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bitchie's review
5.0
I didn't know what to expect going into this one. From the cover I expected a really young guy and a really older man and a kind of skeezy hookup. What I got was a coming of age story, and a brilliantly written romance. Tristan had been sleeping with just about every female he could since he was 14, but the day his girlfriend dumps him (via her own brother) all Tristan can think about is the brother. He comes up with a plan to hook up with a guy, to find out if he was gay or not. He comes up with a plan to hook up with a guy, to find out if he really is gay or not. Plans change though, when he ends up with the last man he expects, and falls head over heels in love.
Based on the first few pages of this book, I expected Tristan to be a bit of a punk, someone I tolerated. Boy was I wrong. This guy was truly an old soul. He gave up Stanford and Georgetown to stay home and help out his mom after his dad died. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and is basically the best kid you could ever hope to have- the kind of boy moms everywhere dream about having. I thoroughly enjoyed his relationship with Michael, watching them both come to love and trust each other. I loved Tristan's mother, who, while shocked, is totally supportive.
This book was sweet, romantic and also FUNNY. Some of the best lines I've ever read were in this book, along with probably the best Thanksgiving scenes I've ever read in any book. If tofu turkey is called tofurkey, what does that make tofu duck?
Based on the first few pages of this book, I expected Tristan to be a bit of a punk, someone I tolerated. Boy was I wrong. This guy was truly an old soul. He gave up Stanford and Georgetown to stay home and help out his mom after his dad died. He doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and is basically the best kid you could ever hope to have- the kind of boy moms everywhere dream about having. I thoroughly enjoyed his relationship with Michael, watching them both come to love and trust each other. I loved Tristan's mother, who, while shocked, is totally supportive.
This book was sweet, romantic and also FUNNY. Some of the best lines I've ever read were in this book, along with probably the best Thanksgiving scenes I've ever read in any book. If tofu turkey is called tofurkey, what does that make tofu duck?
ellejaoy's review
4.0
This wasn't as good as the other Z A Maxfeild book I'd read - mainly because there was less build to their relationship and more long term problems when they where together. I'm not complaining about the way it is wrote, but it just wasn't my type of book. I like to see how they get together more so it seemed quick me, rushed nearly. Although it worked out nicely in the end and I did like the characters!
ellejayz's review
4.0
This wasn't as good as the other Z A Maxfeild book I'd read - mainly because there was less build to their relationship and more long term problems when they where together. I'm not complaining about the way it is wrote, but it just wasn't my type of book. I like to see how they get together more so it seemed quick me, rushed nearly. Although it worked out nicely in the end and I did like the characters!
messyreading's review
2.0
I'm sorry to say this was probably my least favority gay romance novel so far. The beginning was enticing, the middle was plain boring and at the same time too fast and the end was intersting, but then a bit too abrupt. Needed more work to make it good for me.
katereads2much's review
4.0
I'll start by saying that I'm glad I read the author's forward since I didn't realize when I picked it that Crossing Borders is a re-release after a few changes. I can't be sure what those changes were ski won't be able to speak to them though I believe they must have been limited.
There was a part of this story that made me so very sentimental for my own sweet days at Border's (bookstore) even if they were not for the reasons noted in the book - I worked there for one, but I had a fierce longing for those days again however silly that sentimentality might be. I'm sure that this made me immediately fond of the book. I'm pleased to say I was fond of the rest of the book too.
Don't let my talk of fondness fool you - I would say that about 80% of this books was scorching hot. I liked the characters immensely even if their relationship seemed to develop almost unbelievably quickly and I don't know that any guys have so short of a refractory period as these guys seem to have. Of course that is part of the fun of the story.
It has some depth as well for all my jokes. Even with the recent changes it's still difficult to be outside of the box of what our mostly heteronormative society expects you to be and this book addresses that.
One of the main characters is also a cop which contributes considerably to the plot.
I very much enjoyed this story overall and I'm so glad I found it - even if I feel a little late to the party. Better late than never!
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
There was a part of this story that made me so very sentimental for my own sweet days at Border's (bookstore) even if they were not for the reasons noted in the book - I worked there for one, but I had a fierce longing for those days again however silly that sentimentality might be. I'm sure that this made me immediately fond of the book. I'm pleased to say I was fond of the rest of the book too.
Don't let my talk of fondness fool you - I would say that about 80% of this books was scorching hot. I liked the characters immensely even if their relationship seemed to develop almost unbelievably quickly and I don't know that any guys have so short of a refractory period as these guys seem to have. Of course that is part of the fun of the story.
It has some depth as well for all my jokes. Even with the recent changes it's still difficult to be outside of the box of what our mostly heteronormative society expects you to be and this book addresses that.
One of the main characters is also a cop which contributes considerably to the plot.
I very much enjoyed this story overall and I'm so glad I found it - even if I feel a little late to the party. Better late than never!
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
colleen_m's review
4.0
In which Tristan realizes he is gay, sets an intricate plan in place to pick up a random and uncomplicated hookup to test the waters, and ends up picking up his least favorite cop who suddenly appears to have hidden depths. So much for random and uncomplicated.
At times I thought this was adorable. Other times I thought it was deep. It was definitely more complex than I had originally thought it would be. Tristan originally just wants a hookup - he is 19 and just realized he is gay of course he is gonna try cruising. But instead he gets something more, maybe more than a 19 year old on his first time out should get, or have to deal with. But he deals with it so freaking well - until he doesn't.. It was a little jarring to see this hiccup of drama in the last 15% of the book - it felt incongruous with the rest of Tristan's character, and yet I guess it also made sense - you forget sometimes how young he is. Other than that minor issue, this book was funny, adorable, deep, and oh so enjoyable.
At times I thought this was adorable. Other times I thought it was deep. It was definitely more complex than I had originally thought it would be. Tristan originally just wants a hookup - he is 19 and just realized he is gay of course he is gonna try cruising. But instead he gets something more, maybe more than a 19 year old on his first time out should get, or have to deal with. But he deals with it so freaking well - until he doesn't.
Spoiler
Michael gets injured on the job, and Tristan has a melt down because he doesn't think he can stand to lose another loved one so he pushes Michael away... pretty standard trope but for a character who had been dealing really well with going from straight horn dog to loving committed relationship... it felt out of place.“And by the way, my mother says you should pay us back for that ticket now
that I’m your ass slut.”
kumabear's review
4.0
The relationship went a little fast for me but i LOVED this story. i kind of wished their was a sequel.
jerseygirl2912's review
4.0
This was a really feel-good read. Sexy, sweet, heartbreaking lovestory with loveable main characters.