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A review by toddles
Almost Gone by Caleb Marks
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This review was brutal to write because I liked how it started soooo much.... (exhale)
2.5 ⭐️
I received an ARC edition of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review after the book had been published in 2022, (January 2025). You can get your copy today currently as an E-book or Paperback Printed Edition on Amazon.
The 91-page prequel novella of the Wingstead Series by Caleb Marks is a cautionary tale of teenagers in high school of the sexually digital-age. Beginning after the act and the incident at Toby and Daniel's graduation ceremony, where Toby's picture of him in a compromising position is shown on the big screen, outing him, and making him flee. Daniel, a track star also in the closet and terrified to come out in general, let alone after the controversy attempts to support while protecting himself. Who could have done this to them, and why. There are so many secrets.
The plot was intriguing and the real world reality of what it's like to have explicit pictures of you as a teenager leaked out, and how the aftermath is catastrophic with charges and schools dropping you, and public reputation ruined by a blackmailer.
I wouldn't call this a romance. It's more of an MM Dark Contemporary Fiction because the romance was constantly in jeopardy and the topics were written in a style that put the aftermath in the spotlight over their love story. The spice was not even 1/5🌶. Actions happened in very minor detail or off page and only mentioned, which is a given since they just graduated HS and could still be 17 years old.
THE LAYOUT & CONTINUITY: The execution was very scattered and inconsistent. Whole parts needed to either be reworked or moved to another part of the novella. The drama with Toby in the middle of who and what to believe was like whiplash in a car accident that didn't stop.
I don't know if I'm personally convinced yet to read the next in the series that also stars Toby, however, I read the first 2 sentences in a sneak peek and was straight dumbfounded on how we got to that point with without reading more.
2.5 ⭐️
I received an ARC edition of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review after the book had been published in 2022, (January 2025). You can get your copy today currently as an E-book or Paperback Printed Edition on Amazon.
The 91-page prequel novella of the Wingstead Series by Caleb Marks is a cautionary tale of teenagers in high school of the sexually digital-age. Beginning after the act and the incident at Toby and Daniel's graduation ceremony, where Toby's picture of him in a compromising position is shown on the big screen, outing him, and making him flee. Daniel, a track star also in the closet and terrified to come out in general, let alone after the controversy attempts to support while protecting himself. Who could have done this to them, and why. There are so many secrets.
The plot was intriguing and the real world reality of what it's like to have explicit pictures of you as a teenager leaked out, and how the aftermath is catastrophic with charges and schools dropping you, and public reputation ruined by a blackmailer.
I wouldn't call this a romance. It's more of an MM Dark Contemporary Fiction because the romance was constantly in jeopardy and the topics were written in a style that put the aftermath in the spotlight over their love story. The spice was not even 1/5🌶. Actions happened in very minor detail or off page and only mentioned, which is a given since they just graduated HS and could still be 17 years old.
THE LAYOUT & CONTINUITY: The execution was very scattered and inconsistent. Whole parts needed to either be reworked or moved to another part of the novella. The drama with Toby in the middle of who and what to believe was like whiplash in a car accident that didn't stop.
I don't know if I'm personally convinced yet to read the next in the series that also stars Toby, however, I read the first 2 sentences in a sneak peek and was straight dumbfounded on how we got to that point with without reading more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship