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Review
3.5 stars
A sweet, emotional, sexy and heartfelt m/m romance, I went into this book blind, and really enjoyed the unexpected path of this gorgeous love story.
Josh and Caleb grew up the best of friends in a place called Paradise. It’s actually a polygamous religious cult, but 19-year-old Josh never realised that, it was just his life, his home, though not a happy one. His days are spent working in the fields with the other young bachelors, but never really keeping up with the expectations of the commune’s leaders. And he spends both his days and nights trying to hide his forbidden attraction to his best friend.
Caleb has always been Josh’s best friend and protector, and when Josh is thrown out of Paradise, Caleb comes to his rescue and suddenly the two boys find themselves in the outside world for the first time. Together, but very much alone, they have a whole new life to navigate, and it begins with them finally opening up about their feelings for each other.
My whole life I’d wanted this impossible thing. And I didn’t know why it was happening now. But it was everything I’d ever wanted.
For two boys inexperienced in all things sex, it doesn’t take them long to figure it all out and find their groove. Holy hotness! Their romance is sexy, but so emotional, and we see so many examples of the beautiful connection between them.
“Caleb,” he whispered against my skin. “Just make me yours.”
“You,” I said, kissing him on the forehead, “are already mine. You have always been mine.”
This book follows Josh and Caleb through their journey to find a home and establish a new life, and it’s beautifully written. From fear to excitement, wonder at their new freedom, and their anxiety for the future and what their relationship means to them finding acceptance, I could feel everything with them, and their love for each other is just beautiful.
“When I get to touch you, every awful day we’ve survived seems worth it.”
They have a lot to figure out, but within the welcoming arms of new friends, they do exactly that. It’s a bit slow-moving through the middle of the book, but I enjoyed watching them find their place together, and the book finishes beautifully with a satisfying ending that left me smiling.
3.5 stars.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and while I loved Terry Hamilton’s narration of Josh, I thought that Dake Bliss was a bit emotionless as Caleb, so I didn’t enjoy his POV as much as I probably would have had I read the book instead.
Hello Goodbye
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