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Team Phison #2
Team Phison Forever
Tyson Falls is ready to get married. After being disowned by his parents, his adorably grumpy boyfriend has made cautiously optimistic Tyson embrace the concept of family again. Armed with a ring and the newest video game, Tyson has plans for the nerdiest proposal.
Life throws a wrench in Tyson’s plans when he meets someone online during a multiplayer match. Someone that makes him rethink if he’s ready to start a family—the half-sister he never knew he had.
With the harsh reminder of how messy families can be, Tyson plunges headfirst into despair. Phil doesn’t deserve to be dragged into such a terrible bond. As Tyson wades through trauma and tries to push away the concept of family, he keeps turning to the man he loves most—the person who challenges him to redefine family.
Life throws a wrench in Tyson’s plans when he meets someone online during a multiplayer match. Someone that makes him rethink if he’s ready to start a family—the half-sister he never knew he had.
With the harsh reminder of how messy families can be, Tyson plunges headfirst into despair. Phil doesn’t deserve to be dragged into such a terrible bond. As Tyson wades through trauma and tries to push away the concept of family, he keeps turning to the man he loves most—the person who challenges him to redefine family.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2019
10 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Chace Verity
29 books113 followersChace Verity (she/they) is publishing queer as heck stories with a strong romantic focus, although queer friendships and found families are important too. Chace prefers to write fantasy but dabbles in contemporary and historical fiction as well. An American citizen & Canadian permanent resident, Chace will probably never be able to call a gallon of milk a "four-liter."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 5, 2019
***2 Stars***
It seriously pains me to say this, especially with how much I LOVED Team Phison, but I was a first class passenger on the struggle bus with this book.
This entire story felt too forced. What's supposed to be an emotional journey for Tyson felt like nothing more than words on a page. None of the feels came alive for me. Something with the writing just didn't translate emotionally.
Also, Tyson is a man in his early 30's yet he sounds like a teenager. It was very difficult being in his head for the entire book. If you take out the couple of sexier scenes, I very easily could have been reading a young adult book....and I don't read YA.
So, bottom line...while the message of this book is a great one, and one I love reading about: Family doesn't have to be blood, you can choose your family...
I'm still one sad and disappointed reader.
April 25, 2022
I knew this one would have a different flavor than Team Phison #1 because the author comes right out in the afterword, and gives us the heads' up about Tyson's issues. Yes, there are some tough moments, but Chace Verity gets so deep into Tyson's soul as he processes each event, that it's very cathartic and hopeful - at least that's how I felt.
I will never understand how people can turn their backs on their kids, or close themselves off to someone the way Tyson's folks do to him. Thankfully Tyson strikes out on his own, and sucessuflly surrounds himself with a strong and supportive chosen (or found) family. But it still leaves scars, and the journey toward healing does have to come from within... and Tyson learns that nobody can do that part for you.
And even though it's hard, and super painful sometimes, it's definitely worth it!
Absolutely lovely story, beautifully written.
I will never understand how people can turn their backs on their kids, or close themselves off to someone the way Tyson's folks do to him. Thankfully Tyson strikes out on his own, and sucessuflly surrounds himself with a strong and supportive chosen (or found) family. But it still leaves scars, and the journey toward healing does have to come from within... and Tyson learns that nobody can do that part for you.
And even though it's hard, and super painful sometimes, it's definitely worth it!
Absolutely lovely story, beautifully written.
August 28, 2022
Tags: part of a series, family, found family
This one definitely has an angstier tone than the first in the series. Told entirely from Tyson’s perspective, as he’s dealing with a lot of drama relating to his awful parents and biological family. Overall it was sweet, and I liked how it ended. Some things felt a bit forced, though, and it wasn’t as smooth as the first book pacing wise. Would recommend if you enjoyed Team Phison but definitely be prepared for a different type of story.
This one definitely has an angstier tone than the first in the series. Told entirely from Tyson’s perspective, as he’s dealing with a lot of drama relating to his awful parents and biological family. Overall it was sweet, and I liked how it ended. Some things felt a bit forced, though, and it wasn’t as smooth as the first book pacing wise. Would recommend if you enjoyed Team Phison but definitely be prepared for a different type of story.
April 8, 2020
One of the most original May-December pairings is baaaack! And this time, the whole tale is from Tyson's POV (minus the addendum chapter at the end).
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to read a follow-up to their tale, and this installment has a vastly different feel/take to the first. There is high drama with darkly introspective ‘sturm and drang’. The small plot ‘niggle’ as to why Tyson is estranged from his folks in book 1, gets a full on center-stage expose. And whilst there is some evidence of the cute banter between the MCs, most of that gets subsumed by Phil being warmly supportive of Tyson as he struggles to find an emotional/psychological equilibrium during what should be a joyous time of his life (planning a wedding proposal).
There is a HEA thank God, and I was quite emotionally moved in a couple of places nearer the end, but if I had to choose between the 2 books (to date) I’d go for the lighter tone of the first book. 3.5 stars.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to read a follow-up to their tale, and this installment has a vastly different feel/take to the first. There is high drama with darkly introspective ‘sturm and drang’. The small plot ‘niggle’ as to why Tyson is estranged from his folks in book 1, gets a full on center-stage expose. And whilst there is some evidence of the cute banter between the MCs, most of that gets subsumed by Phil being warmly supportive of Tyson as he struggles to find an emotional/psychological equilibrium during what should be a joyous time of his life (planning a wedding proposal).
