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messing_with_book's review against another edition
5.0
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
Ever since [a:Marley Valentine|16022673|Marley Valentine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1486945630p2/16022673.jpg] broke the news that Frankie's book would be a reality I've been waiting for it and I can say that it exceeded every single expectation I had in this story, Arlo & Frankie have a really beautiful, raw and painful love, but they have the best family they could find, that always supports them in difficult times and love each other unconditionally, and the best of all: this is a series about all of them and I'll be able to read them again, something I can't wait for after the awesomeness that was Unwanted.
I feel like I've been waiting for Frankie forever! and I loved that his character was SO much more than [b:Ache|58886935|Ache|Marley Valentine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630302712l/58886935._SY75_.jpg|88908013] let on in his interactions with Jordan, so I was a little surprised with him, but especially with his story and everything he has had surpasses. Frankie is a man with a huge heart, someone who lives with a lot of guilt and shame for the decisions he has made, but who has also handled difficult times in the best way he could, read his past and how his relationship with Arlo came about, as well as the family by choice he formed with Lennox, Remy & Clem broke my heart a lot, but also made me love immediately all these characters and the bond so pure that they share. In this book Frankie finds himself in one of the most complicated moments of his life: returning to Los Angeles to support Lennox, his younger brother, in a difficult moment, and with it face everything he left behind, including the only love of his life.
Arlo has had a life just as painful as Frankie, but his has become much more complicated due to his addictions, which led him to lose the most important person, several years later and as a recovering addict he is a man who constantly belittles his achievements and is not fully able to understand the great work he does to help others in his situation, and if all that wasn't painful enough already , Arlo believes that he doesn't deserve the love and recognition of people, especially Frankie's, something that definitely broke my heart but that made me perceive much more the growth that his character has and the GREAT path he traveled from the beginning of the book to its last page, besides the fact that I really liked reading about his work in the gym, how his relationship with Rhys began, his doubts about his feelings and his most vulnerable side.
Obviously Frankie & Arlo don't have the simplest love story, upon their reunion everything is full of pain, a great feeling of betrayal, guilt & abandonment, as well as a deep denial on Arlo's part to talk about their past which makes things move slowly between them, and something that I think was perfect for the story, not only between the two of them, but between Frankie and the rest of his family, because throughout the book we realize that the healing process does not only include the main characters. One of my favorite moments was when Arlo & Frankie finally have that important talk where they let their feelings show without barriers, I also loved every time they let out some information about their past together and of course, every time they say, and show how much they love and care about each other.
Also, I think Unwanted was the perfect start for this new series: it does more than introduce us to its characters so none (Clem, Remy & Lennox) feels like secondary, although their stories do begin to take shape, which has me very excited to read them all.
Ever since [a:Marley Valentine|16022673|Marley Valentine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1486945630p2/16022673.jpg] broke the news that Frankie's book would be a reality I've been waiting for it and I can say that it exceeded every single expectation I had in this story, Arlo & Frankie have a really beautiful, raw and painful love, but they have the best family they could find, that always supports them in difficult times and love each other unconditionally, and the best of all: this is a series about all of them and I'll be able to read them again, something I can't wait for after the awesomeness that was Unwanted.
I feel like I've been waiting for Frankie forever! and I loved that his character was SO much more than [b:Ache|58886935|Ache|Marley Valentine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630302712l/58886935._SY75_.jpg|88908013] let on in his interactions with Jordan, so I was a little surprised with him, but especially with his story and everything he has had surpasses. Frankie is a man with a huge heart, someone who lives with a lot of guilt and shame for the decisions he has made, but who has also handled difficult times in the best way he could, read his past and how his relationship with Arlo came about, as well as the family by choice he formed with Lennox, Remy & Clem broke my heart a lot, but also made me love immediately all these characters and the bond so pure that they share. In this book Frankie finds himself in one of the most complicated moments of his life: returning to Los Angeles to support Lennox, his younger brother, in a difficult moment, and with it face everything he left behind, including the only love of his life.
