Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The World According to Liam

SERIES:  According to Liam

AUTHOR:  V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:   210 pages

RELEASE DATE:  January 15, 2021

BLURB: 

When you see the world through the eyes of a child, there’s magic everywhere.

And crumbs. Lots of crumbs…

But that’s not going to stop Mike and Bryn Kneller from traveling with their nephew Liam at their side. Not that deciding to take the lad to visit Bryn’s homeland was an easy decision for the two recently wedded men despite how much they adore the boy. This trip was supposed to be a romantic anniversary trip after all.

However, life, as it does, tends to lead us down a path of its own choosing. Combining an unexpected announcement from a family member with the not-so-subtle pleadings of Bryn’s parents, the decision was made. With lots of hand sanitizer and a heaping helping of patience, the journey begins, leading Bryn and Mike to discover a great deal about themselves, their marriage, and their plans for the future.

REVIEW: 

Note:  This is the fourth book in this series and it is best read in order as each book builds on the events of the previous book.

Michael and Bryn are looking forward to their anniversary trip to Europe.  They will visit the sights, see family and Bryn will play a little hockey.  They haven’t gotten away together and this will be a welcome respite.  And then plans change 🙂  Kelly, Michael’s sister needs help with Liam for the summer and so Bryn and Michael agree to take him on their August trip since Liam can’t attend the summer camp he was signed up for.

As usual, Liam is the life of the part as only a curious six year old can be.  He’s excited about the new adventures and he gets to see a lot of new lands and sights.  Michael is nearly as excited 😉  Bryn and Michael don’t have much alone time, but they do enjoy the escapades of the various countries.  Michael loves meeting Bryn’s extended family and seeing old friends.

When they arrive in Germany to spend time with Bryn’s parents and grandmother, Liam is in his element.  They have a wonderful time and Liam is completely hilarious. His adopted grandparents are thrilled with the visit and thoroughly enjoy the boy.  Bryn’s grandmother Kara is an absolute delight.

After the tri returns home, there continue to be some problems in the neighborhood.  Liam’s trans friend Peter is being bullied and Liam is not having it.  Jamie and Kelly are at their wits end with the brothers who continue to harass Peter and that’s when Bryn and Michael get involved as well.  Turns out there are things that everyone is dealing with.

I absolutely adore this series.  Liam is just about the best written kid character out there.  He’s enthusiastic and curious and sweet and smart, but also he’s six and that’s how he genuinely appears in the stories.  He’s sort of the spark around which the story of Bryn and Michael has been told.  This whole series is really about family – Bryn’s, Michael’s, the new one they are forging.  I loved the way both men dealt with Liam and also how they deal with each other.  They have come from very different places and they are very different personalities, but what I really love in these stories is seeing how they appreciate those differences.  I could read about this couple forever and I cannot wait for the next book.  I won’t say it ended on a cliffhanger, per se, but I ‘m looking forward to the next step in their journey. Highly recommended and especially for those who love authentic kid characters and humor!

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon