JF Smith

So this is something like perfection, huh?

I went from hating Matt's over-trusting and naive nature, to completely, 110% loving all of him. And Travis. And Petey. And every other character in this book (well the good guys at least).

The tension--sexual, life and death threatening, trying to fit in new experiences and a new family into a preexisting life--was beautiful and still has me keyed up at after 4:30 in the freaking morning. Luckily I have no work tomorrow...

But I truly deep down loved show more this story. The understanding of the men's unwavering loyalty and courage, strength and surety in their service; the love and devotion between friends and the brothers you choose and make (seriously Petey was a fucking 100 karat gem); the romantic--and I mean goddamn romantic and consuming--love that grows between Matty and Trav. Every single page.

And the sense of place in this story took my reality away. I was there in Syria with Matt, then in that little room, then on the big ship, then on the east coast starting life anew. It was incredible.

And I really liked the POV mash where I'd get little snatches of secondary characters' thoughts on occasion. It really worked with this type of story where some secondary characters played big roles.

Definitely one to never forget and to reread many times. So happy I finally read this.

Aaaaaaand, I just noticed the significance of the cover. Effing brilliant!!! show less

Overall this book is good and it could have been really great if there wasn't so many things that annoyed me. So a little bit a spoiler alert but not really since he talks about it in the beginning of the book.

So at the start Matt is with Brian who is describe as to be incredibly attractive physically. However from the way the author puts it, it seems that Brian is just taking advantage of Matt. Matt on occasion even doubts Brian and sometimes has reservation that Brian is cheating on him show more but he simply pushes it to the back of his head. What's even more frustrating is Matt is so self-conscious and self-depreciative of himself that he constantly tells himself that it's his fault that Brian acts like that towards him. That it's his fault for not being a good enough boyfriend. That he's just lucky someone as attractive as Brian would even date him. And this goes on and on for about 20% of the book which just makes me want to bang my head into a wall because Matt suspects Brian but he still fills himself with doubts that he's the problem not Brian.

Spoiler Alert

So after Matt finds out the truth about Brian (DESPITE everyone around him telling him that Brian is just using him) he dumps him finally. But then we see him goes through more self-loathing and he even starts blaming himself that it was his fault Brian cheated. If only he was a better boyfriend and blah blah blah.

Spoiler Alert

But this is not the only annoying part here. So when Matt gets kidnap and rescue by the SEALs he meets Travis aka Mope. They develop a connection but at that time Matt was still with Brian so nothing really develops. After Matt dumps Brian and they hook up we get a part where the story is told in Travis' point of view. So now it switches from Matt doubting himself to Travis doubting himself. Travis began to think he's not good enough for Matt. He's not a good enough boyfriend. And blah blah blah.

I do not understand why the author feels the need to make BOTH MC's be self-conscious self-depreciative people. So if you can handle all that bullcrap that takes up 30% of the book then the rest of the book is good. This is the only reason why I didn't give this book 5 out of 5 stars. show less

Anyone who knows about Charon and the River Styx will go into this story assuming the worst. My first thought was Percy was dead, and the redneck with the hound dog was taking the poor kid into an even worse life than the one he'd escaped.

But the novella really isn't about any of that at all. Instead, it's a amazingly beautiful look at life, happiness, and self-reliance. It's a tale of who we are despite where we are. It's an uplifting story about looking inward for happiness and not show more outward.

If nothing else, this is a snippet of hope for those who might feel hopeless. show less

'There are none so blind as those who will not see' ?John Heywood 1546?

This sums up Matt's relationship pre-Syria, and to some degree Travis' (Mope) separation of work from his homosexuality.

This book is by no means perfect, but it perfectly suited my reading wants and needs. The first half is action, the second half is romance, and all the plot threads pull together evenly.

Petey and Matt's interactions were an absolute hoot (once I was able to get over the slurs).

My only complaint: where show more was the psychologist (or equivalent) for Matt post his 'trauma'??? You can't tell me the US Navy didn't have one of those tucked away somewhere for exactly this situation!

Loved it. show less