It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Roan Parrish’s writing, and have been ever since I read her fantastic debut novel, “In the Middle of Somewhere.” The second book in the series, “Out of Nowhere,” is one of my favorite books of all times – I can go on and on about how much I loved that book and why it was so romantic and affecting to me as a reader, but most of it boils down to my absolute conviction that the most important romance is the one we have with ourselves. And watching someone “fall in love” with who they are is a powerful and moving experience – which is how I felt, as a reader, with Colin’s story. And it’s how I feel about this book, too.
This book is a romance, not only about Leo and Will, but about Leo – finding himself, learning who he really is and coming to terms with what he needs and wants. I absolutely loved reading Leo’s experiences in college, from a kid who thought he knew himself to someone who, by the end, really did. Parrish is gifted at using first person narration in the way it’s meant to be used, IMHO, to show us an unreliable narrator who grows and changes believably through the course of a story. I loved sharing Leo’s experiences with him as he went through college, as he discovered new friends, new experiences, yoga, all of it – it was painful and sweet by turn, but always relatable. That’s one thing I’ve loved about Parrish’s books, how real her characters are, how raw the character’s emotions are on the page.
And Will! I loved Will. I loved his honesty, the sense that he really *has* gone through his own period of difficult growing up enough to know who he is and what he will and will not compromise on. I love – LOVE -- that for once, [we get a character who is up front and honest about not being monogamous in a way that doesn't suggest the character is just unable to commit, but has honestly thought and made the choice to be non-monogamous because it's what works for him, his beliefs and his values. Ugh, I have YEARNED for non-monogamous rep in novels that's nuanced and well thought-out, and the way this is portrayed here is very believable. It *is* hard for people to understand that yes, we can still be romantic, committed, in love, and involved with someone and not be monogamous. And you know what, it takes a lot of mental work to come to terms with that, and it's not easy. And you can tell that Will has done the mental work necessary to arrive at this place in his life, and he doesn't pull any punches when he explains it to Leo. And despite the fact that we, the reader, know that he's not okay with it, Leo thinks he is. And he has to come to terms with that means, and if he really can handle it or not. (hide spoiler)]
What I loved most about this story is how we have two characters with entirely different ideas about romance and love, who nevertheless want to be together and so they make the choices and decisions that are best for their relationship. They are people who come together and change together, in a way that stays true to their romance and their individual selves. I'm always going on about how romance, to me, is when you and your partner(s) make each other better people, and I really believe that's what happens with Will and Leo. They challenge each other's way of thinking, and that's *good* and it makes for strong, committed, and long-lasting relationships.
Will was probably my favorite character of the book, as much as I loved Leo (which was a lot), and there's something he does at the end that made me so HAPPY -- [ -- he tells Leo he reserves the right to re-negotiate the idea of sleeping with other people. Why do I love this? Because it shows that relationships, or ones that last, are based on communication and staying true to yourself. I want Will and Leo to get to a place where they are comfortable exploring non-monogamy some day, because like I said, I yearn to see books that show the positive and wonderful experiences that people can have being non-monogamous. But maybe they won't be, and that's okay, too! It's a conscious choice! (hide spoiler)] Neither Will nor Leo's idea of how to have a relationship is the "right" one -- they're just different, and their views of relationships are different, but they are going to find a way to make it work, and that way might, in the future, change. That is dealt with so openly and honestly that I almost swooned.
I absolutely adore Parrish's writing, her turn of phrase is gorgeous and she manages balance great storytelling and lovely prose with a deft hand. I'm particularly fond of her dialogue, which reads as so true-to-life -- it's almost as if you are listening to the conversations these characters are having.
The secondary cast of characters is wonderful, and the "found family" aspect of the story is of course a favorite. I love reading about characters making friends, because of course, that's really (IMHO) the cornerstone of romance. And it's so important to have a support system who can challenge you, support you and love you regardless. And I loved reading about Leo finding that at college.
I loved this book for showing the fluidity in relationships -- both with ourselves and with other people -- and how our experiences influence the people we become. I love the unapologetic Will, who nevertheless had his own lessons to learn when it came to Leo. I love Leo's journey to the person he is at the end of the book, and I loved this book's HEA more than I can express. People are not static creatures, and I loved this book for showing how people change both separately and together, and how maybe that isn't always easy -- but it's always worth it in the end.
Highly, highly recommended.
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