Both Sides of the Fence (Both Sides of the Fence #1) by M.T. Pope

Both Sides of the Fence (Both Sides of the Fence #1) Reviews

• 
  Landa

  Wow!!! Yep I'm looking for the next one!
• 
  Kat

  A colleague recommended this to me, and out of respect for her with the hope to contribute to literary conversation, I finished the book. While I applaud the author for penning this undeniable page turner, it was a traumatic train wreck for me. I noticed a plot hole in the beginning that could have completely changed the story arc. (I.E. The protagonist black mailer addressed the wife by her name when he was pretending to not know her or her husband. This wasn't addressed and made me question if it was a typo or reflection of the characters’ obliviousness.) With the exception of the children, the characters were all immature with no agency. The over the top shock value of sexual violence numbs reader to the suffering of the unlikable characters, and after a while became predictable, grotesque, and unsexy. While the ending is a small ounce of justice it lacked complete justice. More people needed to go to be held accountable for rape, and everyone needed psychiatric help to deal with their hang ups. The moral of the story involves honesty, which I would think should be standard for a married couple, even with one’s unorthodox sexual desires. I mean if you can't be sexually liberated with the person you choose to spend your whole life with then why marry them? You can't let the opinions of others rule or ruin your happiness forever. Perhaps it's a sign of the time this was written that infidelity with a man in lieu of a woman was such a source of a shame that it steered every ill fated decision. I felt the over emphasis that he wasn't cheating “with another woman” as excessive. This book truly thought me the extremes people would go to to hide their sexuality, which is ridiculous in my opinion.
  
  Trigger Warnings: Incest, sexual violence, rape, and internalised homophobia.
• 
  Barbara

  BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE by MT Pope is a captivating story that will have you reading and not wanting to put down. You will laugh and have so many OMG moments. This book has it all scandal, seduction, secrets and lies.
  
  James is a bi-sexual who has been hurt from previous lovers. James set out for revenge, using anyone that crosses his path to maintain his luxurious lifestyle. .James is very manipulative and conniving and will do anything to get what he wants.
  
  Shawn is a married man with two children and a beautiful wife Mona. Shawn’s sexual appetite is in the down low lifestyle. Unfortunately, Shawn and his family becomes James new target, as he weaves in web of lies, deception, and drama that unravels more secrets than you could ever imagine.
  
  Mona has a secret she has been keeping from her husband as well. She suspects that Shawn is seeing another woman .Just when she feels things are going well between her and Shawn. Someone from her past comes into the picture and threatens to destroy her marriage.
  
  Author M.T. Pope all I can say is WOW. I read this book in one day; once I started I just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. The story line was excellent and true. The characters were great. I love how each chapter was focus on a character. I loved how there were so many events that I did not see it coming.
  
  M.T. Pope has talent and he did a good job with his novel Both Sides of the Fence. The story was entertaining; fast paced and held my attention from the first page. If you are looking for a good book with lot of drama. I highly recommend this book.
  
• 
  Peaceful

  This book was crazy. It's not for everyone since it highlights the "down low" lifestyle, and it's "in your face" graphic. With that said, the drama was endless and kept my interest. I will read the next installment soon. My only complaint was that the book wasn't edited. I know it's "urban," but come on!
• 
  Juanesia

  A scandalous jaw dropping page turner!! I've been away from the paperback side of things for a bit but, this one certainly had me stuck from the very first page until the last. Both sides of the fence had me experiencing emotions that I couldn't even fathom. If you haven't picked it up, you don't know what you're missing. On to the next installment! Whew!!
• 
  Kendell That'sMe

  This book was truly a page turner!...
• 
  Tameeka Mo'Nique C'Mor Kitt'e

  Far from average this book is a-GOTTA HAVE IT! Two snaps and a twist, one I'm sure you truly won't miss..Get your Copy...COPY!
• 
  Jacqueline Carter

  First paperback that I have read since I got my kindle in 2012. Omg this was worth it. I'm getting ready to read part 2 . Can't wait to see what James will be up to next.
• 
  KamariLyrikal

  This is another book that I am unable to rate due to the very sensitive subjects and my personal experiences.
  
  I have read some disturbing books but this one is definitely one of the MOST disturbing. I am okay with the downlow lifestyle discussion but the Rape, Child molestation and Father/Son relationships in this book are HORRIBLE!!! The open and blatant disrespect that is shown is mind blowing -- and NOT in a good way.
  
  This has to be somewhat based off a true story which makes it so much harder to read.
  
  I wanted to add all these characters to my prayer request list even though they aren't real. I don't know how I made it through the whole book -- it was rough. I will not be reading part 2.
• 
  Germaine

  Oh, wow! Talking about a great book discussing the down low lifestyle. M.T. Pope did his thing with this book. I couldn't wait to read all of the books in Both Sides of the Fence series. The characters were great and the plot kept thickening. I didn't want to put the book down.
• 
  Alison is probably reading smut

  Was kind of hesitant starting this book from the beginning because of the summary on the back, but once I noticed it was recommended from Ashley & JaQuavis, I knew it would turn out to be an excellent read. It was definitely entertaining, well written, and easy to binge read (my favorite kind of books!) Love how each chapter goes into each characters point of view. Definitely looking forward to reading the sequel.
• 
  Liv

  A bit too much anal rape for me…..
• 
  Jay DeMoir

  this was a very wild and intense story that seemed to cross many lines and was on the verge of being disgusting... It was a lot. I won't be finishing this series.
• 
  Lee Smith-Cusaac

  Just started this on audible- the book has me interested enough to keep reading, but the narration is terrible - I'm sorry, it is T E R R I B L E - I have been wanting to read the book for month's and ended up having to request it through ILL ( interlibrary loan), through my local library branch, as this book (1), is the only book that they don't have - so I can finish it and push through with books 2/3/& 4 , but this narrator takes away from the author's craft, sorry, not sorry, and it really makes me want to return the audiobook and get (1) my credit back & just read it on my kindle. Sometimes it's just easier for me to listen when I can't focus on reading the book. This is really a shame.
• 
  Boyinblue

  I'm no stranger to urban fiction and find myself thoroughly enjoying it, especially ones that feature LGBTQIA characters. So I went in expecting a pretty good time. Of course the sex scenes and sexual content does not at all disappoint... for the most part. I want to avoid spoilers so anyone who has read or will read this story should understand what I mean.
  
  I haven't quite finished yet but I can say that the story is pretty interesting, if not very different from other novels about up to three black leads with one as the obvious morally deviant one. However, I did appreciate the vastly different viewpoints each of the three lead characters: Shawn, James and Mona, and each POV was definitely a completely different entity of their own.
  
  My main criticism, aside from some of the idiotic choices of the non-antagonistic leads which plays right into the villain's hands, is the terrible grammar. I know, I know, this is a pretty petty thing to bitch about, but as someone who is very experienced with literature and the English language it almost takes me out of the story when I word is misspelled or used in the wrong way (one glaring example was something that SHOULD have said 'I rode the elevator' instead saying 'I road the elevator'). A few typos is no big deal to me, shy happens, but when it happens almost every other chapter and more than a few times in the chapter it occurs, Houston we have a problem. It makes me not blame the writer, again shit happens, but it makes me wonder how and why the publisher approved the finished product.
  
  Overall, I am enjoying this story and hope that the two 'good' leads can get their shit together and turn the tables on the obvious villain.
• 
  Ti'Africia Lucas- Woodard

  This is a captivating story that will have you reading and not wanting to put down. It had me laughing and has so many OMG moments. This book has it all scandal, seduction, secrets and lies. I read this book really not knowing what to expect from the title but once I started, I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. The story line was excellent and true. The characters were great. Each chapter was from a point of few from a character. I loved how everything was unpredictable. The story held my attention from the first page. It was so entertaining and fast paced with so much DRAMA. I recommend this book to anyone that loves to read. ~5 stars~
• 
  Rebecca

  This book was to much. Everyone had secrets. They were falling out everywhere. I really enjoyed reading this book. James was doing way to much with his life. Shawn had a lot of things going on with him too but could have been worked past if he would just open up to his wife. I would recommend this book.
• 
  Diane Rembert

  Meet James, the male version of Monica from the My Woman His Wife series. I have to tell you that I have not come across a book of this caliber in a long time! M.T. Pope definitely delivered in this novel. These people are absolutely CRAZY!!! I will put my neck on the line and say that he is the next E. Lynn Harris... only grittier! On to part 2!
• 
  Erica L

  This book was so juicy and exciting! M.T. Pope can spin a story! All the twists and turns...I LOVED IT! Now, I am not the one that reads books if they have a part 2,3,4,5,6,7, and so on, but I am on my way to get "Both Sides Of The Fence 2 right now!
• 
  Delonya

  Way too much of the storyline was unbelivable.
• 
  Robyn

  Ugh. Horrible novel. I'm still not sure why I even bothered finishing this one. Boredom maybe? Insanity. It was a complete waste of time.
• 
  Monica Mann

  Very good read. I couldn't put it down.
• 
  Ashley

  Great story, but I can't stand a book with a bunch of typo's.
• 
  Janna

  This book was very raw and hardcore. Don't read if you don't have an open mind! Over all it was very captivating and I couldn't put it down!
• 
  Shavonne

  Everybody in this book has something going on. A little too much, but I enjoyed reading it.