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Fox Lake #1
Sicken of the Calm
Joaquin would never forget the boy who came out in the middle of the school cafeteria when they were both fifteen. Would never forget his bright eyes and clenched fists, in defiance of the rest of the world. Ezra. His unapologetic bravery was something that would haunt Joaquin who, despite being the captain of his high school football team, was too reserved to come out before college, let alone approach the boy he admired from afar.
Joaquin is in his third year at Fox Lake University when he sees Ezra again. Joaquin expects the distance between them to remain unbreeched, but Ezra, as brash and impetuous as he was in high school, crashes into his life. At first, it’s just a shared class project, but it doesn’t take long for things between them to heat up. Before Joaquin knows what’s happening, he’s squirming on a chair as Ezra watches him jerk off, those clear, intent eyes pinning him in place. This starts a friends-with-benefits relationship with the aim of exploring a submissive and Dominant dynamic in bed, dipping a toe in the BDSM world together.
However, nothing is ever so simple. As their sexual relationship amps up, so does their friendship deepen, fed by those gentle moments after sex, underbelly-soft and vulnerable. As Joaquin gets to know Ezra better he realizes that his assumptions about who Ezra is, and even the assumptions he has made about himself, have to be challenged in order to break the cycles that may lead to their relationship breaking apart.
[This story contains plenty of banter, a fuckbuddies-to-more romance, and light, exploratory BDSM themes revolving around Dom/sub dynamics and kinks such as orgasm delay, praise kink and mild bondage. Although part of a series, this story can be read as a standalone with its own HEA.]
Joaquin is in his third year at Fox Lake University when he sees Ezra again. Joaquin expects the distance between them to remain unbreeched, but Ezra, as brash and impetuous as he was in high school, crashes into his life. At first, it’s just a shared class project, but it doesn’t take long for things between them to heat up. Before Joaquin knows what’s happening, he’s squirming on a chair as Ezra watches him jerk off, those clear, intent eyes pinning him in place. This starts a friends-with-benefits relationship with the aim of exploring a submissive and Dominant dynamic in bed, dipping a toe in the BDSM world together.
However, nothing is ever so simple. As their sexual relationship amps up, so does their friendship deepen, fed by those gentle moments after sex, underbelly-soft and vulnerable. As Joaquin gets to know Ezra better he realizes that his assumptions about who Ezra is, and even the assumptions he has made about himself, have to be challenged in order to break the cycles that may lead to their relationship breaking apart.
[This story contains plenty of banter, a fuckbuddies-to-more romance, and light, exploratory BDSM themes revolving around Dom/sub dynamics and kinks such as orgasm delay, praise kink and mild bondage. Although part of a series, this story can be read as a standalone with its own HEA.]
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2017
64 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Marina Vivancos
28 books917 followersWhen Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.
Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did years ago.
You can find her being malhumorada on Twitter.
Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did years ago.
You can find her being malhumorada on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
August 8, 2023
Yeah, so stuff like this definitely isn’t in my usual wheelhouse, but that's not such a bad thing in this case. I think it’s important for me to step out of my “reading comfort zone” every now and then, otherwise I fear I’d lose interest in reading as a whole (reading slumps don't hit me often, but when they hit, they hit something awful). Besides, every now and then I find hidden gems like this one! You know, when I think back, there’s not actually all that much in the way of plot in this novel; two people who only knew each other in passing back in high school (one a popular jock, the other, not so popular and bullied for being out and proud) reunite in college and start a relationship. the conflict only comes when the two start to catch feelings as the question, “what are we?” seems to be the main central theme. I think what makes this book special is how realistic and wonderful the characters are. Joaquin’s the classic introverted main character and Ezra… may be bad, but he’s perfectly good at it. They were great. They’re insecure, awkward, and get in their own way, but they felt like real people and I loved them all the more for it. Oh yeah, also they have sex in pretty much every chapter. Which is fine, but like, I’m just sitting here drinking my tea. I guess I’m trying to say it got a little repetitive at points, and it felt like a waste, especially considering how great the dialogue was. My favorite parts were the conversations, like when characters would end up just talking about their favorite movies. And the kinky side of the story would sometimes feel a little too clinical, as it seriously felt like I was reading a guidebook at points. BDSM 101! Small nitpicks aside, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this book, and even when I was doing something else, I found that this story and its characters were never far from my mind, rotating around like a rotisserie chicken. I’d say that’s a win!
”You took the first step and I expected you to take all the others. I didn’t know why you wouldn’t. I know now, not that it matters, I should have – I wanted it so much, and I should have just done it myself, and I made excuses until they went on for so long I didn’t know how to turn back. I want you. I want this.”
”You took the first step and I expected you to take all the others. I didn’t know why you wouldn’t. I know now, not that it matters, I should have – I wanted it so much, and I should have just done it myself, and I made excuses until they went on for so long I didn’t know how to turn back. I want you. I want this.”
July 29, 2023
It was as if we had created an alternate universe just for us, where Ezra made the rules and I just had to follow them. I didn’t have to question the whys or what-ifs in that world. It was just him and me, and whatever his voice created. I don’t think about why that is. Why Ezra’s commands were so easy to follow, so sweet. It just is, i tell myself. It just is.
Joaquin and Ezra went to high school together but they meet again in college and become closer after initially working on a class project. Joaquin and Ezra quickly become sexually involved and I typically don’t love when things move as fast as they did here but I think it worked really well! They don’t fall into a fast relationship or anything. The physical and emotional intimacy is so beautifully written. Marina’s writing is gorgeous (what’s new!!!!). Again and again I would reread a sentence and be blown away with how beautiful it was. Joaquin describing his best friend, Iva has a determination that burns the air around her, and even the wet kindle of my soul is ignited by her. There was so much to love here for me!!!
Joaquin has his world opened up once Ezra (gently) leads him into the heady world of submission. Joaquin lives with a lot of deep seated shame and inability to speak on what he desires and it was extremely rewarding to see him feel safe and assured enough to be this open with Ezra about his wants and needs. There’s a scene where Joaquin sees Ezra hanging out with another guy and he feels immediately rejected and alone. They were just pals but Joaquin gets upset about all these unknowns in their friends with benefits relationship. But I liked that immediately after that incident they communicated really well and addressed what was causing Joaquin distress. There’s plenty of other examples of them being great at communicating.😊 Ezra deals with his own shame and feels like nobody will want to be seen dating him and I really loved how much Joaquin made him feel seen and appreciated. The reassurance and praise went both ways. Joaquin shows Ezra he’s proud to be seen with him. Joaquin constantly takes notice of Ezra’s small hurts, the things he tries to hide. Some other things I loved: the friendships - Iva, Moore, Joaquin’s family, both of them being caretakers, the sex and video games scene, Ezra dressing Joaquin after they’ve been intimate, Joaquin standing up for Ezra, the jealous moments, Ezra bringing flowers to meet Joaquin’s family, the Christmas scenes, the way they looked at each other; they always found each other in a room. Always.
Everything his parents have done, every doubt they’ve planted in Ezra, I want to pull out from the root and destroy until there is nothing but fertile soil left.
