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Carmine
Andrea is immediately enchanted when the beautiful and aloof Carmine moves into his home in rural England. However, Andrea comes to realize his endearing new friend is harboring dark secrets. When Carmine's scandalous relationships with other boys and a series of mysterious letters from his step-father come to light, can Andrea save him from the impending storm?
After his mother falls ill, 15-year-old Carmine is sent to live with Andrea and his mother in the countryside.
Despite his growing affection for Andrea, Carmine has trouble escaping a haunted past. When his enigmatic and manipulative step-father comes to retrieve him, he is forced to make an important decision.
Content Warning: Carmine is an MM coming of age romance featuring dark topics.
This novella contains: mentions of abusive relationships with family and sexual partners, off-page statutory rape, off-page sexual assault / rape.
There is a HEA.
After his mother falls ill, 15-year-old Carmine is sent to live with Andrea and his mother in the countryside.
Despite his growing affection for Andrea, Carmine has trouble escaping a haunted past. When his enigmatic and manipulative step-father comes to retrieve him, he is forced to make an important decision.
Content Warning: Carmine is an MM coming of age romance featuring dark topics.
This novella contains: mentions of abusive relationships with family and sexual partners, off-page statutory rape, off-page sexual assault / rape.
There is a HEA.
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2022
2 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 5, 2023
Beautiful prose paired with utter heartbreak absolutely stomped on my emotions while reading this. This was an exquisite coming of age story showing the innocence of young queer love and the depravity of humankind. Andrea falling for Carmine and managing to ward off the shame the world tried to force upon him was so refreshing. Lysander Arden created a story that patched the holes left by so many classic works that felt like they had queerness hidden just past the surface.
I wish I could bottle the feelings of innocence, love, and a warm summer day that Andrea experienced before he came to understand all of the pain of Carmine's past.
Please check the content warnings if you intend to read this.
I wish I could bottle the feelings of innocence, love, and a warm summer day that Andrea experienced before he came to understand all of the pain of Carmine's past.
Please check the content warnings if you intend to read this.
June 23, 2023
Both beautiful and painful at the same time. The story this author managed to tell in just over 100 pages was amazing. I'm in awe.
Full RTC, I hope.
Full RTC, I hope.
January 2, 2023
Another beautiful story by Lysander Arden. This is the story of Andrea and Carmine, two young boys living in England as time when there love is considered unacceptable.
Andrea lives with mother is the English countryside and enjoys a quiet life. He does well in school and has a few friends. Then Carmine enters his world. The son of his mother’s friend who comes to live with them during his mother’s illness, Carmine is a force of nature like Andrea has never known. For as beautiful as Carmine is, he’s also had a tough life and keeps things hidden. As the truth starts to come out, Carmine expects Andrea to turn away from him, but he only loves him more.
This is a historical romance with issues around the time and acceptance of gay men, as well as an MC who has endured abuse, neglect and mental illness.
It’s beautifully handled and presented with sensitivity, and I found myself really empathetic for both characters.
Andrea lives with mother is the English countryside and enjoys a quiet life. He does well in school and has a few friends. Then Carmine enters his world. The son of his mother’s friend who comes to live with them during his mother’s illness, Carmine is a force of nature like Andrea has never known. For as beautiful as Carmine is, he’s also had a tough life and keeps things hidden. As the truth starts to come out, Carmine expects Andrea to turn away from him, but he only loves him more.
This is a historical romance with issues around the time and acceptance of gay men, as well as an MC who has endured abuse, neglect and mental illness.
It’s beautifully handled and presented with sensitivity, and I found myself really empathetic for both characters.
August 17, 2022
As any book by Lysander Arden, this one is very beautifully written and the story is captivating from the start. I couldn't put it down as I explored the tender slow burn between Andrea and Carmine, the latter being a fascinating and tragic character.
The book is emotionally rich and psychologically hard-hitting, which I enjoyed, even though it was a departure from the light sweetness of the author's other book Mio. There are glimpses of a time past, which was fascinating to read. Overall, it's a book that might shock you, upset you, make you swoon, and root for the love story. The whole emotional gamut.
If you like your books getting under your skin and staying with you for long after you've put them down, give this book, and this author, a read. I am truly enjoying their writing style and their ability to make me feel everything at once.
The book is emotionally rich and psychologically hard-hitting, which I enjoyed, even though it was a departure from the light sweetness of the author's other book Mio. There are glimpses of a time past, which was fascinating to read. Overall, it's a book that might shock you, upset you, make you swoon, and root for the love story. The whole emotional gamut.
If you like your books getting under your skin and staying with you for long after you've put them down, give this book, and this author, a read. I am truly enjoying their writing style and their ability to make me feel everything at once.
January 15, 2023
Unconditional young love triumphs!
This is a surprising read. I found myself adoring Carmine even in the moments where his actions and decisions were disappointing. Adrea is a lovely understanding character whose love and devotion to Carmine is free of all judgement and mature beyond his years.
While there are dark elements to this story, the authors writing style is so delicate and gracious in its handling of the topics.
Finally, I hope Ellis calls into a pit of fireants and spends eternity being slowly devoured by them.
This is a surprising read. I found myself adoring Carmine even in the moments where his actions and decisions were disappointing. Adrea is a lovely understanding character whose love and devotion to Carmine is free of all judgement and mature beyond his years.
While there are dark elements to this story, the authors writing style is so delicate and gracious in its handling of the topics.
Finally, I hope Ellis calls into a pit of fireants and spends eternity being slowly devoured by them.
September 16, 2023
This was such a beautiful and emotional story. And it even made me love the setting, although it's a time period I don't usually enjoy reading about.
December 20, 2022
Lysander is one of my favourite authors and this was the first book of his I've read. I feel in love immediately. This book has one of the prettiest proses I've ever read, and it's so tender despite the angst. A masterpiece in historical gay coming of age, perfect for fans of Maurice.
Andrea's love for Carmine is so pure, even as he struggles to understand his feelings. Also, I felt myself in Andrea's shoes during the entire book, trying to protect Carmine from everything and everyone, including himself. I know it's not realistic, but I could read an entire book about the two of them basking in the sunlight, reading poetry in the greenhouse and just being happy. They deserve it.
Check the content warnings before reading and prepare the tissues regardless.
Thank you for trusting me with an ARC, Lysander, and sorry it took so long to post this review. This book will stay with me forever.
"There, in our sanctuary, two truths had clashed—my affection for Carmine as sin and my affection for Carmine as virtue."
Andrea's love for Carmine is so pure, even as he struggles to understand his feelings. Also, I felt myself in Andrea's shoes during the entire book, trying to protect Carmine from everything and everyone, including himself. I know it's not realistic, but I could read an entire book about the two of them basking in the sunlight, reading poetry in the greenhouse and just being happy. They deserve it.
Check the content warnings before reading and prepare the tissues regardless.
Thank you for trusting me with an ARC, Lysander, and sorry it took so long to post this review. This book will stay with me forever.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews