* I received an ARC through Netgalley in return for an honest review *
This is probably the toughest review so far and it was only complicated by finding out the author has recently been diagnosed as autistic as well.
First the good things: It's a gay love story between an autistic and an allistic character which is very sweet, includes a meet-awkward and both of them help each other and genuinely like each other.
Now for the bad things: While the author sometimes gets things incredibly right or uses correct terminology, he sometimes misses the mark completely.
For example, he really accurately talks about overstimulation, autistic burn-out and stimming. Except sometimes the stims get called "urges" and are something that has to be corrected.
There is also frequent use of outdated and ableist language like person-first instead of identity-first language. The correct way to refer to us is indeed autistic person instead of person with autism because guess what, being autistic is something that can't be separated from our personhood.
Other instances are words like "suffer" (I do not suffer from autism, I'm autistic) and a paragraph about the characters "curing" each others disability. Cure narratives are always problematic, even if only symbolic, because of their inherent link to eugenics (fun fact of the day: Mr Asperger was involved in child euthanasia and we would rather not have him associated with us).
While ableism and internalised ableism are things that are sadly prevalent in our society, I would prefer books to distance themselves from narratives that rely solely on ableism, overcoming disabilities or simply focusing too much on the disability instead of the relationship. You cannot separate being autistic from an autistic person but every autistic person is different and there deserve to be more narratives than mathematics obsessed young men "overcoming" their autism. You can write autistic characters without making every page about autism. I am autistic and so are many of my friends and we're all radically different, some "pass" for neurotypical and some don't, many are in relationships with either fellow autistic people or allistic people, some can't stop talking and socialising. We all live our life autistically, it is part of our everyday life and identity, but if our lives were books they would be more than just a diagnosis.
All in all I give 2/5 stars for a well-meaning attempt that has potential for better representation in the future (if the author examined his own internalised ableism and reached out to the community more)

We follow Hervè and get to see how he was when he was young, how he is now - how he meet Luc, we also get to know Luc and how he is and what life he's had. This is a story about two men finding each other in sort of impossible circumstances and fall in love with each other and share their lives together. Hervè and Luc has their own struggles and we see how it affect the both of them, and that love is strong no matter what, and i loved every page and seriously wish there where more!

As a added plus, the writing were easy and the flow was so good! I didn't have a hard time connection with the characters and took an instant like to them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Wow. What a GREAT read. And an important one. I think everyone should read this book. It addresses the topic of dating / romance for those on the spectrum.

I easily read this book in one day. You won't regret reading it.

I was so engrossed in this book that I read it all in one day! So far it has been my favourite book I’ve read on net galley. As a nurse it really resonated with me, and I would absolutely recommend anyone who lacks awareness around the spectrum to read it!! Such an eye opening tale in terms of understanding Aspergers from the persons own prospective, and also such a heart warming tale of people overcoming their own insecurities. Such an amazing amazing book!!

Hervé has Asperger's. He's working, living on his own...but still challenging himself daily with tasks his psychologist gives hm. Hervé struggles most with social interactions and physical contact. When he's overwhelmed by the sound and sensations around him, he shuts down.

Luc is recovering from an accident that has left him disfigured. When he first meets Hervé he won't go out unless he's wearing a hoodie. He's been called names, and the stares and expressions on peoples' faces are impossible for him to take. He's moving through life without looking up.

Both men are struggling with social interactions for completely different reasons but somehow, when they meet, they manage to reach each other in a place that is somehow between all the challenges they face. As they become closer, they learn to assist each other in gentle and loving ways... it made my heart hurt (in a good way).

This book is a joyous experience. It's not often that a book has a character who is on the Autism spectrum... let alone a main character like Hervé. I know this is one interpretation of a Neurodiverse individual, but it read as authentic and genuine for me. My personal experience with neurodiversity made me cheer at sections of this book! It was an absolutely pleasure to read about Hervé: the ups and the downs he faces are remarkable and so is his resilence.

