The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin

This is not your average love story.

Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He’s a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he’s totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.

Stan isn’t your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his makeup perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben’s devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.

Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben is away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I fell madly in love with Stan from the first page of his story. His fragile confidence, his unrestrained glamour, and his unique sense of self make for one of the most captivating characters I’ve read in some time. Completely unassuming, he almost blends into the background in social situations with Ben and his band – yet the man is a famous fashionista who worked for Italian Vogue before he was twenty-five.

In contrast, the only thing remarkable about Ben is his ability to see and to love all of Stan. Ignoring gender norms, Ben is attracted to the many sides of Stan. Otherwise, Ben is a Camden bartender/tutor/struggling musician – a perfectly ordinary and familiar Millennial. Together, Ben and Stan are very special. I love the romance and their friendship – they make each other better.

At first, I felt like this book could have been two separate novellas. The first half is a sweet London romance. Stan and Ben’s romance is slow, gentle, and wonderful. Stan’s gender fluid identity makes him a special character, but it is a non-thing between Stan and Ben. The usual barriers of awkward schedules, work, and social demands pose conflict here. I loved the romance and I loved their world.

The second half of the story was a bit of a shock for me and revealing too much might ruin this for future readers. The book takes a much darker turn. Things we knew about characters and relationships are upended and there is much more drama and angst in this second half. It took me a while to realise that the book works like this. The second half had to be a surprise and the darker second half is why the story is memorable.

Overall, I really loved this book. Unique characters and a surprising storyline captured my interest and a little bit of my heart. Highly recommended.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. Stories with gender-fluid characters don’t always work so well, but this one was really good. There was also sensitive subject matter in the book which I thought was handled well. I enjoyed the main characters, their bond, and the secondary characters were good as well. At times, I wanted the book to hurry up and get over, and other times I never wanted it to end. I enjoyed Stan and Ben and how Ben just went with the flow. Tone was a riot and I would love to read a book with him. Sweet love story with a few tears along the way.

Characters: Well written
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Not sure
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes

ANNA MARTIN is from a picturesque seaside village in the southwest of England and now lives in the slightly arty, slightly quirky city of Bristol. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theater (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), going to visit friends in other countries, baking weird and wonderful sweets, learning to play the ukulele, and Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, prereading, and creative ass kicking provided by her best friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept responsibility for anything Anna has written.

Second place winner of the 2012 Goodreads M/M Romance Member’s Choice Award “Best Musician/Rockstars” for Tattoos & Teacups.

Connect with Anna

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin to read and review.