Who We Are

5 stars

Even though I just recently reread 'Bear, Otter, and the Kid', and 'Who We Are' is a reread for me, also, I can't believe how much I missed the Kid. Just a few pages in and he's wrapped himself so completely around my heart that everything that was wrong with this day doesn't seem to matter anymore, because the Kid is poking fun at Papa Bear and Otter is laughing hysterically. All is right again, in my world. I can't thank TJ Klune nearly enough for bringing me this world which centers me and where I feel at peace, even through the drama, the tears, the laughter, the grief, the anger, and the love. Bear, Otter, and the Kid are home for me and where I feel most comfortable and alive.
After the events of the previous summer, Bear, Otter, and the Kid have happily moved into a Green Monstrosity, the house that Otter bought for them all. Apparently it is painted the most horrific shade of green imaginable. The Kid is on his way to skipping fourth grade and heading right into the fifth, which Bear is more comfortable with now that all their lives have settled down some. The custody proceedings are moving forward and everything looks great in their favor. Then Otter's parents come home and they go to dinner at the house where they find Creed has flown home from college to attend, and Anna, Mrs. Paquinn, and Anna's parents are there, too. None of the parental units are aware of what happened that summer, i.e., Bear and Anna breaking up, Bear and Otter falling in love, Creed and Anna dating, Bear and the Kid's mom coming back and threatening Bear, etc. Of course Bear, with a few glasses of wine in him, reveals all during the blessing before the \"tofeatloaf\". Don't ask, please. Needless to say, it's one of the best scenes as there's a whole lot of air that gets cleared, at least between Bear and Creed. *grins*
So it would seem that all is right in their world and everything is going to be happy, happy, joy, joy, right? Wrong. The Kid's new best friend, a fifteen-year-old who lives a few doors down from them, Dominic, at the age of nine witnessed his father beat his mother to death and in defense, Dominic stabbed his father to death. Even though Bear and Otter feel horribly for Dominic it adds a level of fear to the Kid hanging out with him. And there's this strange new beginning of Bear noticing other guys as attractive. What? Plus, because of the relative newness of Bear and Otter, and the fact that Bear can overthink everything to death and extrapolate the worst scenarios imaginable, there's some doubt, and fear, and tension between the two.
\"I don't know why he chose me, for the life of me, for all the trouble I've caused. How can he think this is worth it? I tell him I love him, I tell him how much he means to me, but does he know how much I need him? That without him I would be nothing?\"
Now, before you start worrying…no, this entire book isn't drama, drama, drama. Bear's in it, so of course there's laughter mingled with the drama. Like when Otter takes Bear to a gay bar to meet up with some friends. \"Tyson rolled his eyes. 'The only things you need to complete the outfit is a little soul patch on your chin and a diamond stud in one ear. I'm sure the women over on Miracle Mile would run in the opposite direction because they're afraid you're going to bitch-slap them and demand they give you the money they owe you.'\" Otter, of course, thinks Bear looks smoking hot. Until he has to fight off all the guys looking at Bear, that is.
There is drama, though, always hovering in the background. Serious medical emergencies impacting their loved ones, and a marriage proposal wrapped in love and sorrow, at the same time. There's healing and love, guardianship for a judge to declare, and unexpected bundle of joy for Creed and Anna. This second installment in TJ Klune's series is very appropriately named as it is literally the story of 'Who We Are' in all of their neuroses, their hang-ups, their fears, but most importantly, their enormous gift in loving each other and their family. An incredible book that I loved very much.

This Book 2 of the BOATK series.
Who We Are brings the boys back and now they are living in the Green Monstrosity.
Bear and Otter are finally able to admit openly their love , but with that other adventures will start. The custody battle for the Kid , Otter's parents are back and new people become important to them.
Lets not forget Creed, Anna and Mrs. Paquinn and also Dominic who become part of the nucleus of the family.
The dynamic of the story flows in a way that me as a reader felt I was living with them , laughing with them, crying with them ... but also loving with them.
We start to understand more of what really is behind the feelings of abandonment that Bear and Tyson (our beloved Kid) have and the reason why the custody battle.
Dominic and Tyson's friendship develops more and through it all at the time of making decisions and accepting changes they will have to move forward or resist them.

I just loved it and I really hope that there is another book.

What a roller coaster! I loved every single word I read.
Bear, Otter and the Kid have settled quite nicely in their new home and are trying to adjust to their new life as a family - living and loving together. Bear continues being the same old Papa Bear. Insecure, funny, adorable, with crazy ramblings and totally dedicated to the Kid. Otter is even more lovable with his tender words, his understanding and devotion to Bear and the Kid and his strength and fierce protectiveness of what he considers his. And the Kid? Hehe! He was hilarious, opinionated, vulnerable, sarcastic and a joy to read.
\"For better or worse, this is us. For all of our wrongs and for all of our rights, this is us.\"
Once again I got sucked into this family's story. Bear's ramblings, as only he could do, were filled with every little thought imaginable. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of the most outrageous ones. My favorite includes a girl named Tiffani, the 'MMMBop' song and the Kid going to college - need I say more?
And Lord how I cried FOR him when he had doubts about himself and the world around him. And there was a moment when I cried WITH him, when I felt his pain and his sorrow. But from that moment forward I came to admire him even more. He was determined to be the strong one, to be there for his family and he stood for himself and his family beautifully.
I also enjoyed his talks with 'It', which made me feel even more connected to him since some of those negative thoughts have been in my mind also at one time or another. Those dark thoughts of expecting the worst, that you don't deserve to be happy and that you're not good enough. I've had them at times and I'm sure some of you have too.
The writing this time around didn't surprise me and truthfully I embraced it, since it added to Bear's state of mind. The emotions were easily palpable and the humor was hilarious. The connection between the characters was a joy to read. Mrs. Paquinn, Anna and Creed were a treat to revisit. Only Mrs. Paquinn can refer to sex as \"catching the the ol' kielbasa in the bun\" at the dinner table and get away with it. I even enjoyed the new additions, Dominic and Isaiah, they brought a different side to the Kid and Bear.
There was drama, romance, banter, humor and angst - I felt pulled in all kinds of directions and I loved it. I hope that TJ Klune continues with a spin-off with the Kid's story because I enjoyed these characters too much to let them go without another word and dammit the Kid deserves his very own happy ending especially after that Epilogue!
\"If I could have you remember anything from our time together, it would be that it's not about where you come from. It's about who you are.\"