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Laugh Cry Repeat
Wyeth Becker is a quiet man. Staid, serious, calm. A librarian. When he meets preschool teacher Deeze Long, he discovers joy for the first time in his life. With joy comes laughter, excitement, and a new way to look at the world through the eyes of the kindest, most loving man he has ever met. When tragedy strikes and Deeze loses his joy, it is Wyeth who helps him find it again. It is Wyeth, the man who never truly understood happiness, who pays that gift back. Giving all he can of himself to the man who changed his life. Restoring in Deeze what he now so desperately needs. But the road of their relationship doesn’t end there. The joys and sorrows of life are never-ending. As they set out to weather the highs and lows together, Wyeth and Deeze hang on to the one thing that makes all the tears and laughter worthwhile. Love. For only through love can life be truly savored at all.
200 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2017
About the author
John Inman
40 books442 followersA Lambda Literary Award finalist and the author of over forty novels, John has been writing fiction for as long as he can remember. Born on a small farm in Indiana, he now resides in San Diego, California where he spends his time gardening, pampering his pets, hiking and biking the trails and canyons of San Diego, and of course, writing. He and his partner share a passion for theater, books, film, and the continuing fight for marriage equality. If you would like to know more about John, check out his website at----
http://www.johninmanauthor.com/John_I... or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/john.inman.79
http://www.johninmanauthor.com/John_I... or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/john.inman.79
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 12, 2017
1.5 stars (rounded up for GR)
Reviewed for Just Love
(trigger warnings for gun violence (school shooting) and mention of suicide)
I honestly don’t know where to start with this review. Should I open with the very odd way it’s narrated, moving from talking to the reader directly, to the standard third person and back again, all in the space of a few paragraphs? Or should I begin with how this book is presented as an amusing story about two men falling (literally) in love but how it turns terribly tragic at the 70% mark with nary a warning in sight, and how it still tries to maintain its light-hearted tone throughout? Of course, I could always begin with the frankly insulting way it treats homeless people. Then there was the forced spray tan. God, the possibilities are endless.
Needless to say, I almost DNF’d this book several times. Along with the weird choice of narration, I was dumbfounded that Deeze didn’t give up on Wyeth within the first 5 minutes. Quite frankly, Wyeth is a downer, a buzz-kill, a negative Nelly. All we know is that he’s been hurt in the past (only because he says he has), but he gives no real indication of why he was initially so reluctant to get involved with the perpetually upbeat Deeze other than he’s kind of a cranky bastard. And not charmingly cranky, just plain annoyingly cranky.
At least Deeze has some personality. He’s a little funny, kinda sweet and does try to bring Wyeth out of his shell. To be fair, though, I’m not sure I’d want to be with someone who took me for a spray tan on our first date.
“Spray tans? I’m not going in there,” Wyeth announced, clearly appalled. “Yes, you are,” Deeze replied, giving him a gentle bump with his hip to get him moving. “Huh-uh. No way in hell am I going in there.” Still unflappable, Deeze reached out and pulled open the door. “They’ve opened early just for us. So yes, you are. We’re here. We have an appointment. It’s already paid for. You’re going.”
Things do start to improve after this as Wyeth and Deeze settle into a fairly cute relationship. I was even enjoying things at one point. Deeze stopped being bossy and Wyeth stopped being cranky. And then it all went to hell.
The plot twist had no business being in this book. It’s supposed to be a light-hearted story for crying out loud. I had expected something minor would likely trip our MCs up, but then they would resolve it and all would be good. End of story. I did not expect a school shooting. I did not expect the death by suicide of the 13 yr old shooter, and I certainly did not expect the suggestion that Deeze (a teacher) would recover from the emotional trauma in mere weeks – which goes by in the space of a few pages – and have the book still continue with its faintly amusing, light tone.
The icing on that shit cake was the death of an elderly, isolated neighbour and the shenanigans that ensued when Wyeth and Deeze enlisted some homeless people to attend the funeral – because they have no pall-bearers – and bribed them with food.
Any fool in the world could have seen the man might have been bought and sold for far less than an energy bar, but since an energy bar was what was being offered, an energy bar was what he took. The same could be said for Itty Bitty Bob. He liked energy bars too. For a second energy bar, which for any homeless person in the world was the gastronomical equivalent of striking the mother lode, Bill and Bob were easily coerced into the role of recruiting surrogates, and set off on their own search for more homeless to entice.
Oh my gosh, isn’t it so funny to dangle food in front of a homeless person and watch them jump?? Lolz!!
Gross.
In the end, despite the few parts that were good and actually kinda funny, I can’t recommend this book. It’s tone deaf and contains some rather jarring themes that need to be addressed either in the blurb or by way of a trigger warning. This one is a pass.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Reviewed for Just Love
(trigger warnings for gun violence (school shooting) and mention of suicide)
I honestly don’t know where to start with this review. Should I open with the very odd way it’s narrated, moving from talking to the reader directly, to the standard third person and back again, all in the space of a few paragraphs? Or should I begin with how this book is presented as an amusing story about two men falling (literally) in love but how it turns terribly tragic at the 70% mark with nary a warning in sight, and how it still tries to maintain its light-hearted tone throughout? Of course, I could always begin with the frankly insulting way it treats homeless people. Then there was the forced spray tan. God, the possibilities are endless.
Needless to say, I almost DNF’d this book several times. Along with the weird choice of narration, I was dumbfounded that Deeze didn’t give up on Wyeth within the first 5 minutes. Quite frankly, Wyeth is a downer, a buzz-kill, a negative Nelly. All we know is that he’s been hurt in the past (only because he says he has), but he gives no real indication of why he was initially so reluctant to get involved with the perpetually upbeat Deeze other than he’s kind of a cranky bastard. And not charmingly cranky, just plain annoyingly cranky.
At least Deeze has some personality. He’s a little funny, kinda sweet and does try to bring Wyeth out of his shell. To be fair, though, I’m not sure I’d want to be with someone who took me for a spray tan on our first date.
“Spray tans? I’m not going in there,” Wyeth announced, clearly appalled. “Yes, you are,” Deeze replied, giving him a gentle bump with his hip to get him moving. “Huh-uh. No way in hell am I going in there.” Still unflappable, Deeze reached out and pulled open the door. “They’ve opened early just for us. So yes, you are. We’re here. We have an appointment. It’s already paid for. You’re going.”
Things do start to improve after this as Wyeth and Deeze settle into a fairly cute relationship. I was even enjoying things at one point. Deeze stopped being bossy and Wyeth stopped being cranky. And then it all went to hell.
The plot twist had no business being in this book. It’s supposed to be a light-hearted story for crying out loud. I had expected something minor would likely trip our MCs up, but then they would resolve it and all would be good. End of story. I did not expect a school shooting. I did not expect the death by suicide of the 13 yr old shooter, and I certainly did not expect the suggestion that Deeze (a teacher) would recover from the emotional trauma in mere weeks – which goes by in the space of a few pages – and have the book still continue with its faintly amusing, light tone.
The icing on that shit cake was the death of an elderly, isolated neighbour and the shenanigans that ensued when Wyeth and Deeze enlisted some homeless people to attend the funeral – because they have no pall-bearers – and bribed them with food.
Any fool in the world could have seen the man might have been bought and sold for far less than an energy bar, but since an energy bar was what was being offered, an energy bar was what he took. The same could be said for Itty Bitty Bob. He liked energy bars too. For a second energy bar, which for any homeless person in the world was the gastronomical equivalent of striking the mother lode, Bill and Bob were easily coerced into the role of recruiting surrogates, and set off on their own search for more homeless to entice.
Oh my gosh, isn’t it so funny to dangle food in front of a homeless person and watch them jump?? Lolz!!
Gross.
In the end, despite the few parts that were good and actually kinda funny, I can’t recommend this book. It’s tone deaf and contains some rather jarring themes that need to be addressed either in the blurb or by way of a trigger warning. This one is a pass.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 12, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
I’m a fan of John Inman’s and really wanted to like Laugh, Cry, Repeat more than I did. But I struggled to connect with either of the main characters and the plot felt somewhat tired and uninspired. We’re supposed to like Wyeth and Deeze and while I did eventually, it took more than half the story to get there. Wyeth comes of as rather judgmental of others and tends to judge the proverbial cover before looking at the book, which seems a grave sin in a librarian. We aren’t given a great deal of insight into his reluctance to start a relationship with Deeze, but he comes off as a man who either can’t be bothered or doesn’t want to be hurt. The latter I could certainly understand, but because his past isn’t given much exposition, it leaves Wyeth looking like a jerk. If Wyeth is reluctant then Deeze is way too aggressive. His pursuit of Wyeth borders on stalking behavior and he feels uncomfortably intense at times. Once these two settle into a relationship, their more extreme behaviors seem to vanish and they are generally likeable men. Had they been this way from the beginning, it would have been easier to find my footing with this book.
