Blog Tour Early Review | Calling Calling Calling Me by Natasha Washington

First, before I get to reviewing, I’d like to say a huge thank you to A Novel Take for allowing me to be a part of the Calling Calling Calling Me blog tour! Joining a tour for a book I’ve never heard of is always a little scary, but this story was so great and I never would have heard of it if not for this PR company.
Please know, I appreciate you!

Calling Calling Calling Me
Author: Natasha Washington
NA M/M Contemporary
September 4, 2018

About the Book:Patrick Mahoney has one goal in mind: get out of his native Fresno and find freedom in the rainbow and glitter-painted streets of San Francisco. As a college freshman, he’s sure he’ll finally have the chance to be himself, away from the judgmental eyes of his conservative hometown.

Josh Dirda’s never wanted to be tied down before, preferring the emotional ease of the one night stand. But when Patrick moves into the apartment that Josh shares with three friends, Josh is pulled in by Patrick’s sly wit and quietly creative spirit. As Patrick’s self-appointed tour guide, Josh can be Patrick’s introduction to the city he loves. But after a drunken Halloween hook-up crosses lines, Patrick and Josh must reckon with their true feelings—and decide whether they can let go of the ghosts from their pasts that haunt them.

What about Calling Calling Calling Me caused me to request a review copy? Let’s see, when I reevaluate the synopsis, I can tell you I liked the idea of Patrick wanting to escape his conservative area for the freedom of San Fran. I also liked how Josh was a playboy who was taken in by the younger more innocent man. Plus, in the promo we were told it was a New Adult read. I’m not a fan of New Adult, but I was very curious about this one because it felt less heavy. New Adult in general is a very angsty genre, but I figured my opinion may change if the story were lighter.

Whatever it was that drew me in, it was a raving success! I wasn’t sure how I’d feel when I started, because Patrick seemed so young and so childlike. Josh seemed so much older than him when they met. However, the interesting thing was as I got to know their characters I slowly realized Patrick was actually much wiser for his age than I originally thought. Yes, he’s innocent in many ways, however he was matured by everything he went through in his hometown. And Josh, who felt so grown up, was actually pretty immature in life -due to his own personal history. They ended up being very good for each other. Josh lightened Patrick up, and Patrick brought Josh down to earth. Plus, they were so freaking romantic and adorable! Reading their slow development from friends to lovers, then just plain love, was amazing. It even made me cry, which I did not expect at all.

In the LGBT stories I’ve read it seems like the trend to fall back on parents who aren’t supportive. I’ve always wished for more books showcasing loving parents, and it’s exactly what I got in Calling Calling Calling Me. Both Patrick and Josh came from families that adored them. It would have been easy to give Patrick unsupportive family, along with his conservative city, but instead he had two loving parents who only wanted him to be safe and happy. I think, besides the boys relationship, it was another huge plus for me.

Actually, all of the relationships in the story were positive. It wasn’t only the romantic relationship, or the parental relationships. It also highlighted loving friendships, and affectionate sibling relationships. They weren’t without flaws, but that’s what made them even more positive and realistic. It’s what made Calling Calling Calling Me positive and realistic.

Rating:

Thank you to A Novel Take PR for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

“How’s it hangin’, baby?” Patrick heard, and Freddy fell into his space, steadying himself on Patrick’s shoulder. Maybe not the best idea, given that Patrick wasn’t very steady himself.

“I never know how to answer that question,” Patrick said, and it was true. Weirdest idiom. Colloquialism. Whatever. Stranger than a lot of things his grandmother said.

“You are not drunk enough,” Freddy stated, and produced another shot out of thin air, it seemed, and—no. Patrick was saying no.

“No,” Patrick said, “no, I’m good, you have it.”

“I’ve had quite enough,” Freddy said, sagging against him. “Quite—I’ve had a lot.”

This was an astoundingly obvious statement, and Patrick was about to say so when he got distracted by Josh.

Josh, who was making out with a girl in the middle of the dance floor.

Patrick thought it was the same girl he’d been dancing with, but maybe not. The club was dark and the music was loud and Patrick was spinning. Josh cupped the girl’s cheek with one hand and pressed in, closer and harder, and Patrick didn’t want to be here anymore. He wanted to be anywhere but here, anywhere but where he’d grown up, anywhere but where he’d grown up and where Josh had grown up. Anywhere he wouldn’t find his own want staring him in the face.

Natasha Washington

Natasha Washington lives in Philadelphia, where she writes queer love stories in both YA (as Sonia Belasco) and romance. She has spent much of her professional life working with young people as a mentor, tutor, or therapist. When not writing, she is likely cooking, taking long, meandering walks, or listening to dance music or 90s hip-hop.

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