Arlo has had a life just as painful as Frankie, but his has become much more complicated due to his addictions, which led him to lose the most important person, several years later and as a recovering addict he is a man who constantly belittles his achievements and is not fully able to understand the great work he does to help others in his situation, and if all that wasn't painful enough already , Arlo believes that he doesn't deserve the love and recognition of people, especially Frankie's, something that definitely broke my heart but that made me perceive much more the growth that his character has and the GREAT path he traveled from the beginning of the book to its last page, besides the fact that I really liked reading about his work in the gym, how his relationship with Rhys began, his doubts about his feelings and his most vulnerable side.
Obviously Frankie & Arlo don't have the simplest love story, upon their reunion everything is full of pain, a great feeling of betrayal, guilt & abandonment, as well as a deep denial on Arlo's part to talk about their past which makes things move slowly between them, and something that I think was perfect for the story, not only between the two of them, but between Frankie and the rest of his family, because throughout the book we realize that the healing process does not only include the main characters. One of my favorite moments was when Arlo & Frankie finally have that important talk where they let their feelings show without barriers, I also loved every time they let out some information about their past together and of course, every time they say, and show how much they love and care about each other.
Also, I think Unwanted was the perfect start for this new series: it does more than introduce us to its characters so none (Clem, Remy & Lennox) feels like secondary, although their stories do begin to take shape, which has me very excited to read them all.
nomomstayandread's review against another edition
5.0
This was hard. We have two men from rocky beginnings who fell madly in love when they were kids and one of them went down a road the other couldn't follow. After a few years apart, Frankie's brother has a medical issue and gets called home in a hurry where he gets to see what was left behind when he fled town. Arlo isn't over being abandoned and things are rocky at first.
This was lovely. The book was full of hard stuff but these two were endgame from the reunion on. Arlo gave Frankie a hard time for leaving but that was the only way he could save himself. I liked seeing these two come back to each other as the new and improved versions of themselves because they both deserved it.
I'm very much looking forward to more books in this series.
This was lovely. The book was full of hard stuff but these two were endgame from the reunion on. Arlo gave Frankie a hard time for leaving but that was the only way he could save himself. I liked seeing these two come back to each other as the new and improved versions of themselves because they both deserved it.
I'm very much looking forward to more books in this series.
galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
READ: Jul 2024
FORMAT: Audio
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4 / 5 ⭐️
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.75 / 5 ⭐️
FINAL – OVERALL: 4 /5 ⭐️
Based on the synopsis I had expected this book to be heavier than it was, but with the exception of some early angst, things tended to take a more hopeful and optimistic tone. A lot of other stories might have dragged out the will-they-won't-they beyond my patience, and while this one might have benefited from just a dash more of it, it also never frustrated me, which was refreshing.
FORMAT: Audio
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4 / 5 ⭐️
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.75 / 5 ⭐️
FINAL – OVERALL: 4 /5 ⭐️
Based on the synopsis I had expected this book to be heavier than it was, but with the exception of some early angst, things tended to take a more hopeful and optimistic tone. A lot of other stories might have dragged out the will-they-won't-they beyond my patience, and while this one might have benefited from just a dash more of it, it also never frustrated me, which was refreshing.
dkhurley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
reading_rommance's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun, exciting read. However, it was a little intense at times. I also felt like we didn't get enough time in the past, so when Arlo and Frankie met again and fall back into old pattens, it was a little out of left field. I enjoyed following Arlo's struggle with sobriety and his new friend's struggle with the same. Overall, I did love their love and I loved the friendship among the crew even more. 2.5/5 spice levels.
Notes: Found family, addiction
Notes: Found family, addiction
theenthucutelet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
4.25
tagoreketabkhane31's review against another edition
3.0
*Actual raiting: 3.5/5 stars*
The third Marley Valentine book that I have read, and I am starting to see why a lot of folks who read indie queer romances go for her books. They are full of angst (what can I say, I like my drama in books) and the characters have to work through a litany of issues that don't make for light reading (though this was a short novel so it helped) and one of my favorite things about her is not only does she provide distinct main characters, but her supporting cast of characters are also carefully fleshed out.
This is a second chance romance story that is between Frankie and Arlo. Frankie is a supporting character from her earlier novel Ache, and Arlo is the other main character in the novel. Because this is the first book in a new series, the supporting cast have some storylines begin to play out in this book, but thankfully they do not take away from the main focus of the story that is Frankie and Arlo.
The story centers around addiction, and the constant work that goes into staying on the path of recovery and sobriety. The story takes place one year after Ache, and it has been four years since Frankie has left LA and his foster siblings (including one blood brother) behind to espcae to Seattle. Four years in LA, Frankie had dropped off Arlo in rehab, and never contacted him again (though he stayed in contact with Clem, his foster sister). An accident with his younger brother on the football field that leaves him deaf permanently brings him back to LA to face the family he left behind and the relationship as well. Arlo, for his part, is worried because of the unresolved feelings that he has about Frankie, and how he grapples with them along with his fear that he might relapse again because his proximity.
It's by no means a light read, and indeed the issues of addiction, sobriety and disability are played out with these characters as they adapt. There are also subtextual issues of homelessness, foster care, found family, and also about communication and self ownership - of being able to take ownership for actions and striving to do better. Overall, its a great story with an even more powerful message.
There was a minus start for the usage of baby (I don't care, it is an automatic deduction), and also for how some of the tougher conversations were handled by Frankie and Arlo. I'm a conflict resolution practioner, and seeing people continue the avoidance model, even in literature, will always drive me up a wall.
Give the book a try folks, and I am curious about the other books in the series as they follow the other characters.
The third Marley Valentine book that I have read, and I am starting to see why a lot of folks who read indie queer romances go for her books. They are full of angst (what can I say, I like my drama in books) and the characters have to work through a litany of issues that don't make for light reading (though this was a short novel so it helped) and one of my favorite things about her is not only does she provide distinct main characters, but her supporting cast of characters are also carefully fleshed out.
This is a second chance romance story that is between Frankie and Arlo. Frankie is a supporting character from her earlier novel Ache, and Arlo is the other main character in the novel. Because this is the first book in a new series, the supporting cast have some storylines begin to play out in this book, but thankfully they do not take away from the main focus of the story that is Frankie and Arlo.
The story centers around addiction, and the constant work that goes into staying on the path of recovery and sobriety. The story takes place one year after Ache, and it has been four years since Frankie has left LA and his foster siblings (including one blood brother) behind to espcae to Seattle. Four years in LA, Frankie had dropped off Arlo in rehab, and never contacted him again (though he stayed in contact with Clem, his foster sister). An accident with his younger brother on the football field that leaves him deaf permanently brings him back to LA to face the family he left behind and the relationship as well. Arlo, for his part, is worried because of the unresolved feelings that he has about Frankie, and how he grapples with them along with his fear that he might relapse again because his proximity.
It's by no means a light read, and indeed the issues of addiction, sobriety and disability are played out with these characters as they adapt. There are also subtextual issues of homelessness, foster care, found family, and also about communication and self ownership - of being able to take ownership for actions and striving to do better. Overall, its a great story with an even more powerful message.
There was a minus start for the usage of baby (I don't care, it is an automatic deduction), and also for how some of the tougher conversations were handled by Frankie and Arlo. I'm a conflict resolution practioner, and seeing people continue the avoidance model, even in literature, will always drive me up a wall.
Give the book a try folks, and I am curious about the other books in the series as they follow the other characters.
mlb16's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse
jankben's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I decided to give the audio version a try since I couldn't finish the print version. I did listen to the whole book. I still had the same reaction to the extended length of time for their estrangement. Even if you accept that it was necessary for the main couple to experience personal growth separately, that was no excuse for Frankie to abandon his family, especially his brother.