And the Kid Chronicles Book 3) - The Art of Breathing (Bear

Thank you Tj Klune. I love Tyson, Otter, Bear, Dominic and the rest of the family. You say they are not real but you make them real for us. I can't wait to read the next book and I hope it takes not to long for you to write it. Thanks again!

TJ Klune has produced a great trilogy with the Bear, Otter, and the Kid story. I made the mistake of ready the 3rd book first and have just finished reading the first in the series. You won't be disappointed in TJ's writing style and the characters in TJ's novels.

The ups, the downs, the highs, the lows, the joys, the tragedies... the end. What a great series! Characters that are so full of life and so relatable.... yet so damn funny! From BOtK to this. It has been an unbelievable journey. Don't hesitate to snatch this up. TJ Klune is remarkable!!! I'm still astonished that I read this book in one sitting. I won't ever read it again... it's that good. I laughed and cried (literally) with Ty. All I can say is: AMAZING!!

I hate writing reviews of book. Not going to give you a break down what happened because it will spoil the read. If you have read the first two Bear, Otter and the Kid you must read this one. If you have not already all three books are a great read.

Personally, I would just pretend the series ended at book 2. In the previous 2 books, I was sure that they'd suffered enough. In book 3, clearly the author disagrees. It's still funny, and it's still a good story, and it's still good writing, but I'm honestly asking: Haven't they suffered enough?

I continue to enjoy the witticisms as crafted by the writer, but (having read the previous two books), I found I could not wait for it to be over. The repetition and ridiculous too many nervous breakdowns of both brothers became nauseating.

A interesting story strangled by its redundancy and pedantic nature. Could have been tightened by 50%, if same ole same ole didn't get repeated over and over. The Ben story was too inevitable and tortuous. One solid paragraph about panic disorder could have saved 25 pages. BTW meds do work, without addiction or feeling like a zombie, maybe needed to bash medical profession, but not helpful to thousands upon thousands who are helped with CBT and closely monitored meds everyday. No one uses high dose benzos to treat this anymore. Also lengthy bantering throughout entire book was not real per people speak, more sitcomesq. Characters could have done more living in a real world. Better luck with the final installment.

I absolutely loved "the Kid's" story. Probably because I absolutely love and adore "the Kid". Ever since the beginning of this series, he has been my favorite character and this book solidified my feelings even more.

This book starts, when Ty is 9 years old and living in "The Green Montrosity". This is when he first meets Dominic (Dom), who's 15 years old and a giant :).

From that moment on, the two of them are the best of friends. They are inseperable and inevitable.

"Friends until we're old and gray. Beginning to end. Day after day. Because we're inevitable"

When Ty is 15 years old, he finds himself in love with his best friend. He is also 15 years old, when he feels his heart breaking for the first time.

I can honestly say, that I was right there with Ty...my heart breaking just as much as his.

I wish I could say that this was the only time during the book, that my heart broke and I made "ugly cry face", but that would be a big fat lie. Ty was put through the wringer in this book and he took me along for the ride. I was right there with him...trying to breathe.

I know a lot of readers felt anger towards him, because of his reactions and decisions. I however am not one of them. I'm team TYSON all the way !!!

Thankfully, there were also lot of happy/fun times as well. Tears were rolling down my face either from sadness, or from laughing so hard.

That is the magic of TJ Klune !!

Also, this book isn't just about Ty and Dom. We get introduced to a lot of new characters, who were all amazing on their own.

It's also about Bear and Otter and even Creed (who always makes me laugh). It's about the amazing bond that two brothers can share. I love Bear to pieces, he's the best big brother !

"What do we do?"

"Breathe".

"That's right. We breathe, Kid. Just Breathe"

This series has definitely earned a spot in my top 5 of m/m series !! I'm so happy there is gonna be more !!

This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession

Sometimes there are authors who make you fall in love. Simply put as that.

And then there's TJ Klune.

Have you ever read his books? No? Well… the only thing I can say is, I'm jealous of you being able to experience his words for the first time. Go now and look up the first book in the series: Bear, Otter, and the Kid, and buy it. Love it. Reread it until you know each character as if they were part of your family, then move on the second book.

And now for this one.

The Art of Breathing brings you Tyson’s (the Kid’s) story. We saw it coming—probably from the first time Dominic was introduced to us… But nothing about their story is predictable. Nothing about their words is repetitive or mundane.

TJ managed to give Tyson a unique voice that was both alike and inherently different from that of his brother’s. He is neurotic. He is funny, he is a vegetarian hippy at heart. He is an ingenious ecoterorist who loves as fiercely as Bear. He will brainwash you (I swear, I can't even think about meat in the near future—Carl the Cow (almost bull), and Jermaine the Rooster are… well, they’re everywhere!), he will make you so angry. He will make you hang on to every page.

This book spans a much larger time frame than any other BOATK book. It touches psychological, emotional and familial problems that will tear your heart out. It will make you laugh until your stomach hurts. It will make you cry helplessly because, by God, the words are chosen just right. TJ seems to only get better. And better. And so, so, so much better.

You will love each and every person (because I swear, they are not just characters). You will take them as your own, wish you were a part of their family—wish that the story would never end since the mere thought of parting with all of them is so inconceivable your heart breaks…

So go. Enjoy every second.

