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Lessons in Timing
Sometimes opposites attract so hard they miss.
Lucas Barclay—charismatic Californian and fastidious photographer—is impatiently waiting for his commitment-phobic boyfriend to . . . well, commit. In the meantime, he rents a shared apartment, which is fine, except for the nocturnal cryptid also living there. Lucas spends his days working at his family’s horse sanctuary, contemplating the unexplained doodles left on his bathroom mirror, and dodging inkwells. Left on carpet.
Armand Demetrio’s grim-dark comic Surrogate Goose has catapulted him to unexpected fame, and the British artiste finds himself abroad, teaching a workshop in California. He spends his nights dreading the international convention at the end of the summer (and the celebrity it entails), tarnishing his hard-won sobriety, and wallowing in the mystery of his elusive flatmate. Why would anyone need so much kale? And why does everything smell of lilac?
Though conflicting schedules keep Lucas and Armand from meeting in person, tentative communication begins through text, Post-it notes, and muffins. But Armand will return to London soon, and he and Lucas might get clock-blocked. Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met?
Lucas Barclay—charismatic Californian and fastidious photographer—is impatiently waiting for his commitment-phobic boyfriend to . . . well, commit. In the meantime, he rents a shared apartment, which is fine, except for the nocturnal cryptid also living there. Lucas spends his days working at his family’s horse sanctuary, contemplating the unexplained doodles left on his bathroom mirror, and dodging inkwells. Left on carpet.
Armand Demetrio’s grim-dark comic Surrogate Goose has catapulted him to unexpected fame, and the British artiste finds himself abroad, teaching a workshop in California. He spends his nights dreading the international convention at the end of the summer (and the celebrity it entails), tarnishing his hard-won sobriety, and wallowing in the mystery of his elusive flatmate. Why would anyone need so much kale? And why does everything smell of lilac?
Though conflicting schedules keep Lucas and Armand from meeting in person, tentative communication begins through text, Post-it notes, and muffins. But Armand will return to London soon, and he and Lucas might get clock-blocked. Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met?
350 pages, ebook
Published April 22, 2024
13 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Barry
1 book10 followersI am a seven foot tall, auburn-haired witch.
I live in a lighthouse with five cats named Heathcliff (various spellings); I collect sea glass, control the weather, and cure my own meats. In my solitary keep, I write romance novels about queer weirdos, and sometimes late at night I converse with the ghost of my grandmother, who takes the form of an apathetic pelican.
I am most definitely a real person.
I live in a lighthouse with five cats named Heathcliff (various spellings); I collect sea glass, control the weather, and cure my own meats. In my solitary keep, I write romance novels about queer weirdos, and sometimes late at night I converse with the ghost of my grandmother, who takes the form of an apathetic pelican.
I am most definitely a real person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 28, 2024
This is such a good book. I loved it with one glaring exception, which I'm going to spend a big chunk of this review talking about because it touches on a narrative common in genre romance. So first, a list of aspects I enjoyed / admired:
- The MCs. All of them are endearing, if occasionally exasperating. Their voices are distinct and the four first-person perspectives -- which: tricky move, nicely done -- let us see each of them through the others' eyes, so each narrator's unreliability is quietly shown up, with respect to everything from their looks to their talent to their relationships with one another.
- The humor. Armand in particular is bitterly funny, and the text autocorrects cracked me up, I don't care how easy those jokes are, okay?
- I get the distinct impression that Sylvia Barry knows a fair bit about cartooning and graphic fiction, though someone more knowledgeable than I (this would be almost anyone) will probably weigh in on this in their review.
- Author sets self a challenge: Make it believable that two people get most of the way to falling in love without ever meeting. While living together.
Author: *accepts challenge*
achievement unlocked
- The SPAG didn't make me want to put my eyes out with a spoon. I sent some hot tips to the author via GRR but really I didn't have to do much flinching.
Minor, minor, minor eyebrow-raiser: naming the terri-fying bully ... Terri. May I suggest a search-and-replace?
OK, now for the aspect that made me drop a star: I had a lot of problems with how the conflict between Robin and Skyler was handled.
A couple of content notes; if you don't have any common triggers they probably won't be an issue for you.
- The MCs. All of them are endearing, if occasionally exasperating. Their voices are distinct and the four first-person perspectives -- which: tricky move, nicely done -- let us see each of them through the others' eyes, so each narrator's unreliability is quietly shown up, with respect to everything from their looks to their talent to their relationships with one another.
- The humor. Armand in particular is bitterly funny, and the text autocorrects cracked me up, I don't care how easy those jokes are, okay?
- I get the distinct impression that Sylvia Barry knows a fair bit about cartooning and graphic fiction, though someone more knowledgeable than I (this would be almost anyone) will probably weigh in on this in their review.
- Author sets self a challenge: Make it believable that two people get most of the way to falling in love without ever meeting. While living together.
Author: *accepts challenge*
achievement unlocked
- The SPAG didn't make me want to put my eyes out with a spoon. I sent some hot tips to the author via GRR but really I didn't have to do much flinching.
Minor, minor, minor eyebrow-raiser: naming the terri-fying bully ... Terri. May I suggest a search-and-replace?
OK, now for the aspect that made me drop a star: I had a lot of problems with how the conflict between Robin and Skyler was handled.
A couple of content notes; if you don't have any common triggers they probably won't be an issue for you.
April 3, 2024
i'll admit, i did not like the book at first. right off the bat, the language was weirdly excessive in its detail, and there was, inexplicably, 4 pov's when i thought it about one couple. but trust me when i say the language and the pov characters grow on you.
literally no cap. istg i was like, this is kinda not for me?? but i read on and i liked it more and more. the characters' pov's became more and more fun to read, especially armand's cos he's so deadpan and british and funny (the gaston and lefou death note 😭😭) and relatable with his social awkwardness. plus there are so many big words i learnt so much XD. lucas, robin and skyler were pretty distinct as well (robin is such a chaotic dude i love him).
the romance doesn't really play a big part imo and the relationship is kind of fast but not that fast. altho i do have a small issue cos skyler was so prominent and appears everywhere in the first half i literally was like, is he the main character and double checked the blurb 💀💀
but uh, this basically is a 'trust the process' book but the results turn out really good ;)
literally no cap. istg i was like, this is kinda not for me?? but i read on and i liked it more and more. the characters' pov's became more and more fun to read, especially armand's cos he's so deadpan and british and funny (the gaston and lefou death note 😭😭) and relatable with his social awkwardness. plus there are so many big words i learnt so much XD. lucas, robin and skyler were pretty distinct as well (robin is such a chaotic dude i love him).
the romance doesn't really play a big part imo and the relationship is kind of fast but not that fast. altho i do have a small issue cos skyler was so prominent and appears everywhere in the first half i literally was like, is he the main character and double checked the blurb 💀💀
but uh, this basically is a 'trust the process' book but the results turn out really good ;)
May 21, 2024
I loved this.
It also had a number of issues with it. Very early issues. Names and word choices that broke my immersion in the story like a brick to the face. So outrageous that even now, after finishing the book, which is an absolute 5 star read for me and in my top 5 of the year so far, I am still upset about them.
It's distressing, because part of me wants to slap them up on a billboard with giant flashing neon arrows pointing at them and one by one demand to know what planet you could be living on to think these were sane, rational words to put together.
But at the same time, I loved it, and I don't want to put anyone off it, so... aurgh
What you're getting here is more than what it currently says in the blurb. The couple falling in love without meeting is wonderfully done. But you get first person narration switching between four characters, not just the main couple. The younger characters, a pair of college freshmen at ludicrously named university to which one of our MCs has come to teach a workshop, aren't so much in a romance arc as coming of age. Perhaps they weren't mentioned in the blurb to avoid readers expecting a second happy ending there. Where those two do end up is believable for me, if not entirely satisfying. Also ace rep in the mix there, so thumbs up to that.
I don't know that I've read a 4-way first person novel before, but I've had enough trouble with bad examples of the standard two first person alternating pov romances to be quite impressed with how well Sylvia Barry pulled it off. The characters each have a distinct voice and the only place I found myself at all confused about whose head we were in, was one scene near the end where the chapter broke and pov switched to the other character in the middle of a scene. I became a hair less impressed when I saw in the about the author, that Sylvia Barry is in fact two people, but I'm still impressed.
Each of the characters has issues, strengths and weaknesses that compliment each other. That mix on top of the nature of the plot makes the book feel a bit orchestrated, but that's not a negative for me.
So, I'm sticking this on the favorites shelf, warts and all. I definitely recommend it if it sounds at all appealing to you.
It also had a number of issues with it. Very early issues. Names and word choices that broke my immersion in the story like a brick to the face. So outrageous that even now, after finishing the book, which is an absolute 5 star read for me and in my top 5 of the year so far, I am still upset about them.
It's distressing, because part of me wants to slap them up on a billboard with giant flashing neon arrows pointing at them and one by one demand to know what planet you could be living on to think these were sane, rational words to put together.
But at the same time, I loved it, and I don't want to put anyone off it, so... aurgh
What you're getting here is more than what it currently says in the blurb. The couple falling in love without meeting is wonderfully done. But you get first person narration switching between four characters, not just the main couple. The younger characters, a pair of college freshmen at ludicrously named university to which one of our MCs has come to teach a workshop, aren't so much in a romance arc as coming of age. Perhaps they weren't mentioned in the blurb to avoid readers expecting a second happy ending there. Where those two do end up is believable for me, if not entirely satisfying. Also ace rep in the mix there, so thumbs up to that.
I don't know that I've read a 4-way first person novel before, but I've had enough trouble with bad examples of the standard two first person alternating pov romances to be quite impressed with how well Sylvia Barry pulled it off. The characters each have a distinct voice and the only place I found myself at all confused about whose head we were in, was one scene near the end where the chapter broke and pov switched to the other character in the middle of a scene. I became a hair less impressed when I saw in the about the author, that Sylvia Barry is in fact two people, but I'm still impressed.
Each of the characters has issues, strengths and weaknesses that compliment each other. That mix on top of the nature of the plot makes the book feel a bit orchestrated, but that's not a negative for me.
So, I'm sticking this on the favorites shelf, warts and all. I definitely recommend it if it sounds at all appealing to you.
April 17, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
The Flatshare, but make it queer and less creepy (they each have their own room; it's not a same-bed situation).
I enjoyed this waaaay more than The Flatshare, but there are similarities beyond the premise. Most notably: this is very much in the current trend of shoving tons of trauma into the rom-com form (aka ron-con, h/t Hardy Geranium). Unlike many examples of this -- in my experience, often deeply misguided -- trend, Lessons in Timing actually is funny: the author has a confident, light touch and a real way with turns of phrase. The texting interludes were a particular delight. The book very much reads like a rom-com, but ultimately I think it's trying to do too much. The tone whiplashes as a result, and the resolution feels rushed and not particularly resolution-y.
Part of it is the 4 (4!) POVs. Thankfully, this author is good with character work; otherwise, so many POVs would have been the kiss of death. I liked all these guys, even if they don't stray too far from type: grumpy, anxiety-ridden Armand; sunshiney but insecure Lucas; dramatic underdog Robin; and chill-af-but-also-going-through-it Skyler (my fave). All are likable and (mostly) relatable, and drawn with a deft hand. But there are SO. MANY. ISSUES. We have anxiety; alcohol misuse; sexuality; bullying (past and present); toxic relationships (past and present); avoidance; sexuality questioning/ crisis; diet culture with the implication of disordered eating; acephobia (both internalized and open); companion animal deaths; and unrequited love. It's just a lot. Too much.
Combine that with Armand's not-fully-explained switch from dreading to obsessing over his absent roommate, as well as the increasingly frustrating scenarios that keep Armand and Lucas from meeting in-person -- and yes, obviously, that's the premise, but there was one too many broken engagements for this reader's patience; that's probably a me-thing -- and I started to feel like the book was trying to convince me that these people weren't supposed to be together, rather than the opposite. The scene where Armand and Lucas finally properly meet is really adorable, but by then the end is so nigh that it strips away that sense of resolution that I, personally, need to have in order to believe in the HFN or HEA. When you've been keeping the MCs apart for the vast majority of the book, the payoff has to be worth it. While the eventual meeting scene worked well on its own, the knowledge that the two men are based on separate continents (this is not a spoiler: Armand is on a one month visit to CA before heading back to his life in London) means that they realistically will be long-distance at least for long periods of time in the immediate-to-medium future. So the meet-cute scene reads more like a small interlude in periods of separation, rather than the start of something new.
(Also, just a personal pet peeve: any HFN or HEA predicated on navigating the immigration regimes of any country, much less the US or post-Brexit UK, automatically gets a major side-eye from yours truly. Seriously. Give one of the MCs dual citizenship! Lucas's late father could have been a Brit! Don't make me stress about whether the author of an indie comic will meet the dramatically increased income threshold for family reunification! Or whether Armand qualifies for an H1B visa! Authors: stop doing this to me!!)
Specter of immigration law aside -- this is a book that I wish I could rank higher because there is sooooooo much promise here: the author has a real knack for lovely characters and storytelling. But while I can squint and see an HFN, I just don't buy an HEA. And while Robin and Skyler's arc is well-done, if sometimes excruciating to read -- Armand taking Robin to task for his reaction to Skyler's revelation was absolutely necessary, even if his timing wasn't horribly sympathetic and made the message even harder for Robin to hear; Robin did not cover himself in glory there -- I don't see that ending particularly well either. I will happily read more from this author, but next time I hope they don't bite off more than the story can handle.
I got an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
The Flatshare, but make it queer and less creepy (they each have their own room; it's not a same-bed situation).
I enjoyed this waaaay more than The Flatshare, but there are similarities beyond the premise. Most notably: this is very much in the current trend of shoving tons of trauma into the rom-com form (aka ron-con, h/t Hardy Geranium). Unlike many examples of this -- in my experience, often deeply misguided -- trend, Lessons in Timing actually is funny: the author has a confident, light touch and a real way with turns of phrase. The texting interludes were a particular delight. The book very much reads like a rom-com, but ultimately I think it's trying to do too much. The tone whiplashes as a result, and the resolution feels rushed and not particularly resolution-y.
Part of it is the 4 (4!) POVs. Thankfully, this author is good with character work; otherwise, so many POVs would have been the kiss of death. I liked all these guys, even if they don't stray too far from type: grumpy, anxiety-ridden Armand; sunshiney but insecure Lucas; dramatic underdog Robin; and chill-af-but-also-going-through-it Skyler (my fave). All are likable and (mostly) relatable, and drawn with a deft hand. But there are SO. MANY. ISSUES. We have anxiety; alcohol misuse; sexuality; bullying (past and present); toxic relationships (past and present); avoidance; sexuality questioning/ crisis; diet culture with the implication of disordered eating; acephobia (both internalized and open); companion animal deaths; and unrequited love. It's just a lot. Too much.
Combine that with Armand's not-fully-explained switch from dreading to obsessing over his absent roommate, as well as the increasingly frustrating scenarios that keep Armand and Lucas from meeting in-person -- and yes, obviously, that's the premise, but there was one too many broken engagements for this reader's patience; that's probably a me-thing -- and I started to feel like the book was trying to convince me that these people weren't supposed to be together, rather than the opposite. The scene where Armand and Lucas finally properly meet is really adorable, but by then the end is so nigh that it strips away that sense of resolution that I, personally, need to have in order to believe in the HFN or HEA. When you've been keeping the MCs apart for the vast majority of the book, the payoff has to be worth it. While the eventual meeting scene worked well on its own, the knowledge that the two men are based on separate continents (this is not a spoiler: Armand is on a one month visit to CA before heading back to his life in London) means that they realistically will be long-distance at least for long periods of time in the immediate-to-medium future. So the meet-cute scene reads more like a small interlude in periods of separation, rather than the start of something new.
(Also, just a personal pet peeve: any HFN or HEA predicated on navigating the immigration regimes of any country, much less the US or post-Brexit UK, automatically gets a major side-eye from yours truly. Seriously. Give one of the MCs dual citizenship! Lucas's late father could have been a Brit! Don't make me stress about whether the author of an indie comic will meet the dramatically increased income threshold for family reunification! Or whether Armand qualifies for an H1B visa! Authors: stop doing this to me!!)
Specter of immigration law aside -- this is a book that I wish I could rank higher because there is sooooooo much promise here: the author has a real knack for lovely characters and storytelling. But while I can squint and see an HFN, I just don't buy an HEA. And while Robin and Skyler's arc is well-done, if sometimes excruciating to read -- Armand taking Robin to task for his reaction to Skyler's revelation was absolutely necessary, even if his timing wasn't horribly sympathetic and made the message even harder for Robin to hear; Robin did not cover himself in glory there -- I don't see that ending particularly well either. I will happily read more from this author, but next time I hope they don't bite off more than the story can handle.
I got an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
April 24, 2024
I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
This book had no content warnings at the start and there is a character who gets horrifically bullied on page, a character battling alcohol addiction on page and a character dealing with disordered eating and body dysmorphia on page. Not having clear content warnings is irresponsible and it’s honestly just hard to include them.
I think I would have enjoyed this book better if the blurb actually remotely reflected the story. The blurb mentions two characters who are supposedly the love interests but they don’t interact at all for the first 20% and at 40% I still wasn’t sure who this book was about.
I thought by the end it would be clear why we had two additional POV’s but it wasn’t. Whilst I liked Robin and Skyler as side characters, having chapters in their pov added literally nothing and actually just became frustrating and also slowed down the pace at which you could get invested in the MC’s this book was supposedly about.
I ended up really loving Armand and Lucas and I think this book would have been stronger if it had actually revolved more around them.
The ending was cute and satisfying for them but again nothing was really wrapped up with Robin and Skyler so that was confusing.
The actual writing was great, some genuinely hilarious parts that had me laughing out loud.
If you read this going into it expecting that it’s more like a sitcom about 4 guys and how their lives overlap and their disastrous love lives with a sprinkling of romance near the end, I think it would much more enjoyable. Going in thinking it’s an MM romance, it’s a little disappointing.
This book had no content warnings at the start and there is a character who gets horrifically bullied on page, a character battling alcohol addiction on page and a character dealing with disordered eating and body dysmorphia on page. Not having clear content warnings is irresponsible and it’s honestly just hard to include them.
I think I would have enjoyed this book better if the blurb actually remotely reflected the story. The blurb mentions two characters who are supposedly the love interests but they don’t interact at all for the first 20% and at 40% I still wasn’t sure who this book was about.
I thought by the end it would be clear why we had two additional POV’s but it wasn’t. Whilst I liked Robin and Skyler as side characters, having chapters in their pov added literally nothing and actually just became frustrating and also slowed down the pace at which you could get invested in the MC’s this book was supposedly about.
I ended up really loving Armand and Lucas and I think this book would have been stronger if it had actually revolved more around them.
The ending was cute and satisfying for them but again nothing was really wrapped up with Robin and Skyler so that was confusing.
The actual writing was great, some genuinely hilarious parts that had me laughing out loud.
If you read this going into it expecting that it’s more like a sitcom about 4 guys and how their lives overlap and their disastrous love lives with a sprinkling of romance near the end, I think it would much more enjoyable. Going in thinking it’s an MM romance, it’s a little disappointing.
April 25, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Four men, one month; four stories, one happy ending. Is love a creation of sparkles and magic, or is it just a matter of being in the right place at the right time?
This book is told, chapter by chapter, from the four points of view as their stories wind around one another creating a tangled mess that somehow works. Robin knows Armand, who is sharing an apartment with Lucas; Lucas meets Skyler and gets him a job as his horse sanctuary; Skyler helps Robin deal with the aftermath of his bully’s prank; Armand hires Skyler as a model for his class that Robin is taking; and the connecting stories are revealed in ever deepening layers. This style might not work for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Four men, one month; four stories, one happy ending. Is love a creation of sparkles and magic, or is it just a matter of being in the right place at the right time?
This book is told, chapter by chapter, from the four points of view as their stories wind around one another creating a tangled mess that somehow works. Robin knows Armand, who is sharing an apartment with Lucas; Lucas meets Skyler and gets him a job as his horse sanctuary; Skyler helps Robin deal with the aftermath of his bully’s prank; Armand hires Skyler as a model for his class that Robin is taking; and the connecting stories are revealed in ever deepening layers. This style might not work for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 26, 2024
"Because nothing stands still, not really. And that's life, innit? Changing, fluid, never static?"
This is one of those reads you won't want to put down
You know that artwork that appears composed of misc. lines or dots but after staring at it for long enough a picture finally appears out of the chaos?
That was how this book was for me. I was enjoying the storyline and the characters, but I felt like I was on the outside looking in. It just wasn't clicking for me. I almost closed the books but I was a bit curious.
After a few chapters, everything just slid into place.
The story flowed so easily and the cast became vivid and I became 100% invested
"Picture, if you will a hulky, shaggy-haired werewolf still enamored of his goth-punk phase, who sleepwalked into an airport and has no idea how he got there and has even less idea how to leave."
This was told from multiple POVs
It was such fun to be able to see each character through the eyes of the other.
The story itself is a great example of the 'six degrees of separation' theory
"Operation Try Meeting Again Because for Some Reason It Hasn't Worked so Far and We're Runnin' Out of Time Oh My God was a go."
These two could never quite get it right
" via a Post-it note with three hand-scribble emojis: a skull and crossbones, a crying face, and a freezer."
I admit this scene... Holy snickers
The texting and sticky notes between them. The oh-so-close misses. How they finally came face-to-face instead of sticky-to-sticky
"But deferred pan was still an absence of pain, and sometimes that was the best one could hope for"
This dealt with so many of life's hurdles and bumps.
Anxiety. Bullying. Self-depreciation. Addiction.
Just to name a few
I laughed so much at their verbal antics and little quirks
Straight-up ab workout
The romance between the cast was sweet and felt real
I enjoyed watching their struggles and achievements
Loveable characters that stayed with me long after I took my leave
A great read I highly recommend
This is one of those reads you won't want to put down
You know that artwork that appears composed of misc. lines or dots but after staring at it for long enough a picture finally appears out of the chaos?
That was how this book was for me. I was enjoying the storyline and the characters, but I felt like I was on the outside looking in. It just wasn't clicking for me. I almost closed the books but I was a bit curious.
After a few chapters, everything just slid into place.
The story flowed so easily and the cast became vivid and I became 100% invested
"Picture, if you will a hulky, shaggy-haired werewolf still enamored of his goth-punk phase, who sleepwalked into an airport and has no idea how he got there and has even less idea how to leave."
This was told from multiple POVs
It was such fun to be able to see each character through the eyes of the other.
The story itself is a great example of the 'six degrees of separation' theory
"Operation Try Meeting Again Because for Some Reason It Hasn't Worked so Far and We're Runnin' Out of Time Oh My God was a go."
These two could never quite get it right
" via a Post-it note with three hand-scribble emojis: a skull and crossbones, a crying face, and a freezer."
I admit this scene... Holy snickers
The texting and sticky notes between them. The oh-so-close misses. How they finally came face-to-face instead of sticky-to-sticky
"But deferred pan was still an absence of pain, and sometimes that was the best one could hope for"
This dealt with so many of life's hurdles and bumps.
Anxiety. Bullying. Self-depreciation. Addiction.
Just to name a few
I laughed so much at their verbal antics and little quirks
Straight-up ab workout
The romance between the cast was sweet and felt real
I enjoyed watching their struggles and achievements
Loveable characters that stayed with me long after I took my leave
A great read I highly recommend
April 19, 2024
SUCH a good time. This genre is not anything I’m typically drawn to, but once I picked it up it was all over for me. From the other reviews I realize now I had some worry about cliffhangers in the back of my mind, but my worry was unfounded. Super satisfying, I only want more now that I’ve finished it because I seldom find a book that makes me laugh aloud like this one did. Like other reviewers, I really hope this becomes a series, and I anxiously await to see what Sylvia Barry does next.
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September 23, 2025Skyler from Lessons in Timing is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
May 29, 2024
a colorful cast of oddball characters, all charmingly neurotic in relatable ways, and often laugh out loud funny!
Read
May 7, 2024I have such conflicting emotions about this book - which is also the reason I am not giving it a rating. I can't really recommend this book, because although it is very, very funny in places the issues I have with it are simply too overpowering for a few laughs here and there
First what did I like about the book:
- I really liked the MCs and how distinct they were from each other. In a story with 4 POVs I was never confused as to which MC had the POV or how they were interconnected with each other
- It was, at times, a very funny book, especially between Armand and Lucas
- They way that Armand and Lucas fell in love - through post-it notes and texts was original and something that I really enjoyed
Things I did not enjoy or found problematic:
1. The book was promoted as love story between two MMCs, but it is actually about four MMCs - so two separate, but connected, love stories. I don't know why the author(s) did not include this in ANY of the promotional material because it was really confusing to me as to why I'm suddenly reading another love story
2. A major issue is that the book contains NO content or trigger warnings and then proceeds to include:
2.1 a MMC battling alcohol addiction
- the alcohol addiction being portrayed as something that contributes to his creativity and without it he cannot function as an artist. This is an incredibly problematic view to perpetuate about addiction and creativity.
This view is almost never challenged in the book and the MMC keeps this view.
2.2 a MMC subjected to horrific on-page bullying
2.3 a MMC dealing with at the very least, disordered eating, but most probably from the way it was written an eating disorder AND body dysmorphia
2.4 on page fatphobia directed towards a MMC by his boyfriend as well as his mother (she makes fatphobic comments about herself and her eating habits) AS WELL AS internalized fat phobic comments that the MMC makes about himself towards other people and to himself
3. the MMC with the addiction and the MMC with an eating disorder are the couple that fall in love and neither of them make any movement towards getting therapy or help for their addiction/disorder. I absolutely hate the narrative that falling love solves people's problems, or that the person you fall in love with has somehow cured your problems.
4. the bullying storyline was not needed and added nothing to the MMC's story or character development. I found it unnecessary and cruel and could not understand the point of it
5. a MMC is struggling with his sexuality and the realisation that he might be asexual and when he finally opens up to one of the MMCs he is treated quite harshly and with increasingly decreasing sympathy because he does not reciprocate the sexual feelings being professed to him.
I found the characters' reaction to his coming out as asexual to be incredibly selfish, self-centered (but I'm in lust with you and you MUST return my feelings) and harmful.
6. this story is promoted as a HEA, however it is at best a HFN and only if ALL the MMCs get help for their various issues
First what did I like about the book:
- I really liked the MCs and how distinct they were from each other. In a story with 4 POVs I was never confused as to which MC had the POV or how they were interconnected with each other
- It was, at times, a very funny book, especially between Armand and Lucas
- They way that Armand and Lucas fell in love - through post-it notes and texts was original and something that I really enjoyed
Things I did not enjoy or found problematic:
1. The book was promoted as love story between two MMCs, but it is actually about four MMCs - so two separate, but connected, love stories. I don't know why the author(s) did not include this in ANY of the promotional material because it was really confusing to me as to why I'm suddenly reading another love story
2. A major issue is that the book contains NO content or trigger warnings and then proceeds to include:
2.1 a MMC battling alcohol addiction
- the alcohol addiction being portrayed as something that contributes to his creativity and without it he cannot function as an artist. This is an incredibly problematic view to perpetuate about addiction and creativity.
This view is almost never challenged in the book and the MMC keeps this view.
2.2 a MMC subjected to horrific on-page bullying
2.3 a MMC dealing with at the very least, disordered eating, but most probably from the way it was written an eating disorder AND body dysmorphia
2.4 on page fatphobia directed towards a MMC by his boyfriend as well as his mother (she makes fatphobic comments about herself and her eating habits) AS WELL AS internalized fat phobic comments that the MMC makes about himself towards other people and to himself
3. the MMC with the addiction and the MMC with an eating disorder are the couple that fall in love and neither of them make any movement towards getting therapy or help for their addiction/disorder. I absolutely hate the narrative that falling love solves people's problems, or that the person you fall in love with has somehow cured your problems.
4. the bullying storyline was not needed and added nothing to the MMC's story or character development. I found it unnecessary and cruel and could not understand the point of it
5. a MMC is struggling with his sexuality and the realisation that he might be asexual and when he finally opens up to one of the MMCs he is treated quite harshly and with increasingly decreasing sympathy because he does not reciprocate the sexual feelings being professed to him.
I found the characters' reaction to his coming out as asexual to be incredibly selfish, self-centered (but I'm in lust with you and you MUST return my feelings) and harmful.
6. this story is promoted as a HEA, however it is at best a HFN and only if ALL the MMCs get help for their various issues
April 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this, although a word of caution: this is an ensemble contemporary fiction novel with romance at it's heart, so if you're after a run of the mill dual POV romance, seek ye elsewhere. If, however, you are looking for a bright, sharp novel with elegant prose and vivid characters, I think you'll be happy here.
Lightly based on The Odd Couple, Lessons In Timing weaves the tale of when Armand, Lucas, Robin and Skyler somehow ended up entering each other's orbits - these are four very different men at very different stages in life whom the universe has seen fit to throw together.
Armand and Lucas have the central love story, but Skylar and Robin aren't bit players - both of them are going through their own growth and change and learning out in the big world. There's some definite mistake making and lots of character growth from all four characters.
This book touches on quite a few heavy subjects (alcoholism and bullying most prominently), but somehow manages to feel quite light - the dark is balanced out by the a sweet humour.
I actually wasn't ready for it to end.
Quadruple POV, fade to black, ace rep.
Lightly based on The Odd Couple, Lessons In Timing weaves the tale of when Armand, Lucas, Robin and Skyler somehow ended up entering each other's orbits - these are four very different men at very different stages in life whom the universe has seen fit to throw together.
Armand and Lucas have the central love story, but Skylar and Robin aren't bit players - both of them are going through their own growth and change and learning out in the big world. There's some definite mistake making and lots of character growth from all four characters.
This book touches on quite a few heavy subjects (alcoholism and bullying most prominently), but somehow manages to feel quite light - the dark is balanced out by the a sweet humour.
I actually wasn't ready for it to end.
Quadruple POV, fade to black, ace rep.
dnf
May 12, 2024DNF @ 33% (12.05.2024)
I'm not a fan of DNFing arc copies, but when I read another sentence I was like - I don't want to read the next 200 pages. My time is too precious to me.
Especially that the blurb is really misleading. Yes, it's a book about Armand and Lucas, but somehow we got two other POVs. And the main couple didn't interact with each other at all in the first 33%.
All men had problems and really needed therapy. And because of it, the relationship between Armand and Lucas seemed so artificial (I skipped to the end, and I read the last two chapters).
I understand that's Sylvia Barry's debut and I wish them all the luck, but I don't think that I'll return to this one or read their next books.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for my honest opinion.
I'm not a fan of DNFing arc copies, but when I read another sentence I was like - I don't want to read the next 200 pages. My time is too precious to me.
Especially that the blurb is really misleading. Yes, it's a book about Armand and Lucas, but somehow we got two other POVs. And the main couple didn't interact with each other at all in the first 33%.
All men had problems and really needed therapy. And because of it, the relationship between Armand and Lucas seemed so artificial (I skipped to the end, and I read the last two chapters).
I understand that's Sylvia Barry's debut and I wish them all the luck, but I don't think that I'll return to this one or read their next books.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 8, 2024
This story is a classic. Ok first of all, some of the descriptions of things or the way the characters were thinking to themselves made me laugh. Secondly, oh man. These guys. The story woven between the four characters here was definitely a lesson in timing. Armand and Lucas are sharing an apartment and never even manage to see each other, but their interactions by note and text have them slowly making a connection. Skyler and Robin I was not expecting from the blurb but their little story that runs alongside the main one was also well written. I enjoyed this book immensely. I kinda wish we had another couple of chapters or an epilogue or something just to know how everything worked out for all four men because we are left with a bit of an open ended interpretation that it all might have worked out or it might not have. I think that is the main reason I didn’t give it five stars.
Read
December 26, 2024Great little read! Fun characters and I was really interested to find out how Armand and Lucas would work out in the end. I really liked Skyler and his exploration of his sexuality and his friendship with Robin.
April 25, 2024
At first I was thinking there were two different stories, and there sort of was but everything settled and the true romance between Lucas and Armand began to emerge. I really liked how different the characters were and how they grew feelings from interactions that weren't face to face. Very clever. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
February 13, 2025
Man, this had such a good start but I feel like the romance and individual character journeys kind of suffered because of the 4 (!!) POVs.
Ok, first things first. The story is spread out across the POV of four different characters who intersect interact with each other in varying degrees.
They can best be described in pairs:
- Armand: The British comic artist that came to the US for his work. His main conflict is his around dealing with his social anxiety and alcoholism.
- Lucas: The sunshine roommate. His main conflict is dealing with Darren, his commitment averse BF (which is sort of misrepresenting that relationship, but we'll get to that), and the aftermath of .
The secondary pair (not mentioned at all in the blurb, but should be):
- Robin: The college artist and thespian assigned to help Armand around for the duration of his stay. His main conflict resolves around dealing with a returning bully and his unrequited crush on Skylar.
- Skylar: A college freshman that just moved to California from Washington. His main conflict resolves around the reason he left his family so suddenly and trying to understand himself better as a person.
There's a lot here and each of the characters' backgrounds and settings were so nicely crafted. For example: I thought Lucas' eating habits were just a funny quirk, just a health conscious guy, but we slowly got hints at a more heartbreaking reason for them. Like after a few chapters of Armand just casually mentioning the food situation at the house, we get to a scene at the restaurant where Lucas meet Darren's friends. He mentions not being able to eat the delicious food, which seemed so out of place because there hadn't been any reason given for it in any of his scenes earlier. Then we get a bit more context around him going to the gym, trying to stay fit, until we eventually get the real reason for his vigilance, that being Darren's toxicity around his image and weight. That was such a nice reveal since it was kind of just casually dropped on us (which makes sense, because Lucas was just casually dieting and not paying it any mind)
Robin's excitement then prompt devastation at seeing his childhood bully was done well.
The mystery around Skylar's real reason for leaving was interesting. When we're told that it's because he has feeling for his brother's GF, that's shocking and immediately contextualizes the earlier chapters and interactions (His distress around her texting him "I love you" was something I noted, but didn't fully understand at the time. I thought it was just self hatred, but turns out it was more around the fantasy)
Armand's social anxiety and alcoholism was fine, but was generally less compelling because the others had conflicts that involved other people, and Armand's were mainly internal.
It was fun to read about how each of the MCs interacted with each other, seeing their intersections and crossovers while Armand and Lucas danced around each other.
But that's kind of where things fall apart for me. Because there were four separate people to keep track of, each with their own conflicts and subplots that were independent of the others, the story felt stretched thin and nothing was given the focus it needed to be truly great. "Meanwhile back at the farm" is great, but when there are four farms that are dealing with different dilemmas, something's gotta give.
Armand's social anxiety and alcoholism should've been big problems, but we don't see enough of him bumbling through social events or suffering the consequences of being drunk because we need to hear about Lucas dealing with Darren or Robin dealing with his feelings or Skylar dealing with his family/Robin. I mean, Armand breaks his sobriety and gets drunk a number of times in the story, but it's ultimately to no detriment to his character because nothing happens to punish him for it. He doesn't miss deadlines because he got lost in a bottle, he doesn't come to work drunk and get reported, he doesn't get sent to the hospital. He calls his sponsor and attends an AA meeting, but we only get told that and there's no real impact because nothing bad truly happens to him because of it. I mean, I think he may have been drunk when he stepped on his inkwell, but even that didn't end result in any negative outcome because he got to meet Lucas and they got on well enough (even if it was an awkward first impression). His social anxiety never impacted his work nor did it put him in a bad light with the publisher. Yes, there was character growth in him being able to teach the class, but that's a solo plot development and didn't really contribute to the romance plot at all because Lucas wasn't the one to help him. Robin was.
Lucas dealing with Darren's breakup was appropriately emotional for the moment, but we get timeskipped for the two days that followed. Yeah, we see the result through Armand's eyes regarding the state of the apartment, but it would've been nice to see it from his POV too. And the argument he gets into with his mom was very interesting (him calling her out on the multiple fish in the sea when she never tried after his dad passed), but that dynamic isn't developed any further. And again, when he gets over it, it feels too disjointed because Armand wasn't the person who truly got him to see Darren's toxicity, he got there on his own. Sure, Armand made him feel like he didn't need to bend over backwards to be worth something, but it was one text chain when it could've been multiple emotional moments that would've sold the romance more.
Skylar's relationship with his brother + his GF were severely unexplored. Outside of a couple of stilted conversations, the conflict was resolved way too quickly. At least Robin was involved in helping him grow as a person (ironic considering how he was the only one to not want to be linked romantically). His resolution to try and shift his feelings from his brother's BF to Robin should've been a great false solution to his problems, but we literally get zero more of his chapters between that decision him trying to kiss Robin.
I saved Robin for last because I feel like he was the least compelling of the MCs. Despite having more interesting problems than Armand, Robin's one dimensional personality + weird selfishness made it hard to really see him as a full character. There wasn't enough actual substance in his character outside of "I'm scared of being bullied" and "Skylar wants to be friends, but I like him". He cries a lot but also immediately shifts gears to drive whatever plot moment he happens to be part of, and we don't get any sort of true breakdown for him when it would've been appropriate to see him fail to hide his emotions behind cheer. His bully situation isn't resolved in a satisfying way and sort of just goes out with a disappointing plop because he just magically realizes that he can report the abuse to the police. Skylar was there physically, but it didn't really feel like his presence had any real impact on Robin's character development. If anything, Robin's character suffered because of his inability to shake his crush and the lack of a proper conclusion.
Not even mentioning how the lack of scenes between Armand and Lucas didn't really help sell their romance when they did meet up. Sure, the texts + couple of notes were cute and helped set up a decent foundation, but nothing they did after really sold me on the idea that either of them say the other person as someone desirable enough to start courting. Robin and Skylar's teasing them about it felt super weird because in my eyes, Armand and Lucas were still just roomies who could've been good friends, not romantically linked because there was no jump from friendly to attracted in any of their interactions. And when they did meet, it annoyed me that Lucas just immediately left again instead of staying and talking with the guy he'd supposedly been dying to meet.
All of this to say that the characters had good setups and motivations, but they should've been broken out into separate books (Armand + Lucas & Robin + Skylar) because none of them got the screen time they deserved:
Armand needed to see the consequences of his anxiety and drinking.
Lucas needed to deal with the fallout of his relationship and how he moved forward from ten years of jabs at his confidence.
Robin needed more time to develop emotional maturity regarding his crush and gaining the self confidence to stand against his bully and live his life without fear.
Skylar needed more interactions with his family, his brother's GF, and his internal journey around his sexuality and how he experienced attraction.
TL;DR Too spread out, not enough time per POV to make things feel satisfying, but the book would've been much too long if everyone did get the focus they deserved, so this should've been separated out.
Ok, first things first. The story is spread out across the POV of four different characters who intersect interact with each other in varying degrees.
They can best be described in pairs:
- Armand: The British comic artist that came to the US for his work. His main conflict is his around dealing with his social anxiety and alcoholism.
- Lucas: The sunshine roommate. His main conflict is dealing with Darren, his commitment averse BF (which is sort of misrepresenting that relationship, but we'll get to that), and the aftermath of .
The secondary pair (not mentioned at all in the blurb, but should be):
- Robin: The college artist and thespian assigned to help Armand around for the duration of his stay. His main conflict resolves around dealing with a returning bully and his unrequited crush on Skylar.
- Skylar: A college freshman that just moved to California from Washington. His main conflict resolves around the reason he left his family so suddenly and trying to understand himself better as a person.
There's a lot here and each of the characters' backgrounds and settings were so nicely crafted. For example: I thought Lucas' eating habits were just a funny quirk, just a health conscious guy, but we slowly got hints at a more heartbreaking reason for them. Like after a few chapters of Armand just casually mentioning the food situation at the house, we get to a scene at the restaurant where Lucas meet Darren's friends. He mentions not being able to eat the delicious food, which seemed so out of place because there hadn't been any reason given for it in any of his scenes earlier. Then we get a bit more context around him going to the gym, trying to stay fit, until we eventually get the real reason for his vigilance, that being Darren's toxicity around his image and weight. That was such a nice reveal since it was kind of just casually dropped on us (which makes sense, because Lucas was just casually dieting and not paying it any mind)
Robin's excitement then prompt devastation at seeing his childhood bully was done well.
The mystery around Skylar's real reason for leaving was interesting. When we're told that it's because he has feeling for his brother's GF, that's shocking and immediately contextualizes the earlier chapters and interactions (His distress around her texting him "I love you" was something I noted, but didn't fully understand at the time. I thought it was just self hatred, but turns out it was more around the fantasy)
Armand's social anxiety and alcoholism was fine, but was generally less compelling because the others had conflicts that involved other people, and Armand's were mainly internal.
It was fun to read about how each of the MCs interacted with each other, seeing their intersections and crossovers while Armand and Lucas danced around each other.
But that's kind of where things fall apart for me. Because there were four separate people to keep track of, each with their own conflicts and subplots that were independent of the others, the story felt stretched thin and nothing was given the focus it needed to be truly great. "Meanwhile back at the farm" is great, but when there are four farms that are dealing with different dilemmas, something's gotta give.
Armand's social anxiety and alcoholism should've been big problems, but we don't see enough of him bumbling through social events or suffering the consequences of being drunk because we need to hear about Lucas dealing with Darren or Robin dealing with his feelings or Skylar dealing with his family/Robin. I mean, Armand breaks his sobriety and gets drunk a number of times in the story, but it's ultimately to no detriment to his character because nothing happens to punish him for it. He doesn't miss deadlines because he got lost in a bottle, he doesn't come to work drunk and get reported, he doesn't get sent to the hospital. He calls his sponsor and attends an AA meeting, but we only get told that and there's no real impact because nothing bad truly happens to him because of it. I mean, I think he may have been drunk when he stepped on his inkwell, but even that didn't end result in any negative outcome because he got to meet Lucas and they got on well enough (even if it was an awkward first impression). His social anxiety never impacted his work nor did it put him in a bad light with the publisher. Yes, there was character growth in him being able to teach the class, but that's a solo plot development and didn't really contribute to the romance plot at all because Lucas wasn't the one to help him. Robin was.
Lucas dealing with Darren's breakup was appropriately emotional for the moment, but we get timeskipped for the two days that followed. Yeah, we see the result through Armand's eyes regarding the state of the apartment, but it would've been nice to see it from his POV too. And the argument he gets into with his mom was very interesting (him calling her out on the multiple fish in the sea when she never tried after his dad passed), but that dynamic isn't developed any further. And again, when he gets over it, it feels too disjointed because Armand wasn't the person who truly got him to see Darren's toxicity, he got there on his own. Sure, Armand made him feel like he didn't need to bend over backwards to be worth something, but it was one text chain when it could've been multiple emotional moments that would've sold the romance more.
Skylar's relationship with his brother + his GF were severely unexplored. Outside of a couple of stilted conversations, the conflict was resolved way too quickly. At least Robin was involved in helping him grow as a person (ironic considering how he was the only one to not want to be linked romantically). His resolution to try and shift his feelings from his brother's BF to Robin should've been a great false solution to his problems, but we literally get zero more of his chapters between that decision him trying to kiss Robin.
I saved Robin for last because I feel like he was the least compelling of the MCs. Despite having more interesting problems than Armand, Robin's one dimensional personality + weird selfishness made it hard to really see him as a full character. There wasn't enough actual substance in his character outside of "I'm scared of being bullied" and "Skylar wants to be friends, but I like him". He cries a lot but also immediately shifts gears to drive whatever plot moment he happens to be part of, and we don't get any sort of true breakdown for him when it would've been appropriate to see him fail to hide his emotions behind cheer. His bully situation isn't resolved in a satisfying way and sort of just goes out with a disappointing plop because he just magically realizes that he can report the abuse to the police. Skylar was there physically, but it didn't really feel like his presence had any real impact on Robin's character development. If anything, Robin's character suffered because of his inability to shake his crush and the lack of a proper conclusion.
Not even mentioning how the lack of scenes between Armand and Lucas didn't really help sell their romance when they did meet up. Sure, the texts + couple of notes were cute and helped set up a decent foundation, but nothing they did after really sold me on the idea that either of them say the other person as someone desirable enough to start courting. Robin and Skylar's teasing them about it felt super weird because in my eyes, Armand and Lucas were still just roomies who could've been good friends, not romantically linked because there was no jump from friendly to attracted in any of their interactions. And when they did meet, it annoyed me that Lucas just immediately left again instead of staying and talking with the guy he'd supposedly been dying to meet.
All of this to say that the characters had good setups and motivations, but they should've been broken out into separate books (Armand + Lucas & Robin + Skylar) because none of them got the screen time they deserved:
Armand needed to see the consequences of his anxiety and drinking.
Lucas needed to deal with the fallout of his relationship and how he moved forward from ten years of jabs at his confidence.
Robin needed more time to develop emotional maturity regarding his crush and gaining the self confidence to stand against his bully and live his life without fear.
Skylar needed more interactions with his family, his brother's GF, and his internal journey around his sexuality and how he experienced attraction.
TL;DR Too spread out, not enough time per POV to make things feel satisfying, but the book would've been much too long if everyone did get the focus they deserved, so this should've been separated out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2024
He is sharing an apartment and he never sees his fellow housemate. He is waiting for his partner to commit but he may just fall for his unseen roommate. Can he really fall for a man he never seen? Will it happen? See how it will all go
April 25, 2024
I loved this book and thought it was really cute and sweet. The characters are adorable. I really liked getting to know all of the characters and see their lives cross. It is a cozy romance so keep that mind if you typically read other types of romance.
April 8, 2024
I absolutely loved reading this book. First, I appreciate this author’s discretion in her telling of personal moments, it was refreshing. The friendships that developed were deep and inspiring. The story itself was fun, the texting between the m/c’s was a high point because they made me chuckle. So add amusing to the already strong love story and you have a very well rounded romance with fabulous characters that just leaves you satisfied and smiling, happily. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
April 11, 2024
I went back-and-forth on a three star or four star review, so I settled at 3.5. Based on the blurb, I was expecting a dual POV, but it is actually four person POV. It took a little bit to get into the book but once I did, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Some of the reasons that deducted stars:
• There were no content warnings or triggers listed at the beginning of the book, although this could have been because I received an ARC copy. When reading the details for the book online, it lists two CW when actually, there should be three. Alcoholism, emotional abuse, and bullying (not listed). Realistically, restricted eating, or orthorexia, could also be added.
• It was HFN(?), which was disappointing for me. The ending felt very abrupt with a lot of things left up in the air.
• It was Fade to Black, which is not my preference.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing, and I sincerely hope there is a follow up book to resolve all of the things not addressed.
Some of the reasons that deducted stars:
• There were no content warnings or triggers listed at the beginning of the book, although this could have been because I received an ARC copy. When reading the details for the book online, it lists two CW when actually, there should be three. Alcoholism, emotional abuse, and bullying (not listed). Realistically, restricted eating, or orthorexia, could also be added.
• It was HFN(?), which was disappointing for me. The ending felt very abrupt with a lot of things left up in the air.
• It was Fade to Black, which is not my preference.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing, and I sincerely hope there is a follow up book to resolve all of the things not addressed.
February 27, 2024
Whatever you were thinking about this book, no you weren’t.
First order of business is the fact that there are four MCs and four POVs. And I did not enjoy the way one of them was treated. At all. I definitely did not vibe with Robin. Poor Skyler, precious Ace bb that he was, and shame on the whole thing. The “save” at the end was too little, too late. That’s not how any of that works.
Next up is the HFN. It feels like there will be a second book and nothing is finished or wrapped up. I’ve seen a couple of places where folx have wondered and asked and without spoiling it, I’m here to clear it up: you won’t be getting a HEA.
I don’t really know the reason behind not disclosing these things, because I feel like a lot of people are going to have issues with them. Have y’all been in a reader group and seen the things folx demand? I’m not advocating for those people, but they do exist rather loudly, and while they don’t represent the whole, they definitely make it seem like they do.
As for spice, what’s there is fade-to-black, and there’s very little in the way of physical affection. There’s practically nothing and no chance for anything until the very end of the book, though, so you essentially get a chapter’s worth of it. So. If that’s something you look for, it’s not in here. And just like the last book I read that people kept calling fluffy and cosy, I did not get those vibes. I felt like the blurb didn’t wholly match the book from the beginning, and I wish it had. Oh, and I know it’s a big deal for a ton of folx, so I’ll mention that the MCs from the blurb are with other people on page. It’s not a cheating situation, but it seems that I see a significant amount of folx say they don’t like the MCs being with anyone else from the time they know the other exists.
It was a bit messy, tbh—err, this review is a bit messy, too, though, so I guess they’re both just what they are. Kind of hard to follow at times, and I still just don’t get the choice to have four MCs to keep track of. I would’ve rather focused solely on Armand and Lucas as they developed as characters and formed their feelings/deeper connection. The concept was interesting and I was so into it I requested the ARC, but it fell a little flat to me in the end. The execution lacked? I don’t know how to explain my inside thoughts on the outside right now, apparently.
I didn’t hate it, I just wish it would’ve matched the blurb. I was so here for that book. This one was cute in places, had a lot of potential, and I hope it gets finished with a second book. I’d definitely read a book two to get some answers and closure. I’m invested in Skyler and I believe Lucas and Armand could be so amazing together. Like I said, I’m not trying to be a downer and I didn’t hate it. I think I’m just feeling a bit let down. I wanted so much more than I feel like we got.
3.75/5. You don’t even get to know anything about the comic, and I was looking forward to that part of the story. Ugh. I feel like such a jerk.
**[I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All opinions, ratings, and reviews are my own.]**
First order of business is the fact that there are four MCs and four POVs. And I did not enjoy the way one of them was treated. At all. I definitely did not vibe with Robin. Poor Skyler, precious Ace bb that he was, and shame on the whole thing. The “save” at the end was too little, too late. That’s not how any of that works.
Next up is the HFN. It feels like there will be a second book and nothing is finished or wrapped up. I’ve seen a couple of places where folx have wondered and asked and without spoiling it, I’m here to clear it up: you won’t be getting a HEA.
I don’t really know the reason behind not disclosing these things, because I feel like a lot of people are going to have issues with them. Have y’all been in a reader group and seen the things folx demand? I’m not advocating for those people, but they do exist rather loudly, and while they don’t represent the whole, they definitely make it seem like they do.
As for spice, what’s there is fade-to-black, and there’s very little in the way of physical affection. There’s practically nothing and no chance for anything until the very end of the book, though, so you essentially get a chapter’s worth of it. So. If that’s something you look for, it’s not in here. And just like the last book I read that people kept calling fluffy and cosy, I did not get those vibes. I felt like the blurb didn’t wholly match the book from the beginning, and I wish it had. Oh, and I know it’s a big deal for a ton of folx, so I’ll mention that the MCs from the blurb are with other people on page. It’s not a cheating situation, but it seems that I see a significant amount of folx say they don’t like the MCs being with anyone else from the time they know the other exists.
It was a bit messy, tbh—err, this review is a bit messy, too, though, so I guess they’re both just what they are. Kind of hard to follow at times, and I still just don’t get the choice to have four MCs to keep track of. I would’ve rather focused solely on Armand and Lucas as they developed as characters and formed their feelings/deeper connection. The concept was interesting and I was so into it I requested the ARC, but it fell a little flat to me in the end. The execution lacked? I don’t know how to explain my inside thoughts on the outside right now, apparently.
I didn’t hate it, I just wish it would’ve matched the blurb. I was so here for that book. This one was cute in places, had a lot of potential, and I hope it gets finished with a second book. I’d definitely read a book two to get some answers and closure. I’m invested in Skyler and I believe Lucas and Armand could be so amazing together. Like I said, I’m not trying to be a downer and I didn’t hate it. I think I’m just feeling a bit let down. I wanted so much more than I feel like we got.
3.75/5. You don’t even get to know anything about the comic, and I was looking forward to that part of the story. Ugh. I feel like such a jerk.
**[I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All opinions, ratings, and reviews are my own.]**
April 23, 2024
This is the debut novel of two authors writing under the pen name, Sylvia Barry. For a debut, I thought it was great. To really enjoy this book, you have to set aside your expectations (ignore the blurb). Once I did that, I enjoyed the story a lot more. The writing is excellent, witty, and fun, but also raw and emotional at times. The characters all felt like real people, they were characters whose challenges I could relate to.
BUT what this book is not is important to know before you dive in. This isn't a romance between two MCs as the blurb would have you believe. There are four MCs: Lucas, Armand, Robin, and Skylar. The story covers a pivotal month of growth in the lives of all four men, and chapters are told from each character's POV. Each one is going through something different that affects the overall course of their life.
Lucas is learning about his own self-worth and to love himself.
Armand is learning to come out of his shell and dealing with some demons.
Skylar is learning who he is as an individual outside his nuclear circle back home and figuring out his sexuality.
Robin is learning that he doesn't have to be a victim, that he has the right to be safe and happy, and that sometimes, it's okay to just be friends.
All of the characters showed some significant change, though Robin's arc was probably the least obvious and seemed unfinished. I really felt like we were left hanging with his story and his relationship with Skylar. At the end of the story, they are about to embark on a new adventure together, and I would have liked to see how that went. I was probably most invested in Robin because what he was going through was so awful.
This book didn't read much like a romance to me. The MCs from the blurb didn't have any meaningful interaction until about half-way through. It felt more like literary fiction about four men who are connected to each other in various ways and are learning at different points in their lives where they fit in with the world around them and who they want to be. Once I stopped looking for the romance of the story, I found I enjoyed it a lot more. Overall, I think it's a solid debut by two talented authors. I hope to see more of Syliva Barry in the future.
BUT what this book is not is important to know before you dive in. This isn't a romance between two MCs as the blurb would have you believe. There are four MCs: Lucas, Armand, Robin, and Skylar. The story covers a pivotal month of growth in the lives of all four men, and chapters are told from each character's POV. Each one is going through something different that affects the overall course of their life.
Lucas is learning about his own self-worth and to love himself.
Armand is learning to come out of his shell and dealing with some demons.
Skylar is learning who he is as an individual outside his nuclear circle back home and figuring out his sexuality.
Robin is learning that he doesn't have to be a victim, that he has the right to be safe and happy, and that sometimes, it's okay to just be friends.
All of the characters showed some significant change, though Robin's arc was probably the least obvious and seemed unfinished. I really felt like we were left hanging with his story and his relationship with Skylar. At the end of the story, they are about to embark on a new adventure together, and I would have liked to see how that went. I was probably most invested in Robin because what he was going through was so awful.
This book didn't read much like a romance to me. The MCs from the blurb didn't have any meaningful interaction until about half-way through. It felt more like literary fiction about four men who are connected to each other in various ways and are learning at different points in their lives where they fit in with the world around them and who they want to be. Once I stopped looking for the romance of the story, I found I enjoyed it a lot more. Overall, I think it's a solid debut by two talented authors. I hope to see more of Syliva Barry in the future.
April 26, 2024
So there are a few things that made me pause/slightly worried before starting this book. Chief amongst them:
Four POVs.
Four FIRST PERSON POVs.
However, I am willing to admit my fears were mostly unfounded. The book did take several chapters to find its feet/rhythm, but once it did (around 15% just after I was like, I don't know if I like this Armand guy), I got really invested and the rest of the book flew by. (And the four POVs work really well, with distinct voices for each character. I suspect that is helped by the fact that is a writing duo, not just one author.)
This isn't a traditional romance, it's more like four characters weaving themselves together as their stories continue to intertwine until we get . . . an elaborate friendship bracelet? Huh, not the worst analogy for this book.
The other, tinier, hurdle is that we know from the blurb that Armand and Lucas don't meet for most of the book, despite sharing an apartment. I read (and enjoyed) The Flatshare, but I was a bit skeptical. The book mostly pulls it off, largely by giving itself up to the absurdity of the world, and it's almost like these are anti-coincidences that balance out how weirdly connected they are in lots of other ways.
The Robin/Skylar relationship/storyline is a bit messier (but the whole book is proudly messy, really), but they're both so young that I can forgive Robin for being a nervous wreck (he IS being stalked by a creepy high school bully, after all) and I also think that Skylar's desperate bid to keep a connection to Robin won't be taken advantage of . . . but even if there are hurt feelings and confusion later, well . . . that's life.
I think this is a book I'll return to and get more out of on a second reading, but I want to sit with the first read through for a while first. I highlighted a bunch, and was delighted to find multiple Red Dwarf references (though the show title is never actually mentioned.) Shout out to 90's nerds!
I do recommend this book, but ALSO recommend readers recalibrate their expectations. This isn't a straight up romance, though it does CONTAIN romance.
Many thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the advanced copy.
Four POVs.
Four FIRST PERSON POVs.
However, I am willing to admit my fears were mostly unfounded. The book did take several chapters to find its feet/rhythm, but once it did (around 15% just after I was like, I don't know if I like this Armand guy), I got really invested and the rest of the book flew by. (And the four POVs work really well, with distinct voices for each character. I suspect that is helped by the fact that is a writing duo, not just one author.)
This isn't a traditional romance, it's more like four characters weaving themselves together as their stories continue to intertwine until we get . . . an elaborate friendship bracelet? Huh, not the worst analogy for this book.
The other, tinier, hurdle is that we know from the blurb that Armand and Lucas don't meet for most of the book, despite sharing an apartment. I read (and enjoyed) The Flatshare, but I was a bit skeptical. The book mostly pulls it off, largely by giving itself up to the absurdity of the world, and it's almost like these are anti-coincidences that balance out how weirdly connected they are in lots of other ways.
The Robin/Skylar relationship/storyline is a bit messier (but the whole book is proudly messy, really), but they're both so young that I can forgive Robin for being a nervous wreck (he IS being stalked by a creepy high school bully, after all) and I also think that Skylar's desperate bid to keep a connection to Robin won't be taken advantage of . . . but even if there are hurt feelings and confusion later, well . . . that's life.
I think this is a book I'll return to and get more out of on a second reading, but I want to sit with the first read through for a while first. I highlighted a bunch, and was delighted to find multiple Red Dwarf references (though the show title is never actually mentioned.) Shout out to 90's nerds!
I do recommend this book, but ALSO recommend readers recalibrate their expectations. This isn't a straight up romance, though it does CONTAIN romance.
Many thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the advanced copy.
April 24, 2024
Not the book I was expecting
The blurb talks about Armand and Lucas so I expected a romance between them, narrated by them. It says nothing about Robin and Skylar, who merit and narrate twenty-one of the fifty-seven chapters in this book. So far, so weird.
I don't really have any triggers so it didn't bother me but this book is FULL of triggers with not a single warning about any of them.
I did like the story, with the two main leads being a bit Sleepless In Seattle. Aware of each other (even more so than Sam and Annie because they're sharing a flat), they don't meet face-to-face till three-quarters of the way through. Not at the top of the Empire State Building but it's still pretty memorable. I loved their texts and the events at the Con.
Was there ever a more awkward mess of awkwardness than Armand? I think not. What a shambles he was, but so endearing, I couldn't help but love him. I would have liked to learn his history as a couple of things were mentioned that were important to how he was now, but no further info was given.
I also loved Lucas and his horses, bless him. He was very hard done to as a character, with his awful boyfriend and his best friends turned couple turned ex-roommates. I so wanted him to be happy.
I also liked Robin and Skylar as characters but found it weird that a love story between two men actually featured four men as narrators. They interacted with Armand and Lucas throughout the story but even so... it was an odd choice.
Finally, it was barely a HFN, certainly not an HEA, and finished so abruptly I thought I'd somehow skipped over a chapter or epilogue, going to the end credits.
The blurb talks about Armand and Lucas so I expected a romance between them, narrated by them. It says nothing about Robin and Skylar, who merit and narrate twenty-one of the fifty-seven chapters in this book. So far, so weird.
I don't really have any triggers so it didn't bother me but this book is FULL of triggers with not a single warning about any of them.
I did like the story, with the two main leads being a bit Sleepless In Seattle. Aware of each other (even more so than Sam and Annie because they're sharing a flat), they don't meet face-to-face till three-quarters of the way through. Not at the top of the Empire State Building but it's still pretty memorable. I loved their texts and the events at the Con.
Was there ever a more awkward mess of awkwardness than Armand? I think not. What a shambles he was, but so endearing, I couldn't help but love him. I would have liked to learn his history as a couple of things were mentioned that were important to how he was now, but no further info was given.
I also loved Lucas and his horses, bless him. He was very hard done to as a character, with his awful boyfriend and his best friends turned couple turned ex-roommates. I so wanted him to be happy.
I also liked Robin and Skylar as characters but found it weird that a love story between two men actually featured four men as narrators. They interacted with Armand and Lucas throughout the story but even so... it was an odd choice.
Finally, it was barely a HFN, certainly not an HEA, and finished so abruptly I thought I'd somehow skipped over a chapter or epilogue, going to the end credits.
April 24, 2024
There are moments of absolute charm in this book— laugh-out-loud texts, witty quips, odd doodles and perkily passive aggressive post-it-notes and just a plethora of things to make you smile. And they’re woven through a narrative that is also often deeply painful: these characters are awkward and human and going through a lot— it’s a whole hot mess, and it can be a weighty one. While that wasn’t at all what I expected from the blurb or the book cover— the first “take a look behind the veneer of lightheartedness and see a character in genuine crisis” moment hit like an unexpected slap in the face— it definitely made for an immersive read.
I wanted the best for all four of the protagonists here, each of whom gets their own chances to share their narrative voice, and the “one step forward, two steps back” journey they all seem to be on in various ways felt mesmerizingly, ridiculously, and, at times, horrifyingly real. Yes, this is a story about mismatched roommates managing to cohabit in adorable yet absentee ways, as well as the college age duo who ends up pulled into said roommates’ orbit, but it’s also about bullying, the unhealthy use of alcohol, toxic relationships, and the bad decisions that sometimes get made in the name of coping, and so it’s a lot.
Ultimately, having reached the end of the story and thought about it more than I intended to, I think it’s a lot in a good way. I went into this book mistakenly expecting a romcom, and this ain’t that, but what it is a moving story about deeply relatable characters with vivid inner lives and distinctive voices. Plus, you know, a bit of a thing with two people who live together but manage a 21st century epistolary romance— if we’re counting post it-s and texts as epistolary, and heck, why not.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I wanted the best for all four of the protagonists here, each of whom gets their own chances to share their narrative voice, and the “one step forward, two steps back” journey they all seem to be on in various ways felt mesmerizingly, ridiculously, and, at times, horrifyingly real. Yes, this is a story about mismatched roommates managing to cohabit in adorable yet absentee ways, as well as the college age duo who ends up pulled into said roommates’ orbit, but it’s also about bullying, the unhealthy use of alcohol, toxic relationships, and the bad decisions that sometimes get made in the name of coping, and so it’s a lot.
Ultimately, having reached the end of the story and thought about it more than I intended to, I think it’s a lot in a good way. I went into this book mistakenly expecting a romcom, and this ain’t that, but what it is a moving story about deeply relatable characters with vivid inner lives and distinctive voices. Plus, you know, a bit of a thing with two people who live together but manage a 21st century epistolary romance— if we’re counting post it-s and texts as epistolary, and heck, why not.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
April 16, 2024
I’m really sad to say that this just wasn’t my cup of tea but maybe I went into it with the wrong expectations. I expected a cute rom-com/contemporary story. And I think it tries to be that. It just didn’t work for me this way.
The first thing was the writing. Since writing is incredibly subjective I’m not gonna say much about it. There wasn’t anything specific that got me but more the overall vibe that had me hesitate.
The second thing - and that one was major for me - the blurb is only about one couple. Why, please why do we get a plot and even quite a few POVs from a potentially second couple??? I wanna read the story in the blurb. Not any other story. Now, I know this might sound very harsh, but the thing about the second couple was also, that I just didn’t like Robin. I came to dislike him more and more. First thing was his drama - still fine - the main thing was his handling of Skylar’s sexuality. No, just no. He might have redeemed himself a bit in the end but that’s a no-go.
Now, the main couple was.. fine. There is quite a grumpy/sunshine situation going on. For the length of this book, I’d have liked there to be more of the actual relationship. They finally meet at around 75 % but keep in mind that some chapters are not the main couple.
I feel like the last few chapters were actually the best chapters of the whole book. But there was still something missing from the relationship. I’d say it’s more of an HFN than an HEA, since text messages and 2 dates just aren’t a strong ground to build a relationship on.
Overall I’m happy I finished the book. I’m not sure, I’d recommend it. Maybe I was just in the wrong headspace and you’re gonna read a wholly different book.
The first thing was the writing. Since writing is incredibly subjective I’m not gonna say much about it. There wasn’t anything specific that got me but more the overall vibe that had me hesitate.
The second thing - and that one was major for me - the blurb is only about one couple. Why, please why do we get a plot and even quite a few POVs from a potentially second couple??? I wanna read the story in the blurb. Not any other story. Now, I know this might sound very harsh, but the thing about the second couple was also, that I just didn’t like Robin. I came to dislike him more and more. First thing was his drama - still fine - the main thing was his handling of Skylar’s sexuality. No, just no. He might have redeemed himself a bit in the end but that’s a no-go.
Now, the main couple was.. fine. There is quite a grumpy/sunshine situation going on. For the length of this book, I’d have liked there to be more of the actual relationship. They finally meet at around 75 % but keep in mind that some chapters are not the main couple.
I feel like the last few chapters were actually the best chapters of the whole book. But there was still something missing from the relationship. I’d say it’s more of an HFN than an HEA, since text messages and 2 dates just aren’t a strong ground to build a relationship on.
Overall I’m happy I finished the book. I’m not sure, I’d recommend it. Maybe I was just in the wrong headspace and you’re gonna read a wholly different book.
March 6, 2024
This is a story with 4 characters in parallel. Armand is a British comic artist who’s come to the US for a month to teach a class on creating comics and give a talk at a convention. He’s newly sober and very anxious, so he hides away and starts drinking again.
He’s rooming with another guy, Lucas, who helps his Mom run a horse hospice, and is a photographer trying to get his work off the ground.
They never cross paths, and Lucas writes post its Armand doesn’t answer. Eventually, they sees each other’s lives unfold, and Armand helps Lucas with his breakup, albeit at a distance.
Armand’s liaison with the school is Robin, who’s in the theatre program, but his high school bully has also come to the same college, his worst nightmare, and he feels helpless to do anything as no one’s listened to him before.
Skyler saves him, and wants to be friends, but he’s dealing with being asexual and having had a reaction to his brother’s girlfriend, then running away. He goes to work for Lucas, and coincidentally, for Armand at one point too.
Their lives intersect in interesting ways, and they’re all likeable, but at times I got people confused, couldn’t get a clear sense of who Robin and Skyler were.
The rhythm of the story changed, sort of snappy and sarcastic at the start, which I loved, then a bit looser and unclear in its direction. Eventually things got nicely wrapped up, the end with Lucas and Armand was great. So, it’s a 5 star start, a 4 star end, but mostly a 3 overall.
I received this ARC for free, and am pleased to give it my honest review with appreciation.
He’s rooming with another guy, Lucas, who helps his Mom run a horse hospice, and is a photographer trying to get his work off the ground.
They never cross paths, and Lucas writes post its Armand doesn’t answer. Eventually, they sees each other’s lives unfold, and Armand helps Lucas with his breakup, albeit at a distance.
Armand’s liaison with the school is Robin, who’s in the theatre program, but his high school bully has also come to the same college, his worst nightmare, and he feels helpless to do anything as no one’s listened to him before.
Skyler saves him, and wants to be friends, but he’s dealing with being asexual and having had a reaction to his brother’s girlfriend, then running away. He goes to work for Lucas, and coincidentally, for Armand at one point too.
Their lives intersect in interesting ways, and they’re all likeable, but at times I got people confused, couldn’t get a clear sense of who Robin and Skyler were.
The rhythm of the story changed, sort of snappy and sarcastic at the start, which I loved, then a bit looser and unclear in its direction. Eventually things got nicely wrapped up, the end with Lucas and Armand was great. So, it’s a 5 star start, a 4 star end, but mostly a 3 overall.
I received this ARC for free, and am pleased to give it my honest review with appreciation.
March 24, 2024
I had an ARC copy of the book, sent to me by a group that asks for honest reviews.
This is the first book by this author I have read. It seemed long and drawn out through the first portion of the book and because the chapters took the story forward from different storytellers - Robin, Skyler, Lucas and Armand leaving the reader to figure out who was telling the story. It took me half the book to be able to figure that out correctly.
The premise is Armand arrives at the airport from London and Robin, his guide and handler in California gets him settled in a shared flat. Part of the story is the strange fact Armand and his flatmate do not meet until the last couple of chapters although through differences in lifestyle, notes are exhanged quite frequently and towards the end a desire to meet.
Robin is bullied and Skyker rescues him on more than one occasion but Skyler is still trying to figure out his orientation.
Partly by reading the story through the eyes of different people, one does learn about character although it takes some time. In the end, one has satisfaction that a HEA just might be happening for both couples although there is no actuality to that.
My rating is based on the confusing manner of writing, the lack of complete closure, and slogging first half. It is bolstered by the humour introduced by the author - quite a strong plus.
This is the first book by this author I have read. It seemed long and drawn out through the first portion of the book and because the chapters took the story forward from different storytellers - Robin, Skyler, Lucas and Armand leaving the reader to figure out who was telling the story. It took me half the book to be able to figure that out correctly.
The premise is Armand arrives at the airport from London and Robin, his guide and handler in California gets him settled in a shared flat. Part of the story is the strange fact Armand and his flatmate do not meet until the last couple of chapters although through differences in lifestyle, notes are exhanged quite frequently and towards the end a desire to meet.
Robin is bullied and Skyker rescues him on more than one occasion but Skyler is still trying to figure out his orientation.
Partly by reading the story through the eyes of different people, one does learn about character although it takes some time. In the end, one has satisfaction that a HEA just might be happening for both couples although there is no actuality to that.
My rating is based on the confusing manner of writing, the lack of complete closure, and slogging first half. It is bolstered by the humour introduced by the author - quite a strong plus.
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