There is a HEA thank God, and I was quite emotionally moved in a couple of places nearer the end, but if I had to choose between the 2 books (to date) I’d go for the lighter tone of the first book. 3.5 stars.
April 26, 2020
This was such a heart wrenching, but hopeful little story. In Team Phison we really didn't get to learn much about Tyson, just that he was a sweetie with a tough background. But he didn't let his upbringing bring him down. He was so in love with Phil, I'm glad we got a chance to know him better, and to see that from his point of view. His story broke my heart a little. What a crap childhood he had, with such awful parents. I felt so sad for him, thinking he didn't deserve to have a family that loved him, not realizing he already did!
I'm glad #TeamPhison got their hea!
I'm glad #TeamPhison got their hea!
May 1, 2019
afjkgfjgrjkeqklweljgwrjlgejwgr THIS MADE ME CRY IN THE BEST WAY.
May 5, 2019
TYSON IS MY PRECIOUS SON AND I WILL DIE FOR HIM
Now that we've got that out of the way, time for the real review.
I fell in love with Team Phison when I first read it and it's still one of my fave comfort reads: it's short and extremely soft and I love both of the main characters so much. I knew I had missed Tyson and Phil but I didn't realize I'd missed them *that* much.
Team Phison Forever, like the author said, is very VERY different in tone. It's not a sweet romance at all but damn I loved it all the same. It's a lot harder and a lot sadder than the first book, but the characters are still lovely, and it hit me right in the feels. Tyson has to deal with all his complicated feelings about family when he meets the half-sister he never knew he had.
Okay so, as someone with an abusive family that Doesn't Seem So Bad from an external point of view, this hit me HARD. The fear of being seen as the villain, the "who would want me to be part of their family anyway" feelings were... extremely real. Also that bit about finding a therapist that doesn't link all your problems to your queerness. I had to put down the book a few times to calm down but I still read it super quickly.
I just loved it? So much? I definitely won't re-read it as often as Team Phison because it's a lot heavier but in some ways it was even better. Because it hurt, and it sometimes sounded familiar, but in the end there was the happy ending I needed <3
Anyway, yeah, I absolutely loved Team Phison Forever.
TW are listed by the author at the beginning of the book and here in their review <3 Be safe, folks.
Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy of their book!
Now that we've got that out of the way, time for the real review.
I fell in love with Team Phison when I first read it and it's still one of my fave comfort reads: it's short and extremely soft and I love both of the main characters so much. I knew I had missed Tyson and Phil but I didn't realize I'd missed them *that* much.
Team Phison Forever, like the author said, is very VERY different in tone. It's not a sweet romance at all but damn I loved it all the same. It's a lot harder and a lot sadder than the first book, but the characters are still lovely, and it hit me right in the feels. Tyson has to deal with all his complicated feelings about family when he meets the half-sister he never knew he had.
Okay so, as someone with an abusive family that Doesn't Seem So Bad from an external point of view, this hit me HARD. The fear of being seen as the villain, the "who would want me to be part of their family anyway" feelings were... extremely real. Also that bit about finding a therapist that doesn't link all your problems to your queerness. I had to put down the book a few times to calm down but I still read it super quickly.
I just loved it? So much? I definitely won't re-read it as often as Team Phison because it's a lot heavier but in some ways it was even better. Because it hurt, and it sometimes sounded familiar, but in the end there was the happy ending I needed <3
Anyway, yeah, I absolutely loved Team Phison Forever.
TW are listed by the author at the beginning of the book and here in their review <3 Be safe, folks.
Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy of their book!
December 12, 2020
3.5 rounded up. Because I adore these two, and I LOVED the first book. But I did struggle with this a lot.
Tyson and Phil have been together for over two years. I’d like to think Tyson was more secure in being partners by then. And he just came off as young, not a 30 year old man.
I love Phil. And I love their love for the other. I wish there had been a bit more Phil in this one!
Tyson and Phil have been together for over two years. I’d like to think Tyson was more secure in being partners by then. And he just came off as young, not a 30 year old man.
I love Phil. And I love their love for the other. I wish there had been a bit more Phil in this one!
Read
May 10, 2019Content Warnings
Team Phison Forever gave me so many feelings. It was rather different, and substantially more angsty when compared to Team Phison, which I also really enjoyed, as a fluffy cozy grumpy/sunshine geek foodie romance between two queer gamers. This is something else altogether, a romance about staying together instead of getting together. One that’s told from the POV of a sunshine character who is not feeling so sunny, because he’s dealing with complex familial dynamics and depression.
Read my full review on my blog.
Team Phison Forever gave me so many feelings. It was rather different, and substantially more angsty when compared to Team Phison, which I also really enjoyed, as a fluffy cozy grumpy/sunshine geek foodie romance between two queer gamers. This is something else altogether, a romance about staying together instead of getting together. One that’s told from the POV of a sunshine character who is not feeling so sunny, because he’s dealing with complex familial dynamics and depression.
Read my full review on my blog.
June 1, 2022
Well this punched me right in the gut. I knew that there was depression representation but I was not prepared for how deeply and intensely I was going to feel seen with Tyson.
