not like I was expecting a five-star book and got a four-star one. It was that I actively disliked everything in it. Its teacherish style - like the author decides readers need to be explained what domestic abuse is, and does it, checking boxes and giving an example to each aspect. And no, readers cannot be trusted to understand by themselves how hurtful the things the abuser says or does are - we need to be explained every time that Skylar is bruised, Skylar is feeling bad about himself, Skylar is unhappy...
Oh, Skylar... God, I wonder if he said two phrases without trying to be a smartass during the part that I read. Okay, it might be his coping mechanism against stress but after reading it for pages and pages *I* am stressed and need a coping mechanism! And man, if you say you followed the recipe to the letter and burnt the meal AND the pot - congratulations, you lie. No, no one deserves to be hurt or humiliated for that - for anything at all, period. But - if you spend the day reading and watching Netflix (oh, and ogling the hot math teacher) and then can't pay attention for half an hour to cook the most primitive meal in existance... I'd say "lazy ass" and not sorry for it.
Well... you see the problem. Instead of sympathizing with the main character I feel annoyed with him.
The other guy, Dexter, appears as... I don't know how to put it tactfully... lecherous and a bit creepy. I'm sure he isn't meant to be like this but... okay.
No rating even though I'm really tempted. But seeing how much and how many people loved this book, I'll go with "it's not the book, it's me".
Oh, Skylar... God, I wonder if he said two phrases without trying to be a smartass during the part that I read. Okay, it might be his coping mechanism against stress but after reading it for pages and pages *I* am stressed and need a coping mechanism! And man, if you say you followed the recipe to the letter and burnt the meal AND the pot - congratulations, you lie. No, no one deserves to be hurt or humiliated for that - for anything at all, period. But - if you spend the day reading and watching Netflix (oh, and ogling the hot math teacher) and then can't pay attention for half an hour to cook the most primitive meal in existance... I'd say "lazy ass" and not sorry for it.
Well... you see the problem. Instead of sympathizing with the main character I feel annoyed with him.
The other guy, Dexter, appears as... I don't know how to put it tactfully... lecherous and a bit creepy. I'm sure he isn't meant to be like this but... okay.
No rating even though I'm really tempted. But seeing how much and how many people loved this book, I'll go with "it's not the book, it's me".
June 7, 2018
It's difficult for me to review the genre I write in without feeling biased or critical or even envious or overly sensitive etc. :-)
This one was a good one. I started it around eleven last night, thinking I'd take a break from Heathcliff (reading Wuthering Heights again!) and you know, just sort of having this nonchalant attitude about the book and then it was 2 am and I'd finished it.
So there. That tells you something!
Difficult subject matter yes. But done with grace and dignity.
It was very touching and I enjoyed the love story between Skylar and Dexter, despite the age difference between them that usually makes me uncomfortable.
There.were some scenes that were more poignant, more grounded in reality than others and those were usually the ones between Skylar and his sister Evie. Those resounded with truth.
I work in the mental health field and I have seen and heard the devastating consequences of psychological and physical abuse, so I was sort of defensive about how that part would be handled.
It rang very true to me.
I have some small criticism but it's not enough to put down in my review.
I wish there was a Dexter for every Tate out there...
This one was a good one. I started it around eleven last night, thinking I'd take a break from Heathcliff (reading Wuthering Heights again!) and you know, just sort of having this nonchalant attitude about the book and then it was 2 am and I'd finished it.
So there. That tells you something!
Difficult subject matter yes. But done with grace and dignity.
It was very touching and I enjoyed the love story between Skylar and Dexter, despite the age difference between them that usually makes me uncomfortable.
There.were some scenes that were more poignant, more grounded in reality than others and those were usually the ones between Skylar and his sister Evie. Those resounded with truth.
I work in the mental health field and I have seen and heard the devastating consequences of psychological and physical abuse, so I was sort of defensive about how that part would be handled.
It rang very true to me.
I have some small criticism but it's not enough to put down in my review.
I wish there was a Dexter for every Tate out there...
September 15, 2017
Bellissimo e contemporaneamente triste questo libro, d'altronde non è mai facile leggere di un'amore malato e di abusi, una tematica molto dolorosa e sofferente. Skylar ha un posto speciale nel mio cuore.
“La matematica può non avermi insegnato ad aggiungere l’amore o a sottrarre l’odio, ma mi ha donato la speranza che ogni problema ha una soluzione.”
“La matematica può non avermi insegnato ad aggiungere l’amore o a sottrarre l’odio, ma mi ha donato la speranza che ogni problema ha una soluzione.”
January 4, 2017
Too Close is one of the most intense books I've ever read. It moves in like a freight train, shattering defenses as it passes. Sweet Sky burrows beneath your skin until you're right there with him, feeling everything that he feels, fearing what he fears. During no point in this novel did I feel like I couldn't understand Skylar, and that's an impressive proof of the author's skill.
Skylar and his sister Evie were abandoned by their mother a few years before we jump into the story. Desperate, Skylar found the only haven that was open to him and ended up in Tate's arms. In Tate's house. At Tate's mercy. The level of dependence is heartbreaking, and I felt for Skylar when he put his sister first to keep them both afloat while quieting the protests inside.
Or as he says at one point.
"I want to cry, to scream, to fight, to stand up for myself. Instead, I murder something precious inside of me as I silence it all."
Skylar's voice undulates between devastatingly honest to painfully defensive in all its peppy - punny - happiness, and I wanted nothing more than for him to be safe.
Too Close also features Evie's teacher, a man considerably older than Skylar. Dexter is wary of the age gap but he can't fight what he feels for Skylar. Although Skylar is already taken, Dexter is seasoned enough to know that not all is what it seems.
With Dexter, we get to see what it feels like to be on the other side. To be the friend or possible lover who can't do much more than stand by as someone else falls apart. Domestic violence isn't easy - if it were, it wouldn't plague our society the way it does. If it was easy to leave, no one would stay, but life is not always easy.
I'm deeply impressed by R. Phoenix for taking on such a difficult topic and treating it with respect and care. Even Tate was allowed to be human, and there was a distinct lack of judgment from any side. I know how hard it is to write about this topic, and I could see where R. Phoenix struggled much like I did. The point here is that a story of Domestic Violence is not one, but several. There is a distinct start and an end to several parts. When you decide to leave, you've reached one end and you turn the page - perhaps only to look back again, but you have turned it. You get a new start of a new life, and perhaps that life deserves a book on its own.
I highly recommend this novel!
Skylar and his sister Evie were abandoned by their mother a few years before we jump into the story. Desperate, Skylar found the only haven that was open to him and ended up in Tate's arms. In Tate's house. At Tate's mercy. The level of dependence is heartbreaking, and I felt for Skylar when he put his sister first to keep them both afloat while quieting the protests inside.
Or as he says at one point.
"I want to cry, to scream, to fight, to stand up for myself. Instead, I murder something precious inside of me as I silence it all."
Skylar's voice undulates between devastatingly honest to painfully defensive in all its peppy - punny - happiness, and I wanted nothing more than for him to be safe.
Too Close also features Evie's teacher, a man considerably older than Skylar. Dexter is wary of the age gap but he can't fight what he feels for Skylar. Although Skylar is already taken, Dexter is seasoned enough to know that not all is what it seems.
With Dexter, we get to see what it feels like to be on the other side. To be the friend or possible lover who can't do much more than stand by as someone else falls apart. Domestic violence isn't easy - if it were, it wouldn't plague our society the way it does. If it was easy to leave, no one would stay, but life is not always easy.
I'm deeply impressed by R. Phoenix for taking on such a difficult topic and treating it with respect and care. Even Tate was allowed to be human, and there was a distinct lack of judgment from any side. I know how hard it is to write about this topic, and I could see where R. Phoenix struggled much like I did. The point here is that a story of Domestic Violence is not one, but several. There is a distinct start and an end to several parts. When you decide to leave, you've reached one end and you turn the page - perhaps only to look back again, but you have turned it. You get a new start of a new life, and perhaps that life deserves a book on its own.
I highly recommend this novel!
February 7, 2017
Skylar has been taking care of his younger sister the best way he can. Unfortunately, with little options left, he used what he had and traded sex for money. He ended up catching the attention of Tate, an older gentleman (using term loosely) who made Skylar an offer he couldn’t refuse. In exchange for Skylar being at his sole disposal, he took Skylar and Evie in. As time went on, Tate’s treatment of Skylar worsened, but still with little other options, he endured, for the sake of Evie.
Tate and Skylar’s “relationship” seems to have some rather classic symptoms. Tate has a violent temper, is extremely controlling and jealous and takes it out on Skylar with little regard. He makes up for it with promises and trinkets ensuring he will get better and not hurt Skylar again. We see some of what Skylar deals with, how it makes him feel, and it is easy to see his struggles. He tries so hard to take care of and shelter Evie, caring little for his own health and safety. His feelings of being trapped in a situation and wanting to get out, yet feeling a duty to the only person who seemingly helped him, were difficult to read but easy to understand.
Evie, who doesn’t know the half of what Skylar endures, acts out and her teachers take notice, most notably, her math teacher, Dexter. Dexter and Skylar hit it off right away. Dexter awakens a light of hope in Skylar, brings a spark back into his life that appeared to be just about snuffed out. It isn’t an easy path for either of them, as Skylar is still tied to Tate, and Dexter must sit back and watch as he figures out what is going on.
This was a beautifully written story of sadness, strength and hope with a bright light at the end. There wasn’t a quick fix, and Dexter didn’t just swoop in and save the day. It takes time and patience for Skylar to open up and trust again, but I really enjoyed watching it happen. This was my first taste of this author, and I will surely be looking to read more from Ms. Phoenix in the future.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
January 18, 2021
Mech..... I decided that R. Phoenix and I are not a good match. She a good writer, and I always think her books sound so good from the descriptions. Unfortunately, her stories just aren’t hard enough for me. I still have one more that I bought so I guess I’ll have to give her one more try at least.
added-it
January 5, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/10/2019)! 🎁
December 23, 2019
I liked this book but it was a tad repetitive. The story is great, heartbreaking and endearing but the author kept saying the same thing over and over just used different wording. I did like it, I just didn’t love it and I wanted to.
Want to read
June 6, 2018Kindle freebie 6/6/18
December 16, 2019
What a great story. I really appreciate how the struggle, uncertainty and fear of the abused person was presented. I also liked the ending, which didn't try to pretend that life is all fairytale when you finally find a right person.
As always, an outstanding performance from Michael Lesley makes this book a real treat to listen in audio.
As always, an outstanding performance from Michael Lesley makes this book a real treat to listen in audio.
September 7, 2017
La matematica può non avermi insegnato ad aggiungere l'amore o a sottrarre l'odio, ma mi ha donato la speranza che ogni problema ha una soluzione!
bellissimo 💜
bellissimo 💜
May 2, 2017
I wish the author either spent more time "showing" instead of "telling" of the relationship development between Dexter and Skylar instead of "showing" the abuse that Skylar went through or made the book longer showing both abuse and relationship development.
July 17, 2018
I'm definitely in minority here but if I had to describe this book in one word, I'd say... unbelievable.
Please note, there might be some spoilers in my ranting.
1/ 18 yo Skylar is the only guardian of his younger 16 yo sister and this situation is going for the past few years. How is this legally possible?
2/ Skylar is a dropout from high school. He'd be in his senior year now. He resigned from school as a freshman and no one was interested why? Where was a school system when needed?
3/ Tate (his boyfriend/abuser, twice as old at least) took him as a kept man when Skylar was only 17. [From what I understand, he was fucking him even before]. WTF is that?? This is a criminal case.
4/ Dexter, a math teacher, sees Skylar for the first time and is immediately hooked on him. He tries to befriend a barely adult guardian of his student! There's insta love on his side even though he doesn't know Skylar at all (sorry, but a few funny puns here and there isn't enough to know a person). And he doesn't recognize there's a conflict of interests? He's an adult and a teacher but behaves like a hormonal teen, FFS. Have I mentioned, Dexter is also twice as old as Sky? Creepy.
5/ I don't know if domestic abuse was portrayed reliably. I supposed it was?
6/ 70-80% part of the story is hurt. The rest is comfort and rushed HFN. There's no balance.
I'm so annoyed right now that I probably forgot some more points ;)
Please note, there might be some spoilers in my ranting.
1/ 18 yo Skylar is the only guardian of his younger 16 yo sister and this situation is going for the past few years. How is this legally possible?
2/ Skylar is a dropout from high school. He'd be in his senior year now. He resigned from school as a freshman and no one was interested why? Where was a school system when needed?
3/ Tate (his boyfriend/abuser, twice as old at least) took him as a kept man when Skylar was only 17. [From what I understand, he was fucking him even before]. WTF is that?? This is a criminal case.
4/ Dexter, a math teacher, sees Skylar for the first time and is immediately hooked on him. He tries to befriend a barely adult guardian of his student! There's insta love on his side even though he doesn't know Skylar at all (sorry, but a few funny puns here and there isn't enough to know a person). And he doesn't recognize there's a conflict of interests? He's an adult and a teacher but behaves like a hormonal teen, FFS. Have I mentioned, Dexter is also twice as old as Sky? Creepy.
5/ I don't know if domestic abuse was portrayed reliably. I supposed it was?
6/ 70-80% part of the story is hurt. The rest is comfort and rushed HFN. There's no balance.
I'm so annoyed right now that I probably forgot some more points ;)
February 6, 2017
Shew, this one was a hard for me to read. Physical abuse is a hard one.
Skylar was trying hard to take care of himself and his sister when his mom took off on them. Doing the only thing a seventeen year old knew to do, he got mixed up with someone who he thought was taking care of him and his sister. So what if he had to take a little bad with the good, right?
Wrong. Abusers, no matter how remorseful they seem, know exactly what they're doing when they hurt and manipulate you and I hated so badly for Skylar to be going through that. And his sister to know it too.
Dexter was Skylars sisters math teacher and is concerned about her grades. He offers to tutor her and Skylar readily agrees. Unfortunately, all it does is causes trouble for everyone involved. His sister knows what's going on and the bruises are getting harder to hide; so is Skylar's resolve. He's not himself anymore and he's doubting he can hide the secret abuse for much longer.
Then, Dexter offers to help and things get a little worse before they get better.
I had no compassion whatsoever for Tate. I know he had his own mental issue's because I believe his anger issues and out of control temper stemmed from his own childhood that was briefly mentioned but, still, I had sympathy.
My heart broke for Skylar but I loved how patient and understanding and just selfless, Dexter was. He cared about Skylar and his sister and he went a long way to show Skylar that love was unconditional.... he's still learning it, I think.
Overall, a heartbreaking and hopeful story.
4 stars for me
Skylar was trying hard to take care of himself and his sister when his mom took off on them. Doing the only thing a seventeen year old knew to do, he got mixed up with someone who he thought was taking care of him and his sister. So what if he had to take a little bad with the good, right?
Wrong. Abusers, no matter how remorseful they seem, know exactly what they're doing when they hurt and manipulate you and I hated so badly for Skylar to be going through that. And his sister to know it too.
Dexter was Skylars sisters math teacher and is concerned about her grades. He offers to tutor her and Skylar readily agrees. Unfortunately, all it does is causes trouble for everyone involved. His sister knows what's going on and the bruises are getting harder to hide; so is Skylar's resolve. He's not himself anymore and he's doubting he can hide the secret abuse for much longer.
Then, Dexter offers to help and things get a little worse before they get better.
I had no compassion whatsoever for Tate. I know he had his own mental issue's because I believe his anger issues and out of control temper stemmed from his own childhood that was briefly mentioned but, still, I had sympathy.
My heart broke for Skylar but I loved how patient and understanding and just selfless, Dexter was. He cared about Skylar and his sister and he went a long way to show Skylar that love was unconditional.... he's still learning it, I think.
Overall, a heartbreaking and hopeful story.
4 stars for me
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July 15, 2018
Secrets hidden in plain sight. I liked this story a lot, and it lingered in my mind a good while afterwards. I particularly appreciated it took on the challenge of addressing a difficult topic and combined it with a romantic plot. Both merged well in this book. I didn't find it too heavy or dark, yet memorable for precisely those things.
February 6, 2017
Heartbreaking but with a HEA.
June 9, 2017
4.5 stars
February 28, 2018
I can’t do this for me – I don’t deserve better, a rancorous voice in the back of my mind suggests – but I can do it for her. I’ll always be strong for Evie.
...because what I need doesn’t really matter...
After being abandon by their mother, Skylar must took care of his sister, Evie, leave school and whore himself to keep the food to their mouth to stay alive. He need to give a roof and steady live so that they didn't ended in foster care.
Tate’s been paying to fuck him since he was seventeen before they finally came into 'an agreement'. Offering his house as comfortable place to stay with Evie in exchange for his body. How can he say no?
Because he will do anything to keep his sister safe and give her good education that he'll never have, even if that's means he must become Tate's 'personal whore' and endured his possessive-abusive behavior and keep it all to himself.
Then come Dexter, his sister math teacher. There's something in Dexter that stir something in Skylar that had long died along with what Tate had done to him.
The spark between them really hard to denied, but Skylar won't risk what he feels with if that means he must leave Tate house with nothing in hands and jeopardize Evie's future. No need to risk his heart with love, right?
But when Tate abusive behavior getting worst and brutal, will he finally have the courage to say enough and leave?
I decided to read this book because the blurb succeed drawn my curiosity due to the promising premise that the story will be full of angst and dark even the book cover didn't look eye catching enough to please my coverslut eyes. But later when I finished the book, I finally understand the correlations between the new growing plant in the cover with the story the author trying to tell. And I think it perfect!
R. Phoenix is a new author to me and Too Close is my first book of her which surprisingly the writing suit my liking. I like the story and how Dexter help Skylar, loving him but at the same time also give Skylar the space to gained back his self confidence & self control after being used and abused by Tate. Help him stand on his own feet and healed before the both jump into the next step in their relationship. All was very well written with good pace. And that's what I think made this story worth to read.
There are actually few questions that still playing in my mind after I finished the book about some things that feels not quite right here and there, but overall, the story was good enough and the writing also fine, and I didn't care much about the 'missing things' because in the end I gave my rare four stars to this book.
*ARC is kindly provided by the Author in exchange of a fair, unbiased and honest review*
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