Cover Image: Born for Leaving

Born for Leaving

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Member Reviews

Jude Munro authored "Born for Leaving," a contemporary and LGBTQ+ romance novel that belongs to the New England State of Mind series. Intended for adult readers, the book includes explicit language, sexual scenes, and references to childhood trauma and abuse. The story centers around Oliver and Bodie, who meet as roommates when Oliver advertises for help with finances at his beachfront home. As they grow closer, they confront their past noncommittal tendencies and face challenges when life throws a curveball.

The protagonist's personality shines through in "Born for Leaving," as the story starts slowly, and the reader is hooked on his struggles to bring out his humorous side while responding to an ad. With each layer of the characters' personalities unveiled, the story becomes more intriguing, even for those who may not typically enjoy same-sex relationships. Jude Munro's writing style infuses realism into the characters, making it easy to root for them. The consistent narrative voice and crisp writing make for an enjoyable reading experience, while the vulnerable characters evoke empathy from readers. Bodie's troubled family background makes him a solid character with potential for growth. The portrayal of the relationship between Oliver and his boss adds emotional conflict and propels the plot forward. "Born for Leaving" delivers a perfect blend of pathos, beautifully-crafted scenes, and realism that readers crave.

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I was not huge on the story and the relationship of the two characters. Others may really like this book.

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2 somewhat confused stars

The whole time I read this book, I just felt off somehow. I wanted to like both the MCs but it seemed like there was this wall that I couldn't break past. Even with having Ollie's perspective, I felt like I didn't know him at all as the book progressed. I had even less of Bodie, so it was hard to connect with either character.
I also really struggled with the pacing of the book. It felt like things were moving too fast but also too slow at the same time. I also felt like I didn't understand the connection between Bodie and Ollie. Everything just read stilted and off-kilter for me.
I saw the potential of this book from the blurb, but overall, I was just left with a confused and surprised feeling.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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[🌟🌟🌟.5]
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TW : discussion of childhood sexual molestation, off-page coerced sexual relationship
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This book follows our two main characters: loner by choice and Strong Oliver, & the brooding cowboy and a loner by necessity Bodie. It's a very emotional romance with lts of triggering topics, so please keep that in mind.
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First, I absolutely loved the main characters. They were strong in their own sense and has amazing personalities. It's kind of a friends to lovers scenario with a bit of cowboy charm thrown in, so I loved that too. I loved the chemistry they both had and how they complimented one another with their personalities.
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Second, I liked that fact how the author discussed the abuse and coerced sex to one of the characters. It was neither made out to be an act of blaming nor was it sold short. It was addressed, and the character had support. Even though Bodie runs away, and Oliver is heartbroken, you experience the same emotions while reading the book.
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Now coming to the character development and storyline, I felt the flow of the story wasn't what I expected from this plotline, and that ending seemed a little abrupt. You don't get to take in the information before the book ends. Other than that, I liked the simple writing style and the open communication the characters had at the end. I really loved Bodie as a character and I want to protect him from the evils of the world to be honest. Overall, an amazing read and I loved the characters !
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Thank you @netgalley for the review copy!
Kindle/ Netgalley/ October 2020

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This was a well written book and the story was very engaging. I liked the characters and they grew on me even more as the story progressed. They were both dealing with trust and attachment issues. Their relationship was very sweet and sensual. For the most part I thought it developed organically. I liked the way they both evolved as individuals and as a couple. The problems they faced in building the trust between them were realistic and well dealt with. My biggest issue with this was that there were some heavy topics and events and I thought the way the characters deal with them could have been expanded upon. At times I didn't really understand or believe the motivations behind their actions. I did like the way they both learned to assert themselves, and refused to be further victimised by things happened to them. All in all, it was a comforting story of two men regaining control, refusing to be defined by their past, and building a new life on their own terms.

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This is an intriguing and dramatic sweetly romantic story. Oliver has had no luck with relationships, and he still works for his last lover, Jack. He's pretty much the manager of the bar Jack owns, because Jack is too busy doing other things to run it. Jack has been trying to get Oliver back since they broke up, but Oliver won't forgive him, or trust him again, because he cheated on Oliver. The bar gets wild during the summer tourist season and Oliver has to be bouncer on top of bartender since Jack made him fire the last one. Bodie has a very bad childhood, and his mother dumping him on her sister, never to be seen again, was the start of his leaving. He wasn't wanted at his aunt's, so he left as soon as he graduated from high school. He traveled all over the place, never staying long. His newest job brought him to the little beach town to be the bouncer at Jack's bar and it turns out that he'll be renting a room from Oliver fir the summer. Jack immediately tries to get Bodie into bed, but Bodie refuses. Jack keeps up the pressure on both Oliver and Bodie, Oliver also has another admirer but Oliver and Bodie become closer the longer they know each other, but Bodie has some serious baggage from his childhood. Oliver is a sweet and caring guy, Bodie is a shy, vulnerable guy and Jack is a jerk. Bodie is overcoming his issues and Oliver is opening his heart again. I couldn't put it down, it was just that fascinating.

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In Born for Leaving, the projected first in a series, Mia Kerick/Jude Munro's talent is evident. The bartende-and-the-bouncer love story is a page turner, complete with dark backstories, damaged heroes and an evil boss who is probably less of a real-life exaggeration than he reads as in the book. For a change both Oliver, the bartender who advertises for a roommate and Bodie, the the drifter who answers the ad and buys a temporary place in Oliver's life, are loners loath to make human connections. Their gradual, cautious closeness plays out accordingly. However, the HEA was derailed, for me, by the bar owner's blackmail coercion of Bodie into non-consensual sex, essentially a replay the precipitating incident in Bodie's past. Dramatic effect achieved, but at the cost of my willing suspension of disbelief.

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4.5 stars

Jude Munro is a new-to-me author, so I went into this story with no expectations whatsoever. I was intrigued by the blurb, the characters mentioned in it and by the trigger warnings. I was interested in knowing how these two men, who had apparently gone through some very serious trauma if the trigger warning was anything to go by, would come together and make a lasting connection.

I soon found it easy to see how Oliver and Bodie could come together as a couple. I knew from the get-go that it would not be an easy relationship and I'm glad that the author didn't shy away from bringing in the drama and making these two work for their happily ever after.

Both men had suffered their own type of abuse and had overcome some of it enough to make a life of their own, but the scars still lingered and their self-confidence suffered along the way. Sometimes it infuriated me to see how they continued to put themselves in situations that allowed for more suffering, but then again, who am I to judge? I've never been through any kind of trauma and I understand that in the end people have their own way of handling their issues. Both Oliver and Bodie dealt with them in an unhealthy way, but ultimately it seemed to work for them. In the end, I decided to accept it as fact and focus on the story without adding my own judgement to the mix.

Once I did that, I was able to really connect with the characters and cheer them on towards their HEA. The way the author went about bringing their connection to the page had a lot to do with my ability to get over my doubts too. I enjoyed their talks and those candid moments when they both lowered their walls to let the other one in. Some of those encounters were short and sweet showcasing their connection, others were filled with sadness, shame and regret which only made that much more determined to see this story through. But the emotion that touched me the most was the longing these two men had for something more.

All in all, I think the author did an amazing job of bringing this story to the page with the right mix of emotion, angst and romance for it to engage the reader and make them invested in the outcome.

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This book was really swoon-worthy. and I loved the fact that both characters had angst/wounds that were meaningful and yet not overwhelming. Each of the protagonists contributed to the other's healing while at the same time developing a love between them.

It also approaches a serious issue -- male on male rape-- that doesn't get much notice in m/m romance, and yet is an important one.

I love the background details of this beachfront town but wish it was a little clearer where it is-- Maine? The Carolinas?

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I'm very divided about this book. The relationship between Bodie and Oliver moved a bit too quickly for me in the beginning without giving the readers a chance to get to know Brodie as a character. The thing that was written very well was the sexual harassment and how difficult it is to escape a toxic work environment like that. I really liked Hugo. He is a wonderful doggo.

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Really really enjoyed this book. At times it was heavy to read and both the protagonists struggle with trauma so it isn't an easy read. But it was still sweet and hopeful. Recommend it very much but be aware that there a quite a few triggers (mention of child abuse, attempted rape, sexual coersion).

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Oliver Tunstead is a pretty simple guy with a simple life and a shitty cottage that requires way too many repairs and the dreams of owning a convertible VW Beatle so he can let his hair down a little.
But, all this comes at the price of his sanity when he has to put up the extra room in his cottage up for rent and someone answers. And not just someone, a cowboy called Bodie. Though Bodie seems to have a hard exterior, he's always gentle with Oliver. He tries to fight his feelings for this broken cowboy but he can't. Something about him makes Oliver feel at home.
Alas, all love stories would be incomplete without a shitty boss/ex-boyfriend who tries to screw you over every chance he gets. Like Bodie warns Oliver before, he was born for leaving and that's exactly what he did. Will Oliver ever be able to move on from the guy who ripped his heart out of his chest and rode off into the sunset?

This just happened to be my first LGBTQIA book and I was impressed, to say the least. The connection between Oliver and Bodie was palpable and they are one couple that you just have to ship. It was made obvious that they would be the perfect match when Bodie first met Oliver and I loved that. The slow buildup, the complexity and the hot cowboy made the book a sexy read. The sex which was one of the best parts was not just sex, it was full of emotions and I liked that. So ladies and gents, brace yourself for a book full of amazing chemistry, seduction and captivating sex.

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I found parts to be very predictable, but the author made up for it by including some unexpected scenarios. I wish there would have been dual POV as I feel that would have made the story that much better by allowing us to see and experience through Bodie’s eyes as well as Ollie’s. Overall not a bad read. I’d definitely read another by this author.

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Oh my gosh, this book was a treat. I've never read this author before and I requested the ARC on a whim. Well let's just say I made a great choice!! This book was fantastic. It was about two men with issues who were pulled together by love. It wasn't quite love at first sight but it was close. The romance between these two is beautifully written and engaging, the sex was hot and tender. This wasn't really about two men falling in love because there really wasn't a question of that -- it was about how to love, about doing the work admitting weaknesses and letting love grow. Honestly I loved the couple and I would read an entire series about them! Also, if your used to story tropes this one subverts them very well. The author keeps the setting and situations very down to earth and let's the love story contrast. All in all a fantastic read!! You wont regret reading this one!

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Very well written and a real page-turner. It wasn't so much that you had to know what happened next in the plot as the writing just made it hard to put down. I loved the characters and the way they navigated around each other.

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I really enjoyed this book. The book is about loner Oliver looking for a roommate for the summer to help buy the car of his dreams. He finds sexy, loner Bodie with a cowboy hat and a Harley. Oliver is the narrator. I really wish we also got Bodie's POV as well. We find out much of their personality has been shaped by abuse in their childhood. While Bodie's suffered from sexual abuse and abandonment by his mother; Oliver suffered emotional trauma from his highly domineering mother and an indifferent father. Both men have high walls and issues communicating. They find solace in one another. Oliver just got out of a heartbreaking relationship with his boss and Bodie has never been in one. They learn to trust. I love watching the journey and the stumbles. Oliver's ex is a real issue and pervert. The plot is predictable but I still enjoyed getting their.

Trigger warning for sexual assault and molestation multiple times.

I was given free copy of book by publisher for review.

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Had to sleep, but could not put the book down. Loved it...
Loved the storyline and the way it was written.

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I went into Jude Munro’s Born for Leaving with a completely open mind. I read the précis and the trigger warnings so I thought I was prepared. But this novel still hit me hard, and that’s saying a lot. There’s so much emotion in this story, and both men’s experiences are raw and real. While this is not a warm and fuzzy romance, it makes for an unsettling, and highly rewarding, journey. Jude Munro is out to push our buttons, and for me, she succeeds.

A welcome respite from the intensity of the plot, is the charm of the setting in Born for Leaving. Gillamour is a remote island off the coast of New England, and Jude Munro paints an exquisite picture. Descriptions of warm, sandy beaches, restaurants both rustic and chic, and dazzling sunrises, help temper the emotion and drama.

Told entirely from Oliver’s point of view, the characters develop gradually. After the first tentative steps toward building a friendship, the men slowly open up to each other and reveal their stories. While their mutual attraction is obvious from the start, there's no doubt they both recognize they’ve a long way to go… and clearly have no idea if they can even get there.

Oliver is torn between his physical desire for Bodie, and his genuine interest in simply making a friend. (And complicating everything more, Bodie only plans to stay on Gillamour till the end of the summer.) Oliver is incredibly lonely, and while opening his home to a boarder is a good first step, he’s going to have to learn to open his mouth as well. Bodie is even less gregarious than Oliver, and it turns out it’s their resistance to letting folks in which makes them well matched.

As the men craft a relationship, their quest for a peaceful romance is sorely tested. After the abuses both men have suffered, it’s not surprising they have no idea how to advocate for themselves, but I was practically tearing my hair out over the choices they make.

Finding it difficult to open up and be truthful, the way these two communicate had me wanting to smack them both upside the head! It made it frustrating at times, not being able to really relate to either of them, but in the end, it resulted in me thoroughly appreciating Jude Munro’s skill as an author. To bring me so completely out of my comfort zone, to grow to care for these guys, and even begin to like them, is an incredible experience.

I’m intrigued by the folks who make up the community of Gillamour Island. For me, getting to know them through Oliver’s eyes is where Born for Leaving really shines as a novel. Each character has an interesting story, of which I’d love to know more, and it’s my hope that Ms. Munro plans to explore them all in future episodes of this New England State of Mind series.

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"Life doesn’t stop when life falls apart"
This story follows bartender Oliver and the always-wandering Bodie. Its intense, raw, and most importantly it's realistic. Honestly, I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed this book! MM romance is a fairly new genre for me, but Born For Leaving exceeded any and every expectation I had. I read the entire book in one sitting and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I finished. Oliver and Bodie's love for each other is undeniably strong. Following their journey of trust, love, and lust had all the highs and lows that you would expect from a relationship in the real world. The story was easy to follow and addresses sensitive topics such as sexual assault and rape. The story is heavy, but it's honest. It's impossible not to fall in love with these characters. If you're looking for a new read, you will be pleasantly surprised with this one!

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I received a complimentary copy of Born for Leaving in exchange for an honest review. A m/m romance is not my typical genre, but it was well written with a good underlying story. There are some dark themes that come into play, but they were tastefully introduced into the plot.

I wasn't crazy for Oliver. He seemed to be a huge pushover, and put himself into a lot of precarious situations which Brodie always had to save him from. Brodie, was the opposite. He was strong, determined, and not afraid to stand up for what he wanted or what he thought was best. It's too bad Brodie couldn't have found a stringer partner, but they made it work.

I didn't love or hate this book. If you can handle dark themes, sexual assault, and a m/m relationship this would be a good read. If not, I'd recommend trying something different.

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