As I Am by A.M. Arthur
Review by Lauren
source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: Will Madden is healing.
Thanks to therapy and a growing support system, he's taking baby steps into a promising future. One of those steps leads him to an online chat room, where he quickly bonds with fellow PTSD sufferer Taz Zachary.
Despite their virtual connection, Taz is initially freaked out at the idea of meeting Will face-to-face. A sexual relationship may be the last thing on his mind, but his craving for human interaction—and more of the way Will makes him laugh—gives him the courage he needs to take the next step.
In person, the chemistry between them is undeniable. But Will is hurt when Taz doesn't seem to be in any rush to get him into bed. Still, acceptance, love and happiness all seem within reach for the first time in forever—until demons from the past threaten the future they both finally believe they deserve.
Review: As I Am is the third book in the All Saints series. I recommend reading them all, because I think it's a great series, but each one focuses on a different couple so you're welcome to read whichever one most interests you. For As I Am, the book focuses on Will Madden - who we meet in previous books - and Taz Zachary.
These two meet in an online chat room where the goal is just to talk, not to arrange hookups. They find quick friends in one another as they both suffer from PTSD. Eventually, the two decide to meet each other and that's really when the story takes off. I thought the background behind each character's PTSD was done really well. It was obvious that the author wanted to show that while the two could help each other, they couldn't completely heal one another. Just being in a relationship wasn't going to make everything okay. They would still have panic attacks and need other things in their life to help them heal.
Both Will and Taz are easy to love. They aren't perfect by any means, but I like that. They felt like real characters who were unfortunately carrying a lot of baggage. Their baggage just happened to go together well enough.
This book has a bit of a mystery attached, which was exciting! It gave the book a suspenseful tone, along with the budding romance and delving into the characters' respective pasts. As I Am is definitely a good read - as are all the other All Saints books.
Want to read? Check it out on Amazon - I'm an affiliate so I get a small percent of any sale. Want to check out books 1 and 2 of All Saints? The first book is Come What May and the second is Say It Right.
4 comments:
This sounds like another good one! Glad you enjoyed it and the rest of the series. I signed up to be an affiliate with an audiobook page, but I just don't know if I have the motivation to follow through with putting a line at the end of each post I link to it in. So not sure if I'll continue with it or not.
Oh, I love the fact that the author didn't use the "love cures all" trope because it is so harmful.
And it's great that it seems like the characters' PTSD wasn't just thrown in there for drama, but actually explored. It always worries me when mental health is included in books but not explored in the way it should be. Such heavy themes should never be used as a plot device.
I'm glad you liked this book, Lauren!
I love that they meet and form a friendship while actively seeking help for their PTSD, so often in romance novels the characters with PTSD are dealing with trauma by... not dealing with trauma. The baggage line always reminds me of Rent, when Mimi sings to Roger that life's too short, time is flying, she's looking for someone who's baggage matches hers.
I like how you say the author wrote it in such a way that while the two could help each other, they can't completely heal each other. Sounds very realistically done. And the characters sound very realistically as well, like you I like characters that aren't perfect. As those flaws and characteristics can make them feel more human and real. Oh and the mystery sounds very exciting! Great review!
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