Pretty Pretty Boys

RE-READ 6/2021I'm reading & rereading GA's books set in the Wahredua/St. Louis ‘verse in the author's suggested chronological order. Some of the characters timelines overlap, sometimes inadvertently or sometimes interact. It's a hoot. However I would recommend, if you're a first time reader, to enter this world precisely with this book. Hazard & Somers are the perfect intro to this world and to the author's tone and style. ABOUT THE RE-READ: I loved it. I loved seeing situations and characters again from the vantage of knowing all that has come later, not only in the this book, but in this arc and the subsequent in the series. I loved watching Emery confront the painful past and have to recalibrate what he thinks he knows, how he perceived things, because ultimately that's all any of us really knows. What things looked like to us. How we saw things. How it affected us. John-Henry trying to drown so much pain in alcohol but also a fighter, unfailingly generous, and kind. Shrewdly self-aware despite the image the world sees. I appreciated how the author sets up the rest of the players, limning their characters with small details to which he'll add over time. I still hunched my shoulders when I saw some of them and found myself being a smidge more generous of thought to others (looking at you Nico) and overall admiring of how GA brings a whole fictional town to life, full of quirks and history, to the point that I'm looking for it on a map.I'm also starting a Google Doc for the documentaries Hazard watches. No titles where mentioned here but my fellow Hazard ‘stans know they get hilariously good. In this outing there's one about glue manufacturing and one on the history of Canadian buttons. Riveting stuff.IN CONCLUSION(for now): If you're a fan of epic, hard fought, non-cookie cutter love stories take a seat, carve out some time and patience and wade or dive into this. You won't be sorry. I'm not and this likely won't be my only reread. *****************This is one of those series I've seen popping up with regularity in my feed, I've added to my TBR, and owned a few installments for a while. Why the procrastination in the reading? No clue, but I'm glad I've waited until it's finished.If you're a romance reader, with expectations of HEA or even HFN, this isn't for you. In fact marketing this as an MM romance is a disservice to all involved. Luckily it lands squarely in my wheelhouse and I loved it, probably, for many of the reasons it won't work for others. I also admit to being a generous rater when the story, writing, or characters engage me. #notsorryAfter being booted from the St. Louise Police Department, for reasons, Emery Hazard has returned to his hometown of Wahredua, a place he never imagined he'd see again. Emery doesn't hold fond memories of his childhood/adolescence there, and the unpleasant memories are roiling just below the surface of his skin. As fate would have it one of the main reasons for his teenage torment, John-Henry Somerset, town pretty boy & high-school bully, will be his new partner. The case(s) in the book is fairly well done, and though I guessed where it was going, I liked the journey. I liked that there were extremists on both sides, and not just for the sake of balance or being PC, but because these are recognizable figures from our everyday lives. Of course the real story here is Somers & Hazard's relationship, how the past is this picture that refuses to remain fixed, how it won't release it's hold on our imagination, or in the words of [a:William Shakespeare 947 William Shakespeare https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1586700347p2/947.jpg], “What's past is prologue; what to come, / In yours and my discharge.” Hazard has returned with a truckload of baggage he wants to unload but it turns out, that while he was gone, transforming himself, Wahredua and it's inhabitants changed too. No one more so than Somerset. I loved that [a:Gregory Ashe 1179529 Gregory Ashe https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] was able to, credibly redeem, or kick start the redemption journey, of a character that's routinely (rightfully so) vilified. I like that GA doesn't lose sight of the ages of his characters, the passage of time, and how it doesn't leave any of us unchanged or unscathed. Unless we're sociopaths. I think given the span of time covered in the book, roughly a week, the relationship went as far as it credibly could. A lot of ground work was laid and I fully expect to reap the rewards in future installments. For those who do audio [a:Tristan James 14756687 Tristan James https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] did a nice job and helped me out with some of the pronunciation i.e. Wahredua? Also it's on the Audible Escape package, so you don't have to commit if it doesn't work for you. I liked it.And finally, I got to meet [a:Gregory Ashe 1179529 Gregory Ashe https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] at GRL2019 and he was nothing but nice, gracious, and participated in a very informative and moving Q & A.

This book needed editing, there are some things about the writing could be better, but the character development and the plot are solid.
That said, this isn't a happy book, and you should look up the trigger warnings before you read it because multiple disturbing subjects are being discussed here.

Both Hazzard and Sommers aren't the best or more likable characters you'll see, to be honest, most of the characters here aren't likable, but they're very human and flawed.

Haven't had a five star read in a hot sec. This one definitely counts.

Hoo boy. I've been looking for slow burn and angst. Oh yeah, this is angsty af, and it's going to be slooooow. But fuck it, on to book 2.

ETA: FIVE BOOKS???? IT TAKES THEM FIVE BOOKSSSS. FIVEEEEEEEEEEE. OMG WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO. Sighs. I can do this. I can do this.