The Backpack

by Sue Brown

There's only ever been one man for Patrick. Paul was the six-year-old boy who kissed him after Patrick helped find his mom in a mall full of Christmas shoppers, the teenager who showed him kindness at Christmas when Patrick needed it most, and the lover who has shared his life after a chance meeting, three Christmases ago.

When Paul holds out the faded scrap of paper, Patrick feels his carefully constructed world crumble around him. Will Paul still love him even knowing the secrets he has kept hidden? In the glow of the Christmas lights, Patrick has to face his innermost fears with the man who has always been his whole world.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Novella, Short Stories

37 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2010

About the author

Hot guys, big hearts, Sue's world.
Sue Brown is a Londoner with a dream to live on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance with hot guys loving each other, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.

Reviews

[Deeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a few short pages the author tells a tale of despair mixed with hope, compassion and love.

Patrick will break your heart and Paul will help put it back together.

If I had a wish it would be that this was just a little longer. While it works very well as a short, there was one little unexplained detail. Namely Karen. But while I was curious as to how she came to be, it took nothing away from the main story.

This will go on my Xmas reads shelf and become a traditional read every year.

Recommended for all who enjoy a few tears with their Christmas spirit lol.

ETA Still a tear jerker

[Betryal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I noticed some rated this low, but I'll explain why it got such a high rating with me. I found that the setup and the execution of the story was brilliant.

It's just to me the way the story has one man asking the other to marry him and it shifting between past and present day on how it came to that point. It's sad, but pulls the heart strings. The plot of how the man that was proposed to was the same throughout the years was completely romantic and I got absorbed although I truly wish this story had been longer than it had been and that's the only downfall to the book.

Loved it!

[Vio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very unusual you need to focus and maybe re-read bits as the continuous past and present tense flashbacks can be confusing. I finally did get the gist and enjoyed every moment. A very moving and emotional outcome quite beautiful in fact I loved it.

[Mike Oaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short with tons of feels

Your first kiss. Life changing events. Grab the hot chocolate and tissues. Time for a Christmas quickie. 4.0 for honesty.

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's sweet, but sort of difficult to follow. While I often applaud something that makes me think, the idea that the MC thought his boyfriend didn't recognize him...for years...was weird.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was a good story that got lost in the telling. What I mean is that it was an interesting story, I think, but is was told in a flashback/flash forward with shifting tenses and it just got very jumbled for me. I feel like at the heart was a a sweet and heartwarming story of true love which appealed to me. I also spent some time feeling like I skipped a bunch of steps. The biggest one being, where did the child come from? I'd say give it a read, just be prepared for a little something different.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has a structure of second person and third person POV, as well as alternate past and present time, which might be confusing. Though, you might guess in the middle soon enough (considering it's only 37 pages). While I like the idea, but the structure of the story sort of taking away the enjoyment in reading it.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The alternating pov took a little getting used to, but it worked for me. The story is a little sad, a little sweet and a lot hopeful. Romantic, in the guise of a six year old proclaiming who he was going to marry or the man terrified of his happiness once again being taken from him, was poignant.

[Bookbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I figured out the writing style - it jumps from past to present and back - I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming and touching (yes, I cried) tale.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh god, I cried. Love stories like this.

[TracyG. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is so sweet even though it covers a teen on the streets. I really enj it and have read this at least 5 times.

[DB Kimmers · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a largely different style of writing, Sue Brown conveys the depth of loss and shines a spotlight on hope while stealing your heart in this second edition re-release of her short, The Backpack

Through Patrick's thoughts you see him at his lowest as he reminisces his past and fears he'll lose his future with his daughter and his beloved, Paul. But we soon discover, "The concept of Paul having a bigger secret than Patrick strikes him as somewhat ludicrous."

Where this secret leads is worth this thought provoking, sentimental read alone. The Backpack is a profound message of hope for any time of the season!

[Meep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kindle-Sort-ReRead

It's short, kinda sweet, but very confusing. Told in time jumps with no headings means it can be hard to follow. The characters seem interesting and likeable, it would be nice to have spend more time with them.

I don't get how they could be together three years without the 'secrets' revealed.

My main thought is I really hope they go back and thank Mr Allen properly!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

so sweet and hopeful

Great story. A little disjointed. Nit once you get the hang of the slips back I’m time you can see the whole picture. Poor Patrick. Always so scared and hurt. I loved how Paul always knew they would be together. So cute.

[Shelba · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked this more if it wasn't for the alternating 2nd & 3rd person POV....especially since I can't stand 2nd person POV.

[Sadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story quite a lot even though it greatly reminded me of a quite shortened version of A Note in the Margin which is one of my favorite books in the genre. Patrick and Paul are a couple who have a unspoken history that involves their various encounters that started when they were children. There is a bit of overlap and POV changes and bouncing from past to present that can be a little confusing at times, but overall I think it works for the story. Honestly would have liked to see this as a full-length novel with the complete story of how Paul and Patrick finally got together.

[Aidee Ladnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue Brown is the author I followed from fandom to original writing and haven't looked back yet. I liked this story despite its rather unusual format. It has the feel of several stories being combined into one. It's still one of my favorites and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the book goes between the past and the present. The words are sparse. It evokes the fear in the past, in the present, of loss and loneliness. Every word counts in the story. Fast read that stays with you.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The style of this book is very usually and continues to draw you in. Even though it is a short story you can feel the connection with the characters. It has a different feel from other Christmas stories and it you could see all the different possibilities as you read the story.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Meet Again...

Paul and Patrick encounter each other, through a series of random events, over the course of several years. They are definitely destined to be together, even if one of them doubts.

A simple love story.

[Em Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.

[Clover · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet story but the swing between I in the past and he in the present is a little unnerving.

[Tamarrion Lash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Очень слезоточивая история.

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not really bad but... well, too confusing when switching between past and present like that <.< And I quite didn't like the POV.

But anyway, it was a nice reading.

[Marsha Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story...

[Zuyuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a story for good-night sleep. It still had some holes in it but who's care.

[Kobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but found it a little confusing with the time changes. Too short, too!

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad that I didn't read the blurb before I started this because it would have taken away from the unfolding of the story.
Lovely and the ending was both hopeful for the future but also melancholy that they'd missed out on the last together. Made me cry for both reasons.