“You understand me in a way no one else does. I recognized it the moment we met. It’s time you accept that I understand you too." - Remy

"Even after finding out what I've... been through, he still wants me. He loves me." - Win

This book has 2 time-lines in both POV'S. The POV's in the past are mostly from years ago, where their friendship turned into a relationship and that happens between them and in their own lives. The other POV is in the present, where Remy is trying to forgive Winnie after they haven't seen each other for years. This book has a mystery element because the reader is trying to figure out what happened all those years ago. I really loved that part, it made the book hard to put down. I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW, most of the chapters are short as well.

Winnie has always been alone with his own thoughts and struggles. He didn't let anyone in, a part of that is because he wants to protect Remy. They are both scared to be a burden, so they didn't talk about that, for a while. It's also clear that nobody asked Winnie the right questions or treated him with care, so many people have failed him from such a young age, he never learned how to talk about his feelings. That makes it hard for him to open up and be honest. It was all too much for him and he became an addict. But he decided to do things differently and got his second chance with Remy. They are both so brave and strong. I'm glad that he found the violin again. Music is a form of therapy for Win.

"It's hard for me to...accept comfort when I don't think I deserve it." - Win

Remy has depression and although his parents try to help or understand him, they still see him (for the most part) as the diagnosis and forget to see Remy as a person. Win helped them realize that. Everyone has their own struggles and Remy and Win are both broken boys, they've hurt each other in the past and are really trying to not do that in the present as well. Remy struggled a lot and Win helped him, and I'm glad that Remy also was able to do the same for Win later on. Win being a st@lker (LIGHT st@lking) that brought Remy food and loves his cat (Mitz) and then decide this all would've been better if he gave Remy a choice, really showed how much Win needed Remy to survive. It's a great emotional book, with great conversations, and deeper meaning! Oh and I thought part 1 was sad, and then there was part 2.... Crying! I'm really excited for Andrea's book (Remy's best friend), I'm glad that she was always there to help Remy.

This book feels so real, my heart really broke but was put back together in the end. I'm glad that Winnie has justice and that Remy helped him enjoy the parts that deeply traumatized him. It was written with a lot of care. PTSD is not something that just goes away, every situation is different even if you've done the same thing with good experience again and again, you never know when it triggers you and that was realistic. Depression is something that they both have. They understand each other and they are healing together, they have always been in each other's minds. ALWAYS!

Win: "The brain is like any other organ. It can get sick."

Remy: You mean... you brain is sick too? He nods against me.

The writing was very beautiful and felt so real, definitely an author I want to read more from. I just feel so emotionally connected to the characters. They really are perfect for each other! They did it!!! Make sure to check the trigger warnings!

- Second Chance MM Romance

- Kissing Scars

- Nightmares

- A Cat (Mitz)

- Making sure the other eats

- Letters and text messages

- 2 time-lines, both POV'S

- Heavy on the mental health trope

- Winnie: Gray eyes, tattoos, piercings, eyeliner

- Remy: Hazel eyes, wears glasses (sometimes)

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, thank you so much!!!