An Exaltation of Larks

**Copy received through Netgalley for voluntary review.**

I loved everything about this book - the incredible detail, the original storyline, the feels, and especially the characters. Laqueur outdid herself. I'm impressed as hell. She has quickly become my fave author of 2016.

It's a beautiful story of friendship and acceptance and family of your own making. I thought the ending was perfection. It made me smile. I wish I had better words. It was simply amazing.

Wow! What an excellent storyteller! I loved reading this long novel by Suanne Laqueur. Here's how devoted I was as I was reading: I endured the tense week prior to the recent election bolstered by reading, and then I was somehow comforted and distracted by reading in the week after the devastating results of the election. I also bought The Supper Book, the cookbook owned by Val, because I was so charmed by the description in the narrative.

Thank you for sharing this appealing novel with me! I wish this book and its author much success, and I recommend it to readers for hours of happy reading.

I loved this book, once I started it I could not put it down. I have already told my co-workers about this book and told them it is a must read. I cared so much about the heartbreak of their lives and I actually cried over the 9/11 story line. This is a great book.

This book was simply amazing. I feel like I don't have adequate words to express my love for this story. An Exaltation of Larks is a fascinating exploration of what makes a family, sexuality, friendship, loyalty, and love. I am a reader that didn't think she was really into family sagas. I was clearly wrong; well at least when it comes to this book. This story spans decades and weaves the lives of a couple and a male escort. The look into the friendship between these three and the love they shared kept me riveted. Beyond the three main characters you will be just as invested in the other players in this story.

To me this story was so raw and real. I felt like these people were real and that I had to know them. I want to know them. While the ending of this book left me hopeful especially for Jav it wasn't enough. I selfishly want more and Jav clearly has more story to tell. So I will cross my fingers and toes and hope my wish comes true.

Well done Suanne Laqueur!!

P.S. I really need this book to be made into a movie. It felt so cinematic and epic to me. It would be beautiful on the big screen.

10+++++ Stars!

It is absolutely too difficult for me to put into words how much I loved this book! This book actually takes you through a lifetime of stories between two families from 1973 to 2007, spanning 34 years. There was happiness, sadness, tragedy, love, friendship, family.....and so much meaning! I was completely invested and the feelings this author invoked in me could not be denied!

The writing was, as usual for Suanne, incredible. I don't know how she puts all these thoughts and connections together to make it a truly beautiful, meaningful, albeit somewhat tragic, novel. Simply amazing!

I went into this book blind and so glad I did. I had no idea what to expect. I was late for work every day for the last four days because I couldn't put the book down in the morning. Lol!

Every character was special, Val, Alex, Jav (LOVED JAV), Ari, Deane, Flip (sigh), Trelawney, Rog, Stella, and of course, Roman and Sheba. I have tears in my eyes right now as I remember them all in such a fond way.

Larks, tigers, and......finches.........oh my! LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!

READ THIS BOOK EVERYONE! DO NOT HESITATE! DO NOT SQUIRREL! JUST READ IT!

A journey of both survival and sexual awakening, this is so well written and sensitively explored. The juxtaposition of the 1973 Chilean military coup and the 9/11 New York bombing and their effects on three characters is fascinating. Definitely worth a read.

I finished last night, but it's taken a while to get my thoughts together. This was definitely an epic story, which spanned history, time, decades, families, everything. I can't say enough how superb the writing was. Suanne Laqueur has a gift of putting words on paper that evoke so much emotion and feeling, that the words just soak in. It feels a part of you. My stomach was in knots wondering how this story would turn out. I found myself wanting something to happen, but when that was tested, I felt sad and mad.

What I liked:

Obviously the writing. Again, I can't say enough. The characters (especially Val - I just loved her) and their background. I'm a sucker for history, so the 9/11 back story added an extra element to the story that I loved. Deane and Ari - this is a surprise because at first I thought it wasn't necessary to the story - but I ended up loving this aspect of the story. The ending and twist - both were done flawlessly.

What I didn't like as much:

It's hard to say because I don't want to spoil the story, but the relationship between Alex and Jav was difficult for me. Not because of the nature of it, that doesn't bother me, I was just "rooting for Alex and Val the entire time. I loved their relationship and marriage and wanted to see them make it through all the drama. Jav wasn't my favorite character, but I felt his story deeply and hated what happened to him.

Overall - 4 Stars! This is a story I won't forget anytime soon!

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse

I was dying to put pen to paper even before I’d finished reading this book and that just goes to show you how much I loved it. So many thoughts were spinning in my mind, so many feelings out of control, I can’t begin to tell you the effect it had on me or how the Lark’s story cries out to be read. Despite the length and timespan, every page turned and every word read was an ‘exaltation’. It doesn’t make for heavy reading, either; on the contrary. . . it is a brilliant piece of literature. The author’s polished prose is as such that I had to stop reading many passages, sit back and reflect on them before carrying on. And although her storyline is beyond original, what captured my attention was the detailed account of her characters’ qualities, fears and achievements.

An Exaltation of Larks hit me hard from the word go and kept me on tenterhooks throughout. I felt a strong family oneness about them as they stick together through thick and thin. Life’s obstacles strengthen them, but also show their weaknesses. They live passionately and love completely in a tale of sufferance and exuberance. Unravelling over the course of several generations, I quickly became emotionally invested in the relationship between three beautiful people.

“Second chances are given or made.”

Alejandro’s ability to cope with the aftermath of a childhood experience is when he is accepted with open arms into the safe haven of a loving family. But deep down, his grief keeps rearing up its ugly head. He needs help and has it, but at times in all his desperation, it’s not enough. Javier’s story is no less tragic and just as heart-breaking. The hand of fate plays an unfair game of betrayal. Wrongfully judged at an age when boys aren’t yet men, the price he pays is shockingly harsh. Pushed to breaking point, if he’s going to survive, he’ll have to find ways to build up his inner-strength. And this folk, is just the beginning!

“Being with you feels like home.”

“I shouldn't have to be your home.”

I truly believe destiny's road is marked out for each and every one of us. In an unexaggerated tone, this is exactly what happens when these two men’s lives uncannily coincide. Their traits are disturbingly similar on some levels; on others, divergent. Without taking into consideration their backgrounds which will influence them later on in life, a friendship blossoms into something special. It was what they needed, treasured and respected. Warming my heart, they made me smile, laugh out loud, cry and brought out such raw emotions in me that I honestly say I was mentally visualising their ups and downs. I didn’t think it were ever possible for an author to paint a picture of their protagonists’ personalities so vividly, but Ms Laqueur did it to perfection!

“Many people like being alone, but nobody likes being lonely. I became lonely. . .”

Valerie! Goodness me, apart from leaving me totally speechless; in contrast, her unforgettable character had me praising her in this read’s entirety. She is the backbone of this story, holds tightly on the family reins and keeps the banter flowing in such a natural manner that I couldn’t help but adore her. Did I agree with her. . . hmm, her honesty is to be tested but all said and done, the best of us make mistakes, and I think hers was more than justified as her only wish was to maintain the status quo. Her open-mindedness and selfless protectiveness is refreshing. The love she has for her kinsfolk, undeniably strong. In fact, if anyone’s going to be able to calm troubled waters regardless of being between a rock and a hard place, it is she.

“You don’t have to be strong anymore.”

How Alex, Jav and Val’s story panned out surprised me. I have to confess that I wanted it to take a path which was not to be. However, after much contemplation, the place they found on a soul-stirring level was to my mind of thinking, indisputably correct when there was so much at stake. The secondary character development is fan-freakin’-tastic! I really connected to Valerie’s quirky sister, Trelawney and the two teenagers, Deane and Ari. . . lovely guys whose growing up struggles were really well-described. Here, Valerie and Alex and Jav’s empathy was crucial. Although house rules weren’t negotiable, their handling of certain issues were always carefully dealt with.

“These are the rules, kid. And they suck sometimes but they keep you safe and they keep the world in order.”

What sold me too was the tense dialogue in angst-ridden scenes that were actually, outnumbered by touching ones. Also, passages and sentences in italic caused a lump in my throat and had me grabbing for whatever happened to be at hand to dry my eyes. I have to mention to those of you who speak Spanish to try and ignore the few translation errors I came across. The verb conjugations of ‘ser / estar — ‘to be’, is one example. Nevertheless, these slip-ups shouldn’t hinder your reading enjoyment. It didn’t mine.

Well, what can I say to the author that I haven’t said already? Your words are splendiferous, your book, magnificent. One that shall never be forgotten, one to be savoured again and again and meriting at the very least, five stars. Bravo Ms Laqueur!

This book defied my expectations. I thought I would be reading erotic romance but despite mentions of sex, it was not an erotic book. I am not sure I would call it a romance. In the book, there are themes of romance, family, self worth, historical events. I would say it is literature with themes of sex, family, and history.

** Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **

Five Stars

“Second chances are given or made”

I’m sat here still utterly broken and bereft after finishing what has to be one of the best books I have ever read and believe me I do not say that lightly. I’m known to be very stingy with dishing out stars however, for this book I don’t think 5 stars is quite enough but sadly five is all I can give. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms Laqueur and I’m beyond bewildered why that is as she is the queen of storytelling. The words leapt off the page and seeped into my soul and I’m sure they will be imprinted for life!

“I swear to God. You Larks are going to be the death of me.”

This book spans over 30 years and tells the epic story of two boys born into love but then sadly torn away from their families in very circumstances. Alex and Javier have to be bravest they can be to survive the life they have been dealt. My heart both broke and soared throughout as I willed them on through every challenge they faced. I’m terrible at skimming pages just to get more and more but with this book I savoured each and every word.

“What I want is nothing that I am.”

I’m loathed to choose a favourite character as all the characters were superbly written but for me it has to be Javier! Such a complicated tragic soul who has suffered loss, cruelty and because of this had given up on love. He leads an unconventional life trying to not only make ends meet but to try and discover who he is. After being deserted by his family in such a horrific he’s very confused who he is. Both Alex and Javier meet by chance when both of them are trying to make something meaningful of their lives but sadly don’t meet again until many years later.

“You guys are my family. I’d do anything.”

The first half of this book gives you separate stories each providing you with Alex and Javier’s journey through life. This story written in third person which isn’t my preferred writing style however, because of the skill of Ms Laqueur’s writing it wasn’t an issue for me. Due to the amount of characters in this whole story I feel the reader would have been short changed just hearing from Alex and Javier. The insight given from the secondary characters was integral to the book and when you heard their inner thoughts it almost felt like first person.

“Your entire family, every one of them, just smashed your fucking heart to pieces.”

Although this book is mainly about Alex and Javier another fundamental character to this story is Valerie. I loved her! Such a tower of strength for these two men who she both adored. I’m not sure either of them would’ve been who they were if not for her love and insight and profound maturity beyond her years. Some of the lighter parts were the dialogue between Alex and Valerie and I can’t not mention her plucky sister, Trelawney. Her quick wit and dry sense of humour gave light to some of the darker parts to this story.

“My heart beats with yours. Wake up to hear my heart one day. This day. Every day.”

If you read just one book between now and the end of the year I urge you to read this one! If you love a story that is both uplifting, tragic and heart achingly beautiful then I don’t think you will be disappointed. I truly loved every word and cried a million tears when I turned the last page. There are not many books which move me and leave such a huge lump in my throat but this one I will treasure.

There are absolutely no words for how much I loved An Exaltation of Larks. As I read, this book slowly wrapped around me, getting such a hold on me and making me so emotional that I just couldn't deny that this is one of the best books I've ever read. I remember I said the same about The Man I Love and I don't think you can really compare these books, but I must admit that An Exaltation of Larks was even better. This story, these characters, the writing... it all left me speechless and in such awe.

It's hard to describe what this book is about because I have so many thoughts and feelings about it and I want to keep it as spoiler free as possible because you just have to read it for yourself to really experience this incredible story.

The characters were so special to me. Jav, Val, Alex and every other character... they were definitely not perfect but that made me love them all even more. They all touched me so much, they made me angry at times and they made me cry. And I loved how they kept finding each other.

Some scenes were a little hard to read, especially on both September 11th dates taking place in the book, but I thought that this only made the story more powerful. And then there's the prose, which was so very beautiful. This made me fall more in love with the story.

If I could recommend only one book right now above all other I would absolutely recommend An Exaltation of Larks by Suanne Laqueur.

Within the pages of this book, An Exaltation of Larks, a strikingly beautiful and emotional story fuses then embeds itself into the hearts of its readers. An inviting, rich tale you won't want to end. This story, unlike any other, weaves the complexities of three separate lives into the fabric of each other’s souls with threads of rich passion, tragedies, deep longing, and tightly woven cords of loyalty and understanding.

An Exaltation of Larks examines the endless boundaries of love and friendship. Composed poetically with intelligence and an obvious passion for human beings, their plights and their achievements, Suanne Laqueur allows readers to feel emotions deeply through her literary fiction. She leaves much room for questioning and analyzing our own unique emotions in the grand scheme of her protagonists jilted and fated lives. Laqueur’s precise story telling fuels itself with so much compassion emotions turn and change with each new page.

We walk the line of hardened grown man/scarred young man living in the grey comfort of solitude with Jav. We’re in a tight web of family and belonging with the Larks. We empathize with Alex and Val, Trelawney and Roger. We feel vulnerable as they do, brave as they do. We yearn for relationships, whatever form they may be, to run this deep. We bask in the glow of the wonderful things left amongst the rubble.

Recently, I watched an excellent film on Netflix called The Fundamentals of Caring. The very title of this film conveys a message prominent throughout the film that kept me thinking long past “the end” of Larks. While that film and this book are quite different they have parallel themes. Meaning, at it’s very core, the very foundation of the entire wonderful story An Exaltation of Larks surrounds itself with the fundamentals of caring – just like the film. And poignantly and perfectly illustrates how showing a little care and a little compassion can change one’s whole life – one’s as in the carer and the caree.

An Exaltation of Larks proves that caring can change a catastrophic event into something else entirely shaping our perceptions, our sense of selves, and our outlook. While the event and the ghosts from it never leave us they don’t strangle us either. Caring molds the simplest of events into great ones; it forms the brightest thoughts from the darkest clouds. It’s made Jav, Alex, and Val, Roger, Tre, Deanne, and Ari who they are individually thanks to the collective of care they’ve found in their lives. With caring comes compassion, understanding, and acceptance. With caring comes a freedom in our lives afforded through forgiveness forged by love. It’s a simple act. Human decency at its finest to care about someone else’s struggles, passions, and wellbeing. This book challenges readers to inspect the decency within ourselves and project it outward.

The beautifully flawed characters and their extremely addictive story shaped by wit and compassion and built with the blocks brilliant of craftsmanship abundant in Suanne Laqueur’s writing make An Exaltation of Larks unforgettable. Her complex yet simple creatures for characters storm their way into your heart so fast. The force you to connect with them almost immediately and connect you will do. I can't imagine it's possible not to feel these people and want to know them, all of them. It’s a story you’ll feel in your soul. It imprints itself into your mind and your heart from the very first page. It’s a new top favorite of mine and will remain within my reading soul forever.

These characters, each and every one for whom I met within these pages, touched me somehow, some way with a series of glorious feels I don’t want to ever let go. I’m confident this book will do the same for you. As sure as Suanne Laqueur can create something as powerfully thoughtful, incredibly intelligent, and simply charming as An Exaltation of Larks. And as sure as Javier proclaims – “I like stories” - and never lets go of his disticne passion for stories within the pages of this book there is no question that I, too, love stories and feel immeasurably grateful for the fine-tuned gift of emotional story-telling Laqueur shared with the world in this book. An absolute MUST READ.

“All through the five-hour trip, he was keenly aware of her presence in the car. Something about the proximity of her hair and skin and scent made his stomach feel weird. In fact, since the day he met her, Alex had a hard time looking at Valerie Lark with both eyes. Worse, whenever he felt her gaze turn in his direction, a plug pulled in his mind and all the English he mastered swirled away.”

This novel is certainly different than what I have been reading lately. From a young boy Alejandro (Alex) who loses not just his family but his entire country, his cultural identity and seems to continue to lose people to a confused young man, Javier, whose family is dead to him in another way this novel breaks it’s characters. Just when they give birth to hope, happiness the universe seems to take a bite out of them. Alex has lost everything in Chile, eventually he lives with the Larks where the seesaw of love happens between he and Valerie. Though he comes to love and be loved by his surrogate family, everything that happened in his past still clings to his soul. You may start anew, but you never lose your roots. Valerie is as close to a soulmate as any of us can have, and yet love isn’t a constant- individuals still have their paths to take and sometimes it leads us for a time away from our beloved.

Javier is beautiful, graceful and doesn’t have many choices when his family, due to their macho beliefs about what a man is chose to turn their backs on him. What is the seed that rots the family, bringing tragedy that is unfairly laid at Javi’s feet? How many families chose a person to blame every terrible thing on, when really we are all culpable in everything that happens? Every person’s actions and non-actions are always carrying us along the future, fate meddling in things we can’t control. One person really doesn’t have that much power to ruin without each playing their part. Javier’s sexuality is a weapon turned against him in regards to his family, and there are certainly many people that have been through similar rejections for their personal, sexual decisions. One wonders, how differently would Javier’s life had been if his family’s reaction had been more understanding? But culture is a strange beast, it can bow to you or destroy. Javier uses his beauty and hones his special set of ‘skills’ under the tutelage of an older woman. He hardens his heart to love, but love cannot be denied nor reined in. He will fall and hard! Javier moved me so much more, because I think about love (of the family variety) and how parents and others claim to love their children until they show themselves to be different than what is expected. We all see it in some families, maybe even our own. One child (grown or young) chooses a life opposite their parent’s expectations and they get cut off. How many live their lives hiding their true nature just to fit in and be loved? Isn’t that terrible? To think of a person unable to be loved for themselves at least within their own family, how hard is it for them to then accept unconditional love from a romantic partner? It does something to a person to be rejected from their ‘tribe’ so to speak. Just what is love? Unlike the losses Alex suffers, it seems so much worse to have living family that is dead to you by stubborn, ugly choice.

Like love this is a messy, complicated, confusing, terrible beautiful novel. None of our hearts are safe, anymore than Alex, Val and Javier’s. Love comes in many forms, but who is to say how others should love when lord knows we don’t have it right in our own lives? Javier has a life many would judge, but I often wonder with such characters what I would do? It’s easy to make the so called ‘good’ choices when you have support and help. This novel set off different emotions and thoughts for me. It’s certainly different. And though I focused on Javier, trust me- Alex will break your heart too but at least he has people who care.

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I am so thankful that this book was brought to my attention. It is definitely my favorite read of 2016 and the best I've read in a long time (that's saying something because I read a lot). I loved everything about it. I had many smiles and tears along the way. My heart squeezed and soared.
The story follows main characters and the people in their lives for several decades, from childhood to middle age. It's a tale of connected families. Death, love, tragedy, war, hope, lust, friendship, parenthood, PTSD, prejudice, pain, culture, family, loss, happiness, sexuality, marriage...basically every human emotion and state of being are covered. The story is told from several points of view, two being an American refugee from Chile who lost most of his family and a Dominican American who was disowned by his family. The cast is from all walks of life, ages, races, etc. The storyline was completely original for me. It's a novel about living and all the ups and downs and snapshot moments and bigger pictures. Issues don't always tie up neatly or quickly. Just like reality sometimes the tone is heartbreaking, bittersweet, beautiful or magnificent.
I'm still so deep in the feels that I can't get it out of my head. This author truly has a gift. There are a lot of good books out there, but finding something that touches me on this level is a rare unicorn. Bravo!

This was an utterly phenomenal story. Spanning several decades, it shows how the lives of Javier, Alejandro and Valerie are interwoven and how sometimes fate truly brings together a family. Through a series of events, the trio is thrown back together as adults and explore the tether to each other that has lasted over twenty years. This book is very difficult to write a review for, as it best experienced by reading the words themselves. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

4.5 stars.

I read the blurb and immediately my mind tried to place it into a genre. Historic Fiction? YA? Romance? War? Contemporary? What is this book hiding?
Believe me , Its whole lot more or everything in one. It spans almost all the genres and with such an accuracy that I felt the emotions hitting me in waves.

Alex, Val and Jav are the main characters of the story. A life traced from their childhood to their adulthood (Middle age). When Alex elopes from chile during a coup and his paternal uncle takes him in, in New york, little did Alex know that his uncle was going to die soon. Then Alex joins Val's family as a foster son.

"Their house was large and their hearts larger. One more fledgling in their nest wasn’t an imposition"

Thus Alex's and Val's life collides and they twist and turn around till they are adults to belong to each other.
Parallel story is Jav's or Javier's. Always thrown out by loved ones but an immense presence in the story, gets entangled with Larks (Alex and Val). They met in their 20's and then in their 40's, further complicating the relationships.

“We’re so alike. It’s no wonder.”
“No wonder what?”
“That we kept finding each other. I’m having a hard time thinking it was coincidence.”

Everyone sacrificing something for other, relationships twisting around and round and round , to the very end. There are erotic scenes, but not vulgar, also some gory details of killing , but not too extreme, as if Suanne Laqueur knows where to stop.

Writing is almost poetic and the emotions just build along the 550 pages. I just got hooked in to it in few chapters. Not a single moment of "Why am I reading this?".
Pure "Exaltation" is what a I felt when I read this book. Just Exalted.

ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

Madly in love with this book.

#6Stars - A Beautiful and Richly Layered Story that Explores Love, Friendship & Sexuality.

There is no doubt that An Exaltation of Larks will join my favourite ever book list in terms of its epic depth, glorious cast of characters, vivid writing, story development and the way it all made me feel. I savoured every word, my mind overwhelmingly content with the sheer wonder of the story. I finished reading a good few days ago, and still I find myself drifting back to the story, the characters, their sexuality and their connection to the 9/11 date, a traumatic day in 1973 and the indescribable devastation of 2001 that shaped the protagonist’s lives and indeed this multifaceted novel. I have questioned how I can find the words to adequately convey the vivid quality of the storytelling. A delicately weaved plot that spans effortlessly over three decades and sucked me into the lives of the cast so hard that I did not want to leave. The aching beauty literally took my breath away and all those delectable adjectives we long to feel when reading, I felt them beyond explanation. There’s a plethora of characters to love. I’m not exaggerating about the amount of people or the love. Alejandro, Valerie and Jav are the key protagonists whom everything revolves around. They convincingly lanced their way into my book heart but with equal measure I highly appreciated the supporting network of characters, who it could be argued, are equal to the protagonists in terms of their importance to the story and their development making them as rich and colourful as the three afore mentioned key players.

Both Jav and Alejandro find themselves torn away from their blood families, the dichotomy of their histories and the manner in which it affects their personas and their lives is fascinating. One is torn away from parents who loved him dearly, the other is thrown away and the effect that has on a man is immense. It’s the catalyst that shapes their thoughts, their feelings and relationships with both men and women. It’s a story complex in its entirety with beautifully convoluted relationships, richly layered but crafted so that it’s super easy on the reading ear. Seamless transitions, creative imagery and past happenings placed perfectly in the prose made me think deeply and ensured the story arc always moved forward, developing either plot, character or feeling. A few people have told me that bad choices make good stories, the statement was stated in this story too and certainly evidenced convincingly at certain moments in the third person narrative. Whatever the choices made by the characters I always believed in their motivation which is key to my personal enjoyment of a story.

The trajectory of the plot feels totally organic as it explores wanting, needing, soul mates, second chances and life coincidences. Paths crossing and random acts of fate show the happenstance of various moments that so perfectly mirror the serendipity of life with a poignancy that made me feel super warm inside. I treasured the web of friendships developed over time, the romance and the love. Loyalty, friendship and, most importantly, sexuality are the themes deeply laced within the myriad of layers where the characters experience unimaginable trauma, despair, hope and love. The sexuality element is perhaps the most engaging and thought provoking aspect and depicted with an incredible sense of struggle, uncertainty and openness. There are moments I giggled, moments I hoped, moments I absolutely sobbed and thought my heart would break for a character. It hurt so good!

The lyrical prose made the decades, and the pages fly past, I wanted to pause. I wanted the percentage on my kindle to freeze in time so I could continue to bask in the luxury of the prose. The characters worked their way deep into my psyche. It’s a story I woke up thinking about. A story that SHOWS in the extreme with beautifully crafted words on the writing canvas, sometimes so simple but when together and in the context of the story meant so much creating the most perfect imagery or thought provoking moment making AN EXALTATION OF LARKS with its menagerie of characters and layers of emotion, themes and plot a very precious commodity and a simply must read in my eyes. I DID NOT WANT IT TO END!

Magnificently Brilliant......
A story that spans 35 years.......
A story that weaves families together by coincidence or by fate.......
A story of love, loss, turmoil, sexuality, friendship, marriage and happiness........
A story that creeps into your soul and becomes ingrained....
A story of epic proportions.........

This story is one of those epic reads that totally grabs you and takes you on a journey of feels. It evokes all emotions. You will ache, you will cry, you will sigh, you will laugh, and you will love. The writing is outstandingly beautiful. It's poetic and lyrical, visual and awakening, and deeply layered and compelling. You become part of the story, experiencing and feeling the magnitude of this epic journey.

Family......one perfect, one broken and one devastated. Loss, betrayal and losing your innocence but finding acceptance and love.Three families make up the foundation of this story. How Alex, Val and Jav come together is thoroughly mesmerizing and captivating. Each one of these characters is surrounded by others that are essential to the full storyline. The Pendas, The Larks, Gloria, Felipe, Ari, Deane, Flip.......every character gets embedded and engrained into your fiber. Their journey through life is chronicled with the author's soul searching and though provoking words.

This story spans 3 decades. You see them grow, experience life, experience heartache and experience joy. No family is perfect but how one reacts to adversity and trials and tribulations is what makes one strong and alive. Past and present collide throughout this book. Every character tugs at your heart and opens it up to fly in exultation. The way that this book weaves and wobbles and shoots straight to the stars will stay with you and make you think about it for days.

I know I didn't really tell you much about the story but I believe that the story should unfold for the reader. If you love books that encompass decades, this one is gold. I will say that this is a book everyone who loves to read should read. It's Epically Wonderful, Full of Feels, and Phenomenally Written. One of my best reads of 2016.

An Exaltation Of Larks should come with a warning on the cover that says; This Book might change your life.

Every feeling there is to feel I experienced through the pages of this novel. Be ready to read an astonishing story that is raw, honest, and magnificently beautiful.

In 1973 a young Alex Penda comes to the United States as a political refugee, after his family is separated by the Chilean Government. He arrives in New York to live with his uncle. On the first few days after his arrival he meets the Lark Family, and immediately they take a liking to him. Of the Lark kids, Roger becomes Alex's best friend, and Val becomes something... special. When Alex's uncle dies years later, he goes to live with the Larks. Their bond becomes even stronger and they grow up to be inseparable. Organically, years later Val and Alex become husband and wife.

Simultaneously the story follows Javier, a gorgeous young man with Dominican background who suffers a tremendous ordeal after he is rejected by his family, and kicked out of his home at a young age. Javier AKA Jav, becomes a highly sought after male escort. The women in New York pay him a lot of money to enjoy his company. When they are all in their twenties Alex, Val and Jav paths collide, making an everlasting impression in one another.

When the events of 9/11 hit New York City, Jav, Val and Alex are deeply affected. What follows after the tragedy will cause the three long lost friends to reunite after twenty years. Then love, lust, friendship, and incredible coincidences will play a big part in either fortifying or perhaps destroying their bond forever.

I more than adored reading this book. It's been a few days since I read it, and every love song, every thought reminds me of these beautiful characters and their story. I just can't shake it, and to be honest, I'm not sure that I want to. This is just one of those books that from the moment you start reading, you know it's going to be important, meaningful, and unforgettable. Suanne Laqueur is a wizard when it comes to writing spectacular novels. The Exaltation Of Larks is a book like no other, a written celebration of love and friendship.

I would buy a copy of this book to very single person I know if I could, that's how much I believe in the power of this story. It is raw, it is bold and completely transcendental. Suanne Laqueur writes books that speak to my heart, and I am so excited to see what book is she going to write next.

What a powerhouse of a story! I've had this on my kindle for a while but finally, finally got to it! This story weaves history and fiction in the fabric of this delicious story. I usually do not like books that are from decades past and yet this one broke that mold for me.

The characters are so multi facted and have such depth. I wasn't sure what was going on when Jav was thrown into the mix mid way through but his character proved to be an integral part of the story.

I wish I could read this one all over again for the first time!

Exquisitely well-crafted novel that weaves vivid love stories into historical events (September 1973, Chile / September 2001/USA). Fans of family saga with benefits, explicit erotic scenes, nuanced layers of loss and love, and bisexual elements will enjoy this novel. Fabulous cast of characters and very well-wrought scenes keep the pace although the story slows at times with a lot of explicit sex scenes. Bonus points for honest treatment of condom use and teen love/sex juxtaposed with mature love/sex. Fabulous storytelling in the realm of Sheherazade or Isabel Allende. The power of story and fiction to exalt lives of the desaparecidos, or those, in general, whose stories tend to remain in the shadows. A creative, original read!

Second chances are given or made ~ An Exaltation of Larks
Wow!! An Exaltation of Larks is poetic, risqué, and beautiful. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read. If you’ve been reading my reviews (thank you) you know I always aim for short and sweet reviews, but this one is worthy of a few more lines. From the beginning, author Suane Laqueur had my undivided attention. This magnificent novel is about family, second chances, sexuality, loyalty, and love. The story shows how unpredictable love is, how complicated and baffling relationships can be, and how actions can affect our lives forever. Laqueur is an extraordinary, gifted writer who exudes a healthy dose of poetic naughtiness. Even though parts of the book involve sex and sexuality (some naughty words), it surprisingly did not bother me. Perhaps because Laqueur is such a smooth operator that captivates with her graceful writing. I fell hook, line and sinker. Here is an example of Laqueur’s enchanting writing, “He was wounded to the core. A victim of emotional assault who couldn’t press charges.” See what I mean? Here’s another one just in case you need more, “He lifted his face to the stars, asking love to be his friend.” Laqueur, where have you been all my life? Days after finishing the novel, I haven’t been able to stop thinking of Javier, Alex and Val -- major book hangover. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, I highly recommend this book. My prediction? You will not want to put it down.

*I received an ARC copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was an experience which will not be forgotten for the reader... The writing was so beautiful and takes you to another place... Intense and so memorable