Calling Calling Calling Me by Natasha Washington
Publisher: Natasha Washington
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Subgenre: Contemporary Queer Romance/New Adult
Tropes/Themes: college romance, first time, fish out of water
Direct Link: https://www.natashawashington.com/books/
Book Synopsis:
Patrick Mahoney has one goal in mind: get out of his native Fresno and find freedom in the rainbow and glitter-painted streets of San Francisco. As a college freshman, he’s sure he’ll finally have the chance to be himself, away from the judgmental eyes of his conservative hometown.
Josh Dirda’s never wanted to be tied down before, preferring the emotional ease of the one night stand. But when Patrick moves into the apartment that Josh shares with three friends, Josh is caught up in Patrick’s sly wit and quietly creative spirit. As Patrick’s self-appointed tour guide, Josh can be Patrick’s introduction to the city he loves. But after a drunken Halloween hook-up crosses lines, Patrick and Josh must reckon with their true feelings—and decide whether they can let go of the ghosts that haunt them.
Teaser:
The floor of the club was vibrating.
Patrick felt off balance, which made no sense at all since he’d only had one shot of Alexis’s devil tequila. Not that he was an expert on what tequila did to a person, or in particular to him—he was really more of a stay-home-on-the-weekends-and-build-models-or-read-comics guy, and Oh God, what the hell was he doing here.
“Hello, Gorgeous,” Alexis said, suddenly very close and speaking into his ear, her fingers grasping at his arm. “You really are gorgeous, Gorgeous.”
“You’re drunk,” Patrick said, “and I’m gay, or did you miss that part of the earlier conversation?”
“I miss nothing, Fresno,” Alexis said. “But seriously, those blue eyes and those cheekbones! Unfair.”
Patrick wished she would stop calling him Fresno. It was a reminder of all the reasons he didn’t belong here in this nightclub of shiny people glittering in their tight dresses and tighter pants and heels and boots, hair perfectly ruffled or slicked back, laughing into their martini glasses and leaving lipstick prints around the rim, on cocktail napkins, or at the corner of someone else’s mouth.
“Don’t think so much,” Alexis said, and dug her fingernails into his upper arm.
He breathed in through his nose and watched Josh talk to a girl by the bar, already looking sloppy loose from the shots they’d done back at the apartment. His hair was a curly mess and his smile was white bright, a beacon in this dark, fluttering room of strangers.
Patrick had no idea why he thought Josh was anything but a stranger. Josh definitely didn’t know Patrick.
But God, Patrick wanted to know him.
“Shot?” Alexis asked, holding out a tiny glass filled with sharp-smelling liquid.
Maybe this was what Alexis meant by not thinking so much. He took the shot and swallowed it all at once, feeling it burn its acidic trail down his throat.
Three shots later and Patrick was pretty sure he should have said no.
It wasn’t that the world was spinning, which it was. It was that everything felt blurry and out of control and scary-beautiful, and Patrick couldn’t help thinking: I am in San Francisco now, I’m here, I can do—be—have whoever I want.
Right now, he definitely wanted to be the boy or the girl dancing with Josh. He had one of each draped over him, and yeah, Mike wasn’t kidding about Josh being a player. Josh was all opportunity right now, all openness and soft shoulders and free movement. He wasn’t a good dancer, exactly, but he was still gorgeous, and God, Patrick was so screwed. He was going to live with Josh now. How could he—what was he supposed to do? Stare and pray? What should he pray for? That Josh didn’t notice or that he did?
Calling Calling Calling Me is new author Natasha Washington's debut book and as such, it is a great first effort and I, for one, will be waiting to see how she hones her talent and grows as a writer with her subsequent works.
Patrick was absolutely adorable and seemed more mature than his 18-years of age, although, at the same time, it kind of fit seeing as he had been bullied and forced to be homeschooled from a very young age and that changed him and made him what he was now. I liked Josh, but unfortunately, I found it difficult to connect with him. The whole thing with Ramon didn't particularly endear him to me, either. I really don't feel as if he would've put a stop to it, no matter what he told Patrick, and this marred my perception of not only Josh, but him and Patrick as a couple, which is a pity because they were sweet and hot together before then.
I loved Taneisha, Eric, Artemis and the rest of Patrick and Josh's roommates, although I truly don't know what to feel about Alexis and all her drinking, but that's neither here nor there. They were a fantastic supporting cast, along with Patrick and Josh's families, and truly contributed to making the story better.
Overall, it was a great read, I was engrossed in this coming of age story and found it sweet, romantic and well-written, and even if I had a bit of trouble with some things *cough Josh cough*, I think others might find it enjoyable as well.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
About Natasha Washington: Natasha Washington lives in Philadelphia, where she writes queer love stories in both YA (as Sonia Belasco) and romance. She has spent much of her professional life working with young people as a mentor, tutor, or therapist. When not writing, she is likely cooking, taking long, meandering walks, or listening to dance music or 90s hip-hop.
Connect with Natasha: Website | Twitter | Instagram
Giveaway: Enter to win one of two e-copies of New Adult Romance release, Calling Calling Calling Me.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Josh Dirda’s never wanted to be tied down before, preferring the emotional ease of the one night stand. But when Patrick moves into the apartment that Josh shares with three friends, Josh is caught up in Patrick’s sly wit and quietly creative spirit. As Patrick’s self-appointed tour guide, Josh can be Patrick’s introduction to the city he loves. But after a drunken Halloween hook-up crosses lines, Patrick and Josh must reckon with their true feelings—and decide whether they can let go of the ghosts that haunt them.
Teaser:
The floor of the club was vibrating.
Patrick felt off balance, which made no sense at all since he’d only had one shot of Alexis’s devil tequila. Not that he was an expert on what tequila did to a person, or in particular to him—he was really more of a stay-home-on-the-weekends-and-build-models-or-read-comics guy, and Oh God, what the hell was he doing here.
“Hello, Gorgeous,” Alexis said, suddenly very close and speaking into his ear, her fingers grasping at his arm. “You really are gorgeous, Gorgeous.”
“You’re drunk,” Patrick said, “and I’m gay, or did you miss that part of the earlier conversation?”
“I miss nothing, Fresno,” Alexis said. “But seriously, those blue eyes and those cheekbones! Unfair.”
Patrick wished she would stop calling him Fresno. It was a reminder of all the reasons he didn’t belong here in this nightclub of shiny people glittering in their tight dresses and tighter pants and heels and boots, hair perfectly ruffled or slicked back, laughing into their martini glasses and leaving lipstick prints around the rim, on cocktail napkins, or at the corner of someone else’s mouth.
“Don’t think so much,” Alexis said, and dug her fingernails into his upper arm.
He breathed in through his nose and watched Josh talk to a girl by the bar, already looking sloppy loose from the shots they’d done back at the apartment. His hair was a curly mess and his smile was white bright, a beacon in this dark, fluttering room of strangers.
Patrick had no idea why he thought Josh was anything but a stranger. Josh definitely didn’t know Patrick.
But God, Patrick wanted to know him.
“Shot?” Alexis asked, holding out a tiny glass filled with sharp-smelling liquid.
Maybe this was what Alexis meant by not thinking so much. He took the shot and swallowed it all at once, feeling it burn its acidic trail down his throat.
Three shots later and Patrick was pretty sure he should have said no.
It wasn’t that the world was spinning, which it was. It was that everything felt blurry and out of control and scary-beautiful, and Patrick couldn’t help thinking: I am in San Francisco now, I’m here, I can do—be—have whoever I want.
Right now, he definitely wanted to be the boy or the girl dancing with Josh. He had one of each draped over him, and yeah, Mike wasn’t kidding about Josh being a player. Josh was all opportunity right now, all openness and soft shoulders and free movement. He wasn’t a good dancer, exactly, but he was still gorgeous, and God, Patrick was so screwed. He was going to live with Josh now. How could he—what was he supposed to do? Stare and pray? What should he pray for? That Josh didn’t notice or that he did?
4 Stars!
Calling Calling Calling Me is new author Natasha Washington's debut book and as such, it is a great first effort and I, for one, will be waiting to see how she hones her talent and grows as a writer with her subsequent works.
Patrick was absolutely adorable and seemed more mature than his 18-years of age, although, at the same time, it kind of fit seeing as he had been bullied and forced to be homeschooled from a very young age and that changed him and made him what he was now. I liked Josh, but unfortunately, I found it difficult to connect with him. The whole thing with Ramon didn't particularly endear him to me, either. I really don't feel as if he would've put a stop to it, no matter what he told Patrick, and this marred my perception of not only Josh, but him and Patrick as a couple, which is a pity because they were sweet and hot together before then.
I loved Taneisha, Eric, Artemis and the rest of Patrick and Josh's roommates, although I truly don't know what to feel about Alexis and all her drinking, but that's neither here nor there. They were a fantastic supporting cast, along with Patrick and Josh's families, and truly contributed to making the story better.
Overall, it was a great read, I was engrossed in this coming of age story and found it sweet, romantic and well-written, and even if I had a bit of trouble with some things *cough Josh cough*, I think others might find it enjoyable as well.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
About Natasha Washington: Natasha Washington lives in Philadelphia, where she writes queer love stories in both YA (as Sonia Belasco) and romance. She has spent much of her professional life working with young people as a mentor, tutor, or therapist. When not writing, she is likely cooking, taking long, meandering walks, or listening to dance music or 90s hip-hop.
Connect with Natasha: Website | Twitter | Instagram
Giveaway: Enter to win one of two e-copies of New Adult Romance release, Calling Calling Calling Me.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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