T
Tosha @bigbuttandabook
March 27, 2026
Passion Can’t Mask Pain
I’m the type of reader who doesn’t mind when you break my heart a little bit (or a lot) as long as you give me a really good story. And the way this story gripped me and wouldn’t let me go it was exactly that. Julian made my heart hurt so much with the weight of hiding who he was. This story is heavy with internal monologue, it builds out brick by brick everything Julian is carrying. Broken up by the growth Malik is fighting his way to. In their own ways each character is fighting to be honest with themselves. And like a suspense novel you are gripped by they where, when, and how. At one point I couldn’t see how Julian (or me) could ever forgive Malik and then out of nowhere it settles into your being that forgiving him is easy because sometimes to people are just made for each other and they can’t be truly happy without the other and they have so much love it just outweighs everything else. This was such an amazing read for anyone who loves the depths of human emotion and being trapped in moment after moment of tension until everything explodes in raw ways that don’t always make sense but make you believe in love.