Shelved Hearts

"My voice is steady; it always will be for him. I would build a road under his feet if it meant he'd take one more step toward the things he wants." "I'd share my last oreo with you. -N" "I'd share my last oreo with you too. -G" "I want to believe someone can look at me, see past the scar, the sadness, and think something about me is lovely." "I take in Noah's light and let it fill me. The cracks in all my broken pieces can't contain it, and it spreads into my whole body, making me feel a sliver of pure joy." "I didn't see you properly before, but now I do. I see you, Noah. You can be whatever you need with me, you don't have to hide." "Gabe and I...we're written in ink. It's permanent. He's part of me." "There's no form of my future I can picture that doesn't include him, no version of myself that isn't tied to his heartbeat. This isn't a choice, although I'd always choose him, it's a bond. Permanent. Unbreakable." "You're my home, you know that?" "Yeah, Blue. You're mine, too." "I can't fix it for him. I can't fight what I don't understand. But I can be here. I can show up. I can love him in the ways he lets me." "I would take a thousand of your hardest days over a single one without you." "And maybe that's what healing really is. Not escape. Not forgetting. Just learning how to breathe with the person you love, over and over again." "You make it sound so simple." "It's not simple. But it's worth it. We are worth it." "All I can see is Noah. All I can taste…

I really enjoyed this book. Gabe has every part of my heart. I feel so deeply for all of the things he has been through, and all of the trauma and all of the (false) core beliefs he has developed because of it. He felt so real. His fears of everyone leaving him if they find out how bad he's really doing, because he's "too broken" and "too much to put up with" are so relatable. I loved going on this healing journey with him. I loved how he still had setbacks even when he was on an upward swing. I loved getting to experience breakthroughs and little (and big) wins with him. I loved that it never felt like Noah was the one fixing him. It was always Gabe fixing himself while Noah provided a safe space he could rely on. Definitely do read the trigger warnings if you need to because he does go through a lot of hard things. Noah is just so good. He's exactly what someone traumatized like this needs. Someone who is patient, and knows not to take things personally when Gabe lets some of his fears show. (Even when it hurts his feelings, he knows it's not actually about him and is able to work through it, and continue to be there in a way Gabe needs.) The way he just wants to be there in any capacity Gabe needs him to be and whatever that looks like is everything. And the way he's observant about anything that makes Gabe tense up or seem to panic in anyway and works hard to avoid those things is perfect. I also appreciated the way they talked about the possibility of him needing…

This is my 2nd five star of the year. This book. These characters. What a stunning journey to be allowed in on. This is a slow burn and if it were any faster it would do would do such a disservice to these characters journey. Three pages long kissing scenes, pinky touches and hand holding that feel more intimate than the later sex scenes. This book is the most quiet, tender, thoughtful look into finding yourself again after abuse and allowing another person to sit with and love you so patiently and with such honesty and integrity and in a way that you are fully seen including the parts you have a hard time wanting to see yourself. Every physically intimate move these charcters make is intentional and poignant and a moment as a reader you feel lucky to be witnessing becase you see how special the moment is for these characters. Gabe is the most tender of souls and his struggle to find his way back to himself was equal parts joy and pain. This shy bookstore owner who just wants to give people a place to feel safe and belong does that all while battling his deep anxiety and trauma. Noah-the most beautiful human whose love has no limits. His tender approach to Gabe was everything. Noah who has only wanted a place to belong, a home, people to claim him as theirs is the most beautiful caretaker of others and it’s so special to watch him fall fully in love and be loved. The found family Laura has created in this series is everything. I already want books 2,3,4,5,6. Or however…

Oh my gosh, this book is absolutely amazing. Almost 600 pages of some of the most phenomenal writing I have ever read. This book had everything, hurt/comfort, protective MC, brothers best friend, anxiety rep, demisexual rep, forced prox., the perfect found family, and an exquisite slow burn. Gabe broke my heart, over and over throughout this book. My heart was aching as I read his story. He is a introverted bookstore owner who is learning to heal and winds up living with literal sunshine. Noah was the perfect other half to Gabe. He does treat him like he’s broken but is cautious of Gabe’s boundaries. Noah has wanted Gabe for years and jumps at the opportunity to just be near Gabe. If this was made into a movie, Id watch it on repeat. Oh and I can’t forget to point out how much the ending destroyed me. It was the sweetest thing ever, I cried so much. I can’t wait to see what Ciarán gets up to in his book.

Sad but also funny and charming. This one makes you feel all the emotions. A good read. Gabe is a total cutie and has the best friends.