Gus: Bright Side, Book 2

“Every step I take is heavier than the one that came before it.”This has book has been on my wish list since the day I found out it was being written, it’s been a long arduous journey waiting for Gus to land on my kindle, but alas that day has finally come, and 24 hours later I’ve finished. I’m sitting here with the biggest grin on my face, goosebumps and my heart is so full it feels like it might actually explode from happiness. With Bright Side, Kim Holden took us on an emotional journey that I will never forget, she left all us heartbroken, beyond devastated, sobbing, swollen eyed, red nosed and completely wrecked. With Gus she begins putting it all back together again, piece by painful piece until we after left with the most touching and beautiful masterpiece I have EVER had the honor of experiencing. Yes I use the word experiencing here because while you may be reading her words, it’s so much more than that. You feel every single word, it affects you and you live it.“Bright Side wasn’t only my best friend; she was like my other half…the other half of my brain, the other half of my conscience, the other half of my sense of humor, the other half of my creativity, the other half of my heart. How do you go back to doing what you did before, when half of you is gone forever.”Gus Hawthorne the sexy, sensitive, funny, uber talented lead singer of Rook and is back. Kate, aka Bright Side, is gone and to say that Gus is grieving the loss of his best friend, is the understatement of the century. Gus is now a shadow of the man that we once knew. He is drowning in his own pain you can feel it radiating from the page. It broke my heart all over again. The anger, grief, and pain, he’s caught up in is a vicious cycle of self-destruction, self-medication, avoidance concealment. The lengths he will go to numb, avoid and hide from the pain is torture. Touring with his band, allows for him to avoid truly dealing with his loss. He’s going through the motions, but he’s not doing it well, in fact that’s a serious understatement. Then just when you think he’s truly lost, in walks a ray of hope. Scout, the Personal Assistant hired by the label to babysit Gus. Scout has no tolerance for Gus’s new found coping mechanisms, and she makes no attempts to hide it, but over the course of time they both begin to realize, that their first impressions of one another could not have been more wrong. And when Bright Side’s words reach out to Gus, it becomes crystal clear to him that it’s time to start looking at life from a different perspective. This for me was the true turning point for him, he is able to begin the healing process, in a healthy way. This part of the book was probably the hardest for me to read. I read it with tears streaming down my face.“Please let the stress and the sadness and the anger go. It’s time to do epic again, dude.”Kim Holden takes us on yet another unforgettable journey, Gus is just as emotional, painful, raw, unapologetic and captivating as Bright Side, but this time you can feel safe embarking on this journey knowing that it is first and foremost a story of recovery, everlasting love, and redemption. The amount of emotion Holden is able to conjure is not only astounding but the fact that she is able to get it all down on the page so beautifully never ceases to baffle me. Her characters are completely unforgettable, and this story will leave a permanent imprint on your life. Reading Gus will change the way you look at life, love, family, friends, and loss. This book will never leave me, I’m certain of that.You know what? You wanna know how I really feel about Gus? Kim says it best so I’m just going to borrow her words and leave you with this…“You know how sometimes something happens and it’s so much more than you ever expected? The type of so much more that leaves you speechless and thinking what the hell just happened? All you can do is laugh because you’re so astounded you don’t know what else to do?”This is Gus.It was Epic!Be brave and get reading Gus, it’s truly breathtaking!

I was scared to read this one because I cried so much in the last one but this one was super cute and made me happy. Slow burn but really good and I read it in one day just like the 1st book.

