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'90s Coming of Age #3
Only You
Join Peter Mandel on his final steps to love in Only You, the highly-anticipated final book of Leta Blake's ’90s Coming of Age series.
Despite the lingering wounds of his past relationship, Peter is ready to take a chance on finding a faithful love and embracing his true self.
Peter and Daniel explore their connection despite Daniel's complicated home life. But when Adam resurfaces, desperate to win Peter back, Peter must confront his complicated feelings and the painful ghosts of their shared past.
Only You is a powerful and emotional conclusion to the series, and a must-read for fans of New Adult Romance and Coming-of-Age fiction.
Despite the lingering wounds of his past relationship, Peter is ready to take a chance on finding a faithful love and embracing his true self.
Peter and Daniel explore their connection despite Daniel's complicated home life. But when Adam resurfaces, desperate to win Peter back, Peter must confront his complicated feelings and the painful ghosts of their shared past.
Only You is a powerful and emotional conclusion to the series, and a must-read for fans of New Adult Romance and Coming-of-Age fiction.
510 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2023
49 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Leta Blake
73 books1,743 followersAuthor of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and fan favorites Training Season, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, and Slow Heat, Leta Blake has been captivating M/M Romance readers for over a decade. Whether writing contemporary romance or fantasy, she puts her psychology background to use creating complex characters and love stories that feel real. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her writing and her family life.
If you'd like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta's newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bdn32H
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
May 19, 2023
How do I do justice to this final book in the series of 3 books, without giving away spoilers? A series that has completely consumed me for the last 3 days, that I’ve lived & breathed & cried over, and put life on hold for.
Swoon /5 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Angst /5 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Steam /5 ♨️♨️♨️♨️
Plot /5 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐
LOLs /5 🤭🤭🤭🤭
You must read the first 2 (Pictures of You, and You Are Not Me) before picking this one up. It’s crazy that the whole 3 books from start to end only represent just over a year in the MC Peter’s life, but I think it’s that which hooks into your heart - so much happens, we experience every (often excruciating) emotion in him, and there is SO much personal growth. You become completely invested in Peter getting a HEA, which isn’t certain until the final chapter. He’s real, fallible, insightful & painfully self aware at times, but it makes you love him more.
This is set in the early 90s, so we see the impact of HIV/AIDS on the gay community: the fear, stigma & deaths. And we see the generalised hate, homophobia & threats of physical violence that are a constant - but we also get to see gorgeous moments of queer joy through Peter’s eyes. He finds his people, & he can live authentically with so much love around him. And when he finally gets the romantic love he deserves? The ending was EVERYTHING I’d hoped for, but was scared wouldn’t come (I worried I wouldn’t be able to keep reading if Peter didn’t stay with the one who loved him best!) We see the difference between healthy & unhealthy relationships, we see that sometimes loving someone with everything you have isn’t enough. It made me feel deep sadness, frustration, dread, empathy, and soaring happiness. 5 star swoon & steam as well. And the crisis points in the story were never confected or overly dramatic, but appropriate to the situation.
Can’t recommend this series highly enough… another that will stay in my heart for a really long time, & that’s given me a massive book hangover.
Check out my reviews and MM content on Instagram, Facebook, StoryGraph & Bookbub, all under the same name! I gratefully received an advance copy and this is my honest review.
Swoon /5 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Angst /5 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
Steam /5 ♨️♨️♨️♨️
Plot /5 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐
LOLs /5 🤭🤭🤭🤭
You must read the first 2 (Pictures of You, and You Are Not Me) before picking this one up. It’s crazy that the whole 3 books from start to end only represent just over a year in the MC Peter’s life, but I think it’s that which hooks into your heart - so much happens, we experience every (often excruciating) emotion in him, and there is SO much personal growth. You become completely invested in Peter getting a HEA, which isn’t certain until the final chapter. He’s real, fallible, insightful & painfully self aware at times, but it makes you love him more.
This is set in the early 90s, so we see the impact of HIV/AIDS on the gay community: the fear, stigma & deaths. And we see the generalised hate, homophobia & threats of physical violence that are a constant - but we also get to see gorgeous moments of queer joy through Peter’s eyes. He finds his people, & he can live authentically with so much love around him. And when he finally gets the romantic love he deserves? The ending was EVERYTHING I’d hoped for, but was scared wouldn’t come (I worried I wouldn’t be able to keep reading if Peter didn’t stay with the one who loved him best!) We see the difference between healthy & unhealthy relationships, we see that sometimes loving someone with everything you have isn’t enough. It made me feel deep sadness, frustration, dread, empathy, and soaring happiness. 5 star swoon & steam as well. And the crisis points in the story were never confected or overly dramatic, but appropriate to the situation.
Can’t recommend this series highly enough… another that will stay in my heart for a really long time, & that’s given me a massive book hangover.
Check out my reviews and MM content on Instagram, Facebook, StoryGraph & Bookbub, all under the same name! I gratefully received an advance copy and this is my honest review.
July 2, 2023
Sometimes I thought Adam was my biggest mistake. Other times I still felt a twinge of affection for him. But mostly he left me swamped with regrets.
”You won’t go back to him?” Daniel’s eyes flashed with vulnerability.
I stroked his back. “I won’t.”
“You love really hard, Peter, and even though I spent the summer jealous as hell, I thought your loyalty to him was beautiful. Fucked up and bound to end in disaster, but beautiful.”
Daniel was beautiful, inside and out, and being with him didn’t make me feel like I needed to take photos of myself curled up in corners of abandoned buildings, or haunted and alone in mirrors, documenting love bites from a guy who would never love me in public.
Adam & Peter’s love story reminds me of Sandcastles by Beyoncé and Daniel & Peter’s love story reminds me of Love on Top by Beyoncé. Do with that what you will! My affection for Peter is immense. Seeing how much personal growth he went through was so rewarding! I grew a bit sad as I was getting closer to the series ending, like I’d be saying goodbye to a good friend. 🚨Spoilers ahead, spoilers ahead!!! I’m approaching spoiler territory with my next ramblings!!!🚨I loved this third installment a lot because we see a Peter who is much more self assured and in a healthy and loving relationship with perhaps one of the best love interests of all time?!?! Like come on, it doesn’t get better than Daniel!! It just doesn’t! He’s also a huge reason I love this installment so much, of course. This kind, supportive, strong, caring, gentle, loving, passionate and beautiful soul…I could write sonnets about him. What a man. So the progression of Peter’s relationship with himself, his friends, his boyfriend, his family…oh I could weep. (I did!) One of my favorite character arcs of all time, truly. It’s made all the more rewarding because of where he started off. I did miss seeing Robert, Renee and Barry as much. But we got so spoiled by how much we got to see of them in book two. Minty, Windy, Antonio. Peter’s parents. The side characters in this series are great. They’re vibrant, lovable, they refuse to be ignored and demand your full attention. I’ll miss them terribly. Peter was really living by that perks of being a wallflower quote (you know the one) and I’m glad he no longer would accept the type of love Adam gave him. I’m so proud of this fictional person I’ve become extremely attached to. Sigh. What a spectacular series. An absolute masterpiece in every way. Leta Blake, you are a legend!!!! Thank you!!!
”But you’ll be happy, Peter. Won’t you?”
“That’s my plan.”
”You won’t go back to him?” Daniel’s eyes flashed with vulnerability.
I stroked his back. “I won’t.”
“You love really hard, Peter, and even though I spent the summer jealous as hell, I thought your loyalty to him was beautiful. Fucked up and bound to end in disaster, but beautiful.”
Daniel was beautiful, inside and out, and being with him didn’t make me feel like I needed to take photos of myself curled up in corners of abandoned buildings, or haunted and alone in mirrors, documenting love bites from a guy who would never love me in public.
Adam & Peter’s love story reminds me of Sandcastles by Beyoncé and Daniel & Peter’s love story reminds me of Love on Top by Beyoncé. Do with that what you will! My affection for Peter is immense. Seeing how much personal growth he went through was so rewarding! I grew a bit sad as I was getting closer to the series ending, like I’d be saying goodbye to a good friend. 🚨Spoilers ahead, spoilers ahead!!! I’m approaching spoiler territory with my next ramblings!!!🚨I loved this third installment a lot because we see a Peter who is much more self assured and in a healthy and loving relationship with perhaps one of the best love interests of all time?!?! Like come on, it doesn’t get better than Daniel!! It just doesn’t! He’s also a huge reason I love this installment so much, of course. This kind, supportive, strong, caring, gentle, loving, passionate and beautiful soul…I could write sonnets about him. What a man. So the progression of Peter’s relationship with himself, his friends, his boyfriend, his family…oh I could weep. (I did!) One of my favorite character arcs of all time, truly. It’s made all the more rewarding because of where he started off. I did miss seeing Robert, Renee and Barry as much. But we got so spoiled by how much we got to see of them in book two. Minty, Windy, Antonio. Peter’s parents. The side characters in this series are great. They’re vibrant, lovable, they refuse to be ignored and demand your full attention. I’ll miss them terribly. Peter was really living by that perks of being a wallflower quote (you know the one) and I’m glad he no longer would accept the type of love Adam gave him. I’m so proud of this fictional person I’ve become extremely attached to. Sigh. What a spectacular series. An absolute masterpiece in every way. Leta Blake, you are a legend!!!! Thank you!!!
”But you’ll be happy, Peter. Won’t you?”
“That’s my plan.”
May 26, 2023
**** 3.75 stars ****
I'm happy to finally have closure after all these years. And even happier with Pete's choice. 🥰
But I must say that, somehow, the ending of the story left me with a bitter taste. My feelings are mixed.
Shout out to the excellent characterization of all support characters.
LOVED THEM ALL!
I'm happy to finally have closure after all these years. And even happier with Pete's choice. 🥰
But I must say that, somehow, the ending of the story left me with a bitter taste. My feelings are mixed.
Shout out to the excellent characterization of all support characters.
LOVED THEM ALL!
May 15, 2023
Spoilers ahead! This is a continuation, not a standalone. It picks up right where book #2 left off, so don't read this book before you've read both Pictures of You AND You Are Not Me. If you just came to a screeching halt, let me just say that I highly recommend these books. This series will hurt you and tear you to pieces, but it will put you back together again in the end and all the pain and anger will have been worth it (it was for me, anyway).
Hello redemption, it's nice to see you. I loved the decisions made in this book and the way each little thread was handled in a way that stayed true to the characters and their experiences. I can't imagine it was easy for the author to come back to a series that had been shelved for years and remember who these characters fundamentally were, where they came from and what drove them to be more or something else. I was so impressed by how seamless it felt. Peter was still reeling from the whole Adam situation, but he was determined to interact with his art, his sexuality, his future and the entire world around him in a healthier, less harmful way. Daniel, though important in book #2, had been relegated to the periphery in a lot of ways. He was this speck of light that Peter wanted to both bask in and run from, but we didn't get to know him very well before because we were still too deep in the throes of Peter and Adam's drama. Learning about Daniel's past and what his family life was like allowed me to understand why he was so hesitant to trust people and why he wasn't surprised when they let him down. He was such an honest and good person that the dichotomy between him and Adam was almost laughable. Even though Daniel was a little cheesy at times, and maybe overly sentimental, he was good for Peter and I loved them together.
I don't want to veer off into spoiler territory, but I'll say that Adam's role in this book hurt my heart in ways I didn't expect. The circular callback to the way Adam and Peter met brought tears to my eyes because it felt like such a fitting and definitive end to that chapter in Peter's life. It also reminded me that it hadn't always been bad between them. I guess I felt a lot like Peter did - sadness for what could have been, regret for what their relationship became and acceptance (mixed with profound relief) that it was over.
There were a few reasons why I couldn't give this finale 5 stars. There was one scene/decision that felt kind of tacky and disrespectful. The characters tried to convince me otherwise, but nope. Didn't work for me. Once you've read the book, I wholeheartedly believe you'll know what scene I'm talking about. There were also some other bits and bobs that annoyed me, but I'll refrain from specifics. Honestly, if that one scene hadn't been included, I probably could have overlooked everything else.
Otherwise, there was so much to love about this book and I wish I could subject you all to a full diatribe of my thoughts and emotions about it, but if you've already read and loved the first two books, you don't need me to convince you to read this one. The ending was perfect because it wasn't an ending at all. It was a new beginning for Peter and it was filled with potential. If the author ever decides to revisit these characters, whether it's through Peter or one of the other amazing side characters, I am all in.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest, unbiased review.
Hello redemption, it's nice to see you. I loved the decisions made in this book and the way each little thread was handled in a way that stayed true to the characters and their experiences. I can't imagine it was easy for the author to come back to a series that had been shelved for years and remember who these characters fundamentally were, where they came from and what drove them to be more or something else. I was so impressed by how seamless it felt. Peter was still reeling from the whole Adam situation, but he was determined to interact with his art, his sexuality, his future and the entire world around him in a healthier, less harmful way. Daniel, though important in book #2, had been relegated to the periphery in a lot of ways. He was this speck of light that Peter wanted to both bask in and run from, but we didn't get to know him very well before because we were still too deep in the throes of Peter and Adam's drama. Learning about Daniel's past and what his family life was like allowed me to understand why he was so hesitant to trust people and why he wasn't surprised when they let him down. He was such an honest and good person that the dichotomy between him and Adam was almost laughable. Even though Daniel was a little cheesy at times, and maybe overly sentimental, he was good for Peter and I loved them together.
I don't want to veer off into spoiler territory, but I'll say that Adam's role in this book hurt my heart in ways I didn't expect. The circular callback to the way Adam and Peter met brought tears to my eyes because it felt like such a fitting and definitive end to that chapter in Peter's life. It also reminded me that it hadn't always been bad between them. I guess I felt a lot like Peter did - sadness for what could have been, regret for what their relationship became and acceptance (mixed with profound relief) that it was over.
There were a few reasons why I couldn't give this finale 5 stars. There was one scene/decision that felt kind of tacky and disrespectful. The characters tried to convince me otherwise, but nope. Didn't work for me. Once you've read the book, I wholeheartedly believe you'll know what scene I'm talking about. There were also some other bits and bobs that annoyed me, but I'll refrain from specifics. Honestly, if that one scene hadn't been included, I probably could have overlooked everything else.
Otherwise, there was so much to love about this book and I wish I could subject you all to a full diatribe of my thoughts and emotions about it, but if you've already read and loved the first two books, you don't need me to convince you to read this one. The ending was perfect because it wasn't an ending at all. It was a new beginning for Peter and it was filled with potential. If the author ever decides to revisit these characters, whether it's through Peter or one of the other amazing side characters, I am all in.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest, unbiased review.
September 27, 2023
5.0 stars ...
for the book AND the trilogy
What
a
journey!
🤯
Peter has very admirably redeemed himself in my eyes and heart. His evolution from beginning to end through this trilogy is bloody brilliant. I felt every range of emotion towards him throughout this trilogy ... which is a huge credit to the talents of Leta Blake. My feelings toward Adam went from "I can totally relate!" understanding to "what the actual f**k, you psycho?!?" pity and revulsion ... again, a huge credit to the talents of Leta Blake. "All the feels" is WAY overused ... but completely appropriate for this excruciatingly painful, heart-wrenchingly beautiful journey.
for the book AND the trilogy
What
a
journey!
🤯
Peter has very admirably redeemed himself in my eyes and heart. His evolution from beginning to end through this trilogy is bloody brilliant. I felt every range of emotion towards him throughout this trilogy ... which is a huge credit to the talents of Leta Blake. My feelings toward Adam went from "I can totally relate!" understanding to "what the actual f**k, you psycho?!?" pity and revulsion ... again, a huge credit to the talents of Leta Blake. "All the feels" is WAY overused ... but completely appropriate for this excruciatingly painful, heart-wrenchingly beautiful journey.
June 14, 2023
Beautiful. Sad. So many feelings. My heart is broken and full at the same time.
I loved everything about this, even though it kept making me cry. So many tears.
My app crashed AGAIN as I was almost done with my review, so this is it. 😘
I loved everything about this, even though it kept making me cry. So many tears.
My app crashed AGAIN as I was almost done with my review, so this is it. 😘
April 27, 2023
I’m heartbroken, Peter’s story is over. But I’m also so freaking excited because Peter’s story is complete and it’s AMAZING!!! I’ve waited, like all others who love Peter, years for this conclusion and it did not disappoint one bit. I was worried it would because it’s been awhile and did Leta Blake still have the same momentum with Peter? I knew it was silly to think that but I’m so happy that the story picks up right where the second book left off and it flowed perfectly.
It’s hard to believe that overall in Peter’s life these books span only a year and half, approximately. Peter grew so much and learned so many life lessons in this time. He met his first love, who was selfish and made Peter feel horrible, so he suffered his first heartbreak, he photographed his way through his senior year of high school and throughout the summer into his freshman year at college and his photography grew just as much as he did. He met friends that were ok but then he met HIS PEOPLE, the friends that were perfect for him. He also met the love of his life. His relationship with his parents grew and he was able to come out to them and be accepted and supportive. His dad was awesome, his mom still has work to do. And getting to know his uncle in such a special way was one of the most heart wrenching parts of the story.
I didn’t want this book to end. I felt sad that I was finishing it but I remembered that I’ve reread the first two books and now I can reread the entire series whenever I want. Peter is so precious I cannot imagine not revisiting him time and again.
We met many characters throughout this series and some were such great characters and some were ones I’ve wanted to punch in the face. lol. Minty was a favorite for me, what a story there is there. Daniel seemed like the perfect guy who had everything together but he wound up having a lot more on his plate. He was all in though and even if he had worried about Peter possibly going back to Adam he loves with his whole heart and him and Peter are perfect together.
The Adam part of Peter’s story wraps up in a sad sort of way but it shows what Peter knew all along. He was so insecure when he first met Adam and by going through that relationship and feeling hurt and disgusted with himself he then was ready to accept himself and realize that he deserves better, he deserves someone who won’t hide his love for him. Adam needed to still learn so much more. It was sad to me but it was wrapped up even better than I imagined it would be.
AIDS is a huge part of this story and it is handled in such a great way. Knowing that these men had to go through this and see so many sick and dying was scary. It was a time where there was still a ways to go before there was real hope for those living with the virus. Knowing now how far things have come I wish they could have known that there is hope. I want to see these characters today, how their lives have played out and how they have helped to shape the LGBTQ+ movement.
This is a truly moving book, the entire series is probably the most special to me out of anything I’ve ever read. Thank you Leta Blake for telling this story. I’m so happy Peter finally was ready to tell the rest of his story. I’ll hold it close to my heart always. ❤️
It’s hard to believe that overall in Peter’s life these books span only a year and half, approximately. Peter grew so much and learned so many life lessons in this time. He met his first love, who was selfish and made Peter feel horrible, so he suffered his first heartbreak, he photographed his way through his senior year of high school and throughout the summer into his freshman year at college and his photography grew just as much as he did. He met friends that were ok but then he met HIS PEOPLE, the friends that were perfect for him. He also met the love of his life. His relationship with his parents grew and he was able to come out to them and be accepted and supportive. His dad was awesome, his mom still has work to do. And getting to know his uncle in such a special way was one of the most heart wrenching parts of the story.
I didn’t want this book to end. I felt sad that I was finishing it but I remembered that I’ve reread the first two books and now I can reread the entire series whenever I want. Peter is so precious I cannot imagine not revisiting him time and again.
We met many characters throughout this series and some were such great characters and some were ones I’ve wanted to punch in the face. lol. Minty was a favorite for me, what a story there is there. Daniel seemed like the perfect guy who had everything together but he wound up having a lot more on his plate. He was all in though and even if he had worried about Peter possibly going back to Adam he loves with his whole heart and him and Peter are perfect together.
The Adam part of Peter’s story wraps up in a sad sort of way but it shows what Peter knew all along. He was so insecure when he first met Adam and by going through that relationship and feeling hurt and disgusted with himself he then was ready to accept himself and realize that he deserves better, he deserves someone who won’t hide his love for him. Adam needed to still learn so much more. It was sad to me but it was wrapped up even better than I imagined it would be.
AIDS is a huge part of this story and it is handled in such a great way. Knowing that these men had to go through this and see so many sick and dying was scary. It was a time where there was still a ways to go before there was real hope for those living with the virus. Knowing now how far things have come I wish they could have known that there is hope. I want to see these characters today, how their lives have played out and how they have helped to shape the LGBTQ+ movement.
This is a truly moving book, the entire series is probably the most special to me out of anything I’ve ever read. Thank you Leta Blake for telling this story. I’m so happy Peter finally was ready to tell the rest of his story. I’ll hold it close to my heart always. ❤️
June 5, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“From now on, I was going to be the kind of man who took photos for the love of it, not because he’d die if he didn’t, and I’d be the kind of man who fell in love with someone true and honest, like Daniel. Someone who, if he ever did date me, would never hide me away or use me.
I was becoming a man I could be proud of ---”
Leta Blake's 90s Coming of Age series finally comes to a close with Only You. It was a good read - the writing, as always was wonderful. She has an art for making the characters' interactions feel so very realistic and just leap off the pages with their dialogues. As exhausting as it is to be back in Peter's mind as he grapples with his newfound acceptance into the life and person he is, while still struggling to find a balance between his new love and old, it was still handled with her usual touch of honesty and heart.
“High school is a terrible time to be gay. It’s a terrible time for almost everyone, I think. But for a queer kid? It’s hell.”
It's the fall of 1991, and in his freshman year at college, Peter is slowly learning how to trust in himself and to trust others, especially Daniel. Their relationship was at a rocky start at first, but his unselfish desire to help Daniel cope with his own personal family issues was very nice to see. I liked all the casual and intimate moments Peter shared with Daniel, how you could clearly see that neither of them was quite over the other, as much as they fought their affection for each other. 💕💕💕
Peter really grew into himself and his personality. His quiet determination to be more confident in himself and to stop making excuses for his actions was shown very well. I admired that he no longer felt compelled to make excuses for himself and apologize for the person that he was. He was so much more receptive to his own behavior and the people around him, making him more accepting of embracing who he was, to be more comfortable in his own ground and with the people who resonated with his own passions and desires. 🥰🥰 It was cathartic and refreshing to see and with LB's flair for writing, she captured all that intensity in a very heartfelt and steady flow. 👍🏻
“You love really hard, Peter, and even though I spent the summer jealous as hell, I thought your loyalty to him was beautiful. Fucked up and bound to end in disaster, but beautiful.”
As much as it was a progression in Daniel and Peter's relationship, I do wish that Adam's endgame wasn't the way it was - it was rather tragic, but sadly very plausible given his own family's values. It feels almost justified and vindictive of sorts to see that the man that Peter was once smitten, lose everything that once brought a sparkle to his life, and still, it just didn't feel satisfying or rewarding to see. 💔 I was almost numb to the angst that followed upon his return into Peter's life - the constant need for proving his love and that they belong together; but, in order for Peter to truly move on in his life, he needed that closure, to shut that chapter in his life forever. The author has hinted that she might consider continuing Adam's story further; I don't know if I would read it just yet, but if there is a chance for him to redeem himself, then I hope it'll be what makes him happiest.
“What I’m saying to you, Peter, is that I was around for Kevin, and every other guy he’s ever gone on a date with. He’s never looked at another person the way he looks at you. Why? Beats the hell out of me. I mean, you’re cute and all, but you’re a bitch.”
“Again, I’m really feeling your friendship, Minty. I feel like we’re brothers of the heart.”
“Let’s talk about hearts,” he said. “If you break his, I’ll kick your ass and bury you in a shallow grave for Dr. Bass at the Body Farm to find.”
Since he appeared in the first book, Minty's character has fascinated me - there is a magnetic pull about his wild behavior and tortured personality and his self-destructive path tinged with a fierce devotion and still flamboyant charisma that made his character impossible not to notice. 🎇🎇 Learning about his history, seeing how he coped with everything that happened to him, trying to find a balance to his madness - my heart really hurt for him. So, it was no surprise when I found out that Leta Blake also aimed to continue his story in a new novel, because there are still so many layers to his character that are still to be unraveled - one which I am very much looking forward to. 😳
“I want to be with you and only you. I want to feel you like that. You cried last night when you were in me bare, and I know it was because you felt the power of it as much as I did.”
Sometimes there are thoughts that you just have to get out of your head and write them out, otherwise, they'll never leave you. So, this is going to be a strange analysis, but please bear with me and if it doesn't make any sense, I sincerely apologize in advance.
I was, somehow, bracing myself, for the topic of AIDS to be more of a prevalent theme in the book, based on some various reviews leading up to it's initial release. It did not have that much of a focus as what I was expecting, but whatever was covered, I appreciated and felt that it was covered in a respective manner.
However, once Peter and Daniel became a couple, almost the majority of Peter and Daniel's relationship was dominated by their wish to have unprotected sex. Almost every time, they were together, there was this fervent push and pull for them fighting their desire from going the whole way. A part of me made me feel uncomfortable having it constantly brought up in every discussion - it felt as if both of them were amounting their relationship entirely into being completely into each other (please excuse the pun) - and that their relationship had just boiled down to this one last step to show the level of loyal commitment to one other. 😔
But then, the rational part of me argues and which eventually does win over in my head - is that, at this time, in the 90s - this was a very big step for couples and still a big risk. To lay yourself bare to someone, with the gnawing fear that it could come back to harm you - anyone would want to discuss this as much as possible. So, while I didn't like that Peter and Daniel's conversations just revolved along how long till their tests were cleared so they could be as intimate as ever with each other, after I finished reading and really just thought about it - I realized that it wasn't my place to judge and I could not speak for the ones who it really mattered to. 🤷 So, if this was a realistic and honest portrayal for the people who it affected most at that time, then kudos to Leta Blake for covering such a sensitive important subject with honest communication and understanding.
