Beautiful and Terrible Things

By: Riley Hart

Narrated by: Michael Fell

We were six years old when I fell in love with Gage Beaumont.

We were 17 when he realized he felt the same.

His dad was the town troublemaker, and I was the son of a cop. We couldn't have been more different, yet we were best friends, had each other's backs, and kept each other's secrets. "What you are, I am," we always said.

Then one night irrevocably changed our lives forever.

It's 10 years before I see Gage again, and instantly I can tell he's not the same boy I fell in love with. We're both haunted and hardened by the memory of that night - of everything we did and saw.

Yet as much as we've changed, the connection between us lingers. Our history is so devastatingly complicated that it's difficult to allow ourselves happiness. With every touch, every laugh, every moment we take back, the more signs I see of the old Gage resurfacing. Little by little, I'm becoming the Joey he remembers, too.

But it's never that easy. If we truly want to heal, we have to find strength not only in each other, but in ourselves. Life is filled with beautiful and terrible things, and this time, we'll do whatever it takes to hold on to the good, and to each other.

Warning: While this is a story about friendship, found family, and two men epically in love, it also deals with difficult themes: childhood physical and verbal abuse, some violence, depression, and anxiety.

©2020 Riley Hart (P)2021 Riley Hart

Wonderful

There was a nice flow to the story. Although some parts predictable it did not detract from the story- nice read

A True Love Story

This book healed my heart. It was amazing to listen to a book about a love I could identify with. For people of LGBTQA+ there aren't many references to love stories so this story is so life affirming. The author captured the purity of love and painted it onto a canvas of tragedy, masterfully. The actor captured the characters and brought them to life. I will be forever changed by this story .

update: I actually listened to the book a second time and discovered so connections to my own life I want aware of the first time which has given me a measure of closure and healing.

Beautiful, Heartwarming, and Well narrated

I was deeply touched by the characters’ stories and how the author unfolded their experiences and perspectives. The narrator did so well it was almost as if he was telling his own story…nice job.

What you are I am!!!

What you are I am should have been the title. This book….it was all the feels and more. I am just super disappointed that Fell was the narrator. He really ruined the story. His style is so herky jerky, fast and slow that it ruined the really soft parts of the book. I finally had to stop and read those parts. This great of an author should only have their books read buy some of the greats!!! Don’t miss this story! It’s a great one!!!

Beautiful written

This is a amazing book, be ready to cry a lot. There is a HEA.

Beautiful and captivating story I could stop once I started

This selection caught my attention only because the narrator and my husband have the same name. As a mixed race cis gay man in my late 40’s I could Identify with Joey. All of the realistic challenges and issues gay kids face were mentioned. I could see each of the characters representing someone in my own life and was really moved in parts. This book reinforces a lot of thoughts in my mind and I’m eager to listen to more by this author. Thank you!

Wonderful

Honestly Riley Hart is a genius and I love all her books. You really feel the love and the heartache in all her book. This one was no different. I really enjoy the story and all the characters.

"What you are, I am."

The amount of heart break and tears i went through was not okay. It did not make it any easier when I'm personally going through similar situations (the not being able to love myself and trusting my partner). This book was not only a good story, but for those who needs it its a great guideline to heal from trauma, anxiety, and depression. I'm not healed and at all, but listening to their struggles and how they began to work hard to grow and better themselves, it makes me want to work on myself. Thank you Riley Hart. Honestly my Favorite Author.

Excellent story and narration

You can always expect a great story from Riley Heart. She deals with sensitive issues respectfully when she writes and delivers a story that sucks you in and stays with you after your done. Michael Fell is one of my favorite narrators. He has a unique style that is very enjoyable to listen too. I love how he puts inflection in his performance where some narrators sometimes miss, and that brings so much more to the story.

Joey & Gage

Story:~4.5 Stars
Audiobook:~4 Stars

While listening/reading to this story my heart went through all the stages of grief. From numbness & denial to acceptance & peace. Riley Hart killed me with Beautiful & Terrible Things. Michael Fell, while not amazing, still did a pretty great job.