Review: Sad but incredibly beautiful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 10, 2014
This novel is one of the best that I have read this year.  It brought back memories of my own when I was a summer exchange student at the same university in Freiburg im Breisgau.  So on that level, I am thankful to the writer for letting me revisit my youth.The story itself is one of unrequited love between Ethan and Daniel, a fellow student at the same university.  The struggle of Ethan to deal with whether to accept that friendship is all that it can be with a straight guy.  Been there, done that.  Many would be thorn apart.  The emotional roller coaster here is no exception.  So well written.What makes this story great is the flow.  So natural.  The connection between Ethan and Daniel through Marc which explains the title of the book.  As much as one would like, one can never substitute a relationship for another whatever that relationship.I thought that it was genius to introduce the parallel tragic story of Thomas and Magdalena and the White Rose student rebellion at the same university during the 1940s.  Just as the story came to a sad end so through adversity must the story of Ethan and Daniel come to their own sad end.  Some things are never meant to be but knowing that, it is still worth experiencing.This story is definitely a five star in my book.  Vielen Dank Chase Potter.  I cannot wait to read more.