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True Love #2
True Colors
Oskar used to be Marco’s best friend. His everything. His sunshine yellow.
But that was before. Before Marco stopped being a hot jock. Before he learned to live with scars and pain. And before Oskar tore their friendship apart.
Now the boy next door has returned home, determined to rekindle his friendship with Marco, and Marco’s more afraid than ever. Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of being humiliated.
Afraid of falling in love.
Can Oskar find a way through Marco’s fear, back into his heart?
"True Colors" is an enemies to lovers, boy next door, first time, slow burn M/M romance with a generous helping of UST. This no-cliffhanger, HEA book can be read as a standalone
But that was before. Before Marco stopped being a hot jock. Before he learned to live with scars and pain. And before Oskar tore their friendship apart.
Now the boy next door has returned home, determined to rekindle his friendship with Marco, and Marco’s more afraid than ever. Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of being humiliated.
Afraid of falling in love.
Can Oskar find a way through Marco’s fear, back into his heart?
"True Colors" is an enemies to lovers, boy next door, first time, slow burn M/M romance with a generous helping of UST. This no-cliffhanger, HEA book can be read as a standalone
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2017
81 people are currently reading
1313 people want to read
About the author
Anyta Sunday
111 books2,732 followersSpecialising in slow-burn romances where emotions reign, intimacy lingers, and chemistry sizzles—stories that leave you holding your breath and cheering for love, with just a splash of spice to sweeten the journey.
Check out my website:
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/?page_id=386
Für deutsche Leser:
http://www.anytasunday.de/
In italiano:
http://www.anytasunday.it/
Check out my website:
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/?page_id=386
Für deutsche Leser:
http://www.anytasunday.de/
In italiano:
http://www.anytasunday.it/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 359 reviews
February 28, 2017
4.5 Stars.
True Colors is a lovely story of friendships,family,forgiveness and love
Marco is scared both physically and emotionally.He sees people and the world through colors,some are beautiful,some are not.
Marco and Oskar were best friends growing up together as neighbours.They could see each others bedrooms from across the street.They had a special bond until one day Oskar caused Marco pain and humiliation with a terrible betrayal.
When Oskar returns Marco can't find it in himself to forgive him.However they are forced to face each other as they are both taking part in a play Marco's father is producing.The play has a special meaning as it was written by Marco's late mother.There are two endings,one tragic,one happy....but which one will Marco choose?
Marco keeps his body hidden,terrified of exposing his scars.He's never been intimate with anyone,keeping his sexuality a secret.
Starting their lives as friends,then becoming enemies this is a slow burn and rightly so.We only get Marco's pov but you can still feel the deep feelings Oskar has for him as they both try and get their friendship back on track.
This is beautifully written and has a kind of poignancy about it as they both admit to what they feel about each other.The use of the color theme was unique and worked so well.
Reds,for courage,strength,deterimation.
Purples for pride,dignity,independence,magic.
Greens for growth,hope,safety.
Sunglow Yellow.....
A copy of True Colors was given to me by Anyta Sunday for an honest review
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
You remember what my colors mean.
I remember everything you tell me,Marco.
True Colors is a lovely story of friendships,family,forgiveness and love
Marco is scared both physically and emotionally.He sees people and the world through colors,some are beautiful,some are not.
Marco and Oskar were best friends growing up together as neighbours.They could see each others bedrooms from across the street.They had a special bond until one day Oskar caused Marco pain and humiliation with a terrible betrayal.
When Oskar returns Marco can't find it in himself to forgive him.However they are forced to face each other as they are both taking part in a play Marco's father is producing.The play has a special meaning as it was written by Marco's late mother.There are two endings,one tragic,one happy....but which one will Marco choose?
Marco keeps his body hidden,terrified of exposing his scars.He's never been intimate with anyone,keeping his sexuality a secret.
Starting their lives as friends,then becoming enemies this is a slow burn and rightly so.We only get Marco's pov but you can still feel the deep feelings Oskar has for him as they both try and get their friendship back on track.
This is beautifully written and has a kind of poignancy about it as they both admit to what they feel about each other.The use of the color theme was unique and worked so well.
Reds,for courage,strength,deterimation.
Purples for pride,dignity,independence,magic.
Greens for growth,hope,safety.
Sunglow Yellow.....
"What colors am I supposed to be?"
"All of them,Marco....you're all of them."
A copy of True Colors was given to me by Anyta Sunday for an honest review
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
February 26, 2017
~4.5~
Marco associates people with colors. His friend Ben is turquoise, full of bright, vibrant energy. Oskar used to be sunglow yellow, but that was before. Marco is salmon, the color of cowardice.
The story begins with black. That was the color the day Marco's mama died. That day changed everything.
Marco carries scars on his body; he wears long-sleeved shirts even when it's scorching outside. He's never had a lover—he doesn't dare bare himself. There was only ever one boy for him. But that boy betrayed him, and their friendship turned to dust.
Marco is the first-person narrator of this story. This is more his story than Oskar's. It's Marco who needs to let go, who needs to forgive. His anger toward Oskar is all encompassing, and I understood it.
When Oskar moves back to Berlin, Marco's life turns inside out. He's good friends with Oskar's younger sister Zoe, who is thrilled at her brother's return and asks that Marco put aside his grievances for her sake.
Marco's dad expects Marco and Oskar to star in the play he's producing in tribute to his late wife. This is the final play she wrote before she died, and she envisioned Marco and Oskar as the leads—two pirates, once friends, now sworn enemies. Will one put a sword through the other's heart or forgive?
Marco isn't out, but Oskar is. Marco sees Oskar kissing a boy against a tree and runs.
Hate is just the flip side of love.
Anyta Sunday writes beautifully; her prose is simple but evocative. Every chapter is a color. And every color has a story.
The secondary characters—Zoe, Marco's patient papa and opa (a man of few words who's still as sharp as a tack), his friends Ben (who's pining after Sebastian; this book runs parallel to the first book in the series but CAN be read as a standalone) and Elena (who draws Marco as she sees him, scars and all)—are fully fleshed out.
True Colors is about fear and forgiveness and friendship. It's about first love, the one that sticks. This isn't an easy story, careless in its promises, but it ends with sunglow yellow. There is an epilogue and a frozen pond and messages in a bottle.
MB + OR
My happy, my everything.
Oskar sets his fingertips on the tablecloth, drawing my eye to the warm saffron-yellow checkers and reminding me for a breath-catching second that he used to be sunglow yellow. My happy, my everything. Now he's rust. Dark, burnt-orange rust. A color to throw away.
Marco associates people with colors. His friend Ben is turquoise, full of bright, vibrant energy. Oskar used to be sunglow yellow, but that was before. Marco is salmon, the color of cowardice.
The story begins with black. That was the color the day Marco's mama died. That day changed everything.
Marco carries scars on his body; he wears long-sleeved shirts even when it's scorching outside. He's never had a lover—he doesn't dare bare himself. There was only ever one boy for him. But that boy betrayed him, and their friendship turned to dust.
Marco is the first-person narrator of this story. This is more his story than Oskar's. It's Marco who needs to let go, who needs to forgive. His anger toward Oskar is all encompassing, and I understood it.
"You were my first color."
When Oskar moves back to Berlin, Marco's life turns inside out. He's good friends with Oskar's younger sister Zoe, who is thrilled at her brother's return and asks that Marco put aside his grievances for her sake.
Marco's dad expects Marco and Oskar to star in the play he's producing in tribute to his late wife. This is the final play she wrote before she died, and she envisioned Marco and Oskar as the leads—two pirates, once friends, now sworn enemies. Will one put a sword through the other's heart or forgive?
Marco isn't out, but Oskar is. Marco sees Oskar kissing a boy against a tree and runs.
Hate is just the flip side of love.
Anyta Sunday writes beautifully; her prose is simple but evocative. Every chapter is a color. And every color has a story.
The secondary characters—Zoe, Marco's patient papa and opa (a man of few words who's still as sharp as a tack), his friends Ben (who's pining after Sebastian; this book runs parallel to the first book in the series but CAN be read as a standalone) and Elena (who draws Marco as she sees him, scars and all)—are fully fleshed out.
True Colors is about fear and forgiveness and friendship. It's about first love, the one that sticks. This isn't an easy story, careless in its promises, but it ends with sunglow yellow. There is an epilogue and a frozen pond and messages in a bottle.
MB + OR
My happy, my everything.
March 21, 2017
*4.5 stars*
Anyta Sunday is my go-to author for contemporary romance. She just writes the slow-burn romances that I like to read! She rarely lets me down, and she won me over again with True Colors.
True Colors is a second-chance romance between two friends whose friendship crumbled from a series of events that happened years ago. I love when there is a hurtful situation in the past and the two MCs have to get past it. I'm a sucker for bullies-to-lovers stories, and while this one isn't quite like that, there are major obstacles that these two MCs have to overcome.
I don't think it's a big spoiler to say that one of the MCs has some scarring that he is very self-conscious about. It's more or less in the blurb. Scarring is a topic near and dear to me, and while my facial scars from an accident have faded, I still have a soft spot for a scarred MC. There is something very vulnerable about having a scar; you feel exposed, flayed open, and ready for criticism. I related big time to Marco, the MC with the scars, and I REALLY wanted Oskar to grovel for forgiveness, perhaps even more than Marco did.
The story is a lovely slow burn. It takes its time and allows for the hurt to resolve naturally. I felt the attraction and chemistry, and I loved how it all unfolded. Oh, and we get a *virgin* MC... guys, you know how I go gaga for a virgin!
There is also a lot of family involvement in this story, just so readers know. I didn't mind, but some people might not like the amount of pagetime spent on issues with secondary characters.
The only thing I would change is the "color" aspect of the story. I found that to be a little gimmicky and unnecessary. In fact, it reminded me a little of rock, which is the only Anyta Sunday book that I haven't liked.
Overall, this book was nearly perfect. A little angsty, a little second chance romance, a little family-oriented, and they all came together to make for a wholly satisfying read.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Anyta Sunday is my go-to author for contemporary romance. She just writes the slow-burn romances that I like to read! She rarely lets me down, and she won me over again with True Colors.
True Colors is a second-chance romance between two friends whose friendship crumbled from a series of events that happened years ago. I love when there is a hurtful situation in the past and the two MCs have to get past it. I'm a sucker for bullies-to-lovers stories, and while this one isn't quite like that, there are major obstacles that these two MCs have to overcome.
I don't think it's a big spoiler to say that one of the MCs has some scarring that he is very self-conscious about. It's more or less in the blurb. Scarring is a topic near and dear to me, and while my facial scars from an accident have faded, I still have a soft spot for a scarred MC. There is something very vulnerable about having a scar; you feel exposed, flayed open, and ready for criticism. I related big time to Marco, the MC with the scars, and I REALLY wanted Oskar to grovel for forgiveness, perhaps even more than Marco did.
The story is a lovely slow burn. It takes its time and allows for the hurt to resolve naturally. I felt the attraction and chemistry, and I loved how it all unfolded. Oh, and we get a *virgin* MC... guys, you know how I go gaga for a virgin!
There is also a lot of family involvement in this story, just so readers know. I didn't mind, but some people might not like the amount of pagetime spent on issues with secondary characters.
The only thing I would change is the "color" aspect of the story. I found that to be a little gimmicky and unnecessary. In fact, it reminded me a little of rock, which is the only Anyta Sunday book that I haven't liked.
Overall, this book was nearly perfect. A little angsty, a little second chance romance, a little family-oriented, and they all came together to make for a wholly satisfying read.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Currently reading
February 26, 2017Hey guys!
My next gay romance True Colors is due for release on March 14th. Up for pre-order now. :)
True Colors has a healthy dose of angst in the romance. It's hate/love that's a little messy and very raw. A redemption story. A story of former best friends rekindling their friendship and maybe something more...
Fun facts about the making of True Colors:
* I started writing Marco's story a year ago, got about a third of the way through and decided it wasn't right. I scrapped what I had and started over.
*I started a second time and subsequently scrapped it again.
*Longest sex scene I think I've written. (yes, I got... flustered)
* I got so impatient for my characters to jump each other's bones that I'd end a writing day with something like: and then they tore off all their clothes and fucked all night long! (which I'd painstakingly remove before continuing to write).
*At one point I contemplated giving up on the story (again) because I couldn't do Marco enough justice, but I was 90% done and my husband gently assured me I was just having one (of my many) crazy spells during the drafting process.
(I listened to him, went back to Marco and Oskar's story and did my best.)
*I thought Pantone was a shade of brown. (It's not. It's really, really not. Stupid Anyta moment. (also one of many) Made my content editor bust out a laugh, though. ;) )
* The mark on the model's arm in the cover (thank you Natasha Snow for the amazing cover art!) is one of Marco's scars.
* * *
The story is now up on NetGalley for ARC reviews!
"There’s a lot of things I’m not sure about. Things I’m still trying to work through. Will work through.
But the thing I know with absolute certainty?
Oskar and me? Our story didn’t start at hate."
My next gay romance True Colors is due for release on March 14th. Up for pre-order now. :)
True Colors has a healthy dose of angst in the romance. It's hate/love that's a little messy and very raw. A redemption story. A story of former best friends rekindling their friendship and maybe something more...
Fun facts about the making of True Colors:
* I started writing Marco's story a year ago, got about a third of the way through and decided it wasn't right. I scrapped what I had and started over.
*I started a second time and subsequently scrapped it again.
*Longest sex scene I think I've written. (yes, I got... flustered)
* I got so impatient for my characters to jump each other's bones that I'd end a writing day with something like: and then they tore off all their clothes and fucked all night long! (which I'd painstakingly remove before continuing to write).
*At one point I contemplated giving up on the story (again) because I couldn't do Marco enough justice, but I was 90% done and my husband gently assured me I was just having one (of my many) crazy spells during the drafting process.
(I listened to him, went back to Marco and Oskar's story and did my best.)
*I thought Pantone was a shade of brown. (It's not. It's really, really not. Stupid Anyta moment. (also one of many) Made my content editor bust out a laugh, though. ;) )
* The mark on the model's arm in the cover (thank you Natasha Snow for the amazing cover art!) is one of Marco's scars.
* * *
The story is now up on NetGalley for ARC reviews!
November 28, 2017
5 MAGENTA stars!
I adored how the writer named each chapter with a color, just like one of the characters gave every person in his life a color - depending on his feelings and the vibes he got from the said person.
I'll mention MAGENTA is for LOVE, not just boring red like I would have suspected. But it's a great change. I love magenta!
This is a slow burn romance, not really enemies to lovers - even if it surely felt so, but let's better use: former best-friends to such HOT lovers.
It's amazingly written, with a pretty huge dose of angst, but it's a very fast read.
Oskar "sunglow yellow" - is a blonde cutie, with warm hazel eyes, very sure of himself.
"Reminding me for a breath-catching second that he used to be sunglow yellow. My happy, my everything". (yellow = happiness)
Marco is everything Oskar isn't - insecure, hiding the physical scars that make him too afraid to experience sex. It broke my heart that he felt the need to hide, even from his family and friends! He keeps a facade, but deep down in his heart, he's been bleeding for years.
I loved this story! It made me ache, but in the end, it made me all warm and fuzzy.
What started as a 3 stars read for me, ended with 5 bright stars!
I must admit I couldn't quite connect with the characters at first, and it may have something to do with the BIG animosity between them. I couldn't understand Marco's anger towards his childhood best friend, as the author chose to keep us in the dark for a long time.
I was kind of disappointed Marco couldn't forgive Oskar for what seemed only as a bad joke, at first. Eventually I realized it was way deeper, and when the whole heartbreaking scene from the past was revealed, well I felt really bad for resenting Marco. He had every right to keep his distance from Oskar. He felt betrayed, hurt and humiliated!
I don't want to give too much, because this story is FULL of secrets, ones are hidden very good, some not really.
I found it a little disturbing how Marco strongly denied his feelings towards Oskar, but even if they seemed quite clueless, they had great chemistry. Oh, and I adore a virgin MM story. Anytime!
I really love Anyta Sunday's writing style. It has something very powerful about it.
I also liked the secondary characters, especially Zoe, and I can't wait to read Ben and Sebastian's story too Bottle Boys!
Off I go now to read Leo Loves Aries! Hope it'll be just as good as True Colors. (Adding this after I've finished it: YES, it was! Sweeter, but definitely a great book).
An ARC was kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I adored how the writer named each chapter with a color, just like one of the characters gave every person in his life a color - depending on his feelings and the vibes he got from the said person.
I'll mention MAGENTA is for LOVE, not just boring red like I would have suspected. But it's a great change. I love magenta!
This is a slow burn romance, not really enemies to lovers - even if it surely felt so, but let's better use: former best-friends to such HOT lovers.
It's amazingly written, with a pretty huge dose of angst, but it's a very fast read.
Oskar "sunglow yellow" - is a blonde cutie, with warm hazel eyes, very sure of himself.
"Reminding me for a breath-catching second that he used to be sunglow yellow. My happy, my everything". (yellow = happiness)
Marco is everything Oskar isn't - insecure, hiding the physical scars that make him too afraid to experience sex. It broke my heart that he felt the need to hide, even from his family and friends! He keeps a facade, but deep down in his heart, he's been bleeding for years.
I loved this story! It made me ache, but in the end, it made me all warm and fuzzy.
What started as a 3 stars read for me, ended with 5 bright stars!
I must admit I couldn't quite connect with the characters at first, and it may have something to do with the BIG animosity between them. I couldn't understand Marco's anger towards his childhood best friend, as the author chose to keep us in the dark for a long time.
I was kind of disappointed Marco couldn't forgive Oskar for what seemed only as a bad joke, at first. Eventually I realized it was way deeper, and when the whole heartbreaking scene from the past was revealed, well I felt really bad for resenting Marco. He had every right to keep his distance from Oskar. He felt betrayed, hurt and humiliated!
I don't want to give too much, because this story is FULL of secrets, ones are hidden very good, some not really.
I found it a little disturbing how Marco strongly denied his feelings towards Oskar, but even if they seemed quite clueless, they had great chemistry. Oh, and I adore a virgin MM story. Anytime!
I really love Anyta Sunday's writing style. It has something very powerful about it.
I also liked the secondary characters, especially Zoe, and I can't wait to read Ben and Sebastian's story too Bottle Boys!
Off I go now to read Leo Loves Aries! Hope it'll be just as good as True Colors. (Adding this after I've finished it: YES, it was! Sweeter, but definitely a great book).
An ARC was kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
April 3, 2017
Oskar used to be Marco’s best friend. His everything. His sunshine yellow. But now he's the color of rust because Oskar failed Marco when he needed him and said some harsh words that couldn't be unheard or taken back. So now Oskar is the color of rust and he and Marco are both broken because of it.
Since the falling out of their friendship Marco has been in hiding. He hides behind long sleeves that therefore hide his scars. He hides behind his scars in order to keep his distance from letting anyone get too close physically or sexually. He doesn't dare show what he deems as his imperfections to anyone. He has friends but he keeps them at an arms length as well. No one really knows all of him. Well, except for Oskar. And now he's back and Marco is finding his world becoming unraveled by his appearance in his life again after 15 long months.
Marco has a close relationship with Zoe who just happens to be Oskar's little sister. He took the role of older brother when Oskar left and has since formed a sister and brother relationship with her. When Zoe see's the distance and tension between her brother and Marco she demands that they put their differences aside and try to get along for her. With both guys willing to do anything for her, they try.
Marco learns some important information about the time when Oskar betrayed his trust. I think after learning this is when Marco starts to let down his guard and starts trusting Oskar little by little. He also learns the boy who was once his everything is also gay. Oskar is out and Marco is still doing what he has done since Oskar hurt him; hiding. He's the color of salmon; cowardice.
Soon Marco finds his courage. His color changes and we get to see him happy and the acceptance of himself that he was working so hard to get to in the book. It was gratifying. I loved his and Oskar's story.
The story is told beautifully. I loved the writing. I loved that it was character driven. I even enjoyed the slow burn. I'm learning that the slow burn is so worth the ending when it comes to this author's story-telling. The build up is so worth the wait.
I loved the color theme that this book had. It seemed so easy to sum all your feelings up in just a color. As if saying just one word, one color, could hold the meaning of so many emotions. And it did. It totally worked.
February 27, 2017
While I liked "Bottle Boys" just fine, this second story in the series felt much more fleshed out and the connection more real.
Marco had been deeply hurt by the person he trusted most, so he wasn't entirely thrilled when Oskar finally returned to Berlin.
As a teen, Oskar made the most horrible mistake, mostly out of fear. But that mistake gutted Marco to the very core of his being.
But it was time to move on from past wrongs and forgive themselves in order to move on with their lives, so there were a lot of awkward situations and difficult conversations in this story.
Oskar was persistent, though, always seeming to show up when Marco least expected, or wanted him there. Some wounds can never heal, as Marco understood better than most, but some can, given enough time and care.
This was the story of two best friends, then enemies, putting in the work to get back what they'd once taken for granted and lost. Then transforming that friendship into something much deeper, something permanent.
Marco was such a sad, broken character, so it was a complete joy to see him eventually come to accept his physical and emotional scars, no longer allowing them to rule every aspect of his life.
Then we had Oskar, riddled with guilt over his cowardly betrayal of the person he loved most, right from the start, but he finally decided that he had to try and make things right. He remembered how happy he and Marco had once been, so he refused to give up on that without a fight. And fight he did.
With a couple of especially steamy scenes, this was a sexier read than I'd come to expect from Anyta and, let me tell you, she did not disappoint when the clothes went flying off.
The story wasn't overly angsty, but two characters did tend to make my blood boil on sight.
Oskar's boyfriend, Jessie. Ugh.
And 'Olivia.' Double ugh. Maybe triple, even.
This book overlapped the same timeline as "Bottle Boys," but I suppose it could be read as a standalone; however, I personally would not recommend reading this story until you'd first read book 1.
I'd rate this one at a very solid 4.25 *draw-me* stars and highly recommend it.
----------------------------------------------
My ARC copy of the story was provided by the author through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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September 11, 2021
Zoe cocks her head at her brother. "But like, how do you know it's love?"
Oskar smiles at Zoe, those new lines at the edges of his eyes deepening. "When you miss the other person even if they're half a room away."
i loved this so much!! Oskar and Marco's story was beautifully written, from their friendship since they were teenagers to their fall out and to the present story line. honestly, what Oskar did in the past was shitty but, at the same time, i understood his fear so i can't completely blame him for that. i just hated how it led to Marco being afraid to put himself out there bc of what happened, but i loved the direction this story took of how Oskar made up for it and, by the end, i truly believed in their romance. this made me cry, but it also made me smile and laugh. i also loved how colors were intertwined in the story for each chapter. this was the most beautiful part for me:
"You were my first color."
Oskar smiles, soft and charmed. "I was?"
I tug him close and kiss the dent in his nose. "My happy. My everything."
OH AND THEIR TEXT MESSAGES WERE SO CUTE OMG. 🥺🥺
Ben and Sebastian tho?? im quite intrigued. 👀 im guessing the events overlap in both books since i think their story was the first book?
Oskar smiles at Zoe, those new lines at the edges of his eyes deepening. "When you miss the other person even if they're half a room away."
i loved this so much!! Oskar and Marco's story was beautifully written, from their friendship since they were teenagers to their fall out and to the present story line. honestly, what Oskar did in the past was shitty but, at the same time, i understood his fear so i can't completely blame him for that. i just hated how it led to Marco being afraid to put himself out there bc of what happened, but i loved the direction this story took of how Oskar made up for it and, by the end, i truly believed in their romance. this made me cry, but it also made me smile and laugh. i also loved how colors were intertwined in the story for each chapter. this was the most beautiful part for me:
"You were my first color."
Oskar smiles, soft and charmed. "I was?"
