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nicola949's review
5.0
From the opening line, "My name is Brian Patrick McAllister, and I am going to hell." and launch straight into the pastor's sermon, I knew this wouldn't be an easy book.
It is the story, told by 16 year old Brian, of his developing sexuality - his realisation that his feelings for his best friend Jamie, extend beyond simple friendship. These feelings aren't only sexual though, Brian and Jamie share a deep love for one another.
Living in a small town, Jamie's parents are deeply religious and Brian is a foster child, worried about losing the only home he has felt wanted in since losing his parents as a young boy.
The boys try come to terms with being gay while trying to hide their feelings for each other from other people. They live in fear of repercussions. The story tells of their pain and is really moving.
"My question is, if god hates gay people and God made us, why would He make people He hated? I thought God was supposed to love everybody? Is it a test? Why me? Why you?"............."I'm scared, Jamie".
Warning: there is no happy ending in this book, The ending is certainly motivation to get straight into the next book. Hopefully, with so many books in the series, Brian and Jamie will eventually get their happy ever after.
It is the story, told by 16 year old Brian, of his developing sexuality - his realisation that his feelings for his best friend Jamie, extend beyond simple friendship. These feelings aren't only sexual though, Brian and Jamie share a deep love for one another.
Living in a small town, Jamie's parents are deeply religious and Brian is a foster child, worried about losing the only home he has felt wanted in since losing his parents as a young boy.
The boys try come to terms with being gay while trying to hide their feelings for each other from other people. They live in fear of repercussions. The story tells of their pain and is really moving.
"My question is, if god hates gay people and God made us, why would He make people He hated? I thought God was supposed to love everybody? Is it a test? Why me? Why you?"............."I'm scared, Jamie".
Spoiler
Brian's foster mother Carolyn has a different view "Being gay,no matter what any of the small-minded people around here have to say, is nothing to be ashamed of. That's the way that God made you, and I doubt that He's ashamed of you."Warning: there is no happy ending in this book,
Spoiler
instead there is a tragic parting for Brian and Jamie. The epilogue also hints at the pain that Brian is going to face as the town now knows his secret.reenz38's review
4.0
I loved the innocence in this. It was all about the feeling and the emotion and I couldn't help but feel my heart break for Brian, going through everything and what I'm yet still to see because I know it's going to be a long, tired road.
I can't help but find myself wishing throughout this book that they had another with a 10 years later and thrown us into a future with them, making everything work. Lord knows that would be a great HEA for them.
On to the second in this series soon.
I can't help but find myself wishing throughout this book that they had another with a 10 years later and thrown us into a future with them, making everything work. Lord knows that would be a great HEA for them.
On to the second in this series soon.
naelany's review
5.0
I just want to scream right alongside Brian. Cry with him, hold him, and tell him everything will be okay in the end.
leovogel's review
4.0
This book, although fiction, reminds me how much I am repulsed at religion and the hatred it inspires.
jerseygirl2912's review
5.0
After I've read Aaron I wanted to read more from J.P. Barnaby. I liked the writing and the realness of the characters.
So I started the Little Boy Lost series.
And I wasn't disappointed.
I was unable to put the book down and I've started the second book of the series straight after finishing the first one.
It's well written. The characters are very real and believable. I got very emotional while reading the book. Sad and angry at some point.
I've not much reading experience of M/M romance so I was a bit surprised by the explicit sex scenes. But I liked it - they are well written and real.
A wonderful coming out/coming-of-age love story!
So I started the Little Boy Lost series.
And I wasn't disappointed.
I was unable to put the book down and I've started the second book of the series straight after finishing the first one.
It's well written. The characters are very real and believable. I got very emotional while reading the book. Sad and angry at some point.
I've not much reading experience of M/M romance so I was a bit surprised by the explicit sex scenes. But I liked it - they are well written and real.
A wonderful coming out/coming-of-age love story!
maya56's review
5.0
A beautifully written book depicting the love 16 year old Brian feels for his 17 year old best friend Jamie, set against the backdrop of the bible-belt South. J.P. Barnaby manages to realistically portray the agony, uncertainty, diffidence as well as the joy, elation and passion of first love. She also manages to capture the fear of discovery these young men must deal with in their small, closed-minded, intolerant town.
I'm not sure if this was planned by the author, but I found this book to be timeless, in that there is no mention of current popular culture that could date and therefore perhaps invalidate the story. In my mind the story could be set in the 1950s 1980s or 2011!
A definite RECOMMEND!
I'm not sure if this was planned by the author, but I found this book to be timeless, in that there is no mention of current popular culture that could date and therefore perhaps invalidate the story. In my mind the story could be set in the 1950s 1980s or 2011!
A definite RECOMMEND!
david_reads_books's review
4.0
Short book that starts this series. Jamie and Brian are 90+% of the focus on the writing. A couple other girls fall for the boys and the boys pretend to like them, to cover their tracks. I was not liking the ultra-conservative Jamie parents and the setting of the book. But, there is this reality out there. I did not like the must-read-series-necessity style ending. I did not like Emma's end-of-book comment about revenge - I just don't want to read about revenge/drama. Hmm...
The love expressed between Jamie and Brian was great to see via their kissing and constant hand-holding. I liked how their story made plainly clear that these actions that are COMPLETELY acceptable between heterosexual couples are completely disallowed in their simplest forms between same-sex couples (in their community). It was great that these two boys reconciled that God still loved them and they were supposed to be together.
The love expressed between Jamie and Brian was great to see via their kissing and constant hand-holding. I liked how their story made plainly clear that these actions that are COMPLETELY acceptable between heterosexual couples are completely disallowed in their simplest forms between same-sex couples (in their community). It was great that these two boys reconciled that God still loved them and they were supposed to be together.
kaje_harper's review
5.0
Only pick up this book if you are prepared to be unable to put it down and have the next three volumes close at hand. The narrator, Brian, will capture your imagination and your heart, and this first installment does not end happily. Well-written and emotionally-engaging, this series follows the main couple, two boys, Brian and Jamie,from 16 and 17 through the next two years. I do wish the sex scenes hadn't been so explicit, because although they are very true and real, the content puts this series out of the range I can comfortably recommend for YA readers. With a little more fade-to-black, it could have captured both adult and YA audiences. I also had a moment of personal discomfort over a sensual description of a 16-year-old's experience in my reading. But if you love YA characters and emotional stories this one is highly recommended.
jkh107's review
4.0
Brian, a high school junior who lives with his foster parents, finds himself falling in love with his best friend. Only Jamie's parents are very religious, and it isn't easy being gay in small town Alabama. So they hide their relationship--can that really work out?
calila's review
2.0
There's a reason the second book in this series, which I got free, has been on my unread list for so long. This was an okay read, and I'm sure for people with different tastes, not worse or better...just different, from me will really enjoy it. But I struggled with it. I like the main characters, but I wish they had been just a little older or something. I had a hard time remembering that they're 16 so of course they're don't behave the best all the time. I spent the whole book dreading the big discovery and was proven right. The writing isn't bad, but I just didn't click at all.
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