The Light Reflected
The Provincetown Series
by Will Freshwater
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Sep 03 2022 | Archive Date Nov 08 2023
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Description
Love on the rocks, salty rim.
What do you do when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams? For three long years, Max Balais has been working a series of dead-end jobs, bagging groceries at the local A&P and working as a cod fisherman, to support his mom and sister. At twenty, he’s finally ready to escape his small life in Provincetown and fulfill his dream of becoming a famous musician. Young and handsome, Max is about to get everything he thought he always wanted, but there’s just one catch.
Max’s existential angst about leaving his old life behind is made worse by the arrival of an idyllic summer, riddled with a colorful cast of characters, and the return of Danny Cavanaugh, Provincetown’s most eligible bachelor and Max’s best buddy. As the eldest son of one of the most wealthy and influential men in town, Danny is torn between fulfilling his father’s expectations and pursuing his own dreams. A series of fiery exchanges and steamy misadventures generate enough heat to make Max and Danny’s friendship catch fire. What starts out as a casual summer romance soon turns into much more as the two young men get a chance to trade places and discover that sometimes, when you are looking for your heart’s desire, you don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.
Just when it seems like Max has figured out a way to have it all, a twist of fate threatens to take Danny away from him forever. Afraid of losing the only man he’s ever loved, Max makes a bargain with the Devil. But will it be enough to keep Danny, or will Max’s gambit bring his whole world crashing down?
Advance Praise
“The subtle intoxicant of The Light Reflected isn’t beer or any other alcohol. It isn’t even the flatly erotic and matter-of-factly described quick sex, either, but the charm of the telling, the enchanting straightforwardness of the teller, and yet too the shy, light flirt of suspense throughout. It is garnished with youthful tenderness and an almost tragic innocence that reminds us that we were all foolish and hopeless but also fiercely sensual and intrepid all at once.” -- MICHAEL CARROLL, author of Stella Maris and Other Key West Stories.
“An unflinching exploration of two flawed but well-meaning people—one a dreamer who makes his dreams come true, and the other who lives on his fantasies, which don't often have a lot to do with reality. A really spectacular read.” -- STEVE KLUGER, award-winning author of Almost Like Being in Love.
"Will’s writing is fast paced, smart, and informed, filled with the fascinating history of P-town and capturing all the exuberance and hope of romance and sex in your 20s. “The Light Reflected” will leave you entertained, wistful, and hungry for more stories like this that so beautifully capture the love and lust of gay life." -- KEVIN NAFF, author and editor of the Washington Blade
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798986899534 |
| PRICE | $9.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 222 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Luke M, Reviewer
Smart and Sexy, Will Freshwater writes of friendships, romance, and sexual entanglements in this great read. Three dimensional characters elevate this book to something hugely enjoyable- and have given me a newfound urge to visit Provincetown
Jessica S, Reviewer
This book was really frustrating, yet really good. The characters were realistically flawed and saw the consequences of their actions. The ending was unsatisfying yet satisfying. It captured young love and how young adults navigate those relationships. Their flaws were human, and you get to see how impactful they can be on relationships and others.
Jarrod M, Reviewer
The Light Reflected by @willlivestowrite is a book I’ve had my eye on for a while now, so when I got the chance through @netgalley to have a read I jumped straight in.
This is a story of summer love. Or two best friends turned lovers. Max, who is a resident of Provincetown, and Danny, a rich kid who comes to the island every summer with his family. These two friends couldn’t have come from different lives, with Max working 2 jobs to help keep his family afloat and plan his escape of the island.
What starts as a budding romance between the two friends takes a turn as family expectations and youthful inexperience threaten to come between them.
I will admit, I got so confused by the timeline during the first few chapters of this book. But that was my own fault and not the fault of the author 😅
The way this story plays out feels natural and not forced with an interesting case of side characters. Some throughly enjoyable for various reasons, and some you can’t help but dislike. Even those who take one action that spoils your view of them (I’m looking at you Josie).
The ending for me is where I felt a bit let down. I know that it’s how summers end, everyone drifts back to their own lives, but I was hoping for something a bit more after becoming invested in this summer romance. The epilogue seemed mildly unnecessary to me, but it helps to set the scene for what I assume is the next book in the series. One which I will have to pick up!
Brian C, Reviewer
The Light Reflected by Will Freshwater was the first I read from this author. It was an interesting and compelling story, set in Providencetown and part of a series. I did not read the first one Favorite Son prior to picking this up but do plan to in the future.
I did have a few issues with the POV and keeping up with the changes within chapters, it didn’t take away from the story for me though. Once I picked this up it only took me a few sittings to get through it. I was hooked into the story and our MCs.
Without giving too much away I was a little sad with the ending, but it had me feeling emotional by the time it was coming to a close. Special thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy to review.
Claire A, Reviewer
I wasn’t prepared for this book. It was everything I don’t usually read, yet I liked it.
My main problem was with the point of view. It changed in the middle of chapters with no warning, and at times it was hard to follow. Most of the book is a flashback to understand why we’re in the situation we’re in at the beginning, in a very roundabout way. I won’t say the author misleads us, but I was expecting some kind of happy ending, which I never got.
Yes, I didn’t have a problem with the not happy at all ending. It fit the characters and their story, though it was still sad. Melancholy and resignation were what I felt, and I didn’t mind. I also get that it was some sort of prequel to the author’s debut novel, but I’m afraid it didn’t end happier anyway. Fingers crossed it did.
Why did I think it was okay for Max to not have a happy ending? He wasn’t exactly a bad guy, but some of his choices were very selfish, and he made stupid decisions for all the wrong reasons. He was human and flawed. As a young gay man with a limited dating pool–he lives on a small island–and a recent past of not being really attractive, he’s in search of love and connection. Though his best friend Danny ends up offering him all of that, he isn’t mature enough, nor experienced enough, to recognize what they could have. By always chasing the next best thing, he misses on what’s simply good. Which doesn’t mean he was the only person responsible for his downfall, and one particular event, while somewhat deserved, made me feel second hand unfairness.
One element felt unrealistic, but it’s often the case with MM stories: everyone seemed to be gay, or at least bisexual. The whole island was described as some gay paradise. Suspension of disbelief well needed here.
The writing was good overall. I didn’t care much for the historical and architectural bits that felt a bit like regurgitated wikipedia. But there were a lot of very good extended metaphors. It participated with the mood, or color, of the book.
If you’re looking for a love story, this isn’t it. But if you want the coming of age of a flawed character, it’s a good point to start from.
Quickie
- Series: Provincetown #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #MM romance #small town romance #opposite sides of the track #friends to lovers #bisexual #new adult
- Triggers: no HEA, mention of past deaths and sickness
- Main couple: Max Balais & Danny Cavanaugh
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 2/5
- + the author has a way with words
- – no HEA is tough…
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