L'imperfezione dei cigni

by Brandon Witt

Kevin Bivanti sogna da sempre di aprire una boutique di meravigliosi abiti nuziali, il posto in cui ogni promessa sposa possa sentirsi adorata. A trentotto anni, lascia una carriera di successo nel mondo della pubblicità per acquistare una vecchia brownstone in un quartiere prestigioso di Boston e realizzare il suo sogno. Quando uno dei suoi finanziatori è costretto a ritirarsi, il fato interviene presentandogli Casper James, un pasticciere che spera di aprire un’attività in proprio e che si rende disponibile a correre il rischio. Le loro ambizioni si fondono in una combinazione di boutique per abiti da sposa e pasticceria per torte nuziali.

I lavori di ristrutturazione della brownstone, la relazione con l’ex marito, i drammi familiari con le madri e l’ansia per i cambiamenti sconvolgenti della sua vita spingono Kevin sull’orlo di un crollo nervoso. In mezzo allo stress e alla preoccupazione, Casper diventa qualcosa di più di un socio in affari e la loro reciproca attrazione rende più intense le emozioni, mettendo però a repentaglio l’attività.

Proprio quando i loro sogni sono sul punto di trasformarsi in realtà, Kevin e Casper devono trovare il coraggio di affrontare lo stress che deriva dal loro rapporto, l’incertezza di una nuova avventura imprenditoriale e il ripresentarsi dei demoni personali di Kevin.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Gay, Audiobook, Disability

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2016

About the author

Brandon Witt's outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he's got plenty to write about....


Visit Brandon's webpage: http://www.brandonwitt.com/

Visit him on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.witt...

Enjoy episodes of The Witty Hour: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5c...

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

Looong, angsty, and full of feels, you need to be a patient reader to enjoy this one.

First, some important details. This book has a couple of things that seems to be a problem for some readers. For one, these guys date and have sex with other people after they meet but before they are a couple, though there is some very slight overlap. I know those details alone are a deal-breaker for some readers so I thought I'd put it out there. Also, there is almost no sex on page. If that is important to you, step aside because you'll be getting no nookie in this one!

I first heard about this book a few months ago at the GRL book retreat in San Diego. Brandon Witt told readers then that he had written a book that was loosely based on the experiences and dreams of Kevin, a close friend of his, who always dreamed of opening a wedding dress shop and struggled with anxiety and an eating disorder. I went into this book knowing that it was based on a real person, and I kept that in mind the whole time that I was reading.

I think the strength of this book is depth of the characters. These characters are extremely multifaceted and have so much more to them then what is on the surface. His depiction of everyone was very nuanced, and Brandon Witt got me to feel a LOT of emotion during the story. Kevin, in particular, was really touching for me. I think most of us could understand body image issues and pressure to feel "good enough," so Kevin's character really struck a chord with me.

However, this book also was a bit of a struggle for me to get through. It is a very long book, and it feels very long. It was beautifully and consistently written, but it took AGES for anything to happen. These guys don't really get together until 66% of the way through the book, which is a long time to wait, IMO, especially with no sex on page. The pace is also just very slow, with much of the details spent on time cleaning up their store and picking out decorations for their business. It felt a little tedious for me, and I had to keep reminding myself to read on when my attention wavered.

I think Brandon Witt did a great job honoring his friend's very personal story (and, *eek!* he is a hottie- his friend is the cover model!), but it wasn't a re-read kind of story for me. I hope others give it a try because there are some really touching parts of the story.

**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reflection in the mirror isn't always what we see.

Luckily fate brings Kevin & Casper together....
and they discover love isn't always easy but it IS always worth it.
And Witt delicately demonstrates when we are empowered with unconditional love, we can shatter the walls built to shield our deepest darkest secrets. Secrets that warp the image in the looking glass, secrets that can consume us and ultimately, crush us. Love grants us the strength required to bare skeletons that were never meant to be exposed while simultaneously were sought to be shared. It's a precious gift when someone sees you; not just the superficial image portrayed but the real you and it's an equal treasure when you are invited to such a sacred place. A place with no walls, no secrets. No one has seen all of Kevin before Casper enters his life. Not his two amazing overbearing, overprotective mothers nor his husband. Correction, that should be ex-husband. I adored how both men were searching for something and as it turned out, it happened to be each other.

Kevin relents to his mothers gentle nudge (okay, more like forceful shove) and takes the plunge to chase his dream. He has longed to own his own bridal shop for as long as he can remember. Wedding gowns are intimate, personal and a reflection of the lady preparing to walk down the aisle. He is drawn to the satin, lace and magic the perfect dress holds. When an opportunity at owning a gorgeous brownstone in Boston pops up, he can't dismiss it. When he meets Casper the following day, who happens to be an exquisite artist in the kitchen dreaming of opening a bakery specializing in wedding cakes, well, it appears Lady Luck is on his side. However, Ms. Luck isn't going to make it easy on them and they face discouraging obstacles along the way. The pressure, stress and an inconvenient re-connection with his ex push Kevin to the brink. Casper is there, ready to catch him, but what if he refuses to be caught?

What's to like: Personal demon slaying at its best. I admire and respect the way Mr. Witt executed Kevin exposing and tackling his...issues. We all have issues. I can relate to Kevin's neat-freak, OCD tendencies. I *might* organize obsessively, breathe easier when the pantry is in perfect harmony and can't walk out the front door unless the sofa pillows are straight. Then...I had a darling baby girl. I realized I could either drive myself nutty running in circles trying to maintain the fine-tuned life I created, or I could let it get messy. Life is messy. There's no avoiding it. Even when you do everything within your power to keep it spotless, chaos will occur. I decided to embrace the mayhem with open arms. I still cringe internally when my little helper folds towels haphazardly but I refuse to allow my persnickety tendencies to dampen her bright smile. Kevin was so focused on ensuring every aspect of his life was perfect that he nearly destroyed himself in the process. Casper saw him, EVERY part of him, imperfections and all...and still fell in love with him. Kevin gave up his treadmill race and confronted his biggest fear...he was not perfect. *hugs Kevin* Actually, he was far from perfect. But if someone else could love him when he was shy of perfection, then maybe he could too.


What's to love: Sometime a book makes me feel so full, I don't know what to do with myself. The feelz here were astounding. I loved Casper from the get-go, smiled in familiarity with Kevin and absolutely adored them together. Kevin's large-and-in-charge family made me chuckle and rounded out a great cast of characters. I was particularly smitten with Noelle and was delighted that she took Casper under her motherly wing. Despite Kevin's hostility towards himself, there's a lot of love surging through these pages. I loved how Casper loved Kevin *hugs Casper* and how Kevin returns the love. Kevin's mothers balanced each other and it was obvious how much they cared for their son. Even Kevin's ex....I didn't hate him. I certainly didn't love him, but I could see that he never meant to hurt Kevin the way that he did. They simply weren't meant to be, even when they vowed to become family, it just wasn't there. You can't fault them for not finding the pseudo-happily-ever-after. My body trembled from the emotional ending....especially the extra's after the epilogue. And how can you not love that cover? The cover was what sparked my interest and convinced me to try this new-to-me author...which definitely won't be my last page time with Brandon. Honestly, I loved almost all of it. *hugs Brandon*

Beware of: A slow start with a strong & spectacular finish. If you're looking for fast, furious and a frenzy of nekkid time...move along. Fairly low steam and fade-to-black passion might be a concern for some. However I didn't feel slighted in the sexy department at all. There are times when the heat of the moment is necessary to feel the connection and then there are times when you feel the connection burning your fingertips without a ton of on-page climaxes to prove the point. This was the latter. Despite the restraint they both attempt, the fall is fast. Both argue that it's too fast and rebounding is likely; but accept when it's right...it's right. Some may call it insta-love, but I believe it's insta-right.

This book is for: Anyone who believes in fate and taking that 'holy shit I can't believe I'm doing this' scary leap. To those brave souls who jump without thinking twice and trust...love will catch you before you fall...this is the book for you. I hope you love it as much as I did...imperfections and all. Ohhh, and for those of us that have decided messy can be fanfreakintastic I think you'll cherish this one too....just keep the hand towels straight in the bathroom please and thank you ;)

Book UNfunk

[♣ Irish Smurfétté ♣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mar 14, 2017: now on audio! Come to mommaaaaaaaaaa!!

Full Reviewage on Prism Book Alliance®

Noelle managed to strike an imposing figure with her hands on hips, despite the red fluff ball that made up the reindeer’s nose on her sweater.

Aaaaand Brandon Witt is back, with another all too human story filled with imperfect, loving, and struggling humans at its core. I’m sitting in chapter one and I already want Kevin to obtain his dream, to make it come true. We need to make this happen, people! See? I said ‘we’, as if I’m there with his moms, Noelle being one of that dynamic duo (in the truest sense, not even talking comic book here), in on the plot, er plan. Also, I chose that above quote, not just because it represents a lot about Witt’s writing but, because Noelle is my favorite supporting character in this story.

Going back to dynamics, they are on full display here in all their possibilities for confusion, love, disagreement, secrets, support and everything else. In Kevin’s case, it was easy to see from whom he learned to love. In Casper’s case, it was easy to see how someone as caring as he would be drawn to this family.

This starts off a bit rough with the prose, almost like the author was so excited to start telling us this story. Now, of course, I’ve got no idear where in his process he wrote these opening scenes but then it doesn’t really matter because things quickly even out. It could also be Kevin’s voice being in the overstressed state it’s in when we begin. We get both his and Casper’s in the telling of their story and that works out wonderfully, getting both perspectives on this sort of whirlwind beginning to their partnership and everything that comes with it. Most of all, this is true concerning Kevin’s living with an eating disorder.

In general, light wins out over the darkness, hope and faith and thoughtfulness ruling the day, even on the very worst of them. I think this is the way in which Witt managed to balance the experience of caring about and loving someone with an eating disorder, and how that person lives with the struggles, not the least of which is accepting the caring and love from those who do. Another balancing act which the author portrays well.

Witt’s writing is straightforward in a most enjoyably casual way. The dialogue is accessible and flows well, with vocabulary and phrasing that most of us use these days without much thought at all. I love that. There are a few conversations that felt a bit thin in terms of fleshing out the atmosphere and characters’ intonations. They could have benefitted from additional clues regarding inflection and emotional intent. Relatedly, the result are some passages that feel too obvious, telling me everything, not letting me figure it out for myself.

The progression of the partnership between Kevin and Casper feels so organic and realistic, with natural back and forth, and asking of questions about their lives, sometimes awkwardly stumbling through those. The pace of the story fit the pace of this evolution.

As for the supporting characters, they are a fantastically diverse group in every sense. No one is purely evil or all sweetness and light, thank goodness, with each of them well formed.. We have a mix of cultural backgrounds and life experiences. And each of them has a unique reaction towards and way of living with Kevin and his struggles, as well as his dreams. I think that’s important to point out, that this story is, yes, about Kevin’s dealing with a long dealt with disease, but also about his dreams and how he goes about trying to make them happen. And about how those who love him are a part of that plan, some with unexpected roles and twists to the story.

This speaks volumes in a few words:

Kevin shook his head and then considered. “I would feel guilty because of letting my moms and the aunts down. And you. But I guess I will also feel guilty if I make it. If this crazy dream of a wedding dress shop comes true. Like, why me? When I already have so much? why me?”

“Because you leapt! Because you were brave enough to take a leap of faith and then work your ass off.”

Easier said than done sometimes, yeah? And definitely easier believed than not sometimes.

This story is not packed with angst, of which I’m selfishly glad. There are no major manufactured challenges that lead to just as fake tension. These are adults behaving and treating each other as adults. They talk about things, they don’t do that fake avoidance thing just to try and create false conflict within the story. Kevin is in his 30s and Casper is nearly 40. In other words, normal folk working through life. Believe me, as someone just north of 40, we talk about stuff, even the most difficult real stuff.

I like how therapy and those who practice it (funny term, idn’t it? “practice”, considering they do it all day long) are portrayed, as well as the feelings of those who make the decision to take advantage of it and what it can do. It feels real and accurate. Granted, I only have my own experience, and a brief one at that, to compare, but it’s true. Sometimes ya kinda don’t care when the tears fall in front of the doc.

This is how I like my contemporary stories, just as I’ve described this one, hopefully in a clear enough fashion to help you decide if you’ll want to experience this story and these characters, too. If you love contemporary stories? Read this book. If you’ve been considering trying contemporary, having previously avoided it because there is so much out there and you don’t want to waste precious reading time wading through it all? Read this book. If you’d previously sworn off contemporary but find yourself wanting to give it a whirl again? Read this book. It’s a complete story, with beginning, middle, and end, with all of the in between bits loving, emotional, humorous, complicated, and so much more.

ETA: A Recommended Read on PBA for January 2016

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story touched me on a very personal level. Needless to say, Brandon Witt is a great observer when it comes to people's internal struggles. 'The Imperfection of Swans' (and God, could there be a more perfect title for this novel?) tells the story of Kevin who dreams of opening up his own wedding dress shop (or gowns, sorry ;-).

At 38 he finally decides to go for it, drops his current job in marketing and purchases a huge brownstone building in Boston - with the help of his family. He also happens to meet Casper, a pastry chef looking for his own place to open up a bakery, and both guys decide to do this absolutely awesome 'wedding gown/cake with matching designs' combo and open up the store as a collaboration, with wedding gowns being offered to brides on the first floor of the building and a wedding cake shop on the second floor. So any bride to be could choose her perfect wedding dress and THEN just walk a few steps to have Casper design her an individual wedding cake that matches her dress or whatever theme the wedding is supposed to follow.

In all honesty, an awesome idea. Brandon Witt should do business consulting. Seriously.

However, it's a great plot if you're into wedding dresses and stuff, but all in all, the setting wasn't what blew me away about this story. What really made this book stand out is how well Kevin's problem is portrayed. Sadly, I know this type of issue well enough from my own life (though an eating disorder isn't part of my personal life, thank God!). Still, I knew every single aspect of Kevin's way of thinking.

It all started out with perfectionism. Even back in school, Kevin wanted to be acknowledged, have good grades, win merit awards - simply achieve the best possible result in everything, so people would love him.

As he gew older it got harder for him to have people around him praise him, because constant praise is what people like him require to feel good. So he started to concentrate on his looks. He wanted to be the handsome one, the thin one with a killer body that everyone looks up to. But at the same time, he was and still is his own worst critic, destroying his self-esteem again and again every time he looks in the mirror. Every single wrinkle, ever inch of (probably completely fat-less) skin feels ugly to him. Small things that a healthy person would just shrug off without a second thought become a terrible nightmare, especially when someone else mentions them (as in 'You're looking thin, are you sick?')

When he looks in the mirror, he sees an ugly, weak person making fun of him, telling him how he doesn't deserve what he got (i.e. his gorgeous husband) and how he would never live up to everyone's expectations anyway. So he tries harder.
While some people, like me, prefer to just NOT spend painful amounts of energy on trying to impress people (and develop a social fear in the process), thus avoiding to meet people in order to keep them from judging you (which is even worse when you're a gay teenager and want the world to accept you and approve of you), Kevin takes the opposite path.

He's not withdrawing. On the contrary, he is striving for success in his job and in his personal life. He works out like crazy. He counts calories and times his meals (if he has meals at all, that is). His constant anxiety requires medication, his terrible eating habits cause his stomach to revolt, again requiring medication.

He probably doesn't realize it, but it turns him into a superficial guy who only exists to have other people approve of him. He's not always a likeable guy, but in the moments when he is able to shake off his fears (with Casper) we get to see the real person behind the facade.
And even worse, Kevin's husband, who matches his insanely high expectations of how a person should be perceived, makes him feel terrible, because his inner self knows he cannot ever compete with that hunk of a man. Their marriage doesn't work, of course.

The only light in his clouded life is his dream of opening a wedding dress shop. Actually, the idea is hilarious and lighthearted, given the rather dark undertone of the book. I mean, a wedding dress shop as a way to compensate social anxiety? Really?!

And it seems that the path to opening the shop is a rather bumpy one with Kevin's anxiety issues.

BUT, let's not forget Casper James. Casper is a down-to-earth kind of guy. He carries his heart on his tongue. He knows he's not a super stud (like Kevin), but he's not too shy to go for what he wants either. He's had some bad relationship experiences and he's convinced that trying to rescue your struggling boyfriend is not the way to go into a relationship. He wants to be there for him and deal with things as they come - as a couple. But he will not pretend that things are fine when they clearly are not.

Long story short: He's the exact opposite of Kevin's ex-husband - and he's probably the perfect partner for Kevin from a psychological point of view.
Sure, it's comfortable to have a partner who is able to ignore your mental issues and who - most likely unintentionally - even adds to these issues by enabling them, but having a partner who is willing to deal with these issues is like the most perfect outcome that a guy like Kevin could hope for.

I am still uncertain about Kevin's parents (I think it's usually the parents who are to blame for these kind of issues). The Christmas-crazy Noelle and the slightly uptight Renata seemed like decent enough parents to me. The whole Bivanti clan was truly something, by the way. The number of family members with a same sex orientation is quite large, actually. At least Kevin didn't have to deal with any kind of coming out trauma on top of everything, LOL.

I kinda lost myself in psycho-babble here :-)

Anyway, 'The Imperfection of Swans' is a multi-layered novel which is so much fun to read. The scene where they decide to check out the competition and try on wedding gowns themselves is one of the funniest moments ever.

And can you believe it, 'Swans' takes us to a performance of WICKED on Broadway!!! It's the gay boy in me speaking, but this is the ultimate romance orgasm for me!! I love Wicked and I love to work out to 'Defying Gravity', so I was close to tears when I read about this.

Oh, and I feel the need to mention that there *are* sex scenes in this book and they are very nicely done, never overly graphic. I think they belong in romance and I kinda missed them in Brandon's previous book, but I found them absolutely satisfying here.

By the way, you need to check out Brandon's interview with the real-life Kevin who inspired him to create Kevin Bivanti. It's so much fun and also a great bit of inside knowledge to go with this book.
Check it out here.

Swans was so worth the wait. It's a book that's not just entertainment, but one that makes you think. I guess I actually found myself a favorite auto-buy author here.

And thinking about the next books on my to-be-read pile, I feel like quoting Cher:


5 stars and on my list of favorites!

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Having read Then the Stars Fall, I knew going into this that this was not going to be some bump and grind erotica - pretty sure Witt is never going to be that kind of author. What he has consistently done though, is address and explore some very tough issues and real problems that many have faced or know someone who has. His characters are flawed, and their worries and feelings are not simple nor easily handled.

As many people have said, this is quite the slow burn, but the payoff was worth it. Kevin may look gorgeous on the outside, his life seemingly perfect, but on the inside he’s a mass of swirling anxiety, insecurity, all with the desperate need to be flawless. When circumstance allows him to finally obtain his long held dream of owning a wedding shop, he‘s played it safe for too long, and he takes a bold chance.

Ultimately, that chance includes Casper, who becomes instrumental in making Kevin’s dream come true. He too, is ready to dive in and make his aspirations of owning a bakery a reality. On paper, he and Kevin would never work out, but somehow they’re exactly what the other needs.

So yes, there’s some very real, and not so easy to look at, struggles here. It's an unflinching portrayal of personal demons and the immense pressure one can put upon themselves - and thus, the not-so-pretty results of such expectations. The strength in this story lies in the understatedness - the gradual build, the layering, and the foundation that these two men set down in order to start anew with their business venture, and inevitably, with each other.

Love, in the right way, can heal and bolster, rather than negate or lose one’s self, especially when harsh truths come to light. This was very romantic, in and amongst the difficult, intense times. Overall, a very heartfelt story of how Kevin and Casper accept their faults, and how their hard won triumphs negate those doubts, as they use each other’s love to become the best versions of themselves.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was awesome, but...

It was what came after that brought me to tears...well done Mr. Witt, very well done.

You'll probably notice that I say this a lot...but once again my decision to start reviewing audio books has enabled me to get to a story on my TBR list that I keep squirreling away from. There's no insult intended to anyone because this is just how I am. I actually do this with some of my favorite authors and have done it for my entire reading life. I read a lot and I also buy a lot of books and I squirrel from book to book a lot. Which ironically in spit of the fact that I own 10 of this authors titles makes this the first story that I've actually read...errr, listened to.

Anyways, enough about my strange reading habits and I'll get back to the real issue at hand here...'The Imperfection of Swans'...wow, what a truly beautiful story. Kevin has always wanted to open up his own bridal store and Casper loves to bake and having his own bakery that specialized in wedding cakes would be a dream come true for him but it's not until these two meet and an acquaintance suggest that they need to partner up that both men begin to believe that they really can have their hearts desires fulfilled.

Kevin is both heartbreaking and inspiring. His constant struggle to maintain what he perceives to be the necessary image and to keep himself from falling victim to the harmful effects of his choices made my heart ache for him and in the end his efforts to finally acknowledge and break the cycle of harmful behavior that had ruled his life took so much courage. Yes, he had an amazing support system and I was so happy for that but still ultimately it was Kevin and only Kevin who had the ability to change things for himself and the strength that is needed to do this and succeed is so amazing.

I loved Casper...was he perfect...no, but, he was perfectly wonderful and most important of all...he was perfect for Kevin. He loved and accepted Kevin warts and all and really can any of us every truly ask for more?

There were more than a few awesome secondary characters in this book and for the most part I loved them. From Kevin's family to his ex, who I was happy to see wasn't portrayed as a bad person so much as the wrong person for Kevin. I'd actually like to see that character have a novel where he gets his own happily ever after. I'd also like more about Kevin's Uncle Tony and his husband and Casper's ex not-ex Brent just needs to go away...like I said a lot of interesting secondary characters in this one...the guy that ran the Sushi place? Seriously what was up with him?

I'm sure it's no real secret by now that the character of Kevin is based on the author's best friend and while the story got more than a few tears from me it was the comments of the real Kevin and the author that were read after the story that brought even more tears to my eyes because I was yet again reminded that Kevin, the real Kevin is truly a brave soul to share what was both a difficult and trying experience with the world is not something that a lot of people would be comfortable or willing to do. It takes strength to do this especially when you consider that the handsome young man on the cover is the real Kevin. So admittedly the story itself was probably a 4 star read for me but when all this is factored in I can in all honesty give this no fewer than 5 glowing 'you've wowed me' stars.

So where does that leave the audio book? Kirt Graves was the narrator for this one. His voices are expressive and have the discernible difference allowing me to listen without difficulty or losing track of who's speaking and questioning which voice is whose, I had no problem staying engaged with the story. In general this narrator works for me and while he's another new to me narrator, based on this book and the samples from a couple of his other books that I've listened to he's someone that I'll look forward to hearing more from in future.

'The Imperfection of Swans' is a story that deals with some really tough issues with insight and sensitivity by a 'new to me' author and narrator who made for a really enjoyable combination.

********************
An audio book of 'The Imperfection of Swans' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Marte - Thunderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** 5 for Kevin stars *****

-----------------------------------
....for the extra push that I feel in reading this great compilation of words and emotions.
Onwards. Upward, Heartward.
~Kevin~
-----------------------------------

Soo, I'm going to be unpopular and popular and selfish and selfless in one small review.

Throughout this book my mental rating hovered around 3 to 4 stars. That's not a bad rating at all, since 3 means "I liked it" and 4 means "I loved it". If I'm being brutally honest, though, it was closer to a 3. 
I liked it. It was powerful, emotional, angsty and a great piece of literature. Most of all, important due to its topic.
I had my issues with it, though, from a pure book reading point of view, hence the hovering mental rating.

Why 5 stars then?
Well, there was a note from the real Kevin at the end of the book.
THAT really got to me. 
So, I'm giving all my 5 stars to you, Kevin. Without you this book would not be. 

May you always shine bright.
Thank you.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Brandon Witt’s writing while reading Then The Stars Fall, a realistic, capturing story with main characters that aren’t perfect.

Though the situation of the MCs feels entirely different The Imperfection of Swans is a real-life story, too. Kevin and Casper and the whole bunch of the Bivanti family are every-day-guys with dreams and flaws, and exactly their imperfectness makes them lovable. Because all of us are imperfect as well.

Brandon Witt’s writing style was flawless, though. It’s intense, emotional, thought-and depth-provoking, thrilling.

The Imperfection Of Swans didn’t feel slow to me… and the off-page sex didn’t bother me, for me it’s a beautiful story with everything what makes it to one of my top favorite reads. Beautifully done.

Five extra stars for Kevin Eksterowicz, Brandon Witt’s BFF, the inspiration of the novel and the cover-model. Thx for letting us being a part of your fight against your inner demons. I’m in awe.

[Aerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a Brandon Witt book, so I thought it was about time to get back in the saddle. Now, after finishing this book, I wonder, how is it possible that what came after the epilogue changed this rating from a solid 4 stars to 5 stars? Only one answer comes to mind, so that must be it: this book was written after real characters, with real feelings, which makes the topic of this book even more heartbreakingly real.

I have to offer praise to Brandon for having the courage and determination to approach a topic that's rarely mentioned when it comes to men: eating disorders. I know we get to see how the female population suffers and is affected by these, but to get to experience it from a male POV, and to see that men deal with body image issues and eating disorders while striving to achieve perfection just as women do, was captivating, heartbreaking, eye-opening, and an experience I won't forget anytime soon.

Kevin is a gorgeous 38 year old man, who comes from an overbearing Italian family who's as supportive as it is overwhelming. Kevin has been dreaming about owning a bridal store since he was a teenager, and while he never gave up on his dream, life had other plans in store for him. The child of a lesbian couple, Kevin had all the support and love needed while growing up, and he was never judged of shamed for his homosexuality. But sometimes, no matter how much love and support we have, we are still affected by different conditions and/or we're not quite happy with who we are.

Kevin suffers from a severe anxiety disorder that started in his teenage years, and has been battling bulimia and anorexia for many years, even though for the most part he got his bulimia under control. Kevin is gorgeous and has a great body, only when he looks in a mirror, that's not what he sees: he sees ugliness and fat, imperfection and disappointment. No matter how much those around him tell him he looks great, he never believes it. Being married for years to Scott, a beautiful, pretty much physically perfect man, and being cheated on and divorced because Scott chose another man, certainly didn't help Kevin's condition.

Kevin's story affected me a lot, and I was able to connect with him like I've never connected with another character before. I understand perfectly what he's going through and that he can't control the way he feels about his own body; I understand because I go through the same thing, although I'm not even close to the severity of Kevin's experiences. But I experienced this enough throughout my life to feel connected to Kevin on a very deep level.

Casper is a chef whose dreams are to one day open his own dessert shop, specializing in wedding cakes. When Casper and Kevin meet through some mutual friends and learn that they have similar goals, they decide to go into business together to help each other with the expenses or starting a new business, and to offer people a unique experience when it comes to their bridal needs. Casper finds Kevin extremely attractive and no matter how much he tries, he can never think of him as a business partner only. This was one of those cases where the heart wants what it wants, and having faith in fate might make your dreams come true. Casper knows that he's not beautiful enough, not cool enough, not interesting enough and entirely too geeky to ever make Kevin interested in him, especially once he meets Kevin's ex-husband/on-again lover Scott, because he knows he's never going to fall into the same category with Scott. And yet he never stops hoping.

The more time Kevin spends with Casper, the more attracted to him he feels; the stress and pressure of starting a new business, along with his anorexia, are causing Kevin to experience severe anxiety attacks. But with time he comes to realize that being with Casper makes him feel relaxed and happy, and the anxiety that causes him to eat Xanax like candy doesn't make an appearance as frequently when they spend time together. What starts off as a friendship becomes so much more, and I loved every bump in their road to happiness. Casper and Kevin are a great couple and a fantastic team, and I especially love how unconditionally Casper loves Kevin, and how good he is for Kevin's well-being.

The reason I wanted to give this book 4 stars instead of five is for the lack of steam and sex factor. If this had some on-page sex and maybe some descriptive steamy parts, it truly would've been the most perfect book. Only after reading the word from the real life Kevin at the end of this book, and Brandon's word where we find out most of this book's characters are inspired by real-life people, this book became less of a fiction and more of a reality, and I quite frankly stopped minding the lack of sex that much. I know this is still fiction and many of the things that happened are fiction as well, but knowing the core of this books is based on real people made a huge difference for me.

Lovely book!!!

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Sinfully.

This is a slow build romance that confronts its serious subject matter head on, without veering into unnecessary dramatics or contrived plots. Kevin and Casper are strangers, dropping the stability of their careers to pursue their complementary dreams within days of meeting. Kevin has dreamed of owning a bridal gown shop since he was a child and pastry chef Casper has been saving to open his own bakery. As if giving everything up to follow your dreams, including having your family invest in that dream isn’t enough pressure, Kevin struggles with severe anxiety and an eating disorder that is compounded by a medical condition. Kevin’s unrelenting drive to succeed is both an advantage and a cross to bear, but he manages to find some calm and balance in Casper’s easy going nature.

As they work together they fall into an easy friendship. Casper sees things in Kevin that nobody else has ever noticed. While Casper isn’t what Kevin considers to be his type, they get along well together and Kevin soon finds an attraction starting to simmer. Casper radiates calm and believes in fate. Where Kevin worries about endless possible problems, Casper finds a way to talk him down and work through realistic ways to confront them if they happen. Casper’s attraction to Kevin is immediate and strong. With so much on the line, he is not looking to mix business with pleasure (besides he believes he is nowhere in Kevin’s league especially after he sees Kevin with his ex-husband), but it’s an uphill battle for him the more the two get to know each other.

Kevin’s struggles are portrayed without unnecessary dramatics. We’re along for the ride as he silently struggles with rising anxiety and trying to control his eating disorder. The stress mounts as Kevin and Casper jump in with both feet to get their dream store up and running and Kevin brings his ex-husband Scott back into his life. Scott is the gorgeous man he believed he could never live up to or be good enough for and the man who cheated on him and divorced him. Scott is single again and seems to truly regret the way he treated Kevin, but Kevin falls back into his old beliefs as the two rekindle their relationship.

The alternating points of view work well in telling the story. Casper’s quiet calm is a good counterpoint to Kevin’s constant worry. There is no on-page sex in the book, but the two men have chemistry and their quiet, intimate moments were quite satisfying. Casper’s ability to really see Kevin and his attempts to convince him that he loves him not for the beauty on the outside, but for the full package – struggles and all – was gorgeous. The secondary characters, mostly Kevin’s family, were well developed. Kevin’s relationship with Casper almost mirrors that of his two moms. With as close as Kevin is to them (he is practically a clone of Renata), I did find it a bit strange that neither of them had previously suggested therapy (he was under the care of a general doctor) or pushed a bit harder on his health, especially Renata who always had something to say about his appearance.

This was my first Brandon Witt read, but it won’t be my last. The story felt real and I found myself very invested in the relationship. I could tell the story was a labor of love for the author even before reading the notes at the end of the book (the character of Kevin is inspired by the author’s best friend, who is also the striking man on the cover of the book) and I think he did a great job tackling the serious issues Kevin faces without providing an easy, love conquers all out and without preaching or playing it for overly dramatic effect.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars Rounded Up

A book that covers one topic that is near and dear to me and it does it with sensitivity.

In depth review up. Treat it as a spoiler review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much more than I expected. The content was darker and graphic, so much emotion. The characters felt real and their problems are those people deal with everyday. One doesn't have to have an eating disorder to understand what kevin is going thru. We all have our demons and in our own way are severe head cases. Human beings are complex and The Imperfection of Swans highlights that so well.

