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Porthkennack #2
Wake Up Call
A Porthkennack Contemporary Novel
South London mechanic Devan Thompson has gone to Porthkennack to track down someone he’s been waiting all his life to know. But Dev’s distracted from his quest by Kyle, a broodingly handsome local of only a few months, who’s already got a reputation as an alcoholic because of his strange behaviour — including a habit of collapsing in the street.
Kyle Anthony fled to Porthkennack to escape from the ruins of his life. Still raging against his diagnosis of narcolepsy — a condition that’s cost him his job as a barrister, his lover, and all chance of normality—the last thing he wants is another relationship that’s doomed to fail. But Dev’s easy-going acceptance and adaptability, not to mention his good looks, have Kyle breaking all his self-imposed rules.
When disaster strikes Dev’s adored little sister, Kyle steps up to the plate, and Dev sees a side of his lover he wasn’t prepared competent, professional — and way out of Dev’s league. With one man determined that they don’t have a future, and the other fearing it, life after Porthkennack is starting to look bleak for both of them.
* * * * * * *
The stories in the Porthkennack universe can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!
Word 84,800; page 320
South London mechanic Devan Thompson has gone to Porthkennack to track down someone he’s been waiting all his life to know. But Dev’s distracted from his quest by Kyle, a broodingly handsome local of only a few months, who’s already got a reputation as an alcoholic because of his strange behaviour — including a habit of collapsing in the street.
Kyle Anthony fled to Porthkennack to escape from the ruins of his life. Still raging against his diagnosis of narcolepsy — a condition that’s cost him his job as a barrister, his lover, and all chance of normality—the last thing he wants is another relationship that’s doomed to fail. But Dev’s easy-going acceptance and adaptability, not to mention his good looks, have Kyle breaking all his self-imposed rules.
When disaster strikes Dev’s adored little sister, Kyle steps up to the plate, and Dev sees a side of his lover he wasn’t prepared competent, professional — and way out of Dev’s league. With one man determined that they don’t have a future, and the other fearing it, life after Porthkennack is starting to look bleak for both of them.
* * * * * * *
The stories in the Porthkennack universe can be enjoyed in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!
Word 84,800; page 320
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2017
55 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Merrow
145 books1,321 followersJL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
April 26, 2017
This was right British, mate. I was knackered trying to decipher the first couple of chapters, but once I got the hang of it, it went down smoother than an ice-cold pint. And worth it too, innit? An angsty, interesting treat, just fit for meself. Oi, I reckon you'll fancy this book too.
I don't read much J.L. Merrow, so I forgot how utterly British her books sound. However, I was insanely grateful for that fact once I got going because it was like a breath of fresh air.
Wake Up Call felt unique. First of all, I absolutely go gaga for an MC with a disability, and I was beyond fascinated by Kyle's narcolepsy. Truthfully, I didn't know much about the disorder prior to reading this book, but I was insanely curious to learn all about it. I think that the author did a fab job of showing Kyle's condition in a realistic light. I loved how she allowed Kyle to be cranky and imperfect and let his personality shine through, while still giving us a sense of living with a chronic, debilitating disorder.
I also liked Dev and his backstory. He was sort of rough around the edges, but I loved how daring and charming he was. He really won me over with his personality and his way with people, and I felt like I really got to know him.
I thought that Dev and Kyle made a great match, and I loved how they both sort of fumbled through the beginnings of their relationship. It was a little slow burny, and I liked the pacing of their courtship (so to speak).
I wasn't as crazy about Ceri, though not because I thought she was a bad character. I simply thought that there was a bit too much focus on Ceri, and I wasn't quite sure of her appeal at the start. However, I did like how the author integrated secondary characters, and I liked the range of people that we got to meet.
Overall, this was a really well done story that gave me a lovely sense of place in the small town of Porthkennack. I really enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish, and though the British slang through me for a bit, I wouldn't have had the book any other way.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
I don't read much J.L. Merrow, so I forgot how utterly British her books sound. However, I was insanely grateful for that fact once I got going because it was like a breath of fresh air.
Wake Up Call felt unique. First of all, I absolutely go gaga for an MC with a disability, and I was beyond fascinated by Kyle's narcolepsy. Truthfully, I didn't know much about the disorder prior to reading this book, but I was insanely curious to learn all about it. I think that the author did a fab job of showing Kyle's condition in a realistic light. I loved how she allowed Kyle to be cranky and imperfect and let his personality shine through, while still giving us a sense of living with a chronic, debilitating disorder.
I also liked Dev and his backstory. He was sort of rough around the edges, but I loved how daring and charming he was. He really won me over with his personality and his way with people, and I felt like I really got to know him.
I thought that Dev and Kyle made a great match, and I loved how they both sort of fumbled through the beginnings of their relationship. It was a little slow burny, and I liked the pacing of their courtship (so to speak).
I wasn't as crazy about Ceri, though not because I thought she was a bad character. I simply thought that there was a bit too much focus on Ceri, and I wasn't quite sure of her appeal at the start. However, I did like how the author integrated secondary characters, and I liked the range of people that we got to meet.
Overall, this was a really well done story that gave me a lovely sense of place in the small town of Porthkennack. I really enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish, and though the British slang through me for a bit, I wouldn't have had the book any other way.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
February 21, 2017
~4.5~
Wake Up Call is the first in a series of books to be set in the fictional town of Porthkennack, "a charming Cornish seaside town with a long and sometimes sinister history." If this book is any indication, this is sure to be a fantastic series.
What I noticed first about this novel is the atmosphere: melancholy and tense. Wake Up Call is more serious than many of Merrow's books, but it doesn't abandon humour, banter, or the authentic Britishness of her writing (the dialogue is gritty and true).
Dev arrives in Porthkennack to find a piece of himself, but what was meant to be a three-week holiday with his best mate Mal turns into a journey of introspection and love.
Dev strikes up a friendship with a standoffish waitress named Ceri and meets a man named Kyle. It's not a typical meeting. Kyle collapses in front of Dev. When Dev rushes to help, Ceri sneers and assures him Kyle is just a drunk. Ceri is a cynic (she has her reasons).
Kyle is anything but an alcoholic. He suffers from narcolepsy with cataplexy, a sleep disorder that causes him to have daytime "sleep attacks" and experience sudden loss of muscle tone (a sort of state of paralysis where he can't move but is fully conscious).
Once a successful criminal lawyer, Kyle is now a lonely recluse renting a cliffside house to escape.
Dev is drawn to Kyle immediately, and the attraction is mutual, although Kyle doesn't think he has much to offer. Dev smells "like motorbikes and wild nights." He is joy and lightness; he makes Kyle laugh and hope.
But it's not easy. Dev is rejected by and worried about Ceri, who has a brutal backstory of her own, as well as his foster sister, Tasha, who unwittingly gets into trouble.
Kyle feels overwhelmed by his illness and doesn't have much faith in himself, while Dev, at times flighty and moody, worries he's not posh or educated enough for Kyle.
The romance here is slow and tender. This isn't a super sexy story, but the few moments Kyle and Dev come together are passionate and real.
I don't want to say too much about the plot. Wake Up Call is not fast-paced by any means, but I thought the slower, slightly suspenseful pacing fit the story perfectly.
I'm rounding down because the last chapter felt a bit rushed to me. I wanted Kyle and Dev to talk more; while Ceri grew on me, I wanted less of her story and more of Kyle and Dev together, preferably doing dirty things to each other. Fortunately, there is a lovely epilogue that brings much-needed closure.
Wake Up Call is the first in a series of books to be set in the fictional town of Porthkennack, "a charming Cornish seaside town with a long and sometimes sinister history." If this book is any indication, this is sure to be a fantastic series.
What I noticed first about this novel is the atmosphere: melancholy and tense. Wake Up Call is more serious than many of Merrow's books, but it doesn't abandon humour, banter, or the authentic Britishness of her writing (the dialogue is gritty and true).
Dev arrives in Porthkennack to find a piece of himself, but what was meant to be a three-week holiday with his best mate Mal turns into a journey of introspection and love.
Dev strikes up a friendship with a standoffish waitress named Ceri and meets a man named Kyle. It's not a typical meeting. Kyle collapses in front of Dev. When Dev rushes to help, Ceri sneers and assures him Kyle is just a drunk. Ceri is a cynic (she has her reasons).
Kyle is anything but an alcoholic. He suffers from narcolepsy with cataplexy, a sleep disorder that causes him to have daytime "sleep attacks" and experience sudden loss of muscle tone (a sort of state of paralysis where he can't move but is fully conscious).
Once a successful criminal lawyer, Kyle is now a lonely recluse renting a cliffside house to escape.
Dev is drawn to Kyle immediately, and the attraction is mutual, although Kyle doesn't think he has much to offer. Dev smells "like motorbikes and wild nights." He is joy and lightness; he makes Kyle laugh and hope.
But it's not easy. Dev is rejected by and worried about Ceri, who has a brutal backstory of her own, as well as his foster sister, Tasha, who unwittingly gets into trouble.
Kyle feels overwhelmed by his illness and doesn't have much faith in himself, while Dev, at times flighty and moody, worries he's not posh or educated enough for Kyle.
The romance here is slow and tender. This isn't a super sexy story, but the few moments Kyle and Dev come together are passionate and real.
I don't want to say too much about the plot. Wake Up Call is not fast-paced by any means, but I thought the slower, slightly suspenseful pacing fit the story perfectly.
I'm rounding down because the last chapter felt a bit rushed to me. I wanted Kyle and Dev to talk more; while Ceri grew on me, I wanted less of her story and more of Kyle and Dev together, preferably doing dirty things to each other. Fortunately, there is a lovely epilogue that brings much-needed closure.
August 29, 2021
Narcolepsy... I didn't know what that was, well I had heard of it but I've never really took it seriously, but it is, as so many rare diseases are. 😔😔
I really enjoyed this book, it was lovely written and well paced. It was done in a town setting, with a lot of unique characters and women were treated right, some were good and some were bad like normal life. Loved it.🤗🤗❤
I also loved the main characters, I adored how Dev treated Kyle, having a disease like that isn't easy, specially to someone who used to be a barrister, who used to be in control of his life, losing that was a punch to Kyle and Dev knew how to respect that and how to let Kyle be and respect his pain. Thanks to that, Kyle thrived at the end and became a version of himself who is a mix of the old guy and the new one with his disease, perfect!! 🤌🏻🤌🏻
Dev was another story completely, he was loyal and really kind, his manner of speech got some getting used to as English is not my first language, but once I did, I just enjoyed being in his head, I enjoyed knowing him and seeing the world through his eyes and I hurted when the "stuff" happened to him. 🥲🥲
However I did not enjoy how he, as a character, always left Kyle when he was feeling heavy emotions, bad ones, he always left him and cut short so many situations that as a reader gave me whiplash, I dunno if the author intended it as a personality trait or what, but it was just a cock blocking experience every time. *cringes*
Still, it was interesting as hell and lovely. 🥰🥰
I really enjoyed this book, it was lovely written and well paced. It was done in a town setting, with a lot of unique characters and women were treated right, some were good and some were bad like normal life. Loved it.🤗🤗❤
I also loved the main characters, I adored how Dev treated Kyle, having a disease like that isn't easy, specially to someone who used to be a barrister, who used to be in control of his life, losing that was a punch to Kyle and Dev knew how to respect that and how to let Kyle be and respect his pain. Thanks to that, Kyle thrived at the end and became a version of himself who is a mix of the old guy and the new one with his disease, perfect!! 🤌🏻🤌🏻
Dev was another story completely, he was loyal and really kind, his manner of speech got some getting used to as English is not my first language, but once I did, I just enjoyed being in his head, I enjoyed knowing him and seeing the world through his eyes and I hurted when the "stuff" happened to him. 🥲🥲
However I did not enjoy how he, as a character, always left Kyle when he was feeling heavy emotions, bad ones, he always left him and cut short so many situations that as a reader gave me whiplash, I dunno if the author intended it as a personality trait or what, but it was just a cock blocking experience every time. *cringes*
Still, it was interesting as hell and lovely. 🥰🥰
April 27, 2020
4 Stars
Real foibles. Real problems. Real.
Definitely a great start to an intriguing series setup involving a fictional British seaside town that will be the future nexus of past and present romance stories.
I admit I kinda hesitated starting this. It seemed a bit gloomy and the page number was intimidating but its quiet voice and strength of story won me over.
Devan is on vacation with a hidden agenda in visiting Porthkennack. While he procrastinates he comes across Kyle who has his own health problems and baggage. What ensues is a cheeky (but with plenty of feels) interaction that is sparked by attraction and transforms into a friends with benefits situation as they get to know each other while exploring the history laden town. Both Devan and Kyle have insecurities about their life situation and the prospects about their future - each plausible and understandable - each with a yearning to find purpose and maybe that special someone to perhaps take a chance on.
This was a slow buildup despite spanning a short few weeks. This was also a thoughtful and unique look at an illness hardly seen or known about and how both Devan and Kyle step up for the other when truly needed.
Sedate but grounded, smexy with tenderness and conflict. This could’ve been boring but the MC’s and supporting cast kept this interesting and engaging. I’m looking forward to delving more into the world of Porthkennack as other authors will have a new outlook and take on this unique setting.
Real foibles. Real problems. Real.
Definitely a great start to an intriguing series setup involving a fictional British seaside town that will be the future nexus of past and present romance stories.
I admit I kinda hesitated starting this. It seemed a bit gloomy and the page number was intimidating but its quiet voice and strength of story won me over.
Devan is on vacation with a hidden agenda in visiting Porthkennack. While he procrastinates he comes across Kyle who has his own health problems and baggage. What ensues is a cheeky (but with plenty of feels) interaction that is sparked by attraction and transforms into a friends with benefits situation as they get to know each other while exploring the history laden town. Both Devan and Kyle have insecurities about their life situation and the prospects about their future - each plausible and understandable - each with a yearning to find purpose and maybe that special someone to perhaps take a chance on.
This was a slow buildup despite spanning a short few weeks. This was also a thoughtful and unique look at an illness hardly seen or known about and how both Devan and Kyle step up for the other when truly needed.
Sedate but grounded, smexy with tenderness and conflict. This could’ve been boring but the MC’s and supporting cast kept this interesting and engaging. I’m looking forward to delving more into the world of Porthkennack as other authors will have a new outlook and take on this unique setting.
July 6, 2018
4.5 Stars
Wake Up Call had me completely enraptured from the first turn of the page. I enjoyed so many aspects of this story, from the atmospheric setting and the deliciously fleshed out characters, to the plot itself and the impressive quality of Merrow’s writing. If I’m being completely honest, I’m finding myself hard-pressed to identify anything about this story that didn’t work for me, which is always a great feeling upon finishing a book by a new-to-me author.
The story follows Devan Thompson, a young mechanic from London, who heads to the Cornish seaside town of Porthkennack for a holiday, in hopes of reconnecting with his birth mother who is one of the locals. During his stay, Devan meets Kyle Anthony, a lawyer who has moved to Porthkennack recently himself in the aftermath of his life-altering diagnosis as a narcoleptic. The two men hit it off – somewhat begrudgingly on Kyle’s part – getting to know each other over a series of deep conversations and local explorations. What starts off as a brief holiday fling quickly evolves into much deeper feelings, which, once faced with the alternatives, both men are loath to deny.
Devan and Kyle’s romance was somewhat of a slow-burn and I absolutely loved them together. I adored the way Devan was eager and willing to learn all about Kyle’s condition, showing his acceptance and unwavering support time and again, which seemed to be a reaction quite lacking from Kyle’s previous interpersonal experiences with apparent loved ones. These two fit together so nicely and I enjoyed all the smaller getting-to-know-you moments that lay the groundwork to not only their burgeoning romance but also to a truly solid friendship.
Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed greatly was how authentically British everybody and everything was. The location, the history, the experiences, the people and their dialogue – it was all genuine and realistic, setting the scene perfectly to create a truly immersive reading experience.
I connected a great deal to this story on a personal level and that played a big role my ultimate enjoyment. I was diagnosed with a chronic pain disorder a few years back, so reading about Kyle and everything he was going through in the wake of being diagnosed with narcolepsy was a very relatable experience for me. Although extremely different conditions, I really appreciated the way Merrow depicted the effects such a disorder can have on a person’s life, while also affirming that an illness does not a person make.
Interestingly, this story is set in the fictional seaside town of Porthkennack, England, and is the first in a larger series, written by a mix of different authors, with stories told in both contemporary and historical settings. Having various authors write stories set in the same town is definitely a cool concept and one I’m excited to explore further. As far as this first offering goes, I absolutely loved the Porthkennack that Merrow so vividly depicted here. I’m now equal parts eager and apprehensive to see how the other authors go about portraying the same imaginary setting, but I’m sure I’ll know soon enough, as I can’t imagine delaying long in my continuation of this series.
Needless to say, my first experience reading J.L. Merrow’s work has been a smashing success and I’m certainly looking forward to exploring her backlog of books further.
Wake Up Call had me completely enraptured from the first turn of the page. I enjoyed so many aspects of this story, from the atmospheric setting and the deliciously fleshed out characters, to the plot itself and the impressive quality of Merrow’s writing. If I’m being completely honest, I’m finding myself hard-pressed to identify anything about this story that didn’t work for me, which is always a great feeling upon finishing a book by a new-to-me author.
The story follows Devan Thompson, a young mechanic from London, who heads to the Cornish seaside town of Porthkennack for a holiday, in hopes of reconnecting with his birth mother who is one of the locals. During his stay, Devan meets Kyle Anthony, a lawyer who has moved to Porthkennack recently himself in the aftermath of his life-altering diagnosis as a narcoleptic. The two men hit it off – somewhat begrudgingly on Kyle’s part – getting to know each other over a series of deep conversations and local explorations. What starts off as a brief holiday fling quickly evolves into much deeper feelings, which, once faced with the alternatives, both men are loath to deny.
Devan and Kyle’s romance was somewhat of a slow-burn and I absolutely loved them together. I adored the way Devan was eager and willing to learn all about Kyle’s condition, showing his acceptance and unwavering support time and again, which seemed to be a reaction quite lacking from Kyle’s previous interpersonal experiences with apparent loved ones. These two fit together so nicely and I enjoyed all the smaller getting-to-know-you moments that lay the groundwork to not only their burgeoning romance but also to a truly solid friendship.
Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed greatly was how authentically British everybody and everything was. The location, the history, the experiences, the people and their dialogue – it was all genuine and realistic, setting the scene perfectly to create a truly immersive reading experience.
I connected a great deal to this story on a personal level and that played a big role my ultimate enjoyment. I was diagnosed with a chronic pain disorder a few years back, so reading about Kyle and everything he was going through in the wake of being diagnosed with narcolepsy was a very relatable experience for me. Although extremely different conditions, I really appreciated the way Merrow depicted the effects such a disorder can have on a person’s life, while also affirming that an illness does not a person make.
Interestingly, this story is set in the fictional seaside town of Porthkennack, England, and is the first in a larger series, written by a mix of different authors, with stories told in both contemporary and historical settings. Having various authors write stories set in the same town is definitely a cool concept and one I’m excited to explore further. As far as this first offering goes, I absolutely loved the Porthkennack that Merrow so vividly depicted here. I’m now equal parts eager and apprehensive to see how the other authors go about portraying the same imaginary setting, but I’m sure I’ll know soon enough, as I can’t imagine delaying long in my continuation of this series.
Needless to say, my first experience reading J.L. Merrow’s work has been a smashing success and I’m certainly looking forward to exploring her backlog of books further.
January 15, 2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I was bored*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
It was boring as hell. Also I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't even like them all that much. The book centers around South London mechanic, Devan ‘Dev’ Thompson (24) who is in Porthkennack looking for his mother who gave him up at birth. While being there he mets Kyle Anthony (33) who suffers from narcolepsy. The two find themselves wanting to be around each other, but Dev is only there on vacation. Also who would ever want to put up with someone who can fall asleep anytime. Overall, I just didn't care for the story, nor the characters. I started skimming, even the sex scene, and that's when you know the book doesn't do it for you. I also disliked Ceri Harper a lot. There's also the insta-love feeling. It all happened in less than a week. I hate insta-love.
As if life had gone for a ceasefire on the constant lemon bombardment, and chucked him something he actually wanted for a change.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series (Can Be Read As A Standalone), Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Kyle Anthony.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - No.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2 stars.
April 27, 2017
J.L. Merrow has a talent for writing main characters who are good at heart, with realistic, ordinary tastes and skills and mannerisms - real men, so well worth loving. Devan is a new favorite of mine - a young man who grew up in foster care, with a backstory that is lacking advantages, but in the ways so many young people face. Not drenched in trauma, but lonely, unwanted, and without material support. Despite that, Devan is a sunny soul, with deep and ready compassion for others. He has simple tastes, a quick but not brilliant mind, and a practical bent. His good sense, humor, and kind heart shine from the pages in the slangy phrases that fit him so well.
When Devan sees a stranger on a bench seem to collapse, he's the kind of guy to quickly check on the man. Even though he's told it's the local drunk. He reckons even an alky can have a fit, or summat, and might need help. That simple kindness, and his clear sight that cuts past assumptions to find truth, make him the first person locally to discover Kyle's secret.
Kyle's not drunk - he has narcolepsy. He left a law practice and his friends, home, and ex-boyfriend to come to a new place and figure out how to cope with his sudden diagnosis. So far, coping has mostly been about hiding away, and trying to survive by force of will. He's researched his condition, but he's been locked in a kind of limbo, unwilling to "give in" to his condition by trying medications, unable to move forward, when he falls asleep at the worst moments with over-stimulation. He's tired to the bone from the nightmares and insomnia that go with the narcolepsy.
Kyle doesn't think he has much to offer anyone, anymore. Devan is a bit intimidated by Kyle's posh background and intelligence. But if they can cross those divides, then Devan's warm, practical integrity, and Kyle's bruised, good heart, may be just what they each need.
The secondary characters are excellent, from a local girl with a difficult past to Devan's wacky friend Mal, to his foster-sister. I might have deducted half a star, because I wanted just a little more extended time on page for these two guys in their relationship. There's no doubt what Devan is to Kyle, with his easy warmth, practical acceptance, and heart. It's not quite as clear what Kyle offers Devan, as he slowly moves from the frozen immobility of his diagnosis to rejoin the bigger world. The epilogue gives us an overview, but I would have enjoyed a bit more of that actually experienced. However this book is nicely long, and Devan is wonderful, and I'm not going to nit-pick it. I'll reread this, to remind myself how lovely things can come in rough, ordinary packages.
When Devan sees a stranger on a bench seem to collapse, he's the kind of guy to quickly check on the man. Even though he's told it's the local drunk. He reckons even an alky can have a fit, or summat, and might need help. That simple kindness, and his clear sight that cuts past assumptions to find truth, make him the first person locally to discover Kyle's secret.
Kyle's not drunk - he has narcolepsy. He left a law practice and his friends, home, and ex-boyfriend to come to a new place and figure out how to cope with his sudden diagnosis. So far, coping has mostly been about hiding away, and trying to survive by force of will. He's researched his condition, but he's been locked in a kind of limbo, unwilling to "give in" to his condition by trying medications, unable to move forward, when he falls asleep at the worst moments with over-stimulation. He's tired to the bone from the nightmares and insomnia that go with the narcolepsy.
Kyle doesn't think he has much to offer anyone, anymore. Devan is a bit intimidated by Kyle's posh background and intelligence. But if they can cross those divides, then Devan's warm, practical integrity, and Kyle's bruised, good heart, may be just what they each need.
The secondary characters are excellent, from a local girl with a difficult past to Devan's wacky friend Mal, to his foster-sister. I might have deducted half a star, because I wanted just a little more extended time on page for these two guys in their relationship. There's no doubt what Devan is to Kyle, with his easy warmth, practical acceptance, and heart. It's not quite as clear what Kyle offers Devan, as he slowly moves from the frozen immobility of his diagnosis to rejoin the bigger world. The epilogue gives us an overview, but I would have enjoyed a bit more of that actually experienced. However this book is nicely long, and Devan is wonderful, and I'm not going to nit-pick it. I'll reread this, to remind myself how lovely things can come in rough, ordinary packages.
August 3, 2021
i know this book isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but i loved it… it felt like it was written with my exact tastes in mind. just the right amount of angst and sweetness for me. it really was thoroughly enjoyable.
January 6, 2019
Warning: could be spoilish
I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t like this book. So, take a note, I’m very generous with my stars, but the descriptions of fictional Porthkennack, a former Cornish fishing village that became a tourist magnet, the main setting of the novel, were nice enough for me to want to spend a couple of weeks there. Besides, I have a weak spot for the seaside settings in my books in general.
So, Wake Up Call offers a wonderful backdrop for a slow-built romance with two characters who couldn’t be more different - two fate paths that cross accidentally... I normally enjoy this kind of stories, but unfortunately there were also many other things that I found annoying.
Devan Thompson, twenty-four year old, car mechanic from London, who comes to Porthkennack to face his mother who gave him up for adoption straight after his birth.
Kyle Anthony, thirty-three, ex-lawyer, who after having been diagnosed with narcolepsy, gave up his job, his city life and run away from everything that reminds him of his previous life, to settle down in this small town and to live his now-days in undisturbed self-pity.
Maybe someone can consider this novel as a slow-pacing and slow-build romance.
I, for my part, found it extremely boring. Nothing special happened for almost the completely first part of the book: the scenery remained beautiful, the town small, and our characters run continuously into each other, made dull conversations but managed to produce many misunderstandings while doing it, include slamming doors and insulting remarks. Probably it is how the author tried to put pepper in the story. These outbursts had rather a sour taste.
The dramatic circumstances that were added to the plot and some dramatic actions toward the end - didn’t make the story more interesting to me, but rather more clichéd and eye-rolled. The drama with Dave's little sister was totally out of place.
I dislike MM Romance books where adult men talk like ten-year-old teens.
I cannot imagine a criminal lawyer talking this way, and even less the one I want to read about. And to be honest, I can’t imagine Kyle as a lawyer at all.
Maybe I should stay away from J.L. Merrow books.
**Copy provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t like this book. So, take a note, I’m very generous with my stars, but the descriptions of fictional Porthkennack, a former Cornish fishing village that became a tourist magnet, the main setting of the novel, were nice enough for me to want to spend a couple of weeks there. Besides, I have a weak spot for the seaside settings in my books in general.
So, Wake Up Call offers a wonderful backdrop for a slow-built romance with two characters who couldn’t be more different - two fate paths that cross accidentally... I normally enjoy this kind of stories, but unfortunately there were also many other things that I found annoying.
Devan Thompson, twenty-four year old, car mechanic from London, who comes to Porthkennack to face his mother who gave him up for adoption straight after his birth.
Kyle Anthony, thirty-three, ex-lawyer, who after having been diagnosed with narcolepsy, gave up his job, his city life and run away from everything that reminds him of his previous life, to settle down in this small town and to live his now-days in undisturbed self-pity.
Maybe someone can consider this novel as a slow-pacing and slow-build romance.
I, for my part, found it extremely boring. Nothing special happened for almost the completely first part of the book: the scenery remained beautiful, the town small, and our characters run continuously into each other, made dull conversations but managed to produce many misunderstandings while doing it, include slamming doors and insulting remarks. Probably it is how the author tried to put pepper in the story. These outbursts had rather a sour taste.
The dramatic circumstances that were added to the plot and some dramatic actions toward the end - didn’t make the story more interesting to me, but rather more clichéd and eye-rolled. The drama with Dave's little sister was totally out of place.
I dislike MM Romance books where adult men talk like ten-year-old teens.
I cannot imagine a criminal lawyer talking this way, and even less the one I want to read about. And to be honest, I can’t imagine Kyle as a lawyer at all.
Maybe I should stay away from J.L. Merrow books.
**Copy provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
December 30, 2019
I really enjoyed J.L Merrow's "The Plumber's Mate" series, so I began Wake Up Call looking forward to this story of two men: Dev, who comes to Cornwall with a purpose - find the woman who gave him up for adoption - and Kyle, who comes to escape - from his stressful career, his diagnosis of narcolepsy and the boyfriend he pushed away.
Wake Up Call is set in Porthkennack on the Cornish coast - windy, rocky and wild with steep cliffs cascading down to sandy beaches (think Game of Thrones location) - a former fishing village that now depends heavily on tourism. You really get a sense of the bleak, gray atmosphere. This is no light and happy Brighton Beach setting.
Dev meets a local girl Ceri at the Square Peg cafe; you just know there's a story behind her defensiveness and anger and some local "mean girls" hint at an incident that happened a while ago ... but then this subplot sputters out.
I felt the time devoted to these subplots really dragged down the flow of the story and took away from a relationship that already had enough conflict and contrast in background, interests, status, outlook, etc. Both Kyle and Dev are given to long internal monologues (with Kyle being more whiny, IMHO) and the end result is too little action and too much introspection. Kyle and Dev's sexual dynamic is interesting, but their relationship is also fraught with too many misunderstandings, slammed doors and stalking off.
I realize that other readers may not have the same experience with Wake Up Call and find the pace reflective and feel the internal conflicts give texture to the love story, but personally I could not get past the abortive subplots and the slow pace. My rating is 3 stars, but then again ...
Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Wake Up Call is set in Porthkennack on the Cornish coast - windy, rocky and wild with steep cliffs cascading down to sandy beaches (think Game of Thrones location) - a former fishing village that now depends heavily on tourism. You really get a sense of the bleak, gray atmosphere. This is no light and happy Brighton Beach setting.
Dev meets a local girl Ceri at the Square Peg cafe; you just know there's a story behind her defensiveness and anger and some local "mean girls" hint at an incident that happened a while ago ... but then this subplot sputters out.
I felt the time devoted to these subplots really dragged down the flow of the story and took away from a relationship that already had enough conflict and contrast in background, interests, status, outlook, etc. Both Kyle and Dev are given to long internal monologues (with Kyle being more whiny, IMHO) and the end result is too little action and too much introspection. Kyle and Dev's sexual dynamic is interesting, but their relationship is also fraught with too many misunderstandings, slammed doors and stalking off.
I realize that other readers may not have the same experience with Wake Up Call and find the pace reflective and feel the internal conflicts give texture to the love story, but personally I could not get past the abortive subplots and the slow pace. My rating is 3 stars, but then again ...
Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
April 18, 2017
I can always count on this author to write a really British book. Wake Up Call is no exception in that. What is different in this book is that while I'm used to JL Merrow writing humorous and thus lighter fare, this book has a melancholy and painful undertone throughout.
First, there's Devan Thompson, a car mechanic, who's come to Porthkennack on the Cornwall coast to find someone he's wanted to meet all his life - . He's decided that he's going to so I wasn't really on his side from the start.
Still, Devan is a good chap, and this becomes clear when he runs into Kyle Anthony, who's lived in Porthkennack for a few months and already has a reputation as the town drunk, as he tends to pass out in inappropriate places. There's a reason for this - Kyle has been diagnosed with narcolepsy, but refuses to seek treatment, and hasn't even told his parents about the diagnosis. The condition has so far cost him his job as a barrister (that's English for attorney), his boyfriend, and he's built a bunch of walls around himself, needing nobody and no one. Or so he tells himself.
Devan makes no assumptions, even when told not to bother, with a sneer to boot, and merely stands guard over a passed out Kyle until the other man wakes up again. Attraction is immediate, and they begin spending time together. Devan's personality comes out in droves, and his compassion and easy-going manner have Kyle second-guessing his decision to keep everyone at bay and living life as a recluse in his house on the cliffs.
I'm not going to tell you the whole plot here - you should read this book and have the full experience - but I will tell you that there's humor and banter and very British English throughout the book, with interesting, complex, fully realized characters who both struggle with their lot in life and have serious doubts about what they might have to offer a partner - what with Kyle's narcolepsy and Devan's being a simple car mechanic. Their budding relationship is not smooth sailing, and there are instances when they both walk away in anger, with slamming doors and hurt feelings. Kyle came across as a bit whiny on occasion - while I understood his frustration with his condition, I didn't quite understand why a grown man would choose to hide himself away, instead of facing the issue head-on. I also lacked sympathy for Devan on occasion, especially when it came to his quest for answers, because it felt supremely selfish to me. It was only when he was given the true reason that he got some clarity on his motivations, and almost grew up before my very eyes.
There are supporting characters too, the most prominent being Ceri, a waitress in the local cafe, to whom Devan takes a liking and with whom he also starts spending time. She's an interesting character, cynical and blunt, but has her reasons for being that way. I liked her a lot - she didn't take crap from anyone, and she made Devan think. There's no romantic interest here for either - but they do become friends. Sort of.
The plot flows easily, and while the romance between Devan and Kyle is rather quiet and languid, there are passionate moments within as well. For the most part, the melancholy undertones persist, as Devan finds out more about his , and Ceri's backstory, and Kyle faces a decision on what to do about the narcolepsy.
The pace picks up a bit toward the ending of the book as Devan's little sister gets herself into a tight spot, and both Devan and Kyle rush to London to help out. This leads to Devan's doubts raising their ugly heads again which... well, you read this for yourself.
The primary location of this book was chosen really well - an old fishing village, with possibly pirates and smugglers in its history, with rocky cliffs and hidden tunnels, which now depends primarily on tourism to support its residents.
The ending felt a little rushed, especially since the subplot with Devan's sister was resolved so quickly, but we did get a fabulous epilogue, so I was happy with that.
Overall, this was a great first book in this series, and I'm keen to check out the others.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgally. A positive review was not promised in return. **
First, there's Devan Thompson, a car mechanic, who's come to Porthkennack on the Cornwall coast to find someone he's wanted to meet all his life - . He's decided that he's going to so I wasn't really on his side from the start.
Still, Devan is a good chap, and this becomes clear when he runs into Kyle Anthony, who's lived in Porthkennack for a few months and already has a reputation as the town drunk, as he tends to pass out in inappropriate places. There's a reason for this - Kyle has been diagnosed with narcolepsy, but refuses to seek treatment, and hasn't even told his parents about the diagnosis. The condition has so far cost him his job as a barrister (that's English for attorney), his boyfriend, and he's built a bunch of walls around himself, needing nobody and no one. Or so he tells himself.
Devan makes no assumptions, even when told not to bother, with a sneer to boot, and merely stands guard over a passed out Kyle until the other man wakes up again. Attraction is immediate, and they begin spending time together. Devan's personality comes out in droves, and his compassion and easy-going manner have Kyle second-guessing his decision to keep everyone at bay and living life as a recluse in his house on the cliffs.
I'm not going to tell you the whole plot here - you should read this book and have the full experience - but I will tell you that there's humor and banter and very British English throughout the book, with interesting, complex, fully realized characters who both struggle with their lot in life and have serious doubts about what they might have to offer a partner - what with Kyle's narcolepsy and Devan's being a simple car mechanic. Their budding relationship is not smooth sailing, and there are instances when they both walk away in anger, with slamming doors and hurt feelings. Kyle came across as a bit whiny on occasion - while I understood his frustration with his condition, I didn't quite understand why a grown man would choose to hide himself away, instead of facing the issue head-on. I also lacked sympathy for Devan on occasion, especially when it came to his quest for answers, because it felt supremely selfish to me. It was only when he was given the true reason that he got some clarity on his motivations, and almost grew up before my very eyes.
There are supporting characters too, the most prominent being Ceri, a waitress in the local cafe, to whom Devan takes a liking and with whom he also starts spending time. She's an interesting character, cynical and blunt, but has her reasons for being that way. I liked her a lot - she didn't take crap from anyone, and she made Devan think. There's no romantic interest here for either - but they do become friends. Sort of.
The plot flows easily, and while the romance between Devan and Kyle is rather quiet and languid, there are passionate moments within as well. For the most part, the melancholy undertones persist, as Devan finds out more about his , and Ceri's backstory, and Kyle faces a decision on what to do about the narcolepsy.
The pace picks up a bit toward the ending of the book as Devan's little sister gets herself into a tight spot, and both Devan and Kyle rush to London to help out. This leads to Devan's doubts raising their ugly heads again which... well, you read this for yourself.
The primary location of this book was chosen really well - an old fishing village, with possibly pirates and smugglers in its history, with rocky cliffs and hidden tunnels, which now depends primarily on tourism to support its residents.
The ending felt a little rushed, especially since the subplot with Devan's sister was resolved so quickly, but we did get a fabulous epilogue, so I was happy with that.
Overall, this was a great first book in this series, and I'm keen to check out the others.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgally. A positive review was not promised in return. **
May 13, 2017
I've read a couple other stories by this author and liked them, so when this series popped up on my radar, I thought I would give it a shot. I generally love stories that are very British and Wake Up Call is very British. I loved the setting, in Cornwall, and I loved the very British speech, and I quite liked the main characters, as well. Some of the story didn't work well, for me (more on that in a bit), but seems that most people are enjoying it so you may, too.
