Better by Jaime Samms

Title: Better
Author: Jaime Samms
Genre: Same sex Contemporary Romance.
Part of a series: No.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: 27 January 2012
This book was: An ARC from NetGalley, free in exchange for an honest review.


This is the summary off the back of the book.

After filing charges that put his abusive ex-Dom behind bars, Jesse Turbul relocates halfway across the country, hoping to escape his past—but, of course, it's never that easy. When Jesse meets third-year law student Aadon at the library where he works, their mutual attraction is instant and obvious.

Despite the sparks, they just can't seem to make it work. Aadon is mired in guilt over his inability to help his older brother, damaged by events far too similar to Jesse’s past. Jesse is stuck in his own desperate wish to forget the painful shadow that continues to threaten him and any hope of a happy future.


This is what I think of the book.
Holy hell this was a deep and powerful story about survival and one I think was very brave.
It dealt with some very tough things and did with in a realistic way. We got to see two different people who had been hurt in similar ways but for various reasons dealt with it very differently. Both of these people connected through Aadon, one being his brother and one his boyfriend. What I liked about this story is that it didn't shy away from the uglier things people will do to cope.

The self harm aspect to the story was also dealt with positive way and as someone with first hand knowledge of this it was good to see it shown and treated like it was an a coping strategy, all be it a bad one, that let the person feel in control. There was a very positive message in this story that said that we are all capable of our own recovery when given the right tools for us and that we don't need someone to try to fix us, we can do that ourselves we just need to be given the right space in which to do so. This is by no means a light read but it is one I would recommend anyone to read because the story is one that will stay with you!!




My Rating: I really liked this!!