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PS
Looking back, it was kind of crazy to put a down payment on a fallen-down train depot I’d never actually seen, in a state I’d never actually been to, and use it to build a life with a guy I’d never actually met, but love makes people do crazy things. If you’ve ever been in love, you know what I mean.
But before the plane had landed, I found out that Sam—the guy I’d met online and had been talking to for four years—wasn’t really Sam. He wasn’t even a guy.
I already own the little train depot, and I can’t go back to my old life. And Fairville is such a lovely welcoming town. Did I mention James? He’s made sure that I’ve had a really warm welcome.
All I want is to build a great little bookstore, and have a relationship based on humor, honesty, and hardbacks. I see some tough choices ahead of me.
Or maybe I don’t have to choose…
But before the plane had landed, I found out that Sam—the guy I’d met online and had been talking to for four years—wasn’t really Sam. He wasn’t even a guy.
I already own the little train depot, and I can’t go back to my old life. And Fairville is such a lovely welcoming town. Did I mention James? He’s made sure that I’ve had a really warm welcome.
All I want is to build a great little bookstore, and have a relationship based on humor, honesty, and hardbacks. I see some tough choices ahead of me.
Or maybe I don’t have to choose…
142 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2017
18 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Caraway Carter
28 books43 followers**Get Carried Away - Updates on recent releases.**
Caraway Carter has worn numerous hats. He’s been a furniture salesman, a dresser, a costumer, an actor/waiter, a rabble rouser, a poet and most recently a writer. He loves words and stringing them together, he loves sex and sexy men, and he writes relationship fiction that reminds you—it’s never too late for love. And he has lived his tagline. He married his husband on Halloween, at the age of forty-nine, and they are the loving parents of an adorable cat named Molly.
Caraway Carter has worn numerous hats. He’s been a furniture salesman, a dresser, a costumer, an actor/waiter, a rabble rouser, a poet and most recently a writer. He loves words and stringing them together, he loves sex and sexy men, and he writes relationship fiction that reminds you—it’s never too late for love. And he has lived his tagline. He married his husband on Halloween, at the age of forty-nine, and they are the loving parents of an adorable cat named Molly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 25, 2017
I loved the premise of this story, as well as the small Vermont community Caraway Carter creates in PS. Catfishing victim Gus bets all on love, and get a rude awakening:
As mentioned above, I really got into the premise of this story, but had a few quibbles. PS has a large cast of secondary characters, and I didn't feel I knew the two MCs, Gus and James. I needed more insight into their characters, their emotions, their experiences, and didn't really sense their sexual chemistry. Also at times the dialogue was awkward and unclear and I found myself reading and rereading passages in order to figure out just was happened. Finally, there were a few plot points that seemed clunky: ... however I realize other readers may not be bothered with these issues.
I give PS 3.5 stars for the great premise and community but would have liked more character development.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Sam—the man I’d hoped would work on not only my wood, but that of the building—had finally admitted he was actually a she, and that she was a twenty-one-year-old creative writing student. She went on to explain that our entire relationship had been for her senior thesis. She’d never meant to lead me on. She’d said she didn’t believe a guy could be so lonely as to sell everything he owned so he could buy a train depot on the basis of emails, instant messages, and Skype.But with the help of the community, Gus starts rebuilding his life, as well as restoring the train depot with plans for PS ("Post Sam") a bookstore / cafe / community center. Along the way he meets James Boyer, "newly minted gay" handyman, and they start navigating a relationship while restoring the depot.
As mentioned above, I really got into the premise of this story, but had a few quibbles. PS has a large cast of secondary characters, and I didn't feel I knew the two MCs, Gus and James. I needed more insight into their characters, their emotions, their experiences, and didn't really sense their sexual chemistry. Also at times the dialogue was awkward and unclear and I found myself reading and rereading passages in order to figure out just was happened. Finally, there were a few plot points that seemed clunky: ... however I realize other readers may not be bothered with these issues.
I give PS 3.5 stars for the great premise and community but would have liked more character development.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
October 26, 2017
4.5 stars Oke...I'm moving.....like yesterday....to Fairville..
Gus, gosh...first thing I noticed...he is über romantic. Like hearing a voice and have all the feelings...romantic...needy...hearing everything with a double meaning....and having amazing vivid dreams.
After an online relationship over four years with Sam he is moving, he is flying to a whole other state.
He bought a little train depot in Fairville...for Sam and himself, only to discover during the flight that Sam was fake.
So there he was with a depot which has to be renovated and without his future husband.
The little town Fairville is one of a kind....they make him feel so welcome.....specially James,
it's almost magic.
In no time all the capable people of the village were working with him. To make this place something for all the residents of Fairville
Sometimes I didn't understand a thing about technical terms. Thank you Google Translate.
It was all so natural and easy going. Very lovable personalities. It was endearing and surprising.
I loved it how Gus and James were around each other...no bravado...sometimes even shy and all the emotions at the right place and always trying to do right.
Fairville a place where only heroes live and all beautifully flawed. It was just a bit Utopia that little place, Utopia where even sharp tales are bearable.
Written by an author with an inexhaustible imagination or he really visit this train depot.
A lovable written novella, I enjoyed very!!
kindly received an early copy from the Publisher
Gus, gosh...first thing I noticed...he is über romantic. Like hearing a voice and have all the feelings...romantic...needy...hearing everything with a double meaning....and having amazing vivid dreams.
After an online relationship over four years with Sam he is moving, he is flying to a whole other state.
He bought a little train depot in Fairville...for Sam and himself, only to discover during the flight that Sam was fake.
So there he was with a depot which has to be renovated and without his future husband.
The little town Fairville is one of a kind....they make him feel so welcome.....specially James,
it's almost magic.
In no time all the capable people of the village were working with him. To make this place something for all the residents of Fairville
Sometimes I didn't understand a thing about technical terms. Thank you Google Translate.
It was all so natural and easy going. Very lovable personalities. It was endearing and surprising.
I loved it how Gus and James were around each other...no bravado...sometimes even shy and all the emotions at the right place and always trying to do right.
Fairville a place where only heroes live and all beautifully flawed. It was just a bit Utopia that little place, Utopia where even sharp tales are bearable.
Written by an author with an inexhaustible imagination or he really visit this train depot.
A lovable written novella, I enjoyed very!!
kindly received an early copy from the Publisher
October 27, 2017
Editor's Review:
The first ever romance book I read was about a young woman (aged 16) who exaggerated her age to her cowboy pen pal so she seemed older and more sophisticated than she was. I was about 14 when I read it, and I don't recall much beyond her best friend giving her a makeover so she looked older in the photo she sent him. He sent a photo back, and what a dashingly handsome, rugged young man he...wasn't!
Of course, this was fiction and written in the 1980s, but only a couple of weeks ago, I read a true story of a woman who 'dated' a man online for two years before he admitted he'd lied to her all along and he wasn't the handsome young thing he'd claimed to be.
It's easy to assume we wouldn't fall for this kind of scam, and in many instances there's no real harm done. Yet I know, personally, people who've formed enduring emotional attachments to someone online - even paid money to them to help with medical expenses, cried along with them about loss of friends in terribly tragic circumstances - all of it complete and utter fabrication.
Thus, when it came to Caraway Carter's most recent novella, PS, I didn't have to suspend belief as Gus - our intrepid MC - tells us how he's bought a train depot in Vermont, where he thinks he's setting up home with this guy Sam, whom he met and dated online for four years, only for poor Gus to find he's been catphished. Gus is a gullible, naïve, sweet guy, and not necessarily because he fell for Sam's BS. He is one of those genuinely lovely people, and while he's a grown man with a fairly decent business head on his shoulders, he's still the sort of person I want to take under my wing, if only to make sure someone like Sam doesn't come along and do it to him all over again.