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Honestly, since I finished the book I only can think about is the epilogue and when can I start the 4th last :((( book.
But before that, I have to tell some things about Ty. Since the start we always were in Bear's POV, but this time things change. Ty needs to find his way, needs to learn how to stand on his own legs and most importantly he needs to learn how to breathe. You think a near genius, vegetarian, ecoterrorist who has a family like he has, feels less and less earthquakes, but Ty needs to grow up not just in age also emotionally too. As always I loved the others (Creed, Anna, Corey...) :)) Without them Bear and Otter's houshold not the same. Again there were heartwarming, heartfelt, heart tearing and as usual funny moments too when I couldn't stop my laughing. :)
I already said this series is about love, but so much more. A story about a family who not bound my blood, but with love and devotion for each other. A story about two brothers who are holding hands during earthquakes.

What a terrible, terrible cliffhanger to leave someone with....
Why.... why would you do that?! Jeeez, I'm rethinking my need to want us to be best friends now... i'm seriously reconsidering it!!! ....... Okay.... I've calmed down a bit now, but just a very little bit.....I'm still holding a slight grudge for the moment.

Okay, so in the beginning of this one; I fell in love with Dom. I did a smidge in the last book when we met him, but we got to see from the beginning, what it was like when he and Ty met, how their friendship grew into something so amazing, a co-dependancy kind of thing but given both of their lives and where they've come from and what they've gone through, it wasn't as unhealthy as it might have been for literally anyone else. I loved their relationship and how good they were for each other... And then my heart got broken.... I cried.... I cried an ugly....wookie....cry face and I hated what happened because I knew how much these two loved each toerh and I wanted to be like, can't we skip all the angst and just be together? All of us? Because let's be real, I'm totally in this with you all... I was with Bear and Otter and Ty and now I am with Ty and Dominic.
Jeeez....

Okay, so fast forward four years after the heartbreak and it's time for Ty to come home. He does, he comes back and all the hurt and heartache he's been running from is still there but so is everything else... Otter and Bear and the rest of the family and he can't believe it's been so long since he's left. It all seems silly now, even though it still hurts....so much....
I think I might love Dom even more than I did in the beginning and he's quickly becoming one of my favorites. I also love how Corey/Kori is an awesome new family member and I can't wait to read more about them; especially because we got to see Sandy/Helena, Paul and Vince, who never stop being hilarious and a bright spot in the world of fictional characters. This whole family..... the loud, non filter having, crazy, insane family is just something that everyone should read about. There were so many one-liners in this one, I should have written them down because I laughed myself sick a couple of times and it's so true.... Bear, Paul and Ty are basically the same person and I can't wait for the day when they all meet each other and I get to read about it.... The world may not be ready, but I sure am!
I also loved how Anna, Creed and JJ are now, I love how the family just keeps on growing and everyone fits in so perfectly.

Now, Izzie. I was sad when Ty left without her, I didn't think it was fair and I wanted him to just kidnap her so she could apart of the greatness that is "them".... I was so sad for her; of course it got made better in the end, but DID IT? DID IT REALLY? Because now we have to wait an age for a continuance, and I just don't know if I have that in me to be that patient.... I really don't!

Overall though, Dom and Ty's story is not an easy one. It's full of ups and downs and heartache and turmoil and lots of earthquakes. The love between the two of them is so powerful and you can see it, in every word on every page. I loved it so much, even when I hated it. I will never forget this family and I cannot wait to see the beauty of what comes next with them all. Babies, husbands and more family memebers.... I cannot wait!

If you haven't read this series; one, there's something seriously wrong with you and you need to stop reading my review right now and go start at the beginning... You won't regret it....
Not for a single second.

OMG, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it! I'm afraid to review it because I do not want to give away any teasers, because, I just can't, you have to read it and gasp, cry, laugh, and do all that all over again depending on which chapter you are on.

T.J. you did it again!! Of course the dinner scene, of course, the knock knock jokes, and Bear's famous rants!! I feel like I am in your head when I read Bear's famous scenes and cannot believe you can write a conversation like that down. It's like you have to be writing as quick as he is talking...! They are epic and I have to reread each one to laugh again. I cannot wait until this comes out on audio and we can hear someone like Charlie David narrating this and then stops and takes his "big breath" then continues.

This story spans the life of Tyson or "the kid" from 9 until his 20th birthday. There are even times he steps back to when he was 5 yrs old. But it basically is the story of Ty and Dom. The beginning of the friendship, how they became friends, how the became "inevitable" and how they each became "mine". It was so interesting to see how there was a "need" in both to be filled and how it was eventually accomplished. It took many years, many tears, heartache, and misconceptions to get to the "inevitable" and it was, "inevitable". We see a side of Ty that is the same, but so different from "Bear". The similarities was incredible. But the one thing we don't see in the first and second book, is how Ty has or has not been dealing with his own voices in his head. We see his survival mode, similar to "Bear" in so many ways, but different, because he's just "a little Kid". Ty has never truly dealt with his abandonment issues and they seem to be the foundation of this book. It is painful and boy did I cry, and cry. But in the end, issues are resolved!

We get to see all our favorite characters and even get cameo appearances from his other book "Tell me its Real". That is hilarious. You even get a little from Johnny Depp! We meet Corey/Kori who is Ty's best friend from school and someone else (can't tell or it would ruin another chapter). Our old favorites are back and Creed/Anna/JJ are my favorites, I think (there are soooo many in this book). We also get an understanding about how important Mrs. P was to Ty. Of course we get a big dose of Bear and Otter and their continued love, support and friendship to all.

