#with tim MAYBE it's worse because of the complex nature of his romances but he's just a teenage fuckup not an abuser y'all siblingless asses

[punkeropercyjackson]

Saying Tim Drake and Gwen Stacy are bad people for Tim having an 'unrealistic' number of love interests and for Gwen having situationships with both Miles and Hobie is funny as hell actually.You think fictional traumatized teenagers are 'abusive' because they get more bitches than you?????

[booksandwords]

Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

Read Time: 3 Days Rating: 5/5

The quote: Vulnerability is a gift, baby. A gift not many are brave enough to give. — Gran /Violet Ryder

Warnings: homophobia, discussions of life and death.

I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this. This hits emotionally hard. Having a character in a vegetative state and that debate is not easy. It will ask you to think about your own stance on right to die, dignity and love. My personal stance on this is hard and fast due to personal experience but I know not everyone has thought about it. Smoky Mountain Dreams is a book that prides itself on representing love in all its forms. We get to see romantic, unrequited, platonic, love of God and importantly familial. Familial actually feels more like the focus of Part II of the book. Part I feels like it focuses on the romantic relationship between Jesse and Christopher. There is of course blending. I liked the parts, the way it was broken up, the split is in a natural position. It doesn't impede the flow.

The main characters are all really likeable and distinct. From the little I've read so far, it is fair to say Leta Blake writes complexity and human characters well. No one is what they initially appear. Their motives are usually made plain and they are usually on some level relatable or at least understandable. Bat shit crazy preachers excepted. That said I think she might also have cleverly written an unreliable narrator into Smoky Mountain Dreams, at least in one aspect of his life. I will avoid spoilers for that. I'm going to go through the main characters but all the characters are distinct and easy to identify. Nova and Tim and so endearing. Joe is a fave is Christopher's family. I definitely think there was more to Lee.

Christopher Ryder is just sweet. His upbringing in a fundamental Christian household has hurt him given him massive self-confidence issues. He's a failed musician but happily working at Smoky Mountain Dreams a theme park. On some level, I relate to him. His familial abuse shines in later chapters. It just hurt.  He is grans fave grandchild. He's really close to his gran, not so much the rest of his family. His relationship with family changes as the book goes on. Jesse is the only person who sees him, really sees him.

Jesse Birch is rich like loaded for a life rich but works as a boutique jeweller. He's a father of two struggling to deal with an accident that left his wife, Marcy, in a vegetative state. He wants to honour her wishes but doesn't have medical power of attorney. Christopher is the first person he's gotten close to the 5 years since the accident. He's a fan of Chris' music and performances at Smoky Mountain Dreams. Jesse's coding is fascinating to me. He is a bisexual man because that is the label given to him, as with real people your label is yours to decide. But his coding could make him a bisexual demiromantic maybe. It would tie his romantic attraction to his emotions (but it's complicated). There is something truly appealing about a character living in a town where everyone knows his business where he never has to explain his family (wife or parents). Only to have to try and articulate it to a love interest. Marcy in particular is complicated.

Jesse's kids are 12-year-old Brigid and 9-year-old Will. Will is just a happy open child. Chris is accepted easily by Will after a fun moment. Brigid is not. While Will was 4 when Marcy had her accident, Brigid was 7. She is holding onto her mother, her dreams of her family as it was. Brigid has so much growth as a character, a lot of the plot revolves around her and what it will take for her to accept Chris being with Jesse. But as Jesse sees Chris, Chris sees Brigid. It is worth saying that while she is 12 she is slightly emotionally stunted due to her mother's accident.

A  dump of good things

“Are you…so, you’re gay? And living a lie?” “No, no. Of course not. If you’re not honest, then you’re not anything in this world, son. Learn that lesson now and you won’t be sorry. I’m bisexual. And monogamous.” — This was a joy to see. An older parental figure guiding and educating a

“Thank fucking God. There’s nothing worse than getting this far only to find out I don’t get to bottom. Let’s go.” — Christopher has no fucking filter and I love him for it.

"I’d be embarrassed but I don’t think I know how anymore. Not when it comes to him and his dick.” — All I could think when I read this line was oh god James is Zeus Jr. kinda reinforced when we got around to meeting the prick. Joe has the best reactions to this family, I mean really. Nopeing on out of there would likely be my reaction too.

The whole conversation is rhyming couplets made me smile. I was just so unexpected and must have taken some work to create.

This is insanely sex-positive. From Jesse's hookups across Europe to dirty talk and top/bottom and their conversation limitations to safe sex. There are no pressures to go beyond what is comfortable. I quite like Jesse he is a top plain and simple. It's not tied to not wanting pain or dominance and he can express himself as to why. But seeing a top who is just a top without being dominant feels slightly unusual these days.

It’s not adultery to me. My wife died five years ago. I had to move on.” “Okay, but legally, you’re still married.” “Yes.” — I think this broke my heart a little. Contextually I think it's one of the most interesting lines. Jesse knows some things intellectually but not emotionally.

Paper Cranes are a massive theme in this book. If you know the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes you will have some idea of what is coming

For those interested here is the audio of The Rose by Bette Midler which is oddly important to the story in a way. (via Spotify)

This is one of those books that has a lovely ending. It ends in a way that is definitely happy for now rather than happily ever after. It suits the tone of the book. Of equal importance to Chris and Jesse's happiness is Will and Brigid's given Chris and his position on Jesse prioritising his kids first. Everything comes back to family and acceptance. It did make me a little emotional which is what I wanted from it. There are some heartbreaking moments, some hot and heavy ones and some beautiful characters. It isn't always an easy read but it is well worth it. I like how Leta Blake writes, I like her character creation and her plots. I recommend trying if you are looking for some emotional romance to read. I can see why people who read her do, she's much along the same lines as Riley Hart and Kiera Andrews writing humans and something closer to realism.

2nd quote: “From my stepfather. From my mom. I mean, they didn’t hurt me. Physically. But you know how it can be in the South.” “They’re conservative Christians?” “That’s a polite way to put it. Given their beliefs, I tend to call them motherfucking lunatics.” — Christopher Ryder & Jesse Birch