I won't be forgetting this anytime soon. My only issue is the whole book was leading up to the opening of the shop and we don't get that on page joy. I wanted to see them selling and planning and backing. I wanted the joy of their first sale, their 10th, 20th. They will make it a success but i felt like i had worked just as hard as them to get to the end, and i didn't see the true final product.

Overall 4.25 stars. I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This story felt like real life. The characters felt real. The problems Kevin had were very real - an eating disorder and anxiety. And the romance felt real. There was no insta-love here, just two guys getting to know each other through working together and eventually falling in love. Lots of great secondary characters as well.

I especially loved reading the afterword.

Beautifully done!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the pacing of this, how its laid out in layers of moments both good and others hard, that build and how you can feel the connection between the two men and get to know them both thoroughly. I like details mixed with warmth, never overwhelming but enough so you feel like you know the people and places, have been there, and gain insight into a life you normally wouldn't experience. I really enjoyed this.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to say it, but I missed the smexiness. The intensity of the two MCs just didn't come through for me. I didn't feel like Kevin was as much into Casper, as Casper was into Kevin (hope that makes sense). The story was nicely written and dealt with eating disorders quite well, however I did find myself skimming towards the end.

3.5 stars.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Everyone needs a Casper who is the ray of sunshine to Kevin’s darkness!

A very real heartwarming story!




After you've read the book you should watch the real-life Kevin who inspired Brandon to create Kevin Bivanti. Check it HERE .

Read It!

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible


4,5 stars.

A wedding dress shop as a dream? And what about a baker who can make the best cakes? As a bonus?... If everything could be THAT easy...




I've just read my favorite novel by Brandon Witt.
No, I actually LISTENED to it. Honestly, I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. And it is NOTHING to do with the fact that Kevin Bivanti aka Kevin Eksterowicz is a real person, and that he was an inspiration for the author. He is for sure an attractive man-judging on the cover, and his personal life's experience gave an interesting idea for this book, no doubts. But my HERO here is Casper James. HE is the reason I cried while listening to this audio edition. (I can be VERY emotional with my books.) Casper James is the reason for my emotional outbursts. He is THIS AMAZING character who MADE this contemporary romance to something special.

As we all know now how Kevin looks like (see the cover), I have taken the liberty of presenting my idea of Casper.


This book has VERY important massages:

- Don't EVER give up
- Believe in yourself
- Love is stronger than everything
- Every dream can come true

I honestly HAVE NOTHING to complain about here. The writing is great. But the writing has never been a problem for me with Brandon Witt books. I love the idea. The plot, the characters, all these angst, fears, doubts were so human, so understanding, so empathized. Real. With The Imperfection of Swans the author hit a big score. Emotions pure. Tension. Connection. LOVE.

Some readers talked about NO SEX ON PAGE.
Thank you for this. I need sex - I read James Lear. Sex scenes in my romance novels are secondary. All I need are EMOTIONS.
All I need is a romance that MADE me FEEL. All I need are emotions pure. Tension. Connection. LOVE. And I had it here.

This book is beautiful and full of hope, and it is EXACTLY what I expect from my MM romance books.



***Audio-book provided to Gay Book Reviews by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***

[Pavellit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Brandon Witt's story, told with such compassion. I truly felt the reality of which is based on this story. It's inspired by his friend Kevin Eksterowicz- the cover model. He is one of the many for whom it is immense how he looks like (I've already been there). A carb-heavy meal triggers more than just an extralong еxhausting workout. In his pursuit for perfection, he definitely needs to control his world through food intake.

'He lifted his shirt slightly and grimaced. He could barely see the outline of his six-pack in the reflection. With his free thumb and index finger he pinched the skin of his stomach. The first attempt he caught nothing. Then, trying again, he was able to pull a fold of skin away from his body. Disgusting. Fat and disgusting. And gross.'

The author captures the psychology of anxiety and eating disorders quite well without making them too intrusive because he develops them alongside the urge of two thirty-something-year-old men to build a business partnership under one roof (a combination wedding dress and wedding cake shop), which has grown into something more.

I was impressed by all details that accompanied the building of the place to glow- from the gleaming wooden floor to the copper-hued ceiling. The whole job change, financing and purchase of a building, opening a business was very detailed too. The details matter to me. It's been a pleasure to read it!

It was lovely to hear Kevin's letter to us at the close of the story. I loved Kevin as well as his amazingly supportive family, but my hero was Casper. He was so strong and Kevin was a lucky guy to have him though in the final notes nobody thanked him.

I listened to the audio of this book and the recording was really good. I would recommend this book because it is a slow burn, which is so much easier to have in audio.

[Papie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m one of those people who likes to read about things I am struggling with IRL. Crying about a stranger seems to help, it gets the tears out and helps me breathe better. So I picked up this book because a month ago, my 12yo daughter was diagnosed with anorexia. We’ve already gone through hell, and are stuck in this hell for a long time. It’s a horrible disease.

My heart broke for Kevin, just like it’s been breaking for my little Sophia. And it makes me so angry how as à society, we are so obsessed with being skinny that we praise people when they have eating disorders. My daughter lost 35lbs, and people kept saying how beautiful she looked. How fucked up is that?

They told him he was beautiful. They told him they wished they could be in as good of shape as he was. They praised his ability to have self-control and discipline. They had envy in their eyes at times, and he loved that.

I loved Casper. I loved Kevin. But I wanted to scream. How did nobody notice? How did he hide it from his moms for 26 years? Why is nobody saying anything?

Every time he threw up. Every time he skipped meals. Every time he worked out until exhaustion. It broke my heart.

Casper was a beautiful soul. I’m so glad he found Kevin and helped him.

Some things were weird in the book. How can someone pop so many Xanax and antacid all day long without a doctor or pharmacist raising a red flag? But it served the story and I went with it, even though it felt weird to me.

I definitely recommend this! ❤️

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kevin is a driven perfectionist, saving up for a lifelong dream - to own a wedding dress shop, and sell beautiful gowns to delighted brides. When the perfect Boston location goes on the market, he takes the plunge of a lifetime. But Kevin has never handled stress well, and between his anxiety and his intensity, with millions of his family's money riding on his success, something has to give.

Casper has a good job as an upscale pastry chef, with a place of his own just a nebulous future possibility, until his imagination is sparked by a chance meeting. The dream of joining his talents to Kevin's, creating the perfect gown-and-cake shop for brides, is born. Casper's an optimist - the guy who believes that hard work is rewarded, and that success comes to those who go for it. He's impulsive, but puts his whole heart into his leaps of faith. The shop is such a leap. And although Kevin is back together with his ex-husband and unavailable, a little part of Casper is dreaming of more than just a business relationship, from the moment they meet.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. I loved that Kevin is allowed to be flamboyant - to sing Broadway tunes and enjoy pretty dresses, and that he doesn't shrink from the stereotypes when they are his happy place. I liked that the guys have realistic relationship beginnings, as they are building a business first - that they aren't celibate and waiting, but have existing, imperfect sex lives. (Sometimes I like the fantasy of only-one-guy-ever romance, but often I enjoy the realism of gay men who sometimes have sex just for sex, with the person who's easy to get with, until the romance really hits. It's not cheating yet, it's a slow burn.) Speaking of which, I liked the slow burn and the long time it took these guys to finally see how good they might be together. I also enjoyed the varied dynamics of the mix of Kevin's big family.

And I really liked the vivid, realistic handling of Kevin's anxiety and eating disorder. His tensions and illusions, and the crutches he used to get through his days, were well-portrayed. I was surprised that his family (and past doctors, and his ex) never had suspicions about what his health problems related to, but then, for a long time eating disorders were considered something that only happened with teenage girls. With a boy, the possibility wasn't even on the horizon. So this book may also be eye-opening in the exposure of how Kevin's health was damaged by the misdirection and misdiagnosis for so long.

There is angst, but not melodrama. The low-sex style of Brandon Witt's writing keeps the focus nicely on the characters. This book's balance was a little skewed with the very slow build and much faster resolution. After watching the growth of the business, and how much it meant to our guys, I was sorry to see the big opening only in retrospect. I really wanted to be there, to experience the first sale, the moment the exclusive designer walked in and saw what they'd done. The book gave me sweet payoff for the romance, but I felt a little skimped on missing the payoff for the guys' dreams. Yeah, the story was long by then, but I wanted just a bit more. Despite that, this is another story by this author that I definitely enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to reading more.

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an intriguing title like ‘The Imperfection of Swans’ and a blurb that tells me there will be a man making a life-changing decision by starting a new career, a startup business with all the difficulties that entails, personal drama and demons to fight, and a romance – how could I resist? And since it is written by Brandon Witt, an author whose work I like and admire, it was a given I needed to read this book. I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. This novel reads like a business thriller combined with the tale of tremendous personal struggle wrapped in a romantic entanglement. It fascinated me on several levels, not least because the plot around the developing business is pretty equally balanced with the personal side of both main characters’ relationship and personal growth. It enabled me to have both a suspenseful, interesting story and a wonderful romance in one.


Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es el primer libro que leo de este autor y no sabía lo que me iba a encontrar. Me alegro haberlo leído. Es una historia muy bonita y realista con personajes que no son perfectos y que luchan por conseguir sus sueños.
El libro nos cuenta como Kevin y Casper, dos totales desconocidos, compran un establecimiento para convertirlo en una tienda de bodas y pastelería. Vemos como poco a poco pasan de ser socios, a amigos a pareja. Me encanta cuando la relación va desarrollándose lentamente, creando momentos adorables.
Casper es adorable y súper comprensivo. Kevin es estricto consigo mismo, meticuloso e inseguro hasta el punto de ataques de pánico y ansiedad, dando lugar a problemas de Eaten disorder. No sólo se aplica a las mujeres los hombres también lo pueden padecer.
Con risas y momentos tristes vemos como Kevin y Casper superan bache tras bache para encontrar su HEA.

[Trio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a tough time with this one, I didn't personally like Kevin but his character was well written. There were several scenes which were really hard for me to listen to, but again, not the fault of the author. My major complaints were just that the pacing was to slow and the whole thing was about 1/3 longer than it needed to be... for me.

[MaDoReader]

Volveré a él en otro momento, cuando esté de mejor humor.

[Gabis Laberladen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darum geht's:

Kevin weiß schon als kleiner Junge, dass er einmal ein Geschäft für Brautkleider haben will. Als das perfekte Haus dafür zum Verkauf steht, will er die Gelegenheit ergreifen. Obwohl das Haus ziemlich heruntergekommen ist, kostet es immer noch ein Vermögen, das Kevin nicht alleine aufbringen kann. Aber als er Casper kennenlernt, der von einer kleinen Konditorei träumt und der Ersparnisse mitbringt, tun die beiden sich zusammen. Ein Brautmodengeschäft mit einer Konditorei für Hochzeitstorten in einem Gebäude scheint eine gute Geschäftsidee zu sein.

So fand ich's:

Auf den ersten Blick scheint Kevin der perfekte Traummann. Er sieht gut aus, ist in der Werbebranche erfolgreich, hat eine laute, herzliche italienische Familie und sprüht vor Energie und Lebensfreude. Casper dagegen ist Mister Durchschnitt. Unauffällig, freundlich und mit einem kreativen Händchen dafür, wunderbare Kuchen- und Törtchenkreationen zu schaffen. Als die beiden sich zusammenschließen, um das heruntergekommene Backsteinhaus herzurichten, gehen sie ein großes Risiko ein. Sie haben sich gerade erst kennengelernt, Casper und Kevins Familie stecken ihr ganzes Geld in die Idee, deren Erfolg keineswegs sicher ist, und das Haus muss grundlegend renoviert werden, bevor sie überhaupt daran denken können, darin ein Geschäft zu eröffnen.

Casper und Kevin packen beide mit an und in dieser Zeit lernen sie sich näher kennen - und auch wir Leser bemerken nach und nach, wie ernste Probleme Kevin hat. Die chronischen Magenschmerzen sind offensichtlich, die Angstzustände werden es auch bald, denn wie bei jeder Sanierung eines Hauses geht immer mal was schief und das wirft Kevin schnell aus der Bahn. Auch dass Kevin und sein Ex-Mann Scott sich wieder näherkommen, verstärkt Kevins Streben nach Perfektion. Denn um mit Scotts tollem Aussehen mithalten zu können, muss er sich anstrengen.

Casper dagegen wird schnell zu Kevins Ruhepol. Er findet die richtigen Worte und auch mal eine herrlich witzige Ablenkung, als er mit Kevin zusammen bei der Konkurrenz stöbert und Kevin die Brautkleider anprobiert. Im Gegensatz zu Scott, der nicht weiß, wie er Kevin helfen kann und Kevins Probleme weitgehend ignoriert, ist Casper sehr aufmerksam, sieht viel mehr, als Kevin offenbaren will und lässt sich davon doch nicht abschrecken.

Beide Männer, ihr Leben, besonders Kevins italienischer Clan und seine Moms, die sehr unterschiedlich, aber jede auf ihre Weise toll sind, die Renovierungsarbeiten, die Pläne, die sie für ihr Geschäft schmieden - das alles liest sich sehr real und lebensnah und Brandon Witt schafft es, auch mit leisen Tönen ein interessantes Bild zu zeichnen. Man verfolgt interessiert, wie Kevin und Casper vorankommen. Die Liebesgeschichte lässt sich Zeit und das ist auch sehr gut so. Die beiden schaffen eine solide Basis aus Freundschaft und Vertrauen, die sie brauchen, als Kevins Gesundheit kippt.

Dieses Buch geht zu Herzen und hat mir einen realistischen Blick aus Kevins Sicht ermöglicht. Dafür muss man Brandon Witts Freund danken, der seine eigenen Erfahrungen mit dem Autor teilte und die Inspiration für die Figur des Kevin lieferte. Übrigens ist er auch auf dem Cover zu sehen. Da Casper auch zeigt, wie man helfen kann, ohne zu verurteilen, ist mein Fazit absolut positiv - und natürlich bekommen die beiden auch als Liebespaar ihr wohlverdientes Happy End.

[El Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine (wiedermal) etwas andere Rezension zu diesem Buch, das mich sehr berührt hat.

https://elmaliest.de/die-unvollkommen...

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start with the cover, since it’s the first thing that grabs you about the book…The cover of Brandon Witt’s new release, The Imperfection of Swans, is STRIKING. And, it is made even more special by the fact that the model is Brandon’s real life best friend, Kevin, who is the inspiration for the character of Kevin in the book. The title itself is also fantastic, and so perfect for the story.

I have to admit, I was sucked in from the very start. The prologue was clearly designed to grab the readers—and grab you, it does. At first I was a little taken aback by the intensity of the opening, given the fairly light feel from the blurb, but giving us a glimpse of young Kevin, whose only peace came from looking at his glossy bridal magazines, was so effective. Even at age twelve, his drive and determination, as well as his strength and need for control, were very apparent. It was the perfect setup for introducing us to his character, and showing us the beginnings of his dream.

Everything about the wedding dress/wedding cake shop premise was fabulous. Every. Single. Thing. The descriptions of the building, including the neighborhood it was in, right down to the architecture and every phase of the remodel were extraordinary. It was so vivid in my mind, I truly felt like I could see it. Aside from all of the aesthetic and artistic appeal, it was also a brilliant setting for the burgeoning relationship between Casper and Kevin. The many discussions about the store provided endless opportunities for getting to know each other. Even though I felt differently about the characters individually—Kevin was a bit of a tougher sell than Casper—together they were wonderful; I was so invested in their love story.

I really enjoyed the ongoing theme of fate in the book, and one of the big reasons for that was that I adooooored Casper. He is just such a good egg. You can’t help but be completely pulled in by his good energy and overall attitude. His belief in fate and his sort of “if it’s meant to be, it will be” take on life was infectious. And, I loved that everything about him soothed Kevin.