For those reasons, Fairville, Vermont - which is a bit like a cross between Stepford and Whoville - and its incredibly altruistic and quirky townsfolk is pretty much the perfect place for Gus to end up. I must admit, I did have some trouble giving the locals the benefit of the doubt - Kelly in particular. For as much as I want to believe in the goodness of humankind, some people just aren't nice, and I expected Fairville to have its fair share of those types. That's my cynicism, though, not a fault with the story.
So, there's Gus, the new guy in the community, and a dilapidated train depot, and there's James, who is...magnificent, if not a little confusing at times. I think it's intentional, for the most part; I don't want to give too much of his back story away, but there are plenty of reasons for him to be the way he is. He and Gus are very natural together, and their relationship, which escalates quite quickly time-wise, still manages to feel slow and steady.
Lastly, I must come back to the fine folk of Fairville. I loved being along for the journey with Gus as he gets to know a bit about everyone, and the characterisation throughout the story is flawless, if maybe a little biased by being from Gus's perspective - my judgements didn't always match up to his. When I make my American road trip, I'll be pining for Fairville, imagining spending a night or two at the DDI and visiting the train depot for a coffee and a book...
I'll settle for a sequel.
The first ever romance book I read was about a young woman (aged 16) who exaggerated her age to her cowboy pen pal so she seemed older and more sophisticated than she was. I was about 14 when I read it, and I don't recall much beyond her best friend giving her a makeover so she looked older in the photo she sent him. He sent a photo back, and what a dashingly handsome, rugged young man he...wasn't!
Of course, this was fiction and written in the 1980s, but only a couple of weeks ago, I read a true story of a woman who 'dated' a man online for two years before he admitted he'd lied to her all along and he wasn't the handsome young thing he'd claimed to be.
It's easy to assume we wouldn't fall for this kind of scam, and in many instances there's no real harm done. Yet I know, personally, people who've formed enduring emotional attachments to someone online - even paid money to them to help with medical expenses, cried along with them about loss of friends in terribly tragic circumstances - all of it complete and utter fabrication.
Thus, when it came to Caraway Carter's most recent novella, PS, I didn't have to suspend belief as Gus - our intrepid MC - tells us how he's bought a train depot in Vermont, where he thinks he's setting up home with this guy Sam, whom he met and dated online for four years, only for poor Gus to find he's been catphished. Gus is a gullible, naïve, sweet guy, and not necessarily because he fell for Sam's BS. He is one of those genuinely lovely people, and while he's a grown man with a fairly decent business head on his shoulders, he's still the sort of person I want to take under my wing, if only to make sure someone like Sam doesn't come along and do it to him all over again.
For those reasons, Fairville, Vermont - which is a bit like a cross between Stepford and Whoville - and its incredibly altruistic and quirky townsfolk is pretty much the perfect place for Gus to end up. I must admit, I did have some trouble giving the locals the benefit of the doubt - Kelly in particular. For as much as I want to believe in the goodness of humankind, some people just aren't nice, and I expected Fairville to have its fair share of those types. That's my cynicism, though, not a fault with the story.
So, there's Gus, the new guy in the community, and a dilapidated train depot, and there's James, who is...magnificent, if not a little confusing at times. I think it's intentional, for the most part; I don't want to give too much of his back story away, but there are plenty of reasons for him to be the way he is. He and Gus are very natural together, and their relationship, which escalates quite quickly time-wise, still manages to feel slow and steady.
Lastly, I must come back to the fine folk of Fairville. I loved being along for the journey with Gus as he gets to know a bit about everyone, and the characterisation throughout the story is flawless, if maybe a little biased by being from Gus's perspective - my judgements didn't always match up to his. When I make my American road trip, I'll be pining for Fairville, imagining spending a night or two at the DDI and visiting the train depot for a coffee and a book...
I'll settle for a sequel.
November 7, 2017
This book was given to me by the author at GRL 2017 in hopes that I'd read and enjoy it, and write up a review.
I read it and enjoyed it, and here's my review:
Gus, our protagonist, is in his early 40s and decides to change his whole life for Sam, including buying an old train depot up in Vermont, sight unseen, to restore and open a bookstore/cafe.
Except Gus is the victim of catfishing, and Sam isn't who he claims he is. Which Gus doesn't find out until he's already in the air on his way to the small Vermont town.
PS stands for Post-Sam here, and Gus jumps headlong into the adventure. The premise is cute, even if the beginning is horrid (for Gus), and I enjoyed myself reading this book. Slightly unbelievable that folks in this small Vermont town would drop everything to help a guy out, and even more unbelievable that they'd be okay with deferred payment for renovating/rehabbing the old train station. Or offering Gus a place to stay. Then again, I haven't been to Vermont so I really couldn't say how realistic this actually is.
I had some issues with the characters, and those are the main reason for the lower rating. The author's word choices were mostly fine, even if dialogue tended to be a little awkwardly phrased on occasion, but there are some plot points that didn't work for me.
- Sam the catfish supposedly being a 21 year old creative writing student, yet the relationship is supposed to have gone for 4 years - am I supposed to believe that Sam was 17 when he/she first started playing WoW with Gus?
- the relationship between Gus and James was a little too quick for my taste, and it felt as if Gus was able to move on from Sam just a little too rapidly. Also, the history between James and Sam felt too convenient.
- Sam being a real person - so weird, that part. Also, Sam's behavior in general. Pretty odd for the most part, and gross on one occasion. What the fuck was that? Sam felt to me like someone who really really really could have used some serious therapy.
My biggest issue was the lack of depth. I needed more, especially for Gus and James. I never got a real good feel for either of them - what made them tick, what drove their actions. I also didn't really get a spark between them, so their relationship progression didn't work for me.
Caraway Carter spins a decent tale, and the writing itself is likable and enjoyable. I'm interested in reading more by this author.
** I received a free copy of this book from the author. **
I read it and enjoyed it, and here's my review:
Gus, our protagonist, is in his early 40s and decides to change his whole life for Sam, including buying an old train depot up in Vermont, sight unseen, to restore and open a bookstore/cafe.
Except Gus is the victim of catfishing, and Sam isn't who he claims he is. Which Gus doesn't find out until he's already in the air on his way to the small Vermont town.
PS stands for Post-Sam here, and Gus jumps headlong into the adventure. The premise is cute, even if the beginning is horrid (for Gus), and I enjoyed myself reading this book. Slightly unbelievable that folks in this small Vermont town would drop everything to help a guy out, and even more unbelievable that they'd be okay with deferred payment for renovating/rehabbing the old train station. Or offering Gus a place to stay. Then again, I haven't been to Vermont so I really couldn't say how realistic this actually is.
I had some issues with the characters, and those are the main reason for the lower rating. The author's word choices were mostly fine, even if dialogue tended to be a little awkwardly phrased on occasion, but there are some plot points that didn't work for me.
- Sam the catfish supposedly being a 21 year old creative writing student, yet the relationship is supposed to have gone for 4 years - am I supposed to believe that Sam was 17 when he/she first started playing WoW with Gus?
- the relationship between Gus and James was a little too quick for my taste, and it felt as if Gus was able to move on from Sam just a little too rapidly. Also, the history between James and Sam felt too convenient.
- Sam being a real person - so weird, that part. Also, Sam's behavior in general. Pretty odd for the most part, and gross on one occasion. What the fuck was that? Sam felt to me like someone who really really really could have used some serious therapy.
My biggest issue was the lack of depth. I needed more, especially for Gus and James. I never got a real good feel for either of them - what made them tick, what drove their actions. I also didn't really get a spark between them, so their relationship progression didn't work for me.
