I had to switch on my laptop (I have to figure out how to put them on my NOOK which I have fixed!), which I don't like but for this, I did it with pleasure! This book made my facial expressions contort into all sorts of smiles.
From the start I loved Perseus and Callaghan (Percy and Cal) - and their names! I feel for Percy but the cul-de-sac made him realize that not everyone leaves.
Bit about the story: Percy moves back to his aunt's house where he had taken refuge, after his aunt's death. He wants to sell the house because of too much memories but he does love the cul-de-sac and gossiping about his neighbours. Cal is Percy's neighbour in his aunt's house and from the start...the bants oh the bants. They bicker and use sarcasm as their modo operadi. Seriously, I love sarcasm though sometimes it gets too much in books...not this one! I always found myself thinking at the end, 'How does Anyta Sunday come up with this??'.
Cal wants to convince Percy to stay and they switch from being nemeses (but not really!) to environmentalists (friends).
This book wasn't just a romance. It had actual plot with actual supporting characters. The Glovers, Cal's family, sort of became Percy's family too. The neighbors, especially playing a game where they have to guess each other's identity while giving each other gifts, prove to be supportive even if grumpy or nosy. This neighbourhood, is a family in and of itself.
The writing! Apart from the really brilliant comebacks and sarcasm, the writing was fun, witty and just beautiful. For example:
''Hands that lifted sisters. Fingers that flicked through dictionaries''
A cool thing was all the mediums used. There was forum posts, chats, texts and in between chapters...dictionary entries about some of the words used in the book. Dictionaries were sort of a running joke.
Cal and Percy's jobs and studies were also interesting and pertinent to the story! Percy is a masseur! Really good with his hands and this was useful. Cal...studies Paleontology! I mean Jurassic Park studied and he wears a lot of geeky t-shirts.
Their interactions really kept me smiling! I had a hit at one point that there was an ace character. This was a surprising delight! Especially seeing what type of sexuality and orientation he had (hint: not many people even know about these things much less together, it's demipansexual!) and the fact that the other character knew what it meant! As someone that's ace, this made me so happy. I kept thinking, since it was slow-burn which I love, that if all that happened during the book was them bantering, then I would be happy.
There was sex towards the end. I was happy with their dynamics (flexible). All in all, realistic. Messy but happy.
Both of them knew what they wanted. It just took some time until they got there. There's also a lot of continuity in the book. Things mentioned before get mentioned again in a new light. The author certainly isn't one that just throws in facts and then forgets about them!
have I said how amazing the cul-de-sac'ers were? Well they were. So accepting, helpful despite grumpiness and all sorts of families and friends.
I have a hint who the next book will be about. Not sure if my Sherlock skills are up to scratch.
I don't re-read a lot...but this book I know I will be re-reading. If for nothing else the slow-burn and banter.
For your enjoyment, here are some memorable quotes, of which there were a lot...I took NINE A5 pages of notes from this less than 250 pages ebook!
''Two hours and he was pulling out weeds like a pro. Three hours, and he was swearing like a sailor''
''you're quite the pro at putting on pants Perseus'' '' I'm a pro at taking them off too''
''The blood drained from his cock and traveled where it was better used: his head'' [Thank you Anyta Sunday for not falling into the trope of cannot-help-it-we're-nothing-more-than-our-animal-instincts]
