Review: ”I didn’t have to be anyone I wasn’t."
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2014
I’m going to do my best to articulate my feelings about this story, when all I really want to do is skip around in a meadow still drenched in sunshine just before dusk, tossing copies of this book around like the sweet, surprising and strong daisies they are.Oh, Jesse, you made me snort for the first time on something like page three. The humor in this story is grounded in the characters. Ms Rock knows these characters. This equates to fantastic dialogue that is specific to Jesse and his completely unintentional (at least his mind) interest in Simeck, aka Sim. Each of these two has their own insecurities and challenges that make it a difficult prospect of possibly finding someone with whom you feel safe enough to share your deepest secrets. Among these is the exploration of a lighter side of D/s, defined by them, what they like and want, not what anyone else decides it should be.Amidst the humor and easy, quick pace of this read is rather deep emotion. As this story went on, there were a couple of times I had a lump in my throat. Jesse is a character with a rather unique voice and perspective. I don’t think I’ve encountered him before. Sim is saddled with some family strife but he’s a strong one and most of his choices are usually in the right… usually.This is a well-painted world: I can picture the inside of the theater, the lighting booth, backstage (backstage!) and various other spots on campus.I can picture these two men. They are each described by the other so vividly. Most of the time as they’re doing things with or to each other.Friendships as exhibited through good supporting characters add depth and give us more perspectives from which to witness Jesse and Sim stumbling, succeeding, worrying and demanding their way through all of this. Jesse’s friend Audra, “enemy” dancer Shelly and Jesse’s mom are fantastic female characters.Equation: humor + emotion + physical description + sexy times = something I want to read. I got all of that here.Is this setting a bit idyllic? Yep, but there is a fellow student who is a jerk, which is putting it mildly, who causes some damage to more than one person. However, he’s also sort left dangling, no real consequences for his actions and words are resolved before the end of the book.A few points are repeated but not in a way that made me wrinkle my nose and think, “didn’t we just hear that?”One word: Craybill.I could say another word, but I don’t want to ruin it! It was a first for me. ;)I loved this book. I love Jesse and Sim. I love the way this book made me feel. I will be reading this one again. It will now be a go-to, a comfort read, one of my favorite reads for this year. I really don’t think you’d be disappointed at all if you decided to give this one a whirl.When you’re looking for a read to lift your spirits, to simply make you happy, this may be the ticket. I know it was for me and what a gift that was.