Caraway Carter spins a decent tale, and the writing itself is likable and enjoyable. I'm interested in reading more by this author.
** I received a free copy of this book from the author. **
September 12, 2021
I'm conflicted with this book, I adored the concept and the mc Gus in a small town setting. The repairing of the train depot, seeing it turned into a bookstore and the way everyone in town worked together.
Still I hated how the catfishing aspect was handled, the way noone except Gus himself seemed to be bothered about Sam and just made me uncomfortable. The fact what he did was ignored, as if he didn't realize what he was doing and let get too far.
Sorry but I didn't believe it, perhaps if were young but this is a man in his fourties and the catfishing happened across four years. He is just awful and seems to only care about himself, not bothered about how impacts others and everyone in town just lets him.
I did adore Gus though and his finding a place for himself, regardless of what happened and his finding friends in the town. The romance with James started of really sweet, but the more learned about him the less I liked so I lost interest in their relationship.
Wish Gus had stood up for himself more and didn't forgive so easily, despite the fact Sam had caused him to make postive moves in his life it doesn't change the fact his been lied to for years. Never had the chance to find out for himself or fall in love outside of the fake relationship.
I know some probably hate how quickly he moved on to James's, but honestly I liked that he didn't fall into self pity and let Sam ruin his life. After all the love was never real it was built on deception, so for him to move on and try with someone real was great.
Overall I just had a lot of mixed feelings reading this story, its enjoyable for a short and fast paced read.
Still I hated how the catfishing aspect was handled, the way noone except Gus himself seemed to be bothered about Sam and just made me uncomfortable. The fact what he did was ignored, as if he didn't realize what he was doing and let get too far.
Sorry but I didn't believe it, perhaps if were young but this is a man in his fourties and the catfishing happened across four years. He is just awful and seems to only care about himself, not bothered about how impacts others and everyone in town just lets him.
I did adore Gus though and his finding a place for himself, regardless of what happened and his finding friends in the town. The romance with James started of really sweet, but the more learned about him the less I liked so I lost interest in their relationship.
Wish Gus had stood up for himself more and didn't forgive so easily, despite the fact Sam had caused him to make postive moves in his life it doesn't change the fact his been lied to for years. Never had the chance to find out for himself or fall in love outside of the fake relationship.
I know some probably hate how quickly he moved on to James's, but honestly I liked that he didn't fall into self pity and let Sam ruin his life. After all the love was never real it was built on deception, so for him to move on and try with someone real was great.
Overall I just had a lot of mixed feelings reading this story, its enjoyable for a short and fast paced read.
October 12, 2017
This was a very interesting book with catphishing, a lovely Vermont community helping a new resident and a slow burning, sweet love story. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. PS....you really need to read this one.
October 26, 2017
Hovering between a 3.5 and a 4...
This was a quick fun read. To be honest, from the description, I thought that Gus would get on my nerves a lot more than he did. I mean, who does something like that? Really? It didn’t take long into the book to realize that his decision to make such a life altering change wasn’t quite as drastic as it first sounded. It would have been nice if he had actually met Sam in person before he made the move, but then PS would have lost it’s entire plot. 😉
There were a couple of little crazy, questionable, awkward moments that kind of threw me during the course of the story, but for the most part, I enjoyed getting to know Gus and James. The rest of the sometimes whacky but lovable residents of Fairville were fun as well. There were even a few crazy twists that added to the craziness.
This was my first read by Caraway Carter, but he’s peaked my curiosity, so don’t be surprised if you find one or two of his books find their way to my TBR pile.
I received PS in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was a quick fun read. To be honest, from the description, I thought that Gus would get on my nerves a lot more than he did. I mean, who does something like that? Really? It didn’t take long into the book to realize that his decision to make such a life altering change wasn’t quite as drastic as it first sounded. It would have been nice if he had actually met Sam in person before he made the move, but then PS would have lost it’s entire plot. 😉
There were a couple of little crazy, questionable, awkward moments that kind of threw me during the course of the story, but for the most part, I enjoyed getting to know Gus and James. The rest of the sometimes whacky but lovable residents of Fairville were fun as well. There were even a few crazy twists that added to the craziness.
This was my first read by Caraway Carter, but he’s peaked my curiosity, so don’t be surprised if you find one or two of his books find their way to my TBR pile.
I received PS in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 13, 2018
This book had a lot of great themes for me: starting over, above 40 love, plan hero, bbw, and train depot.
The town was a bit over the top crazy nice and Sam (the semi villain) needed more development.
The writing is good but the story and characters needed more layers for men. For example, Gus is a bookseller but we never really get a sense that he loves books.
I wanted more intamacy between heroes as well.
I would read another book set in this world though.
The town was a bit over the top crazy nice and Sam (the semi villain) needed more development.
The writing is good but the story and characters needed more layers for men. For example, Gus is a bookseller but we never really get a sense that he loves books.
I wanted more intamacy between heroes as well.
I would read another book set in this world though.
October 26, 2017
This is a fairly quick read full of quirky characters, a down-on-his-luck narrator, and a train depot that becomes almost personified. It’s a bit of fluffy, sexy fun with a side order of drama that’s more humorous than angsty.
What I loved: The town and its people. The descriptions often had me laughing. It reminded me of a somewhat gayer version of the old show Newhart. Except in this case, it’s Gus, the main character, who plays the straight-man to the town’s wacky brand of humor. These people are great, and I could revisit them over and over.
What I liked: The storyline. It didn’t feel forced to me, creating this scenario. Was it a bit over the top? Sure. It leans toward unlikely that a guy could have a four-year relationship with someone with all the things that followed, but I still enjoyed it. The setup worked well with the off-the-wall situations and characters. In a book where everything is just a bit exaggerated, it feels exactly right. And after all, this is told in first person, so Gus may not be the most reliable narrator. This lends the perfect amount of realism to the situation.
What I could’ve done without: The bisexual characters. Since I’ve read the author’s other work and know that this is only one book in a sea of many fine others, I wasn’t too bothered. But looking at it from the perspective of someone unfamiliar, I can see how it would make some people bristle. So this comes with a warning that there are no well-developed bi people in this book. There are multiple who lie and cheat, often coming across as willing to hop in bed with just about anyone. And there’s one who starts off identifying as gay and later says he’s bi (and it’s very confusing whether he was out or not at the start of the book; there are some inconsistencies with this in his story). Obviously these things happen, but there really isn’t anything to balance it. I thought it was all right, given the humorous nature of the story, but your mileage may vary.
Even so, I still found the book to be a fun diversion. It’s well-paced and doesn’t focus too much on either the characters or the remodeling of the train depot. There’s a good mix of the two. Gus is likable and well-crafted, honest and self-aware. He deserves every minute of his happily ever after.
For a quirky cast, plenty of playful humor, and a dash of sweet romance, this gets 4 stars.
What I loved: The town and its people. The descriptions often had me laughing. It reminded me of a somewhat gayer version of the old show Newhart. Except in this case, it’s Gus, the main character, who plays the straight-man to the town’s wacky brand of humor. These people are great, and I could revisit them over and over.
What I liked: The storyline. It didn’t feel forced to me, creating this scenario. Was it a bit over the top? Sure. It leans toward unlikely that a guy could have a four-year relationship with someone with all the things that followed, but I still enjoyed it. The setup worked well with the off-the-wall situations and characters. In a book where everything is just a bit exaggerated, it feels exactly right. And after all, this is told in first person, so Gus may not be the most reliable narrator. This lends the perfect amount of realism to the situation.
What I could’ve done without: The bisexual characters. Since I’ve read the author’s other work and know that this is only one book in a sea of many fine others, I wasn’t too bothered. But looking at it from the perspective of someone unfamiliar, I can see how it would make some people bristle. So this comes with a warning that there are no well-developed bi people in this book. There are multiple who lie and cheat, often coming across as willing to hop in bed with just about anyone. And there’s one who starts off identifying as gay and later says he’s bi (and it’s very confusing whether he was out or not at the start of the book; there are some inconsistencies with this in his story). Obviously these things happen, but there really isn’t anything to balance it. I thought it was all right, given the humorous nature of the story, but your mileage may vary.
Even so, I still found the book to be a fun diversion. It’s well-paced and doesn’t focus too much on either the characters or the remodeling of the train depot. There’s a good mix of the two. Gus is likable and well-crafted, honest and self-aware. He deserves every minute of his happily ever after.
For a quirky cast, plenty of playful humor, and a dash of sweet romance, this gets 4 stars.
October 13, 2017
This is the first book I've read by Mr. Carter and I received an ARC from the author.
The characters are so interesting... ranging from sympathetic, to enabling, to lovable, and to kind. Set in a small town in Vermont you're pulled into a bucolic small town where everyone pulls together to make their community better. When the plot reveals a 'catfishing' expedition, which results in a newcomer coming to the town, you get a sense of purpose taking over and bringing the town even closer together in a shared purpose. You'll want to move here and lend a hand!
An interesting plot from a new-to-me author. I'm looking forward to reading many more books by Mr. Carter!
The characters are so interesting... ranging from sympathetic, to enabling, to lovable, and to kind. Set in a small town in Vermont you're pulled into a bucolic small town where everyone pulls together to make their community better. When the plot reveals a 'catfishing' expedition, which results in a newcomer coming to the town, you get a sense of purpose taking over and bringing the town even closer together in a shared purpose. You'll want to move here and lend a hand!
An interesting plot from a new-to-me author. I'm looking forward to reading many more books by Mr. Carter!
September 29, 2022
Throw in twenty characters within the first twenty pages and an early plot twist, add a leading character who’s flaky and then end it in a short time frame and voila, you have this. A whole lotta meh.
October 30, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
This story is a really cute, sweet read. It’s not without its problems, but I enjoyed the characters and thought the whole premise was a fun idea. I liked that Gus, though devastated by finding out Sam wasn’t who he thought, still made the best of the situation. He wasn’t going to let this set back destroy him. I also really liked that the town came together to help Gus out. At first, it was a little strange. A whole bunch of people seemed to be able to forget about their daily lives and just work on the train depot…and several of them didn’t care about getting paid for their work, willing to wait until Gus was solvent again. This seemed totally ridiculous at first, but one line from a secondary MC put it all into perspective for me, and I was able to roll with it.
James was a fun character as well. He’s instantly attracted to Gus, and since he’s ready to change his life too, he jumps in with both feet. Not only to put his expertise to work on the train depot, but with Gus as well. Their connection was cute, and I liked their interactions. The book is told from Gus’s first person POV, so we don’t get to know James as well as I’d have liked, but these guys work together.
But there were a couple of things that didn’t work as well for me. The first was the whole Sam/catphishing thing. Admittedly, it was one of the draws of the book for me, as I liked the idea of Gus changing his whole life, only to find out he’d been catphished and still making his life the best it could be. However, there ended up being a whole extra layer to this plot point that didn’t work for me at all. Sam isn’t who he said he was, either the first or second times, and…I found it too over the top and a little unnecessary. Perhaps if it had been explored further, I wouldn’t have had such an issue with it. But it didn’t work for me as is.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
This story is a really cute, sweet read. It’s not without its problems, but I enjoyed the characters and thought the whole premise was a fun idea. I liked that Gus, though devastated by finding out Sam wasn’t who he thought, still made the best of the situation. He wasn’t going to let this set back destroy him. I also really liked that the town came together to help Gus out. At first, it was a little strange. A whole bunch of people seemed to be able to forget about their daily lives and just work on the train depot…and several of them didn’t care about getting paid for their work, willing to wait until Gus was solvent again. This seemed totally ridiculous at first, but one line from a secondary MC put it all into perspective for me, and I was able to roll with it.
James was a fun character as well. He’s instantly attracted to Gus, and since he’s ready to change his life too, he jumps in with both feet. Not only to put his expertise to work on the train depot, but with Gus as well. Their connection was cute, and I liked their interactions. The book is told from Gus’s first person POV, so we don’t get to know James as well as I’d have liked, but these guys work together.
But there were a couple of things that didn’t work as well for me. The first was the whole Sam/catphishing thing. Admittedly, it was one of the draws of the book for me, as I liked the idea of Gus changing his whole life, only to find out he’d been catphished and still making his life the best it could be. However, there ended up being a whole extra layer to this plot point that didn’t work for me at all. Sam isn’t who he said he was, either the first or second times, and…I found it too over the top and a little unnecessary. Perhaps if it had been explored further, I wouldn’t have had such an issue with it. But it didn’t work for me as is.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
November 2, 2017
I liked PS by Caraway Carter. It's the first book that I have read by him, but it probably won't be the last. I liked Gus and James and the rest of the town but everybody was just a little bit too nice and friendly, and Gus seemed to move on from a four-year relationship with a guy he thought he loved to being with James really fast. Especially after finding out that Sam the guy he had met online and was moving to be with was an actual married member of the town that Gus moved to. Even after his wife had told Gus that she was the one that was catphishing him and the guy that he had been talking to on Skype was just an actor. Overall, the overwhelming goodness of the characters and the town members kept pulling me out of the book and preventing it from feeling real. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
October 12, 2017
What I liked:
1) Gus’s forgiving nature and taking bad lemons and making lemonade from them (e.g. taking the events that occurred because of the catphishing he was victim to and turning it into a positive).
2) The townspeople coming together to help Gus in his time in need.
3) James for wanting to pursue something with Gus but not wanting to push him into anything.
4) Gus for taking a stand against the individuals who wronged him. I don’t think I could have been so forgiving.
5) Seeing the development of the depot and Gus vision of how he wanted his livelihood to be.
6) Gus moving on romantically from Sam and not giving him the time of day.
What I didn’t like:
1) Kelly and Sam. I just hated them both and I could not find the appeal of befriending them. Kelly came off as such a bitch, the only reason she didn’t enact revenge, for something her husband put into action and she ended up taking part in, was because Gus came off as kind (her words not mine). When she first broke the news to Gus that the individual Gus had been in an online relationship with for four years wasn’t real she excused it by saying something along the lines of “they never meant for anyone to get hurt and that she never thought he would be so lonely and gullible as to fall for such a thing”. I hated her just for that. Sam never really redeemed himself for his whole part in it. He still continued to throw himself at Gus when the whole thing came to a head and the truth was laid out for Gus.
2) How free and open the relationships seemed. I didn’t feel as there was a committed relationship that wasn’t in some way open in the story. It made it hard to believe that romance wasn’t in some way dead or just something everyone faked. It all stems from some of the town people (Hank, James, and probably Bobby) knowing Sam and Kelly have an open relationship and Sam is bisexual (which doesn’t help the stereotype there for bisexuals). It also didn’t help that Gus seemed fickle with his affection. He moved on so easily from Sam and was more than willing to move on with James.
3) Not something I particularly hated but I felt strongly about how kind the townspeople were. While I liked that they all came together to help Gus I couldn’t stop the suspicions that they were doing so only because they had an idea that it was Kelly and Sam’s fault and as a group they felt responsible. I know it was later explained away as them just wanting the depot to be restored and not an eyesore on the community and also that because they wanted to be part of something big that would impact their community.
4) The dialogue sometimes wasn't very clear to me (e.g. during the reading especially when they were fixing up the depot and Sam, Kelly, Hank and James were interacting
An ARC was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
1) Gus’s forgiving nature and taking bad lemons and making lemonade from them (e.g. taking the events that occurred because of the catphishing he was victim to and turning it into a positive).
2) The townspeople coming together to help Gus in his time in need.
3) James for wanting to pursue something with Gus but not wanting to push him into anything.
4) Gus for taking a stand against the individuals who wronged him. I don’t think I could have been so forgiving.
5) Seeing the development of the depot and Gus vision of how he wanted his livelihood to be.
6) Gus moving on romantically from Sam and not giving him the time of day.
What I didn’t like:
1) Kelly and Sam. I just hated them both and I could not find the appeal of befriending them. Kelly came off as such a bitch, the only reason she didn’t enact revenge, for something her husband put into action and she ended up taking part in, was because Gus came off as kind (her words not mine). When she first broke the news to Gus that the individual Gus had been in an online relationship with for four years wasn’t real she excused it by saying something along the lines of “they never meant for anyone to get hurt and that she never thought he would be so lonely and gullible as to fall for such a thing”. I hated her just for that. Sam never really redeemed himself for his whole part in it. He still continued to throw himself at Gus when the whole thing came to a head and the truth was laid out for Gus.
2) How free and open the relationships seemed. I didn’t feel as there was a committed relationship that wasn’t in some way open in the story. It made it hard to believe that romance wasn’t in some way dead or just something everyone faked. It all stems from some of the town people (Hank, James, and probably Bobby) knowing Sam and Kelly have an open relationship and Sam is bisexual (which doesn’t help the stereotype there for bisexuals). It also didn’t help that Gus seemed fickle with his affection. He moved on so easily from Sam and was more than willing to move on with James.
3) Not something I particularly hated but I felt strongly about how kind the townspeople were. While I liked that they all came together to help Gus I couldn’t stop the suspicions that they were doing so only because they had an idea that it was Kelly and Sam’s fault and as a group they felt responsible. I know it was later explained away as them just wanting the depot to be restored and not an eyesore on the community and also that because they wanted to be part of something big that would impact their community.
4) The dialogue sometimes wasn't very clear to me (e.g. during the reading especially when they were fixing up the depot and Sam, Kelly, Hank and James were interacting
An ARC was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2017
I mostly like this book. I'm actually left wondering how much I like this story, whether it's a lot or just a solid like. There's a lot to like here with a solid cast of characters and a great premise. Things become muddied, a bit unfinished, emotionally reactionary instead of based on wise decisions for the future, convoluted relationships, ambiguous expectations, and a slightly lackluster finish. All combined, the book is interesting but could be awesome if it were streamlined a bit, I think.
The idea, the premise of the story is something I usually gravitate toward because it should be about self-discovery, healing, acceptance, and then romance to fill in the gaps. One person as the focus only to add a second person to complete the journey that person has gone through to overcome what brought them to the point where we are introduced. While those things are there, it's not the focus. It gets frustrated and side-tracked by Sam, Kelly, James, their past, the attraction of others, and flirtation in general. I'm not exactly sure how I would suggest fixing those things, because they each had their place, I think it was just the way those things were all put together that made it all a bit convoluted.
James and Gus have a real shot at something special. Sam gets between them in more than just one way and I don't think it's completely dealt with. Gus is vulnerable and gullible and by the end of the story I don't think he's in a place emotionally that he should be by the end of everything. We see moments of focus and strength and determination but it becomes eclipsed by the drama surrounding the restoration.
Overall, this story had a ton of potential where Gus healed himself through growing to love himself with the added bonus of growing to love another man who saw what was inside Gus all along. That was there in pieces and I wish it were more developed. The cast was interesting and varied and gave insight into individual's expressions of sexuality and acceptance. A good story with humans being humans while working together and strengthening a community.
Read and willingly reviewed ARC for the author.
The idea, the premise of the story is something I usually gravitate toward because it should be about self-discovery, healing, acceptance, and then romance to fill in the gaps. One person as the focus only to add a second person to complete the journey that person has gone through to overcome what brought them to the point where we are introduced. While those things are there, it's not the focus. It gets frustrated and side-tracked by Sam, Kelly, James, their past, the attraction of others, and flirtation in general. I'm not exactly sure how I would suggest fixing those things, because they each had their place, I think it was just the way those things were all put together that made it all a bit convoluted.
James and Gus have a real shot at something special. Sam gets between them in more than just one way and I don't think it's completely dealt with. Gus is vulnerable and gullible and by the end of the story I don't think he's in a place emotionally that he should be by the end of everything. We see moments of focus and strength and determination but it becomes eclipsed by the drama surrounding the restoration.
Overall, this story had a ton of potential where Gus healed himself through growing to love himself with the added bonus of growing to love another man who saw what was inside Gus all along. That was there in pieces and I wish it were more developed. The cast was interesting and varied and gave insight into individual's expressions of sexuality and acceptance. A good story with humans being humans while working together and strengthening a community.
Read and willingly reviewed ARC for the author.
October 13, 2017
I was given an ARC by the author in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book although sometimes I got a little lost as to why Gus was given so much help by his local community. Every one seemed to go out of their way to help this newcomer. I almost felt at times that there was something magical happening in this small Vermont town.
Gus is very naive. He met Sam on line and a relationship developed. Planning their future Gus buys a fallen down train depot which he plans with Sam to redevelop into a bookstore. When he arrives in Fairville all his plans fall through as Sam is not who he thinks he is.
Gus decides to develop the bookstore anyway and the locals offer him a lot of support - working without payment etc - when it becomes apparent that Gus wants to retain the character of the building. He is given so much and at times I found it a little unbelievable but I just decided to go with it.
Enter James into the picture.
If you want to know more about the story you will have to buy the book. It is an enjoyable read and, thinking back, it would have been even more enjoyable if the book was a little longer. I would have liked a little more detail.
I liked the way in which the book was written and I loved the atmosphere created by the author. I really do have a thing for small towns and the support that the members of the community give to each other.
Definitely recommended.
I enjoyed this book although sometimes I got a little lost as to why Gus was given so much help by his local community. Every one seemed to go out of their way to help this newcomer. I almost felt at times that there was something magical happening in this small Vermont town.
Gus is very naive. He met Sam on line and a relationship developed. Planning their future Gus buys a fallen down train depot which he plans with Sam to redevelop into a bookstore. When he arrives in Fairville all his plans fall through as Sam is not who he thinks he is.
Gus decides to develop the bookstore anyway and the locals offer him a lot of support - working without payment etc - when it becomes apparent that Gus wants to retain the character of the building. He is given so much and at times I found it a little unbelievable but I just decided to go with it.
Enter James into the picture.
If you want to know more about the story you will have to buy the book. It is an enjoyable read and, thinking back, it would have been even more enjoyable if the book was a little longer. I would have liked a little more detail.
I liked the way in which the book was written and I loved the atmosphere created by the author. I really do have a thing for small towns and the support that the members of the community give to each other.
Definitely recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2017
3.5 stars
When Gus moves across the country because of a guy he met a online, I knew that was not going to end well. I was not expecting . Gus decides to stay in the small town and open the depot, he names PS (which initially stands for Post Sam), he bought. Everyone is a little too helpful and friendly with helping Gus renovate the depot. I wondered if everyone is helping out because they are aware of why Gus is there or if they are truly just nice people.
I thought he moved on from Sam a little too quickly. He thought he was in love with him and almost immediately, he was over him and into James. I didn't feel as if their relationship was rushed though. They took some time to get to know each other. I enjoyed the ending and Gus and James got their HEA.
