Spencer Goss's narration elevates it immeasurably

I found my original review and am adding it at the end of this because I shouldn't have to chase my own reviews down. I hate Goodreads so much.

At any rate I love this book, I love everything about this book, about Leo, about Will, and about how they find their way to each other in a way that makes absolute sense for them. I love that this is a romance even if it's outcome isn't perhaps a standard romance ending, although there's no way anyone can tell me the ending isn't romantic. Nor can anyone make me believe that they aren't romance goals, being adjustable in a relationship is the ultimate form of love. Recognizing that different types of relationships exist and work and that that doesn't lessen any relationship is something we all need to understand.

But, the audio, the audio of this book surpasses most all other audio out there. I would get down on my knees and beg Spencer Goss to narrate more books in any genre if I thought it would make a difference. He is the standard for all narrators out there for me and it kills me that he only narrated three books. Sigh ...

Original review*******
This is another situation where I'm basically a mess, and want to grab people and make them read this book. Or, even better, listen to Spencer Goss's narration. This book tore me up when I read it, and listening to it made it even more emotional and amazing.
Will breaks my heart, Leo makes me believe in the ability to allow your heart, and maybe more importantly, your mind to accept all the options and possibilities love provides. If I thought Will needed redemption I'd say this proves that love can redeem someone. But, I don't think Will needs to be redeemed. He needs the kind of largely unconditional love that Leo gives him, but he really doesn't change. He just expands his views, and opens his heart, and gives in to loving Leo. He is still the acerbic, tetchy person he was which makes his crazy, romantic, OTT declaration in public at the end all the more meaningful. I'm not sure how this book, which is arguably Leo's, as it is told from his POV, became so much Will's book for me, but it did. I love how much Leo grows, he goes from a sweet, innocent kid with stars in his eyes about not only Will, but also NYC, to someone that is worthy of and capable of accepting who Will (and the city) is.
As to the audio, Spencer Goss is such an amazing narrator. He is one of a very short list of narrators that I will buy anything (even books I don't have any particular interest in) that he narrates because I know the experience is going to be outstanding. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot out there yet, but I'm willing to wait.

13 people found this helpful

Beautiful Story, Told Beautifully

Gah! This story was as emotional as Out Of Nowhere (also by this author), and I was on the same kind of emotional rollercoaster he sent me on in THAT one. By that I mean the highs and the lows for the main characters were intense and powerful. The narrator has a way of making things both realistic and gut-punchingly affecting. As with the last book in this series, done by this narrator, he made it seem like I was listening to a ten hour long movie, rather than a book.

I highly recommend this audiobook.

4 people found this helpful

Simply stunning narration!

Any additional comments?

5 Stars for the narration!

Spencer Goss is definitely on my immediate buy list. The way he uses inflection to convey the emotion of the story, his character voices, his timing, voice over…all of it is simply stunning for someone who’s so new to voice acting, and frankly would be remarkable for a veteran actor.

I adored the audio for this. Goss has a way of taking the almost lyrical quality of Roan Parrish’s writing and elevating it to something that is irresistibly enchanting.

The writing is on par with the other stories in the series, and Parrish certainly delivers the heat (eventually) as well.

But, once again, I find myself wishing for multiple POV and wishing I bought into the relationship side of the story more, which is where my focus was on. The whole coming of age drama, which is most of the story, just didn’t really strike a resounding chord with me. I understand this is ultimately about Leo’s growth. I just didn’t need to read so much about his classes, and friends, and boss, and yoga.

While my overall issues with the story remain, the narration for this was simply fantastic! I think those who love New Adult coming of age stories with a sprinkling of relationship angst, some sexy times, and a HFN that holds a glimmer of possibility for more should definitely check it out.

7 people found this helpful

Great series, great writing, painfully amazing

This book was hard to listen to. And I mean that in the best way possible. The main character is giving, empathetic, and the love interest isn't. But his thought process is entirely unique in most romances. The way he thinks makes me physically uncomfortable despite I know, logically, what he says can help someone with too much empathy not suffer burnout. This book really wrings your emotions and for me, brought new insight on relationships, societal niceties, and self-awareness. I thought I loved the previous installment the most. Nope. This one.

2 people found this helpful

I want MORE

I am sad this series is over…I really enjoyed each one of these stories all for different reasons.

What I liked best about this one is that they didn’t struggle with their sexuality it was deeper than that. It was learning to love more than anything and having the courage to open yourself up to that kind of vulnerability.

Leo really struggles with is he good enough for Will. And he has to learn to be good enough for himself first. I loved that he finds this group of friends that just get him and help him see he has worth for who he is.

Will isn’t a character I liked all that much, until the end where I understood he was protecting himself. Once I understood that then I got him and why he is the way he is.

That ending … it may not be the “typical” HEA but it was the right HEA for these guys.

I really enjoyed Spencer’s voice. I want more MM done by him, his tone is so smooth and gruff too it is just right.

10 people found this helpful

Narraror vs Author

First, Spencer Goss.
I dont want to diminish the writer's job, because these stories are amazing, but honestly, rhe narrator BROUGHT THEM TO LIFE! He is incredible! I cannot believe he only has three books on audible, I want more of him! So much more! I would buy the books only to hear him, I swear. He gives each character their voice depending on physical characteristics, age, sex, situations, everything! I LOVE HIM!

Now the story.
I loved the second one better, definitely; that was my favorite.
But this one... this one made me feel like no other. Im such a hopeless romantic that I immediately saw myself in Leo: his thoughts, his feelings, his insecurities, his angst. Everything.
Will was a good character, but not as lovable as the rest of the trilogy not even Colin. There's one thing that even towards the end kept putting me off about him, that's why I decided to give it four stars.
Other than that, the author (and the narrator) again made me fly out of this world and into the story, and thats one of my favorite things about books.

Oh! Just one more thing: I WANT MORE OF THIS SERIES!!!!!!

4 people found this helpful

AMAZING! 5 stars across the board

I'll start by saying all 3 books in this series were incredible in their own right. They each offer something different.

I won't go into much story detail, because what makes this book and the others amazing is the simple and sometimes complex journey the character-driven series shares; which is the human spirit in all its fun, messed up, and exciting glory.

Admittedly, I was surprised to see there was a book that was solely based on 2 secondary characters from the first book. Both Leo and Will were sort of ornaments on a tree, they were okay, nice to look at but nothing much more to offer. That being said, there was enough to build on and I'm glad the author did.

For me, Leo and Will are two metaphorical types of scenarios/concepts that represent something we've either personally experienced, or watched someone else go through; first love and never being loved.

Leo represents the idealistic approach to love and/or infatuation. No new ground there, but as the story evolves the writer does a good job balancing the fantasy of love with real-life angst that could happen regardless of age. She also does an amazing job of helping to explain some of these emotions not necessarily through Leo but through more experienced characters which helped keep the story balanced and not so far-fetched. I think that was smart and kept the story believable.

Sometimes the reference to Will's beauty became a little annoying, but even that was (somewhat) balanced and helped explain some of who he was. In the end, it didn't take away from the story.

Lastly, the use of Leo's friends was both amazing and went a long way to help remind us he was just a college freshman. I also enjoyed the small cameos of Rex and Daniel., and the very small mention of Rafe and Colin near the end. It somehow helped to close the series.

And so the series concludes, and like with any series finale it either wraps up in a sincere and satisfying way or leaves you disappointed. I'm happy to say, I'm very satisfied and sad and I'm sure you will be as well.

1 person found this helpful

Great Ride

With each chapter getting closer to the end I hated that this story was going to finish be over end. I actually laughed then cried. Relating to the emotional roller coaster this was my favorite of the 3 books. Thank you

1 person found this helpful

All the stars for Leo!

Okay, I can kind of understand why Where We Left Off isn't getting the same amount of love as the previous books. It is different than the first two. I'm not sure I would even call it a romance since Will spends 80% of the book saying he doesn't want a relationship. I would say this is more of a "coming of age" story for Leo. And I love "coming of age" stories!

And I really really loved Leo! My heart hurt for him over and over again as he pursued Will. I was almost in tears during the first chapter when Will shot him down. Not to mention the Tiramisu Incident. My heart was in pieces. I wasn't sure Will could be redeemed in my eyes after that. Will isn't a very likable guy. I get that he has his reasons for being the way he is, but he really makes it difficult to warm up to him.

I loved Leo's group of friends at NYU. Especially Milton. I was cracking up when he finally met Will.

The narration for the audiobook was incredible. I adore Spencer Goss. I know he doesn't narrate many books, but I'm so glad he stuck with this series. <3 <3 <3

2 people found this helpful

✫✫ 3.5 Stars ✫✫

I wanted to love Leo &amp; Will's book! It was a lot of drama which I don't normally enjoy and Leo was pretty immature. But I needed these two to get their HEA and they did so I love that. This book was hot and sweet and heartbreaking all in one. I loved the characters in book 1 and had expected them to grow by the time book 3 hit but honestly they didn't seem to. I loved that Leo knew what he wanted and Will was such a lost soul I wanted to yell at him to stop leading poor Leo on or man up and admit you love him ;) In the end I was happy with this story and the narration was really good!

7 people found this helpful