And secondly, okay - I know that Leta Blake mentioned that it was going to be two parts to the story, but she felt that there wasn't enough material. So, as much as I liked the limited exposure we got to Peter's uncle, it was a nice side story, something that gave some semblance to Peter's own self-worth and hope to have a brighter future with his own photography talents. However, with the fact that this story was released nearly 7 years after the last release, I would have expected some perfect revisions to the final draft, rather than this glaring editing mistake that I could not overlook - no matter how hard I tried. 😩
“Daniel headed over to a box of DVDs he’d half-packed and started going through movie choices.”
According to Google, the first DVD was developed in 1995 - DVDs didn't come to the States till 1997. Peter's story is taking place in 1991. 🧐
See, what I'm getting at?? 👀👀 I did a literal double-take when I read it, and immediately highlighted it. As someone who grew up with my precious collection of cartoon VHS tapes, I thought something was off about this statement, especially when much later, Peter and David were going through another VHS assortment. It's such a silly thing to gripe over, but it weighed on me - maybe, I shouldn't read things too attentively... 😢
So, in the end, while I bid adieu to a character I only recently met, his life story is one that I will look back with much fondness. Shocking, right? Why, you ask? Because, it was able to affect me so much - good or bad, I connected with the story. It frustrated me, it humored me, it bedazzled me, it moved me - and Peter's story may be over for now, but the journey to becoming the confident man he was in his craft and in himself, made the it all the more worthwhile. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“From now on, I was going to be the kind of man who took photos for the love of it, not because he’d die if he didn’t, and I’d be the kind of man who fell in love with someone true and honest, like Daniel. Someone who, if he ever did date me, would never hide me away or use me.
I was becoming a man I could be proud of ---”
Leta Blake's 90s Coming of Age series finally comes to a close with Only You. It was a good read - the writing, as always was wonderful. She has an art for making the characters' interactions feel so very realistic and just leap off the pages with their dialogues. As exhausting as it is to be back in Peter's mind as he grapples with his newfound acceptance into the life and person he is, while still struggling to find a balance between his new love and old, it was still handled with her usual touch of honesty and heart.
“High school is a terrible time to be gay. It’s a terrible time for almost everyone, I think. But for a queer kid? It’s hell.”
It's the fall of 1991, and in his freshman year at college, Peter is slowly learning how to trust in himself and to trust others, especially Daniel. Their relationship was at a rocky start at first, but his unselfish desire to help Daniel cope with his own personal family issues was very nice to see. I liked all the casual and intimate moments Peter shared with Daniel, how you could clearly see that neither of them was quite over the other, as much as they fought their affection for each other. 💕💕💕
Peter really grew into himself and his personality. His quiet determination to be more confident in himself and to stop making excuses for his actions was shown very well. I admired that he no longer felt compelled to make excuses for himself and apologize for the person that he was. He was so much more receptive to his own behavior and the people around him, making him more accepting of embracing who he was, to be more comfortable in his own ground and with the people who resonated with his own passions and desires. 🥰🥰 It was cathartic and refreshing to see and with LB's flair for writing, she captured all that intensity in a very heartfelt and steady flow. 👍🏻
“You love really hard, Peter, and even though I spent the summer jealous as hell, I thought your loyalty to him was beautiful. Fucked up and bound to end in disaster, but beautiful.”
As much as it was a progression in Daniel and Peter's relationship, I do wish that Adam's endgame wasn't the way it was - it was rather tragic, but sadly very plausible given his own family's values. It feels almost justified and vindictive of sorts to see that the man that Peter was once smitten, lose everything that once brought a sparkle to his life, and still, it just didn't feel satisfying or rewarding to see. 💔 I was almost numb to the angst that followed upon his return into Peter's life - the constant need for proving his love and that they belong together; but, in order for Peter to truly move on in his life, he needed that closure, to shut that chapter in his life forever. The author has hinted that she might consider continuing Adam's story further; I don't know if I would read it just yet, but if there is a chance for him to redeem himself, then I hope it'll be what makes him happiest.
“What I’m saying to you, Peter, is that I was around for Kevin, and every other guy he’s ever gone on a date with. He’s never looked at another person the way he looks at you. Why? Beats the hell out of me. I mean, you’re cute and all, but you’re a bitch.”
“Again, I’m really feeling your friendship, Minty. I feel like we’re brothers of the heart.”
“Let’s talk about hearts,” he said. “If you break his, I’ll kick your ass and bury you in a shallow grave for Dr. Bass at the Body Farm to find.”
Since he appeared in the first book, Minty's character has fascinated me - there is a magnetic pull about his wild behavior and tortured personality and his self-destructive path tinged with a fierce devotion and still flamboyant charisma that made his character impossible not to notice. 🎇🎇 Learning about his history, seeing how he coped with everything that happened to him, trying to find a balance to his madness - my heart really hurt for him. So, it was no surprise when I found out that Leta Blake also aimed to continue his story in a new novel, because there are still so many layers to his character that are still to be unraveled - one which I am very much looking forward to. 😳
“I want to be with you and only you. I want to feel you like that. You cried last night when you were in me bare, and I know it was because you felt the power of it as much as I did.”
Sometimes there are thoughts that you just have to get out of your head and write them out, otherwise, they'll never leave you. So, this is going to be a strange analysis, but please bear with me and if it doesn't make any sense, I sincerely apologize in advance.
I was, somehow, bracing myself, for the topic of AIDS to be more of a prevalent theme in the book, based on some various reviews leading up to it's initial release. It did not have that much of a focus as what I was expecting, but whatever was covered, I appreciated and felt that it was covered in a respective manner.
However, once Peter and Daniel became a couple, almost the majority of Peter and Daniel's relationship was dominated by their wish to have unprotected sex. Almost every time, they were together, there was this fervent push and pull for them fighting their desire from going the whole way. A part of me made me feel uncomfortable having it constantly brought up in every discussion - it felt as if both of them were amounting their relationship entirely into being completely into each other (please excuse the pun) - and that their relationship had just boiled down to this one last step to show the level of loyal commitment to one other. 😔
But then, the rational part of me argues and which eventually does win over in my head - is that, at this time, in the 90s - this was a very big step for couples and still a big risk. To lay yourself bare to someone, with the gnawing fear that it could come back to harm you - anyone would want to discuss this as much as possible. So, while I didn't like that Peter and Daniel's conversations just revolved along how long till their tests were cleared so they could be as intimate as ever with each other, after I finished reading and really just thought about it - I realized that it wasn't my place to judge and I could not speak for the ones who it really mattered to. 🤷 So, if this was a realistic and honest portrayal for the people who it affected most at that time, then kudos to Leta Blake for covering such a sensitive important subject with honest communication and understanding.
And secondly, okay - I know that Leta Blake mentioned that it was going to be two parts to the story, but she felt that there wasn't enough material. So, as much as I liked the limited exposure we got to Peter's uncle, it was a nice side story, something that gave some semblance to Peter's own self-worth and hope to have a brighter future with his own photography talents. However, with the fact that this story was released nearly 7 years after the last release, I would have expected some perfect revisions to the final draft, rather than this glaring editing mistake that I could not overlook - no matter how hard I tried. 😩
“Daniel headed over to a box of DVDs he’d half-packed and started going through movie choices.”
According to Google, the first DVD was developed in 1995 - DVDs didn't come to the States till 1997. Peter's story is taking place in 1991. 🧐
See, what I'm getting at?? 👀👀 I did a literal double-take when I read it, and immediately highlighted it. As someone who grew up with my precious collection of cartoon VHS tapes, I thought something was off about this statement, especially when much later, Peter and David were going through another VHS assortment. It's such a silly thing to gripe over, but it weighed on me - maybe, I shouldn't read things too attentively... 😢
So, in the end, while I bid adieu to a character I only recently met, his life story is one that I will look back with much fondness. Shocking, right? Why, you ask? Because, it was able to affect me so much - good or bad, I connected with the story. It frustrated me, it humored me, it bedazzled me, it moved me - and Peter's story may be over for now, but the journey to becoming the confident man he was in his craft and in himself, made the it all the more worthwhile. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
May 19, 2023
4.5/5 Stars
This review will contain spoilers for book two so please keep that in mind before you start reading!
This book is everything I've wanted since I started this series. Anyone who's friends with me on goodreads might've noticed I absolutely binged my way through these three books in the space of three days. I honestly felt bad that I was able to get an arc for the final book when I know there was people who've been waiting years to finally read the end of Peter's story, but thankfully there are only a few days left (from when I posted this review) until the book is finally out in the wild!
Book three leaves off exactly where You Are Not Me ends with Peter going to Daniels house. Honestly my biggest gripe with this book was the lack of time between things ending with Adam, and beginning with Daniel. Peter goes to Daniels house with the intention of telling him his feelings and trying to make it up to Daniel, and I would've preferred some time between to make it feel less of a rebound, but the author actually did a good job of proving that Peter's feelings were genuine. This book mostly revolves around Peter and Daniels new relationship, and how they start trusting each other and building a life together. I loved everything about it, and I loved how they both handled any issues that came up in their lives. They were both so dedicated to each other and to making things work.
There was more to this book than just Peter and Daniel's story. Peter finally starts college, Daniel has some issues at home with him family, and Minty starts acting weird and worries everyone. Of course we also haven't seen the last of Adam (not that anyone's surprised), but I think the author worked all these things into the story so well and balanced them alongside the developing relationship.
My only other issue with the book is that there are a few things left with no conclusion. I know this series was meant to initially have four books, and I wonder if that's why there are some open endings left. In some cases I kind of like not knowing the ending, it leaves a lot open to reader to imagine how things could've gone, but I would've liked to seen the ending to a few things too. But considering how hard the author worked to finally get this story out, and with how long so many people waiting, I'm happy with what we got.
I was left feeling a bit empty after this series consumed my life for three days straight, and I'm just so happy with how everything went. I can't wait to see how everyone else feel's about this final book.
This review will contain spoilers for book two so please keep that in mind before you start reading!
This book is everything I've wanted since I started this series. Anyone who's friends with me on goodreads might've noticed I absolutely binged my way through these three books in the space of three days. I honestly felt bad that I was able to get an arc for the final book when I know there was people who've been waiting years to finally read the end of Peter's story, but thankfully there are only a few days left (from when I posted this review) until the book is finally out in the wild!
Book three leaves off exactly where You Are Not Me ends with Peter going to Daniels house. Honestly my biggest gripe with this book was the lack of time between things ending with Adam, and beginning with Daniel. Peter goes to Daniels house with the intention of telling him his feelings and trying to make it up to Daniel, and I would've preferred some time between to make it feel less of a rebound, but the author actually did a good job of proving that Peter's feelings were genuine. This book mostly revolves around Peter and Daniels new relationship, and how they start trusting each other and building a life together. I loved everything about it, and I loved how they both handled any issues that came up in their lives. They were both so dedicated to each other and to making things work.
There was more to this book than just Peter and Daniel's story. Peter finally starts college, Daniel has some issues at home with him family, and Minty starts acting weird and worries everyone. Of course we also haven't seen the last of Adam (not that anyone's surprised), but I think the author worked all these things into the story so well and balanced them alongside the developing relationship.
My only other issue with the book is that there are a few things left with no conclusion. I know this series was meant to initially have four books, and I wonder if that's why there are some open endings left. In some cases I kind of like not knowing the ending, it leaves a lot open to reader to imagine how things could've gone, but I would've liked to seen the ending to a few things too. But considering how hard the author worked to finally get this story out, and with how long so many people waiting, I'm happy with what we got.
I was left feeling a bit empty after this series consumed my life for three days straight, and I'm just so happy with how everything went. I can't wait to see how everyone else feel's about this final book.
December 1, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
But life didn’t wait for healing. It just carried on whether we were still hurting or not.
I finished the book a few days ago, but I needed to sit with it for a while. Feel all the feelings, and think all the thoughts. It feels criminal to try to sum up these books in the typical reviews I do. They really are so much more than a short list of tropes and content warnings. Both of those things are of course important, but it can never explain a book entirely.
This was what I’d come here for—to prove to him that I was worthy of being his friend, to try and repair what I’d broken.
The third and final book was maybe a smidge less angsty than the first two, but it was in no way less emotional. Maybe the most difficult bit is all the guilt Peter is dealing with still, and how he's trying to rebuild relationships and regain trust. I find the books very realistic, which means that these things aren't achieved easily. Daniel is sweetness personified, he has a savior complex, as well as trust issues, and I love him a lot. Daniel doesn't really trust Peter, and although this is more than understandable after the previous books, it's heartbreaking to read.
I wanted to make up for the entire last year of my life, for who I’d been to him and Leslie, and for what I’d done to them both. But I also needed to find a way to prove it all to myself—not only to him, but to me. This wasn’t just about Daniel. It was about being the person I wanted to be.
There's been so much hurt and angst in the trilogy that I spent the third book just wanting things to be okay and for everyone to be happy. I'm honestly not sure if we got that or not, but I did end the book feeling hopeful for the characters' futures.
Lying for so long had stolen my ability to know who to trust. For that matter, could I even trust myself?
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Friends to lovers
Trilogy slow burn
HFN
Troublesome ex
Edging
Set in the 90’s
Hurt/comfort
College
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Side character hospitalized
Death of a side character
Alcoholic parent (relapse)
Custody/family dispute about siblings
Unsafe sex (side character)
Sexual self harm (side character)
Side character diagnosed with HIV
Brief mentions of physical and sexual abuse of a side character (past, off page)
Physical abuse (parent, side character, off page)
Side character disowned and cut off from family
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: Yes, Adam is a constant force. Peter does not go back to him.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Historical/coming of age/romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
MCs age: 19 and 22
“[…] You ruin things. You take love and make it ugly. I don’t want you anymore.”
What was this miasma of sneering pride and wrenching pain? Did it have a name? How could I take a picture of it? It was so ugly, sharp, and mean.
I hung up before he could say another word. I had to get off the line before I let his love and my sick need for it pull me under.
Daniel was beautiful, inside and out, and being with him didn’t make me feel like I needed to take photos of myself curled up in corners of abandoned buildings, or haunted and alone in mirrors, documenting love bites from a guy who would never love me in public.
But life didn’t wait for healing. It just carried on whether we were still hurting or not.
I finished the book a few days ago, but I needed to sit with it for a while. Feel all the feelings, and think all the thoughts. It feels criminal to try to sum up these books in the typical reviews I do. They really are so much more than a short list of tropes and content warnings. Both of those things are of course important, but it can never explain a book entirely.
This was what I’d come here for—to prove to him that I was worthy of being his friend, to try and repair what I’d broken.
The third and final book was maybe a smidge less angsty than the first two, but it was in no way less emotional. Maybe the most difficult bit is all the guilt Peter is dealing with still, and how he's trying to rebuild relationships and regain trust. I find the books very realistic, which means that these things aren't achieved easily. Daniel is sweetness personified, he has a savior complex, as well as trust issues, and I love him a lot. Daniel doesn't really trust Peter, and although this is more than understandable after the previous books, it's heartbreaking to read.
I wanted to make up for the entire last year of my life, for who I’d been to him and Leslie, and for what I’d done to them both. But I also needed to find a way to prove it all to myself—not only to him, but to me. This wasn’t just about Daniel. It was about being the person I wanted to be.
There's been so much hurt and angst in the trilogy that I spent the third book just wanting things to be okay and for everyone to be happy. I'm honestly not sure if we got that or not, but I did end the book feeling hopeful for the characters' futures.
Lying for so long had stolen my ability to know who to trust. For that matter, could I even trust myself?
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Friends to lovers
Trilogy slow burn
HFN
Troublesome ex
Edging
Set in the 90’s
Hurt/comfort
College
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Side character hospitalized
Death of a side character
Alcoholic parent (relapse)
Custody/family dispute about siblings
Unsafe sex (side character)
Sexual self harm (side character)
Side character diagnosed with HIV
Brief mentions of physical and sexual abuse of a side character (past, off page)
Physical abuse (parent, side character, off page)
Side character disowned and cut off from family
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: Yes, Adam is a constant force. Peter does not go back to him.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Historical/coming of age/romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
MCs age: 19 and 22
“[…] You ruin things. You take love and make it ugly. I don’t want you anymore.”
What was this miasma of sneering pride and wrenching pain? Did it have a name? How could I take a picture of it? It was so ugly, sharp, and mean.
I hung up before he could say another word. I had to get off the line before I let his love and my sick need for it pull me under.
Daniel was beautiful, inside and out, and being with him didn’t make me feel like I needed to take photos of myself curled up in corners of abandoned buildings, or haunted and alone in mirrors, documenting love bites from a guy who would never love me in public.
December 2, 2023
The first two books in this series came out in 2016. They engrossed me utterly. How delighted I was, to learn that the final book was being released!
The series is described as a "coming of age" story, not a romance. There are major relationship plots throughout the three books, but the story is about Peter's life as a whole, with his family, with his school, with his studies, his social life and so on.
This book starts immediately after the end of book 2. I had to quickly go back to book 2 to reread (for the third time) the last chunk of the book to understand what was going on. (While doing so I felt the strong need to reread the first two books again. I still plan to so soon).
Only You is just as splendid and engrossing as the first two books. The joins are seamless, which is amazing given that this last book was written many years (7?) after the first two.
This is the story of Peter's first year at university, and his relationship with Daniel. Everyone in the book is a fully realised engrossing character. They are interesting people who have interesting lives. This was the case in the first two books as well. They are all living in the shadow of AIDS and homophobia. This is shown well.
