This story was beautiful. The imagery, especially how the colors are described, is poetic. Love is poetry after all and is even more beautiful when described poetically. I was worried that because the pov is all Marco's that we wouldn't be able to get a sense of Oskar's true feelings but that wasn't the case, you could see Oskar's love from the very beginning. I liked that there was real conflict to fuel their strife too, it makes sense that it takes so long for Marco to forgive Oskar. I don't know if I would have been able to. All of the supporting characters helped them to get their hardwon HEA but were also interesting in their own right. I thought the portrayal of the parents was realistic, they loved their children, weren't bad people, but still struggled to accept Oskar and Marco's sexuality due to societal pressure. They still, unknowingly, pushed them together in their own way though.

Ultimately, if you like the friends to enemies to lovers trope, you'll love this. If you love poetic love and shy awkward guys, you'll love this even more.

This was my first Anyta Sunday read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a slow-build friends to enemies to lovers story - so definitely not the usual for me. But this time, the slow-build actually worked. There were times where I felt as though things were rushed or someone did a total 180 all of a sudden (Oskar's Papa's reaction for instance when he found out his son was gay), but I still thought the book was great and the connections between characters were well-established.

Oskar and Marco were best friends growing up - they were inseparable. But then tragedy strikes and leaves Oskar motherless and himself with burns over his body. His self-esteem deteriorates, but that doesn't stop Marco from being his best friend. But of course they're teens and peer pressure is real and Marco says something hurtful and stupid, ruining their friendship. They don't speak after this and Marco has now been living elsewhere for a while before finally returning home.

Oskar never forgot Marco and has loved him since they were teens. So he's both happy and upset to see Marco again for the first time in 15 months. He's like a big brother to Marco's sister Zoe, so of course that means he'll have close interactions with Marco. Then there's the whole family play thing they do every year and Marco plays opposite Oskar in the play that Oskar's mom wrote.

We're taken on both a heartwarming and heartbreaking journey of Oskar overcoming his insecurities, rebuilding relationships, learning about himself and stepping out to grab that happiness he deserved. I liked that this book was real and didn't rush towards the HEA. It really did take you on the journey of Oskar finding his happy. I wish Oskar had forgiven Marco a long time ago though since they wasted so much time not being friends. It was an honest teen mistake and we all do and say stupid things at that age. But I understood why Oskar was hesitant to forgive.

Oh and the whole color part was interesting and unexpected. It was also sweet and a nice ode to his mother.

A sweet story, but it stretched the device of colors too thin.

Love, hate, angst, forgiveness...so many feels in this book. A second-chance, friends to lovers, hate vs. love story that drew me in with the scars, both emotional and physical, of both young men. Marco who had his confidence stolen by the betrayal from Oskar that he never thought would happen. Oskar who scarred himself with his own cowardice. This story is full of healing and light at the same time that each low is felt too, all through the lens of Marco's colors.

Each chapter had a different color for the title and gave a brief preview of what to expect from the contents. The writing was beautiful and effective. Oskar and Marco had so much imperfection that bonded one another through all the stages of their relationship. While I found the confession via play a bit cheesy-dramatic, it fit their age and the theme of their interactions.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and have no qualms recommending others to become involved in the world Anyta Sunday has created around these young men. I hope to read the first story in the series too so I'll be on the lookout for it at my library or anywhere else I can indulge on a budget.

I usually really enjoy this author's books but somehow True Colors just didn't work for me. 

I really liked the basic story. Friends to enemies to lovers with a healthy heaping of angst is pretty much my ideal storyline. I also really liked the main charaters, Marco and Oscar, and the tension between them. Especially Marco's struggle with his body after an accident left scars on his body made for an interesting twist. 

