All the Better Part of me started out as a sweet book about Sinter a struggling American actor wanting to find a stable job in UK, as the book progresses we found out he's coming to terms with his bisexuality, his feelings for his best friend, Andy while having a family that he knows wouldnt approve. The second part of the book lost me a bit, instead of just having Sinter deal with coming clean to Andy and how he would deal with being out in the open, it became more of a plot twist worthy of a soap opera. I hoped for something less dramatic at times. I mean I did like how Fiona was handled but I'm not too happy with the part that was written for her overall. It was an enjoyable read but too much for me to really want to reread it.

I really really wanted to love this book, but it just didn't happen. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it's not something that I see myself wanting to reread. There were things that I was happy with, but even more that I didn't really like.

I liked the characters, but couldn't love them because I was so FREQUENTLY annoyed with them and their actions. I was worried at first how I would feel about Sinter having feelings for two different people in the book. Surprisingly, I thought the love triangle aspect was well handled (which is rare for me because I loathe love triangles). However, I wasn't fond of how Fiona's character was handled in the aftermath. I honestly wish it had just stayed as a flirtation between Sinter and Fiona. Having them flirt and maybe skirt the edge of hooking up would have been a fine way to make Sinter realize he actually wanted Andy. I did not like that he called sex with her the catalyst to figuring out what he really wanted. And I really didn't like how she got so hung up on him. Personally, I didn't see a lot of evidence to support that she had that intense of feelings for him? Unless Sinter was really THAT oblivious about other people's feelings, she seemed like she also understood that what they had was an "on set relationship."

This book felt so much longer than it really was- or needed to be. I was so much more invested in Sinter's story in the beginning and I got more invested the closer I got to the end. I think a lot of the middle parts could be cut. There was a few chapters where nothing really happened that could have been condensed and it would have made the book much more engaging, at least for me. The good news is, Sinter and Andy got their happy ending, which was something I was worrying about right up until the end. One thing I did like was how a lot of the focus of this book is on the uncertainty in life, especially in your 20s. Sinter isn't sure about coming out, about his career, about his relationships with family and friends, about taking the baby, and how everything affects each other. It's something that a lot of people are going to relate to, including me.

Some issues I had with the bi rep:
First, and this might be just a personal quirk so feel free to disregard, I wasn't super fond of the way Sinter kept saying "bisexual lifestyle" and "living the bi life with Andy." If felt like he thought that the only way for him to be bisexual is if he's with a guy. And with the bi community having to constantly tell people 'no it doesn't matter who I'm with, I'm still bi' this thought process didn't sit well with me.
Second, Andy's attitude towards Sinter's coming out wasn't great. I understand he was frustrated and if he didn't want to be in a relationship with someone who hadn't come out, that's his choice and completely okay. However, I wish he hadn't felt the need to trivialize Sinter's issues. Sinter had a lot going on with the baby and considering how his parents acted, it might not have been the best time for Sinter to come out. Andy tells him "Like no one in the world has ever had it as hard as you?" and sure, there are people who have harder lives, but that doesn't mean that Sinter hasn't struggled and it definitely doesn't mean that Sinter HAS to come out. It was another thing that didn't sit well with me.

A couple other things:
"I won't ever do this to you, I thought to my kid as I scowled into my pillow. Even if you end up a neo-Nazi, I'll listen to you. I'll find common ground." UM WHAT. I get the sentiment that the author was trying to convey, but I feel like this was the complete wrong way to do it. Considering what is going on in our society today, the characters of this book, and the audience this book is intended for, is that really the way that should be worded?
My favorite line in the whole book: "Giddy delight swarmed through me, the feeling another actor had once called "the casting dazzles." I just think that description was adorable.

I don't want to say this book sucked because it didn't suck. There were a few things I liked about it. I liked Sinter and Andy as characters. I liked the family dynamic of a woman, a bi disaster who accidentally got her pregnant, and his gay boyfriend helping to raise his baby. I liked how quick and easy this book was to fly through.

Nothing else was really special for me. The book sort of seemed like it started midway through a story. I know the purpose of this story was that it's such an inconvenient time for Sinter to figure out he's bisexual, but still, the timing and pacing of this story just seemed so weird. Also, I know this book is advertised as a story about Sinter discovering his bisexuality, but he seemed to have figured it out way before the book started.

The writing just seemed weird and sort of cheesy at parts. The author doesn't seem to know how to write from a 25-year-old LGBT guy's voice because they sounded like teenage girls to me. It seemed like a bunch of tropes were thrown in just for drama: (view spoiler) Instead, I skipped like 20% and read the end. It seemed like so much was drawn out for no reason. And also, it was boring. I still don't quite understand the point of the story now that I'm writing about it.

BTW is it weird that I pictured Sinter as emo Dan Howell a bit?

I want SO BADLY to give this book five stars, I really do. I read the entire thing in a day because I was struggling to put it down. As a 24 year old bisexual person, I identified really strongly with Sinter, the main character, and his struggles to come out. A lot of the book feels cliche and SCREAMS of emo teen dreams which I didn't necessarily hate but I also wasn't anticipating all of that from a book that is set to be released in 2019.

I did really appreciate the way the text message conversations were set up though! I think it makes for a very clean read even though others may think it is clunky. I appreciated the diversity of the characters, the fact that there was a trans character included and that you get to see two different kind of families deal with their children identifying as gay/bi/queer. A lot of the other things that made me incredibly happy are spoilers so I'll keep those surprises out of my review.

What I did NOT like was the whole pregnancy thing. I love that Verona exists but it almost reads as a punishment for being bisexual? There's a lot to unpack surrounding that so I'll leave it at that.

Overall, this was one of the best bisexual themed books I've read in a LONG time and I'm glad I got to read it.

Also, in case anyone needs a spotify playlist of the playlist at the end of the book: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GSQOqmhbppypq1NmUKdFc?si=WCkaOp7_QfaJ6NC80k_Lwg

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! I enjoyed the book quite a bit; I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers stories, and Sinter and Andy's flirtatious texts were excellent. I just wish the characters of Andy and Fiona were a little bit more rounded out; there was a lot of telling without showing, and I didn't always understand the character's motivations. This is definitely a book where I wish there was a dual perspective. However, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it.

I'm pretty neutral on this book. I liked the characters and I liked the friends to more trope, but it didn't really sink its hooks into my brain.

The writing was solid but the banter was lacklustre and every conversation felt forced. It is a new adult novel but it was very clearly written by someone older. In a way, the problem with this novel is that it doesn't deliver any of its promises.

So there's Sinter, a twenty-five year old something aspiring actor who is into punk rock and lands a job based on that. There is Andy, a...I'm not sure what he does, who is Sinter's best friend and the love interest. Complicating the matter is Fiona, the director who cast Sinter and falls for him. The set up sounds encouraging. The delivery is....messy and to be frank, monotonous.

Things happened, then these things happened, and then other things happened, and nothing really felt momentous? The mention regarding Sinter's interest in punk rock never really went anywhere. The acting stuff and the movie Sinter was involved in didn't seem to play a role in the storyline. Ultimately, the book was about family and coming out, so the trappings of actor, music etc were unnecessary.

As for the coming out arc...I think the narrative puts a lot of pressure and importance on coming out to one's family, as if that's the be all and end all. And yeah, it's important to Sinter but the only opinion on it that he gets is from Andy, who obviously has a horse in the race. Sinter ends up working for a lesbian couple so using them to say "hey some people never come out to their parents and it's okay, or don't come out for years and that's okay too." Because that is as important a message as "be true to yourself."

I suspect there will be people who enjoy this story, which is why I am giving it a three star, but I'm not one of them. There were too many missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises for me personally.

A very powerful page-turner that I couldn't put down. I fell for the characters and could relate to them. I highly recommend this to everyone and this book definitely deserves some hype.

The premise hooked me - along with the beautiful cover showcasing the bisexual pride flag's colors - but the execution fell a bit flat. Sinter's journey was interesting and just as complicated as one might think, but I found Andy pretty one-dimensional. Perhaps had there been an alternating POV approach, we would have found more depth and nuance to Andy's character; despite being out and the main love interest, he almost felt like an antagonist. I also found the conflict between Andy and Sinter a tad bizarre and not well handled. Surprisingly, Fiona's character felt more fully developed and nuanced than Andy.

Overall, I enjoyed it and I'm glad to have read it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and the authoress for providing me with this eARC in an exchange for an honest review.

A few things: I find it hard to believe any of these characters were in their mid-to-late twenties. Sinter and Andy spoke like teenagers, and the dialogue (which is predominantly text messages between them) felt very much YA (LOTS of emoji smiley faces!!!!). Most of all— and this is sounding redundant of me lately— it was a bit too “cute” for me at times. (But the 80’s playlist aesthetic is A+++!!!!)

Speaking again on the writing: yeah, it wasn’t fantastic or groundbreaking, as others have mentioned, but it was a quick read, and was averagely enjoyable if only because Sinter is an oft-unseen character. There aren’t very many good contemporary narratives these days involving bisexual characters, who are also the main protagonist. So, reading about Sinter’s burgeoning awakening is enlightening and important. And the fact that none of it ends in tragedy (with one huge problematic exception I’ll get to further on) is also a positive note, because too often these lgbtq stories are riddled with damaging tropes and sadness. It wasn’t a very surprising story, either, because 10% into the book, I already knew exactly how this would end (again, with a one “small” addition). And I think the author meant it that way. Like, “this person is only a momentary fixation, because that unavailable person is endgame.”

Midway through, the whole thing just sort of hit a lull and dragged. I was bored of Sinter and Andy. The story didn’t feel right, either. Like, I could tell it was written by a female author— and it dawned on me that this was coming off as actually some kind of gay male fetishization on Ms. Ringle’s part.

The people around Sinter are all very emotionally warped and melodramatic. All highs and lows (especially Sebastian, Sinter’s parents, Fiona, and sometimes Andy). Lots of righteous anger and resentment and pride and jealousy... I don’t think many people are that overblown. They made many unfair and unreasonable claims, arguments, and ultimatums. There weren’t any shades of gray at all. And Fiona’s frequent attempts came off pretty, well, (I hate to say it) desperate and pathetic. Then the whole ********** bit was thrown into the mix and... I don’t know. This book isn’t necessarily long (it’s under 300 pages), but I thought many elements of the plot were stretched far beyond what they needed: there was a lot of skirting around and ignoring the issues at hand to draw the drama out longer than necessary.

I alluded to it above, but it’s a spoiler, and I won’t go into specifics here, but something happens around the 80%-ish mark that dropped the rating down for me a smidge. The “event” in question really just felt tacked-on and unnecessary. I guess it was an attempt to make the story feel more dramatic and elicit some strong emotions?? I don’t know. I found it really inappropriate and problematic and disappointing. Still, though, I liked how it ended, ultimately.

I’m in love with Sinter Blackwell. This deeply flawed but ultimately brave human won me over immediately, as did Andy. Sinter is a self-deprecating, often pessimistic, mess facing one serious quarter life crisis. But he is a mess who loves deeply and works through his mistakes in the best way possible. I had hoped for a more fleshed-out Andy, taking into account that this is Sinter’s story and told from his POV. Andy’s identity is a little overshadowed by Sinter’s and I was skeptical about their initial FWB arrangement. The casualness, and Andy’s willingness to be an experiment for his longest and closest friend, didn’t work for me at first. But I feel Andy’s truth becomes clearer eventually. Ultimately this is a love story - one that tells of romantic love, but also learning to love oneself and love that overcomes bigotry, And it is a coming out story. It’s refreshing and heart-warming to see the validation and representation of bisexuality and the particular difficulties that come with it. A convenient happily ever after where all the pieces somehow magically fall into place? You bet! But sometimes life really does work out in a magically perfect way. And sometimes we get the ultimate happiness from things we didn’t know we wanted and may never have imagined for ourselves. I look forward to rereading this one a few times!

My review will be posted on my blog on July 15, 2019

Sinter Blackwell is an American actor living in London when we first meet him. After a chance meeting with an industry colleague, he lands himself a role in a New Wave era movie – and that suits his style just fine. As Sinter explores the world of film making and gets to know his boss, Fiona more intimately… thoughts of his gay-best-friend Andy plague him. As Andy tries to sort through his changing feelings towards Andy, his intimate encounter with Fiona and his complex family dynamics… things get interesting.

My thoughts bit: This is a complex tale about figuring out who you are when life keeps tossing you curveballs. Sinter is a lovely character. He is one of those folks who walk the line in terms of gender and personal awareness. He wears a bit of makeup and is comfortable with it, at fifteen he offered to kiss his gay best friend when he found out he had never been kissed, and his head is a lovely place for a narrative!

Andy and Sinter have been best friends for years. Andy is gay and lives in Seattle, and at the beginning of the novel, Sinter is living in London as he pursues a career in acting. Sinter is a bewildered when he finds himself thinking of Andy … differently. He wants to hear from him, begins to find his thoughts wandering to kisses and touches. His exploration and confusion are sweet and I loved the way it was written.

Sinter’s family are about as far away from supportive as parents could get in terms of his “lifestyle” so he finds himself in a confusing place of not knowing what he wants, or who he wants it with. As Sinter explores his feelings and wants, he begins to feel the pressure to “come out” rather than pulling other people back into the closet with him.

Once Sinter moves back to Seattle, and takes Andy’s spare bedroom, their relationship begins to morph. Sure, the timing of Sinter exploring the fact that he’s probably bisexual could be better…but he’s open to it and Andy is certainly on board. But, keeping things emotion-free seems like a wise choice. Until it isn’t.

"But that kiss tonight had been amazing, an essentially perfect kiss, and a perfect kiss can make you feel like the rest of life is about to fall effortlessly into place." – Sinter in All The Better Part of Me

Ringle has written a lovely, in-depth exploration of a character trying to figure out his sexual orientation while at the same time, attempting to maintain his relationship with a conservative family.

There’s a twist in the plot about two-thirds of the way through that really throws a wrench into Sinter’s life. All the things he has been working towards seem to be unraveling before his eyes.

This book was a joy to read. Oh! and the titles are named after songs from the New Wave era.

I enjoyed this book, though I wasn't blown away by it.

I found the characters to be mostly likeable and charming, with little touches of realism which made them feel like genuine people. Sinter was an engaging protagonist, and I liked the exploration of his conflicting feelings and uncertainty about what to do.

However, the plot was slightly disjointed and the pacing felt a bit off at points. It seemed like there were lots of short time-skips where we didn't get a great sense of what had developed and changed during that time, it felt slightly like the characters were just rearranged and put on pause until the action started again.

I also feel like the main two characters and relationship, Sinter and Andy, weren't quite fleshed out as characters. I got a sense of who they were and the connection between them, but it sometimes felt like a list of their interests was acting as a stand-in for their characterisation, to an extent.

This is a good, quick read with nice points about it, but unspectacular.

I was so hopeful for this book, based on the synopsis. I love anything to do with celebrities and I am excited whenever I come across books where an LGBT character is actually the protagonist rather than just a side character. Unfortunately, I felt the writing in this book was quite bad. It reads like juvenile fan fiction and not like a published novel. The characters speak and behave like middle school kids rather than actual adults. The dialogue seemed unrealistic, like it was written by an adult trying to express the way teens today talk to one another, but instead making it sound awkward and dated. It also seemed like the author had trouble writing in a male voice. I had to keep reminding myself that the main character and his love interest were not girls...just as I had to remind myself that they were adults and not teens. DNF at 17%. Up to this point I have been reading either grammarless text messages or poorly written dialogue with no sense of a world setting or any semblance of a plot, and I can't bring myself to continue any further.

An m/m romance with shades of the 80s? Hell yes! I was super excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint. Friends to lovers romances are my catnip and Ringle delivered in every way. Sinter and Andy's journey is sweet, awkward, heartbreaking and wonderful.

There was a major plot point involving a female character that I could see coming and really hoped didn't because it would be too easy to lapse into cliche, and yet in this author's very capable hands, it elevated the story, making the path to an HEA far more complicated and bittersweet.

An absolutely lovely read.

The diversity of this author never ceases to amaze me. In this, another well-written story, we get to know Sinter Blackwell, a product of the eighties New Wave scene. A struggling actor, estranged from his parents, living far away from his best friend, misunderstood and unsure of his sexuality, he is as confused as many twenty-somethings are, then and now. When a life-changing event happens, Sinter’s world is turned upside down and he has to make some serious decisions. Can he handle what has been thrown at him? Sinter is a character you can’t help but care about. Since he spends time in London and Seattle, the author does a great job of depicting these two cities that I love. Each chapter is titled after songs from the era which is very clever. Songs from favourite musicians like David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, Adam Ant, Madness and the Pet Shop Boys, which tie in perfectly with the scene. Ultimately, this is a love story, proving that all we need is love. Like Sinter says, “A perfect kiss can make you feel like the rest of your life is going to fall effortlessly into place.” Even though Sinter learns that nothing falls effortlessly into place, falling in love is still worth it. An enjoyable read with a few unexpected twists and some heartfelt moments. Even if this isn't your era, you will love it.

I really loved this book! I was not disappointed. I love how the story went, I did not expect that at all.
The main character is the sweetest guy, I really enjoyed reading from his perspective.