Luc is open and accepting when he begins to learn about Hervé.  Perhaps, their "disabilities" enable them to see each other clearly in a world in which people are entirely too focused on "sameness" and the convenience of always being able to assume they know how people will react to things.

I loved the fact that Hervé had a supportive work environment. Hervé's boss is a great character! He clearly demonstrates that neurodiverse people can be welcomed into a work environment just like anyone else. With a few minor changes (which might even be good for all of us!), Hervé is able to manage a job that he's not only successful at.. he excels.

In a world of books that are written about the same "types" of people over and over again, this novel is a breath of fresh air. It's well-written, well-paced and had me hooked from the beginning. The brief flashbacks of Hervé's life as he was growing up really filled out his character and made me appreciate the way he was trying to live his life.

I would happily read more by this author!

Lovely short story that really hits home what those on the spectrum have to deal with. And actually what those NTs should remember when they meet someone on the spectrum!
I love Herve and I love Luc and I'm happy things worked out as they did!

*I received a free advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.*

This is a story about a grown accountant adult Hervé who struggles with Asperger syndrome. We follow his story -we kind of get a glance of his childhood and how he was treated at school- and his first meeting with Luc, a character living with scars on his face due to an accident. These two adults suffer a lot from their own trauma but their friendship helps them be a better version of themselves. It is an adorable, LGBTQ+ romance that reflects perfectly an individual struggle living with a disability and being misunderstood for it. We also follow Hervé's journey at work and how isolated he can be because he's different than his colleagues. I loved how accurate his symptoms were -I studied the subject in one of my classes so it was very pleasing to see the truthfulness of his Asperger syndrome. I love how he's portrayed in this book, he's very discreet but so immensely smart. His disability doesn't define him, he's his own person. This is why I liked this story, it's about coming to terms with your illness and not let it isolate you from your friends and family. Despite the fact that this book tells a heartbreaking truth about living with a disability that is mostly misunderstood by everyone, it also brings a lightness and hopeful message to it. The road may be harsh and full of cruel and ignorant people but the recovery that you go through is what matters the most. Being able to be yourself and be accepted and loved for it is the most amazing thing. Loving yourself with all the flaws and quality and not let it control your life instead is so important for anyone who struggles with an illness or trauma. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a contemporary that deals with a heavy subject.

Rating: 4 stars.

This is the story of Hervé, a man living with Asperger syndrome, and the friendship - and eventual romance - that he develops with Luc, a neurotypical man who faces struggles of his own in the aftermath of a serious accident.

As the narrative shifts between Hervé’s childhood and his present-day life, a picture emerges of a person who has spent a lifetime being misunderstood and misunderstanding others, often with agonizing consequences. At work, he awkwardly tries to make a joke that is misinterpreted as an insult; as a young man, he runs away, embarrassed, after learning that being invited to someone’s house ‘for drinks’ can actually mean something quite different. In his words, “The astronomical number of times I experienced such situations pushes me toward the edge of the hellish pit of my social incompetence.”

However, as Hervé tells his story, we also see how bright and insightful he can be, how unique his perspective. Fortunately for him, there are people in his life - his mother, his boss, Luc - who recognize and appreciate his strengths. Unfortunately for the reader, we did not get to learn as much about these secondary characters as we might have liked. Nonetheless, a highly satisfying story, filled with both aching and hope.


Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review excerpted from my blog post over at Pan/Cis LGBT2SQ+ Romance Reviews (https://pancis.wordpress.com/2020/01/05/love-on-the-spectrum-by-alec-nortan/)


Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library LGBT2SQ+ romance ebook collections or neuroatypical ebook collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.

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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Medium burn

Relationship dynamics: You and Me Against The World

Sexual content: None. Mild kissing and hugging only. Most hugging is therapeutic rather than sexual.

Gender Identity: Cis (H1) / Cis (H2)

Sexual Identity: Gay (H1) / Gay (H2)

Triggers: A lot of ableism from neurotypical characters (not H2); descriptions of past trauma (from the perspective of other characters); bullying; workplace harrassment

Acceptance Rating: 4.5 stars

Acceptance Rating Explanation: There are hints of heteronormativity, but otherwise, love is love.