I also loved that they both get salvation from their passion—the serenity of beautiful wedding gowns for Kevin, and the artistry of baking for Casper:

With each turn of the page, Kevin’s heart rate slowed. The shaking gradually stilled as one gorgeous white gown gave way to the next.

He loved this bakery. So warm. Bright. Clean. Some of the most beautiful pastries in the city. Already the sensation that he was losing his sanity began to dissipate.

Unfortunately, though, life isn’t all cake and wedding dresses. There were some much tougher issues to be dealt with in this story, too. Namely, Kevin’s anxiety and bulimia, with what definitely felt like a healthy dose of body dysmorphia on the side.

Brandon Witt does an admirable job of tackling the subject of Kevin’s eating disorder. Truthfully, I’m happy that he was brave enough to do it at all; it’s certainly an issue that might be intimidating for an author to take on. Could he have delved deeper? Sure. He definitely could have gone a bit more into Kevin’s recovery. But, it was obvious that he didn’t want it to be the ENTIRE focus of the book, and I appreciate that.

Some will ask, HOW could no one have known how sick Kevin was? I even asked it. But I think Brandon was careful to address those concerns, either by revealing that someone close to Kevin did have suspicions, or with the scene where Casper says to Kevin, when they were worrying about whether Kevin’s moms knew or not, “Sometimes you’re too close to a situation to really see it for what it is.” My dad is an alcoholic. He quit drinking almost thirty years ago, yet just six years ago he ended up in the hospital in a coma that the doctors didn’t think he’d wake from. From drinking. We all said, “No! That’s impossible! Dad doesn’t drink.” Well, he had been drinking a fifth of vodka nearly every day, and almost drank himself to death, right under his wife’s and his entire family’s noses. Things can be explained away, especially if the person is hiding it and there is another health issue to cover it up, as in Kevin’s case with his reflux.

Things eventually come to a head, of course, after Kevin has a rougher than normal day. And Casper feels he must go with his gut and ask the tough questions. There is a pivotal moment, a scene in the parking garage of the gym where Kevin has his largest on-page breakdown, that was incredibly intense and emotional. I felt more for Kevin in that scene, both when he was still in the gym, and then in the parking garage, than I did for the entire book.

Aside from Kevin’s health, though, the book overall has a lighter feel. The supporting characters are mostly fun—except for one of Kevin’s moms, Renata, who I unfortunately did NOT care for—and each adds something to the story. I’ve already mentioned how much I love the wedding dress shop and bakery, but I have to say again how fabulous it was. It lent to so many fun directions to take the guys: the bridal show in New York, a fabulous trip to another wedding dress shop to blow off steam in a fantastically hilarious way, and bakery counter sex, to name a few. *wink*

Which is a perfect segue to one of the last things I wanted to mention about Brandon’s writing. I love that he hasn’t succumbed to the pressure of writing more explicit sex, or the idea that romance novels HAVE to have sex in them. There is no on-page sex to speak of, his scenes are, for the most part, fade-to-black, yet there is no shortage of passion or sexiness. The romance is still there, and the heat is still there, but it’s conveyed through a solid story and solid writing. He has said in a couple of promo pieces that he is somewhat uncomfortable writing more conventional romance. Well, Brandon, guess what? You do a great job! I definitely plan to keep reading and recommending your stories!

NOTE: If you haven’t seen the video interview that Brandon and Kevin did for The Novel Approach, you should definitely go check it out. They speak at length about the title, and give some other great insights into the conception of the story, as well as the writing process.

Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...

[Sophisticated Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zuallererst, ich bin ein riesiger Fan von Brandons Bücher, weil er es einfach schafft, Bücher zu schreiben, die so real und mitreißend sind, dass man einfach nicht davon loskommt. Seine Protagonisten müssen nicht perfekt sein, sollen nicht perfekt sein – sondern einfach real. „Die Unvollkommenheit der Schwäne“ bildet hierbei keine Ausnahme.

Kevin ist erfolgreich, gut aussehend und will sich seinen größten Traum erfüllen – eine eigene Boutique eröffnen und dort Brautkleider verkaufen. Dieser Wunsch ist ihn greifbarer Nähe als er das perfekte Haus dafür findet, und einen Geschäftspartner, Casper, der im oberen Stock eine Bäckerei für Hochzeitstorten eröffnen will. Beide gehen das Risiko ein und stürzen sich in die Renovierungen, nachdem sie das alte Haus gekauft haben.

Natürlich ist nicht alles eitle Wonne, denn plötzlich ist da wieder Kevins Ex-Ehemann, seine verrückte Familie und seine eigenen Dämonen, die immer stärker werden. Und dann ist da auch noch Casper, der so gar nicht Kevins Typ entspricht, aber der für Kevin immer wichtiger wird.

Kevin ist eigentlich all das was sie viele wünschen würden – erfolgreich, gut aussehend und ein wirklich netter und sympathischer Kerl. Nur kann Kevin selbst das nicht sehen, wenn er in den Spiegel sieht. Er sieht nur Unvollkommenheit, Hässlichkeit und Enttäuschung. Und dies schon seit vielen Jahren. Seit er ein Teenager ist, kämpft er mit einer tükischen und versucht diese vor seiner großen, unterstützenden Familie und allen anderen zu verstecken. Seine Dämonen haben ihn fest im Griff und verstärken die Angst und Panik, die er oft verspürt und die aus ihm ausbricht. Sein Ex-Mann Scott – der an und für sich sicherlich kein schlechter Kerl ist, denn als dieser wird er auch überhaupt nicht dargestellt – ist keine Hilfe, da er für Kevin einfach perfekt aussieht und in Kevin diese negativen Gefühle noch weiter verstärkt. Der Stress, der mit dem Umbau des alten Hauses natürlich auch mehr wird, ist ebenso wenig förderlich und so wird man Zeuge von Kevins Kampf, der einen einfach ber��hren muss. Man wünscht sich so sehr, dass Kevin endlich sieht, dass er gut ist wie er ist. Dass er so geliebt wird. Dass er seinen Wert erkennt, und ist betroffen, dass es Kevin einfach nicht kann. Als Casper in sein Leben tritt, der mehr sieht als viele andere und auch nicht auf den Mund gefallen ist, muss Kevin erkennen, dass er nicht alle täuschen kann, und es vielleicht auch gar nicht muss, sondern es endlich an der Zeit ist, sich seinen Dämonen zu stellen.

Casper ist toll, anders kann ich es nicht ausdrücken. Er trifft Kevin über einen gemeinsamen Bekannten und weiß sofort, dass es Schicksal ist, dass er Kevin getroffen hat. Er lässt sich gleich darauf ein, eine Bäckerei in dem Haus eröffnen zu wollen, welches Kevin kaufen möchte. Er weiß, dass er nicht der Traummann schlechthin ist und nachdem er Kevins Ex-Mann trifft, ist er eigentlich der Meinung, dass er niemals für jemanden wie Kevin gut genug sein wird. Aber dennoch verliert er nie die Hoffnung. Er ist einfach perfekt … perfekt für Kevin. Denn er ignoriert die Anzeichen nicht und spricht es an. Natürlich wäre es weitaus praktischer es so wie Scott handzuhaben, indem man die Augen davor verschließt, aber so ist Casper nicht. Er spricht es an – oft mehr als direkt – gibt Kevin aber auch gleichzeitig zu verstehen, dass er bei ihm bleibt, ihn stützt und unterstützt. Dass er nicht alleine ist und keine Angst haben muss, dass Casper ihn weniger lieben könnte, nur weil er „nicht perfekt“ ist.

Je mehr Zeit Kevin und Casper zusammen verbringen, desto mehr sieht und spürt man, dass die beiden einfach zusammengehören, einander ergänzen. Es entwickelt sich langsam und das auf eine Art und Weise, die einfach authentisch wirkt. Dadurch dass die Geschichte abwechselnd von beiden Protagonisten erzählt wird, kann man die Gedanken, Gefühle und Wünsche beider gut nachvollziehen. Und dadurch wird man auch Zeuge, wie ruhig und friedlich Kevin in Caspers Gegenwart oft ist. So als wäre er sein persönlicher Ruhepol. Und gerade das kann Kevin mehr als gut gebrauchen.