An ARC was generously provided, by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
When Gus moves across the country because of a guy he met a online, I knew that was not going to end well. I was not expecting . Gus decides to stay in the small town and open the depot, he names PS (which initially stands for Post Sam), he bought. Everyone is a little too helpful and friendly with helping Gus renovate the depot. I wondered if everyone is helping out because they are aware of why Gus is there or if they are truly just nice people.
I thought he moved on from Sam a little too quickly. He thought he was in love with him and almost immediately, he was over him and into James. I didn't feel as if their relationship was rushed though. They took some time to get to know each other. I enjoyed the ending and Gus and James got their HEA.
An ARC was generously provided, by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2017
Normally I write a review straight through but I think with this one I’m going to have to do a what I liked/what I didn’t because I was having such a hard time organizing my thoughts. So….
What it is: Gus has been talking to a man online for four years and has fallen in love. He uproots his life to buy a train depot in another state in order to be with this man he loves. However, on his way there he finds out that he’s been catfished. There is no Sam, man of his dreams. There is only a female student who used him for a project, the train depot he now owns in Fairville, and a willingness to move forward. Enter the townsfolk of Faireville, who take Gus under their wing and help him in every way. Especially James.
What worked for me :
Gus himself. He has just gone through a horribly stressful time, has completely changed his whole life and still approaches things with dignity and optimism, even when things look bleak. The fact that he isn’t a doormat made me like him all the more.
The idea of the train depot itself. It was a joy to read this beautiful building coming back to life.
Despite the fact that normally any kind of cheater is a definite no go for me, James has a history that usually would make me cringe. And it did, but I also saw what it all did to him. “So I got “worth it”. Because I am. And I need to remember this.” Yes, James you do.
The way the townspeople rallied around and helped. Sometimes it seemed a little much but Gus needed it and so I was on board.
What didn’t work for me:
Supposedly “Sam” is a female student who used Gus for a project. The issue I have with that is she is a 21-year-old creative writing student. Meaning that she started this charade when she was 17 or 18? “She’d said she didn’t believe a guy could be so lonely as to sell everything he owned…”
I didn’t understand when Gus says, “…but I vowed, in that moment, not to be the whore I’d been in California.” Was he whoring around while being in love with Sam?
Sam and Kelly. Period. I couldn’t find anything redeeming about these two, from their actions before Gus arrives in Fairville all the way through the book. I think they really soured my perception of the story.
So this is a sweet book, despite the angsty overtones of the catfishing (and get rid of Sam and Kelly, really!) and I enjoyed it. I honestly felt like the depot, or maybe the whole town, was just as much a character as anyone.
What it is: Gus has been talking to a man online for four years and has fallen in love. He uproots his life to buy a train depot in another state in order to be with this man he loves. However, on his way there he finds out that he’s been catfished. There is no Sam, man of his dreams. There is only a female student who used him for a project, the train depot he now owns in Fairville, and a willingness to move forward. Enter the townsfolk of Faireville, who take Gus under their wing and help him in every way. Especially James.
What worked for me :
Gus himself. He has just gone through a horribly stressful time, has completely changed his whole life and still approaches things with dignity and optimism, even when things look bleak. The fact that he isn’t a doormat made me like him all the more.
The idea of the train depot itself. It was a joy to read this beautiful building coming back to life.
Despite the fact that normally any kind of cheater is a definite no go for me, James has a history that usually would make me cringe. And it did, but I also saw what it all did to him. “So I got “worth it”. Because I am. And I need to remember this.” Yes, James you do.
The way the townspeople rallied around and helped. Sometimes it seemed a little much but Gus needed it and so I was on board.
What didn’t work for me:
Supposedly “Sam” is a female student who used Gus for a project. The issue I have with that is she is a 21-year-old creative writing student. Meaning that she started this charade when she was 17 or 18? “She’d said she didn’t believe a guy could be so lonely as to sell everything he owned…”
I didn’t understand when Gus says, “…but I vowed, in that moment, not to be the whore I’d been in California.” Was he whoring around while being in love with Sam?
Sam and Kelly. Period. I couldn’t find anything redeeming about these two, from their actions before Gus arrives in Fairville all the way through the book. I think they really soured my perception of the story.
So this is a sweet book, despite the angsty overtones of the catfishing (and get rid of Sam and Kelly, really!) and I enjoyed it. I honestly felt like the depot, or maybe the whole town, was just as much a character as anyone.
November 14, 2017
~ 3.5 Stars ~
Caraway Carter’s novel PS addresses a growing problem in our society, but certainly not a new one: catphishing. In the story, our poor main character, Gus Mead, has literally invested nearly every cent he has into buying a retired train depot in Vermont in the hopes of renovating it and turning it into a bookstore/café. He also hoped to be meeting the man he’d fallen in love with online, Sam, and having their very own happy-ever-after together. For four long years, Gus and Sam had an online relationship that had morphed into a declaration of love and intention to live together—until Sam, supposedly, turned out to be a she—a girl who admitted to Gus that he was just a thesis experiment for a college course that had gotten out of hand. The “Sam” Gus had fallen in love with, had planned a future with, had sunk his entire life savings into a decrepit train depot for, was apparently just some guy who had needed a place to crash and done the job of leading Gus on for four long years as a favor to the girl who was currently ruining Gus’s life with her revelations of him being a victim of an elaborate catphishing scheme.
The problem was that Gus was already on a plane to Vermont and had to move forward with his business deal, or lose everything. So, he did what he had to and landed in a small town in Vermont to take up a new life and try to make something of the emotional shambles his love life had become. Along the way he will be embraced by a town that will do just about anything to help this stranger who has decided to invest love and money into its beloved historical train depot that has lain untouched for years. He will make friends with many, and find a special bond with one—the town handyman/electrician, James Boyer. But most startling is that he will come face-to-face with the real Sam, find out the truth behind who he is, and also who the woman actually is who broke the news to Gus about the catphishing. Those two people will turn out to be way more interesting than Gus could ever have imagined.
PS had all the bones for a good story with a particularly fascinating theme, centering around the idea that someone could completely be taken in by another person to the extent where they turned their lives totally upside down. Gus was incredibly sweet and naïve. And Sam, well, I still am reeling from just how despicable a person he turned out to be, and really wonder how Kelly could manage to see anything in him after his behavior. The book also explored what a poly relationship could look like, and even though I felt that aspect of the novel was not so well written, and potentially cast polyamorous relationships in a negative light, I could still appreciate that the author pulled that plot arc into the novel. I’m sorry to be vague on that point, but to explain who was involved in a poly lifestyle is to give away a bit too much of the story, and would definitely spoil the reading of the book for you. Suffice it to say that nothing is as it seems when Gus steps off that plane, and, as is the case in many small towns, many lives intersect in interesting ways.
What I can tell you is this: the members of the small community that surround Gus are memorable and very kind. They help him, often to the point of being nearly unbelievable, as one person after another extends their professional expertise to renovate the depot at no cost to Gus’s wallet. The man who will eventually heal poor Gus’s heart is most assuredly the kindest person ever crafted in a novel, and the most complex. James regrets things he’s done in the past to those he loved, and when Gus tells him they should take it slow, he’s ready to do just that. The complex ties James has to Sam are never fully explored, but we get just enough of their backstory to understand how Sam is so familiar around James and never hesitates to cross a line that both James and Gus find surprising and uncomfortable.