Tyson is estranged from his parents and being estranged from your parents is already a really difficult thing and it becomes a little bit more complicated when your reasons for that estrangement aren't obvious to everyone else. When youre estranged for emotional abuse or apathetic behavior it's hard to explain to people who have healthy relationships with their parents, why you don't talk to your parents anymore. As someone who is estranged from a parent for reasons a lot of people don't understand, I felt like Tyson's experience was coming out of my own head. His fear of being seen as a villain so he just doesn't explain why he's estranged and how easy it is for him to get stuck in his own head about the situation because of all the years of apathetic words and emotional abuse and gaslighting. It's fucking hard. It's one of those situations where if you haven't experienced it you don't get to talk about it and you don't get to have opinions on it. I was a little bit raw reading this after having just had an encounter with one of my parents and it not going very well and then jumping into the story was a lot for me. But I don't regret it.
I love that we get Tyson's POV. As much as I really like Phil I wanted to deep dive into mental health and really get more of a perspective from Tyson. This book is heavy especially if you live with depression or estranged from a family member or a parent, but it's worth it. If you can make it through the CW's, I highly recommend it. Please read the first one first obviously this is a series and it's why I'm not really talking about the plot, but I loved these two dorks and their grumpy sunshine dynamic.
Tyson is estranged from his parents and being estranged from your parents is already a really difficult thing and it becomes a little bit more complicated when your reasons for that estrangement aren't obvious to everyone else. When youre estranged for emotional abuse or apathetic behavior it's hard to explain to people who have healthy relationships with their parents, why you don't talk to your parents anymore. As someone who is estranged from a parent for reasons a lot of people don't understand, I felt like Tyson's experience was coming out of my own head. His fear of being seen as a villain so he just doesn't explain why he's estranged and how easy it is for him to get stuck in his own head about the situation because of all the years of apathetic words and emotional abuse and gaslighting. It's fucking hard. It's one of those situations where if you haven't experienced it you don't get to talk about it and you don't get to have opinions on it. I was a little bit raw reading this after having just had an encounter with one of my parents and it not going very well and then jumping into the story was a lot for me. But I don't regret it.
I love that we get Tyson's POV. As much as I really like Phil I wanted to deep dive into mental health and really get more of a perspective from Tyson. This book is heavy especially if you live with depression or estranged from a family member or a parent, but it's worth it. If you can make it through the CW's, I highly recommend it. Please read the first one first obviously this is a series and it's why I'm not really talking about the plot, but I loved these two dorks and their grumpy sunshine dynamic.
April 19, 2021
Team Phison Forever was a great sequel to the first book and is told from Tyson's POV. This book takes a slight departure from Team Phison because there are sad and heart-wrenching themes regarding Tyson's family. Phil and Tyson have been together for more than 2 years now and are living happily together to the point that Tyson is ring shopping. He has the perfect proposal planned until he discovers a half-sister that he never knew existed when he's gaming. Tyson goes on a hard and emotional journey re-visiting past trauma with Phil's support and unconditional love. At the end of the day, the message rings loud and clear that there is the family one is born into and the family you find in life. Tyson's sperm & egg donor (because they aren't family) are horrible people and good riddance to that lot. It takes him several chapters to come to the realization that he had a family all along with Phil and his family, his best friend, and his co-workers. Please check out the trigger warnings because there are several. In the case of Team Phison Forever, you can hear the author's sadness due to her own personal family estrangement but in the end, like Tyson, she found a new family.
May 29, 2019
Fans of Team Phison, this is the sequel for you. It’s heartwarming, it’s heart-wrenching, and it’s just so very *real*.
If you haven’t read Team Phison, the book stands 100% on its own. I enjoyed getting the book from Tyson’s perspective after the first was in Phil’s. Tyson’s voice is razor sharp and fits him exactly based on book one.
Make no mistake—Team Phison tackles real issues of family estrangement and the grief and pain that come with it. Chace Verity handles the subject with love and grace, humor and ultimately, joy. It’s an honest book, without sugarcoating, and I admire that so much.
Plus, Phil is the best. Phil + Ty = 4eva.
Note: I found it hard to write this review without revealing too much. Suffice it to say that I laughed, I cried, I believe in these characters so hard. Both Phisons are multiple reread books for me.
If you haven’t read Team Phison, the book stands 100% on its own. I enjoyed getting the book from Tyson’s perspective after the first was in Phil’s. Tyson’s voice is razor sharp and fits him exactly based on book one.
Make no mistake—Team Phison tackles real issues of family estrangement and the grief and pain that come with it. Chace Verity handles the subject with love and grace, humor and ultimately, joy. It’s an honest book, without sugarcoating, and I admire that so much.
Plus, Phil is the best. Phil + Ty = 4eva.
Note: I found it hard to write this review without revealing too much. Suffice it to say that I laughed, I cried, I believe in these characters so hard. Both Phisons are multiple reread books for me.
May 12, 2019
Awwww I love Team Phison. This one is sad, but the HEA is so amazing. Tyson’s journey to accepting found family as actual family was heartbreaking. Heed the CWs. Although idk why there are content warnings for explicit sex...the chapters where the sex takes place are marked. But there’s more in the chapters than sex so I hope people skim rather than skip.
I love this sequel that sets up there HEA. I love how it shows someone LIVING with depression. I love how accepting and supportive Tyson and Phil are of each other. I love that Phil is older and it doesn’t matter. I love these characters.
Forever indeed.