Ich habe auch Kevins Familie sehr ins Herz geschlossen, da sie alles für ihn tun würde, manchmal aber vielleicht einfach zu erdrückend sein kann, vor allem Kevins Mutter Renata, für die ich relativ lange gebraucht habe, um mich für sie zu erwärmen. Noelle hingegen hat mein Herz gleich erobert. Und ich glaube beiden, dass sie für Kevin nur das Beste wollen, auch wenn sie manchmal von ihrer Art her relativ eigen sind. Auch Caspers beste Freundin fand ich toll.

Zu Erfahren, dass dies zum Teil die Geschichte von Brandons bestem Freund ist, hat die Geschichte für mich noch mal viel realer und emotionaler gemacht. Es erfordert Mut, seine Geschichte in solch einer Form offen darzulegen und ich hoffe, dass der reale Kevin auch seine Wünsche und Träume erfüllen können wird. Umso perfekter ist auch das Cover und vor allem der Titel … oh mein Gott, der Titel ist einfach unglaublich treffend gewählt. Und ich hoffe, dass diese Geschichte Betroffenen Mut machen kann, vor allen den männlichen Betroffenen, die leider sehr oft noch vergessen oder ignoriert werden. Dabei ist die Zahl steigend.

Diese Geschichte zeigt, dass man niemals aufhören sollte zu träumen, dass man dafür kämpfen sollte, seine Wünsche und Träume zu erfüllen und dass Liebe manchmal alles überwinden kann. Vielleicht ist es etwas märchenhaft, aber es gibt Hoffnung. Und dafür möchte ich Brandon und auch Travis danken.

Wie gesagt, ich bin begeistert von der Geschichte, von den Charakteren, von allem und kann daher einfach nur eine Leseempfehlung aussprechen.

[Molli B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! ♥

I didn't even know until last week that Brandon Witt had a new book coming out, so I'm almost disappointed there wasn't much time for me to develop some healthy anticipation for it—because it definitely wouldn't have been wasted energy. I really enjoyed this book. Loved both guys, loved them together, loved their story. I knew I was pretty well doomed the moment Casper had his revelation in the restaurant, just after he met Kevin, and I got a little teary. And that was only 15% of the way in! But I was just really happy for these guys when they both realized they might be able to fulfill their dreams. That was exciting and empowering—and obviously Brandon Witt did an amazing job getting me to care so much about the guys so quickly.

I actually thought I had read two books by him, but this is only the second. I remember that I cried through a very significant portion of the one I did read ( Then the Stars Fall ), so I was concerned I would with this one, too, but I didn't! While Kevin's big issue is a central focus of the story, particularly in the second half, the story overall has so much happy and good stuff (thank you, Casper's unfailing positive outlook!) that it kept the mood up through most of the book. There are definitely some tough moments, some of the stuff Kevin goes through made me want to hug him forever, but I found the story more uplifting than anything else. I was very happy in the end that Kevin was getting the help he needed, and that it was actually helping, and that he had such a strong support system. ♥ Kevin wasn't wrong when he said that eating disorders are hard to "cure"—so that left all sorts of scary potential for where the story might go, and I'm actually glad it didn't go to a lot of the places I thought it might. I also thought the guys had a very mature (if fast-moving) relationship. Casper, in particular, impressed me. The story didn't rely on heavy dramatics to keep it going, but during one scene that was appropriately dramatic, Casper could have easily bailed and he didn't; he treated the whole thing with much more maturity than a lot of people would have (fiction or otherwise).

(And while the relationship was fast-moving, I wouldn't call this insta-love; it certainly didn't read like that to me.)

I have to admit I'm a little disappointed that there was no on-page sex—I think maybe Then the Stars Fall didn't have any either, and I'd forgotten that. But once I was over the initial disappointment, it was all good—and honestly, I think that was my only problem with the book (and it's not really a problem).

Having the two moms was a little confusing sometimes, just with the way they were sometimes "the moms" and sometimes called by their names; I kind of wish that their situation had been explained early on instead of near the end of the book so we'd know what was up with how he referred to them; ultimately it didn't matter to the actual story, and probably most people won't care (or notice), but I was relieved when we finally got a brief explanation for it—during a really great scene between Casper and Noelle. I did like both moms, even if Renata was super high-strung and particular. She and Noelle were obviously good together, and I bought wholeheartedly Noelle's conversation with Casper about how she and Renata balance each other.

I really appreciate the topic the book was ultimately about—Kevin's issues with anxiety and other things (a fairly severe, if "managed," eating disorder). You don't see many books about guys dealing with those other things, and I thought it was handled here with both grace and reality. I would actually love to see a book about a teenage Kevin dealing with those issues—I bet there's a teenage boy out there who could use a book like that.

(With the way he popped Xanax, Kevin reminded me a lot of Michael from Sutphin Boulevard, one of my favorite books from last year.)

The book was written with what seems to be Brandon's typical solid writing. Nothing seemed forced or contrived. The plot was believable. The details about the shops seemed very believable. I liked the setting (Boston). I liked the family stuff (on Kevin's side; I wouldn't have minded more family stuff from Casper, but maybe it wouldn't have fit in with this book).

Yada yada yada—why can I never manage a good review for a book I really enjoyed? #mollifail But I did really enjoy it, even if my brain can't figure out how to express it.

BTW, the guy on the cover is not only a real person but is also the guy who inspired the Kevin character in the book. It's so nice to have a book with an actual legitimate cover that you can use for your mental image. Thumbs up! This video interview with Brandon and Kevin is cute, too, but unless you don't care at all about mild spoilers, I'd wait until after you've read the book to watch it: The Imperfection of Swans (interview with the novel's inspiration).

[Risa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Unvollkommenheit der Schwäne hat einen realen Hintergrund, der Brandon Witt zu dieser Story inspiriert hat.

Zur Handlung. Kevin Bivanti träumt schon seit seiner Kindheit davon, eines Tages ein Geschäft für Brautmoden zu eröffnen. Obwohl er schon 38 Jahre alt ist, hatte er bisher nicht den Mut dazu. Dann steht plötzlich ein altes Backsteinhaus in Boston zum Verkauf und Kevin denkt sich, jetzt oder nie. Allerdings kann er allein den Kaufpreis nicht aufbringen und ist auf die Hilfe seiner Familie angewiesen. Der Kreditrahmen ist äußerst eng und als ein Onkel aussteigen muss, droht das Projekt zu scheitern.
Casper James wünscht sich nichts sehnlicher, als eine eigene Bäckerei. Zufällig begegnet ihm Kevin und er erhält die Chance, in dessen Pläne mit einzusteigen. Eine Boutique für Brautkleider mit angrenzender Bäckerei für Hochzeitstorten erscheint beiden als ideale Kombination. Doch nicht nur beruflich passen die beiden Männer zusammen, auch privat kommen sie sich näher. Doch Kevin hat ein sorgsam gehütetes Geheimnis. Er leidet unter einer schweren Essstörung. Als Casper dennoch herausfindet, dass Kevin magersüchtig ist, droht die Beziehung zu scheitern.

Brandon Witt schildert glaubhaft Kevins Drahtseilakt zwischen Lügen und Bulimie. Über viele Jahre hat er es geschafft, über seine psychischen Probleme hinwegzutäuschen. Selbst seine beiden Mütter und sein geschiedener Ex-Mann haben nie geahnt, dass er sein Essen regelmäßig erbricht. Erst Casper bringt das Kartenhaus zum Einsturz und konfrontiert den geliebten Mann mit dessen krankhaften Essverhalten.

Die Story hat mich überzeugt, Kevin und Casper sind ein Paar, das sich gesucht und gefunden hat. Als Kevin sich sogar lieber trennen will, als eine Therapie zu machen, gibt Caspar nicht auf und kämpft für ihre gemeinsame Zukunft.

Die Story erhält von mir 5 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung.

Mein Dank geht an Dreamspinner Press für das erhaltene Rezensionsexemplar.