The only grumble I have is that there is not a book #4, #5....
Start with book 1. You are in for an absolute treat. Just make sure that you don't have to get up to go to work in the morning.
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The series is described as a "coming of age" story, not a romance. There are major relationship plots throughout the three books, but the story is about Peter's life as a whole, with his family, with his school, with his studies, his social life and so on.
This book starts immediately after the end of book 2. I had to quickly go back to book 2 to reread (for the third time) the last chunk of the book to understand what was going on. (While doing so I felt the strong need to reread the first two books again. I still plan to so soon).
Only You is just as splendid and engrossing as the first two books. The joins are seamless, which is amazing given that this last book was written many years (7?) after the first two.
This is the story of Peter's first year at university, and his relationship with Daniel. Everyone in the book is a fully realised engrossing character. They are interesting people who have interesting lives. This was the case in the first two books as well. They are all living in the shadow of AIDS and homophobia. This is shown well.
The only grumble I have is that there is not a book #4, #5....
Start with book 1. You are in for an absolute treat. Just make sure that you don't have to get up to go to work in the morning.
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2023
Wow! I can’t believe Peter’s story has finally come to an end! This is the third book in the trilogy of Peter’s coming of age story. Make sure to read Pictures of You and You Are Not Me before reading Only You or you will be completely lost!
This was such a fantastic conclusion to the angst and frustration that was Peter’s life in book 1 and 2. We actually got to see Peter fully happy and living life to the fullest in this book and it brought me so much joy to see him finally get there. There was still some angsty moments but this book was more like a warm breeze after a brutal storm. Soothing instead of damaging.
I absolutely love how much photography means to Peter. It was amazing to see him discover how he saw himself and how he expressed his moods and creativity differently when he is with Adam or Daniel. I loved that self-discovery and insight.
Overall this series was absolutely fantastic and definitely worth the time to read. I loved each book for different reasons and feel like the journey was believable and the HEA was perfect!
This was such a fantastic conclusion to the angst and frustration that was Peter’s life in book 1 and 2. We actually got to see Peter fully happy and living life to the fullest in this book and it brought me so much joy to see him finally get there. There was still some angsty moments but this book was more like a warm breeze after a brutal storm. Soothing instead of damaging.
I absolutely love how much photography means to Peter. It was amazing to see him discover how he saw himself and how he expressed his moods and creativity differently when he is with Adam or Daniel. I loved that self-discovery and insight.
Overall this series was absolutely fantastic and definitely worth the time to read. I loved each book for different reasons and feel like the journey was believable and the HEA was perfect!
May 8, 2023
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book! I had been waiting YEARS for this book - since 2016 to be exact. I can happily report Peter finds his HEA - so much to unpack in this series with emotions all over the place. If you just give the series a chance and “live” Peter’s story with him, I think you will fall in love with this group of characters, just like I have!
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I highly recommend this book and series ❤️💜💙
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I highly recommend this book and series ❤️💜💙
April 28, 2023
I left pictures of you knowing we were seeing Peter's journey to self discovery and happiness. Kept reminding myself through the while book.
I left you are not me knowing he knew better. He had a chance at finding his happiness once he knew what he wanted.
I'm leaving only you with the knowledge that Peter will be all right. He has found both himself, his friends, his talent, his confidence, his love. And he will go forth and be happy. It is a satisfying ending, even if it leaves some things in the air. We're a long way from 1991, so while we don't know for sure (unless Leta gets a sudden idea for a special at some point in the future), we can guess what goes on. While I'd love to know more, I'm satisfied with where we're left. Especially after all we've gone through
One thing is true, Peter is definitely a lot more forgiving than I am.
I left you are not me knowing he knew better. He had a chance at finding his happiness once he knew what he wanted.
I'm leaving only you with the knowledge that Peter will be all right. He has found both himself, his friends, his talent, his confidence, his love. And he will go forth and be happy. It is a satisfying ending, even if it leaves some things in the air. We're a long way from 1991, so while we don't know for sure (unless Leta gets a sudden idea for a special at some point in the future), we can guess what goes on. While I'd love to know more, I'm satisfied with where we're left. Especially after all we've gone through
One thing is true, Peter is definitely a lot more forgiving than I am.
August 6, 2025
Beter dan het eerste boek, minder dan het tweede. Te langgerekt en teveel wordt opgevuld met seks.
Ik moet gewoon geen young adult meer lezen.
Ik moet gewoon geen young adult meer lezen.
October 16, 2024
In the past, I’d used the camera to capture my despair, my shame, my self-loathing. I now needed to make sure to capture the entirety of my joy, my love, my self-acceptance. My Daniel.
This was such a wonderful conclusion to the 90's Coming of Age trilogy. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I raged, and I loved every second of it.
Peter has been on such a journey since the first book, and matured so much as a character. Where he used to be shy and complicit, now he's self-assured and he know what he deserves, and in turn how to love others honestly. In this book he is much more settled, and his arc was really satisfying to read.
Daniel and Peter have always had great chemistry, so watching their relationship unfold was everything. Daniel may not fully trust Peter, and I don't blame him, but he was still willing to be vulnerable and jump in with both feet. I worried that Adam would come between them again, but Peter no longer has his blinders on when it comes to him, and I love that for him.
Adam is a complicated character, and I would love to see him find his redemption one day. I don't like how much he lied and manipulated others, but also his pain was really evident in this book and I couldn't help but sympathise with him (even if he was borderline psychotic). I liked how things ended between him and Peter, and how Peter could move past the anguish in to a place of acceptance and appreciation for what they shared.
Overall, this story feels like the epitome of moving on, saying 'thank you for the experience', and choosing to grow. To me, the ending was perfect and encapsulated every emotion I felt throughout the series. I'm sad to be leaving these characters behind now, but I'm looking forward to reading Minty's story when it's ready, so maybe it won't feel like goodbye after all.
April 25, 2023
5+++++ Stars
FINALLY!!! After waiting a long and agonizing six and a half years, Peter’s story has concluded, and I don’t quite know what to say, but in a good way.
There is something special about Peter and since he first came into my life nearly 7 years ago, I’ve never forgotten him. He, and his story, have held a special place in my heart, and I think they always will.
I was so happy to see Peter finally get the open, honest, and unconditional love that he so desperately wanted and deserved from his partner. I loved watching these two young men grow and mature. Watching them learn to trust and love one another was a beautiful sight. The love and passion between them was undeniable and clear to see, not only through their words, but in their actions as well.
I loved catching up with all of their friends and while some side characters' futures are left up in the air, I’m hoping this will give Ms. Blake a reason to revisit this small town and this group of people in the future.
I’ll end this review by saying that, this last installment of this series was absolutely worth the wait and I’m so happy with the ending. From the moment I picked up Only You, I couldn’t put it down. It’s well-written and paced well. It takes place during my last year of high school and it was very nostalgic to revisit this time.
I absolutely loved this series, this story, and I absolutely adored this couple. I can’t recommend enough that you give this series a try. It’s absolutely amazing! Definitely recommendable!
* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *
FINALLY!!! After waiting a long and agonizing six and a half years, Peter’s story has concluded, and I don’t quite know what to say, but in a good way.
There is something special about Peter and since he first came into my life nearly 7 years ago, I’ve never forgotten him. He, and his story, have held a special place in my heart, and I think they always will.
I was so happy to see Peter finally get the open, honest, and unconditional love that he so desperately wanted and deserved from his partner. I loved watching these two young men grow and mature. Watching them learn to trust and love one another was a beautiful sight. The love and passion between them was undeniable and clear to see, not only through their words, but in their actions as well.
I loved catching up with all of their friends and while some side characters' futures are left up in the air, I’m hoping this will give Ms. Blake a reason to revisit this small town and this group of people in the future.
I’ll end this review by saying that, this last installment of this series was absolutely worth the wait and I’m so happy with the ending. From the moment I picked up Only You, I couldn’t put it down. It’s well-written and paced well. It takes place during my last year of high school and it was very nostalgic to revisit this time.
I absolutely loved this series, this story, and I absolutely adored this couple. I can’t recommend enough that you give this series a try. It’s absolutely amazing! Definitely recommendable!
* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *
October 4, 2024
This one's for all the times I ever wanted an MC to leave the guy they were with because he didn't deserve them (but they never could because he was the other MC and romancelandia doesn't allow).
My heart is full. Peter is made of sterner stuff than I thought. I'm embarrassed to say that I read most of this with bated breath, hoping against hope that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Daniel.
Because Daniel's the sort of guy you don't get a third shot at.
Alas. I needn't have worried.
“No. It’s about me. If Daniel left me tomorrow, I still wouldn’t come back to you. We’re over, Adam."
Is it wicked of me to confess that my heart sang with joy at the sheer number of times Peter said," I don't love you." to Adam?
The petty part of me took great joy in that.
But the greater joy?
Watching Peter grow from being the guy that made wrong choices, knowing they were wrong, making them even though they hurt him terribly, to being the guy that knows when he's making the right ones, again and again, and again.
Watching him be loved openly, unreservedly, the way he always deserved.
Watching him go from being unable to say no to being the one who can always say no, this doesn't serve me so I'm not doing it anymore.
Watching him become a man who takes responsibility for his actions and makes amends, and try every day to hold space for Daniel to feel his feelings regardless?
Yeah. Loved the shit out of this. These two are perfect together.
I swear, if I hadn't read these three books myself, I'd never buy that he's 19. The level of maturity he attained in that one year? Astonishing.
And yes, this book had AIDS, but not in the way I'd feared.
Definitely one of my best reads this year. Doing the work to untraumatize me from previous bad experiences of reading more than one book centered around the same couple.
Sidenote. I'm okay with Adam being a dick. I know he's only 19, too, and thus there's room for him to become a better person yadda yadda but idc about that and can't be arsed so I'll not be reading his redemption story.
My condolences to the poor shmuck who ends up with him but that is none of my concern ♥️
My heart is full. Peter is made of sterner stuff than I thought. I'm embarrassed to say that I read most of this with bated breath, hoping against hope that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Daniel.
Because Daniel's the sort of guy you don't get a third shot at.
Alas. I needn't have worried.
“No. It’s about me. If Daniel left me tomorrow, I still wouldn’t come back to you. We’re over, Adam."
Is it wicked of me to confess that my heart sang with joy at the sheer number of times Peter said," I don't love you." to Adam?
The petty part of me took great joy in that.
But the greater joy?
Watching Peter grow from being the guy that made wrong choices, knowing they were wrong, making them even though they hurt him terribly, to being the guy that knows when he's making the right ones, again and again, and again.
Watching him be loved openly, unreservedly, the way he always deserved.
Watching him go from being unable to say no to being the one who can always say no, this doesn't serve me so I'm not doing it anymore.
Watching him become a man who takes responsibility for his actions and makes amends, and try every day to hold space for Daniel to feel his feelings regardless?
Yeah. Loved the shit out of this. These two are perfect together.
I swear, if I hadn't read these three books myself, I'd never buy that he's 19. The level of maturity he attained in that one year? Astonishing.
And yes, this book had AIDS, but not in the way I'd feared.
Definitely one of my best reads this year. Doing the work to untraumatize me from previous bad experiences of reading more than one book centered around the same couple.
Sidenote. I'm okay with Adam being a dick. I know he's only 19, too, and thus there's room for him to become a better person yadda yadda but idc about that and can't be arsed so I'll not be reading his redemption story.
My condolences to the poor shmuck who ends up with him but that is none of my concern ♥️
Read
May 25, 2023I have awaited this book for YEARS. Peter has lived in my head for so long, and I desperately want him to have a happy, fulfilled life.
January 23, 2024
3.4 stars
March 3, 2025
this whole series was a delight and i don’t think i’ll ever get these boys out of my head. a masterpiece.
May 19, 2023
Be still my heart! Ok, so this is going to be a very emotional-first-impressions-based review and therefore probably a mess and probably also spoilery. You have been warned.
So this may be the best thing Leta Blake has ever written. YMMV and all; she writes a lot of different things, and some of them I’ve never tried because they’re not up my alley, but of the books of hers I *have* read, this is way up there. And I’m SO chuffed for her because I know the series has been so close to her heart and she’s been working on it for two decades, and it must have been so frustrating and terrifying to be stalled on this last book for so long with readers clamouring for a conclusion and/or giving up hope. It’s a heck of a thing to pull off and she’s done it and I just want to pump my fist and yell BRAVA.
This is everything I’ve ever wanted for Peter, and I’m just so impressed that the author managed to pick up from exactly where we left him and continue without missing any emotional beats. Every step of his journey in this book was immensely satisfying and it was just so lovely to see him finally growing into someone who was happy with himself and made healthy choices. And it’s been such a realistic journey; coming fresh off a reread of the first two books, it’s so clear that he’s come by this newfound maturity and pride honestly.
One of my favourite aspects of his personal growth is how his relationship to his photography has shifted, making him finally capable of recognising that he’d made a habit of using his camera as a way to build distance or evade complicated emotions. I loved seeing him come more into his own as an artist and have that recognised by other people. (The Harold side story was very achy and sweet and a lovely coda to the story of Peter’s uncle.)
I was also absolutely delighted that Daniel finally got to be someone who gets put first. I will, again, admit that I had massive apprehensions about where the Adam storyline was going; he’d loomed so large and dramatic throughout the first two books that it seemed almost impossible for a character like Daniel, who was quietly, slowly introduced, who’s decent and patient and emotionally generous, to position himself as a viable alternative and to take up real, meaningful, committed space for himself in this story, and in Peter’s life. I can’t even describe how awesome that was.
I think the most satisfying part of that, and of Peter and Daniel’s relationship as a whole, was that it wasn’t some unrealistically perfect fairytale. There was a tiny bit of a whiff of “too good to be true” about Daniel in the first two books, a knight in shining armour vibe that was a little TOO shiny, and I fucking LOVED that he got to show more of his baggage in this book; that he gets to be flawed, and vulnerable, and have trust issues and a messed-up family life and a broken heart. I loved seeing Peter get to take a supportive role, someone who knows he’s fucked up something really good and is ready and determined to put in the work to show he’s worth another chance.
As for Adam… ngl, I still can’t stand the guy and being young is no excuse for his clinical narcissist levels of selfishness, manipulation and flat-out delusion. I did think he veered a little too far into a stereotype of an obsessed ex in this book, but to be honest, I’m just glad he didn’t get that much attention. I was very, very over him as a character. It was nice that they did get a little bit of bittersweet closure in the end, though.
All the side characters continue to be very real and well fleshed-out. Minty especially broke my heart and I am thrilled to hear he’ll be getting his own book! I also really appreciated the way the author handled the constant presence of the AIDS crisis and how it affected these young men's lives. It was incredibly authentic and well done.
It’s not a completely flawless book and some things landed a bit weirdly (like that random Psychology 101 lecture on… why going bareback is a biological imperative? I ~kind~ of got why it was there but it lent this oddly stilted public-opinion frame to something that really only needed to be a conversation between Peter and Daniel, and it felt so shoe-horned in and inappropriate for that setting) but overall I just enjoyed it too much to focus much on flaws or niggles.
In conclusion – absolutely beautiful character arcs all around, a fantastic wrap-up for a highly emotionally charged story, and I might just go back and reread it again right away, lol. After listening to the entire 90s soundtrack first, of course.
So this may be the best thing Leta Blake has ever written. YMMV and all; she writes a lot of different things, and some of them I’ve never tried because they’re not up my alley, but of the books of hers I *have* read, this is way up there. And I’m SO chuffed for her because I know the series has been so close to her heart and she’s been working on it for two decades, and it must have been so frustrating and terrifying to be stalled on this last book for so long with readers clamouring for a conclusion and/or giving up hope. It’s a heck of a thing to pull off and she’s done it and I just want to pump my fist and yell BRAVA.
This is everything I’ve ever wanted for Peter, and I’m just so impressed that the author managed to pick up from exactly where we left him and continue without missing any emotional beats. Every step of his journey in this book was immensely satisfying and it was just so lovely to see him finally growing into someone who was happy with himself and made healthy choices. And it’s been such a realistic journey; coming fresh off a reread of the first two books, it’s so clear that he’s come by this newfound maturity and pride honestly.
One of my favourite aspects of his personal growth is how his relationship to his photography has shifted, making him finally capable of recognising that he’d made a habit of using his camera as a way to build distance or evade complicated emotions. I loved seeing him come more into his own as an artist and have that recognised by other people. (The Harold side story was very achy and sweet and a lovely coda to the story of Peter’s uncle.)
I was also absolutely delighted that Daniel finally got to be someone who gets put first. I will, again, admit that I had massive apprehensions about where the Adam storyline was going; he’d loomed so large and dramatic throughout the first two books that it seemed almost impossible for a character like Daniel, who was quietly, slowly introduced, who’s decent and patient and emotionally generous, to position himself as a viable alternative and to take up real, meaningful, committed space for himself in this story, and in Peter’s life. I can’t even describe how awesome that was.
I think the most satisfying part of that, and of Peter and Daniel’s relationship as a whole, was that it wasn’t some unrealistically perfect fairytale. There was a tiny bit of a whiff of “too good to be true” about Daniel in the first two books, a knight in shining armour vibe that was a little TOO shiny, and I fucking LOVED that he got to show more of his baggage in this book; that he gets to be flawed, and vulnerable, and have trust issues and a messed-up family life and a broken heart. I loved seeing Peter get to take a supportive role, someone who knows he’s fucked up something really good and is ready and determined to put in the work to show he’s worth another chance.
