REVIEWS
These are four of most thorough and comprehensive reviews by independent readers. You can see additional reviews at Barns and Noble, Booktopia, IBooks, and other book sellers included at the bottom of this page.
By JC Apr 2023
Exceedingly Visual, and Full of Nuances,
Dak Kopec’s writing style is unique and magnificent. His gift for descriptive writing allows the reader to see the story in their mind. The book’s beginning moves slowly because the author skillfully plants clues of things to come while introducing the characters and plot lines. Once I plunged into the depth of the book, I could not put it down; always wondering what was around the next corner. Be aware that each chapter title provides a clue to the situations, possible questions, and even some answers to be revealed.
As I read this novel, I had to be careful of the assumptions I made along the way; some did play out as I guessed, but most did not. Kopec masterfully weaved surprises into each subplot that made me stop and think. Some of these surprises were so wild and fascinating I said aloud, “WOW!!!” I laud the author for his ability to interlace many subtle clues and nuances throughout the book that propel the story forward. I admit I was intrigued because I never knew how each scenario might change as the author took me on a roller coaster ride of situations and emotions full of twists, turns, highs, and lows.
Another feature of this book that is critical to mention is how the author includes subtle words of wisdom about the meaning of life while bringing awareness to socio-cultural biases. Again, he is masterful at addressing numerous contemporary political and social issues that play out in the lives of so many people without directly commenting or pushing an agenda. Instead, these words of wisdom are skillfully incorporated within a series of humorous and thoughtful dialogues. These features formed the essence of this book. There were many instances where I paused to consider my thoughts on the numerous topics addressed by the author.
I truly enjoyed every word of Broken Boys: Beyond Friendships, but in my opinion; the title does not do justice to the spectacular and intriguing character development or plot line(s). Yes, the boys started as “Broken” in some way, but as their lives proceed through the tangles and intertwining events of life’s journey, the pieces of their lives slowly come back together. I think the second portion of the title, Beyond Friendships, more aptly describes all of the characters—their personality quirks and how they mature physically and emotionally from high schoolers to young adults.
Dak Kopec’s writing style is easy to follow, exceedingly visual, and full of nuances. He takes the reader beyond the written word and into the realm of visual reading. Yes, this book would make a captivating film!
I look forward to a sequel and the continuation of this fantastic representation of modern writing.
My final assessment is that Broken Boys: Beyond Friendships is a captivating five-star read!
By Laney K Mar 2023
Blake is a fifty-three-year-old man who has a history filled with pain and suffering. The daughter of his longtime friend, a young journalist, wants to write a book based on his life. Blake agrees and begins to reveal an emotional past that starts with him meeting Logan in high school. The two hit it off and bond over a frog they were dissecting in class. They grew inseparable and decided to see the world together; this led to Blake and Logan moving to California together to try and make it big. Will they be able to survive the world of Hollywood? Pick up a copy of Broken Boys Beyond Friendships by Dak Kopec and find out!
My favorite part of this book was the interview format the book took on. Blake was able to explain what his younger self was feeling, but he also had the retrospect from being more mature to shed more light on his life. It was an interesting juxtaposition of an older man explaining his teenage self and the shortsighted decisions that plague young people. For example, in his desperation to get an agent, Blake looked past several red flags and shackled himself to an untrustworthy man. This is a decision the older Blake knew wasn't the best one, but, at the time, it seemed fine.
The drawback to this format is that there were times the book's pacing was slow. There were several points when Blake was interrupted during his storytelling, and it slowed down the plot. However, this is a product of the book style and wasn't a major issue. It is also the only thing I disliked about this book.
I am delighted to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The slower points in the book were not enough of a reason to take away a star. In addition, I only spotted one minor error; I believe that this book was professionally edited. I was enticed from the start due to the themes of friendship, love, addiction, and loneliness. The characters were all compelling, and Blake's story was gripping from the start.
This book does contain strong language, sexual content, violence, and aggression towards religion. If you are not comfortable with homosexuality, then this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a heart wrenching novel that features deep friendships and reflections on life, this is a perfect choice.
This book gives insights to maturing, facing the ego, and unconditional love.
I bought Broken Boys when I first saw it come out before the holidays. I carried it around, reading a few pages here and there through the holidays, sometimes forgetting the book at a friend's house and having to retrieve it a few days later. I took my time with the reading.
DAK does a beautiful job sharing the experience of authentic relationships absent of judgement. We can learn much from this book to honor the relationships we have with others.
This book taught me to stop and observe my relationships of all types - humans, animals, and nature. There is something for each of us to learn in Broken Boys. How do we show up in our relationships? How do others feel in the relationship with us? Are we mindful and conscious of how the ego shows up? These are fundamental questions for humanity.
Read this book. You'll learn something and may even have an ah-ha moment. I am grateful for how this book showed up for me. I experienced a profound synchronicity in the last few chapters regarding holding on to someone special in my life who had passed and those moments facing the fear of falling apart. Broken Boys is a page turner. Put the kettle on the stove or pour a glass of wine. Enjoy!
By Brenda Creech Dec 2022
Broken Boys Beyond Friendships by Dak Kopek is an emotionally charged novel about a fifty-three-year-old man reliving his past regrets. A longtime friend asked to visit Blake Roberts to ask for a critical favor. Blake agrees but is apprehensive as he presses the buzzer to open the gate to his driveway. He had not seen Ivy Vandermark for years, although she was his best friend's sister. Ivy had come to ask Blake if her daughter could come and stay with him and interview him for a book she wanted to write to tell Blake's story. There were things in Blake's past that hurt many people, especially the Vandermark family. His best friend, Logan Vandermark's family, had taken Blake in and treated him like one of their own, and now Jillian, Ivy's daughter, wanted to write his story. Blake questioned if he should bring it all up again. The entire Vandermark family had risked everything to help Blake during his worst times, so he finally agreed, and a couple of months later, Jillian arrived.
As Blake relived his past, all the shame, agony, and hurt returned to the surface. Jillian wasn't judgemental, and Blake and Jillian formed a bond. They laughed together at some memories, and when Blake became emotional, he saw tears running down Jillian's face. What about Blake's life made Jillian want to tell his story? Why was Blake willing to relive his painful past for Jillian, someone he had never met before? The reason will shock you.
This captivating novel by Dak Kopek pulls at the deepest emotions of the reader. Some events in Blake's life shocked me. I laughed at many of Blake's and Logan's antics in high school and beyond, and I cried when the emotions overwhelmed me. Kopek's writing style was simple to follow, and he has a knack for making the reader feel like they are part of the story. That is the aspect of this book I liked best. The characters became real, and Blake's story broke my heart. I will remember this book for a long time.
There were a few things I didn't like about the book. It is in the romance genre, which I always enjoy reading, but it isn't the classic romance I am used to. However, the reader quickly gets pulled into the story and feels compassion for the characters. My least favorite characters were Eden and Diebold, Blake's agent. I can't say I liked the way they treated Blake and Dillion. I can't say more without revealing a spoiler.
The editing was professional, as I only found a few errors. The storyline was enthralling, and the characters were perfect for their roles. I found myself engrossed in the emotions of the book and surprised by a bombshell ending I would never have expected. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will watch for other books by Dak Kopek. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars for all the reasons just stated. Although there was a lull, as mentioned above, I didn't find any reason to deduct a star.
I recommend this book to mature readers over the age of eighteen because there is some profanity and strong sexual innuendos. The book may be offensive to some readers of various religious affiliations.
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