Picked as “The Best of 2020” by Love Bytes Reviews
Noah Rothenberg spent the summer with his first love, the charming and seductive Spiro. He fell head over heels in love from what started as a clumsy crush.
But that was twelve years ago. His relationships since have been spectacular failures because of how things ended with Spiro. If he has any hope of moving forward, he needs to find Spiro … he needs to find Spiro and get some closure … even if he has to fly halfway around the world to a tiny island in Greece to do it.
Love isn’t an emotion Spiro Papadopoulos entirely trusts anymore. He’s far too pragmatic for that. His focus these days has to be on his art and caring for his ailing mother. Being with Noah again is easy and feels so right … but is it love? Spiro isn’t sure. Besides, with his entire life being tied to Greece and Noah’s to New York, love might just be a luxury neither of them can afford.
Can Spiro and Noah overcome the oceans and years between them—or will their second chance at love end as badly as their first?
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This was a new-to-me author so I went into Far Away a little blind, yet very hopeful. I love to travel, so books that can transport me to a new locale are always a plus, and Far Away did just that, letting the reader explore a lakeside area in New Hampshire and a Greek Island with picturesque views of the Aegean Sea, all while witnessing a second chance at young love.
As with any time I try a new author, the writing style is an unknown, but I really enjoyed the way this story was written. There were lots of details included, including the characters’ emotions and, of course, the beautiful scenery, making it easy to envision the scenes playing out before me on the pages. Time jumps can be a tricky thing to navigate in second chance romances, but this author did a wonderful job using the timeline to transport readers back to the start of Noah and Spiro’s relationship. By establishing the young men’s connection, time together, and sudden separation before moving to their reunion in the present day, the author created an undeniable chemistry that quickly reignited twelve years later.
I really liked how Noah and Spiro complimented one another, appreciating their partner wholly and always seeing the best within the other man. The author perfectly captured the idealistic thoughts that go along with young love and how those feelings tend to stick with you. The established history made things between the two feel like it happened quick, but it wasn’t rushed, and I found myself caught up hoping the reunion would go smoothly.
Overall, I’d rate this a medium on the angst scale. Noah and Spiro’s romance had a natural, easy feel, with a few hiccups to add conflict along the way but a satisfying happily-ever-after. I’d definitely recommend Far Away to readers who like second chance romances or to anyone looking for a unique setting where they can get lost.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement.***
Grabbed me and didn’t let go.
Far Away is only the second book I’ve read by Bryan T. Clark. I loved it but in a different way from Escaping Camp Roosevelt. I’m trying to think of the best way for me to describe this book and how it made me feel.
Unlike a lot of books I read and love, Far Away didn’t bring me to tears until near the very end. And yet, I was totally captivated and couldn’t put it down until my e-reader about fell out of my hands when I needed to sleep.
It’s a romance for sure, but it’s also so much more. The book starts in present day and then goes back twelve years to when Noah and Spiro first meet. It stays there for about half of the book before it returns to the present again. There’s no awkward jumping around during the two time periods and it flows very smoothly.
Noah knows that he is gay but at 18-years-old he has no significant sexual experience. He is starved for affection; his parents are cold and distant. When he meets Spiro, he is smitten. Spiro is attentive and fun to be with and they spend a wonderful summer together until it ends abruptly. This time period in the book is filled with the rush of new love and exploration. It took me back to when my husband and I started dating as young teenagers.
When we return to present day there is a lot of doubt and angst on Noah’s part. He’s determined to find Spiro but it’s not easy. When they do reconnect, Noah is very unsure of Spiro’s feelings. I have to admit that for a while I wondered if things would ever work out. But this is a romance and you can’t have a romance without an HEA or at least an HFN, so I knew that Bryan would get Noah and Spiro there.
The author’s descriptive prose made me feel like I was right there with Noah and Spiro – when they were in New Hampshire and again when they were in Greece. I’ve been to New Hampshire but now I really want to visit the island where Spiro lives.
I knew before beginning to read Far Away that it was a long book (for me anyway) but I never once felt like it dragged or should have left parts of the story out. I know this is going to sound really weird but I absolutely mean it as a compliment… because of the depth to the story, Far Away reminded me of some of the best women’s fiction books I’ve read. There were hot and sexy scenes in the book but you could remove or tone them down and you would still have a wonderful book to read. Gah, now I made it sound like there was too much sex or that it was too gratuitous and that is not the case at all. Just read this book, it’s a good one.
A copy of this book was provided to me but I also purchased a copy. My review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Noah meets Spiro after he comes to stay with his Grandmother for the summer before he goes off to college. At first he is just in awe of the good looks, great body, and superior smile. Then as they become friends it has the potential to turn into more.
