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Abroad #2
Abroad: Book Two
The heartwarming and romantic conclusion to the duology celebrated by Teen Vogue as “a nuanced and sexy take on growing up and learning to accept who you are.”
Nick Melnikov has finally done it — he’s come out.
To himself. To his sister. And to Dex, who listens, hears him, and understands. To Dex, who kisses him and shows him all that they could be, if Nick could only find the courage. It’s one thing to let yourself be open thousands of miles away from your family, but exchange student Nick is uncomfortably aware that his time with Dex is running out. Who will he be when he goes home again?
Dex Cartwell is as happy with Nick as he’s ever been, but he can’t ignore the shadow of Nick’s inevitable departure from London, back to his life in Michigan. Is it worth it for Dex to expose his heart to another doomed relationship with a predetermined expiration date? What does Dex really want for the beginning of the next chapter in his life, post-graduation?
Dex wants to turn to his best friend in the struggle to find a way forward, but Izzy Jones has her own problems. She’s got one friend in love with her, and when she turns to another for help things get twice as complicated. Izzy never wanted complicated, but life just keeps getting in the way — and sweeping her off her feet.
Then Nick’s mom and sister come for a visit, and he is forced to decide between living his truth and protecting himself from fear and change. It’s going to take a lot of courage and a few leaps in the dark if Nick, Dex, and Izzy are to find a way to live and love on their own terms.
Nick Melnikov has finally done it — he’s come out.
To himself. To his sister. And to Dex, who listens, hears him, and understands. To Dex, who kisses him and shows him all that they could be, if Nick could only find the courage. It’s one thing to let yourself be open thousands of miles away from your family, but exchange student Nick is uncomfortably aware that his time with Dex is running out. Who will he be when he goes home again?
Dex Cartwell is as happy with Nick as he’s ever been, but he can’t ignore the shadow of Nick’s inevitable departure from London, back to his life in Michigan. Is it worth it for Dex to expose his heart to another doomed relationship with a predetermined expiration date? What does Dex really want for the beginning of the next chapter in his life, post-graduation?
Dex wants to turn to his best friend in the struggle to find a way forward, but Izzy Jones has her own problems. She’s got one friend in love with her, and when she turns to another for help things get twice as complicated. Izzy never wanted complicated, but life just keeps getting in the way — and sweeping her off her feet.
Then Nick’s mom and sister come for a visit, and he is forced to decide between living his truth and protecting himself from fear and change. It’s going to take a lot of courage and a few leaps in the dark if Nick, Dex, and Izzy are to find a way to live and love on their own terms.
420 pages, ebook
First published January 2, 2018
7 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Liz Jacobs
3 books78 followersLiz Jacobs came over with her family from Russia at the age of 11, as a Jewish refugee. All in all, her life has gotten steadily better since that moment. They settled in an ultra-liberal haven in the middle of New York State, which sort of helped her with the whole “grappling with her sexuality” business.
She has spent a lot of her time flitting from passion project to passion project, but writing remains her constant. She has flown planes, drawn, made jewelry, had an improbable internet encounter before it was cool, and successfully wooed the love of her life in a military-style campaign. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for her essay on her family’s experience with immigration.
She currently lives with her wife in Massachusetts, splitting her time between her day job, writing, and watching a veritable boatload of British murder mysteries.
She has spent a lot of her time flitting from passion project to passion project, but writing remains her constant. She has flown planes, drawn, made jewelry, had an improbable internet encounter before it was cool, and successfully wooed the love of her life in a military-style campaign. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for her essay on her family’s experience with immigration.
She currently lives with her wife in Massachusetts, splitting her time between her day job, writing, and watching a veritable boatload of British murder mysteries.
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December 14, 2017I adored Abroad: Book One, a terrific contemporary NA about college students in London, particularly immigrant-twice-over Nick, a Russian American on a visa, Dex, a black Brit, and Izzy, the token straight of the group discovering her bisexuality. It's full of feelings and uncertainty, anxiety and exploration and hope. I don't usually read NA because the hell with young people but I'd read a lot more like this.
This is very much a book 2 and you ought to read #1 first, which as above is not a hardship. The story starts the morning after book 1 finishes, which makes for a slightly slow opening section as we are reacquainted with quite a lot of characters and their complex issues and interactions. It picks up fast, as Nick works his way through his difficulties with coming out and anxiety, he and Dex confront racism and homophobia, and Dex's family have issues with Nick as a white boy who, frankly, is pretty much in his own head and doesn't necessarily get a lot of Dex's life. Meanwhile Izzy, who has just gone through a lot of trouble associated with coming out as bi, discovers she's falling in love with a man. The problems are real and messy and intersectional in a way that actual problems tend to be, without neat solutions: the answers emerge through talking and patience and kindness. Nick's insecurity is front and centre because of his anxiety; confident Dex's insecurities take a lot more digging to confront.
It's a hugely readable story--I almost want to say a soap opera, not because it's melodramatic, but because of the large cast, the changing focus, and the way different problems rise and fall and return. Highly engaging, with an intensely moving sequence at the end that made me sniffle.
I wasn't sure about the decision to put parts of really important conversations into Russian. On the one hand Nick speaking Russian to his mother and sister is a really important character point disussed in some depth in the book. He thinks and feels differently in a different language, and his Russian origin is a massive issue in the book, and this decision foregrounds that very effectively. So I understand why it was important, and I can see why the author chose to do this, but equally I didn't understand chunks of conversations I really felt I needed to. Which, of course, is a taste of the immigrant experience, so there you go. I have an ARC so I assume there will be a glossary available in the finished book.
A lovely read, tackling a lot of very real and thorny issues with a kind and hopeful heart and a lot of humour (the vodka gag made me laugh out loud). Both parts of the story highly recommended.
(ARC from the author, honest review etc etc.)
This is very much a book 2 and you ought to read #1 first, which as above is not a hardship. The story starts the morning after book 1 finishes, which makes for a slightly slow opening section as we are reacquainted with quite a lot of characters and their complex issues and interactions. It picks up fast, as Nick works his way through his difficulties with coming out and anxiety, he and Dex confront racism and homophobia, and Dex's family have issues with Nick as a white boy who, frankly, is pretty much in his own head and doesn't necessarily get a lot of Dex's life. Meanwhile Izzy, who has just gone through a lot of trouble associated with coming out as bi, discovers she's falling in love with a man. The problems are real and messy and intersectional in a way that actual problems tend to be, without neat solutions: the answers emerge through talking and patience and kindness. Nick's insecurity is front and centre because of his anxiety; confident Dex's insecurities take a lot more digging to confront.
It's a hugely readable story--I almost want to say a soap opera, not because it's melodramatic, but because of the large cast, the changing focus, and the way different problems rise and fall and return. Highly engaging, with an intensely moving sequence at the end that made me sniffle.
I wasn't sure about the decision to put parts of really important conversations into Russian. On the one hand Nick speaking Russian to his mother and sister is a really important character point disussed in some depth in the book. He thinks and feels differently in a different language, and his Russian origin is a massive issue in the book, and this decision foregrounds that very effectively. So I understand why it was important, and I can see why the author chose to do this, but equally I didn't understand chunks of conversations I really felt I needed to. Which, of course, is a taste of the immigrant experience, so there you go. I have an ARC so I assume there will be a glossary available in the finished book.
A lovely read, tackling a lot of very real and thorny issues with a kind and hopeful heart and a lot of humour (the vodka gag made me laugh out loud). Both parts of the story highly recommended.
(ARC from the author, honest review etc etc.)
January 2, 2018
January 2nd:
Abroad: Book Two is the second and final book in the duology, my all time favorite NA contemporary duology. This book is the direct continuation of Abroad: Book One, so I am not going to talk about the setting and the plot, you can check my review of the first book.
I love the characters! Nikolay, Dex and Izzy are all pov character with very distinct voice, I genuinely liked reading about all of them. Of course, Nickolay is my favorite, because a fellow Russian queer young person. I love his arc, it's so precious and dear to my heart. I adore the squad dynamics. No secret, I am weak for great friendships and interesting found-family dynamics. These characters have very realistic and complex relationships, highest praise to Liz Jacobs for creating these multi-layered characters, both main and supporting cast!
I love the narration, it's a slice-of-life type of story, very character-focused and exciting. It has a great balance of fluffy scenes and intense scenes. I honestly couldn't put the book down. It's an absolute page-turner.
The book has diverse cast of characters: people of different ethnicities, sexualities, people of various socio-economic backgrounds. I can only say for queer, Russian & bisexual rep and they were spot on, 10/10! I cried so much because it was so me. I am writing this review several weeks after finishing the book, I don't think there weren't a day I didn't find myself thinking about a scene from Abroad, or a character.
All in all, I highly recommned to read this wonderful duology. Charming, heartfelt and nothing like I've ever read before.
