Weak Heart

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Weak Heart isn’t a weak book. It is a strong self published debut. The sheer quality of the story is impressive as Gilmartin writes a neat, emotional, and well structured plot of a book. The story itself is unapologetically queer and shows a deep level of tenderness in representing the vulnerability and love shared between multiple characters. It is not just a fantasy story with a bit of mystery following queer characters, it is a story with heart and depth. Edit: I wrote the above after reading the first complete draft, when it was still in its awkward teenager stage. This update is my third read—the first time reading the finished, published version—and it’s still all true. But now the gangly promising teenager has grown into their own, and it’s so incredibly lovely. Kit and Tanis are also really fantastic and complex characters, and they really are awesome for not being tropey or following any stereotypes. Fadwa is fantastic. Owen. Owen is actually everything. I literally have so much sympathy and compassion for him, and I did start crying near the end. I'm not going to say anything more, because spoilers, but if you like morally grey characters, you're gonna love Owen. There Is A Light is a heartwarming story set in Edinburgh following two very broken men in the 1980s and how they find each other and eventually, dare to open up to each other. I love second chance romances and this was certainly an emotional ride with second, third and fourth chances…

Okay so this book was actually one of the best things I've read in a Very Long Time. I'm bad with words, so I'm gonna make a list. Both of their character arcs however mirror each other in the way they slowly learn to let their walls down. This however still comes with important discussions about boundaries and especially those that come with trauma. Gilmartin’s writing is atmospheric as they anchored the story to the island. The weather and the roiling seas in itself is an important character of the story that brought the story to life through the chilly sea winds and the bone deep cold waters. There are multiple details in the setting and environment that foreshadowed the events that happened between the characters. Every time I sit down and read this book I feel cold and chilly (or maybe I’m just coming down on something lol) as though I am standing on the edge of the cliff of Mab. It’s a ride through every emotion from happy to sad, funny and so so emotional. I loved it so much more than I have words to describe.

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Isla- Queen. Everyone stans her. She's just an adorably stubborn selkie, and reading a seal's perspective on humanity was different and super weird and awesome! It definitely made the book a lot more immersive. I loved how she was constantly longing to go home, but also so determined to stay. Her arc was also based on realization, I guess? About who her person is. I really loved that. the romance that slowly developed btwn jamie and jude felt so natural and like it made perfect sense for these two to love each other and be a couple. there were such sweet and heartwarming scenes btwn them as their feelings for each other peaked.... man.... it was so 😔 in a good way. and then things get too real and the part where jamie wanted jude so badly and jude wanted him too and yet kept pushing him away and avoiding him was so. it hurt bc it was so familiar. and the things they thought in their heads and said to each other, so much of it felt so familiar bc i've been in similar patterns before and it just... hit hard. but im glad they got to resolve it in the end. While the mystery and setting of Weak Heart lend themselves to the creepily atmospheric mood, the author manages to seamlessly weave in the perfect amount of humor, romance, and found family. The characters are fully developed and colorful, and I missed each and every one of them the second I was finished. It all pulls together to form a wonderful read that’s nearly impossible to put down. Complex issues and emotions were dealt with so tactfully and gently, this was like a book for everyone , there is almost a part that everyone can relate to. These issues are brought up in the characters that you can understand how it goes on in their heads and you can understand it, and you can feel what the characters feel.

There Is A Light is exemplary in its portrayal of mental illness, and it is gorgeous in its language, character development, and love story. It made me so happy, and it gave me so much hope for being happy, and I might just carry it everywhere with me.it’s a slow burn, it’s a forced-proximity, it’s a strangers to lovers with many stops in between. it’s a journey in mental health, a journey in addiction, a journey in grief. it’s finding your place and your people. it’s a book about allowing yourself to be seen, and allowing yourself to be loved for all that is seen. it’s allowing yourself to take all the chances you need. it’s knowing that love can’t fix you, but neither can shutting out love entirely. This has to be one of the most unexpected books I’ve ever read. I went in it with very little knowledge of what it is actually about and I feel like it only enhanced the experience.