I could write for days, but you just need to go take a day off and read it. You will not be disappointed. Take the journey to see "the Kid" through other eyes and now be "Ty", which is how I think of him now. T.J. includes a wonderful epilogue that ties up all issues, but does leave us with "one more". Maybe he will be nice and make it a XMAS novella so we don't have to wait!

Love hurts. Love is painful. Love is loss. And joy. And happiness. With this third entry in the series, TJ Klune shows us just what makes a family. It's not blood. It's love.

In the beginning there was Bear. Then Tyson (aka The Kid). And then they were alone. That's how it all began. Throughout all of the great and small things, the lives and loves, the brothers have remained steadfast in their loyalty and love for ons another.

There was the first book that joined Bear and Otter and The Kid and introduced us to their extended family.

There was the second book that tried to tear apart the three and we lost one dearly beloved member.

Now, there is a third book that breaks away from the family's core to relate the story of The Kid. He's just a little guy. Well, not so much anymore. He is a bright and shining star of the academic world. He is sought after by prestigious universities. He wants to lead PETA to convert the world to be vegetarian. He wants to love his childhood friend Dominic forever. But this may be a difficult and treacherous journey because there are still earthquakes. Ty is still fragile. He is just a few steps away from fracturing into a million little pieces.

In fact, his fragility made it necessary for me to put this book down for a little while just to compose my feelings. I should have just trusted in TJ not to let anything too bad happen, at least nothing that couldn't be fixed. He even called in help, in the form of some old friends from another story to give Ty what he needed.

And yet, I felt a pervading sadness in this book that wasn't present in the first two. At least with those, I had faith from the beginning that things would somehow work out. But in this book, there is something new. There is deep concern that things might not be resolved, that happiness will somehow be elusive for Ty. After all, he is the most broken of all.

Like the laughter that accompanies the high flying kite on a beach somewhere, this book really manages to capture the true and unique essence of love and friends and family that makes this series of novels so special and precious. The theme is best said by the title of the second book, that is "Who We Are".

Another winner by the master. Bear, Otter, Tyson, Creed, Anna, Mrs. Paquin, Dominic and all of his wonderful creations that will live forever in our hearts like members of our own families. It's no small feat to create something as wonderful as this.

Wow!!! What an emotional journey. Even though a few hours have passed since I read “The End”, my gut is still twisted in knots. The Art of Breathing, by TJ Klune, for those who don’t know, is the third book in the Who We Are series. It is imperative you read these in order. This is not a standalone book. Don’t do a disservice to yourself or the author for not starting at the beginning. This is a progression of growth and maturity, where life kicks you when you are down, you get back up, get a pat on the back, fall down again. You lose family members, gain them back, proving blood is NOT always thicker than water. Your family are the people who are by your side thru ups and downs, trials and tribulations. That is what TJ has built here with his characters, a self-made family, a culmination of different people, and a diversified cast, all needing the same thing. Love and acceptance.

That’s really what we all want, isn’t it? You will be put thru the ringer with this story. Your emotions will be everywhere. One minute you will be crying, and literally four pages over, you will be cracking up. You will experience highs and lows, sometimes testing your own strength to carry on. You may have to take a break, regroup, but you won’t be long. You need to know what happens next, are they going to be okay? Where do they go from here? How could he do that? But heed my wisdom here, and I only have wisdom because I’ve been thru it, this will be one of the most powerful novels you will ever read. The emotional impact the characters go thru, as well as, you the reader, will be tremendous. Your heart will hurt when they hurt, you will smile from ear to ear, when they are happy. You will have tears running down your face but hiccupping at the same time from laughter.

Have you ever cried, really hard, but then someone says something funny? You know to cheer you up, so you kind of make this funny noise in your throat trying to catch your breath? Yep, you do that too. But, it is so worth the journey, the roller coaster ride, to breathe….just breathe.

I’m not going to summarize the story, much anyway, I feel certain I could never do it the justice it deserves. There are twists and turns you will venture into and around. Sometimes you have no choice but to go through events or situations in order to get to the other side. Tyson, or the Kid, soon discovers this. As the blurb says, it has been 4 years he has been away. I think he felt he was the only one hurting, so therefore, he was only concerned with how he felt. He had been wronged, he was the one with the panic attacks, the therapy, and he never considered the whys that lead to these feelings. So he did what he felt he had to, he stayed away. He found a really dynamic, incredible human being, at college, someone he now considers his best friend. Sometimes he is Corey, also known as his ex-boyfriend, sometimes Corey becomes Kori, his ex-girlfriend. He/she, given the situation, helps Tyson realize he needs to go home. It may be only to gain closure but he will regret it, at some point, if he doesn’t at least try. He has faced many problems, upsets, hardships, while at school. He’s failing, his life is in shambles, so he does the only thing he knows he can do and that is go home.

Dominic was Tyson’s best friend, soul mates, closer than best friends. He was his world. Although Tyson doesn’t realize it, at the time, he is his reason for breathing. He is his next breath. When Tyson left and didn’t return, it broke Dominic. I just have to say what a profound and incredible character Dominic is. My heart broke for him, for his pain he has endured and the agony that was out of his control. He was a scared young man when we last saw him, but now, he has grown into a wonderful, respected adult. Sometimes, I wanted to kick Tyson’s behind for what he put Dominic through. For not stepping up and talking to him, for leaving him without any explanations. Eventually, they work thru the turmoil they both created and they each have a better understanding of what they mean to each other and I think Tyson realizes it’s time for him to grow up as well. It’s not going to be easy. He will struggle more before he gets his feet firmly planted. But, he has a lot of people, friends, and their self- made family that will support him and Dominic, as they figure out their future.

Bear and Otter are amazing. As time goes on, they get better and better. They are happily married and considering adding onto their immediate family. One thing that never waivers, is Bear’s love and devotion to Tyson. He is and will always be there for him. Otter is like a father to him and his love is steadfast. All the characters we have grown to love and care about will play a part in bringing this story to fruition. Some more than others, some in person, some in spirit. We meet new characters who help in different ways to move the story forward. They add their own ingredients, full of spunk and vinegar, and never shy away from their purpose. Each has his or her own purpose, they are not filler or fluff, well…they may be a little fluff, but they will have you laughing aloud, smiling from ear to ear, and you will be better off from the experience. Corey/Kori is such a breath of fresh air. He/she will enlighten your heart and you will be on stand-by against anyone who breaks his/her spirit

There are many things, situations, people, that keep coming to mind, and I think “Ohh, I should mention that or this” but the best thing is just to read it for yourself. You NEED to read it yourself in order to gain the understanding of the impact you will feel. TJ has created a family, they have become real, no longer imaginative, and these are people we want to see thru to the end. We want them happy and healthy, to love and be loved. Their story won’t end here. TJ has already made reference in his Author’s notes that he has one more story to give us. I can already vision some of the events that hopefully will get their closure. And, maybe not so much closure as more of getting them on the path to their happy ever after. There is more hope and redemption yet to happen, and I feel certain that it will work out as it is supposed to. Everything or everyone doesn’t need closure, they need a beginning, a helping hand, someone to love them, make them a family member of this incredible, remarkable family we already have.

I think the most important thing Tyson learns as well as Bear, Otter, and Dominic, is to breathe. Hold it, one, two, three, BREATHE….hold it, one, two, three, BREATHE…………..Trust me when I say, you will be enriched from the experience and the pleasure and rewards you gain will be something that stays with you for a long, long time. TJ Klune is an incredible, masterful storyteller, who has blessed us richly with sharing his family with us. The next book will tie up loose ends, I feel certain, but more than that, I think we will know that they are strong, they are survivors, and we can leave them, knowing their life is filled with peace, harmony, and love.

I passed over reading any books by this author several times. I can't really say why. I think there was something about the titles that mentioned bears and otters that just didn't really click with me. The title of this book caught my attention, and Tyson drew me in the rest of the way. Now, of course, I'll be buying the other books next week. If not for Tyson, I might have missed out on an amazing author.

Usually when I review books I just tell why i did or didn't like it. I might talk about how it made me feel. This time is different. I not only loved Tyson, but by the end of the book I felt as if he must be real and the author is just hiding his identity. To varying degrees, I loved everyone. And so it was really hard for me to love Dom so much, and then feel so disappointed in him. There are spoilers here, so if anyone reading this hasn't read it yet....just pass right on by the rest of this review and simply do as I tell you. Buy the book.

Back to Dom. It wasn't just the events that had me disappointed. It was later on when he had Ty in the back of the police car and basically told Tyson he had been a selfish blank-blank (the store won't let me use the word Dom used). I felt that Creed agreed with him. Even Tyson eventually decided that was true. And I have to say that I don't understand. Dom did keep Stacy a secret. He says near the end of the book that the moment in the hallway was when he realized he felt something more for Tyson than brotherly love, but that Tyson was too young. He even told Ty that he wouldn't see Stacy anymore. Should Ty's emotional problems dictate Dom's life? No. Yet knowing how Dom felt about Tyson and knowing that Tyson might be going to college, but he's still only fifteen years old, and knowing that Tyson own mother abandoned him...it surprised me that Dom looked at the outcome as Tyson simply being a petulant teenager who was pissed off. Kids abandoned by parents have a hard time forming bonds and when they're hurt or feel as if they might be abandoned again, they withdraw first in order to protect themselves. Dom was not only the adult in this relationship, but he lost his own mother and I was just really surprised and disappointed in Dom that he reduced everthing that Tyson felt and did to something so small as petulance. I even had to question why Dom would not only continue to see Stacy, but would be careless enough to have a child with her while knowing that Tyson had feelings for him and that he had similar feelings for Tyson. Everyone makes mistakes. It's what makes us as wonderful as it does annoying. And maybe my allegience to Tyson is because I came into this world near the end. But from a newcomer's POV, I see a teenager who's so smart that people forget he's so young. His past has left him with disorders and slow emotional development. When his world falls apart and he tries to protect himself from the very real (in his mind) possibility of never being able to breathe again, his best friend welcomes him home by handing him his ass and making him feel ashamed and guilty. Don't get me wrong. I still love Dom. I do. He and Tyson really are inevitable. I just think it was less of Tyson letting Dom down and way more of Dom failing Tyson completely.

Okay. I got that out.

Now my favorite things about this book. Number one: the women are amazing and well-written. I'm sick of reading m/m stories that make women evil or completely pretend they don't exist at all. I loved every female in this book with the exception of Julie who still received my pity and not hate.

The characters are so well-developed that it's hard to believe they aren't real. The world is believable. I lived in Oregon once. Everything written about this world was perfection.

And I was ready to shove the author off of a cliff when I got to the end and was left hanging, but then I read there is one more book coming, so I'll hold off. I'm excited to read about the adult relationship of Tyson and Dom as well as Isabella's life with her brothers. And I'm desperately hoping that somewhere in the future there's a book for Corey/Kori. If anyone needs someone to be inevitable with, it's her/him. I'm worried about Corey and he's a character. Yeah.

I've said enough. Tyson is my new best friend and I will be reading everything this author writes. Even grocery lists. If it's published, I'll read it.

All right. I'm going to go read The Art of Breathing again until I get paid and can buy the other books. For those of you who stayed with me and read the spoilers anyway, go buy the book. My review is nothing compared to the real thing.

Breathe in. Hold. One, two, three, exhale. Hold. One, two, three, inhale…and so it goes, the art of breathing. Little did I realize that this trick would come in handy while in the process of reading this book as my eyes overflowed, the sobs kicked in, my nose got runny – yeah, I was kind of a mess at least a couple of different times. I don’t know whether to curse you or kiss you TJ Klune for making me feel so much!

The Kid really stole my heart and rocked the show from book one. It truly was epic to experience him all grown up in this story and exhausting to really be inside his head. It was inevitable that Ty and Dom would end up together; however, that didn’t mean that their journey didn’t dip down into the bowels of hell once or twice and drag us through lots of angst and drama. And while ultimately this is Ty and Dom’s story and I’d have loved to have a somewhat stronger spotlight on them once they finally got together, it’s also very much about all the other key characters we’ve grown to know and love. It’s especially a continuation of the bond between brothers (Papa Bear and the Kid) and the family that we choose to wrap ourselves around.

In some ways, it feels as though I’ve grown up with this BOATK family. I love them fiercely. I want to wrap them in bubble wrap so that nothing can hurt them again. Mostly, I don’t want to let go. I’ll be greedy and covet any time I can spend with them which means I’m thrilled to death that there’s going to be a book four! Through all the laughter and even the tears, I’d proudly call this family my own. They are part of me and I care what happens. So, please give them that final ending they deserve. I’ll be waiting with baited breath…

This book 3 of the BOATK series.

Tyson (our beloved Kid)has been in a rollercoaster ride since He made his big confession and graduated High School ... Our genius , our eco terrorist (no longer in training) has a lot to learn and has a lot to let go to finally accept his happiness.

Tyson had a difficult time and his decision making process in college had him coming back to Seafare under an academic probation, need to go back to therapy but mostly the need to find himself.

What Tyson wasn't counting on ... Dominic is still in town , in contact with the family and with the desire to tell him many things ...

What Tyson wasn't counting on ... that famous word , Inevitable ... what Dominic always told him they are.

One of the things that is lovely about this book is the new friends , the new adventures and the feeling of what Tyson learns ... that besides his family and besides his real love Dominic ... the secret to all ... is that he understands that being who he needs to be for others finding himself is essential ...

The lesson that he really has always known ... the Art of Breathing always comes back to Bear and the Kid.

See you guys soon , okey ?! Bear is really freaking out.

FourStars
I loved getting to read Kid's book. His humor had me laughing so hard through most of this book. Kid has so many things he needs to work through you get to see how he deals with everything and how his family, Bear and Otter have his back. I will say I am not a huge fan of most of the blame being put on just one person in a book when I felt like it should have been more equal. So that part really bugged me. You could definitely see his love for Dominic and how much what happened had hurt him. Dominic I liked him but did not love him for Kid. I just felt like what he had done was really bad and I could see why Kid felt the way he did. Getting to see Bear and Kid interact together was hilarious too. The way Kid and Bear interact is so funny I laughed so hard there were tears in my eyes on all the parts we get to see them together. So I really want to say I loved this book but with the way everything went down it knocked it down a star for me.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.

Kara

I enjoyed reading this book and revisiting the characters Bear, Otter, Tyson, and Dom (I still don't get the weird nicknames though). There were a new cast of characters added to the crazy mix that was fun and interesting to meet, like Sandy the drag queen, Kori-Corrie, the bi-gender smart a** who is Ty's ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, and Paul, a manic who has more problems then Bear and Ty, but is awesome because he has a dog with two legs named Wheels.

And so, I think they each brought something different and special to the story, although I felt some were just a bit too much and I found myself skipping the extra dialogue so I could just find out what was happening withTyson and Dom, for example, I skipped over scenes between Tyson and Corrie-Kori, as well as parts between Tyson and the secondary characters, such as Sandy. They were just needless page fillers that annoyed me sometimes. I don't even want to get into the inner dialogue and how difficult some of it was to read, for example, Tyson uses inner dialogue to tell a lot of back-story, which I sort of get the necessity of, but it was exhausting to keep up with and I may have skimmed some of it as well. Although, I found Tyson's inner dialogue hilarious and awesome at times; there were so many times I found myself smiling or even wanting to laugh out loud while reading Tyson's thoughts. Anyone who deals with ADHD can relate to this poor kid and his brother.

However, for the most part I enjoyed the story and I loved reading about Tyson & Dom. I cared for them and I was interested in what was happening to them. Unfortunately, I didn't always understand the character's motivations, for example, if Dom knew he and Ty were always "inevitable", then why have him go and begin a relationship with Stacy? I would have enjoyed the story more if Dom had stayed faithful to a point and maybe got some one-night -stand pregnant when Ty left, instead of falling for this Stacy and even going as far as marring her. I just hated that scenario. Dom didn't seem to really love Ty or believe they were destined to end up together. This part made me resent Dom and even Ty for feeling like it was his fault for leaving. He was 15, and wasn't ready for Dom then. Dom should have ended it with Stacy when he saw what it did to Ty before he left for college. Okay, rant over.
In conclusion, the book is good, in my opinion, and I highly recommend you buying it and giving Tyson and Dom a chance. I gave it 5 stars because in-spite of everything I didn't like about the book, there was so much I loved about it. I loved the betrayal and the redemption qualities in the story, I loved the message about families sticking together, but mostly I loved that happily ever after doesn't always happen the way we think it does. Sometimes the earth just shakes and we need those special people in our lives who know how to stick through the good times and the bad times. That's what I loved about the book the most. The characters were memorable, I enjoyed most of the plot, and it I was sad when I finished it. That's when I know I had a good experience with a book, when I hate to read the last page and I experienced the same emotions as the characters I'm reading.

Ok, seriously, TJ Klune books should come with a box of tissues!! I have missed these characters. Every one of them. And it was awesome that some folks from another TJ Klune book were brought into the mix. Ty and Dom's story, wow, not sure where to start except to say it put me through every emotion and then some. But it wouldn't be a TJ Klune story if it didn't. Ty is still as funny and as heartbreaking as he ever has been. Several times I wanted to say, "Please don't do what I think you're going to do!" Dom is sweet and has the patience of a saint. I wish we could read the story from his point of view. It would be interesting to get his take on things, especially when everything happens to him once Ty goes to college.

And the epilogue! I am SO happy knowing we get to visit with this group one more time. Still not ready to say good-bye to them!

Ok, after reading the third epic of this series (please T.J, please don't fix it as four of them)
what I found are :

1) Bare is still the cutest being in the world.(and Yes. I do missed you, Bear)
2) Bare has the cutest panic thought in the galaxy. Like Ty said, it's so amazing how Bare get there.
But hey, he has his reasons and his paths...(just always made me laugh to dead)
3) Otter is the most patient and sweetest and tenderest person in the universe (I'm really jealous of you, Bear!).
He is my favourite character in the series. Simple but deep in dimensions.
4) I've been so busy crying and laughing at the nearly same time as before.
5) I want to hug my brother so sudden.
6) This book is a kind of the Kid's autobiography to me...not that much of a romance novel(is it?).
A bit too much flashbacks, a bit too much distractions, a bit too less story about Ty and Dom at the present.
7) I still have question about Dom's actions and the result, cause I considered that a kind of betrayal too.
I found myself might react the same as Ty's...according to what all Dom had said on that party day.
8) Creed, I Love You!!! (laugh)
9) Please...I want to observe the end of the world phenomenon. Please arrange the meeting between
Bare and Paul ❤ (laugh)
10) and Vince, how I've missed you dear ❤
Your one simple reaction and question brightened the whole book so lovingly.

T.J's novel is so warm, so tender, so loving and it worths every minuite of reading time.
You just cannot put the book down. All the emotions are in his book, and especially this series.
All in all, I do love the book (a little less than the first 2, though. I thought those two were perfect in total balance
of story), and really happy to meet this funny and loving family again.
I will be happy to meet them many other times in the future too.

And, oh....what the epilogue is it...
You are so teasing person, T.J.!!! (and I love you)

A very long and satisfying read. All books should have such a lovely, build-up leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction that is rare. I loved the humour in this book, I was too busy reading the book, but for the first time ever I think I would have liked to stop and bookmark some of the most humourous moments in a romance book. This story will stay with me for a long long time and goes onto my re-read shelf. Kudos to the author for writing from the heart and a book for the romance reader that was both laugh out loud and heart breaking.

**There are spoilers in this review in regards to the first two books in the Bear, Otter, and the Kid series. There may be slight spoilers for The Art of Breathing.**

At the end of this book in the author’s note TJ Klune says: “They are not real, I know. Those three (referring to Bear, Otter, and Kid). The others. Creed. Anna and Mrs. Paquinn. Except that they are. I’ve known them for years. I know how they think. I know what they are scared of. What they love. What makes them happy.”

“Ursidae,” he says. “Mustelidae.” Bear. Otter. This is not their story. This is my own.

Yes, Mr. Klune, they are real. They are very real to your readers, your fans. We have watched them grow to be who they are. We watched Bear and Otter as they fought like hell to finally find their way to each other with every obstacle imaginable thrown in their path. We watched the Kid (Tyson) grow up from a scared little genius boy to being the scared adult we met in The Art of Breathing. We’ve been there through it all… through the hard times and the happy times. They’ve made us laugh out loud one minute and cry like babies the next. We’ve anxiously awaited their next story so we could see how far they’ve come. Bear’s (epic) coming out scene, Ty’s earthquakes, their mother, the introduction of Dominic, and Mrs. P. We’ve been there through it all and they will always be with us. The Art of Breathing was released at the perfect time, meaning quite awhile after Who We Are. It’s hard to see the Kid as a grown-up and even starting this, I felt that would be difficult for me to read. We’ve known him since he was a little boy and we’ve watched him grow up before our eyes. How would we handle an adult Tyson? The Kid having sex? In a relationship? No, not Ty. He’s just a child! I needn’t have worried. TJ Klune wrote the story brilliantly.

