Reviewed by Ro

TITLE:  Liam

SERIES: Salish Sea Society #3

AUTHOR:  Leigh Jarrett

PUBLISHER: Steambath Press

LENGTH: 260 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2024

BLURB:

Liam

I’ve always been obsessed with my phone, constantly chasing likes and validation through pictures of my body. But after attending Noah and Brody’s wedding, I realize I want more than just superficial attention. I want a real connection, a loving partner, family—children.

Near the end of the wedding reception, I meet Jamal, a good friend of Noah’s and Brody’s best man, and I know there is something special about him. Jamal and I hit it off and plan to hang out as friends. But as the day of our outing progresses, it feels more like a predestined date.

I can’t resist the way he makes me feel, and I find myself falling for him. He’s kind, funny, and has a habit of spouting random facts that I find endearing.

But there is one thing that gives me pause—Jamal is a paraplegic in a wheelchair.

Am I shallow for letting that fact matter? Or will I be able to rejoice in his uniqueness and embrace the amazing person that Jamal appears to be—inside and out?

Liam is a found family, hurt/comfort romance about a member of the Salish Sea Society, a group of four best friends. This novel takes place on the rugged coast of Pacific Canada and is a story about a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. And how a disability doesn’t inhibit one’s capacity to make meaningful contributions to a loving relationship.

REVIEW:

This is the third entry into the Salish Sea Society series, concentrating on four friends, Noah, Ethan, Liam and Owen, as they navigate life and love. In this book, Liam is the focus. Liam, who has always been hyper fixated on his looks and his body, and the number of likes he can get when he posts pictures of that body. He is extremely restrictive in what he what he eats and exercises too much. He also has zero self-confidence, never feeling like he belongs anywhere and has no one who loves him except the Salish Sea Society.

It is at Brody and Noah’s wedding that he gets to talk to Jamal and discovers someone wonderful. Liam beats himself up because Jamal is in a wheelchair and Liam isn’t sure if he can handle being with someone who is paralyzed. For his part, “Jamal was aware of the way I conducted my life. He followed me on social media and often liked my photos. Never commented on them. He knew I wasn’t a relationship guy.” Jamal also feels someone like Liam, beautiful, kind and sweet, wouldn’t want to be tied up with a guy in a chair.

The two decide to be friends first, especially after realizing how much they have in common – separating their foods being a big one. They both feel the connection but neither wants to make the first move to something more. I understood it here, Jamal has a lot with being paralyzed but also with a secret in his past. Liam has horrendous birth parents, spent his childhood bouncing between uncaring foster homes. It is not simple to overcome this, even for someone you care about.

There was a distracting bit about Charlie, who Liam is sleeping with in the beginning. There is a lot of negative talk about Charlie, and the hate sex he and Liam have. However, later, Liam goes on about how happy he is that he and Charlie could remain friends. Except it never sounded like they had been friends at all!

This is a great entry into the Salish Sea Society and, as usual, we get to revisit the others and catch up, which I loved. On to Owen, next!

RATING:

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