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Born for Leaving

(New England State of Mind #1)

Jude Munro (Goodreads Author),

Mia Kerick (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 122 ratings · 93 reviews

When they say be careful what you wish for, do you pay attention?
Neither did Oliver Tunstead.

Oliver wishes for nothing more than to get his mind off his crappy bartending job, pile of debt big enough to swallow him whole, and playboy ex-boyfriend/boss who refuses to back off. Too bad distractions, like the hot little convertible he has his eye on, cost megabucks. And Olive ...more

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Kindle Edition, 238 pages

Published July 30th 2020 (first published July 2nd 2020)

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Aug 17, 2020 Trio rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-ng-reads-challenge, mm-romance, netgalley, arc-r2r, sociology-abuse-dark, holiday

I went into Jude Munro’s Born for Leaving with a completely open mind. I read the précis and the trigger warnings so I thought I was prepared. But this novel still hit me hard, and that’s saying a lot. There’s so much emotion in this story, and both men’s experiences are raw and real. While this is not a warm and fuzzy romance, it makes for an unsettling, and highly rewarding, journey. Jude Munro is out to push our buttons, and for me, she succeeds.

A welcome respite from the intensity of the plo I went into Jude Munro’s Born for Leaving with a completely open mind. I read the précis and the trigger warnings so I thought I was prepared. But this novel still hit me hard, and that’s saying a lot. There’s so much emotion in this story, and both men’s experiences are raw and real. While this is not a warm and fuzzy romance, it makes for an unsettling, and highly rewarding, journey. Jude Munro is out to push our buttons, and for me, she succeeds.

A welcome respite from the intensity of the plot, is the charm of the setting in Born for Leaving. Gillamour is a remote island off the coast of New England, and Jude Munro paints an exquisite picture. Descriptions of warm, sandy beaches, restaurants both rustic and chic, and dazzling sunrises, help temper the emotion and drama.

Told entirely from Oliver’s point of view, the characters develop gradually. After the first tentative steps toward building a friendship, the men slowly open up to each other and reveal their stories. While their mutual attraction is obvious from the start, there's no doubt they both recognize they’ve a long way to go… and clearly have no idea if they can even get there.

Oliver is torn between his physical desire for Bodie, and his genuine interest in simply making a friend. (And complicating everything more, Bodie only plans to stay on Gillamour till the end of the summer.) Oliver is incredibly lonely, and while opening his home to a boarder is a good first step, he’s going to have to learn to open his mouth as well. Bodie is even less gregarious than Oliver, and it turns out it’s their resistance to letting folks in which makes them well matched.

As the men craft a relationship, their quest for a peaceful romance is sorely tested. After the abuses both men have suffered, it’s not surprising they have no idea how to advocate for themselves, but I was practically tearing my hair out over the choices they make.

Finding it difficult to open up and be truthful, the way these two communicate had me wanting to smack them both upside the head! It made it frustrating at times, not being able to really relate to either of them, but in the end, it resulted in me thoroughly appreciating Jude Munro’s skill as an author. To bring me so completely out of my comfort zone, to grow to care for these guys, and even begin to like them, is an incredible experience.

I’m intrigued by the folks who make up the community of Gillamour Island. For me, getting to know them through Oliver’s eyes is where Born for Leaving really shines as a novel. Each character has an interesting story, of which I’d love to know more, and it’s my hope that Ms. Munro plans to explore them all in future episodes of this New England State of Mind series. ...more

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Sep 07, 2020 Debra rated it it was ok

Shelves: lgbtq, abused-mc, m-m, kindle-unlimited

I had a tough time with this one and actually put it aside for a day to consider whether I would finish or not. I had a difficult time with the set-up and with Oliver's decision making from the start so it's a bit my fault for continuing to read. (view spoiler) I had a tough time with this one and actually put it aside for a day to consider whether I would finish or not. I had a difficult time with the set-up and with Oliver's decision making from the start so it's a bit my fault for continuing to read. (view spoiler)

I liked Bodie and Oliver's relationship and could have read a whole book about them working through things. Their pasts were dramatic enough. Bodie has plenty of issues too and again, I had a big issue with the final dramatic climax revolving around him. (view spoiler) When the characters don't seem to really care about what is happening to them (view spoiler), why should I?

For me, there was a lot of over the top outside dramatics - most of which was sexual or physical assaults or threats of - that took away from Oliver and Bodie's story. I don't mind dark, I don't mind outside interference, but so much about the story annoyed me that each new act perpetrated on them made it harder for me to engage. Certain storylines ended unbelievably and then the ending was a little too tidy. I like Mia Kerick's books, but this one just wasn't for me and my mindset; perhaps you may get more from it. ...more

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Aug 21, 2020 W. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, m-m-romance, first-book-by-this-author, ebook, arc-from-netgalley

Wow, this is a truly spectacular story! It's also intense, raw , gritty , thought provoking ; it gave me goosebumps and left me a basket case of emotions.

Please, take to heart , the trigger warnings . They're plenty, they're graphic , they're heartbreaking and they're taboo.

I know , I am going to have a massive book hangover . Born for Leaving is one of those tales who stays with you for a long time.

I just reviewed Born for Leaving by Mia Kerick writing as Jude Munro. #BornforLeaving #NetGall ...more

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Jul 23, 2020 Evie Drae rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: abuse, m-m-romance, traumatic-events, traumatized, lgbt, non-consensual, 2020-netgalley-challenge, 2020-ng-group-challenge, lgbtq, romance

Where does one start when attempting to write a review for a book that changed their life? Okay, okay. Melodramatics aside, I mean it. Born for Leaving by Jude Munro hit me in a very special, emotional, and high-impact readerly spot. It was one of those books that gave me such an intense book hangover when it was over, I sought out another read as completely opposite it as possible—a psychological thriller with a lesbian lead—just to keep my mind from spiraling in circles. Because I couldn’t get Where does one start when attempting to write a review for a book that changed their life? Okay, okay. Melodramatics aside, I mean it. Born for Leaving by Jude Munro hit me in a very special, emotional, and high-impact readerly spot. It was one of those books that gave me such an intense book hangover when it was over, I sought out another read as completely opposite it as possible—a psychological thriller with a lesbian lead—just to keep my mind from spiraling in circles. Because I couldn’t get this book, or its wonderful characters, off my mind.

I read this book in a single day. I started it, sadly, not expecting much. I had a slow day at the office and decided to grab a “read now” book off NetGalley so I wouldn’t have to wait for approval. And when I found a MM romance on the list, it was an easy choice. But almost from the first page, Munro drew me in. If you want a great example of just how well she accomplished this task, let me say this. I have never been—and likely will never be—a fan of first-person POV. It’s just not my personal preference, but I can still enjoy a story with it. However, I also happen to get a bit of the readerly chills when a story is present-tense. Again, purely personal preference, but it reads off to me. Finally, in my romance, I don’t like things one-sided. I want to see both parties experiencing the relationship. I want to have the emphatic, undeniable consent and confirmation of motives and feelings that comes with dual POV.

Which, if you’re following along, you can probably guess what comes next. This book was all three of my least favorite POV styles all rolled into one. First-person present single POV. Pretty much any other book and I would’ve spent the entire time cringing a bit, or might’ve simply DNFed to save myself and the author any unfounded issues due to personal tastes alone. But with this book… I legit didn’t realize it fell into this category until I was chapters upon chapters into the book. That’s how engrossing the story is, how relatable and personable Oliver’s POV is, and just how dang well this book is written.

Now, before I press on… I’m going to start with my biggest—and, really, only significant—complaint. This book should’ve come with some serious Content/Trigger Warnings and there were none in sight. I checked everywhere, just in case wires were crossed and NetGalley didn’t get the memo. But, nope, there’s nothing on Amazon, Goodreads, the author’s website… nowhere. Thankfully, I caught something in one of the characters’ reactions to a situation that made me think, “Hmmm. Something isn’t right.” So, I decided to go on a hunt for a review with spoilers. (I hate having to do that, but there are certain things I can’t step into blindly without causing me some serious mental and emotional damage, so I have to look out for myself. If I’m walking into a read well aware of what’s to come, I can handle almost anything. Just warn me first.) It was kind of a bummer to have to read so many reviews that basically told me what the story would be about, but I’m so grateful I did. Because, had I read these things blindly, the ultimate result of this read would’ve been a much, much different one for me.

So, that being said, if you don’t need or want Content/Trigger Warnings, then skip this paragraph. Because they do have some spoilery things to them, but they need to be out there. Clear as day. For starters, Bodie has a history of childhood molestation that dramatically affects him and is discussed in fairly great detail throughout the book. Second, Oliver is brutally raped on page. No, there isn’t any penetration, but the scene is violent, graphic, and plenty of other traumatizing and life-altering things occur. Had I not walked into that prepared… Anyway, Oliver also has a history with his mother of mental, emotional, and in some fairly disturbing ways very physical abuse. I’ll let you discover most of that on your own, but I’ll say this… she repeatedly forced him to get naked and show his body to her. Finally, Bodie is raped off page. He claims he “allowed” it to happen, but trust me, under the circumstances, it was rape. Period. Oh, and there are also quite a few violent and bloody scenes, two separate stalker-type characters, and some pretty intense themes of childhood abandonment.

Okay… I think (hope) I got ‘em all. Now, back to the positives… which is literally everything else. Since I went into this story aware of what to expect thanks to my personal digging, I was able to “appreciate” the painful experiences of the characters as part of the story, their challenges, and horrific but genuine stones on the path to their beautiful HEA.

I realize I’m rambling at this point, so I’ll try to sum up what I love in as few words as possible. Oliver—our single POV character—is a breath of fresh air. He’s struggling with a lot of repressed emotions due to some crappy parenting in his past, but he is trying to make his dreams come true and fighting tooth and nail to get them. Enter Bodie—broken, beautiful, badas* Bodie—who exudes charm, raw masculinity, and this painfully real side of childish intrigue and fear of the world. After the childhood he endured, and the solitary life he’s led since, it’s no wonder. But when these two get together, it’s like instant magic. The chemistry sparkles and pops and leaps off the page. And when that first sexy time scene happens, it broke me with its perfection, beauty, and bittersweet discovery.

I won’t keep going because I could talk for days about this book—in fact, I forced my bestie to download and read with me because I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive the read without someone to gush to. Thankfully, she did, and we finished within 20 minutes of each other. Then went into mourning together. Because we will never be able to experience Bodie and Oliver or their delectable romance for the first time ever again.

I would recommend this to everyone. Anyone. All lovers of love. It’s so well-written and takes you on such an emotional journey.

And to the author, if she were to ever read this review: I beg of you, do yourself, your readers, and these wonderful characters a huge favor by adding Content Warnings. Seeing as how this book is in Kindle Unlimited, it would be a quick fix. Having that information made this book what it was for me. Without it, I would be singing a very different tune right now. And would likely be damaged, mentally and emotionally. Oh, and don’t quit writing. Because I might be your newest and biggest fan! 💕 ...more

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Jul 21, 2020 Rainbow Reader rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bruised-but-not-broken-hero, lgbt, m-m-pairing, stalking, childhood-trauma, dark, non-con, abusive-ex, gay-romance, abuse

Well, I just finished that read in one single sitting when I'd already been up for over 24 hours before starting to read. If that doesn't say it all, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it any better justice. But I'll certainly try.

This book hit me in every one of my feels. Bodie and Oliver might be two of my favorite characters I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. They have such delightfully unique voices—even though this is written in first-person single POV with Oliver as the M ...more

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Aug 05, 2020 Ria | Abstract ♥ Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, dark-romance, contemporary

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS

'Born for Leaving' is a MM Romance written by Jude Monroe. This book was one heartbreaking tale of love and loss!!

I rarely read MM Romance. The only author that I have read before this book was K.webster. But there was something eye-catching about this book that had me grabbing this one. And what an amazing choice that was! This book is a definite read for all the contemporary MM Romance lovers out there!!

This author just shredded my soul w ...more

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Jul 26, 2020 Lily Michaels rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Okay, so before I begin this review I have to take the biggest, deepest breath. Guys, this story left me with the heaviest book hangover I have had in a long, long time. It’s taken me days of writing and rewriting this review to finally feel like I could do it justice.

I’m actually going to start with, I think, my only complaint and I am starting there because this needs to be said before going any further for those reading my review. On the listings for this story on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodr Okay, so before I begin this review I have to take the biggest, deepest breath. Guys, this story left me with the heaviest book hangover I have had in a long, long time. It’s taken me days of writing and rewriting this review to finally feel like I could do it justice.

I’m actually going to start with, I think, my only complaint and I am starting there because this needs to be said before going any further for those reading my review. On the listings for this story on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads there aren’t any trigger warnings/content warnings. This is probably my only issue because there are heavy topics tackled in this book that warrant a pretty strong warning. Childhood emotional abuse and childhood sexual abuse are both referenced. On page there are a couple instances of violence, one of which ends in a very graphic near rape. Again, off page, there is a non consensual act that, while not actually referred to as rape, is rape and occurs in their current timeline.

I think the lack of sufficient warnings is something the author and publisher should heavily consider. I was personally tipped off by a fellow reader ahead of time, fortunately, but not all readers would have this benefit and really should know ahead of time what they are getting themselves into.

Now that I’ve said that, I need to quickly switch gears and transition into gushing over this story. I have some personal readerly tastes as all readers do and one of those is that I really, really, REALLY do not like stories written in a single POV, first person, present tense. As in I avoid those stories like the plague.

However with Born For Leaving, I was practically in the third chapter before the lightbulb finally flashed over my head and I realized that it was written in first person, present tense and we won’t even discuss how much longer it took for it to sink in that it was single POV.

How is that even possible, you might be asking. Easy. This story was so expertly written, so beautifully woven, and so utterly gripping that I was oblivious to absolutely everything but the tale itself. As a person who reads A LOT and writes A LOT it is so rare that I lose myself so completely within the actual words of the story that I don’t notice something that is normally a great big, fat nope for me.

Immediately Oliver grabbed my heart and held it tight through the entire story. I connected with his need for sanctuary and solitude deeply. He was a perfectly crafted character that didn’t need very long for me to form an attachment that was meaningful.

Let’s just give a quick run down of the premise because I practically forgot that when writing this review. So Oliver works for his sleazy ex (and OMG I looooooooathed Jack) as a mixologist at a bar. He sees an ad from a stranger requesting a room to rent for the summer and takes a leap to invite the guy to check out his place. The five hundred a month rent will help Oliver get the car of his dreams a little faster.

And that guy is Bodie. Oh heaven help me with Bodie. From the moment he arrived at Oliver’s house to see the accommodations (and this is, quite cleverly, not the first time Bodie and Oliver meet) their is an undeniable spark between the two men, although Oliver is certain Bodie is straight so his fantasies must remain locked in his lusty little brain.

Because living together isn’t tempting and confusing enough for Oliver, they are also coworkers. Yup, our adorable little Bodie is the bouncer Oliver has been waiting for to handle the overly enthusiastic drunk clientele at the bar. A position Oliver had to fill in on in between mixing drinks. While Jack played Candy Crush rather than actually managing the bar he owns. And this? Probably one of Jack’s BETTER moments. Nope. Not kidding.

There are so many twists and turns and absolute soul-crushing moments of heartbreaking devastation when long held secrets are revealed that my review would be a book in itself to recap it all and wouldn’t even come close to doing the story justice. When I tell you that these are two broken boys just looking for love and acceptance, that is a complete and total understatement.

In the interest of full disclosure, had this story not been written so exquisitely and each and every characters created and molded with such beauty and care, the lack of CW/TW would have resulted in—at the very least—a 1 or 2 star loss on my review and, quite possibly, me even scrapping the read and returning it to the publisher with a refusal to review. When I say that Born for Leaving overcame many of my own personal readerly biases as well as my deep concerns about the absence of warnings to rank as one of my favorite reads of 2020, that is a weighty statement.

Born for Leaving is an emotional roller coaster than takes you on incredible highs and gut wrenching lows that I can’t possibly summarize and, even if I could, wouldn’t come close to being crafted as poignantly and beautifully as Ms. Munro did in the story. This is a book I can’t possibly recommend highly enough, but please keep in mind the warnings I listed above. ...more

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Aug 30, 2020 True Loveislovereview rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbtq, 2020

Oliver is saving all the money he can to buy his convertible, for himself and Hugo, his dear dog.
Working as a bartender at Surf’s Up he makes long hours and little money.
When he reads advertising about one seeking a room, he offers his spare bedroom.
Another opportunity to gain money.

Bodie is a broad muscled guy and the new bouncer at Surf’s Up, the bar has a lot of nasty costumers and Jack, the owner, is the biggest loser ever. Wait until he gets totally nuts.
Bodie is as closed off as can be, fi ...more

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Aug 13, 2020 Cathy Geha rated it it was amazing

Born for Leaving by Jude Munro

A newspaper request for a place to rent
A man with a room available to rent
A bartender and a bouncer will share a house
Two men with potential to become more than roommates

This was a sweet story with the promise of love, safety, a sense of belonging and “home” for Oliver and Bodie. Both men have trust issues and are a bit silent and rather distant from others but do make a connection with one another. The question is whether or not the one “born for leaving” will deci ...more

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Jul 25, 2020 Reader Views rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“Born for Leaving (New England State of Mind Book 1),” by Jude Munro, is the perfect romance for the beach. The story centers around two male characters--Oliver and Bodie--who are loners, but seemingly destined to meet when Oliver, who is strapped for cash, places an ad in the paper seeking a roommate to share expenses. This is how he and Bodie meet. But since they are both loners, and so different from each another, how will this work out? A better question is, now that their mutual attraction “Born for Leaving (New England State of Mind Book 1),” by Jude Munro, is the perfect romance for the beach. The story centers around two male characters--Oliver and Bodie--who are loners, but seemingly destined to meet when Oliver, who is strapped for cash, places an ad in the paper seeking a roommate to share expenses. This is how he and Bodie meet. But since they are both loners, and so different from each another, how will this work out? A better question is, now that their mutual attraction has been established, do they even have a chance at a relationship, as both have a problem with commitment? This is where the plot builds and the plot thickens. Throw a jealous ex/boss into the mix, and you have a classic will they/won't they saga in your hands. The language and scenes are explicit at times, but this is, after all, a romance.

Jude Munro is obviously a terrific, talented writer, and her gift for plotting, characterization, dialogue, and suspense-building shines through, making the first in this particular series a real heartbreaker. This author has built truly believable, empathetic characters, intriguing scenarios, and situations that demand to be resolved. But will they be? You have to read the book to find out.

The thing I like best about “Born for Leaving,” and Munro's writing (and there are many things to choose from) is that she chose to make this a romance story about two realistic, human men--not just another gratuitous sex story (not that there's anything wrong with that). But this writer, and this novel, is a cut above the rest because of her choices, which makes the steamier scenes ring truer. It's nice to know you're in capable hands with gay romance, because sometimes it can come off as exploitative or pretentious. You don't have to worry about that with Munro. She knows how to tell a good story, and I suspect it wouldn't matter the genre.

