<b>3rd try/DNF 4 Mar 2020 (no rating)</b>

Sadly, I’m gonna have to call this & chalk up to ‘me, not book’ after 3rd attempt failed to sustain my interest.

Got ARC of WE STILL LIVE by NTM author, Sara Dobie Bauer, just b4 publication date b/c had good experience w/ another NineStar Press read. But poor planning on my part b/c plot thread re: shooting aftermath d/n mesh well w/ holiday season. So attempt #1 = tabled read until New Year.

Given ARC copy, will only note that in general, writing was very good.

My problem was w/ execution of storyline—too jerky? abrupt? New Adult-ish? IDK but near warp-speed involvement, accompanied by rather clichéd sentiments, d/n work for me. Neither did repeated instances of ‘c/n get involved b/c against rules’, followed almost immediately by MCs engaging in sexual activity. Mental whiplash, coupled w/ lack of depth to relationship, alienated me from both MCs & romance aspect of storyline.

Nws disappointing experience, would definitely try another work by Ms. Bauer.

~8 Mar 2020~

NB: Link #1 to GR review. No review posted on Amazon.

3 for neutral, thought I had already posted this, but was not a book for me! I couldn’t get into it and I tried a few times and just ended up not finishing. Will update if able to enjoy at a later date!

Didn't expect something this dramatic. I feel in love with both characters, broken guys who deal with their own demons in a human way. There is no magic wand to solve it all and no simple answers. I expected Simon to have a better, more prominent role in the book, to be honest, but I liked the rest of the book and how Issac and John, despite their natural chemistry and mutual attraction, didn't become an instalove couple. It was all so natural and sweet I would like to get to know these guys even more after this book, but part of the magic is theirs being a standalone story.

The plot was interesting and always kept me guessing, but I can't really get over the major plot hole of the ex just... disappearing? It just doesn't really make any sense with what we are given of his character and it just seems strange.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story more than I was anticipating. I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. The characters were beautifully written. They were so realistic that I felt like I was reading about real people instead of just characters. This author has a flare for character development.

I really fell in love with this book and I hope that there will be more in the future. The romantic tropes in this book are so realistic! They grew so naturally and organically that it just felt so real, not to mention that a big portion of this book is centered around an LGBTQIA romance!

This is one of those books you can reread over and over. It does deal with a lot of heavy topics (such as mental health and shootings) but they are so well written that it is not as triggering as some other books I have read that also tackle these topics.

Thank you so much to Sara Dobie Bauer, Ninestar Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't really know what I was expecting as I started reading, but I was surprised of how much I loved it! I was just about to read a couple of chapters, but I ended up finishing it in one sitting.

It is beautiful, sexy and painful all at the same time.
The characters are so realistic and lovable, and they will stay with me for a very long time. I might even have a little crush on the sweet little John, since he's just the best!
The romance in it is so lovely and it fit the story so well, and the connection between these two men was so real and beautiful, that it'll make you heart beat faster and bring a smile on your lips.
I fell in love with this book, and I will for sure be reading it again!

This book deals with some heavy topics, such as mental health issues, school shootings and violence (so keep that in mind of you get triggered easily)

First, I’m just going to put it out there that this read like a straight woman writing a male/male romance, which sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I’m not sure if the author identifies as straight, so that may be presumptuous of me but the last page did say she was an “ally with a hunky husband” so there’s that. I don’t read very much m/m romance, so maybe this is just how they all read and maybe that means it’s not for me because wow, this hit all the stereotypes. I’d like to read a few novels from own-voices authors before I judge this book entirely though.

Now let’s talk about some positives. Sara Dobie Bauer is definitely an excellent writer. I enjoyed her story-telling and the cast of characters she introduced throughout. This centers around Isaac and John, but it’s not always about their romance with each other. From the summary, I’m sure you can tell that this is also a story about something much deeper than that, gun violence and mass shootings. I think that aspect of the story was handled well and I feel like the author did at least some surface-level research about how experiencing this trauma can deeply impact victims. I can’t speak to that myself, because luckily I’ve never been in a similar situation, but there were characters throughout the story who thought the discussion of this shooting should be handled drastically different than others and it was an interesting discussion.

