perachdavida's review
5.0
You can’t go wrong with Roan Parrish, and that holds especially true in this charming, sweet, lovely tale of a curmudgeonly children’s book illustrator and a web designer with such profound social anxiety that he experiences selective mutism. Simon’s relationship with Jack’s animals, and how he flowers in their love and affection, is so beautiful. The connection between Simon and Puddles the anxiety-ridden dog is especially poignant. It’s a quiet, small-town story which is usually not my thing, but everything that Roan Parrish touches turns to gold.
Hot tip: this title is excellent on audio.
Hot tip: this title is excellent on audio.
maidcc's review
4.0
ESP:
Me costó un poco meterme en la historia (sin ningún motivo en particular) pero una vez superado eso todo fue viento en popa.
Primero de todo: hay perretes.
Segundo: me gustó mucho la representación de una persona con ansiedad. Y especialmente, que con el final feliz no se curara mágicamente.
Tiene sus cositas pero al final fue una relación super sana, tierna y ardiente entre estos dos hombres. Justo lo que quiero y necesito.
ENG:
It took me a while to get invested with the story and the characters (for no particular reason) but after that everything went smoothly.
First things first: there are dogs.
Also, I loved the representation of a character who has anxiety. AND who isn't cured magically by the Happily Ever After.
All in all it's exactly what I crave and enjoy: a healthy, tender, sweet and passionate relationship between these two men.
Me costó un poco meterme en la historia (sin ningún motivo en particular) pero una vez superado eso todo fue viento en popa.
Primero de todo: hay perretes.
Segundo: me gustó mucho la representación de una persona con ansiedad. Y especialmente, que con el final feliz no se curara mágicamente.
Tiene sus cositas pero al final fue una relación super sana, tierna y ardiente entre estos dos hombres. Justo lo que quiero y necesito.
ENG:
It took me a while to get invested with the story and the characters (for no particular reason) but after that everything went smoothly.
First things first: there are dogs.
Also, I loved the representation of a character who has anxiety. AND who isn't cured magically by the Happily Ever After.
All in all it's exactly what I crave and enjoy: a healthy, tender, sweet and passionate relationship between these two men.
msemilyreads's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
ericawrites's review
5.0
Let's just say that it's like someone asked me what I wanted and then wrote this book as a sweet and sexy story for me to read. A grumpy sunshine breaks his leg and needs someone to help him with all his pets and a handsome man with an anxiety disorder shows up at his door and then they proceed to fall in love. An on-brand read for me.
steph15's review
3.0
So this one was kind of hard for me. I adored Simon. I love when pets are included in stories and not just mentioned here and there. In this book the pets were truly alive and had their own personalities. Charlie and Grandma were great.
Jack was kind of meh for me.
I was never fully immersed in this one. I did listen to the audio. That can account for some of my disconnect. The rest is from Simon going to being unable to speak to Jack to sleeping with him in a couple of chapters. Not to say that can't happen. It just didn't seem to be in character for him.
Jack was kind of meh for me.
I was never fully immersed in this one. I did listen to the audio. That can account for some of my disconnect. The rest is from Simon going to being unable to speak to Jack to sleeping with him in a couple of chapters. Not to say that can't happen. It just didn't seem to be in character for him.
librobi's review against another edition
5.0
If you don’t know what Roan Parrish does for a living imma tell you right now: she is an artist. Yep. She draws (that’s what she does) the most adorable, human, lovable, sweet, tortured, beautiful characters. You read her books and in three words she tattooed her characters on your heart and you are done forever.
I thought after the remaking of Corbin Wale she couldn’t possibly do any better, guess what?
She frigging did!
I LOVE SIMON!
And Jack! I love the pack! Omg! All the stars to this book!
I thought after the remaking of Corbin Wale she couldn’t possibly do any better, guess what?
She frigging did!
I LOVE SIMON!
And Jack! I love the pack! Omg! All the stars to this book!
agda's review against another edition
3.0
é divertido e fofo, mas é meio estranho e não parece bem motivaddo... não sei bem explicar o que falta, mas parece que falta algo na história
gostei muito de como o autor mostra a aceitação de um pelo outro e como eles se comunicam para conseguiram confiar um no outro
gostei muito de como o autor mostra a aceitação de um pelo outro e como eles se comunicam para conseguiram confiar um no outro
kle105's review
4.0
Simon signs up for a PetShare app when his application for a dog is put on hold. He has severe anxiety making it hard for him to talk to people but dogs he understands. So when Jack breaks his leg and needs help with his house full of dogs they match up.
Upon first meeting it doesn't go extremely well with Jack smitten with Simon, and Simon being struck mute. Jack finds a way to communicate with him though and the pair end up spending a good amount of time together. While Jack is a little stubborn and doesn't want to accept help he needs the help. I loved all the little ways in which Jack was patient and accommodating to Simon and his anxiety. At times texting instead of speaking, to help Simon open up.
While there relationship grows and Jack introduces Simon to his brother, and Simon introduces Jack to his grandmother the time will come when Jack's cast comes off and he won't need Simon.
Jack is also struggling with a business partner that took credit for his work so his trust is hard to come by. As an illustrations artist he has been struggling to create anything since.
These two were perfect for each other and while they had some conflicts it was so heart melting how they came together and worked through their issues. I absolutely loved them together.
Upon first meeting it doesn't go extremely well with Jack smitten with Simon, and Simon being struck mute. Jack finds a way to communicate with him though and the pair end up spending a good amount of time together. While Jack is a little stubborn and doesn't want to accept help he needs the help. I loved all the little ways in which Jack was patient and accommodating to Simon and his anxiety. At times texting instead of speaking, to help Simon open up.
While there relationship grows and Jack introduces Simon to his brother, and Simon introduces Jack to his grandmother the time will come when Jack's cast comes off and he won't need Simon.
Jack is also struggling with a business partner that took credit for his work so his trust is hard to come by. As an illustrations artist he has been struggling to create anything since.
These two were perfect for each other and while they had some conflicts it was so heart melting how they came together and worked through their issues. I absolutely loved them together.
witandsin's review
4.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
A grumpy illustrator with a marshmallow heart – and a small army of animals – meets his match in Better Than People. Animal lovers will smile over Jack’s cats and dogs and their antics (Puddles is a personal favorite), but it’s the humans that make this story shine.
After being betrayed by his best friend and business partner, Jack is grouchy, reclusive, and hasn’t drawn in longer than he cares to admit. A broken leg is the last thing he needs, especially with four dogs (and one cat) to walk. The PetShare app brings more than he expected in the form of handsome Simon Burke. Simon grabbed my heart from the first. He has extreme anxiety and author Roan Parrish doesn’t shy away from the realities someone like Simon lives with. I appreciated both the emotionally honest take on Simon’s anxiety and that it didn’t define his whole character. Both Simon and Jack are likeable heroes with tempers, insecurities, and flaws which help bring them alive and make them easy to root for. Their romance is slow burn to start and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their love story unfold. Problems aren’t overcome by magic and Jack and Simon have to work for their happily ever after, but it’s worth every bump in the road for a satisfying ending.
A cast of mostly animal supporting characters make Better Than People a lot of fun to read. The canine and feline personalities are every bit as well-defined as the heroes’, which was a treat. But there are a couple of human secondary characters who also made this book a richer experience. Simon’s grandmother was as endearing as could be and Jack’s brother Charlie… Oh, that man has a heart of gold and I do hope he gets a book of his own.
Better Than People is a sweet, sensual, and satisfying romance. This is the first book of Roan Parrish’s I’ve read and given the references to The Remaking of Corbin Wale in this story I will definitely be picking up that book next.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A grumpy illustrator with a marshmallow heart – and a small army of animals – meets his match in Better Than People. Animal lovers will smile over Jack’s cats and dogs and their antics (Puddles is a personal favorite), but it’s the humans that make this story shine.
After being betrayed by his best friend and business partner, Jack is grouchy, reclusive, and hasn’t drawn in longer than he cares to admit. A broken leg is the last thing he needs, especially with four dogs (and one cat) to walk. The PetShare app brings more than he expected in the form of handsome Simon Burke. Simon grabbed my heart from the first. He has extreme anxiety and author Roan Parrish doesn’t shy away from the realities someone like Simon lives with. I appreciated both the emotionally honest take on Simon’s anxiety and that it didn’t define his whole character. Both Simon and Jack are likeable heroes with tempers, insecurities, and flaws which help bring them alive and make them easy to root for. Their romance is slow burn to start and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their love story unfold. Problems aren’t overcome by magic and Jack and Simon have to work for their happily ever after, but it’s worth every bump in the road for a satisfying ending.
A cast of mostly animal supporting characters make Better Than People a lot of fun to read. The canine and feline personalities are every bit as well-defined as the heroes’, which was a treat. But there are a couple of human secondary characters who also made this book a richer experience. Simon’s grandmother was as endearing as could be and Jack’s brother Charlie… Oh, that man has a heart of gold and I do hope he gets a book of his own.
Better Than People is a sweet, sensual, and satisfying romance. This is the first book of Roan Parrish’s I’ve read and given the references to The Remaking of Corbin Wale in this story I will definitely be picking up that book next.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.