"Bear may be my rock, but Dom is the force that moves me."

Tyson met Dominic when he was nine and Dom was fifteen. Both having had difficult pasts, they bonded immediately and became the best of friends and Dom was accepted into the family without hesitation. We saw this happen in Who We Are and we also saw Ty’s heart get broken later when he planned a special birthday celebration for Dominic only for him to see something that caused another earthquake, an earthquake Bear was there to help him through. Bear has always been there. Ty’s rock, his protector, his brother, his surrogate father. Otter has always been there too but his brother is Papa Bear. Papa Bear would hurt anyone who dared harm his baby brother, the brother he has been caring for since their mother abandoned them when the Kid was a little boy. Bear and Otter are still the protective and loving ‘parents’ they have been since way back when. There’s Bear’s ADHD and (often) overreacting, but he would take a bullet for those he loves in a heartbeat. There’s Otter and his strength and endless amounts of patience. Then there is the Kid, Tyson. Tyson just wants to rule the world. *grin*

Tyson is sixteen and the family is leaving the Green Monstrosity (and Dom) to move to New Hampshire for Tyson to attend Dartmouth University. Leaving is hard but it’s the right thing to do, right? He was accepted into an Ivy League school at a young age. He will be doing what he’s always wanted to do. He should be thrilled.

"All I need to do is breathe. Just breathe. In. Hold for three seconds. I don’t want to go in the bathtub today. Out. Hold for three seconds. There are no earthquakes. I do not shake. In. Hold for three seconds. I am not having a panic attack. I am above it. Out. Hold for three seconds. Everything is fine. Everything is fine."

But he’s not thrilled.

All he wanted was to be asked not to go. Sure, he knows it’s not realistic but what teen thinks realistically? Not long after starting college – and leaving Dominic behind – something happens that forces Tyson in a downward spiral. It’s so devastating to him that he refuses to see or speak with his best friend for a very long time. No visits home. No calls made or accepted. His refusal to see Dom when he flew out to try to fix things. Nothing.

The Art of Breathing takes us back – almost all the way back – to where it all began. It is a gradual build from Tyson as a young boy (and meeting Dom for the first time) to him coming back home to Seafare, Oregon, years later, when things didn’t go quite the way he expected when he took off for university. At almost twenty, Ty is not the same person he was at sixteen. He’s broken. He’s lost. He’s a recovering addict. The panic attacks – or earthquakes, as he and Bear call them – are still a very big part of his life. When he comes back home he has his former girlfriend slash boyfriend Corey/Kori with him. Corey/Kori is bigendered and whether he/she is Corey or Kori depends on the character’s emotional place at that particular time. I fell in love with both. You can not meet this character and not fall head over heels in love. Corey/Kori’s story needs to be told and I have no doubt it will be later down the road. I hope so anyway.

Coming home after so long away is difficult for Ty and there is always the fear of running into his former best friend, Dom. Dom had his own issues while Ty was away and his life is completely different from how it was four years before. Both Dom and Tyson broke my heart. Hell, the entire book broke my heart. When Ty sees Dom for the first time in a long time, it doesn’t go well (to put it mildly). Dom has secrets that come out (at the worst possible time) and Ty is once again that lost child he has been running from. That’s what Ty does….. runs. Or at least that’s what he says he does. Personally, I didn’t see it as running. I saw him being hurt by one of the people he thought he could trust above all others and choosing to not to be slapped in the face with that pain. Granted, had he dealt with things earlier he would not have been in the state he was in at twenty, but I’m like Bear, very protective. You can’t not be protective of Ty.

"I realize that I’m in love with my best friend: Bear’s going to s*** himself silly when he finds out about this. It’s impossible. It can’t be like this. It’s not supposed to be like this. But it’s inevitable."

Dom and Tyson’s relationship is a very slow build. Sure, they were best friends for years but it takes a lot for them to get back where they were, or hell, even more than what they were. The same cast of characters we’ve grown to love are back – Anna and Creed, and now we have their little boy, JJ. JJ is a blast and so is Creed. I’ve not made it a huge secret that I’ve never been Creed’s biggest fan, but he wormed his way into my heart a little in this book. Mrs. P is still there in her own way and each time she was mentioned I got teary. She was more Ty and Bear’s mother than their biological one ever was and my heart hurts even now over how she was taken away in Who We Are.

Other characters are introduced to Ty and Bear’s world, though they aren’t new to TJ Klune’s loyal fans. Vince and Paul and Helena Handbasket (from Tell Me It’s Real) and even Daddy from the same story is there. I so can’t wait to see Helena Handbasket (aka Sandy) have her own story. We know who her man will be. Now we wait for the author to write their HEA. We can’t forget Johnny Depp, the homophobic parrot, and Wheels, the two legged dog of Paul’s. All of these characters (as well as the ones we know and love from Bear and Otter’s world) are very important to The Art of Breathing and each help Ty and Dom in their own way. I can’t wait to see Paul and Bear meet. That will be an experience for the readers. They are so much alike that it’s scary. Can you just picture them trying to talk over each other? I laugh now thinking about it.