Dev Thompson is a mechanic who had been adopted, but grew up in foster care after his adoptive parents died. He's come to Porthkennack to find and talk to his birth-mother in an effort to find out out himself. Dev is a guy that makes friends, easily, and when he arrives in Porthkennack, he makes an unlikely friend with the hostile waitress of a coffee/pastry shop, named Ceri. Shortly after, he meets and befriends another newcomer to Porthkennack, Kyle Anthony.
Kyle came to Porthkennack to get away from everything. In Surry, he was a barrister with his whole life ahead of him. He had some money, a job he worked hard for, a boyfriend he loved... But then he was diagnosed with narcolepsy and he pushed everyone away and then ran away, himself. In Porthkennack, he keeps to himself and hasn't bothered getting to know anyone, so when he falls asleep at random times and in random places, people make assumptions that he is drunk.
While I liked Wake Up Call, I didn't really love it. I found the pacing too slow and way too much time was given to secondary characters and sub-plots that I really wanted to be dedicated to Dev and Kyle getting to know each other and developing their relationship.
Particularly, it seemed that Ceri's whole purpose was to generate conflict and uncertainty, but she really wasn't needed for that and I felt her entire part of the story was superfluous. There was plenty of built in conflict and uncertainty, already, with Dev and Kyle because of their upbringing, education and social class differences, not to mention Kyle's medical issues and Dev's uncertainty where his family history is concerned, so I felt like adding even more outside conflict just took away from what should have been the focus -- Dev and Kyle.
I think Wake Up Call showed a lot of promise and if the secondary plot lines would have been cut down a bit, I would have enjoyed the story more.
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My review copy of Wake Up Call was generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Dev Thompson is a mechanic who had been adopted, but grew up in foster care after his adoptive parents died. He's come to Porthkennack to find and talk to his birth-mother in an effort to find out out himself. Dev is a guy that makes friends, easily, and when he arrives in Porthkennack, he makes an unlikely friend with the hostile waitress of a coffee/pastry shop, named Ceri. Shortly after, he meets and befriends another newcomer to Porthkennack, Kyle Anthony.
Kyle came to Porthkennack to get away from everything. In Surry, he was a barrister with his whole life ahead of him. He had some money, a job he worked hard for, a boyfriend he loved... But then he was diagnosed with narcolepsy and he pushed everyone away and then ran away, himself. In Porthkennack, he keeps to himself and hasn't bothered getting to know anyone, so when he falls asleep at random times and in random places, people make assumptions that he is drunk.
While I liked Wake Up Call, I didn't really love it. I found the pacing too slow and way too much time was given to secondary characters and sub-plots that I really wanted to be dedicated to Dev and Kyle getting to know each other and developing their relationship.
Particularly, it seemed that Ceri's whole purpose was to generate conflict and uncertainty, but she really wasn't needed for that and I felt her entire part of the story was superfluous. There was plenty of built in conflict and uncertainty, already, with Dev and Kyle because of their upbringing, education and social class differences, not to mention Kyle's medical issues and Dev's uncertainty where his family history is concerned, so I felt like adding even more outside conflict just took away from what should have been the focus -- Dev and Kyle.
I think Wake Up Call showed a lot of promise and if the secondary plot lines would have been cut down a bit, I would have enjoyed the story more.
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My review copy of Wake Up Call was generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2022
Good start to this Cornish set series which I've owned since they first came out but hadn't got round to reading yet - oops!
Anyways, J.L. opens the series with an interesting opposites attract romance with a secondary plot focusing on living with a debilitating illness, in this instance narcolepsy.
I don't know anything about it but this book read like it was genuine and realistically depicted and I felt for Kyle.
I also wanted to give him a right good shake at others. I'll also say that the first 25% of the book had way too many incidents of both him and Dev misunderstanding or flying off the handle at each other.
It made sense, and I got it, it just needed a change in pace earlier. It's a fairly slow burn too, again makes sense, but there's also a lovely feeling of intimacy as Kyle starts to let Dev see his vulnerability.
All in all a very solid opening.
Anyways, J.L. opens the series with an interesting opposites attract romance with a secondary plot focusing on living with a debilitating illness, in this instance narcolepsy.
I don't know anything about it but this book read like it was genuine and realistically depicted and I felt for Kyle.
I also wanted to give him a right good shake at others. I'll also say that the first 25% of the book had way too many incidents of both him and Dev misunderstanding or flying off the handle at each other.
It made sense, and I got it, it just needed a change in pace earlier. It's a fairly slow burn too, again makes sense, but there's also a lovely feeling of intimacy as Kyle starts to let Dev see his vulnerability.
All in all a very solid opening.
February 27, 2017
This was a beautiful, charming, touching story set in the tourist town of Porthkennack on the Cornish coast of England. Aside from the authentic British dialog, I'm used to getting lots of humor in Merrow's books and each book in the past was a guarantee to make me smile and laugh; this book was different. Wake Up Call is so much more than a humorous book; it's touching and sad with a touch of gloominess that follows Devan Thompson like a dark cloud.
Devan is a young man (early 20s) who grew up in the foster care system, where he met his foster sister Tasha, the only family he has. Dev came to Porthkennack to track down and possibly meet and start a relationship with his birth mother, who gave him up for adoption after birth. What was supposed to be a three week vacation reserved for connecting with his mother, ended up being a journey of new friendships and love. Dev meets a prickly waitress names Ceri, whom he starts a tentative but everlasting friendship with. Dev also meets Kyle, a man in his 30s who people assume to be a drunk, given his habit of collapsing randomly all over town.
Kyle is definitely not an alcoholic; he abandoned his job as a criminal attorney when he started suffering from narcolepsy with cataplexy, a disorder that causes him to suddenly fall asleep during the day and to lose muscle tone and suffer from a form of temporary paralysis. Leaving everything behind and breaking up with his long time partner, Kyle escaped to Porthkennack and isolated himself from the world around him. Kyle has pretty much given up on himself, refuses treatment for his condition because medicating means accepting, and he isn't ready to accept his new normal. He doesn't try to make any friends in Porthkennack and doesn't correct the locals when they start thinking he's a drunk.
Dev and Kyle are immediately drawn to each other, a connection that I couldn't help but be excited about. They become friends and instinctively trust each other, and becoming lovers only serves to show how good they are for each other. But Kyle doesn't want to saddle Dev with his condition and believes Dev deserves a life with a younger, healthy man who can offer him the life he deserves. Dev wants more than anything to give their relationship a real chance, but fears a man as successful as Kyle is embarrassed to openly share his life with a mechanic with no education.
Dev's sister needs help and Kyle steps to the plate, getting the confidence he needs to take charge of his life again. Unfortunately, once Dev's sister and Mal become an active part of this story, we get less focus on Dev and Kyle, right when they need it the most. While I loved seeing Dev with his make-shift little family, I craved seeing Kyle become part of it as well. It seemed to me like the two separate parts of Dev's life (Kyle/ Mal, Ceri & Tasha) never quite merged together; we are told they did in a beautiful epilogue, but we were not a part of that particular journey.
The "Kyle and Dev move in together" chapter of their lives also happens off page, and I thought the reader needed to be a part of that, after all the uncertainty regarding Kyle and Dev throughout the book.
This book is a beautiful start to a new series and I'm very excited to read the next one, even though I have no idea who we're going to be reading about.
Devan is a young man (early 20s) who grew up in the foster care system, where he met his foster sister Tasha, the only family he has. Dev came to Porthkennack to track down and possibly meet and start a relationship with his birth mother, who gave him up for adoption after birth. What was supposed to be a three week vacation reserved for connecting with his mother, ended up being a journey of new friendships and love. Dev meets a prickly waitress names Ceri, whom he starts a tentative but everlasting friendship with. Dev also meets Kyle, a man in his 30s who people assume to be a drunk, given his habit of collapsing randomly all over town.
Kyle is definitely not an alcoholic; he abandoned his job as a criminal attorney when he started suffering from narcolepsy with cataplexy, a disorder that causes him to suddenly fall asleep during the day and to lose muscle tone and suffer from a form of temporary paralysis. Leaving everything behind and breaking up with his long time partner, Kyle escaped to Porthkennack and isolated himself from the world around him. Kyle has pretty much given up on himself, refuses treatment for his condition because medicating means accepting, and he isn't ready to accept his new normal. He doesn't try to make any friends in Porthkennack and doesn't correct the locals when they start thinking he's a drunk.
Dev and Kyle are immediately drawn to each other, a connection that I couldn't help but be excited about. They become friends and instinctively trust each other, and becoming lovers only serves to show how good they are for each other. But Kyle doesn't want to saddle Dev with his condition and believes Dev deserves a life with a younger, healthy man who can offer him the life he deserves. Dev wants more than anything to give their relationship a real chance, but fears a man as successful as Kyle is embarrassed to openly share his life with a mechanic with no education.
Dev's sister needs help and Kyle steps to the plate, getting the confidence he needs to take charge of his life again. Unfortunately, once Dev's sister and Mal become an active part of this story, we get less focus on Dev and Kyle, right when they need it the most. While I loved seeing Dev with his make-shift little family, I craved seeing Kyle become part of it as well. It seemed to me like the two separate parts of Dev's life (Kyle/ Mal, Ceri & Tasha) never quite merged together; we are told they did in a beautiful epilogue, but we were not a part of that particular journey.
The "Kyle and Dev move in together" chapter of their lives also happens off page, and I thought the reader needed to be a part of that, after all the uncertainty regarding Kyle and Dev throughout the book.
This book is a beautiful start to a new series and I'm very excited to read the next one, even though I have no idea who we're going to be reading about.
April 6, 2017
Devan Thompson is on vacation in Porthkennack ostensibly to simply enjoy the beautiful scenery while taking time off from his work as a mechanic in London. But the reality is that the young man who never knew his parents has discovered that his mother lives in Porthkennack, and in fact, is a socialite from the wealthy Roscarrock family. While waiting to get the courage to approach her, he befriends a young man labeled as the town drunk.
Far from being a drunk, though, Kyle Anthony is a barrister who moved to Porthkennack to get away from his now ex-lover and his now former job. He was recently diagnosed with both narcolepsy and cataplexy and due to the suddenness with which he falls asleep or slumps to the ground, he’s earned the scorn of townspeople. Not one to share his personal life with others, he’s never even told his family about his problem, especially after the reaction he got from his lover when he learned the truth.
Now, though, this nice young man named Dev seems to want to be of help and doesn’t immediately jump to the conclusion that he’s a worthless drunk.
This is one of those stories in which each MC makes assumptions about the others’ thoughts and feelings and neither gets it right. They befriend each other and eventually have sex, though Dev has some adjustment to make when his lover falls asleep immediately afterward. And when Kyle advises Dev not to approach his mother if she’s not aware he’s coming, Dev thinks he means Dev isn’t good enough and storms off. Turns out Kyle was right, but that only makes Dev angrier.
I enjoyed this story, principally due to the author’s style of telling a tale—always with an underlying sense of humor, and always delving deep into the characters’ hearts and souls. I was engaged by both MCs early in the story and patiently waited until each finally got to the point where they were brave enough to admit their feelings and their fears to each other.
There’s plenty of adventure along the way involving both friends and family members who provide a wonderful cast of secondary characters and a strong and realistic storyline.
Highly recommend this one to all lovers of MM romance, and especially to those who enjoy stories set in the UK. And, I’m looking forward to more in this series.
ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
Far from being a drunk, though, Kyle Anthony is a barrister who moved to Porthkennack to get away from his now ex-lover and his now former job. He was recently diagnosed with both narcolepsy and cataplexy and due to the suddenness with which he falls asleep or slumps to the ground, he’s earned the scorn of townspeople. Not one to share his personal life with others, he’s never even told his family about his problem, especially after the reaction he got from his lover when he learned the truth.
Now, though, this nice young man named Dev seems to want to be of help and doesn’t immediately jump to the conclusion that he’s a worthless drunk.
This is one of those stories in which each MC makes assumptions about the others’ thoughts and feelings and neither gets it right. They befriend each other and eventually have sex, though Dev has some adjustment to make when his lover falls asleep immediately afterward. And when Kyle advises Dev not to approach his mother if she’s not aware he’s coming, Dev thinks he means Dev isn’t good enough and storms off. Turns out Kyle was right, but that only makes Dev angrier.
I enjoyed this story, principally due to the author’s style of telling a tale—always with an underlying sense of humor, and always delving deep into the characters’ hearts and souls. I was engaged by both MCs early in the story and patiently waited until each finally got to the point where they were brave enough to admit their feelings and their fears to each other.
There’s plenty of adventure along the way involving both friends and family members who provide a wonderful cast of secondary characters and a strong and realistic storyline.
Highly recommend this one to all lovers of MM romance, and especially to those who enjoy stories set in the UK. And, I’m looking forward to more in this series.
ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
April 9, 2017
Wake Up Call is a sweet, easygoing romance full of that wonderful British humor.
Although it deals with tough topics like kids without families growing up in "the system" and an MC with a serious, incurable but manageable illness, the story never gets dark or maudlin. The main reason is that the author gives us a handful of wonderful characters who have strong and vibrant personalities. Top that off with excellent wit and dialogue and we have a story that flows as smoothly as a river. Entertaining, captivating and comforting. I'd love to have friends like the characters in this book.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Although it deals with tough topics like kids without families growing up in "the system" and an MC with a serious, incurable but manageable illness, the story never gets dark or maudlin. The main reason is that the author gives us a handful of wonderful characters who have strong and vibrant personalities. Top that off with excellent wit and dialogue and we have a story that flows as smoothly as a river. Entertaining, captivating and comforting. I'd love to have friends like the characters in this book.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
March 6, 2023
Cute. Fun. Very British. Full of feelings. I loved both MCs. I loved the little seaside town and the side characters.
Read
May 9, 201715% y le doy DNF. Me estoy aburriendo, quizás soy yo y en otro momento lo vuelvo a intentar y me gusta. Sorry :/
June 30, 2019
He tardado una eternidad en terminarlo, un aburrimiento.
April 17, 2017
Dev and Kyle
Ha...this was funny, witty and also with some serious issues read.
This whole story is written in one thick accent.
Dev arrives in Porthkennack to find and talk to someone. Kyle lives there a few months now to escape his home situation and did not integrate well in Porthkennack yet!
He has narcolepsy, falls asleep just like that. Dev finds him lying on a bench sleeping.
It's hard to live with narcoleptica , he lost his job as a barrister, his partner and his dignity.
Dev has no problem with this fact and has an easygoing way with it, and Kyle is surprised by that.
Dev open and outspoken. Kyle some less open and more serious. They argue a lot and Dev always returns after running away.
Dev think of himself as a simple man, but God he has so much depth. He thinks in layers and they are all really amazing.
The barrister and the mechanic like each other a lot. Kyle thinks they have no future because of his illness but Dev thinks he is more than only his narcolepsy. Even when he collapsed after he comes.....
There is a lot of story going on in Porthkennack. Dev is become friends with Ceri the waitress, there is a lot going on with her. And also with Dev his foster sister and his roommate Mal has a good part in this story. But the biggest part is about Dev and Kyle their story.
When I found out all meaning of the local language and the accents in this story it did read better for me.
Entertaining, original storyline, down to earth and awesome funny.
The pace was steady and thanks to all the 'lads-mo-Oi-mate-innit-S’pose-you know-aint I- it was a really a great read.
ARC received from Divine Magazine given by Netgalley
Ha...this was funny, witty and also with some serious issues read.
This whole story is written in one thick accent.
Dev arrives in Porthkennack to find and talk to someone. Kyle lives there a few months now to escape his home situation and did not integrate well in Porthkennack yet!
He has narcolepsy, falls asleep just like that. Dev finds him lying on a bench sleeping.
It's hard to live with narcoleptica , he lost his job as a barrister, his partner and his dignity.
Dev has no problem with this fact and has an easygoing way with it, and Kyle is surprised by that.
Dev open and outspoken. Kyle some less open and more serious. They argue a lot and Dev always returns after running away.
Dev think of himself as a simple man, but God he has so much depth. He thinks in layers and they are all really amazing.
The barrister and the mechanic like each other a lot. Kyle thinks they have no future because of his illness but Dev thinks he is more than only his narcolepsy. Even when he collapsed after he comes.....
There is a lot of story going on in Porthkennack. Dev is become friends with Ceri the waitress, there is a lot going on with her. And also with Dev his foster sister and his roommate Mal has a good part in this story. But the biggest part is about Dev and Kyle their story.
When I found out all meaning of the local language and the accents in this story it did read better for me.
Entertaining, original storyline, down to earth and awesome funny.
The pace was steady and thanks to all the 'lads-mo-Oi-mate-innit-S’pose-you know-aint I- it was a really a great read.
ARC received from Divine Magazine given by Netgalley
October 29, 2018
4.5 Stars
Probably my favorite book by this author yet...and that's saying something.
As usual, JLM gives us this setting that is just so completely British, and characters that are flawed and real...but something about both this time around captivated me. I'm definitely interested in more (even if from other authors) to see how they paint Porthkennack (where I'd TOTALLY want to visit, were it real) and to see if their characters are as engaging.
You know, a lot of times when an author alternates the POV between the two MCs it's hard to tell who is "talking" because, even when they are supposedly two wildly divergent guys with totally different backgrounds and whatnot...well, they end up "sounding" a lot less different than you'd think they would. Sure, their dialogue might be distinctive...but here we get their entire thought processes and seriously, you can absolutely tell whose POV it is. I've noticed that happens more with multiple authors, but haven't seen it done (IMHO) so well by ONE author as it's done here.
And these guys? I wish the series had codas and novellas. Sure, it's wrapped up pretty neatly...but I want more of them.
(Also, major props to JLM for doing the research on Narcolepsy/Cataplexy, pointing out how it's often dismissed or laughed at & how those diagnosed with such an ailment struggle with basic things.)
Probably my favorite book by this author yet...and that's saying something.
As usual, JLM gives us this setting that is just so completely British, and characters that are flawed and real...but something about both this time around captivated me. I'm definitely interested in more (even if from other authors) to see how they paint Porthkennack (where I'd TOTALLY want to visit, were it real) and to see if their characters are as engaging.
You know, a lot of times when an author alternates the POV between the two MCs it's hard to tell who is "talking" because, even when they are supposedly two wildly divergent guys with totally different backgrounds and whatnot...well, they end up "sounding" a lot less different than you'd think they would. Sure, their dialogue might be distinctive...but here we get their entire thought processes and seriously, you can absolutely tell whose POV it is. I've noticed that happens more with multiple authors, but haven't seen it done (IMHO) so well by ONE author as it's done here.
