Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I haven't read any of Steve Kluger before and might be in the minority of readers/viewers of having never seen "500 days" so was unsure what the tone of his writing would be like.
Almost like being in love is very sweet and,but It wasn't a 5 *. I know that for some readers this is in their favourite M/M books of all time.
I liked we got to see the two characters and both sides of the story, the format was cute and I liked Travis checklist ( fellow list maker!). The yearning and love both Travis and Craig had was so beautiful,worldly and descriptive. I think the element that was off for me was Craigs Partner and the fact that Craig still yearned for Travis but Craig's partner was almost at times an afterthought and an annoyance . The ending was cute and I glad it played out like I hoped but again like his partner was quickly swept aside by the first love.
A little thing that bugged me was that they never explained to each other why they just stopped, they just thought the other gave up. I think if I meet my first love with no contact over the years I would explain what my feelings and thoughts were that lead to me severing that connection. It was their Catalyst to their end.
All in all, though, this is a major feel story. I give 4.3! Definitely a classic.
Almost like being in love is very sweet and,but It wasn't a 5 *. I know that for some readers this is in their favourite M/M books of all time.
I liked we got to see the two characters and both sides of the story, the format was cute and I liked Travis checklist ( fellow list maker!). The yearning and love both Travis and Craig had was so beautiful,worldly and descriptive. I think the element that was off for me was Craigs Partner and the fact that Craig still yearned for Travis but Craig's partner was almost at times an afterthought and an annoyance . The ending was cute and I glad it played out like I hoped but again like his partner was quickly swept aside by the first love.
A little thing that bugged me was that they never explained to each other why they just stopped, they just thought the other gave up. I think if I meet my first love with no contact over the years I would explain what my feelings and thoughts were that lead to me severing that connection. It was their Catalyst to their end.
All in all, though, this is a major feel story. I give 4.3! Definitely a classic.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I started this book only because it was immediately available on Libby and I needed something to read asap.
This story is so touching and also stressful because for much of it I just could not see how there would be a happy ending. The style is so unique and engaging, but I do not recommend reading the ebook on a phone—it makes the formatting all screwy. It was a headache to follow until I got used to it.
I didn’t think I’d like this as much as I did. All of the characters are delightful in their own ways, and I want the best for all of them.And I’m glad the get it in the end.
This story is so touching and also stressful because for much of it I just could not see how there would be a happy ending. The style is so unique and engaging, but I do not recommend reading the ebook on a phone—it makes the formatting all screwy. It was a headache to follow until I got used to it.
I didn’t think I’d like this as much as I did. All of the characters are delightful in their own ways, and I want the best for all of them.
If there was ever a book that deserved more than 5 stars this is it. Not only was it one of the sweetest love stories ever but so funny I was laughing out loud through out the whole book. I could rave about this book so much but I could never do it justice. If you haven't read it yet then your missing out. It is so worth the time and money.
ETA For a funny book it still surprises me how much I cry. I still love this book as much as the first time I read it. Travis is so sweet and funny. Craig is sweet and steady. The rest of the cast are lovable and amusing. The ending is perfect but I still remember how scared I was the first time reading, and even knowing the ending I still had a knotted stomach and a few tears. This really is a perfect romance <3
ETA For a funny book it still surprises me how much I cry. I still love this book as much as the first time I read it. Travis is so sweet and funny. Craig is sweet and steady. The rest of the cast are lovable and amusing. The ending is perfect but I still remember how scared I was the first time reading, and even knowing the ending I still had a knotted stomach and a few tears. This really is a perfect romance <3
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
emotional
funny
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:
No
Read as part of BooksandLala's Buzzwordathon - “like”
Okay.
So is this book, and particularly Travis Puckett, utterly unhinged? Yes.
Is this book a masterpiece that I would rate five stars based on writing alone? No.
Does this story wrap up with way too many pretty bows? Yes.
Is it, based on the nature of the detail and the generosity with which Steve Kluger handles his characters and their actions, intensely obvious that this is at least loosely inspired by a real love story, either lost or ongoing? Yes. And is that quite unsettling? Well, yes.
However, much like Craig McKenna at a certain point of this story…
…I could not for the life of me stop giggling and kicking my feet, and this is easily one of my favourite, if not my top favourite read of the year.
The chemistry between Craig and Travis is so electric and fun, and makes any existing or potential romantic interest immediately detestable, whether their innocuous or indeed quite likeable or not. Their respective non-romantic relationships are also wonderful, including a precocious child who somehow is just delightful and not annoying?
This is all told through mixed media, which is mostly clever even if the journal entries are a huge stretch, and jumping between Craig and Travis’s teenage love, lust, and loss, and where their lives stand 20 years later. It generally works well.
Despite this being a silly romantic comedy, this book also addresses the issues that would realistically face gay men coming of age in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and the changes in circumstance and continued need for change that community was experiencing in 1998.
A real pleasure to read, and a story I’m excited to re-visit soon. Unapologetic five stars.
And I’m just saying - if you enjoy a story about a jock and a nerd falling hard and fast in high school, realising there’s something between them at least a month after there’s 100% something between them, them bending their lives into pretzels to live in each other’s pockets, the jock being a huge softie with a strong sense of justice and an ease with children and a fascination with sparkly blue eyes, the nerd lacking a lot of self confidence and as a result ending up being a serial plaything for morally grey people, and an ongoing, heartwarming sense of inevitability… well this one is definitely for you.
Remember—you’re the one who wanted a love story:
Boy meets boy when they’re both 17. They fall for one another like a ton of bricks. Then they head for college on opposite coasts and never see each other again.
Twenty years later, one of them wakes up and smell the coffee. All he can think about is that first kiss—so he puts his whole life on hold and starts out on a coast-to-coast hunt for the boyfriend.
That’s all you get for now. I don’t want to give away the ending yet.
Will it work?
Okay.
So is this book, and particularly Travis Puckett, utterly unhinged? Yes.
Is this book a masterpiece that I would rate five stars based on writing alone? No.
Does this story wrap up with way too many pretty bows? Yes.
Is it, based on the nature of the detail and the generosity with which Steve Kluger handles his characters and their actions, intensely obvious that this is at least loosely inspired by a real love story, either lost or ongoing? Yes. And is that quite unsettling? Well, yes.
However, much like Craig McKenna at a certain point of this story…
I haven’t stopped smiling in three hours.
Uh-oh.
…I could not for the life of me stop giggling and kicking my feet, and this is easily one of my favourite, if not my top favourite read of the year.
The chemistry between Craig and Travis is so electric and fun, and makes any existing or potential romantic interest immediately detestable, whether their innocuous or indeed quite likeable or not. Their respective non-romantic relationships are also wonderful, including a precocious child who somehow is just delightful and not annoying?
This is all told through mixed media, which is mostly clever even if the journal entries are a huge stretch, and jumping between Craig and Travis’s teenage love, lust, and loss, and where their lives stand 20 years later. It generally works well.
Despite this being a silly romantic comedy, this book also addresses the issues that would realistically face gay men coming of age in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and the changes in circumstance and continued need for change that community was experiencing in 1998.
A real pleasure to read, and a story I’m excited to re-visit soon. Unapologetic five stars.
And I’m just saying - if you enjoy a story about a jock and a nerd falling hard and fast in high school, realising there’s something between them at least a month after there’s 100% something between them, them bending their lives into pretzels to live in each other’s pockets, the jock being a huge softie with a strong sense of justice and an ease with children and a fascination with sparkly blue eyes, the nerd lacking a lot of self confidence and as a result ending up being a serial plaything for morally grey people, and an ongoing, heartwarming sense of inevitability… well this one is definitely for you.
”Do you love me?” he countered.
“Down to my toes.”
“Then shut up.”
I'm a huge shipper of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. This being the case, I love and have reread The Shoebox Project twenty times or so. Reading this book felt very similar in tone and how those fanfic writers portrayed Lupin and Black. That is to say, I fucking loved this book a whole lot.
