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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Perfect" is over-rated, September 5, 2007
This review is from: Perfect (Paperback)
Avery and Louis had each met his life partner, but neither quite realized it nor had either come to understand the importance of building a great relationship over time (a good, permanent relationship/marriage does not just happen; it grows over time, with effort). They each had some major flaws that drove them to break up, though neither wanted to break up at the time. I just finished reading the story for the fourth time, and I've just realized some things about the story that hadn't occurred before (and I'm not sure they occurred to the author).
Avery was angry and frustrated that Louis wouldn't talk to him, despite the fact that Louis (1) was about to lose his job and (2) was about to undergo surgery on his shoulder. Louis thought that he had to solve his own problems by himself and then tell his partner what he had done. Avery had every reason to be angry and frustrated with Louis's lack of communication and to try to persuade Louis to get better at talking to him. But rather than yelling at Louis for being a slob (which he was) and for little imperfections that didn't really mean anything, Avery should have told Louis why he was frustrated and scared and gently persuaded Louis to open up. Instead, he tried to manipulate Louis by threatening to walk out and leave Louis, though Avery did not really want to do that. Imagine his surprise when Louis called his bluff and told him to go on out. Later in the book, we are made to realize that Louis had been shocked and upset and frightened by what Avery did, but Avery NEVER apologized to Louis for trying to manipulate him or for using the threat to leave the relationship as a means of forcing Louis to talk. Avery deserved his anger and frustration, but Louis did not deserve for Avery to walk out on him without warning. Avery should have realized he'd made a mistake and begged forgiveness for hurting his partner unnecessarily and unintentionally.
Then, Louis should have told Avery that he loved him enough to spend his life with him, but he (Louis) couldn't commit to a lifetime unless Avery could find it in himself to trust Louis enough to open up and communicate. "No secrets." Louis needed a relationship with full disclosure and Avery couldn't give it to him. That was the bottom line. Louis should have simply said that to Avery and then left it up to his partner to decide how much he was willing to trust his partner. Instead, Louis tried to manipulate and bluff and got called on his bluff. Maybe I'm over analyzing, but these themes were definitely there and would've made a very different story line if Louis had picked up on what was going on.
After Avery left, the two guys did both come to realize how much they loved and missed each other, how many wonderful qualities the other had, how good a basis they had had for their relationship. Yet they both also grew while separated and gained enough insight that they could realistically get back together at the end of the book and have a really good chance of making a go of their relationship. They didn't exactly have the talk I described in the paragraph above, but they did talk about communication. I enjoyed the two characters, how they both hurt, then grew, then rebuilt their relationship. It was all credible and the two characters both made serious mistakes. The author drew them in a way to make the reader root for them to succeed. There are a couple of well drawn erotic scenes (and I admit that another one not in the book that would have involved a threesome between Louis and Avery and Kyle that would've been truly hot had the author put in such a scene!), but the main thrust of the book is romance and personal growth for the major characters. Well done. Well worth the read.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well....Perfect, May 7, 2007
This review is from: Perfect (Paperback)
This book is perfect. There's no drama with Avery and Louis, just expectations and assumptions about each other. Their break-up is quick, but painful. They try to move on, their choice of re-bound relationships a need to prove themselves without fault. However, the new relationships provide an insight to the root of their relationship woes. Avery's new man attacks at the weakness in him, trying to prove that Avery was right in leaving Louis. Avery sees firsthand what manipulation feels like, and he doesn't like it. Louis' new man isn't manipulative, but he did make Louis reflect with his honesty and sincerity. Louis learning that you can lean on someone.
Their first attempt at normalcy ends curtly. But as they begin to heal, comes the realization that their love for each other keeps them from making real attempts at "something new". It's enough to jolt them to accept that maybe it wasn't just the other mans' fault. I love that it is Avery (the one who left) who initiates their reconciliation, striving for friendship and hoping for more...
Their reconciliation is tentative, smart, and heart-felt. I must admit that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, after they got back together, which it did. But this time it isn't selfishness that drives the friction. Also, it was good to see Louis defend himself and give Avery something to think about.
The author kept both men striving for better. In the end, they didn't need perfection to build their love on, just each other.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
perfect is as perfect does, February 8, 2007
This review is from: Perfect (Paperback)
julia talbot does it again. she gives readers a perfect love story filled with love, sex, and constant arguments between louis and avery. a large problem between this couple is louis' failure to communicate. it's bad enough he doesn't clean up after himself he just never can find it in himself to confide his feelings to avery. they deciede to go their seperate ways. both men had steady lovers when they saw each next. louis was seeing kyle and louis had gordon. they meet at a resturant with their present lovers. later they meet again in a class they are both attending. louis caught avery on the way out and after some light conversation avery asked louis if he would like to go out for a cup of coffee the following thursday after class. that was the beginning for these two guys. they slowly realize they still love one another. i think julia talbot did a marvelous job of keeping me entertained in her latest project. i would highly recommend Perfect to all readers.
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