Unfortunately, that’s about all I liked. The pacing of this book felt way off to me. I was slogging through the first 75% and I absolutely would have DNF’ed it if I hadn’t needed to submit a review. One of the main issues that’s hovering over Isaac throughout the first 25% was his ex, Simon. This next bit may be a bit spoilery, so if you’d like to avoid any sort of spoiler, skip to the next paragraph. Simon shows up and threatens to out Isaac and John so they get fired from their jobs but then all of a sudden just has a change of heart and disappears, never to be heard from again. What?? He physically assaults John and all of a sudden just goes ‘Okay, I’ll leave you both alone now. Bye.’ It was just so extremely rushed and resolved too perfectly. I kept expecting him to come back but he never did.

I also didn’t like how John and Isaac’s relationship started. It felt a bit, for lack of a better word, icky. It just seemed like Isaac was sort of taking advantage of John who had just experienced a traumatic episode. I understand everyone deals with their trauma differently though, so I can’t judge too harshly. However, I just could never get behind their relationship because of the way it started.

In conclusion, this book wasn’t for me. However, there are loads of 4 to 5 star reviews on Goodreads so I seem to be an outlier here. If you’re in the right headspace for a darker m/m romance, maybe give this one a try. In the meantime, I’ll be researching some own-voices m/m romances to read next.

Wow. Okay first off TRIGGER WARNING: mass shootings; suicide.

So this was so unlike anything I’ve read in the genre. It was a romance, yes, but it was so much more than that. It was about surviving after a tragedy, both personal and on a grander scale. The romance was well done, while there was some at least partial Insta love, their story was still growing and interwoven throughout the entire thing. It dealt so well with survivor guilt and mental health and I just don’t know. It’s hard to describe, but if it won’t be damaging to your mental health I think you should read it. It’s amazing.

Hard to stop reading until finished, the plot is unpredictable and draws you in, the characters are believe able, as well as the sex and eventually you end up smiling as the satisfying end arrives

I enjoyed this book for the most part, the characters were well fleshed out and the plot was interesting and affecting. It's difficult to write a character like John who everyone adores but the reader will also adore. I find that when authors insist that a character is beloved but are unable to make them lovable it lets both the reader and the story down. Happy to say that I adored John, who is lovable but also incredibly complex. The decision to introduce Issac into the traumatised world but not have him experience it himself expect through his love for John was an interesting choice. I thought the book did a decent job depicting trauma, that there aren't happy stories when something terrible happens to us but that we can find some light in others. I would recommend this book to others and look forward to reading more by this author.

SPOILER

I wasn't too happy with the handling of Issac's abusive ex in the story. He is introduced as this violent and obsessive man but then disappears midway through the story and everyone's angry with Issac but no one calls his behaviour abusive? Or acknowledges Issac's trauma? I would have rated this book higher if the author had resolved this storyline differently.

We Still Live completely caught me by surprise. This was a well-balanced romance novel that explores trauma and violence in a well though-out, powerful, and tender way. I loved the way Bauer chooses to confront these sensitive topics head on instead of just brushing the surface. Truly a gem.

Very impressed by this new-to-me author. This was not an easy book to read, but it was real and true. Bauer shows the lingering effects of a traumatic, violent event on a group of people with the focus on the alleged "hero" who stopped the shooter. But given that challenging backdrop, she portrays a moving romance between new teacher Isaac and "hero" John, as well as a great friendship between John and fellow teacher Tommy. The way the men interacted felt more genuine to me than a lot of M/M romance novels; it was affectionate but full of humor too. Some of my favorite parts of the novel were Tommy and John trash talking each other about their respective college football teams while Isaac looked on in confusion.

There were a few things that didn't work for me. Isaac had a lot of his own baggage that didn't quite get the attention it deserved. And part of the Isaac melodrama seemed like it belonged in a different novel than one that took such a down-to-earth view of how individuals and communities heal from what has become all-too-common sudden violence.

But those quibbles didn't detract much from my admiration for the author and engagement with the story, especially given her courage to give the book a realistic (still happy in that the MCs are together) ending in which love can ease but not erase the pain.

Brava Sara Dobie Bauer. I'll be checking out your backlist for sure.

Engaging, intense, emotional... such beautiful and powerful words from Sara, I can't begin express my appreciation and love for this book. With characters you can't help but care deeply about, and highlighting a very sensitive subject, I was totally transfixed from beginning to end. Forgiveness, grief, strength and above all love, I just wanted to read more of everything. A true gem of a read.

