Orphan Leo Cotton has finally built a family, but the advent of bipolar depression wakes him from this dreamlife to reveal dark truths about the man he’d married. One year later, Leo is lost. Embarrassed by a dead-end job that barely pays the bills, he can’t help but notice that those around him are all enjoying success. When his closest friend, Sara, asks him to be her best man, Leo reaches the … Leo reaches the last straw: how can he possibly afford these lavish festivities on his wages? A Grindr chance encounter reveals that a shortcut to riches does exist . . . but in the end, this reckless route may cost him the loved-ones he aims to impress and welcome terrible danger . . .
Leo’s trip will take him afar, but answers lie only within.
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(I was given an ARC in exchange for a honest review)
This is Michael’s debut novel and it’s a “beauty” as we say in Australia. I’m really impressed by Michael’s writing style and the storyline is unique and totally unexpected, but in a good way.
Leo Cotton is a 29 yo gay man who lives in London and has recently separated from his almost 40 yo husband, Jake. He works at a high end retail shop in Knightsbridge as an assistant manager with his good friend Dominic. He absolutely hates his job; almost as much as he hates Jake’s new boyfriend Marc, but there’s nothing much he can do about either situation. When we meet Leo, his in a pretty dire situation. His in debt, almost £1000 in overdraft, and he’s struggling to pay his daily living expenses. Life really sucks for poor Leo and if that’s not enough, he is also struggling with a mental illness. He has recently been diagnosed with bipolar and is on daily medication to cope with his illness.
His best friend Sara Langaard has just told him that she and her boyfriend Alfie are engaged to be married and that she wants Leo to be her best man. She’s planning a lavish hen party at a luxurious villa somewhere sunny and then a big expensive wedding in Santorini. Poor Leo doesn’t know how he’s going to afford to pay for all this, especially when he only has -£39.43 left on his overdraft. And that’s all I’m going to say about the storyline because I don’t want to spoil the book for you.
In this book we follow Leo’s life and how he copes with adult life; his daily struggles with his mental illness and how he tries to keep up with appearances around his successful and rich friends. We experience his daily high and lows, the consequences of all his bad decisions and the effects they have on his close friends. Leo learns valuable life lessons along the way during his duplicitous and chaotic journey to rock bottom. The most important one is the real meaning of true friendship; and especially that of his best friend Sara.
This book is emotionally raw, realistic, heartbreaking and so, so extraordinary. I absolutely loved everything about this book and it’s incredible storyline. It tackles sensitive issues and is sooo full of substance. I absolutely recommend this book to you and I look forward to reading the Michael’s next book, as this one left us on a cliffhanger.
5 bright shining stars
Leo Cotton is broke, divorced, deeply hurt, and now separated from his big love, Squall his Siberian husky.
Life isn’t easy, he loves and hates his little pills, officially diagnosed as bipolar, he needs them.
Sara is getting married, in Greece for god sake, how will he ever get his hands on money, because he’s the only one in the circle of friends with absolutely no money.
When he finds out Grindr offers more it seems to be the solution to his financial problems.
Not his first choice but hey, he has no boundaries. Prepare yourself for some encounters of all kinds!
Business is doing well, it’s beneficial, only… with being busy to gain money he forgets what’s important and in front of him.
Okay, Leo isn’t always in the right state of mind and doesn’t always make the right decisions, there are a few moments I wanted to shake him and talk (read: shout) some sense into him. Ugh, but awesomely written!
The further in Leo’s journey the more he fucked up and silly me found it all very exciting.
“All of a sudden, you’re a liability, and your emotions are just symptoms to be discounted.”
A debut novel, very impressive! This author has a captivating way of writing. Full of sarcasm, mockery, and vulnerability. A story about best friends, the effects of mental illness, estimates errors, second chances, keeping up appearances, forgiveness, and living with the best people around. I loved the bunch of kind-hearted people we meet.
Following Leo’s life was everything, his ups, and very downs, his delicious sense of humor, just how I like it. He’s snobby at times, looking down his nose to others. His morbid thoughts are interesting to follow. He was a snob but you got to like him, because he’s also real, kind, endearing, and trying hard. It’s a widely written story, exceptionally entertaining! Facing Red and Blue made me quite emotional. Hooray for Sara, she’s the best best-friend on earth! The conflicts were amazingly voiced, real, raw, clear, and heartfelt. The hurt was palpable, the emotional parts ditto. The enlightening prospects were wonderful!
I got a bit drunk of all the glasses and bottles passing by lol.
I’m happy to offer a Montblanc pen to get an autograph <3
For me this story was an absolute winner!