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Love can be complicated, when life gets in the way. Thomas is caught off guard when his lifelong love tells him their relationship isn’t working anymore. His effort to make things right, leads Thomas on a journey of self-discovery. Is it enough to save his marriage, or is it too late?

‘My Story of Us: Thomas’ is the second narrative in the Story of Us collection, modern love stories written as intimate correspondence from a man to the woman he is in love with. Written and performed by Chris Brinkley, these stories are best experience via audio.

82 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2022

6 people are currently reading
79 people want to read

About the author

Chris Brinkley

3 books49 followers
Chris Brinkley is an experienced narrator, voice-over artist, NCAA Division I broadcaster, radio personality, and emcee. He is known as the voice of Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers Series, narrating and voicing all six brothers in the popular audiobook collection. Brinkley also narrates Reid’s Handcrafted Mystery Series and the Smartypants Romance Green Valley Chronicles. He is currently one of the top storytellers heard on Kevin Costner’s HearHere travel app and is heard weekly on the Curio audio journalism app. He is heard regularly on several documentary series on the History Channel, including D-Day in HD, and also on PBS. He co-produced, wrote, and hosted two nationally syndicated radio shows heard on stations throughout the US.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Cookie.
1,461 reviews229 followers
September 18, 2022
My Story of Us: Thomas is the second book in the My Story of Us standalone series. This book is written from Thomas' perspective, as he tries to wade through his crumbling marriage. He speaks to his wife in the form of journal entries and he starts writing in the journal shortly after she tells him that their marriage isn't working.

This book had a different feel from the first one and I really like that. This is a story about a man who lost his focus on his marriage and it took a marriage crisis for him to realize that he wasn't happy with his job. I really enjoy stories about revitalized marriages. It's tricky to write a story of two people finding their way back to one another when their relationship is seemingly broken. The author has to write it in a way that makes it seem like the crisis is a legitimate and serious one but not irreversible. I thought Chris Brinkley did a great job of taking us on this journey in Thomas' mind of finding his way to a solution.

I loved Thomas' reminiscing about the early years of their relationship. He and his wife met in the second grade and his first memory of her was so sweet. They had a young puppy love that grew with them. Their story illustrates the point that marriage isn't just an HEA when two people are married. Relationships take work, commitment, and compromise to be successful.

I am utterly impressed by Brinkley's transition from narrating into writing. The unique format of the book allows readers to experience the relationships from the main character's perspective, without knowing much about the person they are in love with. It kind of felt like Thomas was talking to me while I was listening to this book. As always, Brinkley did an awesome job with the narration and I liked the little sound effects throughout the audiobook.

I'm looking forward to book 3, which is about Zach and Thomas' singer friend.

Steam level: 🔥
⚠️: death of a loved one, mention of cardiac arrest

I received a complimentary audiobook from the author.
Profile Image for Ginny Muse.
911 reviews69 followers
October 8, 2024
I enjoyed reading Zach’s ‘My Story of Us,’ which was the first in this series, so decided to read this second one.
It’s a very different situation from the first, but still interesting to read a man’s journal entries as an ongoing letter to the woman he loves.

In this Story of Us, Thomas is sad and confused as his marriage is in trouble. While he’s away on a work trip he writes in a journal as a way to help him work through the problems and find a way back to a solid connection with his wife. The content and issues in this story are a bit deeper and more serious than Zach’s. I can’t say that this one was ‘fun’ to read. But it was good and interesting. It’s just a short novella, so things definitely get glossed over and work out too easily. But I’m glad. I always love a HEA.

This can be read as a standalone, but I loved the references to Zach and his wedding. This isn’t literary greatness, but I feel like the author does a good job for what this novella is meant to be. I’d recommend it as an interesting novella. I’d like to hear the wife’s perspective, too. And I’d like to listen to this on audio, but it wasn’t available for me. But overall I’m glad I read this.

Profile Image for LuvStoryAddicts- Ash & Em.
77 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2022
“It means that in a world of eight billion people. If I lost you. There would be 7,999,999,999 people walking the face of this earth. But none of those people matter. None of them are you. You are my person.”

My Story of Us: Thomas by Chris Brinkley is a short, modern love story brought to life through correspondence. The opening of the book throws us right into the deep end with Thomas and his wife. Through Thomas’s heartbreak and letters to his wife, Chris takes us on an inspirational journey of the ups and downs of marriage and shows us how life can get in the way. In the end, will Thomas and his wife find their way back to one another?

This book is narrated by Chris Brinkley (I am thinking we can delete that first sentence.). We first fell in love with Chris Brinkley’s voice through his narration for Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series. If you haven’t listened to him bring life to a book, please find one to listen to. He never disappoints. The way he seamlessly puts voice to words and takes you on a journey of heartbreak, struggles, happy moments, and love truly brings the story to life. Chris Brinkley will always be one of our favorite narrators.

My Story of Us: Thomas is the second book in the My Story of Us series. You do not have to read this first book in the series to understand this one, but we highly recommend that you do. You will experience some events that are mentioned in this book, and will have a larger understanding and appreciation of the characters in both books. Plus some of the hijinks that ensue are so fun. The third book in the series is Grayson’s story. We can’t wait to listen to another Chris Brinkley book soon, because we have come to love his books as much as his narration.

“I love you. You are everything to me. My person.”
Profile Image for Jen.
261 reviews22 followers
August 25, 2022
4.5*

I am really enjoying these audio novellas by Chris Brinkley! Chris is already a favorite narrator, but he is turning out to be a very talented author as well.

This book is a series of journal entries written by a man, Thomas, after finding out that his wife is no longer happy in their marriage. When done well, marriage in trouble is a favorite trope of mine, and this was definitely done well. At my listening speed, this novella took less than an hour to listen to, but there is humor and heartbreak and a great deal of real, honest emotion packed into that little story.

The format of these stories is so unique with the journal style storytelling and the male only perspective (from a male author to boot). They're definitely a nice change of pace, and I wasn't read for this one to end.

While available in all formats, for maximum enjoyment, I highly recommend doing the audio for this one!
Profile Image for maggieandteddy.
1,223 reviews143 followers
September 13, 2022
I have the physical book of Josh - book 1. I accidentally listened to Thomas' audio first.
I need to go back & listen to Josh. I'm so happy that I picked up this audio. So many feels.
I loved how much heart and soul went into this journal/novella/audio.
It's all Thomas' 1st person POV. Thomas learns the hard way that he's been slacking in their marriage.
He loves his wife, but hasn't been showing her or been there at key times. He's so laser-focused on
his career and getting ahead. His wife tells Thomas that she can't go on like that.
Thomas tells about how they met, the start of their relationship, their marriage.
I loved hearing why a man thinks and feels. This is something that I would love more of in books and audio.
I will be listening to Josh before Grayson's story comes out!
Chris' voice is golden and his writing is fantastic.
Profile Image for Debbie Readsalotl Books.
970 reviews13 followers
November 18, 2023
Thomas thinks everything is a-okay in his marriage, until his wife tells him it's not. There is no big drama about infidelity or anything that's insurmountable, it's simply because he's spent most of his adult life fostering his career and caring for his family, but it's the kind of thing that actually removes him from the family more than it brings him closer to it.

This is his journal, written in the form of love letters to his wife, while he really listens to her concerns, gets her on board with learning to communicate better, while he figures out what changes he can make in his career and life that will help save their relationship and their marriage.

It's a quick read and it's very sweet. It is probably (but not guaranteed) my favorite of the three books in this series.

Profile Image for Cindy.
471 reviews9 followers
August 16, 2022
There is a reason Chris Brinkley is a complete and total favorite!!!!

Oh my gracious. I was lucky with this book, I was a BETA reader and I still can’t prepare you for this story. I also have an ALC and y’all…you aren’t ready for Chris, you aren’t ready for the tears and the love and the squeeze, this performance, this story, I encourage you to go with the audiobooks. It’s an experience if you are on the fence about the audio, trust me, it’s incredible.

This one will hurt, give Thomas a chance, fall in love with his honest, real heart, these stories are touching, from a real male POV that will change your mind. The Story of Us Zach was amazing but The Story of Us Thomas…well, it changed something in me, how I saw things in my life. It was personal. It was perfection.
Profile Image for Abby.
2,018 reviews68 followers
August 23, 2022
I was excited to go back to Chris's world! This time, we meet Thomas. The listener got a glimpse of him in Zach’s story. His life is going off the rails and not where he ever saw it going. He’s fighting for his marriage, for the woman he loves. I really enjoyed Thomas’s story. He’s thoughtful, realizes what he has and wants to make things work. I could have listened to this story all day. I hated when it was over! I love how Chris really brings these characters to life and I’m looking forward to Grayson’s story next!
Profile Image for Sienna Martinez.
16 reviews9 followers
January 5, 2023
A True Relationship Rebound Story (but a good one)

Book 2 in the My Story of us series has been a total surprise! Be ready to have your heartstrings tugged at as this initially clueless husband makes it his mission to reflect and repair the damage that time and life have had on his marriage. What I love about this series is the vulnerability in the male perspective. As Mr. Brinkley narrates Thomas' story you really feel his pain and fear at the risk of losing what he loves most
......BRAVO!
Profile Image for Karen Hoffman - Booktastic.
740 reviews14 followers
August 17, 2022
Love that Chris followed his passion to write this incredible series. I love that the story came alive when I first began to the last page. Thomas is taking us on his journey of discovering more about himself.
Profile Image for Jessica.
503 reviews
May 18, 2023
This story was so heartfelt, and Chris Brinkley’s performance really brings it to life and hits you in the feels. For the future books planned in this series, I just hope we get another Infinite Adolescence gathering! I need more wine cellar-like tales.
Profile Image for Molly.
33 reviews4 followers
December 9, 2022
Chris Brinkley's wonderful voice led me to his books written and narrated by him. This is the 2nd in the series. Very heartfelt and had you cheering for the main character and his marriage.
Profile Image for W.
117 reviews4 followers
November 1, 2023
Sweet and emotional. An interesting read. A romance fully from the MMC perspective. Audiobook is excellent.
Profile Image for brandy.
76 reviews9 followers
August 1, 2023
thank you chris brinkley for the #gifted copy of your book!

this is the second installment in the my story of us series, following a group of 6 friends as they work through troubles in their relationships in journal entries. thomas’s marriage is in trouble and this book follows him on a journey of self discovery, seeing where he went wrong in his marriage and how he can fix it.

once again, a very sweet story. i felt very connected to both thomas and his wife in the short amount of time.

4/5 stars!
Profile Image for Meg (thyme.for.books).
726 reviews21 followers
April 24, 2024
Workaholic Thomas is struggling to connect with his wife and to be present for his family. As he journals through his thoughts and frustrations, Thomas begins to see the various paths his decisions have made and he reminisces on key memories of his past.

This is the second book in the My Story of Us series. The books in this series can be read as stand-alones and in any order. The concept for this whole series is distinctive in that each of the books is told exclusively from the man’s point of view. The stories are also unique in that the women aren’t directly named and are even described physically. Readers are left to their own imaginings.

“Marriage in trouble” is one of the more rare romance tropes that I’ve come across. Having Thomas’s story told from the husband’s perspective in this epistolary style gives readers a one of a kind look at a failing marriage. I’m thankful that the MCs issues were not linked to indiscretion. (I was already mad at him enough through the 1st part of the book. I would have tossed my phone across the room if his problems had been related to another woman.) Thomas goes through tremendous personal growth throughout such a short story but the impact shows.

I highly recommend the audio (read by the author) and would suggest listening at the standard 1x speed. There are some sounds and background noise sprinkled throughout the audio that sound weird if sped up. The audiobook is a little over 2 hours long.

So far there are three books: Zach, Thomas, and Grayson and while the formats are the same, the tropes are vastly different. I look forward to reading and listening to more work from the author in the future.
Profile Image for Yael Levin Waknin.
160 reviews5 followers
October 12, 2022
This is the second book in the Story Of Us series.
The first audiobook was unique and different from other audiobooks so you can say I was really excited to start this one.

💚 Usually I don't read stories about married couples. It's not the "escapism" I love and not the fictional stories I want to read about.
*BUT* let me tell you what Chris Brinkley's story is - IT IS REMARKABLE!

📝 It was so emotional and beautifully written I felt it in my heart!
I felt Thomas's love for his wife in every word he wrote for her, I enjoyed his travel down memory lane.
🎧 It was a rollercoaster of emotions that in some parts of this story I laughed with him and at some point I cried. I smiled when I heard the smile in his voice and my heart hurt when I could hear his voice breaking in pain.
Because throughout all of it I felt every emotion in Chris Brinkley's voice.

Chris Brinkley's voice telling those stories (it was with Zach and now with Thomas) felt so damn REAL!
🎧 I don't feel like I'm listening to an audiobook! It's a genuine person who speaks to me and I'm not me! It's so crazy and make sense in the same time!

Chris Brinkley, I don't know how you did it but I didn't feel anything fictional in this audiobook. It felt genuine and raw and honest and it was beautifully written and incredibly preformed!

🤩 I'm actually pretty excited that there's four more audiobooks in the series and I can't wait to listen to the third audiobook - My Story Of Us: Grayson

Profile Image for Rachel (ray.readsandlistens).
89 reviews
October 16, 2024
Gut wrenching perfection. This diary style writing from the POV gives me so hope into believing that men that love exist in the real world.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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