“My word,” Sandy says with a purr. “The boys just must be all over you. Honey, you should seriously consider just tattooing ‘twink’ across your forehead and ‘open for business’ across your ass. It’d save you a lot of trouble.”

The title of this book is fitting and all who have followed this story from the beginning will understand it. For those who don’t, it’s all about Ty learning how to just breathe. There’s more meaning behind it but you had to watch Tyson grow up in order to understand the seriousness of him needing to learn how to just breathe. Bear and Otter and Dom are the only people who understand it and who can help him through his episodes, though he must find a way to do it on his own before he can move forward, not only in his life, but with Dominic.

This is classic TJ Klune. If you’ve ever read even one story by him you know that he can have you giggling out loud in one paragraph and crying ugly tears the next. The closer it came to release date the more GIFS and photos I saw on social media of a box of tissues. You seriously need them with this story. Ty has a lot of problems he must overcome and each one had this particular reader crying like a little girl. Bear and Otter’s story was hard, but this is the Kid – Tyson – the little boy we’ve watched grow up and who we’ve grown to love over the years. You want to reach into the book and just hold him until his earthquakes go away. You want to grab Dom (and a female character who is central to the story) and just shake them. You want to just fix everything for the Kid. Bear tries, as do the others, but in the end Tyson knows that in order to be ‘whole’ he must do it himself. Watching him do it was one of the hardest and most satisfying things I’ve ever read.

"Here are the places of my youth. Here are the things I’ve tried to forget. Here they all are, spread out around me, and it’s like I’ve never left. Here is where it all began. And here is where it begins again."

I always worry about sequels, especially in a series I love as I do this one. I loved Who We Are even more than Bear, Otter, and the Kid, but this is Ty! The Kid! What if the author didn’t do right by him? Not only did he do right by our favorite eco-terrorist in training, but he had me cheering for the young man all the way to the end.

Other things of note about The Art of Breathing -

- I may never eat meat again. Carl the cow. Enough said.
- Tyson is still capable of writing epic poetry, even if it now makes me cry instead of giggle.
- The Epilogue. I swear I love Bear more every single time he’s on-page. The ending was absolutely brilliant. Not surprising (come on, you saw that coming a mile away!) but still excellent. I am thrilled to know there will be more to the story.
- I don’t know the last time I cried like I did reading this book. TJ Klune writes emotions well.
- I don’t know the last time I laughed like I did reading this book. Not many can write humor the way TJ Klune does.
- The dedication. It’s dedicated to one of our own, Eric Arvin, and the love of TJ’s life. I had tears running down my face before I ever got to the first chapter.

Dom and Ty, though it takes awhile to get there, do ultimately come together. It is beautiful. There is still a bit of a road ahead for them to truly be where they need to be but no doubt they will someday be where Bear and Otter are. I look forward to being along for the ride.

“You didn’t make me gay, Bear. You’re not some kind of gay fairy princess who can magically turn others into homos by shooting rainbows out your ass. That’s not how it works. You of all people should know that.”

Note that if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you won’t appreciate everything Ty must overcome in this one. I feel that you should start from the beginning and see everything that leads to The Art of Breathing. Otherwise, I don’t think you will get the emotions portrayed in it.

Another outstanding addition to the Bear, Otter, and the Kid world. I can’t wait to see where our favorite family goes next.

I love the cover.

Review (slightly edited) originally published on ontopdownunderbookreviews.com.

You promised there would be more after this, Mr. Klune and, so help me, you better be telling the truth! These are the types of characters that cause attachments. I want them to be real, I want to know everything!

As always this authors is amazing i love this series. I laughed i cried and i laughed again. Can't wait for the final book but yet I'm sad knowing the series is ending. Tj klune is a awesome person.and a amazing author. I not only love this v series c but all of his other books as well. You know if it's a great book when you read the book more then once. Bravo tj klune. This book rocks. If the audio was a lower price i would have that also. U rock.

Another fantastic book by Tj Klune. The Bear, Otter and the Kid series is a journey filled with laughter, rants, questionable poetry and even tears. This third installment is even better than the first two. If there was a pre-order option for everything he wrote, I would be clicking it.

Thank u Tj Klune. The Art of Breathing was phenomenal. I already had tears in my eyes, when I read your dedication for Eric. I loved the book and I can't wait for you to write the next book about this loveable, crazy family. I love them all sooo much. They are like family to me. It isn't just a book. That u promise to come back one last time is the best gift of ..... I think u just made my year....

The best of the three stories about Bear, Otter and the Kid and a must read for anyone who loves to laugh, cry and loose themselves in a great story about love and life. I have not enjoyed reading a book this much in a long, long time. You will not be disappointed at all, except knowing that you have to wait for the next chapter of their lives to be published. Thank you TJ Klune for your wonderful story telling and sharing it with us...

Fantastic sequel which hit all the right buttons! Like all things extraordinary you wanted to savour it and dreaded reaching the conclusion and saying goodbye to Tyson and co who are like part of your family! Beautifully written! No writer comes close to TJ when it comes to mixing laugh out loud humor with heart&soulbreaking poignancy. Just beautiful!! Cannot wait for the next instalment