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A Life Without You (2012)

by Erica Pike(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

MLR Press

series

Boston Boys

review 1: This is the first book I've read by this author and I must say I really enjoyed it. A lot! Of course, I love a good gay-for-you story anyway and this one sure was more than just good. Jesse was hot and Adam was just so sweet. I just loved him. The angst was incredible and though I usually don't like angst, it was really necessary to this story. I was quite peeved with Jesse through much of the story and when his girl friend stayed at spring break I was really irritated. If he was real and in the same room with me, I'd have pasted him. Adam was so destroyed that my heart just ached for him. Anytime my emotions get so engaged, I know I've read a really wonderful story. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and I'm so thankful that I finally stopped proc... morerastinating and read this book. I highly recommend it to all fans of angst and/or of a super g-f-y story.
review 2: I actually liked this book better than the first one, because in my opinion this one had a little more depth with its storytelling. Adam is a college student and funnily enough book two gave a better description on how he was physically and personality wise. I went into this book knowing how beautiful Adam looked and how moody he was as a person. Not sure why the author didn't paint a picture of him in his own book more aptly. I think because I read book #2 first I already knew his character. I do suppose without that introduction I would have criticised his lack of characterisation in this book. Adam meets Jesse after Adam's room-mate ditches him because he is gay, and Jesse's ditches him because he was uncomfortable because Jesse slept in the nude. Not sure if Jesse's room-mate would have been allowed to do that. Nor do I know whether it is THAT easy for freshmen to chop and change their room-mates at will. The little that I know about American dorm life is these take months and months of planning. So yes like the second book this book also suffers from unrealistic notions. I'm not sure why one needs to suspend their belief for such small things. There was no need to add that element into the story. I can only guess so Adam can lust over Jesse's naked body. I think all that could have been done without the silly plot device of both Adam and Jesse getting ditched.As expected Adam falls madly in love with Jesse; but Jesse is straight has a girlfriend and so forth. That's the plot. Adam falls for a man he can't have (for a little while anyway). However, as the story progresses and as does their friendship it starts shifting into them getting together. Jesse cheats on his girlfriend and Adam has no morals. Adam is an almighty dick to Jesse's girlfriend who bless her has done nothing to encounter the wrath of Adam (other than being Jesse's girlfriend).Adam is crazily and scarily obsessed with Jesse. Jesse is also and refuses to allow Adam to sleep with other people. Despite being adamant that he will marry his girlfriend. Adam goes mad in this book when Jesse keeps breaking his heart. Adam is slightly saved from his derange antics by his friend Eric. The story veers into slightly psychotic and very unhealthy. I think the author needs to find a realistic balance of drama and angst and I can't help but wish her editor could have pointed that out. When both boys were calm in this story they were sweet. I did overall enjoy this book, and I would have enjoyed it more without the needless drama that the author insisted. This could have been a raw and emotional story without all the bells and whistle. I do have one big criticism that I couldn't forgive. Jesse ends up getting an STD which he aptly blames Adam for (bravo). We find out his girlfriend also cheated on him and gave him the STD. To me this was done to make Jesse look less bad because his girlfriend also cheated. It also made her look worse because she gave him and STD and thus is more "gross". I really do not like how women are portrayed in M/M books. I'm not saying I know the author's intentions here. However, as a reader this is what it came across as. "Jesse cheated but hey so did his girlfriend and she's worse because she gave him and STD. All is square." No.Despite that with Jesse and Adam together I would actually like to read more of them. They are enjoyable to read without the melodrama. However if anyone wants to know how to do a trope similar to this one done right read "Promises" by Marie Sexton. less

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