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aromarrie's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Classism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Grief
sarahmreads's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Reese, Heath, Gabriel, and Sal are as close as can be as the only out queer kids in their rural high school. They all depart on separate adventures the summer before their senior year, and it makes them test not only themselves, but their friendships and something much more blooming under the surface.
I liked this book. It was definitely a lighthearted story, with some more serious undertones about the brutality of overworking interns and the harsh realities about what is expected of you. I did like a few of the different plot lines, because it is split into each of the boys' point of views. I will admit that at first it was extremely hard to distinguish their voices. And even now after finishing the book, I still think it was hard to distinguish them. Sal was the one person who I could tell was speaking because he's more of the go-getter and refuses to admit that he's at his breaking point, which is like me.
I also liked that each story helps to develop each person for the better. The one person I didn't think really "improved" was Heath, but that's because he was in a more low stakes visit with family in comparison with the others. The others had good things to focus on and improve. What I thought was especially interesting was Gabriel and Sal's relationship, because it starts off with them already being friends with benefits and realizing that maybe it shouldn't continue. But when the time for that discussion comes, it felt really underdone? Like it's mentioned in the epilogue that it formed from a need, not something that was really "healthy," per say. But I do wish there would have been a bit more conflict there.
There was some hints of a potential homophobic altercation in the past, but it was never really truly in the forefront, which I appreciated. There are so many queer stories that put that trauma front and center, and to have a romantic book have it mentioned but not be a focal point was actually really refreshing.
I read this on my kindle so the formatting was really weird at times, especially with Reese's journal entries and the texts, but they were easy enough to decipher.
Golden Boys is a easy, queer-loving story perfect for anyone who just wants a quick romance and slice of life tale.
I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I liked this book. It was definitely a lighthearted story, with some more serious undertones about the brutality of overworking interns and the harsh realities about what is expected of you. I did like a few of the different plot lines, because it is split into each of the boys' point of views. I will admit that at first it was extremely hard to distinguish their voices. And even now after finishing the book, I still think it was hard to distinguish them. Sal was the one person who I could tell was speaking because he's more of the go-getter and refuses to admit that he's at his breaking point, which is like me.
I also liked that each story helps to develop each person for the better. The one person I didn't think really "improved" was Heath, but that's because he was in a more low stakes visit with family in comparison with the others. The others had good things to focus on and improve. What I thought was especially interesting was Gabriel and Sal's relationship, because it starts off with them already being friends with benefits and realizing that maybe it shouldn't continue. But when the time for that discussion comes, it felt really underdone? Like it's mentioned in the epilogue that it formed from a need, not something that was really "healthy," per say. But I do wish there would have been a bit more conflict there.
There was some hints of a potential homophobic altercation in the past, but it was never really truly in the forefront, which I appreciated. There are so many queer stories that put that trauma front and center, and to have a romantic book have it mentioned but not be a focal point was actually really refreshing.
I read this on my kindle so the formatting was really weird at times, especially with Reese's journal entries and the texts, but they were easy enough to decipher.
Golden Boys is a easy, queer-loving story perfect for anyone who just wants a quick romance and slice of life tale.
I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
Homophobic slur
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