That was ridiculously beautiful... ( )

A lovely, well written story. The ending was perfect. ( )

Magical! One of the most strikingly good stories I've read in a long time. Beautifully and emotionally descriptive. (I'd be embarrassed to say how many tissues were harmed in the reading. :) ( )

This story was so lyrical, ephemeral and downright gorgeous, I can't seem to find the words for a review.
Nash Summers managed to throw me in a wringer and paralyze me like a fawn (excuse the pun) in the headlights. I lived with all my being the story of Rust and Ancel as it enfolded through the years. At times it felt like I was watching Atreyu pull Artax through the Swamp of Sadness in the Neverending Story.


This should be on a list of top 10 stories an MM reader should experience in a lifetime. ( )

This is a very touching love story that runs the gamut from the magical rays of first love, through heartbreak and sadness, all the way to facing reality and finding hope at the end of the road. Well, not quite the end in terms of the characters’ lives, but with how far they have traveled – and how much they have grown - between the fist time they meet as boys and when they are men, it certainly felt that way to me. There is a whole world hiding inside the pages of this short novella, and the poetic language the author uses had me diving in enthusiastically.

‘fawn’ is the perfect nickname for Rust, the first-person narrator of this story. Like a young dear, Rust is curious, happy to be outside, and just a bit naive. He sees the world differently from those around him, and is ridiculed by some, treated badly by others. Thank God for his parents who understand and support him. Rust is an artist, and a very special person. He loves deeply, and once he has give his heart to Ancel, that is it for him. No matter how unlikely it is Ancel will return his feelings, and never mind that he ends up breaking Rust’s heart, Rust cannot help himself.

Ancel has his own issues, and it isn’t until the very end of the book that Rust learns exactly how devastating they are for Ancel. The story of their love for each other is not an easy one, and some of it made me cry, but that also makes it beautiful and well worth reading.

If you like stories about the rougher journeys to a happy ending, if you want to know more about a boy who loves life and grows into a man who values truth and beauty, and if you’re looking for a read that will make you cry before it gets better, then you will probably like this free novella. ( )