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Barbara Elsborg
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The Story of Us Paperback – December 3, 2018

by Barbara Elsborg (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 524 ratings
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Two boys. One love. Ten summers. Are you okay? The first words Zed says to Caspian, and the first time someone has cared about the answer. On a hot summer’s day, the lives of two boys are changed forever. A rebel and a risk taker, Caspian doesn’t give a damn for the consequences. Studious and obedient, Zed is the good boy who is never good enough.The two couldn’t be more different, but there’s one thing they share, a need to belong to someone who understands them, someone who cares. Their friendship goes deeper than either can possibly imagine. They’re young, in love, and planning their future when an act of betrayal tears them apart.Fate deals its hand. Seasons pass. Zed’s words follow Caspian through pain, fear and into the darkest of places. Friendships can last a lifetime, even when the world conspires to crush them. But this is more than friendship. This is love and they’re not going to let it slip through their fingers. The Story of Us is a tale of love and survival, and the triumph of good over evil against the odds. This is a new adult contemporary romance. It deals with family and social issues, violence and cruelty to children but not sexual assault. There are sexual situations, dark elements and suspense. The events and locations are a mixture of real and fictional. The characters are fictional.
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  1. Print length
    435 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 3, 2018
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.09 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1728653274
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1728653273
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (December 3, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 435 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1728653274
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728653273
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.21 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.09 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 524 ratings

About the author

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Barbara Elsborg

Barbara Elsborg

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Barbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the South of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Volcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her earlier books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, now she concentrates on the bad boys, and hopes her books are as much fun to read as they are to write. If you'd like to know more about Barbara or be put on her mailing list, details can be found here www.barbaraelsborg.com She is also on Facebook and Twitter under her author name.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
524 global ratings
A beautiful Story
5 Stars
A beautiful Story
This is a long story but so worth reading. An amazing coming of age read with your emotions all over the place and please keep the tissues handy. The friendship between Zeb and Caspian is amazing.
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Top reviews from the United States

Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular & Riveting!!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2023
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A differently styled love story. This has made belief in the courage and self sacrifice of these characters a total win. Well earned, this book is a must read.
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Kazza - On Top Down Under/Dark Hints Book Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful. Soul-Stirring New Adult/Coming-of-Age Story.
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2018
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This is a beautiful, soul-stirring coming-of-age novel. Complete with innocent first love that deepens into so much more, and familial pain and betrayal. It’s the life over ten summers for two boys who become young men. It’s about finding a kindred spirit, someone who gives you hope in dark times, someone who cares for and eventually loves you for who you are, warts and all. That emotional bond that so many spend a lifetime searching for, these boys find, understand, and know is vital to hold on to. Life can throw you curveballs, some are life-altering, just ask Zed and Caspian. But there’s also humour, kindness, gentleness, moments of simple joy, caring, total despair, utter determination, and, once again, love, so much wonderous and heartfelt love.

The blurb does a good job of breaking down the story at the foundation of this book, but it cannot truly convey the magnitude of the tale, the emotion and connection at its core. I can’t recommend the beautifully named The Story of Us highly enough. If you are like me and feel unsure of NA, and my review piques your interest in any way, I say dive in and take a chance, immerse yourself in a poignant piece of writing with two wonderful MCs that I doubt you’ll ever forget.
10 people found this helpful
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Richard L. Willett
4.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but ultimately Well Done
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2022
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The Story of Us by Barbara Elsborg is a well plotted story of two teens who meet and their story as they grow into adulthood.
The dialogue, most unfortunately, is smart and cute but that is to the detriment of the story of child abuse which as one delves into the story is well written enough and thoroughly explained to the point that the reader is truly horrified at what happens to these two young men and the reader is able to understand the decisions which they make.
One cannot fault the author for plot line. It is well explained and very well laid out, although not as clearly explained by the characters actions as it should be. The character of Zen’s father is an outline of a villain without any reasoning as to why until the very end of the tale which is written so as to be a convenient wrap up of “why.” It is not enough.
The character of Zen’s brother, Tamaz, is also an outline which needed further fleshing out.
The character flaws of Caspian’s father are not as fully explained as they should be. Nor his mother nor his siblings.
Nevertheless, the outlines of each character are rationally explained enough so the reader is allowed to take the outlines and imagine what is between the lines.
The tales of child abuse which turn into a story of Muslim terrorism on the one hand and the tale of a father abandoning one child in favor of another are plausible but needing more depth. Nevertheless the details given are well written but leaves the reader wanting to know more.
The sex scenes as written are obviously a female fantasy of the male sex act of two men together. Plus points for the absence of sensationalism. Minus points for not truly knowing how the male anatomy really works. But as a romance fantasy, quite satisfying.
This reader found himself saying the author is very good but wanting the outlines filled in with more depth.
One person found this helpful
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Greg M.
5.0 out of 5 stars What a ride...
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2018
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'The Story of Us' is an amazing book. Elsborg takes the reader on an emotional roller coater ride, from the highest high to the lowest low. I found myself caught up in the lives of Zed and Caspian sometime during the first summer of their story. They are both very likable characters. From early on, I truly cared what happened to them. I didn't want to put the book down.

"Story' is set in England, 2010-2019. I found the third person writing to be very descriptive. The topics covered in this longish book could have been ripped from current news headlines; everything is so realistic. Some of the characters in this book can only be described as evil. I don't think readers will have a hard time rooting for the good guys and jeering at the bad ones. Unfortunately, I felt Elsborg was a bit too wordy during the mid-part of the eighth summer. Proofing also seemed to be a bit lax during that segment, which was sad because overall the book was so well written.

It is easy for me to recommend 'The Story of Us' to readers looking for a different kind of M/M relationship novel.
6 people found this helpful
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William Costello
5.0 out of 5 stars One absolutely beautiful story
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
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This has to be the most beautiful, heartwrenching stories ever written. Childhood to adulthood, from terrible family circumstances to a glorious and happy ending
Love definitely conquers all
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Vic Huitron
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly awesome
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021
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This is a heart felt story, with two amazing characters. The love friendship and devotion between both of them is outstanding. However in every family there is always trouble, and goes to show that even the most rich and famous people. Or not as perfect as they seem. Truly enjoyed the storyline and the ups and downs of a beautiful relationship. Talks about true events that happened in London, and the way Islamic terrorism is quite real. However also shows a different side to the religion of Islam. A book with many points of view and high interest. Lies betrayal and selfishness, and a man that cannot cope with his own Islamic views. But eventually turns it for the better. All in all a great book
One person found this helpful
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Anon.
3.0 out of 5 stars First two thirds is unrelentlessly depressing.
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2019
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The first two-thirds of this story are dreadfully depressing. Hardly any let up in the horrendous abuses against these two teenagers. Too many implausible reactions by Caspian which were clearly contrived to perpetuate the hardship. And even when one gets a break, I was totally unable to read or enjoy his better fortune when his friend was suffering in so much abject misery. I took to speed reading to see if it would improve but alas gave up two-thirds of the way through as there was little left to enjoy.

However, I did go back to finish the story and it started to become a much better read in the final quarter. Is it worth the misery of the three quarters that preceded it; probably, just get through it as fast as you can.
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Eve
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Amazing story.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2023
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A beautiful story.

Zed and Caspian's story is an emotional roller coster of a book. Their journey will have you experience all range of emotions. Tears, anger, heartbreak, laughter, hope, fear, joy, love.

Some heavy topics, horrific as they were, were well written and thoroughly explored.

The chemistry between Zed and Caspian, and their banter, was just so awesome. Loved them.

The secondary characters were also well represented.

This book was beautifully and well written. I could not put it down.

Great job, Barbara Elsbourg.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2019
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O my god what a wonderful story this was ... i couldn’t put it down and so sad to c it end
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars A rollercoaster of emotions- my personal favourite in 2018
Reviewed in Germany on November 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book...wow...this book. I don't know where to begin...
This was all I could hope for and then more.....

Let me start by saying that this was book number 113 of books read in 2018 (personal challenge and all). I can now, after having finished "The Story of Us", say without any doubt that for me this is my absolute favourite of all the MM romance books I've read this year.

I am not going into much detail about the story, because it has all been said. I rather want to talk about the cycle of emotions I went through while reading. I went from a state of shock (after only having read 5 pages), into tears, rage, despair and joy. I didn't know a book could do that to me.

The main characters Zed and Caspian and their journey through hardships, love and loss caught me.
I have not read a book of the author before, so I wasn't prepared for the style of writing.
Once I started, I couldn't put it down. I am just glad that I started it on a weekend and I've read it in one setting (with only 4 hours of sleep).
The author manages to take us on a journey of a relationship of two young boys, who struggle through their individual hardships and still fall in love and be each others anchors.
Be warned: This is a total rollercoaster ride of emotions and the story contains several forms of physical and psychological abuse. You feel with both of them, with their fears and their pain.
On the other hand, the author manages to bring joy and laughter. The dialogues are funny and witty in moments they can be.

This was my first book by Barbara Elsborg, but definitely not my last. This rollercoaster ride of emotions is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
One person found this helpful
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Soda
5.0 out of 5 stars tough, but worthwhile
Reviewed in Australia on April 28, 2024
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Well this book was just one kick in the guts after another..

These poor boys, they both had it tough and life just kept throwing it all at them, it made me wonder how much they could tolerate before it all became to much?

They became men though, they were stronger for fighting their battles, they turned out to be good and decent men despite their early role models.

It was an excellent book, I highly recommend it!
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dawn higgins
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Heartfelt Story.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2018
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WOW just WOW,I just have no words how this story made me feel,what a beautiful heartfelt journey for Zeb and Caspian, these two met as young boys fourteen and fifteen and there journey that spans over the next ten years was an emotional ride.

The details that this author must have had to find out to get into this book is awesome,you automatically fall in love with these two characters Zeb and Caspian that they will have you routing for them at every turn.The emotional ride and heart felt life they lead had me absorbed where i couldn't put this book down for a minuet.

They came from different backgrounds but they was both Abused,Zeb physically and Caspain mentally where all they lived for was the summers they spent together in the tree house while they was young,and the hot summer they met there lives was changed forever.

There are books that you love and can't wait to devour the story, and they are books that you just can't put down,this was both of these and it is a story that is going to stay with me for along time to come.I love Barbara's book's but this just surpassed any i have read before,her writing is amazing with her world building and all the feels you get with this book is phenomenal.

This book was worth far more than five stars,this was a gripping story from beginning to end.
2 people found this helpful
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