Reviewed by Susan65
Title:The Impossible Boy
Author: Anna Martin
Heroes: Ben Easton/Stanislav Novikov
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 204 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 16, 2017
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: This is not your average love story.
Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He’s a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he’s totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.
Stan isn’t your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his makeup perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben’s devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.
Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben is away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.
Review: This is only my third book by Anna Martin, and I am left wondering why that is. I love her writing style, her characters are unique, and the world building pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the final page is turned. I need to go back and check out her book list because I am finding a common theme of ” these books really work me”.
I was not sure what to expect from The Impossible Boy, but it called to me. I am not normally a big fan of effeminate main characters, and again I have to ask myself why. Every book I’ve read that had the femme boy I tend to give high ratings to. This story had made me reevaluate my book preferences and step outside what I thought was my preferred tropes and characteristics.
Ben and Stanislav (Stan) were absolutely brilliant characters, and they were totally made for one another. I fell head over heels in love with Ben when he unapologetically fell for Stan, and all his soft and feminine ways. He accepted him as he was and never once tried to change “his girl”. Stan was a boy who loved to be feminine. He was a boy and planned to stay an impossible boy. And Stan just broke your heart. So much hurt-comfort action for this beautiful boy. As each chapter turned, you uncovered another layer of his pain and challenges. Fortunately, the challenges were not based on their love nor their growing relationship.
Stan is suffering from an eating disorder, and though it is talked about, it’s not until further into the book that the reader experiences the devastation caused by the disease. Anorexia is an illness that affects more than the patient. Ben is suffering from guilt and fear. Yet, these two persevere, and they are truly beautiful together. We know that Stan will always need to be mindful and remember to eat, but we also know that Ben, and all their crazy friends, will be there to catch him.
Overall Impression: I loved it!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
The Blogger Girls 