Kris Ripper

A delightful one-sitting read with a happy ending for a protagonist with no idea how to express his feelings or make a move, except to let them boil over in a great dramatic plume of poor judgment. Everyone is imperfect but kind hearted and has understandable motivations. The main character is inept, as I said, and the beginning of the book is strongly flavored with his halting communication style, but this calms down later and he becomes very endearing even as he makes colossal mistakes. I show more was pulling for them by the end. show less

I read the 2nd book first...The Hate Project, so I was already familiar with the group of friends that get together regularly to help one another. I like their friendship along with all their snarky remarks. They are always there for one another when life gets to be too much...which is more often than not...but they hold one another accountable and feel comfortable calling each other out when one of them needs an “attitude adjustment”. The thing that bothered me a bit in both books... is show more that a lot of the time they act more like a bunch of Jr. High School age kids instead of folks in their early to late 20’s. Declan was a sweetheart that really deserved better from life and I was happy to see that he was working very hard on achieving that. Sidney was exactly what Declan needed, but it seemed to take them a long time to work it out. This book was a really great beginning to this series. I wish I had read it first to start with. show less

Before you start reading, have your favorite brand of tissues handy. Also: usually SU novels go quickly for me, but I had to take a lot of breaks while reading this one. CW: miscarriage, grief. But it is devastatingly good.

Ripper doesn't shy away from the emotional trauma loss causes. Over the past sixteen (?) books we've seen Becs and Ads but usually from a distance. This is a deep dive into their worst experience and how each of them reacts, resists, and slowly return, changed. It is by show more far the most emotionally loaded novel I've ever read, about how badly grief will twist you up. I appreciated how Ads reacts to how little help or support there is for a man whose dreams of a baby end in miscarriage.

As always in Scientific Universe stories, family is there, ready when needed. ...And I teared up again remembering the end. This is so good, so well done. Just know you may need to schedule in some recovery time. show less

Stock up on your favorite facial tissues before reading this one. I cried a lot.

This is, in case you need a Content Warning, a story about infidelity, and forgiveness. This is Truman, and Hugh, and Will, and it is not an easy tale after all this time, weathering a lie and new truths.

I am polyamorous, have been my entire romantic life (three-plus decades), and I belong to the discussion group PolyTampa (have since the late '90s) at which the topics of infidelity and forgiveness come up now show more and then, sometimes from a specific person, sometimes a group topic. The responses are varied - of course they are - but next time I attend I may bring up this series, and this book in particular, for those interested in thoughtful and cogent fiction on the topic.

Kris Ripper dealt with the subject perfectly for these characters.

More generally, and in real life: after an infidelity, if you want to not just preserve what you have, but make it better and stronger so infidelity isn't tempting, then it takes time and no little amount of patience. It requires bravery, and a good therapist is invaluable. If it isn't scary, you're not down to what needs to change yet. And change comes from ALL parties. This is the part many people miss. Also, there are people who cannot keep a promise. You either accept that, or you end that relationship. Regardless, you examine your guilt and fear, or your hurt and anger, to learn what you need to change. And then TALK about it. The mantra, the three most important "rules" of polyamory, apply to any relationship: communicate, communicate, communicate.

No one can read your mind. You have to talk. And you have to listen.

There are no shortcuts without repercussions.

This is a really good story. show less