Reviewed by Ami
Title: The Truth Beyond the Bitterness
Author: Emory Schneider
Series: World of Love
Heroes: Kuba & Emil
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 78 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 22, 2018
Available at: Dreamspinner Press & Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Can love erase a lifetime of fear and bitterness?
Kuba flees the oppressive influence of his strict Catholic family as soon as he graduates high school. In the big city of Pilsen, Czech Republic, he can get a fresh start. Although he is fairly content sharing a flat with his coworker and filling it with books, he knows he’s destined to be alone unless he can come out of the closet. But he just isn’t ready to bare his soul to the world.
When he meets his roommate’s friend Emil, he begins to reconsider. Is a chance at romance with the gorgeous man—and fellow bibliophile—incentive enough for Kuba to face his demons?
Review:
Kuba has been living at big city of Pilsen, Czech Republic, working as repairman at a manufacture company to escape his strict Catholic family. Kuba knows that his father will not accept his sexuality, and he cannot deal with it just yet.
But then Kuba meets Emil, a student from University of West Bohemia, and he is contemplating to finally embrace a relationship while dealing that maybe his family will not accept this fact.
The Truth about the Bitterness is written solely from Kuba’s perspective – so I may not feel like I understand enough about Emil, the love interest. However, it is still a nice “dealing with your sexuality” new adult story, in my opinion. I liked learning about Kuba’s internal struggle – Kuba was also working on his social anxiety and it was nice to see how Kuba leaned to his friend to help.
The way the time frame moves between chapters makes the story rather ‘jumpy’ though. It doesn’t bother me much, because in return, I still get tidbist of information about Czech Republic’s culture and event. Like how people in Czech Republic apparently love diminutives, and there’s a big Pilsen Firework event, which made me went straight to the Pilsen official website to read something about it.
Overall Impression: I liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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