Grammar/Editing: There are a number of errors in my ARC that I would consider to be translation issues, as this novella was originally published in French (mostly idiom errors). There are also some punctuation errors.

Review: This evenly-paced “own voices” novella about a mixed neuroatypical and neurotypical couple is set in France in an unspecified urban location. A significant amount of time is spent in the novella describing Hervé, who has Asperger syndrome, including how his mind works, his routines, his life experiences, and how they have led him to where he is. Far less is said about the other hero, Luc, but his mental struggle with the appearance of his scars and his personal growth is at the forefront, as is his acceptance of Hervé for who he is. Indeed, the relationship we see develop is one of significant personal growth for both Hervé and Luc, which was both heartwarming and satisfying to read.

The supporting characters are overwhelmingly ableist neurotypical people. There seemed to be very little understanding and even less willingness to understand Hervé and his Asperger syndrome, which is emphasized by those scenes being written from the perspective of the neurotypical people, rather than Hervé. While this is undeniably all too common for Asperger’s folks to experience, it is difficult to read. I was happy to see that Hervé’s mother, psychologist, and boss, at least, seemed to have a good grasp of Asperger’s and how to treat Hervé with respect and dignity. It would have been nice to have all of the extremely negative neurotypical points of view broken up with more from these positive supporting characters – there is only one scene from the perspective of Hervé’s mother, and even that focuses more on the negative than the positive.



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this sweet story. Herve is an accountant living with Asperger’s syndrome. He is extremely smart and detail oriented but struggles significantly with social interactions and anxiety. The book gives us an in depth look at his life and everything he deals with.

Luc was in a serious accident of some kind that resulted in serious burns on his face and arm. As a result he has become essentially agoraphobic. When he meets Herve, he finds Herve’s directness and honesty to be exactly what he needs.

Seeing the care and acceptance Herve finds with Luc is a gorgeous thing to see. While they don’t necessarily get a happily ever after, they definitely get a happy for now ending that you can see has the legs to go the distance.

J’adore.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley but these opinions are all my own!

If you like my review and would like to read more find me at http://thisbookthatlife.com

I'll try to be as straightforward as possible, therefore I'll present you my review through bullets.

•This is Hervé's story, the story of a man in his early thirties that begins at the end of his relationship with Pascal, a person of whom we don't get to know much other than the fact that at some point he just couldn't bear with Hervé's condition. From the beginning we're told that our main character is a gay man with Asperger's syndrome. That's his condition.

•The way this story is narrated isn't new, you have a chapter in current time where Hervé narrates what's happening and then a chapter in which a third person narrator shares with us the story of young Hervé from kindergarten being basically bullied by everyone including his dad, all the way to the first interactions with his psychologist. This is the story of how Hervé meets Luc and how they find themselves on opposite sides of the spectrum. Luc is a NT (neurotypical) person, you know "normal" and as stated earlier, Hervé is an Aspie whose biggest triggers are crowds and noise.

•Maybe because my first aware rendezvous with Asperger's syndrome was at age 23, when I met a now dear friend of mine that happened to be a highly functional yet super introverted Aspie almost the same age as Hervé, that I found this very near and dear to my own experience as a NT befriending a an Aspie. I clicked with Hervé in so many levels and kind of understood my friend a bit better.

•This story talks clearly about the neurologic spectrum and places Luc and Hervé in both ends. Nevertheless, you witness then meeting each other and growing closer together. A charming love story, I must say.

One last thing, this is aside form the story itself.

•Learning that Alec Nortan decided to write this story in a language foreign to him (being French he wrote it in English) resonated with me in a metastory level since here I am, reviewing this book written in English being a Spanish-speaking reader. The vocabulary chosen for this particular book makes its reading agile and even fun. Thank you, Alec.

Totally would recommend, specially as a starter in the topic of geting to know a neurodivergent person.

Happy reading.