“I know now that you were the best thing to ever happen to me, and I didn’t do a damn thing to deserve it.”
After a long, successful career, Achilles returned to NYC after 10 years to end his career as a professional ballet dancer with one final turn as the lead in Romeo and Juliet. He plans to use his time there to figure out what he’ll be doing next with his life. He wasn’t planning on having to come face to face with his ex, Patroclus, who is working as stage manager at the ballet company putting on the show. Suddenly Achilles is forced to face all the things he did that hurt the people he once loved. He takes comfort in the fact that he’s not the same person he was back then but will he be able to convince Patroclus of that so they can move on from the hurt that’s lingered for all those years?
“You came back into my life and forgave me and make me incredibly happy in even the smallest ways I never knew I wanted. You’re impossible not to love.”
I thought this was a sweet, very low angst, second-chance love story. If you’re familiar with the story of Achilles and Patroclus from Greek mythology, you’ll recognize some of the themes present here but you’ll still be able to enjoy this story even if you’re not. Most of the angst happens before the story begins and we get bits and pieces through reflection from Achilles. I would have loved to have seen a bit more of this, maybe flashbacks or a prologue or something, to showcase Achilles’s growth. But you get the gist that he was an egotistical jerk in the past who didn’t always treat people well.
From the point of Achilles making his apology to Patroclus, we mainly just get to see them rekindle their relationship and learn about the people they are now compared to ten years ago. It was sweet and they were very good together. I could feel how grateful Achilles was for this second chance. Even though we only learned small portions of what happened in the past, it was clear that Achilles was working hard to not make the same mistakes again. This very much was Achilles’s journey but I would have loved to have gotten some of Patroclus’s POV too! Overall, though, this was an easy, sweet, and sometimes emotional story. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it!
“You chose me.”
Achilles put his phone on the counter so he could hold Patroclus to him. “I’m going to choose you. Every time. I promise.”
The Book Boyfriend Addict 