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Too Like the Lightning
Andrew Madigan had everything he ever wanted.
He’d worked hard to build this perfect little life. A stable relationship with a successful man. A beautiful home in a quiet suburb. And best of all, a job where he spent his days talking about literature.
Then his tenure was denied and, too quickly for him to stop it, everything crumbled.
Now, with his dreams in the dust and his confidence shattered, Andrew has one summer to figure out his next move.
Bulbs, Florida, is like no place Andrew’s ever known. It’s small and provincial. It’s hot as hell. Storms roll through every single day. But Andrew just has to keep his head down. Finish his book, find a new job, put things back on track. Easy-peasy.
He didn’t plan on making a friend.
Coley Brandt has a green thumb and an easy smile. He’s much younger than Andrew, but he puts Andrew at ease, makes him feel at home. Their time together reminds Andrew what having a purpose feels like.
Suddenly, this long, lonely summer feels too short.
But Coley has dreams of his own, and they’re a million miles away from the life Andrew’s trying to get back.
Maybe this is just a summer fling. Maybe, like the lightning, it’s only meant to be glorious for a moment before it disappears.
Or maybe it’s something more.
Too Like the Lightning is a steamy small-town, age-gap romance. It’s perfect for lovers of second chances, coffee on the back porch, thunderstorms, poetry, and happily ever afters. 85,000 words.
He’d worked hard to build this perfect little life. A stable relationship with a successful man. A beautiful home in a quiet suburb. And best of all, a job where he spent his days talking about literature.
Then his tenure was denied and, too quickly for him to stop it, everything crumbled.
Now, with his dreams in the dust and his confidence shattered, Andrew has one summer to figure out his next move.
Bulbs, Florida, is like no place Andrew’s ever known. It’s small and provincial. It’s hot as hell. Storms roll through every single day. But Andrew just has to keep his head down. Finish his book, find a new job, put things back on track. Easy-peasy.
He didn’t plan on making a friend.
Coley Brandt has a green thumb and an easy smile. He’s much younger than Andrew, but he puts Andrew at ease, makes him feel at home. Their time together reminds Andrew what having a purpose feels like.
Suddenly, this long, lonely summer feels too short.
But Coley has dreams of his own, and they’re a million miles away from the life Andrew’s trying to get back.
Maybe this is just a summer fling. Maybe, like the lightning, it’s only meant to be glorious for a moment before it disappears.
Or maybe it’s something more.
Too Like the Lightning is a steamy small-town, age-gap romance. It’s perfect for lovers of second chances, coffee on the back porch, thunderstorms, poetry, and happily ever afters. 85,000 words.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2022
63 people are currently reading
917 people want to read
About the author
Travis Beaudoin
11 books135 followersHaving lived in Miami, Chicago, and NYC, Travis eventually ended up twenty minutes from where he was born, in Nowhere, Virginia, where the days are quiet and the stars are bright. He shares a big old farmhouse with his unbelievably supportive husband, a terrorist cat, and the world’s most neurotic dog.
He's nerdy about lots of things, including but not limited to classical rhetoric, the lives of the saints, Egyptian mythology, Shakespeare, contemporary fantasy, and the Muppets. Nevertheless, he is fun at parties.
He likes rainy days, long drives, and cuddling. He drinks more coffee than he ought.
Though it sometimes contains more plot and character development than is strictly necessary, he gets off on writing filthy gay erotica, usually with a light-to-moderate D/s edge.
He's active on Twitter (@beaudoin_travis) and checks Goodreads when he remembers to. Say hi if you're so inclined.
He's nerdy about lots of things, including but not limited to classical rhetoric, the lives of the saints, Egyptian mythology, Shakespeare, contemporary fantasy, and the Muppets. Nevertheless, he is fun at parties.
He likes rainy days, long drives, and cuddling. He drinks more coffee than he ought.
Though it sometimes contains more plot and character development than is strictly necessary, he gets off on writing filthy gay erotica, usually with a light-to-moderate D/s edge.
He's active on Twitter (@beaudoin_travis) and checks Goodreads when he remembers to. Say hi if you're so inclined.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
August 16, 2023
I’d never felt so completely vulnerable and so utterly safe all at once.
That’s how I felt reading this book.
This story was lyrical and deeply heartfelt. There was a sense of REAL in the writing that made me feel like I was immersed in a private journal.
It’s about a 34 year old college professor who has lost his job, his boyfriend, and his home. His best friend has given him a house in the country for the summer, to hopefully finish his book, and find himself again. There juuuuust so happens to be a young gardener/caretaker (20) who helps keep the land looking its best.
14 year age gap
Single pov
Articulate, character driven
Deeply emotional and romantic
City boy in the country
Low drama
Excellent HEA
I missed having dual POV, but it made me realize that having multiple POV’s allows me to be a lazy reader. This story filled me with best kind of angst wanting to know how the other character was feeling. TELL ME NOW!!!
This story is intelligent, cerebral, and poetic. The language felt grown-up, the author didn’t cut down his vocabulary for the average reader. How refreshing!
What I loved the most, was instead of finding the typical gay love story, this one felt authentic at its core. There were no fake tropes to lean on, no drama, no filler. From their conversations, the hesitancy, the potential sparks of lust and interest, it all felt so real. Their connection was explosive, I loved their intimacy and vulnerability together. That first scene when he drops to his knees, holy hotness.
I cannot say enough positives about this writing.
The complex tangle of lust and friendship, of wanting to be close to some guy while also holding him at a distance…the emotional choreography exhausted me. It made me moody. When I allowed myself to dwell on it, I felt sad and small.
The correlation between plants and emotional growth was fascinating. The ebb and flow of Mother Nature that we try to control but consistently fail to capture. One must constantly be tending their garden to see results.
My only complaint is I wished the main character had been able to emotionally heal himself, it felt like he relied too much on the other man to bring him back to life.
I will absolutely be reading more from this talented author!
Another excellent recommendation from Dan. Thank you 🙏💜
That’s how I felt reading this book.
This story was lyrical and deeply heartfelt. There was a sense of REAL in the writing that made me feel like I was immersed in a private journal.
It’s about a 34 year old college professor who has lost his job, his boyfriend, and his home. His best friend has given him a house in the country for the summer, to hopefully finish his book, and find himself again. There juuuuust so happens to be a young gardener/caretaker (20) who helps keep the land looking its best.
14 year age gap
Single pov
Articulate, character driven
Deeply emotional and romantic
City boy in the country
Low drama
Excellent HEA
I missed having dual POV, but it made me realize that having multiple POV’s allows me to be a lazy reader. This story filled me with best kind of angst wanting to know how the other character was feeling. TELL ME NOW!!!
This story is intelligent, cerebral, and poetic. The language felt grown-up, the author didn’t cut down his vocabulary for the average reader. How refreshing!
What I loved the most, was instead of finding the typical gay love story, this one felt authentic at its core. There were no fake tropes to lean on, no drama, no filler. From their conversations, the hesitancy, the potential sparks of lust and interest, it all felt so real. Their connection was explosive, I loved their intimacy and vulnerability together. That first scene when he drops to his knees, holy hotness.
I cannot say enough positives about this writing.
The complex tangle of lust and friendship, of wanting to be close to some guy while also holding him at a distance…the emotional choreography exhausted me. It made me moody. When I allowed myself to dwell on it, I felt sad and small.