All of the elements you love in a romance novel are here: Diametrically opposed characters, sexual tension, romance/love, and...I should stop before I spoil the ending. Summer reads are a dime a dozen. Some you forget about the next day. “Born for Leaving,” by Jude Munro, is one you will remember for a long time. Fans of "Brokeback Mountain" would love this book. ...more

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Jul 18, 2020 Sarah C rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Born for Leaving is built on an interesting concept. Bodie is searching for a place to stay for the summer and Oliver has a spare room and a strong desire to purchase a car that he's fallen in love with. Upon stumbling onto Bodie's ad, he answers and the two men make arrangements for Bodie to move in on Friday. Of course, nothing is ever that simple. It appears that Bodie is also the new bouncer at the bar where Oliver works. The bar owned by Oliver's terrible ex-boyfriend, Jack. As is predicted Born for Leaving is built on an interesting concept. Bodie is searching for a place to stay for the summer and Oliver has a spare room and a strong desire to purchase a car that he's fallen in love with. Upon stumbling onto Bodie's ad, he answers and the two men make arrangements for Bodie to move in on Friday. Of course, nothing is ever that simple. It appears that Bodie is also the new bouncer at the bar where Oliver works. The bar owned by Oliver's terrible ex-boyfriend, Jack. As is predicted by this type of novel, Bodie and Oliver begin to grow closer and eventually begin a relationship.

Despite being formulaic in that regard, this book manages to grab your attention and hold it thanks to the characters. Oliver is a self-proclaimed introvert. He doesn't like people and tends to keep them at arm's reach due to his past. Bodie wears his Stetson like armor and proclaims that he is simply born for leaving, always on the move, and has an incredibly troubled history as well. Watching the growth of these two characters, watching them gain one another's hard earned trust as they fall in love, is the true magic of this book.

The book is also interwoven with some incredibly interesting side characters. Oliver and Bodie's co-workers at the bar - Mika, Sam, and Nico - each have unique voices and I found myself loving scenes between Oliver and his co-workers. The scenes between them particularly display his character growth. Oliver's parents are rarely seen, but they leave an impression behind and the interactions inform a lot about why Oliver is the way that he is. Even Jack, Oliver and Bodie's vile boss, is an interesting character though I wish he had more complex motivations rather than simply being a moustache twirling terrible boss.

The flaws in this book are easily overlooked thanks to the amazing characters that drive the plot forward. I could barely put it down, wanting to see what happened next. I managed to finish the book within a day and will be rereading it.

Content warnings do apply for this book however. This book deals very bluntly with child molestation, sexual harassment on the job, and attempted rape. Sexual assault is a very big plot point in this book on multiple occasions, including one scene where it is written out. As this book is in first person narrative, it focuses more on the feelings during the attack and a lot on the aftermath, but if you are particularly sensitive to these types of things, I would not recommend this book.

Otherwise, read it. The characters are worth it.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** ...more

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Jul 16, 2020 Brenda Moser rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a well written book with strong characters in Bodie and Oliver. The author does a great job bringing the two together and building their relationship. She gives them a strong connection and weaves an entertaining story that had me glued to the pages from start to finish. I loved and would recommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

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Jul 17, 2020 Emily Ozuna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

~ENGLISH/ESPAÑOL~

~ENGLISH~

The ARC for this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

If you are looking for an extremely sad book, with lonely characters and a tender and deep romance with a lot of drama around, this is your book!
Trust me you are going to finish it real quick, this book is addicting and the characters just win your heart, starting with Oliver.

Oliver who is not going through the best moments of his life. He has a semi- ...more

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Aug 31, 2020 Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, m-m

Born For Leaving is the story of two men, both loners by choice and circumstance, getting together as roommates by sheer coincidence. What follows is an angsty, heartbreaking story that will tear your heart out!

