They were supposed to be together forever. That was the plan, but through a cruel twist of fate the night before their three-year anniversary, Tex Davis lost the one man he would ever love, Memphis King. A year has passed and he still hasn’t been able to move on. Everyone tells him it’s time, but what do they know? Memphis was his partner in love and life. Losing him, broke Tex.Tex has been given … been given an opportunity to move from New York to Seattle. His friends and family are encouraging him to take it, but he has already decided to decline the offer because that would mean leaving Memphis behind.
Then something happened.
Whether it be fate or something else, Memphis came back to him. Tex’s first love is supposed to help him move on, but not even Memphis can bring himself to force Tex to let him go.
Is it so wrong to want to spend forever with the person you loved most? Both hearts are begging to be unbroken.
Tagline:
Two broken hearts, one wandering soul.
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Audiobook review:
Performance – 4
Story – 4.5
Overall – 4
This was a hard one to rate.
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. The story sucked me in and kept me captivated to the point that I listened to it straight through. For that reason, it’s getting 4.5 starts from me. I’m rounding down instead of up though. I totally wasn’t expecting what happened and I’m not really sure how I feel about it. I was so invested in this story and then to find out [redacted because of spoiler] was kind of a WTF moment. To the author’s credit, there was a fair amount to come after the WTF and I loved how it all resolved. If Maria Vickers was looking for WTF reactions from readers/listeners she definitely got it from me. This was the first book I’ve read by her and I thought the writing was really good. I’d be willing to read another book by her.
This was also the first audiobook I’ve listened to by Andrew Joseph Perez. He did a good job with the different voices he used and I was able to tell who was speaking without any problem. This appears to be his only MM audiobook and I only find 3 other books on Audible UK unless he also performs under a different name. I would be happy to listen to more books if he does additional MM titles.
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
*Audiobook Review*
3.5 stars-
I’m not even sure where to start with this one. I do love hurt-comfort romances and was intrigued by the blurb as well as the opportunity to try a new author and narrator. Overall, I enjoyed the story in Unbreak Me. If you’re looking for a cathartic cry, this one could definitely be the read to provide just that.
The story makes a sudden impact early on, then details a loved one trying to cope with the loss of their soul mate while braving the mundane aspects of day-to-day life and the barrage of family and friends encouraging him to heal and move forward. The pain Tex experiences without Memphis is understandable and in many ways palpable. I liked that Unbreak Me was raw and went a different way than many of the romances that deal with a partner’s death tend to. I also liked the couple together, at least in the pieces where we got to experience their relationship when it was healthy and vibrant. And yet…it took me a while to sink in and finish this one.
While the story itself is emotional and definitely makes you appreciate the days you have with your loved ones, I didn’t feel as in touch with the book or characters as I expected given the subject. For one, the writing and point-of-view style was a little different for me. I don’t have a specific preference for first person versus third person, but the omniscient third person point-of-view switching midway through a scene often left me with a “who/what was that” feeling or even rewinding to make sense of a poignant part. The story also felt a bit disjointed at times. Though it made sense to a degree given Tex’s grief and random memories of happier times, the interjections of silly or cheesy parts into emotional scenes would jar me out of the experience. All in all, none of this was bad or made me reluctant to continue in the least, I just think it prevented me from being fully immersed in the emotion of the story. Narrator wise, I was happy with the tone, style, and performance, and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up more of his works in the future.
Then there’s the ending. It totally threw me. While I hadn’t quite fully connected to the story, Unbreak Me had me in tears a few times, particularly toward the end, meaning the resolution held a big surprise I hadn’t anticipated. At first, I was a little confused and on the fence about the direction it took, but as I reflected and the epilogue ended, I realized it made the entire story that much more powerful. Unbreak Me is certainly unique among hurt-comfort romances or those detailing a character’s grief in a number of ways and I would recommend it to those readers who seek out such tropes.
*ACX promo code received by Gay Book Promotions*
Very interesting story! it kept my attention from the beginning until the end. There were moments that were absolutely heartbreaking and I had no idea how it was going to end. I kept guessing and the way it actually ended really surprised me. Memphis and Tex were wonderful characters and I cared for both of them. I also really enjoyed the writing style. I listened the audiobook and the narrator was brilliant. Great book, I had a fantastic time listening it.
I’m reviewing the audio edition. I spent most of this book either in tears or almost in tears. Just before their three year anniversary an accident causes loss of one of these guys. The remaining can’t move on from this loss. He actually ends up seeing and talking to his ghost. The pain he goes through is awful yet so real. This story held my attention and the flow is consistent. The narration by Andrew Joseph Perez is so well done I could hear the pain, joy and so many other emotions in this story. I want to thank Gay Book Promotions for the opportunity to hear this story.GR
Unbreak me too, please!
I wasn’t ready for the gut puch I got from this book in the early chapters. I listened to it on audio and I had to get back and re-listen again because I was sure I heard things wrong, but sadly, no. This book starts on a really heartbreaking scene, and it gets just more sad chapter after chapter.