When author Colleen Hoover recommends a novel, I make a note of it. Not only is Hoover a gifted writer, but I respect her opinion when it comes to a book recommendation. The novel I’m referring to on this occasion is Bright Side by Kim Holden, and it apparently made a positive impression on her. It was impossible to ignore all of the positive feedback from readers who had already taken her recommendation to heart, so I decided to purchase and read Bright Side. Kim Holden's gripping and emotional story about Kate Sedgwick was heartbreaking, inspiring, and beautiful. Optimistic. Bright Side earned a 6-star rating from me and a rare spot on my list of all-time favorite novels.Because of my immense love for Bright Side, I have been looking forward to the day I could read Gus, the second novel of Holden’s Bright Side series. It’s a story about Kate Sedgwick’s lifelong best friend, Gus Hawthorne. Simply put, Gus found a way under my skin. This story grew on me, steamrolling into something just as special as Bright Side. Gus Hawthorne is the songwriter and lead singer for Rook. The novel sort of has a slow start, with Gus drowning in heartbreak and loss. His life is falling apart. While the band is touring Europe, Gus is doing his best to get through each day. In order to ensure the success of the U.S. tour, management decides to hire a personal assistant for Gus.Scout Mackenzie doesn’t know anything about Rook or its lead singer. She’s just running away from her problems when she accepts the position to be a personal assistant to Gustov Hawthorne. Scout has recently been in an abusive relationship. She could use the money, and she definitely needs some time away. Taking this position is perfect for her because Rook is beginning its tour of the United States, and she will be traveling with the band on the tour bus.Right from the beginning, Gus and Scout do not hit it off. They put up with each other because they have to. This may seem strange, but I love this aspect of Gus. I commend Kim Holden for going this route, although it might not be a popular choice. I believe both of these characters need time to heal – to get some perspective on the circumstances they have been through. I found it refreshing to read how a relationship develops between Gus and Scout. How they grow on each other. We see them become friends first, helping each other heal. Friends before lovers.One of my favorite things about Bright Side is the characters, most of them full of positive energy and charisma, so I was super excited to see Kim Holden revisit them in Gus. You should expect to spend plenty of time with the members of Rook – Gus, Franco, Robbie and Jamie. And Gus’s Ma? I just love her, and the close relationship they share. Ma is definitely my favorite secondary character, and she has a special role in this novel. The characters from Grant, Minnesota? Keller and Stella, Duncan and Shelly and many more are found in Gus. Kim Holden ties her characters from Bright Side and Gus together nicely.Gus is an emotional story. At times, the novel can be sad. I found myself in tears on several occasions, but Gus is also funny, hopeful and inspiring. I absolutely adored the many ways we visit Kate and Gracie throughout this story! The healing and love that flourishes between Gus and Scout is heartwarming and fulfilling, and they show growth as individuals. The author does a fantastic job of fully developing each main character.Bright Side and Gus. There is something very powerful about each of these stories. Maybe what I am feeling is the mood or tenor. I’m not sure, but whatever it is, I continue to feel it long after I have finished reading. Both novels are very special to me. Gus receives a 6-star rating, and I am including it on my list of 2015 favorite novels!

Foi lindo demais acompanhar a evolução do Gus de um luto profundo para uma felicidade plena.Tenho certeza que a Bright Side tá assoviando e batendo palmas lá em cima.

When someone is such a huge part of who you are what do you do when they are lost to you forever?Some pick up the pieces, remember the good times, the sweet memories & move on with what is now their new life. Some cannot accept or understand how someone so bright, loving & accepting is gone forever & instead of moving on they fall down the rabbit hole buried in their grief & pain. Not able to see the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel & what could be a way to heal.Gus falls deep down the rabbit hole. He can't comprehend that his Bright Side is gone. He lost his whole other half & he can't find anything to grasp on to that will make it feel ok."I guess sometimes all you need is a little inspiration. And sometimes inspiration is a smile from the right person at the right time."Scout wanted out of her hometown so she took a job as PA to Rook's lead man Gus. He's the typical rock star & she has no time for him. They even start communicating through post it notes. You know that there is so much more to Scout. Something far beneath the surface that she is dealing with. I loved that she wasn't some hoity toity, perfect model like looks who thought too much of herself. Her character was so real. You felt such a huge connection with her."I don't like being around sadness, because it brings up all the bad feelings inside me that I try to push down. I'm great at suppressing emotion. I can force the bad feelings down into my shoes and walk all over them until they're dust under my feet. It's the good feelings that seem elusive sometimes. I live in a world of middle ground. Stoic and unfeeling most of the time. It's easier that way."Sometimes what you see on the surface of a person doesn't remotely reflect who they truly are & what they endured."Sometimes you have to listen to the things that people don't say."Gus & Scout have a lot to learn about each other & maybe once they've scratched beneath the surface of each others facade they'll see they are more alike than they ever thought."Listen to me, boy. You only get one chance at this circus called life. Don't sit in the crowd watchin' it happen. You jump right in and be the ringleader. That's where you find your fire."After reading & falling in love with Gus in Bright Side, I had to dive right into this one. This book will break you down, you will grieve right along with Gus. You will feel his pain & despair but when he starts to grasp that there may be a way to heal, you will heal right along with him & cheer him on.This book is an absolute must read but make sure you read Bright Side before this one.

This book mended my broken heart after Bright Side! Loved every bit of it! In love with Gus!

Wie bin ich auf dieses Buch aufmerksam geworden?Ich habe auf dem Portal "vorablesen.de" den ersten Teil der Bright Side-Trilogie gelesen "Bright Side-Ein Moment für immer" und als ich gesehen habe, dass es zwei Fortsetzungen davon gibt, wollte ich unbedingt wissen, wie es mit Gus weitergeht!Um was geht es?Gus Karriere geht nach dem ersten Album Release steil durch die Decke und ist nun in Europa auf Tour. Leider hat ihn der Tod seiner besten Freundin Katie, die er liebevoll "Bright Side" nannte, so sehr mitgenommen, dass er sich nicht richtig auf die Tour konzentrieren konnte. Er lenkt sich ab mit Alkohol, Drogen und Frauen, die ganze Tour durch. Und seine PR Managerin Scout macht ihm das Leben durch ihre abweisende Art auch nicht einfacher. Irgendwann taut Scout auf und sie und Gus freunden sich langsam an. Als er erfährt, dass sie nach der Tour einen Job sucht, setzt er sich mit seiner Mutter in Kontakt, die eine Nachfolgerin für ihre persönliche Assistentin sucht, die dieses Jahr in Rente gegangen ist. Kurz vor Ende der Tour reist Scout ab, ohne sich von jemanden zu verabschieden. Gus ist darüber traurig und enttäuscht. Zuhause angekommen sieht er niemand anderen als Scout, die mit seiner Mutter in der Küche steht und am Kochen ist. Gus ist verstört, aber dann wütend, weil seine Mutter Scout in Bright Sides altem Zimmer leben lässt, in das sie verstorben ist. Die Atmosphäre ist angespannt, bis Gus und seine Muter Audrey Scout über Gus' und Katie's Vergangenheit aufklären. Mit mehr Ehrlichkeit kommt mehr Nähe zustande.Schafft es Gus, über seine Trauer hinwegzukommen? Kann Scout ihre abweisende Art und ihre Mauer fallen lassen?Meine MeinungIch fand die Fortsetzung ganz toll zu lesen. Ich habe jedoch etwas länger zum lesen gebraucht, da es auf Englisch geschrieben war, und ich deutsche Bücher etwas schneller durch habe.Der Anfang des Buches hat sich etwas gezogen, weil es nur um Gus und die Tour und seine Eskapaden ging. Als jedoch Scout ins Spiel kam, wurde die Handlung spannender. Vor allem, wenn es Kapitel aus ihrer Perspektive gab.Die beiden Hauptpersonen Gus und Scout wurden wieder toll präsentiert. Gus ist stets der warmherzige Rockstar, der sich durch die Trauer kämpft, was ihn sehr authentisch macht. Scout ist eine junge Frau vom Leben gekennzeichnet, was ihre abweisende Art Gus gegenüber erklärt. Am Anfang fand ich sie etwas unsympathisch und komisch, aber wenn man mehr über ihre Vergangenheit erfährt, hat man sie schnell ins Herz geschlossen.Ich fand es toll, dass die Erinnerung an Bright Side irgendwann nicht mehr von Trauer, sondern von Freude gekennzeichnet war. Und es gibt ein großes Wiedersehen mit vielen von Katies Uni-Freunden aus Grant, was mich zum Schmunzeln gebracht hat.Alles in allem eine schöne Fortsetzung. Ich freue mich schon auf die nächste Fortsetzung, in der es um Franco geht, ein weiteres Mitglied der Band, in der Gus gespielt hat. Er ist Gus' bester Freund und sein Herz hing ebenfalls sehr an Katie, ein sehr sympathischer (bisheriger) Nebencharakter. Ich finde es toll, dass ihn ein Buch gewidmet wurde, weil ich ihn auch total ins Herz geschlossen habe!

If you were a wreck like me after Bright Side and left wanting for more of Señor Gus Hawthorne, READ THIS! It’s heartbreaking, beautiful, laugh out loud funny and healing. Most of all, healing. Loved every page.