Oliver is the one with the house he is desperate to keep. So desperate, in fact, he keeps on working at a place where, although he gets on well enough with his co-workers, is dangerous for his physical, mental, and emotional well-being. His boss is his ex which is always fun but Oliver al ...more

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Sep 03, 2020 Joyfully Jay added it

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

This story has a lot of trauma, both current and historical, for these characters. The trigger warning is real. Expect frank discussion of child rape, and some brutal moments for both Oliver and Bodie that end in more sexual trauma—both on and off the page. They struggle to find peace because of their wariness that anyone they let close might/will hurt them. For Oliver, he knows that Bodie’s time on Gillamour is finite, so he doesn’t want to be shattered when then ...more

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Aug 06, 2020 Mari Cardenas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, angsty, abuse, violence

4 Stars

This book deals with (mentions) of past child-abuse and there's an attempted rape that might be triggering to some readers. Proceed with caution.

I liked Oliver a lot, even if he was a bit of a pushover. I get that he loved his work at Jack's bar and he was great at it, but the environment was less than ideal and he could've found something that was less detrimental for his well-being, both physical and mental. At least once Bodie started living with him and working at the bar it wasn't qu ...more

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Jul 30, 2020 Fanni's So Many Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Olliver wants a roommate to save money for a car and he finds one in a newspaper ad. The mysterious Bodie, turns out to be a handsome cowboy in need to stay for the summer so the arrangment is perfect.
They become easy friends with both of their quiet, solitary nature and then slip into a relationship just as simply.
Nothing is that simple, though, as both men have a painful past that they struggle to overcome and Bodie's instinct to leave before he can build a life in one place is destructive for Olliver wants a roommate to save money for a car and he finds one in a newspaper ad. The mysterious Bodie, turns out to be a handsome cowboy in need to stay for the summer so the arrangment is perfect.
They become easy friends with both of their quiet, solitary nature and then slip into a relationship just as simply.
Nothing is that simple, though, as both men have a painful past that they struggle to overcome and Bodie's instinct to leave before he can build a life in one place is destructive for their relationship.

Also, an ex and boss is living out his jealousy and does everything to break them apart. Every wicked, disgusting thing.

So I was rather pleased with this book! The story, the characters and the backstories were built in a great way and I enjoyed it a lot. Though my MM romance obsession might have had something to do with this fact!

Ollie's shy nature is a strange pairing with him being a bartender but his passion lays with the drinks he creates not the people he has to interact with. It is rather interesting how slowly it is revealed why is he the way he is and how a man who only stays for three months can get him out of this lonely existence.
Bodie's issues are with intimacy and trust due to his horrible past which is introduced a bit suddenly and without tact but maybe that was the point?!

One of the things I found lacking in this book was he quality of the conversations. A huge emphasis was on the importance of sharing snippets of their past with each other so it was a bit disappointing that their convesations were written a bit weird. Like the author's strength was writing the other parts, the inner conversations and acts but not the actual talking part. It wasn't really bad it just kind of stopped the flow of the story every time.

My other issue was with the intimate parts. I wouldn't say 'sexy' or 'hot' scenes because I truly believe that the focus was on the intimacy of the act. But it didn't feel that much special for me and I missed some technical aspect that are often left out but are still part of love making.

These little problems were mostly writing style related and I had a great time reading because the story after all was nice and enjoyable.
Character building and consistency was great and the evil of the story was introduced and depicted in a way that I just knew from he first moment I'm going to hate him.
There were a lot of sweet moments showing how one can learn to be intimate and loving after going through some terrible things.
And I also shed some tears at the end on the cruelty of the situation.

All in all, a really nice read for the lovers of bittersweet MM love stories! ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Christina Wade - BFD Book Blog rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars

I liked the love story between Bodie and Ollie. Unfortunately, I didn’t like a couple of things about this book, so it only got 3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars from me. As several reviewers mentioned, there are several possible triggers which I’m assuming have now been added to the synopsis as trigger warnings.

Bodie and Ollie are similar in that trust doesn’t come easy to either of them and they don’t open up to others. However, their backgrounds are very different. Bodie’ ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Caroline rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was my first book from this author and it was so much more than I expected. I couldn’t put it down, it had my attention from the first page.

This is Ollie and Bodie’s story. It was well written, realistic, emotional and had a great storyline. The chemistry between them is off the charts immediately.

Both guys are struggling but in different ways. Together they make the other realise that it’s worth fighting for what you want. And that everything is better when you have a dog to talk to.

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Jul 28, 2020 Tori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: readathon-books-2020, read-in-2020, arcs-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 07, 2020 R.K. Emery rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mm

I love the way these characters meet. I always like these kind of stories, they're my favorite.

What's even better? I love the way their relationship unfolds. It is believable and filled with angst and passion.

Wonderfully written. Perfectly crafter characters. Engaging and Enchanting Storyline. ...more

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Aug 08, 2020 Dawn rated it really liked it

Emotional adventure

This was a great read. I enjoyed this book. Oliver was a great character and Bodie is a lost cowboy who needed a home. Tragedy comes and there love is almost lost but love heals everything. Loved there HEA. Great Read from start to finish.

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Jul 31, 2020 Fiona rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Oliver, aka “Ollie”, and Bodie both struggle with a past that have left them slow to trust and closed off. Munro does a great job of detailing their budding romance, showing how they gradually open up and begin to trust each other. I enjoyed watching them evolve, especially Bodie as he moved on from his past, discovering the positive side of intimacy. There is a great cast of supporting characters, some you will love and others you will really love to hate. I really enjoyed this well written, en ...more

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Aug 05, 2020 AND 1515 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Brilliant Story....
by and1515

Wow this is the first book I've read by Jude Munro and it's absolutely fantastic Ollie and Bodie's story is a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors and multiple emotions.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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Jul 22, 2020 Darkredrum/Frank rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was bored somewhere, in the beginning, It was a great start to this story, different than other books in this genre. I really loved the way Ollie was introduced then, the Bodie introduction kinda ruined it for me, it's so overused. Thank god I kept reading.

The cover is simply a picture of an attractive man, you'd expect some fun and sexy story but what we get is something entirely different that made me feel like this Is a great story but hidden behind a mediocre cover. This is about learning ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Where to begin? This book, well, it is just excellent. It is written perfectly, with a certain depth and attention to detail that this type of story particularly needs. It starts with two brilliant characters, think ver opposites attract, whom are from not only different walks of life, but also whom have very different perspectives.

They are both wary of commitment, due to past heartache. They know that they should avoid one another, but the pull is beyond their control, and then they have to de ...more

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Aug 01, 2020 Jess Kinslow rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My heart.

I loved this book so much! I can't really decide who I loved more: Oliver or Bodie. I fell in love with both of them for very different reasons. My heart ached for them both and I was completely vested in their love.

Definitely looking forward to reading more of this author. ...more

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Jul 19, 2020 Stephanie W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What started out as a newspaper ad for a place to live became so much more.

Oliver "Ollie" Tunstead- a bartender who is in debt and needs as much cash as possible. He does the unthinkable and rents out a room in his cottage. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Especially when you are still under the thumb of your ex.

Bodie is in a mess with his life right now. Needing a reasonably priced roof over his head, he answers the advertisement. Low maintenance kind of guy, he agrees to share his ...more

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Jul 18, 2020 Darcy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Have the box of tissues ready, because there will be a few tears for Bodie and Oliver. Bodie has survived a horrific childhood to become a loner, never settling in one place until Oliver. Both are introverts due to their pasts, but they are navigating a relationship and slowly opening up to each other. When demanding customers and Ex's try to destroy them, my heart hurt and couldn't wait for the HEA outcome. Born for Leaving is an emotional roller coaster ride of two loners trying to find a way ...more

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Jul 21, 2020 Jeanne Richardson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the 2nd book I've read written by Jude Munro; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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About Jude Munro

Jude Munro

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Like Jude Munro, her fictional characters in her gay romance novels are drawn to the beach. They’ve sunbathed on the sands of many alluring East Coast beaches, along with the fantastical beaches in Jude’s books. They’ll answer questions like “Who do you think you are, the sun god?” (which they often resemble) if they can hear you over "Boys of Summer" cranking on their headphones. To most of Jude’ ...more

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(New England State of Mind #1)

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