Rating: 5 stars out of 5

After spending most of his life in special schools, Caleb Stone now faces public high school in his senior year, a prospect that both excites him and threatens to overwhelm his social anxiety. As a deaf teenager, he’s closed himself off to the world. He speaks a shorthand with his parents and even finds it hard to use American Sign Language with people in his local deaf community. But Caleb finds comfort in his love of photography. Everything he can’t express in real life, he posts on his Tumblr.

Struggling to reconcile his resentment for his father’s cruelty with the grief of losing a parent, Luc Le Bautillier scrolls through Tumblr searching for someone who might understand his goth look and effeminate nature. When Luc reblogs a photo by Caleb, sparking a conversation, they both find it easier to make friends online than in person.

Luc and Caleb confront their fears about the opinions of the outside world to meet in New York City. Despite Caleb’s increasing confidence, his parents worry he’s not ready for the trials ahead. But communication comes in many forms—when you learn the signs.

Anna Martin’s writing usually goes two ways for me. I either love it enough that it’s a 5 star read, or it’s a DNF for me. I was super skeptical of reading this because of the blurb.  My main weakness is hurt/comfort, throw in a disability and I’m trapped. I read this book and one sitting and I feel in love with the characters.

I love the main characters of the story, not so much the execution. I’m giving 5 stars for Luc & Caleb because this was a love story between two sweet boys. That’s my basic description of the story. I’m not really sold on the writing aspect as much as the character development. Let me explain; she was able to bring the most vulnerable boys together and put them together to show they had the strength and determination in them all along.

Luc is this short, emo/goth twink who was just living. Not really doing anything but waiting for high school to be over and move to Seattle to face his dreams. He is closed off to the world, and most of it is because that’s they way he wants it. He grew up with no comfort, love from his parents except from his sister who basically was his surrogate mother. I love Ilse… his sister was so supportive. I definitely liked her as soon as she entered the picture. Caleb was the total opposite of Luc he is this 18 year old boy  in Boston, who lives with his parents who are his biggest support system. Caleb wants the normal, he wants the friends at school, he wants to answer question when the teachers ask them. They meet through Tumblr through Caleb’s photography blog and Luc’s music blog it’s sweet and mostly innocent. From there we definitely see the characters develop really fast. Caleb has this protective streak for Luc, it’s adorable. It is a definite re-read for me.

They meet, fall in love with each other and we just see them shine in different roles. I loved that Luc feels the need to take charge on some things regarding Caleb’s well being. I like the Caleb knows Luc well enough to expect unexpected visits. I fell in love with these two boys. That’s it, that’s all there is for me. I would have really liked to see what happened after the summer. Where do these two go? What happened to the question Caleb asked Luc using finger ASL? I would have liked an epilogue for these two, but again they bring a smile to my face just writing this review.

Cover Art by. Ethan James Photography. I loved this picture so much, it definitely reminded me of Caleb all the way. He is one of my favorite characters by this author.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback   All Romance (ARe)  Amazon   Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: March 20th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632168115
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinn