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Bluewater Bay #14
All the Wrong Places
Three cheating girlfriends in a row have given skateboarder Brennan Cross the same excuse: he wasn’t meeting their needs. Desperate and humiliated, he goes to the professionals at the local sex shop for advice.
Zafir Hamady, a sales clerk at Red Hot Bluewater, has an unusual theory: he doesn’t think Brennan is a bad lover. In fact, he doesn’t think Brennan is heterosexual. Or sexual at all, for that matter. He also can’t stop thinking about Brennan. But even if he’s right and Brennan really is asexual, that doesn’t mean Zafir has a chance. Brennan’s never dated a man, and Zafir’s never met anyone who’s game for a Muslim single father with a smart mouth and a GED.
Brennan’s always thought of himself as straight. But when sex is explicitly out of the mix, he finds himself drawn to Zafir for the qualities and interests they share. And Zafir can’t help enjoying Brennan’s company and the growing bond between Brennan and his son. They work well together, but with so many issues between them, doubts creep in, and Brennan’s struggle with his identity could push away the one person he didn’t know he could love.
Zafir Hamady, a sales clerk at Red Hot Bluewater, has an unusual theory: he doesn’t think Brennan is a bad lover. In fact, he doesn’t think Brennan is heterosexual. Or sexual at all, for that matter. He also can’t stop thinking about Brennan. But even if he’s right and Brennan really is asexual, that doesn’t mean Zafir has a chance. Brennan’s never dated a man, and Zafir’s never met anyone who’s game for a Muslim single father with a smart mouth and a GED.
Brennan’s always thought of himself as straight. But when sex is explicitly out of the mix, he finds himself drawn to Zafir for the qualities and interests they share. And Zafir can’t help enjoying Brennan’s company and the growing bond between Brennan and his son. They work well together, but with so many issues between them, doubts creep in, and Brennan’s struggle with his identity could push away the one person he didn’t know he could love.
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First published June 12, 2016
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About the author
Ann Gallagher
8 books64 followersAnn Gallagher is the slightly more civilized alter ego of L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Lori A. Witt. So she tells herself, anyway. When she isn't wreaking havoc on Spain with her husband and trusty two-headed Brahma bull, she writes romances just like her wilder counterparts, but without all the heat.
(Source: Amazon.com.)
(Source: Amazon.com.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
May 26, 2016
*3.5 stars*
I always say this when I'm talking about Ann Gallagher/L.A. Witt/Lauren Gallagher: she isn't afraid to try new things! I mean, really not afraid. When she sees a challenge, she just grabs it by the balls and makes it her bitch. I just love her for it, and I continue to try all of her stuff because I'm always fascinated about what I'm going to get.
This book... wow, she really expanded my horizons. First of all, we get two asexual MCs, a POC MC, and one of the MCs is a father. I'll talk about the asexuality aspect first, because that was really well done, IMO.
I've only read one other book with a MC who identified as asexual, and that was How To Be A Normal Person. In that case, only one MC was asexual, which was a doozy for me to wrap my head around. In this case, both MCs identified as asexual, which was easier for me to digest.
Granted, fellow readers, the concept of asexuality is something that I struggle with. I'm pretty far on the opposite end of the sexuality spectrum, so the entire notion of a romantic relationship without sexual attraction is something that I've spent many nights pondering over in my head. I am, without a doubt, NOT questioning the validity of asexuality or the ability of those who identify as such to have meaningful and romantic (if they chose) relationships, but it is something that jars with my personal notion of what I look for in a relationship, so I really have to go outside myself and inside the characters' heads to understand where they are coming from.
What I really liked is how Ann Gallagher made the concept of asexuality very easy to understand for readers, without it coming across as too didactic. She even went into some subsets of asexuality a little bit, and I spent a good while googling some new-to-me terms.
I also found to be VERY interesting is how she made Brennan's character sort of a BFY situation. Brennan previously identified as heterosexual with no interest in men. After meeting and having a prolonged friendship with Zafir, he discovered that he is actually bi-romantic. I'm a sucker for stories where characters have to expand what they thought was their sexual orientation, so Brennan discovering that he could have a romantic relationship with a man was pretty cool for me. I also liked the friendship between Brennan and Zafir, and how much support they gave one another.
What I struggled with a great deal were two issues. One, I didn't really feel the ROMANCE between Zafir and Brennan. They felt very friendship-y to me, and it really had nothing to do with the fact that they didn't have sex. I'm not sure why that was, but I just didn't feel that deep romance connection that I like to have to sweet me off my feet. Maybe it's because I subconsciously look for attraction as a cue for chemistry? Could be...
The second issue that I really had was the pacing. I mean, nothing much happens in this story. The plot was basically just them... hanging out. Working. Talking. That's it. I thought that the story didn't have enough excitement to maintain my interest, which was a bit of a shame. I learned a little more about Muslim men and skateboarding, but I really wanted something more intense to happen.
Overall, I think that readers looking for a book with asexual characters will really be pleased by this one. However, readers who are just discovering what asexuality is should also try this. It was a nice read, and I am grateful to Ann Gallagher for bringing something new to the table.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Oh, and the dental references... on point!!! ;)
I always say this when I'm talking about Ann Gallagher/L.A. Witt/Lauren Gallagher: she isn't afraid to try new things! I mean, really not afraid. When she sees a challenge, she just grabs it by the balls and makes it her bitch. I just love her for it, and I continue to try all of her stuff because I'm always fascinated about what I'm going to get.
This book... wow, she really expanded my horizons. First of all, we get two asexual MCs, a POC MC, and one of the MCs is a father. I'll talk about the asexuality aspect first, because that was really well done, IMO.
I've only read one other book with a MC who identified as asexual, and that was How To Be A Normal Person. In that case, only one MC was asexual, which was a doozy for me to wrap my head around. In this case, both MCs identified as asexual, which was easier for me to digest.
Granted, fellow readers, the concept of asexuality is something that I struggle with. I'm pretty far on the opposite end of the sexuality spectrum, so the entire notion of a romantic relationship without sexual attraction is something that I've spent many nights pondering over in my head. I am, without a doubt, NOT questioning the validity of asexuality or the ability of those who identify as such to have meaningful and romantic (if they chose) relationships, but it is something that jars with my personal notion of what I look for in a relationship, so I really have to go outside myself and inside the characters' heads to understand where they are coming from.
What I really liked is how Ann Gallagher made the concept of asexuality very easy to understand for readers, without it coming across as too didactic. She even went into some subsets of asexuality a little bit, and I spent a good while googling some new-to-me terms.
I also found to be VERY interesting is how she made Brennan's character sort of a BFY situation. Brennan previously identified as heterosexual with no interest in men. After meeting and having a prolonged friendship with Zafir, he discovered that he is actually bi-romantic. I'm a sucker for stories where characters have to expand what they thought was their sexual orientation, so Brennan discovering that he could have a romantic relationship with a man was pretty cool for me. I also liked the friendship between Brennan and Zafir, and how much support they gave one another.
What I struggled with a great deal were two issues. One, I didn't really feel the ROMANCE between Zafir and Brennan. They felt very friendship-y to me, and it really had nothing to do with the fact that they didn't have sex. I'm not sure why that was, but I just didn't feel that deep romance connection that I like to have to sweet me off my feet. Maybe it's because I subconsciously look for attraction as a cue for chemistry? Could be...
The second issue that I really had was the pacing. I mean, nothing much happens in this story. The plot was basically just them... hanging out. Working. Talking. That's it. I thought that the story didn't have enough excitement to maintain my interest, which was a bit of a shame. I learned a little more about Muslim men and skateboarding, but I really wanted something more intense to happen.
Overall, I think that readers looking for a book with asexual characters will really be pleased by this one. However, readers who are just discovering what asexuality is should also try this. It was a nice read, and I am grateful to Ann Gallagher for bringing something new to the table.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Oh, and the dental references... on point!!! ;)
September 13, 2017
I have no desire whatsoever to have sex. I’m not repulsed by it, just not interested. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a companion. And it doesn’t mean I can’t connect with someone. I don’t have to be sexually interested in someone to feel like my world is better with them in it. It’s a different kind of love than loving my sister or my son or my friends. It’s like ... this is a person who’s come into my life and changed it, and I want them to stay.”
Bear with me, because this review might be a little like a confession
About three years ago, in my mid-thirties I was finally ABLE to acknowledge that I am indeed an asexual. Heck, I even wrote something about it (it was still available online). Back then, I claimed that I was grey-ace, but since asexuality is a spectrum, nowadays I'm quite comfortable to say that I'm full ace :).
Within that three years, I've also seen a number of romance with ace characters appearing in my timeline. It's a wonderful development for sure. However, at the same time I feel weary to read them.
Why?
Because if it doesn't feel relatable to me, if the ace seems can only get the happiness by being "saved" by the allosexual person, or if the ace character seems to have to be the one making 'sacrifices' to be with the allosexual partner, then it will be double disappointment. I don't want that. Which is why I haven't read as many as romance with aces ...
And All the Wrong Places has a Muslim character as well! So it's like triple concerns for me (since I'm also a Muslim). However, at the same time, this one seems to get stamp of approval from a couple of ace reviewers (see Annie's). So I decided to throw cautions to the wind ...
Well, I admit, I was sniffling a bit near the end because I was really touched ...
In the beginning, I was REALLY worried that Ms. Gallagher is trying to give lecture about asexuality to non-ace readers. She was a bit too info-dumpy about it. However, as the story went along, I was engaged by it.
I know that not all aces are the same, each have their own experience with asexuality. However, Brendan's discovery of his asexuality as well as Zafir's viewpoint about relationship felt highly relatable for me. From Brendan's questioning about what was wrong with him to Zafir saying that they can define relationship in any way they like. Because yes, relationship can be more than just sex ...
I appreciated how Brendan and Zafir came together as a couple. I read how a number of reviews think that the romance is lacking in this one, but not to me. Yes, their relationship vibe might be more friendship-y but isn't there a saying that "you're lucky to fall in love with your best friend?" Brendan and Zafir defines their own version of romance, that doesn't involve sexual attraction or physical sex. That's to me is as romantic as it can be for them.
It was also lovely to have Zafir as a Muslim, who still doesn't drink alcohol and tries to keep eating halal foods. Although it'll be nice to have Muslim characters NOT coming from Middle East though ^^. And Tariq is probably one of the most precious kids in a book, ever!
So this is a precious, PRECIOUS book for me. I feel that Ms. Gallagher treats these asexual characters with respect, which makes me really happy. All in all, All the Wrong Places has been a wonderful and satisfying read.
PS: I learned that I'm actually an apothisexual (in addition to aromantic)! Hah, thanks for introducing that term to me, Ms. Gallagher.
June 15, 2016
As I sit down to write this, it has been almost 24 hours since I first heard of the shooting in the gay club in Orlando. Over the intervening hours the injuries and terrible loss of life increased in front of our very eyes. Those of us across the country, and the globe, couldn’t do much more than grieve and rage as the story unfolded.
There are no words for my grief, and yet what I experience safe here with my family and friends around me, is nothing compared to what others deal with right now. For the people who were in that club and those who have had loved ones killed and injured…what can I say? How do you give words to an overwhelming grief, anger, loss of perceived safety, and an awakening determination that we will stand together?
As I sit here, trying to write this review, it has been almost 24 hours. It feels like no time at all, and yet I feel stretched thin by each tick of the clock.
As I sit here, I am at a loss. How do I do something so mundane as this; as if these hate fueled murders never happened? I have been writing reviews for more than three years and never before have I felt so lost when staring down at a blank page.
Still…
I don’t believe in fate, and even less in god, but I think if ever there was a book to review, at this moment, at this time, All the Wrong Places might be it. A story about a man finding himself and falling in love with an asexual Muslim single father, all the while learning that–-in the words of the ever incomparable Lin-Manuel Miranda–-
My reading of this book was bisected by this tragedy. There was before Orlando, and after. Before grief, and after rage. It was a strange thing to come to this story from two such places. No doubt it colored my view of these characters, of their story and their love. I cannot remove myself from that. I don’t know if I would want to if I could.
Because no matter when I read, there’s never going to be a difference in the simple, yet heartfelt message that love is who not how.
There is no perfect way to love, just many wonderfully messy ones.
In a world that would seek to divide us with hate and fear, I think we need to remember that. A book about a biromantic man of the Muslim faith…could anything be better for us right now? A story that doesn’t hide our differences, but celebrates them…is there any better lesson for us right now?
Books that teach us about love, in all its forms, are desperately needed. I can count on one hand (probably together) the number of books I’ve read with asexual or with Muslim MCs. That I can actually number both of these things is not good. We need more. So much more. We need more love, not less.
This is not the review I would have written, given the chance. But I don’t think I am the person I was 24 hours ago. I wish I could find in me some place that matches this wonderful, lighthearted book. It was my shelter for a few hours in what had become a nightmare. It deserves better than this. But I cannot yet find that part of me, not even 24 hours on.
Love is love, they say.
Be it for another person, or yourself, I have to agree. Love is love.
And it is by reading books like this one that we are reminded of that.
Zafir and Brennan are not perfect characters. I loved them all the same. For a book that never got heavy, it sure did a damn good job of making sure all its hits counted. It also treated its characters with respect, but didn’t stop them from messing up–-if only so that they could learn their lesson. Nothing about realizing such intimate and at times profound things about yourself is easy. I can attest to that. I’ve been there and got the coffee mug, T-shirt, and novelty slippers to prove it. But it is what you do with that struggle that matters. Learning to love yourself is probably the hardest thing in life. It is worth it though.
With everything that has happened in the last 24 hours, I am glad that I had some place to retreat when it all got too much. And I’m glad it was this book. Despite not knowing how to say it, I am glad I get the chance to share this book with others. On days like today we need to remember that love is worth it.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
There are no words for my grief, and yet what I experience safe here with my family and friends around me, is nothing compared to what others deal with right now. For the people who were in that club and those who have had loved ones killed and injured…what can I say? How do you give words to an overwhelming grief, anger, loss of perceived safety, and an awakening determination that we will stand together?
As I sit here, trying to write this review, it has been almost 24 hours. It feels like no time at all, and yet I feel stretched thin by each tick of the clock.
As I sit here, I am at a loss. How do I do something so mundane as this; as if these hate fueled murders never happened? I have been writing reviews for more than three years and never before have I felt so lost when staring down at a blank page.
Still…
I don’t believe in fate, and even less in god, but I think if ever there was a book to review, at this moment, at this time, All the Wrong Places might be it. A story about a man finding himself and falling in love with an asexual Muslim single father, all the while learning that–-in the words of the ever incomparable Lin-Manuel Miranda–-
Love is love is love is love is love.
My reading of this book was bisected by this tragedy. There was before Orlando, and after. Before grief, and after rage. It was a strange thing to come to this story from two such places. No doubt it colored my view of these characters, of their story and their love. I cannot remove myself from that. I don’t know if I would want to if I could.
Because no matter when I read, there’s never going to be a difference in the simple, yet heartfelt message that love is who not how.
There is no perfect way to love, just many wonderfully messy ones.
In a world that would seek to divide us with hate and fear, I think we need to remember that. A book about a biromantic man of the Muslim faith…could anything be better for us right now? A story that doesn’t hide our differences, but celebrates them…is there any better lesson for us right now?
Books that teach us about love, in all its forms, are desperately needed. I can count on one hand (probably together) the number of books I’ve read with asexual or with Muslim MCs. That I can actually number both of these things is not good. We need more. So much more. We need more love, not less.
This is not the review I would have written, given the chance. But I don’t think I am the person I was 24 hours ago. I wish I could find in me some place that matches this wonderful, lighthearted book. It was my shelter for a few hours in what had become a nightmare. It deserves better than this. But I cannot yet find that part of me, not even 24 hours on.
Love is love, they say.
Be it for another person, or yourself, I have to agree. Love is love.
And it is by reading books like this one that we are reminded of that.
Zafir and Brennan are not perfect characters. I loved them all the same. For a book that never got heavy, it sure did a damn good job of making sure all its hits counted. It also treated its characters with respect, but didn’t stop them from messing up–-if only so that they could learn their lesson. Nothing about realizing such intimate and at times profound things about yourself is easy. I can attest to that. I’ve been there and got the coffee mug, T-shirt, and novelty slippers to prove it. But it is what you do with that struggle that matters. Learning to love yourself is probably the hardest thing in life. It is worth it though.
With everything that has happened in the last 24 hours, I am glad that I had some place to retreat when it all got too much. And I’m glad it was this book. Despite not knowing how to say it, I am glad I get the chance to share this book with others. On days like today we need to remember that love is worth it.
Zafir’s weight shifted, and rocks and sand crunched as he stepped a little closer. His shirt was a light breeze away from touching mine. He lifted his hand off my forearm, and I held my breath. Even before his fingers moved into my peripheral vision, I knew what was coming.
Eyes locked on mine, he touched my face. My heart was going impossibly fast now. I was vaguely aware that we were out in public, and someone might lean over the guardrail above and see us, but I didn’t care.
His hand slid around to the back of my neck, and with the faintest pressure from his fingertips, he drew me toward him.
Our lips met.
And everything . . . faded.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 21, 2021
3.75 stars, rounded up
First, this is about two ace guys finding love, so if you need sex in your romance, this might not be for you. Second, Zafir is Muslim and while religion isn't a part of the book, it is a significant part of who he is, so if any kind of religious talk, however insignificant, upsets you, you might want to consider that before picking this up. Third, there's a kid. He seemed pretty realistic for a nine-year old, if a bit too perfect sometimes. Zafir has sole custody, so Tariq's present in a lot of the book and is obviously an important factor in Zafir's decisions and life. And I think that covers all the major stuff that might turn some of my friends away. Onto the review!
This had some hiccups along the way, and I was mostly cruising along at a 3-star rating until the end, which bumped it up. This is dual 1st-person POV and there is no distinction between voices, and I did sometimes lose track of whose POV I was in and who was talking, especially if I had to put the book down mid-chapter. As some of my friends can attest, this sometimes lead to humorous misunderstandings, but really these misunderstandings shouldn't have happened. If authors can't write distinctive voices, they really should stay away from dual 1st-person POV.
There was a lot of Ace 101 in the front end of the book, and I understand completely why it's there. Brennan never heard of asexuality before now, and a lot of people out there still haven't heard of it or don't know what it really means or don't think it's a real thing. But as an ace myself, I found it a bit tedious at times. Still, it was nice to actually see a character struggle to understand his sexuality once he discovers he wasn't as heteronormative as he'd always assumed. Too often in GFY romances, the Straightest Straight Guy to Ever Straight finds out he likes dong and never bats an eye or looks back. It's not realistic, and this book really allows Brennan the space and time he needs to figure himself out and open up to a new understanding of himself. It's not all smooth sailing, and I appreciated that is wasn't all sappy and gooey feelings. (And GFY is the totally wrong label for this, but biromantic-for-you is just a mouthful.)
I found the romance sweet and well-done, and both the MCs were good guys. They're struggling to make ends meet and Zafir is trying his best to raise his kid alone. They hit it off as friends first and I found the relationship progression, given everything they were both going through, wasn't rushed too much, mostly because there are some challenges later that help round it out a bit more. That said, the ending was a bit rush and I would've like that to be fleshed out more, but I think that's just because I was really getting into it by that point, and then it was over.
(So does LA Witt change pen names when she doesn't have smoking in her books? LOL.)
First, this is about two ace guys finding love, so if you need sex in your romance, this might not be for you. Second, Zafir is Muslim and while religion isn't a part of the book, it is a significant part of who he is, so if any kind of religious talk, however insignificant, upsets you, you might want to consider that before picking this up. Third, there's a kid. He seemed pretty realistic for a nine-year old, if a bit too perfect sometimes. Zafir has sole custody, so Tariq's present in a lot of the book and is obviously an important factor in Zafir's decisions and life. And I think that covers all the major stuff that might turn some of my friends away. Onto the review!
This had some hiccups along the way, and I was mostly cruising along at a 3-star rating until the end, which bumped it up. This is dual 1st-person POV and there is no distinction between voices, and I did sometimes lose track of whose POV I was in and who was talking, especially if I had to put the book down mid-chapter. As some of my friends can attest, this sometimes lead to humorous misunderstandings, but really these misunderstandings shouldn't have happened. If authors can't write distinctive voices, they really should stay away from dual 1st-person POV.
There was a lot of Ace 101 in the front end of the book, and I understand completely why it's there. Brennan never heard of asexuality before now, and a lot of people out there still haven't heard of it or don't know what it really means or don't think it's a real thing. But as an ace myself, I found it a bit tedious at times. Still, it was nice to actually see a character struggle to understand his sexuality once he discovers he wasn't as heteronormative as he'd always assumed. Too often in GFY romances, the Straightest Straight Guy to Ever Straight finds out he likes dong and never bats an eye or looks back. It's not realistic, and this book really allows Brennan the space and time he needs to figure himself out and open up to a new understanding of himself. It's not all smooth sailing, and I appreciated that is wasn't all sappy and gooey feelings. (And GFY is the totally wrong label for this, but biromantic-for-you is just a mouthful.)
I found the romance sweet and well-done, and both the MCs were good guys. They're struggling to make ends meet and Zafir is trying his best to raise his kid alone. They hit it off as friends first and I found the relationship progression, given everything they were both going through, wasn't rushed too much, mostly because there are some challenges later that help round it out a bit more. That said, the ending was a bit rush and I would've like that to be fleshed out more, but I think that's just because I was really getting into it by that point, and then it was over.
(So does LA Witt change pen names when she doesn't have smoking in her books? LOL.)
July 24, 2016
I was game when I knew this is about asexual people, I have some asexual friends, so now I know what they feel about their sexuality.
And it's also rare that we have Muslim MC, they're more complicated in gay romance to write I guess, because of what Qur'an says.
And apparently Zafir is a good Muslim too. So, it's kinda hard for him.
I only read some of Muslim MC from Aleksandr Voinov and now L.A. Witt, and I'm not disappointed. I need to read some more I hope.
Inshallah. :)
This story though, I enjoyed and couldn't put down, maybe part of it because I know it's not easy for Zafir and Brennan to admit about their interest to each other. Asexual, remember?
So, yeah, there's no sex on page this time. There are some affectionate kisses, some comfort time for them. And mostly, I liked it how Brennan and Tariq get along very well.
The little twist near the end was kinda like a punch in my gut. Good thing is, Brennan is not that person who hate talking and procrastinated about relationship.
He's got my pat on his back for that.
And the Epilogue was just perfect.
Recommended!
August 22, 2021
This was a sweet, light read with enough substance to not be fluff. Brennan is a semi-pro skateboarder working in a shop and chasing competition success. He's broken up with three girlfriends in a row, all of whom bashed his confidence about his desirability and performance as a boyfriend. He goes into the local sex shop, determined to figure something out, and meets Zafir working there. Telling his tale of woe to a stranger is somehow possible, and Zafir, who is asexual, asks Brennan if he's considered that might be why he's had issues.
Brennan hasn't imagined that a possibility, but the more he reads and thinks, the more it seems to fit his interest in romance and closeness, but his apathy about actual sex. And as he gets closer to single-dad Zafir (and teaches his son to skateboard) he starts to wonder if the gender of his interest is as locked in stone as he thought.
This was a warm awakening and coming out to yourself story, with a fairly believable kid (always a bonus) and two ace guys who are not demi, keeping sex off the table. (I like stories with demi guys too, but they tend to bow to genre conventions.) I had a few quibbles about how fast Zafir recognized Brennan's orientation (though I can chalk it up to wishful thinking - finding someone like himself close to home), I wished there was a bit more external push-back (eg. from Zafir's parents) and I wasn't crazy about the moment of conflict - the degree to which it blew up felt out of character for Brennan. But this is a good entry into the ace spectrum romances, with warmth and very low-key drama. Potentially a comfort reread.
Brennan hasn't imagined that a possibility, but the more he reads and thinks, the more it seems to fit his interest in romance and closeness, but his apathy about actual sex. And as he gets closer to single-dad Zafir (and teaches his son to skateboard) he starts to wonder if the gender of his interest is as locked in stone as he thought.
This was a warm awakening and coming out to yourself story, with a fairly believable kid (always a bonus) and two ace guys who are not demi, keeping sex off the table. (I like stories with demi guys too, but they tend to bow to genre conventions.) I had a few quibbles about how fast Zafir recognized Brennan's orientation (though I can chalk it up to wishful thinking - finding someone like himself close to home), I wished there was a bit more external push-back (eg. from Zafir's parents) and I wasn't crazy about the moment of conflict - the degree to which it blew up felt out of character for Brennan. But this is a good entry into the ace spectrum romances, with warmth and very low-key drama. Potentially a comfort reread.
March 30, 2016
After reading the blurb for All the Wrong Places I was convinced that I wouldn't like it that much since my favorite books usually have lots of dirty, filthy sex in them; since both characters are asexuals I knew this wasn't up my alley and yet I was compelled to read it. This book ended up being a journey of self-discovery for Brennan, one of our main characters, and for me as well. If you're expecting any heat or sex of any kind, if the lack of steam is a deal breaker for you, then this book is not for you.
Brennan is a man in his 20's who's struggling to understand what he's doing wrong in his relationships with women. He knows his problems start with his inability to make his girlfriends sexually happy, he realizes something must be wrong, yet he can't figure out what needs to change. Heartbroken after his latest girlfriend cheated on him, he goes to Red Hot Bluewater (the adult store in Bluewater Bay) in search of some answers; who better to answer his questions other than a person who's heard it all and would never make fun of him?
Zafir is an asexual man who's also bi-romantic (able to form strong emotional connections with both sexes) and who falls under the gray-sexual area of the asexual spectrum (able to have sex and enjoy it if there is a strong emotional connection established with that person); talking to Brennan even for a few minutes makes it very obvious to him that Brennan is asexual as well. Yes, Brennan has been in relationships with women and has had sex with every single one of them, but he's never initiated it and has always been a source of tension for him. Zafir and Brennan become friends, they have a lot in common, and enjoy spending time together; Zafir is tremendously helpful to Brennan, someone who can answer all his questions, reassure him that he is normal and just as good as everybody else even if his body isn't wired to need sex.
What I loved most about this book was how complex the characters are; there's more than just the issue of asexuality that's being discussed. Zafir is muslim, follows the muslim religion and he is teaching his own son about the teachings of Allah; can you imagine a better time than right now to discuss/address the struggles of muslim men and women, the discrimination and hatred people have towards them?
Zafir's insecurities run deep and are not due to his religion only; becoming a single father at 17 has been brutal but his son came first, even if that meant dropping out of high-school in order to care for him. Hard work and perseverance lead him to a GED and a string of retail jobs; currently working two jobs in order to afford a better life for his child doesn't give him much spare time to spend with his son, but he is aware of the sacrifices he needs to make. Zafir is aware that he will never have a successful career and that's a sore issue for him; him and his son Tariq have dealt with a lot of loss over the years and it seems like Zafir is never good enough for people to stay. He is either too poor, too short, looks too much like a terrorist, too uneducated, lacking potential for more; even though his friendship with Brennan starts to feel like more, even though he starts to develop feelings for Brennan, he is determined to keep things as they are. If they don't become more than friends then Brennan will not find a reason to leave him and Tariq.
This book is about more than sex; it's about how to fall in love with somebody you never expected to fall for. It's not about sexual attraction, it's about emotional attraction and soul-deep connection. It's about prejudice and struggles, about self-discovery and learning to accept that being different still means being normal. It's about a child struggling to accept that the people he loves always leave, about an adult struggling with his sense of self-worth. I learned so much from this book, or maybe learned isn't exactly the right word. Sure, I've heard of asexual people, I've read about them even, but I never truly grasped what it really means and how it truly feels. This book has become personal to me, it helped me understand things about myself that I never considered. It was beautiful, enlightening and has a beautiful happy ending!
Recommended!
Brennan is a man in his 20's who's struggling to understand what he's doing wrong in his relationships with women. He knows his problems start with his inability to make his girlfriends sexually happy, he realizes something must be wrong, yet he can't figure out what needs to change. Heartbroken after his latest girlfriend cheated on him, he goes to Red Hot Bluewater (the adult store in Bluewater Bay) in search of some answers; who better to answer his questions other than a person who's heard it all and would never make fun of him?
Zafir is an asexual man who's also bi-romantic (able to form strong emotional connections with both sexes) and who falls under the gray-sexual area of the asexual spectrum (able to have sex and enjoy it if there is a strong emotional connection established with that person); talking to Brennan even for a few minutes makes it very obvious to him that Brennan is asexual as well. Yes, Brennan has been in relationships with women and has had sex with every single one of them, but he's never initiated it and has always been a source of tension for him. Zafir and Brennan become friends, they have a lot in common, and enjoy spending time together; Zafir is tremendously helpful to Brennan, someone who can answer all his questions, reassure him that he is normal and just as good as everybody else even if his body isn't wired to need sex.
What I loved most about this book was how complex the characters are; there's more than just the issue of asexuality that's being discussed. Zafir is muslim, follows the muslim religion and he is teaching his own son about the teachings of Allah; can you imagine a better time than right now to discuss/address the struggles of muslim men and women, the discrimination and hatred people have towards them?
Zafir's insecurities run deep and are not due to his religion only; becoming a single father at 17 has been brutal but his son came first, even if that meant dropping out of high-school in order to care for him. Hard work and perseverance lead him to a GED and a string of retail jobs; currently working two jobs in order to afford a better life for his child doesn't give him much spare time to spend with his son, but he is aware of the sacrifices he needs to make. Zafir is aware that he will never have a successful career and that's a sore issue for him; him and his son Tariq have dealt with a lot of loss over the years and it seems like Zafir is never good enough for people to stay. He is either too poor, too short, looks too much like a terrorist, too uneducated, lacking potential for more; even though his friendship with Brennan starts to feel like more, even though he starts to develop feelings for Brennan, he is determined to keep things as they are. If they don't become more than friends then Brennan will not find a reason to leave him and Tariq.
This book is about more than sex; it's about how to fall in love with somebody you never expected to fall for. It's not about sexual attraction, it's about emotional attraction and soul-deep connection. It's about prejudice and struggles, about self-discovery and learning to accept that being different still means being normal. It's about a child struggling to accept that the people he loves always leave, about an adult struggling with his sense of self-worth. I learned so much from this book, or maybe learned isn't exactly the right word. Sure, I've heard of asexual people, I've read about them even, but I never truly grasped what it really means and how it truly feels. This book has become personal to me, it helped me understand things about myself that I never considered. It was beautiful, enlightening and has a beautiful happy ending!
Recommended!
July 9, 2023
rep; brennan (mc) is asexual. zafir (mc) is asexual/demisexual/greysexual and biromantic.
this is...interesting. the relationship is nice for the most part. they’re kind and supportive of each other in a way that was refreshing. i don’t really care for the sort of insta love, and the angst/conflict is disappointing, to say the least. the representation of asexuality is also a little disappointing because it’s continuously described as not being interested in sex. and sexual attraction, sex drive, and interest in sex are conflated. i like that asexuality being a spectrum is acknowledged and discussed. i like that labels not being something that everyone /needs/ is also discussed, and that not identifying with any label is okay and valid. also, i appreciated that when zafir is talking about how he’d have sex with his past partner, even though he had no interest in it, to make them happy, he said that it was understood that if he didn’t want to, they wouldn’t and his partner was okay with it. because the idea that asexual people, or anyone really, should have sex they don’t want or enjoy to either make their partner happy or to keep their relationship is highkey toxic and bad. the phrase “just friends” is used a lot, which pushes the idea that friendship is lesser, emotion or importance wise, than romance. at one point, a character is talking about the genders a guy could be interested in, and only men and women are mentioned, as well as referring to them as “both,” which obviously implies that there are only two genders. i like that a character mentions that affection and touch aren’t inherently sexual. brennan’s ex is the worst. zafir is probably my favorite character. i wish there had been more with the asexual group, and that they talked about their ace-ness. and i wish there had been a little more plot wise.
brennan is asexual, his romantic attraction or where specifically on the ace spectrum he is isn’t mentioned. and zafir is asexual and biromantic, more specifically graysexual/demisexual.
this is...interesting. the relationship is nice for the most part. they’re kind and supportive of each other in a way that was refreshing. i don’t really care for the sort of insta love, and the angst/conflict is disappointing, to say the least. the representation of asexuality is also a little disappointing because it’s continuously described as not being interested in sex. and sexual attraction, sex drive, and interest in sex are conflated. i like that asexuality being a spectrum is acknowledged and discussed. i like that labels not being something that everyone /needs/ is also discussed, and that not identifying with any label is okay and valid. also, i appreciated that when zafir is talking about how he’d have sex with his past partner, even though he had no interest in it, to make them happy, he said that it was understood that if he didn’t want to, they wouldn’t and his partner was okay with it. because the idea that asexual people, or anyone really, should have sex they don’t want or enjoy to either make their partner happy or to keep their relationship is highkey toxic and bad. the phrase “just friends” is used a lot, which pushes the idea that friendship is lesser, emotion or importance wise, than romance. at one point, a character is talking about the genders a guy could be interested in, and only men and women are mentioned, as well as referring to them as “both,” which obviously implies that there are only two genders. i like that a character mentions that affection and touch aren’t inherently sexual. brennan’s ex is the worst. zafir is probably my favorite character. i wish there had been more with the asexual group, and that they talked about their ace-ness. and i wish there had been a little more plot wise.
brennan is asexual, his romantic attraction or where specifically on the ace spectrum he is isn’t mentioned. and zafir is asexual and biromantic, more specifically graysexual/demisexual.
April 24, 2016
Reviewed for From Top to Bottom Reviews.
4.5 stars
*I received an ARC of this book from Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in return of an honest review*
I've read a few books with asexual characters and some of them were really disappointing because they portray us as being defective and needing healing. And by the end of the book the "asexual" would be cured and really loving sex and wanting it. But I knew that this one wouldn't be one of those stories because the author is Ann Gallagher (also writing as L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Lori A. Witt). And one thing you can trust this author to do, no matter under which pseudonym the book is published, is, that she does her research and that she doesn't write cardboard characters. Her characters are always fleshed out and relatable.
And Brennan and Zafir were such characters. Ann Gallagher created two believable ace characters. There's nothing like a text-book ace and there's a lot of differences, but the way Ann Gallagher wrote Zafir and Brennan felt realistic and I was instantly drawn to them and never once thought that I was reading about made up characters. From the first page on I was in the story and couldn't stop reading until I had finished the book.
Brennan and Zafir initially bond over Brennan figuring out that he's asexual. Zafir offers to answer any questions Brennan has and soon they're spending a lot of time together. I loved how their relationship slowly build. And was rooting for them both the whole time.
The story flowed really nicely. There's just the right amount of drama to keep it interesting but it all felt real. Like it was two people figuring out what they want and who they are and not characters in a book.
I expected Brennan to question his sexuality more than he did. He seemed to be really comfortable to finally know what to label himself. So him questioning it that late in the story seemed strange. Then again as I said before there's nothing like a textbook asexual and I did expect him to question it.
All the Wrong Places features some great side characters. And OMG! Tariq was soo cute and adorable. Such a sweet nine-year old and definitely one of the highlights in this book.
I've read almost all books in this series and this one is a fantastic addition to it. It's sweet and romantic and a great example of what it's like to be asexual. Definitely recommended!
4.5 stars
*I received an ARC of this book from Riptide Publishing via Netgalley in return of an honest review*
I've read a few books with asexual characters and some of them were really disappointing because they portray us as being defective and needing healing. And by the end of the book the "asexual" would be cured and really loving sex and wanting it. But I knew that this one wouldn't be one of those stories because the author is Ann Gallagher (also writing as L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Lori A. Witt). And one thing you can trust this author to do, no matter under which pseudonym the book is published, is, that she does her research and that she doesn't write cardboard characters. Her characters are always fleshed out and relatable.
And Brennan and Zafir were such characters. Ann Gallagher created two believable ace characters. There's nothing like a text-book ace and there's a lot of differences, but the way Ann Gallagher wrote Zafir and Brennan felt realistic and I was instantly drawn to them and never once thought that I was reading about made up characters. From the first page on I was in the story and couldn't stop reading until I had finished the book.
Brennan and Zafir initially bond over Brennan figuring out that he's asexual. Zafir offers to answer any questions Brennan has and soon they're spending a lot of time together. I loved how their relationship slowly build. And was rooting for them both the whole time.
The story flowed really nicely. There's just the right amount of drama to keep it interesting but it all felt real. Like it was two people figuring out what they want and who they are and not characters in a book.
I expected Brennan to question his sexuality more than he did. He seemed to be really comfortable to finally know what to label himself. So him questioning it that late in the story seemed strange. Then again as I said before there's nothing like a textbook asexual and I did expect him to question it.
All the Wrong Places features some great side characters. And OMG! Tariq was soo cute and adorable. Such a sweet nine-year old and definitely one of the highlights in this book.
I've read almost all books in this series and this one is a fantastic addition to it. It's sweet and romantic and a great example of what it's like to be asexual. Definitely recommended!
July 2, 2017
3.25 stars, rounded down.
There was a real sweetness to the way the two MCs were together, and some really great moments that were downright swoony. I liked the detail about their lives, liked the coming out as ace narrative (though I am not ace so I can't speak to accuracy and resonance but I did find a couple of reviews by ace folks that spoke fairly well of it), but also the daily grind at their jobs, all the parenting stuff, even the skating stuff (I generally am not a sports person). This is the first ace romance I've read that is two ace folks, and I am really hoping there are more out there. I really liked that they connected with other ace folks, that the story showed them in community and not just as an isolated couple. I really fell for Tariq, Zafir's kid; loved how much he was centered in the story. Mostly the story felt full, the characters weren't thinly drawn, for the most part, though I do have an issue with the way Zafir was characterized (& another issue with the way Aimee was characterized).
Zafir kept being surprised that Brennan treated him decently and didn't reject him. That part didn't really feel earned, didn't resonate for me (& I am someone who has lived that kind of romantic history, which made it esp striking that it wasn't resonating, pretty much at all). Instead it felt like it was assumed that he would feel that way as a Muslim Lebanese American biromantic asexual working class single dad, which made me uncomfortable. (Kind of like the way some writers of queer stories & M/M romance assume all queer men are miserable because they are queer, & are constantly treated badly in all their relationships.) It didn't just make me uncomfortable because that's a framework for understanding his life that's deeply othering, but also because it made Brennan a hero just for being halfway decent and somewhat considerate, because that's the best Zafir could imagine, that alone was miraculous.
I got why Brennan was into Zafir, but never really got why Zafir was into Brennan. And after the things Brennan said when he was freaking out, I had big doubts. Especially because it was discussed as if the things he said weren't mean or hateful, and they were. What he said was really not ok. And I know that people say cruel and hurtful things when they are freaking out, but the downplaying of it, & the way it was resolved felt like the story really let Brennan off the hook, and also excused something that felt quite like stalking. The happy ending did not feel earned and also felt kind of rushed, which aligns with my read of Brennan in the relationship in general...he didn't earn his place in Zafir's life. So, the ending wasn't satisfying to me.
And the thing is, I liked Brennan. He was a complicated character I wanted to root for. But he didn't step up enough, and the way Zafir saw him wasn't about the particularity of him enough, was more about the bad things he didn't do. I wanted more for them both.
It felt ironic that Aimee basically thought that Brennan because she really felt like a tool used by the author to help Brennan realize stuff. That also made me uncomfortable, especially since she was the only woman that got significant time and attention in the novel, and part of how she was used as a tool was to have her be treated terribly (and like an object) by a misogynist dude. I know that many people want to see cheaters punished but I gotta say, this reeked of misogyny to me.
Trigger Warnings:
There was a real sweetness to the way the two MCs were together, and some really great moments that were downright swoony. I liked the detail about their lives, liked the coming out as ace narrative (though I am not ace so I can't speak to accuracy and resonance but I did find a couple of reviews by ace folks that spoke fairly well of it), but also the daily grind at their jobs, all the parenting stuff, even the skating stuff (I generally am not a sports person). This is the first ace romance I've read that is two ace folks, and I am really hoping there are more out there. I really liked that they connected with other ace folks, that the story showed them in community and not just as an isolated couple. I really fell for Tariq, Zafir's kid; loved how much he was centered in the story. Mostly the story felt full, the characters weren't thinly drawn, for the most part, though I do have an issue with the way Zafir was characterized (& another issue with the way Aimee was characterized).
Zafir kept being surprised that Brennan treated him decently and didn't reject him. That part didn't really feel earned, didn't resonate for me (& I am someone who has lived that kind of romantic history, which made it esp striking that it wasn't resonating, pretty much at all). Instead it felt like it was assumed that he would feel that way as a Muslim Lebanese American biromantic asexual working class single dad, which made me uncomfortable. (Kind of like the way some writers of queer stories & M/M romance assume all queer men are miserable because they are queer, & are constantly treated badly in all their relationships.) It didn't just make me uncomfortable because that's a framework for understanding his life that's deeply othering, but also because it made Brennan a hero just for being halfway decent and somewhat considerate, because that's the best Zafir could imagine, that alone was miraculous.
I got why Brennan was into Zafir, but never really got why Zafir was into Brennan. And after the things Brennan said when he was freaking out, I had big doubts. Especially because it was discussed as if the things he said weren't mean or hateful, and they were. What he said was really not ok. And I know that people say cruel and hurtful things when they are freaking out, but the downplaying of it, & the way it was resolved felt like the story really let Brennan off the hook, and also excused something that felt quite like stalking. The happy ending did not feel earned and also felt kind of rushed, which aligns with my read of Brennan in the relationship in general...he didn't earn his place in Zafir's life. So, the ending wasn't satisfying to me.
And the thing is, I liked Brennan. He was a complicated character I wanted to root for. But he didn't step up enough, and the way Zafir saw him wasn't about the particularity of him enough, was more about the bad things he didn't do. I wanted more for them both.
It felt ironic that Aimee basically thought that Brennan because she really felt like a tool used by the author to help Brennan realize stuff. That also made me uncomfortable, especially since she was the only woman that got significant time and attention in the novel, and part of how she was used as a tool was to have her be treated terribly (and like an object) by a misogynist dude. I know that many people want to see cheaters punished but I gotta say, this reeked of misogyny to me.
Trigger Warnings:
June 13, 2016
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
One thing I have always appreciated about Ann Gallagher (AKA L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher) is the way she isn't afraid to tackle any subject manner. In All The Wrong Places she tackles the subject of asexuality and she does it very well; she explains without preaching and she educates without humiliation. After reading this book and doing some additional research, I feel I have a much better understanding of asexuality and all of its branches (for lack of a better term). I appreciated this very character driven story and feel it is an excellent example that a romance can educate and does not have to have sex in it to be enjoyable and entertaining.
When his third girlfriend tells him he wasn't meeting her sexual needs, Brennan Cross realizes he needs some help. Deciding that he really doesn't want to see a therapist he instead heads to the local adult store for some help and meets Zafir Hamady. After some tough questions and some heartfelt answers Zafir suggests to Brennan that he may be asexual like him. I appreciated Zafir's openness and how willing he was to share information with Brennan and how he recognized Brennan's distress over the information overload. From the start Zafir was kind, knowledgeable and understanding and while Brennan was stressed it was evident that he appreciated Zafir's help and kindness. I liked that Brennan took interest in Zafir's Muslim background and that he didn't judge him for becoming a parent at 17, his lack of education, or his sexual fluidity. The friendship that formed between them was pivotal part of this story and the foundation for everything that came after.
While at times this book seemed to move a little slow, it was imperative for readers to understand the bond that was growing between Brennan and Zafir and see how Zafir's son, Tariq accepted Brennan into their lives. For a 9 year old Zafir was very intuitive and intelligent, but he also was very much a little boy. Considering Zafir was 17 when Tariq was born it was evident he's done a great job of raising a well rounded and caring child.
Without the sexual interest it was interesting watching the relationship develop between Brennan and Zafir and there was no questioning that they became very important to one another or the depth of their emotional feelings for one another.
All the Wrong Places is an intelligent, well written and extremely informative story and I am so very glad I took a chance on it.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
One thing I have always appreciated about Ann Gallagher (AKA L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher) is the way she isn't afraid to tackle any subject manner. In All The Wrong Places she tackles the subject of asexuality and she does it very well; she explains without preaching and she educates without humiliation. After reading this book and doing some additional research, I feel I have a much better understanding of asexuality and all of its branches (for lack of a better term). I appreciated this very character driven story and feel it is an excellent example that a romance can educate and does not have to have sex in it to be enjoyable and entertaining.
When his third girlfriend tells him he wasn't meeting her sexual needs, Brennan Cross realizes he needs some help. Deciding that he really doesn't want to see a therapist he instead heads to the local adult store for some help and meets Zafir Hamady. After some tough questions and some heartfelt answers Zafir suggests to Brennan that he may be asexual like him. I appreciated Zafir's openness and how willing he was to share information with Brennan and how he recognized Brennan's distress over the information overload. From the start Zafir was kind, knowledgeable and understanding and while Brennan was stressed it was evident that he appreciated Zafir's help and kindness. I liked that Brennan took interest in Zafir's Muslim background and that he didn't judge him for becoming a parent at 17, his lack of education, or his sexual fluidity. The friendship that formed between them was pivotal part of this story and the foundation for everything that came after.
While at times this book seemed to move a little slow, it was imperative for readers to understand the bond that was growing between Brennan and Zafir and see how Zafir's son, Tariq accepted Brennan into their lives. For a 9 year old Zafir was very intuitive and intelligent, but he also was very much a little boy. Considering Zafir was 17 when Tariq was born it was evident he's done a great job of raising a well rounded and caring child.
Without the sexual interest it was interesting watching the relationship develop between Brennan and Zafir and there was no questioning that they became very important to one another or the depth of their emotional feelings for one another.
All the Wrong Places is an intelligent, well written and extremely informative story and I am so very glad I took a chance on it.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
November 16, 2022
Cute and interesting book with two asexual MCs . It was also pretty informative even though I can’t really tell if the representation is well done. I enjoyed it.
April 4, 2017
First, I want to get the cons out of the way. The climax felt somewhat rushed, and the book seemed primed to make a powerful statement about acephobia, but ultimately glossed over it. I don't expect or necessarily want books about asexuality to always deal with acephobia, but given that right now, a vocal subset of people still believes asexuals aren't "oppressed" enough to be part of the LGBTQ community, it would have been nice to have a discussion of the insidious ways asexuals face prejudice.
However.
I've been waiting a long time to read about explicitly asexual characters in fiction.
I've been waiting a long time to read a book about asexuality that acknowledges the diversity of the asexual spectrum.
And I'd basically given up hope that I would ever be able to read a romance between asexual characters that wouldn't portray the romance as inferior just because the characters don't have sex.
So hats off to Ann Gallagher for writing a book about asexual characters that was so well-researched and relatable, I was nodding and grinning the whole time I was reading the book. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone looking for a book about asexual characters with a sweet asexual romance, or even anyone who doesn't know much about asexuality but wants to learn. (And hats off as well for writing an interracial homoromantic asexual relationship!)
However.
I've been waiting a long time to read about explicitly asexual characters in fiction.
I've been waiting a long time to read a book about asexuality that acknowledges the diversity of the asexual spectrum.
And I'd basically given up hope that I would ever be able to read a romance between asexual characters that wouldn't portray the romance as inferior just because the characters don't have sex.
So hats off to Ann Gallagher for writing a book about asexual characters that was so well-researched and relatable, I was nodding and grinning the whole time I was reading the book. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone looking for a book about asexual characters with a sweet asexual romance, or even anyone who doesn't know much about asexuality but wants to learn. (And hats off as well for writing an interracial homoromantic asexual relationship!)
January 26, 2021
4.5 Stars ~ It has been quite awhile since I was in Bluewater Bay and it's nice to get back to the familiar scenery and famous faces. Although this installment focuses on two residents of the town, not anyone associated with the TV show, and in some ways, I actually like that better. There can be predictability with actors and the whole Hollywood scene, plus the description for this book really pulled me in.
Asexuality is a very new term to me and to many people. I made a new friend a couple of years ago who revealed that she is asexual and I've asked her a lot of questions. I think, much like Brennan, she would have been very happy to have known someone like Zafir when she was struggling to figure out what was "wrong" with her. I felt so bad for Brennan because, frankly, women can be very cruel, and in some ways, far more so than men. Brennan was lucky to find Zafir to talk to and to ask questions, but they were both lucky to find the friendship they developed.
"An asexual man who’s good with my son and doesn’t bat an eye at me being Muslim? Is this even possible? Please let this be real. Inshallah."
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Asexuality is a very new term to me and to many people. I made a new friend a couple of years ago who revealed that she is asexual and I've asked her a lot of questions. I think, much like Brennan, she would have been very happy to have known someone like Zafir when she was struggling to figure out what was "wrong" with her. I felt so bad for Brennan because, frankly, women can be very cruel, and in some ways, far more so than men. Brennan was lucky to find Zafir to talk to and to ask questions, but they were both lucky to find the friendship they developed.
"An asexual man who’s good with my son and doesn’t bat an eye at me being Muslim? Is this even possible? Please let this be real. Inshallah."
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
October 16, 2018
I love that this was about an asexual couple. People get flak for being different already and being another different is so tough. It's also nice to see that asexuality is being shown. I loved this book.
February 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
Another book I'm not sure how to review.. Thing is the whole topic of Asexual was new to me and I enjoyed seeing a different relationship, and yeah, there was something even refreshing about a relationship being based on friendship closeness and trust with lust having NOTHING to do with anything. That being said, the story just didn't "grab" me. I liked both Brennan and Zafir, I could get both their difficulties with being together, but I wasn't that patient with them. I was tired of hearing redundant thoughts about life, definitions and insecurities. I wanted to SEE it, not hear about it. Also there was very little actually "going on" besides them forming a friendship, hanging with one another. Sometimes it works for me when it's just the couple, here I felt MORE would have been better than just being inside these guys heads and seeing them become more than just good friends.
Brennan is a semi professional skateboarder, he works in a shop in Bluewater Bay who also sponsors him. But though Skateboarding works great for him, what doesn't are his relationships.. His last three girlfriends cheated on him.. Trying to work out what he's doing wrong he goes to Bluewater's Bay only sex shop. There he meets Zafir. From their conversation, Zafir starts to realize Brennan might be, like him, Asexual. Meaning sexual interactions aren't truly his thing, not something he NEEDS. Since Brennan has many questions, and since Zafir is a nice guy they start to hang out, at first, so Brennan can ask his questions and see how they apply to his life. But as they spend more time together, it's obvious something MORE is happening. I mean, it's basically them becoming great friends, but I could feel there was a little bit more than "me and my besty".
While Brennan is struggling to understand his sexual interests, Zafir starts to realize he wants more than just friendship from Brennan, but thing is, there are many reasons to hold his ground.. First he is a Muslim. granted, not practicing it much but still. Second, he barely finished high school so he works low income jobs and he works A LOT to pay off his living expenses and his 9 years old son which is actually the biggest issue. Zafir doesn't want Tariq to get attached to Brennan only for him to disappear on him as it happened when other relationships didn't work out (including his mother..). But Brennan and Tariq are becoming good friends as Brennan started to teach him how to ride a skateboard and so its getting harder for both to separate their friendship from what's also happening between them.
I liked the way the relationship progressed but I didn't like their final "quarrel" near the end, it was too much for me at that specific moment. I didn't need that. I was over them dealing with their inner fears. The final note though was beautifully done. I felt content with the life they built and going to build together.
I say give it a try and read it if you haven't read a book about Asexual. I was intrigued, I enjoyed the way their relationship was building up and yeah, I totally got both their insecurities on the matter. You might not have a problem with the things that were problematic for me. I wouldn't have giving up on this book. It was different and refreshing in it's own way even if I wish it was MORE than it actually was.
More Reviews HERE
Another book I'm not sure how to review.. Thing is the whole topic of Asexual was new to me and I enjoyed seeing a different relationship, and yeah, there was something even refreshing about a relationship being based on friendship closeness and trust with lust having NOTHING to do with anything. That being said, the story just didn't "grab" me. I liked both Brennan and Zafir, I could get both their difficulties with being together, but I wasn't that patient with them. I was tired of hearing redundant thoughts about life, definitions and insecurities. I wanted to SEE it, not hear about it. Also there was very little actually "going on" besides them forming a friendship, hanging with one another. Sometimes it works for me when it's just the couple, here I felt MORE would have been better than just being inside these guys heads and seeing them become more than just good friends.
Brennan is a semi professional skateboarder, he works in a shop in Bluewater Bay who also sponsors him. But though Skateboarding works great for him, what doesn't are his relationships.. His last three girlfriends cheated on him.. Trying to work out what he's doing wrong he goes to Bluewater's Bay only sex shop. There he meets Zafir. From their conversation, Zafir starts to realize Brennan might be, like him, Asexual. Meaning sexual interactions aren't truly his thing, not something he NEEDS. Since Brennan has many questions, and since Zafir is a nice guy they start to hang out, at first, so Brennan can ask his questions and see how they apply to his life. But as they spend more time together, it's obvious something MORE is happening. I mean, it's basically them becoming great friends, but I could feel there was a little bit more than "me and my besty".
While Brennan is struggling to understand his sexual interests, Zafir starts to realize he wants more than just friendship from Brennan, but thing is, there are many reasons to hold his ground.. First he is a Muslim. granted, not practicing it much but still. Second, he barely finished high school so he works low income jobs and he works A LOT to pay off his living expenses and his 9 years old son which is actually the biggest issue. Zafir doesn't want Tariq to get attached to Brennan only for him to disappear on him as it happened when other relationships didn't work out (including his mother..). But Brennan and Tariq are becoming good friends as Brennan started to teach him how to ride a skateboard and so its getting harder for both to separate their friendship from what's also happening between them.
I liked the way the relationship progressed but I didn't like their final "quarrel" near the end, it was too much for me at that specific moment. I didn't need that. I was over them dealing with their inner fears. The final note though was beautifully done. I felt content with the life they built and going to build together.
I say give it a try and read it if you haven't read a book about Asexual. I was intrigued, I enjoyed the way their relationship was building up and yeah, I totally got both their insecurities on the matter. You might not have a problem with the things that were problematic for me. I wouldn't have giving up on this book. It was different and refreshing in it's own way even if I wish it was MORE than it actually was.
More Reviews HERE
August 4, 2016
I’ve been dabbling with books by LA Witt for a while now. Generally, I find them enjoyable, even if they’re not earth shattering. So it was upon discovering that Ann Gallagher is actually LA Witt, plus the synopsis about how the protag’s are asexual, (and Brennan is a skateboarder), I couldn’t resist reading All the Wrong Places.
Prior to starting, the only book I’d read that contained an asexual character was Scarred Souls, and I really did not like that book at all. To be fair, the fact that one of the characters was asexual had nothing to do with what turned me off. If I were to over-analyze my choice to read All the Wrong Places, wanting to read what an author I liked could do with this story was probably what made my subconscious curious.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad that I read this book. In this day in age you usually find that ‘romance’ goes hand in hand with sex, lots of steamy sex that tries to outdo the competition. Reviewers talk about how hot the sex was, mention if there was dirty talk, blah blah. In a book like All the Wrong Places, the author has to make us feel every bit of connection between the characters, but without the crutch that is sex. I think that Ann Gallagher tackled that tricky romance story with class.
Yes, there were aspects of the story that were slow, particularly the first half when Brennan was still finding his way, and Zafir was just acting as a really good friend. The second half made up for all of the slowness. There was an emotional connection between Zafir and Brennan, and I loved that their connection was entirely one of the mind. (I personally prefer the sweet romantic scenes over sex scenes, and we got that in All the Wrong Places.) I also thought that one of the strengths of this relationship was in how Zafir and Brennan were with Zafir’s son, Tariq. Zafir was a responsible single father, over protective but he worked hard to also be understanding. Brennan loved Zafir’s son, and his bond with Tariq was as sweet as the bond he had with Zafir. I also thought that Gallagher was really smart in making Zafir and Tariq Muslim. This is a hot button topic right now, and it was refreshing to read Zafir and Brennan discussing Z’s religion, his family, and how society has treated him.
In the end, while this was not my favorite book by this author, there were still aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. I’m definitely down for more.
Thank you to Riptide Publishing via Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other reviews, please visit Badass Book Reviews.
Prior to starting, the only book I’d read that contained an asexual character was Scarred Souls, and I really did not like that book at all. To be fair, the fact that one of the characters was asexual had nothing to do with what turned me off. If I were to over-analyze my choice to read All the Wrong Places, wanting to read what an author I liked could do with this story was probably what made my subconscious curious.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad that I read this book. In this day in age you usually find that ‘romance’ goes hand in hand with sex, lots of steamy sex that tries to outdo the competition. Reviewers talk about how hot the sex was, mention if there was dirty talk, blah blah. In a book like All the Wrong Places, the author has to make us feel every bit of connection between the characters, but without the crutch that is sex. I think that Ann Gallagher tackled that tricky romance story with class.
Yes, there were aspects of the story that were slow, particularly the first half when Brennan was still finding his way, and Zafir was just acting as a really good friend. The second half made up for all of the slowness. There was an emotional connection between Zafir and Brennan, and I loved that their connection was entirely one of the mind. (I personally prefer the sweet romantic scenes over sex scenes, and we got that in All the Wrong Places.) I also thought that one of the strengths of this relationship was in how Zafir and Brennan were with Zafir’s son, Tariq. Zafir was a responsible single father, over protective but he worked hard to also be understanding. Brennan loved Zafir’s son, and his bond with Tariq was as sweet as the bond he had with Zafir. I also thought that Gallagher was really smart in making Zafir and Tariq Muslim. This is a hot button topic right now, and it was refreshing to read Zafir and Brennan discussing Z’s religion, his family, and how society has treated him.
In the end, while this was not my favorite book by this author, there were still aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. I’m definitely down for more.
Thank you to Riptide Publishing via Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other reviews, please visit Badass Book Reviews.
June 16, 2016
We’re back in Bluewater Bay with ALL THE WRONG PLACES. This time, this book is coming to you from Ann Gallagher. I can’t say I’ve read Ann’s books before, however I’ve read books by her other pen names, Lauren Gallagher and L.A. Witt so I was excited about this book.
If you’ve read Gallagher before, then you may know that this woman doesn’t back down from a challenge. She always chooses to write about interesting characters and I think Brennan has to be one of my new favorites. Brennan is asexual, which means that he doesn’t feel a sexual pull to anyone. He’s been cheated on three times and all of his exs say it’s become of him. So when Brennan goes to a sex shop to try and figure out what he can do to stop this, he encounters Zafir, who it turns out, is just like him.
Gallagher goes into great detail, exploring the ins and outs of being asexual. I can’t say I’ve read many books that tackle this so I was deeply interested in learning more about it. So while this lesson in asexual behavior is going on, Gallagher is still moving forward with a believable romance and I must say, I’m quite impressed. Zafir and Brennan are really adorable. I could just read about them talking about stuff for hours, but because they are both asexual, you have to take into consideration that this isn’t going to be your typical M/M romance from this author. These guys aren’t that into sex so the basis of their relationship really is an emotional one. I imagine there will be a lot of people who feel like it’s not enough, that nothing really happens much in the story, but you have to understand that this is the nature of these characters. To make it hotter would just go against the whole point of the story.
So, I’d say try this book out if you’re interested in something completely different. If you keep an open mind, I have no doubt you’ll find this book interesting.
September 17, 2016
So I finished this earlier and was trying to wrap my brain around it before I wrote a review. Did I like the book? Yes, I actually liked it more than a little. Did I understand it? No, not even a little bit. And I'm still so confused. They were talking about masturbating and what they think of. They think of nothing. Okay, fine but why are they even masturbating in the first place? That's probably a really stupid question on my part but the entire concept is so completely foreign to me that I just can't...To never have sexual feeling? Ever? For anyone? I'm not sure this is even making sense so I'll just say that even though my tiny brain doesn't understand, I did believe in their romance. I enjoyed their journey. I got weepy when they had their problems. And I didn't miss the sex weirdly enough. I did miss the sexual tension that is usually present but I can deal with that. Confusing but good read.
September 6, 2016
Another disappointing asexual book. Do the good ones even exist?
This one was clearly written with a mission in mind, and the author didn't waste any time - informing the reader about asexuality starts around page 15, I think. To be fair, she did a good job with educating, imo.