The correlation between plants and emotional growth was fascinating. The ebb and flow of Mother Nature that we try to control but consistently fail to capture. One must constantly be tending their garden to see results.
My only complaint is I wished the main character had been able to emotionally heal himself, it felt like he relied too much on the other man to bring him back to life.
I will absolutely be reading more from this talented author!
Another excellent recommendation from Dan. Thank you 🙏💜
June 19, 2023
One of my favorite book things is when the weather / setting plays another distinct character. I don’t care what it is: hot, cold, a blizzard, scorching heat. I love it! And in this book we were privy to the stifling heat and humidity of a Florida summer.
When the rain came, I’d sit on the back porch of my borrowed home and watch the world have a tantrum. It was the only time I didn’t feel alone.
Too Like the Lightning instantly familiarizes the reader with its setting and characters. I was a few chapters in and I was sitting there thinking that these people felt like they could walk right off the page and be present in front of me.
This is an age-gap / opposites attract romance. Coley is a confident, sunshiney type personality whereas Andrew is more pessimistic and considerably more…cloudy haha. Something I really enjoyed seeing play out is how Coley (the younger love interest) has so much passion for wanting to help the environment and communities. He has big plans and could talk about it for hours and hours. While Andrew (the older main character) is sort of at a standstill in his career as an academic. He’s lost his job and his boyfriend and wants — needs to start over but doesn’t quite know how. He’s accomplished great things but somehow feels like he’s accomplished nothing at all. Andrew feels like it’s impossible to even begin starting anew. But maybe, just maybe, this isn’t quite true. They motivate and help each other in different ways and help the other be their happiest self which was so rewarding to watch play out. It’s a romance book where you know that these two are meant to be, undoubtedly. Just simply perfect together. I loved seeing their love blossom (Coley loves flowers🥹🌸❤️) over time. It felt natural and was paced very well. They’re so gentle and reverent towards each other but they still hold so much fiery passion as well and it was just such a great dynamic to read.
I wanted to hear him talk about plants and dirt for the rest of my life.
This is a quiet love story with dreamy and lyrical writing that I’d recommend for those that don’t mind a slower pace. It’s also low conflict and very character driven with plenty of yearning.❤️
A song that suits this book - Treehouse by Alex G and Emily Yacina 💚
When the rain came, I’d sit on the back porch of my borrowed home and watch the world have a tantrum. It was the only time I didn’t feel alone.
Too Like the Lightning instantly familiarizes the reader with its setting and characters. I was a few chapters in and I was sitting there thinking that these people felt like they could walk right off the page and be present in front of me.
This is an age-gap / opposites attract romance. Coley is a confident, sunshiney type personality whereas Andrew is more pessimistic and considerably more…cloudy haha. Something I really enjoyed seeing play out is how Coley (the younger love interest) has so much passion for wanting to help the environment and communities. He has big plans and could talk about it for hours and hours. While Andrew (the older main character) is sort of at a standstill in his career as an academic. He’s lost his job and his boyfriend and wants — needs to start over but doesn’t quite know how. He’s accomplished great things but somehow feels like he’s accomplished nothing at all. Andrew feels like it’s impossible to even begin starting anew. But maybe, just maybe, this isn’t quite true. They motivate and help each other in different ways and help the other be their happiest self which was so rewarding to watch play out. It’s a romance book where you know that these two are meant to be, undoubtedly. Just simply perfect together. I loved seeing their love blossom (Coley loves flowers🥹🌸❤️) over time. It felt natural and was paced very well. They’re so gentle and reverent towards each other but they still hold so much fiery passion as well and it was just such a great dynamic to read.
I wanted to hear him talk about plants and dirt for the rest of my life.
This is a quiet love story with dreamy and lyrical writing that I’d recommend for those that don’t mind a slower pace. It’s also low conflict and very character driven with plenty of yearning.❤️
A song that suits this book - Treehouse by Alex G and Emily Yacina 💚
October 27, 2023
This is probably one of the most poetic books I have read. Really beautiful. The descriptions of nature, the weather, and the thoughts in Andrew's head are unique in their style.
The emotions or how shall I say ... foggy muted sensations that Andrew goes through are fantastically portrayed. And then his fascination and overwhelming of all that is Coley and how he is so very different from him. The inadequacies and fears that live in Andrew are so tangible, so beautifully and terrifyingly at once realistically described.
Jessica said I had to feel my pain to move past it. Instead, for the last two months, I’d invested in staying numb. I didn’t know what would happen if I let myself fall apart. 🥺🖤😢
When the rain came, I’d sit on the back porch of my borrowed home and watch the world have a tantrum. It was the only time I didn’t feel alone. 💔🌼💔
I wanted to ask him about orange blossoms and Spanish moss and the gladioli that gave this stupid town its even stupider name. I wanted to hear him talk about plants and dirt for the rest of my life. 🌹😍🌹
The book has its flaws. I don't like that a few sentences about safe sex are missing. It's not that hard to throw in a "hey I'm negative" or something like that. That would have made every sex scene perfect from the beginning, but instead, the thought that they never talked about it resonates with me the whole time in every scene.
Andrew's depression has not found a good conclusion. He thinks about going into therapy at one point late in the book, but it was never offered as a plot outline.
And during the brief breakup, Andrew kisses his ex. I understand that the plot needs this to draw a final line and I'm not criticizing that it happens, but did he confess this to Coley later? Or did I miss that?
Without these three issues, which unfortunately annoy me a bit, the book would be absolutely perfect. Anyway, I love it anyway, I just decided so now.
The emotions or how shall I say ... foggy muted sensations that Andrew goes through are fantastically portrayed. And then his fascination and overwhelming of all that is Coley and how he is so very different from him. The inadequacies and fears that live in Andrew are so tangible, so beautifully and terrifyingly at once realistically described.
Jessica said I had to feel my pain to move past it. Instead, for the last two months, I’d invested in staying numb. I didn’t know what would happen if I let myself fall apart. 🥺🖤😢
When the rain came, I’d sit on the back porch of my borrowed home and watch the world have a tantrum. It was the only time I didn’t feel alone. 💔🌼💔
I wanted to ask him about orange blossoms and Spanish moss and the gladioli that gave this stupid town its even stupider name. I wanted to hear him talk about plants and dirt for the rest of my life. 🌹😍🌹
The book has its flaws. I don't like that a few sentences about safe sex are missing. It's not that hard to throw in a "hey I'm negative" or something like that. That would have made every sex scene perfect from the beginning, but instead, the thought that they never talked about it resonates with me the whole time in every scene.
Andrew's depression has not found a good conclusion. He thinks about going into therapy at one point late in the book, but it was never offered as a plot outline.
And during the brief breakup, Andrew kisses his ex. I understand that the plot needs this to draw a final line and I'm not criticizing that it happens, but did he confess this to Coley later? Or did I miss that?
Without these three issues, which unfortunately annoy me a bit, the book would be absolutely perfect. Anyway, I love it anyway, I just decided so now.
May 6, 2022
***3.75 rating***
"The way to get out of this with my soul intact—the only way to get out of this with my soul intact—was to accept Coley for the gift he was. I couldn’t hold him forever, but for now he shared his dreams with me. He made me laugh. He kissed me like I was gorgeous. These actions were streaks of lightning. They could be marveled at, but not owned."