While Inman is a generally strong writer, Laugh, Cry, Repeat has a rather stale storyline that plays into several long exhausted plot devices. It’s a story of far too many coincidences and a rather large event towards the end of the book is somewhat rushed though and leaves almost no impression. The first half of the story centers on the slow building relationship between Wyeth and Deeze and feels well paced as a result. The last half, however, feels more chaotic and less structured. There is a hurried quality to these last chapters and the action chunkily moves from scene to another.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
I’m a fan of John Inman’s and really wanted to like Laugh, Cry, Repeat more than I did. But I struggled to connect with either of the main characters and the plot felt somewhat tired and uninspired. We’re supposed to like Wyeth and Deeze and while I did eventually, it took more than half the story to get there. Wyeth comes of as rather judgmental of others and tends to judge the proverbial cover before looking at the book, which seems a grave sin in a librarian. We aren’t given a great deal of insight into his reluctance to start a relationship with Deeze, but he comes off as a man who either can’t be bothered or doesn’t want to be hurt. The latter I could certainly understand, but because his past isn’t given much exposition, it leaves Wyeth looking like a jerk. If Wyeth is reluctant then Deeze is way too aggressive. His pursuit of Wyeth borders on stalking behavior and he feels uncomfortably intense at times. Once these two settle into a relationship, their more extreme behaviors seem to vanish and they are generally likeable men. Had they been this way from the beginning, it would have been easier to find my footing with this book.
While Inman is a generally strong writer, Laugh, Cry, Repeat has a rather stale storyline that plays into several long exhausted plot devices. It’s a story of far too many coincidences and a rather large event towards the end of the book is somewhat rushed though and leaves almost no impression. The first half of the story centers on the slow building relationship between Wyeth and Deeze and feels well paced as a result. The last half, however, feels more chaotic and less structured. There is a hurried quality to these last chapters and the action chunkily moves from scene to another.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
December 4, 2017
Wyeth is a librarian; Deeze (Darryl Zachary Long) a preschool teacher. Seems their romance should be an easy love-at-first-sight sort of thing. But Wyeth has been burned before and is convinced that a relationship with Deeze is just a "heartache waiting to happen." Wyeth tells himself he just doesn't have the stamina to go through another dating disaster.
But kind, likable Deeze is not deterred by Wyeth's curmudgeonly ways and drags him, kicking and screaming, out into the dating world. Their chemistry is all kinds of sexy and sweet, but it takes a while (about 2/3rds of the book) for Wyeth to finally believe:
Looking at the story as a whole, I felt too much time was spent on the beginning of Wyeth and Deeze's relationship. We get a lot of details about their dates, cute asides about Wyeth's dog Chaucer and Deeze's cat, but we learn little of Wyeth or Deeze's past, their families, their interests, their goals, etc. Sure, Wyeth is gun shy, but c'mon, sometimes he acts like Deeze is a serial killer in the way he rejects him. And because we never really learn about Wyeth's past relationships (just a few vague comments) his actions comes across as somewhat extreme.
Deeze recovers remarkably quickly from his trauma (other than a few nightmares), which seems too abrupt. There is little time for reflection or healing before Wyeth and Deeze are moving toward the ending, which includes a would-almost-never-happens-in-real-life bit of luck, but I rather liked this plot twist and thought it tied up the story in a unique way.
I liked this story, liked the chemistry between Deeze and Wyeth, liked the secondary characters, and liked the ending. But I felt the pace of the love story versus the last part of the book was skewed and I wanted some more in-depth information on the MCs. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
But kind, likable Deeze is not deterred by Wyeth's curmudgeonly ways and drags him, kicking and screaming, out into the dating world. Their chemistry is all kinds of sexy and sweet, but it takes a while (about 2/3rds of the book) for Wyeth to finally believe:
"Remember what you told me once, Deeze? About how there is always one kid who doesn't know how to laugh? Doesn't know how to have fun. Remember?"What comes next is a tragedy that has happened too often in our society, and in the aftermath of this event, Wyeth needs to help Deeze rediscover his joy.
"I remember," Deeze said quietly, a gentle grin curving his mouth.
"I'm that kid, Deeze. I'm the kid who didn't know joy until you came along and shoved it under my nose. I'll never be able to properly thank you for that.
Looking at the story as a whole, I felt too much time was spent on the beginning of Wyeth and Deeze's relationship. We get a lot of details about their dates, cute asides about Wyeth's dog Chaucer and Deeze's cat, but we learn little of Wyeth or Deeze's past, their families, their interests, their goals, etc. Sure, Wyeth is gun shy, but c'mon, sometimes he acts like Deeze is a serial killer in the way he rejects him. And because we never really learn about Wyeth's past relationships (just a few vague comments) his actions comes across as somewhat extreme.
Deeze recovers remarkably quickly from his trauma (other than a few nightmares), which seems too abrupt. There is little time for reflection or healing before Wyeth and Deeze are moving toward the ending, which includes a would-almost-never-happens-in-real-life bit of luck, but I rather liked this plot twist and thought it tied up the story in a unique way.
I liked this story, liked the chemistry between Deeze and Wyeth, liked the secondary characters, and liked the ending. But I felt the pace of the love story versus the last part of the book was skewed and I wanted some more in-depth information on the MCs. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
December 20, 2017
Like the title, I have laugh,cryed and smile again in the end, one happy end. In the start I didn't thinking at the title, reading I had so much fun till the tragic day, but as was sincere the happy part so was the sorrowful , that I was afraid for the solar Deeze character. And as I loved Deeze so i liked Wy very much, the tan spray experience very hilarious included. I liked the book very much.
January 22, 2018
This new release by John Inman was another success by this favorite author of mine. He’s an amazing writer and I surely already said it in the past but each new book is a confirmation, with the characters and the plots he builds, the emotions he can make the readers feel. I shed more than one tear as I usually do every time I read his new titles. He has the ability to hit the core of the matter and to leave me without a breath to breathe. I felt like this more than once during my reading of Laugh Cry Repeat.
I fell in love with Wyeth and Deeze as soon as I met them. Both of them positive characters, both of them stubborn people, the first in the strong will to be alone with his lovely dog, Chances,, the second with the strong desire to conquer and be loved by Wyeth. I adored how they met and dated, how they finally admitted their feelings. I was overwhelmed by how lovely and caring persons they were, how passionate about their works as librarians and teacher. And then there were the second characters, the little Jack, the noisy neighbour Agnes, the cousin Laurie. The way the interacted, always right and measured.
Laugh Cry Repeat is a powerful story, a novel hard to forget for the themes it speaks of, some more evident and loud, others subtle but not less important at all. It’s a book packed with love in every form love exists for a soulmate, for a job, for a life deserved to be lived although its cruelty days, although we are about its strongness, because yes it can be a clichè, but love really is all around us and living without it it’s impossible. And this novel showed all.
The cover art by Reese Dante is well done, I like it and I can see the MCs in the models’ faces.
I fell in love with Wyeth and Deeze as soon as I met them. Both of them positive characters, both of them stubborn people, the first in the strong will to be alone with his lovely dog, Chances,, the second with the strong desire to conquer and be loved by Wyeth. I adored how they met and dated, how they finally admitted their feelings. I was overwhelmed by how lovely and caring persons they were, how passionate about their works as librarians and teacher. And then there were the second characters, the little Jack, the noisy neighbour Agnes, the cousin Laurie. The way the interacted, always right and measured.
Laugh Cry Repeat is a powerful story, a novel hard to forget for the themes it speaks of, some more evident and loud, others subtle but not less important at all. It’s a book packed with love in every form love exists for a soulmate, for a job, for a life deserved to be lived although its cruelty days, although we are about its strongness, because yes it can be a clichè, but love really is all around us and living without it it’s impossible. And this novel showed all.
The cover art by Reese Dante is well done, I like it and I can see the MCs in the models’ faces.
December 13, 2017
I love that I finished this right before bed and can go to sleep on such a feel-good note. I bet I have happy dreams tonight!
December 22, 2017
I make no bones about the fact that John Inman is an auto-buy author for me. He works in many genres, from horror to romance, and each time puts out a story that is captivating and well executed. What I feel makes this author stand apart from others is that his characters have a certain mass appeal. They are genuine, familiar men and women who have been crafted in such a way as to make them easily relatable and accessible. They are your classic ‘everyman’ who are crafted with personalities that are very appealing and immediately draw you in. Such is the case with Wyeth and Deeze, who are featured in Inman’s latest release Laugh Cry Repeat. An introvert and extrovert meet, and the resulting chaos quickly becomes a humorous and often poignant study in how to make a relationship work in both good times and bad.
Wyeth is a quiet, reserved librarian who lives a carefully tailored life. His daily routine includes walking his overly eager dog, and delving into a nice long book. He has had his fair share of relationships that have, as a rule, ended badly, with his heart once again the main victim. So, Wyeth leads a solitary life and has convinced himself he is content with that. He may not be happy, but then, who really is?
Deeze is a force of nature. A pre-school teacher who is studying to earn a secondary degree in the sports medicine field, Deeze is your basic optimist. Rarely daunted by the day-to-day problems that may arise, Deeze spends his time corralling small children and loving them. When he literally falls head-over-heels after tripping over Wyeth’s dog, he is determined to get to know the gorgeous, reclusive librarian who just happens to live right across the street. So begins a war, of sorts, with Deeze attempting to scale the walls that Wyeth has erected around his heart.
