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Safe and Sound
Twenty years after losing his hearing and being convicted of a crime he didn't commit, Regan Moulin is certain of exactly two One, that life will always be full of pain, and two, he will always be in love with his childhood best friend, Isaac McKinnon.
It doesn't matter that circumstance tore them apart, or that he hasn't spoken to Isaac since they were nineteen. He still loves him.
He's just learned how to survive without him.
But a few weeks into winter, a familiar face rolls into town—one that threatens to completely disrupt Regan’s life by offering him the cruelest thing he can possibly think Hope.
Isaac thrived exactly the way Regan expected him to, and he wasn’t supposed to show back up in their crappy little hometown with open arms, and a heart that still aches for Regan.
He wasn’t supposed to still want him.
He wasn’t supposed to be the only thing in the world that can still make Regan feel safe and sound.
But here he is, with all their childhood promises of forever cupped gently between both hands, and for the first time in Regan's life, within reach.
Safe and Sound is an emotional, stand-alone second chance romance featuring two best friends who always knew they belonged in each other’s orbit, a tired writer who exists solely on caffeine, bad diner food, whispered confessions, and the sweetest happily ever after.
It doesn't matter that circumstance tore them apart, or that he hasn't spoken to Isaac since they were nineteen. He still loves him.
He's just learned how to survive without him.
But a few weeks into winter, a familiar face rolls into town—one that threatens to completely disrupt Regan’s life by offering him the cruelest thing he can possibly think Hope.
Isaac thrived exactly the way Regan expected him to, and he wasn’t supposed to show back up in their crappy little hometown with open arms, and a heart that still aches for Regan.
He wasn’t supposed to still want him.
He wasn’t supposed to be the only thing in the world that can still make Regan feel safe and sound.
But here he is, with all their childhood promises of forever cupped gently between both hands, and for the first time in Regan's life, within reach.
Safe and Sound is an emotional, stand-alone second chance romance featuring two best friends who always knew they belonged in each other’s orbit, a tired writer who exists solely on caffeine, bad diner food, whispered confessions, and the sweetest happily ever after.
262 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2022
151 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lindsey
142 books1,374 followersE.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
September 1, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
If I’m rating this based on the MCs, this would be 4 stars. I can actually feel their connection, Regan and Isaac. Their love comes easy but it was believable and sweet. And they’re sooo CUTE! 🥹😍
However, this whole story was too on top of the surface. Lack of depth and emotions. Some part of the story was too easy for a “heartbreaking” plotline. I wish it was way better because the core of the story was there. My fave tropes are all over the place - second chance at love, childhood friends to lovers and deaf MC 🥹🥹 but yeah this was overall mid. I needed more push and pull after the twenty years them separated. I needed more mourning and guilt for Regan’s backstory. Like I said, too simple, at least for my liking :’) It sure sounded great in the blurb 😅
THEY ARE SUCH SWEETHEARTS 🥹🥹🥹 but the story not so much LOL
FAVOURITE details:
- Isaac wakes up to Regan drawing by the bed 🥹🥹🥹
- The “book talk” 🥹🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️ SO CUTE FUUCKK
- “I married you. In the book” Agagagagagahh😙
- When Regan mocks Isaac about the horny and hungry ASL sign 🤣🤣❤️
- Epilogue 😍
If I’m rating this based on the MCs, this would be 4 stars. I can actually feel their connection, Regan and Isaac. Their love comes easy but it was believable and sweet. And they’re sooo CUTE! 🥹😍
However, this whole story was too on top of the surface. Lack of depth and emotions. Some part of the story was too easy for a “heartbreaking” plotline. I wish it was way better because the core of the story was there. My fave tropes are all over the place - second chance at love, childhood friends to lovers and deaf MC 🥹🥹 but yeah this was overall mid. I needed more push and pull after the twenty years them separated. I needed more mourning and guilt for Regan’s backstory. Like I said, too simple, at least for my liking :’) It sure sounded great in the blurb 😅
THEY ARE SUCH SWEETHEARTS 🥹🥹🥹 but the story not so much LOL
FAVOURITE details:
- Isaac wakes up to Regan drawing by the bed 🥹🥹🥹
- The “book talk” 🥹🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️ SO CUTE FUUCKK
- “I married you. In the book” Agagagagagahh😙
- When Regan mocks Isaac about the horny and hungry ASL sign 🤣🤣❤️
- Epilogue 😍
March 11, 2023
Read this book the entire freaking night 🥹 and kept crying. The second half broke me more😭
I want more 😭
Broke my heart and made me bawl like I was left all alone on earth.
Two broken souls. Two loneliest souls. They are made for each other.
Content warnings for domestic abuse, substance abuse, loss of family members, abandonment, homophobic tones, mental health conditions
The story has a main character who is partially deaf. I feel it is done with sensitivity and understanding. I really appreciate it.
And the trope? Best friends to lovers. And they suffer a lot until the end though you will be happy when the book ends.
Read this heartwrenching read and suffer with a capital S.
I want more 😭
Broke my heart and made me bawl like I was left all alone on earth.
Two broken souls. Two loneliest souls. They are made for each other.
Content warnings for domestic abuse, substance abuse, loss of family members, abandonment, homophobic tones, mental health conditions
The story has a main character who is partially deaf. I feel it is done with sensitivity and understanding. I really appreciate it.
And the trope? Best friends to lovers. And they suffer a lot until the end though you will be happy when the book ends.
Read this heartwrenching read and suffer with a capital S.
June 22, 2022
Is the writing captivating? Absolutely.
Did I read it in one sitting? Yes I did.
Did I like how this made me feel? Not one bit.
Let me first say that this is not a bad book at all. I think lots of readers will find this an emotional and captivating read. It just made me feel like shit and I that’s how I rate my books.
This was filled with angst from beginning to end. These guys did not have an easy life. Especially Regan. And somewhere halfway it dawned on me that this is just the way this author writes.
Now I get how this will appeal to many readers, I was just missing a more positive note. I can handle angst in books just fine if there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Or if one of the characters is down on his luck, but the love interest is there to make things better (not as a cure, but as a way to become more actively involved in their own happiness). But here I felt like both these guys were not completely stable enough to support the other one.
But don’t let my review deter anyone from reading this. I just didn't enjoy this myself.
Did I read it in one sitting? Yes I did.
Did I like how this made me feel? Not one bit.
Let me first say that this is not a bad book at all. I think lots of readers will find this an emotional and captivating read. It just made me feel like shit and I that’s how I rate my books.
This was filled with angst from beginning to end. These guys did not have an easy life. Especially Regan. And somewhere halfway it dawned on me that this is just the way this author writes.
