Review: The Man I Love by Suanne Laqueur

The Man I Love
by Suanne Laqueur
Published by Cathedral Rock Press, on June 16, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 590
Format: eBook, Paperback
Source: ARC from author

Summary From Goodreads

Winner of the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, Suanne Laqueur's astonishing debut novel follows a young man's emotional journey to salvage relationships destroyed in the wake of a school shooting. As a college freshman, Erik Fiskare is drawn to the world of theater but prefers backstage to center stage. The moment he lays eyes on a beautiful, accomplished dancer named Daisy Bianco, his atoms rearrange themselves and he is drawn into a romance both youthfully passionate and maturely soulful. Their love story thrives within a tight-knit circle of friends, all bound by creativity and artistry. A newcomer arrives--a brilliant but erratic dancer with an unquenchable thirst for connection. And when this disturbed friend brings a gun into the theater, the story is forever changed. Daisy is shot and left seriously injured. And Erik finds himself alone in the aisle, looking down the muzzle of a pistol and trying to stop the madness. He succeeds, but with tremendous repercussions to his well-being and that of his loved ones. Traumatized by the experience, the lovers spiral into depression and drug use until a shocking act of betrayal destroys their relationship. To survive, Erik must leave school and disconnect from all he loves. He buries his heartbreak and puts the past behind. Or so he believes. As he moves into adulthood, Erik comes to grips with his role in the shooting, and slowly heals the most wounded parts of his soul. But the unresolved grief for Daisy continues to shape his dreams at night. Once those dreams were haunted by blood and gunfire. Now they are haunted by the refrain of a Gershwin song and a single question: is leaving always the end of loving? Spanning 15 years, The Man I Love explores themes of love and sexuality, trauma—physical and mental—and its long-lasting effects, the burden of unfinished business and the power of reconciliation. Through Erik’s experience we reflect on what it means to be a man, a son and a leader. A soul mate, a partner and a lover. What it means to live the truth of who you are and what you feel. What it means to fight for what you love.  

My Review

I'm very fascinated by this novel, is exceptional, it doesn't seem written by a debutant author. Suanne deals with delicate themes in an excellent way and with great sensitivity: homosexuality, neglect, drug use, forgiveness, the torment of their own past.

The protagonist of this novel is a love story, romantic, turbulent, deep, sad but strong, eternal, full of hope.

The life of Erik has never been easy. He was a happy child with a wonderful parents and an adorable brother. But one day the father leaves home forever. It's a shock for Erik: suddenly and without a reason loses his idol, his point of reference. This suffering will be his worm, will haunt him for the rest of his life. In college, however, his life changes again: he meets Daisy Bianco, a girl really special. They fall madly in love and live happily their love story: have found their soul mate. Everything goes wonderfully until comes into their lives James, an homosexual boy. Daisy is a dancer very promising, is preparing a play "The Man I Love" and James  is also part of the cast. After a disappointment in love, the guy bursts into the theater with a gun: kills four people and seriously injures Daisy. The girl no longer be able to be herself and will eventually ruin their love story. Their paths diverge but will be forever?

It's written wonderfully well: the plot is compelling, well-built, the characters are very realistic, deep. The author is very good at always find the words and expressions more suitable to describe the situations and the feelings: makes them feel real and makes us empathize perfectly with the characters. We perceive their anxieties, their torments, their joy, their strength.

The novel is written from the point of view of Erik, is about to go out the following "Give Me Your Answer True", which is Daisy's version, and I can not wait to read it

I received a copy of this book to review from this author.

Author

Suanne Laqueur graduated from Alfred University with a double major in dance and theater. She taught at the Carol Bierman School of Ballet Arts in Croton-on-Hudson for ten years. An avid reader, cook and gardener, she started her blog www.eatsreadsthinks in 2010, and now writes at www.suannelaqueur.com. Suanne lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children. The Man I Love is her first novel, to be followed by Give Me Your Answer True in June 2015.

http://www.suannelaqueur.com/