Mariam, the clown's Reviews > The Swap Masquerade

💟 This book says “I believe in True Love” and damn if my heart isn't a complete puddle for this book. 💟

Whatever his story was, one thing was for sure. It was more than just the mask making him a complete mystery to me.

I am truly speechless, I don't have the words to even pronounce how much I loved this book, how this book felt like the warmest of comfort hugs. I kept waiting for something bad to happen or a scene that awfully triggered me, but nope. None of that.

This book is the damn harbinger of hope.

This book talked a lot about loneliness and wanting to grasp what was right in front of you, yet was miles away from reach. I loved how despite the tough and mentally exhausted times Elliot and Gavin had to face, there was still this light, this glimmer of hope throughout it all that soothe the ache of their reality.

I honestly wish this book was a representation of reality.

It was the way he gave himself over to the feelings rushing through him and the way he clung to me as he came, so beautifully, from nothing more than the feel of my mouth on his. That moment would forever be etched into my memories. It was the purest, most honest encounter I had ever shared with another man, and damn if I didn’t want more of it. Of him.

If I would describe this book, I would it is Peaceful. Because that is what I felt reading it, laughing and smiling so hard my cheeks hurt and crying over the emotional bonds of two certain characters. What a joy this book was to read.

Elliott Stone owned my heart and my soul, and he would continue to own them for all the days we had left on earth.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Elliot's Dad. He was a complicated man and in a nutshell, it would've been so damn easy to hate him, so easy to resent him, I am in awe of the way Elliot understood him instead, put him first and loved him all the same. I'm really proud for the both of them.

Where once he’d seemed like a giant in my eyes, now I could see him as a man. An ordinary man with worries and stresses of his own. Most of which, I probably knew nothing about because he’d always just quietly taken care of things: the house, the bills, the three of us. His love may have been misguided at times, but I had no doubt how much my father loved his family.

Also the way Gavin (the top) had to look up at Elliot (the bottom) had me WEAK. And when Elliot lifted and carried Gavin-✋✋✋ deceased.


I only wish for this book was DAMNIT. WHY WASN'T IT LONGER?!

Initial reaction:
Absolutely. Soul-deep, and wholeheartedly FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.