I tug him close and kiss the dent in his nose. "My happy. My everything."
OH AND THEIR TEXT MESSAGES WERE SO CUTE OMG. 🥺🥺
Ben and Sebastian tho?? im quite intrigued. 👀 im guessing the events overlap in both books since i think their story was the first book?
February 20, 2022
That was so lovely!!! 🥰 Best friends to enemies to lovers is simply top tier! Oskar putting his own gloves on Marco because he didn’t want him to catch a cold! The drawing scene!!! Their first kiss!!!!!! There were so many moments that made my heart feel so full. I just feel so content having read this. Definitely one of those books that reminds me why I love the romance genre so much.💜
March 13, 2017
*** 3 Stars ***
I am a huge fan of Anyta Sunday since I read Rock years ago. Rock is hands down my all-time favourite coming of age story. Taboo For You was another great winner followed by Leo Loves Aries. That said, it saddens me to say that True Colors didn’t live up to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice story but it didn’t reach my heart.
True Colors is a friends to enemies’ story, passing through forgiveness, lots of slow burn to finally reach HEA . The boys knew each other forever. When Marco was in his teens he had an accident which led to serious consequences.
Oskar, was his best friend and left Marco down when he needed him the most.
Cutting to the chase, what I liked:
.) Marco was left with scars – both physical and mental. With them came emotional issues. Oh dear… how I felt it. Marco’s pain and internal conflicts brought me very close to him. The damage caused by bullies and the deep disappointment with Oskar, were very easy to relate. CONNECTION. I only wish he was more open and have shared his burden with a friend; someone who could have told him that he was beautiful no matter what. It made me want to be there for him
.) I liked Marco’s family. I loved that Marco couldn’t fool his grandpa about Oskar, it made me laugh, but mostly, I loved how his father made him stand up for who he was.
“Love yourself. I’m your Papa. I’ll love you no matter what.”
What didn’t work for me:
.) I didn’t connect with Oskar, his character turned out a bit flat to me. Besides, he hurt Marco A LOT. I could definitely forgive and be friends again but to get in a love relationship?? To trust each other again? I would need more time. As you can see, Marco is a much better person than me.
.) The “play”, I understand that the play was the key for them to bond again, but the rehearsals left me bored to death.
.) The MCs voices and actions were too young and immature at times; it made it difficult for me to picture them in their 20’s. The story felt very YA-ish.
All that said, I need to point out that this story has been a huge success among all my friends, so please, don’t let my thoughts put you off of reading this. Give it a chance! I am clearly the odd one out.
**An ARC was kindly provided to me by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review**
I am a huge fan of Anyta Sunday since I read Rock years ago. Rock is hands down my all-time favourite coming of age story. Taboo For You was another great winner followed by Leo Loves Aries. That said, it saddens me to say that True Colors didn’t live up to my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice story but it didn’t reach my heart.
True Colors is a friends to enemies’ story, passing through forgiveness, lots of slow burn to finally reach HEA . The boys knew each other forever. When Marco was in his teens he had an accident which led to serious consequences.
Oskar, was his best friend and left Marco down when he needed him the most.
Cutting to the chase, what I liked:
.) Marco was left with scars – both physical and mental. With them came emotional issues. Oh dear… how I felt it. Marco’s pain and internal conflicts brought me very close to him. The damage caused by bullies and the deep disappointment with Oskar, were very easy to relate. CONNECTION. I only wish he was more open and have shared his burden with a friend; someone who could have told him that he was beautiful no matter what. It made me want to be there for him
.) I liked Marco’s family. I loved that Marco couldn’t fool his grandpa about Oskar, it made me laugh, but mostly, I loved how his father made him stand up for who he was.
“Love yourself. I’m your Papa. I’ll love you no matter what.”
What didn’t work for me:
.) I didn’t connect with Oskar, his character turned out a bit flat to me. Besides, he hurt Marco A LOT. I could definitely forgive and be friends again but to get in a love relationship?? To trust each other again? I would need more time. As you can see, Marco is a much better person than me.
.) The “play”, I understand that the play was the key for them to bond again, but the rehearsals left me bored to death.
.) The MCs voices and actions were too young and immature at times; it made it difficult for me to picture them in their 20’s. The story felt very YA-ish.
All that said, I need to point out that this story has been a huge success among all my friends, so please, don’t let my thoughts put you off of reading this. Give it a chance! I am clearly the odd one out.
**An ARC was kindly provided to me by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review**
August 8, 2019
3.75 Colorful Stars
I went into this with low expectations because the first book in the series didn’t work out for me and guess what? I was surprised, it was really good and I enjoyed this! Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s the second installment in the "True Love" series and it can be read as a standalone. It’s well written, angsty and slow burn. I don’t like really guys with insecurities but in this case, it was understandable and I liked it (it felt real). It’s friends to enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. Overall, liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
I went into this with low expectations because the first book in the series didn’t work out for me and guess what? I was surprised, it was really good and I enjoyed this! Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s the second installment in the "True Love" series and it can be read as a standalone. It’s well written, angsty and slow burn. I don’t like really guys with insecurities but in this case, it was understandable and I liked it (it felt real). It’s friends to enemies to lovers and a second chance romance. Overall, liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
March 19, 2017
Heartwarming
True Colors is a friends to enemies to lovers story that's sure to pull on the heartstrings of even the most cynical reader. Marco and Oskar grew up together, were the best of friends who spent countless hours together doing nothing and everything. One fateful day tragedy strikes Marco's family which forever alters the landscape of his life.
Thankfully he still has the support of his best friend until an event in a boys locker room turned his best friend into his enemy and shattered a piece of his soul along the way.
This is a slow burn told in Sunday's unique style with some flashbacks to explain the hurt. The comfort is delivered in spades but requires patience.
Told from both of their perspectives which gave each of these characters depth and gave the story poignancy. I appreciated Oskar's perspective to truly understand his actions and to invest in them as a couple because what Oskar did was awful. I'm glad it wasn't glossed over and that Marco doesn't capitulate at the first apology. Oskar needed to prove himself worthy of Marco more than once, for me.
What resonated the most was how much of an impact hurtful words can have on someone's psyche. The foundation of Marco's self-image was damaged in that locker room and that's not something he can recover from easily, nor can he ignore that Oskar is still under his skin. It's clear Marco's still has strong feelings for his first love and erstwhile best friend. More than just animosity too.
When he returns to Berlin with a boyfriend all those feelings become harder to ignore. He does try though. As you know, I have a thing for the possessive ones and Oskar is not happy about all of Marco's "trying". I liked that Sunday went this direction with his characterization because it makes it abundantly clear that the shadow of Marco casts a long shadow.
The secondary characters and family dynamics added tension and pushed the narrative forward. Zoe and how protective they are of her was entertaining. Grandpa a.k.a. Grandmaster Scrabbler cracked me up with his grunting. I feel like he's an oracle, but a non-verbal one. And I really REALLY loved when Marco finally comes out and everyone being like, 'yeah, we know'.
There isn't an excessive amount of sex, as you might expect with this trope. But in its place is oodles of longing, desire and romance to satisfy most readers.
This may sound hokey but I have to mention how much I LOVED all the fonts and the colors, how Marco uses those colors and how colors are integral to his character. It's uncommon and maybe a little quirky but I really enjoyed it.
Recommended!
A review copy was provided by NetGalley.
True Colors is a friends to enemies to lovers story that's sure to pull on the heartstrings of even the most cynical reader. Marco and Oskar grew up together, were the best of friends who spent countless hours together doing nothing and everything. One fateful day tragedy strikes Marco's family which forever alters the landscape of his life.
Thankfully he still has the support of his best friend until an event in a boys locker room turned his best friend into his enemy and shattered a piece of his soul along the way.
This is a slow burn told in Sunday's unique style with some flashbacks to explain the hurt. The comfort is delivered in spades but requires patience.
Told from both of their perspectives which gave each of these characters depth and gave the story poignancy. I appreciated Oskar's perspective to truly understand his actions and to invest in them as a couple because what Oskar did was awful. I'm glad it wasn't glossed over and that Marco doesn't capitulate at the first apology. Oskar needed to prove himself worthy of Marco more than once, for me.
What resonated the most was how much of an impact hurtful words can have on someone's psyche. The foundation of Marco's self-image was damaged in that locker room and that's not something he can recover from easily, nor can he ignore that Oskar is still under his skin. It's clear Marco's still has strong feelings for his first love and erstwhile best friend. More than just animosity too.
When he returns to Berlin with a boyfriend all those feelings become harder to ignore. He does try though. As you know, I have a thing for the possessive ones and Oskar is not happy about all of Marco's "trying". I liked that Sunday went this direction with his characterization because it makes it abundantly clear that the shadow of Marco casts a long shadow.
The secondary characters and family dynamics added tension and pushed the narrative forward. Zoe and how protective they are of her was entertaining. Grandpa a.k.a. Grandmaster Scrabbler cracked me up with his grunting. I feel like he's an oracle, but a non-verbal one. And I really REALLY loved when Marco finally comes out and everyone being like, 'yeah, we know'.
There isn't an excessive amount of sex, as you might expect with this trope. But in its place is oodles of longing, desire and romance to satisfy most readers.
This may sound hokey but I have to mention how much I LOVED all the fonts and the colors, how Marco uses those colors and how colors are integral to his character. It's uncommon and maybe a little quirky but I really enjoyed it.
Recommended!
A review copy was provided by NetGalley.
February 26, 2017
*4.5 stars*
Marco used to be happy. He had a lovely family, a mom that adored him, and his best friend, Oscar. Until that day, when everything went black.
Now Marco isn't happy anymore (blue for sadness). He can't get close to another person because he's scarred, physically and emotionally. He can't forgive, because his best friend and the love of his life betrayed him back then. He can't stay and fight, because he's salmon (salmon for cowardice).
True Colors is a story about friendship, second chances, self acceptance, and love.
Anyta Sunday portrays teenagers as they really are: immature, impulsive and horny. But she also treats them with respect, without dismissing their feelings as not important enough.
The writing is just beautiful, evocative, almost ethereal. The narrative structure is brilliant. In true Anyta Sunday fashion, there is A LOT of delicious UST, but when Marco and Oscar come together, it's fireworks! Who knew that Marco would be all like:
"I want him plunging into me. I want him on his knees sucking my brains out of my dick. I want him mounting me, knottingmy hands in his as he pumps me full of him. I want him to screw me standing up. I want him to flip me on my stomach and take me from behind. I want him fucking me until I collapse.
Well then. His wish has been granted.
True Colors falls into the NA category, but the whole story is like a timeline of Marco and Oscar's relationship: their friendship as kids, their winter picnics at the frozen lake, the messages in a bottle, the betrayal, the forgiveness, the play. It's the sunglow yellow that turned into rust, only to turn full circle and become sunlight again.
Very highly recommended!
September 16, 2021
i love Anyta Sunday - she’s undoubtedly one of my top-tier favorites m/m authors - but this book just didn’t work for me as much i was hoping it would. it could just have been the weird nyquil haze i was under the whole time i read this, but i found the whole thing rather melodramatic and a bit twee compared to everything else i’ve read (and loved!) from this author before.
i also had a hard time investing in the romance because i didn’t particularly like Oskar for most of the book. the way he constantly cockblocked Marco while simultaneously rubbing his own boyfriend, Jessie, in Marco’s face was such a turn off for me. Jessie, who was more a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character btw, definitely deserved better than the way he was treated.
the whole backstory with the bully and Marco’s hurt feelings felt half-baked to me, as well. i didn’t really buy the twist that Oskar was only an asshole because he was secretly in love with Marco back then, and him defending Marco after the fact was a bit too little too late. like, i get they were all kids then and kids can be assholes and act without thinking, but i just didn’t feel those feelings were resolved in a satisfying way. this is probably more of a me thing than an actual writing flaw, but still. i didn’t like it nn.
overall, this was fine? but i expect better than fine from Anyta. 3.25 stars rounded down.
i also had a hard time investing in the romance because i didn’t particularly like Oskar for most of the book. the way he constantly cockblocked Marco while simultaneously rubbing his own boyfriend, Jessie, in Marco’s face was such a turn off for me. Jessie, who was more a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character btw, definitely deserved better than the way he was treated.
the whole backstory with the bully and Marco’s hurt feelings felt half-baked to me, as well. i didn’t really buy the twist that Oskar was only an asshole because he was secretly in love with Marco back then, and him defending Marco after the fact was a bit too little too late. like, i get they were all kids then and kids can be assholes and act without thinking, but i just didn’t feel those feelings were resolved in a satisfying way. this is probably more of a me thing than an actual writing flaw, but still. i didn’t like it nn.
overall, this was fine? but i expect better than fine from Anyta. 3.25 stars rounded down.
March 6, 2017
4.5 Stars
Once upon a time, there were two best friends. They grew up together and though they each felt more than friendship toward the other, as they got older, teenagers are sometimes very stupid and say things they don't mean in order to hide how they feel. And it's never easy to come back from that.
Marco already believed what Oskar said, before he ever said it -- that is why it hurt so badly. That is why Marco never believed that Oskar didn't mean it. That is why saying he was sorry was never enough. So after 9 years of friendship, Marco shut the door and hid behind the hurt and the anger.
Four years have past, though, and Oskar is back. He wants to make amends. He wants to tell Marco how he feels -- how he's always felt. Marco, though, is still deeply hurt and angry that he still cares.
Betrayal is a hard thing to forget.
Told in first person, present tense, from Marco's POV, True Colors is the story of Marco and Oskar. It tells how Marco learns to let go of things that cannot be changed, how he learns to accept himself, and how he learns to let Oskar in again.
I felt so bad for Marco -- losing his mother, being scarred by the accident that killed her (mentally and physically) and feeling so alone. Marco was afraid to show anyone his body because he felt so ugly. And the one person that really mattered lost his trust.
And Oskar really didn't mean what he said. It was stupid and hurtful and he has spent the last four years filled with regret and wanting only his Marco. He tried to move on, but it's only ever been Marco that Oskar has wanted.
True Colors is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story done right. The hurt, the UST, the feelings that were still going strong. All of it.
-------------------------------
ARC of True Colors was generously provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Once upon a time, there were two best friends. They grew up together and though they each felt more than friendship toward the other, as they got older, teenagers are sometimes very stupid and say things they don't mean in order to hide how they feel. And it's never easy to come back from that.
Marco already believed what Oskar said, before he ever said it -- that is why it hurt so badly. That is why Marco never believed that Oskar didn't mean it. That is why saying he was sorry was never enough. So after 9 years of friendship, Marco shut the door and hid behind the hurt and the anger.
Four years have past, though, and Oskar is back. He wants to make amends. He wants to tell Marco how he feels -- how he's always felt. Marco, though, is still deeply hurt and angry that he still cares.
Betrayal is a hard thing to forget.
Told in first person, present tense, from Marco's POV, True Colors is the story of Marco and Oskar. It tells how Marco learns to let go of things that cannot be changed, how he learns to accept himself, and how he learns to let Oskar in again.
I felt so bad for Marco -- losing his mother, being scarred by the accident that killed her (mentally and physically) and feeling so alone. Marco was afraid to show anyone his body because he felt so ugly. And the one person that really mattered lost his trust.
And Oskar really didn't mean what he said. It was stupid and hurtful and he has spent the last four years filled with regret and wanting only his Marco. He tried to move on, but it's only ever been Marco that Oskar has wanted.
True Colors is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story done right. The hurt, the UST, the feelings that were still going strong. All of it.
-------------------------------
ARC of True Colors was generously provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2017
This was truly beautiful. I have no words. Anyta is a Goddess.
March 12, 2017
I absolutely loved "Leo loves Aries" , so when I was given the opportunity to read and reviews this book, I jumped on it.
True Colers is a sweet story about friends, loss, fear forgiveness and love.
Marco and Oskar have been best friends since they were little. Oskar has always been there for Marco, especially after his mother died and he got hurt. Oskar has been his rock his first color...his sunglow yellow. That is until they are 16 and he's not anymore...
Fast forward 4 years and Oskar is back in town. Marco is still very angry and hurt. Oskar is the reason for all his insecurities and he can't find it in himself to forgive and pretend like nothing happend. Avoiding Oskar is not an option either. Especially since Oskar's family lives next door to his father and grandfather, they are all good friends. The fact that Oskar's sister Zoe is one of Marco's best friends complicates things even further.
To make matters worse, they are forced to act together in a play, Marco's father is producing. It's a play to honor Marco's deceased mother, so saying no is not an option. Oskar seems pretty happy to be in this play. He wants to patch things up between two of them. He really wants to makes things right.
They are co-stars and it's up to Marco to decide on the ending....there are two options....a tragic one or a HEA. Marco isn't ready to leave the past behind and he is set on the tragic ending.
Slowly but surely they start to start to re-built their friendship. This is a very slow burn, but once with get there...it's burns like hell !!
"There hasn't been a day since I was fourteen that you weren't on my mind. I wanted to hold you: I wanted to make you laugh: I also wanted to stretch you out naked on my bed: I wanted to push inside of you and fuck you until you convulsed with my name quivering at your lips. I want you Marco. Every inch of you."
I really enjoyed this one. I loved reading about Marco and all his colors. I am very happy he got his sunglow yellow back...
"You were my first color". "My happy. My everything."
Sunglow Yellow. The start of our story.
An ARC was kindly provided to me by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
February 26, 2017
..."he used to be sunglow yellow. My happy, my everything.
Now he's rust."
This is such a beautifully written story. Marco and Oskar were best friends and next door neighbors from birth to thirteen. And then they weren't. It takes only one event to learn Oskar's true colors.
Now at twenty, Marco learns that Oskar is coming home again. Even through high school (or the German equivalent), Marco rebuffed every attempt Oskar made to explain and apologize.
Marco holds a mean grudge. What Oskar did was a shitty, shitty thing to do. To anyone. But especially your best friend. But Marco holds on to his anger more than most. Why?
...I do what I do best. I run away and hide.
This book is Marco's journey to self-discovery. To healing from scars, both physical and emotional. To growing up and learning what's important and what's not.
I don't want to be salmon or burnt orange or any other cowardly color.
The only reason, and I mean only , that this book wasn't 5 stars for me was the YA/NA aspect. The new-adult was strong in this book. As it should be when dealing with twenty year olds, sixteen year olds, and thirteen year olds. It was told beautifully. But there's a reason I don't read much YA. The immaturity grates on me. We were all like that, of course. But I simply like maturity in my romance.
Truly though, if YA is your thing, this will be a 5 star read for you. I honestly can't wait to start tackling some of this author's back stories. Gorgeous writing. Sunday can tell a story.
March 15, 2017
Si soy sincera, que lo soy, son más 4 estrellas que 5. Pero, me ha hecho sentir tan bien, lo he disfrutado tantísimo, me ha parecido tan mona la pareja, que me salen del corazón esas cinco estrellas.
Una idea original y con mucha sensibilidad como el dotar a cada cosa/persona su color, sirve de vehículo para desarrollar una historia de friends to enemies to lovers llena de ternura, con sus momentos tristes que te encogen el corazoncito (ay Oskar qué hiciste) y con mucho, mucho amor.
Compleja por los sentimientos que se manejan, pero sencilla, con algunos agujeros en el plot fundamentalmente alrededor del momento en que se separan tras lo que ocurre que destroza su relación, pero aun así no me ha impedido revolcarme en la felicidad mientras leía.
Solo una cosa, se desarrolla en Alemania, en Europa, me gustaría que eso se trasladase en el comportamiento y entorno de sus protagonistas, la historia podría situarse igual en USA que en Alemania, y no es lo mismo...
Muy bonito en su sencillez. El tipo de NA que más me gusta.
Una idea original y con mucha sensibilidad como el dotar a cada cosa/persona su color, sirve de vehículo para desarrollar una historia de friends to enemies to lovers llena de ternura, con sus momentos tristes que te encogen el corazoncito (ay Oskar qué hiciste) y con mucho, mucho amor.
Compleja por los sentimientos que se manejan, pero sencilla, con algunos agujeros en el plot fundamentalmente alrededor del momento en que se separan tras lo que ocurre que destroza su relación, pero aun así no me ha impedido revolcarme en la felicidad mientras leía.
Solo una cosa, se desarrolla en Alemania, en Europa, me gustaría que eso se trasladase en el comportamiento y entorno de sus protagonistas, la historia podría situarse igual en USA que en Alemania, y no es lo mismo...
Muy bonito en su sencillez. El tipo de NA que más me gusta.
June 27, 2017
Trust is like a cup. Broken, you can no longer drink from it. It can be mended, but it takes something precious to remake it into something beautiful. And, it takes effort.
This is a very touching story with a large cast of secondary characters that helped form the facets of Oskar and Marco through their interactions. At the same time, this is an extraordinarily frustrating story. By the end, I wasn't happy, more relieved.
Problem is, told from Marco's viewpoint we get this perfect storm for a "misunderstanding" and angst stirring. And I'll argue theirs wasn't a misunderstanding as much as a lack of information on Marco's part. Quantifiably, Oskar was a dickhead. And this is where I have a huge issue with stories trying to play tug-of-war with readers' emotions. It was Oskar's responsibility to atone for his wrongdoings, and nothing pisses me off like the aggrieved party being guilted or somehow convinced that it is their responsibility to make the first overture. F@#K NO! Forgiveness may be granted or not--it is the wronged party's choice-AFTER the instigating party fulfills their duty by acts of contrition.
I think I just have a fundamental difference than some other people. Forgiveness and trust are earned, not given out like party favors. So, this part of the story really didn't work for me, at all. Does it end well? Yes. Do they finally make strides to resolve their issues--Yes. But, the pleasure in reading was dimmed because the way they accomplished it did not appeal to me. Clearly, this is my pet peeve and may be irrelevant to other readers. YMMV.
Overall, angsty friends to enemies to lovers' story.
~Copy provided by NetGalley~
September 26, 2021
”Half a room away and you miss me.”
“Half a room, and I miss you.”
despite my one issue with this book, i honestly don’t think i could give this anything but five stars.
transfixed is probably the word id use to describe how i felt reading this.
my heart physically hurt for Marco. he was someone i connected and sympathised with almost immediately. my heart was in my throat the whole time reading bcos i just couldn’t put this down. it broke my heart then pieced it back together. i fell in love with Marco and Oskar, and if these two aren’t the definition of soulmates, idk what is?
despite not having Oskar’s POV, i really believed his sincerity, his guilt, his pain and remorse for what he did all those years ago (which was downright cruel). i found myself rooting for him to win Marco over. and his love for Marco shone through Marco’s words. i didn’t feel like i was missing a piece of the story like i usually do with a single POV. i felt like i knew Oskar as well as i knew Marco despite not being inside his head.
i was so sad for these two while rooting so hard for them to figure out all their shit and finally be together like they were always destined for. bcos i truly felt like these two were just made for one another and that doesn’t happen often in a romance for me.
i loved the whole colour motif running throughout the book. each chapter being a different colour to represent how Marco was feeling and how his turbulent emotions kept changing. and i loved how Oskar used it too, how he always remembered the colours Marco would talk about. they just had this soft, soulmate vibe that punctured my heart. hook, line and sinker. like Oskar saying Marco glows ? god that shit just melted me.
Oskar: Fine, I’ll be olive. Peaceful.
Me: You remember what my colors mean.
Oskar: I remember everything you tell me, Marco.
Me: Oskar . . .
the way they softly, slowly and oh so burningly (i didn’t think that was a word but it is??) mended their broken pieces was just *sighhhh* it was just the right pacing for me. i was scared once some of the animosity subsided they’d jump into their feelings headfirst. but thank god they didn’t.