There were some good moments in this story: the developing relationship between Gus and James, the lush prose depicting the scenic views around Vermont, including the covered bridges and small towns the two of them explore, and the idea that strangers can find it in their hearts to welcome someone new with ease and love. Unfortunately, Caraway Carter tends to leave important backstories to the imagination, and when that is coupled with some rather stilted portions of dialogue and some rather bizarre behavior on the part of his characters, the story tends to derail and wander into confusing territory. I found myself shaking my head at some of the forced scenarios the story offered up, particularly the interactions between Sam, Kelly, and Gus. I also got lost occasionally, trying to figure out how everyone fit together and what the full story was behind Gus and Kelly’s unique relationship.
In the end, PS meandered a bit too far afield and lost its way on one too many occasions to remain a cohesive novel. The dialogue was sometimes oddly paced and phrased in such a way as to make the reader stumble and have to reread in order to make sense of it. But the real drawback was the fact that the story felt incomplete, the happy-ever-after a bit rushed, and the catphishers never really made to atone for their atrocious behavior toward poor Gus. All in all, the story was good but felt just a bit unfinished in the end.
Reviewed by Sammy for
Caraway Carter’s novel PS addresses a growing problem in our society, but certainly not a new one: catphishing. In the story, our poor main character, Gus Mead, has literally invested nearly every cent he has into buying a retired train depot in Vermont in the hopes of renovating it and turning it into a bookstore/café. He also hoped to be meeting the man he’d fallen in love with online, Sam, and having their very own happy-ever-after together. For four long years, Gus and Sam had an online relationship that had morphed into a declaration of love and intention to live together—until Sam, supposedly, turned out to be a she—a girl who admitted to Gus that he was just a thesis experiment for a college course that had gotten out of hand. The “Sam” Gus had fallen in love with, had planned a future with, had sunk his entire life savings into a decrepit train depot for, was apparently just some guy who had needed a place to crash and done the job of leading Gus on for four long years as a favor to the girl who was currently ruining Gus’s life with her revelations of him being a victim of an elaborate catphishing scheme.
The problem was that Gus was already on a plane to Vermont and had to move forward with his business deal, or lose everything. So, he did what he had to and landed in a small town in Vermont to take up a new life and try to make something of the emotional shambles his love life had become. Along the way he will be embraced by a town that will do just about anything to help this stranger who has decided to invest love and money into its beloved historical train depot that has lain untouched for years. He will make friends with many, and find a special bond with one—the town handyman/electrician, James Boyer. But most startling is that he will come face-to-face with the real Sam, find out the truth behind who he is, and also who the woman actually is who broke the news to Gus about the catphishing. Those two people will turn out to be way more interesting than Gus could ever have imagined.
PS had all the bones for a good story with a particularly fascinating theme, centering around the idea that someone could completely be taken in by another person to the extent where they turned their lives totally upside down. Gus was incredibly sweet and naïve. And Sam, well, I still am reeling from just how despicable a person he turned out to be, and really wonder how Kelly could manage to see anything in him after his behavior. The book also explored what a poly relationship could look like, and even though I felt that aspect of the novel was not so well written, and potentially cast polyamorous relationships in a negative light, I could still appreciate that the author pulled that plot arc into the novel. I’m sorry to be vague on that point, but to explain who was involved in a poly lifestyle is to give away a bit too much of the story, and would definitely spoil the reading of the book for you. Suffice it to say that nothing is as it seems when Gus steps off that plane, and, as is the case in many small towns, many lives intersect in interesting ways.
What I can tell you is this: the members of the small community that surround Gus are memorable and very kind. They help him, often to the point of being nearly unbelievable, as one person after another extends their professional expertise to renovate the depot at no cost to Gus’s wallet. The man who will eventually heal poor Gus’s heart is most assuredly the kindest person ever crafted in a novel, and the most complex. James regrets things he’s done in the past to those he loved, and when Gus tells him they should take it slow, he’s ready to do just that. The complex ties James has to Sam are never fully explored, but we get just enough of their backstory to understand how Sam is so familiar around James and never hesitates to cross a line that both James and Gus find surprising and uncomfortable.
There were some good moments in this story: the developing relationship between Gus and James, the lush prose depicting the scenic views around Vermont, including the covered bridges and small towns the two of them explore, and the idea that strangers can find it in their hearts to welcome someone new with ease and love. Unfortunately, Caraway Carter tends to leave important backstories to the imagination, and when that is coupled with some rather stilted portions of dialogue and some rather bizarre behavior on the part of his characters, the story tends to derail and wander into confusing territory. I found myself shaking my head at some of the forced scenarios the story offered up, particularly the interactions between Sam, Kelly, and Gus. I also got lost occasionally, trying to figure out how everyone fit together and what the full story was behind Gus and Kelly’s unique relationship.
In the end, PS meandered a bit too far afield and lost its way on one too many occasions to remain a cohesive novel. The dialogue was sometimes oddly paced and phrased in such a way as to make the reader stumble and have to reread in order to make sense of it. But the real drawback was the fact that the story felt incomplete, the happy-ever-after a bit rushed, and the catphishers never really made to atone for their atrocious behavior toward poor Gus. All in all, the story was good but felt just a bit unfinished in the end.
Reviewed by Sammy for
October 26, 2017
A splendid book with good writing. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters likeable. James and Gus are the MC’s of this book. I thought was good but a little flat. Gus is a very likeable character but I thought that at times he was too easy and accepting with people and the situations. There was humor, a train station, betrayal, small town, friendly people, moving, a remodel, T shirts with sayings, bridges and so much more in this book.
Here is a quote from the book, “A few days later, I found myself standing in front of the depot, armed with a crowbar and hammer. I approached the door where I’d written “PS” and shoved the crowbar under the wood; I could her the scratch against the brick and shook my head. Part of me didn’t want to do this alone. I stood back and walked in circles…”. There is more but you will need to read the book which I can recommend as a good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
Here is a quote from the book, “A few days later, I found myself standing in front of the depot, armed with a crowbar and hammer. I approached the door where I’d written “PS” and shoved the crowbar under the wood; I could her the scratch against the brick and shook my head. Part of me didn’t want to do this alone. I stood back and walked in circles…”. There is more but you will need to read the book which I can recommend as a good read. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
October 26, 2017
I received an ARC of PS for my review. I loved this book! It was so much fun to read. Gus Mead buys a train station--sight unseen with shaky skills in place to repurpose it. Gus was expecting help from the man he fell in love with. He was catphished over a 4-year time span and dumped while flying over Ohio, but he still has the station. Let the fun begin. Tom at the hardware store hooks him up with all the pros to help him and a place to live. He meets the catphisher. I loved how Sam was taken care of. I laughed so hard I nearly sprayed tea all over my living room! He asked for it and it was a thing of beauty to see unfold.
I highly recommend this book. I loved the characters, it would be a lot of fun to read more about them.
I highly recommend this book. I loved the characters, it would be a lot of fun to read more about them.
November 9, 2017
This is a quick fun read with an interesting premise. I had a hard time relating to the characters and at times I found the writing to be disjointed. I wanted to love this book but it just isn't my style. Gus is so naïve that he sells everything he owns and moves to a small town in Vermont to live happily ever after with Sam, a man he met on-line but has never met in person. All his plans fall apart when he realizes Sam lied to him. The whole town decides to help him, most of them working and providing supplies for free. None of it seems believable to me and I think that is why I had a difficult time reading it.
I was given an ARC to review by the author.
I was given an ARC to review by the author.
October 20, 2017
A sweet, lemons to lemonade story. “PS” is a good fit if you are in the mood for something light with insta-love and an emphasis on forgiveness and friendship. Gus and James are cute together, and the town’s camaraderie and embrace of Gus is charming. While I liked the book, sometimes the writing, especially the dialogue was a bit clunky; additionally, some of the interactions and “conflict resolutions” (and I use the term REALLY loosely here) are so almost unrelentingly upbeat, quick to resolve back into smiles and blushes, and lacking in accountability that the all the characters feel a bit flat and one-dimensional. However, as most of the story development transpires in a week, this feel good romp can get away with it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
October 26, 2017
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This could have been a really sweet story but I just felt that too many items didn’t add up. Gus did drastically trust someone he had never really met and jumps into all the help in his new town. James seemed in the closet when he met Gus but suddenly wasn’t a day or two later (with no actual coming out), it just didn’t connect for me. He also had more experience that is never really talked about.
