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bookswithline's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked this book definitely and the ending made up for most qualms I had with it. It was definitely slow at first, and I found myself struggling to get through the first two thirds of the book. I did love how the ending really wrapped everything up and showing the character development of both Tanner and Sebastian and what they learned from each other, influencing each other in ways they probably didn't even realize. This book is definitely good representation on religious trauma and being queer. I definitely see the appeal of this and how people really enjoy this book.
readwithkiekie's review
3.0
Originally I really enjoyed this book, but after some time to think on it I truly cannot give the book a higher rating than 3 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between Tanner and Sebastian and it was interesting reading about Mormon culture since it's not something I am used to. However, I really got annoyed at how Tanner treated his friend, especially when she was emotionally naïve. He took advantage of her and it stereo-typed Bisexual people on being "Greedy".
rnshack's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars
Christina Lauren are some of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. What a touching coming of age story that will stick with me for a very long time.
I love Tanner’s parents. They are the parents I think we all aspire to be. What a wonderful family.
This is a thoughtful book exploring how difficult it is to grow up gay in a super religious family and in a super religious town. Well done and thank you for this.
Christina Lauren are some of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. What a touching coming of age story that will stick with me for a very long time.
I love Tanner’s parents. They are the parents I think we all aspire to be. What a wonderful family.
This is a thoughtful book exploring how difficult it is to grow up gay in a super religious family and in a super religious town. Well done and thank you for this.
hannahloves2read14's review
5.0
So fucking good. Amazing bi rep. I wish I could read this book for the time over and over again.
heather1999's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
caitichoate's review
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
4 Stars
So here's the rub. This book is phenomenal in the writing, in the topical subject matter, in the strong feels and capturing first love in all its heady, unsure, obsessive intoxication. However, when it comes to religious intolerance and the inevitable self denial of one’s sexuality, that secret permeates everything with an insidious anxiety that may put a damper on some people’s overall enjoyment, no matter how big the love and romance is, no matter how amazing the story is.
I know it’s my old age that no longer has the patience for such, and I know that books like these need to be written, as an outlet, as a resource, as an example of hope and acceptance and validation. Even if you’re not a CLo fan, this book brings all that and more.
And….referencing the quote above, that’s kinda how I felt about this story. This has fabulous writing and apt angst portraying realistic barriers and issues regarding religious inflexibility in accepting LGBTQ members into their fold - specifically the Mormon faith. This is the main roadblock to Tanner and Sebastian, and though their coming together was so sweet, their conflict absolutely puts a damper on their burgeoning feelings, that Sebastian's faith has zero tolerance for any other interpretation on what love can be between two people if it’s not between a man and a woman.
Teen angst never hurt so good. Well…. you know what I mean. I will say that Tanner is a fabulous protagonist. He blends perfectly the innocence and earnestness of a young man who’s ready to fall wholeheartedly in love for the first time and deserves, like every teenager/young adult out there, to experience such without fear or recrimination. Despite his short 18 years, he grapples with many of the unfair issues that come up with him being attracted to Sebastian and vice versa, with a maturity that is particularly poignant and painful. This burgeoning crush has enough tentative insecurity and tender starts, that it doesn’t need the added burden where one has been taught his nontraditional feelings are wrong. Tanner shouldn’t have to deal with this. Sebastian shouldn’t have to either. Suffice it to say, this also contrasts two opposites of what a loving family does for their children. One is the epitome of total acceptance and nonjudgmental support. The other, predicated acceptance only if the doctrinated path is followed.
So yes, this is the ultimate in YA romance. Exploring and finding one’s identity in all its angsty glory, making grand gestures and grand mistakes. My heart hurt consistently throughout - this wasn’t a joy for me to read, especially with a tentative, albeit hopeful, HFN. However, CLo shows that they can move beyond fabulously smexy dirty to something heartfelt and important, and I certainly applaud that enthusiastically.
“I can’t tell if this feels good or terrible”
So here's the rub. This book is phenomenal in the writing, in the topical subject matter, in the strong feels and capturing first love in all its heady, unsure, obsessive intoxication. However, when it comes to religious intolerance and the inevitable self denial of one’s sexuality, that secret permeates everything with an insidious anxiety that may put a damper on some people’s overall enjoyment, no matter how big the love and romance is, no matter how amazing the story is.
I know it’s my old age that no longer has the patience for such, and I know that books like these need to be written, as an outlet, as a resource, as an example of hope and acceptance and validation. Even if you’re not a CLo fan, this book brings all that and more.
And….referencing the quote above, that’s kinda how I felt about this story. This has fabulous writing and apt angst portraying realistic barriers and issues regarding religious inflexibility in accepting LGBTQ members into their fold - specifically the Mormon faith. This is the main roadblock to Tanner and Sebastian, and though their coming together was so sweet, their conflict absolutely puts a damper on their burgeoning feelings, that Sebastian's faith has zero tolerance for any other interpretation on what love can be between two people if it’s not between a man and a woman.
Teen angst never hurt so good. Well…. you know what I mean. I will say that Tanner is a fabulous protagonist. He blends perfectly the innocence and earnestness of a young man who’s ready to fall wholeheartedly in love for the first time and deserves, like every teenager/young adult out there, to experience such without fear or recrimination. Despite his short 18 years, he grapples with many of the unfair issues that come up with him being attracted to Sebastian and vice versa, with a maturity that is particularly poignant and painful. This burgeoning crush has enough tentative insecurity and tender starts, that it doesn’t need the added burden where one has been taught his nontraditional feelings are wrong. Tanner shouldn’t have to deal with this. Sebastian shouldn’t have to either. Suffice it to say, this also contrasts two opposites of what a loving family does for their children. One is the epitome of total acceptance and nonjudgmental support. The other, predicated acceptance only if the doctrinated path is followed.
So yes, this is the ultimate in YA romance. Exploring and finding one’s identity in all its angsty glory, making grand gestures and grand mistakes. My heart hurt consistently throughout - this wasn’t a joy for me to read, especially with a tentative, albeit hopeful, HFN. However, CLo shows that they can move beyond fabulously smexy dirty to something heartfelt and important, and I certainly applaud that enthusiastically.