The Other Side of Here
By E.M. Lindsey
Married for nearly two decades, Luca and Sebastion know what they want from life and from love, but they certainly don’t expect the shake-up that is Alexander Thomas. Their marriage has been open since the start, but it’s not until Luca sends a wrong text that they realize there might be room for something new. Something a little bit more permanent. The only problem is, Xan’s already taken, and the man he’s with is dangerous.
Xan’s life has been off the rails since his parents died, and with his current relationship turning toxic, he’s not sure he wants to inflict his chaos on the lives of two men who don’t deserve it. Luca and Sebastion are worthy of so much more, and Xan isn’t sure he’ll ever deserve the chance at their unconditional love. After all, he’s been engaged to a man who can’t stand him for two years, and he still can’t find the courage to leave. But when things go from bad to worse, Xan knows something has to give, and he realizes then the only difficult step to take is the first one.
Some relationships are meant for moments, and some are meant for forever, but none of these men know how their story will end until they’re standing together, on the other side of here.
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Excerpt
He dialed up his husband and sat back in his chair as it rang.
“Oh, my love,” Sebastion breathed through the speaker.
Luca closed his eyes and let the sound of Sebastion’s voice wash over him. “I’m home.”
“Was Alexander still there when you got in?” he asked.
Luca chuckled. “Yeah, and in my morphine haze I don’t remember you telling me he was going to be here. Todd said it was some kid, and I figured it was like the neighbor’s grandson or something.”
“Oh god,” Sebastion groaned.
“It was fine.” Luca stared down at his arm again—at his fingers which were bright red, and he let himself feel the pain for a moment. “I asked him to stay. I hope you don’t mind, but I really don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Luca,” he warned, and there was that tone in his voice—the one that was always more reasonable. The one that was able to turn off his dick and his heart whenever he needed to.
“I know,” Luca said, “but I couldn’t let him go.”
Sebastion was quiet a long moment, then he sighed. “He’s very beautiful. You told me he was, but I didn’t have any clue.”
Luca closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes, he is. When I got in, he and Ivy were napping on the sofa, and I think I fell a little bit in love with him right there.”
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Carra's Review
The Other Side of Here starts off a bit hopeful, but quickly morphs into heartbreaking as you become aware of the true extent of Xan’s situation. It’s hard to watch what he goes through, not just as a reader but also from Luca and Sebastion’s points of view. While no one deserves to be treated as Xan was by Max, there is just something about him, with how sweet and giving he is, that just made it feel even more sad.
The story has plenty of angst, along with a strong dose of longing and SO much want. You can feel it from all three men (Xan, Luca, and Sebastion), and given Xan’s circumstances and how long it takes to come to even the beginning of his resolution you’ll really feel it pretty hard for the majority of the story. There is much healing needed, and Sebastion knows all too well that Xan’s cannot be rushed.
Be prepared to become invested in their outcome, but also be prepared to wait. When they finally get there, you’ll have that sense of relief, but the author keeps things real by not just handing out a tie-it-with-a-bow finish; instead, we get to see that while things do end up happy, they still look more like true life (where not everything is always picture perfect). I’m just glad I got to see a happy Xan in the end.
4 stars for The Other Side of Here, and be sure to read the content warnings before starting. Oh, and I wanted to add that I loved the short notes and letters the characters did at the start of each chapter. They ranged from funny to sad, but added that extra touch to the story that made me feel even more invested in the characters. This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content, and mentions of domestic abuse and violence.
About the Author
E.M. Lindsey is a non-binary, MM Romance author who lives on the East Coast of the United States. When they're not working, EM is spending time on the beach, kayaking, swimming, and playing with their dogs.
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