Sunset Park

‘Sunset Park’ is the second novel in Santino Hassell’s ‘Five Boroughs’ series and it is just as fantastic as the first. One main character, Raymond, is a longshoreman of Puerto Rican descent, grew up in a dysfunctional family in Queens, and is the younger brother of Michael from book one. The other main character couldn’t be more different; David is from Connecticut, all prim and proper, and a teacher who works with Michael in a gay-friendly school in Brooklyn. Raymond and David have become unlikely friends when bonding over Michael’s rehab, but when Raymond decides to finally try to be an adult and looks for his own apartment and David suggests they become roommates, more than friendship develops as soon as Raymond moves show more in. Of course with as different as they are, issues are bound to develop. Between the sparks of sexual tension flaring up into an inferno, the drama David sees around every corner, and Raymond’s lack of maturity their story is explosive as well as frustrating enough it had me tearing out my hair several times. Quite an emotional adventure!

Raymond – where do I even begin? Yes, he is immature and has lots of issues. He also doesn’t have any plan for his life. But at least he knows and admits it and – eventually – begins to do something about it. Independence and being responsible are new for him, but he grows into the situation fairly quickly. Not that it changes who he is on a fundamental level, and some of that leads to problems with David that neither of them could have foreseen. Raymond is bi-curious, and his chemistry with David is off the charts once David “offers to help him figure things out”, but commitment? Not something that comes easy to him, no matter how happy Michael may be with Nunzio and how much Raymond (secretly) wants to have that as well. Raymond’s growth as he figures things out with David and begins to deal with his professional life is phenomenal, yet totally natural.

David – is not a man I was able to like easily or quickly. He was horrible to Michael in book one on a professional level, he is arrogant and conceited, he may be out and proud and attracted to Raymond, but I don’t think he even wants to understand some of the demons Raymond has to deal with as they get closer. When David’s ex turns up, and David begins to wonder whether he is the “safer option” I was ready to slap him upside the head. I mean, just because Raymond needs some time to figure things out David is ready to run into another man’s arms? One he knows is not right for him? David, David, David. Having said all that, finding out more about David, his (to me) surprising fear of failure and basic vulnerability explain a lot. Fundamentally David is only human and would probably be boring if he didn’t have a few flaws.

I think I said the same thing about the first book – fluffy romance this is not. But if you’re looking for gritty, and real, and fascinating, if you want a character-driven story set in today’s world with all its problems, and if you’re looking for complicated, flawed men who are determined to succeed, then you will probably love this novel as much as I do. Both men annoyed me to distraction yet impressed me with their resilience. And even though they are sometimes their own worst enemies, they get there in the end and, fundamentally, the problems made the whole story all the more meaningful for me.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. show less

4 stars

A good, if not exceptional book. Writing was easy and effortless, characters were believable and I was invested in the relationship. Most of the conflict stemmed from miscommunication (or complete lack of communication) which made me want to yell at the characters to just speak their minds. But It was done well enough for it to be understandable.

It's one thing to read a fictional story from both points of view and know that things would be easily resolved with a candid heart to heart, and a completely different one to actually get over your insecurities and fears and actually make yourself vulnerable and bare your soul to a person who, in your mind, hold the power to crush you emotionally. I'm sure most people can relate to show more that.

I also found the sex scenes in this book way hotter than in Sutphin Boulevard.

The next book will star Caleb and Oli, and I have to say I didn't much care for either of them in this particular book, so I'm a little hesitant to pick it up. show less

For me this story didn't gel. The characters were so mixed up throughout that I didn't get much from the story. I don't mind when stories aren't neat, but I do need to see WHY these characters need to end up together. There was just too much lack of communication throughout. All. The. Time.

I didn't dislike the story. I just didn't really see the need for its telling. It probably would have worked better for me as a novella, with a lot of the stupidness condensed :)

Merged review:

For me this story didn't gel. The characters were so mixed up throughout that I didn't get much from the story. I don't mind when stories aren't neat, but I do need to see WHY these characters need to end up together. There was just too much lack of communication show more throughout. All. The. Time.

I didn't dislike the story. I just didn't really see the need for its telling. It probably would have worked better for me as a novella, with a lot of the stupidness condensed :) show less

4.5 stars

I am crazy over Raymond. I love his straight up way of speaking and behaving. He’s just him. I’m also really surprised by the change in my feelings for David. I wasn’t thrilled about him at all before, but he became pretty likable. Witnessing the transformations is wonderful, and the sexy scenes are off the charts.

4.5 stars

I am crazy over Raymond. I love his straight up way of speaking and behaving. He’s just him. I’m also really surprised by the change in my feelings for David. I wasn’t thrilled about him at all before, but he became pretty likable. Witnessing the transformations is wonderful, and the sexy scenes are off the charts.

Story: 7
First MC: 7
Second MC: 7
Secondary characters: 6
Mystery: 2
Sexual tension: 6
Humor: 4
Hotness: 6
Product placement: 4
Ridiculousness: 6
Annoying: 5
To re-read: 2
Suspence: 2