My one and only complaint is that I got a little tired of how many sex scenes there were!
All in all I thought this was a beautiful story of sexual discovery and love in all its many forms. Platonic, romantic, self-love and self-acceptance. ❤️
This is exactly what I want for the rest of my life, I think terrifyingly. Someone who will drag me out at one in the morning and gets this excited by a box of cereal.
”Chaito, mi amor. Te quiero. Bye, Ezra. Take care of my boy,” she smiles.
“Of course,” he says seriously. My mom beams. “I love you too,” I say.
Joaquin and Ezra went to high school together but they meet again in college and become closer after initially working on a class project. Joaquin and Ezra quickly become sexually involved and I typically don’t love when things move as fast as they did here but I think it worked really well! They don’t fall into a fast relationship or anything. The physical and emotional intimacy is so beautifully written. Marina’s writing is gorgeous (what’s new!!!!). Again and again I would reread a sentence and be blown away with how beautiful it was. Joaquin describing his best friend, Iva has a determination that burns the air around her, and even the wet kindle of my soul is ignited by her. There was so much to love here for me!!!
Joaquin has his world opened up once Ezra (gently) leads him into the heady world of submission. Joaquin lives with a lot of deep seated shame and inability to speak on what he desires and it was extremely rewarding to see him feel safe and assured enough to be this open with Ezra about his wants and needs. There’s a scene where Joaquin sees Ezra hanging out with another guy and he feels immediately rejected and alone. They were just pals but Joaquin gets upset about all these unknowns in their friends with benefits relationship. But I liked that immediately after that incident they communicated really well and addressed what was causing Joaquin distress. There’s plenty of other examples of them being great at communicating.😊 Ezra deals with his own shame and feels like nobody will want to be seen dating him and I really loved how much Joaquin made him feel seen and appreciated. The reassurance and praise went both ways. Joaquin shows Ezra he’s proud to be seen with him. Joaquin constantly takes notice of Ezra’s small hurts, the things he tries to hide. Some other things I loved: the friendships - Iva, Moore, Joaquin’s family, both of them being caretakers, the sex and video games scene, Ezra dressing Joaquin after they’ve been intimate, Joaquin standing up for Ezra, the jealous moments, Ezra bringing flowers to meet Joaquin’s family, the Christmas scenes, the way they looked at each other; they always found each other in a room. Always.
Everything his parents have done, every doubt they’ve planted in Ezra, I want to pull out from the root and destroy until there is nothing but fertile soil left.
My one and only complaint is that I got a little tired of how many sex scenes there were!
All in all I thought this was a beautiful story of sexual discovery and love in all its many forms. Platonic, romantic, self-love and self-acceptance. ❤️
This is exactly what I want for the rest of my life, I think terrifyingly. Someone who will drag me out at one in the morning and gets this excited by a box of cereal.
”Chaito, mi amor. Te quiero. Bye, Ezra. Take care of my boy,” she smiles.
“Of course,” he says seriously. My mom beams. “I love you too,” I say.
June 21, 2019
One of my 2018 favorites so far! There is a chapter midway through Sicken of the Calm that might be one of my favorite chapters of a book, ever. (Chapter 7, fwiw.) Humor, intimacy, spontaneity, inferno sex, confidence, vulnerability, heartbreak, and much more I’m probably forgetting. And the writing – so fucking beautiful I can’t stand it. The author’s descriptions, and the MC’s inner monologue, are exquisite. Poetic, yet... grounded, somehow. Accessible. And ALL of the chapters had many of these things.
Even before finishing the book, I stopped to research the author and subscribe to her newsletter… and almost broke down when I realized that I have only ONE MORE book to read by her after this. That’s all she’s released so far. How can that be all?? If you know of another name she writes under, I’m gonna need you to tell me, please and thank you.
I’m doing a really shitty job of explaining how good this is. But I kind of hate plot summaries beyond the blurb (and even those often reveal too much for me). Besides, what the book is about is completely irrelevant here. It’s outstanding because it’s beautifully written, with impeccably developed interactions.
OK, I’m going to point out a couple of things, just so you know I’m not blinded with my rose colored glasses of luv. There are minor editing errors (the typo kind). Secondly, the angst/conflict stems from a failure to communicate. I know. I realize that’s a dealbreaker for some people, but I implore you, in this case, to forgive it. It’s worth it. It’s caused me to examine my own dislike for that trope... the bottom line is that it can be done well or poorly, and most of the time it’s intolerable. In case I haven’t made this clear already, here it was done well.
Even before finishing the book, I stopped to research the author and subscribe to her newsletter… and almost broke down when I realized that I have only ONE MORE book to read by her after this. That’s all she’s released so far. How can that be all?? If you know of another name she writes under, I’m gonna need you to tell me, please and thank you.
I’m doing a really shitty job of explaining how good this is. But I kind of hate plot summaries beyond the blurb (and even those often reveal too much for me). Besides, what the book is about is completely irrelevant here. It’s outstanding because it’s beautifully written, with impeccably developed interactions.
OK, I’m going to point out a couple of things, just so you know I’m not blinded with my rose colored glasses of luv. There are minor editing errors (the typo kind). Secondly, the angst/conflict stems from a failure to communicate. I know. I realize that’s a dealbreaker for some people, but I implore you, in this case, to forgive it. It’s worth it. It’s caused me to examine my own dislike for that trope... the bottom line is that it can be done well or poorly, and most of the time it’s intolerable. In case I haven’t made this clear already, here it was done well.
September 2, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Two college guys doing very sexy things with depth.
Baby dom/sub exploration
Beautiful writing sometimes bordering on a little too flowery.
I ♥️ Ezra.
Read it.
”When he’s finished, we just look at each other. I feel like I could drift away.”
”His lips trail off in places, and I wonder if he’s teaching me about the constellations that freckle across my back.”
Two college guys doing very sexy things with depth.
Baby dom/sub exploration
Beautiful writing sometimes bordering on a little too flowery.
I ♥️ Ezra.
Read it.
”When he’s finished, we just look at each other. I feel like I could drift away.”
”His lips trail off in places, and I wonder if he’s teaching me about the constellations that freckle across my back.”
July 19, 2018
3.75 S T A R S
There are a ton of romances out there that explore kink and I am all for that, but I personally feel that they don't have a lot of thought and sometimes even consent. I've read a lot of iffy, grey area or situations that are not okay but that the author is trying to tell you is totally fine and normal when it's not. That is not this book. This book is an amazing example of a healthy, consensual BDSM relationship and I am so here for it.
I loved how open Joaquin and Ezra were when it came to exploring their Dom/sub relationship and just exploring their kinks in general. They had open, honest dialogue the whole time, there was no pressure or coercion, and the TLC and adoration after sex - I die. This is how it should be. Honestly, there are not enough cute, cuddle/pillow talk moments after sex in romances. THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR.
While I really enjoy this and these sweet babes there were a few cons. I will say that up until about 50% I was a unsure about this one. It had way too much inner monologue, not enough actual dialogue, and too much sex. But thank the lord for chapter 7 which had all those cute, silly little "hang out" moments that explore the characters personalities, interests and dynamic together. Seriously, I live for the random little moments where characters are doing mundane things and just can't help but fall in love with each other.
The writing was beautiful, without being over the top, and Ezra and Joaquin were very lovable and cute. Though, I do wish that we had seen a little more of them, a little more of their personalities and time together, besides the sex. I would have liked more outings as most of their time spent together is locked away in Joaquin's room. The ending felt a little rushed to me and I would have loved just a little more time of them as a couple. Even just an epilogue would have been nice.
Overall, this was a really fun, quick, cute read and the BDSM rep was F A N T A S T I C.
I will definitely be reading her other books, of which there is only one. *sobs*
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The M/M marathon continues with the one bish as thirsty for M/M as me, Chan
There are a ton of romances out there that explore kink and I am all for that, but I personally feel that they don't have a lot of thought and sometimes even consent. I've read a lot of iffy, grey area or situations that are not okay but that the author is trying to tell you is totally fine and normal when it's not. That is not this book. This book is an amazing example of a healthy, consensual BDSM relationship and I am so here for it.
I loved how open Joaquin and Ezra were when it came to exploring their Dom/sub relationship and just exploring their kinks in general. They had open, honest dialogue the whole time, there was no pressure or coercion, and the TLC and adoration after sex - I die. This is how it should be. Honestly, there are not enough cute, cuddle/pillow talk moments after sex in romances. THESE ARE THE MOMENTS I LIVE FOR.
While I really enjoy this and these sweet babes there were a few cons. I will say that up until about 50% I was a unsure about this one. It had way too much inner monologue, not enough actual dialogue, and too much sex. But thank the lord for chapter 7 which had all those cute, silly little "hang out" moments that explore the characters personalities, interests and dynamic together. Seriously, I live for the random little moments where characters are doing mundane things and just can't help but fall in love with each other.
The writing was beautiful, without being over the top, and Ezra and Joaquin were very lovable and cute. Though, I do wish that we had seen a little more of them, a little more of their personalities and time together, besides the sex. I would have liked more outings as most of their time spent together is locked away in Joaquin's room. The ending felt a little rushed to me and I would have loved just a little more time of them as a couple. Even just an epilogue would have been nice.
Overall, this was a really fun, quick, cute read and the BDSM rep was F A N T A S T I C.
I will definitely be reading her other books, of which there is only one. *sobs*
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The M/M marathon continues with the one bish as thirsty for M/M as me, Chan
May 6, 2022
Who thought you could find BDSM written as poetry. 💞💞💞
The story unfolds slowly, until the big bang when Ezra makes his first demand. Luckily I was alone in bed at that moment, such a spontaneous stupid face on my part, would have been hard to explain. 😍
I quite like BDSM as a genre, but not too extensively either. Here the scenery develops slowly and also does not go too much into the depth of the kinks. BDSM for beginners. 🙂
Beautiful how the two of them match up even though they are almost incapable of talking about it. I was expecting the worst, but fortunately there is little drama. Too bad we only get to follow Joaquin's thoughts, but boy is he insanely unique.
The story unfolds slowly, until the big bang when Ezra makes his first demand. Luckily I was alone in bed at that moment, such a spontaneous stupid face on my part, would have been hard to explain. 😍
I quite like BDSM as a genre, but not too extensively either. Here the scenery develops slowly and also does not go too much into the depth of the kinks. BDSM for beginners. 🙂
Beautiful how the two of them match up even though they are almost incapable of talking about it. I was expecting the worst, but fortunately there is little drama. Too bad we only get to follow Joaquin's thoughts, but boy is he insanely unique.
July 20, 2018
"Sicken of the Calm" was my first book by this author, it was also her debut novel. Her writing style has something unique, interesting and entirely captivating. It makes you want to keep reading and find out what's next for the characters. Unfortunately, all that gets swallowed by huge amounts of sex. No matter how wonderful the writing is, nothing can save what minimal plot there is to be found in the middle of all the naked time.
I was intrigued by the plot for the second book and decided to give book 1 a try first. I don't reget it and I'll read more from this author (I already have book 2 waiting for me), but I still wish there was more of a development and a clear destination for what was happening here.
While the sex scenes were imaginative and the characters were creative and experimented so much that they never got repetitive, there were still too many of them. Every chapter had at least one of them and every single one was lengthy. I wouldn't be surprised if I counted and they took up more than two thirds of the entire book. I ended up just skipping them near the end.
The excessiveness of the sex scenes, other than being tiring, meant that the plot got cast aside. There was no time left to invest to the characters and their connection or the progression of their relationship. As a result, even though the story developed through about six months, we didn't really get to know the characters. They were as much a mystery at the end as they were at the beginning of the book and I didn't like that feeling.
The writing was very good and casual-to-serious is a trope I like very much so I had high hopes for this book, but the sex scenes didn't leave much room for actual plot so I ended up being disappointed.
I feel like I should mention that there is an m/m/f scene here - maybe more of an m/f really - that is near the beginning of the story when the MCs are just starting to spend time together. I know it's a deal breaker for some readers so here's your warning.
I hope the next book doesn't follow in this one's steps. I really struggled to finish it, because of the lack of plot, and was constantly trying to find something to hold my attention so I could keep reading.
Let's see what number 2 will be like....
* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author/publisher via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. *
I was intrigued by the plot for the second book and decided to give book 1 a try first. I don't reget it and I'll read more from this author (I already have book 2 waiting for me), but I still wish there was more of a development and a clear destination for what was happening here.
While the sex scenes were imaginative and the characters were creative and experimented so much that they never got repetitive, there were still too many of them. Every chapter had at least one of them and every single one was lengthy. I wouldn't be surprised if I counted and they took up more than two thirds of the entire book. I ended up just skipping them near the end.
The excessiveness of the sex scenes, other than being tiring, meant that the plot got cast aside. There was no time left to invest to the characters and their connection or the progression of their relationship. As a result, even though the story developed through about six months, we didn't really get to know the characters. They were as much a mystery at the end as they were at the beginning of the book and I didn't like that feeling.
The writing was very good and casual-to-serious is a trope I like very much so I had high hopes for this book, but the sex scenes didn't leave much room for actual plot so I ended up being disappointed.
I feel like I should mention that there is an m/m/f scene here - maybe more of an m/f really - that is near the beginning of the story when the MCs are just starting to spend time together. I know it's a deal breaker for some readers so here's your warning.
I hope the next book doesn't follow in this one's steps. I really struggled to finish it, because of the lack of plot, and was constantly trying to find something to hold my attention so I could keep reading.
Let's see what number 2 will be like....
* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author/publisher via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. *
June 9, 2019
some of the most gorgeous writing in an erotic romance (or any romance, or any contemporary) i have ever read.
May 29, 2024
soft baby dom and sub???? yes plssss🥺🥺🥺🥺 omfg these two were so sweet!!! the tense this was written in is not my fave, so i struggled a bit with that, but i got used to it eventually. but bruh, every time we got a little sneak peak into ezra’s vulnerable side/his insecurities??? uhhh i was SAT😩 these two are idiots tho, lovable idiots, but such idiots🤣🤣 they both had a crush on each other that started in high school but they were sooo clueless lmao now they’re in college and exclusive friends with benefits for 6 entire months just straight up in love and giving each other the cutest christmas gifts and being 100% zoned in on each other, all the while thinking their love is unrequited….and i LOVED the lil angsty bits that came of that🤭 so good…..the tone of the book was a super chill, felt like laying down in the park on a summer’s day and closing ur eyes which was so fucking nice after a 1 star read🤣 not my favorite marina book, but still wonderful🥺
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
July 30, 2021DNF at 28%
That moment when you’re enjoying reading about the beginning of a relationship between two guys and you get ambushed by coming out of nowhere. (I’m trying to be mature about it, but if you think you’re hearing whining in the background while you read this review… you’re totally correct.)
Nothing wrong with it, it could’ve even been in character—in theory—because , but it completely killed my interest in the romance, especially since there was no reason to include it that I could discern. It wasn’t like the MCs needed . It didn’t add anything to their dynamic either, it all seemed rather pointless and I wouldn’t have liked it to be included even if it had been . I skimmed that scene and tried to forget all about it, since it seemed to be a one-time occurrence, but it made so little sense and it was so unpleasant for me to read, , that it ended up souring the rest of the story and I never recovered my previous connection to the characters.
I’m pretty sure it could’ve been salvageable, if 85% of the MCs’ interactions so far hadn’t been all about sex. The emotional connection they were establishing was all rooted in their sexual relationship and it was working really well for me until that scene. Then From there, it was like a switch was turned off for me, everything they did from that moment started feeling mechanical and unemotional in my head, I was left reading about two guys having sex without any feelings that I could perceive and that’s not really what I’m looking for when I read a romance.
It’s obviously more a me-issue than a book-issue, but it doesn’t make it any less disappointing.
That moment when you’re enjoying reading about the beginning of a relationship between two guys and you get ambushed by coming out of nowhere. (I’m trying to be mature about it, but if you think you’re hearing whining in the background while you read this review… you’re totally correct.)
Nothing wrong with it, it could’ve even been in character—in theory—because , but it completely killed my interest in the romance, especially since there was no reason to include it that I could discern. It wasn’t like the MCs needed . It didn’t add anything to their dynamic either, it all seemed rather pointless and I wouldn’t have liked it to be included even if it had been . I skimmed that scene and tried to forget all about it, since it seemed to be a one-time occurrence, but it made so little sense and it was so unpleasant for me to read, , that it ended up souring the rest of the story and I never recovered my previous connection to the characters.
I’m pretty sure it could’ve been salvageable, if 85% of the MCs’ interactions so far hadn’t been all about sex. The emotional connection they were establishing was all rooted in their sexual relationship and it was working really well for me until that scene. Then From there, it was like a switch was turned off for me, everything they did from that moment started feeling mechanical and unemotional in my head, I was left reading about two guys having sex without any feelings that I could perceive and that’s not really what I’m looking for when I read a romance.
It’s obviously more a me-issue than a book-issue, but it doesn’t make it any less disappointing.
January 6, 2023
I really liked this book a lot. Joaquin and Ezra were so perfect for each other and seeing them grow from just friends exploring their kinky side, to more, was wonderful and kept me smiling the whole book through. There is definitely a lot of sex in this book, especially in the first part, but this is how their relationship grows and matures. It's how they learn about each other in ways that may have never been revealed through conversations.
Read
November 25, 2024Dnf 32%.
Not feeling it, neither the writing style, nor the characters work for me.
Since I usually love MV's books, especially her writing style and characters draw me in (even in the case that the storyline isn't what I normally go for) I guess this book wasn't the best pick after 10 days immersed in Catherine Cloud's world.
Not feeling it, neither the writing style, nor the characters work for me.
Since I usually love MV's books, especially her writing style and characters draw me in (even in the case that the storyline isn't what I normally go for) I guess this book wasn't the best pick after 10 days immersed in Catherine Cloud's world.
May 8, 2024
"People will kill you over time. They'll shave out every last bit of fun in your life with little, harlmess-sounding phrases used every day. Sometimes, though, silence can be just as sharp."
A stunning debut with a simple yet well-executed premise. Easily worth all the stars in my book.
Now, full disclosure: following my spectacular experience with Honeythorn, I’m a little biased (though not incapable of admitting when MV’s books don’t work for me, obviously – looking at you I’ve Been Careless With A Delicate Thing). So here’s the roundup.
WHAT I LIKED
- Characterisation. Joaquin and Ezra were well-fleshed out and it’s a testament to MV’s writing that even though there wasn’t much happening in this plot-wise, they were never boring. Watching the relationships and friendships in this book unfold was heartwarming.
- Writing style. It was a little more poetic than I normally reach for but it grew on me and really complemented the story. There’s something about poetically written BDSM that’s just impossible to ignore.
- BDSM. Both Joaquin and Ezra are inexperienced – though Ezra has done loads of reading and presumably some dabbling (?) This is probably the product of my book choices but it was refreshing to watch a couple stumble and try to figure everything out together.
- Spice. Heaps and heaps of it progressively doled out with painful precision until it’s suddenly "hot in here" even though it’s the middle of the cold season.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- The excessive use of the word “like”. Kind of how we do in real life. It’s happening to epidemic-level proportions, I get it. But our brains typically filter out filler words in spoken conversation. Not so much when reading written dialogue. Having to read characters constantly using the word “like” was jarring.
That being said, this was a fantastic read and a phenomenal debut! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to continue working my way through MV’s backlist.
May 11, 2022
Ahh, this was so good. 😭 I knew I would love it — because duh, D/s exploration written by Marina Vivancos — but I didn’t expect how much I’d love it, college cliches and all.
Rating this book was a bit of a pain, actually. While I read, I kept telling myself, ‘Nope. This is still pwp, no matter how well it pushes all of my buttons, and I’m not giving pwp 5-stars. Gotta have some rules here.’
But then I’d read something like this:
And then I found out that this was Marina’s debut novel. 😳
Not to say some things didn’t niggle me here — first off, the completely unnecessary that came out of the blue and might scare off some readers; second, the only (minor) conflict here was which I don’t really like in my books, and my angst-loving heart wanted a little more (believable, not ott) drama. 🙈
Still, the good parts were SO GOOD. ❤️
Rating this book was a bit of a pain, actually. While I read, I kept telling myself, ‘Nope. This is still pwp, no matter how well it pushes all of my buttons, and I’m not giving pwp 5-stars. Gotta have some rules here.’
But then I’d read something like this:
“For a moment, I am filled with a piercing want that is the howl of the wind across the empty seas, filled with salt and distance and a drowning fall. It’s an odd pain that my soul knows, even though my body does not recognize it. A primaeval feeling that is an echo in the universe from all the creatures that have felt it before.”
“I want to drown in the scent and the warmth of him, want it to break pieces of me until I’m disintegrated, until I’m nothing more than the richness of the earth and the sea and the forest air, until I’m nothing more than this.”
“Even when I close my eyes, I can feel him beside me, like a song I can’t hear but feel the rhythm of deep in my chest. Deep, deeper, leaving a steady beat behind.”
And then I found out that this was Marina’s debut novel. 😳
Not to say some things didn’t niggle me here — first off, the completely unnecessary that came out of the blue and might scare off some readers; second, the only (minor) conflict here was which I don’t really like in my books, and my angst-loving heart wanted a little more (believable, not ott) drama. 🙈
Still, the good parts were SO GOOD. ❤️
March 6, 2024
Cute, steamy, sweeet; the perfect kink awakening and coming of age story wrapped in one.
I'm usually not the biggest fan of new adult/university set stories because I've pretty much outgrown that phase of my life, but Marina Vivancos could write a shopping list and I'd binge read it (and re-read it) asap.
Joaquin and Ezra's story was damned lovely, and I adored seeing their relationship progress. The kink aspects were sooooo well done, and I loved seeing the communication-and-trust-is-key side of a D/s relationship that's usually so overlooked in many contemporary romances where the kink is just chucked in there for steam points. Also, I loved that both of them were so aware of how much they still had to learn about their relationship! Gimme all the imperfect, work-in-progress romances.
The writing was a smidge too flowery at times, and some chapters could have probably been skipped altogether, but all in all, I adored this, and I'm excited to read book two. This is the year I'll finally read Marina's entire backlist, I know it.
I'm usually not the biggest fan of new adult/university set stories because I've pretty much outgrown that phase of my life, but Marina Vivancos could write a shopping list and I'd binge read it (and re-read it) asap.
Joaquin and Ezra's story was damned lovely, and I adored seeing their relationship progress. The kink aspects were sooooo well done, and I loved seeing the communication-and-trust-is-key side of a D/s relationship that's usually so overlooked in many contemporary romances where the kink is just chucked in there for steam points. Also, I loved that both of them were so aware of how much they still had to learn about their relationship! Gimme all the imperfect, work-in-progress romances.
The writing was a smidge too flowery at times, and some chapters could have probably been skipped altogether, but all in all, I adored this, and I'm excited to read book two. This is the year I'll finally read Marina's entire backlist, I know it.
May 11, 2022
This was a little cute, a little sexy and a lot bland. I really liked the two MCs, but there isn’t much of a story. D/s light, lots and lots of sex. I skimmed so much I was always worried I missed something important. But nope. There wasn’t really anything to miss.
I did like Ezra and Joaquin. But they didn’t hold my interest. If you remove all the sex, I have no idea what happened in the six months they were together in the book.
SPOILER: The hottest sex scene was an MFM threesome. They should have kept the girl.
I did like Ezra and Joaquin. But they didn’t hold my interest. If you remove all the sex, I have no idea what happened in the six months they were together in the book.
SPOILER: The hottest sex scene was an MFM threesome. They should have kept the girl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
I feel like this could be a very nice book for people that haven’t read much about BDSM just yet. It’s like a nice “guide“ to get the hang of it I feel like. Probably because this one was a bit more on the lighter side of the BDSM spectrum if you know what I mean.
In no way is that a criticism by the way. I liked this one a lot. It was easygoing and easy to follow, very thorough in certain aspects which is always appreciated in the BDSM world.
I’m just saying, this could potentially be a perfect book for BDSM beginners because it doesn’t have too many different kinks and is generally on the tamer side of things.
And since this book was more a show than just tell kind of book I think it could be especially helpful for some people to understand.
There were lots and lots and lots of sex scenes. Just saying. The chemistry was good though. The romance on the other hand was really rather secondary and I think I‘d have preferred it to be more part of the exploration of BDSM.
In no way is that a criticism by the way. I liked this one a lot. It was easygoing and easy to follow, very thorough in certain aspects which is always appreciated in the BDSM world.
I’m just saying, this could potentially be a perfect book for BDSM beginners because it doesn’t have too many different kinks and is generally on the tamer side of things.
And since this book was more a show than just tell kind of book I think it could be especially helpful for some people to understand.
There were lots and lots and lots of sex scenes. Just saying. The chemistry was good though. The romance on the other hand was really rather secondary and I think I‘d have preferred it to be more part of the exploration of BDSM.
July 10, 2018
I really liked this book, even though I had some concerns.
Ezra and Joaquin went to the same high school. They weren’t friends, didn’t even talk that much, but both of them harbored some feelings for the other. Ezra came out when he was 15, in the middle of the school cafeteria and Joaquin admired his bravery. He himself came out as bi only at 18, but he never forgot Ezra.
And it turned out they ended up at the same college. So they start doing a school project together, one thing leads to another… and Joaquin ends up nekkid. :P
They go their separate ways, like nothing ever happened, but then it happens again. And again. And it's supposed to be just casual, but in reality it's anything but.
Joaquin had some very deep feelings for Ezra from the beginning and it was beautiful to witness. It was nothing sort of magical.
I also liked that though Ezra was the one who brought up that they should try BDSM, he was mostly just as clueless as Joaquin, and they explored together. Just some edging and spanking, nothing more. And they actually talked about it before anything serious happened, and even made a list of things to try, and things to avoid. That 'talk' rarely happens in books, they all just start ordering their partner around, without any preamble.
And even though they didn’t know much about BDSM, they just went with it, what felt right, so there wasn’t much fumbling.
We got only Joaquin’s POV in present tense and first person.
I freakin’ loved the narration.
Beautiful, isn’t it?
But the dialogues? Not so much!
I'm all for staying true to the characters' age [they're 20]. But this is how I talk (all stuttering and with expletives/fillers) in my everyday life, and I'm not sure that should be in a book. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting every character to be all sophisticated and well-mannered and shit, but there must be some other way to emphasize the age thing.
Also, there wasn’t much plot. They were exploring this light BDSM thing and having fun but the whole story felt a bit directionless. There didn't seem to be a goal they were heading towards, other than Joaquin wanting to label their relationship.
There might have been a wee bit too much sexy times, but it was written so passionately and sensually that I didn’t mind.
And it turned out both guys are bisexual? I'm still not sure. At first I thought Ezra is gay, so when they both took a woman to bed (consider yourselves warned), I was surprised. Though Ezra didn’t participate much, just gave orders, for him it was all about the power.
So you see, I'm a bit conflicted. But I'm gonna go with my heart this time instead of my head and giving it 4 stars. (Though I too should probably hand in my request for the half star option).
Ezra and Joaquin went to the same high school. They weren’t friends, didn’t even talk that much, but both of them harbored some feelings for the other. Ezra came out when he was 15, in the middle of the school cafeteria and Joaquin admired his bravery. He himself came out as bi only at 18, but he never forgot Ezra.
And it turned out they ended up at the same college. So they start doing a school project together, one thing leads to another… and Joaquin ends up nekkid. :P
They go their separate ways, like nothing ever happened, but then it happens again. And again. And it's supposed to be just casual, but in reality it's anything but.
Joaquin had some very deep feelings for Ezra from the beginning and it was beautiful to witness. It was nothing sort of magical.
I also liked that though Ezra was the one who brought up that they should try BDSM, he was mostly just as clueless as Joaquin, and they explored together. Just some edging and spanking, nothing more. And they actually talked about it before anything serious happened, and even made a list of things to try, and things to avoid. That 'talk' rarely happens in books, they all just start ordering their partner around, without any preamble.
And even though they didn’t know much about BDSM, they just went with it, what felt right, so there wasn’t much fumbling.
We got only Joaquin’s POV in present tense and first person.
I freakin’ loved the narration.
”Slowly, bit by bit, he travels up my body; my thighs, my stomach, my torso. I imagine a murky lake slowly being cleaned, the grey sediment dissolving and disappearing, leaving crystalline water behind. My hands, my arms, my shoulders. Everything is left clean, pure, calm.”
”His fingers, the explorers, setting out the paths to be taken by his lips, which leave settlements of warmth everywhere they go. He builds small pyres on my pulse point, leaving the ground purple with the bruising heat. Sweeps winds across my collarbones, follows the migration of fluttering bird wings across my shoulders.”
Beautiful, isn’t it?
But the dialogues? Not so much!
”I… Joaquin. I – thanks. I, I just – no one has ever really, like…believed…I just,” he cuts himself off, and I wrap my arms around him, letting him hide his face against my skin."
”Cause you can’t help but be annoyed by it and this is your apartment, and it’s not like we have to study together. Like, if we did then yeah maybe we could compromise but I don’t want you to, like, you know…” He trails off.”
I'm all for staying true to the characters' age [they're 20]. But this is how I talk (all stuttering and with expletives/fillers) in my everyday life, and I'm not sure that should be in a book. Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting every character to be all sophisticated and well-mannered and shit, but there must be some other way to emphasize the age thing.
Also, there wasn’t much plot. They were exploring this light BDSM thing and having fun but the whole story felt a bit directionless. There didn't seem to be a goal they were heading towards, other than Joaquin wanting to label their relationship.
There might have been a wee bit too much sexy times, but it was written so passionately and sensually that I didn’t mind.
And it turned out both guys are bisexual? I'm still not sure. At first I thought Ezra is gay, so when they both took a woman to bed (consider yourselves warned), I was surprised. Though Ezra didn’t participate much, just gave orders, for him it was all about the power.
So you see, I'm a bit conflicted. But I'm gonna go with my heart this time instead of my head and giving it 4 stars. (Though I too should probably hand in my request for the half star option).
September 13, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Combustion.Hot.Swooning.Horny.SmutFest.Idiots. ALERT 🚨 ‼️ 📢 🔥 🫶🥹🖤
This is a low angst steamy romance. Joaquin and Ezra, who went to high school but weren’t friends, meet again in college and ⚡️hits 🫶.
My Loves:
*The balance between rough and sweet is overwhelming, it’s just right
*The talk. So real and on point
*How they discover and experiment, but fall in love at the same time ( shhhhh they don’t know it yet but they’re getting there and I’m completely here for the ride)
*The writing is ethereal and exquisite 📓
*Their dynamic is perfect and this is BDSM that I can handle, it’s spontaneous but controlled. You know who is in charge, but there’s space for the other MC to surprise and take control. Absolutely love that.
*The edging(s) from hell 🥵
*All the sweet brutal kisses - there’s so much kissing is bruising 🫦
*Bareback 🥵🥵🥵 loved the first time was so vanilla 🥹
*Every “come for me baby” *swoon*
*Counting to 60 is easy 👉👈
*Vulnerable but safe 🫶
*The hilarious tale of Iva sex date with the cat lady 😅😅😅
*Deep life changing conversations, getting to know each other and yourself
*With the right incentive you can win 🎮
*How they melted each others insecurities and became stronger
*Facefucking, rimming, hard and sweet fucking, Hand on throat, hardy tied, buttplugs,dick pics and bottoming from the top 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
*BFF that are family, and family that respects, protects Ned feeds you because your to skinny
*The Christmas presents 😭😭😭😭😭😭
*What two idiots damn! 🥹
My minor Issues:
*The change between the poetic and the childish teen banter, and Dom Ezra and teen electric Ezra
*The threesome… idk… was it really necessary?
*Some more extensive than necessary inner dialogues, that could be actual dialogues
*More of their classes details, their majors were so interesting that I would love to know more
*The single pov… pointless to the plot
*I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this has too much sex
*This was a low angst steamy, so can’t really complain right?
*More dirty talk… Ezra was all talk by text and before, but during sex nothing…
*Maybe a little tinny short epilogue with a glimpse of the future🥺
Overall I loved it, hot sweet and bdsm I want to read. I’m in love with Marina’s writing and talent and I want to everything ⭐️🖤
Combustion.Hot.Swooning.Horny.SmutFest.Idiots. ALERT 🚨 ‼️ 📢 🔥 🫶🥹🖤
This is a low angst steamy romance. Joaquin and Ezra, who went to high school but weren’t friends, meet again in college and ⚡️hits 🫶.
My Loves:
*The balance between rough and sweet is overwhelming, it’s just right
*The talk. So real and on point
*How they discover and experiment, but fall in love at the same time ( shhhhh they don’t know it yet but they’re getting there and I’m completely here for the ride)
*The writing is ethereal and exquisite 📓
*Their dynamic is perfect and this is BDSM that I can handle, it’s spontaneous but controlled. You know who is in charge, but there’s space for the other MC to surprise and take control. Absolutely love that.
*The edging(s) from hell 🥵
*All the sweet brutal kisses - there’s so much kissing is bruising 🫦
*Bareback 🥵🥵🥵 loved the first time was so vanilla 🥹
*Every “come for me baby” *swoon*
*Counting to 60 is easy 👉👈
*Vulnerable but safe 🫶
*The hilarious tale of Iva sex date with the cat lady 😅😅😅
*Deep life changing conversations, getting to know each other and yourself
*With the right incentive you can win 🎮
*How they melted each others insecurities and became stronger
*Facefucking, rimming, hard and sweet fucking, Hand on throat, hardy tied, buttplugs,dick pics and bottoming from the top 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
*BFF that are family, and family that respects, protects Ned feeds you because your to skinny
*The Christmas presents 😭😭😭😭😭😭
*What two idiots damn! 🥹
My minor Issues:
*The change between the poetic and the childish teen banter, and Dom Ezra and teen electric Ezra
*The threesome… idk… was it really necessary?
*Some more extensive than necessary inner dialogues, that could be actual dialogues
*More of their classes details, their majors were so interesting that I would love to know more
*The single pov… pointless to the plot
*I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this has too much sex
*This was a low angst steamy, so can’t really complain right?