Days after finishing it, images from Sara Dobie Bauer’s We Still Live are still rolling around in my head. Hopefully revisiting it all for the sake of this review will be cathartic. But more importantly, I hope it inspires you to dive into this powerful, thought provoking novel.

Centered around a community facing life after a horrific school shooting, We Still Live delves deeply into the emotional pain of these characters. We follow this tight-knit group as they process the tragedy, and work to heal so they can carry on with their lives.

Heralded as a hero for his actions during the event, John Conlon is struggling with life after the shooting. A dedicated teacher and a loyal friend, John’s focus is on helping others process their grief. Unfortunately, progress on his own recovery is failing, and burying his emotions in antidepressants and booze is catching up with him.

Hiding from his past and hoping to escape the consequences of his actions, Isaac Twain joins the faculty at Hambden University. One of the most interesting protagonists I’ve read in a very long time, Isaac is a bit self-absorbed and I found it hard to generate much sympathy for his drama. Even once the details of his conduct are revealed he’s not very remorseful, and I enjoyed watching him work his way out of his mess. I couldn’t help but appreciate his unapologetic attitude. He’s ready to make a new life for himself, and that’s what he does.

Isaac’s courtship of John is one of the highlights of this story, and fans of Sara Dobie Bauer’s erotic love scenes will be extremely satisfied! The connection between these two men is immediate and powerful, and watching the changes in their relationship as they explore each other sexually is beautifully portrayed.

Intense and emotional, Sara Dobie Bauer crafts a beautiful story with her wonderfully expressive writing. Dropping Isaac right into the thick of it, and following him as he inserts himself into the core group, helps us identify with everything that’s going on. Something as horrific as a school shooting touches us all, regardless of our connection to the victims and survivors. The themes of grief, forgiveness, and moving on are universal. We Still Live put me through the ringer emotionally, and it’s one hundred percent worth it!

Sara Dobie Bauer is a new author for me, and this book was a terrific introduction to her work.

The story is dark, so it might not be for everyone. The plot revolves around a mass shooting on a college campus. Several of the characters were at the site of the shooting, and the book deals with their struggles, including PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and suicidal acts, subjects that are likely to be triggering for some readers.

The circumstances of the story make for a gripping and emotional hurt/comfort romance between two wounded men, though. John is a well-known YA author and superstar English professor on campus, and he’s also the one who confronted the gunman before he shot and killed himself. Hailed as a hero by the press, John just wants to get back to normal life, but that’s obviously much more easily said than done. Fleeing his own troubles, Isaac takes a job in the English department, and he’s fascinated by John’s beauty and vibrant personality. That fascination quickly turns to more as Isaac and John begin a relationship. The two of them have a lot of obstacles to contend with, however. The campus has a strict policy against faculty members in the same department dating each other, Isaac’s not out, and both men have demons they are struggling to contain.

I really loved how these two come together. Isaac is a natural caretaker, and he tries to give John everything he needs, but sometimes his issues get in the way. John just wants to enjoy being with Isaac, but happy is hard for him to reach when he’s constantly dealing with the fallout of the shooting. Both of them have healing to do before they can really be there for each other.

The only off-note is the drama surrounding Isaac’s ex, Simon. When he shows up, his behavior is completely over-the-top, and then the resolution to his part in the action is so anticlimactic, it was disappointing. Isaac has enough other things to deal with that I'm not entirely sure Simon was necessary to the plot.

That aside, there’s plenty of angst and love here, and I'd recommend this book for readers who appreciate hurt/comfort romances.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

This was a very addicting read from the get go. I really liked the complex layer the themes of mental health and trauma added to the story. I felt that it took it to another level from just being another steamy romance.

This book was amazing. I would really recommend this to anyone not just the people in the LGBTQ community. This storyline was one that took a while to get into but once your there your hooked any you want to know what is going to happen. I loved this book.

I really liked this book and enjoyed reading it. I couldn't even put it down before finishing it because it was so pleasant and nice to read. I really liked the characters and how they development was very well thought out. Also they were authentic and sympatic. Both Isaac and John were complex described characters that I love to follow there story through this book.