What Binds Us [Kindle Edition]

Wow! That's really the only word that can truly express my feelings towards this book.

It's 1977 and Thomas-Edward is starting his freshman year at Penn State. His roommate, Donovan "Dondi" Whyte, immediately captivates him. Dondi is charming, witty, and extremely magnetizing, and Thomas-Edward easily falls under his spell. As their friendship grows, they become lovers. Thomas-Edward is in love, but Dondi tells him he can never be what he wants. That free-spirited nature breaks Thomas-Edward's heart over and over again until he meets Dondi's younger brother, Matthew. They share a connection and bond like none other, and Thomas-Edward eventually realizes that, while he loves Dondi, Matthew is the man who holds his heart. When unforeseen tragedy strikes, the three men come together as a means of support and solace.

Larry Benjamin has crafted a beautiful tale of love, loss, discovery, redemption, concession and revelation. All of the characters are well-developed. I particularly appreciated the fact that the book's pace moved pretty quickly and was not weighed down by an overabundance of flowery language and set up. It felt as though I was sitting in the room with the characters and merely observing their lives.

There is one quote from the book that particularly struck a chord with me and can be applied to all of our lives.

"It's taken me my whole life to understand that the only thing between birth and death is love, that love is life."

What a happier world we'd live in if more people understood this powerful lesson!

Note to potential readers: this book is a love story, not erotica. I don't give out five star reviews on books very easily. They need to leave a lasting impression on me. This one did.

What Binds Us is a truly amazing love story. From beginning to end, this book beautifully describes every form love can take - friendship, longing, family, envy, hatred, and letting go. I cared for all the characters from the moment they were introduced and didn't want the story to end. The author offered layer upon layer of relationships that kept me reading - in fact, I almost completed the book in one sitting. Not because it was a short novel, but because I wanted to stay with these people.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Carina Press for the review copy of this book. This author has a rare talent and I will read everything he publishes. I enjoyed the references and symbolism of The Great Gatsby. I think What Binds Us captured some themes of this famous classic, but portrayed them in a much more effective way.

For readers looking for a true love story, stop here and enjoy this amazing offering.

Larry Benjamin's What Binds Us is an entrancing novel about love and family. Thomas-Edward Lawrence is swept into the Whyte family when he falls for the charming and effervescent Dondi. Ever-elusive, Dondi continues to wander in and out of Thomas-Edward's life. Completely welcomed into the Whyte family, Thomas-Edward feels an immediate connection to Dondi's brother Matthew. The three men forge a bond that withstands all of the happiness and tragedy that life brings.

What Binds Us is a well-written romance with a unique plot. The characters are three-dimensional and appealing. Told in first person from Thomas-Edward's perspective, the reader is fully engaged in this fast-paced and engrossing narrative.

What Binds Us by Larry Benjamin is a compelling character study that is rife with strong emotions. It is a powerful story that demonstrates valuable life lessons about acceptance and the true meaning of family. Sometimes dramatic and heartbreaking, What Binds Us is always uplifting with a strong undercurrent of love.

Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys a heartfelt love story.