So why did it still not work for me?
For one, there were a lot of things left unsaid or at least not talked about in a satisfying way. The dialogue wasn't on point unfortunately which frustrated me quite a bit. 
I also wasn't a fan of some of the side characters, especially Oskar's little sister Zoe who annoyed me to no end. Pretty much all secondary characters were too meddlesome so I was glad for every page that was only about Oskar and Marco.
It's also set in Germany but it didn't feel like it at all. There were a lot of details that just didn't ring true and gave the book a kind of murky vibe. 
But what didn't work for me the most was the whole theater thing. It felt so over the top and forced the boys into annoying and uncomfortable positions that just took a lot of fun out of the book for me. A lot of it was aforementioned side characters' fault so these two points basically go hand in hand and just made it all extra exhausting. 

So all in all the things I didn't like about this book definitely outweigh the things I did like unfortunately. Bummer but I still won't give up on this author since I genuinely liked a lot of her other books. Eh, can't love 'em all ;)

Such an interesting book from Anyta Sunday, who's now one of my favorite authors. True Colors wasn't my favorite book from this author, but it was still a satisfying read. Anyta Sunday never disappoints. It was a great ride reading about Marco and Oskar finding their ways back to each other after Oskar pretty much broke Marco's spirit. I absolutely loved how Marco attached colors to people and emotions.

Childhood best friends turn enemies. Growing up together they did everything together until the school bully at summer camp did something to break their bond. Separate for years, secrets to hide the truths fighting for the pain one caused by words and actions. Scars from a dark time, the loss of a loved one. Tears of hate, sorrow, loss, depression, love that could never die. Can these two soul mates guys overcome the obstacles that's keep popping up in their paths of completeness....


Copy was voluntarily exchanged from Netgalley.com

When I started reading this book the whole set up with the pirate play sounded familiar. Checking the blurb I realised that I had read the previous book, True Luck, back when it had been called Bottle Boys. And even in my review back then I had wondered, what's the deal with Marco. Well, this is Marco's story and it is told purely from his pov. It also runs in tandem with the events in True Luck.
Marco and Oskar had been best friends until something happened to tear them apart. What this thing is we the reader don't really know and we find out in fits and starts as the two friends turned enemies try to come to terms with Oskar's return to the neighbourhood.

The forgiveness Oskar seeks is a hard won battle and the romance is slow-burn, more so because Oskar is already in a relationship when he returns. The secondary characters have a lot of page time as their families still live next door to each other and Marco's family is Oskar's family and vice versa.

Not only must they overcome what happened in the past, but Marco also needs to address his own body issues due to the scarring he received in an accident when he was a teenager. This also means we get a virgin MC, and the deliciousness that goes with this.

There were a number of missing/wrong word issues, but not enough to drag the reader from the story.

Overall this was a lovely, hard fought love story which managed to break my heart in places.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The story of Marco and Oskar is about friends who have sexual issues at a young age and things go wrong. Later they are able to know the entire story, forgive and move on. They love each other and Marco finally tells his father he is gay. This has a HEA ending.

A light read that still manages to tug on heart strings.

While not as incredible as Sunday's Leo Loves Aries and rock, True Colors was a tender novel that simultaneously broke and repaired my heart.

I really connected with the protagonist, Marco, especially his issues with his scars. He is a main character that everyone will be able to connect to, but I do think he let Oskar off too much. What Oskar did was terrible, and I feel as though Marco forgiving him was too quick (although that could be due to the length of the novel). I would have liked for the novel to focus less on Oskar's relationship with his two-minute boyfriend, and more on Oksar trying to make amends with Marco. I also don't quite think Oskar's love for Marco had been apparent in childhood, especially if he was supposed to be in love with Marco from then too.
I also enjoyed the way Marco saw the world through colours: that was so unique, and sweet as the chapter titles correlated with his developing feeling for Oskar.

I also don't know if I would label this novel an enemies-to-lovers romance - Marco and Oskar didn't feel like enemies, especially because Oskar didn't hate Marco, he was in love with him.

Other than those few issues, the novel was written beautifully, as is always the case with a Sunday novel. I really can't wait to read more from this author.

This book was like a unique handmade chocolate, so precious, unique and very sweet. I have read ‘Rock’ by the author and felt similar emotions. It was quite unlike most romances I’ve read, I felt it had almost a fairytale feeling to it. Set in Berlin, Marco and Oskar have a falling out where their friendship seemingly ends and they don’t speak for many years. Marco takes time before he lets Oskar back into his life and then finally comes out to his family. The first kiss is so very sweet and the later sex scenes are very hot and well described but it was so much more than that, it was a essentially a story of great love, not just chemistry or sex. The colours connecting the chapters and Marco's feelings for different people reminded me very much of the stones in ‘Rock’. A lovely story which I would recommend for the authors unique storytelling abilities.

Not a big fan of how the book started. I did find myself intrigued at the beginning of the book. I was curious as to what happened between our two main characters. After I found out the reason for their fallout I was a little disappointed. I was expecting something more. I started to lose interest after this.

This is a second chance romance. It's unusual in that the MCs are only 20 years old.

Marco was physically and psychologically scarred in a car accident that lost him one parent. Later he was emotionally scarred by his best friend's careless words.

A lifetime friendship was shattered in the few seconds it took Oskar to say a handful of words.

It's been four years and both young men have moved on with their lives. But their families are neighbors, so their lives remain entwined. Their emotions raw.

We watch them slowly but surely come back together. Rebuilding the bridge to each other's feelings. It's a beautiful thing to see. Their coming back together felt organic and real.

I stumbled a little on the setting and the family dynamics. It felt a little foreign to me. Their artistic inclinations were a surprise to me since I've never met people like that in real life. Maybe it was all part of the setting. I don't know. I did feel on the outside looking in. It was a "me" problem.

There were a lot of typos. I wouldn't normally mention those in an ARC. But this one has already been published so they should have been corrected.

4 stars

REVIEW:
Yes - the book is spelt True Colors, but I live in South Africa where we like the u's so I write Colours with a u (like it's meant to be).

I probably fell in love with these characters from the get-go. I’m going to the Town Hall to adopt them, anyone coming with? If we all pool our money together, we can buy McDonalds.

It was such a good read. I loved basically every scene of it, especially anything to do with Marco and Oskar.

I love the whole friends-to-lovers trope, but it's also the worst because they're friends, which means there's the possibility of them growing up, which means they know each other, so they'll be used to each other and know everything and probably have inside jokes and touch each other like real friends do and as much as I love that, it's also the absolute worst, as it makes you slam the table or whatever is near you - please let it not be an animal - and cry out in anguish because these characters that should be together are not.

I love how Marco sees in colours like come here and let me hug you and bring Oskar as well and then I can just hug both of you 24/7. It reminded of Percy Jackson - with the titles in a specific way. It seems like Chapter Titles are either Chapter 1 and so on or like in Harry Potter - The Deathday Party and so on; but I'm also happy to find a book where the titles are different.

They live in Germany, yet I never see any indication of that other than the landmarks? Where’s the language and slang?

It’s all very good and well that Marco’s learning to love his body and all, but he basically goes from zero to a hundred in a heartbeat, to ‘I can barely look at myself’ to ‘draw me, Elena.’ Not that much realistic. It takes some time to love yourself and be able to let someone else look at you in that way.

There was this confusing part in the beginning of the book where the boys were 13 and the one narrating it (Marco) used words like ‘lurched’, ‘slanted’ and ‘protruded’. I look after a 12 year old and she’s never used any of those words – and she’s smart.

I was wondering on how to pronounce Marco, as I know three ways to pronounce it:
English version – as in Marco Polo
Afrikaans version – pronounced Mar-coh
Italian version – pronounced Mar-koh
Just wondering which pronunciation I should use. Though considering the book is set in Germany, it’s probably the Afrikaans version.

So, they never speak of what happened to Marco the entire book. I was wondering and speculating and thought they would tell me and the scene would end with Marco and Oskar kissing or whatever, but I'm happy that they didn't tell us.

I love how every chapter's title is a colour.

So yes, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone! It's amazing, cute, gay, what more can you want?

I really wish I could give half stars on Goodreads because I want to give this book 4.5 stars but I can't! There were a lot of things I loved about this book. I really loved the general premise of enemies to lovers with them used to being best friends before and having to deal with their families knowing each other and not knowing why they had a fight. And I think the fight was handled really well. I could completely understand why Oskar did what he did even if I think it was cowardly but he knew it was and you could tell how much he regretted it and how much he wished he could go back and turn back time. At the same time, when we found out what had happened between the two of them, I completely understood why Marco blanked Oskar. It was obvious how hurt and humiliated he must have felt, to hear those words coming out of his best friend's mouth, and I really loved how, after they made up, those insecurities and the hurt didn't disappear just because Marco had forgiven Oskar. I was so pleased at that scene, though it hurt at the same time. The characters of Marco and Oskar felt very real and I really enjoyed both their characters (although I would have loved some chapters from Oskar's POV).

I liked the colours theme, though I felt like it got lost a little in the middle, only to be picked up at the end. I really liked how the other characters were involved but in a way that made it obvious they weren't just supporting characters, they had their own lives and goals as well and that is something I always appreciate in side characters.

The reason why I didn't give this book five stars, despite how much I liked it, was that I wasn't such a big fan of the play subplot. I can see why it was needed, forcing the characters to interact, but I wasn't a fan of it. That I think was more personal than anything wrong with the book as such though.

I really loved this book and would definitely recommend it!

4 Stars!

I loved Marco and Oskar's story, although perhaps not as much as the other Anyta Sunday books I've read before. It was a slow-burn and I have to admit I had to stop at one point and ask my co-blogger, Tracy, who'd read this book before I did, if they were ever going to get together, because I was sort of losing hope. And then I had a bit of a problem because having taken so long for them to get together, I felt kind of cheated because I would have liked to see them being a couple for longer.

This is not the first book by this author that I've read and the others have been similar in that sense, slow-burn that gradually morphs into more. I guess I was just wanted more of Marco and Oskar together. *shrugs*

I loved Marco from the start, but I wasn't sure what to think of Oskar. I started to suspect there was more to him than met the eye when we met his boyfriend Jesse and realized he looked a lot like Marco was supposed to look. I am not a fan of the MCs being in relationships with others but it served its purpose here and I think it made the story even more realistic. Oskar and Marco had great chemistry and it was lovely seeing them get past their misunderstandings and move forward into rebuilding their friendship and then take their attraction to the next level.

The book was enjoyable and well-written, I felt it took too long until Oskar and Marco finally got together, but that's mostly my personal preference. Still, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book, it was really good!

***Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Marco and Oskar were best-friends growing up, but a falling out tears apart the friendship that once seemed strong and unbreakable, and sends Oskar running away. Now Oskar is back and the young men are forced to interact, Marco has to decide if he can forgive Oskar for the hurt he caused in the past.

Anyone who reads my reviews knows my very favorite trope is second chances, and I absolutely loved this one. This was a sweet, yet heartbreaking story. My heart absolutely broke for Marco. He is so insecure about the scarring on his body and he is so desperate to have someone love him romantically, yet he's never tried for fear of being rejected.

Marco is such a lovable character, but I wasn't sure about Oskar. It took time for me to warm up to him, but once the issues were resolved, the way he treated Marco made me absolutely swoon. While I loved the secondary characters of their respective families, I wish more of the story had been devoted to Marco and Oskar as a couple.

This was a well-written story. It's filled with family, community, acceptance and love. Oskar and Marco had amazing chemistry, and the sex was hot, passionate and filled with love. This is my first book by this author, but I'll definitely be checking out some other, especially book one in this series. Absolutely recommendable!!

*copy provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Anyta Sunday knows how to write a story that is emotional and tugs at you! This is a tale full of angst, regret, frustration.
Oskar and Marco were best friends growing up, until a heartbreaking moment that changed everything and had consequences even years later. Add in the fact that Marco has a hard time letting people know who he really is, this story gives me all the feels. Oh, so Oskar makes me so mad sometimes! In the past, plus how he is either oblivious or inconsiderate in the present. UGH! And Marco, man that boy knows how to hold a grudge. But I understand and he's been through so much.