I love this sequel that sets up there HEA. I love how it shows someone LIVING with depression. I love how accepting and supportive Tyson and Phil are of each other. I love that Phil is older and it doesn’t matter. I love these characters.
Forever indeed.
May 18, 2019
My heart!
Team Phison Forever is the sequel to Team Phison, and it’s from Tyson’s pov, a normally sunshine-y person who is going trough upheaval with family. This book is less fluff than Team Phison was, but it works so wonderfully. I just wanna smush Tyson throughout this book and tell him how loved he is. I loved that in a lot of ways this book is learning who your family truly is and having an established relationship grow and shift with the changes in those involved. I love Phil and Tyson so much and my heart is so full to have this book and see the continuation of Team Phison’s love.
Team Phison Forever is the sequel to Team Phison, and it’s from Tyson’s pov, a normally sunshine-y person who is going trough upheaval with family. This book is less fluff than Team Phison was, but it works so wonderfully. I just wanna smush Tyson throughout this book and tell him how loved he is. I loved that in a lot of ways this book is learning who your family truly is and having an established relationship grow and shift with the changes in those involved. I love Phil and Tyson so much and my heart is so full to have this book and see the continuation of Team Phison’s love.
May 27, 2019
Oh this was beautiful. I was already a huge fan of the first book, but this was so much better.
This book is from Tyson's pov, who is forced to confront his deeply hidden years of familial abuse, while trying to grapple with what a family even means to him, as he's planning to propose to Phil. It was beautiful and heartwrenching and real, the way he tries to push his emotions away, tries to deny them and hide them from his loved ones. His anguish over his lies, while his inability to be honest? I've been there.
This book made me cry at work and I don't regret anything
This book is from Tyson's pov, who is forced to confront his deeply hidden years of familial abuse, while trying to grapple with what a family even means to him, as he's planning to propose to Phil. It was beautiful and heartwrenching and real, the way he tries to push his emotions away, tries to deny them and hide them from his loved ones. His anguish over his lies, while his inability to be honest? I've been there.
This book made me cry at work and I don't regret anything
April 1, 2021
I loved the first part to bits, but this one is rather meh. It's basically just 80% Tyson glooming about his shitty family life and rejecting the concept of family. Phil is not really important for the most part and actually, Tyson is a bit of an asshole too him, lying and evading him instead of talking about his troubles. I know Ty has depression and that's probably just a symptom of it, but it doesn't make for a good story.
And the resolution is just so...trite. Phil is just like "You don't have to be related to be family" and Tyson just accepts that and is over his thing, like this concept was totally new to him.
And the resolution is just so...trite. Phil is just like "You don't have to be related to be family" and Tyson just accepts that and is over his thing, like this concept was totally new to him.
December 26, 2019
This book is a bit more angsty than book 1 in the series, but it was handled with care. Love Tyson to bits, and Phil is there to take care of him.
September 29, 2021
TLDR: It's a story that's full of hard discoveries, but it's also sweet, because despite his depression, Tyson is a loving and lovable character.
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January 21, 2020
After reading the first book, I immediately dove into the sequel. I wanted and needed to know what was going to happen to these two glorious characters. One too sweet but obviously with a hard past and one so sarcastic and self-protecting.. There was bound to be some struggle and.. there was! But it felt so genuine and real and.. I loved it, okay.
These two books were amazing to read. Phil's sarcasm was one of the cherries on top. The banter between Phill and Tyson was an extra one.
Yup, worth the read!
These two books were amazing to read. Phil's sarcasm was one of the cherries on top. The banter between Phill and Tyson was an extra one.
Yup, worth the read!
May 30, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up
Tyson and Phil are back again. They've been together for awhile, now, and Tyson is ready to propose to Phil. He loves his job, Phil's friends and family, although he doesn't love the northern winters. But then Tyson meets a half-sister he didn't know existed, and he is pulled back to the person he was when his family disowned him. He loves Phil, but doesn't want him to get tangled up in the mess that is Tyson, and Tyson's so-called family.
I'm...not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, I love Tyson and Phil, and how supportive they were of each other. And I do understand that Tyson had mental health issues, and all the occurrences kind of brought it to the forefront again, especially since he didn't want to drag Phil in to his mess. (Dude, that's what real family is for. They are there through the good AND the bad, and they love you and support you with everything you're going through.) This, to me, showed the spiral of despair in a realistic way. Tyson probably didn't even know that he was depressed, because he had so much going on. And it was really nice to see Phil through Tyson's eyes, and how much love there was between them.
My main issue was with Tyson and his obsession with his definition of family. By his definition, as far as I can tell, kids who were adopted wouldn't be family, since it was all defined by blood. And he kept going on and on about having a family again when he met his sister, but he couldn't see that Phil was his family, whether there were rings on there fingers or not. And the people at his place of work were family, and Phil's sister and her family were Tyson's family. I just don't understand that definition of family. My best friend's kids call me Aunty, and I am no less fond of them than I am of my nieces and nephews by blood. I'm sorry, but it does not compute. Family is the people who are there for you, no matter what. If the people who are related to you by blood aren't there for you no matter what, they aren't true family. Full stop, end of story.
Tyson and Phil are back again. They've been together for awhile, now, and Tyson is ready to propose to Phil. He loves his job, Phil's friends and family, although he doesn't love the northern winters. But then Tyson meets a half-sister he didn't know existed, and he is pulled back to the person he was when his family disowned him. He loves Phil, but doesn't want him to get tangled up in the mess that is Tyson, and Tyson's so-called family.
I'm...not sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, I love Tyson and Phil, and how supportive they were of each other. And I do understand that Tyson had mental health issues, and all the occurrences kind of brought it to the forefront again, especially since he didn't want to drag Phil in to his mess. (Dude, that's what real family is for. They are there through the good AND the bad, and they love you and support you with everything you're going through.) This, to me, showed the spiral of despair in a realistic way. Tyson probably didn't even know that he was depressed, because he had so much going on. And it was really nice to see Phil through Tyson's eyes, and how much love there was between them.
My main issue was with Tyson and his obsession with his definition of family. By his definition, as far as I can tell, kids who were adopted wouldn't be family, since it was all defined by blood. And he kept going on and on about having a family again when he met his sister, but he couldn't see that Phil was his family, whether there were rings on there fingers or not. And the people at his place of work were family, and Phil's sister and her family were Tyson's family. I just don't understand that definition of family. My best friend's kids call me Aunty, and I am no less fond of them than I am of my nieces and nephews by blood. I'm sorry, but it does not compute. Family is the people who are there for you, no matter what. If the people who are related to you by blood aren't there for you no matter what, they aren't true family. Full stop, end of story.
January 8, 2020
Phil and Tyson’s relationship development in first book left a lot out about Tyson, and fast forwarding into their relationship by about 2-3 years and this book covers the nitty gritty soft spots of Tyson Falls, from his deep rooted issues with his family to his sunny disposition that is actually hard won.
Loves & Likes:
⦁ I love that we got the REAL Tyson, and that his issues were understandable and poignant. At the end of the day, the people society tells Tyson are obligated to love him abandoned him over the most basic things like his career choice and his mental health. So yeah, it makes sense he thinks that anyone could leave him at any time.
Peeves:
⦁ This was SO incongruous with the first book. Almost like Ty didn’t get a fair shake in the first book, or in the past 2 years of his relationship with Phil, if these issues were just coming up now. All the drama and internal conflict you might have missed in the first book just got pushed into this one.
⦁ For all that this was Team Phison: Take 2 it was more like just Tyson: Take 1. There wasn’t a lot of Phil here at all. Which I guess makes it even since I complained there wasn’t enough Tyson in book one.
Favorite Quote:
Loves & Likes:
⦁ I love that we got the REAL Tyson, and that his issues were understandable and poignant. At the end of the day, the people society tells Tyson are obligated to love him abandoned him over the most basic things like his career choice and his mental health. So yeah, it makes sense he thinks that anyone could leave him at any time.
Peeves:
⦁ This was SO incongruous with the first book. Almost like Ty didn’t get a fair shake in the first book, or in the past 2 years of his relationship with Phil, if these issues were just coming up now. All the drama and internal conflict you might have missed in the first book just got pushed into this one.
⦁ For all that this was Team Phison: Take 2 it was more like just Tyson: Take 1. There wasn’t a lot of Phil here at all. Which I guess makes it even since I complained there wasn’t enough Tyson in book one.
Favorite Quote:
“First of all, you are not a terrible person and don’t have to worry about turning into one. Don’t you dare fret over that for a second. You are a ray of sunshine. If anyone in this car is terrible, it’s the ghosts of the fuckwads who decided ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ would be a fantastic ditty to bang out. We have heard some variation of this song four goddamn times in the last thirty minutes.”
May 25, 2019
When I found out that there was a sequel to Team Phison coming out, I was so excited I could barely wait.
Unlike last book, where it was all in Phil's point of view, this one was all in Tyson's. And maybe that is the reason why it was a lot more angsty. As a character, Phil is a great deal more settled than Tyson. I don't think it was just that, though. Although we got a hint of Tyson's family troubles in the last book, this one blows all of that wide open to the point where there's nowhere to escape.
I discovered a new trope hard limit in this book. For the first third of the book, we have Tyson lying, to himself, to Phil, to his half-sister. I don't think I would have continued to the end of this book had it not been for the fact that I loved these two characters previously and so much wanted to see them get to their happy ending again.
I'm used to my Christmas specials being a little bit more light than this one was.
That said, the latter half of the book did make up for the tense beginnings, once Tyson sobered up and got his head out of his ass before he alienated his best friend Manny in the midst of everything else.
Unlike last book, where it was all in Phil's point of view, this one was all in Tyson's. And maybe that is the reason why it was a lot more angsty. As a character, Phil is a great deal more settled than Tyson. I don't think it was just that, though. Although we got a hint of Tyson's family troubles in the last book, this one blows all of that wide open to the point where there's nowhere to escape.
I discovered a new trope hard limit in this book. For the first third of the book, we have Tyson lying, to himself, to Phil, to his half-sister. I don't think I would have continued to the end of this book had it not been for the fact that I loved these two characters previously and so much wanted to see them get to their happy ending again.
I'm used to my Christmas specials being a little bit more light than this one was.
That said, the latter half of the book did make up for the tense beginnings, once Tyson sobered up and got his head out of his ass before he alienated his best friend Manny in the midst of everything else.
May 19, 2019
This was a super cute follow-up to one of my favorite reads from last year! (I even re-read the first book afterwards, because I missed Phil's voice a little.)
