'In the Middle of Somewhere' by Roan Parrish is a slow-paced, emotionally driven romance novel that follows the story of Daniel, a Philadelphia native who takes a professor job in a small town in Michigan. The plot revolves around Daniel's unexpected relationship with Rex, a shy local, as they navigate their differences and past traumas to find love. The writing style is described as gripping, emotional, and vivid, transporting readers to the setting of Michigan and immersing them in the characters' lives.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are several triggers including familial abuse, homophobia, and discussions of past violence.
Has Romance?
The book features a strong romantic focus with significant emotional and physical connections between the main characters.
From The Publisher:
Daniel Mulligan is tough, snarky, and tattooed, hiding his self-consciousness behind sarcasm. Daniel has never fit in-not at home in Philadelphia with his auto mechanic father and brothers, and not at school where his Ivy League classmates looked down on him. Now, Daniel's relieved to have a job at a small college in Holiday, Northern Michigan, but he's a city boy through and through, and it's clear that this small town is one more place he won't fit in.
Rex Vale clings to routine to keep loneliness at bay: honing his muscular body, perfecting his recipes, and making custom furniture. Rex has lived in Holiday for years, but his shyness and imposing size have kept him from connecting with people.
When the two men meet, their chemistry is explosive, but Rex fears Daniel will be another in a long line of people to leave him, and Daniel has learned that letting anyone in can be a fatal weakness. Just as they begin to break down the walls keeping them apart, Daniel is called home to Philadelphia, where he discovers a secret that changes the way he understands everything. more
Ratings (9)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (3) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (2) |
Reader Stats (22):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (6) | |
Not Interested (5) |
1 comment(s)
I started this book in October 2018 and I love it. I liked these characters and the story. Then, for some completely incomprehensible reason, I stopped reading it at about 70 percent. Three chapters before the end of the book! And no, I have no clue why. I just suddenly didn't want to go back to the story. But I didn't give it up completely, and I always knew that one day I would finish it. That day has just come, at the end of May 2021.
Did I remember anything from the first 70 percent of this book? Not that much. Some major ideas rather than details. Have I decided to start reading again from the beginning? Of course not! As if nothing had happened, I decided to finish these three chapters of this book ... 2 years and 7 months later. Because why not. Fortunately for me, it turned out that it was not such a big deal and I think I remembered the most important things.
This book is an emotional roller-coaster. Perhaps that's why I wasn't able to finish it in one go. Often, I don't feel like reading a book that engages me so much emotionally is a good idea. In my books I am looking for an escape, also from emotions in my life. And there are many dramatic emotions in this book. And maybe that's the reason why I didn't finish it in 2018, even though I liked it.
As I mentioned, I liked these characters. Daniel and Rex, but also all supporting characters. So much so that I was seriously considering reading another book in this series, even though I hadn't finished this one. Daniel and Rex make an interesting couple. On the surface, they may even be considered not very well matched together, but they fit together fairly well. Each of them is also an interesting character on his own. This author likes her heroes tortured.
Back in 2018, I already knew that I wanted to read other books in this series. And one day I will certainly do it. I have already read another book by this author from her other series and it had an equally strong emotional impact. If I am looking for a story like this, I will probably read one of her books again.
What can you read after
In the Middle of Somewhere?
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