This was okay, good most of the time, but needed to be a bit longer. I like a short read, so I'm not saying it needed to be a full length novel, but I...moreThis was okay, good most of the time, but needed to be a bit longer. I like a short read, so I'm not saying it needed to be a full length novel, but I think there was key dialogue missing here that would have made this a much more complete story. The main characters barely had a full conversation but this wasn't just about sex. This is a 2.5-3 stars, but could have been a 4 stars with a little more dialogue to show a growing and believable relationship.(less)
4.5 Stars. Very little to complain about here, just a lot to like. I'm usually more on the fence with one character over another, but here, I enjoyed...more4.5 Stars. Very little to complain about here, just a lot to like. I'm usually more on the fence with one character over another, but here, I enjoyed both of them a lot. Liked David's friends a lot as well, the friendship was great, the chemistry building between them was amazing. The shifting point of views can be difficult to pull off but worked well here.
I think the only things that sort of confused me but not enough to affect me liking the book, were being friends for 5 years with someone enough to call them your best friend and not telling them you're gay was never addressed especially since he was fairly out. Although I liked the easy acceptance, it seemed that was to be expected with who Trace was and how he acted. Unless I was reading really fast and missed it, I don't remember Trace asking David why he waited so long to tell him. And to that end, the title of this book confused me a bit. If David didn't tell Trace he was gay for fear of losing him, maybe he would be afraid that Trace would turn into "the one who got away", but that wasn't said or even really implied as a reason for the delay and an explanation for the title. Instead the phrase was used at the end not really related to Trace and David, which I found a bit odd.
The title made it seem like there would be some separation or a period of past friendship to current friends and then lovers or something. Again, hardly the end of the world, but something I found a bit confusing and I definitely went into the book with a slightly different impression because of the title.
I really enjoyed this book, even loved a lot of it, a definite one to recommend. Any problems I had with it were very minute and nothing that should affect someone reading it. It's sweet and touching but also light and fun at times.(less)
This was my first time reading the author. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Very complete characterizations that helped you get a great feel for eac...moreThis was my first time reading the author. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Very complete characterizations that helped you get a great feel for each new person that you meet. Made me laugh many times, loved the friendship between the main characters. Sort of hoping that Oliver and Evans get a full book as that seems like it would be entertaining as well, they were definitely my favorite supporting characters. I'd recommend this book and look forward to reading this author again in the future.(less)
Well, I really enjoyed almost every aspect of this book. It's a 4 or 4.5 star read for me but after reading the other reviews I've changed the star ra...moreWell, I really enjoyed almost every aspect of this book. It's a 4 or 4.5 star read for me but after reading the other reviews I've changed the star rating because the average is entirely too high for this book given everything. This is more than just a similar storyline to the movie Shelter. It's unfortunate to "borrow" from another to this extent. I'm going to make sure I rent the movie because of this, it seems wrong to just have purchased this book and not to give a benefit to the true originator of this story.
I hope the author's other stuff is a bit more original. I really enjoyed the writing style, not an easy one to pull off. Besides the brief hiccup when the mother returned and I thought the book was going to take a serious nosedive, I enjoyed the book throughout. I wish I loved Bear as much I as did the Otter and the Kid, but I liked him enough and reading through his viewpoint was good.
I really enjoyed this book, its unfortunate that finding out this other stuff has left a poor taste in my mouth about the author.(less)