This book deals with some heavier stuff, being in Tyson's perspective. It delves into his dysfunctional family stuff and depression, and though his lack of communication frustrated me at points, it was completely understandable as a person who believes he has to keep everything light and happy to keep his friends and boyfriend.
This book deals with some heavier stuff, being in Tyson's perspective. It delves into his dysfunctional family stuff and depression, and though his lack of communication frustrated me at points, it was completely understandable as a person who believes he has to keep everything light and happy to keep his friends and boyfriend.
June 2, 2019
4.5 Stars
Well, that’s settled. I still love Phil Hutton and Tyson Falls to bits and pieces, and I had no idea I needed more of them until Chace Verity wrote this utterly beautiful little novella into existence.
Phil is still his curmudgeonly self, and I wouldn’t want him to be otherwise, but oh, he’s so soft for the love of his life, and I adore him. He is patient and concerned and supportive, but he’s not altogether sure what’s going on with Ty, why the man he loves is just not as much Ty as usual these days.
Tyson, who I called a ray of sunshine in my review of Team Phison, which was entirely accurate, is confronted, overcome and overwhelmed in this story by the cruel inner voice that tells him he is unworthy. This is a snapshot of the inner workings of depression and insecurity, and it hits the mark. Ty’s inscape is not a carefree place at all in this book, and he delivers a message that hits home to anyone who has suffered the battle between what is reality and what is perception: depression and anxiety are brutal and vicious head-mates.
Ty is so in love with Phil that he wants to not only spend the rest of his life with him, he wants to make it official. Ty has the ring and everything, and there is so much joy in the choosing. But then…fate throws a random blow, and suddenly, he remembers why making Phil his family in a legal and binding way is a horrible idea. Ty’s light dims then, and it is a terrible-beautiful thing to witness. Because for Ty, family is a dirty and complicated word. When he discovers he has a half-sister who gives him a wee glimmer of hope that he might have found someone who shares his DNA, who is decent and kind and who will embrace him—depression, bisexuality and all—someone he might count on to be there for him, watching that hope get tested, and seeing him suffer through it, is an experience in empathy and compassion. Because, in a simple sort of loving way, the way we readers love our characters, I wanted Ty to embrace how amazing and wonderful I know he is.
A novella that deals with subjects like depression and insecurity and unconditional love and being a throw-away child, and then setting it during the holiday season, when the focus on home and family is at its peak and depression is often at its most aggressive, was a stroke of inspiration on Verity’s part. What better time for Ty to discover that family isn’t always the people we are born to, but it’s the people who claim us, who choose us as their own. Those people are all here in this sequel, and Ty learns that lesson so well. He gets his biological sister and her small clan, thankfully, and he learns to embrace an entire found family too.
What a gift that is to the man who was made to believe he didn’t deserve it.
More importantly, however, is that Ty gets to claim Phil, the one who will always be there for him, who will drop everything to be by Ty’s side. Team Phison Forever is the general definition of L O V E, in all its forms. It’s sweet and sentimental, heartfelt and hopeful, and Chace Verity knocked this one out of the park.
Reviewed for The Novel Approach
Well, that’s settled. I still love Phil Hutton and Tyson Falls to bits and pieces, and I had no idea I needed more of them until Chace Verity wrote this utterly beautiful little novella into existence.
Phil is still his curmudgeonly self, and I wouldn’t want him to be otherwise, but oh, he’s so soft for the love of his life, and I adore him. He is patient and concerned and supportive, but he’s not altogether sure what’s going on with Ty, why the man he loves is just not as much Ty as usual these days.
Tyson, who I called a ray of sunshine in my review of Team Phison, which was entirely accurate, is confronted, overcome and overwhelmed in this story by the cruel inner voice that tells him he is unworthy. This is a snapshot of the inner workings of depression and insecurity, and it hits the mark. Ty’s inscape is not a carefree place at all in this book, and he delivers a message that hits home to anyone who has suffered the battle between what is reality and what is perception: depression and anxiety are brutal and vicious head-mates.
Ty is so in love with Phil that he wants to not only spend the rest of his life with him, he wants to make it official. Ty has the ring and everything, and there is so much joy in the choosing. But then…fate throws a random blow, and suddenly, he remembers why making Phil his family in a legal and binding way is a horrible idea. Ty’s light dims then, and it is a terrible-beautiful thing to witness. Because for Ty, family is a dirty and complicated word. When he discovers he has a half-sister who gives him a wee glimmer of hope that he might have found someone who shares his DNA, who is decent and kind and who will embrace him—depression, bisexuality and all—someone he might count on to be there for him, watching that hope get tested, and seeing him suffer through it, is an experience in empathy and compassion. Because, in a simple sort of loving way, the way we readers love our characters, I wanted Ty to embrace how amazing and wonderful I know he is.
A novella that deals with subjects like depression and insecurity and unconditional love and being a throw-away child, and then setting it during the holiday season, when the focus on home and family is at its peak and depression is often at its most aggressive, was a stroke of inspiration on Verity’s part. What better time for Ty to discover that family isn’t always the people we are born to, but it’s the people who claim us, who choose us as their own. Those people are all here in this sequel, and Ty learns that lesson so well. He gets his biological sister and her small clan, thankfully, and he learns to embrace an entire found family too.
What a gift that is to the man who was made to believe he didn’t deserve it.
