For Real

Just picture me screaming into the abyss forever

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Everyone. Forever.
Why? Because its a piece of art that's why.
Listen, BDSM is a hard thing. It's hard to participate in, its hard to watch, it's hard to understand and its hard to portray. Yet with For Real, it felt effortless. Laurie and Toby pulled me into their world of dominance of submission and trust and care with the ease of a fish gliding through water. Of course there were stumbles but not for one moment were you ever thrown out of the moment. It was, as the title said, For Real. Toby and Laurie were whole realized and complete people. They were strong and sure and beautiful and vulnerable and interesting all on their own and it made their coming together. I would've been fascinated by their relationship even without kink to be honest.

Plus, as someone who spent a bit of time in the London Underground Clubs scene many many moons ago, it was lovely to hear clubs I knew name-checked every now and then. But that was mostly a bonus for me. ;)

What other book might you compare For Real to and why?

Good lord. Not a book but maybe the movie Secretary if Maggie Gyllenhall and James Spader switched kinks but everything else stayed exactly the same.

Which character – as performed by John Hartley and Paul Berton – was your favorite?

Laurie and Toby were both divine but I felt far more comfortable with John Hartley's Laurie than with Paul Berton's Toby because I am closer to Laurie's age than Toby. That's not a sign on his performance, just a sing that I'm getting old *sob*

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Old enough to know better. Young enough not to care.

Any additional comments?

This book was brilliant - both in the sense that instilled joy and pleasure and in the sense that it was in fact intellectually brilliant. Toby was so smart I wanted to reach into my Audible app and shake him with his poetry and literary criticism and creativity and emotional maturity. Everyone in this book was there for a reason. There were no extemporaneous characters. Everyone, even the incidentals, had a purpose. I walked away feeling like I learned something even as I'd been entertained. It's been a long time since I've felt that way about a book. It's lovely to feel that way again.

Now who do I have to bribe to get the rest of Hall's works audiobooked?!

12 sur 12 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Highly Recommend

I chose the book because I've read nearly all of the books by Alexis Hall and enjoyed all of them. This one really touched a special place for me dealing with confusion, loss, low self- esteem and just wanting to be loved no matter what your station in life.

One of the best books I've listened to in a long time.

6 sur 6 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Effin' Perfect

The absolute best D/s book I've ever read! Hands-down! Never has an author captured the essence of being a submissive more accurately. So effin' perfect it almost hurts when the last words are uttered and the book has concluded! God, I want MORE of these two and their beautiful relationship. *goes to knees* Please, Sir, more.

2 sur 2 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Superb narration for superb story

As much as I enjoy reading Alexis Hall's excellent prose, this time I enjoyed hearing it even more. These narrators brought the characters to life by dramatizing the story, not merely reading Hall's beautifully literate prose.

I highly recommend this production, and know I will listen to it many times.

2 sur 2 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Get this right now!

I loooooooooved this book when I first read it. And now I love it even more. John and Paul's voices were absolutely stunning, true to the character I pictured, and had me swooning with love for these characters all over again.
This is one I will listen to over and over again!

2 sur 2 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Loved it

Yet another enjoyable read from Alexis Hall. And it definitely doesn’t hurt that the narrator could read the dictionary and I’d still listen. 😉

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Nothing short of perfection

There's no way to properly review this book or audio, because it is in a class all it's own. For Real is a master class in m/m romance, a delicious foray into some light BDSM and an honestly lyrical love story. The narrators are perfectly chosen and add even more depth to Alexis Hall's prose, which I hardly believed possible. I will continue to sing/scream the praises of this book until my last breath. I'd put it in my top three favorite audiobooks of all time. Please do yourself a favor and just try it.

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Stop everything. Listen to this or read this now!

But preferably listen. I don't know the original audible narrator, but Paul Berton and John Hartley do a magnificent job with this book. Laurie and Toby come to life in the best possible way.

This is the most moving, choking-up, funny, real, kink-sex love story I've ever read or listened to. And that's saying something for someone who for decades thought she wans't into kinky sex. But then it's so much more than that. It's about growth, building bridges, being true to oneself, being true to one another, I have almost listened to it in one go.

I won't put anything in here that could be a spoiler. Just take the book and read it. And listen. it's staggeringly beautiful.

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

loved

I really enjoyed both narrators and their portrayal of the characters. I feel like the voices are spot on.
love the story.

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.

Absolutely amazing

What did you love best about For Real?

The author’s ability to get inside the characters’ heads. The depth of the characters’ emotions is staggering. Absolutely loved it.

What did you like best about this story?

Toby. For all his confidence and bravado, he’s just an innocent, Uber-sweet kid.

Which character – as performed by John Hartley and Paul Berton – was your favorite?

Honestly they are both so very good that I cannot choose one over the other. Both voice actors were amazing. I loved their performances and the accents were lovely. I could listen to them forever.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh mostly, but it was extremely touching as well.

1 sur 1 personne(s) ont trouvé cet avis utile.