3* A bit too busy with what was going on, and also a tiny bit underwhelming, as there needed to be a bit more angst to make this a believable tale.

I think the way the editor/publisher commented on the author and the book on both NetGalley and in a foreword should have clued me in that this OK-but-not-great book was being bigged up. It was a decent read but it read like it was a first tale from an inexperienced author, with all the too-many-things in it.

First of all, I thought that Sinter was a female and was pondering this rather weird name, and put it down to her being American. Even when the name Joel was mentioned (Sinter's first name; he goes by his middle) I didn't immediately clock - I mean, there's Evan Rachel Wood, and it was only shortly after that I realised he was a guy. So, not a great start to a tale when it's not clear if the lead is a guy or girl.

The tale itself was a bit laborious. As a Brit I wanted to shout, 'Yes, author, we know you've either researched London or visited, but there's no need to use "Tube" so many times. Yes, it's the main means of transport for Londoners (buses, too, but roads are busy), and I began to get a bit tired of the emphasis.

The romance wasn't really a romance in my book, pardon the pun. Any scenes between Andy and Sinter were along the lines of 'fade to black' made famous by the likes of Barbara Cartland, etc. It felt out of place in a MM novel, and it made me wonder if the author was uncomfortable with the idea of writing about two guys having sex, or didn't know how to. I think maybe the latter, because yeah, it does mean researching, if you're not a guy. So that took authenticity away from the tale.

There was too much drama going on with Sinter's parents, so that his mother did a complete about-face when she learned she was a grandparent, wasn't believable. I'm pretty sure that her last words to him, after learning about baby Verona, was whether she and Sinter's father had made Sinter the way he was. This woman was a banker? Someone educated?

I could go on about the tale, but it had too many things in it all happening at the same time and it lacked realism and believability. It needed angst and passion and some hiccups, because the one that the author included felt like it didn't fit into the tale. It felt like an easy way out, and the aftermath wasn't even touched on, because next thing we have the epilogue with the two years in between briefly summarised. This was kind of OK for a day when I didn't have much to read, but it's not a Keeper. It needs an editor who's not invested in the characters, particularly Sinter, and weed out the unnecessary filler and characters.

ARC courtesy of Central Avenue Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

Thank you NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing me with a copy for review.

All the Better Part of Me is a new adult contemporary about a young actor who is starting to make a name for himself and navigating his newfound feelings for his childhood best friend.

I liked the story of this, especially for the representation of bisexuality. It felt very real for him to not understand his feelings and to question himself without taking anything away from what it means to be bisexual. He wasn't afraid of being bisexual, something that I think is important to show, but that didn't mean he automatically had all the answers, which I think it is also important to show.

I was initially intrigued to read this because it was classed as new adult and I thought it would be nice to read about characters close to my age, but I don't think the new adult genre is for me. The characters were still a few years older than me and were doing a lot more (like living in different countries and dealing with pregnancy), and the new adult genre is also quite nsfw.

It was a good book that I think people are really going to enjoy.

This was SO not what I was expecting after the Goblins of Bellwater... I don't know why I expected magic again, or the lyric prose of GoB. I read the blurb, I knew what this one was about - and it was decidedly NOT the same type of story. Still, I loved the writing in Goblins so much that I would pretty much have agreed to read Ringle's grocery list just to fall back into one of her lushly crafted, wholly original worlds.

This one is VERY different. Not in a bad way. Not in a good way. Just very different. This is a wholly realistic, utterly grounded-in-reality tale about realizing who you are and what you want out of life, and realizing that the labels that people (both you and others) want to put on those things don't matter in the end - what matters is being who you are.

Sinter's world was as well crafted as that of Goblins, but in the way that made sense for him/his story. Ringle is great at the little details - the smudged eyeliner, the text-speak, the awkwardness of self realization - and those are what made this such a resonant story I think. It felt melodramatic at times - but then again, melodrama comes with the territory at 25, so even when I found it vaguely eye-rolling to my 45-year old self, I recognized that it was a wholly realistic detail that kept the story firmly grounded in its own relevance.

Ringle writes a great story. And she can write a great story across genres, personalities, realms, and perspectives. This one was not my favorite of hers, but it was still a great story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, a rather adorable love story with some angst along the way. Sinter is a bit all over the place at times but this just made me like his character more. At times, some parts of the story felt a little rushed (especially towards the end) but I can forgive that tiny criticism because I just loved reading this story. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of Sinter and Andy.