Aaron Seavers is a pathetic mess, and he knows it. He lives in terror of incurring his father’s wrath and disappointing his mother, and he can’t stop dithering about where to go to college—with fall term only weeks away. Ditched by a friend at a miserable summer farewell party, all he can do is get drunk in the laundry room and regret he was ever born. Until a geeky-cute classmate lifts his spirits, leaving him confident of two things: his sexual orientation, and where he’s headed to school.
Giles Mulder can’t wait to get the hell out of Oak Grove, Minnesota, and off to college, where he plans to play his violin and figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. But when Aaron appears on campus, memories of hometown hazing threaten what he’d hoped would be his haven. As the semester wears on, their attraction crescendos from double-cautious to a rich, swelling chord. But if more than one set of controlling parents have their way, the music of their love could come to a shattering end.
Warning: Contains showmances, bad parenting, Walter Lucas, and a cappella.
Oh my cuteness.
Giles and Aaron's slow burn, enemies to lovers story was basically perfect.
Giles went away to college in hopes of leaving behind all the crap he dealt with in high school. Then, right away, he sees Aaron. A guy who he thinks used him, just like all the others, from his high school. Kinda rained on his parade. Of course, Aaron was actually there because he liked Giles, but Giles was too bitter to even contemplate that thought.
When Aaron first arrives at college, much to his dismay, Giles doesn't give him the warm welcome he was hoping for. Giles just delivers the death stare and Aaron gets the message loud and clear. On top of that, his roommate, Elijah (oh, Elijah) is totally rude and weird, with friends that wear anti-gay shirts all the time. Although he doesn't get Giles, eventually, Aaron does find his place at college.
I'd usually be totally against a Big Misunderstanding for this much of a story, but not only did it make complete sense, there was a whole cast of amazing characters to amuse me while I waited for Aaron and Giles to happen. Really, I could listen to a book about this group of college students even if there wasn't any romance. They are that good. Especially Walter. Be still my heart, Walter. He makes me melt all over with his fierce loyalty and all-consuming love for the people in his life.
Both Aaron and Giles go about their business, actively avoiding each other, until circumstances bring them together. They can ignore each other's existence no more. Their tentative friendship was so cute, mostly because they were trying so hard not to jump all over each other the whole time. But then, it finally happened.
The Kiss.
Good-NESS, Ms. Heidi Cullinan made them work for it. This was no "I think you're cute, let me kiss you" deal. No, there was angst and tension surrounding their first kiss and it was delicious. Thick, delicious tension. #nomnomnom
Then they were together and oh-so-adorable and forced a huge, sappy grin on my face.
I loved Aaron and Giles. I loved the music. I especially loved Elijah. I especially, especially loved Walter. I especially, especially, especially loved Iggy Toma's narrating.
I think I said this for Love Lessons: I'm sure this was great in print, but I have to recommend the audio. The narration was flawless and one of the best I've listened to.
I really want to rush out and read Lonely Hearts as soon as it's available, but I'm going to have to wait for the audio to get the full experience I think.
Iggy Toma reading Heidi's words is... everything.
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