My Personal Review for Bear, Otter & The Kid by TJ Klune

When I picked up Bear, Otter & the Kid by TJ Klune, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first opened the book. It was a debut author, one I never read before and you never know how a book will grab you, especially if you are unsure of an author's writing style. I can safely say that after cracking open the book, I became totally engrossed with the story.

Here are my thoughts of TJ Klune's first book....

Bear never anticipates coming home from work to an empty house and a "Dear Bear" letter from his mother. Left to raise his six-year old brother, Tyson or affectionately called the "Kid", Bear  retreats from living and manages to survive, raising Tyson and keeping a roof over their head. Witht he help of their friends, Bear and Tyson manage ok though Bear retreats from living and finds that he is able to push aside any confusion he feels.

When Otter comes back to town, things explode for Bear must face the feelings he has for his best friend's older brother finally and finally figure out that life is there to live, not exist in. Now Bear has to find t he man he is inside that  he is meant to be and to deal with all the anger, confusion and emotions that he has pushed in a box in his head because this time, to get his happily ever after, Bear needs the strength to walk through the door to grab it before it slips away.

TJ Klune debuts a story that had me laughing, crying and then laughing all over again all within a space of a few chapters. With the broad stroke of the pen, this author delivers a highly emotional story that left me reeling at times and it was a book I could not put down, even to eat dinner. The story grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go even after the last page is read. BEAR, OTTER & THE KID is full of wonderful characters, a moving storyline and conflict-personal and emotional-that left me rooting for Bear and the Kid. You laugh, cry, snicker and yell but the theme of the book comes loud and clear to the reader-that family is what you make of it, not something you are born with.

The characters are quite enjoyable and very relatable. I was shaking my head in disbelief as Tyson or ‘the Kid” as he is called, made me laugh with his one liners but you could tell the obvious love he had for the people he considered his family. The love story between Otter and Bear is quite realistic and made me root for them both even as they both worked through many issues they had. Bear made me want to give him a hug and tell him it was going to be all right even as he did something to make me want to smack him silly. The fact that I could literally picture the characters in my head made this story much more believable to me. I absolutely loved Tyson because each time he did something or opened his mouth; I was stunned by his perceptions of the world around him.

BEAR, OTTER & THE KID is one of those heartwarming stories that leave you with a happy feeling afterwards. This is like a show you can’t resist watching as you watch scene after heartfelt scene pass by, as tears roll down your face and laughter tease your lips. This is a story that is so much more than a traditional happily ever after; it’s like a journey you take to find the person you are meant to be. TJ Klune delivers a story that will knock you on your ass and then shake you up even more. If you are looking for a story that reels you in, turns you inside out and then spits you out completely drained and energized at the same time, then BEAR, OTTER & THE KID is the perfect read for you. Now all I can ask is…more please?

My rating for BEar, Otter & the Kid: 5 Stars and highly recommended

Find out more at Dreamspinner Press for your copy of this wonderful book.