Review: A Hundred Thousand Words by Nyrae Dawn

Tobias Jackson grew up in Coburn, a town where the gay population equaled exactly one: him. Add that to the fact that his dream guy was his best friend's jerky older brother Levi Baxter, and it made hooking up virtually impossible. 

Now home from college for winter break, Toby is a different person. He left Coburn for San Francisco, where he wasn't the lone gay guy and the only black kid in town. And yeah, he took advantage of what the city had to offer. 

Apparently Toby isn’t the only one who’s changed. Levi’s not acting like the self-centered guy with all the answers that Toby remembers from growing up. Oh and Levi’s realized he's bisexual, which makes things a lot more interesting… 

Heading back to college, Toby doesn’t expect to meet up with Levi again, despite him being in med school not far away. A surprise visit from Levi blows that assumption out of the water. As they spend more time together Toby sees Levi as more than just the fantasy. He’s complicated, unsure…he’s real. But if Toby can’t get out of the past and find the words he keeps locked inside himself, he’ll lose his chance at Levi for good


4.5 Stars by Jen Skewes

I Loved this book!!!  I have always loved Nyrae Dawn’s book.  But when it comes to M/M romance she knows how to write and amazing and beautiful story.  Yes there is the sexiness of two men being together but it is so much more than that.  There are the emotions and feelings that these characters go through and I love when you feel it with them.  I love when you can feel the physical and emotional connection with the two main characters have.  And that is exactly why I loved this book.

Toby lives in a small town where it is just him and his father.  The only person that he is really close to is his best friend Chris and his family.  Chris’ parents have been like surrogate parents to him.  While he still has his father they don’t really have the relationship that Toby needs and wants.   As a teenager he had a huge crush on Chris’s straight older brother Levi.  He has always been the star in his fantasies for some time, despite that fact that Levi could be a complete jerk to both Toby and Chris.  

Toby is now in college and has moved away from home.  He is a changed man, but he soon finds out that he is not the only one who has changed.  Levi goes to school close to where Toby is.  When they see each other one night they form this connection, one that Toby never saw coming.  Levi was always considered the golden child of the family.  The one who everyone loves and could do not wrong but he is broken in his own way.  To the outside worlds he is perfect in everything he does.  But no one really knows what is going on inside his head and his heart.  He has a connection with Toby and loves the time that they spend together.  What starts out as a casual relationship turns into so much more.  For Toby, being with Levi is like a dream come true, but will he be able to embrace their relationship or will he let his fears get in the way?

This book was just so beautiful.  The connection that these two characters had was so real.  The way Levi opened up to Toby about things that no one else knew or would understand.  It was like they were destined to be together.  I loved seeing the two of these characters grow  but I think what I loved the most was seeing the site of Levi that no one really knew.  I loved that it was Toby that shared that side with.   Most of his life Toby thought Levi was this jerk who thought he was better than everyone.  And yes he had a crush on him but it was about the physical attraction.  But you see just how wrong Toby was and just how caring this guy really is.  His struggles and emotions were real and I think relatable in so many ways.  I think these characters both saved each other in a way and helped them to open their eyes to what they really wanted and needed.  The connection, both physical and emotional was real and genuine.  Levi needed Toby in his life and vice versa.  Together they were hot and sexy but also sweet and loving.  They just fit together.  In the end I loved that the both of these characters got some sort of closure when it came to certain members of their family.  Once again Nyrae Dawn did a wonderful job with this story. One of my top reads.