Now I get how this will appeal to many readers, I was just missing a more positive note. I can handle angst in books just fine if there is a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Or if one of the characters is down on his luck, but the love interest is there to make things better (not as a cure, but as a way to become more actively involved in their own happiness). But here I felt like both these guys were not completely stable enough to support the other one.
But don’t let my review deter anyone from reading this. I just didn't enjoy this myself.
June 13, 2022
"He...to tell you...he said forever meant forever."
*was busy mourning the Rangers loss but now back to my (ir)regularly scheduled reviews 😭👍🏼
[3.8] denied the simplest securities since birth, Regan is dealt one of the worst possible hands in life. he's beaten by his poor excuse of a father (whose reputation ceaselessly looms over him like a poisonous cloud even years after he takes off), his dire efforts to save his brother prove to be all for naught, and after he's released from prison, he's dismissed by townspeople on the basis of labels like "ex-con" and "deaf" and his tainted history. the literal and figurative blows that refuse to lighten whittle him down to a husk resigned to go through the motions and live out a quiet existence.
but there was a single source of joy and light at one point in his life: Isaac. tender, devoted, & loving Isaac from his childhood days with whom he could pretend for a spell that everything was alright. when fate reunites them in the same town that started it all, Isaac is determined to let nothing come between them.
with second chance romances, i usually feel left out of the pairing's origin story, so to speak, so the before-and-after story format was much appreciated as it lent more credence to their bond. i will admit the transition was a bit clunky, in that impulsivity and coincidences made the pivot come across less than organic (more below), but i could value how it cemented the "you and me against the world" feel and kept the focus on the mcs themselves without excess outside drama.
even though i was expecting more meat on the bones of their reunion, i liked how they made it a priority to get to know each other again first before diving between the sheets. not to mention, the idea of a fantastically all-consuming love is awfully alluring to the romantic in me 🥰
in that respect, this book is the literary equivalent of heavy whipped cream—heavy with topics of calorific angst but simultaneously fluffy and sweet and ultimately mood-lifting despite the somber undertones. we're spared graphic details of Regan's experiences, more secondhand accounts and brief mentions, but enough to paint a clear enough picture that had my protective instincts igniting.
better think twice before getting in the way of Regan's HEA 😠
while i can't speak from a place of personal experience, i thought the author did a fantastic job depicting Regan's gradual loss of hearing. the lack of accommodations made for him during his trial, in prison, etc., the frustration & exhaustion that bleed into every interaction with local townsfolk who have the nerve to be annoyed when they do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.... i was ready to shake my fist toward the sky and rain thunder down on the world at the injustice of it all 😤
btw the tidbit on Alexander Graham Bell? now that's a *big* chunk of his legacy that the history books failed to mention when i was in school. be sure to follow the link provided by the author at the end of the book to read up on it, because it's nothing short of appalling 😬
time for random comments/niggles! these do veer into spoiler territory though, so BEWARE!
⚠️ SPOILS AHEAD ⚠️
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.
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- i refuse to believe for a second that Isaac's resolve to let Regan go didn't crumble once in those 20 years. and even if he didn't give in to the urge to check up on him, it's still strange how apparently everyone knew what happened to Regan and his brother, except Isaac. i'd expect the news to travel down the grapevine from an alternate source, even a random post where jerks are gloating that they "got what they deserved" or whatnot, but that wasn't the case here.
- the family's change of heart in the transition was close to whiplash-worthy. i was under the impression that they were so loving in the "before" section that realizing they were anything but was a huge letdown. although! i will say i like a decisive man, so the way Isaac cleanly axed his connection with his family forevermore was impressive, albeit hasty in its execution. it did help that Isaac later dropped info crumbs that revealed the not-so-perfect side of his family (subtle condemnation of the "queer lifestyle," strutting about like they're the honorable ones for accepting him, throwing expectation upon expectation on his shoulders, making digs at his choice of occupation), and of course, it served the additional purpose of cropping them out of the picture. but it definitely struck me as a means to an end, if that makes sense.
- i was so proud of Regan for standing up for himself and telling off his coworkers, etc. but at least with Lola, i wished he had explained himself to her after the fact. yeah, maybe she isn't worth the hassle but she did have good intentions?? it just felt incomplete to leave them hanging like that, but then again, standing in Regan's shoes, would i even care to? 🤔
- i wish we found out in the epilogue that they moved out of Dover. it's littered with a lifetime of bad memories and rude neighbors, why not move to a friendlier, more accessible place together? 😩
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2022
Giant pet peeve of mine are second-chance romance books that take longer than half of the book for the MC’s to reconnect. In the case of this book it took 56% of missed-connections before the now older versions of the MC’s even spoke to each other. 🫣😤😑
August 15, 2024
Unpopular opinion but it was boring
August 31, 2022
4 stars
A first for me while reading an EM Lindsey book. The others that I have read have been 3 stars or less so I was pleasantly surprised when I clicked with this book.
I couldn’t tell you what set it apart from the others probably I felt more of the emotions from the characters and their chemistry was great. But idk it just worked and I don’t want to question it too hard hahah
Maybe I’ll have to try other EM Lindsey books now, they could be hit or miss but it seems when the are a hit they are addictive!
A first for me while reading an EM Lindsey book. The others that I have read have been 3 stars or less so I was pleasantly surprised when I clicked with this book.
I couldn’t tell you what set it apart from the others probably I felt more of the emotions from the characters and their chemistry was great. But idk it just worked and I don’t want to question it too hard hahah
Maybe I’ll have to try other EM Lindsey books now, they could be hit or miss but it seems when the are a hit they are addictive!
June 9, 2022
I'm in love. The plot seemed like my vibe, so I went for it with little expectation. I found myself a couple of hours later, slightly dizzy with hunger because I couldn't let the book go and I needed to know more than I needed to eat (or at least that's what my brain said, my stomach disagreed). I loved it. Plain and simple. It's just so good!
There's something really compelling to how Regan's point of view is described. It's obvious EM took a lot of care in crafting his world without sound. It shows, and it makes the moments where he narrates all the more engrossing. And while Isaac's problems could, if compared in a judgmental way, be seen as "lesser" than Regan's, they don't actually portray them as any less upsetting or distressing than what Regan goes through, which I also really appreciate.
I just can't find words to say how good this book is.
There's something really compelling to how Regan's point of view is described. It's obvious EM took a lot of care in crafting his world without sound. It shows, and it makes the moments where he narrates all the more engrossing. And while Isaac's problems could, if compared in a judgmental way, be seen as "lesser" than Regan's, they don't actually portray them as any less upsetting or distressing than what Regan goes through, which I also really appreciate.
I just can't find words to say how good this book is.
June 17, 2022
I am completely speechless by the trauma this book conveys. I have shivers as well as tears because this story was so sad and beautiful and full of pain. Worth the read
June 19, 2022
this was every inch the hard fought HEA that was promised.
This book gripped me from the very first chapter, once I started it I just had to see it through.
My heart broke for Regan from the very first page, and I was there with him for every blow life dealt him.
Surprisingly, Isaac’s plight moved me no less deeply.
Two men who spent decades fighting the world and themselves, hoping against hope that they would find each other again
As usual, Lindsey delivers vivid deaf rep.
This story isn’t one i’ll soon forget.
This book gripped me from the very first chapter, once I started it I just had to see it through.
My heart broke for Regan from the very first page, and I was there with him for every blow life dealt him.
Surprisingly, Isaac’s plight moved me no less deeply.
Two men who spent decades fighting the world and themselves, hoping against hope that they would find each other again
As usual, Lindsey delivers vivid deaf rep.
This story isn’t one i’ll soon forget.
August 3, 2022
When I was approved for this title, I was a little weary. I fell for EM Lindsey's writing with Love Him Free but had a really hard time with their latest books. I was not sure if I would actually like it or not, to be honest.
I have never been as happy to be as wrong as I was. I read this entire book in one day. I could not put it down.
In here we have Regan, who was so horribly treated his entire life that I wanted to wrap him up and keep him safe. Then there was Isaac, who was so honestly good that it made my heart hurt.
These two met when they were young and loved each other as only young people can. Regan believed in whitefanging very much when it came to actually having a relationship with Isaac, and pushed him away. Isaac, thinking that Regan just forgot about him, went on with his life.
What Isaac didn't know what that Regan was deaf and would soon end up in prison for something that he did not do. Let me say that I am using the lowercase d on purpose, as Regan did not think of himself as Deaf, but as deaf.
Anyways, Regan gets out and starts to build his life back up in the same horrible small town that ruined it.
Meanwhile, its 20 years later and Isaac had become a famous writer. He had writers block so his publisher made him move back to his small town to see if that would help. Side note - I did not know publishers could do that. When he got back to town,
Regan does not suddenly become whole when they get together, prison life is not something one can just forget and Isaac still has his own issues.
I honestly loved this story, I just wish it was set in the same Colorado town as the Irons and Works series just so Regan could be with people (outside of Isaac) who would treat him with respect.
I have never been as happy to be as wrong as I was. I read this entire book in one day. I could not put it down.
In here we have Regan, who was so horribly treated his entire life that I wanted to wrap him up and keep him safe. Then there was Isaac, who was so honestly good that it made my heart hurt.
These two met when they were young and loved each other as only young people can. Regan believed in whitefanging very much when it came to actually having a relationship with Isaac, and pushed him away. Isaac, thinking that Regan just forgot about him, went on with his life.
What Isaac didn't know what that Regan was deaf and would soon end up in prison for something that he did not do. Let me say that I am using the lowercase d on purpose, as Regan did not think of himself as Deaf, but as deaf.
Anyways, Regan gets out and starts to build his life back up in the same horrible small town that ruined it.
Meanwhile, its 20 years later and Isaac had become a famous writer. He had writers block so his publisher made him move back to his small town to see if that would help. Side note - I did not know publishers could do that. When he got back to town,
Regan does not suddenly become whole when they get together, prison life is not something one can just forget and Isaac still has his own issues.
I honestly loved this story, I just wish it was set in the same Colorado town as the Irons and Works series just so Regan could be with people (outside of Isaac) who would treat him with respect.
November 28, 2022
I actually loved the plot but unfortunately it lacked depth.
I felt so sorry for Regan. I was so pissed at Isaac's family. I was surprised that they didn't even try to communicate with him at all.
So there were things that seemed illogical to me.
But overall it was not bad at all.
I felt so sorry for Regan. I was so pissed at Isaac's family. I was surprised that they didn't even try to communicate with him at all.
So there were things that seemed illogical to me.
But overall it was not bad at all.
August 20, 2022
The good
+ Isaac never giving up on Regan
+ Regan wanting the best possible life for Isaac
+ Isaac being a mess too. That way, there was no 'hero swoops in to save the broken boy' plot
+
+ Regan's strength. He just kept fighting, kept going, even with everything that was thrown his way
+ Regan getting mad at Lola and all the other people who pretended to care
+
+ Isaac's patience. He never pushed for more information, and he was patient with Regan's hangups
+ Regan taking care of Isaac for a change with his offer to . So sweet!
+ The details of how unwilling people are to put some effort in communication with deaf people, like they're second rank somehow. None of it was too preachy, but it really brought the message home
The neutral
o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
o I wish Lola had understood Regan, or that he had explained it later. She deserved that anger, but now she just didn't get it still
o I hope . This is now headcanon and nobody can convince me otherwise
The bad
- In my opinion, too little time in the book was dedicated to them rebuilding their relationship. Regan had C-PTSD, traumas, hangups, you name it. I would have liked some more insight in their adjustments to each other (because Isaac was a mess too). Their first shower together, or the first time Regan managed to sleep through the night with someone next to him. Things like that. Or even a panic attack and how that wouldn't change Isaac's opinion of Regan
This book was really heavy. Regan's life was incredibly difficult, but that man was so damn strong and just fought his way through. He deserved nothing less than a man who vowed to wait for him for decades, and did. This book made me sad a lot, but it was still a beautiful romance. Would recommend to people who like their main characters to be huge messes who care more about the other's happiness than their own.
+ Isaac never giving up on Regan
+ Regan wanting the best possible life for Isaac
+ Isaac being a mess too. That way, there was no 'hero swoops in to save the broken boy' plot
+
+ Regan's strength. He just kept fighting, kept going, even with everything that was thrown his way
+ Regan getting mad at Lola and all the other people who pretended to care
+
+ Isaac's patience. He never pushed for more information, and he was patient with Regan's hangups
+ Regan taking care of Isaac for a change with his offer to . So sweet!