Content warning: homophobic parent, main character with anxiety and panic disorder, minor scenes with homophobic violence, parent with mental illness (agoraphobia)
December 10 2017:
Amazing, truly absolutely amazing and perfect. I'm crying and I'm so emotional. This book has everything. I love it so much.
Infinitely grateful to being able to read it earlier.
November 10 2017:
I can't believe publisher sent arc of this book!!!
Abroad: Book Two is the second and final book in the duology, my all time favorite NA contemporary duology. This book is the direct continuation of Abroad: Book One, so I am not going to talk about the setting and the plot, you can check my review of the first book.
I love the characters! Nikolay, Dex and Izzy are all pov character with very distinct voice, I genuinely liked reading about all of them. Of course, Nickolay is my favorite, because a fellow Russian queer young person. I love his arc, it's so precious and dear to my heart. I adore the squad dynamics. No secret, I am weak for great friendships and interesting found-family dynamics. These characters have very realistic and complex relationships, highest praise to Liz Jacobs for creating these multi-layered characters, both main and supporting cast!
I love the narration, it's a slice-of-life type of story, very character-focused and exciting. It has a great balance of fluffy scenes and intense scenes. I honestly couldn't put the book down. It's an absolute page-turner.
The book has diverse cast of characters: people of different ethnicities, sexualities, people of various socio-economic backgrounds. I can only say for queer, Russian & bisexual rep and they were spot on, 10/10! I cried so much because it was so me. I am writing this review several weeks after finishing the book, I don't think there weren't a day I didn't find myself thinking about a scene from Abroad, or a character.
All in all, I highly recommned to read this wonderful duology. Charming, heartfelt and nothing like I've ever read before.
Content warning: homophobic parent, main character with anxiety and panic disorder, minor scenes with homophobic violence, parent with mental illness (agoraphobia)
December 10 2017:
Amazing, truly absolutely amazing and perfect. I'm crying and I'm so emotional. This book has everything. I love it so much.
Infinitely grateful to being able to read it earlier.
November 10 2017:
I can't believe publisher sent arc of this book!!!
January 9, 2018
4.5 stars
So many feels!
A bit of uneven pacing but otherwise brilliant, showing that NA stage of one's life in it's full complexity, intersectional on every level.
Full review
Abroad: Book One was a stunning debut and one of my favourite reads of 2017. It's sequel completes the story of Nick and Dex and Izzy and the rest of the gang and it's an equally emotional and powerfully told tale of identity and (pro)claiming your true self.
I admit I was hesitant about the choice of two main romantic arcs, (Nick and Dex', and Izzy's) and it didn't quite work for me in the first 30% of the story. I loved reading about Nick and Dex and how they come together as a couple and I also loved following Izzy's journey through figuring out her own sexuality but I felt those two plotlines didn't really mix and were happening independently of one another.
Everything clicked into place for me when we saw all the characters interacting again. The author gave us a slice of life that is diverse and multi-layered and we got to see how difficult it is for young people to navigate through it. I really appreciated seeing life issues as they are, intersectional by nature. The relationships between the characters bring into focus all the different aspects of one's self and how they affect one and another and make us how we are. We see issues of race, religion, being queer, being an immigrant, being a young person on the verge of graduation and having to choose/figure out a direction in life all mixed together. They were all deftly explored by the author and presented with understanding and compassion.
This story stands out with the depth of human relationships presented - between lovers, among friends, within the family, with the world at large. There is no sugarcoating of the characters' struggles. Nick's anxiety felt palpable, as was Dex' anger and fear and hurt. I really liked how characters, even minor ones stood on their own and felt like real people not cardboard stereotypes (Dex' little brother and his parents, Nick's mother and sister).
This is a very emotional duology and there were aspects of that I could relate to on a personal level. It's brilliantly written, rich and heartfelt. Abroad is one of the best queer NA series I have read and I highly recommend it.
So many feels!
A bit of uneven pacing but otherwise brilliant, showing that NA stage of one's life in it's full complexity, intersectional on every level.
Full review
Abroad: Book One was a stunning debut and one of my favourite reads of 2017. It's sequel completes the story of Nick and Dex and Izzy and the rest of the gang and it's an equally emotional and powerfully told tale of identity and (pro)claiming your true self.
I admit I was hesitant about the choice of two main romantic arcs, (Nick and Dex', and Izzy's) and it didn't quite work for me in the first 30% of the story. I loved reading about Nick and Dex and how they come together as a couple and I also loved following Izzy's journey through figuring out her own sexuality but I felt those two plotlines didn't really mix and were happening independently of one another.
Everything clicked into place for me when we saw all the characters interacting again. The author gave us a slice of life that is diverse and multi-layered and we got to see how difficult it is for young people to navigate through it. I really appreciated seeing life issues as they are, intersectional by nature. The relationships between the characters bring into focus all the different aspects of one's self and how they affect one and another and make us how we are. We see issues of race, religion, being queer, being an immigrant, being a young person on the verge of graduation and having to choose/figure out a direction in life all mixed together. They were all deftly explored by the author and presented with understanding and compassion.
This story stands out with the depth of human relationships presented - between lovers, among friends, within the family, with the world at large. There is no sugarcoating of the characters' struggles. Nick's anxiety felt palpable, as was Dex' anger and fear and hurt. I really liked how characters, even minor ones stood on their own and felt like real people not cardboard stereotypes (Dex' little brother and his parents, Nick's mother and sister).
This is a very emotional duology and there were aspects of that I could relate to on a personal level. It's brilliantly written, rich and heartfelt. Abroad is one of the best queer NA series I have read and I highly recommend it.
February 23, 2018
5 Stars like WHOA.
I won’t lie, this book will be impossible ignore without referencing the first book, since Abroad is a duology. I was lucky enough to get the first half for 99 cents when the second came out. I thought I’d read the first, see how I felt and then consider the second.
I bought this book two chapters into the first. It’s that good.
Jacobs balances so many threads in these books it’s dizzying. What’s more, she does it with envious skill. I’ll say off the bat: the writing is lovely. Jacobs has a turn of phrase and a very clear prose style that I enjoyed throughout. Her dialogue in particular is fantastic. For days, I could hear the voices of the characters in my head, living with me. This is a book that lingers.
Nick’s journey in this story is a beautiful one and also a really difficult one. It’s amazing to watch him growing into himself, to have that sexual awakening with Dex, so get to experience what being someone’s boyfriend is like. Although he’s still hesitant in many ways with their friends, there’s something about getting to experience him rooted in Dex, which is a connection that he lacked in the first book, that made him a new person in my eyes.
Dex, to me, is in so many ways an utterly self-assured character. I’m not sure that’s the right way to describe him, because he has many doubts about many things throughout the book. But he’s grounded in a particular and special way only few are. I think that this made him and Nick a wonderful pair, but also served to make his storyline throughout the book more nuanced. Jacobs made Dex so human, so complicated, so lovely.
Izzy took me by surprise in this book: she stole my heart. I enjoyed her in the first, but her moment in this book really spoke to a story that I don’t see often in this genre, and one that I long to see more often. Her coming of age here – coming out as bisexual, figuring out that she’s bisexual, and realizing she’s fallen for her close friend Alex – is about as complex as it gets. Jacobs set a huge bar with this story. Izzy really struggles with what these things mean for her identity, and what they mean for others; what relationships she needs to repair, and how to really let herself listen to her voice, her story, and her heart.
There is honestly so much that is really carefully and thoughtfully done in this book. Jacobs doesn’t shy from Dex and Nick discussing race and their differences. They both spend time here learning — how to speak, how to listen, how to be patient. I’ve never read a book in this genre that tackles these conversations so head on.
If you like books with friends as family, I would definitely recommend this one. I will warn, the first section of this book finds that family a bit fractured; watching them come back together after several things have affected their dynamic (I don’t want to spoil everything) was so satisfying. This is a story about the three main narrators, yes, but also about a group of friends, in their early twenties, at a crossroads in their lives. They’re on the cusp of graduation, at a tipping point, and it shows.
I love Nick’s coming out story for two reasons: his relationship with his sister throughout the books was a highlight for me. When he does come out to her, I was holding my breath through the whole scene. Jacobs created a lovely scene with the perfect amount of tension and sweetness. Although his mother didn’t take the news well when he came out to her (and jeez, dear sweet Nick, why then? LOL. Poor thing) I appreciated the way Jacobs handled that aspect of the story.
This story is sensual and heartbreaking, uplifting and funny, with utterly human characters you will fall in love with, even through their many missteps and mistakes. I very highly recommend this book.
I won’t lie, this book will be impossible ignore without referencing the first book, since Abroad is a duology. I was lucky enough to get the first half for 99 cents when the second came out. I thought I’d read the first, see how I felt and then consider the second.
I bought this book two chapters into the first. It’s that good.
Jacobs balances so many threads in these books it’s dizzying. What’s more, she does it with envious skill. I’ll say off the bat: the writing is lovely. Jacobs has a turn of phrase and a very clear prose style that I enjoyed throughout. Her dialogue in particular is fantastic. For days, I could hear the voices of the characters in my head, living with me. This is a book that lingers.
Nick’s journey in this story is a beautiful one and also a really difficult one. It’s amazing to watch him growing into himself, to have that sexual awakening with Dex, so get to experience what being someone’s boyfriend is like. Although he’s still hesitant in many ways with their friends, there’s something about getting to experience him rooted in Dex, which is a connection that he lacked in the first book, that made him a new person in my eyes.
Dex, to me, is in so many ways an utterly self-assured character. I’m not sure that’s the right way to describe him, because he has many doubts about many things throughout the book. But he’s grounded in a particular and special way only few are. I think that this made him and Nick a wonderful pair, but also served to make his storyline throughout the book more nuanced. Jacobs made Dex so human, so complicated, so lovely.
Izzy took me by surprise in this book: she stole my heart. I enjoyed her in the first, but her moment in this book really spoke to a story that I don’t see often in this genre, and one that I long to see more often. Her coming of age here – coming out as bisexual, figuring out that she’s bisexual, and realizing she’s fallen for her close friend Alex – is about as complex as it gets. Jacobs set a huge bar with this story. Izzy really struggles with what these things mean for her identity, and what they mean for others; what relationships she needs to repair, and how to really let herself listen to her voice, her story, and her heart.
There is honestly so much that is really carefully and thoughtfully done in this book. Jacobs doesn’t shy from Dex and Nick discussing race and their differences. They both spend time here learning — how to speak, how to listen, how to be patient. I’ve never read a book in this genre that tackles these conversations so head on.
If you like books with friends as family, I would definitely recommend this one. I will warn, the first section of this book finds that family a bit fractured; watching them come back together after several things have affected their dynamic (I don’t want to spoil everything) was so satisfying. This is a story about the three main narrators, yes, but also about a group of friends, in their early twenties, at a crossroads in their lives. They’re on the cusp of graduation, at a tipping point, and it shows.
I love Nick’s coming out story for two reasons: his relationship with his sister throughout the books was a highlight for me. When he does come out to her, I was holding my breath through the whole scene. Jacobs created a lovely scene with the perfect amount of tension and sweetness. Although his mother didn’t take the news well when he came out to her (and jeez, dear sweet Nick, why then? LOL. Poor thing) I appreciated the way Jacobs handled that aspect of the story.
This story is sensual and heartbreaking, uplifting and funny, with utterly human characters you will fall in love with, even through their many missteps and mistakes. I very highly recommend this book.
January 2, 2018
**ARC provided in exchange for honest review**
Ok so first off if you want to read Abroad 2 you gotta read book 1. It's very much a sequel and it picks up not too long after Abroad 1 ends.
i loved this! i love these characters! We get to see so much growth with all of them. Nick my awkward child, i adored him in book 1 and he was still so very awkward in this and i adored him even more. He and Dex are trying to maneuver through their relationships while facing some real life struggles (Nick's fear of coming out to his mother, the countdown clock of the end of his time in England)
We also have Izzy, my dear sweet love Izzy who's also trying to figure out some things and all of their struggles and internal conflicts just unfold in what felt so authentic to me?I loved being in all three of their heads (Dex. Nick and Izzy)
I always enjoy big cast of characters, i love when the MCs are surrounded by supportive friends. And friendships play such a key roll in this. I just love how Nick fits in with everyone. It's such a diversely queer friends group too. Another thing that I adored.
As i mentioned several times Nick is so awkward and especially during sex but it was so sweet? I just wanted to hug him, seriously this poor boy has been on edge since book 1 and it doesn;t really let up totally but that's just part of what makes Nick Nick. More awkward sex in books please and thanks.
I just found this entire book so lovely with the frank discussions of the characters dealing with issues of race, sexuality, school! The looming end of university, their family! Falling in love. making mistakes, learning from their mistakes because ooh boy I won't lie to you there was the latter part of the book where I wanted to lock them in a room and shout at them to just please talk! Natali, one of the secondary characters even says this very ting to Izzy lol.
And the epilogue, o m g what a beautiful ending. I wondered, how will this work?Nick has to go back to America, please don't make my children sad but that epilogue. But I think the author did a good job there.
Highly rec this one.
Ok so first off if you want to read Abroad 2 you gotta read book 1. It's very much a sequel and it picks up not too long after Abroad 1 ends.
i loved this! i love these characters! We get to see so much growth with all of them. Nick my awkward child, i adored him in book 1 and he was still so very awkward in this and i adored him even more. He and Dex are trying to maneuver through their relationships while facing some real life struggles (Nick's fear of coming out to his mother, the countdown clock of the end of his time in England)
We also have Izzy, my dear sweet love Izzy who's also trying to figure out some things and all of their struggles and internal conflicts just unfold in what felt so authentic to me?I loved being in all three of their heads (Dex. Nick and Izzy)
I always enjoy big cast of characters, i love when the MCs are surrounded by supportive friends. And friendships play such a key roll in this. I just love how Nick fits in with everyone. It's such a diversely queer friends group too. Another thing that I adored.
As i mentioned several times Nick is so awkward and especially during sex but it was so sweet? I just wanted to hug him, seriously this poor boy has been on edge since book 1 and it doesn;t really let up totally but that's just part of what makes Nick Nick. More awkward sex in books please and thanks.
I just found this entire book so lovely with the frank discussions of the characters dealing with issues of race, sexuality, school! The looming end of university, their family! Falling in love. making mistakes, learning from their mistakes because ooh boy I won't lie to you there was the latter part of the book where I wanted to lock them in a room and shout at them to just please talk! Natali, one of the secondary characters even says this very ting to Izzy lol.
And the epilogue, o m g what a beautiful ending. I wondered, how will this work?Nick has to go back to America, please don't make my children sad but that epilogue. But I think the author did a good job there.
Highly rec this one.
January 3, 2018
ALL BOOKS SHOULD BE THIS DIVERSE!!!! no, really! this book integrates complex themes such as sexuality, race, mental health, identity, family, friendship, and belonging so flawlessly, I am OVERWHELMED! why can't all books be like this? it's not that hard!!! anyway, as with the first book this story is very character driven and what a bunch of diverse, relatable, and complex characters they are! I truly felt like I could see a bit of myself in each and every one of them.
the book also doesn't shy away from 'tough' issues. indeed, the way in which the book boldly address the intersectionality of sexuality and race is masterfully done. then there's the way the book talks about identity, belonging and trying to juggle those while also being true to yourself. there's this really memorable line:
"He could cling to his Jewish roots, he could cling to Russia, but nowhere could he see himself reflected as a scared queer boy, because Russia had erased him from history."
I mean.. GOD this line hit me so hard. this is why we need representation!! why we need more books just like this one!! look.. all I'm saying is just ALL AUTHORS NEED TO GET ON LIZ JACOBS' LEVEL. also, everyone should read this series. it's a good one!
the book also doesn't shy away from 'tough' issues. indeed, the way in which the book boldly address the intersectionality of sexuality and race is masterfully done. then there's the way the book talks about identity, belonging and trying to juggle those while also being true to yourself. there's this really memorable line:
"He could cling to his Jewish roots, he could cling to Russia, but nowhere could he see himself reflected as a scared queer boy, because Russia had erased him from history."
I mean.. GOD this line hit me so hard. this is why we need representation!! why we need more books just like this one!! look.. all I'm saying is just ALL AUTHORS NEED TO GET ON LIZ JACOBS' LEVEL. also, everyone should read this series. it's a good one!
February 17, 2018
Cette duologie de Liz Jacobs est une vraie petite merveille et ce second opus est tout aussi réussi que le précédent ! L’auteur jongle une nouvelle fois , et de manière très habile, avec une ribambelle de personnages et d’émotions. Et puis ces couvertures qui mettent en valeur les créations de Megan J. Smith sont de toute beauté. Il me tarde d’avoir le livre papier de ce tome pour qu’il rejoigne son petit frère sur mes étagères.
Nous retrouvons les personnages là où nous les avons laissés, le lendemain d’une nuit riche en événements… Nick, Dex et Izzy ont franchi un cap important de leur existence mais devront encore faire face aux turpitudes que leur réserve la vie, avec plus ou moins de succès et d’adresse. Inutile d’en dévoiler davantage le résumé se suffisant à lui-même.
L’écriture pleine de justesse et de réalisme de Liz Jacobs nous permet de vivre le récit à fleur de peau tant on ressent les émotions qui traversent et ébranlent les protagonistes, certains passages nous crèvent le cœur alors que d’autres nous rendent euphoriques. L’affection que l’auteur porte à ces personnages est tellement vivace que l’on ne peut faire autrement que de s’attacher profondément à eux, même s’ils sont loin d’être parfaits et parfois complètement déconcertants. Si suivre les introspections et les conflits intérieurs de Nick, Dex et Izzy n’est pas de tout repos cela reste captivant !
Il serait tellement réducteur de cataloguer ce roman dans tel ou tel genre tant il est complet. Pas seulement en raison des nombreux personnages auxquels l’imagination de l’auteur a donné vie, mais aussi de par la diversité des sujets abordés à travers leur parcours : la douloureuse expérience de la discrimination, les relations compliquées avec la famille, la difficile acceptation de soi et cette communication avec l’autre qui devient parfois un obstacle insurmontable. Mais ce qui est assez incroyable c’est que malgré la gravité de certains thèmes, jamais cela ne devient étouffant pour le lecteur car on peut faire confiance à notre bande d’amis pour se dépêtrer des situations les plus délicates, ils sauront se serrer les coudes pour faire face.
Nick, mon cher Nick si sensible, si angoissé…j’ai eu tellement mal pour lui lorsque ce dernier est submergé par ses angoisses, ses crises de panique (ô combien compréhensibles) ont été des moments difficiles à encaisser tant je me suis sentie impuissante. Les moments où il lâche prise et se laisse aller à goûter à ce nouveau bonheur auprès de Dex n’en sont que plus précieux. Ces deux là ne m’ont pas épargnée (et m’ont donné de nouveaux cheveux blancs à n’en pas douter) mais… que j’ai aimé les voir tomber amoureux, comme j’ai aimé voir Nick explorer sa sexualité auprès de Dex, en nous offrant un mélange très agréable de timidité et de sensualité. Arfff Dex, il est toujours aussi magnifique et attentionné même s’il aura parfois bien du mal à gérer les angoisses de son chéri.
Izzy, ma chère Izzy si pleine de vie, généreuse et parfois si maladroite… je n’en dirai pas trop à son sujet mais encore une fois, elle m’a joué un sacré tour que je n’ai pas vu venir ! Woow pauvre petite puce, ces émois ont de quoi donner le tournis… Et impossible d’être déçue tant j’ai trouvé ce couple (je ne piperai mot sur le choix d’Izzy) exaspérant mais absolument craquant !
Durant tout le roman, cette amitié si incroyable unissant nos Londoniens fait toujours autant chaud au cœur. La façon dont ils ont adopté Nick est tellement émouvante, ce dernier a complètement trouvé sa place dans ce groupe si bigarré. Et quand on sait tout ce que cela représente pour lui, cela est d’autant plus bouleversant.
Parcourir ce petit bonhomme de chemin en compagnie de toute cette bande d’amis et être présente lors de ces moments charnières de leur existence a été un vrai bonheur. Les quitter est forcément triste mais je sais que je relirai leur histoire et en ne pouvant m’empêcher d’imaginer ce qu’ils sont devenus ! Voilà une histoire qui mérite tant d’être découverte <3
Nous retrouvons les personnages là où nous les avons laissés, le lendemain d’une nuit riche en événements… Nick, Dex et Izzy ont franchi un cap important de leur existence mais devront encore faire face aux turpitudes que leur réserve la vie, avec plus ou moins de succès et d’adresse. Inutile d’en dévoiler davantage le résumé se suffisant à lui-même.
L’écriture pleine de justesse et de réalisme de Liz Jacobs nous permet de vivre le récit à fleur de peau tant on ressent les émotions qui traversent et ébranlent les protagonistes, certains passages nous crèvent le cœur alors que d’autres nous rendent euphoriques. L’affection que l’auteur porte à ces personnages est tellement vivace que l’on ne peut faire autrement que de s’attacher profondément à eux, même s’ils sont loin d’être parfaits et parfois complètement déconcertants. Si suivre les introspections et les conflits intérieurs de Nick, Dex et Izzy n’est pas de tout repos cela reste captivant !
Il serait tellement réducteur de cataloguer ce roman dans tel ou tel genre tant il est complet. Pas seulement en raison des nombreux personnages auxquels l’imagination de l’auteur a donné vie, mais aussi de par la diversité des sujets abordés à travers leur parcours : la douloureuse expérience de la discrimination, les relations compliquées avec la famille, la difficile acceptation de soi et cette communication avec l’autre qui devient parfois un obstacle insurmontable. Mais ce qui est assez incroyable c’est que malgré la gravité de certains thèmes, jamais cela ne devient étouffant pour le lecteur car on peut faire confiance à notre bande d’amis pour se dépêtrer des situations les plus délicates, ils sauront se serrer les coudes pour faire face.
Nick, mon cher Nick si sensible, si angoissé…j’ai eu tellement mal pour lui lorsque ce dernier est submergé par ses angoisses, ses crises de panique (ô combien compréhensibles) ont été des moments difficiles à encaisser tant je me suis sentie impuissante. Les moments où il lâche prise et se laisse aller à goûter à ce nouveau bonheur auprès de Dex n’en sont que plus précieux. Ces deux là ne m’ont pas épargnée (et m’ont donné de nouveaux cheveux blancs à n’en pas douter) mais… que j’ai aimé les voir tomber amoureux, comme j’ai aimé voir Nick explorer sa sexualité auprès de Dex, en nous offrant un mélange très agréable de timidité et de sensualité. Arfff Dex, il est toujours aussi magnifique et attentionné même s’il aura parfois bien du mal à gérer les angoisses de son chéri.
Izzy, ma chère Izzy si pleine de vie, généreuse et parfois si maladroite… je n’en dirai pas trop à son sujet mais encore une fois, elle m’a joué un sacré tour que je n’ai pas vu venir ! Woow pauvre petite puce, ces émois ont de quoi donner le tournis… Et impossible d’être déçue tant j’ai trouvé ce couple (je ne piperai mot sur le choix d’Izzy) exaspérant mais absolument craquant !
Durant tout le roman, cette amitié si incroyable unissant nos Londoniens fait toujours autant chaud au cœur. La façon dont ils ont adopté Nick est tellement émouvante, ce dernier a complètement trouvé sa place dans ce groupe si bigarré. Et quand on sait tout ce que cela représente pour lui, cela est d’autant plus bouleversant.
Parcourir ce petit bonhomme de chemin en compagnie de toute cette bande d’amis et être présente lors de ces moments charnières de leur existence a été un vrai bonheur. Les quitter est forcément triste mais je sais que je relirai leur histoire et en ne pouvant m’empêcher d’imaginer ce qu’ils sont devenus ! Voilà une histoire qui mérite tant d’être découverte <3
January 9, 2018
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
- Review to come
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
- Review to come
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
January 8, 2018
Encore meilleur que le 1er avec des développements inattendus. Juste génial ! <3
January 16, 2018
this spoke to me on a spiritual level but also kind of hurt me at one point
rtc maybe
rtc maybe
December 22, 2017
The Abroad series is one of the most unique stories I've read in that both books feature characters spanning a wide range of genders, races, nationalities, and sexualities, and each is presented in such a respectful manner. Book Two continues the story of Nick, Dex, and Izzy and their tight group of friends. It's a story of growth and discovery and coming to terms with change.
It's delightful to see Nick evolve into acceptance of his sexuality. He's like a kid in a candy shop, exploring all the new pleasures with Dex. His shy hesitance and astonishment of how right it feels to be with Dex in comparison to his ex-girlfriend is endearing. And it's almost as if Dex is discovering a whole new side of himself and being in a relationship as well. Nick's panic attacks are written in such a way that they feel real. Many times I found myself trying to catch my breath and feeling tightness in my chest.
The gang goes through ups and downs typical to college age students, but there are also deeper conflicts stemming from the struggles of being a minority. Each issue is dealt with in the most sensitive manner and you can't help but ache for each character and the turmoil they experience.
Book Two is concluded perfectly. Everyone gets a happy ending and the reader is left with a smile on their face. (Well, at least I was smiling.) This is not a cookie cutter book in that two people meet, fall in love, have a conflict, and come together in a fantastical way. This is more like a day in the life narrative as the author takes the reader on a journey through the every day life of the characters and it absolutely works for me.
It's delightful to see Nick evolve into acceptance of his sexuality. He's like a kid in a candy shop, exploring all the new pleasures with Dex. His shy hesitance and astonishment of how right it feels to be with Dex in comparison to his ex-girlfriend is endearing. And it's almost as if Dex is discovering a whole new side of himself and being in a relationship as well. Nick's panic attacks are written in such a way that they feel real. Many times I found myself trying to catch my breath and feeling tightness in my chest.
The gang goes through ups and downs typical to college age students, but there are also deeper conflicts stemming from the struggles of being a minority. Each issue is dealt with in the most sensitive manner and you can't help but ache for each character and the turmoil they experience.
Book Two is concluded perfectly. Everyone gets a happy ending and the reader is left with a smile on their face. (Well, at least I was smiling.) This is not a cookie cutter book in that two people meet, fall in love, have a conflict, and come together in a fantastical way. This is more like a day in the life narrative as the author takes the reader on a journey through the every day life of the characters and it absolutely works for me.
January 1, 2018
Advance Review Copy generously provided by the publisher.
** Review originally posted on BackPorchReader.com. **
The first book in the Abroad duology left us teetering on the mighty cliffhanger also known as OMG WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! Where Nick and Dex are taking tentative steps into Relationshipville. Izzy is coming to terms with realizing her sexuality while the earth quakes beneath her feet since learning about a secret crush that has the power to rock a seriously good friendship.
Book two picks up just where we left off with morning afters and more questions begging to be answered as this crew of friends navigate college life, the path to the big-time of adulthood, and trusting in the ties that bind.
Nick, a Russian-American studying abroad in London, is angst incarnate and prone to anxiety attacks that bring him to his knees when faced with the idea of coming out to his mother. He’s so in his head he can’t bring himself to confide in his amazing set of friends, or Dex in these early days of being part of a couple. Which, as a forty-something, it’s easy for me to want to shake him and tell him to talk to his people, these friends who effortlessly brought him into their fold and have surrounded him in safety and a soft place to land as he learns to accept himself. But it only takes me a few seconds of sifting back through my memories of old secrets and insecurities to get it — that fear of opening up. So instead of giving him a shake, I’d rather just hug him tight and tell him to breathe.
Dex, he comes across as one of the surest, self-aware characters with a clear-cut path to his future. He knows himself, knows what he wants, seems comfortable in his skin. But, here we get to see a little bit of a different side of him. A vulnerable spot where it comes to his feelings for Nick, wanting the approval and support from his family. He’s nearly ripped open at the seams while he and Nick work to overcome obstacles with a deadline. Because even for those who think they’ve got both feet on the ground, know what’s what, have a clear and determined picture of selfdom, the future, and their rock-solid friendships — it doesn’t take much to turn certainty on its ear.
And Izzy. My oh my how I love this darling girl. In my review of book one, I wasn’t wholly convinced we needed her story woven around Nick and Dex. To be sure, I wanted her story just…separate. Her own book perhaps. But while looking forward to book two, I found myself itching to get back to her, needing her journey as it was a little like looking in a mirror, one that had gotten sort of foggy over the passage time. She’s just lovely and most definitely the story I needed twenty-some-odd years ago.
Even though Abroad takes place in this decade and in a specific place with very specific cultural elements, it also manages to be timeless and a tale that transcends borders. I loved every moment of this rollercoaster ride of emotions. I laughed, I cried, and my heart was in a clench for these characters. This book was everything, and the two books together are simply amazing.
Liz Jacobs has proven her writing chops, yet again, with gorgeous words of introspection and the emotional journeys that dig deep into all the uncertainties of early adulthood. This is profound and masterful. Utter perfection.
** Review originally posted on BackPorchReader.com. **
The first book in the Abroad duology left us teetering on the mighty cliffhanger also known as OMG WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! Where Nick and Dex are taking tentative steps into Relationshipville. Izzy is coming to terms with realizing her sexuality while the earth quakes beneath her feet since learning about a secret crush that has the power to rock a seriously good friendship.
Book two picks up just where we left off with morning afters and more questions begging to be answered as this crew of friends navigate college life, the path to the big-time of adulthood, and trusting in the ties that bind.
Nick, a Russian-American studying abroad in London, is angst incarnate and prone to anxiety attacks that bring him to his knees when faced with the idea of coming out to his mother. He’s so in his head he can’t bring himself to confide in his amazing set of friends, or Dex in these early days of being part of a couple. Which, as a forty-something, it’s easy for me to want to shake him and tell him to talk to his people, these friends who effortlessly brought him into their fold and have surrounded him in safety and a soft place to land as he learns to accept himself. But it only takes me a few seconds of sifting back through my memories of old secrets and insecurities to get it — that fear of opening up. So instead of giving him a shake, I’d rather just hug him tight and tell him to breathe.
Dex, he comes across as one of the surest, self-aware characters with a clear-cut path to his future. He knows himself, knows what he wants, seems comfortable in his skin. But, here we get to see a little bit of a different side of him. A vulnerable spot where it comes to his feelings for Nick, wanting the approval and support from his family. He’s nearly ripped open at the seams while he and Nick work to overcome obstacles with a deadline. Because even for those who think they’ve got both feet on the ground, know what’s what, have a clear and determined picture of selfdom, the future, and their rock-solid friendships — it doesn’t take much to turn certainty on its ear.
And Izzy. My oh my how I love this darling girl. In my review of book one, I wasn’t wholly convinced we needed her story woven around Nick and Dex. To be sure, I wanted her story just…separate. Her own book perhaps. But while looking forward to book two, I found myself itching to get back to her, needing her journey as it was a little like looking in a mirror, one that had gotten sort of foggy over the passage time. She’s just lovely and most definitely the story I needed twenty-some-odd years ago.
Even though Abroad takes place in this decade and in a specific place with very specific cultural elements, it also manages to be timeless and a tale that transcends borders. I loved every moment of this rollercoaster ride of emotions. I laughed, I cried, and my heart was in a clench for these characters. This book was everything, and the two books together are simply amazing.
Liz Jacobs has proven her writing chops, yet again, with gorgeous words of introspection and the emotional journeys that dig deep into all the uncertainties of early adulthood. This is profound and masterful. Utter perfection.
January 18, 2018
I really enjoyed the first book in this duology, but I was completely blown away by this second.
Coming of age narratives are tricky. I'm 37 years old, I'm almost twenty years out from the staples of the genre. Going to university, finding a friend group, first times, coming out to my family: none of these experiences are fresh for me, and they're not exactly new topics for my reading either.
But this book feels fresh. It's a queer, coming-of-age, found family narrative with a decidedly 2017/2018 sensibility, and complicated multi-faceted characters who feel broadly familiar, yet distinctly themselves.
There is SO MUCH explicit, enthusiastic and negotiated consent in this book. It's an absolute JOY. Characters talk to each other about what they want, in and out of bed. They check in regularly to see if things have changed. They absolutely have massive blow-ups and misunderstandings and problems, but they work their way through them by means of a holy fuckton of using their damn words. It's seriously so, so nice.
This book has some of the best bisexual representation I've ever come across.
In Book One, Izzy, the third POV character, realizes that she's not as straight as she always thought she was, has some sex with girls, and has one of her friendships blow up in her face because of a queer crush she didn't know about.
In Book Two Izzy falls in love, and she falls in love with a guy. And she's STILL QUEER. None of her friends try to claim her bisexuality was just a phase, or that falling for Alex makes her less queer, or indeed that NOT falling for Nat makes her less queer. Again, it's just so, so nice to read.
The spectre of Nick coming out to his mother hangs over all of the previous book and most of this one, and when it happens, it happens by choice, not by accident or force, and it is just as awful as Nick was afraid it would be. And yet it also isn't.
Coming out narratives tend to extremes, here Jacobs navigates the middle-ground. Nick's mother handles his initial coming out to her abominably, but it's not the end of their relationship. She doesn't disown him. She doesn't refuse to ever talk to him again. Things are tense and things are awful, but they get better. She doesn't understand when he tells her, and she doesn't come to understand on the page, but she agrees to try, because that's sometimes the most important step.
The only weakness I thought this book had was that the epilogue feels rather rushed and overstuffed, but I'm not sure there was any way to avoid that short of writing another whole book that I really don't think was needed.
Coming of age narratives are tricky. I'm 37 years old, I'm almost twenty years out from the staples of the genre. Going to university, finding a friend group, first times, coming out to my family: none of these experiences are fresh for me, and they're not exactly new topics for my reading either.
But this book feels fresh. It's a queer, coming-of-age, found family narrative with a decidedly 2017/2018 sensibility, and complicated multi-faceted characters who feel broadly familiar, yet distinctly themselves.
There is SO MUCH explicit, enthusiastic and negotiated consent in this book. It's an absolute JOY. Characters talk to each other about what they want, in and out of bed. They check in regularly to see if things have changed. They absolutely have massive blow-ups and misunderstandings and problems, but they work their way through them by means of a holy fuckton of using their damn words. It's seriously so, so nice.
This book has some of the best bisexual representation I've ever come across.
In Book One, Izzy, the third POV character, realizes that she's not as straight as she always thought she was, has some sex with girls, and has one of her friendships blow up in her face because of a queer crush she didn't know about.
In Book Two Izzy falls in love, and she falls in love with a guy. And she's STILL QUEER. None of her friends try to claim her bisexuality was just a phase, or that falling for Alex makes her less queer, or indeed that NOT falling for Nat makes her less queer. Again, it's just so, so nice to read.
The spectre of Nick coming out to his mother hangs over all of the previous book and most of this one, and when it happens, it happens by choice, not by accident or force, and it is just as awful as Nick was afraid it would be. And yet it also isn't.
Coming out narratives tend to extremes, here Jacobs navigates the middle-ground. Nick's mother handles his initial coming out to her abominably, but it's not the end of their relationship. She doesn't disown him. She doesn't refuse to ever talk to him again. Things are tense and things are awful, but they get better. She doesn't understand when he tells her, and she doesn't come to understand on the page, but she agrees to try, because that's sometimes the most important step.
The only weakness I thought this book had was that the epilogue feels rather rushed and overstuffed, but I'm not sure there was any way to avoid that short of writing another whole book that I really don't think was needed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2018
Listen, this book is like, 75% sex and I am HERE FOR IT.
Nick and Dex continue to be PERFECT and I loved everything about them. Some disjointed, spoilery thoughts:
Izzy's story was GREAT and EVERYONE IS IN LOVE WITH IZZY, and why wouldn't they be? She's the bomb.
Honestly, I just love everyone in this share house.
I just adored these two books so, so much, and I'm so glad they exist.
On a technical sidenote, there's a lot of Russian conversation in this and if you don't want to be me and awkwardly google translate the parts you feel you should be understanding - there are translations of the Russian dialogue at the end, but as I was reading this in ebook form, I had no idea.
Nick and Dex continue to be PERFECT and I loved everything about them. Some disjointed, spoilery thoughts:
Izzy's story was GREAT and EVERYONE IS IN LOVE WITH IZZY, and why wouldn't they be? She's the bomb.
Honestly, I just love everyone in this share house.
I just adored these two books so, so much, and I'm so glad they exist.
On a technical sidenote, there's a lot of Russian conversation in this and if you don't want to be me and awkwardly google translate the parts you feel you should be understanding - there are translations of the Russian dialogue at the end, but as I was reading this in ebook form, I had no idea.
Read
December 21, 2017I loved this book a lot. It was so great to revisit the amazing cast of characters from Abroad and see them all develop and manage their lives in a plausible, relatable--sometimes heartbreaking--way. The main characters, Nick, Dex, and Izzy, all go through their individual struggles, and I love that they sometimes fuck up and other times succeed and take risks and ask themselves an inordinate amount of questions and enjoy life and each other.
The bonds of trust and friendship in this book are as important as the two romance arcs at its core. This chosen family, with its changing shape, its constant negotiations, and its unwavering support sets the backdrop of solidity that carries hope through even in moments of deep angst. Nick and Izzy and Dex all have their bleak times, but the mere existence of their queer family never allows for their situation to delve into desperation, something that for me, as a reader who prefers low angst, was very important.
There are so many great things to be said about this book, but the way the intersections of various marginalizations come through in such vivid detail is one of the most salient for me. Race and sexuality, ethnicity and sexuality, gender and sexuality and fatness, all emerge ambitiously and thoughtfully, and are tackled with empathy and care in a way that makes them immediate and relatable without eschewing their (small-p) political nature.
Highly recommended.
January 28, 2018
With three main stories to tell and multiple subplots for the supporting cast, there’s a lot going on here, but I thought the parallels created between friends who all have something to tell their family created a sense of cohesion at the novel’s centre. My favourite was probably Nat helping Nick practice coming out to his mum, her just getting that the words you use to describe yourself don’t always feel the same across languages, and Nick taking that with him and it giving him courage just because it made him feel less alone. I also loved Al relating to Nick’s experience of displacement, that even though he’s only moved across the country, to Al it feels like a different world, one he doesn’t fit in, and meeting Nick makes him realise he can be ok eventually. Touches like that throughout were really nice, the idea that you don’t have to have the same exact experience as someone else to offer them compassion and understanding.
The ending, with Dex handing Nick a novel by a gay Russian author and telling Nick he does have a place in the world and always did was really, really lovely.
The ending, with Dex handing Nick a novel by a gay Russian author and telling Nick he does have a place in the world and always did was really, really lovely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2019
So beautiful and real, full of all the messy, wild joy, pain, uncertainty of being young and figuring yourself out and finding the people who make you feel free to be your whole self.
I may or may not have sobbed like a little baby in the end... Ok, I totally did. I can't believe I just spent 800 pages absolutely falling in love with this group of London college kids, these living breathing characters that are currently taking up so much space in my brain, and I still want more. That's not to say that the book in any way left me hanging, though, because I feel completely and utterly satisfied right now!
I've heard people talk about how certain characters feel like friends and how they just want to go back and visit them, but I have never quite experienced that until now. Oh, I just love them all so much! and I love how intensely emotional it was while never, ever falling into melodrama. Just, whoo... This one just really worked for me.
I really liked Liz Jacob's Christmas at the Wellends, but it was just a little short thing, and I think she truly had a chance to shine here in long form. I cannot flipping wait to read more by her!!
I may or may not have sobbed like a little baby in the end... Ok, I totally did. I can't believe I just spent 800 pages absolutely falling in love with this group of London college kids, these living breathing characters that are currently taking up so much space in my brain, and I still want more. That's not to say that the book in any way left me hanging, though, because I feel completely and utterly satisfied right now!
I've heard people talk about how certain characters feel like friends and how they just want to go back and visit them, but I have never quite experienced that until now. Oh, I just love them all so much! and I love how intensely emotional it was while never, ever falling into melodrama. Just, whoo... This one just really worked for me.
I really liked Liz Jacob's Christmas at the Wellends, but it was just a little short thing, and I think she truly had a chance to shine here in long form. I cannot flipping wait to read more by her!!
January 22, 2019
So I fell properly in love with this duology and part 2 here takes the magic of its predecessor/counterpart and keeps it sparkling whilst throwing in more relationship tension, personal development, issues of homophobia, racism and some fantastically racy and explicit gay sex scenes.
All in all, it's wonderful and fulfilling and warm and well yay. Recommended.
All in all, it's wonderful and fulfilling and warm and well yay. Recommended.
January 3, 2018
Incredibly lovely. A warm little gem of a book.
June 13, 2018
oh gosh that was just so beautiful
June 19, 2018
This book is absolutely as magnificent as the first book. I will write a longer review one day when Im in the right mood because this book deserves it. Christ I love this duology
March 14, 2018
Popsugar 2018 Reading Challenge: A book that’s published in 2018
Okay, same disclaimer as for Abroad: Book One: I know the author, she's awesome, I can't claim to be unbiased.
That said, if you read the first book, you should absolutely read this one. Same praise as before: the characters are all lovely human beings and the conflict arises naturally from the different personalities and situations rather than anyone actually being a bad person. There isn't an antagonist in this (well, except the two drunken assholes in that one scene, but they're not in it for very long). People who were left wanting more sex scenes after Book One will have plenty here, and instead of slow burn romance we get slow burn conflict. Everyone and everything in this book feels real, and the story itself is satisfying and hopeful. Just read it, k?
Okay, same disclaimer as for Abroad: Book One: I know the author, she's awesome, I can't claim to be unbiased.
That said, if you read the first book, you should absolutely read this one. Same praise as before: the characters are all lovely human beings and the conflict arises naturally from the different personalities and situations rather than anyone actually being a bad person. There isn't an antagonist in this (well, except the two drunken assholes in that one scene, but they're not in it for very long). People who were left wanting more sex scenes after Book One will have plenty here, and instead of slow burn romance we get slow burn conflict. Everyone and everything in this book feels real, and the story itself is satisfying and hopeful. Just read it, k?
January 20, 2018
3.5 stars. I liked this, but not as much as the first book. My biggest issue was just that
Anyways, beyond that, I also felt a bit mixed about the Izzy stuff.
There was still a lot I liked about this book, despite my complaints! I did really love all the family stuff otherwise, I still loved all the characters and friendships. I swear I did like this book, I think it's just that I loved the first one so much, so to have any issues with this one made me much more disappointed than if I'd have had no expectations coming into it.
Anyways, beyond that, I also felt a bit mixed about the Izzy stuff.
There was still a lot I liked about this book, despite my complaints! I did really love all the family stuff otherwise, I still loved all the characters and friendships. I swear I did like this book, I think it's just that I loved the first one so much, so to have any issues with this one made me much more disappointed than if I'd have had no expectations coming into it.
January 15, 2018
FR- Alors alors… alors comme je vous le disais en introduction j’ai mis énormément de temps à lire ce livre. Et la raison en est très simple. L’histoire se passe à Londres, dans un milieu étudiant et il y a beaucoup beaucoup beaucoup d’argot. Du coup j’étais quasiment toutes les deux pages en train de vérifier la signification d’un mot. Au delà de ça, ce roman est un tome 2 et si le tome 1 m’avait semblé un peu poussif et lent, j’ai beaucoup aimé ce tome 2. J’ai retrouvé avec beaucoup de plaisir les personnages que nous avions découvert dans le premier volet et j’ai savouré pleinement la relation entre Nick et Dex. Parce que oui, j’avoue, même si les autres personnages sont aussi touchants et attachants, j’ai eu un coup de coeur particulier pour Nick et Dex. Et d’ailleurs je crois que j’ai autant aimé l’un que l’autre, malgré le fait que leurs luttes et leurs fragilités soient totalement différentes. Si la lutte de Nick est plus visible, j’ai aimé trouvé la sensibilité de Dex. J’ai aimé voir ce personnage s’ouvrir au fil des tomes et particulièrement dans ce tome là.
Le point que j’ai également énormément aimé dans ce roman est la différence. Difficile de trouver un roman qui traite d’autant de différences en même temps. Entre les différences « évidentes » d’orientation sexuelle( quoi qu’entre les gay, lesbienne, trans et bisexuels la communauté LGBT est bien représentée) il y a les différences liées à la nationalité, à la culture, à la religion et à la couleur. J’ai beaucoup aimé que la question de la couleur soit abordée aussi bien du coté de la famille de Nick que de celle de Dex. J’ai vraiment aimé ma relation entre les deux jeunes hommes. La plume de l’auteur est vraiment différente de ce qu’on peut lire habituellement et si la lecture de ce roman est moins facile, elle n’en reste pas moins poignante et forte.
Un roman qui bouscule les romances habituelles, une tranche de vie incisive et percutante, des personnages forts et ancrés dans le réel,bref une lecture innovante et prenante à ne surtout pas manquer.
ENG- So well well well.. well as I told you in the introduction I spent a lot of time reading this book. And the reason is very simple. The story is happening in London, in a student environment and there is a lot a lot of slang. So I was almost every two pages checking the meaning of a word. Beyond that, this novel is a volume 2 and if the volume 1 had seemed a little slow and slow, I loved this volume 2. I found with great pleasure the characters we had discovered in the first part and I fully enjoyed the relationship between Nick and Dex. Because yes, I admit, even if the other characters are so touching and endearing, I had a particular crush on Nick and Dex. And besides, I think that I loved each other so much, despite the fact that their struggles and their fragilities are totally different. If Nick’s fight is more visible, I liked finding the sensitivity of Dex. I liked to see this character open over the books and especially in this volume.
The point that I also loved a lot in this novel is the difference. It’s hard to find a novel that deals with so many differences at the same time. Between « obvious » differences in sexual orientation (though gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual LGBT community is well represented) there are differences related to nationality, culture, religion and color. I really liked that the question of color is addressed as well on the side of Nick’s family as that of Dex. I really liked my relationship between the two young men. The pen of the author is really different from what one can read usually and if the reading of this novel is less easy, it remains nonetheless poignant and strong.
A novel that upsets the usual romances, a slice of life incisive and percussive, strong characters and anchored in the real, in short an innovative and engaging reading not to be missed.
Le point que j’ai également énormément aimé dans ce roman est la différence. Difficile de trouver un roman qui traite d’autant de différences en même temps. Entre les différences « évidentes » d’orientation sexuelle( quoi qu’entre les gay, lesbienne, trans et bisexuels la communauté LGBT est bien représentée) il y a les différences liées à la nationalité, à la culture, à la religion et à la couleur. J’ai beaucoup aimé que la question de la couleur soit abordée aussi bien du coté de la famille de Nick que de celle de Dex. J’ai vraiment aimé ma relation entre les deux jeunes hommes. La plume de l’auteur est vraiment différente de ce qu’on peut lire habituellement et si la lecture de ce roman est moins facile, elle n’en reste pas moins poignante et forte.
Un roman qui bouscule les romances habituelles, une tranche de vie incisive et percutante, des personnages forts et ancrés dans le réel,bref une lecture innovante et prenante à ne surtout pas manquer.
ENG- So well well well.. well as I told you in the introduction I spent a lot of time reading this book. And the reason is very simple. The story is happening in London, in a student environment and there is a lot a lot of slang. So I was almost every two pages checking the meaning of a word. Beyond that, this novel is a volume 2 and if the volume 1 had seemed a little slow and slow, I loved this volume 2. I found with great pleasure the characters we had discovered in the first part and I fully enjoyed the relationship between Nick and Dex. Because yes, I admit, even if the other characters are so touching and endearing, I had a particular crush on Nick and Dex. And besides, I think that I loved each other so much, despite the fact that their struggles and their fragilities are totally different. If Nick’s fight is more visible, I liked finding the sensitivity of Dex. I liked to see this character open over the books and especially in this volume.
The point that I also loved a lot in this novel is the difference. It’s hard to find a novel that deals with so many differences at the same time. Between « obvious » differences in sexual orientation (though gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual LGBT community is well represented) there are differences related to nationality, culture, religion and color. I really liked that the question of color is addressed as well on the side of Nick’s family as that of Dex. I really liked my relationship between the two young men. The pen of the author is really different from what one can read usually and if the reading of this novel is less easy, it remains nonetheless poignant and strong.
A novel that upsets the usual romances, a slice of life incisive and percussive, strong characters and anchored in the real, in short an innovative and engaging reading not to be missed.
January 14, 2022
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The first book in this duology might just be the best thing I had read all year. This one was meh. This book picks up seconds after the last one ended. If I had read them back to back then I would probably like this one so much more than I did.
My main issue came down to this book was pretty much all about sex. I was bored. I didn’t care about Dex and Nick anymore because pretty much every time they had a chapter there was a sex scene. I can get where those scenes were important buy 100% didn’t care after the first two. It just felt excessive and annoying. If I had read this directly after the other one then I probably would have made it through a few more sex scenes before I was annoyed, because the emotions would have been heightened and it wouldn’t have felt like I was reading an erotica featuring mild plot of another character.
Izzy’s plot was annoying too. So in the last book Izzy comes out as bisexual after having a one night stand with a woman. Cool. I can get behind that and I was loving that she was discovering more about herself, but the issue wasn’t that she was bisexual since she was cool with it. The fact that she was bisexual was a non-issue and it was so damn refreshing. And then, spoiler, she ends up with a man anyway. Some of the other characters ever commented that they expected her to at least be around more women after she came out, instead she got with the guy that had been around the whole time, but had so very little character development in the first book. I was annoyed. I wanted Izzy’s plot to have more women. I wanted there to be more emotions. I wanted anything, but straight sex with inconsistent condom usage.
So another issue I had was the condom usage. I know, I know. This is always an issue for me. There were no condoms at all for oral sex and there was even a scene were one character fed the other his cum. There was oral sex on a woman without a barrier. So constant fluid exchanges. Yet, for any form of anal or vaginal penetration condoms were there. It just annoys me to no end. In the straight sex scene there was even a moment where Izzy goes “well I am on birth control but better safe than sorry”. So the ONLY reason for condom usage is pregnancy in her mind, which doesn’t seem like what she would be thinking or doing. I am just so tired of reading boring sex scenes that are dangerous.
So the moral of this is: if you are going to read the series read the books back to back. It will keep the emotions ramped up and make the second book so much better.
The first book in this duology might just be the best thing I had read all year. This one was meh. This book picks up seconds after the last one ended. If I had read them back to back then I would probably like this one so much more than I did.
My main issue came down to this book was pretty much all about sex. I was bored. I didn’t care about Dex and Nick anymore because pretty much every time they had a chapter there was a sex scene. I can get where those scenes were important buy 100% didn’t care after the first two. It just felt excessive and annoying. If I had read this directly after the other one then I probably would have made it through a few more sex scenes before I was annoyed, because the emotions would have been heightened and it wouldn’t have felt like I was reading an erotica featuring mild plot of another character.
Izzy’s plot was annoying too. So in the last book Izzy comes out as bisexual after having a one night stand with a woman. Cool. I can get behind that and I was loving that she was discovering more about herself, but the issue wasn’t that she was bisexual since she was cool with it. The fact that she was bisexual was a non-issue and it was so damn refreshing. And then, spoiler, she ends up with a man anyway. Some of the other characters ever commented that they expected her to at least be around more women after she came out, instead she got with the guy that had been around the whole time, but had so very little character development in the first book. I was annoyed. I wanted Izzy’s plot to have more women. I wanted there to be more emotions. I wanted anything, but straight sex with inconsistent condom usage.
