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We All Die Trying To Get It Right
There are exactly two things that Rafael Torres has always wanted out of life. The first is to see the Golden Gate Bridge in person and experience the sight that inspired his late mother to become a brilliant architect. The second is for his best friend, Henry Wyatt, to finally reciprocate the love that Rafael has held for him for over a decade. For a moment, it seems as if Rafael might get everything he’s hoped for when Henry joins him on a trip to finally visit the Golden Gate Bridge. But all is not as it seems, and Rafael will be forced to confront his complicated history with Henry while learning that in the end, life is never exactly as we want it to be, and we all die trying to get it right.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2018
3 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Michael Ryan Webb
3 books37 followersMichael Ryan Webb is the author of How We Love, a half-dozen in-progress novels, and such tweets as, “Don’t disrespect Michelle Branch like this.” His special talents include (and are limited to) knowing every track on Mario Kart 8 so well that the Blooper power-up doesn’t faze his driving and becoming instant best friends with every dog he meets. He lives in West Texas with his husband and their children (dogs).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 3, 2018
FIRST REVIEW!!!!
This was just magnificent.
Read my full thoughts on my blog: https://dylanthereader.com/2018/02/02...
This was just magnificent.
Read my full thoughts on my blog: https://dylanthereader.com/2018/02/02...
February 4, 2018
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
We All Die Trying to Get it Right seems to be a very light hearted, quick and easy read. The characters are likeable, funny and somewhat relatable.
The story of Rafael and Henry is told in alternating chapters between past and present, which could at times make it a little difficult to keep track of what happened when. However, I think that this way of approaching their story was the right one, as it made for a very dynamic structure that allowed us to know things when we should, not when we wanted.
The relationship between the main characters started out as a beautiful friendship, but Raf found himself developing romantic feelings for Henry, who had ended up becoming a brother to him for reasons outside of their control. This made me a bit dubious of what was going on inside Raf’s mind (could he be confusing brotherhood with romantic attraction?) Considering they were pretty much brothers, I couldn’t help but feel their relationship was kinda incestuous, which made me a bit apprehensive.
Throughout the first half of the book, Raf and Henry kept either being playful with each other or having fights and arguments on end. This felt very repetitive, as neither character was honest about what was going on and why they were really upset. It was simultaneously too ideal and too messy. As Rafael later put it, "I hate how complicated our dynamic has become." and I couldn’t agree more.
This cycle of will they / won’t they and their flirtatious dynamic made me feel like I already knew how the story would end (a happily ever after with birds and butterflies after so much pent up emotion and pining), thus making me not feel like picking it up again.
And YET, Michael Ryan Webb managed to surprise me with a hell of a plot twist! Turns out I did not know where this cute little story was headed...
The second half of the book was, in my opinion, much more interesting and captivating. It had more depth, felt more real and touching. In terms of Rafael and Henry’s relationship and conflict, and without giving away too much, the hospital scene was the one I found to convey more emotion and truth. It was a nice way to finally have them speak their minds and be open about what had been going on all that time.
The ending itself was something that made me think. There was a portion of the book where I was trying to understand how an own voices story about a gay relationship could be headed the same way most of them do, and which is something the LGBT community tries so hard to fight. Once again, Webb turned the story around and made it work in an unexpected way. I found this ending to be better than the sappy ‘happily ever after’ I had been expecting before.
Furthermore, I’d like to add that the representation in this book is aplenty! The main character is a gay latino man whose leg was amputated due to cancer. I know I can’t vouch for their authenticity, and I admit I was a bit worried about the cancer plotline being brushed off to focus on the romance, and the implication that he didn’t feel ‘whole’ without his leg, but overall I think it was all nicely handled.
Finally, I can’t ignore the amount of typos and missing words throughout the novel (not enough to ruin the experience of reading it but enough for me to notice) and I would’ve liked for there to be a bit more foreshadowing regarding *SPOILERS* Raf’s father’s propensity to having a heart attack. Other than that, I can say that I really enjoyed reading this story and only wished the first part had been a little more developed.
QUOTES:
"But love doesn’t subscribe to the laws of logic."
"Nobody’s born with a broken heart, Mijo. You don’t have to die with one either. Go out and find what makes you human again.”
"But this time, I finally understand that as close as we may get, he and I are destined to forever exist somewhere between the dreaming and the coming true."
We All Die Trying to Get it Right seems to be a very light hearted, quick and easy read. The characters are likeable, funny and somewhat relatable.
The story of Rafael and Henry is told in alternating chapters between past and present, which could at times make it a little difficult to keep track of what happened when. However, I think that this way of approaching their story was the right one, as it made for a very dynamic structure that allowed us to know things when we should, not when we wanted.
The relationship between the main characters started out as a beautiful friendship, but Raf found himself developing romantic feelings for Henry, who had ended up becoming a brother to him for reasons outside of their control. This made me a bit dubious of what was going on inside Raf’s mind (could he be confusing brotherhood with romantic attraction?) Considering they were pretty much brothers, I couldn’t help but feel their relationship was kinda incestuous, which made me a bit apprehensive.
Throughout the first half of the book, Raf and Henry kept either being playful with each other or having fights and arguments on end. This felt very repetitive, as neither character was honest about what was going on and why they were really upset. It was simultaneously too ideal and too messy. As Rafael later put it, "I hate how complicated our dynamic has become." and I couldn’t agree more.
This cycle of will they / won’t they and their flirtatious dynamic made me feel like I already knew how the story would end (a happily ever after with birds and butterflies after so much pent up emotion and pining), thus making me not feel like picking it up again.
And YET, Michael Ryan Webb managed to surprise me with a hell of a plot twist! Turns out I did not know where this cute little story was headed...
The second half of the book was, in my opinion, much more interesting and captivating. It had more depth, felt more real and touching. In terms of Rafael and Henry’s relationship and conflict, and without giving away too much, the hospital scene was the one I found to convey more emotion and truth. It was a nice way to finally have them speak their minds and be open about what had been going on all that time.
The ending itself was something that made me think. There was a portion of the book where I was trying to understand how an own voices story about a gay relationship could be headed the same way most of them do, and which is something the LGBT community tries so hard to fight. Once again, Webb turned the story around and made it work in an unexpected way. I found this ending to be better than the sappy ‘happily ever after’ I had been expecting before.
Furthermore, I’d like to add that the representation in this book is aplenty! The main character is a gay latino man whose leg was amputated due to cancer. I know I can’t vouch for their authenticity, and I admit I was a bit worried about the cancer plotline being brushed off to focus on the romance, and the implication that he didn’t feel ‘whole’ without his leg, but overall I think it was all nicely handled.
Finally, I can’t ignore the amount of typos and missing words throughout the novel (not enough to ruin the experience of reading it but enough for me to notice) and I would’ve liked for there to be a bit more foreshadowing regarding *SPOILERS* Raf’s father’s propensity to having a heart attack. Other than that, I can say that I really enjoyed reading this story and only wished the first part had been a little more developed.
QUOTES:
"But love doesn’t subscribe to the laws of logic."
"Nobody’s born with a broken heart, Mijo. You don’t have to die with one either. Go out and find what makes you human again.”
"But this time, I finally understand that as close as we may get, he and I are destined to forever exist somewhere between the dreaming and the coming true."
April 17, 2018
A really beautiful and genuinely moving story. I loved the characters, I laughed with them, and I was incredibly sad with them. I have been thinking about the book all day, and that doesn't happen very often with m/m books, even my own.
February 17, 2018
This was the sweetest. I’m writing my review tonight!
February 7, 2018
Ever since I heard about this book, I couldn't stop thinking about it – it was high priority on my TBR. I ended up winning a giveaway on the author's Twitter page and was lucky enough to get to read this story a few days before its release date. This was such a rollercoaster of feelings. It caught me by surprise so many times, and it made me smile, and laugh, and cry. This is a beautiful story about two friends coming to terms with the fact that they've been in love their whole lives. The alternating chapters between past and present help us understand the depth of their friendship and their feelings for each other. It is a very simple story, but it is so well told and there is so much diversity in the characters and thoughtfulness in the author's writing. But as this is one of those books that you're better off not knowing a lot about, that's all I'm going to say. Just please, please give it a chance. Raf and Henry are definitely going to be hanging around in my mind for a while.
February 19, 2018
Sometimes dreams take us captive with painful memories of our past. Maybe it’s a dream about an ex, or a family member who’s passed away. You wake up breathless and covered in sweat. Your heart is pounding. All those emotional wounds you keep buried suddenly rise to the surface again. And you feel haunted, like the person you dreamt about is still in the room with you.
That’s how reading this book felt for me. It was an emotional dream that stirred hidden feelings I’d locked away. The characters are genuine and well developed, so I instantly connected with them as if they were old friends.
It starts out so simple—with a dream, of course. A recurring dream that Rafael Torres has been having for the past six months. As his dream transforms into waking reality, we learn the story of him and his best friend, Henry Wyatt, who he’s been in love with for fifteen years.
They’re about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime, taking a road trip across the country to experience the Golden Gate Bridge from a hot air balloon. Throughout their journey, we learn how they met, and the tragic circumstances in their lives that have bonded them together. The story alternates seamlessly between flashbacks and present day as they reminisce.
But halfway through the journey, things start to take a heart-wrenching turn as the secrets pour out. Suddenly the reader is taken on a road they never expected to go down, and I loved every second of it.
The story of Rafael and Henry packs such an emotional wallop, but it’s paced in a way that’s manageable. There’s a fair mix of humor and sweetness to balance it out.
Just like with Mr. Webb’s first novel, “How We Love,” I’m once again reminded by “We All Die Trying To Get It Right” how precious and fragile life is, and how important it is to tell people you love them.
My favorite quote from the story: “I need to remember to lead with love in everything I do…”
Lead with love. Always.
That’s how reading this book felt for me. It was an emotional dream that stirred hidden feelings I’d locked away. The characters are genuine and well developed, so I instantly connected with them as if they were old friends.
It starts out so simple—with a dream, of course. A recurring dream that Rafael Torres has been having for the past six months. As his dream transforms into waking reality, we learn the story of him and his best friend, Henry Wyatt, who he’s been in love with for fifteen years.
They’re about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime, taking a road trip across the country to experience the Golden Gate Bridge from a hot air balloon. Throughout their journey, we learn how they met, and the tragic circumstances in their lives that have bonded them together. The story alternates seamlessly between flashbacks and present day as they reminisce.
But halfway through the journey, things start to take a heart-wrenching turn as the secrets pour out. Suddenly the reader is taken on a road they never expected to go down, and I loved every second of it.
The story of Rafael and Henry packs such an emotional wallop, but it’s paced in a way that’s manageable. There’s a fair mix of humor and sweetness to balance it out.
Just like with Mr. Webb’s first novel, “How We Love,” I’m once again reminded by “We All Die Trying To Get It Right” how precious and fragile life is, and how important it is to tell people you love them.
My favorite quote from the story: “I need to remember to lead with love in everything I do…”
Lead with love. Always.
May 1, 2018
A beautiful and heartbreaking story about love, loss and regret.
Dear Author, damn you for making me cry! ;(
But thank you! :)
Dear Author, damn you for making me cry! ;(
But thank you! :)
March 9, 2018
Love is many things all at once. Love is complicated. Love is simple. Love is loud. Love is unrequited. Love is joy. Love is pain. Love is all-encompassing. No matter what form it takes, love is all around us and connects us in ways we may not always notice.
From their first chance encounter, Rafael and Henry are inextricably linked. The bond they share carries them through various triumphs, heartbreaks, and all of the life in between. Once the road trip west to the Golden Gate Bridge begins, and thus the trip through their memories, it becomes clear that no matter how much hurt or misunderstanding existed, the one through-line was love. A through-line which they both have clung to, whether the other knew it or not.
It's such a gift to find an author who has the ability to make you care about the characters in their story, to fully invest yourself, and Ryan is one of them. This second novel marks such strong growth from an already great writer. He has an incredible sense of emotion in his work, taking the reader even further into the dark, messy corners of life in this book. I'm so eager to see what comes next from Ryan. It's such a joy to watch someone expand and try new things with their work, and do it well on top of that. :)
I'll leave you with this: never take an opportunity to tell someone that you love them for granted. Every day is never a guarantee and life is too short to leave things unsaid and not live as fully as possible.
From their first chance encounter, Rafael and Henry are inextricably linked. The bond they share carries them through various triumphs, heartbreaks, and all of the life in between. Once the road trip west to the Golden Gate Bridge begins, and thus the trip through their memories, it becomes clear that no matter how much hurt or misunderstanding existed, the one through-line was love. A through-line which they both have clung to, whether the other knew it or not.
It's such a gift to find an author who has the ability to make you care about the characters in their story, to fully invest yourself, and Ryan is one of them. This second novel marks such strong growth from an already great writer. He has an incredible sense of emotion in his work, taking the reader even further into the dark, messy corners of life in this book. I'm so eager to see what comes next from Ryan. It's such a joy to watch someone expand and try new things with their work, and do it well on top of that. :)
I'll leave you with this: never take an opportunity to tell someone that you love them for granted. Every day is never a guarantee and life is too short to leave things unsaid and not live as fully as possible.
July 13, 2018
Lovely story very well told. I loved the idea of the book and was impressed with the execution. It's the sort of story that could be ruined by one wrong turn, but here everything was perfect. It was a real pleasure.
July 15, 2018
3.75 stars
March 6, 2018
4.75 stars, this was so great!!
March 19, 2025
Very moving m/m romance
Raj and Henry become best friends in seventh grade. Each of them lost their mothers at birth but Henry' father is a bum while Raj's father is a loving hard working man. In high school Henry's father goes to jail and he comes to live with his best friend and his father. Raj discovers he is gay, admits it to Henry but doesn't tell that he is in love with Henry. They each date others as Henry moves to New York City and life goes on. Each is actually in love with the other but don't admit it until it is apparently too late. I want to go on and on but don't want to give spoilers so I will just say this is a beautiful story about loving people and you will be glad you read it.
Raj and Henry become best friends in seventh grade. Each of them lost their mothers at birth but Henry' father is a bum while Raj's father is a loving hard working man. In high school Henry's father goes to jail and he comes to live with his best friend and his father. Raj discovers he is gay, admits it to Henry but doesn't tell that he is in love with Henry. They each date others as Henry moves to New York City and life goes on. Each is actually in love with the other but don't admit it until it is apparently too late. I want to go on and on but don't want to give spoilers so I will just say this is a beautiful story about loving people and you will be glad you read it.
April 19, 2018
After how much I liked Michael Ryan Webb's first novel 'How We Love', I was eager to read 'We All Die Trying To Get It Right'. This second novel of his was also a read it all in one sitting type of a book. Michael has a great ability to create gripping and genuine stories that people are easily able to empathize with. There are emotional ups and downs and the way that some situations are handled by the characters feel true to life in many ways. I really loved the connection between the characters and how well developed they were. The relationship between Rafael and Henry is one of a kind that everyone's trying to pursue in life.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews