From the Bookshelf of Mostly Sapphic…

Loved and Lost

Stephanie E. Kusiak

Start date: January 14, 2015

Finish date: March 24, 2015

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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Buddy Reads

* Buddy Read general discussion
By Nikki · 150 posts · 202 views

last updated 3 hours, 56 min ago

The Bear and the Nightingale
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What Members Thought

Jul 30, 2014 Bib rated it it was amazing

It has been some time that I found a book that is difficult to let go, literally and figuratively. Kusiak writes beautifully. Is there a sequel? I can't wait! ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2014 Terry Baker rated it it was amazing

Blake Fortnier and her wife Rachel Kaplan are a ‘together forever’ couple. Soul mates, madly and deeply in love. They have been together for fifteen glorious, love filled years, until tragedy tears Rachel from Blake forever. Or is it?

Blake is numb, shocked beyond reason, insane with grief, until one day a miracle occurs. Blake is given the opportunity to relive her life.

But can Blake live her life differently and alter the course of her destiny and in turn Rachel’s? She is certainly going to ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2015 Nikki rated it liked it

Shelves: lgbt, buddy-read, former-fanfic

This is the story of a woman that loses the love of her life but gets the chance to do things all over again to try and make a better life for both of them. You get some glimpses into their former life while Blake is experiencing this new life for the bulk of the story. It is emotionally charged from the onset, with lots of angst throughout, if you're in the mood for that. I really did get pulled into the narrative of this and the writing is really really well done, but there are some problems I This is the story of a woman that loses the love of her life but gets the chance to do things all over again to try and make a better life for both of them. You get some glimpses into their former life while Blake is experiencing this new life for the bulk of the story. It is emotionally charged from the onset, with lots of angst throughout, if you're in the mood for that. I really did get pulled into the narrative of this and the writing is really really well done, but there are some problems I had with it that never stopped nagging me.

There are so many time (and life) jumps that it was difficult to tell throughout when (or in what life) these things were happening. Is this a high school flash back? A new life flash forward? A former life flash forward/backward? There were a lot of times I had to read quite a bit of the italics sections before I could tell. And a couple sections that I honestly couldn't tell if they were supposed to be in italics at all!

The emotions in this story really are key to the enjoyment. However, there are a lot of relationships from the former life that just disappear completely in the second half of the story. These are relationships that are described as being important friendships, and although you would expect things to change with what Blake's doing in THIS life, it makes no sense that these friends are never mentioned again. Additionally, there is a big reveal between Blake and Rachel that is hyped up quite a bit (I kept waiting for it to happen then assumed it never would) but it was glossed over to the extent of being anti-climactic. I believe it would have made the narrative (and ending) much more effective if this had been handled with more finesse. The second half overall really dragged for me. I feel like the narrative was unbalanced with so much focus on their loving relationship, that it took away a lot of what was good about the first half (the tension, the what-ifs).

I also have a difficult time when I can tell a story is fanfic. Don't get me wrong, I totally read fanfic. However, when a book is so obviously set in a world that already exists, it makes me feel a little bit cheated. The characters have already been created, the circumstances don't change much, and the high school is the same as in a tv show. Which is completely fine for casual reading, but it sticks in my brain when I can picture Rachel Barry so clearly and aren't given the chance to create a world in my own mind.

So, overall, I'm glad I read it. It was emotional and tugged my heart strings, but it was frustrating because I really do think it could have been an amazing book. ...more

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Jan 14, 2015 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-lendable

Beautiful love story full of incredible emotion. Really incredible writing! I'm looking forward to more from this author! ...more

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Aug 01, 2014 Flippyx rated it it was amazing

Shelves: steamie, crazy-inlove-heroes, uber-passionate-hero, irresistable-jerkface, queer-lgbt, faves, humor, chick-lit, luv-him-her, sexy_heroine

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

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Jul 27, 2014 Heidi rated it liked it

The story was good.. Didn't think I would enjoy it at first, took several chapters to get into. Once I connected to the story I enjoyed it. I think the ending will haunt me for awhile. ...more

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Oct 21, 2014 Kate rated it it was amazing

I have read this book for the third time and still love it. The angst, the regrets, and a second chance. Stephanie Kusiak knows how to write a story that pulls at the heartstrings. Well written and accomplished.

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