J. D. Glass

I was given this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an Honest Review.

A lot of times uncomfortable can be good. Uncomfortable can mean that you start something new, or do something to make something better. It can be a good feeling. In this book, it really was not a good feeling.

I really wanted to like this book, and in some ways I think that it wasn't even the novel that was to blame for me not liking it, but instead it was the novel's blurb that made me think going in that it was going to be something entirely different. I really like the idea of using different communication methods interspersed with first person, and I thought that the plot of two people coming together slowly through their combined love of this narrative that Dion is writing could have been totally awesome.

But, it was just too uneven. There were things left hanging, and I had so many questions at the end that I could have filled an 8 1/2 by 11 page with them. And, that's not even counting the characters. It wasn't just that I couldn't stand Kerry or Bruce, but, honestly, by the end I really couldn't stand the two main characters, Dion or Zoe either. And that is the death knell of a novel unfortunately.

Also, weirdly enough, by the end I sorta wanted some sort of May/December romance novel about Dion's brother and Zoe's mother (hey, I warned you that it was weird).

I hate giving books 1 star. Writers put so much time, effort, and themselves into books, and then to see a one star review. From the Note at the beginning, etc. this seemed like the subject of Domestic Abuse was used very intentionally by Glass. And, I know that part of the reason why I didn't like this book was on me. I never got into the rhythm of the book because I could never get into Dion's head especially, I've never been in a situation anywhere near Dion's, and haven't had anyone close to me in that situation either, and so I could never connect with the character, and that part was on me, not on Glass.

I did like parts of it. Uncle Bob and some of the other secondary characters were awesome and I enjoyed reading that stuff. And, this definitely hasn't put me off of JD Glass books, but, I may be a little more careful about reading between the lines of the next one's blurb.… (meer)

As a lesbian, you get used to books where a young lesbian just coming out ends up sad and alone at the end for the crime of being gay. This is an exception and one worth reading. JD Glass has created an excellent character in Nina, someone with integrity and heart. She has some really tough times, but through it all, maintains who she is. It's gritty and realistic and the best of JD's work since she refuses to read her past novels before continuing the story, creating inconsistencies in the lives of her characters, and then jumps genre with them in later books. While that bugs me, it might not bug you and you do get to learn more about Fran and Sam in later books. Plus, Glass knows how to write about great love and does pretty hot work with sex scenes. I also recommend Red Light, except for the last chapter when the genre jumping begins.… (meer)