Enough, Matthew J Metzger

enoughRating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: Breathless Press

Genre: Gay Romance

Tags: Self Image Issues,  Contemporary

Length: 61,759 words

Reviewer: Josh.

Purchase At: Breathless Press, amazon.com

 

 

 

 Enough is my first foray into the world of M/M romance and funnily enough it’s with my favourite author from the Young Adult world. This book is novel number 5 from the writing desk of Matthew J. Metzger and my enjoyment of the previous 4 has been well documented on On Top Down Under’s sister site. Without further ado I shall break into my first official review on this wonderful site.

 

“He could smell the stairs burning. He was blind, his eyes burning, and he could hear the crackle and hiss of the curling wallpaper. There was nowhere to go—no escape from the heat, no escape from the orange towers and acrid black smoke, no air.”

 

Official Blurb

Jesse can do the math: Ezra’s perfect, he isn’t, and this relationship is doomed. Until the accident forces Jesse to recalculate.

Jesse has never had a real boyfriend before. He’s a firefighter, and that’s all that anyone’s seen before—a quick and thrilling screw, and a story for the future. So when he lands Ezra Pryce, the most beautiful man in the whole of Brighton, Jesse can’t quite understand why Ezra is still here eight months down the line. 

Not that he’s going to complain. Ezra’s sexy, sarcastic, and doesn’t treat Jesse like he’s stupid, but Jesse can do the math. Ezra is nothing short of perfection; and Jesse falls a very way short of it. Jesse isn’t going to be enough for someone like Ezra in the long run, and he is living—and loving—on borrowed time. When a disastrous weekend in Norwich introduces Jesse to the staunch disapproval of Ezra’s family and the six-pack of his ex-boyfriend in one fell swoop, Jesse’s fate is sealed. He cannot hope to live up to an ex who has every intention of getting Ezra back, and all the looks and charm to do it too. Jesse is not enough for Ezra and he’s never going to be. 

Until the accident forces Jesse to re-evaluate, and shows him exactly what he looks like through Ezra’s eyes.

 

What I Absolutely Adored About This Novel

Realistic World, Believable Characters

In my eyes the city of Brighton is brought to life in Enough, no minor feat considering the relatively short length of the novel. Morning traffic, sirens, cramped apartments, unruly schoolchildren and the grime that accumulates over a 21st century city is all brought to life in vivid reality thanks to the prose of the author.

The characters are also fleshed out and believable, none more than Ezra and Jesse. I can draw a brilliant mental picture of everyone who is even mentioned, even those we never meet in person (such as Ezra’s unfortunately named elder brother.) I especially loved Ezra’s crazy Nan, despite her bigoted views.

 

“You mustn’t let any man put his penis in you before you have a ring on your finger!” Nana exclaimed hotly, and Ezra choked on his cup of tea.

 

Jealously & Conflict

Liam and Grace are the main antagonists in this book; the ex and crazy sister from Ezra’s complicated past respectively. The two provide their own challenges and obstacles to Jesse and Ezra’s budding relationship. Both challenges are dealt with well in Enough with the story’s tempo rising to key moments in the various conflicts presented.

In particular, Jesse’s rising jealously is beautifully presented on page with the irrational thoughts being expressed in a way a jealous partner would, with mistrust seeping into every facet of life slowly but surely.

Fear

The previous works of this author have examined various aspects of life that are sometimes glossed over in other works. At it’s core, Enough deals with the issue of poor self-esteem and the fear of losing everything which permeates Jesse’s fractured and scared mind.

I was personally inspired by the development that Jesse undertook to change his life when he realised the destructive effect his worries were having on his life.

 

breakfastclub

 

What Wasn’t Great

The Epilogue

I’m not going to spoil the book, but in my opinion this book just didn’t know when to end. The epilogue kept dragging on when the story could have finished at the conclusion of the final chapter.

 

never stops

 

 

I did appreciate the further information given about Jesse and Ezra’s lives a month down the track, but if it had been critical to the novel overall it could have been incorporated into the structure more effectively and not given in a short story at the end.

 

Summing Up

I do love a novel that combines realism with believable and flawed characters. Enough provides what I love in spades and I am truly grateful for taking the chance and reading it. Apart from the minor niggle in it’s ending, I really enjoyed the first foray into M/M by this author and I look forward to much more down the line.

 

“This was enough. This had always, always been enough.”

 

A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.



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Kazza K
Admin

Welcome to On Top Down Under, Josh. Great way to start and I know you love this author’s books.

Look forward to more reviews over here from you now.

😀

Cindi
Admin

Great review, Josh. I know your appreciation for this author’s work and this was a great first one for you on On Top Down Under. The story looks really good and I look forward to checking it out.

And to second what Kazza said – Welcome to On Top Down Under! I look forward to more of your reviews.

Carolyn
Guest
Carolyn

Spot on review on those positive, Josh. I didn’t have a problem with the epilogue, but your comment was absolutely fair. I had a bit that I wondered if you would comment on that was a negative for me. I don’t say something is “retarded” or someone is a “retard” when something/someone is stupid or bad, just like I don’t use the phrase, “that’s/they’re so gay” in the same instances. Several times in the story Ezra used it (I can’t recall now if Jesse did). That put me off, especially because they were so outraged by Ezra’s sister’s behavior and… Read more »

Kazza K
Admin

I haven’t read the book myself but you make salient points, Carolyn. I am not a user of those phrases/words myself and I get your disappointment with their use. They seem to have casually permeated much of our culture these days.

Carolyn
Guest
Carolyn

It’s not even that I’m easily shocked or sensitive, and there are certainly plenty of -isms still to be found in so many books. I just honestly haven’t seen the casual use of that phrasing in a book, and it was jarring, even though I hear it used by people in the real world. I just felt like I had to mention it because if we don’t speak up, it’s a learning/teaching opportunity missed. So many -isms are perpetuated by decent people who just haven’t realized what their words and actions are doing…. Oh no, get me off my soapbox!

Kazza K
Admin

You’re preaching to the converted here, Carolyn. My household is one that is patently aware of the words that people can use, and do use, that have the ability to cause hurt. So I hear you and I’m with you on your desire for people to become (more) aware. Thanks for your input, Carolyn. It is very much valued.

I agree, Josh does write a good review and he brings a youthfulness and a (male) perspective to the reviews that we older girls here need. I’ll run now from Cindi, lol.

Josh
Guest
Josh

Thanks Carolyn. I didn’t enjoy the use of the words you mention. You’re spot on that it is not good and it is part of the reason I marked this otherwise great book down. Overall it didn’t draw me out too much but it is definitely something that I think should’ve been addressed in editing. Thanks again for your feedback and I’m glad you enjoyed the book too!

Carolyn
Guest
Carolyn

Thanks, Josh. I enjoy reading your reviews, and not just when I agree with you. 🙂

Jay
Guest
Jay

Good review, buddy. Nice to get another perspective on here with the gals!

😀

Kazza K
Admin

I agree it is good review and it is also nice to get a male perspective along with us “gals.”

🙂