What do you think?
Rate this book
What Binds Us Here
My name is Liam. I’ve been in love with my best friend for as long as I can remember. But he’s found his soulmate and I couldn’t be happier for him. I want what they have, though I know that will never happen for me.
Who could possibly want a freak like me? I see ghosts. Not just ghosts, but these magical bonds that exist between people. These visions haunted me as a kid and my childhood was plagued with nightmares. Now as an adult, I’ve managed to keep everything under control but lately a lot of strange things have been happening.
I’m seeing ghosts again.
And this all started when the new neighbour moved across the hall.
His name is Johann. He’s eager, kind and resembles an overgrown puppy. I can tell he’s interested in me, but I can’t return his feelings. I’m destined to be alone for the rest of my miserable life.
But why do I feel this pull towards him and why is my best friend so insistent on Johann and I getting together?
Who could possibly want a freak like me? I see ghosts. Not just ghosts, but these magical bonds that exist between people. These visions haunted me as a kid and my childhood was plagued with nightmares. Now as an adult, I’ve managed to keep everything under control but lately a lot of strange things have been happening.
I’m seeing ghosts again.
And this all started when the new neighbour moved across the hall.
His name is Johann. He’s eager, kind and resembles an overgrown puppy. I can tell he’s interested in me, but I can’t return his feelings. I’m destined to be alone for the rest of my miserable life.
But why do I feel this pull towards him and why is my best friend so insistent on Johann and I getting together?
171 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2020
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 20, 2020
Liam felt totally alone since he was a kid. His parents didn't love him unconditionally and everyone thought he was weird because he could see things others could not. And he always had very few people in his life he could bond with.
When his best friend encourages Liam to ask the new neighbor on a date, he reluctantly approaches the man with the intent of maybe befriending him. Much to Liam's dismay, they start to develop feelings for each other. For Johann it might be easier but Liam struggles to open his heart to someone. But there is a pull between them that Liam can't ignore.
Liam is not a very happy person in general. He has a lot of self-esteem issues that stems from his childhood. Johann is the opposite. He is a people person, likes to talk about everything and nothing, very chatty. He manages to bring a bit of life back into Liam. Their interactions are really funny. :)
An emotional read, balanced out with some humor. Involves an overeager Labrador; a sugar-addicted recluse; some ghostly apparitions; and (let's face the truth) an idiot, overprotective and oblivious best friend; plenty of drama and sweet moments.
Recommended, not just for Halloween.
*A copy of this book was provided by the author for beta-reading purposes*
When his best friend encourages Liam to ask the new neighbor on a date, he reluctantly approaches the man with the intent of maybe befriending him. Much to Liam's dismay, they start to develop feelings for each other. For Johann it might be easier but Liam struggles to open his heart to someone. But there is a pull between them that Liam can't ignore.
Liam is not a very happy person in general. He has a lot of self-esteem issues that stems from his childhood. Johann is the opposite. He is a people person, likes to talk about everything and nothing, very chatty. He manages to bring a bit of life back into Liam. Their interactions are really funny. :)
An emotional read, balanced out with some humor. Involves an overeager Labrador; a sugar-addicted recluse; some ghostly apparitions; and (let's face the truth) an idiot, overprotective and oblivious best friend; plenty of drama and sweet moments.
Recommended, not just for Halloween.
*A copy of this book was provided by the author for beta-reading purposes*
September 8, 2021
I really really really wanted to like this story more than I did. It's just the type of story I love and was in the mood for, but unfortunately I had several issues with the writing (though I'm going to mention only the main one).
* Best and only friend the MC Liam has known since childhood.
At first I couldn't tell if the writing itself was over the top, or if Liam was an unusually violent and surly man. You don't want something? Don't just say it, scream it. You want to push someone off of you? You kick them with a force that send them flying across the room. This is the kind of communication I only saw in comedy romance mangas, usually involving one character who was tsundere (think Toradora or Skip Beat!).
Being an asshole I get. But this seems to be going overboard.
That was the reaction of a grown-ass man to his boyfriend taking away his fifth or sixth piece of cake away with a notion of wanting to grow old together and not watch him die from having such unhealthy habits.
But as we met more characters I realized they all acted over the top in their own right. Eg. the best friend who is weirdly obsessive with Liam and , Johann's overprotective little sister who gave over-protectiveness a whole new dimension...
As I said, I really wanted to like it but my issues with the writing kind of overtook the story so much that I wasn't able to enjoy it at all.
"I reached over and roughly grasped Grayson* by the back collar of his shirt. Then I ripped him out of the man's hold before throwing him inside the apartment with very little care."
* Best and only friend the MC Liam has known since childhood.
At first I couldn't tell if the writing itself was over the top, or if Liam was an unusually violent and surly man. You don't want something? Don't just say it, scream it. You want to push someone off of you? You kick them with a force that send them flying across the room. This is the kind of communication I only saw in comedy romance mangas, usually involving one character who was tsundere (think Toradora or Skip Beat!).
"I glared at Grayson, bringing my face close to his in a threatening way. What the hell do you think you're doing!"
Being an asshole I get. But this seems to be going overboard.
"His word meant nothing to me. My hand turned purple from how tightly I was gripping the fork. Don't stab him. Don't stab him. Don't stab him."
That was the reaction of a grown-ass man to his boyfriend taking away his fifth or sixth piece of cake away with a notion of wanting to grow old together and not watch him die from having such unhealthy habits.
But as we met more characters I realized they all acted over the top in their own right. Eg. the best friend who is weirdly obsessive with Liam and , Johann's overprotective little sister who gave over-protectiveness a whole new dimension...
As I said, I really wanted to like it but my issues with the writing kind of overtook the story so much that I wasn't able to enjoy it at all.
October 21, 2020
Come get your spooky romance! It just got out of the oven! I must confess the first half of the book I wasn't sure if this was a mystery with romance on the side or a romance with dashes of mystery but at the end I was pleasantly surprised and liked how everything clicked into place. You might want to slap some sense into the MC at some point but hey, they're only human! Liam has the best of friends and Johann's family... I'm just glad they live in Germany!
Copy provided by the author for beta-reading purposes
Copy provided by the author for beta-reading purposes
February 25, 2021
What a incredible story
I read the blurb, not something I would read but liked the Authors other book, thought give it a go. This was incredible, amazing, had me interested from the first page, read every single word. The mental health part was well written and described perfectly (Work in the Industry). Seeing ghost part really wrapped up the story and reminded me of the movie sixth sense. Johann loved hard and Liam needed to be loved hard. Give it a read it’s really good.
I read the blurb, not something I would read but liked the Authors other book, thought give it a go. This was incredible, amazing, had me interested from the first page, read every single word. The mental health part was well written and described perfectly (Work in the Industry). Seeing ghost part really wrapped up the story and reminded me of the movie sixth sense. Johann loved hard and Liam needed to be loved hard. Give it a read it’s really good.
September 17, 2021
1 star
Liam sees ghosts, and has since he was a child. He also sees life bonds for people, for all the relationships that they develop throughout their lives. He's been in love with his straight best friend for a long time, but then he gets a new neighbour, and Liam realizes that maybe he could feel the same for someone else.
Well, I don't know what to say about this. It was NOT good. The characters were overwrought, the plot was...pretty much non-existent, and it all depended on the characters. The characters also acted like 12 year olds, maybe even a little younger. (They were adults, just for the record.) The writing was very simplistic in a learning-to-read kind of way. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I kept reading it, because I can't even come up with a really ranty review for it. It was just bad.
Probably the only good thing that I can say about it is that the editing wasn't horrible, and the best friend's girlfriend was all right. That could be because she barely had any page time, though.
Liam sees ghosts, and has since he was a child. He also sees life bonds for people, for all the relationships that they develop throughout their lives. He's been in love with his straight best friend for a long time, but then he gets a new neighbour, and Liam realizes that maybe he could feel the same for someone else.
Well, I don't know what to say about this. It was NOT good. The characters were overwrought, the plot was...pretty much non-existent, and it all depended on the characters. The characters also acted like 12 year olds, maybe even a little younger. (They were adults, just for the record.) The writing was very simplistic in a learning-to-read kind of way. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I kept reading it, because I can't even come up with a really ranty review for it. It was just bad.
Probably the only good thing that I can say about it is that the editing wasn't horrible, and the best friend's girlfriend was all right. That could be because she barely had any page time, though.
February 6, 2022
This reads like a book someone’s written as a hobby and bravo for writing the thing. It’s not ready for publication though. It’s actually oddly compelling, despite the fact that all the characters are either obnoxiously self centered, overly dramatic (think teenage ‘my life is over’ drama over small things) or handsome props. And yet I, the DNF Queen, kept reading.
I have no idea why the two leads fell for each other. One is an unmitigated asshole and the other a bland nice guy. (I suspect though the author doesn’t realize how much of a jerk their lead is.)
The thing is, there’s talent there. Give this author a few more years of maturity and a few more tries, and I think we could end up with a popular writer. He/she has something.
I have no idea why the two leads fell for each other. One is an unmitigated asshole and the other a bland nice guy. (I suspect though the author doesn’t realize how much of a jerk their lead is.)
The thing is, there’s talent there. Give this author a few more years of maturity and a few more tries, and I think we could end up with a popular writer. He/she has something.
December 9, 2020
2.5 stars. It wasn't cohesive and it didn't have direction. I liked the possibilities of what it could have been more than the reality.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews