Amy Jo Cousins

This is so beautifully written - it's a long time since I've read Amy Jo Cousins and experienced the level of empathy and care she has for her characters.

In The Real World, Cousins' MCs, Tom and Reese, are already in a committed relationship. They met in college and have been together five years. They work hard on their relationship, and try to address the issues as they arrive.

Their main challenge is Tom's anxiety. This is such an important topic for exploration. Anxiety is like a plague show more of our times.

Tom relies heavily on Reese to deal with and manage it, and wow, Reese really is amazing. He's courageous and constant. He puts all of himself into actively helping Tom - but he doesn't pander to him. He's rational and creative. His help goes as far as tough love.

I was a little bit horrified that there is no mention of medication, or talk therapy. I think it did come up that Tom should talk to someone about his feelings about his father coming out of prison, but I don't think it came to anything. Without these things, Tom's struggles are unnecessarily critical and difficult, and Reese shoulders more than is fair.

(Later) Thanks for your comments below Karenhusleman. I did read this like it was a standalone, even though I'd read Off Campus, but too long ago for me to experience Real World as a continuation. When I say, "too long ago", it was one year one month ago - and what I remember of Tom and Reese's story in Book #1 in the series lacks all specifics - only that it was very good. Shame!

You point out that the impetus for this story comes out of Tom bottling up ... not telling Reese in the first place, and then not talking to him about what's worrying him ... about being drawn back into association with his father when the father is let out of prison. Such a common real-life problem, not talking about your worries, as if to protect the other person, but what really happens is that the other person suffers from the fallout you create from your worries. show less

This is unlike any other romance I've read -- a statement few authors get out of me.

I expected an engaging, rather light story with fun sex and some emotional steam. What I got was this guy Evan, whose learning curve with the volatile Riley is so visceral and so dependent on Evan's best qualities that I fell half in love with both of them by the end.

Cousins doesn't detail each sex scene but delivers the emotional, brilliantly. Emotion is the heart of any good romance. I've read too many show more explicit sex scenes that should've been left out, they're so emotionally flat. There has to be a point to including all that physical. It carries emotional weight or it's wasted words. Cousins wastes exactly zero words in Full Exposure; each one carries weight. I didn't know it for a little while as it swept in behind me. By the time I realized, I was already caught up and flying. show less

The theme of this romance is what happens when you are stuck on someone who takes you for granted, when all that time there is someone knocking at your door who is capable of paying attention to you, and is persistent and present.

For years Austin has been with Vinnie. Vinnie was Austin's first crush, he sparks all his neurones, they live together - or perhaps cohabit is a better word - and they occasionally hookup when Austin gets high enough up Vinnie's list of priorities.

Austin is show more patient with Vinnie but it is wearing thin when he meets Sean. Not that Sean, a geology student, and Austin, an art student who has his own photography show, have all that much in common - they are simply attracted to each other.

The story follows Austin's journey to understanding what Sean is offering him - ultimately, it is much more than the comforting obsession with Vinnie. It's undivided attention, it's being prioritised and cared for thoughtfully.

When this is such a common experience in most people's lives, I'm surprised this universal theme hasn't been the main thread in any other romance novels I've read.

This book isn't as powerful as other Amy Jo Cousins' works but for a single minded focus on this uncomplicated theme. It's a Cousins' style master stroke. show less

I'm very tempted to give this novel another half star, it appealed to me so much.

But I usually feel that way about novels where two isolated traumatised people find each other.

Tom Worthington is the archetypical romantic hero, though his circumstances would indicate anything but. He meets Reese Anders, his "roomie", who brings out his protective streak - he needs to rescue Reese.

But it is Reese who rescues Tom, of course. Tom faces his own demons and blooms under Reese's nurturing streak. show more I like that Reese calls Tom on his paranoia such as when he confuses his willingness to make people like him, with manipulation of people for an ulterior motive.

I haven't read this author before, but I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Bend or Break series - all of which are on Hoopla - yeh Hoopla.

All Hail! Cooper North. His voice realises the potential of this novel. show less