Awe what a wholesome lovely book! Not perfect, no book ever is but this was overall really lovely.
Brief Summary:
Andrew, a 34 year-old literature professor is at a crossroad in his life. Everything he knew and "loved" has fallen apart, but such is life. Nothing is ever perfect and life hits you when you least expect it.
With no job, boyfriend, or home, Andrew needs a fresh start to escape the current chaos in his life. His bestfriend Jessica, offers her husband's summer home/cottage in Florida as a place that Andrew can escape to for the summer.
What better place than Florida? Beautiful weather and beaches to escape to, Florida seems like the desired destination. However, the "cottage" is in a middle of nowhere/rainforest/small-ass town but don't judge Bulb yet(I think that's what this fictional town was called in the book lol). Small towns can surprise you. That was the case when Andrew met his very young attractive groundskeeper, Coley.
20 years-old and ever the golden boy Coley is 14 years younger than Andrew, but the age-gap does not stop these two from exploring a very passionate, heated romance.
Doubts, insecurities, and the unknown future are a challenge for this duo but sometimes a summer getaway and the unplanned things in life can shape your future for the better😉.
Thoughts:
This is the first time that I have ever read a book by this author and I must say that the writing was really beautiful. I was deeply captivated. The way the author captured Andrew's doubts, vulnerabilities, his inner thoughts/dialogue was realistic and masterfully crafted. I really enjoyed this author's writing. The only other author whose writing I can say the same about is the lovely Marley Valentine.
Ultimately, the book did start slow and I am ashamed to admit that I was quite bored at the beginning, but when Coley and Andrew began to get closer emotionally and physically, I couldn't help but to enjoy myself and these characters.
With all his insecurities, doubts, and imperfections Andrew is a relatable character. If you have ever hit rock bottom, you will find yourself relating to his inner dialogues. Andrew was a very sad and broken character but his desire to get back on his two feet was admirable and encouraging for those of us who struggle to do the same.
I absolutely adored Coley. He was a ray of sunshine and a sweet loving character. He may be very young but don't let his youth fool you. He is wise beyond his years. I thought he was a sweet himbo at first (my bad) but Coley is an intelligent, caring and a kind man . He is youthful sure but when he loves he loves with all his heart. I was a bit surprised with myself, because usually when very young characters are portrayed as very wise, I have a hard time buying it but in this book that was luckily not the case.
Overall, I enjoyed Coley and Andrew together. A summer of surprises and romance. Definitely an enjoyable read. Now then why the four stars (3.75 rating)?
Well...Andrew was really obsessed with our boy Coley and I found that to be overwhelming at times. It was always Coley this...Coley that, not that it was annoying but I did not find it to be mutual. Just my observation. I would have liked to see Coley's perspective as well, I think it would have added to the age-gap and how a young man like Coley is infatuated with an older man like Andrew. Obviously, not needed but it would have been interesting to see. I also wish we had an epilogue that was about their life in the future. I would have loved to see how their relationship matured and developed more. But despite these reasons, the book is indeed lovely. It does start a bit slow and you may be a bit bored but it does get better and was worth the read!
"The way to get out of this with my soul intact—the only way to get out of this with my soul intact—was to accept Coley for the gift he was. I couldn’t hold him forever, but for now he shared his dreams with me. He made me laugh. He kissed me like I was gorgeous. These actions were streaks of lightning. They could be marveled at, but not owned."
Awe what a wholesome lovely book! Not perfect, no book ever is but this was overall really lovely.
Brief Summary:
Andrew, a 34 year-old literature professor is at a crossroad in his life. Everything he knew and "loved" has fallen apart, but such is life. Nothing is ever perfect and life hits you when you least expect it.
With no job, boyfriend, or home, Andrew needs a fresh start to escape the current chaos in his life. His bestfriend Jessica, offers her husband's summer home/cottage in Florida as a place that Andrew can escape to for the summer.
What better place than Florida? Beautiful weather and beaches to escape to, Florida seems like the desired destination. However, the "cottage" is in a middle of nowhere/rainforest/small-ass town but don't judge Bulb yet(I think that's what this fictional town was called in the book lol). Small towns can surprise you. That was the case when Andrew met his very young attractive groundskeeper, Coley.
20 years-old and ever the golden boy Coley is 14 years younger than Andrew, but the age-gap does not stop these two from exploring a very passionate, heated romance.
Doubts, insecurities, and the unknown future are a challenge for this duo but sometimes a summer getaway and the unplanned things in life can shape your future for the better😉.
Thoughts:
This is the first time that I have ever read a book by this author and I must say that the writing was really beautiful. I was deeply captivated. The way the author captured Andrew's doubts, vulnerabilities, his inner thoughts/dialogue was realistic and masterfully crafted. I really enjoyed this author's writing. The only other author whose writing I can say the same about is the lovely Marley Valentine.
Ultimately, the book did start slow and I am ashamed to admit that I was quite bored at the beginning, but when Coley and Andrew began to get closer emotionally and physically, I couldn't help but to enjoy myself and these characters.
With all his insecurities, doubts, and imperfections Andrew is a relatable character. If you have ever hit rock bottom, you will find yourself relating to his inner dialogues. Andrew was a very sad and broken character but his desire to get back on his two feet was admirable and encouraging for those of us who struggle to do the same.
I absolutely adored Coley. He was a ray of sunshine and a sweet loving character. He may be very young but don't let his youth fool you. He is wise beyond his years. I thought he was a sweet himbo at first (my bad) but Coley is an intelligent, caring and a kind man . He is youthful sure but when he loves he loves with all his heart. I was a bit surprised with myself, because usually when very young characters are portrayed as very wise, I have a hard time buying it but in this book that was luckily not the case.
Overall, I enjoyed Coley and Andrew together. A summer of surprises and romance. Definitely an enjoyable read. Now then why the four stars (3.75 rating)?
Well...Andrew was really obsessed with our boy Coley and I found that to be overwhelming at times. It was always Coley this...Coley that, not that it was annoying but I did not find it to be mutual. Just my observation. I would have liked to see Coley's perspective as well, I think it would have added to the age-gap and how a young man like Coley is infatuated with an older man like Andrew. Obviously, not needed but it would have been interesting to see. I also wish we had an epilogue that was about their life in the future. I would have loved to see how their relationship matured and developed more. But despite these reasons, the book is indeed lovely. It does start a bit slow and you may be a bit bored but it does get better and was worth the read!
June 12, 2023
Re-read June 2023
Books like this are both why I keep reading MM, and why I want to quit reading MM.
I keep reading for the once in a blue moon I find a gem of a book like this. Actual queer fiction that has thought, heart, and soul. The characters can be imperfect but there’s so much depth and growth it makes them endearing. Writing with purpose… words that can make you gasp. It’s not gross OTT trauma porn but it’s also not unbelievable fluff.
And why this book makes me want to quit reading MM…. No one writes like this in MM anymore. If it manages to not be problematic, it’s still just the same shit over and over. How many books can we write with the same tired tropes and themes. I can count on one hand how many authors in this MM community that can still write something impactful.
I love this book to the moon and back. I love Andrew’s flaws. I love his vulnerability. I love how he loves Coley. I could read about them over and over forever and be happy.
Sigh.
———————————————
Why is no one talking about this book!?