And these guys? I wish the series had codas and novellas. Sure, it's wrapped up pretty neatly...but I want more of them.
(Also, major props to JLM for doing the research on Narcolepsy/Cataplexy, pointing out how it's often dismissed or laughed at & how those diagnosed with such an ailment struggle with basic things.)
April 25, 2017
This story is beautiful!
I love a lot of JL Merrow books because she really creates an amazing realistic feeling about the characters and the settings of the story.
Here we can feel the life in Porthkennack. How the characters go around and tell us stories about the town is very clever.
The main characters are lovely. Kyle has been diagnosed recently an illness that made him to change all his lifestyle. It has a positive message about not giving up and accept help from other people . And then we have Dev, who had a really hard life and he has inferiority issues but he´s really nice guy :*)
The second characters are not my favorite part of the book… I find all of them a bit distant and not very attractive personality. But this can be my personal taste.
Also add that it has a wonderful sense of humor! :)
May 28, 2017
Set in the small seaside tourist town of Porthkennack, England, Wake Up Call by J.L. Merrow is the first in a brand new Riptide Publishing shared universe series.
Devan Thompson, Dev to his mates, has spent most of his life in foster-care. And while he is now grown up, working as a mechanic and sharing a rather grungy flat with his mate Mal, he has always wondered about the people who put him up for adoption as a baby. So when he finds out that his mother is a prominent member of the town of Porthkennack, he takes a three-week vacation and heads to the seaside to meet the woman who gave birth to him. That the woman has no clue that he is coming–and the fact he has no idea what to even say to her when he shows up unannounced at her door–is that last thing on his mind. He just wants a chance at finally finding a family.
It is his run-in with the supposed new-to-town drunk on his first day in town that really changes things for him, however. Kyle Anthony–who is not actually a drunk, thank you very much–has moved himself to Porthkennack after being diagnosed with narcolepsy. Fleeing from his job as a criminal lawyer and his failed relationship in London, Kyle has moved into a small rented cottage and plans on doing nothing more with his days than trying not to make too much of an idiot of himself around town. When Dev approaches him after Kyle has an attack in the middle of the sidewalk, Kyle believes Dev to be just another tosser who will crack a few jokes and then leave. He doesn’t expect to find someone who can see past his illness. And he certainly doesn’t expect Dev to stick around. But against all odds, Dev does…
I am a huge fan of what Riptide Publishing has done with their several shared universes. And I was thrilled to find out that this next one was set in England, because that is just right up my alley. Add in the fact that J.L. Merrow is probably sharing a number one spot as my favorite English author, and there was little chance that I wasn’t going to jump all over this book.
This book ended up being everything I wanted it to be as well.
There is no doubt that Merrow can write great characters, but I’ve yet to come across anyone who can bring to life the various regional accents and cultures the way she has been able to in her stories. Dev was another excellent example of this. Not only was the way she wrote him great because it made it really easy to tell which pov that chapter was in, but there is just something about the way she is able to make you buy a character and their backstory with only a few sentences. Like, I’ve never been to England (more’s the pity) but Dev didn’t even have to be on page long before I got him. But it wasn’t like it was just a bunch of stereotypes thrown together…no, he is so much more than that. The way he flows so easily with people, the way he loves hearing stories (whether made up or not) made me love him more with each page.
And the slightly posher Kyle worked just as well, if for different reasons. I pretty sure I’ve never read about a character with narcolepsy before, and after this I can’t wait to find others like it. Not only did it make me really think about how I react to hearing someone has this illness (much to my chagrin, before reading this I have to admit that I was totally the kind of tool who found it amusing), but I never once felt like I was being preached or lectured at. I came away from this book determined to do better. And that? That is fucking awesome when a book can make me do that.
I really cannot recommend this book enough. It was so well written and it had an unique and entirely entertaining cast of characters. It was also a great story to set up this world. I can’t wait to see what the other books have to offer about Porthkennack. And since I have requested the next three in the series, you’ll just have to come back in a few months to see for yourself.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Devan Thompson, Dev to his mates, has spent most of his life in foster-care. And while he is now grown up, working as a mechanic and sharing a rather grungy flat with his mate Mal, he has always wondered about the people who put him up for adoption as a baby. So when he finds out that his mother is a prominent member of the town of Porthkennack, he takes a three-week vacation and heads to the seaside to meet the woman who gave birth to him. That the woman has no clue that he is coming–and the fact he has no idea what to even say to her when he shows up unannounced at her door–is that last thing on his mind. He just wants a chance at finally finding a family.
It is his run-in with the supposed new-to-town drunk on his first day in town that really changes things for him, however. Kyle Anthony–who is not actually a drunk, thank you very much–has moved himself to Porthkennack after being diagnosed with narcolepsy. Fleeing from his job as a criminal lawyer and his failed relationship in London, Kyle has moved into a small rented cottage and plans on doing nothing more with his days than trying not to make too much of an idiot of himself around town. When Dev approaches him after Kyle has an attack in the middle of the sidewalk, Kyle believes Dev to be just another tosser who will crack a few jokes and then leave. He doesn’t expect to find someone who can see past his illness. And he certainly doesn’t expect Dev to stick around. But against all odds, Dev does…
I am a huge fan of what Riptide Publishing has done with their several shared universes. And I was thrilled to find out that this next one was set in England, because that is just right up my alley. Add in the fact that J.L. Merrow is probably sharing a number one spot as my favorite English author, and there was little chance that I wasn’t going to jump all over this book.
This book ended up being everything I wanted it to be as well.
There is no doubt that Merrow can write great characters, but I’ve yet to come across anyone who can bring to life the various regional accents and cultures the way she has been able to in her stories. Dev was another excellent example of this. Not only was the way she wrote him great because it made it really easy to tell which pov that chapter was in, but there is just something about the way she is able to make you buy a character and their backstory with only a few sentences. Like, I’ve never been to England (more’s the pity) but Dev didn’t even have to be on page long before I got him. But it wasn’t like it was just a bunch of stereotypes thrown together…no, he is so much more than that. The way he flows so easily with people, the way he loves hearing stories (whether made up or not) made me love him more with each page.
And the slightly posher Kyle worked just as well, if for different reasons. I pretty sure I’ve never read about a character with narcolepsy before, and after this I can’t wait to find others like it. Not only did it make me really think about how I react to hearing someone has this illness (much to my chagrin, before reading this I have to admit that I was totally the kind of tool who found it amusing), but I never once felt like I was being preached or lectured at. I came away from this book determined to do better. And that? That is fucking awesome when a book can make me do that.
I really cannot recommend this book enough. It was so well written and it had an unique and entirely entertaining cast of characters. It was also a great story to set up this world. I can’t wait to see what the other books have to offer about Porthkennack. And since I have requested the next three in the series, you’ll just have to come back in a few months to see for yourself.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
July 16, 2017
Wake-Up Call (Porthkennack series)
J.L. Merrow
Riptide Publishing, 2017
J.L. Merrow’s latest is set in Porthkennack, a plausible but fictitious town in Cornwall. Apparently fellow Brit author Alex Beecroft created Porthkennack, and it has been taken up by several writers as a setting suitable for their shared romantic intentions. Those of us who are fans of Harper Fox’s Tyack and Frayne series know another part of Cornwall all too well.
Devan Thompson and Kyle Anthony have very different reasons for being in the Cornish town of Porthkennack during the summer holidays. Dev, a mixed-race London auto mechanic, has come to town on a personal quest. Kyle, distraught at being diagnosed with narcolepsy, has abandoned his posh legal career and run to the very edge of the UK to try to figure out what to do with the ruins of his life. Dev, abandoned by his mate Mal and at loose ends, makes friends with Ceri (pronounced Kerry), a local girl and a waitress at a busy summer café; and also with Kyle, to whose aid he comes after Kyle collapses in front of the café where Dev is enjoying a lousy latte.
The setup is classic Merrow—men of different backgrounds, but with similar compassionate natures, discover a connection that is spiritual and emotional as much as physical. Both men are seeking a firmer grip on their damaged self-identities, and each has severe doubts as to his ability to function fully because of what he perceives as his own shortcomings.
In her ineffable way, Merrow lets us into the hearts of both Dev and Kyle, and strips away the externals, leaving only the core for us to know and love. We see two good men, loved and appreciated by everyone but themselves, each yearning for what the other might offer him, but not quite sure that he deserves the happiness he imagines the other could give him.
Porthkennack is the silent narrator in the story, and Ceri is rather like its voice. Dev and Kyle’s dramas unfold on the small-town stage of this summer resort, beautiful and unpolished, simmering with its own discreet dramas and historical sadness. Removed from the urban static of London’s millions, Dev and Kyle act out their story on a spare stage, where love and honesty matter more than bespoke suits and cultured accents.
J.L. Merrow
Riptide Publishing, 2017
J.L. Merrow’s latest is set in Porthkennack, a plausible but fictitious town in Cornwall. Apparently fellow Brit author Alex Beecroft created Porthkennack, and it has been taken up by several writers as a setting suitable for their shared romantic intentions. Those of us who are fans of Harper Fox’s Tyack and Frayne series know another part of Cornwall all too well.