But romance... romance fell flat. It's not even because of lack of sex or any promise of sex - books don't need hot action to make you all shivery with excitement, and books with hot sex don't necessarily make a good romance.
The characters came to life at times, usually when there was skating involved, but most of the time they came off as very intricately done props to make this politically correct, diverisity-celebrating book about asexuality more appealing to a reader. Which is all nice and well, don't take me wrong, just don't expect a good romance from it.
This one was clearly written with a mission in mind, and the author didn't waste any time - informing the reader about asexuality starts around page 15, I think. To be fair, she did a good job with educating, imo.
But romance... romance fell flat. It's not even because of lack of sex or any promise of sex - books don't need hot action to make you all shivery with excitement, and books with hot sex don't necessarily make a good romance.
The characters came to life at times, usually when there was skating involved, but most of the time they came off as very intricately done props to make this politically correct, diverisity-celebrating book about asexuality more appealing to a reader. Which is all nice and well, don't take me wrong, just don't expect a good romance from it.
January 22, 2018
A book with two aces as the MCs. I would very much like more books like this please.
Brennan walks into the local sex shop looking to find help with the problem he has with keeping his girlfriends happy and, erm, satisfied. There he meet Zafir, a guy who, after a bit of discussion, gives Brennan some new ideas to think about and sparks a friendship that soon goes beyond just friendship.
Other than the silly 'big misunderstanding' that breaks them up for a really stupid reason, Brennan and Zafir make for a sweet couple who find happiness and comfort in each others company in the best ways that make any relationship work. Plus, Brennan makes Zafir's son, Tariq, happy, both by being a great person and by teaching Tariq how to skateboard. They three make a wonderful unit.
Kudos to Ms. Gallagher and her writing. Thank you for writing this book. This ace tips her favorite hat to you!
Brennan walks into the local sex shop looking to find help with the problem he has with keeping his girlfriends happy and, erm, satisfied. There he meet Zafir, a guy who, after a bit of discussion, gives Brennan some new ideas to think about and sparks a friendship that soon goes beyond just friendship.
Other than the silly 'big misunderstanding' that breaks them up for a really stupid reason, Brennan and Zafir make for a sweet couple who find happiness and comfort in each others company in the best ways that make any relationship work. Plus, Brennan makes Zafir's son, Tariq, happy, both by being a great person and by teaching Tariq how to skateboard. They three make a wonderful unit.
Kudos to Ms. Gallagher and her writing. Thank you for writing this book. This ace tips her favorite hat to you!
June 23, 2016
A very nice romance with two asexual main characters. A lot of what Brennan was going through was so very familiar. I recommend this to all the asexual readers out there and to anyone who wants to learn more about asexuality and enjoys a good romance without all the sex. :)
Read
February 18, 2016June 2016.
October 10, 2021
This was adorable and I love seeing more romance books with ace rep!
This one is super special for me because it has TWO asexual MCs and no off page or on page sex. It's wonderful.
Brennan has been told by three girlfriends now that he's crap in bed so he does what anyone would do, heads down to the local sex shop to ask for advice. (this seems far fetched bc most people would just Google it, but whatever). When he is told by the lovely employee at the sex shop that maybe he's asexual, Brennan has a come to Jesus moment. He's thrown off and completely clueless about what asexuality is. He runs off and contemplates but eventually heads back to talk to Zafir.
Zafir is asexual and saw pieces of himself in Brennan, hence hinting that perhaps he's ace. The two of them end up having a friendship that starts with Brennan asking Zafir questions about asexuality and with Brennan teaching Zafir's son, Tariq how to skateboard.
This one doesn't really have much plot but the characters are developed enough to keep you interested. I'm very frustrated by the reviews complaining about the lack of sex and sexual attraction, like that's literally what being ace is! Perhaps people have gotten too used to ace being used as a trope where the allo has to save the day, but this is a asexual romance between two ace guys. It's great. Sex isn't necessary and to see people say their relationship is less than because of the whole no sex thing is extremely aphobic.
Anyway, there's some drama and quite a bit of internalized aphobia but this is a sweet read that I enjoyed quite a bit.
Rep: Lebanese Muslim biromantic asexual MC who's a single parent, white questioning asexual MC
This one is super special for me because it has TWO asexual MCs and no off page or on page sex. It's wonderful.
Brennan has been told by three girlfriends now that he's crap in bed so he does what anyone would do, heads down to the local sex shop to ask for advice. (this seems far fetched bc most people would just Google it, but whatever). When he is told by the lovely employee at the sex shop that maybe he's asexual, Brennan has a come to Jesus moment. He's thrown off and completely clueless about what asexuality is. He runs off and contemplates but eventually heads back to talk to Zafir.
Zafir is asexual and saw pieces of himself in Brennan, hence hinting that perhaps he's ace. The two of them end up having a friendship that starts with Brennan asking Zafir questions about asexuality and with Brennan teaching Zafir's son, Tariq how to skateboard.
This one doesn't really have much plot but the characters are developed enough to keep you interested. I'm very frustrated by the reviews complaining about the lack of sex and sexual attraction, like that's literally what being ace is! Perhaps people have gotten too used to ace being used as a trope where the allo has to save the day, but this is a asexual romance between two ace guys. It's great. Sex isn't necessary and to see people say their relationship is less than because of the whole no sex thing is extremely aphobic.
Anyway, there's some drama and quite a bit of internalized aphobia but this is a sweet read that I enjoyed quite a bit.
Rep: Lebanese Muslim biromantic asexual MC who's a single parent, white questioning asexual MC
00-mm-horrible-disaster-fail-dnf
September 12, 2017Nope. Definitely not interested. There are too many reasons why this book is definitely not for me!! Hard pass!!
February 28, 2022
I found this interesting, reading from the asexual viewpoint - I really appreciated that aspect, and the details provided.
Narrated by Nick J Russo - excellent.
Narrated by Nick J Russo - excellent.
September 11, 2019
Different take on "romance" and sparked good conversation.
June 13, 2016
This review was written for Joyfully Jay reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/06/review...
4.25 Stars.
All the Wrong Places is part of the Bluewater Bay series, but as with all the books in the series, it is written as a standalone. Also, this is a romance between two asexual characters, so do not expect sex.
Brennan Cross is a 25-year-old semi-pro skateboarder who has just caught his girlfriend of the past 18 months having sex with his friend in their bed. This is the third girlfriend he’s lost to cheating and he’s feeling a bit battered. Brennan wonders why is he so lousy in bed, because it has been made clear by all three women that his sex drive is far below that of his partners.
Frustrated, Brennan heads into Red Hot Bluewater, the only sex shop in town, to see if there are some materials he can read to help improve his sex drive and prevent a fourth romantic disaster. Instead, he meets Zafir. Zafir is a Lebanese man who’s been raised in the US, and is a semi-lapsed Muslim. He’s also a single parent, raising his 9-year old son—conceived when Zafir was sixteen.
Zafir is asexual, and recognizes the similarities between what Brennan confides and things he has discovered about his own self. Zafir describes asexuality and Brennan isn’t convinced, at all, that this fits him, but the more Brennan considers asexuality and studies it, he thinks it could apply to him.
In the meantime, Brennan strikes up a friendship with Zafir, at first to discuss asexuality—which is confusing to him—and later because they make good companions. After all, having a person to talk to, and share troubles with, and watch a movie together, that was the best part of his previous relationships. It’s Zafir’s son, Tariq, who finally asks: Are you and Brennan dating?
I liked this story, because it really gets to the heart of asexuality: the desire for an intimate companion with, or without, sexual activity. Brennan was a great best friend to his girlfriends, who all found him consummately respectful—on account of his lack of pressure regarding sex. He was happy to follow their lead and allow them to initiate, which clearly didn’t work. He’s also been strictly heterosexual, so finding Zafir to be attractive as a companion was a hard step to take. Essentially, Brennan had to decide if he could be intimate—asexually—with a man. The thing is, he was so comfortable with Zafir before they ever took that step that it was practically the very next step to take.
There are so many sweet moments in this book, and many center around Tariq, who is a smart and generous, but shy, boy, who also wants to learn to skateboard. Brennan is eager to assist, as he’d pretty much skate everywhere if it were possible. Those moments of parental terror Zafir experiences were easy for me to identify with, and all the reactions seemed so very authentic. I also respected the care that Zafir took to shield Tariq, to some degree, from fallout from his relationships. Zafir has dated both men and women in the past—he’s biromantic—and Tariq accepts Brennan as a potential partner for his father without even a raised eyebrow. Also, the Muslim aspect was handled very well, which is something I’ve come to expect from this author, who continues to write stories that are not simply sexuality-diverse, but also ethnically and racially diverse. Brava.
While there are no hot-and-heavy scenes, there is plenty of affection, and a quiet romance. In a genre that’s growing to be fully LGBTQ-spectrum friendly, I really thought this book hit a good balance for asexual characters. Others I have read paired Aces with people who pretty much wanted regular sex, and those seemed a bit doomed. Zafir’s been engaged (to a woman) before, and it seemed she left for a similar reason, but this new relationship with Brennan seems custom-built to last. The writing is expressive and the pace is excellent. I never wondered where the story was going, or how long it would take to get there. It was easy to bond with these characters, and I hoped they’d get through their rough patch with little delay. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
4.25 Stars.
All the Wrong Places is part of the Bluewater Bay series, but as with all the books in the series, it is written as a standalone. Also, this is a romance between two asexual characters, so do not expect sex.
Brennan Cross is a 25-year-old semi-pro skateboarder who has just caught his girlfriend of the past 18 months having sex with his friend in their bed. This is the third girlfriend he’s lost to cheating and he’s feeling a bit battered. Brennan wonders why is he so lousy in bed, because it has been made clear by all three women that his sex drive is far below that of his partners.
Frustrated, Brennan heads into Red Hot Bluewater, the only sex shop in town, to see if there are some materials he can read to help improve his sex drive and prevent a fourth romantic disaster. Instead, he meets Zafir. Zafir is a Lebanese man who’s been raised in the US, and is a semi-lapsed Muslim. He’s also a single parent, raising his 9-year old son—conceived when Zafir was sixteen.
Zafir is asexual, and recognizes the similarities between what Brennan confides and things he has discovered about his own self. Zafir describes asexuality and Brennan isn’t convinced, at all, that this fits him, but the more Brennan considers asexuality and studies it, he thinks it could apply to him.
In the meantime, Brennan strikes up a friendship with Zafir, at first to discuss asexuality—which is confusing to him—and later because they make good companions. After all, having a person to talk to, and share troubles with, and watch a movie together, that was the best part of his previous relationships. It’s Zafir’s son, Tariq, who finally asks: Are you and Brennan dating?
I liked this story, because it really gets to the heart of asexuality: the desire for an intimate companion with, or without, sexual activity. Brennan was a great best friend to his girlfriends, who all found him consummately respectful—on account of his lack of pressure regarding sex. He was happy to follow their lead and allow them to initiate, which clearly didn’t work. He’s also been strictly heterosexual, so finding Zafir to be attractive as a companion was a hard step to take. Essentially, Brennan had to decide if he could be intimate—asexually—with a man. The thing is, he was so comfortable with Zafir before they ever took that step that it was practically the very next step to take.
There are so many sweet moments in this book, and many center around Tariq, who is a smart and generous, but shy, boy, who also wants to learn to skateboard. Brennan is eager to assist, as he’d pretty much skate everywhere if it were possible. Those moments of parental terror Zafir experiences were easy for me to identify with, and all the reactions seemed so very authentic. I also respected the care that Zafir took to shield Tariq, to some degree, from fallout from his relationships. Zafir has dated both men and women in the past—he’s biromantic—and Tariq accepts Brennan as a potential partner for his father without even a raised eyebrow. Also, the Muslim aspect was handled very well, which is something I’ve come to expect from this author, who continues to write stories that are not simply sexuality-diverse, but also ethnically and racially diverse. Brava.
While there are no hot-and-heavy scenes, there is plenty of affection, and a quiet romance. In a genre that’s growing to be fully LGBTQ-spectrum friendly, I really thought this book hit a good balance for asexual characters. Others I have read paired Aces with people who pretty much wanted regular sex, and those seemed a bit doomed. Zafir’s been engaged (to a woman) before, and it seemed she left for a similar reason, but this new relationship with Brennan seems custom-built to last. The writing is expressive and the pace is excellent. I never wondered where the story was going, or how long it would take to get there. It was easy to bond with these characters, and I hoped they’d get through their rough patch with little delay. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 26, 2021
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Brennan is confused. He’s now caught his girlfriend cheating – saying that he just couldn’t “meet her needs” so she found someone else who could and brought them to their bed. Nice! Brennan then decides to go to the local sex shop to try to get some advice on what is missing. There he finds Zafir, the asexual Muslim single dad who works there as one of his jobs 🙂 Definitely didn’t see THAT coming.
Zafir has had a couple of serious relationships in his life, including his son’s mother, his fiance and a boyfriend. But none of them worked out. As a teenager single father, he’s been through a lot and so has his son Tarik. He’s definitely cautious about any relationships – because it’s not just him. But when he meets Brennan and tries to help him figure out what’s going on with his relationships and sexuality, it seems like maybe he’s met someone he could see a future with. It certainly helps that Brennan gets along great with his son, despite a few mini-disasters 🙂
But of course you know things can’t go smoothly and some people can’t help but stick their nose into things that aren’t their concern. And there’s some jerks around too that do not help the situation. Luckily, both Zafir and Brennan are not the type to give up too easily 🙂
This was a actually a really sweet story. There aren’t a lot of romances out there featuring asexual main characters and this one had not one, but two. I really liked Zafir as a struggling single dad (full disclosure, my nephew’s name is Tarik – although we pronounce it differently 🙂 ). He was soooo nice to Brennan and really came across as a genuinely helpful and nonjudgmental guy. Brennan is just so confused and I liked the way he was trying research and figure himself out. Zafir is so understanding and patient with Brennan and I just loved that about him. He’s really a great guy. Brennan is skittish and resistant at first, but when he realizes that he enjoys Zafir’s company and feels more comfortable with him than he ever has with anyone, he figures that maybe this is the right fit for him. Their romance and relationship was realistically built over time. I also liked that the cultural differences were not a stumbling block for them and they took each other in stride 🙂
The one thing I had a little trouble with is WHY Brennan would listen to anything his ex had to say. Because by that point, we’ve discovered that her decision making is not necessarily stellar. Thankfully that wasn’t too long lived and Brennan came to his sense. That said, I really really loved how these two managed to come together and figure out how they worked as a couple and ultimately as a family. It’s a nice slow burn without the pressure of sex and it was very nicely done. I also LOVED Nick Russo’s narration. All his voices sounded so authentic – whether a 9-year old boy, a twenty-something skater girl or any of the other main and supporting characters. All were distinct and appropriate, which is why he is one of my absolute favorite narrators. Recommended for those who like low heat, slow burn, friends to “lovers” stories with a happy ending 😉
Brennan is confused. He’s now caught his girlfriend cheating – saying that he just couldn’t “meet her needs” so she found someone else who could and brought them to their bed. Nice! Brennan then decides to go to the local sex shop to try to get some advice on what is missing. There he finds Zafir, the asexual Muslim single dad who works there as one of his jobs 🙂 Definitely didn’t see THAT coming.
Zafir has had a couple of serious relationships in his life, including his son’s mother, his fiance and a boyfriend. But none of them worked out. As a teenager single father, he’s been through a lot and so has his son Tarik. He’s definitely cautious about any relationships – because it’s not just him. But when he meets Brennan and tries to help him figure out what’s going on with his relationships and sexuality, it seems like maybe he’s met someone he could see a future with. It certainly helps that Brennan gets along great with his son, despite a few mini-disasters 🙂
But of course you know things can’t go smoothly and some people can’t help but stick their nose into things that aren’t their concern. And there’s some jerks around too that do not help the situation. Luckily, both Zafir and Brennan are not the type to give up too easily 🙂
This was a actually a really sweet story. There aren’t a lot of romances out there featuring asexual main characters and this one had not one, but two. I really liked Zafir as a struggling single dad (full disclosure, my nephew’s name is Tarik – although we pronounce it differently 🙂 ). He was soooo nice to Brennan and really came across as a genuinely helpful and nonjudgmental guy. Brennan is just so confused and I liked the way he was trying research and figure himself out. Zafir is so understanding and patient with Brennan and I just loved that about him. He’s really a great guy. Brennan is skittish and resistant at first, but when he realizes that he enjoys Zafir’s company and feels more comfortable with him than he ever has with anyone, he figures that maybe this is the right fit for him. Their romance and relationship was realistically built over time. I also liked that the cultural differences were not a stumbling block for them and they took each other in stride 🙂
The one thing I had a little trouble with is WHY Brennan would listen to anything his ex had to say. Because by that point, we’ve discovered that her decision making is not necessarily stellar. Thankfully that wasn’t too long lived and Brennan came to his sense. That said, I really really loved how these two managed to come together and figure out how they worked as a couple and ultimately as a family. It’s a nice slow burn without the pressure of sex and it was very nicely done. I also LOVED Nick Russo’s narration. All his voices sounded so authentic – whether a 9-year old boy, a twenty-something skater girl or any of the other main and supporting characters. All were distinct and appropriate, which is why he is one of my absolute favorite narrators. Recommended for those who like low heat, slow burn, friends to “lovers” stories with a happy ending 😉
July 30, 2016
*´¨✫)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶ (¸.•3.5 stars because we all are in the wrong places at the right time
Once was chance. Two was coincidence. Three times was a goddamn pattern.
Brennan Cross had just broken up with ANOTHER girlfriend. Strike out if he were playing baseball. He needed answers and he found it when he visited the local town porn store and met someone who seemed to know all the answers. Before he knew it, he had a friendship unlike any other and found himself in a relationship he never realized he wanted.
Asexual. Maybe you're...not into sex.
Zafir Hamady knew all about asexuality. After years of searching and finally finding a support group, he got the answers to who he was and why he acted the way he did. He labelled himself a bio-romantic asexual and he was happy within himself. Raising his nine year old son, Zafir had had his share of heartache, but the cute S8R Boi (skater boy) just wormed his way inside.
Unintended consequences.
When his ex questioned him, Brennan started doubting himself and his relationship. Through soul searching, he finally learnt his mistake and Brennan was quick to apologize. But it was going to take more than an apology to get Zafir back.
This book came out of left field for me. It was unexpected but I kept reading because damn, you don't come across many of these type of books. With two asexual men, I knew there would be no hot steamy sex. But what I got was good dialogue and the making of a family who through thick and thin learnt to accept their limitations and showed that what we all see as abnormal is certainly normal in their world. I shed a tear when I read Brennan's words: "I wanted normal until I realized normal meant living without the one person I've ever loved like this."
If you are looking for steam, not happening. But you get a good story. :)
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´✶ (¸.•3.5 stars because we all are in the wrong places at the right time
Once was chance. Two was coincidence. Three times was a goddamn pattern.
Brennan Cross had just broken up with ANOTHER girlfriend. Strike out if he were playing baseball. He needed answers and he found it when he visited the local town porn store and met someone who seemed to know all the answers. Before he knew it, he had a friendship unlike any other and found himself in a relationship he never realized he wanted.
Asexual. Maybe you're...not into sex.
Zafir Hamady knew all about asexuality. After years of searching and finally finding a support group, he got the answers to who he was and why he acted the way he did. He labelled himself a bio-romantic asexual and he was happy within himself. Raising his nine year old son, Zafir had had his share of heartache, but the cute S8R Boi (skater boy) just wormed his way inside.
Unintended consequences.
When his ex questioned him, Brennan started doubting himself and his relationship. Through soul searching, he finally learnt his mistake and Brennan was quick to apologize. But it was going to take more than an apology to get Zafir back.
This book came out of left field for me. It was unexpected but I kept reading because damn, you don't come across many of these type of books. With two asexual men, I knew there would be no hot steamy sex. But what I got was good dialogue and the making of a family who through thick and thin learnt to accept their limitations and showed that what we all see as abnormal is certainly normal in their world. I shed a tear when I read Brennan's words: "I wanted normal until I realized normal meant living without the one person I've ever loved like this."
If you are looking for steam, not happening. But you get a good story. :)
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
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