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Nonverbal
alternate cover edition of ASIN B081QXH2CL
*** A contemporary (fictionalized) love story...not a medical guide or treatment plan for those with a TBI. ***
Liam suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was only twelve years old. Although the doctors have hope he’ll make a full recovery some day, almost eight years later, he hasn’t spoken a word and is completely disengaged from the world around him.
Wyatt accepts a job as a companion and daytime caretaker for Liam as a way to make some money and get back on his feet. It’s a short-term assignment, but with room and board included, Wyatt is happy to have a break from living with his mom.
While a true friendship between Liam and Wyatt develops, Wyatt finds out the real reason he was hired. To teach Liam the things his parents and sister can’t help him with.
It’s awkward and uncomfortable at first, but as Liam opens up to Wyatt, they both make tremendous strides in their physical and mental conditions.
And it turns out the old adage that love is the best medicine might actually be true.
For mature readers.
*** A contemporary (fictionalized) love story...not a medical guide or treatment plan for those with a TBI. ***
Liam suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was only twelve years old. Although the doctors have hope he’ll make a full recovery some day, almost eight years later, he hasn’t spoken a word and is completely disengaged from the world around him.
Wyatt accepts a job as a companion and daytime caretaker for Liam as a way to make some money and get back on his feet. It’s a short-term assignment, but with room and board included, Wyatt is happy to have a break from living with his mom.
While a true friendship between Liam and Wyatt develops, Wyatt finds out the real reason he was hired. To teach Liam the things his parents and sister can’t help him with.
It’s awkward and uncomfortable at first, but as Liam opens up to Wyatt, they both make tremendous strides in their physical and mental conditions.
And it turns out the old adage that love is the best medicine might actually be true.
For mature readers.
ebook
First published June 1, 2020
44 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 30, 2020
Oh no!
This was cringe to the 10th power.
Not just cringe worthy but also a major let down.
The author warns that this is fiction and in no way a medical reference novel (love the warning) so I was extremely open minded in that regard.
That's not what I found disturbing.
Wyatt refers to Liam as "bud" constantly which is a nickname one typically calls a younger person/child (in my experience anyway).
This novel had the potential to be so great... The idea behind it was a good one. However it was extremely disturbing in that Wyatt started lusting after Liam (a mentally handicapped boy) right away. Masturbating to him right away come on... That's v disturbing.
Wyatt kept talking about putting his mouth on Liam, having Liam touch him ect... This is in the first couple of weeks. DISTURBING!
This is the type of novel that should be a slow burn. All the intimacy should have been initiated by Liam. It's like Wyatt has zero moral compass, he never exhibitted any guilt...
It read to me as him taking advantage of Liam. After two months Liam was already vocalizing words? Mmm.. okay
Also I understand this is a fictional injury yet his rich parents had no OT or Nurse checking on Liam. He was not in any form of therapy, just cooped up in his house all day... (yes I get he didn't like to leave the house and that he didn't like "doctors" but they are v rich so they can afford to hire a inhome professional)
I can forgive the reason they hired Wyatt however he found out right away and he wasn't disturbed enough to leave... His need for a place to live out of his mom's house didn't come across as desperate enough to completely throw away morals
Anyways I can lecture about this all day but I'm just so disturbed
Everyone else seems to love this and I just can't...
In novels like this Liam should have been initiating the intimate moments out of a need to know or something...
Personally I wished that Wyatt very slowly started to fall (instead of saying Liam was his only just a couple of months into knowing him... Really Wyatt?)
Then maybe closer to the end of his 6 months something mildly inappropriate happens and THEN he finds out the real reason he was hired but at that point I could believe he was too attached to just leave Liam... And also only at that moment would I have accepted vocalized verbage from a boy who hasn't spoken in 8 years. I just wished he started talking over something more meaningful than having his penis touched (Maybe something along the lines of a "No" tantrum to Wyatt feeling inclined to leave out of guilt once he found out why he was hired... if you know he had a moral compass)
Litterally in two months Liam is basically cured 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
Oooooh or Wyatt could have left and Liam leaves to go find him and gets lost or something (that would have been awesome since Liam doesn't like leaving the house... I stopped reading at 65% so maybe this did happen?)
Couldn't get pass 65% because despite the author having Liam verbalize "yes" for consent two months into their knowing each other it didn't erase the disturbance. Did I mention that's TWO months into their relationship from strangers to lovers apparently... With Wyatt knowing Liam is mentally handicapped and for all he knew stuck at the mental age of 12. TWELVE! Wyatt is at least 23-24! DISTURBING!
Typing this out on my phone, pardon any grammatical errors, pardon the rant (but also I said what I said)
Ugh wanted so badly to like this but just so disturbed. Did I mention I was disturbed? CRINGE
This was cringe to the 10th power.
Not just cringe worthy but also a major let down.
The author warns that this is fiction and in no way a medical reference novel (love the warning) so I was extremely open minded in that regard.
That's not what I found disturbing.
Wyatt refers to Liam as "bud" constantly which is a nickname one typically calls a younger person/child (in my experience anyway).
This novel had the potential to be so great... The idea behind it was a good one. However it was extremely disturbing in that Wyatt started lusting after Liam (a mentally handicapped boy) right away. Masturbating to him right away come on... That's v disturbing.
Wyatt kept talking about putting his mouth on Liam, having Liam touch him ect... This is in the first couple of weeks. DISTURBING!
This is the type of novel that should be a slow burn. All the intimacy should have been initiated by Liam. It's like Wyatt has zero moral compass, he never exhibitted any guilt...
It read to me as him taking advantage of Liam. After two months Liam was already vocalizing words? Mmm.. okay
Also I understand this is a fictional injury yet his rich parents had no OT or Nurse checking on Liam. He was not in any form of therapy, just cooped up in his house all day... (yes I get he didn't like to leave the house and that he didn't like "doctors" but they are v rich so they can afford to hire a inhome professional)
I can forgive the reason they hired Wyatt however he found out right away and he wasn't disturbed enough to leave... His need for a place to live out of his mom's house didn't come across as desperate enough to completely throw away morals
Anyways I can lecture about this all day but I'm just so disturbed
Everyone else seems to love this and I just can't...
In novels like this Liam should have been initiating the intimate moments out of a need to know or something...
Personally I wished that Wyatt very slowly started to fall (instead of saying Liam was his only just a couple of months into knowing him... Really Wyatt?)
Then maybe closer to the end of his 6 months something mildly inappropriate happens and THEN he finds out the real reason he was hired but at that point I could believe he was too attached to just leave Liam... And also only at that moment would I have accepted vocalized verbage from a boy who hasn't spoken in 8 years. I just wished he started talking over something more meaningful than having his penis touched (Maybe something along the lines of a "No" tantrum to Wyatt feeling inclined to leave out of guilt once he found out why he was hired... if you know he had a moral compass)
Litterally in two months Liam is basically cured 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
Oooooh or Wyatt could have left and Liam leaves to go find him and gets lost or something (that would have been awesome since Liam doesn't like leaving the house... I stopped reading at 65% so maybe this did happen?)
Couldn't get pass 65% because despite the author having Liam verbalize "yes" for consent two months into their knowing each other it didn't erase the disturbance. Did I mention that's TWO months into their relationship from strangers to lovers apparently... With Wyatt knowing Liam is mentally handicapped and for all he knew stuck at the mental age of 12. TWELVE! Wyatt is at least 23-24! DISTURBING!
Typing this out on my phone, pardon any grammatical errors, pardon the rant (but also I said what I said)
Ugh wanted so badly to like this but just so disturbed. Did I mention I was disturbed? CRINGE
July 29, 2020
I needed a lift so I found an Aria Grace book I hadn’t read. Her books are so sweet and wonderful. I know this story wasn’t realistic, but I still loved it.
I love Aria Grace’s writing. It’s like running a hot knife through warm butter. They’re smooth and sweet.
I love Aria Grace’s writing. It’s like running a hot knife through warm butter. They’re smooth and sweet.
April 16, 2021
Please, please do yourself a service and don't read this book. It is a terrible representation of people with nonverbal disabilities. It is a terrible representation of real people. Nonverbal reads like a laundry list of bad tropes about disabled people, particularly nonverbal people.
In Nonverbal
- Disabilities are solved by just finding the perfect person.
- Disabled people are infantilised. Nonverbal constantly reminds us how the main character is 'mentally a child'
- Disabled people need to be 'fixed'
- Its romantic if the carer of a disabled person masturbates to them without their consent
- Its romantic for a man in a position of power over a disabled person to guide them into sex
- Its fine for a disabled person's parents to hire him a sex worker, without either the disabled person OR the sex worker consenting to it.
Even putting aside these bad representations of disabled people, none of these characters act like real people, the dialog clunks along like they're robots, and the plot has holes you could sail the Ever Given through. At my most cynical, I would call this disability fetishism. If I'm optimistic, its hopefully just misguided.
In Nonverbal
- Disabilities are solved by just finding the perfect person.
- Disabled people are infantilised. Nonverbal constantly reminds us how the main character is 'mentally a child'
- Disabled people need to be 'fixed'
- Its romantic if the carer of a disabled person masturbates to them without their consent
- Its romantic for a man in a position of power over a disabled person to guide them into sex
- Its fine for a disabled person's parents to hire him a sex worker, without either the disabled person OR the sex worker consenting to it.
Even putting aside these bad representations of disabled people, none of these characters act like real people, the dialog clunks along like they're robots, and the plot has holes you could sail the Ever Given through. At my most cynical, I would call this disability fetishism. If I'm optimistic, its hopefully just misguided.
Read
October 2, 2020So this was a difficult one.
The idea about it really drew my attention, BUT, I wasn't to keen on how things
fell into place. Especially the timing of it all.
I kept telling myself that it's a short read and therefore there wasn't time to flesh
out the story and the timeline more, but shouldn't you spend more time on the timeline
if you write something like this?
So yes, I liked the idea of it, but it also made me feel 'uncomfortable' a whole lot at
times.
It's gonna be personal taste here. If you can block out the fact that there are "sexy thoughts" waaaaaaayyyy to early in this story about a kid/man who might be a 12/14 year old trapped in a
20 year old body.. then good for you.
It kept niggling in my mind and therefore I'm not going to rate this.
I didn't NOT like it I just wish it was longer and timed better.
The idea about it really drew my attention, BUT, I wasn't to keen on how things
fell into place. Especially the timing of it all.
I kept telling myself that it's a short read and therefore there wasn't time to flesh
out the story and the timeline more, but shouldn't you spend more time on the timeline
if you write something like this?
So yes, I liked the idea of it, but it also made me feel 'uncomfortable' a whole lot at
times.
It's gonna be personal taste here. If you can block out the fact that there are "sexy thoughts" waaaaaaayyyy to early in this story about a kid/man who might be a 12/14 year old trapped in a
20 year old body.. then good for you.
It kept niggling in my mind and therefore I'm not going to rate this.
I didn't NOT like it I just wish it was longer and timed better.
March 27, 2022
~~~~
„Wir hatten gestern Abend gewissermaßen einen Durchbruch.“
„Ahhh.“ Avery legte die Hände auf ihre Ohren, dann griff sie nach ihrer Schale. „Wartet doch wenigstens damit, bis ich aus der Küche bin.“
🙈😂
~~~~
Zu Anfang war das Ganze schon irgendwie ein bisschen strange.. 😅 aber wer würde nicht, alles mögliche und auch unmögliche für sein Kind tun?!
Mit jeder kleinsten Veränderung, mit jedem weiteren Fortschritt, den Liam durch und mit Wyatt macht,
hab ich mich unglaublich mitgefreut.. 🥰
Eine bewegende Geschichte. ❤️👍🏼
„Wir hatten gestern Abend gewissermaßen einen Durchbruch.“
„Ahhh.“ Avery legte die Hände auf ihre Ohren, dann griff sie nach ihrer Schale. „Wartet doch wenigstens damit, bis ich aus der Küche bin.“
🙈😂
~~~~
Zu Anfang war das Ganze schon irgendwie ein bisschen strange.. 😅 aber wer würde nicht, alles mögliche und auch unmögliche für sein Kind tun?!
Mit jeder kleinsten Veränderung, mit jedem weiteren Fortschritt, den Liam durch und mit Wyatt macht,
hab ich mich unglaublich mitgefreut.. 🥰
Eine bewegende Geschichte. ❤️👍🏼
June 28, 2020
This is one of those rare stories that will stick with me forever. Ms Grace has managed to bring us a wonderfully touching book centered around an MC who lives with the effects of a TBI. She kept it caring and loving. Never losing sight of his special needs. I hope in the future we get to visit Liam and Wyatt again.
Highly recommend this to my friends.
Highly recommend this to my friends.
added-it
February 13, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/13/2021)! 🎁
February 17, 2022
1.5 stars. The time frame made the sexual aspect of this story... icky. It was uncomfortable to read the sex scenes and they took away from the romance. Had the pacing been slower, allowing the characters to connect and grow over time before introducing the magic peen, it could have been a beautiful love story.
July 30, 2020
4 stars
A sweet novella about a young man with a history of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and his companion.
Now, at first a was a bit eeeek because Wyatt was hired by Liam’s parents as a “companion” for their 20-year-old son. Someone with whom Liam could “learn” from, ya know....things that obviously Liam’s parents couldn’t help out with.
And when we first meet Liam, it appears he’s developmentally delayed. His parents even tell Wyatt just before their first meeting, that Liam is “upstairs playing.” So of course I’m a bit....no this isn’t right.
But not to fear, despite Liam having been non-verbal since his accident 8 years prior, he appears to be more SOCIALLY delayed than developmentally delayed-most likely due to his isolation. His body has gone through its normal changes, from a boy to a man, and despite his parents’ best efforts, Liam wasn’t going to listen to his parents or hired professionals talk about said changes.
Wyatt befriends him, and even though it’s a bit underhanded of his parents, he’s attracted to Liam and begins to learn the man behind the injury.
It’s a sweet, no angst story that does a good job showing that everyone deserves to live their best lives, that those with mental challenges need to be looked at as individuals...humans—and not just their disability. Because God knows we all have our own challenges to face.
A sweet novella about a young man with a history of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and his companion.
Now, at first a was a bit eeeek because Wyatt was hired by Liam’s parents as a “companion” for their 20-year-old son. Someone with whom Liam could “learn” from, ya know....things that obviously Liam’s parents couldn’t help out with.
And when we first meet Liam, it appears he’s developmentally delayed. His parents even tell Wyatt just before their first meeting, that Liam is “upstairs playing.” So of course I’m a bit....no this isn’t right.
But not to fear, despite Liam having been non-verbal since his accident 8 years prior, he appears to be more SOCIALLY delayed than developmentally delayed-most likely due to his isolation. His body has gone through its normal changes, from a boy to a man, and despite his parents’ best efforts, Liam wasn’t going to listen to his parents or hired professionals talk about said changes.
Wyatt befriends him, and even though it’s a bit underhanded of his parents, he’s attracted to Liam and begins to learn the man behind the injury.
It’s a sweet, no angst story that does a good job showing that everyone deserves to live their best lives, that those with mental challenges need to be looked at as individuals...humans—and not just their disability. Because God knows we all have our own challenges to face.
July 9, 2020
4,5*
PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings:
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like
‘Jesse's Smile' or ‚Joey’ from Angelique Jurd,
‘Save the kids' series from EM Leya,
‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or
'Liberty' from Seth King),
it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books and
Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series)
it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times a year (most romances where you can
enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader,
maybe 2-3 times a year. It’s like a B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok). It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings:
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like
‘Jesse's Smile' or ‚Joey’ from Angelique Jurd,
‘Save the kids' series from EM Leya,
‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or
'Liberty' from Seth King),
it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books and
Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series)
it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times a year (most romances where you can
enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader,
maybe 2-3 times a year. It’s like a B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok). It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
June 27, 2020
SpeechTastic
I love this book. I read it in one sitting, I'm hoping there's going to be more as I would love to see how the main characters are getting on down the road a few years later.
I love this book. I read it in one sitting, I'm hoping there's going to be more as I would love to see how the main characters are getting on down the road a few years later.
July 17, 2020
Idk how realistic/accurate this is because I haven't done any research on TBI's but it was an interesting, short read.
May 7, 2023
Wyatt & Liam
This wasn't a bad story. The relationship between Liam & Wyatt may seem unorthodox but it really does start out innocently. They end up with a good HEA.
This wasn't a bad story. The relationship between Liam & Wyatt may seem unorthodox but it really does start out innocently. They end up with a good HEA.
June 28, 2020
Such a great read
I was so excited to read this and so glad it didn’t disappoint. I will say that it is single POV but still an amazing story to read.
I was so excited to read this and so glad it didn’t disappoint. I will say that it is single POV but still an amazing story to read.
June 30, 2020
This is one book I would love to read a sequel to! I’d love to see years down the road when Wyatt and Liam have been together for years.
October 1, 2020
Different
This book is a little different. Its not as good as I wanted it to be. It lacks research and needs to be a little more emotional.
This book is a little different. Its not as good as I wanted it to be. It lacks research and needs to be a little more emotional.
May 18, 2022
Communication
Liam uses unspoken communication to get what he wants and needs. He has decided he wants Wyatt. This Traumatic Brain Injured man can teach all about love and acceptance.
Liam uses unspoken communication to get what he wants and needs. He has decided he wants Wyatt. This Traumatic Brain Injured man can teach all about love and acceptance.
June 30, 2020
This was a very sweet love story that I enjoyed very much.
July 20, 2020
So Conflicted
I am very conflicted about this book. The concept looked intriguing to me and I’ve read Aria Grace books before. With that said, I feel like this book could have left less feelings of conflict for me if we had Liam’s perspective. With only Wyatt to go by, we have to trust that his assumption of the situation is spot on. With Wyatt having zero experience with TBI, or any medical training at all, I didn’t know that I could trust Wyatt 100% of the time, even though his intentions were pure.
There were parts that I found to be confusing for me. Liam and his swing for…release. I genuinely don’t know how to feel about this in the grand scheme of things. Liam not being cognizant enough to know he could experiment with himself, but knowing what he wanted to do with Wyatt seemed incongruent to me. I certainly don’t think there was an issue of non-consent, but we could have gotten a clearer picture of where Liam was at in his head if we had his POV. His parents basically hiring a stripper to try to teach him things? Odd. His parents trying to show him porn? Inconceivable.
Overall, however, I enjoyed the story. I felt like Wyatt really cared about Liam and his well-being. He wasn’t out for himself and he wanted what was best for Liam, even helping him get his painting off the ground. He was patient and gentle with Liam at all times and I really felt his love for Liam come through the page. Liam was curious and willing to push himself out of his comfort zone to take a chance with Wyatt. It was a lovely story between these two men.
I am very conflicted about this book. The concept looked intriguing to me and I’ve read Aria Grace books before. With that said, I feel like this book could have left less feelings of conflict for me if we had Liam’s perspective. With only Wyatt to go by, we have to trust that his assumption of the situation is spot on. With Wyatt having zero experience with TBI, or any medical training at all, I didn’t know that I could trust Wyatt 100% of the time, even though his intentions were pure.
There were parts that I found to be confusing for me. Liam and his swing for…release. I genuinely don’t know how to feel about this in the grand scheme of things. Liam not being cognizant enough to know he could experiment with himself, but knowing what he wanted to do with Wyatt seemed incongruent to me. I certainly don’t think there was an issue of non-consent, but we could have gotten a clearer picture of where Liam was at in his head if we had his POV. His parents basically hiring a stripper to try to teach him things? Odd. His parents trying to show him porn? Inconceivable.
Overall, however, I enjoyed the story. I felt like Wyatt really cared about Liam and his well-being. He wasn’t out for himself and he wanted what was best for Liam, even helping him get his painting off the ground. He was patient and gentle with Liam at all times and I really felt his love for Liam come through the page. Liam was curious and willing to push himself out of his comfort zone to take a chance with Wyatt. It was a lovely story between these two men.
December 15, 2022
This book makes me very uncomfortable. Not only does Wyatt refer to Liam as “bud” the entire time making me view him as a child(everyone talks about him and to him like a child), he also pursues a sexual relationship with a mentally disabled man who we aren’t sure understands what’s going on. Then Liam is magically “cured” after two months of their sexual relationship. This book was not it and i honestly found it pretty disturbing. 0/5 ⭐️ If i could
July 17, 2020
There are a lot of heart-breaking stories out there. Plenty with happy endings. And because people like that, other people figured out you can just add a sob story and people will like your books. Which means it's terribly hard these days to write a story about any kind of... handicap/illness, honestly, even just use some bad circumstances, because if you don't handle it well enough, it just seems like... disrespect? Like you're ab/using it and your readers?
The line is thin.
I actually know it how thin it can be, since my own book skirts some mental issues and I am not 100% narrating something I experienced and it can be seem like too much by some.
And this was... this was surprisingly romance centered book. The character/s/ did say a few times "it was not love that cured him" and it's true enough from an objective perspective but because the sexual issues are so openly discussed and such a large part of the story... yeah, it felt a bit on the... it wasn't bad, it wasn't fake-feeling, but it still felt like a romance story with a dash of some medical condition which is not that detailed and I am not sure if it makes things easier or more complicated - if it was the perfect excuse for those two to meet or if it required more manipulation because his promising business had to crash and he had to live with his condition "longer" because the MC was the one that truly understood him, unlike his family.
21? Not a problem but it does seem like "oh, I guess it can be constructed a little as dub con - let's make him 21, not just 18 just to be on the safe side".
It might have helped if which you can always argue can happen but the fact you don't have personal experience behind you always makes it a more wobbly argument.
Having said all that - it's short, easy, not heavy at all, (maybe just a bit sad), the family is accepting...
Recommend.
The line is thin.
I actually know it how thin it can be, since my own book skirts some mental issues and I am not 100% narrating something I experienced and it can be seem like too much by some.
And this was... this was surprisingly romance centered book. The character/s/ did say a few times "it was not love that cured him" and it's true enough from an objective perspective but because the sexual issues are so openly discussed and such a large part of the story... yeah, it felt a bit on the... it wasn't bad, it wasn't fake-feeling, but it still felt like a romance story with a dash of some medical condition which is not that detailed and I am not sure if it makes things easier or more complicated - if it was the perfect excuse for those two to meet or if it required more manipulation because his promising business had to crash and he had to live with his condition "longer" because the MC was the one that truly understood him, unlike his family.
21? Not a problem but it does seem like "oh, I guess it can be constructed a little as dub con - let's make him 21, not just 18 just to be on the safe side".
It might have helped if which you can always argue can happen but the fact you don't have personal experience behind you always makes it a more wobbly argument.
Having said all that - it's short, easy, not heavy at all, (maybe just a bit sad), the family is accepting...
Recommend.
November 24, 2020
I really liked the idea of this book even if the whole recovery from a brain injury after 8 years is far-fetched. The author made a note that this is purely fiction and most likely not realistic so I’m definitely not taking off any points for that.
It’s just that we only have Wyatt’s POV and we have no idea how Liam feels. He doesn’t talk and most of the time his interactions with his family and Wyatt don’t give the reader any clear indication of his mental capacity. He had the brain injury when he was 12. At first his parents made it seem like he’s still mentally 12 years old.. but he sort of seems to act younger at times? Then later on they admit hiring a stripper after Liam hit puberty and acted like he didn’t know what to do with his hard-on.. and they wanted her to “experiment” with him... except maybe he was gay? So I guess that’s what Wyatt was really there for... to maybe show Liam what to do with his dick. Weird shit.
It seems like the author went back and forth with Liam’s mental capacity. It felt like we were supposed to think that Liam was an adult and had enough knowledge to know that he was doing sexually with Wyatt... but then his actions showed he didn’t. It was confusing and weird as fuck. And then it made Wyatt out to be a really creepy dude taking advantage of someone with diminished mental state.
Honestly this wasn’t what I was expecting from this story at all. It could’ve been good but it didn’t hit that level for me.
It’s just that we only have Wyatt’s POV and we have no idea how Liam feels. He doesn’t talk and most of the time his interactions with his family and Wyatt don’t give the reader any clear indication of his mental capacity. He had the brain injury when he was 12. At first his parents made it seem like he’s still mentally 12 years old.. but he sort of seems to act younger at times? Then later on they admit hiring a stripper after Liam hit puberty and acted like he didn’t know what to do with his hard-on.. and they wanted her to “experiment” with him... except maybe he was gay? So I guess that’s what Wyatt was really there for... to maybe show Liam what to do with his dick. Weird shit.
It seems like the author went back and forth with Liam’s mental capacity. It felt like we were supposed to think that Liam was an adult and had enough knowledge to know that he was doing sexually with Wyatt... but then his actions showed he didn’t. It was confusing and weird as fuck. And then it made Wyatt out to be a really creepy dude taking advantage of someone with diminished mental state.
Honestly this wasn’t what I was expecting from this story at all. It could’ve been good but it didn’t hit that level for me.
March 9, 2023
𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀. 𝗪𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄.
THIS 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 FICTION👏🏻
So many negative reviewers complained it was unrealistic and a horrible representation of nonverbal people. The author even mentions in the blurb it is FICTIONALIZED. When will people comprehend that fiction is a suspension of reality? Just read and ENJOY something outside reality. Good grief. Rant over.
This book centers around 20 year old nonverbal Liam and his hired live-in caretaker, Wyatt. Not all is what it seems and what develops is a beautiful friendship and a passionate love. IT IS NOT REALISTIC, but it is a fantastic read all the same. Watching Liam come out of his quiet shell while learning to be independent was absolutely beautiful. The way Wyatt treated him as an adult and guided him was beautiful. I could read about this couple for days and not get tired of their intensity and sweetness.
No, it’s not realistic. As someone who has a very close family member with TBI, it’s not believable. But oh the beauty and hope of fiction. I often dream of my family member just waking up one day and being different. It was a pleasure witnessing someone else see that that.
The sexy times were handled with care. Wyatt was patient and explained everything and not once did I think he was taking advantage of Liam. Liam may have had a TBI but he wasn’t dumb or childish. Overall, I only wish it was longer.
QUOTE HIGHLIGHTS: 13
POV: 1st, Wyatt
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
TROPES: MM, Disability Rep, Novella
🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THIS 👏🏻 IS 👏🏻 FICTION👏🏻
So many negative reviewers complained it was unrealistic and a horrible representation of nonverbal people. The author even mentions in the blurb it is FICTIONALIZED. When will people comprehend that fiction is a suspension of reality? Just read and ENJOY something outside reality. Good grief. Rant over.
This book centers around 20 year old nonverbal Liam and his hired live-in caretaker, Wyatt. Not all is what it seems and what develops is a beautiful friendship and a passionate love. IT IS NOT REALISTIC, but it is a fantastic read all the same. Watching Liam come out of his quiet shell while learning to be independent was absolutely beautiful. The way Wyatt treated him as an adult and guided him was beautiful. I could read about this couple for days and not get tired of their intensity and sweetness.
No, it’s not realistic. As someone who has a very close family member with TBI, it’s not believable. But oh the beauty and hope of fiction. I often dream of my family member just waking up one day and being different. It was a pleasure witnessing someone else see that that.
The sexy times were handled with care. Wyatt was patient and explained everything and not once did I think he was taking advantage of Liam. Liam may have had a TBI but he wasn’t dumb or childish. Overall, I only wish it was longer.
QUOTE HIGHLIGHTS: 13
POV: 1st, Wyatt
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
TROPES: MM, Disability Rep, Novella
🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 12, 2023
I needed something short and sweet to read, and Nonverbal fit the bill perfectly.
The author warns you at the beginning that this story is not based in medical realities, but let me reiterate that for you. If you need some dose of realism in your contemporary romance, this story may not be for you — because yes, the power of love does pretty much heal a traumatic brain injury, and I don’t care what you say, I’m here for it.
Wyatt needs a job and a place of his own after crashing spectacularly with an internet start-up and having to move back in with his mom. A position as a live-in companion comes up, and Wyatt thinks it’s too good to be true: He basically just needs to befriend Liam, a 20-year-old who suffered a traumatic brain injury after nearly drowning at age 12. He’s nonverbal, but communicates in other ways, and is fairly independent. As the two get to know each other and pull closer, Liam starts to improve and progress — and they both develop feelings that go beyond friendship.
This is a really sweet hurt/comfort story, and it was a perfect read for a Saturday afternoon. Wyatt wrestled with his developing feelings but also recognized that Liam was a fully fledged person, despite his injury. And I loved all the little milestones in their relationship and in Liam’s healing.
The author warns you at the beginning that this story is not based in medical realities, but let me reiterate that for you. If you need some dose of realism in your contemporary romance, this story may not be for you — because yes, the power of love does pretty much heal a traumatic brain injury, and I don’t care what you say, I’m here for it.
Wyatt needs a job and a place of his own after crashing spectacularly with an internet start-up and having to move back in with his mom. A position as a live-in companion comes up, and Wyatt thinks it’s too good to be true: He basically just needs to befriend Liam, a 20-year-old who suffered a traumatic brain injury after nearly drowning at age 12. He’s nonverbal, but communicates in other ways, and is fairly independent. As the two get to know each other and pull closer, Liam starts to improve and progress — and they both develop feelings that go beyond friendship.
This is a really sweet hurt/comfort story, and it was a perfect read for a Saturday afternoon. Wyatt wrestled with his developing feelings but also recognized that Liam was a fully fledged person, despite his injury. And I loved all the little milestones in their relationship and in Liam’s healing.
April 1, 2023
such a great feel good story
In this book we meet Wyatt who is trying to decide what to do with his life after he quit college and then lost a lot of money on a failed business with his friends. He is offered a caregiver job by the parents of his coworker in the coffee shop he works in. Liam suffered a brain injury 10 years ago and though on the outside he is gorgeous, in his mind he’s hasn’t matured and he doesn’t speak either.
Wyatt is given the job in the hopes that he can give Liam a sexual awakening as he gets frustrated when he has urges and his parents don’t know how to help him other than bringing in a male friend to hopefully befriend him and teach him things.
Liam and Wyatt have chemistry from the first moment and Wyatt is so caring and patient with Liam. Over time they grow closer and Liam starts to show that he isn’t just a mute body and that there’s so much more to him. It’s a slow burn and i really enjoyed the pace, how things develop between them and how it ends.
This was recommended to me and I loved it. I enjoyed how the author uses artistic freedom when writing so that Wyatt caring for Liam helped to stimulate the changes in his brain that he sustained with the tbi many years ago.
In this book we meet Wyatt who is trying to decide what to do with his life after he quit college and then lost a lot of money on a failed business with his friends. He is offered a caregiver job by the parents of his coworker in the coffee shop he works in. Liam suffered a brain injury 10 years ago and though on the outside he is gorgeous, in his mind he’s hasn’t matured and he doesn’t speak either.
Wyatt is given the job in the hopes that he can give Liam a sexual awakening as he gets frustrated when he has urges and his parents don’t know how to help him other than bringing in a male friend to hopefully befriend him and teach him things.
Liam and Wyatt have chemistry from the first moment and Wyatt is so caring and patient with Liam. Over time they grow closer and Liam starts to show that he isn’t just a mute body and that there’s so much more to him. It’s a slow burn and i really enjoyed the pace, how things develop between them and how it ends.
This was recommended to me and I loved it. I enjoyed how the author uses artistic freedom when writing so that Wyatt caring for Liam helped to stimulate the changes in his brain that he sustained with the tbi many years ago.
April 7, 2021
Conflicted
. Okay, so the other reviews are both right and wrong. Yes, Liam has a childlike personality - at first. The way he releases his.. frustration in the beginning is awkward and very hard to read and honestly the author could have made it less so. Nevertheless, I understand its point. But the childlike behaviors completely ends when things become sexual between the two. Completely. Its like a personality 180 but eased into.
This book isn’t written to be realistic. There are too many unrealistic factors and situations. The author did a smooth job at making the unbelievable and unrealistic make sense with the characters and the plot. The focus is on Liam’s change and how he “heals” alongside his relationship.
But as the duo become friends Liam starts comprehending more and gesturing purposefully. Their relationship becomes more emotional and Liam starts becoming more verbal in body language. Then eventually, be becomes verbal. It definitely is a “love cures all” despite the author including reasons and possible medical reasons why its not.
Like I said, its not believable or realistic. But it is worth the read. Its short, sappy and different.
. Okay, so the other reviews are both right and wrong. Yes, Liam has a childlike personality - at first. The way he releases his.. frustration in the beginning is awkward and very hard to read and honestly the author could have made it less so. Nevertheless, I understand its point. But the childlike behaviors completely ends when things become sexual between the two. Completely. Its like a personality 180 but eased into.
This book isn’t written to be realistic. There are too many unrealistic factors and situations. The author did a smooth job at making the unbelievable and unrealistic make sense with the characters and the plot. The focus is on Liam’s change and how he “heals” alongside his relationship.
But as the duo become friends Liam starts comprehending more and gesturing purposefully. Their relationship becomes more emotional and Liam starts becoming more verbal in body language. Then eventually, be becomes verbal. It definitely is a “love cures all” despite the author including reasons and possible medical reasons why its not.
Like I said, its not believable or realistic. But it is worth the read. Its short, sappy and different.
June 29, 2020
Listen to Me
I've waited for months to the opportunity to read what turned out to be a wonderfully, compassionate, sweet tale of the importance of meeting a person where they are. Not trying to change them, but assisting with the process if a person indicates they want to change themselves.
The importance of Listening for cues with more than your ears. Demonstration, affection, and patience over a period of time. Not rushing - thinking out each step / move. Putting the person's needs & desires above your own. Listening with your heart. Being creative in how you demonstrate it.
Hearing " No" , acknowledging it, giving the person permission to use it anytime, and respecting them when they say it. Having a loving supportive family that loves their child so much they step out of house comfort zone to help him. This is a story that actually exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved it!!
I've waited for months to the opportunity to read what turned out to be a wonderfully, compassionate, sweet tale of the importance of meeting a person where they are. Not trying to change them, but assisting with the process if a person indicates they want to change themselves.
The importance of Listening for cues with more than your ears. Demonstration, affection, and patience over a period of time. Not rushing - thinking out each step / move. Putting the person's needs & desires above your own. Listening with your heart. Being creative in how you demonstrate it.
Hearing " No" , acknowledging it, giving the person permission to use it anytime, and respecting them when they say it. Having a loving supportive family that loves their child so much they step out of house comfort zone to help him. This is a story that actually exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved it!!
September 19, 2020
"Nonverbal" received THREE stars.
I really liked this story. Loved the chemistry between Liam and Wyatt, as well as Wyatt making sure he had Liam’s consent at every turn. It was hard to suspend my disbelief that Liam’s TBI was “cured” by sex. I wish the author had used something else to explain his nonverbal-ness.
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."
* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything s/he writes."
I really liked this story. Loved the chemistry between Liam and Wyatt, as well as Wyatt making sure he had Liam’s consent at every turn. It was hard to suspend my disbelief that Liam’s TBI was “cured” by sex. I wish the author had used something else to explain his nonverbal-ness.
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."
* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything s/he writes."
October 6, 2020
Yikes, this is a controversial topic: physical and emotional adult intimacy—yes, sexuality—in the intellectually disabled adult. I slow applaud the author for attempting to explore the rights and needs of a person with intellectual disabilities.
At times, the story is the epitome of the Magical Healing Cock trope (cringe), and, at other times, it is evocative, sensitive. There is a disconnect.
A likeable single POV and flowing prose/dialogue help this story along, but it skims too lightly, too speedily over the complexity it deserves—from both MCs’ perspectives.
Recommended, but also read Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless, which is an outstanding, nuanced examination of love and sex with an intellectually disabled adult.
At times, the story is the epitome of the Magical Healing Cock trope (cringe), and, at other times, it is evocative, sensitive. There is a disconnect.
A likeable single POV and flowing prose/dialogue help this story along, but it skims too lightly, too speedily over the complexity it deserves—from both MCs’ perspectives.
Recommended, but also read Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless, which is an outstanding, nuanced examination of love and sex with an intellectually disabled adult.
June 30, 2020
It was okay, I guess??
I was in a good mood when I read this so I gave it 3 stars because it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve read in a while (trust me, I’ve read worst) but it wasn’t the best thing ever either.
The medical side was a mess but the author warned about it so that’s refreshing and so I went in suspending disbelief from the very beginning.
The relationship between the main characters was a bit... weird. I mean, just the whole thing was weird. This is a book with a plot that should, NEEDS, to be developed over time and in a longer book to do it justice. As it is, in a book this short where everything was rushed, the relationship felt odd and a bit predatory.
I was in a good mood when I read this so I gave it 3 stars because it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve read in a while (trust me, I’ve read worst) but it wasn’t the best thing ever either.
The medical side was a mess but the author warned about it so that’s refreshing and so I went in suspending disbelief from the very beginning.
The relationship between the main characters was a bit... weird. I mean, just the whole thing was weird. This is a book with a plot that should, NEEDS, to be developed over time and in a longer book to do it justice. As it is, in a book this short where everything was rushed, the relationship felt odd and a bit predatory.
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