REVIEW TOUR
Book Title: A Bit of Me
Author: Kent Lowe
Publisher: Self Published
Cover Artist: Hocking Design Solutions Ltd
Release Date: March 27, 2020
Genre/s: Contemporary, LGBT Fiction, Coming of age, Bisexual, Humour, Own voices
Trope/s: Enemies to friends to lovers
Themes: Coming out, bisexual awakening, friendship, young love, gay for you.
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 88 000 words/316 pages
It is a standalone story.
Buy Links
Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK
My thoughts: Georgie, Alfie, Ellie and Aimee have been friends forever. But things change pretty abruptly when George and Ellie split up. They’ve been a couple for years – first love, and George is devastated by the loss. To make matters worse, George is convinced that Ellie had sex with Jack the bartender… in part because she suddenly has a tattoo on the small of her back that matches the one on Jack’s knuckles.
George and Jack’s lives are brought back together again when George’s Dad and Jack’s Uncle meet at a fair. It turns out that the two older men are friends and haven’t seen each other in years. The more time George and Jack spend together, the closer they become.
This isn’t a straightforward story though. There’s a lot going on in each of these character’s lives. Jack struggles with the fact that he was abandoned by his mother when he was young. She has rejected him once but he’s determined to find her again… determined to find the family he has always wanted. Living in care hasn’t been easy for Jack. He has an abusive “brother” named Cole who is an addict and shows up in Jack’s life from time to time. Cole leaves a trail of destruction behind him, always leaving Jack to pick up the pieces.
George is reeling from the loss of his girlfriend. Even though he’s young he’s convinced that he’s never going to find another person to love. As his friends become embroiled in their own challenges… George interprets that as no one wanting him in their life. He begins to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Oddly enough, it’s his time spent with Jack that seems to light a spark in him again.
I really thought that these characters were great. Despite the fact that there was a lot of loss going on in everyone’s lives… the drama seemed realistic to me. People can get truly lost in their own issues and come out the other end realizing that they haven’t “been there” for their friends. The loss faced by everyone in this novel is different: loss of family, loss of a family member due to death, loss of a relationship, loss of home and safety. And what’s remarkable is that each character deals with it in a different way.
The fact that there is also a sweet, slow, and caring relationship developing between the two main characters is a plus! Oh and let’s not forget George’s family. His Nan may be one of my favorite characters EVER! Long live Pam! Her humor and comic timing brought a softer edge to the heaviness of some of the topics in this story.
Great read!
Things You May Want To Know: Please be aware, I’m by no means an expert on what may or may not have the potential to disturb people. I simply list things that I think a reader might want to be aware of. In this book: (SPOILERS) brief mention of self-harm in the past, injured/trapped animal (released), toxic masculinity, substance abuse, excessive smoking, drug use, illegal drug use, severe addiction, mentions drug dealing, character has a mother who has disowned him, description of bad break up, description of depression, description of character receiving a tattoo
Excerpt
From Chapter 1
Wiping the sweat from his top lip, he tried to breathe in something other than stranger’s body heat. It was thick. Solid. Like the air had been stuck in the carriage for years. And he knew as the doors beeped shut behind him, the five-fifty-two to London was going to be one bastard of a journey.
‘Close one, Georgie boy.’
‘I know.’ Wheezing, George slipped into the seat next to Alfie and sucked in mouthfuls of the staleness. ‘Got held up at work.’
Truth was, it had nothing to do with his job. Being late wasn’t something George Taylor was good at. He was the fucking champion. Tell him where and when to meet and he’d be there. Twenty minutes after everybody else.
Dripping with sweat, he dragged the back of his wrist over his brow then yanked the neck of his T-shirt in an attempt to cool his clammy skin.
Sitting on the chav wagon for an hour was hell for him. The thought of being sat amongst thirty-odd strangers, most of whom had no idea of personal space, gave him full on anxiety. Actually doing it, made him want to vomit. But it was worth it. Nothing could bring him down. Not even a soap dodger with an allergy to antiperspirant. He was on his way to see Ellie. And that was all that mattered.
‘Babes, please tell me you’re not wearing that tonight.’ Aimee momentarily glanced away from her phone and winced at his muddy top. ‘Ells will actually kill you if you turn up in that.’
‘Course not. I’ve got my going out gear in here.’ George unzipped his torn rucksack to prove he’d packed a fresh set of clothes that morning. He hadn’t needed the reminder that Ellie would disapprove of his work gear. ‘I didn’t have time to change.’
‘Or wash by the smell of you.’ Aimee turned her nose away. ‘You look like you’re covered in-’
‘Shit!’ Alfie jabbed his elbow into George’s side. He was gawping at a blonde who had just boarded the train in a tight figure-hugging blue dress. ‘Look at the bounce on those things.’
Never one to encourage Alfie’s ogling of anyone with breasts, George made a point of rolling his eyes. He couldn’t help but notice the impressive chest on the blonde himself though.
‘She is hot.’ Alfie whistled, manspreading into George’s space.
Aimee peered up from her phone to give the woman the once-over. Possibly the twice-over by her look of disdain. She was one of the nicest, sweetest girls on the planet but other attractive females brought out the monster in her. ‘What? No way. She’s so basic.’
‘I don’t care if she’s basic, I’d motorboat the fuck out of those things,’ Alfie beamed, following it up with a wink George’s way.
‘The way you objectify women is gross.’ Aimee huffed, pulling at her neckline to show off her own bronzed and perky assets. ‘Besides, you can tell she’s a total bitch, just look at her eyebrows.’
George and Alfie shrugged in unison as Aimee continued to glare at the woman. Like she was sizing her up for a coffin. George had no idea what the woman’s eyebrows had to do with her being a bitch, but by the grimace plastered on her face, Aimee seemed adamant about it. She always insisted that she had a way of knowing those sorts of things, but George had yet to see any proof.
About the Author
“My English teacher in Year 11 once said that I’d either be a rent boy or a writer. I wasn’t successful at the first so thought I’d try the latter.”
Kent Lowe grew up in East London, spending most of his youth in Dagenham, before moving to Essex.
Being a daydreamer and somewhat of a loner, he found art and literature to be the perfect medium for his endless imagination. After finishing college, Kent went on to study a Fine Art degree where he moved from canvas to installation which reared his love for both visual and literary storytelling.
Kent has always had an affinity with animals, and growing up with a menagerie of creatures, he now has fish, an orange cat and four adorable dogs that make his chaotic world just that little more harmonic.
As an artist and writer, all of Kent’s works delve into humour, love and friendship.
Social Media Links
Facebook: @kentloweauthor | Twitter: @KLJLowe | Instagram
Kinzie Things 