Hollow Heart (Northern Roots: Atlantic)

This series is incredible. Not just because of the world these books are set in, but because of the stories themselves. There’s something so comforting and cozy about them, even when they completely shatter your heart. I adore both of the men in this book equally. Silas is a lovable character from the beginning. He’s soft even when he’s angry. And he’s so heartbreakingly fragile in a way that just feels so real and raw. The way his past has shaped him, and affects the way he sees himself, is handled with the utmost amount of care that I have grown to expect from an Eve Holmes book 🖤 His fear of abandonment is crippling at times but what makes my heart ache more than anything is how you can see just how badly Silas wants to be okay, but he just doesn’t believe he deserves any of it 💔 And then there’s Levi, who is caring and loyal in such an instinctive, genuine way. He protects Silas without even batting an eye, even though he’s still just a kid trying to figure out his own life and future. When he makes the difficult decision to leave for college and chase his dreams, you can feel the conflict tearing him apart. Choosing himself feels, in some ways, like betraying his best friend and other half. These two are the kind of friends everyone wishes they had. I loved that Levi never once gives up or even considers walking away from Silas. He pushes him to try and to work through his emotions but never to the point of cruelty. He sees all of his broken pieces and stays…

Rating: 5 of 5 Spice: 2.5 of 5 Angst: 2.5 of 5 Read if: - You love childhood friends-to-lovers story – especially if there is a little bit of estrangement and whole of of “is what I am feeling something more…?” - You are here for the chance to dig deep into some pretty heady emotional baggage while knowing ahead of time that there is light at the end of the tunnel and a guaranteed happily ever after. - You are a firm believer that sometimes it is simply life that gets in the way of living and it is the way we learn and grow from our experiences that define us as a person. - Metaphors? All of them! So many! Yes, Please! Skip if: - You prefer quick burn, high spice stories. This one takes its time to get there and is just achingly sweet (though still steamy) when it does. - You prefer a quick, snappy plot. Much like the spice, this one takes its time – but in the best possible way. Growth (and healing) isn’t always linear and isn’t on anyone’s timeline but its own and this story sticks to that reality. - That's it. I honestly can’t think of anything else. Well. Here we are with another wonderfully well written book from Eve Holmes. At this point, I simply don’t expect any less. The prose and tempo of the story are perfectly matched to the setting and the life that both characters long to live (even if it takes them a little while to come to that realization). I also wouldn’t really call this one angsty. Lots of “aww…. Sweetie!!!”, sure – but not really…