Out of Nowhere (Middle of Somewhere #2) by Roan Parrish | Review

Out of Nowhere is the second book in Roan Parrish’s Middle of Somewhere series. I only have two words to describe it:

Holy. Shit.

Honestly, I really liked In the Middle of Somewhere (the first book in the series). After meeting Colin in that book, I was excited but also worried about reading his book. He was such a d-bag! I didn’t know how Roan would be able to get me to care for him.

Colin Mulligan stole my heart, the bastard. He’s so, so damaged and it nearly killed me!

It’s been over a day since I finished this book and my thoughts and emotions are still all over the place.

I loved that Out of Nowhere was written in first-person. Usually I prefer alternating third, but you get to delve so deeply inside of Colin this way that I’m sure the book wouldn’t have worked otherwise.

God, the self-hatred is hard to read but it just brings everything about Colin into perspective. Every interaction, every hurtful statement, every fight takes on new meaning. He’s in so much pain, constantly, that he doesn’t recognize when he’s something other than miserable at first.

At times, things between Colin and Rafe were raw and animalistic and then they would be tender and heartwarming. Loved it. I also loved how Rafe picked up quickly how difficult it was for Colin to verbalize things. Instead of getting frustrated, he adapted and encouraged Colin to communicate as best he could.

Ugh, Rafe. He seemed so put together and on top of his game. Is it bad that I liked when things started crumbling around him? It’s not that I like emotionally tortured characters, but it was important–at least to me–to see that Rafe wasn’t always the one doing the caregiving.

Roan made Colin so real that I ached for him.  He was real, in that, he made the same mistakes over and over–like real people do. He wasn’t “fixed” by a magical penis or a quick revelation. Years of internalized beliefs and thoughts of self-loathing are piled up inside of him and are standing in the way of him and Rafe being happy.

The information about decarceration and problems previously incarcerated individuals face was spot on. Roan, thank you for helping to spread awareness about these issues. That’s all I’m going to say or else I’ll end up on a soapbox. 😉

Out of Nowhere by Roan Parrish is the kind of gut-wrenching book that will stay with me for ages. I was emotionally destroyed. And yet, I was also left feeling incredibly satisfied. I hope Roan does more books in this series and that we’ll get to catch up with Colin, Rafe, Daniel, and Rex. I have a feeling little Leo may be next, but we’ll see!

P.S. Trigger warnings for: self-harm, suicide, and sexual assault. Some scenes are on screen, while others are in the past. Know your triggers and stay safe. Mwah!

Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb:

The only thing in Colin Mulligan’s life that makes sense is taking cars apart and putting them back together. In the auto shop where he works with his father and brothers, he tries to get through the day without having a panic attack or flying into a rage. Drinking helps. So does running and lifting weights until he can hardly stand. But none of it can change the fact that he’s gay, a secret he has kept from everyone.

Rafael Guerrera has found ways to live with the past he’s ashamed of. He’s dedicated his life to social justice work and to helping youth who, like him, had very little growing up. He has no time for love. Hell, he barely has time for himself. Somehow, everything about miserable, self-destructive Colin cries out to him. But down that path lie the troubles Rafe has worked so hard to leave behind. And as their relationship intensifies, Rafe and Colin are forced to dredge up secrets that both men would prefer stay buried.

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: February 29, 2016
Length: 300 pages
Purchase: Amazon, ARe, Dreamspinner