There’s a lot to unpack here, you really just need to read it but go in knowing that it’s going to hurt to get to the HEA. This an MM, coming of age, Great Expectations retelling. The writing is amazing. The story was intriguing, I haven’t read Great Expectations in a long time so I had to brush up a bit. 

Jude and Caspien meet at the age of 15 when Jude’s brother-in-law (he lives with his sister and her husband) starts working at and eventually move onto Caspian’s uncles estate. They developed this strange sort of friendship that turns into more. 

I won’t lie, I did not like Caspien until closer to the end of the book. His character though had been raised to avoid love and then he met Jude. He was still quite horrible even once they were “friends.” Also the older man while he was only 16 made me cringe. 

Jude I felt for. When Caspien left he had to move on with life and it seemed every time he’d make a little progress Caspien would show up. Cas just kept hurting Jude and it made me ill. Jude was such an amazing character. His love for Caspien ran soul deep. 

I did start to feel for Caspien more towards the end, no one deserves that. 

The big reveal in the end kinda fell flat for me. I understand Caspien didn’t want Jude to resent him if he stayed when they were younger but I guess that’s how things had to be for Caspien to be able to understand what love is. He hurt Jude but also himself. Overall it’s a good read, it’s long and divided into three parts. This isn’t your typical romance so know that going in.