Title: Color of You
Author: C.S. Poe
Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Run Time: 6 hours and 37 minutes
Category: Contemporary, Holiday Romance
At a Glance: Color of You is full of characters that are charming in their own unique ways, a sweet and spicy romance, and is narrated in full color by Greg Tremblay. If you like that special gooeyness of holiday romances and are looking for a good, easy listen, this audiobook is for you.
Reviewed By: Jovan
Blurb: Bowen Merlin – yes, that’s his real name – accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority….
Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring scars that could end their budding relationship when someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.
If Bowen is to survive the holidays, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.
Review: This feel-good story, which evokes images of warm apple pie and apple-cheeked Christmas sweetness, is full of instas—insta-crushes, insta-love and an insta-solved Scooby gang homophobia plot device for that touch of C.S. Poe amateur sleuthing.
Bowen Merlin, beyond being a sound-to-color synesthetic, is an interesting character whose awkward first moves, clumsiness and thin, outward appearance belie a craving to be sexually dominant, an important part of himself that has been a major contributor in his failed relationships. While at a holiday fair, he spills his apple cider on the owner of the local apple orchard, Felix Hanson, and is instantly smitten. After some awkwardness and Bowen being surprised that Alan, the talented clarinet player he bonded with on his first day at work, is Felix’s son, the two settle into an adorably hot courtship. Having been burned by a fire and his ex-husband, Felix is shy and hesitant when it comes to exposing his emotional and physical scars. Yet, all Bowen can see is how thoughtful, beautiful and special Felix is and how perfectly they fit together.
Per usual, Greg Tremblay/Boudreaux does an excellent job bringing the story to life. As books with good teachers are a particular fave of mine, and as a former band geek, I loved hearing Bowen’s enjoyment of the music, teaching, and the kids, and could almost hear the colors of his interactions just like Bowen. Frankly, with everything happening on a three week time table—from bonding with all the students and his boyfriend’s son, to love—listening to Tremblay infuse the dialogue and thoughts with the weight of the characters’ emotions helped make the speed of events believable enough to immerse me in the story and enjoy the sugary goodness. Because I was so invested in Bowen’s and Felix’s sweet, yet intense courtship, I found the incredibly ugly and unexpected homophobic turn it took at around 65% a bit jarring. However, in keeping with the allegro tempo of all the emotional beats, it’s tidily wrapped up in Christmas bows not long after, and the honeyed happiness of holiday cheer and community is restored.
Color of You is full of characters that are charming in their own unique ways, a sweet and spicy romance, and is narrated in full color by Greg Tremblay. So, if you like that special gooeyness of holiday romances and are looking for a good, easy listen, this audiobook is for you.
You can buy Color of You here:
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