Reviewed by Susan65
Title: The Shape of You
Author: Felice Stevens
Series: N/A
Heroes: Eric/Corey
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 278 Pages
Publisher: Felice Stevens
Release Date: July 27, 2017
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Too big. Too fat.
All his life Eric Sontag has judged himself on his size, believing love and friendship aren’t in the cards for someone like him. Tired of being alone and scared of his doctor’s warnings, he enrolls in a nutrition support group, determined to change his life. When a beautiful thin man sits next to him, he can’t believe they have anything in common, but conversation between the two soon proves first impressions aren’t always what they seem.
Drifter. Loner.
Corey DeSantis has always been the scrawny waif; he’s tired of struggling with his art and with life. Scarred by the disappearance and death of his drug-addicted mother, he doesn’t wish for love, believing it will bring him nothing but pain in the end. Now his only hunger in life is his desire to paint…until a health scare and his mentor force him to attend a nutrition class where he meets a man who piques his interest. One drunken kiss later, Eric is all Corey can think about.
The same, yet different.
An unlikely friendship is born with both men wanting more but afraid to listen to their well-guarded hearts. When Corey receives shocking news leaving him angry and helpless, it’s Eric he leans on, to help see him through, while a surprising career opportunity finds Eric leaning on Corey for advice. One night of explosive passion leads to a second and soon neither man can imagine a life without the other. Life is shaped by the challenges accepted and roads not taken but as Corey and Eric walk the path together, they’ll discover the most beautiful destination of all. Love.
Review: Oh my, this was so harsh. My trust in humanity was pushed to the limits, and so many of our fellow men and women came up way short. I’ve never been overly skinny nor overly obese, so I’ve been able to go through life nearly invisible. Poor Eric, he is a large man and deals with snide, and overtly rude and abusive, comments nearly every day. I cannot imagine living that way and my heart hurt for the little boy inside of Eric that just wanted to fit in.
From the cover, and from the descriptors in the story, I was never able to truly visualize Eric as someone who would be treated that way. But, beauty is subjective and to me, he sounded like a man I would be interested in. What man, or women, doesn’t want a man who doesn’t strain himself when he lifts them and whose thighs are bigger? But, enough about me, this was all for Corey. Corey is the complete opposite of Eric. Corey eats like a bird, when he chooses to eat at all. But the same as Eric, Corey has so many issues he needs to overcome before he can, one, get in a healthy relationship, and two, face his problems and learn to appreciate food, and his art, again.
This was an easy story to read as it flowed so well. Even though the topic was a bit harsh, it followed a progression that made sense and in the end, I was truly satisfied. There were times when my heart hurt, for both of them, but the main concept I took away from this story was self-love, true friendship, and unconditional love from a mate. What more could we want in life, right? As always, I highly recommend Felice Stevens, she has never let me down and has become an auto buy for me.
Overall Impression: I really liked it!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*
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