I didn’t know what to expect from the storyline and didn’t know how it will end?
And when I thought the starting scene was sad, that’s nothing on the ending… Okay, not the end, end, but toward the ending. It was a rollercoaster I didn’t know I bought ticket for. Wow!
Memphis and Tex’s story was so good and so heartbreaking. The end scene was sweet, but holyhell, the road to that end! Loved listening to this audio! And I had to re-listen to some scenes because I wasn’t sure I heard them right… LOL
This book is a testament to the power and endurance of love, a heartbreaking story of loss and finally of hope. Anyone who’s been there knows that everyone grieves differently and there is no time limit on when things happen. Here, Tex’s friends and family mean well but they can’t see why one year isn’t enough for him to move on in some way. They push him to relocate, but before he can something magical happens. You’ll wonder all kinds of things as you read this – is Tex losing his grip on reality, are there really ghosts, can two people love each other so much “reality” can be suspended? You’ll need to read this to find out. I’m not sure I would recommend this for someone whose loss is still raw or recent but then again who is to say where comfort might be found. Each reader will need to make up their own mind. Do, however, read it at some point. Also, it always bugs me to check “tear jerker” here as that is often associated with a story that uses cheap tricks to manipulate your emotions. That is definitely NOT the case here. Everything rings true and is handled with great understanding.
4.5 Stars
This book is by a anew to me author and I will definitely be reading more from her. Oh my goodness I cried and I’m not talking the delicate kind, I ugly cried. This book is a roller coaster of deep emotions- hope, love, humor and grief. The all consuming love that Tex and Memphis share is breathtaking not even death can keep this couple apart. It’s a journey of how the one left behind can “move” on with soul crushing guilt and grief. I highly recommend getting your tissues ready for this book, you won’t have dry eyes. I can’t wait to see what this author does to top this book!
Holy bejesus this book has all the feels but makes you think at the same time. There isn’t a whole lot that I can say without spoilers. But I can say this one ripped my heart apart and put it back together. Do Not Miss!
I’m sitting here tears running down my face and writing this review. This book will haunt me…never have I read a book that I was such a sobbing mess with every chapter I read. This story was overwhelming and the love that Tex and Memphis shared was allconsuming. This story broke my heart right at the beginning and it slowly mend it back together. I don’t want to give away the plot but if you don’t read this story I can guarantee you’ll regret it. READ IT – trust me!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads***
4 Cranky Stars
The book will break your heart right out the gate. You go on this journey of loss with Barney (AKA Tex) and Memphis. You want to yell at Tex that he needs to live for them both but also know grief has its own time schedule. Tex is going through the motions and barely surviving. His family and even Memphis family is trying to help him along, but he is stubborn and not having it. When he starts getting visits by someone, he starts to question it all. How long can one grieve and what does it take to move on?
It’s hard to write this review. It’s a story of true love and loss. It’s about how your brain copes with such trauma. It was hard for me to get in a rhythm of reading it cause it’s in third person but once I got a lock on it I read this story in one day. It’s heartbreaking with aww shucks moments. Just give it a try and go into it with an open mind. Some parts had my mouth hanging open and me muttering oh no I refuse to believe this. Does that spark your interest? I hope it does!
This review where do I begin…… I really loved it. It was a weird for me because it is about a couple and one of them dies and the other can’t move on. Tex is lost in his life after losing the love of his life Memphis in a car accident. Tex has stopped living and his friends and family want him to move on. It has been a year and he has a chance for a job change and he doesn’t take it because he can’t leave Memphis. He needs him to breath and eat and sleep and to just simply live.
Then some funny things start to happen and Tex starts to see and hear Memphis and he knows he can’t leave. He is so much happier now and he has gotten his life back and he knows it’s all because Memphis came back to him as a ghost.
But His friends and family are worried about him and want him to move on but he refuses especially since he has Memphis back. Oh and the ending I will just say HOLY HADES that ending is incredible!
Unbreak Me was written with such vivid and raw emotions it left me with an ache in my chest for the loss that Tex was going through. He felt like he was living in a nightmare every day as he tried to figure out how to live after losing the love of his life. He had to deal with the guilt he felt but the hardest emotion seemed to be the emptiness in his life and in his soul.
This is a beautifully story about a couple with such a strong soulful love and deep connection that you couldn’t see how they could live without the other. Grab the tissues before you read page one and keep the box close at hand. You will need them.
hauntingly beautiful; you will be thinking of Tex and Memphis days after reading their story.
To say I was intrigued by the blurb would be an understatement. And that cover – WHEW! My heart completely broke while reading this book – I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish it, but I am so glad I did. I hate spoilers, so I will leave it with: READ THIS BOOK!!!!
This book will break your heart from the beginning. Tex and Memphis were together for 3 years. One night after a fight Memphis runs out and is hit by a car. He dies and Tex can’t move on after a year of grieving. How do you move on from the soulmate of your life? A good read but have tissues handy.