*More dirty talk… Ezra was all talk by text and before, but during sex nothing…
*Maybe a little tinny short epilogue with a glimpse of the future🥺
Overall I loved it, hot sweet and bdsm I want to read. I’m in love with Marina’s writing and talent and I want to everything ⭐️🖤
Read
July 20, 2018dmf @40%; pun intended, i'm sickened
not to say that i like want to gag or anything. i'm just bored af. the writing that i thought was going to be beautiful and poetic just lent itself to pretty vignettes about landscapes and not enough about the actual characters.
this book was about joaquin & ezra, who we were promised had some sort of fun past. they knew each other in high school and both had a thing for each other from afar. which should culminate into something in college right? but all you get is some light bdsm. i mean really. that's all you get. you get some mild jealousy from joaquin when he sees ezra with someone but there is sincerely zero emotional development beyond wanting to bone.
scene after scene about handjobs & blowjobs but we have no emotional investment in their characters and we really don't give a fuck about if they end up in a relationship. and i couldn't give less of a fuck about the scenery of this supposedly pretty college campus at the end of every fucking chapter.
i think this author just isn't for me. this really wasn't the worst, and it was even sort of impressive for a debut book. but i need a little more spark, a little less edging.
not to say that i like want to gag or anything. i'm just bored af. the writing that i thought was going to be beautiful and poetic just lent itself to pretty vignettes about landscapes and not enough about the actual characters.
this book was about joaquin & ezra, who we were promised had some sort of fun past. they knew each other in high school and both had a thing for each other from afar. which should culminate into something in college right? but all you get is some light bdsm. i mean really. that's all you get. you get some mild jealousy from joaquin when he sees ezra with someone but there is sincerely zero emotional development beyond wanting to bone.
scene after scene about handjobs & blowjobs but we have no emotional investment in their characters and we really don't give a fuck about if they end up in a relationship. and i couldn't give less of a fuck about the scenery of this supposedly pretty college campus at the end of every fucking chapter.
i think this author just isn't for me. this really wasn't the worst, and it was even sort of impressive for a debut book. but i need a little more spark, a little less edging.
April 6, 2021
All the stars ⭐️ for this sexy intense read!
This book was such an intense trip down the self/ mutual discovery lane. Ezra and Joaquin are characters that will stay with you long after you are done reading this book... gah...
It’s hard to even describe how deep into trust you have to be to have a relationship like this. This book is told in only Joaquin’s POV. Single POV books usually make me grumpy but for this book it worked.
It’s hard to write a review that will do this book justice. This book sucks you into a world where both characters are trying to figure things out in life and in love. Joaquin and Ezra meet initially in high school but aren’t really in each other’s orbit until college. What they discover in each other is beautiful. ALSO...If you love super sexy & intense scenes, this is definitely the book for you.
I am left with an epic book hangover that’s for sure!
This book was such an intense trip down the self/ mutual discovery lane. Ezra and Joaquin are characters that will stay with you long after you are done reading this book... gah...
It’s hard to even describe how deep into trust you have to be to have a relationship like this. This book is told in only Joaquin’s POV. Single POV books usually make me grumpy but for this book it worked.
It’s hard to write a review that will do this book justice. This book sucks you into a world where both characters are trying to figure things out in life and in love. Joaquin and Ezra meet initially in high school but aren’t really in each other’s orbit until college. What they discover in each other is beautiful. ALSO...If you love super sexy & intense scenes, this is definitely the book for you.
I am left with an epic book hangover that’s for sure!
April 4, 2021
I’m in love. Wow! Wow! Wow!
It’s a first novel and you can tell, but the heart —the heart - in it is strong and beautiful. So much to love. I really like how the author doesn’t fetishize the appearance of the MCs. I didn’t consciously realize how most romance novels describe the physical perfection of their MCs to the point that you’re like seriously there’s nothing else about them worthy of description? This way Vivancos can focus on how they interact and what attracts them to each other beyond the physical. The connection is real and believable and what any romance reader aches for. Their kinks may not be the reader’s kinks but you get access to what makes them so hot to the MCs. Intensely personal.
Plus points for authentic diversity among characters.
PS There is a scene early on that is MMF. It makes sense in the arc of the story, but there are those who are firm in their dislike of sex with the women. After that one scene the MCs are exclusive with each other.
It’s a first novel and you can tell, but the heart —the heart - in it is strong and beautiful. So much to love. I really like how the author doesn’t fetishize the appearance of the MCs. I didn’t consciously realize how most romance novels describe the physical perfection of their MCs to the point that you’re like seriously there’s nothing else about them worthy of description? This way Vivancos can focus on how they interact and what attracts them to each other beyond the physical. The connection is real and believable and what any romance reader aches for. Their kinks may not be the reader’s kinks but you get access to what makes them so hot to the MCs. Intensely personal.
Plus points for authentic diversity among characters.
PS There is a scene early on that is MMF. It makes sense in the arc of the story, but there are those who are firm in their dislike of sex with the women. After that one scene the MCs are exclusive with each other.
April 29, 2025
Swoony, smoking hot
BDSM newbs tumble
into grown-up love.
BDSM newbs tumble
into grown-up love.
June 2, 2018
Woah, that was good. And completely unexpected cos I swear I found it when, err, my friend, was browsing a tentacle themed list and there are no tentacles in this book, not a single one, which is fine, but I did spend about the first 40% wondering when they would pop out, so to speak.
Anyhows, that was my problem. This book is set firmly in the modern day real world and is an excellent portrayal of two young men falling for each other but failing spectacularly to talk about it and consequently both being very insecure. However, it was done without descending into an Angst Fest or the use of Overly Long Tortured Monologues. Hoorah for skilled writing and lack of cliches!
In the mean time, they have lots of sex, (well, they are college students) which again I found really well written. This book has a BDSM tag, and rightfully so, but there are no dungeons nor leather in sight and no-one gets called Sir. Rather it's more "wow, he told me what to do, hey I like it when he bosses me about", lots of edging "OMG is this sex we're having BDSM?!" kind of natural evolution of BDSM as part of the relationship (yes boys, you are in a relationship despite what you may be kidding yourselves) and its new to both of them. Which was different to most books with a BDSM tag and felt a lot more believable. It's also pretty light stuff, so you may like it even if you run a mile from things with that tag normally.
Oh and it's definitely hot. I will never be able to count to 60 again without coming over all peculiar.
This is a first novel by the author, but is tagged as the first in a series, and I really look forward to more being published.
Anyhows, that was my problem. This book is set firmly in the modern day real world and is an excellent portrayal of two young men falling for each other but failing spectacularly to talk about it and consequently both being very insecure. However, it was done without descending into an Angst Fest or the use of Overly Long Tortured Monologues. Hoorah for skilled writing and lack of cliches!
In the mean time, they have lots of sex, (well, they are college students) which again I found really well written. This book has a BDSM tag, and rightfully so, but there are no dungeons nor leather in sight and no-one gets called Sir. Rather it's more "wow, he told me what to do, hey I like it when he bosses me about", lots of edging "OMG is this sex we're having BDSM?!" kind of natural evolution of BDSM as part of the relationship (yes boys, you are in a relationship despite what you may be kidding yourselves) and its new to both of them. Which was different to most books with a BDSM tag and felt a lot more believable. It's also pretty light stuff, so you may like it even if you run a mile from things with that tag normally.
