The Lost Boy (The Impossible Boy #2)

This was a really emotional follow up to The Impossible Boy, the novel that introduced genderfluid fashion writer Stan Novikov and rock star on the rise Ben Easton. Impossible Boy was dominated by the two men getting together (in a bit of a whirlwind) and Stans issues with anorexia, but ultimately left them on what felt like an HEA, with only small niggling worries about Bens ambivalence about his bands rising fame. When The Lost Boy opens, it is years later, the band has become huge, Stan and Ben broke up years before, and Ben has nearly been drowned by a serious drug addiction.

Weirdly, given how connected that all may sound, I do think you could pretty much read The Lost Boy as a stand alone second chance at love type story, without reading TIB first (or certainly without a reread of the first book). All of the backstory is pretty easy to infer and Stans eating disorder is only mentioned very lightly in this one, if that is something that kept you from reading the first.

This is definitely an up-from-the-depths-of-addiction story, and I do feel like it managed the incredibly hard task of making it clear that Ben was working to get better for himself and was not saved by the power of true love alone, while also still being an effective romance novel. Stan is in a much (much much) more stable place than he was in the last book or than Ben is in this one, but he has still lost some valuable aspects of himself in their breakup and his ensuing life and it was nice to see him regain them over the course of the book.

This is definitely a slow-burn second chance at love, if such a thing is possible. It is clear very early on that the love is still there for Ben and Stan, but they (rightly) take the process of getting back together in very slow fits and starts. There was one weird moment about a third of the way through the book where Stan told someone else that he and Ben were working on getting back together and I was all: ??? Did I miss a scene? Have they had that conversation? But other than that weird jump, I thought the relationship development flowed very realistically and sensitively. The book also spends a lot of time on the whole mess of un-effing Bens relationships with his bandmates, and his career, and his music, so there is a lot going on here. I really liked this read, and found it satisfying and well-balanced, but if you are someone who struggles with addiction storylines, this is not your read, as it is definitely central.

4.25 stars

Content warning: Drug abuse (opioids, cocaine) both in the past and on page, continued alcohol and tobacco use even during recovery, heavy themes of addiction and the damage addiction does to relationships, relapses, addict-thought POV, mentions of anorexia and managing it, brief but frank discussions of past rape, and explicit sexual content.

Set to five years after the first book, and almost four years after their break up, we meet Ben and Stan again under completely different circumstances.
Stan have made a name for himself and have become more comfortable with himself, though lost some of his sparkle. But he’s grown up and ready to save Ben as Ben saved him once.
While Ben have lost himself completely under the stress of fame he didn’t want, pressure he couldn’t handle and demons that still haunts him.
The honesty of Ben’s addiction is what hits home. It’s not an easy fix, there is nothing magical about it and some of it is heartbreaking.

When they meet it’s like they haven’t been apart, yes there is struggles and setbacks, but when their fingers locks together you know it’s meant to last. The small gestures throughout the book where both seek to each other over any crowd and simply know what the other needs.

I loved Tones in the first book and I loved him in this one, he is an amazing character and I wish we had gotten to see him with someone. Because he is so sweet when he blushes. And his friendship with Stan is lovely.

I’m always sceptical about a second book because it can go either way, but this one was needed, it let their story come full circle and show them all grown up.

I honestly have to say the impossible boy is my all time favorite book. I was actually worried when I saw Anna Martin had written a sequel to it. I just didn’t think could get any better. I was so wrong this book is just as good as the first. It is five years after the band Aires hits the scene big time. Fame and fortune hasn’t been easy for them Ben has developed a drug habit , he and Stan had drifted apart. Stan is in New York with a successful career in fashion. When Tone calls worried about Ben, Stan flies to California and together they take Ben back to London home where they met. The book is about finding your way back about strength and courage not only to live but love again. Thank you Anna your were right I did love it.

I cannot even begin to say how excited I was to know there was another book in this series. Im a huge fan of books that show the struggles after a previous HEA. The connection between Stan and Ben was beautiful and watching them fall in love all over again made my heart happy. Anna Martin is a wonderful author!

I admit – I’ve been shocked when I started reading to realize that Stan and Ben had broken up. I mean – here I was, remembering them as a couple, Stan expressing himself as he wanted to be, Ben and the band on the way up. Everything was fine.
And then I started reading this book and got thrown into cold water. The couple broken up, Ben addicted and a mess, Stan so..conformed…But seriously, I got pulled in immediately. The book is gripping, you suffer with them and you cheer with them. I couldn’t put it down. It’s not an easy way for both of them and there are setbacks but it is a HEA. I loved it.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member