I am really truly not sure what to say about it though, as I’m a little speechless… if you’re reading this you probably know that I am an infinitely cranky reader and very hard to please.
This book doesn’t have a trope. It doesn’t follow the MM formula. The writing is very visceral, cerebral, and poetic. I loathe a lot of internal dialogue but in this, it was necessary. It didn’t bother me and honestly with how well it was written, it just pulled me in more. It is all from Andrew’s perspective and in this instance made Coley even more special. I’m actually glad we didn’t get the dual perspective with Coley’s side, because his character is magical and that can only be gotten across from Andrew’s perspective.
There is a lot of references to literature, but it’s not just that. The way this author writes is just GOOD. It’s thorough and descriptive and really really fucking beautiful. I haven’t read a book in one sitting, while my eyes screamed at me to sleep, in a long time. Beginning to end with about 6 hours of sleep, all I did was read this book.
I feel like I may be a bit biased because I understand Andrew in a way many may not. He’s not a perfect person and he fucks up but as someone who struggles with depression and is a “thinker not a doer,” I don’t know… I got all of this on a really intense level.
I don’t judge anyone who this didn’t work for. The writing is different. But I am going to put it out there right now that it is one of the best books I’ve ever read, and as soon as I finished it I bought it in paperback. I’ve never done that before.
If you want something unique and special and beautiful and totally out of the trope-heavy wheelhouse that is MM, read this.
(ETA, one of the negative reviews said there is cheating in this, there is 100% not 🙄)
Books like this are both why I keep reading MM, and why I want to quit reading MM.
I keep reading for the once in a blue moon I find a gem of a book like this. Actual queer fiction that has thought, heart, and soul. The characters can be imperfect but there’s so much depth and growth it makes them endearing. Writing with purpose… words that can make you gasp. It’s not gross OTT trauma porn but it’s also not unbelievable fluff.
And why this book makes me want to quit reading MM…. No one writes like this in MM anymore. If it manages to not be problematic, it’s still just the same shit over and over. How many books can we write with the same tired tropes and themes. I can count on one hand how many authors in this MM community that can still write something impactful.
I love this book to the moon and back. I love Andrew’s flaws. I love his vulnerability. I love how he loves Coley. I could read about them over and over forever and be happy.
Sigh.
———————————————
Why is no one talking about this book!?
I am really truly not sure what to say about it though, as I’m a little speechless… if you’re reading this you probably know that I am an infinitely cranky reader and very hard to please.
This book doesn’t have a trope. It doesn’t follow the MM formula. The writing is very visceral, cerebral, and poetic. I loathe a lot of internal dialogue but in this, it was necessary. It didn’t bother me and honestly with how well it was written, it just pulled me in more. It is all from Andrew’s perspective and in this instance made Coley even more special. I’m actually glad we didn’t get the dual perspective with Coley’s side, because his character is magical and that can only be gotten across from Andrew’s perspective.
There is a lot of references to literature, but it’s not just that. The way this author writes is just GOOD. It’s thorough and descriptive and really really fucking beautiful. I haven’t read a book in one sitting, while my eyes screamed at me to sleep, in a long time. Beginning to end with about 6 hours of sleep, all I did was read this book.
I feel like I may be a bit biased because I understand Andrew in a way many may not. He’s not a perfect person and he fucks up but as someone who struggles with depression and is a “thinker not a doer,” I don’t know… I got all of this on a really intense level.
I don’t judge anyone who this didn’t work for. The writing is different. But I am going to put it out there right now that it is one of the best books I’ve ever read, and as soon as I finished it I bought it in paperback. I’ve never done that before.
If you want something unique and special and beautiful and totally out of the trope-heavy wheelhouse that is MM, read this.
(ETA, one of the negative reviews said there is cheating in this, there is 100% not 🙄)
May 30, 2022
nobody is more disappointed than me by the fact that i'm giving this book just 2 stars
April 12, 2022
Really glad I gave this one a second shot. I think you have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it but it’s a true winner when you hit it just right.
This quote from Call Me By Your Name kept popping up in my mind while reading “I like the way you say things”
Age gap - 14 years
Opposites attract (Stuffy-ish literature professor/Relaxed nature boy)
Swampy and humid Florida atmosphere
Slow, lazy summer vibes
Beautiful descriptions of thunderstorms
Blinding smiles
Rusty old red trucks
Sweaty porch moments drinking a cold beer
I could totally see this book as a movie.
Would have loved to read from Coley’s POV but I think it made for a nice tension not knowing his thoughts.
This books screams for some fan mood boards.
This quote from Call Me By Your Name kept popping up in my mind while reading “I like the way you say things”
Age gap - 14 years
Opposites attract (Stuffy-ish literature professor/Relaxed nature boy)
Swampy and humid Florida atmosphere
Slow, lazy summer vibes
Beautiful descriptions of thunderstorms
Blinding smiles
Rusty old red trucks
Sweaty porch moments drinking a cold beer
I could totally see this book as a movie.
Would have loved to read from Coley’s POV but I think it made for a nice tension not knowing his thoughts.
This books screams for some fan mood boards.
April 6, 2023
I theoretically could love this book more, but I can't imagine how.
Beautifully written, fantastic character work, evocative setting, and just brimming with intelligence, humor, goodness, vulnerability, resilience, and a very grown-up kind of bravery.
And smolder-sexy-hot. But also butterflies-in-stomach-soft. Hot and soft and smart and sweet and sexy and I can't even with these two, y'all.
I usually don't like books with academic MCs because: reasons, but this one was very well done. Kudos!
There's nothing better than the feeling of a book that captures you from page one. This is one of those.
Just: I loved it. Read this book. You won't regret it!
Thanks to Kirsten and Chris for the rec!
____________________________________
First reaction: This book made me feral.
💜😍🥵🌸🔥❤️❤️❤️
Beautifully written, fantastic character work, evocative setting, and just brimming with intelligence, humor, goodness, vulnerability, resilience, and a very grown-up kind of bravery.
And smolder-sexy-hot. But also butterflies-in-stomach-soft. Hot and soft and smart and sweet and sexy and I can't even with these two, y'all.
I usually don't like books with academic MCs because: reasons, but this one was very well done. Kudos!
There's nothing better than the feeling of a book that captures you from page one. This is one of those.
Just: I loved it. Read this book. You won't regret it!
Thanks to Kirsten and Chris for the rec!
____________________________________
First reaction: This book made me feral.
💜😍🥵🌸🔥❤️❤️❤️
March 14, 2022
**** 3.5 stars ****
I am very torn about my rating.
The writing was rich and gorgeous, making the descriptions so vivid and enchanting.🥰
There was also a peaceful tone that captivated me. 🌈
The characters were interesting, relatable and very distinct.
Age gap, one of my fav tropes. 34/20
That being said, I thought the relationship was a tad bit underdeveloped.
More time on the page to go deeper into those feelings would have made this a winner IMO.
Things wrapped up too fast and neatly at the end.
Despite that, I still think this story was unique and captivating.
I am very torn about my rating.
The writing was rich and gorgeous, making the descriptions so vivid and enchanting.🥰
There was also a peaceful tone that captivated me. 🌈
The characters were interesting, relatable and very distinct.
Age gap, one of my fav tropes. 34/20
That being said, I thought the relationship was a tad bit underdeveloped.
