Unchained (Under the Silverpine Sky Book 2)

“Hunter’s smile lights up his entire face, and my heart slams against my rib cage. I deserve this, I think. Him. I deserve genuine care and compassion. I deserve someone gentle and kind.” As I expected I absolutely loved this book. Theo's story really stole my entire heart. I have never personally struggled with depression but I have struggled with my mental health and I know how frustrating and exhausting it can feel fighting your own brain when all you want is to just be okay or "normal". Theo's journey was incredibly touching it really felt like you could personally feel every feeling he felt because they were described so well. Hunter was so good about how he approached Theo and Theo's depression, instead of trying to fix it he asked things like his energy level and what Theo wanted to do with his energy or just simply listened and held Theo when he needed it. He gave Theo a safe place and the support he needed to fight the battle against his depression. I loved how realisitic Theo's healing journey was, that it was acknowledged and shown that falling in love and finding a community didn't magically heal his depression but gave him the support he needed to manage and treat it. That it showed at the end of the day his depression would always be there but now he wasn't alone, now he had loved ones who'd catch him when he needed it and support him through everything. It was heartwarming to see Hunter and Theo fall in love. It unfolded so naturally a beautiful…

Theo and Hunter were such great characters. You feel for Theo the entire time. His mental health, his trauma, his lifelessness. You just want to give him a hug. Just like Hunter did. Theo was severely depressed after everything he went through with Damien and in need of a support system. He met Hunter and found a friend and more, although not completely at first. After an emotional rollercoaster things started to look up for Theo, and the growing relationship between him and Hunter. I always enjoy Morgan Sloan’s writing! She writes such real characters, emotional, deep, and flawed. She’s open about her own struggles with mental health and how much she poured herself into Theo. I’m always so giddy when these characters get their happy endings because it’s always so hard fought and so deserved. I cannot wait for Arlo and Jasper’s book!

I’ve never agreed with something so deeply in my soul as when Theo said “peopling is exhausting.” On using all your mental energy on others and leaving none for yourself. My empathetic heart hurt for Theo so badly throughout this book. I cried with him and for him multiple times. Hunter is the most perfectly sweet cinnamon roll for him. The way he always checked in with Theo and adjusted what he did/said based on Theos response, or lack of. Plus, who can resist a sweet man who loves animals? I’ll never be upset with having animal side characters. This book was painful to read at certain points, because it is so raw and real. Thank you for trusting us with the pieces of yourself that you wrote into Theo.

***I STRONGLY recommend reading Sheltered first. A lot of what happened in that book is referenced here.*** I'm not going to give a recap because I have a lot to say and I don't want to spoil anything from Sheltered either. When I read Sheltered, I could feel the urgency. The fear. The skin-tingling anticipation that something awful was going to happen. Being in Theo's head in Unchained was like being in the aftermath of a devastating storm. Bleak. Desolate. Empty. Black. Bottomless. Pain. I read this entire book with tears in my eyes. Theo was so so sad but he needed someone so badly. A kind touch. A word of reassurance. A semblance of kindness. And he got everything and more from Hunter Lock. Hunter was the EPITOME of a comfort character. The quintessential calm in the storm. The unshakeable force. He took care of Theo but he also didn't mince words or actions. He didn't treat Theo like a victim or a crazy person. He treated Theo like what he was: someone beautiful and good and worthy who happened to have an illness. This book is not just a story but an experience. A journey of healing and strength and love and acceptance. And it was beautiful. Morgan has spoken at length about how Theo resonated with her own mental health struggles and I can relate. After I had my son, I was horribly depressed. I remember telling my therapist I didn't enjoy anything anymore and had nothing to look forward to. And that's why I got back on medication, which saved my life. If you've…

Theo comes to meet luca and meets hunter, Hutner is such a caring and sweet person. they start to get to know each other and start to develop feelings for each other. Theo is so used to being alone and feeling like a burden to people, it's hard for Theo to open up. Theo's depression takes over and he has the worst thoughts and shuts everyone out. until he realizes he needs help and the one person who can help is Hunter. Hunter is his safe place, and it was such a wonderful book showing light to depression and how it can control your life without even noticing. I loved Theo and hunter's story. ❤️