What do you think?
Rate this book
Five Boroughs #1
Sutphin Boulevard
Michael Rodriguez and Nunzio Medici have been friends for two decades. From escaping their dysfunctional families in the working-class neighbourhood of South Jamaica, Queens, to teaching in one of the city’s most queer-friendly schools in Brooklyn, the two men have shared everything. Or so they thought until a sweltering night of dancing leads to an unexpected encounter that forever changes their friendship.
Now, casual touches and lingering looks are packed with sexual tension, and Michael can’t forget the feel of his best friend’s hands on him. Once problems rear up at work and home, Michael finds himself seeking constant escape in the effortless intimacy and mind-blowing sex he has with Nunzio. But things don’t stay easy for long.
When Michael’s world begins to crumble in a sea of tragedy and complications, he knows he has to make a find solace in a path of self-destruction or accept the love of the man who has been by his side for twenty years.
Now, casual touches and lingering looks are packed with sexual tension, and Michael can’t forget the feel of his best friend’s hands on him. Once problems rear up at work and home, Michael finds himself seeking constant escape in the effortless intimacy and mind-blowing sex he has with Nunzio. But things don’t stay easy for long.
When Michael’s world begins to crumble in a sea of tragedy and complications, he knows he has to make a find solace in a path of self-destruction or accept the love of the man who has been by his side for twenty years.
264 pages, ebook
First published July 31, 2015
About the author
Santino Hassell
36 books2,833 followersSantino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
[email protected]
www.santinohassell.com
http://santinohassell.com/newsletter/
amazon.com/author/santinohassell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getha...
https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell
https://www.instagram.com/santinohass...
https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
[email protected]
www.santinohassell.com
http://santinohassell.com/newsletter/
amazon.com/author/santinohassell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getha...
https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell
https://www.instagram.com/santinohass...
https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 803 reviews
March 6, 2018
**Review removed due to personal reasons. Rating downgraded to one star**
March 7, 2018
Read
December 9, 2015***SUTPHIN BOULEVARD is on sale for $0.99 until the end of December!!***
So, this is my first non-ICoS related novel, and my first contemporary romance novel, which is simultaneously exciting and scary. You can get it from Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and of course the Dreamspinner website.
If you don't know what to expect, I can tell you this book is a mixture of things that are important to me. Family, teaching, the intensity of friendship and how that can change over time, sex, and of course New York City. You can also expect a fair amount of grit since it's me. ;)
I wrote the first draft of this book for Nanowrimo 2013 and it shaped into something I'm really proud of with the help of Lenore, Kate, Marleen, DW, Adriana and Piper.
It comes out on July 31 and I hope you guys enjoy!. :)
So, this is my first non-ICoS related novel, and my first contemporary romance novel, which is simultaneously exciting and scary. You can get it from Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and of course the Dreamspinner website.
If you don't know what to expect, I can tell you this book is a mixture of things that are important to me. Family, teaching, the intensity of friendship and how that can change over time, sex, and of course New York City. You can also expect a fair amount of grit since it's me. ;)
I wrote the first draft of this book for Nanowrimo 2013 and it shaped into something I'm really proud of with the help of Lenore, Kate, Marleen, DW, Adriana and Piper.
It comes out on July 31 and I hope you guys enjoy!. :)
Read
March 15, 2018
Previous review in spoilers:
Read
March 6, 2018Review and rating removed
July 8, 2015
extraordinary.
and refreshingly urban.
a modern romance novel, for a modern reader.
PS: DAT COVER THO
and refreshingly urban.
a modern romance novel, for a modern reader.
PS: DAT COVER THO
Read
March 1, 2018[review withdrawn]
Read
March 3, 2018Because this book made me feel All Of The Things, I shared all kinds of personal things. But in light of what's been going on I don't feel great about having those personal things here, so I'm removing my review and rating.
Read
March 12, 2018REVIEW & RATING REMOVED
Read
March 9, 2018Totally mourning the loss of Michael and Raymond Rodriguez today. Sad days.
Review and rating removed from every single thing SH ever wrote.
Review and rating removed from every single thing SH ever wrote.
August 11, 2015
This is my first Santino Hassell book so I went in not knowing what to expect. I read Renee's review, which convinced me to read it, and braced myself for "raw and gritty" and some exceptional story telling.
Michael Rodriguez and Nunzio Medici have been inseparable friends for over 20 years. Nunzio is Michael's touchstone. When the world gets too crazy, Nunzio is the person who centers Michael and makes everything OK. They went to middle school, high school and college together and currently teach at the same high school. Both men are gay but have never taken their friendship to the sexual level. (While Nunzio is out-and-proud, Michael is still in the closet with his family and co-workers.) All that changes (or so we are lead to believe) when they "share" a one-night-stand and have a threesome. The book is told entirely from Michael's POV so we don't hear Nunzio's thoughts, but Michael enjoys the experience and having his friend involved. It opens up dialogue about a "friends with benefits" situation with the boys and they decide to give it a go for now. While the sex is hot and satisfying for Michael, it begins to change their relationship in negative ways.
In the meantime, Michael's dead-beat, estranged father has asked to live in Michael and his brother Raymond's house on Sutphin Boulevard in Queens. Neither man is happy about the arrangement but agree out of a sense of family and the fact that their father's health is failing. This causes Michael extreme angst and he starts hitting the bottle harder than usual.
I should mention that both Michael and Nunzio have an extremely unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Both men drink to access when they go out and when they are kicking back at home. While it doesn't seem to be a problem for Nunzio, Michael uses alcohol to numb his pain over the complications in his personal and work life. A major event happens in the book that causes Michael to take his alcohol consumption to dangerous levels and that, mixed with his depression and anxiety medications, gets him into a whole mess of trouble. He completely cuts himself off from work, his family and Nunzio. Without Nunzio as his touchstone, he loses himself in a haze of intoxication.
This book packs some serious angst. It can definitely be defined as "raw and gritty" and there were times I wept at the sorrow Michael was experiencing. I would not categorize this as a romance, but Michael and Nunzio do get a HFN/HEA so many will definitely see it as a romance.
The sex between the two was hot and exciting, but other than some gentle post-orgasm touches, the two don't talk about or express their feelings for one another.
I really enjoyed this book, but I have to say that one of the reasons I did was because I read it with a carefree, open mind. I knew there would be angst, but I felt prepared for it and I ultimately was. I have to pick-and-choose what books I read very carefully because of my "real life" stressors and what I need in a book at any given time. (I even have a shelf at GoodReads titled wait for a better mood where I save the high-angst books for later, when I feel I can handle them. Honestly, most of the time I reach for light and fluffy romances mixed with hot sex that leave me happy and smiling. But everything was hunky-dory in my world and I was actually on a camping trip on the North Shore in Minnesota when I read Sutphin Boulevard so I was about as happy, content and relaxed as I could get. Angst was my friend.
I can highly recommend this book to M/M book fans who want to read a raw and gritty (thanks Renee!) drama about two best friends and how they navigate through pain and sorrow in the tough, working-class neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens, New York. Mr. Hassell's writing is beyond excellent and he created characters that were easy to care about and suffer with.
This review has been crossed posted to Jessewave
November 13, 2015
4.25 Stars!
For real. This book was constant emotional angst. I get the whole "not a lot of romance" bit now. There was some. Buried really really deep.
Nunzio and Michael just went through so much.
Their relationship was a bit dysfunctional yet I was sucked in and had to see what happened.
Lots of highs and lows. Two steps forward and about eight back. These two just could not catch a break.
I wish, wish, wish we had gotten Nunzio's POV. I felt so bad for him at times.
The sex. The sex was straight up HAWT!
David was..
...I didn't care for his character all that much. There were times I just wanted him to go away.
But add in Raymond...
I just hope their book isn't such a downer.
Off I go to find something fluffy to read....with lots of hearts and flowers and maybe some rainbows and unicorns too!
For real. This book was constant emotional angst. I get the whole "not a lot of romance" bit now. There was some. Buried really really deep.
Nunzio and Michael just went through so much.
Their relationship was a bit dysfunctional yet I was sucked in and had to see what happened.
Lots of highs and lows. Two steps forward and about eight back. These two just could not catch a break.
I wish, wish, wish we had gotten Nunzio's POV. I felt so bad for him at times.
The sex. The sex was straight up HAWT!
David was..
...I didn't care for his character all that much. There were times I just wanted him to go away.
But add in Raymond...
I just hope their book isn't such a downer.
Off I go to find something fluffy to read....with lots of hearts and flowers and maybe some rainbows and unicorns too!
August 12, 2015
♥ ♥ ♥ 4.25 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
'Something was building between us, something that took my breath away from anticipation, but also created anxiety about how little I could handle the possibilty of it all going wrong.'
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
A straight to the point review. Sorry, kind of short on time these days.
LOVED:
♥ The writing was really awesome!
♥ Mikey and Nunzio's chemistry was off the charts smoking hawt!! *My lady bits were very happy about this.*
♥ That threesome with David, though. *Hottest sex scene I have read in a LONG time.*
♥ Nunzio's dirty mouth. *I need a Nunzio in my life.*
♥ The overall friendship and banter between Mikey and Nunzio.
♥ Nunzio's eyes.
♥ That story line. It was so much more than just sex, there were issues on depression and addictions. It was quite the journey seeing all of this through Mikey's eyes. It was just so well written.
♥ I was really able to connect with both characters.
♥ How caring and protective Nunzio was of Mikey.
♥ I was captivated by the story because again, the writing was so great.
♥ How real this book felt.
♥ The funny moments. *I seriously laughed hard in some parts.*
♥ The secondary characters. David and Raymond.
♥ Nunzio's unconditional love.
♥ The angst that had me even more hooked.
♥ And before I forget, I just plainly loved Nunzio.
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
"Maybe you don't want me here--" He brushed his fingers over my heart. "But I know when we're having sex, when I'm in you deep, you don't want anyone else. It's just you and me, and it's fucking perfect, and you're mine. That could be enough for me."
"I don't think that's true."
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Things that could have been better:
● Oh, Mikey how you frustrated me at times. My poor Nunzio.
● An epilogue maybe? I just wanted more of Mikey and Nunzio happy together.
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
'My thoughts had rerouted to an option I'd never even considered before: my best friend, my one and only, my fucking soul mate. Nunzio.'
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Overall, I really loved this book. It was real, steamy, and just beautiful. I loved watching Mikey overcome his struggles even though it was very hard and painful at times. I even liked Mikey's brother Raymond. David, you annoying in a good way "kid", how I liked you. I think he needs his own book. I highly recommend this one.
Shelved as 'just-no'
March 9, 2018[review and rating removed]
Read
March 11, 2018Review and rating removed.
July 29, 2015
My original review written back in May:
I'm going to review this closer to release date, but trust me, you ALL want to read this.
Now, since the book is releasing at the end of this week, a more in-depth review.
When Santino offered to let me read this book, I jumped at the chance--I had just confessed to him that I had DNFed his most well-known series because it was too violent for my tender sensibilities (seriously, I haz those)--but I did want to try his take on contemporary romance.
In addition to being a lovely friends-to-lovers romance, this book is a raw, gritty, in-your-fucking-face look at alcoholism and recovery. As someone who is personally familiar with addiction, triggers, shame, avoidance, denial, etc. etc. etc., I appreciated that Santino pulled no punches on this score. From Michael's early denial about his alcoholism to the tedium and vulnerability of rehab, in this book, there is no sugar-coating the truth: addiction is an insidious, frightening, and devastating disease.
Another area where realism triumphs and makes this book a cut above the rest of the books I've read this year is in the depiction of Michael's family life. In this genre, families tend to be either amazing and awesome or OTT evil. Michael's family was difficult, contentious, sometimes supportive, sometimes homophobic, but in general pretty fucking real. I appreciated that they were neither the bastion of perfect support nor were they uniformly evil. And I particularly appreciated Michael's complex relationship with his abusive father--it gave tremendous insight into the way stress, guilt, and grief can trigger alcoholic episodes.
Anyway, all of that and some of the most scorching sex I've read in years. Get it, Nunzio.
I'm going to review this closer to release date, but trust me, you ALL want to read this.
Now, since the book is releasing at the end of this week, a more in-depth review.
When Santino offered to let me read this book, I jumped at the chance--I had just confessed to him that I had DNFed his most well-known series because it was too violent for my tender sensibilities (seriously, I haz those)--but I did want to try his take on contemporary romance.
In addition to being a lovely friends-to-lovers romance, this book is a raw, gritty, in-your-fucking-face look at alcoholism and recovery. As someone who is personally familiar with addiction, triggers, shame, avoidance, denial, etc. etc. etc., I appreciated that Santino pulled no punches on this score. From Michael's early denial about his alcoholism to the tedium and vulnerability of rehab, in this book, there is no sugar-coating the truth: addiction is an insidious, frightening, and devastating disease.
Another area where realism triumphs and makes this book a cut above the rest of the books I've read this year is in the depiction of Michael's family life. In this genre, families tend to be either amazing and awesome or OTT evil. Michael's family was difficult, contentious, sometimes supportive, sometimes homophobic, but in general pretty fucking real. I appreciated that they were neither the bastion of perfect support nor were they uniformly evil. And I particularly appreciated Michael's complex relationship with his abusive father--it gave tremendous insight into the way stress, guilt, and grief can trigger alcoholic episodes.
Anyway, all of that and some of the most scorching sex I've read in years. Get it, Nunzio.
Shelved as 'won-t-read-for-reasons'
March 5, 2018Review Removed
December 5, 2017
Making this short,
I went into this book needing something a little different. I wanted something more than your typical contemporary romance for a change.
I got it. It’s that simple, I got something different with Michael & Nunzio.
If you haven’t read this m/m book, do it. You are missing out. It's an amazing journey through life's ups and downs with a sweet HEA that leaves you wanting more. And this book has some sexy as sin m/m sex scenes that leaves you, well um sweating....
.
I went into this book needing something a little different. I wanted something more than your typical contemporary romance for a change.
I got it. It’s that simple, I got something different with Michael & Nunzio.
If you haven’t read this m/m book, do it. You are missing out. It's an amazing journey through life's ups and downs with a sweet HEA that leaves you wanting more. And this book has some sexy as sin m/m sex scenes that leaves you, well um sweating....
.
September 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
Okay, well my most issues with this story was that I wanted to know more about Nunzio and Michael’s relationship, albeit if best friends with benefits count as a relationship! Most of the story was about Michael’s problem with his family (especially his younger brother and his father), about his work and his demon. But I wanted to see more of Nunzio and Michael with each other! I needed to know more about Nunzio. It was like I didn’t know anything about him. I desperately needed his POV.
The story is told in Michael’s POV, 1st person. It’s the first installment in "Five Boroughs" series but it can be read as a stand-alone. I really liked David and Ray’s banter (or I should say flirt) at the end so definitely I would read the second book! overall, I enjoyed it and I hope you like it more than me!
Okay, well my most issues with this story was that I wanted to know more about Nunzio and Michael’s relationship, albeit if best friends with benefits count as a relationship! Most of the story was about Michael’s problem with his family (especially his younger brother and his father), about his work and his demon. But I wanted to see more of Nunzio and Michael with each other! I needed to know more about Nunzio. It was like I didn’t know anything about him. I desperately needed his POV.
The story is told in Michael’s POV, 1st person. It’s the first installment in "Five Boroughs" series but it can be read as a stand-alone. I really liked David and Ray’s banter (or I should say flirt) at the end so definitely I would read the second book! overall, I enjoyed it and I hope you like it more than me!
Read
March 8, 2018Review removed.
Read
March 5, 2018review removed
Read
March 1, 2018Review Removed.
June 20, 2016
4,5 stars for this book
Even if I really, really love Santino's writing style, I just couldn't give it 5 BIG stars. I expected this story to blow my mind more and to finish it in one standing, like I usually do.
The beginning of this book was very HOT and made me get so fast into the story. BUT then I was deflated by Michael's attitude and denial.
I loved Nunzio. You just can't stop falling in love with him. He was so supportive and patient, so sweet and tender with Michael.
It was an easy read, but the book is full of angst. And the addiction felt so real. Santino knows how to describe all their emotions. It is like you really have the characters in front of you and you see them struggle.
The sex scenes were really HOT and I just can't wait to read Ray's story, because I kind of loved David's flirtation and his reaction to Michael's remark regarding a future boyfriend.
Even if I really, really love Santino's writing style, I just couldn't give it 5 BIG stars. I expected this story to blow my mind more and to finish it in one standing, like I usually do.
The beginning of this book was very HOT and made me get so fast into the story. BUT then I was deflated by Michael's attitude and denial.
I loved Nunzio. You just can't stop falling in love with him. He was so supportive and patient, so sweet and tender with Michael.
It was an easy read, but the book is full of angst. And the addiction felt so real. Santino knows how to describe all their emotions. It is like you really have the characters in front of you and you see them struggle.
The sex scenes were really HOT and I just can't wait to read Ray's story, because I kind of loved David's flirtation and his reaction to Michael's remark regarding a future boyfriend.
Read
March 5, 2018Review removed
Read
March 5, 2018Review removed
https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...
https://ingloriousbitches.wordpress.c...
Read
March 10, 2018Rating removed.
Original review under spoiler.
Original review under spoiler.
August 11, 2017
OMG!!! This book!!!
Oh boy! OH BOY!? Ohhhhh BOY!!! *moans*
Well, I guess you could take this as a “Sutphin Boulevard” review in a nutshell! ;-) Since I loved this book I’m going to write a longer review though. ;-)
First of all I’ve to admit that I actually never read a book like that! Yes, I confess that I’m sometimes a sucker for m/m-love stories and one or the other hot moment in a book. But nothing, really nothing was able to prepare me for the explicit sex scenes in this book. I read some good reviews about “Sutphin Boulevard” and gathered enough to know that there would be mature content. And yet I still wasn’t prepared for the way Hassell got into detail. *LOL*
Remember that moment when you sat in the middle of a train and read “50 Shades of Grey” on your e-reader and couldn’t help but blush fiercely?
Remember that scene in “Captive Prince” when things got really umm real and you were all like: Jesus!!! *facepalm*
This. Was. So. Much. Worse!!!! XD
Hassell’s way to describe the intimate moments between his protagonists was kind of intense and explicit and very detailed and yes it was even hot… damn it!!! *fans herself* So if you still want to read that book don’t say I didn’t warn you!! *lol*
What truly captured me weren’t the sex scenes though. No, it was the plot, the books well-built and convincing characters and the way Hassell managed to make this entire story so compelling. I was hooked from the very first line and even though the intimate moments were sometimes too crass for my taste, I still couldn’t help it but had to read on.
“And there was something about being sick and alone that was more dangerous than a game of Russian roulette. Every ache and pain, every whisper of fatigue, and every hopeless thought was magnified to an immeasurable scale.”
So okay, let’s get down to business:
The plot:
Michael and Nunzio have been best friends for about twenty years and even though they are both gay nothing ever happened between them. Well, at least not until the two of them kind of stumble into a hot threesome and realise that they seem to be attracted to each other. Unfortunately this is also exactly the moment where the trouble in Michael’s life takes over and when everything changes and begins to get out of hand…
”By the end of the weekend, there had been a shift so sharp that I didn’t know where we stood anymore. There had been too many half-said comments, aborted sentences, and lingering touches that had nothing to do with getting off and seeing what we could do to each other and for how long. Something was building between us, something that took my breath away from anticipation, but also created anxiety about how little I could handle the possibility of it all going wrong.”
The characters:
You know me! ;-) This is the moment where I tell you that I’m going to spoil in the character’s section and that I won’t hold back! So yeah, you’ve been warned again!!
Michael:
”If someone had told me adulthood was equal parts being broke, depressed, and taking care of my family financially, I would have opted out and tried to find a one-way ticket to Neverland.”
I really liked that man and throughout the entire book there were moments when I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything was going to be alright. Sometimes I was angry at him though and the longer I read the harder it got to read on. I mean Michael is such a nice and caring person, but his life sucks so much and in the end he sees no other way than to get drunk all of the time.
It broke my heart to see how he started to dig his own grave and sometimes I just wanted to shout at him and make him understand! To watch him struggle was so hard though and in the end all I wanted was him to be happy! *sigh*
I’m done with everything. Just, everything. I tried really hard to be the good, successful son, but everything falls down around me anyway, so what’s the point? No matter how responsible I try to be and no matter how hard I tried not to be like Dad, I act just like him. And even knowing that, I can’t make myself stop. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t … care anymore. I just don’t want to think, Ray. That’s all. I want to stop thinking and be able to breathe, and lately that only happens when I drink.”
I think the main problem of Michael was that he was so introverted and always tried to deal with his problems on his own. He was exactly the sort of man you’d describe with the words “Still waters run deep.” And oh boy did this water truly ran deep!!! *lol*
”The feeling building inside my chest was more familiar than it should have been. A widening hole dark enough to swallow my heart and leave me breathless.”
”What did I care? I’d basically told my father this was what I’d wanted. Made sure he knew I hadn’t wanted him. Made sure he knew I didn’t love him. All of the words I had spit in anger, accusing and hateful and forever in his mind before his body had simply stopped.”
”I wished everyone would leave me alone. It was stupid. I’d put myself into this situation – surrounded by people, looking like hell, and so obviously unhappy that I was practically waving a pity me banner, but still not willing to talk to anyone.”
Nunzio: I loved Zio!!! He was so caring and sweet and he always tried to be there for Michael, even when he pushed him away and told him to – sorry for the choice of words – fuck off! XD He was so sassy and direct and I kind of loved that about him. In some way he actually was the complete opposite of Michael but I guess that’s the reason why they fit together so perfectly. He was the kind of guy that always voiced everything he thought and he never minced his words which was more than just refreshing! All told he was just adorable and even though he seemed to have a rough exterior he actually was soft on the inside. ;-)
Nunzio made a big show of hitting the button at the side of his phone to shut off the screen before dropping it onto the counter.
“Happy now, needy bitch?”
“Very.” I smirked. “You know I like being the very center of your world.”
”The only reason we’re having this conversation is because you figured out that I’ve been fiending for you for a long time now, and you don’t want to deal with it. So fine. It’s whatever. We can go back to the way shit was before, and you can go fuck David.”
David: At first I just wanted David to vanish and hated him for always getting in Michael’s and Nunzio’s way, but halfway through the book I began to understand him better and developed some sympathy for him. I guess David was just very young and unexperienced and that made him insecure and kind of hostile towards Mickey and Zio.
”You are very welcome. But honestly, I’m the last person to ask about relationships. I’m clearly an epic failure at handling my own. My boyfriend dumped me after he found me jacking off in the bathroom while on the phone with a guy from Grindr.”
Raymond: At the beginning of the book I didn’t really like him and thought he was just an anti-social person, but the more I got to know him the more I realised that he was fighting to survive as well. I mean he was just 25 and he’d already lost his mother, his father never really cared about him and after Joseph died he ended up taking care of his older brother. All things considered he was just a poor soul that tried to deal with everything life threw at him and truth be told his coping mechanisms definitely worked a whole lot better than Michael’s. *lol* ;-)
”Same old crap. Pops has forever been trying to imply that Nunzio is slowly turning me gay.”
“So just tell him you was gay even before you met Nunzio.”
I loved how casually Raymond dropped that bomb!!! Haha
”You sound like a broken record. It’s my life,” he mimicked. “Let me tell you something, pendejo. Maybe you think I’m a piece of shit and worthless and a bum, but I’m still your brother, and you’*re all I got left, and if you wanna kill yourself, I’m not going to be the one to sit around and find you dead.”
So yes: I loved the book and even though the sex scenes made me blush and caused me to feel slightly uncomfortable I still don’t regret reading “Sutphin Boulevard”!
Santino Hassell if you’re reading this:
You’re a genius and I definitely will read your next book! ;-)
Oh boy! OH BOY!? Ohhhhh BOY!!! *moans*
Well, I guess you could take this as a “Sutphin Boulevard” review in a nutshell! ;-) Since I loved this book I’m going to write a longer review though. ;-)
First of all I’ve to admit that I actually never read a book like that! Yes, I confess that I’m sometimes a sucker for m/m-love stories and one or the other hot moment in a book. But nothing, really nothing was able to prepare me for the explicit sex scenes in this book. I read some good reviews about “Sutphin Boulevard” and gathered enough to know that there would be mature content. And yet I still wasn’t prepared for the way Hassell got into detail. *LOL*
Remember that moment when you sat in the middle of a train and read “50 Shades of Grey” on your e-reader and couldn’t help but blush fiercely?
Remember that scene in “Captive Prince” when things got really umm real and you were all like: Jesus!!! *facepalm*
This. Was. So. Much. Worse!!!! XD
Hassell’s way to describe the intimate moments between his protagonists was kind of intense and explicit and very detailed and yes it was even hot… damn it!!! *fans herself* So if you still want to read that book don’t say I didn’t warn you!! *lol*
What truly captured me weren’t the sex scenes though. No, it was the plot, the books well-built and convincing characters and the way Hassell managed to make this entire story so compelling. I was hooked from the very first line and even though the intimate moments were sometimes too crass for my taste, I still couldn’t help it but had to read on.
“And there was something about being sick and alone that was more dangerous than a game of Russian roulette. Every ache and pain, every whisper of fatigue, and every hopeless thought was magnified to an immeasurable scale.”
So okay, let’s get down to business:
The plot:
Michael and Nunzio have been best friends for about twenty years and even though they are both gay nothing ever happened between them. Well, at least not until the two of them kind of stumble into a hot threesome and realise that they seem to be attracted to each other. Unfortunately this is also exactly the moment where the trouble in Michael’s life takes over and when everything changes and begins to get out of hand…
”By the end of the weekend, there had been a shift so sharp that I didn’t know where we stood anymore. There had been too many half-said comments, aborted sentences, and lingering touches that had nothing to do with getting off and seeing what we could do to each other and for how long. Something was building between us, something that took my breath away from anticipation, but also created anxiety about how little I could handle the possibility of it all going wrong.”
The characters:
You know me! ;-) This is the moment where I tell you that I’m going to spoil in the character’s section and that I won’t hold back! So yeah, you’ve been warned again!!
Michael:
”If someone had told me adulthood was equal parts being broke, depressed, and taking care of my family financially, I would have opted out and tried to find a one-way ticket to Neverland.”
I really liked that man and throughout the entire book there were moments when I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything was going to be alright. Sometimes I was angry at him though and the longer I read the harder it got to read on. I mean Michael is such a nice and caring person, but his life sucks so much and in the end he sees no other way than to get drunk all of the time.
It broke my heart to see how he started to dig his own grave and sometimes I just wanted to shout at him and make him understand! To watch him struggle was so hard though and in the end all I wanted was him to be happy! *sigh*
I’m done with everything. Just, everything. I tried really hard to be the good, successful son, but everything falls down around me anyway, so what’s the point? No matter how responsible I try to be and no matter how hard I tried not to be like Dad, I act just like him. And even knowing that, I can’t make myself stop. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t … care anymore. I just don’t want to think, Ray. That’s all. I want to stop thinking and be able to breathe, and lately that only happens when I drink.”
I think the main problem of Michael was that he was so introverted and always tried to deal with his problems on his own. He was exactly the sort of man you’d describe with the words “Still waters run deep.” And oh boy did this water truly ran deep!!! *lol*
”The feeling building inside my chest was more familiar than it should have been. A widening hole dark enough to swallow my heart and leave me breathless.”
”What did I care? I’d basically told my father this was what I’d wanted. Made sure he knew I hadn’t wanted him. Made sure he knew I didn’t love him. All of the words I had spit in anger, accusing and hateful and forever in his mind before his body had simply stopped.”
”I wished everyone would leave me alone. It was stupid. I’d put myself into this situation – surrounded by people, looking like hell, and so obviously unhappy that I was practically waving a pity me banner, but still not willing to talk to anyone.”
Nunzio: I loved Zio!!! He was so caring and sweet and he always tried to be there for Michael, even when he pushed him away and told him to – sorry for the choice of words – fuck off! XD He was so sassy and direct and I kind of loved that about him. In some way he actually was the complete opposite of Michael but I guess that’s the reason why they fit together so perfectly. He was the kind of guy that always voiced everything he thought and he never minced his words which was more than just refreshing! All told he was just adorable and even though he seemed to have a rough exterior he actually was soft on the inside. ;-)
Nunzio made a big show of hitting the button at the side of his phone to shut off the screen before dropping it onto the counter.
“Happy now, needy bitch?”
“Very.” I smirked. “You know I like being the very center of your world.”
”The only reason we’re having this conversation is because you figured out that I’ve been fiending for you for a long time now, and you don’t want to deal with it. So fine. It’s whatever. We can go back to the way shit was before, and you can go fuck David.”
