Movie star 102: The headlines are never what they seem. Quellcrist wasn’t new to fame or the effect it had on a relationship. He’d been married in the spotlight for as long as he’d been famous. But that was before Hale. He knew it was going to test him but even he hadn’t known the toll that months apart would take on his fledgling relationship. Long days of shooting, different time zones, calls … time zones, calls every day dwindled to days without calls, and rumors were all over the rags. Through it all Quell had to battle his own worst enemy but he didn’t know how to win against something inside him. Depression ate him whole and pain took over.
There was so much more at stake than losing his boyfriend, he was losing his best friend. His lifeline, the love of his life. Was there any way to come back from the damage done?
Can they rewrite their ending?
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Rewritten is book two in the Unscripted duet by J.R. Gray. This is a continuation of Quell and Hale’s love story. You really do need to read book one, Unscripted, before this.
Quellcrist King and Hale Evans have finished filming on the first two seasons of their television series. They are on a break and living in the home in Malibu they bought together and are madly in love. But hanging over their heads is that they would soon be heading to separate locations for each of their movies. Quell has two movies scheduled back to back. And Hale has landed the movie series of a lifetime, playing one of the lead characters in a super hero movie. This movie series was going to make his career. They had a plan for seeing each other. They had everything mapped out. They would be able to handle this.
“We were stuck in a cycle of doing what we thought was better for one another, assuming but not asking.”
What they didn’t factor into their plan was production delays, family crisis, time zone differences, and the toll the separation would have on Quell’s depression.
“My soul fits with yours.”
Quell’s entire life he had done his best to keep his mental illness hidden. Even though Hale knew about it, Quell still managed to keep the severity of how things could be from him. But, with things between them being so new, the separation, the tabloids, the stresses of filming, all of it, pushed Quell deeper. And the deeper he got, the more he pulled away, until he had pulled so far away that he could no longer reach out at all.
These two both made so many mistakes. They didn’t talk. There was so much miscommunication. They both spent all of their time trying to do what they thought best for the other, without really knowing how the other felt. They really did break my heart. Their love for one another was so huge, so deep. But the chasm became so wide that they just couldn’t find their way across it. But then it was time to begin filming together again for season three of their show. How would they ever be able to work together now?
This really is such a stark portrayal of what some who suffer with this debilitating disease must go through each and every day. Quell’s suffering was real. They really were perfect for each other. But could Hale really ever forgive Quell for how badly he hurt him? Is there any way they can find the way back to the love they shared? You’ll have to read the duet to find out.
“He was my once in a lifetime.”
I’m not sure what to say…
I loved Unscripted so much, and I ended up loving Rewritten, too… but… I have to tell you that this was a difficult book for me to read. It’s one of the most angsty stories I’ve read in a while and an awful lot of it was almost too real for me.
Before I go any further, I must remind you that you HAVE to read book one before this. Rewritten is not a standalone story.
Unscripted dealt quite a bit with Quell’s problem with depression, but Rewritten really hyper focused on it and what it does to his relationship with Hale. It’s not pretty; it’s gritty and it’s real. Some of what I’m going to say below is a repeat of what I said for Unscripted because I don’t really know how to say it differently.
I am very familiar with depression and how it affects family members. I feel like the book portrayed Quell’s difficulties so well that it literally hurt me at times to read it. It’s heartbreaking to watch someone you love suffer from something they really have no control over. Depression is almost always misunderstood. A lot of people think you just have to psych yourself out of it but that is not the case. I could feel Quell’s suffering and his anguish.
I think J.R. Gray did a good thing in writing Rewritten as gritty and real as he did. Depression should not be hidden and it should not be something to be embarrassed about but I know it is for many people. Clinical depression isn’t something you just get over and people need to understand that.
Because this is a romance, I knew that things would eventually work out for Quell and Hale but boy did they have to work for it. There wasn’t a lot of sex in this story until very near the end and then it was hot, angry sex – scorching hot!
Like I said in my review of book one, at times I had trouble keeping track of who was speaking/thinking. The story is told in first-person, alternating between Quell and Hale. I can’t put my finger on exactly why I had this trouble. In any case, my overall love of the story made this be a minor inconvenience for me.
I would really love to read another story about Quell and Hale and see how they are doing a year or two from now. Maybe something a bit less angsty.
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
4.25 Stars!
Rewritten is book 2 in the Unscripted series and it needs to be read in order since it starts right where the first book ends.
Quell and Hale have been living in bliss after wrapping the second season for Pirate Night, unfortunately, work engagements and having to live apart for months are looming on the horizon. Can they make their relationship work even if they’re so far away from each other?
Long-distance relationships are hard enough without taking Quell’s depression into account. Add to that that Hale is still feeling unsure about the depth of Quell’s feelings for him and you have a recipe for disaster. Even so, they’re both obviously as in love with each other as they were at the end of Unscripted, and their chemistry is definitely there, which was more than proven when they meet again in the Pirate Night set.
I loved Mel and Ella, they proved to be great friends for Quell and Hale and I loved that it was Mel’s machinations that got them back on track.
I’m not going to lie, this was angsty and I kept putting the book down because my anxiety levels were at an all-time high while reading it. I felt so bad for both of them and at the same time, I wanted to shake some sense into them. I won’t spoil this any more than I did, other than saying that thankfully it all works out for the best in the end with both men working hard to make their relationship work, but just know this was not an easy read. I have no trouble recommending it, though, just make sure to read Unscripted first.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement.
An advance copy of this was provided to me by Give me Books PR on behalf of the author.
I fell in love with both these characters in book 1. It can’t be read as a standalone however but I totally recommend Unscripted.
This book hit me in all my feels and it’s full of life and relationship angst. This was so well written and as much as I might have wanted to shake the characters at times, I understood.
I really enjoyed this. I know you will too.
3.75 stars
“rewritten” by J.R. Gray is the second story in the ‘Unscripted’ series. Hale is no longer a struggling actor and Quell is trying to be less needy, but both men haven’t quite learned how to communicate their true needs. Fortune and fame are understandable goals, but will the price be too high?
This adult contemporary gay romance picks up where the previous book ended. I am really glad I read the first book, because I formed a connection to both guys in that story and was cheering when their journey resulted in them becoming a couple. I understand that a conflict was needed for this book, and I thought there were good elements that showed the downward spiral that mental illness can cause, but I was frustrated by the ongoing angst and unnecessary anguish that permeated this story. I think that I expected more out of both the main characters and their friends, and the whining and dejection became repetitive to me, especially since I would have thought they could find a way to sit down and actually talk to each other!
I strongly suggest that the first book be read before tackling this story, otherwise the switching between make-believe and reality might get a little overwhelming. Despite the somber tone to much of the story, I think the love that these men have for each other does shine through and I was happy that they find a way to ensure this tale remains a romance. There are lovely intense images such as “I hadn’t even realized how destroyed I was without him until he was in my arms again” and I think it’s a good sign that I cared enough about these guys to grumble about how long it took them to actually communicate and to ache at the pain they were experiencing. The chapters alternate in point of view, so make sure you pay attention to the headers (something I don’t necessarily do!), and have a tissue at hand.
A copy of this title was provided for review
A sequel to Unscripted with a pretty unfiltered look at Quell’s depression and its impact on his life and his relationship with Hale. The story was well written and I loved the frank discussion of depression and its impact on relationships and friendships as well as Quell’s personal life. It did get rough every now and then while you’re reading but at the same time, I’d definitely say it ended with a happily ever after where you know that Hale and Quell are going to keep fighting for each other and their own health and loving each other for a long time.
As a side note, I know that Quell’s form of depression and how he and his friends handle it may not reflect everyone’s experiences but I appreciate the extension of Quell and Hale’s romance showing the multiple forms of how of depression expresses itself and how love alone won’t solve things.
Grab your tissues before you crack this open because whoa. I cried like a baby for about half the book. In book one, which totally needs to be read before this, we fall for Quell and Hale. We rooted for them. Well, now they’re a couple and have to figure out HOW to be together.
Seriously, the angst level, the heart break in these pages, made me at some point want to shake sense into these boys. One more so than the other. I was so worried they wouldn’t find a way through. This wasn’t light, it wasn’t easy, it was emotional and showed the ups and downs of loving someone with depression. Very well done.
Wow, I cried so much, this was a really emotional read, loved it.
After reading book 1 I couldn’t wait to start Rewritten, it was so much more than I was expecting. Quell and Hale’s love story continues, but not down a smooth path. Work puts physical distance between them, and Quell’s challenges pushes that distance further. Leaving them both heartbroken.
Finally back on set together, both heartbroken, but all the sexual chemistry remains. There is a happy ending.
I need to read more JR Gray.
I absolutely loved this series! JR Gray has an amazing way with words. I literally felt like I was there with Quell & Hale as the book was happening. And bravo for the in-depth view into the world of depression & anxiety. There are so many layers to it and this book described it perfectly. I’m so happy to have stumbled upon this series! I know there will be more JR Gray stories in my future!
While Unscripted left off on a good note, shortly after Rewritten started, things started going downhill. With his depression and anxiety along with lack of self esteem, even being with Hale, Quell was not allowing himself to happy… always worrying about what was to come.. He was already leading himself down the path of self-destruction. They were both so worried about each other, but never really talked as they should have. With the news of Hale getting Titanium and now the certainty of soo much time apart, Quell was sinking fast. His downward spiral started plunging fast. Even though his subconscious knew better, Quell started believing Hale didn’t love him and he was cheating, so he shut down and withdrew from all but his acting. In turn, Hale thought he was a rebound and that Quell had dismissed him… It was heart-wrenching to read. Unless you have suffered from extreme depression, you can never understand how this truly effects you. J.R. has once again written to our souls and for that, I am grateful. After coming back to shoot Pirate Nights, and a very anguishing time, Quell and Hale found their way back to each other… knowing they could have rough patches ahead, with their new found love, vowing to make it through even the darkest times, their never ending love for each other would keep them together.
I liked the first book better. This one seemed to be a bit of a downer for the first half. It then became more of what I was looking for. But maybe the story needed that contrast.
I absolutely loved UNSCRIPTED where I first met famous actor Quellcrist King and his costar, Hale, and I am so glad that I finished that first book just a few days before REWRITTEN released, because I wasn’t ready to turn these two wonderful characters loose. Where the first book dealt mostly with Quell discovering he’s not nearly as straight as he thought he was—filming intimate scenes where this straight actor is playing a gay character should have hinted at what he’d be called on to do—but the budding romance between the openly gay Hale and the “not so sure what he is” Quell was hot and bittersweet at the same time. Clinical depression is never a welcome condition, but Hale’s tender understanding of Quell’s mental illness worked beautifully.
However, in REWRITTEN, the two men are facing a long separation as they each have contracted jobs in major films that will keep them on opposite sides of the world for many months. Separation from Hale is Quell’s enemy, and as their schedules keep them apart even longer than they originally planned, Quell sinks deeper into depression, and Hale begins to wonder if Quell no longer loves him. The issues between the two are realistic and powerful, and I felt personally involved as work drove them farther apart even as both of them recognized the love they felt for each other was too important to lose.
JR Gray is one hell of a storyteller—I got just as caught up in this second book in the series as I did with the first, and I definitely recommend REWRITTEN. Two really good men struggling to make love work when so much is against them is a story that has really stayed with me. The writing is emotional and the characters fresh and powerful. Definitely a story that stays with the reader.
Stunning but heartbreaking- patient and painful- emotions will be felt so deeply!
Part two of our boys story was not easy but I feel it was definitely realistic. It was honest and filled with hurt but not just for the story’s sake.
Depression is not something that is easy to explain or to always live with but the person who is in your life living with it is worth the fight. This story shows you this.
Honestly the love is never is question from the readers standpoint but it is a raw love that shows you sometimes love isn’t the fix for everything.
I love this story for all its components. Bravo!
I was so scared for these guys after reading the blurb and oh boy, did they put my heart through the wringer again. I liked how the topic of mental illness and Quell’s depression was portrayed; it wasn’t put in the background but rather, it plays a central part in the struggles that both Quell and Hale face in this book. It was hard to read about at times and made even more so by the fact that Quell and Hale were in such a strong place at the end of book 1, Unscripted. I will admit that I wished I didn’t have to see them struggle at all, but although it does hurt your heart, it is definitely worth it. It goes to show that relationships are not always hearts and roses, and sometimes you need to really want to work for them. But don’t worry, there is also all the sweetness and humour that was present in the first book. Quell and Hale had me laughing, crying and swooning all the way to their very well-deserved HEA!
First off, since this picks up where we last read of Quell and Hale, I would recommend reading book one first. Starting with book two would be confusing because so much happened prior to it. It would be impossible to catch up. Seeing how good book one was, that shouldn’t be a hardship.
We find our favorite duo, happy, living life on the beach. Hale’s career is taking off, and Quell is busy in his own rite. After all the struggles these two had, I naturally wanted this book to let things easier for them, but they weren’t. Dealing with depression doesn’t work that way, and sometimes neither does life.
Absence doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder. Sometimes the mind is louder, and fear, miscommunication, and doubt can do some serious damage. It was really tough watching these two men struggle. The decline in their relationship was heartbreaking.
The way this was written makes it hard not to feel their pain. The author did a wonderful job with how he wrote Quell’s battles with mental state. Depression is not pretty, and has no magic cure. It’s a life-long struggle, and I appreciated him treating it the way he did.
This book runs the gamut of emotions, but underneath it all is love. I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to read it to find out if love wins in the end. Sometimes love isn’t enough, but it could be…if they want in enough.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Where do I begin? I absolutely feel in love with Quell and Hale in Unscripted, book #1 in the Unscripted duet. The way they love each other is deep, complex and multifacted. “Loving you has always been easy and a privilege. I’m lucky every day I get to spend with you. You feel the way you do, and we make it work. That’s part of loving someone, too. Putting in the work and figuring things out when they aren’t easy.” – Hale, Unscripted.
Rewritten picks up where Unscripted left off. Hale and Quell are together, enjoying much needed alone time. They are navigating the waters of their relationship as any couple would. Except Hale Evans and Quellcrist King are far from the average couple. Their life is under a microscope. Every detail dissected and analyzed and reported on TMZ. Quell is the king of Hollywood. His successful acting career catapulted him into the stratosphere of Hollywood royalty and Hale Evans being the hot, up-and-comer who Quell has been rumored to be involved with. Their newly minted relationship is being put to the test in Rewritten. With conflicting and demanding work schedules, Hale and Quell are trying to juggle career demands and find balance in their relationship while trying to navigate their emotional needs as a couple and as individuals. Quell wants nothing more than to have Hale, his emotional anchor, with him all the time, but that would mean Hale would have to turn down jobs and put his burgeoning career on hold to be on the road with him. Both know that they want to be together, but what does that look like while being pulled in so many different directions?
“I think too many times in relationships people assume their partner should know how to take care of them and then are resentful when it falls short.” Quell, Rewritten
If they are apart, will their relationship survive the long stretches that they are apart. As in Unscripted, Rewritten continues to handle weight issues such as depression and sexuality with care. It is a real, raw book about love, life, relationships, doubts, fears and fighting for your happily ever after. Engaging secondary characters are wonderfully fleshed out too. 5 stars!