+ The details of how unwilling people are to put some effort in communication with deaf people, like they're second rank somehow. None of it was too preachy, but it really brought the message home
The neutral
o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
o I wish Lola had understood Regan, or that he had explained it later. She deserved that anger, but now she just didn't get it still
o I hope . This is now headcanon and nobody can convince me otherwise
The bad
- In my opinion, too little time in the book was dedicated to them rebuilding their relationship. Regan had C-PTSD, traumas, hangups, you name it. I would have liked some more insight in their adjustments to each other (because Isaac was a mess too). Their first shower together, or the first time Regan managed to sleep through the night with someone next to him. Things like that. Or even a panic attack and how that wouldn't change Isaac's opinion of Regan
This book was really heavy. Regan's life was incredibly difficult, but that man was so damn strong and just fought his way through. He deserved nothing less than a man who vowed to wait for him for decades, and did. This book made me sad a lot, but it was still a beautiful romance. Would recommend to people who like their main characters to be huge messes who care more about the other's happiness than their own.
July 4, 2022
Oh, the pain!! *faints*
Oh, Lindsey this was just lovely, the kind of book I like from them, the perfect mix between complex characters, disabilities, mental issues and warmth and love!! AND PAIN 🤯🤯🤯
I was swooning, I was crying, I was hurting and then I was healed by this story!! Blessed this book.
Blessed!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻
Oh, Lindsey this was just lovely, the kind of book I like from them, the perfect mix between complex characters, disabilities, mental issues and warmth and love!! AND PAIN 🤯🤯🤯
I was swooning, I was crying, I was hurting and then I was healed by this story!! Blessed this book.
Blessed!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻
June 8, 2022
3,75/5
Dans "Safe and sound", E. M. Lindsey nous offre l'histoire d'une seconde chance entre deux meilleurs mais d'enfance qui se sont aimés, puis séparés par la vie et les épreuves.
Nous faisons la connaissance de Regan et d'Isaac adolescents. L'auteur prend son temps de poser les bases (ce qui est chouette !), de nous offrir leurs premières fois, la découverte de leur amour...avant la séparation inévitable. Près de 20 ans plus tard, les deux jeunes ont bien changé... Si Isaac a percé professionnellement parlant, son coeur est toujours pris par l'amour de sa vie. De son côté, Regan a réussi à survivre après des années passées en prison... Reste à savoir si leur amour pourra reprendre là où il s'est arrêté.
Si certaines choses m'ont fait tiquer (notamment ces 20 années où Isaac n'a pas cherché à savoir ce que devenait son ami alors que la vie ne lui faisait pas de cadeau, ni le fait qu'il ait appris comme par hasard le langage des signes à la fac), j'ai vraiment aimé cette histoire de seconde chance.
Regan est un jeune homme, homme si attachant. On ne peut qu'être de son côté, vouloir le prendre dans ses bras, devenir son ami... La vie ne lui a jamais fait de cadeau, c'est un homme qui s'est construit tout seul et s'est toujours relevé, malgré les épreuves, les pertes, le handicap.
Isaac est relié de la plus belle des façon à son ami. Regan est l'amour de sa vie, et on comprend le sacrifice de Regan... Difficile d'émettre un jugement, sur ce que l'un ou l'autre aurait pu faire, c'est la vie mais c'est surtout le présent qui est important.
J'ai aimé la patience dont fait preuve Isaac, sa persévérance. Son amour pour Regan s'exprime dans chacun de ses actes. Et puis, j'ai aimé voir leur si belle complicité renaître au fil des pages...L'auteur nous offre de si jolis moments <3
Ce fut une très jolie lecture donc !
Dans "Safe and sound", E. M. Lindsey nous offre l'histoire d'une seconde chance entre deux meilleurs mais d'enfance qui se sont aimés, puis séparés par la vie et les épreuves.
Nous faisons la connaissance de Regan et d'Isaac adolescents. L'auteur prend son temps de poser les bases (ce qui est chouette !), de nous offrir leurs premières fois, la découverte de leur amour...avant la séparation inévitable. Près de 20 ans plus tard, les deux jeunes ont bien changé... Si Isaac a percé professionnellement parlant, son coeur est toujours pris par l'amour de sa vie. De son côté, Regan a réussi à survivre après des années passées en prison... Reste à savoir si leur amour pourra reprendre là où il s'est arrêté.
Si certaines choses m'ont fait tiquer (notamment ces 20 années où Isaac n'a pas cherché à savoir ce que devenait son ami alors que la vie ne lui faisait pas de cadeau, ni le fait qu'il ait appris comme par hasard le langage des signes à la fac), j'ai vraiment aimé cette histoire de seconde chance.
Regan est un jeune homme, homme si attachant. On ne peut qu'être de son côté, vouloir le prendre dans ses bras, devenir son ami... La vie ne lui a jamais fait de cadeau, c'est un homme qui s'est construit tout seul et s'est toujours relevé, malgré les épreuves, les pertes, le handicap.
Isaac est relié de la plus belle des façon à son ami. Regan est l'amour de sa vie, et on comprend le sacrifice de Regan... Difficile d'émettre un jugement, sur ce que l'un ou l'autre aurait pu faire, c'est la vie mais c'est surtout le présent qui est important.
J'ai aimé la patience dont fait preuve Isaac, sa persévérance. Son amour pour Regan s'exprime dans chacun de ses actes. Et puis, j'ai aimé voir leur si belle complicité renaître au fil des pages...L'auteur nous offre de si jolis moments <3
Ce fut une très jolie lecture donc !
June 17, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Safe and Sound is a friend to lovers, second chance romance from E.M. Lindsey. It is intense and sometimes hard to read, particularly early on as we see how much Regan is struggling. But it is also sweet, romantic, and so rewarding as Isaac and Regan find their way back to each other.
The book opens when the men are teens and are finally working up the nerve to share how they feel with one another. Isaac is headed for college and Regan sees no future for himself. So as much as he loves Isaac, he knows he needs to push him away so that Isaac can live his own life.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Safe and Sound is a friend to lovers, second chance romance from E.M. Lindsey. It is intense and sometimes hard to read, particularly early on as we see how much Regan is struggling. But it is also sweet, romantic, and so rewarding as Isaac and Regan find their way back to each other.
The book opens when the men are teens and are finally working up the nerve to share how they feel with one another. Isaac is headed for college and Regan sees no future for himself. So as much as he loves Isaac, he knows he needs to push him away so that Isaac can live his own life.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 25, 2022
3+
Długo biłam się z myślami, ile dać tej książce. 3 czy 5? 2 czy 4? W końcu ubiłam deal sama z sobą i krakowskim targiem daję 3+, choć w dalszym ciągu nie mam bladego pojęcia, czy to za mało, czy za dużo, czy w sam raz...
Przeczytałam do tej pory sporo książek E.M. Lindsey i wszystkie w moim odczuciu były dobre lub bardzo dobre. Jasne, nigdy łatwe nie były, pełno w nich było emocji i uczuć, zawsze była jakaś niepełnosprawność. Ale akurat mnie to odpowiada i styl EML pasuje mi idealnie. Te książki zawsze były ciepłe, pełne takiej cichej nadziei, choć bez upiększania rzeczywistości. Zawsze zostawiały dużą czułość we mnie po przeczytaniu...
Ale nie tutaj. Ta książka może nie jest depresyjna, ale jest blisko. Pełno w niej beznadziei, takiego pogodzenia się z losem, braku walki - bo to i tak bez sensu. Nawet HEA, które oczywiście jest, jest w większości smutne i nostalgiczne raczej, niż pełne radości i jakiegoś mocnego akcentu na szczęście. Może to kwestia tego, że wczoraj dorwało mnie jakieś choróbsko i ledwo żyję - i ta książka zdecydowanie nie poprawiła mi nastroju. Może gdybym ją czytała za tydzień lub tydzień wcześniej, byłoby inaczej, a tak odebrałam ją w taki, a nie inny sposób... Zdołowała mnie najzwyczajniej w świecie...
Długo biłam się z myślami, ile dać tej książce. 3 czy 5? 2 czy 4? W końcu ubiłam deal sama z sobą i krakowskim targiem daję 3+, choć w dalszym ciągu nie mam bladego pojęcia, czy to za mało, czy za dużo, czy w sam raz...
Przeczytałam do tej pory sporo książek E.M. Lindsey i wszystkie w moim odczuciu były dobre lub bardzo dobre. Jasne, nigdy łatwe nie były, pełno w nich było emocji i uczuć, zawsze była jakaś niepełnosprawność. Ale akurat mnie to odpowiada i styl EML pasuje mi idealnie. Te książki zawsze były ciepłe, pełne takiej cichej nadziei, choć bez upiększania rzeczywistości. Zawsze zostawiały dużą czułość we mnie po przeczytaniu...
Ale nie tutaj. Ta książka może nie jest depresyjna, ale jest blisko. Pełno w niej beznadziei, takiego pogodzenia się z losem, braku walki - bo to i tak bez sensu. Nawet HEA, które oczywiście jest, jest w większości smutne i nostalgiczne raczej, niż pełne radości i jakiegoś mocnego akcentu na szczęście. Może to kwestia tego, że wczoraj dorwało mnie jakieś choróbsko i ledwo żyję - i ta książka zdecydowanie nie poprawiła mi nastroju. Może gdybym ją czytała za tydzień lub tydzień wcześniej, byłoby inaczej, a tak odebrałam ją w taki, a nie inny sposób... Zdołowała mnie najzwyczajniej w świecie...
September 19, 2022
2.75⭐️
I wanted to love this SO much. Especially after seeing it referred to as a MM version of Archer’s Voice. And while it was definitely heartfelt and sweet, it was also boring.
Very, very boring.
I stuck through it because I very rarely DNF, and I truly wanted to see Regan get his HEA…but I didn’t finish the story feeling…idk…happy?
No. I have too many questions to be happy with that ending.
So Isaac’s family NEVER tried to contact him again? What about Lola and Debbie? Did Isaac ever meet Paul? I’m still confused with what even happened with Isaac’s book deal??
There were just too many open-ends for me to be satisfied. And I know that the author left an end note stating her reasoning for this, but I don’t enjoy diving into the world of a book to end it without closure. It’s just not my jam.
However. I DO have to give her credit regarding Regan’s hearing loss. As someone who is slowly losing their hearing, the frustrations and emotions he experienced were pretty spot on.
Still, it wasn’t enough for me to claim that I particularly enjoyed this book. Which sucks. Because I really, really wanted to.
I wanted to love this SO much. Especially after seeing it referred to as a MM version of Archer’s Voice. And while it was definitely heartfelt and sweet, it was also boring.
Very, very boring.
I stuck through it because I very rarely DNF, and I truly wanted to see Regan get his HEA…but I didn’t finish the story feeling…idk…happy?
No. I have too many questions to be happy with that ending.
So Isaac’s family NEVER tried to contact him again? What about Lola and Debbie? Did Isaac ever meet Paul? I’m still confused with what even happened with Isaac’s book deal??
There were just too many open-ends for me to be satisfied. And I know that the author left an end note stating her reasoning for this, but I don’t enjoy diving into the world of a book to end it without closure. It’s just not my jam.
However. I DO have to give her credit regarding Regan’s hearing loss. As someone who is slowly losing their hearing, the frustrations and emotions he experienced were pretty spot on.
Still, it wasn’t enough for me to claim that I particularly enjoyed this book. Which sucks. Because I really, really wanted to.
June 17, 2022
The plot had so much potential but it felt kind of clinical to me so I couldn't connect with the characters at all. Some of the actions of the protagonists didn't make sense to me, like cutting out some people when you could have informed yourself (shifting the blame?) Or taking the fall for crimes you didn't commit and so on.... 🤡
June 6, 2022
Safe and Sound by E.M. Lindsey was a 4.5 star read for me. This was my first book by this author and I adored the heck out of it.
It gave me such a "Beautiful & Terrible Things" vibe—another book I adored. Both books have things in common but they are also very different. I read both in one day and did not skip or skim.
In Safe and Sound we have two men - Isaac and Regan - who come from different socio-economic backgrounds. But they are best friends as kids and discover first love as teenagers...but reality smacks them in the face, tears them apart, puts them through the ringer individually, and then brings them together so they can heal each other's aches and pains.
The challenges Regan goes through just seems insurmountable sometimes, I had to pause and give my heart a breather before I could go on. Not only was he born into poverty, with an absent mother and a dickwad of a father, but then his little brother - Reid had his own challenges, we learn from Regan mostly, but because we never meet him in the book, it was hard to feel any sympathy for him - who he lives for throws him under the bus. He loses his hearing because of his father, takes the blame for his brother and suffers through the painful and life-altering consequences, and then tries to live a normal life (which is just not possible anymore)...all of it alone, and in a shitty town with shitty people... as you can tell, his situation really irked me.
Things I would have liked to have seen in his story arc that I missed: interactions between Regan and Reid that would have helped me understand why he threw his life away for a brother who never gave a damn; interactions with his father (as much as it makes me shudder, even one would have helped me paint a picture of the dickwad in my head); more moments of how Isaac and Regan met and got to become best friends...
Isaac - cinnamon roll Isaac was just all heart and love and loyalty. He would have gone to the moon and back for Regan, if only Regan had let him. His challenges were of a more internal sort. Less of life dealing him harsh, painful challenges and more to do with losing Regan & the consequences from that, struggling to align his sexuality and his needs/wants with his parents high expectations, and basically overcoming a feeling of imposter syndrome.
I was a bit confused about his relationship with his family. When he was younger and even while at University it seemed like he loved his family and was close to them and missed them. He also relied on his sister a lot. As an adult, he is sort of estranged from his parents and has learned that his sister is actually different from what he’d thought - and then the nail-in-the-coffin incident happens and he cuts off from them entirely. I felt something was lacking here. Maybe because I didn't read any active scenes where I could sense their relationship becoming strained or deteriorating...I was just told this from Isaac's point of view or through a number of phone calls between Isaac and his sister & one with his mum, it wasn't enough for me to understand how things got so bad. They aren’t likable folks, but enough to warrant cutting off? I don’t know.
I loved how the author dealt with Isaac and Regan once they connected. Both of them came with too much baggage, insecurities, and trauma in their lives...so there was no way they could have met and just "solved" everything and gotten on with their lives in a joyful HEA. Their story unfolded slowly and painfully, and realistically. At the end, I was left with many overwhelming feelings: they may have gotten together & reclaimed their love, but they still had a lot of work ahead of them before they can fully trust each other or even themselves. But at least they are together & will no longer be alone anymore. They can overcome their difficulties together and have each other's backs... Please God, let nothing terrible come their way anymore. Let them just be happy.
One a final note, the author handled Regan's deafness so well; he wasn't born deaf but goes deaf and that is a whole different challenge from being born deaf. You can yearn for something you have never experienced but you can't miss what you never experienced. But for someone who was able to hear and then loses his hearing, the challenges are on a whole different level - we see his day-to-day hardships, his inner turmoil, the trauma of prison (especially without his hearing), the exhaustion of having to try so people who aren't deaf can understand him, the frustrations of not having the same courtesy reciprocated...all of it really shook me. Also, I had no idea about Alexander Graham Bell's anti-Deaf plan, so that was an important historical fact I learned (horrible!).
All in all, I highly recommend this book!
(Thank you to the author and GRR for an arc of Safe and Sound in return for my honest review.)
It gave me such a "Beautiful & Terrible Things" vibe—another book I adored. Both books have things in common but they are also very different. I read both in one day and did not skip or skim.
In Safe and Sound we have two men - Isaac and Regan - who come from different socio-economic backgrounds. But they are best friends as kids and discover first love as teenagers...but reality smacks them in the face, tears them apart, puts them through the ringer individually, and then brings them together so they can heal each other's aches and pains.
The challenges Regan goes through just seems insurmountable sometimes, I had to pause and give my heart a breather before I could go on. Not only was he born into poverty, with an absent mother and a dickwad of a father, but then his little brother - Reid had his own challenges, we learn from Regan mostly, but because we never meet him in the book, it was hard to feel any sympathy for him - who he lives for throws him under the bus. He loses his hearing because of his father, takes the blame for his brother and suffers through the painful and life-altering consequences, and then tries to live a normal life (which is just not possible anymore)...all of it alone, and in a shitty town with shitty people... as you can tell, his situation really irked me.
Things I would have liked to have seen in his story arc that I missed: interactions between Regan and Reid that would have helped me understand why he threw his life away for a brother who never gave a damn; interactions with his father (as much as it makes me shudder, even one would have helped me paint a picture of the dickwad in my head); more moments of how Isaac and Regan met and got to become best friends...
Isaac - cinnamon roll Isaac was just all heart and love and loyalty. He would have gone to the moon and back for Regan, if only Regan had let him. His challenges were of a more internal sort. Less of life dealing him harsh, painful challenges and more to do with losing Regan & the consequences from that, struggling to align his sexuality and his needs/wants with his parents high expectations, and basically overcoming a feeling of imposter syndrome.
I was a bit confused about his relationship with his family. When he was younger and even while at University it seemed like he loved his family and was close to them and missed them. He also relied on his sister a lot. As an adult, he is sort of estranged from his parents and has learned that his sister is actually different from what he’d thought - and then the nail-in-the-coffin incident happens and he cuts off from them entirely. I felt something was lacking here. Maybe because I didn't read any active scenes where I could sense their relationship becoming strained or deteriorating...I was just told this from Isaac's point of view or through a number of phone calls between Isaac and his sister & one with his mum, it wasn't enough for me to understand how things got so bad. They aren’t likable folks, but enough to warrant cutting off? I don’t know.
I loved how the author dealt with Isaac and Regan once they connected. Both of them came with too much baggage, insecurities, and trauma in their lives...so there was no way they could have met and just "solved" everything and gotten on with their lives in a joyful HEA. Their story unfolded slowly and painfully, and realistically. At the end, I was left with many overwhelming feelings: they may have gotten together & reclaimed their love, but they still had a lot of work ahead of them before they can fully trust each other or even themselves. But at least they are together & will no longer be alone anymore. They can overcome their difficulties together and have each other's backs... Please God, let nothing terrible come their way anymore. Let them just be happy.
One a final note, the author handled Regan's deafness so well; he wasn't born deaf but goes deaf and that is a whole different challenge from being born deaf. You can yearn for something you have never experienced but you can't miss what you never experienced. But for someone who was able to hear and then loses his hearing, the challenges are on a whole different level - we see his day-to-day hardships, his inner turmoil, the trauma of prison (especially without his hearing), the exhaustion of having to try so people who aren't deaf can understand him, the frustrations of not having the same courtesy reciprocated...all of it really shook me. Also, I had no idea about Alexander Graham Bell's anti-Deaf plan, so that was an important historical fact I learned (horrible!).
All in all, I highly recommend this book!
(Thank you to the author and GRR for an arc of Safe and Sound in return for my honest review.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2023
Safe and Sound - MM- E.M. Lindsey
I started this book about two weeks ago but I had to leave it because it hurt so much. Reagan and Isaac were so happy together when they were young, even though Reagan’s family life was horrendous. At that time Isaac’s family seemed to care about him.
Then, when Reagan realised he was loosing his hearing he starts driving Isaac away, and then he disappears. After a beautiful night together, he up and leaves Isaac. They don’t see each other again for twenty years!!!!
That was the moment in the story that I had to stop, my heart was breaking for both of them.
Isaac and his family moved away to NY and he went to college, got a job and then started writing books with great success. When he gets writer’s block his publisher suggests he return to the place where he had based his successful stories on.
So that is how Isaac found himself back in Dover. He had never forgotten Reagan, he still had that yearning for his friend. When his definitely not nice sister heard about his moving back, she spilled a lots of secrets that had been kept from Isaac by her and their parents.
I hated that sister, she was evil minded, even before she spilled the beans about knowing what happened to Reagan.
Isaac then pledged to himself to find out if Reagan was OK when he got to Dover.
What he finds out nearly broke him, and me too in the reading of it all.
This was an excellent read for me albeit an emotional and gut wrenching one. But that’s how I rate my books. Did it have an impact on my emotions, whether joy or heartbreak? And this one did both in the end.
Highly recommend E.M. Lindsey as a gripping storyteller.
I started this book about two weeks ago but I had to leave it because it hurt so much. Reagan and Isaac were so happy together when they were young, even though Reagan’s family life was horrendous. At that time Isaac’s family seemed to care about him.
Then, when Reagan realised he was loosing his hearing he starts driving Isaac away, and then he disappears. After a beautiful night together, he up and leaves Isaac. They don’t see each other again for twenty years!!!!
That was the moment in the story that I had to stop, my heart was breaking for both of them.
Isaac and his family moved away to NY and he went to college, got a job and then started writing books with great success. When he gets writer’s block his publisher suggests he return to the place where he had based his successful stories on.
So that is how Isaac found himself back in Dover. He had never forgotten Reagan, he still had that yearning for his friend. When his definitely not nice sister heard about his moving back, she spilled a lots of secrets that had been kept from Isaac by her and their parents.
I hated that sister, she was evil minded, even before she spilled the beans about knowing what happened to Reagan.
Isaac then pledged to himself to find out if Reagan was OK when he got to Dover.
What he finds out nearly broke him, and me too in the reading of it all.
This was an excellent read for me albeit an emotional and gut wrenching one. But that’s how I rate my books. Did it have an impact on my emotions, whether joy or heartbreak? And this one did both in the end.
Highly recommend E.M. Lindsey as a gripping storyteller.
March 22, 2023
4.25⭐️ I would’ve liked a little more intimacy but it was a lovely story about second chances!!
I really enjoyed this listen. It was emotional and heartbreaking at times. I thought Regan and Isaac were wonderful characters. They both had a difficult time during their time apart but you could tell how deeply they loved and cared for the other.Regan had such a hard life and all Isaac wanted was to be there for him. He wanted to give him a safe place - a home.
I really enjoyed this listen. It was emotional and heartbreaking at times. I thought Regan and Isaac were wonderful characters. They both had a difficult time during their time apart but you could tell how deeply they loved and cared for the other.Regan had such a hard life and all Isaac wanted was to be there for him. He wanted to give him a safe place - a home.
June 19, 2022
I’ve liked some of the author’s other books, but this one just didn’t work for me.
If you like the angst REALLY piled on, you’re likely to enjoy this book. Just about everything in Regan’s life has been horrific. He has an abusive father and a troubled brother, loses most of his hearing, and is unjustly jailed for a crime he didn’t commit. The only good thing he’s ever had was his best friend turned almost boyfriend, Isaac, and Regan loses him when he insists that Isaac go off to college and have a better life than he could ever have with Regan. Regan’s hopes for Isaac don’t turn out well, either, because although Isaac becomes a successful author, that’s pretty much all that he’s got going for him. Just like Regan, Isaac has never fallen in love with anyone else, and his family turns out to be horrible as well.
On top of their issues with their heinous families, almost everyone mentioned in the book other than Regan and Isaac is kind of awful. Regan has one good friend, and there are two other people he interacts with who are sort of OK. That’s it. And at that he’s doing better than Isaac, who seems to have zero friends. Maybe the author was going for a “you and me against the world” vibe? Taken all together with everything else, though, it just felt unrealistic. Good people do exist, you know?
Normally I like angsty romances because I appreciate how the lovers support each other and find happiness together. That does happen here, although it takes a while for Regan to accept that he and Isaac can be together. I got a little impatient waiting for Regan to get out of his own way, especially since he was the one who sent Isaac away in the first place.
I was really hoping to like this book, but it was a miss for me. However, I’ve got several other novels by Lindsey on my TBR that I think are more likely to hit the sweet spot in terms of what I like in an angsty romance. I’m looking forward to digging into them instead.
This review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy; all opinions are my own.
If you like the angst REALLY piled on, you’re likely to enjoy this book. Just about everything in Regan’s life has been horrific. He has an abusive father and a troubled brother, loses most of his hearing, and is unjustly jailed for a crime he didn’t commit. The only good thing he’s ever had was his best friend turned almost boyfriend, Isaac, and Regan loses him when he insists that Isaac go off to college and have a better life than he could ever have with Regan. Regan’s hopes for Isaac don’t turn out well, either, because although Isaac becomes a successful author, that’s pretty much all that he’s got going for him. Just like Regan, Isaac has never fallen in love with anyone else, and his family turns out to be horrible as well.
On top of their issues with their heinous families, almost everyone mentioned in the book other than Regan and Isaac is kind of awful. Regan has one good friend, and there are two other people he interacts with who are sort of OK. That’s it. And at that he’s doing better than Isaac, who seems to have zero friends. Maybe the author was going for a “you and me against the world” vibe? Taken all together with everything else, though, it just felt unrealistic. Good people do exist, you know?
Normally I like angsty romances because I appreciate how the lovers support each other and find happiness together. That does happen here, although it takes a while for Regan to accept that he and Isaac can be together. I got a little impatient waiting for Regan to get out of his own way, especially since he was the one who sent Isaac away in the first place.
I was really hoping to like this book, but it was a miss for me. However, I’ve got several other novels by Lindsey on my TBR that I think are more likely to hit the sweet spot in terms of what I like in an angsty romance. I’m looking forward to digging into them instead.
This review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy; all opinions are my own.
June 19, 2022
I wanted to like this book
Wounded guys finding healing and love is kind of my jam. I wanted to like this book. Then I found out the characters had been friends from age 6. That usually leads to the friend zone, but these guys have been best friends and totally in love with each other, and never even kissed until one is leaving for college?
That's only the beginning of what didn't ring true in this book. How could a kid hang out with his friend's family for 12 years and they don't know he's a good kid? How does a guy you his best friend ghost him for 20 years and not even look him up on social media? If you can't even be bothered to do that, how can you say you're in love with him?
I found the beginning painfully boring. The first 60 pages are about these guys' last days together and first year apart. I guess it was supposed to establish the characters, but I didn't feel like these scenes really helped me get to know them. I tried flipping through to get to a better part, but when they reunite, they're so tentative it's maddening.
After 150 pages, I didn't really like these guys. I didn't care if they got together or not. I just kind of feel sorry for them, and sorry for me wasting my time on this book which focuses on the tired old conflict: I'm going to save you from me because I'm not good enough for you, even if you don't agree.
Wounded guys finding healing and love is kind of my jam. I wanted to like this book. Then I found out the characters had been friends from age 6. That usually leads to the friend zone, but these guys have been best friends and totally in love with each other, and never even kissed until one is leaving for college?
That's only the beginning of what didn't ring true in this book. How could a kid hang out with his friend's family for 12 years and they don't know he's a good kid? How does a guy you his best friend ghost him for 20 years and not even look him up on social media? If you can't even be bothered to do that, how can you say you're in love with him?
I found the beginning painfully boring. The first 60 pages are about these guys' last days together and first year apart. I guess it was supposed to establish the characters, but I didn't feel like these scenes really helped me get to know them. I tried flipping through to get to a better part, but when they reunite, they're so tentative it's maddening.
After 150 pages, I didn't really like these guys. I didn't care if they got together or not. I just kind of feel sorry for them, and sorry for me wasting my time on this book which focuses on the tired old conflict: I'm going to save you from me because I'm not good enough for you, even if you don't agree.
June 28, 2022
This one didn't really hit a home run with me.
the blurb sounded really awesome, but it fell short pretty quickly.
there was a ton of room for angst and tension but I felt like as a reader, I just got the cliffs notes version of said angst.
We saw how things began for these characters, and we saw how things ended, but everything that happened in between that shaped them (everything that would have developed all that delicious tension in their relationship) was glossed right over. We missed all the moments of them pining for each other and it was really disappointing.
I think the book could have been longer, or cut short in other places in order to deliver some much needed backstory for the readers.
I was glad the characters got their happy ending, and I enjoyed them rekindling their romance, but I needed all the stuff in-between for it to really have hit me hard in the feels.
the blurb sounded really awesome, but it fell short pretty quickly.
there was a ton of room for angst and tension but I felt like as a reader, I just got the cliffs notes version of said angst.
We saw how things began for these characters, and we saw how things ended, but everything that happened in between that shaped them (everything that would have developed all that delicious tension in their relationship) was glossed right over. We missed all the moments of them pining for each other and it was really disappointing.
I think the book could have been longer, or cut short in other places in order to deliver some much needed backstory for the readers.
I was glad the characters got their happy ending, and I enjoyed them rekindling their romance, but I needed all the stuff in-between for it to really have hit me hard in the feels.
June 26, 2022
RTC but I always love a book that makes me cry every tear in my body. I find that there isn't a better reading experience than a book that makes me cry so much that I barely can see the screen of my kindle and this book gave me that, which is why I enjoyed reading this book so much.
This book has so many themes that I just adore and it handled them in a way that I just really appreciated. I had a very good experience reading this book and I enjoyed it, a lot.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
This book has so many themes that I just adore and it handled them in a way that I just really appreciated. I had a very good experience reading this book and I enjoyed it, a lot.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
June 12, 2022
EM Lindsey writes some of the rawest and most real stories out there. Safe and Sound is no different. This will tear your heart out and though you will get it back in the end, you’ll probably leave a bit of it with these two.
I love how EM writes about people with messy lives, like the rest of us. I especially like that though there is a sweet and lovely happy ending, it’s not a ‘roses and sunshine’ ending. They’re still living in real life, and somehow their finding love amongst that makes it even more satisfying.
It’s also no secret that I appreciate the representation they bring to their stories. In this case, not just someone who loses their hearing, but also someone who went to prison. The more we get to see people as human and deserving of respect, love, and happiness, the better.
Regan and Issac had a lot to overcome in their lives. While Regan’s issues and experiences were larger, deeper, and harder, I appreciated that EM didn’t minimize Isaac’s pain because it ‘didn’t compare’. Pain and trauma don’t hurt less because someone else had it worse.
So glad these two got there in the end, never completely giving up on their connection despite years apart, and found a sense of peace in the safety of each other.
I love how EM writes about people with messy lives, like the rest of us. I especially like that though there is a sweet and lovely happy ending, it’s not a ‘roses and sunshine’ ending. They’re still living in real life, and somehow their finding love amongst that makes it even more satisfying.
It’s also no secret that I appreciate the representation they bring to their stories. In this case, not just someone who loses their hearing, but also someone who went to prison. The more we get to see people as human and deserving of respect, love, and happiness, the better.
Regan and Issac had a lot to overcome in their lives. While Regan’s issues and experiences were larger, deeper, and harder, I appreciated that EM didn’t minimize Isaac’s pain because it ‘didn’t compare’. Pain and trauma don’t hurt less because someone else had it worse.
So glad these two got there in the end, never completely giving up on their connection despite years apart, and found a sense of peace in the safety of each other.
June 16, 2022
4.25 stars
*** ARC provided by GRR. This is my honest review ***
This one was really good.
Regan had all the characteristics that are my kryptonite as his story is heartbreaking. He's had a harsh upbringing, he's been in prison and he's deaf. I love reading characters that are either deaf, blind or even mute, I have the deepest respect for these characters and their ability to connect with people and make a better life for themselves. Regan was no exception. He never bemoaned the fact that he was deaf or felt sorry for himself even when the majority of people treated him poorly and the ones who were actually good to him only made token efforts to connect with him. His life was really lonely after prison, but he just put his head down and had his eye on the prize. It was nice to see him have a goal for after probation.
Isaac was also a good character. I loved the fact that he stuck to his morals and when he found out what his family had done he cut them out. He gave Regan room to decide if he wanted more from their relationship and if they could even be friends again.
I did have concerns that their relationship progressed pretty quickly once they reconnected. I kind of expected Regan and Isaac to really do more work to get them back on the same path. But once Regan made a choice he was all in and it was full steam ahead.
Good Read
*** ARC provided by GRR. This is my honest review ***
This one was really good.
Regan had all the characteristics that are my kryptonite as his story is heartbreaking. He's had a harsh upbringing, he's been in prison and he's deaf. I love reading characters that are either deaf, blind or even mute, I have the deepest respect for these characters and their ability to connect with people and make a better life for themselves. Regan was no exception. He never bemoaned the fact that he was deaf or felt sorry for himself even when the majority of people treated him poorly and the ones who were actually good to him only made token efforts to connect with him. His life was really lonely after prison, but he just put his head down and had his eye on the prize. It was nice to see him have a goal for after probation.
Isaac was also a good character. I loved the fact that he stuck to his morals and when he found out what his family had done he cut them out. He gave Regan room to decide if he wanted more from their relationship and if they could even be friends again.
I did have concerns that their relationship progressed pretty quickly once they reconnected. I kind of expected Regan and Isaac to really do more work to get them back on the same path. But once Regan made a choice he was all in and it was full steam ahead.
Good Read
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