rock

It took me a bit to decide between a 3 and 4 so I finally settled for 3.5 stars. The stepbrothers or maybe brothers part didn’t bother me, it’s just the story dragged on for so long that by the time the HEA happened, I was too exhausted to care. I did like Ernie and Bert, they were good friends and Annie too for being a good sister.

This stunningly beautiful story heartbreaking story begins with a very young Cooper. He is a total geek when it comes to all things rocks, stones, etc. He loves collecting different types of rocks. Life is all good for Cooper, that is until the day he finds out his parents are divorcing. Not only that, but his Dad is moving in with his girlfriend Lila. He automatically dislikes her for ruin his family. And now he has to live with her and her son Jace for one week, alternating between his mom's and dad's. Right off the bat, Cooper and Jace don't get along. But with time, they end up making the best of their situation and become friends.● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●"Wish I wasn't so afraid all the time. Wish I was strong like you. You don't care what anyone thinks and you stand up for who you are. I need to do that too. But I can't."● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●This book takes you from Cooper being a kid to an adult. As time goes by, Cooper and Jace form a bond. Everyday they become closer, but soon Cooper realizes his feelings are not brotherly, he falls for Jace. They both don't know what to do. They are practically brothers so they can't be more than that. That does not mean that the feelings that they share for one another ends. Nope, there were many years of longing ahead of them.● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●"I know we have to talk." He swallows and looks toward his mum and our dad. "But can you wait?"I can. I have. I always will.● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Oh, how this book broke my heart. It was so beautifully written. I absolutely loved how Cooper's love for rocks was incorporated into the actual story line. It was so heartwarming to see the meaning behind each stone. I loved seeing Cooper and Jace grow up into men. They weren't always happy, but I think the pace in which they grew up was perfect. I was still able to connect with the twelve and thirteen year old Cooper and Jace, as I was when they were in their early twenties. What I loved the most and what had me captivated, was how much they still wanted each other after all those years. It absolutely killed me to see them apart.● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●"My favorite rock," I say."I know."I whisper, "Not the opal. You."● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●Another thing that I really enjoyed was that there was a realistic quality to this story. It wasn't always sunshine and rainbows, there was a lot of hurt from their years of yearning for each other. It was so painful to watch them try to move on from their feelings. This story punched my heart and made me tear up bad. I was able to finish this in one day, and I will tell you that I did not want to put it down. At. All. And I probably wouldn't have if real life hadn't gotten in the way. I loved this book to pieces. I loved Cooper and Jace. I loved the family they made. It was pretty short, and yet still, it was perfectly executed. I loved it! This is definitely one of my top favourite m/m books and one I totally recommend everyone should give a try. I can't wait to read more from this author.

OUTSTANDING. This book took me on such a heart breaking ride I was SO not expecting. It's a story about two boys and their journey to friendship, acceptance and love and while we start with two teenagers we have the privilege of seeing them grow into men who are brave enough to follow their hearts.There's a sentence I snatched from this book which for me sums up so much of it - "Broken home, broken rules". It's such an innocent sentence yet it somehow enables Cooper and Jace and us as well, to accept what happened between them. Though I know a lot of people won't like this turf, I URGE you to give it the right chance because as the many tears I've shed in this book clearly showed - IT'S SO WORTH IT!At 13, Cooper's life is shattered when he finds out not only is his father leaving their house and divorcing his mother, he already has a family with someone else. Someone he has been seeing for the past few years (and known a lifetime). While Cooper's mother (and father) try to explain to him and his bigger sister Annie that their marriage haven't worked for a LONG while and they are not mad or hurt by either's actions, it's naturally still very difficult for both kids especially with the having to live now in two houses not too far apart - one with their mother and the other with their father, Lila (the "girlfriend") and Jace (her son, who is a year older than Cooper is).Though Cooper and Jace seems to be hating each other at first sight, they somehow can't stay away and little by little they become best friends. As we only get Cooper's POV we don't know what's Jace's reasoning for his actions but for me they were louder than words. He cared for Cooper. Yet for Cooper there was another layer of attraction he wasn't sure how to handle. First it's dealing with discovering he is gay, they there's the fact Jace seems to be into girls.. not guys.. not to mention while they are not blood related, they are still considered siblings.There was something so beautifully tender in these two families coming together. It was faltering and difficult at times but also sweet, endearing and yet also heart breaking in a way words cannot describe, or at least I can't.. Anyta sure can! See, it wasn't just Cooper and Jace's story, it was also the story of David and Marie (Cooper's mother) as well as David and Lila. It was also the story of Cooper and his good friends, his beautiful relationship with his sister Annie and all the other interaction between them - all was beautifully written in such a tender way.If you're wondering why this book is named simply "rock" you'll get your answer throughout this whole book in the little stones Cooper collects. Every stone has a unique ability, every stone also captures Cooper's memories and experiences and becomes a part of who he is. It was SUCH a unique concept. I LOVED it. I also highlighted my personal precious stone's ability and was quite humbled by what I found about it. There is something so special about the way these stones become so much more than just a minerals when it captures all these qualities and abilities some human, other's almost magical.There is so much more to say about this book. It's not that long but each chapter takes us more and more into what it means to love but also what it means to lose love and how important it is to FIGHT for the love we want and believe in with all the heart ache involves. It was a special journey, one which starts with two 13 and 14 years old teen and ends with two men in their 20s who know some things are worth fighting for even if they are against all odds and might not be acceptable by everyone.HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Keep and open mind and you not only won't be disappointed you're going to take this story and keep it close to your heart. That's a promise!Tags: Young Adult (MM) RomanceMore @ Ultra Meital Reviews.

This book was amazing! Even the tough and heartbreaking scenes were beautiful! Be prepared to feel all the feels! I can't recommend this highly enough! 5 billion stars! Cooper and Jace forever!

As teenagers, 14 and 16 year olds respectively, Cooper and Jace are thrown together when Cooper’s Dad divorces his mother Marie. It seems that he has been living a double life while supposedly away on long business trips. He has been with Jace’s mum, Lila, who was his girlfriend, years ago, but they broke up and he left for the USA. When he returned he met Marie, who was a friend of Lila’s she even introduced them. Now they are back togetherInitially Cooper and his sister Annie, hated Lila and her son Jace for breaking up their family.Subtly over time, Jace and Cooper becomes more friendly towards each other and Cooper introduces him to his main interest in life, stones or rocks. They form an important part of their friendship. Jace is a musician, and plays Cooper’s favourite songs on piano. Things start to change when Cooper realises he is gay and he is attracted to Jace. He keeps this attraction secret to himself but is happy to let his family know he is gay.In his late teens, during a special moment between them, he tells Jace of his feelings for him and everything changes. Even though Jace showed his feelings too, he backed off, he couldn’t do it.“It’s complicated” he says, and doesn’t elaborate.When Jace goes off to college he puts more distance between them, he goes to North Island to study and perform music. Cooper still has to graduate from High School. Their phone calls becomes less frequent and visits home become less frequent.During one holiday break Jace brings a boy home and Cooper’s heart breaks when he walks in and finds them in a very intimate situation. He flees without being noticed.How can he ever recover from this heartbreak?Oh these two guys put me through the emotional wringer, they are so good for each other, they are adorable together.I guess there’d be no interesting story to tell if there was nothing standing in the way of their relationship. Does the truth matter? Maybe, maybe not. Really felt the connection and struggle between these two.Anyta Sunday is a new author to me but I see she has quite a library of books to her credit. She is a New Zealander and the story is set there too. I will add more of her books to my TBR list as I enjoyed this one very much.

Reading some of the reviews, my mouth just fell open.I know tastes differ widely as each human is different… but… come on! This book is more than good, it’s Special! It’s raw, it’s rare and it is written in such a refreshing fluent way!Minerals and their meaning play a huge role in this story and it is wrapped up and braided in so beautifully and always made sense. It gives the story so much more than Amy good Plot can do. And the plot is good, really good!I won’t tell more, you know it’s gay romance, yes it’s a stepbrothers-enemies-to-Friends-to-lovers story and there is loss in it too.There is a Happy End though, but you might shed a tear or two, so be warned.But it’s worth it! Really!This book is a gem. It’s meant to be found by you and if you did, take a closer look.

I am really striking it lucky with the books I’m reading at the moment - another one I absolutely loved and read it a day because I couldn’t put it down.This was such a beautifully written tale of a broken family, basically trying to put themselves back together, with all their loves and losses and failures and successes and secrets and honesty along the way.Written through the eyes of Cooper from the age of 13 through to his mid twenties, it is funny, tragic, romantic, poignant, uncomfortable, challenging and everything in between. Have the tissues at the ready!Now I know this won’t be for everyone on account of the somewhat taboo subject matter (close relationship between step brothers) but this isn’t a nasty, exploitative read, I promise.Other triggers may include: miscarriage, cancer, divorce, death, coming out, homophobic comments and blended families.Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a dark tale, but it has some dark moments on the way to the light 🥰All the stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a story of love, loss and everything in between. The push and pull relationship between the two MC’s had be going from start to finish! My heart broke multiple times, and I couldn’t help but reach for the tissues. Superb writing, a truly beautiful story and two characters I simply adore. More than happy to read more from Anyta!

Cooper und Jace hätten ein Traumpaar sein können, aber auch nur hätten. Ich fand die Geschichte richtig toll und auch die Figuren sind sehr unterhaltsam und angenehm, aber ich finde die Autorin hat es sich manchmal ganz schön einfach gemacht. Jace war ein richtiger Arsch zu Cooper und er hat ihn immer und immer wieder verletzt, aber anstatt das Cooper ihm die kalte Schulter zeigt vergibt er ihm immer und immer wieder.Dadurch wirkte Cooper oft schwach und naiv, obwohl ich ihn und seine Stein Leidenschaft richtig süß fand. Ich mochte ihn am Anfang so gerne und fand das er einen starken Charakter hat, aber ab der Mitte des Buches ging es dann Bergab mit ihm. Ich weis das er Jace sehr liebt und das wenn man jemanden liebt ihm auch eine Menge vergibt, aber alles hat auch seine Grenzen. Es gibt auch Dinge die man nicht vergeben kann.Es war immer das gleiche, Jace verletzt Cooper und dann ist dieser sauer und verletzt. Dann kommt Jace wieder angekrochen und entschuldigt sich und Cooper ist wieder Wachs in seinen Händen. Das hat leider ein wenig die Handlung für mich verdorben, die doch eigentlich so wunderschön war.Fazit: Das Buch war sehr unterhaltsam und wurde mit einer Menge Herz und liebe zum Detail geschrieben. Ich musste weinen und lachen. Das Buch hat mich tief berührt und ich kann einfach nicht genug von Anyta Sunday bekommen. Sie weis einfach wie man ein richtig gutes Buch schriebt!!