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jess_mango's review
4.0
This debut novel is set in 2015 in the time just after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Childhood friends Oscar and Sebastian run into each other at the wedding of a gay couple. The two men were best friends as kids but lost touch after Oscar and his family moved away. Both men are gay and they both have different feelings about the recent turn of events for LGBTQ+ Americans. Sebastian works as an English & Art History teacher at a high school, where he also supervises the LGBTQ student organization. In general he feels sad & lonely, having suffered a bad breakup recently. Sebastian is a little in awe and jealous of how much easier LGBTQ teens have it than when he was a teen. On the other hand, Oscar lives a bit more angry about recent events. He thinks gay men deciding to get married is a bit lame and just them trying to be more mainstream. He spends his nights pursuing hook-ups via apps or at clubs.
Both Oscar and Sebastian clearly want better connection with others and want to find their place in the world. They are past their youth and clearly into adulthood and neither seems sure what sort of life to live...what it means to be a gay man in modern society. Sebastian looks longingly at the life the LGBTQ teens at his school have while Oscar yearns for the crazy days of the 80s (which he was too young to live through as an adult).
The narrative alternates between Sebastian and Oscar's perspectives and in the audio book each part was done by a different narrator, each of whom was perfectly cast as Sebastian or Oscar. I really enjoyed this book and think it is an excellent debut novel. I will be keeping my eye on Zak Salih to see what else he publishes.
Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Both Oscar and Sebastian clearly want better connection with others and want to find their place in the world. They are past their youth and clearly into adulthood and neither seems sure what sort of life to live...what it means to be a gay man in modern society. Sebastian looks longingly at the life the LGBTQ teens at his school have while Oscar yearns for the crazy days of the 80s (which he was too young to live through as an adult).
The narrative alternates between Sebastian and Oscar's perspectives and in the audio book each part was done by a different narrator, each of whom was perfectly cast as Sebastian or Oscar. I really enjoyed this book and think it is an excellent debut novel. I will be keeping my eye on Zak Salih to see what else he publishes.
Thank you to the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
jxhnnykang's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chelsfox's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
booksaremypeople's review
4.0
This novel takes place in 2015, just weeks after the Supreme court marriage equality ruling. Sebastian is a high school art history teacher who admires how free his students are with their identity because he spent his youth trying to hide his queerness and being ashamed of it. He runs into his childhood friend, Oscar at a wedding in DC and childhood memories begin to flood Sebastian, but Oscar seems disinterested in revisiting their childhood. He feels like queerness that tries to become heteronormative goes against everything he’s been fighting for. Oscar holds on tightly to gay culture and sees how it’s diminishing as its being normalized and this troubles him. So these two men and former friends are philosophically at odds with one another, but their paths keep crossing. I thought this was a really moving, thoughts provoking and smart narrative. To learn more about this book about this book and to learn about my giveaway listen to Books Are My People episode #71.
judy_bagley's review
5.0
Let’s Get Back to the Party by debut author Zak Salih isn’t a book I will soon forget. Sebastian and Oscar reconnect at a wedding on the heels of Supreme Court marriage equality ruling. Once the best of friends, Sebastian and Oscar have little in common as adults. Sebastian craves a life in the suburbs, marriage and stability. Oscar is repulsed by the idea of marriage and settling down. Their paths, albeit different, continue to intersect. Salih’s characters are so real and raw and are ultimately looking for what we are all looking for-connection and community. This book is one of the best of the year for me!
ashhulksmash's review
1.0
Can't believe I convinced myself to finish this dull ass book about two sad for nothing gays who sexualize a child. This was a mess, a waste of my time, and truly awful. R.I.P. Sean.
aphonusbalonus's review
1.0
Mixed feelings. Need time to think. I really enjoyed the varied writing styles, I think that was unique and added a lot of perspective into who the characters were and what their personalities were like. Ultimately, both Oscar and Sebastian's storylines were interesting to read about, though they did fall into stereotypes, and their final catalyst together was entirely worth it. However, the Arthur storyline? UH, YUCK? I hated that so much. It was the worst. I was so uncomfortable. And maybe that is the point, but STILL!
obsethedwithyou's review against another edition
4.0
Another recommendation from my friend Caroline, this book wasn’t exactly easy reading but was one I appreciated and learned a lot from. As someone who often feels like I “missed out” on a lot of milestones growing up because I was closeted until my senior year of college, I related to Sebastian and Oscar’s reflections of their youth. This was also the first piece of fiction I’ve read that goes into the emotional reflections of gay men from older generations living through the AIDS crisis and the gay rights movement. Not exactly the feel-good-gay-romance I usually go for, but an impactful read for sure.
gabrielleint's review
3.0
The prose in this was good and the plot was fine. Mostly I enjoyed this because it was about gay people tbh. I think there were some interesting ideas explored. Oscar’s rejection of the assimilation of gay couples post-Obergefell was really interesting. It’s a legitimate criticism, in that gay marriage does have assimilationist effects as it does try slotting gay couples—as much as is possible—into cisheteropatriarchy. It does feel a little out of touch as a criticism now, as Obergefell is on the chopping block with every other human right. My country for a world in which we don’t have to stop having interesting conversations about queer life without risking losing an extremely basic civil right.
Sebastian’s obsession with an out gay high school student he teaches was less interesting to me. I didn’t like how obsessed he got with Arthur also. Kind of weird. But ultimately Sebastian as a character fell flat for me.
I also don’t know how I feel about Sean Stokes ending up getting married. I get it, but also it was sort of hamfisted lol.
Sebastian’s obsession with an out gay high school student he teaches was less interesting to me. I didn’t like how obsessed he got with Arthur also. Kind of weird. But ultimately Sebastian as a character fell flat for me.
I also don’t know how I feel about Sean Stokes ending up getting married. I get it, but also it was sort of hamfisted lol.