I had trouble understanding the other character’s motivations, most of this small town jumps in to help Gus restore the train depot without really anything in return. It’s explained as them wanting it restored but it just doesn’t sit right. I also had trouble with Sam and Kelly’s relationship and how it affects those around them. They both seem very selfish and don’t really care about others and I’m not sure why others would really want to be their friends or have them in their lives. Overall I really liked the idea of this story but not many of the characters or execution of it.
This could have been a really sweet story but I just felt that too many items didn’t add up. Gus did drastically trust someone he had never really met and jumps into all the help in his new town. James seemed in the closet when he met Gus but suddenly wasn’t a day or two later (with no actual coming out), it just didn’t connect for me. He also had more experience that is never really talked about.
I had trouble understanding the other character’s motivations, most of this small town jumps in to help Gus restore the train depot without really anything in return. It’s explained as them wanting it restored but it just doesn’t sit right. I also had trouble with Sam and Kelly’s relationship and how it affects those around them. They both seem very selfish and don’t really care about others and I’m not sure why others would really want to be their friends or have them in their lives. Overall I really liked the idea of this story but not many of the characters or execution of it.
October 23, 2017
¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ ★3.5 stars¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ ★
"I never thought anyone would ever be lonely enough to sell everything they owned."
What would you do if thousands of miles above earth your life changed? What if what you were hoping for crashed before your eyes?
Gus's "theme song had become “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson. With his life in shambles, he had found himself alone and bewildered. Now the proud owner of a rambling train depot, in a strange town with nothing to show except being catphished, Gus decided to throw it all to the wind a make a life out of nothing.
Trusting Sam had been to his detriment, but it would not derail Gus from what was now in front of him. With a town of helpful people who made him feel welcomed, Gus found himself feeling at home and falling for James, the handsome man just finding his way into the open. Even navigating life around the two persons responsible for his unhappiness could not distract from Gus's new life, wacky tees and growing romance.
I love the thought of this Vermont town and all its inhabitants. PS, would not mind another visit.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
(¸.•´ ★3.5 stars¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ ★
"I never thought anyone would ever be lonely enough to sell everything they owned."
What would you do if thousands of miles above earth your life changed? What if what you were hoping for crashed before your eyes?
Gus's "theme song had become “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson. With his life in shambles, he had found himself alone and bewildered. Now the proud owner of a rambling train depot, in a strange town with nothing to show except being catphished, Gus decided to throw it all to the wind a make a life out of nothing.
Trusting Sam had been to his detriment, but it would not derail Gus from what was now in front of him. With a town of helpful people who made him feel welcomed, Gus found himself feeling at home and falling for James, the handsome man just finding his way into the open. Even navigating life around the two persons responsible for his unhappiness could not distract from Gus's new life, wacky tees and growing romance.
I love the thought of this Vermont town and all its inhabitants. PS, would not mind another visit.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
December 6, 2018
*2.5 stars*
I was soooo excited to read this story. It was supposed to be super cute little book about a guy from California finally finding love,friends,home and acceptance in a small town in Vermont. This is the plot. Plus, a lot of weird af drama with Sam and a lot of tlking about funny t-shirts.
Don't get me wrong, I love funny t-shirts, I like sweet love stories, but this one was just boring and too unbelievable. Everything (apart from Sam) was super easy, everyone wanted to help for free, the whole town (or maybe it just felt like that) decided their jobs and lives can wait because they needed to be cleaning, cataloguing, repairing old depot bought by Gus!
It was sweet and easy read with nice characters, but it was not enough for me :(
I was soooo excited to read this story. It was supposed to be super cute little book about a guy from California finally finding love,friends,home and acceptance in a small town in Vermont. This is the plot. Plus, a lot of weird af drama with Sam and a lot of tlking about funny t-shirts.
Don't get me wrong, I love funny t-shirts, I like sweet love stories, but this one was just boring and too unbelievable. Everything (apart from Sam) was super easy, everyone wanted to help for free, the whole town (or maybe it just felt like that) decided their jobs and lives can wait because they needed to be cleaning, cataloguing, repairing old depot bought by Gus!
It was sweet and easy read with nice characters, but it was not enough for me :(
October 29, 2017
I'm not the target audience for this book but that doesn't change the fact that it was a delight
A true old style happy ending Romance with a lot of nifty twists and a supportive cast of friendly people. I liked that the primary conflict was internal rather than external
A true old style happy ending Romance with a lot of nifty twists and a supportive cast of friendly people. I liked that the primary conflict was internal rather than external
April 18, 2024
The idea of a book store from an old train depot was cool, but too much about this book was unrealistic. Everyone in the town volunteering to remodel the place, with no experience and no pay, was a big stretch.
Gus was thankful, but then in the middle of his reno and with no money, he decides to go book shopping around the state.
Sam was a strange, inconsistent character, tricking Gus for years online, then being forgiven because he’s made out to be hapless. There’s confusion about James’ past, and he admits to cheating on his wife, while Gus’ dream is to find a man to be with long term. Then suddenly there’s an openness to others that hasn’t been mentioned. Too unclear and convoluted.
Lastly, the tragedy of James’ wife’s death seems like an add on to bring depth, but it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the story.
Too much going on in a novella and too many unclear relationships. The depot sounds nice, though.
Gus was thankful, but then in the middle of his reno and with no money, he decides to go book shopping around the state.
Sam was a strange, inconsistent character, tricking Gus for years online, then being forgiven because he’s made out to be hapless. There’s confusion about James’ past, and he admits to cheating on his wife, while Gus’ dream is to find a man to be with long term. Then suddenly there’s an openness to others that hasn’t been mentioned. Too unclear and convoluted.
Lastly, the tragedy of James’ wife’s death seems like an add on to bring depth, but it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the story.
Too much going on in a novella and too many unclear relationships. The depot sounds nice, though.
April 2, 2019
Well, what a wonderful place Fairville is!
Gus is welcomed in, helped out and gets his building sorted for mostly free! A cornucopia of people with skills to help, like minded individuals who set James his way - for his handyman skills and to set them up!
Perhaps a bit too “all’s right with the world” for me but sometimes a dose of utopia is what you need. I liked the idea that Gus had upped sticks to buy a building on an acquaintance- though it was for longer than I had thought. So was expecting a bit more angsty, hand wringing - and got so much up lifting!
Quick and easy to read.
Gus is welcomed in, helped out and gets his building sorted for mostly free! A cornucopia of people with skills to help, like minded individuals who set James his way - for his handyman skills and to set them up!
Perhaps a bit too “all’s right with the world” for me but sometimes a dose of utopia is what you need. I liked the idea that Gus had upped sticks to buy a building on an acquaintance- though it was for longer than I had thought. So was expecting a bit more angsty, hand wringing - and got so much up lifting!
Quick and easy to read.
September 22, 2022
I'm sorry but I gave up at 40%. It started off great, the town and its people were fantastic, so was the fixing up of the train depot, James was cute as heck with Gus. The trickery that Sam put on Gus was despicable and when he turns up and the town people learned what he did nobody got angry, not even Gus himself, that was so freaking annoying and ridiculous, it had been a horrible stunt. That was it for me, wasn't interested in reading this story anymore, although I did skim forward to the ending to see who Gus ended up with.
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