Devan Thompson and Kyle Anthony have very different reasons for being in the Cornish town of Porthkennack during the summer holidays. Dev, a mixed-race London auto mechanic, has come to town on a personal quest. Kyle, distraught at being diagnosed with narcolepsy, has abandoned his posh legal career and run to the very edge of the UK to try to figure out what to do with the ruins of his life. Dev, abandoned by his mate Mal and at loose ends, makes friends with Ceri (pronounced Kerry), a local girl and a waitress at a busy summer café; and also with Kyle, to whose aid he comes after Kyle collapses in front of the café where Dev is enjoying a lousy latte.
The setup is classic Merrow—men of different backgrounds, but with similar compassionate natures, discover a connection that is spiritual and emotional as much as physical. Both men are seeking a firmer grip on their damaged self-identities, and each has severe doubts as to his ability to function fully because of what he perceives as his own shortcomings.
In her ineffable way, Merrow lets us into the hearts of both Dev and Kyle, and strips away the externals, leaving only the core for us to know and love. We see two good men, loved and appreciated by everyone but themselves, each yearning for what the other might offer him, but not quite sure that he deserves the happiness he imagines the other could give him.
Porthkennack is the silent narrator in the story, and Ceri is rather like its voice. Dev and Kyle’s dramas unfold on the small-town stage of this summer resort, beautiful and unpolished, simmering with its own discreet dramas and historical sadness. Removed from the urban static of London’s millions, Dev and Kyle act out their story on a spare stage, where love and honesty matter more than bespoke suits and cultured accents.
April 20, 2017
Full review http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
Rated - B
Riptide publishing has brought five best-selling British LGBTQ+ authors together to create a collaborative story world set in and around Porthkennack in Cornwall, England. Each novel is a stand-alone and the series can be read in any order. The first to be published is Wake Up Call, a contemporary romance by J.L. Merrow, and the other novels are by Alex Beecroft, Joanna Chambers, Charlie Cochrane and Garrett Leigh.
Welcome to Porthkennack, a charming Cornish seaside town with a long and sometimes sinister history. Legend says King Arthur’s Black Knight built the fort on the headland here, and it’s a certainty that the town was founded on the proceeds of smuggling, piracy on the high seas, and the deliberate wrecking of cargo ships on the rocky shore. Nowadays it draws in the tourists with sunshine and surfing, and the locals tend to be the ones serving the clotted cream teas and selling tacky mementoes.
South London mechanic, Devan Thompson, has a slightly different reason for being in Cornwall for two weeks. He is staying at a local Bed and Breakfast on his own, as his flatmate and friend Mal decided he would prefer to go to Portugal with some other friends. Dev is here to meet someone he has waited all his life to see; but his mission is thrown slightly off course when he notices a man collapsed on a bench outside the café he is eating in. Although told he’s the local reclusive alcoholic and often seen collapsed around the town, Dev feels he should check on the man.
As soon as Dev sees Kyle Anthony he can tell he isn’t a drunk, and Dev’s good humour and looks persuade Kyle to let this tourist help him home. Eventually, the closed off and bitter Kyle explains that he has narcolepsy and cataplexy, two conditions which led Kyle to lose his job as a barrister, his long-term lover and his self-respect. He is more of less burying himself in the Cornish town to escape a diagnosis and life he cannot cope with.
Wake Up Call is a gentle look at how good humour and kindness can overcome some of life’s problems. Devan is mixed race and as a child of the foster care system, he has had hard times, although his natural kindness and gentle outlook on life have protected him from the anger and bitterness that can rightly stay with children raised this way. He just wants to know who he is and why he was given away at birth.
He has younger foster sister whom he adores and looks out for. She does have a tendency to find trouble and pick ‘wrong’uns’ as boyfriends, though, and in this novel causes a less than welcome interruption in Devan and Kyle’s burgeoning relationship. J.L. Merrow is very good at creating believable characters and the dialects in the narrative are consistent and instantly recognisable to a Brit. That being said I don’t think anyone else will have problems, although I will say that occasionally the dialogue can veer towards caricature rather than develop a character.
The questions raised as to how Kyle learns to cope with his illness and whether Devan will have a place in his future are gently investigated and woven into a sweet love story. There is a sad strand regarding Devan’s search for his origins, and the strife his little sister causes for him. Truly though, a man as understanding and kind as Devan should always have a happy ending waiting for him and that is the case in Wake Up Call.
Rated - B
Riptide publishing has brought five best-selling British LGBTQ+ authors together to create a collaborative story world set in and around Porthkennack in Cornwall, England. Each novel is a stand-alone and the series can be read in any order. The first to be published is Wake Up Call, a contemporary romance by J.L. Merrow, and the other novels are by Alex Beecroft, Joanna Chambers, Charlie Cochrane and Garrett Leigh.
Welcome to Porthkennack, a charming Cornish seaside town with a long and sometimes sinister history. Legend says King Arthur’s Black Knight built the fort on the headland here, and it’s a certainty that the town was founded on the proceeds of smuggling, piracy on the high seas, and the deliberate wrecking of cargo ships on the rocky shore. Nowadays it draws in the tourists with sunshine and surfing, and the locals tend to be the ones serving the clotted cream teas and selling tacky mementoes.
South London mechanic, Devan Thompson, has a slightly different reason for being in Cornwall for two weeks. He is staying at a local Bed and Breakfast on his own, as his flatmate and friend Mal decided he would prefer to go to Portugal with some other friends. Dev is here to meet someone he has waited all his life to see; but his mission is thrown slightly off course when he notices a man collapsed on a bench outside the café he is eating in. Although told he’s the local reclusive alcoholic and often seen collapsed around the town, Dev feels he should check on the man.
As soon as Dev sees Kyle Anthony he can tell he isn’t a drunk, and Dev’s good humour and looks persuade Kyle to let this tourist help him home. Eventually, the closed off and bitter Kyle explains that he has narcolepsy and cataplexy, two conditions which led Kyle to lose his job as a barrister, his long-term lover and his self-respect. He is more of less burying himself in the Cornish town to escape a diagnosis and life he cannot cope with.
Wake Up Call is a gentle look at how good humour and kindness can overcome some of life’s problems. Devan is mixed race and as a child of the foster care system, he has had hard times, although his natural kindness and gentle outlook on life have protected him from the anger and bitterness that can rightly stay with children raised this way. He just wants to know who he is and why he was given away at birth.
He has younger foster sister whom he adores and looks out for. She does have a tendency to find trouble and pick ‘wrong’uns’ as boyfriends, though, and in this novel causes a less than welcome interruption in Devan and Kyle’s burgeoning relationship. J.L. Merrow is very good at creating believable characters and the dialects in the narrative are consistent and instantly recognisable to a Brit. That being said I don’t think anyone else will have problems, although I will say that occasionally the dialogue can veer towards caricature rather than develop a character.
The questions raised as to how Kyle learns to cope with his illness and whether Devan will have a place in his future are gently investigated and woven into a sweet love story. There is a sad strand regarding Devan’s search for his origins, and the strife his little sister causes for him. Truly though, a man as understanding and kind as Devan should always have a happy ending waiting for him and that is the case in Wake Up Call.
April 25, 2017
My review is up on Just Love. This was a difficult one to explain...It's not bad, just not for me.
May 29, 2017
I enjoyed this, though I think the blurb makes you expect a different plot than what you get. Or at least it did me. I felt bad for Devan, with regards to who he is hoping to meets...but at the same time I like how it happens. Life isn't always sunshine and roses. People can be disappointing and cruel. It's real. Also felt for how lost Kyle was in the wake of his diagnosis (pun not intended). I can't imagine how it would feel to be him. But I like that he realizes that his life isn't over. He can actually live a life beyond mere existence. I liked them together, Devan lightened Kyle's heaviness. Kyle gave Devan something grounding. I am not sure what I feel about Ceri....she's dealing with trauma but I don't like that she freaks out on Devan and then he apologizes to her. I don't know. It's complicated.
March 19, 2023
4.5 stars - I absolutely adored the Britishness of this book. Probably have given it 5 stars purely for that reason- it made me happy. I am Australian but my mum is English and the slang, the tone and the humour of this book felt like a warm, mumsy hug and reminded me of my family in the UK. This won’t be everyone’s favourite, my personal connection just made it extra lovely for me. I did also really enjoy the story. I was fascinated learning about Kyle’s medícal conditions - narcolepsy and cataplexy and how these impacted him. The ending felt a little rushed but the epilogue was lovely and I can see we will get more of these two in Mal’s story so I’m looking forward to reading that for more of these charming characters.
April 24, 2017
I have enjoyed so many things written by this author, but the female characters in this book were almost uniformly horrible. I almost stopped reading when one of these women berated one of the MC for something horrible that happened to him and made it all about her, and he ends up apologizing to HER!
April 29, 2017
3.5 stars
Enjoyable contemporary story about a motormechanic on holiday in Cornwall meeting a barrister suffering from narcolepsy, who had basically given up on everything due to his condition. There were a number of side stories which at times felt a little cluttered but on the whole the book read faster than the 320 pages.
Typically British in setting and character.
Enjoyable contemporary story about a motormechanic on holiday in Cornwall meeting a barrister suffering from narcolepsy, who had basically given up on everything due to his condition. There were a number of side stories which at times felt a little cluttered but on the whole the book read faster than the 320 pages.
Typically British in setting and character.
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