Oh and it's definitely hot. I will never be able to count to 60 again without coming over all peculiar.
This is a first novel by the author, but is tagged as the first in a series, and I really look forward to more being published.
August 14, 2024
Really impressive for a debut! Lovable characters, quality spicy scenes, realistic but charming dialogue, and some character growth.
There were memorable scenes of both the steamy and non-steamy variety; one incredibly endearing scene that comes to mind is MC Joaquin failing hard at video games, a shelf falling and the LI Ezra panicking and being convinced it’s a ghost, resulting in a 1AM trip to go buy sage to cleanse the apartment. Joaquin’s delighted reaction to Ezra’s getting surprised, moving to fond concern and desire to
It includes healthy and consensual light BDSM relationship for love struck college students exploring together and having discussions of their wants, needs, and boundaries.
It does a great job providing high communication during sex and the adoring relationship with dynamics of giving and giving up control, and what both parties enjoy from it.
It also pulls off a couple spicy feats that often fall flat, the video call sex scene and an MFM sex scene. The couple’s high communication relationship has been well-enough established before both that the scenes both land well, and were quite good.
I wouldn’t recommend this as someone’s first Marina Vivancos, simply because she’s written even stronger works since and this one has some minor errors like spelling or the occasional non-text narration misformatted like a text before or after a text conversation. But it’s absolutely worth the read and I enjoyed it immensely.
The exception would be if someone has never read something with a BDSM element and wants to read one of her books with that element; this would be an excellent intro of something with a control element of someone in charge/giving orders that is healthy and completely consensual and has no elements of humiliation or dominance.
She has some books without the BDSM dynamic, but most of them have another element like paranormal in play as well, while this is grounded fully in reality.
Definitely recommend the book and the author!
There were memorable scenes of both the steamy and non-steamy variety; one incredibly endearing scene that comes to mind is MC Joaquin failing hard at video games, a shelf falling and the LI Ezra panicking and being convinced it’s a ghost, resulting in a 1AM trip to go buy sage to cleanse the apartment. Joaquin’s delighted reaction to Ezra’s getting surprised, moving to fond concern and desire to
It includes healthy and consensual light BDSM relationship for love struck college students exploring together and having discussions of their wants, needs, and boundaries.
It does a great job providing high communication during sex and the adoring relationship with dynamics of giving and giving up control, and what both parties enjoy from it.
It also pulls off a couple spicy feats that often fall flat, the video call sex scene and an MFM sex scene. The couple’s high communication relationship has been well-enough established before both that the scenes both land well, and were quite good.
I wouldn’t recommend this as someone’s first Marina Vivancos, simply because she’s written even stronger works since and this one has some minor errors like spelling or the occasional non-text narration misformatted like a text before or after a text conversation. But it’s absolutely worth the read and I enjoyed it immensely.
The exception would be if someone has never read something with a BDSM element and wants to read one of her books with that element; this would be an excellent intro of something with a control element of someone in charge/giving orders that is healthy and completely consensual and has no elements of humiliation or dominance.
She has some books without the BDSM dynamic, but most of them have another element like paranormal in play as well, while this is grounded fully in reality.
Definitely recommend the book and the author!
September 9, 2018
The reviews for this one are pretty on target. It's got a lot of non communication for a couple of boys finding their way with kink that they do communicate about pretty well. The writing is evocative, deep and well done regarding the mental process of the burgeoning kink and relationship fear but it does get overshadowed by the non communication a bit.
This book is very well written, I doubt anyone would be sorry they picked it up but you'll have to decide how much you can take in youngsters afraid to tell each other how they feel for a bit too long.
I dislike the title desperately but don't let that stop you.
This book is very well written, I doubt anyone would be sorry they picked it up but you'll have to decide how much you can take in youngsters afraid to tell each other how they feel for a bit too long.
I dislike the title desperately but don't let that stop you.
December 11, 2023
*400 lux by lorde playing in joaquin's apartment*
"his fingers, the explorers, setting out the paths to be taken by his lips, which leave settlements of warmth everywhere they go. he builds small pyres on my pulse point, leaving the ground purple with the bruising heat… the thin skin of my inner thighs is proclaimed holy land and is anointed with a thousand kisses and a thousand bites… the forest of the nape of my neck is travelled from one point to another, leaving shuddering leaves behind. the long desert of my back is nothing to his wandering hands…the estuary of the small of my back is dived into, the islands of my cheeks bitten into until i am left a shaking earthquake. the backs of my legs are treated to the same ploughing of the earth as the front, cultivating sounds and whines, sacrifices for the gods above… and then finally, finally, Ezra turns to blessed land." this is holiness btw if you even care (i am unmade).
"his fingers, the explorers, setting out the paths to be taken by his lips, which leave settlements of warmth everywhere they go. he builds small pyres on my pulse point, leaving the ground purple with the bruising heat… the thin skin of my inner thighs is proclaimed holy land and is anointed with a thousand kisses and a thousand bites… the forest of the nape of my neck is travelled from one point to another, leaving shuddering leaves behind. the long desert of my back is nothing to his wandering hands…the estuary of the small of my back is dived into, the islands of my cheeks bitten into until i am left a shaking earthquake. the backs of my legs are treated to the same ploughing of the earth as the front, cultivating sounds and whines, sacrifices for the gods above… and then finally, finally, Ezra turns to blessed land." this is holiness btw if you even care (i am unmade).
August 24, 2024
Do I read Marina Vivancos' books just because of the titles? Yes, yes I do. But I always end up loving the book just as much, if not more. I loved this one so much; it's one of Marina's best imo. There are too many great lines and concepts to just but my favorite might be:
They’ll shave out every last bit of fun in you with little, harmless-sounding phrases used every day like, ‘be realistic!’. And it’s fucking true. That’s the shit that gets to you, that chips away at you, from just under the skin. And you let it, ‘cause you don’t think it’s big enough to protect yourself from it. But, it makes you think of yourself, and what you’re capable of, in certain ways and…I just hate that shit.
They’ll shave out every last bit of fun in you with little, harmless-sounding phrases used every day like, ‘be realistic!’. And it’s fucking true. That’s the shit that gets to you, that chips away at you, from just under the skin. And you let it, ‘cause you don’t think it’s big enough to protect yourself from it. But, it makes you think of yourself, and what you’re capable of, in certain ways and…I just hate that shit.
May 21, 2024
”In the history of man, there hasn’t been a more obvious revelation.”
Mmm… definitivamente es de las historias más planas de Marina Vivancos, pero si tengo destacar algo sin duda serían los personajes. Siempre es posible encontrar en ellos esa profundidad y melancolía que disfruto leyendo.
Hay que tener en cuenta que esta fue la primera novela de la autora, así que traté de no ser tan dura en mis apreciaciones.
Mmm… definitivamente es de las historias más planas de Marina Vivancos, pero si tengo destacar algo sin duda serían los personajes. Siempre es posible encontrar en ellos esa profundidad y melancolía que disfruto leyendo.
Hay que tener en cuenta que esta fue la primera novela de la autora, así que traté de no ser tan dura en mis apreciaciones.
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