This novel was just lovely. From the clever and sophisticated dialogue to the winsome way in which Deeze pursued Wyeth, one could not help but fall in love with these men and their story. I so value an author like Mr. Inman, who dares to use vocabulary that is beyond the normal fare we often read in a romance. It may seem simple, yet giving these men a linguistic edge that sounded a bit more educated and cerebral actually made them that much more realistic to me. Wyeth held himself aloof, and did so in both his bearing and his discourse. Deeze met him syllable for syllable, and proved to him he would not be frightened away by the false air of superiority Wyeth employed in order to hide his insecurities and fears. It’s these little touches that make this writer and his stories stand out.
From the children, who play a minor yet important role in the story, to the crazy pets, we are fully immersed in the lives of the main characters. When Wyeth finally lets down his guard and the two men become intimately connected, the resulting scenes are romantic and intense and leave one breathless. But it is the ‘bad’ times that Wyeth and Deeze experience together that really make the biggest impact. Instead of dividing the two men, these scenes push them even closer and give the reader a taste of how transformed Wyeth has become under Deeze’s relentless joy and optimism.
Laugh Cry Repeat is a beautiful love story that takes a slice of everyday life and creates a magical montage of sweet moments that leave the reader delighted. I highly recommend it to the romantic that hides inside each of us.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Wyeth is a quiet, reserved librarian who lives a carefully tailored life. His daily routine includes walking his overly eager dog, and delving into a nice long book. He has had his fair share of relationships that have, as a rule, ended badly, with his heart once again the main victim. So, Wyeth leads a solitary life and has convinced himself he is content with that. He may not be happy, but then, who really is?
Deeze is a force of nature. A pre-school teacher who is studying to earn a secondary degree in the sports medicine field, Deeze is your basic optimist. Rarely daunted by the day-to-day problems that may arise, Deeze spends his time corralling small children and loving them. When he literally falls head-over-heels after tripping over Wyeth’s dog, he is determined to get to know the gorgeous, reclusive librarian who just happens to live right across the street. So begins a war, of sorts, with Deeze attempting to scale the walls that Wyeth has erected around his heart.
This novel was just lovely. From the clever and sophisticated dialogue to the winsome way in which Deeze pursued Wyeth, one could not help but fall in love with these men and their story. I so value an author like Mr. Inman, who dares to use vocabulary that is beyond the normal fare we often read in a romance. It may seem simple, yet giving these men a linguistic edge that sounded a bit more educated and cerebral actually made them that much more realistic to me. Wyeth held himself aloof, and did so in both his bearing and his discourse. Deeze met him syllable for syllable, and proved to him he would not be frightened away by the false air of superiority Wyeth employed in order to hide his insecurities and fears. It’s these little touches that make this writer and his stories stand out.
From the children, who play a minor yet important role in the story, to the crazy pets, we are fully immersed in the lives of the main characters. When Wyeth finally lets down his guard and the two men become intimately connected, the resulting scenes are romantic and intense and leave one breathless. But it is the ‘bad’ times that Wyeth and Deeze experience together that really make the biggest impact. Instead of dividing the two men, these scenes push them even closer and give the reader a taste of how transformed Wyeth has become under Deeze’s relentless joy and optimism.
Laugh Cry Repeat is a beautiful love story that takes a slice of everyday life and creates a magical montage of sweet moments that leave the reader delighted. I highly recommend it to the romantic that hides inside each of us.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
November 18, 2017
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ THREE & 1/2 - STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Two average men, fully clothed. Faded and pale coloration throughout. The title font is the strongest thing on the cover. Luckily, I somehow managed to look paste the dreary looking cover and found the synopsis to have some potential.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person
Before I was 10% into this book, I was unsure of my choice to read it. There are parts in the narration that seem to flip a switch for just one sentence, directed toward the reader, before resuming its standard overview narration. Also, and equally strange, were some of the odd word choices for the setting to be in California.
Wyeth was painfully awkward and I truly mean painfully and awkward. To make matters worse, he had the most obnoxious and ill-mannered mutt that he did not even TRY to control or teach better. Deeze was as obnoxious as the dog, except without the excessive humping. Rather, he was a pushy bastard that would not take "no" for an answer, thinking he knew what was best for Wyeth, regardless of Wyeth's wishes. I found, early on, that neither character was really to my liking with traits like that and, therefore, was not invested in their journey to an HEA. The story contains numerous detailed sex scenes that felt entirely too drawn out as well.
There were several points within this story that I was sorely tempted to file this one as a "DNF" but felt obligated to go on. I am happy to say that the back half was more tolerable. Deeze and Wy managed to become mildly likable. Some events unfolded that added some much-needed dynamics. Predictability was not an issue but there were several really random things thrown in that seemed a bit strange. The attempt at humor felt forced, too.
The conclusion was fairly solid and provided a satisfying enough conclusion.
Overall, this book was - obviously - not a good match for me. Not only did I not care for the early character traits, I felt that the story itself dragged along. This is not to say that it was poorly written, it was well-written and the secondary characters were enjoyable and entertaining.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.625 ~ Stars: 3.5
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Two average men, fully clothed. Faded and pale coloration throughout. The title font is the strongest thing on the cover. Luckily, I somehow managed to look paste the dreary looking cover and found the synopsis to have some potential.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person
Before I was 10% into this book, I was unsure of my choice to read it. There are parts in the narration that seem to flip a switch for just one sentence, directed toward the reader, before resuming its standard overview narration. Also, and equally strange, were some of the odd word choices for the setting to be in California.
Wyeth was painfully awkward and I truly mean painfully and awkward. To make matters worse, he had the most obnoxious and ill-mannered mutt that he did not even TRY to control or teach better. Deeze was as obnoxious as the dog, except without the excessive humping. Rather, he was a pushy bastard that would not take "no" for an answer, thinking he knew what was best for Wyeth, regardless of Wyeth's wishes. I found, early on, that neither character was really to my liking with traits like that and, therefore, was not invested in their journey to an HEA. The story contains numerous detailed sex scenes that felt entirely too drawn out as well.
There were several points within this story that I was sorely tempted to file this one as a "DNF" but felt obligated to go on. I am happy to say that the back half was more tolerable. Deeze and Wy managed to become mildly likable. Some events unfolded that added some much-needed dynamics. Predictability was not an issue but there were several really random things thrown in that seemed a bit strange. The attempt at humor felt forced, too.
The conclusion was fairly solid and provided a satisfying enough conclusion.
Overall, this book was - obviously - not a good match for me. Not only did I not care for the early character traits, I felt that the story itself dragged along. This is not to say that it was poorly written, it was well-written and the secondary characters were enjoyable and entertaining.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.625 ~ Stars: 3.5
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
December 4, 2017
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
I've never read a book by this author before, but one of the characters was a librarian so I had to read it! While both Wyeth and Deeze were interesting characters, I just did not connect with them at all and that truly did not let me immerse myself in their story. I think this story was supposed to be a hilarious tale, at least at first, and though I love humor in my books, for some reason it just didn't work that way for me. Maybe the comedy just felt too over the top, like it was trying too hard with all the ridiculousness? And, it's entirely possible that it's just me and my reading mood at the time. Maybe I could pick this book up at another time and love all the ridiculousness, so don't let my opinion scare you away from trying this story!
Wyeth was awkward, which I didn't expect upon the start of the story and his interactions with a library customer. The weirdness of that conversation was funny and weird. But, upon his meeting with Deeze, it just became weirder. Wyeth had a horrible dog (yeah, yeah, I know) that could have used some time in dog training school. Really, there are no terrible dogs, just terrible owners. So, Wyeth was the problem in how he allowed his dog to behave. The humping of everyone and everything, and the humor that came from the constant behavior wasn't funny after the first time. I really was not a fan of Deeze. The introduction to him and his internal thoughts about running, exercise, etc, just really annoyed me from the start. He was pushy, annoying, and a know it all. He seemed to think he was a comedian, and his behavior just really annoyed me and made me not find him funny but more grating.
This is not an easy, instalove story. The characters have to work for their HEA through the unpredictability of life. I wish I had loved, or even liked, these characters because I truly love stories with humor in them. Though I did like both men the further the story went, because it took me so long to connect to them, I just wasn't invested. I definitely think you should give this book a try because I truly think the issues with this book were mostly mine as a reader!
Rating: 3.5 stars
I've never read a book by this author before, but one of the characters was a librarian so I had to read it! While both Wyeth and Deeze were interesting characters, I just did not connect with them at all and that truly did not let me immerse myself in their story. I think this story was supposed to be a hilarious tale, at least at first, and though I love humor in my books, for some reason it just didn't work that way for me. Maybe the comedy just felt too over the top, like it was trying too hard with all the ridiculousness? And, it's entirely possible that it's just me and my reading mood at the time. Maybe I could pick this book up at another time and love all the ridiculousness, so don't let my opinion scare you away from trying this story!
Wyeth was awkward, which I didn't expect upon the start of the story and his interactions with a library customer. The weirdness of that conversation was funny and weird. But, upon his meeting with Deeze, it just became weirder. Wyeth had a horrible dog (yeah, yeah, I know) that could have used some time in dog training school. Really, there are no terrible dogs, just terrible owners. So, Wyeth was the problem in how he allowed his dog to behave. The humping of everyone and everything, and the humor that came from the constant behavior wasn't funny after the first time. I really was not a fan of Deeze. The introduction to him and his internal thoughts about running, exercise, etc, just really annoyed me from the start. He was pushy, annoying, and a know it all. He seemed to think he was a comedian, and his behavior just really annoyed me and made me not find him funny but more grating.
This is not an easy, instalove story. The characters have to work for their HEA through the unpredictability of life. I wish I had loved, or even liked, these characters because I truly love stories with humor in them. Though I did like both men the further the story went, because it took me so long to connect to them, I just wasn't invested. I definitely think you should give this book a try because I truly think the issues with this book were mostly mine as a reader!
Rating: 3.5 stars
December 30, 2017
Two men—a serious librarian Wyeth Becker and a joy-filled but also serious preschool teacher Deeze Long—meet when Deeze running to exertise trips over Becker’s dog near the waterside in San Diego. The novel flips up and down and up and down from that point—not dissimilar to the title which sounds like shampoo directions. Self-esteem issues and dissimilar temperaments along with comic, erotic, and tragic events carry the plot. These emotions and events constitute the shampoo. The novel’s variety makes it worthy of a read.
December 11, 2017
Overall, I found this story well done. It was funny, light-hearted, heart warming and emotional. I struggled a bit to get going with the story as I couldn't quite tell what was going on with the two MC's who seem so incompatible. But then the story picked up speed and I found myself giggling, a lot, while reading this due to misadventures, miscommunications and pesky neighbors. The ending may have been a bit rushed but overall, I would recommend this story
December 28, 2017
I love John Inman's books...I don't think there's any I don't love...This one is a great read with some funny moments and a heart-breaking one......Deeze and Wyeth get together pretty quickly even though Wyeth claims to not like Deeze...They are really sweet together.....It's plain sailing till about 70% then the heartbreak hits and boy Deeze's world just gets rough....but Wyeth is there to help him....Another great read from Mr Inman x
December 7, 2017
I give this 2.5 stars as 3 is a bit of a stretch. Lots of internal eye rolling and exasperation at the characters, and not in a good way. There were a few sweet moments but, for the most part, it was way too sappy or annoying.
January 4, 2018
What a delightfully written charmer of a book!
January 14, 2018
3.5 stars
September 23, 2019
A wonderful story. I wanted this book to go on and on. I loved Wyeth and Deeze and even his goofy dog.
July 4, 2021
Some reviews have said that this book would appeal to fans of %v_array_gen[2]%s. I would agree.
December 20, 2017
The author often presents one of two types of story; either it is tense with a romantic counterbalance or it is romantic and funny. In this story there is a sense that the author is trying to bring all of these themes together. The first half of the book is light and fluffy with humour and romance. There is a clear and flagged change about halfway through where darker themes are introduced and ultimately the story then explores how the lovers survive the change.
The first half of the book is sweet and similar in feel to a number of the author’s other works, as such there is the tendency for the reader to feel that this is formulaic. Consequently, if the reader is familiar with such works then there can be a certain disengagement with the plot. With the change in the second half, if the reader has not invested in the lead characters, for whatever reason, the handling of the tense moments comes across as distanced and quite dispassionate and descriptive. Given the focus of this trauma, it is disappointing that it is handled in the way it is as there is strong characterisation and a light plot.
The relationship between the two lead characters is handled very well and both characters are individuals and likeable in their own right. There is clear and effective description of the passion between the two and the sex is balanced yet graphic. As noted above it is disappointing that the characters themselves are similar in personality to other characters created by the author and so there is a risk that the reader may not find that unique feature that would make them more than likeable. Secondary characters are if anything stronger and hold the story together.
There is a steady pace to the read and the writing is, as ever, very approachable and enjoyable. It is disappointing that the pace does not noticeably change during the tense moments.
The story ends on a positive note, tinged with sadness and reflection. Overall this story had the potential to be stronger particularly in terms of plot handling. It was a pleasant read but I do not feel it is the author’s best.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
The first half of the book is sweet and similar in feel to a number of the author’s other works, as such there is the tendency for the reader to feel that this is formulaic. Consequently, if the reader is familiar with such works then there can be a certain disengagement with the plot. With the change in the second half, if the reader has not invested in the lead characters, for whatever reason, the handling of the tense moments comes across as distanced and quite dispassionate and descriptive. Given the focus of this trauma, it is disappointing that it is handled in the way it is as there is strong characterisation and a light plot.
The relationship between the two lead characters is handled very well and both characters are individuals and likeable in their own right. There is clear and effective description of the passion between the two and the sex is balanced yet graphic. As noted above it is disappointing that the characters themselves are similar in personality to other characters created by the author and so there is a risk that the reader may not find that unique feature that would make them more than likeable. Secondary characters are if anything stronger and hold the story together.
There is a steady pace to the read and the writing is, as ever, very approachable and enjoyable. It is disappointing that the pace does not noticeably change during the tense moments.
The story ends on a positive note, tinged with sadness and reflection. Overall this story had the potential to be stronger particularly in terms of plot handling. It was a pleasant read but I do not feel it is the author’s best.
This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews
January 13, 2018
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews.)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. John Inman is a must read for me. I have to read his books, and woe be any reviewer on our blog who tries to claim one before me! That said, Laugh Cry Repeat was a little different for me. I’ve got some very different opinion sections below in this review, so read it all the way through to get the entire picture.
I’d have to say that the book grew on me as I was reading it. I’ll be honest, I liked it well enough from the very beginning, but it could have been a lot of other books…it didn’t wow me. I wasn’t that fond of the characters, particularly Wyeth, the quiet and unassuming librarian who definitely came across as having some heavy self-worth issues. When he meets Deeze, after his dog trips the poor guy while he is running, he is surprised to discover that the man is interested in him. He knows the man is out of his league and spends a good portion of the beginning of the story lamenting the fact that the man will eventually dump him. Honestly, I got a little sick of his internal self-worth issues and they kind of detracted from that part of the book. There were also some issues with head hopping. From one paragraph to another in one section we were in both Wyeth and Deeze’s POV, and there might even have been a little of the fourth wall involved in a spot or two. To keep it honest, I’m going to have to say that I didn’t know if I even liked the book at all at that point.
But hold on. Because then…the event happened. I knew it was coming, as will you when you read it because there is a line that says something about them not knowing that one of them would barely survive the day. I instantly was hooked and dragged into the part of the story with its realistic real-life headline type events. I have a great-nephew that is nearly 5 and in pre-school. I was picturing his little face while reading about the students, especially Jake. From that spot on, I couldn’t put it down. There were some emotions involved. I got teary eyed on more than one occasion. The characters and events were well written and I felt like I was there. Somewhere along the line, I came to like the characters, and the book finished well for them, and for me as a reader.
No more hints or spoilers. I enjoyed this one, and I recommend it. If you’re like me, you might have to push past that first half, but the second half is worth it.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. John Inman is a must read for me. I have to read his books, and woe be any reviewer on our blog who tries to claim one before me! That said, Laugh Cry Repeat was a little different for me. I’ve got some very different opinion sections below in this review, so read it all the way through to get the entire picture.
I’d have to say that the book grew on me as I was reading it. I’ll be honest, I liked it well enough from the very beginning, but it could have been a lot of other books…it didn’t wow me. I wasn’t that fond of the characters, particularly Wyeth, the quiet and unassuming librarian who definitely came across as having some heavy self-worth issues. When he meets Deeze, after his dog trips the poor guy while he is running, he is surprised to discover that the man is interested in him. He knows the man is out of his league and spends a good portion of the beginning of the story lamenting the fact that the man will eventually dump him. Honestly, I got a little sick of his internal self-worth issues and they kind of detracted from that part of the book. There were also some issues with head hopping. From one paragraph to another in one section we were in both Wyeth and Deeze’s POV, and there might even have been a little of the fourth wall involved in a spot or two. To keep it honest, I’m going to have to say that I didn’t know if I even liked the book at all at that point.
But hold on. Because then…the event happened. I knew it was coming, as will you when you read it because there is a line that says something about them not knowing that one of them would barely survive the day. I instantly was hooked and dragged into the part of the story with its realistic real-life headline type events. I have a great-nephew that is nearly 5 and in pre-school. I was picturing his little face while reading about the students, especially Jake. From that spot on, I couldn’t put it down. There were some emotions involved. I got teary eyed on more than one occasion. The characters and events were well written and I felt like I was there. Somewhere along the line, I came to like the characters, and the book finished well for them, and for me as a reader.
No more hints or spoilers. I enjoyed this one, and I recommend it. If you’re like me, you might have to push past that first half, but the second half is worth it.
March 17, 2018
Not my favorite John Inman read, but still a very enjoyable read. I love all of Inmans stories. I think its the exceptional quality of his dialog, the appeal of support characters and entertaining story lines. I do so wish he would write more creepy/mystery story lines. His are some of my favorites.
This story was a sweet romance, very little angst or intrigue, but plenty of feel good moments. Enjoyed reading about Wyeth and Deeve and there blossoming romance.
This story was a sweet romance, very little angst or intrigue, but plenty of feel good moments. Enjoyed reading about Wyeth and Deeve and there blossoming romance.
no-thank-you
December 7, 2017Nope, based on this review.
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