Spiro has to watch himself. He is reminded at every turn by his uncle that he is there at the courtesy of this family who owns it all. Can he help it if they have such an amazing person such as Noah in their family? He is struggling to hide his interest in such an amazing young man.
This story takes you through the beginning of first love, and off to the reunion as well. While not normally my style, I found my self intrigued by the story itself. These two lives being brought back together as one was almost magical. It is refreshing, honest, and felt very sincere. I think it is the way we look through most of the story through Noah’s innocent eyes.
***This copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.
Far Away by Bryan T. Clark is a read that is extremely emotional and beautiful to read. This is the first time I have read this author; I adored this book. I love pure romance and this one is that. It is a great second chance at love romance.
Noah is a neurotic but likable character. I think with all his issues he is a tad hard on himself. I like it though he is brave and will go for what he wants.
Spiro is a more mysterious and darker character. I think the need for his trust restored in love and Noah is the man to do that for him.
I loved the theme of this story that true love just needs faith and time to really blossom.
I was not a fan of the time jumps. I am never really a fan of those. They make for clunky reading to me. The prologue had me at hello then the time jump just made me go ohh.. okay. Just was jarring.
Overall great read very glad I got to read a new to me author. I will definitely be looking for more from this author in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
I loved Noah and Spiro, both younger and older versions of them, and every single moment of their journey to find true love again, when it seemed they had all the odds against them. Their story spans through years and distance, bringing new meaning to romance. The author allowed Noah and Spiro to grow up as people, struggle, make mistakes and try to remedy them, fall and try to get on their feet again.
Reading this book put me through the whole gamut of emotions, it made me cry, laugh, rant and hope because it’s at the same time sweet and bittersweet, sad and joyful, gut-wrenching and funny.
Absolutely a must read.
Author Bryan T. Clark brings a love story from it’s another wonderful book of a love that begins as a summer fling that is never forgotten. Noah is left to grow up alone in his family due to a tragic accident. Also knowing his father would never accept him as gay, left him at odds with his parents. The by chance meeting of Spiro, the devastatingly good looking boy from Greece who was working on his families summer retreat in New Hampshire. Their romance blossoms until they are discovered and they are pulled apart without ever having the opportunity to say goodbye.
Twelve years later, Noah, pushed by his roommate, makes a spontaneous decision to fly halfway around the world to find his one true love and reunite or finally put to rest his obsession with his lost love. Spiro is difficult to find but when they do the spark is still there and they begin a new love affair.
Unfortunately, they are adults now with adult problems that seem insurmountable. After misunderstanding and missed chances, the author gives us a wonderful HEA that is very satisfying. There’s also some amazing details about Athens and other parts of Greece that make this story come alive for the reader.
I adore this author’s work, but this story is a true romance between two men who, according to the world, should have never been together. Far Away should be on your summer reading list.
ONE WILL USE ALL MEANS TO FIND HIS TRUE LOVE
I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review
Noah is a gay Jewish boy who realizes that he is gay and meets, Spiro who becomes the love of his life. With unfeeling and homophobic parents and an illness no one believes he has, he goes through twelve years of trying to find love, only to realize he already had in Spiro.
In the summer of his eighteenth birthday, Noah Rothenberg meets Spyridon “Spiro” Papadopoulos. This starts an awakening for Noah’s feelings in so many ways. Noah is Jewish and comes from a wealthy family. He’s made his way to Lake Winnipesaukee to spend time with his Grandmother and parents. But Noah’s family is certainly dysfunctional ever since the death of his twin, Nathanael. For Noah the visit turns wonderful with meeting Spiro but it eventually turns into disaster.
Spiro has had his share of trouble. He’s comes from Greece to work with his Uncle Eros on the Rothenberg lake house property. He finds a new friend in Noah and as their feelings grow become more involved. Noah already feels that he and Spiro have made a connection and discovers Spiro has an amazing talent at being an artist.
Even though their time together is wonderful, they learn that there’s some that are not so accepting of what they have.
Bryan T. Clark spins an emotionally filled love story about two very opposite people, Noah and Spiro. For me it was somewhat of a “coming out” and “coming of age” tale about two young men from different ethnicities and cultures. The story is especially heartbreaking for Noah. He has to face the hurt and anguish trying to understand why his parents don’t love him and the constant pain of missing his brother. He learns to face the intolerance, bias and prejudice of those around him. He always saw, not only the beauty of Spiro but the beauty of Spiro’s artistry. As years pass, one thing Noah is certain of and that’s finding Spiro.
Spiro struggles with the idea of love, except when it comes to family. At times he seems carefree but he carries guilt and the responsibility to care for and love his family. One thing for sure, distance can very possibly make the heart grow fonder.
With this beautifully written story, Bryan T. Clark also takes us on a wonderful and descriptive journey, from Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, New York and to the beautiful and historical country of Greece.