Turning the Page

Isn’t it funny how when you’re in your thirty’s & forty’s ten years doesn’t seem like such a big age gap but when you’re in your twenty’s or fifty’s it sometimes seems like an insurmountable gap?
Malcolm Webber is a 52-year-old tax attorney who lost his husband of 20 years David to cancer just over a year ago. Malcolm is still firmly entrenched in mourning his husband that he can’t fathom meeting anyone else or having any sort of feelings for them.
Hans Erickson is a 42-year-old adventure writer who has done just about every hair raising event he writes about. Hans was with his ex-partner Troy for 15 years when he found him having sex with one of their friends, apparently his sleeping around was common knowledge within their group and as such Hans had become the laughing stock of the group!
When Malcolm meets Hans for the first time he has a fleeting impression of David but not really because as soon as Hans started to speak there was absolutely nothing the same. It does make him intrigued though because for the first time I the last year Malcolm actually feels a spark of attraction for another man and there-in lies his problem, he feels like he’s cheating on David. Hans hasn’t been able to forget meeting Malcolm and when they meet again and really start talking to each other the attraction turns into more for both but Malcolm has a very hard time adjusting to the fact that it’s not David he’s having these feelings and thoughts about but Hans.
Whilst Malcolm is almost obsessive about the 10-year age-gap between them Hans hasn’t given it a second thought. For every obstacle Malcolm tries to put in their way Hans is so understanding in the way he explains away that they either haven’t occurred to him or they just don’t matter. Malcolm realises that he’s truly hurting Hans with the way he is always seemingly sabotaging their relationship that he has to stand back and reconcile the fact that even though David is gone he’s not and he Malcolm deserves to love and be loved again.
Turning the Page is all about two men trying their damndest to “turn the page” in their lives and come out the other end happy, healthy and whole! I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a huge Andrew Grey fan. I’ve noticed with each of Andrew’s books that I read they’re getting deeper, grittier and more intense, which means only good things for those of who are constantly waiting for the next story!! If you haven’t read any of Andrew Grey’s books I strongly urge you to give them a go, you won’t be disappointed!!

ARC For Review

I really enjoyed this second chance romance. Malcolm was beautiful. He was so serious and kind of stiff. Hans was the perfect counterpart to him. He loosened him up a little, but also accepted him and his introverted ways. Malcolm had such a challenge to pull himself out of his grief. Hans was so great with Malcolm. I really like how understanding and accepting Hans was towards Malcolms feeling. He dealt with Malcolm insecurities very well. These were very real characters. The story was told very realistically. I felt for these characters.

This book was Andrew Grey at his best. I loved that the characters in the book were older. Hans is in his forties and Malcolm in his fifties. Both MCs are starting over after the end of their previous long term relationships. Malcolm is still recovering from the death of his partner and Hans went through a painful divorce. I felt that the soul searching and angst that Malcolm went through felt real and I was full invested in these two character's getting their happy ending. The only thing preventing me from giving this book 5 stars is I thought the conclusion of the office drama was a little over the top for me. Other than that it was a great book start to finish.

Oh Andrew what a great book! It was just loved. It is amazing how someone gets along without you and you really don't realize how far gone you are. But I'm glad Malcolm did. Thanks for writing it. And that will earn you a basket of lemons!

Reviewed by Meredith for Diverse Reader

Turning the Page is a very emotional, angsty, deeply dispiriting love story. Though not tragic for our current MC’s… there is a happy ending for them, through the entirety of the book it was a constant mourning.

I’m a huge fan of Andrew Grey always have been and he does have a tendency, with many of his books, to strike cords with your heart. The difference with all his books and this one is that the others pick up and tend to become cheerful at a certain point. It isn’t until the epilogue that the dark cloud lifts.

Now there’s zero wrong with that. This is clearly a sad story about grief. Malcolm has lost his partner of 20+ years to cancer. He loved strongly. With him they had a full life of amazing adventures and a once and a lifetime love. When Malcolm watched David die slowly of cancer, and it pretty much destroyed Malcolm too. This book starts with him wrapped in a thick scarf of sadness and it honestly never loosens.

Hans is a famous writer who bursts through his life like a refreshing breeze. He’s 10 years younger than Malcolm which is no big deal but for Malcolm it really is. Hans is spontaneous, adventurous, romantic, and amazing. And at every turn Malcolm tries to find reasons to not be with him. So, it’s sad and a bit frustrating.

My main issue however was with the chemistry between Hans and Malcolm. I actually thought at a certain part of this story that it wasn’t going to work out with them. Not because of their age but their personalities constantly clashed and I never felt like they were perfect for each other. Not once. I thought Hans was too strong or Malcolm was too stubborn. I questioned if he was in therapy and if not he really needed to be.

It is very well written, honestly. I loved the descriptions and I can’t begrudge Andrew for the context. Sadness, mourning, and growing is what this book is about but it fell a little flat for me. It needed more connection between the characters. That would have made it more believable.

If you’re looking for a lot of angst and yes a happy ending this is a great book just be prepared for the sadness.