Micah

The audiobook version of Falling for My Roommate, by Garrett Leigh and narrated by Dan Calley, is entertaining and disturbing in equal parts. Alleged unrequited romance and humor silhouette the tough stuff: how the heart and mind react to betrayal and psychological trauma.Dan Calley’s narration truly brings this story to life, with all the emotional aspects reverberating through your soul. Each character’s voice is unique, wrought with inner their depth, compassion and struggle, enveloping you with complete empathy for them.Sam & Micah have firmly established their roommate relationship, one that resembles an established couple as they unconsciously take care of one another, while harboring hidden desires. Sam identifies as gay but fears nothing will come of his attraction to Micah, who identifies as straight. However, there are the pesky tabloid articles spreading rumors that Micah is gay. These contribute to the demise of his football career.Sam is quite the understanding individual and just the friend that Micah needs. He doesn’t see Micah as broken and he doesn’t try to fix Micah. But he has the uncanny ability to see beyond the complex, dark, and glum exterior Micah presents, to the caring loving person hidden within. Behind the tainted and PTSD stricken man, is another persona trying to break free, unsure how to breach the surface. We see it all through the little things Micah does, but covers with his harsh words and premeditated actions.Micah’s fall from grace as a footballer, due to societal demands, takes a toll on his psyche. Coming out is a personal choice and being forced out by the media precipitates a series of unhealthy actions on his part. These actions result in a serious leg injury, ending his football career and swallowing him up in a cesspool of depression, with a dose of PTSD thrown in.What impressed me most about Falling for My Roommate, is that it is real and gritty. Life doesn’t always have order. Micah has major issues and stumbles along the way to his recovery. Sam doesn’t swoop in and save Micah; he understands he can’t be his rescuer. But Sam has the strength to be there for his best friend and ultimate lover. He endures the ups and downs and, depending on what the situation requires, is kind and gentle or demanding and forceful. Yet, not once do you get the feeling that Sam is sacrificing himself to pacify Micah.Falling for My Roommate is angst ridden and engrossing as a couple of roommates, beginning as random strangers, navigate a distressing past and negotiate life under their new norm. Sam and Micah connect through the basic need for housing. Little did either expect their chance meeting would provide closure and change the trajectory of their lives forever.

This is my third Garrett Leigh book in just a short period of time and I have to say I’m loving her work. The premise of this book was pretty straightforward – an ex-footballer with a career-ending injury moves in with a bartender/student who can’t cover all the expenses of the house he lives in. One had a reputation for bedding many different men and women, while one had lived a quite and unassuming life, going along with minimal stress and fuss. I kind of thought the book would be predictable and – gasp – boring. It’s a Garrett Leigh book – I bloody well should have known better.Micah is one f’d up man. That injury? Obtained when he landed on the train tracks in the London Tube Station. As a reader, I found myself wondering how on earth did that happen? Eventually, when he finally opens up to Sam, he reveals his whole truth. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Both men are attracted to each other but neither wants to screw up the good thing they’ve got going. Finally, though, they give into their feelings and have a great night together. Only that triggers a series of events that neither could have foreseen that culminates in Micah sitting at the breakfast bar in a friend’s apartment trying to sort out the mess he’s made of his life.I shuddered. “I don’t know why I do anything. I feel…I don’t know how to explain it. Like my brain and myself are disconnected and I can’t trust any of my emotions – good or bad.”I think that was the moment I truly related to Micah in a way I hadn’t before. I’d watched him decompressing and it was painful, butt when he finally admitted to himself that he needed help – that was a powerful moment. He also had to acknowledge that he’d driven Sam away and it was going to take serious work on his part to earn Sam’s trust back. The book is a romance so I knew I’d get my happy ending, but man did Ms. Leigh make these men work for it.Dan Calley narrates this book and I have to say he brings a certain gravitas to it while also bringing humor. He has the perfect balance that works so well with Ms. Leigh’s books. This book is enjoyable on so many levels, I can highly recommend it. I can’t wait for more to come from both of them.