Review: Scenes from Adelaide Road by Helena Stone

Can a young man find the courage he never knew he had when faced with losing everything he holds dear?

A few months before his final exams in secondary school, nineteen-year-old Lennart Kelly discovers he’s inherited a house on Adelaide Road in Dublin from a grandfather he never knew. Having been ignored, bullied and abused for as long as he can remember, Lennart can’t wait to leave behind his father and the small town he grew up in. Moving away as soon as he finishes his exams doesn’t cure his deep-rooted insecurities though.

Meeting twenty-three-year-old Aidan Cassidy in a gay club on his second night in Dublin, scares Lennart. Used to being ignored and ridiculed, he doesn’t trust the attention he receives and can’t believe a man like Aidan could possibly be interested in him. It takes infinite patience and understanding from Aidan to slowly coax Lennart out of his shell.

But the past refuses to stay where it belongs and Lennart’s father is determined to take the house in Dublin off his son by whatever means necessary. Just when Lennart is learning to trust and embrace life, a violent attack threatens everything he holds dear. Suddenly Lennart is in danger of losing his house, the man he’s grown to love and maybe even his life. If Lennart wants to protect Aidan and safeguard his future, he’ll have to find the courage he never knew he had.

I enjoyed this book, but didn't absolutely adore it. As well as being a review book though, it was recommended to me by a friend whose taste I trust implicitly, so I think this is a case of it's just me. It kind of makes me want to not review it and say go and read these other reviews, but I'm given the book in exchange for an honest review... so here goes.

The tricky thing is, I can't even say exactly why I didn't love it. It was well written, the characters were likeable, the setting was fine... but I just couldn't go crazy over it. I hate saying that when there isn't an obvious problem with the story, all I can do is point pout (again, sorry) that reading is a completely individual pursuit. There are plenty of immensely popular series or stories that I just couldn't get into. Equally I have raved about certain stories for others to read them and go meh. 

This is probably the worst review in the history of reviews. I certainly didn't hate the story, not at all but I did stop in the middle for a while and read something (several somethings) else. 

All in, it is a tale of a horrible childhood and Lennart's escape. It is about him learning to trust - both himself and others. Aiden is the man who helps him and I see it as a  coming of age story for both characters, even though Aiden is older and more life experienced than Lennart. Of course, the past can be difficult to escape from.

One aspect I did enjoy - and would have loved even more of - was Lennart getting to know that grandfather he'd never met. Yes, it was through letters etc, but I did enjoy learning about him with Lennart.

D'ya know, I'm going to leave it there. I didn't hate this book, but a couple of days after reading it I've almost forgotten the story. This probably does not do the story justice. Please, go to Goodreads and read some of the reviews there, don't make up your mind on my feelings. :)

A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see goodreads.