More time on the page to go deeper into those feelings would have made this a winner IMO.
Things wrapped up too fast and neatly at the end.
Despite that, I still think this story was unique and captivating.
March 14, 2022
RTC but damn did I enjoy this one, it made me feel so many emotions and the writing style was just so good, I just loved it so much.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
August 13, 2023
Reread. Just as wonderful the second time.
4.75 stars!
Definitely one of my favorite books from this year.
This is a simple story. A quiet romance. There is no flash or bang. No suspense or mystery.
And I was never bored. Not for a second.
That's all down to the prose and the skill of this new-to-me author. His last name lured me in, along with the title. (This southern Louisiana girl loves Cajun French last names).
When the rain came, I'd sit on the back porch of my borrowed home and watch the world have a tantrum. It was the only time I didn't feel alone.
"...It reminds us...it reminds me, anyhow...to be on the lookout. When the lightning strikes, notice it."
I wondered if there was a heaven like this - a twilight field with a tiny breeze and Coley Brandt sitting on my lap and feeding me strawberries. It seemed too precious to be real.
I couldn't hold him forever, but for now he shared his dreams with me. He made me laugh. He kissed me like I was gorgeous. These actions were streaks of lightning They could be marveled at, but not owned.
When the autumn came, it would hurt to leave him behind, but maybe I could find a spark within myself that burned as brightly as his. If so, the pain might be worth it.
4.75 stars!
Definitely one of my favorite books from this year.
This is a simple story. A quiet romance. There is no flash or bang. No suspense or mystery.
And I was never bored. Not for a second.
That's all down to the prose and the skill of this new-to-me author. His last name lured me in, along with the title. (This southern Louisiana girl loves Cajun French last names).
When the rain came, I'd sit on the back porch of my borrowed home and watch the world have a tantrum. It was the only time I didn't feel alone.
"...It reminds us...it reminds me, anyhow...to be on the lookout. When the lightning strikes, notice it."
I wondered if there was a heaven like this - a twilight field with a tiny breeze and Coley Brandt sitting on my lap and feeding me strawberries. It seemed too precious to be real.
I couldn't hold him forever, but for now he shared his dreams with me. He made me laugh. He kissed me like I was gorgeous. These actions were streaks of lightning They could be marveled at, but not owned.
When the autumn came, it would hurt to leave him behind, but maybe I could find a spark within myself that burned as brightly as his. If so, the pain might be worth it.
Read
April 15, 2022DNF @ 40%
Sorry guys, I think it's me, not the book because I can see how this book has gotten a lot of ravishing reviews, and here I'm dnfing this book.
To put it mildly, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. It was boring, and Andrew wasn't an interesting character to learn about at all.
Coley was interesting. But even his character couldn't bend my ‘not reading this book anymore’ impression.
Sorry guys, I think it's me, not the book because I can see how this book has gotten a lot of ravishing reviews, and here I'm dnfing this book.
To put it mildly, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. It was boring, and Andrew wasn't an interesting character to learn about at all.
Coley was interesting. But even his character couldn't bend my ‘not reading this book anymore’ impression.
October 1, 2022
*4.5 stars*
Amazing. All kinds of awesome. It read like a memoir of a great love story. And damn, the man can write.
Amazing. All kinds of awesome. It read like a memoir of a great love story. And damn, the man can write.
September 24, 2023
3,5 stars.
Overall I enjoyed the story, loved Coley a lot and Andrew most of the time.
I especially loved how nature was a part of the story. Rain, storms, heat. This was beautifully done.
I loved how Coley was enthusiastic about his visions, creating environmentally healthy spaces.
The story is told in Andrew's first person pov (which is a thing I love).
The two things that kept me from loving this were:
-the fact that Andrew (I think, it never was addressed) was suffering from depression, and Coley was his saviour, his light and heart. It's not a partner's responsibility to fix you and make you happy. I missed any mentioning of therapy for Andrew. His moods were heavily influenced by spending time or not going to spend time with Coley. This didn't feel healthy (and too big a responsibility for Coley). Especially as Coley was 20 and Andrew 34.
-the author's choice, that the first time the MCs had (penetrative) sex was without protection, didn't impress me at all. Andrew decided to be reckless for once.. . "just don't come inside me".. without having even talked about past safe sex with former partners, or tests.
Adding a third because Nicole reminded me (seems my mind didn't want to go there) :
-I hated how Andrew acted near the end of the book with his ex. I wanted to quit reading so bad (and would have done so if Andrew had taken things further). Now that I think of the ex, I didn't understand why/how they had split up in the first place. Losing a job shouldn't be a reason after living together for years..
Overall sweet, but not without issues.
Overall I enjoyed the story, loved Coley a lot and Andrew most of the time.
I especially loved how nature was a part of the story. Rain, storms, heat. This was beautifully done.
I loved how Coley was enthusiastic about his visions, creating environmentally healthy spaces.
The story is told in Andrew's first person pov (which is a thing I love).
The two things that kept me from loving this were:
-the fact that Andrew (I think, it never was addressed) was suffering from depression, and Coley was his saviour, his light and heart. It's not a partner's responsibility to fix you and make you happy. I missed any mentioning of therapy for Andrew. His moods were heavily influenced by spending time or not going to spend time with Coley. This didn't feel healthy (and too big a responsibility for Coley). Especially as Coley was 20 and Andrew 34.
-the author's choice, that the first time the MCs had (penetrative) sex was without protection, didn't impress me at all. Andrew decided to be reckless for once.. . "just don't come inside me".. without having even talked about past safe sex with former partners, or tests.
Adding a third because Nicole reminded me (seems my mind didn't want to go there) :
-I hated how Andrew acted near the end of the book with his ex. I wanted to quit reading so bad (and would have done so if Andrew had taken things further). Now that I think of the ex, I didn't understand why/how they had split up in the first place. Losing a job shouldn't be a reason after living together for years..
Overall sweet, but not without issues.
December 3, 2023
3.5/5
right off the bat, the writing was great. it flowed extremely well, and there were some really interesting and beautiful descriptions of nature and the weather. the author definitely has a way with words and was able to create such vivid imagery with them.
coley was very easy to like; just a genuinely good and kind guy. i honestly feel like those qualities are so underrated in a love interest (both fictional and nonfictional). i obviously get the appeal of the bad-boy persona as well, but for me personally, nothing beats a polite and thoughtful southern gentleman 🥰 sometimes when a character is described as smiling or grinning too often it annoys me, but every time coley did, it was charming. such a sweetheart fr. his strong love and appreciation for nature was especially heartwarming.
andrew and coley's relationship was wholesome af. they were great at communicating, and i enjoyed their talks and watching them connecting and getting to know each other.
sadly, though, i lost the majority of my interest around the 50% mark; it happened so instantaneously it was like a flip was switched. when their physical relationship began, i feel like coley being sexually attracted to andrew...came out of nowhere? like, there was a buildup and tension between them, but it also somehow felt kind of sudden, almost like i needed a little bit more to happen between them before it got to that point. idk how to explain it honestly—it's most likely me and not the book. i just don't think we were really given any major hints that he liked andrew in that way, or even that he was attracted to men at all. either way, i wasn't moved by the scene when they finally got together... it didn't really do anything for me. from that point onward, the story didn't have quite the same grip on me.
some parts, like when andrew was alone by himself at the house, dragged and were a bit boring. same with the times when he would call jessica and speak with her on the phone. i didn't really care for her character; she was okay i guess, but it felt as though she only existed to give andrew relationship advice.
the gorgeous writing made it worth sticking around until the end, though. seriously, have i mentioned how lovely it was?
i'd also like to mention that andrew's confession to coley towards the end felt very authentic and meaningful. the addition of thunder and rain was a great touch; it dramatized the moment (in a good way) and made it feel almost cinematic. another thing i liked was the meaning behind the title of the book and how it tied in so well with the nature of andrew and coley's time spent together.
while this book wasn't a complete home run for me, it was still a decent story. this author is clearly skilled, so even if this book of theirs wasn't my favorite, i'll have to check out others by them to see if they're more to my taste.
right off the bat, the writing was great. it flowed extremely well, and there were some really interesting and beautiful descriptions of nature and the weather. the author definitely has a way with words and was able to create such vivid imagery with them.
coley was very easy to like; just a genuinely good and kind guy. i honestly feel like those qualities are so underrated in a love interest (both fictional and nonfictional). i obviously get the appeal of the bad-boy persona as well, but for me personally, nothing beats a polite and thoughtful southern gentleman 🥰 sometimes when a character is described as smiling or grinning too often it annoys me, but every time coley did, it was charming. such a sweetheart fr. his strong love and appreciation for nature was especially heartwarming.
andrew and coley's relationship was wholesome af. they were great at communicating, and i enjoyed their talks and watching them connecting and getting to know each other.
I liked thinking of Coley as something I’d discovered, a treasure hidden among the palm trees and the thick, weedy grasses of north Florida. I liked imagining, problematic as it was, that I was the only one who saw all his facets: his playfulness, his youthfulness, the fever with which he worked, and above all else, that careful, never-ceasing brain.
sadly, though, i lost the majority of my interest around the 50% mark; it happened so instantaneously it was like a flip was switched. when their physical relationship began, i feel like coley being sexually attracted to andrew...came out of nowhere? like, there was a buildup and tension between them, but it also somehow felt kind of sudden, almost like i needed a little bit more to happen between them before it got to that point. idk how to explain it honestly—it's most likely me and not the book. i just don't think we were really given any major hints that he liked andrew in that way, or even that he was attracted to men at all. either way, i wasn't moved by the scene when they finally got together... it didn't really do anything for me. from that point onward, the story didn't have quite the same grip on me.
some parts, like when andrew was alone by himself at the house, dragged and were a bit boring. same with the times when he would call jessica and speak with her on the phone. i didn't really care for her character; she was okay i guess, but it felt as though she only existed to give andrew relationship advice.
the gorgeous writing made it worth sticking around until the end, though. seriously, have i mentioned how lovely it was?
I wondered if there was a heaven like this—a twilight field with a tiny breeze and Coley Brandt sitting on my lap and feeding me strawberries. It seemed too precious to be real, and I took a moment to emblazon it on my mind: the light in his eyes, the way the wind played with his hair, his weight on my thighs, the taste in my mouth. I catalogued each sensation. I vowed to protect each remembered detail.
i'd also like to mention that andrew's confession to coley towards the end felt very authentic and meaningful. the addition of thunder and rain was a great touch; it dramatized the moment (in a good way) and made it feel almost cinematic. another thing i liked was the meaning behind the title of the book and how it tied in so well with the nature of andrew and coley's time spent together.
while this book wasn't a complete home run for me, it was still a decent story. this author is clearly skilled, so even if this book of theirs wasn't my favorite, i'll have to check out others by them to see if they're more to my taste.
Read
January 13, 2025DNF at 49% so no rating.
I convinced myself to keep on trying, and so I picked it up, went to read a new chapter and then asked myself why because I don’t feel like the non existent connection I feel with these characters will improve and there are about a ton of other books on my tbr waiting to be read, so whom was I trying to keep happy? Certainly not myself.
The writing is good, I did highlight some, but in the end it’s the characters that need to speak to me, and they didn’t. I didn’t particularly like Andrew and I wasn’t sure about Coley either, so I think I just call it quits. I have better things to do with my time, which means trying to find a book that works.
I convinced myself to keep on trying, and so I picked it up, went to read a new chapter and then asked myself why because I don’t feel like the non existent connection I feel with these characters will improve and there are about a ton of other books on my tbr waiting to be read, so whom was I trying to keep happy? Certainly not myself.
The writing is good, I did highlight some, but in the end it’s the characters that need to speak to me, and they didn’t. I didn’t particularly like Andrew and I wasn’t sure about Coley either, so I think I just call it quits. I have better things to do with my time, which means trying to find a book that works.
August 22, 2023
I liked a lot about this book. It felt different from other stories to me, I don’t know if it was the writing or the progression of the story but it was not a bad thing at all! It felt very real.
Andrew was such an uptight character who had a very negative outlook. I didn’t blame him since he was just let go from the university he taught at and then his boyfriend of 6 years, who happens to be one of his bosses, breaks up with him. He has the use of a small, strange house in Bulbs, Florida thanks to his best friend and her husband so he drives from Virginia to lick his wounds, look for a new job and hopefully write his book. Day one he meets the property’s caretaker, Coley, who is handsome, charming and 14 years Andrew’s junior.
Coley was a breath of fresh air, not only for Andrew but for the story. He balanced out Andrew’s sadness with his effervescent joy. He loves landscaping and wants to own his own business where he adds not only grass to people’s properties but flowers and trees, a new type of landscaping that brings color and beauty. He is also smart and giving and Andrew shortly finds out Coley is not straight and he is attracted to him. Something Andrew cannot fathom.
These two men spend the bulk of summer in a bubble, landscaping the property together, playing in the rain, watching the afternoon storms, swimming in the pond and acting on their never ending attraction to each other. Andrew knows this is a moment that is like a flash of lightning, a brief time in his life where Coley brightens up his every waking moment. But Andrew is falling in love and in true Andrew style he thinks it’s impossible for Coley to feel the same.
I loved how a lot of this story played out, I just wish Andrew wasn’t so negative. He brought the story, which felt so light, down and even though that’s exactly the way this has to be it made me mad because Andrew deserved the happiness. I was so happy his best friend Jessica talked some sense into him. And Coley was beyond amazing.
This is a new author I am looking forward to reading more from. This book brought out the emotions, especially towards the end. It was truly a lovely story and so down to earth.
Andrew was such an uptight character who had a very negative outlook. I didn’t blame him since he was just let go from the university he taught at and then his boyfriend of 6 years, who happens to be one of his bosses, breaks up with him. He has the use of a small, strange house in Bulbs, Florida thanks to his best friend and her husband so he drives from Virginia to lick his wounds, look for a new job and hopefully write his book. Day one he meets the property’s caretaker, Coley, who is handsome, charming and 14 years Andrew’s junior.
Coley was a breath of fresh air, not only for Andrew but for the story. He balanced out Andrew’s sadness with his effervescent joy. He loves landscaping and wants to own his own business where he adds not only grass to people’s properties but flowers and trees, a new type of landscaping that brings color and beauty. He is also smart and giving and Andrew shortly finds out Coley is not straight and he is attracted to him. Something Andrew cannot fathom.
These two men spend the bulk of summer in a bubble, landscaping the property together, playing in the rain, watching the afternoon storms, swimming in the pond and acting on their never ending attraction to each other. Andrew knows this is a moment that is like a flash of lightning, a brief time in his life where Coley brightens up his every waking moment. But Andrew is falling in love and in true Andrew style he thinks it’s impossible for Coley to feel the same.
I loved how a lot of this story played out, I just wish Andrew wasn’t so negative. He brought the story, which felt so light, down and even though that’s exactly the way this has to be it made me mad because Andrew deserved the happiness. I was so happy his best friend Jessica talked some sense into him. And Coley was beyond amazing.
This is a new author I am looking forward to reading more from. This book brought out the emotions, especially towards the end. It was truly a lovely story and so down to earth.
March 11, 2022
Gorgeously written.
Depressed prof reads, gardens, hides;
loves true in sunshine.
Depressed prof reads, gardens, hides;
loves true in sunshine.
May 3, 2025
Reread again. I love this book a lot
Second review:
Just reread this gem, and stayed up way too late once again. OOPS. The writing in this book is so lush and vibrant. No major plot, but the vibes are off the charts. The sense of place is all-encompassing. You really get deep into Andrew’s inner life, and the way he sees Coley is EVERYTHING. This book is very very romantic. A romance’s romance.
So many parts of this book hit deep. This quote from the beginning really captures Andrew at this point in the story, and resonates with me:
“I’d never fought back. I’d never made a mess. I’d never thrown a plate for the sheer pleasure of hearing it shatter. Jessica said I had to feel my pain to move past it. Instead, for the last two months, I’d invested in staying numb. I didn’t know what would happen if I let myself fall apart.”
The falling apart, and then the slow putting back together was superbly done. And then the way Andrew falls for Coley, and how he discovers new parts of himself, starts to question things, struggles with dissonance and expectations. GAH.
The love story is one of the best I’ve read. I just want to live in the feelings of this romance.
A+ all around. Almost makes me want to garden? Highly recommended.
Original review:
I stayed up way too late finishing this book. Absolutely loved it. A romance that really focuses on the romance and the main POV character, makes you really feel all the things. I might add more later because I do have a lot to say, but I’m gonna need a better night sleep to be coherent 😂
Second review:
Just reread this gem, and stayed up way too late once again. OOPS. The writing in this book is so lush and vibrant. No major plot, but the vibes are off the charts. The sense of place is all-encompassing. You really get deep into Andrew’s inner life, and the way he sees Coley is EVERYTHING. This book is very very romantic. A romance’s romance.
So many parts of this book hit deep. This quote from the beginning really captures Andrew at this point in the story, and resonates with me:
“I’d never fought back. I’d never made a mess. I’d never thrown a plate for the sheer pleasure of hearing it shatter. Jessica said I had to feel my pain to move past it. Instead, for the last two months, I’d invested in staying numb. I didn’t know what would happen if I let myself fall apart.”
The falling apart, and then the slow putting back together was superbly done. And then the way Andrew falls for Coley, and how he discovers new parts of himself, starts to question things, struggles with dissonance and expectations. GAH.
The love story is one of the best I’ve read. I just want to live in the feelings of this romance.
A+ all around. Almost makes me want to garden? Highly recommended.
Original review:
I stayed up way too late finishing this book. Absolutely loved it. A romance that really focuses on the romance and the main POV character, makes you really feel all the things. I might add more later because I do have a lot to say, but I’m gonna need a better night sleep to be coherent 😂
March 14, 2022
I really enjoyed the scenery and the relationship between the two
June 4, 2022
Love the chemistry.
The writing is good.
The writing is good.
February 22, 2024
An astonishingly perfect romance. The writing is beautiful and I was completely swept away. What a gem.
April 12, 2022
Favorite book of 2022
This book was gorgeously written in lyrical prose that read like a literary professor wrote it. Very meta.
Andrew was a lost soul when he got to Florida. The first encounter he had with Coley…a mini breakdown made my heart hurt for him. I knew then that I was on a book journey I would thoroughly enjoy.
Coley and Andrew seem like an unlikely pair but they truly were perfect for each other. Both characters grew as people as the book went along. Told in very decadent language.
It was the ultimate love story. How love can change you. Make you better. Heal old wounds. Make you learn to love yourself. Coley was so opposite of Andrew but still saw him. The real him. It was beautiful and emotional.
This book will stay with me for a very long time. I’m going to probably re read it now just to experience it again.
This book was gorgeously written in lyrical prose that read like a literary professor wrote it. Very meta.
Andrew was a lost soul when he got to Florida. The first encounter he had with Coley…a mini breakdown made my heart hurt for him. I knew then that I was on a book journey I would thoroughly enjoy.
Coley and Andrew seem like an unlikely pair but they truly were perfect for each other. Both characters grew as people as the book went along. Told in very decadent language.
It was the ultimate love story. How love can change you. Make you better. Heal old wounds. Make you learn to love yourself. Coley was so opposite of Andrew but still saw him. The real him. It was beautiful and emotional.
This book will stay with me for a very long time. I’m going to probably re read it now just to experience it again.
August 25, 2023
A beautifully written quiet love story. It felt very authentic and real. I liked the nature/weather setting. At times it reminded me of Call Me By Your Name... 🥰
November 13, 2022
3.25 stars
I can see why a lot of people loved this, I really do. So trust me when I say I’m disappointed that I didn’t like it more. The writing is gorgeous, it’s got a great premise, and you’ve got the whole sexy depressed professor/much younger gardener thing going on. But Andrew’s and Coley’s relationship didn’t light my fire, and although I love slow burns this story was slow in a bad way.
I can see why a lot of people loved this, I really do. So trust me when I say I’m disappointed that I didn’t like it more. The writing is gorgeous, it’s got a great premise, and you’ve got the whole sexy depressed professor/much younger gardener thing going on. But Andrew’s and Coley’s relationship didn’t light my fire, and although I love slow burns this story was slow in a bad way.
October 12, 2022
So fucking lovely.
I can't seem to even remember the last time I read a romance like this. That was just that, a romance.
This was beautiful in its scenery, in its words and in its story. God, I sound silly but it was just so beautiful in its entirety.
I couldn't put it down and was really sad when it ended even though I was completely fulfilled.
Why is it so difficult to find the words when you loved a book? So, I'll just end with that. I loved it. If it had any faults, I can't recall.
I'm giving it all the stars.
I can't seem to even remember the last time I read a romance like this. That was just that, a romance.
This was beautiful in its scenery, in its words and in its story. God, I sound silly but it was just so beautiful in its entirety.
I couldn't put it down and was really sad when it ended even though I was completely fulfilled.
Why is it so difficult to find the words when you loved a book? So, I'll just end with that. I loved it. If it had any faults, I can't recall.
I'm giving it all the stars.
March 4, 2022
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews and Travis Beaudoin for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. Here is my unbiased (and extremely enthusiastic!) review.
When Too Like the Lightning opens, Andrew Madigan's life has just fallen apart, and he's retreating to a friend's rental property in the small town of Bulbs, Florida to lick his wounds and regroup. While he's doing that, he gradually gets to know Coley Brandt, the groundskeeper's son, who brings up feelings he's almost forgotten how to have.
Beaudoin's prose is a continual pleasure to read, eloquent and well-crafted without being showy, every word and every sentence playing a vital role. The descriptions are particularly evocative, calling forth all the senses to capture the heat and fug and wild vegetation of northern Florida, the violence of thunderstorms, the quirkiness of the odd little house. The sex scenes are very well written, eloquently and concisely capturing many dimensions of the experience: what's they're doing, how it feels physically and emotionally, and what it means to the characters.
This is an intimate book and happens on a very human scale. Nearly every scene takes place in the little rental house or on its few acres of grounds. None of the events are cataclysmic, and much of the action is just these two reflective men gradually opening up to each other. I got super engaged in that emotional unfolding. I positively ached for Andrew, for the ways he wouldn't allow himself to have hope or joy, the ways he closed off possibilities for himself. I found Coley just as delightful as Andrew did, and loved Andrew's bond with his smart, caring, sometimes fiery best friend Jessica.
This book made me feel things: happy, wistful, worried for the characters. I really believed in them, liked them, cared about them, and I'm going to be rereading the book soon, and more than once. I recommend it highly to anyone who likes to read about sex, love, self-discovery, and finding yourself again.
When Too Like the Lightning opens, Andrew Madigan's life has just fallen apart, and he's retreating to a friend's rental property in the small town of Bulbs, Florida to lick his wounds and regroup. While he's doing that, he gradually gets to know Coley Brandt, the groundskeeper's son, who brings up feelings he's almost forgotten how to have.
Beaudoin's prose is a continual pleasure to read, eloquent and well-crafted without being showy, every word and every sentence playing a vital role. The descriptions are particularly evocative, calling forth all the senses to capture the heat and fug and wild vegetation of northern Florida, the violence of thunderstorms, the quirkiness of the odd little house. The sex scenes are very well written, eloquently and concisely capturing many dimensions of the experience: what's they're doing, how it feels physically and emotionally, and what it means to the characters.
This is an intimate book and happens on a very human scale. Nearly every scene takes place in the little rental house or on its few acres of grounds. None of the events are cataclysmic, and much of the action is just these two reflective men gradually opening up to each other. I got super engaged in that emotional unfolding. I positively ached for Andrew, for the ways he wouldn't allow himself to have hope or joy, the ways he closed off possibilities for himself. I found Coley just as delightful as Andrew did, and loved Andrew's bond with his smart, caring, sometimes fiery best friend Jessica.
This book made me feel things: happy, wistful, worried for the characters. I really believed in them, liked them, cared about them, and I'm going to be rereading the book soon, and more than once. I recommend it highly to anyone who likes to read about sex, love, self-discovery, and finding yourself again.
April 12, 2022
I have read and enjoyed the hell out of Travis Beaudoin's erotica series Bryce Can Play. When I saw he had a full length novel coming out, I expected more of the same, maybe with a little more plot thrown in. But I was wrong. So, so wrong. Make no mistake, this book is hot when it needs to be, but it is also poignant and passionate, and ultimately hopeful - and the writing is stunningly beautiful, almost lyrical. It's honestly hard to explain how this writing made me feel, even without the story attached - it was like I was there, in that weird little cottage with Andrew and Coley, feeling every single thing they felt. It was alive, and visceral, and full of deep-seated passion just waiting to be spilled from the page.
It was told in Andrew's first person POV, and while normally I much prefer dual perspectives, this needed only Andrew's voice. As a reader, you needed to really feel his overwhelming sadness, so you could understand the spots of brightness that Coley brought into his life. And it was told slowly, developing over time, and you felt things and learned things exactly as you were meant to. Reading this book was...overwhelming in the best way. I'm getting teary-eyed just writing this review, thinking back on the story. It was real, and raw, and heartbreaking, and everything I didn't know I wanted in a romance.
It was told in Andrew's first person POV, and while normally I much prefer dual perspectives, this needed only Andrew's voice. As a reader, you needed to really feel his overwhelming sadness, so you could understand the spots of brightness that Coley brought into his life. And it was told slowly, developing over time, and you felt things and learned things exactly as you were meant to. Reading this book was...overwhelming in the best way. I'm getting teary-eyed just writing this review, thinking back on the story. It was real, and raw, and heartbreaking, and everything I didn't know I wanted in a romance.
March 12, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. Andrew and Coley made their dent in my heart ❤️
This was beautifully written and so poetic that the Romeo and Juliet quotes were swooning. The storms, the rain, all that wilderness, the flowers, the damn Florida heat I felt on my own skin, the passionate way they looked at each other, the pinning... so many things not done according to the “rules” of MM romance books…The age gap was delicious, and the sex was so special and hot, yes! I've never read an older MC like this... So off of standards. LOVE IT*
But… After the breakup, the make up It was too perfect, easy, and there was no grovelling or suffering (making Barbara proud 🙏). You can’t break up someone badly and wrongly and get them back together without quality-groveling. And Andrew, really? Staying at your ex's house? I'm gladd hegrewn some balls and went after what he wanted. love Jess, everyone should have a friend like that! Their getting back together…. Was weird… I couldn’t relate to the characters I felt in love… It was all about the sex... It was nott as poetic as everyotherr time...
the ending…. I was expecting more, no, I believe they deserved more! We got a last chapter/epilogue 1 year later and knew nothing of their lives now… Maybe I'm being picky, but… it is what it is!
Ps Even with all those but's, i loved it immensely 🫠❤️
This was beautifully written and so poetic that the Romeo and Juliet quotes were swooning. The storms, the rain, all that wilderness, the flowers, the damn Florida heat I felt on my own skin, the passionate way they looked at each other, the pinning... so many things not done according to the “rules” of MM romance books…The age gap was delicious, and the sex was so special and hot, yes! I've never read an older MC like this... So off of standards. LOVE IT*
But… After the breakup, the make up It was too perfect, easy, and there was no grovelling or suffering (making Barbara proud 🙏). You can’t break up someone badly and wrongly and get them back together without quality-groveling. And Andrew, really? Staying at your ex's house? I'm gladd hegrewn some balls and went after what he wanted. love Jess, everyone should have a friend like that! Their getting back together…. Was weird… I couldn’t relate to the characters I felt in love… It was all about the sex... It was nott as poetic as everyotherr time...
the ending…. I was expecting more, no, I believe they deserved more! We got a last chapter/epilogue 1 year later and knew nothing of their lives now… Maybe I'm being picky, but… it is what it is!
Ps Even with all those but's, i loved it immensely 🫠❤️
March 15, 2023
I really enjoyed the single point of viw this was told from. Excellent almost lyrical writing. Looking for more from this author asap.
I was a little annoyed at the Florida "pond" that was chest deep and perfect for cooling off in the summer. Florida has retention ponds that are either disgusting or filled with chemicals to fill weeds; there are springs and spring trails that lead to rivers; there are wetlands. No ponds as described in the book. I was so grossed out just thinking about it. Also, the Lantana Camera described in the last couple of chapters is not native. It is naturalized and invasive.
I was a little annoyed at the Florida "pond" that was chest deep and perfect for cooling off in the summer. Florida has retention ponds that are either disgusting or filled with chemicals to fill weeds; there are springs and spring trails that lead to rivers; there are wetlands. No ponds as described in the book. I was so grossed out just thinking about it. Also, the Lantana Camera described in the last couple of chapters is not native. It is naturalized and invasive.
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