Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: String Boys

AUTHOR: Amy Lane

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 341 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 28, 2019

BLURB:

Seth Arnold learned at an early age that two things in life could make his soul soar—his violin and Kelly Cruz. In Seth’s uncertain childhood, the kindness of the Cruz family, especially Kelly and his brother, Matty, gave Seth the stability to make his violin sing with the purest sound and opened a world of possibility beyond his home in Sacramento.

Kelly Cruz has loved Seth forever, but he knows Seth’s talents shouldn’t be hidden, not when the world is waiting. Encouraging Seth to follow his music might break Kelly’s heart, but he is determined to see the violin set Seth’s soul free. When their world is devastated by a violent sexual assault and Matty’s prejudices turn him from a brother to an enemy, Seth and Kelly’s future becomes uncertain.

Seth can’t come home and Kelly can’t leave, but they are held together by a love that they clutch with both hands.

Seth and Kelly are young and the world is wide—the only thing they know for certain is they’ll follow their heartstrings to each other’s arms whenever time and fate allow. And pray that one day they can follow that string to forever… before it slices their hearts in two.

REVIEW:

Dear heaven. Ok guys. I am in book hangover land right now. Damn. Ok, so before I get into it, some major triggers. Rape, bullying, homophobia, bigotry, beatings, murder, attempted murder, drugs, alcoholics, child endangerment, child disabilities associated with drugs, blackmail, and probably something else I’m forgetting. PLEASE, if any of this triggers you, be careful.

So, I don’t remember what Amy book got me addicted to reading her stuff, but I just remember falling in love with every character she’s ever written. I really want to say it was the Granby series that broke me in, and little by little, I grew more addicted. Especially when I found Little Goddess and The Green’s Hill cast to the Bitter Moon Saga that all left me broken in ways I never thought of. Whatever the book I have read of Amy’s, it’s been a work of art. In some way, it’s been a masterpiece that leaves me wishing I could even think the way she writes. Each character leaves a place in your heart that you never forget. Even if you don’t remember every name of every character, the story itself never leaves. And this story is no different. It’s another phenomenal work that pulls things out of you, you didn’t know were there. I am in awe yet again.

In my life, I’ve always been envious of those couples that looked at their significant other and just knew they were in love and it was it for them. Even as kids, some just know. For Seth and Kelly, they knew. Actually, Kelly knew first, but only because Seth had a way of being in the clouds a lot. And often when you thought he wasn’t paying attention to the world around him, he would shock the hell out of you with things he said. But when Seth made the discovery himself, for them, that was it. But being mixed children in their neighborhood was bad enough. Being gay…..way worse. And there was a certain bully in the neighborhood who made life unbearable. And somehow, he got to Kelly’s brother and Seth’s best friend, Matty. And Matty changed for the worst. To the point, it got Kelly attacked, and it was brutal. For Seth, it was like being attacked himself. He sought vengeance and ended up beaten himself and in a position he didn’t know how to get out of. All he had left, he felt like, was his music and it was time to go. For years, he and Kelly had a long distance thing. Getting together when they could, fear for Seth if he came home. But Seth’s career as a violinist soared and Kelly encouraged him, knowing eventually he’d be free and he and Seth would be together, just them, for the rest of their lives. But life and the past has a way of sneaking up at every turn and after all the years of fighting and fighting to stay above water, have finally worn them down. And they may not make it back up.

I swear reading this, damn. My heart just hurts. So much. These boys have been through hell and back. The whole family has been, but these two it just seems so much worse. Like the world is conspiring against them to keep them and their love apart. Just when they thought they were on some kind of even keel, something else would happen. But I love them so much. Seth has a special place in my heart for his music. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I love watching a master in their craft. They just have this ethereal thing about them. It’s so otherworldly. They seem so distant and aloof, snobbish or such, when in truth their brains are just so different and tick in such a different way. And when it comes out in their music, you can’t help but be transported to another world. And be grateful they let you into theirs for the short time you have them.  And I love that Kelly got that. Even at such a young age, when they were starting out in elementary school as the “String Boys”, the gift was there.

But it was just Kelly that got Seth. Seth got Kelly just as much. They had this bond that no one else could compare to. Others tried to insert themselves into that role in their lives, but it was only ever Kelly and Seth. No matter who tried to break them apart. It wasn’t easy. Long distance has a way of making things harder, but when it’s an unconditional love, it just transcends time itself. Even as kids, they just seemed so wise with it.

This is not an easy read. There are parts that you can’t help but weep and weep. But there are happy tears too. There’s family and loving and hope and survival. It’s everything.

And there’s a surprise in the end. I’m not telling so you have to read to see what it is. Needless to say, I squealed. Lol.

I’m very happy I got the chance to read that first Amy novel and be immersed in her worlds. Thank you Amy for another one.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

dreamspinnerpress

Amazon