Streets Apart: Hearts Apart

By: H. J. Perry

Narrated by: Piers Ryman

Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

I’m Aaron. I’ve got a crush the size of Europe on Joe, who lives across the street, and when he’s around, I transform into a prize idiot. The rest of the time, I’m a trainee plumber. On Sundays, I play in the amateur football league. In all, I'm a confident, well-adjusted guy - for a 20-year-old virgin who lives with his parents and falls apart over the boy not quite next door.

Joe’s cute, sexy, fun, and the reason the word sexy was invented. We used to play together as kids in the massive posh house he lives in with his parents, the doctors. Now, he’s at university, studying literature. How do I ask a guy for a date when I can’t string together a coherent sentence when he’s around and I don’t even know if he’s gay? And what’s more, no one knows I’m gay.

Who keeps their boyfriend in the closet these days? I want the world to know how much he means to me. I’m going to come out, but not today; I can do it next week.

This is a hot, sexy feel-good romance about two young men who fall in love for the first time. They are crazy about each other and do lots of kissing, hand-holding, and taking their clothes off.

©2018 H J Perry (P)2019 H J Perry

angsty

I liked the acceptance and change Aaron's dad made after some time. I was glad Aaron finally found the courage to come out. It was good to see Damien change after his near death experience. I found it do sad and disappointing that it took saving Damien for Joe's parents to really see and accept Aaron. I'm decimated over that prejudice. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job.

First Time, Coming Out Romance

Streets Apart is a solid coming out, first time romance. Audio book nicely performed by Piers Ryman.

first love

the story follows 20yr old Aaron, his crush on his neighbor and childhood friend, Joe, thier developing relationship and the fear and dilemma of coming out. Aaron and Joe are extremely active *cough* so if that interests you then this will be a fantastic listen/read if it's not your thing then it'll be a bit less enjoyable but still a nice listen. there was good chemistry between Aaron and Joe and I loved that both had support from family. I liked that being with Joe encouraged Aaron to grow.

the reading was good. there was a second where there was a word that I thought needed more enunciation but otherwise a fun listen. the characters really came to life and the emotions and tears came through.

A free copy was provided to me by the author. this review is honest and unbias.

Meh

Just okay for me. Couldn’t really get into the characters due to not really understanding their connection. Like they were best friends growing up but didn’t know the other was even remotely gay? Story just didn’t really track in my mind. Narrator was good, but didn’t really seem to put a lot of emotion into the story.

quick sweet story

Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Was there anything I found annoying: no
Would I listen to it again: there are others I would listen to before it, but I wouldn't not listen to it again.

Story comment: Given the length of this book I would have liked more story and less sex - but that is just my preference. Overall the story was sweet and I enjoyed it.

Narrator comment: Piers Ryman is new to me and I enjoyed his narration for the most part. There were a couple of times when I felt the narration fell a little flat but this is only a minor critique and it didn't take me out of the story. Overall, I enjoyed his pacing and personalities of the MCs.

Streets Apart: Hearts Apart

Aaron has always had a thing for Joe but what does he have to offer Joe? Aaron has no idea if Joe is even gay. Being in the closet does not help matter either. Aaron and Joe were childhood friends but could there be a chance for a reunion of sorts and more to follow? Aaron and Joe's' story is sweet. Aaron knows what he wants but can he afford to take a chance and grab for his happiness?

Joe and Aaron are good men who find themselves learning about each other and what they truly want. It was nice to see how the two men figure things out. I was glad to see some supportive family and friends come to Aaron's side when he needed them. Joe and aaron's relationship has its ups and downs as they work through it all and Aaron must make some hard choices if he wants to truly step out of the closet and be proud of who he is and who he is with. I would have loved to see a bit more in the building of the men's relationship but as a whole this is a quick and sweet story.

Sweet Friends to Lovers Story You Will Love

HJ Perry's novel finds 20 year old Aaron ready to take a chance on love with his best friend, but there's a couple of problems: Aaron is not out to anyone, and he is not even sure if Joe is gay. Aaron lives at home with his parents and is a blue-collar plumber. Joe comes from a more affluent family and is away at college.
The two fall deeply in love, but there is a bit of angst as Aaron struggles with coming out to his family.
Overall, it's a sweet love story you will love. The characters are great and well rounded and Piers Ryman's narration is excellent.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A sweet love story

Piers Ryman has the perfect voice for Aren, the plumber, and does a good job of voicing the other characters differently. The growing love between Aren and Joe is written tenderly and beautifully.

Sweet and funny love story

Narrated from a first point of view of Aaron, this is the sweet story of how Aaron gets together with his childhood friend and forever crush, Joe. Aaron and Joe live in the same neighborhood, but Aaron is a closeted working class boy, going for his plumbing certification, while Joe's family is far more affluent, with doctors for parents, and Joe is out and works with LGBTQ youth. It is a fun story with a beautiful narration. Aaron is sweet, funny, somewhat naive, and is deeply in love with his Joe, and their relationship is very tender and humorous. There's some angst, with Aaron's struggling to come out to his family friends and coworkers, but there's a lovely happy ending. It is enjoyable and cheerful, and the narrator performs very well. Aaron's accent is a pleasure to hear, and the characters are distinctive.

Great!

Really enjoyed this one from HJ Perry! I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was fun. I loved the narrator as he was new to me and I will be looking for more books from him in the future!

Positivity

I enjoyed this book. This shows the inner struggles of a 20 year old coming out as gay. The heated scenes were pretty descriptive. The narration was great. I recommend this book. 🎧 Audiobook Obsession

as good as the ebook

The story is always full stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, I’m over the half, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

Loved it

so refreshing to hear a narrator who sounds British. Don't know if he is but he sounds authentic.
Great coming of age story set in the UK about young love and normal working class people.

Sweet, young love

I enjoyed the story about 2 young men, neighbours/friends who find themselves starting a relationship. One is a plumbers apprentice (Aaron) and not out, the other a uni student and out (Joe). Their story of navigating the issues with class/social differences, coming out to friends and family (Aaron) is told with humour, sweetness and a bit of angst. Really nice story.
Piers Ryman is new to me and I really enjoyed his narration for the most part. There were a few times that there was very little inflection when a character was a bit emotional, but overall, I really enjoyed the his pacing and subtle accents for the MCs.

I was given this free review audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.