More importantly, however, is that Ty gets to claim Phil, the one who will always be there for him, who will drop everything to be by Ty’s side. Team Phison Forever is the general definition of L O V E, in all its forms. It’s sweet and sentimental, heartfelt and hopeful, and Chace Verity knocked this one out of the park.
Reviewed for The Novel Approach
June 5, 2019
3/5
Chace Verity writes an excellent introduction to Team Phison Forever and I highly recommend reading it before starting this book, particularly those who were huge (i.e. I mean me) Team Phison fans.
This book is a very different reading experience from Team Phison. It is told from Tyson's perspective and deals with his (and I am extrapolating based on the introduction, Chase's own) family and mental health issues. This is not lighthearted and is rarely sweet. This is a visit and short stay in the mind of someone who is having serious depressive thoughts. To the point that the person is willing to believe and think things that are very frustrating to anyone not in that kind of dark place, to anyone who is able to see that those thoughts are ludicrous (e.g. that family is about destructive relationships).
It was difficult for me to get through this story, but what I really had hoped to see was more time between Phil and Tyson. While I knew this was Tyson's book, it felt like Phil was absent nearly the entirety of it since Tyson was pushing him away. It is possible to do dark themes and maintain the silver lining of lust and tenderness (I think of Safe in His Arms as a pinnacle example of doing this balance well) and that did not happen here. Maybe it was not the intention? I would have enjoyed Tyson's sweet processing of family issues and what family means to him better if there were more laughs to break up the ruminations and sadness-laden events - particularly if they involved Phil's caustic wit and sarcastic charm.
It's a little funny that the self-described "cranky fossil", Phil's book is the lighthearted and lovey one and the sweet and optimistic Tyson has the fairly dark and frustrating story.
The magic was not here for me on this one, but I did appreciate Chace's bravery to share a follow-up on this highly beloved couple and yet remain true to her vision of the characters and what this book needed to be about. Plus, I got to read about another creative FPS game!
Happy Reading!
Chace Verity writes an excellent introduction to Team Phison Forever and I highly recommend reading it before starting this book, particularly those who were huge (i.e. I mean me) Team Phison fans.
This book is a very different reading experience from Team Phison. It is told from Tyson's perspective and deals with his (and I am extrapolating based on the introduction, Chase's own) family and mental health issues. This is not lighthearted and is rarely sweet. This is a visit and short stay in the mind of someone who is having serious depressive thoughts. To the point that the person is willing to believe and think things that are very frustrating to anyone not in that kind of dark place, to anyone who is able to see that those thoughts are ludicrous (e.g. that family is about destructive relationships).
It was difficult for me to get through this story, but what I really had hoped to see was more time between Phil and Tyson. While I knew this was Tyson's book, it felt like Phil was absent nearly the entirety of it since Tyson was pushing him away. It is possible to do dark themes and maintain the silver lining of lust and tenderness (I think of Safe in His Arms as a pinnacle example of doing this balance well) and that did not happen here. Maybe it was not the intention? I would have enjoyed Tyson's sweet processing of family issues and what family means to him better if there were more laughs to break up the ruminations and sadness-laden events - particularly if they involved Phil's caustic wit and sarcastic charm.
It's a little funny that the self-described "cranky fossil", Phil's book is the lighthearted and lovey one and the sweet and optimistic Tyson has the fairly dark and frustrating story.
The magic was not here for me on this one, but I did appreciate Chace's bravery to share a follow-up on this highly beloved couple and yet remain true to her vision of the characters and what this book needed to be about. Plus, I got to read about another creative FPS game!
Happy Reading!
June 4, 2019
Beautiful, heart wrenching and satisfying!
I wasn’t sure what I expected this to be, other than the culmination of Team Phison’s epic love story but it was definitely more than I thought I would find!
This one deals with the concept of family. Most people understand the concept of family being more than shared genetics, because of that was the case how could adoptive parents and children justify their bonds. Family is so much more than blood - it’s love and support no matter what and as someone who’s been on the receiving end of cruelty from family kind of like Tyson lived, I know this. Family to him was almost a dirty word - it all got mixed up when he discovers that he has a sister who shares his father’s blood and knew nothing of him. I don’t know what this is like myself, I know my sibling but like him I don’t know them. What I do know is the feeling that there is something not good enough about you to be important to one of the people who helped give you life or their extended family.
I wanted to wrap Tyson up and protect him and swear to him that he did have a family he built all by himself. He had friends who were begging to be his family and support him through good times and bad, and he had Phil. And Phil needed him to know just how much he was family. It’s emotional and I shed so many tears for him, and for myself, and any book that can give me a good cry and then make me smile with its resolution is a cathartic process in my books!
One click this one and see Team Phison solidify their Team forever into a beautiful family. So much love for this book!!!!
I wasn’t sure what I expected this to be, other than the culmination of Team Phison’s epic love story but it was definitely more than I thought I would find!
This one deals with the concept of family. Most people understand the concept of family being more than shared genetics, because of that was the case how could adoptive parents and children justify their bonds. Family is so much more than blood - it’s love and support no matter what and as someone who’s been on the receiving end of cruelty from family kind of like Tyson lived, I know this. Family to him was almost a dirty word - it all got mixed up when he discovers that he has a sister who shares his father’s blood and knew nothing of him. I don’t know what this is like myself, I know my sibling but like him I don’t know them. What I do know is the feeling that there is something not good enough about you to be important to one of the people who helped give you life or their extended family.
I wanted to wrap Tyson up and protect him and swear to him that he did have a family he built all by himself. He had friends who were begging to be his family and support him through good times and bad, and he had Phil. And Phil needed him to know just how much he was family. It’s emotional and I shed so many tears for him, and for myself, and any book that can give me a good cry and then make me smile with its resolution is a cathartic process in my books!
One click this one and see Team Phison solidify their Team forever into a beautiful family. So much love for this book!!!!
September 21, 2022
Loved the first book and enjoyed this prequel a lot. Written from Tyson's point of view entirely (well almost), we get to see a lot of his internal struggles and self-esteem issues. On the surface he is always this happy and caring guy, but when it comes to himself he doesn't really see his worth. Good thing he has Phil and all his friends, old ones and new to show him he is worthy. Worthy of their friendship, worthy of their time, worthy to call them family. They want him in their lives, he just has to see it. And so much love for Phil, he did very well trying to coax Tyson back out of his shell, always being supportive and understanding. Really loved how it turned out.
Note: Please be aware of content warnings as provided by the author!
- Detailed references to mental and emotional abuse
- Estranged family
- Attempted reconciliation
- Emotional fallout from discovering a hidden family member
- Abuse toward a mentally ill person for being mentally ill
- Brief references to physical abuse, homophobia, transphobia, and racism
- References to deaths of parents/caregivers
- Alcohol consumption as a way to deal with bad feelings
- Sexually explicit scenes (those chapters are noted with asterisks)
- Excessive swearing on Phil’s end (some things never change)
Note: Please be aware of content warnings as provided by the author!
- Detailed references to mental and emotional abuse
- Estranged family
- Attempted reconciliation
- Emotional fallout from discovering a hidden family member
- Abuse toward a mentally ill person for being mentally ill
- Brief references to physical abuse, homophobia, transphobia, and racism
- References to deaths of parents/caregivers
- Alcohol consumption as a way to deal with bad feelings
- Sexually explicit scenes (those chapters are noted with asterisks)
- Excessive swearing on Phil’s end (some things never change)
September 10, 2019
It was sweet and I fell into this short book so completely that I forgot the stove was on and burned dinner.
However, that cover is awful because it makes Tyson look like a dumb kid. Tyson is 31 in in this story and he may not be the brainiest guy ever, but his essential decency, thoughtfulness and kind nature are more emotionally mature than most people. I think he’s the reason why so many people loved the first book.
I also adored his sister. And was happy to see Manny again. There’s a lot of food in this book, but none of it made me hungry. Too sweet and meat-heavy. That’s ok, it gave a sense of place.
Overall, I like Tyson so much I’ll forgive him a lot.
On the other hand though, it’s never fun to see an author fall in the sexist trope of making a mother with a successful career, a horrible ice bitch. I don’t think this author has a clue that the way she portrays this mother is absolutely trope that we see in romance pretty much 90% of the time an adult’s mother is alive (which is sadly rare) and good at her job. Maybe if she knew, she would have found another way. Bad mothers aren’t cool.
However, that cover is awful because it makes Tyson look like a dumb kid. Tyson is 31 in in this story and he may not be the brainiest guy ever, but his essential decency, thoughtfulness and kind nature are more emotionally mature than most people. I think he’s the reason why so many people loved the first book.
I also adored his sister. And was happy to see Manny again. There’s a lot of food in this book, but none of it made me hungry. Too sweet and meat-heavy. That’s ok, it gave a sense of place.
Overall, I like Tyson so much I’ll forgive him a lot.
On the other hand though, it’s never fun to see an author fall in the sexist trope of making a mother with a successful career, a horrible ice bitch. I don’t think this author has a clue that the way she portrays this mother is absolutely trope that we see in romance pretty much 90% of the time an adult’s mother is alive (which is sadly rare) and good at her job. Maybe if she knew, she would have found another way. Bad mothers aren’t cool.
June 6, 2019
3.5* - I'm very, very glad to have more of Phil and Tyson, but as this book is written from Tyson's perspective, I found it much harder to feel as engrossed. At times Tyson feels very emotionally immature and it took me out of the story, as a lot of the problems here are the kind that can be solved by just talking to someone. It's set up, I assume, to show that Tyson struggles with doing just that, but it was more frustrating to me than anything else.
The ending was very sweet and just as expected, I would say it wraps up the story nicely, but had I not read this book and instead read only Team Phison, I wouldn't have felt as if I was missing anything beyond a better glimpse into Tyson the sweetiepie's head. (Not-a-spoiler-alert: he's a sweet baby)
The ending was very sweet and just as expected, I would say it wraps up the story nicely, but had I not read this book and instead read only Team Phison, I wouldn't have felt as if I was missing anything beyond a better glimpse into Tyson the sweetiepie's head. (Not-a-spoiler-alert: he's a sweet baby)
June 30, 2019
A much heavier read than Team Phison, but still fantastic. I love Phil, and I love Tyson, though I missed Phil as the narrator. That grumpy old man is just my favourite. It was good to get more of these two, and to see where their relationship has gone in the few years since Team Phison.
I wished that characters would just talk about their issues, so many things could be solved by talking to someone.
All in all. Real good. I loved it. It's a quick read, so it was a nice way to spend the evening.
I wished that characters would just talk about their issues, so many things could be solved by talking to someone.
All in all. Real good. I loved it. It's a quick read, so it was a nice way to spend the evening.
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