My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my first book by E.L. Esch, and I was blown away.
Never Fade Away is not an easy read. Suicide, mortality, mental illness, and drug and alcohol use are featured throughout the story. The frankness with which these topics are dealt is sometimes jarring but I appreciate the lack of sugarcoating. These are real-life issues the characters are faced with and nothing is swept under the rug or dismissed easily.
Esch has an amazing talent for storytelling in a way that had me completely invested in the characters. I found myself swamped by real emotions when reading Anno and Vincent’s story. Although written from only Vincent’s POV, Anno’s personality and backstory are wonderfully represented so that his character is as complete as if part of the story was told from his POV as well.
I highly recommend Never Fade Away for those looking for an emotionally intense story that will rip you apart but leave you with hope.
***I received an advanced copy from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.***