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Something Else
When his father died, David Mulkerin gave up teaching in Sydney to come home and run the family farm in western NSW. He is driven by personal demons and family tragedy to see it through, despite his love of teaching and the ongoing drought and debt.
When David meets the new local doctor Martin James, there is a meeting of minds and dark pasts. Martin is intrigued by David’s closed demeanour and makes an effort to reach him. They strike up a friendship, able to understand the pain in each other’s past. When David discovers that Martin is gay, he feels duped and betrayed, but the revelation forces him to confront what it means to love someone and how sometimes we don’t get to choose.
When David meets the new local doctor Martin James, there is a meeting of minds and dark pasts. Martin is intrigued by David’s closed demeanour and makes an effort to reach him. They strike up a friendship, able to understand the pain in each other’s past. When David discovers that Martin is gay, he feels duped and betrayed, but the revelation forces him to confront what it means to love someone and how sometimes we don’t get to choose.
318 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2021
4 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Alicia Thompson
4 books10 followersAlicia grew up on a farm in Wollombi NSW. She has a Masters in Creative Writing and has published book reviews, travel articles and short stories in the UK and US. Her novel ‘Something Else’ was published by NineStar Press in October 2021 and her second work Ex, a crime/ghost novel, will be released in September 2024. She is currently working on a crime series. Alicia also designs and presents creative writing workshops for festivals and libraries up and down the east coast of Australia.. She lives and works in Sydney. Alicia posts @aliciathompsonauthor on Facebook and Instagram. More can be found on her website www.aliciathompson.com.au
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 25, 2022
First up, thank you Alicia for offering me your book to read.
This book has left me with very mixed feelings, there were elements of the book that I quite enjoyed and others that almost had me put down the book and not pick it up again.
David lives on a farm in outback NSW and is doing it tough in drought conditions. He is seemingly oblivious to the affection of his neighbour Jodie who he considers to be more of a younger sister. David is dealing with a load of guilt from the death of his younger brother when David himself was only about 9 years old. Now he punishes himself daily on the farm living a in a type of purgatory instead of following his vocation of teaching.
After badly cutting his hand, he drives in to see old Dr Jacobs only to find he is on holiday and a young locum is temping, Martin James. It is from here that the book became awkward for me. There were details noted that were odd, and if I had read the blurb before picking up the book I may have been more prepared. A gradual attraction builds up between David and Martin and this element of the book felt quite clunky to me. It then progressed from making me feel uncomfortable to feeling like something of a voyeur.
This is probably the first gay love story/erotica that I have read and I think I really was the wrong target audience. It needs to be marketed and clearly sold with this label as I think there will be a market for the book but it is not with me.
Aside from this, I was quite disappointed with the ending and felt that David had really let down a good friend in Jodie. Having said that I quite liked some of the characters and related to the farming situation that they were struggling through with the drought.
If I were to recommend this book it would be to anyone with interests in gay male literature. For me 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
This book has left me with very mixed feelings, there were elements of the book that I quite enjoyed and others that almost had me put down the book and not pick it up again.
David lives on a farm in outback NSW and is doing it tough in drought conditions. He is seemingly oblivious to the affection of his neighbour Jodie who he considers to be more of a younger sister. David is dealing with a load of guilt from the death of his younger brother when David himself was only about 9 years old. Now he punishes himself daily on the farm living a in a type of purgatory instead of following his vocation of teaching.
After badly cutting his hand, he drives in to see old Dr Jacobs only to find he is on holiday and a young locum is temping, Martin James. It is from here that the book became awkward for me. There were details noted that were odd, and if I had read the blurb before picking up the book I may have been more prepared. A gradual attraction builds up between David and Martin and this element of the book felt quite clunky to me. It then progressed from making me feel uncomfortable to feeling like something of a voyeur.
This is probably the first gay love story/erotica that I have read and I think I really was the wrong target audience. It needs to be marketed and clearly sold with this label as I think there will be a market for the book but it is not with me.
Aside from this, I was quite disappointed with the ending and felt that David had really let down a good friend in Jodie. Having said that I quite liked some of the characters and related to the farming situation that they were struggling through with the drought.
If I were to recommend this book it would be to anyone with interests in gay male literature. For me 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
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October 21, 2021THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE!
I know a lot of readers out there expect MLM books to be a romance. The publisher has this listed as LITERARY FICTION with Trigger Warnings on their website. Please see them here: https://ninestarpress.com/product/som...
That said, for others who want to know right here:
Amazon has listed the genre incorrectly under romance–it is not. Amazon is also missing the trigger warnings the publisher has listed on their site.
I know a lot of readers out there expect MLM books to be a romance. The publisher has this listed as LITERARY FICTION with Trigger Warnings on their website. Please see them here: https://ninestarpress.com/product/som...
That said, for others who want to know right here:
Amazon has listed the genre incorrectly under romance–it is not. Amazon is also missing the trigger warnings the publisher has listed on their site.