David: At first I just wanted David to vanish and hated him for always getting in Michael’s and Nunzio’s way, but halfway through the book I began to understand him better and developed some sympathy for him. I guess David was just very young and unexperienced and that made him insecure and kind of hostile towards Mickey and Zio.
”You are very welcome. But honestly, I’m the last person to ask about relationships. I’m clearly an epic failure at handling my own. My boyfriend dumped me after he found me jacking off in the bathroom while on the phone with a guy from Grindr.”
Raymond: At the beginning of the book I didn’t really like him and thought he was just an anti-social person, but the more I got to know him the more I realised that he was fighting to survive as well. I mean he was just 25 and he’d already lost his mother, his father never really cared about him and after Joseph died he ended up taking care of his older brother. All things considered he was just a poor soul that tried to deal with everything life threw at him and truth be told his coping mechanisms definitely worked a whole lot better than Michael’s. *lol* ;-)
”Same old crap. Pops has forever been trying to imply that Nunzio is slowly turning me gay.”
“So just tell him you was gay even before you met Nunzio.”
I loved how casually Raymond dropped that bomb!!! Haha
”You sound like a broken record. It’s my life,” he mimicked. “Let me tell you something, pendejo. Maybe you think I’m a piece of shit and worthless and a bum, but I’m still your brother, and you’*re all I got left, and if you wanna kill yourself, I’m not going to be the one to sit around and find you dead.”
So yes: I loved the book and even though the sex scenes made me blush and caused me to feel slightly uncomfortable I still don’t regret reading “Sutphin Boulevard”!
Santino Hassell if you’re reading this:
You’re a genius and I definitely will read your next book! ;-)
November 20, 2015
4.5 stars
Michael Rodriguez and Nunzio Medici have been friends for twenty years and currently they're both teaching in one of the city’s most queer friendly schools in Brooklyn. Most people assume they're sleeping together, because of how close and affectionate they are to each other, what isn't true until one day. After a threesome with a guy named David, their casual touches grow frequent and the sexual tension thickens between them.
Michael often finds himself seeking security and affection in Nunzio, but he can't keep on using him for comfort forever. Especially when Nunzio understands the feelings he has towards him, knows what he wants and Michael has yet to figure it out. His struggles become even worse when soon he also has to face family problems and his personal demons.
While I really liked Michael's POV, there was a lot of times when I wanted to hear Nunzio's thoughts as well. And despite all the information there was about him, I still wish I got to know him better.
I adore ICoS series and the best sweet, oh sweet angst it has, so when I heard about this book I was very excited. Overall, I really enjoyed this installment and I can't wait for Raymond's story!
Michael Rodriguez and Nunzio Medici have been friends for twenty years and currently they're both teaching in one of the city’s most queer friendly schools in Brooklyn. Most people assume they're sleeping together, because of how close and affectionate they are to each other, what isn't true until one day. After a threesome with a guy named David, their casual touches grow frequent and the sexual tension thickens between them.
Michael often finds himself seeking security and affection in Nunzio, but he can't keep on using him for comfort forever. Especially when Nunzio understands the feelings he has towards him, knows what he wants and Michael has yet to figure it out. His struggles become even worse when soon he also has to face family problems and his personal demons.
“But it’s like… When you’re poor and you’re struggling, all you have is family. Even if your family isn’t the best, that’s who you have. I know you guys were just as poor, but your folks were always coldhearted. But mine?” I shook my head. “Even if we were dysfunctional and a fucking mess deep down I always considered us a family. And my mom tried so hard to make it that way. (...)I loved how real and gritty this story was. The characters in this book are flawed, not perfect. They have their ups and downs and they make mistakes like any of us does. They and their actions just felt believable to me and it was amazing.
While I really liked Michael's POV, there was a lot of times when I wanted to hear Nunzio's thoughts as well. And despite all the information there was about him, I still wish I got to know him better.
I adore ICoS series and the best sweet, oh sweet angst it has, so when I heard about this book I was very excited. Overall, I really enjoyed this installment and I can't wait for Raymond's story!
Read
March 14, 2018Review Removed.
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
April 9, 2018
Review removed
Read
March 9, 2018Rating & review removed
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 803 reviews