As for Adam… ngl, I still can’t stand the guy and being young is no excuse for his clinical narcissist levels of selfishness, manipulation and flat-out delusion. I did think he veered a little too far into a stereotype of an obsessed ex in this book, but to be honest, I’m just glad he didn’t get that much attention. I was very, very over him as a character. It was nice that they did get a little bit of bittersweet closure in the end, though.
All the side characters continue to be very real and well fleshed-out. Minty especially broke my heart and I am thrilled to hear he’ll be getting his own book! I also really appreciated the way the author handled the constant presence of the AIDS crisis and how it affected these young men's lives. It was incredibly authentic and well done.
It’s not a completely flawless book and some things landed a bit weirdly (like that random Psychology 101 lecture on… why going bareback is a biological imperative? I ~kind~ of got why it was there but it lent this oddly stilted public-opinion frame to something that really only needed to be a conversation between Peter and Daniel, and it felt so shoe-horned in and inappropriate for that setting) but overall I just enjoyed it too much to focus much on flaws or niggles.
In conclusion – absolutely beautiful character arcs all around, a fantastic wrap-up for a highly emotionally charged story, and I might just go back and reread it again right away, lol. After listening to the entire 90s soundtrack first, of course.
June 8, 2023
It is with a heavy heart that I ultimately dropped this book despite liking the previous 2 books in this series and wanting to go through till the end for the story’s conclusion. It’s just that the apparent switch in writing style and quality was just too obvious to ignore and it’s unfortunately changed for the worse. The prose is a lot less emotive and immersive, and much more generic and choppy, and doesn’t really distinguish itself from many recently published romance books. I skimmed a few lines in the later chapters to confirm to myself and boy it was rough to read with how robotic and unfeeling and detached the writing is - a stark contrast to the previous books. With the prequels, the narration voice stood out and you could actually picture Peter and the world around him as a unique experience, but that’s not the case with this new book, at all. Also, the material was stretched out way too thin and you can tell the author initially intended to split this book into 2 separate full length novels. There are a lot of unnecessarily drawn out details diluting the pacing (a writing folly which you’d never find in the first book) and a lot of repetitive dialogues and information, and it’s all just very sugary and cheesy, and not very interesting to read. It doesn’t move you and doesn’t make you feel invested in the characters or their story, which is a shame after the journey you’d spent with them previously. This problem manifests itself in the romance aspect of the book too, because although Daniel is obviously a better guy to have a relationship with than Adam, this book didn’t do a very good job selling Peter’s chemistry with Daniel both inside and outside the bedroom. Lots of feelings declarations, not a lot of substance and subtlety. Again, this is a problem with the writing, so no good story can salvage it and compensate for that.
March 6, 2024
TL;DR - feel dead inside, would recommend. 🥴
Ugh. Now I’m very depressed and need to read the literary equivalent of cotton candy. 😭 WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? That said- highly recommend this series if you like to be emotionally bludgeoned by your books.
Ugh. Now I’m very depressed and need to read the literary equivalent of cotton candy. 😭 WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? That said- highly recommend this series if you like to be emotionally bludgeoned by your books.
May 22, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Only You is the third and final book in Leta Blake’s wonderful ’90s Coming of Age series. This series follows about a year and a half in Peter Mandel’s life as he falls in love, faces heartache, and finds himself as the person he is meant to be. The books follow directly upon one another and this review will reveal key plot points from the earlier books. If you are intrigued by this excellent series, be sure to check out my review for the first book, Pictures of You.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Only You is the third and final book in Leta Blake’s wonderful ’90s Coming of Age series. This series follows about a year and a half in Peter Mandel’s life as he falls in love, faces heartache, and finds himself as the person he is meant to be. The books follow directly upon one another and this review will reveal key plot points from the earlier books. If you are intrigued by this excellent series, be sure to check out my review for the first book, Pictures of You.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
December 11, 2023
Rtc bc im dead
June 10, 2024
Hmmm, not a great final book. The story still kept my attention as the main protagonist began to grate on my nerves even more. I’m still glad I read the trilogy though it just got weaker with each installment.
November 15, 2024
Quando qualche anno fa ho letto i primi due libri della serie, non solo l’ho trovata bellissima ma anche molto “vera”. Il dramma del primo amore, le bugie dette per salvare le apparenze, la paura di sentirsi diverso, l’insicurezza tipica dell’adolescenza, il problema dell’Hiv…insomma situazioni reali, che alcuni di noi hanno vissuto sulla propria pelle.
Ecco perchè appena ho saputo dell’uscita del terzo e ultimo libro non vedevo l’ora di leggerlo.
E per me Leta Blake ha veramente superato se stessa, perchè questo libro non è soltanto bello, è perfetto. La perfetta conclusione della storia di Peter.
Partiamo con Daniel.
Come si fa a non amarlo. La sua vulnerabità, la sua devozione e onestà sono perle rare. È il classico personaggio positivo, quello da cui trarre ispirazione e prendere esempio.
Le scene tra lui e Peter mi hanno fatto sciogliere e riempito il cuore di felicità. Tra loro non c’è tensione, nessun dramma, solo la voglia di vivere il loro amore in modo sincero.
Ho amato ogni singolo momento tra loro due❤️
Adam non compare molto in questo libro. Ormai non è più la storia sua e di Peter, ma i pochi momenti in cui lo vediamo sono veramente intensi. E le ultime pagine…
Posso solo dire che se nel primo libro l’ho capito e nel secondo odiato, in questo ho provato solo pietà. Quindi sì, anche se era un bugiardo e manipolatore, un po’ mi è dispiaciuto per lui💔
Infine Peter. È cresciuto tantissimo. Ormai è consapevole di essere una persona diversa. Ha imparato dai suoi errori e ha capito cosa vuole dalla vita. (Era ora Peter👏🏻)
Adesso devo solo sperare due cose:
1) che il libro su Minty in italiano arrivi il prima possibile
2) che l’autrice continui a scrivere storie sui personaggi di questa serie, soprattutto su Adam🙏🏻
5⭐️
Ecco perchè appena ho saputo dell’uscita del terzo e ultimo libro non vedevo l’ora di leggerlo.
E per me Leta Blake ha veramente superato se stessa, perchè questo libro non è soltanto bello, è perfetto. La perfetta conclusione della storia di Peter.
Partiamo con Daniel.
Come si fa a non amarlo. La sua vulnerabità, la sua devozione e onestà sono perle rare. È il classico personaggio positivo, quello da cui trarre ispirazione e prendere esempio.
Le scene tra lui e Peter mi hanno fatto sciogliere e riempito il cuore di felicità. Tra loro non c’è tensione, nessun dramma, solo la voglia di vivere il loro amore in modo sincero.
Ho amato ogni singolo momento tra loro due❤️
Adam non compare molto in questo libro. Ormai non è più la storia sua e di Peter, ma i pochi momenti in cui lo vediamo sono veramente intensi. E le ultime pagine…
Posso solo dire che se nel primo libro l’ho capito e nel secondo odiato, in questo ho provato solo pietà. Quindi sì, anche se era un bugiardo e manipolatore, un po’ mi è dispiaciuto per lui💔
Infine Peter. È cresciuto tantissimo. Ormai è consapevole di essere una persona diversa. Ha imparato dai suoi errori e ha capito cosa vuole dalla vita. (Era ora Peter👏🏻)
Adesso devo solo sperare due cose:
1) che il libro su Minty in italiano arrivi il prima possibile
2) che l’autrice continui a scrivere storie sui personaggi di questa serie, soprattutto su Adam🙏🏻
5⭐️
June 3, 2023
Bardzo czekałam na tę książkę.
Czy Only You okazała się zwieńczeniem, na jakie zasługiwała seria '90s Coming of Age? Nie dla mnie.
Wierzę, że wszystko to, co opisała Leta w tej części, mogło się wydarzyć. Ale dlaczego to jest takie nudne? Zupełnie zabrakło tu napięcia i świeżości pierwszej i drugiej części. Może za długo to pisała?
Postaci straciły pazur, zniknęły barwy lat 90 i interesująca fabuła. Było poprawnie i tyle.
3,75 ode mnie.
Czy Only You okazała się zwieńczeniem, na jakie zasługiwała seria '90s Coming of Age? Nie dla mnie.
Wierzę, że wszystko to, co opisała Leta w tej części, mogło się wydarzyć. Ale dlaczego to jest takie nudne? Zupełnie zabrakło tu napięcia i świeżości pierwszej i drugiej części. Może za długo to pisała?
Postaci straciły pazur, zniknęły barwy lat 90 i interesująca fabuła. Było poprawnie i tyle.
3,75 ode mnie.
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