What do you think?
Rate this book
What happens to a young man's self-image, and his sex life, when he wakes up one morning to see his good looks significantly altered for the worse? Three twenty-something gay friends—an embalmer, a movement coach, and a literary agent—find out the answer when they hit on the wrong patron of a club one night.
Todd, Fallon, and Jake, aka the Hunt Club, think they're pretty damned hot. As a result, their standards for worthwhile hook-ups are appallingly superficial. The men aren't total jerks; they just need an adjustment in perspective. And they get it, in spades, from a mysterious stranger who's sick of seeing his beautiful partner pawed by dawgs.
There’s no medical explanation for the hideous rashes that erupt on the trio overnight. Doctors can’t even detect it, much less cure it. Still, the Hunt Club’s mirrors reflect ravaged faces, and the toned, handsome guys they normally pursue now shun them.
As the vulnerability that’s always lurked beneath their vanity begins to surface, Todd, Fallon, and Jake begin to see themselves and potential partners in a new light. Little did they know that in the eyes of three ordinary, overlooked men on the sidelines of their lives, it's always been the heart that’s mattered far more than the hot.
Todd, Fallon, and Jake, aka the Hunt Club, think they're pretty damned hot. As a result, their standards for worthwhile hook-ups are appallingly superficial. The men aren't total jerks; they just need an adjustment in perspective. And they get it, in spades, from a mysterious stranger who's sick of seeing his beautiful partner pawed by dawgs.
There’s no medical explanation for the hideous rashes that erupt on the trio overnight. Doctors can’t even detect it, much less cure it. Still, the Hunt Club’s mirrors reflect ravaged faces, and the toned, handsome guys they normally pursue now shun them.
As the vulnerability that’s always lurked beneath their vanity begins to surface, Todd, Fallon, and Jake begin to see themselves and potential partners in a new light. Little did they know that in the eyes of three ordinary, overlooked men on the sidelines of their lives, it's always been the heart that’s mattered far more than the hot.
59 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2010
4 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
K.Z. Snow
57 books273 followersThis says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH7rt4...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
August 29, 2010
WOW! Fugly by K.Z. Snow is AMAZING and took me by complete surprise! It’s hard to believe the book falls just under sixty pages, because it really packs an emotional punch. I thought the plot was creative and very thought provoking. It’s a story that stayed with me hours after I finished it.
The story is a combination first and third person. At the beginning of the story it’s told by David’s point of view, and then it changes to third person so we can follow the lives and strange happenings of David’s friends. You would think that this would be confusing, or would take away from the story, but it does not.
David and his three friends Fallon, Todd and Jake call themselves The Hunt Club. Now even though David is part of this group, he’s not as shallow as the other men, nor is he as judgmental or promiscuous as his three friends. He’s definitely appalled by some of his friends’ shallow behavior, but he hangs out with the three mainly because of an unrequited love he has for one of them.
All of the men in the Hunt Club are very successful, sexy, handsome gay men. One of the favorite things the men like to do is to talk about other peoples imperfections. They are sarcastic and say hurtful things about other gay men who they don’t feel measure up to their scale of attractiveness or standards of living. One night David and the three men are at their favorite night club, and as many times before, the three men are falling into the same pattern of snide comments and put downs of other patrons there.
When the men spot the most gorgeous man they’ve ever seen walk into the club, the three shallow men make their way over to him at the bar, and all three men make failed passes at the sexy man. David is embarrassed by their behavior and is more interested in watching another equally quiet and sexy man watch these friends make total fools of themselves over the gorgeous man.
David strikes up a conversation with the sexy man and he tells David that he had heard all of the hurtful and terrible things his three friends had said about others before the gorgeous man walked in. He then tells David that the gorgeous man his friends are making a pass at is his husband, and he thinks the men need to learn a lesson from their inappropriate behaviors.
Then the fun really begins.
That’s when the story switches off of the first person narrative. It’s a month later and we then follow the story of the three men Fallon, Todd and Jake. They now have an unusual skin condition on their faces. It looks to be in between a burn and a rash. The strange thing about their skin condition is not only do they see it, but the handsome men they usually go for it can see it as well, so they are now treated as badly as they treated others. But, to most other people, they either don’t see it at all or it’s very faint.
All three men must learn to look and within themselves and find their self worth. Since they are no longer considered beautiful, their perception of outer beauty changes and they start noticing the beauty that’s within other people.
I loved this book! I think we’ve all known shallow and superficial people who often say and do hurtful things to others. It was very interesting to read what would happen if everything they took for granted changed, and they saw things with a fresh set of eyes. It reminded me of what my mother used to tell me. As a child, she’d tell me a story and always at the end she’d say, “Now what is the moral to the story?” and it would make me think about what lesson I’d learned from the story she’d told. Just like my old bedtime stories, Fugly definitely has a ‘moral’ or lesson learned from the story, that I think everyone will appreciate.
I can’t recommend this book high enough. For those who has never read a gay romance before, but has been thinking of trying it out, this would be an awesome book to try it out. Even though there is drama and some angst, there are some light and funny moments in the book as well.
I can’t believe that this is the first book I’ve read that’s been written by K.Z. Snow! Believe me when I say, I’m about to change that as soon as I finish writing my review. I really enjoyed Ms. Snow’s style of writing. Its easy style and witty undertone made it flow smoothly throughout the book. I’m definitely looking forward to reading other works written by her!
I wasn’t able to find a website for Ms. Snow, but I did find her blog which looked to be very interesting. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://kzsnow.blogspot.com/
The story is a combination first and third person. At the beginning of the story it’s told by David’s point of view, and then it changes to third person so we can follow the lives and strange happenings of David’s friends. You would think that this would be confusing, or would take away from the story, but it does not.
David and his three friends Fallon, Todd and Jake call themselves The Hunt Club. Now even though David is part of this group, he’s not as shallow as the other men, nor is he as judgmental or promiscuous as his three friends. He’s definitely appalled by some of his friends’ shallow behavior, but he hangs out with the three mainly because of an unrequited love he has for one of them.
All of the men in the Hunt Club are very successful, sexy, handsome gay men. One of the favorite things the men like to do is to talk about other peoples imperfections. They are sarcastic and say hurtful things about other gay men who they don’t feel measure up to their scale of attractiveness or standards of living. One night David and the three men are at their favorite night club, and as many times before, the three men are falling into the same pattern of snide comments and put downs of other patrons there.
When the men spot the most gorgeous man they’ve ever seen walk into the club, the three shallow men make their way over to him at the bar, and all three men make failed passes at the sexy man. David is embarrassed by their behavior and is more interested in watching another equally quiet and sexy man watch these friends make total fools of themselves over the gorgeous man.
David strikes up a conversation with the sexy man and he tells David that he had heard all of the hurtful and terrible things his three friends had said about others before the gorgeous man walked in. He then tells David that the gorgeous man his friends are making a pass at is his husband, and he thinks the men need to learn a lesson from their inappropriate behaviors.
Then the fun really begins.
That’s when the story switches off of the first person narrative. It’s a month later and we then follow the story of the three men Fallon, Todd and Jake. They now have an unusual skin condition on their faces. It looks to be in between a burn and a rash. The strange thing about their skin condition is not only do they see it, but the handsome men they usually go for it can see it as well, so they are now treated as badly as they treated others. But, to most other people, they either don’t see it at all or it’s very faint.
All three men must learn to look and within themselves and find their self worth. Since they are no longer considered beautiful, their perception of outer beauty changes and they start noticing the beauty that’s within other people.
I loved this book! I think we’ve all known shallow and superficial people who often say and do hurtful things to others. It was very interesting to read what would happen if everything they took for granted changed, and they saw things with a fresh set of eyes. It reminded me of what my mother used to tell me. As a child, she’d tell me a story and always at the end she’d say, “Now what is the moral to the story?” and it would make me think about what lesson I’d learned from the story she’d told. Just like my old bedtime stories, Fugly definitely has a ‘moral’ or lesson learned from the story, that I think everyone will appreciate.
I can’t recommend this book high enough. For those who has never read a gay romance before, but has been thinking of trying it out, this would be an awesome book to try it out. Even though there is drama and some angst, there are some light and funny moments in the book as well.
I can’t believe that this is the first book I’ve read that’s been written by K.Z. Snow! Believe me when I say, I’m about to change that as soon as I finish writing my review. I really enjoyed Ms. Snow’s style of writing. Its easy style and witty undertone made it flow smoothly throughout the book. I’m definitely looking forward to reading other works written by her!
I wasn’t able to find a website for Ms. Snow, but I did find her blog which looked to be very interesting. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://kzsnow.blogspot.com/
September 7, 2010
I was clueless to how much I would adore this book. Holy f*cking sh*t! I loved this book and the message it gave. I think everyone should be able to identify with some of the characters and how it feels when we are made to feel insignificant sometimes. Loved it, loved it!
November 27, 2010
David Ocho is a journalist who’s a member of a circle of four friends. Todd, Fallon, and Jake refer to themselves as “The Hunt Club”. They are a hot-looking threesome who go clubbing together, and David is more-or-less their sidekick. Each of them is professionally successful in his own right. Todd’s a mortician, Jake’s a publicist, and Fallon is a movement coach. As is often the case with attractive, young gay men, they are very focused upon the superficial matters of life. They’re proud of their good looks, their status, and their material possessions.
One evening at the local gay club, the Hunt Club sits around a table assessing the crowd. They casually make snide comments about some of the less-than-desirable clientele that surround them. Ridicule and scorn sarcastically flow from their mouths as they berate and degrade those present who do not meet up to their high standards of physical perfection. David is with the group that evening, and he’s embarrassed by their shallowness and their cruelty. When the threesome spots an attractive newbie and swarms him in a contest to see which of the three will score first, David backs off, embarrassed.
This is when Jackson Spey makes his appearance. To David he appears sedate, and David’s drawn to him. As he approaches this handsome stranger at the bar, Jackson begins to chat with him, acknowledging that he’d overheard part of the conversation with David’s three friends. He was unimpressed, and makes no bones about the fact that he finds their behavior reprehensible. David apologizes, but suddenly realizes his apologies are meaningless—too little, too late. The hot looking guy that The Hunt Club has encroached upon proves to be Jackson’s husband, and when Jackson notices one of them groping his man’s ass, Jackson’s pissed.
The events that follow over the course of the next few weeks are very puzzling to the three attractive Hunt Club members. Astonishingly they each develop a horrific skin condition on their faces. The odd thing about the condition, though, is that only they can see it. When they go to the doctor, it is undetectable. Medical professionals consider them delusional and refer them to psychiatric counseling. They begin to feel demoralized and start to lose their confidence. To their horror, they each discover that when they notice another guy and try to hit on him, this skin condition also becomes noticeable to the object of their desire. Their prospective dates quickly shrink away from them in horror, appalled by the bright-red, scaly dermatitis.
It is during this period of time, while this threesome struggles with the reality that they are being judged solely upon their looks, that they start to look inward. They begin to examine their own perceptions of beauty. They start to understand that true love is not vain and shallow, and physical beauty really is only skin deep.
As I began to read this short, fifty-nine page story, the very first thing I noticed was the amazingly intelligent vocabulary. In fact, initially I was a bit taken aback because I had to stop and look up a few of the author’s adjectives in a dictionary. Normally I would find this rather annoying and pretentious on the part of the author, but the narrative was so incredibly well-written, that it didn’t seem pretentious or inappropriately phrased in the least. In fact, the prose was so eloquent, that the writing itself nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Not only was the writing superb, but the plot was presented very succinctly, and it was edited very tightly. Two of the seven chapters were presented in the first-person narrative from a secondary character's point of view, in the voice of David. I was so impressed by the uniqueness of this presentation, that I actually went back and re-read the entire story when I was finished. It was an absolutely masterful technique which offered a perspective which would not have been possible had it been written solely in third person.
When a story contains multiple central characters such as this one, it often becomes confusing. There is too much to remember, and I find myself trying to mentally categorize the details of each character, usually at least somewhat unsuccessfully. Such was not the case with this brilliant page-turner. I fell in love with every one of the guys, and I got to know each of their hearts in such a meaningful way that they seemed to jump out of the pages and become utterly real to me.
My favorite scene in the story is when Todd sits down on the floor with his friend Gabrielle at the funeral parlor. Todd is the mortician, and Gabe is his friend who works as a cosmetician, preparing cadavers for their final showings. Gabe is bereft with grief upon discovering that a former lover is dead, and Todd embraces him. They listen to a rendition of Linda Ronstadt’s Skylark on Gabe’s i-pod as they cling to one another. This scene was so devastatingly beautiful that it nearly tore my heart from my chest!
Honestly, this book is one of the absolute best stories I have ever encountered in my lifetime. If I were wealthy I’d buy up several thousand copies and pass them out at gay nightclubs throughout the country. The message is so vital, and although it is not a theme that has not previously been touched upon in literature, I’ve never before seen it delivered so magnificently—in such a moving and beautiful way!
I guess one could say that the story is a combination of Dorian Grey and Sleeping Beauty. It is fantastic and magickal. It is written beautifully and edited flawlessly. It is a book I’m sure to read several dozen times in my lifetime, and one I will encourage anyone and everyone I know to do the same.
I do not know K.Z. Snow from Adam, but if all of her writing is this powerful, henceforth I’m going to be her biggest fan.
One evening at the local gay club, the Hunt Club sits around a table assessing the crowd. They casually make snide comments about some of the less-than-desirable clientele that surround them. Ridicule and scorn sarcastically flow from their mouths as they berate and degrade those present who do not meet up to their high standards of physical perfection. David is with the group that evening, and he’s embarrassed by their shallowness and their cruelty. When the threesome spots an attractive newbie and swarms him in a contest to see which of the three will score first, David backs off, embarrassed.
This is when Jackson Spey makes his appearance. To David he appears sedate, and David’s drawn to him. As he approaches this handsome stranger at the bar, Jackson begins to chat with him, acknowledging that he’d overheard part of the conversation with David’s three friends. He was unimpressed, and makes no bones about the fact that he finds their behavior reprehensible. David apologizes, but suddenly realizes his apologies are meaningless—too little, too late. The hot looking guy that The Hunt Club has encroached upon proves to be Jackson’s husband, and when Jackson notices one of them groping his man’s ass, Jackson’s pissed.
The events that follow over the course of the next few weeks are very puzzling to the three attractive Hunt Club members. Astonishingly they each develop a horrific skin condition on their faces. The odd thing about the condition, though, is that only they can see it. When they go to the doctor, it is undetectable. Medical professionals consider them delusional and refer them to psychiatric counseling. They begin to feel demoralized and start to lose their confidence. To their horror, they each discover that when they notice another guy and try to hit on him, this skin condition also becomes noticeable to the object of their desire. Their prospective dates quickly shrink away from them in horror, appalled by the bright-red, scaly dermatitis.
It is during this period of time, while this threesome struggles with the reality that they are being judged solely upon their looks, that they start to look inward. They begin to examine their own perceptions of beauty. They start to understand that true love is not vain and shallow, and physical beauty really is only skin deep.
As I began to read this short, fifty-nine page story, the very first thing I noticed was the amazingly intelligent vocabulary. In fact, initially I was a bit taken aback because I had to stop and look up a few of the author’s adjectives in a dictionary. Normally I would find this rather annoying and pretentious on the part of the author, but the narrative was so incredibly well-written, that it didn’t seem pretentious or inappropriately phrased in the least. In fact, the prose was so eloquent, that the writing itself nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Not only was the writing superb, but the plot was presented very succinctly, and it was edited very tightly. Two of the seven chapters were presented in the first-person narrative from a secondary character's point of view, in the voice of David. I was so impressed by the uniqueness of this presentation, that I actually went back and re-read the entire story when I was finished. It was an absolutely masterful technique which offered a perspective which would not have been possible had it been written solely in third person.
When a story contains multiple central characters such as this one, it often becomes confusing. There is too much to remember, and I find myself trying to mentally categorize the details of each character, usually at least somewhat unsuccessfully. Such was not the case with this brilliant page-turner. I fell in love with every one of the guys, and I got to know each of their hearts in such a meaningful way that they seemed to jump out of the pages and become utterly real to me.
My favorite scene in the story is when Todd sits down on the floor with his friend Gabrielle at the funeral parlor. Todd is the mortician, and Gabe is his friend who works as a cosmetician, preparing cadavers for their final showings. Gabe is bereft with grief upon discovering that a former lover is dead, and Todd embraces him. They listen to a rendition of Linda Ronstadt’s Skylark on Gabe’s i-pod as they cling to one another. This scene was so devastatingly beautiful that it nearly tore my heart from my chest!