I love the explanation of the colors, and appearances from characters from another book. I cried through half of this thing! Oh and the love scenes were awesome! I received an arc of this.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
5 Amazing Stars.

I don't know where to begin with my review, other than fangirl for several paragraphs. Anyone who reads my reviews knows I'm not a gushing type reviewer. True Colors hit every note I need in an emotionally gut-twisting read. I've always found something special with Anyta Sunday's writing. I'm not a huge rereader when it comes to contemporary romance, but now two of this author's books are added to that list: Rock and True Colors.

Marco is our narrator, telling us a story that bridges nearly a decade. At twelve, Marco's favorite person on earth is Oskar, his neighbor and best friend. A tragic event changes all of that, when guilt and shame take over Marco's life.

The beginning portion of True Colors sets up the entirety of the book, featuring scenes from when Marco is twelve and his mother is still alive, showcasing the making of the play that will be the foundation of everyone coming back together.

Marco feels betrayed over words Oskar voiced when they were teenagers. Having already lost his mother, and Oskar breaking his trust, Marco doesn't have the ability to allow people in. He has friends, but he keeps them at arm's length, never opening up. He's scarred from the tragedy that took his mother away, so he refuses to get close to guys, even for a biological need.

Returning home from college, Oskar is everywhere in Marco's life, refusing to back off, forcing Marco to deal with the past. Their meddling neighbor families refuse to allow the animosity to remain.

True Colors was sweet, heartfelt – real. The angst caused that gut-twisting sensation to happen to me over and over, a sensation I look for when reading a novel. I laughed, smiled, got teary-eyed, and felt utterly satisfied at the end of the novel.

True Colors was a beautiful story I plan on revisiting in the future... I see this is book two – I interrupt this gush-fest to go locate book one.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is a beautiful story. At its most simple, it is a very damaged young man’s coming of age story. It is also the story of the life-long relationship between two young men. At its most complex, this book explores grief and betrayal, intimacy and desire. It is a story about self, family, and community.

The writing is sparse. Marcus tells his story in a disjointed, non-linear series of memories and moments. The writer forces readers to pull Marcus’ story together for themselves – but we fully understand Marcus’ past at the very moment he starts to understand his present.

Even though Marcus is a university student, there is young adult feel to this story. He is still tied tightly to his family and his community. Incidents in his past have left him scarred, but they have also left him very innocent in many ways.

The author offers very little to create a sense of place. In many ways, the other characters provide the backdrop for this story of Marcus’ emotional growth. And the characters in this story are wonderful.

This book is a deliberate puzzle and it is almost impossible to discuss it without giving too much away. I loved it. I loved the unique writing style. I enjoyed the unconventional structure and I fell in love with so many of the characters. It is an honest story. The emotions in this book are raw and real. I know that this will tug at my heart and my mind for quite some time.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Hmm, this is a very emotional story. It really is about two boys' friendship and the trials and tribulations that come with growing up. Can you really trust your family? Community?

I loved the secondary characters because they helped shape the story between Marco and Oskar. This is a story that is told in stages. You have to be willing to put some of the pieces together – it's not told in a straight fashion, but rather flashback and pieces.

While I did enjoy the story, I did find that there was a lot of back and forth but without substance. There was a lot of talk, without saying too much.

This is a fairly straight forward story – friends, enemies, confused, friends. While there are some people in the story who are less than helpful to both Marco and Oskar, I think that the accepting characters more than make up for it.

You can't really say too much without giving the story away, but this was a coming of age, discovering what's important, forgiveness at its most basic form, and about learning to love yourself.

This was my first book by this author and I have to say, I LOVED this story. It was fantastically written, and I loved each and every one of the character's! I am not sure how I have not read anything by this author before, but rest assured, she is now on my must read list!