As I Am by A.M. Arthur

As I Am by A.M. Arthur


Review by Lauren


source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own


Official Summary: Will Madden is healing.

Thanks to therapy and a growing support system, he’s taking baby steps into a promising future. One of those steps leads him to an online chat room, where he quickly bonds with fellow PTSD sufferer Taz Zachary.

Despite their virtual connection, Taz is initially freaked out at the idea of meeting Will face-to-face. A sexual relationship may be the last thing on his mind, but his craving for human interaction—and more of the way Will makes him laugh—gives him the courage he needs to take the next step.

In person, the chemistry between them is undeniable. But Will is hurt when Taz doesn’t seem to be in any rush to get him into bed. Still, acceptance, love and happiness all seem within reach for the first time in forever—until demons from the past threaten the future they both finally believe they deserve.


Review: As I Am is the third book in the All Saints series. I recommend reading them all, because I think it’s a great series, but each one focuses on a different couple so you’re welcome to read whichever one most interests you. For As I Am, the book focuses on Will Madden – who we meet in previous books – and Taz Zachary.

These two meet in an online chat room where the goal is just to talk, not to arrange hookups. They find quick friends in one another as they both suffer from PTSD. Eventually, the two decide to meet each other and that’s really when the story takes off. I thought the background behind each character’s PTSD was done really well. It was obvious that the author wanted to show that while the two could help each other, they couldn’t completely heal one another. Just being in a relationship wasn’t going to make everything okay. They would still have panic attacks and need other things in their life to help them heal.

Both Will and Taz are easy to love. They aren’t perfect by any means, but I like that. They felt like real characters who were unfortunately carrying a lot of baggage. Their baggage just happened to go together well enough.

This book has a bit of a mystery attached, which was exciting! It gave the book a suspenseful tone, along with the budding romance and delving into the characters’ respective pasts. As I Am is definitely a good read – as are all the other All Saints books.

Want to read? Check it out on Amazon – I’m an affiliate so I get a small percent of any sale. Want to check out books 1 and 2 of All Saints? The first book is Come What May and the second is Say It Right.