I really, REALLY loved Travis and Craig's relationship. The slow-burn from friends to more than made the romance feel so much more earned and natural. My favorite aspect of their relationship is how they each picked up each other's interests and that is carried through to their midlife. It wasn't just a quick, gotta learn about this thing so I can get into their pants kind of thing. I also loved that this combined sports, primarily baseball, and musical theater. The depth of Travis' love was DEEP so his passion didn't feel stereotypical. (And social justice!)
And, I just need to say, I loved Travis, his quirks and flaws and overactive imagination and just everything about him as a character. I loved how the action was usually caused by his trying to do something and it going comically wrong, in the most Frasier way possible. It's also fun to read because this is set before social media and smart phones, so Travis trying to track Craig down was frustratingly difficult, but still entertaining. While reading, I was like 'OH YEAH, he can't just Google him," a lot. It made me feel so much more for the characters, and appreciate the luxury of being able to communicate and form communities so quickly.
Something I really appreciated in the last chunk of plot was just how happy Clayton and Craig were together and Travis' genuine turmoil between trying to win back his first love and ruining something he shouldn't. It reminded me of Amy Spalding's Kissing Ted Callahan (and other boys) in that I really didn't know how it was going to play out, romantically.
The format of the book is in journals, letters, assignments, tests, etc. This made it a little hard to really get into at first, but once I was in, I was hooked. I do wish it had been maybe just journal entries, as I was sometimes confused by the timeline. However, I really admire Kluger's ambition in having such varied components. It was a delightful, fun, heartwarming story about love, family, and community that I hope becomes more widely read.
I really, REALLY loved Travis and Craig's relationship. The slow-burn from friends to more than made the romance feel so much more earned and natural. My favorite aspect of their relationship is how they each picked up each other's interests and that is carried through to their midlife. It wasn't just a quick, gotta learn about this thing so I can get into their pants kind of thing. I also loved that this combined sports, primarily baseball, and musical theater. The depth of Travis' love was DEEP so his passion didn't feel stereotypical. (And social justice!)
And, I just need to say, I loved Travis, his quirks and flaws and overactive imagination and just everything about him as a character. I loved how the action was usually caused by his trying to do something and it going comically wrong, in the most Frasier way possible. It's also fun to read because this is set before social media and smart phones, so Travis trying to track Craig down was frustratingly difficult, but still entertaining. While reading, I was like 'OH YEAH, he can't just Google him," a lot. It made me feel so much more for the characters, and appreciate the luxury of being able to communicate and form communities so quickly.
Something I really appreciated in the last chunk of plot was just how happy Clayton and Craig were together and Travis' genuine turmoil between trying to win back his first love and ruining something he shouldn't. It reminded me of Amy Spalding's Kissing Ted Callahan (and other boys) in that I really didn't know how it was going to play out, romantically.
The format of the book is in journals, letters, assignments, tests, etc. This made it a little hard to really get into at first, but once I was in, I was hooked. I do wish it had been maybe just journal entries, as I was sometimes confused by the timeline. However, I really admire Kluger's ambition in having such varied components. It was a delightful, fun, heartwarming story about love, family, and community that I hope becomes more widely read.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a difficult read. I get what the idea was and I kind of liked the idea of having different types of notes etc. to tel the story, but it ended up being very tedious somehow.
Also, the story was much less romantic than expected. It ended up being quite cringe instead. The ending seemed rushed while some of the rest seemed too long.
Also, the story was much less romantic than expected. It ended up being quite cringe instead. The ending seemed rushed while some of the rest seemed too long.
A nerd and a jock fall in love at high school, then after a perfect summer together they lose touch. Twenty years later, after another disastrous relationship, Travis decides that Craig was possibly 'the one' and goes on a madcap trip to try and track him down. It's the cutest YA gay romance I've ever read; sweet and maybe a bit unrealistic but it's really enjoyable.