Marco still tiptoed around his feelings due to all his past hurt and it was portrayed really well for me. i thought it was realistic with all the pain but his equal desire to move past it and attempt forgive Oskar for both their sakes. they text a lot which i really enjoyed, especially bcos i didn’t think Marco was ready to spend a lot of time with Oskar just yet. honestly, the execution was just perfect. i could gush all day about it.
i think the periwinkle chapter was my favourite🥺🥰 the quiet softness of the whole scene was all i felt while reading. just hushed and silent and holding my breath right along with them. and then the turquoise chapter😌 my heart just about burst omg. with their frozen lake, their initial carved into dying trees, their messages in bottles and their vivid rollercoaster of colours, these two owned my heart.
“What is it?”
“I haven’t figured it all out,” I say.
“Should we stop?”
I ball a fist of his soft hoodie, keeping him close. “I don’t know what this is, Oskar, but I need you to touch me. Hold me.”
His mouth grazes mine, skates to the tip of my nose, sweeps over my cheek. He pauses at my ear. “Holding you is all I dream about.”
i also appreciated how Marco’s insecurities about his body and his scars didn’t magically disappear. when they sleep together for the first time, despite Oskar’s insistence in wanting to see all of Marco, Marco’s insecurities are still very present and don’t go away bcos Oskar says so, you know? i loath in a romance when a character’s trauma, insecurities, mental health issues just disappear bcos they’re in love. love doesn’t magically cure shit like that. so im glad it was still a journey for Marco.
the other thing i appreciated was that the character of Andre, who bullied them both and aided in ruining their friendship, wasn’t this big bad villain. as an adult he was sorry. he knew his mistakes, had his regrets and learnt from the awful shit he did. it’s an easy cop out to have this black and white bad guy to be the big bad of the story. so i liked that he wasn’t still this homophobic prick in the end.
despite my five stars (i was debating knocking off half a star bcos this bothered me, but i adored Marco and Oskar enough to look past it) there is one thing i would change and wished it hadn’t been included— the only thing that really bothered me was the fact Oskar had a boyfriend for a good chunk of the book :/// he comes back for Marco... but is in a relationship? make it make sense please.
he does break up with the guy (just before the half way mark) once he realises Marco may feel the same, since he initially thinks Marco hates him and that there’d never be a chance between them, so is just pushing for forgiveness and friendship. Oskar admits to Marco that to his boyfriend, he’s the “nice guy” unlike how Marco sees him— so i understood it a lil since he never dreamed of Marco forgiving him or reciprocating his feelings. im glad it didn’t go on longer than necessary, but i wish it hadn’t been included at all bcos it undermined his sincerity just a tad.
bcos i didn’t want Marco to forgive Oskar or move forward with him until Oskar broke up with his bf. it didn’t feel fair to Marco until Oskar did that. which luckily happened. the moment Oskar sees a slither of hope for a future of some kind with Marco, he immediately broke up with Jessie and did everything in his power to make Marco see how much he loved him. his earnestness, his sincerity and ultimately, his unconditional love won both me and Marco over. he proved us both wrong and there’s not much more you can ask for, right?
my other lil niggle is that i wish their families knew exactly why they fell out. they kept pushing them together, hounding Marco to forgive Oskar and claiming he was being ridiculous— when he seriously wasn’t. what Oskar said about him? what Oskar didn’t do to help him that day? it was awful. Marco was totally within his right to be as mad as he was and i honestly didn’t think his grudge was exaggerated at all. i wanted them to know that Marco wasn’t blowing things out of proportion when he really wasn’t, making Oskar out to be like some saint when he was just as flawed.
but i also imagine if they knew what Oskar had said all those years ago, a lot of them wouldn’t have forgiven him. so i suppose it was a blessing in disguise bcos once he explains to Marco why he said what he said and how deeply it impacted him, hurting Marco the way he did, i forgave Oskar too. and my hurt heart for him a lil bcos he lost Marco too— Marco wasn’t the only one who lost their other half.
so i just loved this. i honestly could not put this down bcos i was so obsessed and in love. it was the perfect amount of angst, love and fluff, with some breathtaking tension and intense smut ;))))
”You were my first color.”
Oskar smiles, soft and charmed. “I was?”
I tug him close and kiss the dent in his nose. “My happy. My everything.”
Sunglow yellow. The start of our story.
February 24, 2022
This was packed with all the colours of the rainbow and all the feelings. I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I smiled.
Best friends to enemies to lovers. The friendship breakup was so sad, I wanted to wrap Marco in my arms and protect him.
I loved Marco and I adored Oskar.
❤️❤️❤️
Best friends to enemies to lovers. The friendship breakup was so sad, I wanted to wrap Marco in my arms and protect him.
I loved Marco and I adored Oskar.
❤️❤️❤️
May 29, 2018
It was a sweet one. If not for the time it took me to finish it, it would have probably slayed me with the heap of emotions it consists of and equally generates in us. At times, it felt too saddening, but it recovers the lightness of the starting a bit down the lane.
September 29, 2021
4 stars!!!
Huge thanks to Ellie and Candy for their persuasive comments about this book, guys I’m so thankful. This book was just what I needed to read in order to avoids the onsets of a reading slump. Oskar and Marco, man, I loved those guys when they fought, hurt and laughed together.
I highly appreciated the small but significant scenes for the supporting characters(Zoe, Ben and Elena). I’m glad Marco had them. Antya Sunday had delivered every emotion(and color!) perfectly through the words and I fell hard, even cried a bit. Zoe was a bundle of joy, Elena was savage and Ben was supportive.
While all those were fine and great, something about M and O’s families didn’t set right with me. I felt like there wasn’t much to the parents’ feelings and how they came over it and accepted their kids. Just that it started out with Oskar coming out, Mrs. Richter being sad and Papa being sorry for her, to Marco laying it out in front of Mrs. Richter, and Papa accepting Marco being gay. It just didn’t fit correctly. And the Ben confrontation was also a bit hurried up. So, there goes the last star.
Final words, liked the book, lovely chemistry, some chapters hurt like a bitch and I revelled in it all. 😌
Huge thanks to Ellie and Candy for their persuasive comments about this book, guys I’m so thankful. This book was just what I needed to read in order to avoids the onsets of a reading slump. Oskar and Marco, man, I loved those guys when they fought, hurt and laughed together.
I highly appreciated the small but significant scenes for the supporting characters(Zoe, Ben and Elena). I’m glad Marco had them. Antya Sunday had delivered every emotion(and color!) perfectly through the words and I fell hard, even cried a bit. Zoe was a bundle of joy, Elena was savage and Ben was supportive.
While all those were fine and great, something about M and O’s families didn’t set right with me. I felt like there wasn’t much to the parents’ feelings and how they came over it and accepted their kids. Just that it started out with Oskar coming out, Mrs. Richter being sad and Papa being sorry for her, to Marco laying it out in front of Mrs. Richter, and Papa accepting Marco being gay. It just didn’t fit correctly. And the Ben confrontation was also a bit hurried up. So, there goes the last star.
Final words, liked the book, lovely chemistry, some chapters hurt like a bitch and I revelled in it all. 😌
February 25, 2017
3.5 stars
It reminded me of Rock, by the same author, but with colors.
There is angst, there is hurt and there is forgiveness.
I like how both characters are not perfect. They make mistakes and they learn from them.
As often with Anyta's books, you have to wait for the sexy times and then, there are not all that many. Her stories are more about the journey than the destination.
A good read! Looking forward to read Sebastian and Ben's story now. Their story seems to be in book one of this series and runs parallel to True Colors.
It reminded me of Rock, by the same author, but with colors.
There is angst, there is hurt and there is forgiveness.
I like how both characters are not perfect. They make mistakes and they learn from them.
As often with Anyta's books, you have to wait for the sexy times and then, there are not all that many. Her stories are more about the journey than the destination.
A good read! Looking forward to read Sebastian and Ben's story now. Their story seems to be in book one of this series and runs parallel to True Colors.
March 20, 2017
4.5 stars
This was another hit out of the ballpark for me. I love everything I've read by this author. This is a enemies to lovers story done a bit differently. Marco and Oskar had been best friends until *something* happens but you don't know what until a ways into the book. I couldn't put the book down during this part and I was reading as fast as I could trying to find out what had happened. This author has such a great ability to keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out things.
If you read this author's book Rock you know she started each chapter with a type of rock and they were important to the MC. In this the same is done with Marco and colors. Honestly I wasn't sure about this when I started the book. I wondered if it would work since she'd already done it with Rock. It did though. Although it was similar is was also really different and it worked so well. I loved how the colors were weaved through the plot.
This was a bit angsty but since that's my favorite thing ever in books I loved that about it. I enjoyed both of the MC's, I loved Marco as the story teller and I enjoyed the side characters and their roles in this. (There's some over lap in events as from the first book in this series True Luck (which was originally called Bottle Boys.) You don't have to have read that first though. This works as a standalone.)
This was full of colors, some angst, some romance and lot's of feelz. I just adored it and I totally recommend it.
**ARC received from the author through Negalley**
This was another hit out of the ballpark for me. I love everything I've read by this author. This is a enemies to lovers story done a bit differently. Marco and Oskar had been best friends until *something* happens but you don't know what until a ways into the book. I couldn't put the book down during this part and I was reading as fast as I could trying to find out what had happened. This author has such a great ability to keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out things.
If you read this author's book Rock you know she started each chapter with a type of rock and they were important to the MC. In this the same is done with Marco and colors. Honestly I wasn't sure about this when I started the book. I wondered if it would work since she'd already done it with Rock. It did though. Although it was similar is was also really different and it worked so well. I loved how the colors were weaved through the plot.
This was a bit angsty but since that's my favorite thing ever in books I loved that about it. I enjoyed both of the MC's, I loved Marco as the story teller and I enjoyed the side characters and their roles in this. (There's some over lap in events as from the first book in this series True Luck (which was originally called Bottle Boys.) You don't have to have read that first though. This works as a standalone.)
This was full of colors, some angst, some romance and lot's of feelz. I just adored it and I totally recommend it.
**ARC received from the author through Negalley**
March 23, 2017
True Colors by Anyta Sunday
Poetic
Heartwarming
Emotional
Healing
Forgiving
and
Lovely
I can't recommend this beautiful enemies to lovers, best friends to lovers story. 4.5 Stars.
April 17, 2017
4 sunglow yellow stars
Read the complete review @Readin' Under Street-Lamps
It’s a really really good finding-yourself, hate-to-lovers story, with a really well plotted story arc. It skirted between adorable, and angsty, and isn’t that just the perfect blend you want to read in a book? And that ending was just beautiful. Really, those last lines in the book were magical, with how the author captured the moment. It was easily one of the most vivid scenes I’ve been able to see behind my eyes in a long time. And so for that, I have to commend her. It’s her first book I’m reading, but there’s another book in this series, and I’m really going to check the other one out soon. Need some Ben and Sebastien.
Read the complete review @Readin' Under Street-Lamps
It’s a really really good finding-yourself, hate-to-lovers story, with a really well plotted story arc. It skirted between adorable, and angsty, and isn’t that just the perfect blend you want to read in a book? And that ending was just beautiful. Really, those last lines in the book were magical, with how the author captured the moment. It was easily one of the most vivid scenes I’ve been able to see behind my eyes in a long time. And so for that, I have to commend her. It’s her first book I’m reading, but there’s another book in this series, and I’m really going to check the other one out soon. Need some Ben and Sebastien.
April 26, 2017
Marco and Oskar were best friends until something happened between them when they were 16 years old. Now, 4 years after, Oskar is back to Marco's life and they have to deal with their past, feelings, insecurities and resentments.
This is a story of a beautiful friendship, a book about hate and love- and the thin line between them-. This is a novel based on second chances, regrets and forgiveness. This is a story about colors and perceptions masterfully told by Anyta Sunday.
I loved this book. LOVED IT! It made me feel every emotion with the protagonists. I felt every stare, every vulnerability, every insecurity. The love, the resentment, the unrequited trust, the lust. EVERYTHING.
True Colors was a fantastic read, an awesome story that had me crying and smiling, all the way.
Really, I was crying on page twenty or twenty something (10% of the story, I think). Don't know why. It wasn't a moment of big angst right there, it was just the way Anyta Sunday writes, how she perfectly introduce us to Marco and Oskar, how the story starts and grows.
I read part of this book on the beach, listening to the sound of the sea waves, while my little girls were playing on the sand, and I thought "This is perfect" and it was, perfect book for a perfect moment. True Colors was IT for me: PERFECT.
It was beautiful, sweet, hot, a little angsty, with amazingly likable characters and depth enough to drag you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling since the very beginning.
I know I'm not even talking about the story itself, just my thoughts here and there, but this could be a good point, this way you can find out, by yourself, how amazing Oskar and Marco are!
This was not my first book by Anyta Sunday. and it won't be the last. I'm starting "Leo loves Aries" as soon as I can, and after that one ,no doubt I'm gonna pick another, and then another... So, Thank you Anyta for your writing!
Review posted onReviews for Book Lovers
**This book was generously provided to me via Netgalley**
This is a story of a beautiful friendship, a book about hate and love- and the thin line between them-. This is a novel based on second chances, regrets and forgiveness. This is a story about colors and perceptions masterfully told by Anyta Sunday.
I loved this book. LOVED IT! It made me feel every emotion with the protagonists. I felt every stare, every vulnerability, every insecurity. The love, the resentment, the unrequited trust, the lust. EVERYTHING.
True Colors was a fantastic read, an awesome story that had me crying and smiling, all the way.
Really, I was crying on page twenty or twenty something (10% of the story, I think). Don't know why. It wasn't a moment of big angst right there, it was just the way Anyta Sunday writes, how she perfectly introduce us to Marco and Oskar, how the story starts and grows.
I read part of this book on the beach, listening to the sound of the sea waves, while my little girls were playing on the sand, and I thought "This is perfect" and it was, perfect book for a perfect moment. True Colors was IT for me: PERFECT.
It was beautiful, sweet, hot, a little angsty, with amazingly likable characters and depth enough to drag you in and make you feel what the characters are feeling since the very beginning.
I know I'm not even talking about the story itself, just my thoughts here and there, but this could be a good point, this way you can find out, by yourself, how amazing Oskar and Marco are!
This was not my first book by Anyta Sunday. and it won't be the last. I'm starting "Leo loves Aries" as soon as I can, and after that one ,no doubt I'm gonna pick another, and then another... So, Thank you Anyta for your writing!
Review posted onReviews for Book Lovers
**This book was generously provided to me via Netgalley**
March 15, 2017
I love Anyta Sunday's writing and jumped at the chance to read this ARC.
This is a sweet coming of age and NA contemporary romance. Marco was burned in a car fire in which he lost his mother. He has some burn scars on his torso and is extremely self-conscious about them. His lifelong next door neighbor and boyhood bff, Oskar, once hurt Marco by making fun of the scars in front of others. After that, Marco and Oskar became estranged. This story is about how they come back together.
It's a gentle enemies-to-lovers story with some darkness. I enjoyed reading it, though I felt at times that Marco over-reacted to everything and was almost ridiculously fearful (as he calls himself, 'salmon'). Because of this, it was hard to relate to him at times and it felt like there was more drawn-out angst than necessary. But then, I'm not a huge fan of angst, so others will like that aspect more.
This is a well-written, sexy, and emotional story that will appeal to most m/m readers.
This is a sweet coming of age and NA contemporary romance. Marco was burned in a car fire in which he lost his mother. He has some burn scars on his torso and is extremely self-conscious about them. His lifelong next door neighbor and boyhood bff, Oskar, once hurt Marco by making fun of the scars in front of others. After that, Marco and Oskar became estranged. This story is about how they come back together.
It's a gentle enemies-to-lovers story with some darkness. I enjoyed reading it, though I felt at times that Marco over-reacted to everything and was almost ridiculously fearful (as he calls himself, 'salmon'). Because of this, it was hard to relate to him at times and it felt like there was more drawn-out angst than necessary. But then, I'm not a huge fan of angst, so others will like that aspect more.
This is a well-written, sexy, and emotional story that will appeal to most m/m readers.
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