So another issue I had was the condom usage. I know, I know. This is always an issue for me. There were no condoms at all for oral sex and there was even a scene were one character fed the other his cum. There was oral sex on a woman without a barrier. So constant fluid exchanges. Yet, for any form of anal or vaginal penetration condoms were there. It just annoys me to no end. In the straight sex scene there was even a moment where Izzy goes “well I am on birth control but better safe than sorry”. So the ONLY reason for condom usage is pregnancy in her mind, which doesn’t seem like what she would be thinking or doing. I am just so tired of reading boring sex scenes that are dangerous.
So the moral of this is: if you are going to read the series read the books back to back. It will keep the emotions ramped up and make the second book so much better.
January 12, 2018
When we last saw Nick and Dex at the end of Abroad: Book One they had a lovely (and steamy) HFN ending. In some ways it would have been easier to leave them there, but Liz Jacobs doesn't let them (or the readers) off the hook that easily in the second half of the duology, taking them through the agonies and ecstasies of a new relationship in which neither character is brave or self-assured enough to be totally honest. Add in Nick's cultural differences and utter panic at the thought of coming out to his Russian-Jewish mother and you have the stage set for a lot of missteps and misunderstandings. Not always an easy read, but the good parts are so tender and beautiful, and the sex (there's lots of it) is a necessary part of the relationship development.
Izzy's story takes a bit of a backseat in this installment, and after the cliffhanger ending with Natali her love life takes a surprising direction. Despite the limited page time, she remains for the most part the glue that holds all of the other characters together. Points awarded to Jacobs for letting Izzy explore the "bi" in bisexuality.
I don't usually read "New Adult" books because most of them feature characters who are so much more fabulous and confident than I ever recall being in my 20's (Christina Lauren's books are a prime example). But Abroad 2 was so spot on in its portrayal of the uncertainty and insecurities of young adulthood that at times it was painful to keep turning the pages. If you're looking for a fluffy M/M romance, this isn't for you, but if you don't mind going back to the age when the future was one big, giant question mark (equally horrifying and exciting), then you will appreciate the strong writing, dialogue and characterization.
In two novels and approximately 400 pages, Jacobs manages to include a broad spectrum of queer representation, but it never feels preachy or didactic, or like she is working off a QUILTBAG checklist. I hope she is just getting started on her promising career; might I suggest a spin-off novella about Jonny and Lance and their search for an anti-capitalist paradise?
Izzy's story takes a bit of a backseat in this installment, and after the cliffhanger ending with Natali her love life takes a surprising direction. Despite the limited page time, she remains for the most part the glue that holds all of the other characters together. Points awarded to Jacobs for letting Izzy explore the "bi" in bisexuality.
I don't usually read "New Adult" books because most of them feature characters who are so much more fabulous and confident than I ever recall being in my 20's (Christina Lauren's books are a prime example). But Abroad 2 was so spot on in its portrayal of the uncertainty and insecurities of young adulthood that at times it was painful to keep turning the pages. If you're looking for a fluffy M/M romance, this isn't for you, but if you don't mind going back to the age when the future was one big, giant question mark (equally horrifying and exciting), then you will appreciate the strong writing, dialogue and characterization.
In two novels and approximately 400 pages, Jacobs manages to include a broad spectrum of queer representation, but it never feels preachy or didactic, or like she is working off a QUILTBAG checklist. I hope she is just getting started on her promising career; might I suggest a spin-off novella about Jonny and Lance and their search for an anti-capitalist paradise?
January 21, 2018
Books very rarely make me cry, but I was literally sobbing over the last page of this book. When Dex gives Nick a copy of fucking Kuzmin's 'Wings' and Nick doesn't even know what it is, I lost it completely. Because I do know what it is, and I know that--despite all of Nick's insistence otherwise--there is a history of gay Russians. And having that finally come to the forefront... I don't know, man. It caught me completely by surprise and just hit me so hard.
Anyway, this book. This series. All of the characters are so lovely and flawed. I love Dex and Nick so stupidly much. And Izzy was great in this sequel, and Alex.
This is such a nice little character study, really. And you get so many characters! But Nick is truly the heart and soul of this book, and the poor boy really gets put through the ringer. But he survives and picks himself up and is stronger than ever on the other side. It's so wonderful to see him finally fully free at the end... and then to be shown 'Wings' on top of it all... *goes off crying again*
These books just do all the right things for me, personally. They make me feel EVERYTHING. I feel like I am the ultimate audience for these books, and I'm so happy to have found them. I will definitely be revisiting them over and over and over again.
Anyway, this book. This series. All of the characters are so lovely and flawed. I love Dex and Nick so stupidly much. And Izzy was great in this sequel, and Alex.
This is such a nice little character study, really. And you get so many characters! But Nick is truly the heart and soul of this book, and the poor boy really gets put through the ringer. But he survives and picks himself up and is stronger than ever on the other side. It's so wonderful to see him finally fully free at the end... and then to be shown 'Wings' on top of it all... *goes off crying again*
These books just do all the right things for me, personally. They make me feel EVERYTHING. I feel like I am the ultimate audience for these books, and I'm so happy to have found them. I will definitely be revisiting them over and over and over again.
February 13, 2019
So beautiful and real, full of all the wild hope, pain, joy, uncertainty, and beauty of being young and new and finding a group of people who make you feel free enough to be your whole self.
I may or may not have sobbed like a little baby in the end... Ok, I totally did. I can't believe I just spent 800 pages absolutely falling in love with this group of London college kids, these living breathing characters currently taking up so much space in my brain, and I still want more. That's not to say that the book in any way left me hanging, though, because I feel completely and utterly satisfied right now!
I've heard people talk about how certain characters feel like friends and how they just want to go back and visit them, but I have never quite experienced that until now. Ooh! I just love them all so much! and I love how intensely emotional it was while never, ever falling into melodrama. Just, whoo... This one just really worked for me.
I really liked Liz Jacob's Christmas at the Wellends, but it was just a little short thing, and I think she truly had a chance to shine here in long form. I cannot flipping wait to read more by her!!
I may or may not have sobbed like a little baby in the end... Ok, I totally did. I can't believe I just spent 800 pages absolutely falling in love with this group of London college kids, these living breathing characters currently taking up so much space in my brain, and I still want more. That's not to say that the book in any way left me hanging, though, because I feel completely and utterly satisfied right now!
I've heard people talk about how certain characters feel like friends and how they just want to go back and visit them, but I have never quite experienced that until now. Ooh! I just love them all so much! and I love how intensely emotional it was while never, ever falling into melodrama. Just, whoo... This one just really worked for me.
I really liked Liz Jacob's Christmas at the Wellends, but it was just a little short thing, and I think she truly had a chance to shine here in long form. I cannot flipping wait to read more by her!!
February 15, 2018
This was somewhere between three and four stars I guess. The parts of this book that were good were SO GOOD. Which just made the parts of it that didn't work all the more frustrating. Nick and Dex finally got good after the world's slowest start. And everything with Nick and his sister and his mom was amazing. But basically Izzy's entire arc/resolution didn't work for me. Alex was such a non-entity for the first book that when he showed up as the romantic resolution for Izzy I wasn't sure why I was supposed to care. And the second she got a romantic resolution, everything about her screenplay and her mother was dropped. The clearly solution for this book being too long was not to make it into two half-books, but to cut a lot of the slow beginning with Nick and Dex and remove all of Izzy's story to give Nick and Dex their own book. You could have made them junior year. Then give Izzy her own book during senior year which seeds Alex as a romantic interest earlier and gives her some sort of homecoming resolution where she lets her mom read her screenplay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2018
This was such a lovely ending to the duology.
Coming out stories are always hard for me, and this one is difficult and painful and freeing and good. I loved Nick's journey and getting to go along with him on it.
I really appreciated that the story doesn't shy away from the hard things. It doesn't shy away from the reality of homophobia and racism and what it means to live as a gay person and a black person in this world.
There's a lot of sex in this book, and while it was all extremely hot, I never felt like it took away from the story being told. In fact, it added to it, and I enjoyed the way we got to see Nick and Dex's relationship develop emotionally and sexually.
Izzy's story was wonderful too, and close to my heart. I liked the way all three main characters' stories fit together, and there were many lovely moments with the supporting cast as well.
And that ending! <3<3<3
Coming out stories are always hard for me, and this one is difficult and painful and freeing and good. I loved Nick's journey and getting to go along with him on it.
I really appreciated that the story doesn't shy away from the hard things. It doesn't shy away from the reality of homophobia and racism and what it means to live as a gay person and a black person in this world.
There's a lot of sex in this book, and while it was all extremely hot, I never felt like it took away from the story being told. In fact, it added to it, and I enjoyed the way we got to see Nick and Dex's relationship develop emotionally and sexually.
Izzy's story was wonderful too, and close to my heart. I liked the way all three main characters' stories fit together, and there were many lovely moments with the supporting cast as well.
And that ending! <3<3<3
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