Review: Sometimes You Just Know – Bill VanPatten

Genre: Gaylit, Romance

LGBTQ+ Category: Gay

Reviewer: Maryann

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About The Book

Can a thirty-year-old man overcome his fears and find love?

Arnie Violet is the son of an alcoholic mother and a father who abandoned him at the age of ten. Believing himself unlovable, he lacks self-confidence in everything from work to romance. Then, Arnie meets eighteen-year-old Peter Jordan.

Peter is the opposite of Arnie: self-assured, frank, and assertive. There is an instant attraction between them, but warning bells sound in Arnie’s head. His relationships never last long, there is a major age difference between the two men, and most importantly, Peter is his boss’s nephew.

With the help of a new friend, Arnie embarks on a journey of self-discovery and learns to let go of the past and lean into life.

The Review

Arnie Violet, thirty, works in Boulder at the Bright Ideas Agency. He is an amazing designer, but he doesn’t feel like he’s special. He’s easily intimidated, especially by his senior, Rachel Ramirez, who never hesitates to humiliate Arnie.

Arnie’s life as a child was mentally abusive – his mother was an alcoholic, and his father left three days after Arnie’s tenth birthday. Arnie, was left with the responsibility of taking care of his mother, and he was always reminded that he was not important. He’s shy, never aggressive, and a loner, but he is always polite and kind to  others. His so-called relationships never seem to last – they just lead to more humiliation.  

Arnie doesn’t realize he has good people on his side. Harold Jordan, the owner of the Bright Ideas business, wants to meet with Arnie and he even invites Arnie to his home. But Arnie only feels gloom and doom about it, and fears that the worst will happen.

Arnie meets Harold’s twin brother William and his eighteen year old son Peter, who is a shock to his system. Peter is outgoing, flirty, and likes classical music, just like Arnie. He’s also twelve years younger. Arnie is not used to Peter’s openness, and to some of the discussions that take place at the Jordan  residence. At the end of a very interesting evening, Arnie finds he has a new family, and a connection with Peter that he’s not at all sure about.

Arnie has so many worries and fears that he misses the big picture. Will the advice that comes from those that he doesn’t realize are now his friends become reality? All Arnie has to do is “lean into it,” and then he just might understand why “sometimes you just know,” before he loses everything.

Sometimes You Just Know is a clear, precise, easy to read novel by Bill VanPatten. This is a wonderful story about how opposites attract, as Arnie Violet struggles to figure out where he belongs in the scheme of things. There’s humor, heartbreak, and heartwarming and uplifting moments, all of which kept me turning pages. I had to know what would happen to Arnie, and if he would ever start believing in himself.  

You can’t help but like Arnie. He is so sweet. Peter is outgoing and lives life to the fullest, and he’s just what Arnie needs – upbeat and fearless, and he doesn’t let anyone stand in the way of what he wants. He makes Arnie come alive. Even though he’s just eighteen, he has a maturity about him.

The book has a lineup of other wonderful characters: Harold, his wife Sylvia, and William, Harold’s twin. I also loved, Mindy and Adam – they are so supportive of Arnie. There’s also Gabriel Horne and husband Jaime, who show Arnie that age is not a factor. And Sandy and Fred, who always looked to Arnie for all his help, and Rachel, who has a hard lesson to learn.

I highly recommend this book – it’s very entertaining, filled with emotions that touch the heart. This is my first read by VanPatten and I was very impressed. I’ve added his other books to my TBR pile, and look forward to reading them too.

The Reviewer

Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California.  Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018.  My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen.  New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.

I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.

My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012.  She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series.  Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book! 

As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.

My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing.  I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.

I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews.  One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group.  Joining her site was such an eye opener.  I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.

But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.