Reviewed by Sheena

TITLE: More Than Words

SERIES: More Than Anything #2

AUTHOR: TT Kove

PUBLISHER: Less Than Three Press

LENGTH: 299 Pages

BLURB:

Alex has had about all he can take. He doesn’t want to keep enduring one misery after another. All he has to do is clean out his locker, take his stuff home, and then he can bring it all to an end.

But then a random jerk crashes into him, sends his belongings scattering across the floor, and Alex is helped unexpectedly by Andreas. Unexpected because Andreas is friends with the school bullies, who are no small part of the misery that has driven Alex to the breaking point.

Andreas, however, seems nothing like his friends. He’s kind and doesn’t seem to mind all the things about Alex that drive so many others away. When he also turns out to be bisexual, it seems far too good to be true, and Alex is torn between trusting that good things can happen and the certainty it only exists to be torn away.

REVIEW:

The first book in the series, More Than Anything, tore at me and left scars. Metaphorically, of course, but even now the name of TT Kove is enough to let me know that I will bleed the second I open one of her books. Raw, emotional, yet never overly dramatic, Ms. Kove has the inestimable ability to bring the reader into her world and make you live it. Make you feel it. Pain and love included.

One of the most enduring qualities of Ms. Kove’s work is that she can imbue her stories and characters with a realism that makes each book less a work of fiction, and more a testimony about living. Even when her characters want life to end, the pain overwhelming, Ms. Kove steers her characters through torment and hope until they can see the light on the horizon, and with help, they find the ambition to reach for that light on their own. I can’t help but feel with certainty that real experience with pain is a motivating force behind her stories and her characters, and gives them a depth that only makes each of her books that more addicting. Because pain can be addicting, and cathartic.

Bullied at school, ignored at home, trapped within a family that doesn’t understand the meaning of the word, Alex embodies the troubled youth of today in a traumatizing fashion. Traumatizing because of the way I felt the rawness of his despair and defeat. Too young to believe that life can be more than the pain he’s always known, Alex is ready to end it all. He has nothing, after all is said and done. Why should he stay?

And then a miracle, in the form of flesh-and-blood Andreas, appears. They know each other, as well as any popular kid can know a ‘reject’ like Alex in the same school, and Andreas is moved to action. Always intending to get to know Alex, Andreas doesn’t make his move until instinct forces his hand, and excuses fade away. An act of simple kindness on his part is enough, in that moment, to give Alex the strength to see another day.

Their relationship is fraught with doubts, insecurities, pain and healing. Alex needs an escape from his own family, Andreas introduces Alex to his unconventional family, and it’s at this point we meet familiar characters from the first book. It’s a pleasure to see them all again, though the way the scenes are written, reading the first book isn’t essential to understanding and enjoying the second. I would suggest that the first book be read, simply for background information and history for the continuing storylines. (Book One, More Than Anything, is one of my favorite books, and is all kinds of powerful.)

This book is more than just a romance. It’s a journey, from the depths of despair, through the levels of healing Alex needs to become a stronger person. Andreas is love and support and caring; Alex is a beautiful example of growth and overcoming obstacles, even when he’s his own worst enemy. Andreas’ and Alex’s relationship takes a background role in this tale of rebirth and healing. While Alex sees the majority of growth and improvement, Andreas evolves as well. He learns to stand taller, become a better person—he must, because Alex needs him.

TT Kove is an accomplished storyteller, who specializes in ripping hearts from chests and helping us put ourselves back together, just like she does for her characters.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

ARe

Less Than Three Press