Something Like Winter
By Jay Bell
4.5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
There are two sides to every story. Especially when you're still in the closet.
Tim Wyman hoped moving to Texas would mean a new beginning, but he soon finds himself falling into the same old patterns. Until he meets recklessly brave Benjamin Bentley, who brings love and compassion to his world. Certain that society won't understand what he and Ben have together, Tim is determined to protect their relationship, even if it means twisting the truth. Buried beneath his own deceptions, Tim must claw his way to the surface in the hopes of learning to fly.
Something Like Winter retells the story of Something Like Summer from Tim's perspective, offering previously unrevealed moments and personal journeys as he strives to become worthy of Ben’s love.
Each Something Like... book follows a different LGBTQ character on their quest for love. Central to the plot is the troubled relationship between Ben and Tim, high school sweethearts who continue to meet at different stages of their lives, their chemistry changing with each encounter. Surrounding them is a wealth of friends and enemies, each with their own story, resulting in an immersive universe filled with optimism and hope, heartbreak and healing. While the series doesn't shy away from sexual content, it also focuses deeply on emotion, resulting in an experience that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
Jay Bell
Jay Bell is a proud gay man and the award-winning author behind dozens of emotional and yet hopelessly optimistic stories. His best-selling book, Something Like Summer, spawned a series of heart-wrenching novels, a musically driven movie, and a lovingly drawn comic. When not crafting imaginary worlds, he occupies his free time with animals, art, action figures, and—most ardently—his husband Andreas. Jay is always dreaming up new stories about boys in love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can get the kettle boiling by visiting www.jaybellbooks.com.
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Reviews for Something Like Winter
50 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Surprisingly, this book succeeded in fixing the problems I had with the first, its companion, Something Like Summer. When I read Summer I remember not really understanding why everyone loved Ben so much. Here, seeing Ben through Tim's eyes, I got it! Bell was able to show me Ben in a different way that allowed me to like him so much more, and to understand why Tim would love him so much. It's funny that, though this was a book about Tim, I came out of it liking Ben in a way I didn't before.I actually really enjoyed the story being told so much more from Tim's perspective than I did from Ben's. I enjoyed getting to read about Tim's life more than I thought I would, given he was not one of my favorite characters in Summer. And truthfully, while I am still team Jace, I was much happier with the end of the story this time than I was in Summer. I feel like Bell captured the complexity of struggling with sexuality really well, and was able to write Tim in a way that you suffered with him, and celebrated with him too, when things finally clicked and he began his coming out journey.There were still chapters and passages that felt very cliched and a bit over the top romantically, which I suppose is just par for course with romance novels. I am not entirely sure why, but I didn't mind them as much with this installation as I did with Summer. Overall I think that Winter just felt like a stronger novel. There was more depth. Perhaps its because I felt like Tim had more of a story worth exploring then Ben, or perhaps it is just because Bell progressed as a writer between novels. I'm not entirely sure. I do know that Jace is still my favorite character which is why I cannot wait to read the next book in the series! I will always selfishly wish Jace had a different ending!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I have been sitting on this for a while now.
First, it took quite some time to get into the action seeing it all from Tim's side. I have problems with people who are untruthful, and Tim? He doesn't even tell the truth to himself.
Second, I was still angry with Tim from the last book, Something Like Summer, and I had to come to terms with that.
Third, it is a very hard book to sum up. At least, if you want to make a good job of it. And I do.
So here's me trying my best.
I loved it. Bet you didn't expect that, seeing the intro up there, huh? But I did love it, and I loved Tim, this broken, unhappy, sad and lonely character, who finally finds a voice to transmit what and who he is to me. A beautifully lost young man, who ends up finding himself.
Fantastic. Mr Bell, I hand it to you. A platter full of the most delicious kudos. I did not think you would be able to make me like Tim ever. But you were. You did it. I do. And I loved the epilogue that took us a bit further into the future.
I'm not big on spoilers, so I'm not going into the intricate dealings in this story. Suffice it to say that I adored many things in this book, but especially Tim's Mexican Nana, and her new priest. This is Tim's interaction with her on that, and it went straight to my heart:
"The priest, he is younger than me, but he says that love isn't a sin. You love a woman, you love a man, you love a tomato. God is happy, because he created love."
Tim stared at her. "Do you agree?"
Nana shook her head. "No one should love a tomato. But the rest, yes."
Gotta love that Nana. And her priest.
There are several more stories woven into this one, and Mr Bell intelligently gives us suffering and death, addiction and mental illnesses, without ever lecturing us on any of it. It just IS.
And while this is an M/M romance book, there is very little sexual action, (which I realize might be off-putting for some people), but holy hell! if it doesn't make it all the more fantastic. Some stories just don't need the sexing. This is one of them.
It broke my heart in all the right places. "...because of course it was summer. Whenever Tim pictured Ben, it was always summer."
Language-wise it would have benefited from one last editing run-through. I found both silly errors and the omnipresent confusion between the verbs lie and lay. I am fighting a losing battle, I believe.
***
I was NOT asked to read this book by anyone, I paid for it with my own money, as I do for all the books I read, all the music I listen to and the movies I watch - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the other side of the first story, Something Like Summer, from Tim's perspective. I loved Something Like Summer, but wasn't sure if this book would work, since it's the same story from different eyes. Perhaps because its been so long since I read the first book it worked perfectly for me. I can't say how it would compare if I read these two book back to back. In any case I really enjoyed reading about Ben and Tim again. And I'm stoked to get to the third book which is from Jace's perspective. This is a hard, sad love story but it's also beautiful. I liked how, with Tim we see all kinds of different romance stories throughout his life. Some might say it's a little corny that after everything, in the end Tim and Ben find each other again, but I thought it was a great way to conclude the story. Highly recommended to those who enjoy GLBT romance stories.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Then, like it happened to you with Summer, you just realized you used all of your spared time trying to know all about Tim and Ben, again.
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5my fav m/m book so far!what else can I say?Jay Bell you're a genius!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One word: Incredible. I feel like I pretty much ate this book up. This is so much more than just a rehash of the first book from Tim's perspective. It provides insights and dimensions to the story that make the characters so much more real. The parallel narrative is distinct and adds many layers to the story of Tim and Ben (and everyone else in their lives). This book also continues the story past the first book, giving readers a glimpse into life after 'summer' and 'winter'.
This installment is more angst-ridden than the first and definitely has some utterly heart-wrenching moments, but it is definitely worth reading. This is one of those books that can truly move you.
Part of what makes this book so great is the way it relates to the first book, and Jay Bell has done an incredible job here. The world he has created is one I'm excited to go back to in the rest of this series - I expect more laughing and crying in my future. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This companion novel to Something Like Summer is really special. It brings the story to an even fuller spectrum yet it can also be read as a stand alone. The central characters of Tim and Ben are completely affecting and immensely relatable. One can't help but feel connected to each. Really a great read.