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Patchwork Paradise
Oliver and Samuel’s relationship is fairy-tale perfect. They share a gorgeous house in Antwerp, go out with their friends every weekend, and count down the days to their dream wedding. But their happy ending is shattered one late night, and just like that, Ollie is left bereft and alone.
The months that follow are long and dark, but slowly Ollie emerges from his grief. He even braves the waters of online dating, though deep down he doesn’t believe he can find that connection again. He doesn’t think to look for love right in front of his bisexual friend Thomas, the gentle giant with a kind heart and sad eyes who’s wanted him all along.
When Thomas suddenly discovers he has a son who needs him, he’s ill prepared. Ollie opens up his house — Sam’s house — and lets them in. Ollie doesn’t know what scares him the responsibility of caring for a baby, or the way Thomas is steadily winning his heart. It will take all the courage he has to discover whether or not fairy tales can happen for real.
Word 73,300; page 262
The months that follow are long and dark, but slowly Ollie emerges from his grief. He even braves the waters of online dating, though deep down he doesn’t believe he can find that connection again. He doesn’t think to look for love right in front of his bisexual friend Thomas, the gentle giant with a kind heart and sad eyes who’s wanted him all along.
When Thomas suddenly discovers he has a son who needs him, he’s ill prepared. Ollie opens up his house — Sam’s house — and lets them in. Ollie doesn’t know what scares him the responsibility of caring for a baby, or the way Thomas is steadily winning his heart. It will take all the courage he has to discover whether or not fairy tales can happen for real.
Word 73,300; page 262
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2016
75 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
About the author
Indra Vaughn
21 books211 followersAfter living in Michigan, USA for seven wonderful years, Indra Vaughn returned back to her Belgian roots. There she will continue to consume herbal tea, do yoga wherever the mat fits, and devour books while single parenting a little boy and working as a nurse.
The stories of boys and their unrequited love will no doubt keep finding their way onto the page--and hopefully into readers hands--even if it takes a little more time.
And if she gleefully posts pictures of snow-free streets in winter, you'll have to forgive her. Those Michigan blizzards won't be forgotten in a hurry.
The stories of boys and their unrequited love will no doubt keep finding their way onto the page--and hopefully into readers hands--even if it takes a little more time.
And if she gleefully posts pictures of snow-free streets in winter, you'll have to forgive her. Those Michigan blizzards won't be forgotten in a hurry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
August 17, 2016
4 Stars!!
'Patchwork Paradise' was my third and definitely my favorite book I’ve read by this author. Equally heartbreaking and heartwarming, this story was beautifully written, gripping, intense at times and very emotional, so make sure you have your tissues ready. A friends to lovers/hurt-comfort story, 'Patchwork Paradise' is a wonderful story of loss, second chances at life and love and learning to let go.
Oliver ‘Ollie’ has known Sam since he was just ten years old. They had started dating when they were sixteen and they are now getting married in one month. Ollie loves Sam with all his heart and cherishes their sweet, fairy-tale perfect relationship, loves their house, his job as a medical software engineering and their small group of friends. Their life is perfection until Ollie and Sam’s happiness is shattered one night when Sam is killed in a burglary. Oliver is devastated. He doesn’t know how to life with the man he loved for so long, he feels he can’t function without Sam, but he knows if he wants to survive he has to at least try.
Thomas is one of Ollie’s best friends. He has been in love with his friend since forever, but he accepted he doesn’t have any chance since Ollie had already had someone to love. He tried to move on, to forget the man who over the years came to mean so much for him, sleeping around with both men and women, truly believing he will never will find love and happiness. Even if Sam passed away, Thomas believes he doesn’t have any chance to be with Ollie. He respected Sam as a friend and he respects Ollie too much to push him in that direction.
Ollie had never known about Thomas’s feelings. He feels guilty a little for not figuring out this years ago and he feels he’s ready to try to move on believing his friend is the perfect man for that. Everything changes for the two men when Thomas finds out he has a son who needs him more than anything.
Indra Vaughn delivered a well done beautifully heartbreaking story that will move you to tears. I loved the fact that despite the premise the story wasn’t cheesy or sappy. The plot was well developed, complex and the author did a great job with both Ollie’s grief and with the relationship between Ollie and Thomas. The story wasn’t full and stupid drama which to be honest pleased me to no end. However, Ollie’s tries to move on felt believable.
I liked both Ollie and Thomas. The author did a fantastic job with Ollie’s character portraying him and his emotions in a very realistic way. My heart broke for him. I wanted to give him a hug so badly and I desperately wanted for him to find happiness again. He was well developed and complex and I’m glad that he had friends that were so wonderful. As for Thomas, oh, man…I really sympathize with him. He was such a good, loyal friend to Ollie. He was there for him when he needed someone, he was sweet, caring, protective and so very thoughtful. Needless to say I loved him to pieces. From the beginning he proved he is what Ollie needs, a wonderful man who will do anything for those he loves. He’s also a great father to his son. I loved how Ollie’s help him deal with everything and how supportive he was at times.
Ollie and Thomas’s relationship was wonderful and the transition from friends to something more was done in a very believable way. To be honest the slowwww burn relationship between them frustrated me a little simply because I wanted for them to finally be happy, but I appreciated it in some way because it felt more natural and nothing between them felt forced. I loved the relationship both these two main characters had with the little boy. They were so cute together and some scenes were pure and simple adorable.
I have to mention the setting – Belgium, which I found to be very interesting and refreshing and also the supportive characters that were as well portrayed as the main characters and so engaging.
Overall, a wonderful friends to lovers story that I highly recommend!
'Patchwork Paradise' was my third and definitely my favorite book I’ve read by this author. Equally heartbreaking and heartwarming, this story was beautifully written, gripping, intense at times and very emotional, so make sure you have your tissues ready. A friends to lovers/hurt-comfort story, 'Patchwork Paradise' is a wonderful story of loss, second chances at life and love and learning to let go.
Oliver ‘Ollie’ has known Sam since he was just ten years old. They had started dating when they were sixteen and they are now getting married in one month. Ollie loves Sam with all his heart and cherishes their sweet, fairy-tale perfect relationship, loves their house, his job as a medical software engineering and their small group of friends. Their life is perfection until Ollie and Sam’s happiness is shattered one night when Sam is killed in a burglary. Oliver is devastated. He doesn’t know how to life with the man he loved for so long, he feels he can’t function without Sam, but he knows if he wants to survive he has to at least try.
Thomas is one of Ollie’s best friends. He has been in love with his friend since forever, but he accepted he doesn’t have any chance since Ollie had already had someone to love. He tried to move on, to forget the man who over the years came to mean so much for him, sleeping around with both men and women, truly believing he will never will find love and happiness. Even if Sam passed away, Thomas believes he doesn’t have any chance to be with Ollie. He respected Sam as a friend and he respects Ollie too much to push him in that direction.
Ollie had never known about Thomas’s feelings. He feels guilty a little for not figuring out this years ago and he feels he’s ready to try to move on believing his friend is the perfect man for that. Everything changes for the two men when Thomas finds out he has a son who needs him more than anything.
Indra Vaughn delivered a well done beautifully heartbreaking story that will move you to tears. I loved the fact that despite the premise the story wasn’t cheesy or sappy. The plot was well developed, complex and the author did a great job with both Ollie’s grief and with the relationship between Ollie and Thomas. The story wasn’t full and stupid drama which to be honest pleased me to no end. However, Ollie’s tries to move on felt believable.
I liked both Ollie and Thomas. The author did a fantastic job with Ollie’s character portraying him and his emotions in a very realistic way. My heart broke for him. I wanted to give him a hug so badly and I desperately wanted for him to find happiness again. He was well developed and complex and I’m glad that he had friends that were so wonderful. As for Thomas, oh, man…I really sympathize with him. He was such a good, loyal friend to Ollie. He was there for him when he needed someone, he was sweet, caring, protective and so very thoughtful. Needless to say I loved him to pieces. From the beginning he proved he is what Ollie needs, a wonderful man who will do anything for those he loves. He’s also a great father to his son. I loved how Ollie’s help him deal with everything and how supportive he was at times.
Ollie and Thomas’s relationship was wonderful and the transition from friends to something more was done in a very believable way. To be honest the slowwww burn relationship between them frustrated me a little simply because I wanted for them to finally be happy, but I appreciated it in some way because it felt more natural and nothing between them felt forced. I loved the relationship both these two main characters had with the little boy. They were so cute together and some scenes were pure and simple adorable.
I have to mention the setting – Belgium, which I found to be very interesting and refreshing and also the supportive characters that were as well portrayed as the main characters and so engaging.
Overall, a wonderful friends to lovers story that I highly recommend!
October 1, 2018
*Kindle freebie 10/1/18!!*
*4.5 stars*
This is one seriously good book. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and really skillfully written, all fans of hurt/comfort and friends-to-lovers stories should give this one a shot.
I see you looking at that cover and I KNOW what you are thinking. And no, this book isn't cheesy or lame in the least. Despite the fact that these two look like they are in a commercial for foot fungus cream and are wearing matching cable-knit sweaters (*groan*), there is a really touching story within.
My only warning for all of you is that if you like your MCs to hook up ONLY with each other over the course of a story, don't try this one. It takes the main characters a long time to get together, and there are many bumps along the road getting to that point.
I went into this book with fairly low expectations, if I'm being honest. I've never read Indra Vaughn before, and I have an abysmal track record with new-to-me authors. However, I was really, really surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. I'm SO glad that I already own a bunch of Indra Vaughn's other works because she has some impressive writing chops.
I think some of the trickiest stories to write are those that involve people getting over the death of their first love. However, I tend to LOVE these second chance at love type stories, and they rank as some of my all-time favorites (Second Chances, After Ben). Indra Vaughn really did this trope justice. The relationship between Ollie and Sam felt authentic, Ollie's grieving period after Sam's death felt authentic, and Ollie's evolution of his relationship with Thomas felt authentic. It all felt true and heart-wrenching and meaningful.
My only issue with this story is that it takes a looong time to get to where our two MCs are together. Granted, that is a also a positive for me because the author had time to really make us know that Ollie's feelings were real, but still there are a LOT of details of our MCs with other people, which grew to be a bit distracting.
There is also the kid issue, which can be tricky in stories, but I think that the author did a beautiful job with it. The child aspect to the story really ratcheted up the emotion and intensity between Ollie and Thomas, in a good way. In fact, this book was so intense and so hard for me to put down, that I ended up staying up until 3 am to finish it.
This is a long, emotionally difficult story with a beautiful HEA in the end. You will be rooting for our MCs to get together and for Oliver to find peace and happiness once more. All fans of hard-fought, friends-to-lovers stories should not let this one pass them by.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
*4.5 stars*
This is one seriously good book. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and really skillfully written, all fans of hurt/comfort and friends-to-lovers stories should give this one a shot.
I see you looking at that cover and I KNOW what you are thinking. And no, this book isn't cheesy or lame in the least. Despite the fact that these two look like they are in a commercial for foot fungus cream and are wearing matching cable-knit sweaters (*groan*), there is a really touching story within.
My only warning for all of you is that if you like your MCs to hook up ONLY with each other over the course of a story, don't try this one. It takes the main characters a long time to get together, and there are many bumps along the road getting to that point.
I went into this book with fairly low expectations, if I'm being honest. I've never read Indra Vaughn before, and I have an abysmal track record with new-to-me authors. However, I was really, really surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. I'm SO glad that I already own a bunch of Indra Vaughn's other works because she has some impressive writing chops.
I think some of the trickiest stories to write are those that involve people getting over the death of their first love. However, I tend to LOVE these second chance at love type stories, and they rank as some of my all-time favorites (Second Chances, After Ben). Indra Vaughn really did this trope justice. The relationship between Ollie and Sam felt authentic, Ollie's grieving period after Sam's death felt authentic, and Ollie's evolution of his relationship with Thomas felt authentic. It all felt true and heart-wrenching and meaningful.
My only issue with this story is that it takes a looong time to get to where our two MCs are together. Granted, that is a also a positive for me because the author had time to really make us know that Ollie's feelings were real, but still there are a LOT of details of our MCs with other people, which grew to be a bit distracting.
There is also the kid issue, which can be tricky in stories, but I think that the author did a beautiful job with it. The child aspect to the story really ratcheted up the emotion and intensity between Ollie and Thomas, in a good way. In fact, this book was so intense and so hard for me to put down, that I ended up staying up until 3 am to finish it.
This is a long, emotionally difficult story with a beautiful HEA in the end. You will be rooting for our MCs to get together and for Oliver to find peace and happiness once more. All fans of hard-fought, friends-to-lovers stories should not let this one pass them by.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Want to read
January 27, 2016that cover looks like something you'd find in the pamphlet for an assisted living facility.
but at least The Gays are smiling on it, though.
almost never see that in MM; apparently we are only allowed to be grumpy or suffering the sekrit fires of our agony.
but at least The Gays are smiling on it, though.
almost never see that in MM; apparently we are only allowed to be grumpy or suffering the sekrit fires of our agony.
December 22, 2016
*4.5 stars* - Same rating as my original ebook rating on audio reread. Lovely narrator.
This is one seriously good book. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and really skillfully written, all fans of hurt/comfort and friends-to-lovers stories should give this one a shot.
I see you looking at that cover and I KNOW what you are thinking. And no, this book isn't cheesy or lame in the least. Despite the fact that these two look like they are in a commercial for foot fungus cream and are wearing matching cable-knit sweaters (*groan*), there is a really touching story within.
My only warning for all of you is that if you like your MCs to hook up ONLY with each other over the course of a story, don't try this one. It takes the main characters a long time to get together, and there are many bumps along the road getting to that point.
I read the book first in ebook form, so this was my second time around with this story. Audiobooks are sometimes funny things, and I book that I LOVED in ebook format sometimes has a crappy narrator or doesn't translate well when read aloud, and vice versa. This story was just as lovely the second time, and I was again impressed with Indra Vaughn's abilities as a writer. The audiobook narrator, Craig Beck, did a great job, and I'd listen to him again any day of the week.
I think some of the trickiest stories to write are those that involve people getting over the death of their first love. However, I tend to LOVE these second chance at love type stories, and they rank as some of my all-time favorites (Second Chances, After Ben). Indra Vaughn really did this trope justice. The relationship between Ollie and Sam felt authentic, Ollie's grieving period after Sam's death felt authentic, and Ollie's evolution of his relationship with Thomas felt authentic. It all felt true and heart-wrenching and meaningful.
My only issue with this story is that it takes a looong time to get to where our two MCs are together. Granted, that is a also a positive for me because the author had time to really make us know that Ollie's feelings were real, but still there are a LOT of details of our MCs with other people, which grew to be a bit distracting.
There is also the kid issue, which can be tricky in stories, but I think that the author did a beautiful job with it. The child aspect to the story really ratcheted up the emotion and intensity between Ollie and Thomas, in a good way.
This was a long, emotionally difficult story with a beautiful HEA in the end. You will be rooting for our MCs to get together and for Oliver to find peace and happiness once more. All fans of hard-fought, friends-to-lovers stories should not let this one pass them by.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
April 11, 2016
I truly didn’t expect to like this one so much.
I’d read nothing of Indra Vaughn so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out this author has it in herself to write solid and complex stories like this one.
Because, wow, this is one of those books that is built in such a effective and thoughtful way you can’t stop yourself from noticing.
Let’s begin with the plot. Ollie and Sam have been together since they were 16, and BFF even earlier. They are going to get married in a month. But all this happiness and the illusion is cut short when Sam is killed in a burglary.
At this point, you are probably thinking “Oh no, not this again, drama-llama, tears-to-fill-rivers, blablabla”. I’m not embarrassed to say that’s how I was reacting as soon as I read the first pages. I thought this would be the typical: overcome your last boyfriend, who now that he is dead, will be far from perfect, and cry and cry and cry, and then, voilà, you are ready for a new relationship. A rey muerto, rey puesto (dead King, new King).
Well, things turned out to be a little more complicated.
For starters, yes, there are tears, but I never felt “blackmailed” or “manipulated” to feel empathy in any moment of the play. It came naturally, nothing was forced or artificial. The duel is tough and long. And by that I don’t mean you get the itching of “Come on, I’m getting impatient, is this phase going to be over soon? In the next 50 pages at least?”.
Keep calm, you never want things to move faster, you want to savour them. Because you have already realized this is not going to go sour if you fail to keep your eyes open all the time. It only gets better.
It’s a very slow-paced love story, but a solid one at that. Every character has his own place, and it could not be played by anybody else. They are defined and believable, and sometimes they made me smile, because the friends are there but they are not glued to the MCs as if they didn’t have a life of their own. They aren’t distant, either. We get to know them very well, and worry for them, too. This comes from me, who, by the way, hates having interferences in the way. But here the secondary characters were precious. I loved Ollie’s mom. And tried to feel sympathy towards Sam’s parents, but failed.
And the couple? Ollie really loves Thomas, as a friend, that is. Thomas, on the other hand… may have forbidden feelings for a little while now. Ooooops. Okaaaaaaaay, he has had for years, but Thomas apparently enjoys sleeping around, so Ollie is none the wiser. When I think about Thomas and all his pain my heart wrenches.
But somehow Ollie begins to see Thomas in different light. He’s not ready for changes in his life, he misses Sam too much, and it hurts. But more often than not, he’s thinking about Thomas, he wonders what he is doing, where did he go, will he disappear with that girl or that boy over there and why does that thought upset him so much?
Everything is so subtle and genuine the package resulted in a gift of excellent taste. I wanted them to be together, and then I craved them being together. The wait is deliciously agonizing and you enjoy the process. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a heavy book, in spite of everything I’ve told above. In fact, it’s quite easy to read and not that much on the “angsty” side as it leads you to believe.
It’s a hurt/comfort and a feel-good kind of book. Everything gave me good vibes. I loved the pair. I read it with pleasure and delight.
I love the idea of the plot set in Belgium. I didn’t realize we were in this country until the mention of Namur and I was shocked by this because I think this is a first in my M/M experience. I’ve visited the country several times and I learnt to carry an umbrella and a raincoat, just in case. Even in summer. Once they mention a traffic jam and I laughed out loud. The novel in truth reminded me of good times.
The drawback? That cover. I mean, when I first saw it I thought it was the gay version of an Aryan family propaganda or maybe a vitro fertilization advertisement for childless families. Seriously, I was attracted by the cover because it’s not horrid, but I can’t deny I had my doubts about going for it, too.
Fortunately, the author came out victorious from the baby part. Every piece in the puzzle fit and it didn’t make me grind my teeth as I feared. Those scenes are some of the cutest, and I don’t mean baby things only, but everything that goes over the baby’s head, everything that happens between his two daddies. I wanted to squeeze them together and make lemonade. They were so sweet I wanted to grab a spoon!
In case you didn’t notice, I loved the book, and I recommend it.
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
I’d read nothing of Indra Vaughn so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out this author has it in herself to write solid and complex stories like this one.
Because, wow, this is one of those books that is built in such a effective and thoughtful way you can’t stop yourself from noticing.
Let’s begin with the plot. Ollie and Sam have been together since they were 16, and BFF even earlier. They are going to get married in a month. But all this happiness and the illusion is cut short when Sam is killed in a burglary.
At this point, you are probably thinking “Oh no, not this again, drama-llama, tears-to-fill-rivers, blablabla”. I’m not embarrassed to say that’s how I was reacting as soon as I read the first pages. I thought this would be the typical: overcome your last boyfriend, who now that he is dead, will be far from perfect, and cry and cry and cry, and then, voilà, you are ready for a new relationship. A rey muerto, rey puesto (dead King, new King).
Well, things turned out to be a little more complicated.
For starters, yes, there are tears, but I never felt “blackmailed” or “manipulated” to feel empathy in any moment of the play. It came naturally, nothing was forced or artificial. The duel is tough and long. And by that I don’t mean you get the itching of “Come on, I’m getting impatient, is this phase going to be over soon? In the next 50 pages at least?”.
Keep calm, you never want things to move faster, you want to savour them. Because you have already realized this is not going to go sour if you fail to keep your eyes open all the time. It only gets better.
It’s a very slow-paced love story, but a solid one at that. Every character has his own place, and it could not be played by anybody else. They are defined and believable, and sometimes they made me smile, because the friends are there but they are not glued to the MCs as if they didn’t have a life of their own. They aren’t distant, either. We get to know them very well, and worry for them, too. This comes from me, who, by the way, hates having interferences in the way. But here the secondary characters were precious. I loved Ollie’s mom. And tried to feel sympathy towards Sam’s parents, but failed.
And the couple? Ollie really loves Thomas, as a friend, that is. Thomas, on the other hand… may have forbidden feelings for a little while now. Ooooops. Okaaaaaaaay, he has had for years, but Thomas apparently enjoys sleeping around, so Ollie is none the wiser. When I think about Thomas and all his pain my heart wrenches.
But somehow Ollie begins to see Thomas in different light. He’s not ready for changes in his life, he misses Sam too much, and it hurts. But more often than not, he’s thinking about Thomas, he wonders what he is doing, where did he go, will he disappear with that girl or that boy over there and why does that thought upset him so much?
Everything is so subtle and genuine the package resulted in a gift of excellent taste. I wanted them to be together, and then I craved them being together. The wait is deliciously agonizing and you enjoy the process. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a heavy book, in spite of everything I’ve told above. In fact, it’s quite easy to read and not that much on the “angsty” side as it leads you to believe.
It’s a hurt/comfort and a feel-good kind of book. Everything gave me good vibes. I loved the pair. I read it with pleasure and delight.
I love the idea of the plot set in Belgium. I didn’t realize we were in this country until the mention of Namur and I was shocked by this because I think this is a first in my M/M experience. I’ve visited the country several times and I learnt to carry an umbrella and a raincoat, just in case. Even in summer. Once they mention a traffic jam and I laughed out loud. The novel in truth reminded me of good times.
The drawback? That cover. I mean, when I first saw it I thought it was the gay version of an Aryan family propaganda or maybe a vitro fertilization advertisement for childless families. Seriously, I was attracted by the cover because it’s not horrid, but I can’t deny I had my doubts about going for it, too.
Fortunately, the author came out victorious from the baby part. Every piece in the puzzle fit and it didn’t make me grind my teeth as I feared. Those scenes are some of the cutest, and I don’t mean baby things only, but everything that goes over the baby’s head, everything that happens between his two daddies. I wanted to squeeze them together and make lemonade. They were so sweet I wanted to grab a spoon!
In case you didn’t notice, I loved the book, and I recommend it.
*****
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
June 19, 2021
4.5 Stars!
No one is more shocked by how much this story affected me because really, with such an awful cheesy cover such as this, understandably, expectations were very low. However, in an effort to get through my paid list, this has been languishing on my shelf for years, and I’m thrilled this was a win as I finished it one sitting, a true reading rarity.
What I really want to convey here is that Vaughn wonderfully depicts Ollie and Sam’s relationship quite beautifully. I really felt their love connection and happiness and when that’s ripped away, it made the loss so acutely and deeply felt. Often second chance, dead spouse romances perhaps gloss over the little details and rush things unrealistically but here, Vaughn painfully and meticulously allows the reader to see Ollie’s devastation - how it seems nigh impossible to get over but slowly, torturously, he picks himself up and day by day, struggles to survive and eventually thrive.
This also focuses on Thomas, who has been desperately in love with Ollie for years, who never ever was supposed to have even a possibility of a chance with Ollie and now, struggles to move on with his life as well, because how do you even present yourself as an option for a new future? This man was amazing inside and out and wins the seldom given hubby award, as Thomas’s raw desperate feelings and ensuing vulnerability is showcased over and over with tender precision.
There’s definitely plenty of roadblocks and obstacles, and Vaughn never shies away from the tough topics as she thoroughly picks apart grief and healing and the paralytic fear and overwhelming guilt and fragile hope that life just may carry on. Beware the extra strife with Sam's selfish parents and peripheral besties with their own weighty issues, not to mention Thomas’s baby mama drama.
Regardless, the take away point is, at its soulful core, this was truly an affecting love story for two captivating individuals who deserve all the happiness, making the penultimate culmination and fitting ending well worth the angst ridden wait. Suffice it to say, this was the best second chance romance I’ve read to date and if you like this trope, don’t miss out!
No one is more shocked by how much this story affected me because really, with such an awful cheesy cover such as this, understandably, expectations were very low. However, in an effort to get through my paid list, this has been languishing on my shelf for years, and I’m thrilled this was a win as I finished it one sitting, a true reading rarity.
What I really want to convey here is that Vaughn wonderfully depicts Ollie and Sam’s relationship quite beautifully. I really felt their love connection and happiness and when that’s ripped away, it made the loss so acutely and deeply felt. Often second chance, dead spouse romances perhaps gloss over the little details and rush things unrealistically but here, Vaughn painfully and meticulously allows the reader to see Ollie’s devastation - how it seems nigh impossible to get over but slowly, torturously, he picks himself up and day by day, struggles to survive and eventually thrive.
This also focuses on Thomas, who has been desperately in love with Ollie for years, who never ever was supposed to have even a possibility of a chance with Ollie and now, struggles to move on with his life as well, because how do you even present yourself as an option for a new future? This man was amazing inside and out and wins the seldom given hubby award, as Thomas’s raw desperate feelings and ensuing vulnerability is showcased over and over with tender precision.
There’s definitely plenty of roadblocks and obstacles, and Vaughn never shies away from the tough topics as she thoroughly picks apart grief and healing and the paralytic fear and overwhelming guilt and fragile hope that life just may carry on. Beware the extra strife with Sam's selfish parents and peripheral besties with their own weighty issues, not to mention Thomas’s baby mama drama.
Regardless, the take away point is, at its soulful core, this was truly an affecting love story for two captivating individuals who deserve all the happiness, making the penultimate culmination and fitting ending well worth the angst ridden wait. Suffice it to say, this was the best second chance romance I’ve read to date and if you like this trope, don’t miss out!
March 31, 2016
This was such a good book, but damn did it make me do my ugly cry....
It ripped my heart right out...but thankfully it also put it back in ;)
Oliver has known Sam since he was a young boy. They have been together as a couple, since he was 16 years old. Sam is the love of his life and they have a great relationship.
Until one day everything is torn to shreds.....
Oliver is devastated, he doesn't know if he will ever get over losing his love....
Thomas is Ollie's friend. He has always had feelings for Oliver, but he knew from the beginning that Oliver belonged to Sam. So he never did anything about it and he never told Ollie.
He also knows that Oliver is grieving and that he needs his friend, so he tries to be there for Ollie as best as he can....
Ollie takes his time grieving his lost love and Thomas still tries to be the best friend he can be....
When Oliver eventually finds out about Thomas' feelings, things start to change for him a little bit. He starts thinking about his future. Will he be able to fall in love again...will he be ready to move on one day...
When the day finaly arrives, when Ollie is ready try to move on, another shitstorm hits, and this time Thomas is the one who needs all the help he can get...
What I liked most about this book, is that it's realistic. Oliver needs a lot of time, coming to terms with what happend and dealing with his grief. These men don't just jump into a relationship together. A lot of time passes and even after all that time, Ollie has not forgotten about Sam.
This book is a slow burn and the MC's were mostly friends for a long time. They also spend time (sexually) with other people. They had to travel a long road, to end up together. It was also very refreshing that there was some humor in there.
This was a hard read at times...I cried a lot, but it was also beautiful to see how a broken heart can learn to love again....
4,5 stars from me :)
October 13, 2018
~3.5~
If you're in need of a good cry, grab a blanket, a bottle of wine (glass optional), and tissues (a must!), and settle down to read Patchwork Paradise.
In many ways, this is a brilliant story. It's incredibly well written and evocative. It shows the many subtle ways grief breaks and remolds us. The characters are complex and multi-layered. The theme of hurt/comfort (more hurt than comfort) is always present.
I read this story in one sitting, and, man, did I ever ugly cry. The first few chapters, which show us Sam dying in Ollie's arms after a petty, senseless crime, were brutal. And the angst never stopped. Just when Ollie climbs out of the fog, he has to deal with his friends' infidelity, Sam's parents' greed, and the trial of Sam's murderer.
Thomas has been Ollie's friends for several years, but, blind to anything but his own happiness with Sam, Ollie never noticed that Thomas has been in love with him since forever.
I wanted to root for Thomas and Ollie, but I just didn't like Thomas. The constant sleeping around, the sudden revelation from a past lover, the American boyfriend ... it was so much. TOO much.
I saw absolutely no reason to include the Thomas/Cleo side plot; what purpose did that serve besides making the story even more complicated and angsty? I also didn't need to know so much about Cleo and her boyfriend and their relationship drama.
There's but one steamy scene between Thomas and Ollie, but an on-page sex snippet of Thomas and a random woman that, again, didn't need to be there.
This book isn't really a romance; it's a novel of loss, grief, and healing.
The man who loved Ollie more than anything, the only man I wanted to see Ollie with, dies in the first chapter. I didn't begrudge Ollie a second chance at love, but the romance between Ollie and Thomas didn't begin until the 70 percent mark. That's a long time to wait, especially since the second Ollie and Thomas get together, Thomas, after pining for Ollie for YEARS, immediately runs away.
The epilogue is sweet; there is rebirth after death. But I felt completely depleted when the book ended. I didn't feel hopeful; I felt like I'd been ran over by a Mack truck. My response is entirely personal, of course, but that's not the way I want to feel after reading a romance novel.
If you're in need of a good cry, grab a blanket, a bottle of wine (glass optional), and tissues (a must!), and settle down to read Patchwork Paradise.
In many ways, this is a brilliant story. It's incredibly well written and evocative. It shows the many subtle ways grief breaks and remolds us. The characters are complex and multi-layered. The theme of hurt/comfort (more hurt than comfort) is always present.
I read this story in one sitting, and, man, did I ever ugly cry. The first few chapters, which show us Sam dying in Ollie's arms after a petty, senseless crime, were brutal. And the angst never stopped. Just when Ollie climbs out of the fog, he has to deal with his friends' infidelity, Sam's parents' greed, and the trial of Sam's murderer.
Thomas has been Ollie's friends for several years, but, blind to anything but his own happiness with Sam, Ollie never noticed that Thomas has been in love with him since forever.
I wanted to root for Thomas and Ollie, but I just didn't like Thomas. The constant sleeping around, the sudden revelation from a past lover, the American boyfriend ... it was so much. TOO much.
I saw absolutely no reason to include the Thomas/Cleo side plot; what purpose did that serve besides making the story even more complicated and angsty? I also didn't need to know so much about Cleo and her boyfriend and their relationship drama.
There's but one steamy scene between Thomas and Ollie, but an on-page sex snippet of Thomas and a random woman that, again, didn't need to be there.
This book isn't really a romance; it's a novel of loss, grief, and healing.
The man who loved Ollie more than anything, the only man I wanted to see Ollie with, dies in the first chapter. I didn't begrudge Ollie a second chance at love, but the romance between Ollie and Thomas didn't begin until the 70 percent mark. That's a long time to wait, especially since the second Ollie and Thomas get together, Thomas, after pining for Ollie for YEARS, immediately runs away.
The epilogue is sweet; there is rebirth after death. But I felt completely depleted when the book ended. I didn't feel hopeful; I felt like I'd been ran over by a Mack truck. My response is entirely personal, of course, but that's not the way I want to feel after reading a romance novel.
January 28, 2018
3,5 stars
Indra Vaughn has co-written Vespertine with Leta Blake and I absolutely adored that book.
Patchwork Paradise is the first book I read only by Indra Vaughn. I can't say I adored this one, but I did enjoy it pretty much.
The beginning brings us a perfect couple Oliver and Samuel. They were supposed to get married in a month, after being together for 10 years. But their bubble of love was abruptly torn as Samuel dies tragically.
I always prefer angsty books than fluffy romance and I appreciate authors who can write soul wrenching stories. And Indra Vaughn is one of them. My heart ached for Oliver. Most of the book he learns to accept he lost the love of his life. It's a pretty long healing process and I wasn't pleased that it was super slow paced. But on the other hand, I didn't want him to move on too quick and rush into another love too early.
Oliver and Thomas were best friends. Actually Thomas was secretly in love with Oliver for a long time. These characters weren't in sync most of the book, but I learned to accept it. When they were finally trying to date, Thomas finds out he has a little son he has to take care for a while.
The last chapters were sweet and funny. Overall I liked this story and even if we get some hot scenes only at the end on it, I enjoyed their ride. It felt real and possible and I couldn't believe how well they fell into place.
Lovely ending for this mostly sad story.
Indra Vaughn has co-written Vespertine with Leta Blake and I absolutely adored that book.
Patchwork Paradise is the first book I read only by Indra Vaughn. I can't say I adored this one, but I did enjoy it pretty much.
The beginning brings us a perfect couple Oliver and Samuel. They were supposed to get married in a month, after being together for 10 years. But their bubble of love was abruptly torn as Samuel dies tragically.
I always prefer angsty books than fluffy romance and I appreciate authors who can write soul wrenching stories. And Indra Vaughn is one of them. My heart ached for Oliver. Most of the book he learns to accept he lost the love of his life. It's a pretty long healing process and I wasn't pleased that it was super slow paced. But on the other hand, I didn't want him to move on too quick and rush into another love too early.
Oliver and Thomas were best friends. Actually Thomas was secretly in love with Oliver for a long time. These characters weren't in sync most of the book, but I learned to accept it. When they were finally trying to date, Thomas finds out he has a little son he has to take care for a while.
The last chapters were sweet and funny. Overall I liked this story and even if we get some hot scenes only at the end on it, I enjoyed their ride. It felt real and possible and I couldn't believe how well they fell into place.
Lovely ending for this mostly sad story.
Read
March 24, 2016Grab your tissues, lovelies, this one will tug your heartstrings and overrun your tear ducts.
I'm having a hard time writing this review, because this is such a unique book in the genre--not in that it deals with the loss of a loved one, because bereavement porn could be its own subgenre in M/M--but in the ways it handles the friends to lovers trope, the growing intimacy between Thomas and Ollie, the way friends and family both help and hurt the grieving process.
It's unique, and it's very well written. It's heartbreakingly sad in many places, and tender, sweet, and sexy in others. It's grippingly real, and still manages to build not one, but two, larger-than-life loves.
Very much recommended.
I'm having a hard time writing this review, because this is such a unique book in the genre--not in that it deals with the loss of a loved one, because bereavement porn could be its own subgenre in M/M--but in the ways it handles the friends to lovers trope, the growing intimacy between Thomas and Ollie, the way friends and family both help and hurt the grieving process.
It's unique, and it's very well written. It's heartbreakingly sad in many places, and tender, sweet, and sexy in others. It's grippingly real, and still manages to build not one, but two, larger-than-life loves.
Very much recommended.
January 9, 2016
Fair warning - reading this book requires a large box of tissues, massive amounts of chocolate, and possibly alcohol. Definitely the tissues and chocolate.
There is so much heartache in this book. When I read the blurb, I thought/hoped that I wouldn't have to see Ollie losing Sam, that this was something that had recently happened, but that the actual event wasn't in the book.
Not so.
First, we get to see Oliver and Samuel happy, oh so happy, and oh so in love. They are perfect for each other, and you can tell how much they love each other, having been together since they were sixteen, best friends since they were ten, and you just know it's them against the rest of the world, and neither can wait to finally get married. Their life together is beautiful, like a fairy-tale, and you cannot imagine either without the other.
But then Samuel dies, in a horrible tragedy late one night, and you get to experience every nuance of Ollie's grief and pain.
It's heavy. It's heart-breaking. There is grief on top of grief, guilt, and anger, denial and fear, and Ollie has no idea how to go on. He's pulled under the water, into the dark, numb with shock, grief, and pain.
If it weren't for his friends, I don't think he would have made it, but they stick around, and when Ollie finally emerges from the darkness, they're there to prop him up.
Ollie tries dating, but feels like he's betraying Sam, and that is one of the themes that carry through most of the book. Every step Ollie takes to find life after death has him wondering if he's betraying Sam's memory, if Sam would have wanted him to do what he's doing, if he's doing what's right by Sam.
It's an exploration of how to live after the one you thought you'd spend your life with is gone, it's about learning to find yourself again, and figure out who you are without that person in your life. It's one step forward, two steps back, it's not being sure of your own feelings, of seeing someone with new eyes, of being oblivious to certain truths, and finding your path.
There is so much pain and heartache in this book, it was at times difficult to see the words on the screen because my tears had made them so blurry. I don't usually read angst-heavy books, but something called me to this one, and I can't find it in me to regret the experience.
There's hope, too, and humor, and anger (especially with Sam's father, whose treatment of Ollie is abysmal), and love, such enduring love.
I wanted to hug Ollie so many times, and I loved Thomas, and how steadfast he was, even when I could see how he was hurting too. His path isn't easy either, and he tries oh so hard to do what's right, even if it may cost him the person he's wanted for most of his adult life.
Indra Vaughn wrote realistic characters with realistic emotions, actions, and reactions, and I cannot thank her enough for letting me experience this book.
Yes, it's heavy and heart-breaking, but oh so worth it. Please, I beg you, read this.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return. **
There is so much heartache in this book. When I read the blurb, I thought/hoped that I wouldn't have to see Ollie losing Sam, that this was something that had recently happened, but that the actual event wasn't in the book.
Not so.
First, we get to see Oliver and Samuel happy, oh so happy, and oh so in love. They are perfect for each other, and you can tell how much they love each other, having been together since they were sixteen, best friends since they were ten, and you just know it's them against the rest of the world, and neither can wait to finally get married. Their life together is beautiful, like a fairy-tale, and you cannot imagine either without the other.
But then Samuel dies, in a horrible tragedy late one night, and you get to experience every nuance of Ollie's grief and pain.
It's heavy. It's heart-breaking. There is grief on top of grief, guilt, and anger, denial and fear, and Ollie has no idea how to go on. He's pulled under the water, into the dark, numb with shock, grief, and pain.
If it weren't for his friends, I don't think he would have made it, but they stick around, and when Ollie finally emerges from the darkness, they're there to prop him up.
Ollie tries dating, but feels like he's betraying Sam, and that is one of the themes that carry through most of the book. Every step Ollie takes to find life after death has him wondering if he's betraying Sam's memory, if Sam would have wanted him to do what he's doing, if he's doing what's right by Sam.
It's an exploration of how to live after the one you thought you'd spend your life with is gone, it's about learning to find yourself again, and figure out who you are without that person in your life. It's one step forward, two steps back, it's not being sure of your own feelings, of seeing someone with new eyes, of being oblivious to certain truths, and finding your path.
There is so much pain and heartache in this book, it was at times difficult to see the words on the screen because my tears had made them so blurry. I don't usually read angst-heavy books, but something called me to this one, and I can't find it in me to regret the experience.
There's hope, too, and humor, and anger (especially with Sam's father, whose treatment of Ollie is abysmal), and love, such enduring love.
I wanted to hug Ollie so many times, and I loved Thomas, and how steadfast he was, even when I could see how he was hurting too. His path isn't easy either, and he tries oh so hard to do what's right, even if it may cost him the person he's wanted for most of his adult life.
Indra Vaughn wrote realistic characters with realistic emotions, actions, and reactions, and I cannot thank her enough for letting me experience this book.
Yes, it's heavy and heart-breaking, but oh so worth it. Please, I beg you, read this.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return. **
February 5, 2016
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The maturity, and sensitivity that the author brought to the characters, and their story was a refreshing change from so many other romance novels. The author's understanding of the complex nature of the grieving process was nice. I didn't feel that Ollie's loss was glossed over, but it didn't feel like it was drowning in melancholy, overwrought angst either. The writing really drew me into the story, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I found the characters to be well drawn, and relatable. I really liked Ollie, and his journey. I felt like he grew to understand himself, and his friends so much over the course of the story. I loved his relationship with Sam, and I appreciated that the author didn't feel the need to vilify Sam to legitimize Ollie's new relationship with Thomas. A nice change of pace from a lot of other romance novels I have read. Thomas was an interesting character, and I appreciated getting to know all sides of him, and that it wasn't just Ollie that had relationship issues. I really appreciated that Milo's mother was presented in a positive light, and her issues were treated with the gravity they deserved. I liked that those issues didn't prevent her from caring for Milo, and that she was a part of the story, and not just a throw away antagonist. I appreciated that the secondary cast was well drawn, and had their own issues and plot lines. They didn't just exist to drive the story, or act on the main characters. Baby Milo was a highlight for me as well, and it was nice to see a baby in a romance novel act like a baby, and not a fluffy bit of plot driver.
The plot was well drawn, and I enjoyed the slow build between Thomas and Ollie. Considering the issues, and the events facing both men it made sense for things to move at the pace that they did. I also could feel for Ollie, and his problems with Sam's parents. Death does not always bring out the best in people, and this problem felt very true to life. I also like how Simon's parents felt like two different people, and had a backstory of their own that I felt added to the problem with Ollie.
Overall this was a really well written story, about love, friendship, and family. About responsibility, fear, and change, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I have to admit I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The maturity, and sensitivity that the author brought to the characters, and their story was a refreshing change from so many other romance novels. The author's understanding of the complex nature of the grieving process was nice. I didn't feel that Ollie's loss was glossed over, but it didn't feel like it was drowning in melancholy, overwrought angst either. The writing really drew me into the story, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I found the characters to be well drawn, and relatable. I really liked Ollie, and his journey. I felt like he grew to understand himself, and his friends so much over the course of the story. I loved his relationship with Sam, and I appreciated that the author didn't feel the need to vilify Sam to legitimize Ollie's new relationship with Thomas. A nice change of pace from a lot of other romance novels I have read. Thomas was an interesting character, and I appreciated getting to know all sides of him, and that it wasn't just Ollie that had relationship issues. I really appreciated that Milo's mother was presented in a positive light, and her issues were treated with the gravity they deserved. I liked that those issues didn't prevent her from caring for Milo, and that she was a part of the story, and not just a throw away antagonist. I appreciated that the secondary cast was well drawn, and had their own issues and plot lines. They didn't just exist to drive the story, or act on the main characters. Baby Milo was a highlight for me as well, and it was nice to see a baby in a romance novel act like a baby, and not a fluffy bit of plot driver.
The plot was well drawn, and I enjoyed the slow build between Thomas and Ollie. Considering the issues, and the events facing both men it made sense for things to move at the pace that they did. I also could feel for Ollie, and his problems with Sam's parents. Death does not always bring out the best in people, and this problem felt very true to life. I also like how Simon's parents felt like two different people, and had a backstory of their own that I felt added to the problem with Ollie.
Overall this was a really well written story, about love, friendship, and family. About responsibility, fear, and change, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 14, 2016
This was an amazing book that is full of emotional ups and downs. You definitely need to have a box of tissues with you while you read it and then get ready for your heart to be ripped to shreds. However the author does a great job of putting your shredded heart back together again...after a lot of angsty goodness in the middle!! Ollie is thrown into a pit of despair when he loses his fiancé in a mugging - only to then have to deal with his previous future-in-laws trying to kick him out of his house because they don't want to honor their deceased sons Will. Next Ollie has to deal with the fact that one of his best friends, Thomas, has secretly been in love with him for years. Just when Ollie decided that maybe he can love his friend the same way...Thomas, starts a relationship with an American he met while traveling. At this point, I have to wonder if the author just hates Ollie or maybe had a past boyfriend named Ollie because she is really putting this poor guy through the ringer. But never fear, Ollie is in for some happiness even if it's temporary when Thomas, is suddenly single and finds out he is a dad. Thomas is in need of a place to stay and help with his son..guess who volunteers? That's right, Ollie does - he puts Thomas and his son up into the house that his previous almost in-laws are still trying to have him thrown out of, yes I know what a mess!!
The thing is that now these two men are living together and feelings start to develop and chemistry ignites and Finally Ollie and Thomas get some time to explore their feelings towards one another - in between midnight feedings and dirty diapers that is, so yeah not an easy task! But then our author decides that once again, Ollie isn't going to get any happiness..and Thomas feels like he isn't ready to have Ollie commit to a ready made family so he moves out - leaving poor Ollie bereft again!
The good news is these two do finally get their act together and get their happy ending but it is after many ups and downs in the story - so as mentioned before, bring your tissue and hang on!!!
4.5 Stars!!!
The thing is that now these two men are living together and feelings start to develop and chemistry ignites and Finally Ollie and Thomas get some time to explore their feelings towards one another - in between midnight feedings and dirty diapers that is, so yeah not an easy task! But then our author decides that once again, Ollie isn't going to get any happiness..and Thomas feels like he isn't ready to have Ollie commit to a ready made family so he moves out - leaving poor Ollie bereft again!
The good news is these two do finally get their act together and get their happy ending but it is after many ups and downs in the story - so as mentioned before, bring your tissue and hang on!!!
4.5 Stars!!!
October 23, 2018
Un libro que se aleja de la mayoría de lo que leo en MM. Uno de los protagonistas principales pierde a su pareja y entra en un agujero negro del que va saliendo con ayuda de familia y amigos, en ese proceso se enamora de alguien que siempre había estado cerca. El proceso de duelo ocupa gran parte del libro, se transmite la pena del que sobrevive. Ha habido un momento en el que me ha parecido que ese duelo era más importante que la historia de amor que sigue, que la nueva pareja nunca podría alcanzar la perfección con la que se dibuja al fallecido. Al final se me ha quedado un gusto amargo, feliz por la pareja que se enamora, pero con la sensación de que el protagonista siempre habría elegido primero a su pareja muerta y el otro es la consolación, la autora no me ha sabido vender bien cómo se vuelve a enamorar.
Es interesante que el entorno no sea el de siempre, USA, UK, Australia... y sea un escenario europeo.
Horror de portada.
Es interesante que el entorno no sea el de siempre, USA, UK, Australia... y sea un escenario europeo.
Horror de portada.
July 4, 2016
3.5/4 Stars
August 28, 2021
3.5 Stars
I was emotionally invested from the start, expected lots of heartache but apart from the epilogue, I didn’t expect to feel so god damned sad for the entirety of the book. I like angst, but this was too much for me!
I bawled my eyes out when Sam was killed. How cruel Ollie lost his soul mate, so tragically, a month before their wedding. They’d been living in each other’s pockets for 18 years, lovers for the last 12. It was heartrending 💔 Those last moments with Sam had me wailing like a banshee 😭 Even though Sam didn’t grace many pages, his absence was keenly felt. Every emotion Ollie experienced was so realistically raw. I thought the author did a fantastic job! I just wanted to hug him all the time. How would he ever rebuild his life? How would anyone else ever fill that void?
Thomas, Ollie’s BF who had secretly been in love with him for four years, found consolation in whoring his bisexual self across Antwerp. After Sam’s death, you’d think, he’d be there for Ollie. I mean, finally, there’s a glimmer of hope. However, this is where it went downhill for me.
To make matters worse, there was unnecessary side drama with friends which I could have done without. A really ugly, yet believable development with Sam’s parents 😢 I didn’t like how it was resolved at all. Finally, I couldn’t quite believe how everything developed in relation to Sam’s trial. It really left a bitter aftertaste.
I struggled to rate this. The writing was good, but there came a point when I kept praying that Sam would miraculously rise from the ashes or that Ollie would go back to online dating. I thought the veterinarian was a much better candidate. I can see why people would love this but the relationship development just wasn’t what I wanted.
I was emotionally invested from the start, expected lots of heartache but apart from the epilogue, I didn’t expect to feel so god damned sad for the entirety of the book. I like angst, but this was too much for me!
I bawled my eyes out when Sam was killed. How cruel Ollie lost his soul mate, so tragically, a month before their wedding. They’d been living in each other’s pockets for 18 years, lovers for the last 12. It was heartrending 💔 Those last moments with Sam had me wailing like a banshee 😭 Even though Sam didn’t grace many pages, his absence was keenly felt. Every emotion Ollie experienced was so realistically raw. I thought the author did a fantastic job! I just wanted to hug him all the time. How would he ever rebuild his life? How would anyone else ever fill that void?
Thomas, Ollie’s BF who had secretly been in love with him for four years, found consolation in whoring his bisexual self across Antwerp. After Sam’s death, you’d think, he’d be there for Ollie. I mean, finally, there’s a glimmer of hope. However, this is where it went downhill for me.
To make matters worse, there was unnecessary side drama with friends which I could have done without. A really ugly, yet believable development with Sam’s parents 😢 I didn’t like how it was resolved at all. Finally, I couldn’t quite believe how everything developed in relation to Sam’s trial. It really left a bitter aftertaste.
I struggled to rate this. The writing was good, but there came a point when I kept praying that Sam would miraculously rise from the ashes or that Ollie would go back to online dating. I thought the veterinarian was a much better candidate. I can see why people would love this but the relationship development just wasn’t what I wanted.
January 2, 2016
I have a hard time finding my words when it comes to writing a review for this one, and I had to wait a few days after finishing it, because I didn't want any fucking tears on my laptop while writing the review.
This book is angst heavy people, really, really heartbreaking, and I wasn't expecting it. I realized after reading the blurb that Oliver lost the love of his life (Sam) but never in a million years did I imagine I'd be crying my heart out while "living " through the whole series of events that led to Sam's death. I was hoping I didn't get to meet Sam in this book, I thought for sure he would be already dead at the beginning, and once I realized that was not the case, I REALLY hoped I wouldn't like him very much. WRONG!!! I LOVED HIM!!!.... for as little as I got to know him, I loved Sam and thought he was perfect for Oliver. There was lots of crying people, like "tear-your-heart-out" crying, because that's what it felt like when Sam died and Oliver submerged into his grief.
When the period of grieving got a little easier to read through, I seriously doubted that I'd like Thomas and Oliver together; Sam was just too perfect for Oliver and I couldn't imagine Thomas taking his place. I gotta give it to Indra, because she managed to make me love Thomas and accept him as a suitable replacement for Sam; in fact, I really didn't have to compare them to one another because to me, Thomas wasn't any sloppy seconds. The dude is hot as fuck, and he's been in love with Oliver for years, since the very first time they met. Thomas kept his feelings to himself because he realized what Sam and Oliver had was special, but I can't imagine how bad it hurt him to be close friends with them, watch them be so in love with each other, and know deep down that the only person he's ever loved will never his.
And then.... there's a baby! I'm telling you people, there's nothing hotter than a half-naked Thomas holding a sleeping baby on his chest! Whew, be advised ladies, your hearts will melt and your panties will catch fire, because Thomas+baby is just that adorably hot! There was some humor after the baby came to live with Thomas and Oliver, because nasty baby diapers and projectile vomit on unsuspecting men is freaking hilarious, and after all that angst, the humor was more than welcome.
I love angst in my books, it's usually a must for me, but this was a dash too much even for me. Or maybe not exactly too much angst, but not enough happy times to overcompensate for all the suffering I've done. My philosophy is if you're going to make me bleed for your books (go ahead, I like it) give me at LEAST the same amount of happy, joyful, and don't forget sexy times to make up for it. I didn't feel like I got enough happy, and I definitely didn't get enough sexy; I know Indra can write a sex scene hot enough to catch my IPad on fire, so I was disappointed we didn't get more "set-the-sheets-on-fire" times.
Another thing that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was Cleo, Imran, and all that drama that came from Thomas sleeping with Cleo (relax, it was before him and Oliver got together). This was an angst-heavy book to start with, so I felt that all the secondary characters' drama was unnecessary and unwelcome. Please don't think this is one of those dramatic books that make you role your eyes, because it's really NOT, but even the realistic drama added too much heaviness to the book.
Overall this was a great book, nicely written, but don't make the mistake of starting it without a ton of tissues handy. And yes, there's a HEA (a beautiful one, full of smiles and warm feelings), so you won't be suffering in vain.
This book is angst heavy people, really, really heartbreaking, and I wasn't expecting it. I realized after reading the blurb that Oliver lost the love of his life (Sam) but never in a million years did I imagine I'd be crying my heart out while "living " through the whole series of events that led to Sam's death. I was hoping I didn't get to meet Sam in this book, I thought for sure he would be already dead at the beginning, and once I realized that was not the case, I REALLY hoped I wouldn't like him very much. WRONG!!! I LOVED HIM!!!.... for as little as I got to know him, I loved Sam and thought he was perfect for Oliver. There was lots of crying people, like "tear-your-heart-out" crying, because that's what it felt like when Sam died and Oliver submerged into his grief.
When the period of grieving got a little easier to read through, I seriously doubted that I'd like Thomas and Oliver together; Sam was just too perfect for Oliver and I couldn't imagine Thomas taking his place. I gotta give it to Indra, because she managed to make me love Thomas and accept him as a suitable replacement for Sam; in fact, I really didn't have to compare them to one another because to me, Thomas wasn't any sloppy seconds. The dude is hot as fuck, and he's been in love with Oliver for years, since the very first time they met. Thomas kept his feelings to himself because he realized what Sam and Oliver had was special, but I can't imagine how bad it hurt him to be close friends with them, watch them be so in love with each other, and know deep down that the only person he's ever loved will never his.
And then.... there's a baby! I'm telling you people, there's nothing hotter than a half-naked Thomas holding a sleeping baby on his chest! Whew, be advised ladies, your hearts will melt and your panties will catch fire, because Thomas+baby is just that adorably hot! There was some humor after the baby came to live with Thomas and Oliver, because nasty baby diapers and projectile vomit on unsuspecting men is freaking hilarious, and after all that angst, the humor was more than welcome.
I love angst in my books, it's usually a must for me, but this was a dash too much even for me. Or maybe not exactly too much angst, but not enough happy times to overcompensate for all the suffering I've done. My philosophy is if you're going to make me bleed for your books (go ahead, I like it) give me at LEAST the same amount of happy, joyful, and don't forget sexy times to make up for it. I didn't feel like I got enough happy, and I definitely didn't get enough sexy; I know Indra can write a sex scene hot enough to catch my IPad on fire, so I was disappointed we didn't get more "set-the-sheets-on-fire" times.
Another thing that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was Cleo, Imran, and all that drama that came from Thomas sleeping with Cleo (relax, it was before him and Oliver got together). This was an angst-heavy book to start with, so I felt that all the secondary characters' drama was unnecessary and unwelcome. Please don't think this is one of those dramatic books that make you role your eyes, because it's really NOT, but even the realistic drama added too much heaviness to the book.
Overall this was a great book, nicely written, but don't make the mistake of starting it without a ton of tissues handy. And yes, there's a HEA (a beautiful one, full of smiles and warm feelings), so you won't be suffering in vain.
October 27, 2016
I was going to drop this after the first 2 chapters but Im glad I kept on reading because it turned out to be one of my favorites for 2016. This was just a really good slow burn, heartwarming, friends to lovers story. Highly recommended!
March 26, 2016
A word of advice for when reading this book -- bring tissues. Lots of them. And maybe something to cuddle. Patchwork Paradise is angsty, from beginning, to end. It's so real and full of feels.
We meet Oliver and Sam at the beginning of the book and get a glimpse of just how happy and in love they are. When Sam is murdered, during a mugging, the pain that Oliver feels is tangible. A life, so full of promise and love - gone in a blink of an eye. And Oliver grieves, so much.
Thomas has been in love with Oliver since the day they met, but he knew that they weren't meant to be because Oliver and Sam were the real deal. So he played the field and tried to move on, while remaining friends with Oliver, Sam and their friends Cleo and Imran. But when Sam died, Thomas knew he couldn't just step in, so he stayed firmly in the friend zone. Oli never even knowing how Thomas felt.
And just as things finally seem hopeful, Thomas, who is bisexual, finds out he is a father and circumstances dictate that he must step in and care for his child for an indeterminate amount of time.
To say that Patchwork Paradise was a slow burn, would be a bit of an understatement. The first half of the book is spent with Oliver mourning Sam and trying to figure out how to move on. And also dealing with Sam's parents, who, let's just say, aren't on my Christmas card list. He and Thomas don't even hit the point where they are flirting with that slow burn until well after half way through. But, all of it was necessary. Oli needed time to mourn Sam and the timing was just not right for some time. And it just seemed that one thing after another got in their way.
Also, it should be noted that there is, over the course of the book, sex with other people. None of that happened once Oliver and Thomas got together, but it's there and I think it was actually necessary. In Oliver's case, the only person he'd ever been with was Sam, so when he started trying to date, and it took a couple tries, the inevitable happened. And Thomas tried to distance himself and find another path, because he thought Oliver would never see him as anything other than a friend.
But worry not -- Oli and Thomas do find their way and they get the sweetest HEA. It takes them a long time to get there, but things that are worth having are also worth waiting for.
-------------
ARC of Patchwork Paradise generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
We meet Oliver and Sam at the beginning of the book and get a glimpse of just how happy and in love they are. When Sam is murdered, during a mugging, the pain that Oliver feels is tangible. A life, so full of promise and love - gone in a blink of an eye. And Oliver grieves, so much.
Thomas has been in love with Oliver since the day they met, but he knew that they weren't meant to be because Oliver and Sam were the real deal. So he played the field and tried to move on, while remaining friends with Oliver, Sam and their friends Cleo and Imran. But when Sam died, Thomas knew he couldn't just step in, so he stayed firmly in the friend zone. Oli never even knowing how Thomas felt.
And just as things finally seem hopeful, Thomas, who is bisexual, finds out he is a father and circumstances dictate that he must step in and care for his child for an indeterminate amount of time.
To say that Patchwork Paradise was a slow burn, would be a bit of an understatement. The first half of the book is spent with Oliver mourning Sam and trying to figure out how to move on. And also dealing with Sam's parents, who, let's just say, aren't on my Christmas card list. He and Thomas don't even hit the point where they are flirting with that slow burn until well after half way through. But, all of it was necessary. Oli needed time to mourn Sam and the timing was just not right for some time. And it just seemed that one thing after another got in their way.
Also, it should be noted that there is, over the course of the book, sex with other people. None of that happened once Oliver and Thomas got together, but it's there and I think it was actually necessary. In Oliver's case, the only person he'd ever been with was Sam, so when he started trying to date, and it took a couple tries, the inevitable happened. And Thomas tried to distance himself and find another path, because he thought Oliver would never see him as anything other than a friend.
But worry not -- Oli and Thomas do find their way and they get the sweetest HEA. It takes them a long time to get there, but things that are worth having are also worth waiting for.
-------------
ARC of Patchwork Paradise generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
January 27, 2016
Okay, it’s been a while now that I got the chance to read Indra’s new novel Patchwork Paradise and I didn’t review it earlier because it was just too hard to find the right words.
Don’t let the awful cover fool you… the story isn’t in the slightest what this cover suggests. Patchwork Paradise isn’t a sweet romance, it’s angsty, heartbreaking and emotional. What happens to Ollie in the first part of the book ripped my heart into tiny pieces.
Ollie loves Sam with all his heart and losing him leaves Ollie wrecked and alone. It takes him long months to emerge from his grief… and I loved his wonderful friends for not giving up on him.
Then there is Thomas, Ollies bisexual friend, who has secretly been in love with him for years. Thomas has his own problems and watching those two navigate through heartbreak, grief and guilt to love and a future together was a wonderful but tearful experience.
Patchwork Paradise is captivating, stunning, and devastatingly beautiful, a gut-wrenching yet heartwarming read that made me cry, along with some big smiles.
I won’t go into more details but let me leave you with just this: Patchwork Paradise is one of the most beautiful and moving stories about healing broken hearts, learning to let got, friendship and family. This story is a journey to hell and back and I loved every single word.
I would have given this wonderful story 5 stars without a second thought…but I just couldn’t overlook the misleading, really awful cover.
What the hell, Riptide?
Please guys, hang on… ignore the cover and read it! Highly recommended!
April 4, 2016
I Loved! Highly recommended! :D
April 7, 2016
Cute. Loved Milo, hated Sam's parents (what was all that about??), a nice, gentle romantic read, but just something lacking. :( 4 stars.
October 10, 2018
I have mixed feelings on this book. I wanted to love it because of other reviews but it just fell short for me.😢 Ollie and Sam had a love that was hard to compare and compete with but Thomas (who supposably loved Ollie from far away for years ) should’ve stepped up to the plate when he seen Ollie needed someone to lean on but instead he continued his promiscuous ways. 🤨
It took Ollie to make an effort for anything to happen and then Thomas was pulling the back and forth emotionally with Ollie!! OMG I so wanted to shake some sense into him! 🤯😡
This was a long and drawn out romance, no joke. I’m glad Ollie and Thomas got there hea, FINALLY! This story was a little too annoying and frustrating for my taste 🙄
It took Ollie to make an effort for anything to happen and then Thomas was pulling the back and forth emotionally with Ollie!! OMG I so wanted to shake some sense into him! 🤯😡
This was a long and drawn out romance, no joke. I’m glad Ollie and Thomas got there hea, FINALLY! This story was a little too annoying and frustrating for my taste 🙄
March 29, 2016
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
Ollie’s perfect life is shattered in a matter of moments. His first and only love, his best friend, the man he was set to marry is suddenly gone and Ollie is left devastated. He loses himself in his grief even as his friends and mother try to do everything they can for him. As he makes his way back out into the world he has to learn to live on his own, plan for a future on his own and navigate changes not just to his life, but in the lives of those around him. Ollie has never noticed the signs that everyone else has when it comes to his friend Thomas and when he realize Thomas has feelings for him and that he likely returns them, it may be too late.
This is a super slow-burn romance that is about so much more than just the hooking up. Ollie’s feelings of grief and loss are unimaginable and you feel every ounce of what he is going through. Even though we only see them together briefly, it is enough to understand just how much in love Sam and Ollie were. They had been together since they were sixteen and there was never anyone else for either man.
The first part of the book is focused on Ollie dealing with his new life; the grief and guilt, changing friendships and trying to discover who he is and who he wants to be now that everything he planned for his future has been destroyed. Ollie’s eyes are slowly opened to the tight-knit group of friends around him as well. They have always been there but he was so Sam-focused he missed quite a bit of what was going on. Cleo (Ollie and Sam’s lifelong friend) and her boyfriend Imfar have their own problems and seemingly carefree Thomas, his bisexual friend who uses sex with a different someone each week is his coping mechanism for his own ongoing heartache, is acting a bit off as well. If all that stress is not enough, Sam’s parents are putting up a fight to take away the house he and Sam lived in and Cleo is pushing him to date and put himself out there before he’s ready.
Ollie and Thomas spend a good portion of the book continuing their friendship, going out as a group, but still living their own lives. Ollie tries out dating and Thomas continues hooking up on the weekends and eventually does fall for someone. We see their friendship grow for the year following Sam’s death and it’s an important part of setting up their romantic relationship. Ollie and Thomas are just testing the dating waters with each other when Thomas gets the news that not only is he a father, but that he’ll need to take care of baby Milo while his mother is being treated for post-partum depression. Any sense of stability that had entered Ollie’s life is once again sent into a tailspin as Thomas and Milo temporarily move in with him.
I really loved Indra Vaughn’s writing in this story. All of the characters were well done and very real. Reading the story I felt like I was getting a true glimpse into the lives of a group of friends. There is a lot that happens in this book with all the characters having a story, and I thought the pacing was good with none of the plotlines getting lost. There are a lot of ups and downs just getting to the point where Ollie and Thomas want to be together, but making that decision and acknowledging their feelings doesn’t create an easy path forward. There is a simmering chemistry and heat between Ollie and Thomas that really explodes once they are under the same roof (at least as much as a new baby will allow) and they really get a crash course in the difference between being supportive friends and being partners in life.
There is so much heartbreak and drama that takes front and center here, but there is also that sense of excitement and yearning at finding love with someone who was right there the whole time. Baby Milo brings some joy and comic relief and although he adds some more issues and angst, he also lightens things up a bit in the second part of the book as only a baby can. If you like a realistic, hurt/comfort and friends to lovers story I’d suggest you grab a box of tissues before you start this one and get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride.
Ollie’s perfect life is shattered in a matter of moments. His first and only love, his best friend, the man he was set to marry is suddenly gone and Ollie is left devastated. He loses himself in his grief even as his friends and mother try to do everything they can for him. As he makes his way back out into the world he has to learn to live on his own, plan for a future on his own and navigate changes not just to his life, but in the lives of those around him. Ollie has never noticed the signs that everyone else has when it comes to his friend Thomas and when he realize Thomas has feelings for him and that he likely returns them, it may be too late.
This is a super slow-burn romance that is about so much more than just the hooking up. Ollie’s feelings of grief and loss are unimaginable and you feel every ounce of what he is going through. Even though we only see them together briefly, it is enough to understand just how much in love Sam and Ollie were. They had been together since they were sixteen and there was never anyone else for either man.
The first part of the book is focused on Ollie dealing with his new life; the grief and guilt, changing friendships and trying to discover who he is and who he wants to be now that everything he planned for his future has been destroyed. Ollie’s eyes are slowly opened to the tight-knit group of friends around him as well. They have always been there but he was so Sam-focused he missed quite a bit of what was going on. Cleo (Ollie and Sam’s lifelong friend) and her boyfriend Imfar have their own problems and seemingly carefree Thomas, his bisexual friend who uses sex with a different someone each week is his coping mechanism for his own ongoing heartache, is acting a bit off as well. If all that stress is not enough, Sam’s parents are putting up a fight to take away the house he and Sam lived in and Cleo is pushing him to date and put himself out there before he’s ready.
Ollie and Thomas spend a good portion of the book continuing their friendship, going out as a group, but still living their own lives. Ollie tries out dating and Thomas continues hooking up on the weekends and eventually does fall for someone. We see their friendship grow for the year following Sam’s death and it’s an important part of setting up their romantic relationship. Ollie and Thomas are just testing the dating waters with each other when Thomas gets the news that not only is he a father, but that he’ll need to take care of baby Milo while his mother is being treated for post-partum depression. Any sense of stability that had entered Ollie’s life is once again sent into a tailspin as Thomas and Milo temporarily move in with him.
I really loved Indra Vaughn’s writing in this story. All of the characters were well done and very real. Reading the story I felt like I was getting a true glimpse into the lives of a group of friends. There is a lot that happens in this book with all the characters having a story, and I thought the pacing was good with none of the plotlines getting lost. There are a lot of ups and downs just getting to the point where Ollie and Thomas want to be together, but making that decision and acknowledging their feelings doesn’t create an easy path forward. There is a simmering chemistry and heat between Ollie and Thomas that really explodes once they are under the same roof (at least as much as a new baby will allow) and they really get a crash course in the difference between being supportive friends and being partners in life.
There is so much heartbreak and drama that takes front and center here, but there is also that sense of excitement and yearning at finding love with someone who was right there the whole time. Baby Milo brings some joy and comic relief and although he adds some more issues and angst, he also lightens things up a bit in the second part of the book as only a baby can. If you like a realistic, hurt/comfort and friends to lovers story I’d suggest you grab a box of tissues before you start this one and get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride.
January 29, 2016
ARC given by Publisher through Netgalley
That was with in good proportion an emotional read. O my It touched my heart
Adorable Oliver/Ollie lost his partner Sam just before they will get married.
Surrounded and supported by his best friends he tries to find a way to survive.
Step by step he scrumbles up.
The grief and mourning went with a very natural wave
One of his best friends Thomas had a crush for Ollie from the beginning. Knowing it will never work out he tries to get his love somewhere else, man and woman. He gets a call that he became a father of a boy named Milo. The mother cant take care of him.
Ollie offers his house and heart. That sounds easy but reality is a bitch
Its a realistic smooth written story not all rosy, its not to heavy but just enough, funny and hot at the right time.
I did feel very connected.
It has all the ingredients for an excellent love story with a HEA.
That was with in good proportion an emotional read. O my It touched my heart
Adorable Oliver/Ollie lost his partner Sam just before they will get married.
Surrounded and supported by his best friends he tries to find a way to survive.
Step by step he scrumbles up.
The grief and mourning went with a very natural wave
One of his best friends Thomas had a crush for Ollie from the beginning. Knowing it will never work out he tries to get his love somewhere else, man and woman. He gets a call that he became a father of a boy named Milo. The mother cant take care of him.
Ollie offers his house and heart. That sounds easy but reality is a bitch
Its a realistic smooth written story not all rosy, its not to heavy but just enough, funny and hot at the right time.
I did feel very connected.
It has all the ingredients for an excellent love story with a HEA.
November 15, 2018
Sometimes loosing everything isn't the end of your life...
It's just the beginning of a new one.
Oliver and Samuel have it all. Their's is a fairytale existence...until it isn't. It can take a lifetime to find love and a moment to loose it. No one knows this better than Oliver.
'Patchwork Paradise' is the story of one man's struggle to survive the tragedy of loosing the man he loves and rebuilding his life only to discover that while he's lost one love there's another one waiting for him...not to replace what's gone because nothing could ever do that. This love is there waiting to fill it's own place in his heart.
I've had this one in my audio library for a while now and when I came across it the other day I decided that it was time so I grabbed my handy box of tissues and hit the play button and barely 30 minutes into the story tissue in hand dabbing at the tears in my eyes...I questioned my sanity and kept right on listening because this isn't a story about loss it's a story about surviving it, about moving forward and about paying tribute to the person you've lost by going on and making a new life for yourself. One that's filled with love, laughter and hope.
That's what Ollie (Oliver) did of course he mourned the loss of Sam and rightfully so. Sam was his forever love but unfortunately as we all know life's not fair and nothing ever last forever...but, Sam was the person who taught Ollie how to love so a part of him will live forever. Every step that Ollie takes towards rebuilding his life, every time he puts his heart out there it's because Sam's love showed him that he was worth it, he deserved it and in his heart Ollie knew that the last thing Sam wanted was for his life to end with Sam's.
I seriously thought Sam was awesome even though we didn't get a lot of time with him. I think the magnitude of what a wonderful man he was came through because of Ollie. It was his memory of Ollie and how much Sam loved him that gave Ollie the strength to keep trying...to remember even after they're gone how much someone loves us is a pretty powerful indicator of what we meant to them and to be able to open your heart up to the possibility of finding love again shows just how positive that love was.
There were some surprising things that happened in this story that for me made it all the more interesting and even though I'm pretty late to the party on this one I'm not going to delve into them to deeply because I'm just guessing that maybe I'm not the only one who hasn't read/listened to this book yet.
While Sam and Oliver started out as the MCs in the story there was also a core group of friends who were integral to the story and certain events in particular. Within the boundaries of Sam and Ollie's group of friends we have Ollie's best friend (Cloe), Cloe's boyfriend (Imre) and Thomas (Ollie's friend from work and the man who's quietly loved him for years). There's also Sam''s parents and that'll be enough about them and then there's Ollie's mother (most adorable grandma so far this year).
While this was only my second time with a book by the author Indra Vaughn. It's the my fourth time around with the narrator Craig Beck and once again this narrator has done an exceptional job of giving this story added depth and breathing life and emotion into the characters leaving me confident that when I see his name listed as the narrator I'm not going to be disappointed with what I hear.
"Patchwork Paradise' is a story of pain, lose, friends, family, comfort, healing, second chances, starting over, strength & courage, finding love, having hope...it's about life...the one we have, the one's we lose and all the things in between that touch them.
It's just the beginning of a new one.
Oliver and Samuel have it all. Their's is a fairytale existence...until it isn't. It can take a lifetime to find love and a moment to loose it. No one knows this better than Oliver.
'Patchwork Paradise' is the story of one man's struggle to survive the tragedy of loosing the man he loves and rebuilding his life only to discover that while he's lost one love there's another one waiting for him...not to replace what's gone because nothing could ever do that. This love is there waiting to fill it's own place in his heart.
I've had this one in my audio library for a while now and when I came across it the other day I decided that it was time so I grabbed my handy box of tissues and hit the play button and barely 30 minutes into the story tissue in hand dabbing at the tears in my eyes...I questioned my sanity and kept right on listening because this isn't a story about loss it's a story about surviving it, about moving forward and about paying tribute to the person you've lost by going on and making a new life for yourself. One that's filled with love, laughter and hope.
That's what Ollie (Oliver) did of course he mourned the loss of Sam and rightfully so. Sam was his forever love but unfortunately as we all know life's not fair and nothing ever last forever...but, Sam was the person who taught Ollie how to love so a part of him will live forever. Every step that Ollie takes towards rebuilding his life, every time he puts his heart out there it's because Sam's love showed him that he was worth it, he deserved it and in his heart Ollie knew that the last thing Sam wanted was for his life to end with Sam's.
I seriously thought Sam was awesome even though we didn't get a lot of time with him. I think the magnitude of what a wonderful man he was came through because of Ollie. It was his memory of Ollie and how much Sam loved him that gave Ollie the strength to keep trying...to remember even after they're gone how much someone loves us is a pretty powerful indicator of what we meant to them and to be able to open your heart up to the possibility of finding love again shows just how positive that love was.
There were some surprising things that happened in this story that for me made it all the more interesting and even though I'm pretty late to the party on this one I'm not going to delve into them to deeply because I'm just guessing that maybe I'm not the only one who hasn't read/listened to this book yet.
While Sam and Oliver started out as the MCs in the story there was also a core group of friends who were integral to the story and certain events in particular. Within the boundaries of Sam and Ollie's group of friends we have Ollie's best friend (Cloe), Cloe's boyfriend (Imre) and Thomas (Ollie's friend from work and the man who's quietly loved him for years). There's also Sam''s parents and that'll be enough about them and then there's Ollie's mother (most adorable grandma so far this year).
While this was only my second time with a book by the author Indra Vaughn. It's the my fourth time around with the narrator Craig Beck and once again this narrator has done an exceptional job of giving this story added depth and breathing life and emotion into the characters leaving me confident that when I see his name listed as the narrator I'm not going to be disappointed with what I hear.
"Patchwork Paradise' is a story of pain, lose, friends, family, comfort, healing, second chances, starting over, strength & courage, finding love, having hope...it's about life...the one we have, the one's we lose and all the things in between that touch them.
June 1, 2016
Edit.
Finally started and finished Patchwork Paradise.
The first third of the story was dipped with melancholia and sorrow as Ollie tried to come in terms with losing his husband to be. The grief wasn't overt but it was real. Ollie's friends were an important part of this story. Especially one of them, Thomas, who doesn't know how to express his feelings towards Ollie. The second third of the story started with Ollie slowly patching up with his life and realising there might be more living to do. The last third introduced us to a baby. I'm not a major fan of kid fics and it nearly made me roll my eyes at times. Yet it did bring a new element to Thomas and Ollie's Story. If you are afraid of reading kid-fics, this is done in a subtle way. It is not in your face (except when the baby did a classic peeing on Ollie's fave scene).
The melancholia never quite left the story but it never got too much and I seriusly felt Ollie was on his way towards new happiness in a realistic way.
What I really liked was how the female characters were portrayed. THIS is how it should be done. Every single woman in this story, Cleo, Ollie's oldest childhood friend, his mum, even the baby mama were complex and brought a positive tone to the overall story. I'm totally on board with reading fics without bitchy or vindictive women.
So, four "happy tears rolling from my eyes" stars from me. A wonderful hurt/comfort story that is well written.
****************************
Waiting for a moment to be strong enough to deal with angst. Right now I need me some Fluff McFluffness but he's been pretty evasive lately :/
Finally started and finished Patchwork Paradise.
The first third of the story was dipped with melancholia and sorrow as Ollie tried to come in terms with losing his husband to be. The grief wasn't overt but it was real. Ollie's friends were an important part of this story. Especially one of them, Thomas, who doesn't know how to express his feelings towards Ollie. The second third of the story started with Ollie slowly patching up with his life and realising there might be more living to do. The last third introduced us to a baby. I'm not a major fan of kid fics and it nearly made me roll my eyes at times. Yet it did bring a new element to Thomas and Ollie's Story. If you are afraid of reading kid-fics, this is done in a subtle way. It is not in your face (except when the baby did a classic peeing on Ollie's fave scene).
The melancholia never quite left the story but it never got too much and I seriusly felt Ollie was on his way towards new happiness in a realistic way.
What I really liked was how the female characters were portrayed. THIS is how it should be done. Every single woman in this story, Cleo, Ollie's oldest childhood friend, his mum, even the baby mama were complex and brought a positive tone to the overall story. I'm totally on board with reading fics without bitchy or vindictive women.
So, four "happy tears rolling from my eyes" stars from me. A wonderful hurt/comfort story that is well written.
****************************
Waiting for a moment to be strong enough to deal with angst. Right now I need me some Fluff McFluffness but he's been pretty evasive lately :/
April 3, 2016
This is....I'm not sure what I....you know what, fuck it.
Is it really necessary to throw this much angst at your readers? To make matters worse, it's angst without any real substance. I'll admit, I teared up a little bit while reading through Sam's death because I felt so fucking horrible for Oliver...but then the other angst started up, and it seemed like every goddamn chapter had some fresh level of hell. One character would start getting their act together just in time for another character to send them into yet another emotional tailspin, and this happened so frequently that I started to become desensitized to their plights. And when I wasn't being subjected to emotional constipation and hurt, I was fucking bored.
Was I supposed to like Thomas? Because I didn't. He acted like a spoiled infant, and for as much as everyone wanted to chastise Oliver for being blind, Thomas was just as bad. The peripheral love interests were unnecessary and painful to read. And not painful in the good way.
This could've been great, but the MCs were just too emotionally immature for me to like, and any real attempt Vaughn made at emotion came across as needy and dysfunctional.
And I paid $7 for this wangst party....*grumblegrumble*
Is it really necessary to throw this much angst at your readers? To make matters worse, it's angst without any real substance. I'll admit, I teared up a little bit while reading through Sam's death because I felt so fucking horrible for Oliver...but then the other angst started up, and it seemed like every goddamn chapter had some fresh level of hell. One character would start getting their act together just in time for another character to send them into yet another emotional tailspin, and this happened so frequently that I started to become desensitized to their plights. And when I wasn't being subjected to emotional constipation and hurt, I was fucking bored.
Was I supposed to like Thomas? Because I didn't. He acted like a spoiled infant, and for as much as everyone wanted to chastise Oliver for being blind, Thomas was just as bad. The peripheral love interests were unnecessary and painful to read. And not painful in the good way.
This could've been great, but the MCs were just too emotionally immature for me to like, and any real attempt Vaughn made at emotion came across as needy and dysfunctional.
And I paid $7 for this wangst party....*grumblegrumble*
February 6, 2016
Romantic, moving, deeply emotion and a beautiful story.
This is a lovely story involving loss, grief, love and life. Ollie has a wonderful relationship with Sam and they are planning to get married but suddenly tragedy strikes and he is left with shattered dreams, the pain of loss and overwhelming grief.
As Ollie grieves and comes to terms with his loss he eventually takes steps to find love again but this path is not an easy one to take.
The reader is taken on an emotional journey as Ollie deals with the aftermath of his loss and his relationship with his friends and the risks of loving again. He also finds himself dealing with family and the reactions of people he thought he could rely on. Unfortunately death sometimes brings out the worst in people.
The story is just so realistic and touching. It is quite heart rending in places but also flows with hope and courage as Ollie faces life again and reaches out to a love that has always been present for him but which he has unrecognised.
I really appreciated the way the story shows how Ollie starts living again and his relationships with his friends, work colleagues, his family and his would have been in-laws. Although it is an emotional story it is also a comforting story, with a deep and real love between friends. It is the kind of story that would make a lovely tear - jerker film.
I hadn't read anything by this author and I totally loved this so I will be hunting through her backlist.
It isn't just the romance that is so beautiful, the setting and descriptions made me want to visit Antwerp and the surrounding countryside and see it for myself. I enjoys stories with a strong sense of place and the setting for this one complemented the drama within the story.
There is also the way Ollie responds to discovery and changing circumstances. He realises that his friends have challenges of their own and he tries to be there for them as he is confronted with things he didn't know. He learns to let go of the past and things he can't change and we see him tentatively exploring the new, listening to himself and feeling his way forward and we also get to see Ollie re-discovering joy, hope and love of family and the love of friends.
I enjoyed reading this. I like the way the author manages to express real feelings and the depths and highs of life without fake drama or unnecessary angst. The story felt very real and credible and thus very enjoyable. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the long sex scene at the end of the book. I skimmed that because by then the story for me had very much come to an end.
And of course the end was happy, hopeful and overflowing with family, love and life.
A lovely story which was very enjoyable to read.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a lovely story involving loss, grief, love and life. Ollie has a wonderful relationship with Sam and they are planning to get married but suddenly tragedy strikes and he is left with shattered dreams, the pain of loss and overwhelming grief.
As Ollie grieves and comes to terms with his loss he eventually takes steps to find love again but this path is not an easy one to take.
The reader is taken on an emotional journey as Ollie deals with the aftermath of his loss and his relationship with his friends and the risks of loving again. He also finds himself dealing with family and the reactions of people he thought he could rely on. Unfortunately death sometimes brings out the worst in people.
The story is just so realistic and touching. It is quite heart rending in places but also flows with hope and courage as Ollie faces life again and reaches out to a love that has always been present for him but which he has unrecognised.
I really appreciated the way the story shows how Ollie starts living again and his relationships with his friends, work colleagues, his family and his would have been in-laws. Although it is an emotional story it is also a comforting story, with a deep and real love between friends. It is the kind of story that would make a lovely tear - jerker film.
I hadn't read anything by this author and I totally loved this so I will be hunting through her backlist.
It isn't just the romance that is so beautiful, the setting and descriptions made me want to visit Antwerp and the surrounding countryside and see it for myself. I enjoys stories with a strong sense of place and the setting for this one complemented the drama within the story.
There is also the way Ollie responds to discovery and changing circumstances. He realises that his friends have challenges of their own and he tries to be there for them as he is confronted with things he didn't know. He learns to let go of the past and things he can't change and we see him tentatively exploring the new, listening to himself and feeling his way forward and we also get to see Ollie re-discovering joy, hope and love of family and the love of friends.
I enjoyed reading this. I like the way the author manages to express real feelings and the depths and highs of life without fake drama or unnecessary angst. The story felt very real and credible and thus very enjoyable. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the long sex scene at the end of the book. I skimmed that because by then the story for me had very much come to an end.
And of course the end was happy, hopeful and overflowing with family, love and life.
A lovely story which was very enjoyable to read.
Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2018
3.5*
This book ripped me in half. I'm rating it right in the middle because, for me, it's two stories in one and while I absolutely adored one aspect of it, the other annoyed me.
So, to explain further, the love story and the love after loss element was wonderful. The insight into Sam and Ollie's relationship was perfect.
The pain, the gradual awakening of realisation that you have to move on in whatever way works best, that there can be a new love without betraying the old. This was done brilliantly.
What I didn't need, and what drove me to a point of almost stopping reading, was all the rest of the unmitigating angst. From Sam's parents turning into arseholes, from the angsty of Ollie's best friends Cleo and Imran's relationship exploding into drama, to the unexpected baby drama, it just became too much.
Now, I actually loved baby Milo and how he brought along a new future for Ollie with Thomas but everything else about his appearance was just more drama!
So, as a love after loss romance, wonderful, as a new romance in its own right, just too much dramady!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This book ripped me in half. I'm rating it right in the middle because, for me, it's two stories in one and while I absolutely adored one aspect of it, the other annoyed me.
So, to explain further, the love story and the love after loss element was wonderful. The insight into Sam and Ollie's relationship was perfect.
The pain, the gradual awakening of realisation that you have to move on in whatever way works best, that there can be a new love without betraying the old. This was done brilliantly.
What I didn't need, and what drove me to a point of almost stopping reading, was all the rest of the unmitigating angst. From Sam's parents turning into arseholes, from the angsty of Ollie's best friends Cleo and Imran's relationship exploding into drama, to the unexpected baby drama, it just became too much.
Now, I actually loved baby Milo and how he brought along a new future for Ollie with Thomas but everything else about his appearance was just more drama!
So, as a love after loss romance, wonderful, as a new romance in its own right, just too much dramady!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
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