October 25, 2021
I finished this book a few days before I started writing this review, because this felt like the kind of story I needed to sit with a while before trying to unpack how I felt about it and to figure out how to share those feelings in a way that would be useful for other readers. (I finished this and now I have FEELINGS was and is true, but not super useful). So, a calmer, more specific review with the benefit of a little distance:
To start with: this is a really well written novel. The prose flows beautifully, and you get a sense of place and who each character is in vivid detail with a level of description that somehow manages to provide just enough information.
Those characters are complicated, and not all those complications are likable. Real? Yes. Raw? Yes. Likable? Not always.
Bad things happen, and they’re devastating. No spoilers here, but please heed the content warnings at the beginning of the book— this is not a romance, and it doesn’t have a happily ever after. It contains worlds of emotion and insight, not all of which make for comfortable reading experiences.
Overall, I think this is a really moving read, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
To start with: this is a really well written novel. The prose flows beautifully, and you get a sense of place and who each character is in vivid detail with a level of description that somehow manages to provide just enough information.
Those characters are complicated, and not all those complications are likable. Real? Yes. Raw? Yes. Likable? Not always.
Bad things happen, and they’re devastating. No spoilers here, but please heed the content warnings at the beginning of the book— this is not a romance, and it doesn’t have a happily ever after. It contains worlds of emotion and insight, not all of which make for comfortable reading experiences.
Overall, I think this is a really moving read, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
March 22, 2022
I came across this book with the aim of reading outside my usual genre. I surrendered to the journey the author was taking me on and soon realised I was in very safe hands. I found myself in a country town, exploring the challenges of drought and small-town closed-mindedness, along with the wonderful sense of community and support. There's a collection of characters some are likeable, some not, but all are believable.
The author writes so well about place. I could see the falling water level in the dam, the fading yellows and oranges of a land yearning for rain. And I could feel the protagonist's (David's) house, a relief from the heat - cool, dark, masculine, and ... private.
It's a coming of age book, and David's journey is harder than most. Then the surprise of falling in love with a person, rather than with someone of an expected gender. There's romantic and sensitive sex, and love which must be hidden rather than celebrated.
My understanding is the genre of this book is Romantic Rural Fiction rather than Rural Romance - you might like to look into what this means (rather than spoilers here). There's also some strong themes - it's a powerful and moving narrative.
Something Else had me feeling deeply, caring deeply, and hoping deeply.
The author writes so well about place. I could see the falling water level in the dam, the fading yellows and oranges of a land yearning for rain. And I could feel the protagonist's (David's) house, a relief from the heat - cool, dark, masculine, and ... private.
It's a coming of age book, and David's journey is harder than most. Then the surprise of falling in love with a person, rather than with someone of an expected gender. There's romantic and sensitive sex, and love which must be hidden rather than celebrated.
My understanding is the genre of this book is Romantic Rural Fiction rather than Rural Romance - you might like to look into what this means (rather than spoilers here). There's also some strong themes - it's a powerful and moving narrative.
Something Else had me feeling deeply, caring deeply, and hoping deeply.
January 1, 2024
Dear Alicia,
I’d like to first of all wish you a most Happy New Year!
Now I had the pleasure of completing your novel yesterday (NYE)! Thank you so much for sharing your book with me via Instagram in exchange for an honest review.
This may not be my usual book choice, but coming from the perspective of a poet, I really admire and appreciate the light you shine on all areas and themes.. There’s so much in this world that is unappreciated, unseen, unnoticed; and this being the ying to the yang of your endearing and captivating prose, I really feel that this book’s aim is to be that soft and gentle touch or kiss to the soul we all need from time to time.
What a lovely way to complete 2023 with your book. My very best wishes to you Alicia for 2024 and beyond! :-D
I’d like to first of all wish you a most Happy New Year!
Now I had the pleasure of completing your novel yesterday (NYE)! Thank you so much for sharing your book with me via Instagram in exchange for an honest review.
This may not be my usual book choice, but coming from the perspective of a poet, I really admire and appreciate the light you shine on all areas and themes.. There’s so much in this world that is unappreciated, unseen, unnoticed; and this being the ying to the yang of your endearing and captivating prose, I really feel that this book’s aim is to be that soft and gentle touch or kiss to the soul we all need from time to time.
What a lovely way to complete 2023 with your book. My very best wishes to you Alicia for 2024 and beyond! :-D
April 12, 2022
3.5/4*
Well, that took a turn.
David is a straight Australian farmer, deep in a self induced slump based on the dire farming conditions, punishmnet for his belief of his being complicit in his brother’s death, and no romance on the horizon.
And then he meets Martin and learns to love the person within - and in his case, this was himself and Martin.
A good sense of place and the tribulations of farming in Australia in a drought.
And then, just when everything was coming together nicely - we did a 180.
David contines to grow through the rest of the story, though with some backward steps. We don’t get to see his future, just that he feels he has one.
Quite emotionally intense at the end
Well, that took a turn.
David is a straight Australian farmer, deep in a self induced slump based on the dire farming conditions, punishmnet for his belief of his being complicit in his brother’s death, and no romance on the horizon.
And then he meets Martin and learns to love the person within - and in his case, this was himself and Martin.
A good sense of place and the tribulations of farming in Australia in a drought.
And then, just when everything was coming together nicely - we did a 180.
David contines to grow through the rest of the story, though with some backward steps. We don’t get to see his future, just that he feels he has one.
Quite emotionally intense at the end
March 3, 2022
Loved this book. A heart-warming story of finding love while finding yourself. 'Something Else' really tugged at my heart strings and brought tears to my eyes.
The main characters were so genuine, I at times wanted to step through the pages and hug them, or hit them!
If you're after a modern Australian drama with a beautiful romance thrown in then this is for you
The main characters were so genuine, I at times wanted to step through the pages and hug them, or hit them!
If you're after a modern Australian drama with a beautiful romance thrown in then this is for you
February 17, 2022
Firstly I’m not often drawn to, or post reviews about most things. That said I do occasionally.
I like a good romance, I guess it allows us to escape from the world and just enjoy the journey-ride. A couple of things grabbed me from the start of this book, it was themed in rural Australia out on the land where ideals and peoples acceptance of “not the normal or socially conservative” widely exists probably backdated 20years. So I thought hmm, lest see how the rural rednecks take this. More, the main character David, is the stuff that we picture country guys to be like, hard working, stoic, and carrying a ton of baggage, and he didn’t disappoint .
The story brings out the hard and soft of rural - on the land existence, the in ability of some to change with society and also the reverse, where acceptance is not questioned. The demons and struggles we face, love-soul crushing feel it with every ounce of your being type love, and a solid dose of tragedy.
Yes, there is no HEA in this story, kind of. But if you sit back and see where David started, the journey and where he leave us, that is the happy ever after. It’s what we (ok maybe just me ) hope for, that tomorrow might not be the best day, but the sun rises again and the following days are full of hope, and in the end happiness. It’s worth the read, have the Kleenex handy, enjoy.
I like a good romance, I guess it allows us to escape from the world and just enjoy the journey-ride. A couple of things grabbed me from the start of this book, it was themed in rural Australia out on the land where ideals and peoples acceptance of “not the normal or socially conservative” widely exists probably backdated 20years. So I thought hmm, lest see how the rural rednecks take this. More, the main character David, is the stuff that we picture country guys to be like, hard working, stoic, and carrying a ton of baggage, and he didn’t disappoint .
The story brings out the hard and soft of rural - on the land existence, the in ability of some to change with society and also the reverse, where acceptance is not questioned. The demons and struggles we face, love-soul crushing feel it with every ounce of your being type love, and a solid dose of tragedy.
Yes, there is no HEA in this story, kind of. But if you sit back and see where David started, the journey and where he leave us, that is the happy ever after. It’s what we (ok maybe just me ) hope for, that tomorrow might not be the best day, but the sun rises again and the following days are full of hope, and in the end happiness. It’s worth the read, have the Kleenex handy, enjoy.
April 11, 2022
This was such an emotional book, and I loved it. If you're looking for HEA, this isn't for you. It's a Happy For Now story, but it's a beautiful one. Thompson absolutely transports you to a small town and the surrounding farms in NSW, Australia. The story flows smoothly, and the descriptions are vivid. The characters and their emotions and reactions are very real, and at times will absolutely tug at your heartstrings (keep some tissues handy). No spoilers, but a brilliant story if you're looking for something real and emotional.
May 3, 2022
Something Else made me laugh and made me cry. I would definately recommend this book to others. -1 star due to writing style in some small parts of the book but I haven't noticed anyone else having a problem with it in the reviews I have read.
March 29, 2024
Really Good . loved it. Solid 4
I'm not much of a novel reader prefer reading history but kudos to Alicia Thompson for a wonderful very moving, sad yet grounded story of love, family and friendship. Dialogue is 5 stars No need to recap this book as that's well presented on other reviews . Lisa , Wow! you surprised me with your art of storytelling. Kudo's lady.
Note: to the people who rated with 1 star. Why don't you have a profile? Your rating is invalid and character is spineless in my opinion..
I'm not much of a novel reader prefer reading history but kudos to Alicia Thompson for a wonderful very moving, sad yet grounded story of love, family and friendship. Dialogue is 5 stars No need to recap this book as that's well presented on other reviews . Lisa , Wow! you surprised me with your art of storytelling. Kudo's lady.
Note: to the people who rated with 1 star. Why don't you have a profile? Your rating is invalid and character is spineless in my opinion..
August 19, 2024
Alicia Thompson’s “Something Else” is a beautifully crafted novel that explores the complexities of love, identity, and personal growth. Through captivating prose, Thompson draws readers into the life of a man navigating the delicate balance between his true self and the expectations of the world around him. The story is filled with emotional depth and subtle tension, making each page turn a journey of discovery. Thompson’s skillful storytelling keeps you engaged without revealing too much too soon, leaving you contemplating the characters and their choices long after the book is finished. “Something Else” is a powerful and poignant read that resonates with anyone who has ever faced the challenge of living authentically.
October 18, 2023
DID NOT READ! Borrowed book from the local library because it was an Australian author. Read the blurb in the back of the book and was no longer interested. Promptly returned book to public library. It’s probably a safe bet I won’t be looking for other books written by this author in the future.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews