Unfix Me

Who's cutting onions? Sen and Kai's story is simultaneously heartwarming and heartwrenching. If you're looking for a straightforward, fluffy, feel-good romantic COMEDY. This ain't it. This will have you giggling and kicking your little feet, but it will also punch you right in the feels. I can't wait for the next in the series. Weste finds a perfect balance of banter and reality. Exploring Sen's struggle with his sexuality and mental health with an empathy and precision that pulls you through the anguish right alongside him. This isn't a romance where you find yourself shouting at the characters to "OMG, just communicate like adults already!" This is a story of trust, honesty and heart, even amidst (and often despite) the trauma. The show more themes and content in Unfix Me are heavy, and still Weste manages to leave your heart full and happy. I received a copy of Unfix Me via LT's Early Reviewers. show less

"Unfix Me" by Emory Weste was one of the TBR books I found on BookSirens, categorized as a debut novel. As an author with an upcoming debut novel myself, I wanted to support other authors in the same stage. The title immediately hooked me with its strong and evocative premise, "Unfix." This initial intrigue was reinforced by the blurb introducing Sen and Kai, characters with poignant backstories. Sen struggles with anxiety attacks after his parents attempted to "fix" him from being gay, while Kai bears the weight of his supportive father’s battle with Alzheimer's.

At first, I considered deducting a star due to the book's need for more polishing, but Emory Weste's storytelling prowess made it easy to overlook minor editorial issues. The show more narrative is brilliant, showcasing the author's talent for creating a strong, page-turning story. Sen’s journey to understand his own desires versus societal expectations is portrayed with depth and authenticity. The support Kai and their shared friend West provide is heartwarming and enviable, depicting the strength of true friendship.

The relationships between the characters are incredibly well-developed, not only between the main characters, Sen and Kai, but also the friendships that play a crucial role in resolving the main conflict. The original twist at the end was perfect, bringing me to tears with its emotional impact. The novel also offers excellent advice on enjoying life healthily, with the idea of tokens being particularly memorable.

The slow-burn romance between Sen and Kai serves the plot well, adding layers of tension and development that feel genuine and earned. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel, as it is heart-wrenching, poignant, and bittersweet in all the right ways. "Unfix Me" is a must-read MM romance, perfect for a summer read. I highly recommend it and will likely read it again. Emory Weste has crafted a masterpiece that stands out in the genre. show less

So much to say…
I loved this book, like literally I adored Sen and Kai and their story.. Perfection. The hardships Sen and Kai each had gone through felt genuine and had my heart aching for them in moments, they had so much chemistry together, their thoughts and feelings, their actions and perspectives felt real and it made it so much easier for myself to connect with and love them as characters. I will say that their own relationship was reflected in an accurate way, where both hardships, struggles and trauma is healthily acknowledged and worked through. I personally loved Kai's hint of possession, even as a reader I felt safe in his presence, and man did he have me sobbing when his father was brought up. I literally loved everything show more about this story, no complaints whatsoever, only wish I wouldn't have to say goodbye. Though I can't wait to see how Wests’ story plays out and don't even get me started on Brooks’, I will definitely be coming back for both of them.

Overall, plot and character were complex and engaging throughout, no scenes were left lost, I was able to develop a genuine connection to the characters, and we gladly had closure and revenge for those certain individuals.

Amazing writing, if you love a love story between too young idiots as they overcome some deep trauma and learn to accept and love one another, then I can confidently say you'll adore the story of Sen and Kai.

I received and reviewed an early review copy of the title. From LibraryThing. show less

I actually rather enjoyed this book. I often struggle to get into romance books because I think the relationship is unrealistic if not unhealthy, but I thought this book was done well and was honestly rather cute. I felt like the angst in the relationship made sense for the characters and their backstories rather than being shoe-horned in just to advance the plot. I also appreciated that Weste included a list of content warnings, especially because some of the topics are potentially triggering. My only two real issues with this book were with the narration and the pacing. I thought that at times the first-person narration felt a bit overdone, almost as if we were reading some teenager's diary entries or hearing the voiceover monologue show more in a teen drama. I also thought the story as a whole moved a bit fast. The book takes place across about four months, two months of which are the main relationship, which seems like maybe not enough time to go from complete strangers to completely committed to each other. Still, I think it's less unbelievable than some book relationship timelines. I also just felt like some things were a bit rushed and Weste could have taken a little time to dwell on Kai and Sen's relationship and some of the domestic details of their life together. Still, I enjoyed it overall and will probably read the others in the series if I come across them. show less

Moving to Seattle for college after two years of community college means freedom for Sen—escape from his parents at least. It's harder for him to escape from the effects of conversion therapy camp his parents sent him to for several summers. But one of the first people he meets in his dorms is Kai, who is instantly unsettling and captivating for Sen, and who is also instantly attracted to Sen and who doesn't easily back down from something he wants. With Kai, Sen starts to be able to push past the harms of years of repression, abuse, and self-hatred. As a romance novel, this didn't entirely work for me—I wanted all the best for Sen, and while I liked Kai's bravery and determination, his relationship with Sen seemed to skate too show more close to coercion and control. show less

Unfix Me is a wonderful take on the college gay romance, complete with appropriately timed struggles, sex scenes, and the Happily Ever After guaranteed in the preface. Like many HEA-guaranteed, explicit, gay romances, the plot isn't terribly surprising, but the characters were riveting, the plot was interesting, and the entire book was written so well that I could barely put it down. Emory Weste did an amazing job sticking with the tried-and-true romance formula while incorpoating enough unique plot and character points to make this a fresh take. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gay romance.

While the characters were lovable and the romance was intriguing, Unfix Me by Emory Weste lacked a few things that ultimately made me decide on 3.5 stars. The themes of this story are dark, but Weste was able to keep it from being too heavy. However, I do think this caused the story to lack some emotional impact, and I wish it could have featured more of Sen’s struggle and trauma from conversion therapy. It was nice to read a queer story that wasn’t completely focused on heavy topics, but ultimately, it felt rushed and somewhat unsatisfying. Despite alternating first person POV, the main characters lacked distinct voice. It felt like I was reading only one character at times and forgot that there were 2 until a new chapter break. I show more wish we could’ve gotten more details about the other characters too. I’m aware this is just the first book and we will continue to learn more about them, but I would have preferred to get some more insight now before going into the second book. As it stands, the characters feel shallow but I’m looking forward to reading the next installment. show less