brittaniethekid's review
4.0
I'm a sucker for a post-World War hurt/comfort story and this is right up that alley.
The narrative goes back and forth from Robert and David's time as private school boys in the English country to after WWI where they have both been injured and hospitalized. David grew up in the Dakotas in America but when his parents die in an accident, he's sent back to England to be with his remaining family and for schooling. Because of this unique background, he doesn't quite fit in but finds comfort in a fellow book lover Robert, who is ever the stereotypical posh English boy. They develop a friendship - with each boy wanting more but not making the move - until the day they're both shipped off to fight in The Great War.
Later in time, Robert's family home has been turned into a hospital for soldiers returned to England, with Robert himself being a patient after losing a leg, and he's shocked to see his old school friend (and crush) David - sans one hand. They eventually rekindle their old friendship over books and just enjoying each other's company, while also learning that they still want more.
This shows the typical trope of complete lack of communication between men but it keeps the story going. A lot of time passes throughout the novel, with letters written between the men but never saying what they actually want. David inherits a home from the aunts he returned to England for and invites Robert to stay. It's right on the beach in an idyllic English village and, since returning from the trauma of war and injury, both need the respite. But now they also have the privacy and connection to finally make something more of their friendship.
This has the typical historical romance MM tropes of homophobia and the fear in a time when it's still very illegal, self-loathing, lack of communication, and English stiff upper lip but I enjoyed the slow melancholy tone of it and the descriptions of a beautiful seaside village and David's cats.
The narrative goes back and forth from Robert and David's time as private school boys in the English country to after WWI where they have both been injured and hospitalized. David grew up in the Dakotas in America but when his parents die in an accident, he's sent back to England to be with his remaining family and for schooling. Because of this unique background, he doesn't quite fit in but finds comfort in a fellow book lover Robert, who is ever the stereotypical posh English boy. They develop a friendship - with each boy wanting more but not making the move - until the day they're both shipped off to fight in The Great War.
Later in time, Robert's family home has been turned into a hospital for soldiers returned to England, with Robert himself being a patient after losing a leg, and he's shocked to see his old school friend (and crush) David - sans one hand. They eventually rekindle their old friendship over books and just enjoying each other's company, while also learning that they still want more.
This shows the typical trope of complete lack of communication between men but it keeps the story going. A lot of time passes throughout the novel, with letters written between the men but never saying what they actually want. David inherits a home from the aunts he returned to England for and invites Robert to stay. It's right on the beach in an idyllic English village and, since returning from the trauma of war and injury, both need the respite. But now they also have the privacy and connection to finally make something more of their friendship.
This has the typical historical romance MM tropes of homophobia and the fear in a time when it's still very illegal, self-loathing, lack of communication, and English stiff upper lip but I enjoyed the slow melancholy tone of it and the descriptions of a beautiful seaside village and David's cats.
jfreud's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amphipodgirl's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This didn't work quite as well for me as The Sleeping Soldier or Tramps and Vagabonds -- which means that I merely liked it a lot, as opposed to loving it. Two old schoolmates meet again in a hospital for convalescent amputee WW I soldiers and renew their acquaintance. I think you can guess part of where things go from there, what with this being a romance novel.
The biggest thing that didn't work for me wasthat Robert still has a lot of stereotyped ideas about the direction in which endearments and various other relationship aspects should flow based on who was the senior and who was the new boy at school. David flies against a number of these expectations, but they never really have it out about this. I would have loved to see them talk it out and come to something that was comfortable for both of them.
That said, I did enjoy the story and the way it dealt with various aspects of the aftermath of the war.
The biggest thing that didn't work for me was
That said, I did enjoy the story and the way it dealt with various aspects of the aftermath of the war.
slee907's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
youshouldreadthisif's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
authorofthings's review
This book had so much promise, but the constant literary references to things I'd never heard of made it a complete bore. I was lost and I really wish the author had gone about this plot differently.
afternoon_sunshowers's review
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
This is why I need to write reviews when I finish a book, or else I forget about it entirely.
Aster Glenn Gray does a wonderful job of highlighting different times in history that don’t have as many romance books written about them (cough regency cough).
Aster Glenn Gray does a wonderful job of highlighting different times in history that don’t have as many romance books written about them (cough regency cough).
secretromancereader's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75