Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Saugatuck Summer
Author: Amelia C. Gormley
Series: Saugatuck #1
Heroes: Topher/Jace
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 363 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: May 19, 2014
Available at: Riptide, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: One summer can change everything
Hi, I’m Topher Carlisle: twenty-one, pretty, and fabulous. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But let’s get real. Walking the fake-it-til-you-make-it road to independence and self-respect isn’t easy. Especially since my mom’s a deadbeat alcoholic, and most of my family expects me to turn out just as worthless. Oh, and I’m close to losing my college swimming scholarship, so let’s add “dropout” to the list.
My BFF has invited me to stay at her beach house on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’ll give me one summer to make money and figure out what I want to do with my life. So of course I decide to have an affair with my BFF’s married, closeted dad. Because that always works out.
Now I’m homeless, friendless, jobless. Worthless. Just like my family expects, right? Except there’s this great guy, Jace, who sees it differently. He’s got it all together in ways I can only dream of—he’s hot, creative, insightful, understanding. He seems to think I don’t give myself enough credit. And if I don’t watch out, I may start to believe him.
Review: This was, quite frankly, a really hard story for me to review. Topher was difficult to love until you really get to know him and his past, then you just want to cuddle him and make the mean people in his world go away. Brendan was amazing..until he wasn’t, but I still felt sooo bad for him, Jace was incredible…by far the best character in the book IMO, Mo was a pain in the neck. I know she was Topher’s best friend, and in her own way was a great friend to him, but she still rankled my nerves with her pushy ways. And Geoff and Robin were the absolute best friends a lost and lonely gay boy could ever hope for. This story is the complete package in world building and characterization, and by the time you finish, you know these people inside and out.
The affair between Topher and Brendan will be the catalyst that will decide whether or not people will love this book or hate it. I loved it because it was written in such a way that you could absolutely see the struggle between the two. They knew they were wrong, but were both fighting their own demons. I felt awful for both of them and hate when one side gets the brunt of the blame.
Jace, Jace, Jace…he was absolutely brilliant and perfect for Topher. He was a friend, confidant and lover. He was exactly what Topher needed when he needed it most. I am really not sure what would have happened to Topher if Jace did not appear in his life when he did. Jace was just the epitome of awesome boyfriend material…and I loved him muy mucho.
So, yeah…this not a light beachy read….not at all, but it is an amazing story that is well written and worth every ounce of angst to get to the end.
PLUS: Let me just end this with these words “Bath House” scene….HOT HOT HOT!!!!
Overall Impression: I loved it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
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