Honestly, this book is one of the absolute best stories I have ever encountered in my lifetime. If I were wealthy I’d buy up several thousand copies and pass them out at gay nightclubs throughout the country. The message is so vital, and although it is not a theme that has not previously been touched upon in literature, I’ve never before seen it delivered so magnificently—in such a moving and beautiful way!
I guess one could say that the story is a combination of Dorian Grey and Sleeping Beauty. It is fantastic and magickal. It is written beautifully and edited flawlessly. It is a book I’m sure to read several dozen times in my lifetime, and one I will encourage anyone and everyone I know to do the same.
I do not know K.Z. Snow from Adam, but if all of her writing is this powerful, henceforth I’m going to be her biggest fan.
September 1, 2010
OMG! Fugly was awesome! I didn't think I would like the different narratives, but I did. I swear I KNOW people who are exactly as superficial as the gang. Loved watching them change from total assholes, to decent and worthy men.
February 9, 2022
Fugly
By K.Z. Snow
When 3 friends that make up The Hunt Club are out clubbing their usual obnoxious and entitled behavior ticks off the wrong person... the husband of a man all three hit on.
He decides it's time to teach all three a lesson and gives them a skin condition that repels any man they are interested in.
The storyline wasn't that unique, but wow was it awesomely written. I loved it! The book follows the awakening of all three characters into discovering what they've been missing all along.
By K.Z. Snow
When 3 friends that make up The Hunt Club are out clubbing their usual obnoxious and entitled behavior ticks off the wrong person... the husband of a man all three hit on.
He decides it's time to teach all three a lesson and gives them a skin condition that repels any man they are interested in.
The storyline wasn't that unique, but wow was it awesomely written. I loved it! The book follows the awakening of all three characters into discovering what they've been missing all along.
February 18, 2011
A good old-fashioned romantic fable that is shorter than I might wish, but perfectly written for all that. Structure, pace, and pathos aplenty.
You can almost see Snow's flashing, floating pleasure in the high-concept germ of this story: a curse that opens up three shallow bar-hounds to the possibility of real, human connection. And SNow is unwilling to just crank out a formulaic M/M. Along the way, she gives us little snippets of tantalizing character detail, peeks into odd jobs and odder people (a mortician? a movement coach? fascinating!), alongside snappy, winning dialogue that IS clever, without ever straining for cleverness.
Snow is also not content to grind out the tried-n-true. Hers are not world populated with paint-by-numbers lawyers and cowboys. She researches her characters and assembles a thoughtful world around them that forces intersting situations to develop. Still, as much as she loves digging for interesting specifics, she is so adept at situating them that without realizing it, you fcome to feel that these oddities are both familiar and family.
WHat's interesting to me is that in this little novella there is enough story for a series. The trials and terrors of Fallon, Jake, and Todd could have extended into three or four interconnected novels, spinning the fable out to mythic dimensions, but she opts for precision and focus with wonderful results.
That's because K.Z. Snow is an honest-to-god writer. As in, she happens to be writing homoerotic romance, but I'd imagine she could write pretty much anything she had a mind to. We've all read stories ground out by apparent gay-romance robots, but Snow creates rich characters and articulates their journeys though tangible worlds meaningfully and convincingly. Her love of detail, her eye for irony, and her buizarre sense of humor and eroticism glimmer beneath all her work.
The moral of this story is: if you haven't read FUGLY you should. I loved this little book and you will as well.
You can almost see Snow's flashing, floating pleasure in the high-concept germ of this story: a curse that opens up three shallow bar-hounds to the possibility of real, human connection. And SNow is unwilling to just crank out a formulaic M/M. Along the way, she gives us little snippets of tantalizing character detail, peeks into odd jobs and odder people (a mortician? a movement coach? fascinating!), alongside snappy, winning dialogue that IS clever, without ever straining for cleverness.
Snow is also not content to grind out the tried-n-true. Hers are not world populated with paint-by-numbers lawyers and cowboys. She researches her characters and assembles a thoughtful world around them that forces intersting situations to develop. Still, as much as she loves digging for interesting specifics, she is so adept at situating them that without realizing it, you fcome to feel that these oddities are both familiar and family.
WHat's interesting to me is that in this little novella there is enough story for a series. The trials and terrors of Fallon, Jake, and Todd could have extended into three or four interconnected novels, spinning the fable out to mythic dimensions, but she opts for precision and focus with wonderful results.
That's because K.Z. Snow is an honest-to-god writer. As in, she happens to be writing homoerotic romance, but I'd imagine she could write pretty much anything she had a mind to. We've all read stories ground out by apparent gay-romance robots, but Snow creates rich characters and articulates their journeys though tangible worlds meaningfully and convincingly. Her love of detail, her eye for irony, and her buizarre sense of humor and eroticism glimmer beneath all her work.
The moral of this story is: if you haven't read FUGLY you should. I loved this little book and you will as well.
December 1, 2010
Why I bought it: Author + cover + blurb = Sold!
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ I've said a number of times I'm not the greatest fan of first person POV so when I started reading Fugly my initial response was 'bugger'. Happily, for me at least, this POV was limited to the prologue and epilogue. Even better, despite my gut reaction I was glad for David's (the first personee's) insight into friends' behaviour as well as the opportunity to revisit, albeit briefly, two of my favourite K Z Snow characters - Jackson Spey and Adin Swift - through his eyes.
Like~ Call me superficial, but if that's not the best m/m romance cover of 2010 than I don't know what is. I adore it. Original, evocative artwork by Christine Griffin which is a perfect match for K Z's story. The cover gods have been very kind to K Z this year.
Dislike~ More of a warning~ For those of you who may have dismissed Fugly as 'just' a retelling of The Ugly Duckling fairy tale you couldn't be more wrong. To me, this was a story about redemption with the author taking the dark theme of superficiality and exploring what could happen to a young gay man if he suddenly lost the very thing he believed defined him as a person.
Like~ With this kind of theme, the story could have easily come undone by being overly preachy. Instead, the reader is treated to K Z's trademark deft touch and by the telling of the three completely different stories within the short format of a novella. Terrific stuff!
So, what I think: If you're a fan of this author or looking for a recommendation for a book by her, you can't go past Fugly. I highly recommend it. :)
==================================================
‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to.Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ I've said a number of times I'm not the greatest fan of first person POV so when I started reading Fugly my initial response was 'bugger'. Happily, for me at least, this POV was limited to the prologue and epilogue. Even better, despite my gut reaction I was glad for David's (the first personee's) insight into friends' behaviour as well as the opportunity to revisit, albeit briefly, two of my favourite K Z Snow characters - Jackson Spey and Adin Swift - through his eyes.
Like~ Call me superficial, but if that's not the best m/m romance cover of 2010 than I don't know what is. I adore it. Original, evocative artwork by Christine Griffin which is a perfect match for K Z's story. The cover gods have been very kind to K Z this year.
Dislike~ More of a warning~ For those of you who may have dismissed Fugly as 'just' a retelling of The Ugly Duckling fairy tale you couldn't be more wrong. To me, this was a story about redemption with the author taking the dark theme of superficiality and exploring what could happen to a young gay man if he suddenly lost the very thing he believed defined him as a person.
Like~ With this kind of theme, the story could have easily come undone by being overly preachy. Instead, the reader is treated to K Z's trademark deft touch and by the telling of the three completely different stories within the short format of a novella. Terrific stuff!
So, what I think: If you're a fan of this author or looking for a recommendation for a book by her, you can't go past Fugly. I highly recommend it. :)
==================================================
‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to.Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
January 28, 2011
I liked this novella a lot but felt it was far too short to successfully tackle three budding and complicated romances. Just when things were getting good the book came to an end. I'd read this again if it were ever expanded 100 pages or so.
I wrote up a review for JERR which you can find HERE . You may have to click the "enter here" button and hit my link again. Sorry, a pain the butt I know, but I can't repost it here.
I wrote up a review for JERR which you can find HERE . You may have to click the "enter here" button and hit my link again. Sorry, a pain the butt I know, but I can't repost it here.
May 23, 2011
The writing was good
IMO it felt like we got 3 unfinished stories instead of 1 complete story. Also I never warmed up to Jake and probably could have enjoyed it more without so much Jake. I didn't really like any of the guys but Jake was least favorite. If more time had been spent with the other guys I probably could have started to like them more
IMO it felt like we got 3 unfinished stories instead of 1 complete story. Also I never warmed up to Jake and probably could have enjoyed it more without so much Jake. I didn't really like any of the guys but Jake was least favorite. If more time had been spent with the other guys I probably could have started to like them more
September 11, 2010
This story begins innocently enough, with four friends (Jake, David, Fallon, and Todd) hanging out in a bar together, but in the course of a few pages, Fallon, Jake and Todd become akin to immature children, commenting on others’ physical short-comings. When a gorgeous man walks in, the three men follow him to the bar and proceed to fall all over him. David, who is left alone at table and who happens to be the only unsuperficial one of the bunch, finds himself drawn to another man, who is intently watching the display his friend are putting on. Turns out Mr.Gorgeous at the bar is the man’s partner and he isn’t all that impressed with Jake, Fallon and Todd and wants to teach the unsuspecting men a lesson. That lesson comes a month later, in the form of a hideous rash that develops on half of their faces. Funny thing is, the rash can only be seen by each other and those that they find attractive. Prior to their man-with-half-a-face syndrome, the three had no problem getting laid and picking up whomever they wanted. Now though, the more they want someone, the uglier they become to that person. Thus, they will either be lonely, ugly old men or they’ll find a way past their own shallowness and see the men that each of them already have in their own lives that want them for who they are, as the blessing they happen to be.
I would have rated this story a four, because while I did think it was really good, I wasn’t amazed by it. However, it’s much like a fable and the moral of this story is worth much more than a 5 star review. People for the most part cannot choose the way they look, we were all born with certain physical features and unless you’re willing to fork over a ton of money for plastic surgery, those features will stick with you throughout your life. We all age, we all wrinkle, we are all unattractive to someone. The balding woman down the lane with leprosy may just be the most amazing woman you’ve ever met and the pockmarked middle-aged, overweight man you see at the grocery story could be a loving, saint of a person. It’s like that Andy Warhol quote, “people should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes. Don’t look and it’s magic.” I absolutely love that K.Z. Snow found a way to depict this lesson in a fun, very enjoyable story. Way to go, K.Z.!
I would have rated this story a four, because while I did think it was really good, I wasn’t amazed by it. However, it’s much like a fable and the moral of this story is worth much more than a 5 star review. People for the most part cannot choose the way they look, we were all born with certain physical features and unless you’re willing to fork over a ton of money for plastic surgery, those features will stick with you throughout your life. We all age, we all wrinkle, we are all unattractive to someone. The balding woman down the lane with leprosy may just be the most amazing woman you’ve ever met and the pockmarked middle-aged, overweight man you see at the grocery story could be a loving, saint of a person. It’s like that Andy Warhol quote, “people should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes. Don’t look and it’s magic.” I absolutely love that K.Z. Snow found a way to depict this lesson in a fun, very enjoyable story. Way to go, K.Z.!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2011
After reading this story two morals come to mind: beauty is only skin deep and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It was a cute modern day fable about three gay guys who were only concerned with looking good and how hot the men they pursued looked. Their shallowness and inappropriate pawing of the wrong man prompts a wizard to "through a little mojo around" and drastically alter all three mens appearances. This is why I gave this story 4 stars. It was a unique twist on the old fable and for the most part was well written and an enjoyable easy read.
However, it did not get 5 stars for the following reasons: 1. the story was too short; 2. some of the characters were not fully developed, which left holes in the plot and 3. Below are examples of what was unclear and didn't make a great deal of sense to me. It might be considered spoliers so beware. Overall, I did enjoy the book and the reminder to look beyond one's physical beauty.
*Spoilers* What I didn't understand: 1. the reason for the wizard casting the spell in the first place. It really wasn't clear who the mysterious man was, or why he felt so inclined to cast a spell on the MC's if he wasn't really bothered by them trying to seduce his husband. 2. It also wasn't clear how the voices in the key chain got there and why the wizard sent David to another man (wizard in training, I think ) for answers.
However, it did not get 5 stars for the following reasons: 1. the story was too short; 2. some of the characters were not fully developed, which left holes in the plot and 3. Below are examples of what was unclear and didn't make a great deal of sense to me. It might be considered spoliers so beware. Overall, I did enjoy the book and the reminder to look beyond one's physical beauty.
*Spoilers* What I didn't understand: 1. the reason for the wizard casting the spell in the first place. It really wasn't clear who the mysterious man was, or why he felt so inclined to cast a spell on the MC's if he wasn't really bothered by them trying to seduce his husband. 2. It also wasn't clear how the voices in the key chain got there and why the wizard sent David to another man (wizard in training, I think ) for answers.
August 10, 2010
This is a novella that I think every person should read whether they read m/m romance or not - it was so wonderful I can’t tell you how much I loved it.
The story involved characters Adin Swift and Jackson Spey (from Snow's Adin Swift/Jackson Spey story arc) but they were in it just a bit. It told the story of 4 gay friends – 3 of whom are always on the hunt for the most beautiful men to sleep with. They’re condescending to those they don’t feel are pretty enough or up to par and never ever look beneath the surface – in their prey or in themselves. Jackson decides to show them that there’s more to people than their looks and puts a spell on them so that they have facial lesions - only not everyone can see them. They themselves can and the people they are attracted to can see them and now the 3 men are the ones getting spurned for not being the perfect specimens of manhood. Watching the three men come to terms with who and what they really are inside and finally seeing other people for who they are and not what they look like was incredible. I laughed, I cried. Just. So. Good!
The story involved characters Adin Swift and Jackson Spey (from Snow's Adin Swift/Jackson Spey story arc) but they were in it just a bit. It told the story of 4 gay friends – 3 of whom are always on the hunt for the most beautiful men to sleep with. They’re condescending to those they don’t feel are pretty enough or up to par and never ever look beneath the surface – in their prey or in themselves. Jackson decides to show them that there’s more to people than their looks and puts a spell on them so that they have facial lesions - only not everyone can see them. They themselves can and the people they are attracted to can see them and now the 3 men are the ones getting spurned for not being the perfect specimens of manhood. Watching the three men come to terms with who and what they really are inside and finally seeing other people for who they are and not what they look like was incredible. I laughed, I cried. Just. So. Good!
June 2, 2011
Unusual story which uses magick to illustrate the old saw that beauty goes much deeper than the skin. KZ Snow is an amazing writer.
January 20, 2014
I was, in the first few pages of this book, quite prepared not to like it. Oh, great, I said to myself with wrinkled nose, the boys are going to learn their lesson that beauty isn't all on the outside. How predictable.
For my rash jumping to conclusion-ness, I owe K.Z. a sincere apology. On the surface, yes, that's the lesson our three young snark-meisters have to learn, but we aren't left to wallow on the surface. Oh, no. K.Z. creates three complex, damaged characters, whose motives and emotional matrices are far more complex than their shallow actions would have one believe. The spell Jackson throws with rather casual arrogance (I'll admit, he knew what he was doing, but, yes, arrogance) forces Fallon, Jake and Todd to confront their inner demons, to face the why behind the wide moats they've dug between themselves and others. We come to care for these supposedly shallow cruisers, each with his own poignant fears and self-doubts.
I loved the unconventional structure, as well, starting with our "author" in first person, the man ultimately telling the story, and proceeding to our three afflicted heroes in third person until we return, in the end, to David. It had a personal, intimate feel to it, as if David was letting us into a secret piece of his life.
Perhaps the only thing that keeps this story from perfection for me was a bit of a rushed feeling from time to time. I would have liked to have spent a little more time with each heroes own story. It seemed, twice, that we reached a crucial moment...and then were given only summation. In part, of course, this is testament to K. Z.'s lovely writing and wonderful characterization. If I hadn't become so caught up, I certainly wouldn't have wanted more.
I did manage not to cry. Just. Thank you, K. Z., it was a wonderful journey.
For my rash jumping to conclusion-ness, I owe K.Z. a sincere apology. On the surface, yes, that's the lesson our three young snark-meisters have to learn, but we aren't left to wallow on the surface. Oh, no. K.Z. creates three complex, damaged characters, whose motives and emotional matrices are far more complex than their shallow actions would have one believe. The spell Jackson throws with rather casual arrogance (I'll admit, he knew what he was doing, but, yes, arrogance) forces Fallon, Jake and Todd to confront their inner demons, to face the why behind the wide moats they've dug between themselves and others. We come to care for these supposedly shallow cruisers, each with his own poignant fears and self-doubts.
I loved the unconventional structure, as well, starting with our "author" in first person, the man ultimately telling the story, and proceeding to our three afflicted heroes in third person until we return, in the end, to David. It had a personal, intimate feel to it, as if David was letting us into a secret piece of his life.
Perhaps the only thing that keeps this story from perfection for me was a bit of a rushed feeling from time to time. I would have liked to have spent a little more time with each heroes own story. It seemed, twice, that we reached a crucial moment...and then were given only summation. In part, of course, this is testament to K. Z.'s lovely writing and wonderful characterization. If I hadn't become so caught up, I certainly wouldn't have wanted more.
I did manage not to cry. Just. Thank you, K. Z., it was a wonderful journey.
April 23, 2012
I don't know why I postponed reading this book so much, I think I was afraid it would be too angsty, but it wasn't. Many complained about the length of the book, saying that it's too short, but I appreciated the way it focused on the pivotal moments of the lives of the characters.
When we meet the three skin cursed friends - and the witness - after the fateful encounter with a wizard, some time has passed. We see how the rash has affected the lives of the shallow Fallon, Todd and Jake. Since they are shallow, but they are not stupid, it doesn't take long for them to realize how empty their ways were.
Fallon, who is a movement coach, begins to appreciate a taxi driver who wants to learn to be a drag queen. Todd, who works at a funeral home, finally begins to see how nice Gabriel, a make-up artist for the dead, is. Jake, an ambitious literary agent, begins to acknowledge his feelings for the writer David, who is the fourth protagonist of the story and our insider.
The moral of the story is clear, and it reads indeed as a fairy tale, but it has a few moments that I found really moving - to the point I got misty-eyed (for example when Fallon wipes away the make-up from Tyler).
The wizard and his lover in the story are recurring characters from another series, that I should bump up my to-be-read pile. I really really like K.Z. Snow's writing style.
When we meet the three skin cursed friends - and the witness - after the fateful encounter with a wizard, some time has passed. We see how the rash has affected the lives of the shallow Fallon, Todd and Jake. Since they are shallow, but they are not stupid, it doesn't take long for them to realize how empty their ways were.
Fallon, who is a movement coach, begins to appreciate a taxi driver who wants to learn to be a drag queen. Todd, who works at a funeral home, finally begins to see how nice Gabriel, a make-up artist for the dead, is. Jake, an ambitious literary agent, begins to acknowledge his feelings for the writer David, who is the fourth protagonist of the story and our insider.
The moral of the story is clear, and it reads indeed as a fairy tale, but it has a few moments that I found really moving - to the point I got misty-eyed (for example when Fallon wipes away the make-up from Tyler).
The wizard and his lover in the story are recurring characters from another series, that I should bump up my to-be-read pile. I really really like K.Z. Snow's writing style.
September 25, 2010
I loved this book! I think this book should be passed out to middle school student everywhere. This story is one I will carry with me for the rest of my life. In high school, everyone writes, "I hope you never change" I personally think that is the meanest thing you could ever say to someone. Change, whether we see it in ourselves or if others see it in us needs to occur to grow as a person of worth. The names in this story could easily be replaced with people in our own lives. I truely hope everyone gets a chance to read this book.
August 14, 2012
Generally I like all of K.Z Snow's books which are always original and thought provoking but this has to be the jewel in the crown. A bit like Shallow Hal in reverse. What would happen if people who you found physically attractive without exception found you unattractive? How would you win them over? Would you be more or less likely to find the love of your life? That is the premise of this story and it is a really goodread!
August 20, 2010
enjoyable, but superficial (odd that that was the word that came to mind for a story that's about superficial vs depth) ... I like the theme (loving the inner person -- who wouldn't like that idea?), but it never made me feel deeply involved
January 14, 2012
I think if I'd read the other books in the series OR skipped the prologue I might have lasted longer with this book, but the characters seemed really blah. Their 'interesting jobs' did not translate into interesting personalities for me.
March 10, 2013
3.5 STARS --A great message wrapped in a fairy tale inspired short story about the downfall of three shallow men. It was cute, not what I expected (my fault for not fully reading the blurb). There were a lot of vocabulary words thrown in and a touch of a magical curse.
October 4, 2016
Short-ish and rather sweet. There was a bit too much fairy-tale simplicity, a bit too little substance or development to go with the overall message for my liking, but this book caught me at a good time, and I ended up liking it.
October 31, 2015
3.5 stars
August 12, 2010
Three friends: Fallon, Jake, and Tyler, are three handsome men who like pick up other men who are gorgeous to their standard. Until one night, where they hit the 'wrong guy' (who turned out to be the husband of a very powerful wizard). As a result, the three guys suffer from skin disease in their face, that will only be apparent to the people they are attracted to. The stronger their attraction, the worse it looks. But the three friends realize that there are people who will see beyond the superficial look and love them for who they are.
Oh, my, this is beautiful -- albeit short. There is a mix of humor and drama. Plus the scenes where Fallon, Jake, and Todd finally realize their mistake, and pour out their heart to the 'one that matters' are so sweet and romantic. Fallon with his client, who is a drag queen. Todd with a younger fellow worker who works in a morgue. Jake with an author. The story switches from 1st POV (David Ocho, who is the author Jake ends up with) to 3rd person POV when telling about the three men's experience. There are sweetness and yearning *sigh*. I can't even pick up which couple becomes my favorite since all of the stories are written wonderfully.
My only bit problem is that I don't know enough about Jackson Spey and Adin Swift (they're from Ms. Snow's story that I don't read) and the fact that they appear as cameo is rather 'bothersome' for one who doesn't know them very well. Also, the men seem to learn their mistake rather quickly. Still, this novella is one great read!
Oh, my, this is beautiful -- albeit short. There is a mix of humor and drama. Plus the scenes where Fallon, Jake, and Todd finally realize their mistake, and pour out their heart to the 'one that matters' are so sweet and romantic. Fallon with his client, who is a drag queen. Todd with a younger fellow worker who works in a morgue. Jake with an author. The story switches from 1st POV (David Ocho, who is the author Jake ends up with) to 3rd person POV when telling about the three men's experience. There are sweetness and yearning *sigh*. I can't even pick up which couple becomes my favorite since all of the stories are written wonderfully.
My only bit problem is that I don't know enough about Jackson Spey and Adin Swift (they're from Ms. Snow's story that I don't read) and the fact that they appear as cameo is rather 'bothersome' for one who doesn't know them very well. Also, the men seem to learn their mistake rather quickly. Still, this novella is one great read!
August 11, 2010
I knew when I read the blurb that I would enjoy Fugly - and I did enjoy it very much. A reader can guess from the blurb what will happen in the story and it pretty much unfolds the way one would expect, but that's not a bad thing in the slightest. We know how it should turn out - this is a fairytale through and through - but the journey to get there is very enjoyable.
The only reason this doesn't get a 5th star from me is that it just felt too short for perfect enjoyment. The guys learn a valuable lesson, but they learn it a bit too quickly for my taste. Perhaps their circumstances do lend to fast enlightenment - they aren't terrible to start with and their lesson is swiftly dealt and brutal - but for this sort of story I would have preferred a bit more up and down in their journey toward being better men.
That's not a reason to pass this story up - in all other respects it was emminently satisfying. These are seemingly shallow and cruel men, but we are given enough backstory to understand why and cheer for them as they wise up. Each of them were interesting, though Fallon and Todd's stories were my favourite.
A sweet fairytale - worth the purchase!
The only reason this doesn't get a 5th star from me is that it just felt too short for perfect enjoyment. The guys learn a valuable lesson, but they learn it a bit too quickly for my taste. Perhaps their circumstances do lend to fast enlightenment - they aren't terrible to start with and their lesson is swiftly dealt and brutal - but for this sort of story I would have preferred a bit more up and down in their journey toward being better men.
That's not a reason to pass this story up - in all other respects it was emminently satisfying. These are seemingly shallow and cruel men, but we are given enough backstory to understand why and cheer for them as they wise up. Each of them were interesting, though Fallon and Todd's stories were my favourite.
A sweet fairytale - worth the purchase!
December 28, 2010
What a great short story this is..
3 guys, who like to hunt beautiful men, get their lives turned upside down, when they wake up with a nasty rash on their face one day..
Now the beautiful men they once hunted, wont give them a second look, and whats a guy to do then??
I dont think you get the theme "Its whats on the inside that matters" more than you do in this one.. Its really whats its all about people..
I loved all of the 3 guys (and David the nerdy writer too) but it was a short story, so we didnt really get to know them, like we would have, had it been a 300+ page story..
And was it just me, who felt that this could have been a side story to another book? I mean.. The Jackson and Aidn storyline? Now, that sounds like it could be a hot one..
Anyway, a sweet short story, where the author's opinion on people who are superficial, is not lost on the reader.. at all..
November 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this short story. Now I admit, I haven't read any of the other books int the series, but I didn't really need to. The plot centres around 3 guys, Jake, Todd and Fallon, who call themselves "The Hunt Club" and who spend their free time cruising the clubs and bars for cute dates.
Their lives change one night, when the three unknowingly hit on the Partner of Jackson Spey, who decides to "share" a little of his love around. The three men find themselves with a skin irritation which causes Blemishes across their face. Now unable to go cruising, based on their looks, they all have to turn a little more closer to home, to find people who care for them, but whom they haven', in their own insecurities, considered dating.
An really enjoyable read and I will look for others in the series now.
Their lives change one night, when the three unknowingly hit on the Partner of Jackson Spey, who decides to "share" a little of his love around. The three men find themselves with a skin irritation which causes Blemishes across their face. Now unable to go cruising, based on their looks, they all have to turn a little more closer to home, to find people who care for them, but whom they haven', in their own insecurities, considered dating.
An really enjoyable read and I will look for others in the series now.
June 30, 2011
Wow! I loved this book - unique, emotional, thought-provoking, well-written. The characters all hooked into me and held on, sucking me deeper and deeper into their psyches and issues. The uniqueness of the plot kept me reading without a break and the moral and magic was wound perfectly into the story. One thing I have a problem with - I want more of the mysterious stranger and his beautiful husband. :P
January 27, 2011
Wow, what a fabulous book! The cover intrigued me & the blurb sparked interest but it was K.Z. Snow's deft handling of the book's theme - the beauty inside is what matters most - and her 'flawed but redeemable' characters that made me love it!
And imagine how please I was when I discovered that I can indulge in discovering more about Jackson and Adin, two character I desperately wanted to know more about!
And imagine how please I was when I discovered that I can indulge in discovering more about Jackson and Adin, two character I desperately wanted to know more about!
September 6, 2010
Note: 1 star is for not finishing it.
Why Not:
I don't like stories that are divided up for each character. Plus, I'm here to read Romance, specifically, and though I didn't get very far with Fugly, I don't think it's a romance. More like a story with a moral to teach? Not sure, but not what I'm looking for in this genre.
Why Not:
I don't like stories that are divided up for each character. Plus, I'm here to read Romance, specifically, and though I didn't get very far with Fugly, I don't think it's a romance. More like a story with a moral to teach? Not sure, but not what I'm looking for in this genre.
January 3, 2011
No question about it, K.Z. writes beautifully. At least half a dozen turns of phrase stopped me cold with their cleverness, with a new way of framing a common thought or a recasting of a metaphor. Very, very clean and well-done.
The story, however, did little for me.
My complete review is posted here.
The story, however, did little for me.
My complete review is posted here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews