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Notes from Boston #3
Drumbeat
Jamie Cosgrove is doing his best to recover from a break-up after years with an abusive boyfriend. All his usual coping strategies have failed, and he’s fallen back on things that make him feel drumming, food, and his friend Trevor. The trouble is, two of those are still secrets, even from those closest to him.
Cian Toomey has it all. He has loving relationships with his partners and a fulfilling, creative career. The one thing he’s missing is someone to go home to at night. When sudden changes occur at one of his jobs, he’s faced with a choice to find something new or move in with his partners in a different city.
Well-meaning but pushy friends seem to think Cian and Jamie are the answers to each other’s prayers. They couldn’t disagree more. A series of random events thrusts them into each other’s lives, and they find they have more in common than they thought. But when all of Jamie’s carefully constructed walls crumble at once, both of them will have to depend on the support of their friends and family to strengthen their fragile bond.
Cian Toomey has it all. He has loving relationships with his partners and a fulfilling, creative career. The one thing he’s missing is someone to go home to at night. When sudden changes occur at one of his jobs, he’s faced with a choice to find something new or move in with his partners in a different city.
Well-meaning but pushy friends seem to think Cian and Jamie are the answers to each other’s prayers. They couldn’t disagree more. A series of random events thrusts them into each other’s lives, and they find they have more in common than they thought. But when all of Jamie’s carefully constructed walls crumble at once, both of them will have to depend on the support of their friends and family to strengthen their fragile bond.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2018
13 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Leibowitz
40 books64 followersAuthor. Editor. Spouse, parent, queer, feminist, reader, and writer falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. Agnostic Christian offering commentary on faith, culture, and writing. Read more: http://amleibowitz.com/about-me/
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 11, 2018
This is Jamie's book. If you've read the other two books in this series (Anthem and Nightsong), you may remember Jamie as one of the roommates who shared a house with Trevor and Nate before both of them got their happy ending. He currently shares the space with Mack, but they're looking for a roommate since Trevor is all moved out and Nate spends most of his time at his fiance's place.
Both Jamie and Mack are in a band (Jamie playing drums, evocative of the title of this book, though drumbeat has another connotation, but we'll get to that in a bit), but Jamie also works in a restaurant to make ends meet. Oh, and he's still working on coping after years of living with an abusive ex-boyfriend. Who's still contacting him all the time, and harassing him, and trying to convince him to come back. Sage, the ex, is a real piece of work, and I would have liked to wring his neck. Repeatedly.
Jamie struggles with his past, Jamie struggles with food, and Jamie struggles to not get caught up in Sage's web again. Years of abuse have taken a toll on him, and there were moments when he's still getting caught up in expecting the worst of others, expecting others to act the same way Sage did. It's probably a form of PTSD that manifests itself in what's stored in the box underneath his bed. Vague? Yep, I know - just read the book!
The other MC in this book is Cian, a dance instructor/teacher, who works with deaf and hearing children, one of whom is his little sister, using ASL to communicate and his cane to tap out the drumbeat (the other connotation of the title). He's an outlying part of a triad (two women, one man) who live outside of town, and while they've invited Cian to join them permanently, he's not ready to take that step. He's torn between wanting to stay in town for Jamie to see where their relationship may go, but also conscious that with the dance studio closing, he may not have a choice but to move.
The author weaves telling us about the characters into the storyline seamlessly, and as we learn more about Jamie's and Cian's situations, the two of them meet again, as their paths cross occasionally. There's also some history between them, and their initial stance toward each other is a bit antagonistic. They have a mutual friend, Brandon, who's trying to play a bit of matchmaker, but that doesn't initially work.
Jamie also knows ASL, for reasons I won't divulge here, because you should read this book and find out.
This author has a real knack for writing real people with real issues and real problems, looking for real solutions. They are complex and flawed, with a variety of sexuality. While the two main characters are male, only Jamie is gay - Cian isn't. They felt real and relatable, and their relationship developed slowly, over time, over misunderstandings, over misgivings, over realizing that they perhaps have more in common than they initially thought.
There are trials and tribulations, and both men need to forge paths of their own that then eventually converge and thus allow them to travel the road to their happy ending together.
This isn't your typical M/M romance, and I knew that going in. While there is on-page sex, it's not limited to happening only between the two MCs - that's another thing you should know. I don't consider those sexual encounters cheating, as Jamie and Cian aren't together for a long while, and those encounters happen primarily before they do. Still, if you don't like your MCs getting into bed with others, this book probably isn't for you.
Jamie has some serious issues that are far beyond the lingering problems with the abusive ex, and those issues are the cause for what becomes the climax in this book, where all the doors are flung wide open and all his secrets are shared with Cian.
There is no happily ever after in this book (and there couldn't be) but a strong HFN and a commitment to work through their issues, to be honest and open with each other, and to deserve the trust they put into each other. Considering what this author put their characters through, I couldn't really ask for more than that.
So, recap - not your typical M/M romance, sex outside of the main relationship, realistic, flawed, complex characters, and a well-rounded plot that allows both MCs to grow - yeah, I'd recommend it.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
Both Jamie and Mack are in a band (Jamie playing drums, evocative of the title of this book, though drumbeat has another connotation, but we'll get to that in a bit), but Jamie also works in a restaurant to make ends meet. Oh, and he's still working on coping after years of living with an abusive ex-boyfriend. Who's still contacting him all the time, and harassing him, and trying to convince him to come back. Sage, the ex, is a real piece of work, and I would have liked to wring his neck. Repeatedly.
Jamie struggles with his past, Jamie struggles with food, and Jamie struggles to not get caught up in Sage's web again. Years of abuse have taken a toll on him, and there were moments when he's still getting caught up in expecting the worst of others, expecting others to act the same way Sage did. It's probably a form of PTSD that manifests itself in what's stored in the box underneath his bed. Vague? Yep, I know - just read the book!
The other MC in this book is Cian, a dance instructor/teacher, who works with deaf and hearing children, one of whom is his little sister, using ASL to communicate and his cane to tap out the drumbeat (the other connotation of the title). He's an outlying part of a triad (two women, one man) who live outside of town, and while they've invited Cian to join them permanently, he's not ready to take that step. He's torn between wanting to stay in town for Jamie to see where their relationship may go, but also conscious that with the dance studio closing, he may not have a choice but to move.
The author weaves telling us about the characters into the storyline seamlessly, and as we learn more about Jamie's and Cian's situations, the two of them meet again, as their paths cross occasionally. There's also some history between them, and their initial stance toward each other is a bit antagonistic. They have a mutual friend, Brandon, who's trying to play a bit of matchmaker, but that doesn't initially work.
Jamie also knows ASL, for reasons I won't divulge here, because you should read this book and find out.
This author has a real knack for writing real people with real issues and real problems, looking for real solutions. They are complex and flawed, with a variety of sexuality. While the two main characters are male, only Jamie is gay - Cian isn't. They felt real and relatable, and their relationship developed slowly, over time, over misunderstandings, over misgivings, over realizing that they perhaps have more in common than they initially thought.
There are trials and tribulations, and both men need to forge paths of their own that then eventually converge and thus allow them to travel the road to their happy ending together.
This isn't your typical M/M romance, and I knew that going in. While there is on-page sex, it's not limited to happening only between the two MCs - that's another thing you should know. I don't consider those sexual encounters cheating, as Jamie and Cian aren't together for a long while, and those encounters happen primarily before they do. Still, if you don't like your MCs getting into bed with others, this book probably isn't for you.
Jamie has some serious issues that are far beyond the lingering problems with the abusive ex, and those issues are the cause for what becomes the climax in this book, where all the doors are flung wide open and all his secrets are shared with Cian.
There is no happily ever after in this book (and there couldn't be) but a strong HFN and a commitment to work through their issues, to be honest and open with each other, and to deserve the trust they put into each other. Considering what this author put their characters through, I couldn't really ask for more than that.
So, recap - not your typical M/M romance, sex outside of the main relationship, realistic, flawed, complex characters, and a well-rounded plot that allows both MCs to grow - yeah, I'd recommend it.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
September 19, 2018
Obviously I'm the publisher, so it's amazing, but go read some other reviews!
August 23, 2018
As the blurb suggests, there are some issues here that need delicate handling. Psychological abuse and eating disorders are not plot devices suitable for bandying around in the usual MM romance fare. As one with personal experience, it’s one thing guaranteed to p**s me off faster than a pube on a toilet seat, so I was just waiting, tensing myself for the moment when it all began to slide downhill.
Thank goodness then, for the author’s sensitive and balanced handling of the tough issues, without being all earnest, lurid (or worst, inaccurate) about it. This is a wonderful story of two men, each with complicated lives which don’t conform to what is generally construed as “normal,” who gradually find their way to each other despite several false starts and well-meaning but ultimately clueless friends.
There’s a lot of diverse representation here, with two polyamorous relationships, Jamie is deaf, Trevor is a big man so not your usual heartthrob in an MM romance (unless it’s specifically aimed at bears.) There are people of colour and ex-drag queens, yet it didn’t feel “topic of the month.” The focus was always on the dynamic between Jamie, Cian and the people around them, with all the awkwardness, bickering, love and support complicated families deal with every day. The book felt real, especially with regard to Jamie’s issues. The plot device with Jamie’s ex sounded the only iffy note as it was concluded, but that was easily forgiven because of how the eating disorder was dealt with. Sadly, I know a lot about eating disorders, and everything Jamie suffers from sounds authentic. Kudos to the author for handling it so well.
And it has to be said, the book is also entertaining, a great read with real tension and not an obvious way through for Cian and Jamie to resolve their issues and differences. The secondary characters were warm as well, yet not too perfect. Trevor, the one unwittingly playing havoc with Jamie’s emotions, is so well-drawn. We all know a Trevor, be he straight or gay or anywhere in-between. The delicacies of navigating a poly relationship are interesting as well, for people (like me) who cannot see how it works. I finished the book well-informed and with eyes opened just a little more, which is always a good thing.
Thank goodness then, for the author’s sensitive and balanced handling of the tough issues, without being all earnest, lurid (or worst, inaccurate) about it. This is a wonderful story of two men, each with complicated lives which don’t conform to what is generally construed as “normal,” who gradually find their way to each other despite several false starts and well-meaning but ultimately clueless friends.
There’s a lot of diverse representation here, with two polyamorous relationships, Jamie is deaf, Trevor is a big man so not your usual heartthrob in an MM romance (unless it’s specifically aimed at bears.) There are people of colour and ex-drag queens, yet it didn’t feel “topic of the month.” The focus was always on the dynamic between Jamie, Cian and the people around them, with all the awkwardness, bickering, love and support complicated families deal with every day. The book felt real, especially with regard to Jamie’s issues. The plot device with Jamie’s ex sounded the only iffy note as it was concluded, but that was easily forgiven because of how the eating disorder was dealt with. Sadly, I know a lot about eating disorders, and everything Jamie suffers from sounds authentic. Kudos to the author for handling it so well.
And it has to be said, the book is also entertaining, a great read with real tension and not an obvious way through for Cian and Jamie to resolve their issues and differences. The secondary characters were warm as well, yet not too perfect. Trevor, the one unwittingly playing havoc with Jamie’s emotions, is so well-drawn. We all know a Trevor, be he straight or gay or anywhere in-between. The delicacies of navigating a poly relationship are interesting as well, for people (like me) who cannot see how it works. I finished the book well-informed and with eyes opened just a little more, which is always a good thing.
September 1, 2018
I haven’t had the chance to read the first book in this series, so I kinda want to state up front that some of my problems with this book probably come from that. This is one of these stories where I don’t think you need to have read the two previous books to understand the central plot, but not having the backstory for all the secondary characters might make things a bit confusing and/or tedious. I know it did for me. If you have read the first two books, I think some of the things I’m going to talk about really won’t be issues for you. For first time comers, though, it might make the book, on its own, a bit of a harder sell.
The main plot of the story is basically that both Cian and Jamie are having a bit of a rough time in their current/previous relationships and over the course of the book find in each other the happiness they have been looking for. Jamie has an abusive ex who will not fucking stop harassing him. Cian has a relationship with three other people, but due to the distance between them, it is leaving him less than happy. But they fight all attempts at their friends trying to hook them up with each other, because of a misunderstanding when they first met. It isn’t until they start to really talk that they discover the things that might just make them fit.
My biggest issue with this book might just be that “hook Cian and Jamie up” is basically the only end goal of this book. Which wouldn’t be nearly the problem it is, except Cian and Jamie barely even talk to each other up until the halfway point of the book. The front half of this book feels like more filler than actual plot. And maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had got to know all these secondary characters over the course of the series, but I didn’t, so I never really cared about what was going on in their lives. Certainly not enough to have deal with the way it dragged the pace of this story to a near standstill at times. I’ve read four other books this week, all of them with at least a hundred pages more in length, and yet this is the one that felt like it took forever to finish. There didn’t seem to be any reason, inside this book, that I should a) care about whether these two hook up, or b) have a reason to stick around long enough to see it happen.
I get that Jamie has some history he has to work thru, but by focusing almost the entire first half of the book on his attraction to Trevor, that meant that by the time Cian was fully in the picture I had no energy left to really care. There was also the problem that Jamie felt a hundred times more attracted to Trevor than he ever was to Cian. There was certainly something between him and Cian by the end, but I had to ask myself, repeatedly, while reading this book, why this story isn’t about Jamie, Trevor, and the two other people that Trevor is seeing. That is what it felt like the book was leaning towards naturally, anyways.
And I know this is like a lot of negativity for a book I ended up rating 3.5 stars, which means I actually liked it a lot more than I disliked it. It is just that a lot of the things I liked were small things. Like the fact that a lot of these characters use ASL (American Sign Language), even the ones who don’t need to. It is translated a bit to make sense for reading, but I like that it was a constant thru the whole book, and the way characters shifted from talking to ASL felt natural. Like bilingual people having every-day conversations. And while I found that I tended to lose track of who was connected to which MC, I did like the two poly relationships in this book. The way that they were just there as a matter of fact, well, it was nice. Jamie’s eating disorder was also interesting–if a bit too vague at times.
So there were certainly enough here for me to like the book. And probably enough for me to recommend it as well (though, I would say you will likely enjoy it more having read the first two book). However I do think you are going to have to be prepared for the slow pace, and the rather meandering plot, as well.
3.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
The main plot of the story is basically that both Cian and Jamie are having a bit of a rough time in their current/previous relationships and over the course of the book find in each other the happiness they have been looking for. Jamie has an abusive ex who will not fucking stop harassing him. Cian has a relationship with three other people, but due to the distance between them, it is leaving him less than happy. But they fight all attempts at their friends trying to hook them up with each other, because of a misunderstanding when they first met. It isn’t until they start to really talk that they discover the things that might just make them fit.
My biggest issue with this book might just be that “hook Cian and Jamie up” is basically the only end goal of this book. Which wouldn’t be nearly the problem it is, except Cian and Jamie barely even talk to each other up until the halfway point of the book. The front half of this book feels like more filler than actual plot. And maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had got to know all these secondary characters over the course of the series, but I didn’t, so I never really cared about what was going on in their lives. Certainly not enough to have deal with the way it dragged the pace of this story to a near standstill at times. I’ve read four other books this week, all of them with at least a hundred pages more in length, and yet this is the one that felt like it took forever to finish. There didn’t seem to be any reason, inside this book, that I should a) care about whether these two hook up, or b) have a reason to stick around long enough to see it happen.
I get that Jamie has some history he has to work thru, but by focusing almost the entire first half of the book on his attraction to Trevor, that meant that by the time Cian was fully in the picture I had no energy left to really care. There was also the problem that Jamie felt a hundred times more attracted to Trevor than he ever was to Cian. There was certainly something between him and Cian by the end, but I had to ask myself, repeatedly, while reading this book, why this story isn’t about Jamie, Trevor, and the two other people that Trevor is seeing. That is what it felt like the book was leaning towards naturally, anyways.
And I know this is like a lot of negativity for a book I ended up rating 3.5 stars, which means I actually liked it a lot more than I disliked it. It is just that a lot of the things I liked were small things. Like the fact that a lot of these characters use ASL (American Sign Language), even the ones who don’t need to. It is translated a bit to make sense for reading, but I like that it was a constant thru the whole book, and the way characters shifted from talking to ASL felt natural. Like bilingual people having every-day conversations. And while I found that I tended to lose track of who was connected to which MC, I did like the two poly relationships in this book. The way that they were just there as a matter of fact, well, it was nice. Jamie’s eating disorder was also interesting–if a bit too vague at times.
So there were certainly enough here for me to like the book. And probably enough for me to recommend it as well (though, I would say you will likely enjoy it more having read the first two book). However I do think you are going to have to be prepared for the slow pace, and the rather meandering plot, as well.
3.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
November 12, 2018
I realised today that I still haven't reviewed Drumbeat, which is shocking. It's been out for... [goes to look...cough] a while. OK, September 1st, it was released, and it was a while before that when I read it, because I struck lucky and got to beta-read. I honestly don't know what the process is like for other beta-readers, but for me it's like getting books on super early pre-release AND getting the chance to talk about the characters and events with the author. A private fan convention, essentially. I love it!
Drumbeat is the third book in A.M. Leibowitz's Notes from Boston series, and I've got to say before I get into talking about the story itself, I love these covers so much. How much? I've got them up onscreen as I type. They're exactly right for the series and for each story.
The observant will notice the series title and the book titles are music-themed, and the characters are all somehow connected to the performing arts (as well as to each other). In Drumbeat, we meet (again) Jamie, who is...a drummer (badum-tish) and Cian who is a hot Irish-American bi guy. Um, I mean, he's a dancer. Yes, that's what I meant.
Now, my job and hobby are such that I've read a few romances over the years. Not hundreds, but enough to get the gist of a few common tropes, and you can forget about those straight off. No friends to lovers going on here (or not between Jamie and Cian, at least). No enemies to lovers either. More a fairly ambivalent tumble into something that is more meaningful because it's natural and necessary. The challenges Jamie and Cian face independently are not instantly fixed by them coming together. Instead, there is a commitment to each other that is more than 'we met, fell for each other, the end'. While romance is in the mix, there is friendship, understanding, compassion, learning to communicate, acceptance. They're not 'perfect' for each other, and there are many obstacles still to be surpassed when we leave their story behind, but there's a definite rightness to what they have.
And there's also Sage. Bloody Sage. I almost wish there was a reason why he's such a sh*t, because it might stop me wanting to smush his face in every time I think of him. (Or boil him in a pan? That could work...) I get the same feeling when I meet people like him in RL, which I guess says it all. A.M. Leibowitz has captured the essence of...Sageness brilliantly. Pity he's an asshole, though. Sage is a lovely name. Still, I suppose everyone deserves one redeeming feature.
Each NfB novel (so far) focuses on two (or more) key characters, but it's really an ensemble cast, and anyone who's read books one and two will recognise many familiar names - Trevor, Andre (sigh), Marlie, Mack, Nate, Izzy...amazing, diverse characters and relationships. It's refreshing to read books like these with actual LGBTQ+ characters. The settings will also be familiar - I have somewhere a sketch of the club that I made while reading. The place is so vivid in my mind, I'm there with the guys, in this instance mostly watching Cian and his dancers. Obviously. Obsessed? Nooo... [whistles nonchalantly]
I could go on all day, but I'll wind it up here by saying Drumbeat, like Anthem and Nightsong, is a stand-alone story, and the author has a knack for minimising spoilers, so you could just pick up Drumbeat and go back later for Anthem and Nightsong, because you surely will.
Drumbeat is the third book in A.M. Leibowitz's Notes from Boston series, and I've got to say before I get into talking about the story itself, I love these covers so much. How much? I've got them up onscreen as I type. They're exactly right for the series and for each story.
The observant will notice the series title and the book titles are music-themed, and the characters are all somehow connected to the performing arts (as well as to each other). In Drumbeat, we meet (again) Jamie, who is...a drummer (badum-tish) and Cian who is a hot Irish-American bi guy. Um, I mean, he's a dancer. Yes, that's what I meant.
Now, my job and hobby are such that I've read a few romances over the years. Not hundreds, but enough to get the gist of a few common tropes, and you can forget about those straight off. No friends to lovers going on here (or not between Jamie and Cian, at least). No enemies to lovers either. More a fairly ambivalent tumble into something that is more meaningful because it's natural and necessary. The challenges Jamie and Cian face independently are not instantly fixed by them coming together. Instead, there is a commitment to each other that is more than 'we met, fell for each other, the end'. While romance is in the mix, there is friendship, understanding, compassion, learning to communicate, acceptance. They're not 'perfect' for each other, and there are many obstacles still to be surpassed when we leave their story behind, but there's a definite rightness to what they have.
And there's also Sage. Bloody Sage. I almost wish there was a reason why he's such a sh*t, because it might stop me wanting to smush his face in every time I think of him. (Or boil him in a pan? That could work...) I get the same feeling when I meet people like him in RL, which I guess says it all. A.M. Leibowitz has captured the essence of...Sageness brilliantly. Pity he's an asshole, though. Sage is a lovely name. Still, I suppose everyone deserves one redeeming feature.
Each NfB novel (so far) focuses on two (or more) key characters, but it's really an ensemble cast, and anyone who's read books one and two will recognise many familiar names - Trevor, Andre (sigh), Marlie, Mack, Nate, Izzy...amazing, diverse characters and relationships. It's refreshing to read books like these with actual LGBTQ+ characters. The settings will also be familiar - I have somewhere a sketch of the club that I made while reading. The place is so vivid in my mind, I'm there with the guys, in this instance mostly watching Cian and his dancers. Obviously. Obsessed? Nooo... [whistles nonchalantly]
I could go on all day, but I'll wind it up here by saying Drumbeat, like Anthem and Nightsong, is a stand-alone story, and the author has a knack for minimising spoilers, so you could just pick up Drumbeat and go back later for Anthem and Nightsong, because you surely will.
September 1, 2018
4.5 stars
This was a first-time author for me and all I can say is WOW. This book was very different than I expected it to be. It packed so much emotion and had many difficult topics that made me just feel while reading this. I loved the diversity in people and relationships in this book. It is nice to see a book celebrating relationships that are outside of what some people consider the norm.
I will say that I do wish I read the first two books in this series. While I still enjoyed this book even without reading the other two, I think it would have been easier to understand the side characters and the MCs pasts better if I had read them. There are references made in this book that would have definitely helped me if I could have seen them in the previous books.
I would warn readers that this is not your typical romance. It challenges the reader to think outside of the box and understand the characters even though they might not be completely easy to understand. Jamie's insecurities were hard to read about and I feel like there is so much more to explore between him and Cian! And him and Trevor. I loved the different relationship dynamics in this book and how much it celebrates love, life and family diversity. I am eager for another book in this series where maybe we get Mack and Amelia with someone else and also get some hints of everyone else from the previous books!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
This was a first-time author for me and all I can say is WOW. This book was very different than I expected it to be. It packed so much emotion and had many difficult topics that made me just feel while reading this. I loved the diversity in people and relationships in this book. It is nice to see a book celebrating relationships that are outside of what some people consider the norm.
I will say that I do wish I read the first two books in this series. While I still enjoyed this book even without reading the other two, I think it would have been easier to understand the side characters and the MCs pasts better if I had read them. There are references made in this book that would have definitely helped me if I could have seen them in the previous books.
I would warn readers that this is not your typical romance. It challenges the reader to think outside of the box and understand the characters even though they might not be completely easy to understand. Jamie's insecurities were hard to read about and I feel like there is so much more to explore between him and Cian! And him and Trevor. I loved the different relationship dynamics in this book and how much it celebrates love, life and family diversity. I am eager for another book in this series where maybe we get Mack and Amelia with someone else and also get some hints of everyone else from the previous books!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
November 10, 2018
A beautiful Story
This story is focused on two people, one of whom struggling with traumas from childhood and an abusive former romantic relationship. He struggles his attraction to a dancer because he ultimately feels he is not worthy of a healthy loving relationship. Characters from the author's previous books reappear, giving the book a familiarity. The backgrounds and issues of the characters are diverse and realistic, and no one is only a saint or sinner. They are complicated people like we all are. A beautiful love story that steps outside the conventional one that we all have been fed.
This story is focused on two people, one of whom struggling with traumas from childhood and an abusive former romantic relationship. He struggles his attraction to a dancer because he ultimately feels he is not worthy of a healthy loving relationship. Characters from the author's previous books reappear, giving the book a familiarity. The backgrounds and issues of the characters are diverse and realistic, and no one is only a saint or sinner. They are complicated people like we all are. A beautiful love story that steps outside the conventional one that we all have been fed.
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