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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Me ha gustado mucho, me han encantado las reflexiones y los personajes, aunque sí es cierto que no esperaba ese final tan abierto.
It was fine, I guess. At first I found it a bit boring with all that introduction. But I loved most of it. This book has lots of quotes and thoughts worth keeping. I really hoped a better ending. It felt like abrupt, you now, like it has no ending... Anyway I loved the main relationship shown in the story.
A must read for any LGBT reader (or LGBT literature fan).
Plus I read it on a kindle and my edition was crap, but I'm happy to say that I read it because goodreads suggested it based on my other books. It was completely right!
A must read for any LGBT reader (or LGBT literature fan).
Plus I read it on a kindle and my edition was crap, but I'm happy to say that I read it because goodreads suggested it based on my other books. It was completely right!
5 Stars
Plot:
Rafe used to be openly gay until he moved from Bolder, Colorado to an all boys school in New England. He doesnt necessarily go back into the closet, he just doesnt really talk about his sexuallity at his new school and if the subject is brought up he avoids it. He does all this just to escape the label of "the gay kid," so he can try and live his life as normally as possible. But then he befriends Ben, a jock who is more than just a jock, and their friendship leads to more.
Characters:
Rafe was a really well developed main character. I liked reading from his perspective a lot and I felt like I connected with him.
Ben I found to be a little flat. I didn't dislike him at all, it was just that I felt like I really didn't get to know him as well as we could have.
Writing:
The writting was great. This book is hilarious. I found myself laughing and smiling for literally pages.
Conclusion:
I was a little sad when something happened between Rafe and Ben, and I would like another book just saying. I wasn't disappointed with Rafe's sudden realizations at the end. I felt like they wrapped the book up nicely, dealing with the usage of labels at least.
Plot:
Rafe used to be openly gay until he moved from Bolder, Colorado to an all boys school in New England. He doesnt necessarily go back into the closet, he just doesnt really talk about his sexuallity at his new school and if the subject is brought up he avoids it. He does all this just to escape the label of "the gay kid," so he can try and live his life as normally as possible. But then he befriends Ben, a jock who is more than just a jock, and their friendship leads to more.
Characters:
Rafe was a really well developed main character. I liked reading from his perspective a lot and I felt like I connected with him.
Ben I found to be a little flat. I didn't dislike him at all, it was just that I felt like I really didn't get to know him as well as we could have.
Writing:
The writting was great. This book is hilarious. I found myself laughing and smiling for literally pages.
Conclusion:
I was a little sad when something happened between Rafe and Ben, and I would like another book just saying. I wasn't disappointed with Rafe's sudden realizations at the end. I felt like they wrapped the book up nicely, dealing with the usage of labels at least.
Probably would have been amazing had I not cheated and read the back third of this book before the middle third. Therefore I've done lots of skimming and I'm still mad at the ending!
I have a lot of feelings about the concept of the closet, and being in or out of it. I resent the fact that it's even necessary for someone to have to "come out," when it's almost entirely for the sake of everyone else in this heteronormative, cisnormative society. I really identified with Rafe's need to just be himself, sans his sexuality, despite being accepted by all his loved ones. Being seen only as a label rather than a person can feel dehumanizing, and I can see why it would be tantalizing to experience what it's like to be within society rather than on the fringes. I mean, a coming-out party seems like a big deal when being gay isn't celebrated in every family, and definitely not with the families of our LGBTQ+ predecessors. But at the same time, it's a little othering. Nobody has a party when their child is straight: it's just normal, the default, to be heterosexual.
Rafe realizes (after a lot of drama) that our differences are still a pretty integral part of us. I liked that the author touched upon the fact that our differences should not simply be accepted, but celebrated. When we're around people we actually like, and who like us for who we are and not who we're pretending to be, we're truly at home with ourselves. I'm glad Rafe came to understand this through his friendship with Albie and Toby, his love for Ben, and even in his attempt at being one of the jocks. There were so many cute scenes with Rafe's new nerdy friends and of course the romance! I'm such a sucker for the romance.
My only qualms were that I found Rafe's parents and Claire Olivia's anger towards him for pretending to be straight kind of...... inconsiderate? I'm not sure how realistic it was, either, but then, I'm not straight or cis, so maybe a straight/cis person just can't grasp why Rafe would want to be "stealth," so to speak? Also, the ending!! so open!!! I wanted more closure with the romance, but there is apparently a sequel about Ben, so I must get around to reading it soon!
And yes, I only ever have anything to say about LGBTQ+ books. So what.
"Who was I? How could I stand up for gay people while at the same time hiding that part of me? And I felt so foreign, lying there, the wind howling outside our window. What was I doing here? Who was Rafe, really? Can you just put a part of yourself on hold? And if you do, does it cease to be true? Straight people have it so much easier. They don't understand. They can't. There's no such thing as openly straight."
Rafe realizes (after a lot of drama) that our differences are still a pretty integral part of us. I liked that the author touched upon the fact that our differences should not simply be accepted, but celebrated. When we're around people we actually like, and who like us for who we are and not who we're pretending to be, we're truly at home with ourselves. I'm glad Rafe came to understand this through his friendship with Albie and Toby, his love for Ben, and even in his attempt at being one of the jocks. There were so many cute scenes with Rafe's new nerdy friends and of course the romance! I'm such a sucker for the romance.
My only qualms were that I found Rafe's parents and Claire Olivia's anger towards him for pretending to be straight kind of...... inconsiderate? I'm not sure how realistic it was, either, but then, I'm not straight or cis, so maybe a straight/cis person just can't grasp why Rafe would want to be "stealth," so to speak? Also, the ending!! so open!!! I wanted more closure with the romance, but there is apparently a sequel about Ben, so I must get around to reading it soon!
And yes, I only ever have anything to say about LGBTQ+ books. So what.
"Who was I? How could I stand up for gay people while at the same time hiding that part of me? And I felt so foreign, lying there, the wind howling outside our window. What was I doing here? Who was Rafe, really? Can you just put a part of yourself on hold? And if you do, does it cease to be true? Straight people have it so much easier. They don't understand. They can't. There's no such thing as openly straight."
The protagonist Rave is openly gay and everyone is okay with it. Nonetheless he decides to transfer to a boarding school and keep his sexuality a secret. Because he does not want to be defined by his sexuality anymore. He just doesn't want to be "the gay kid", but a normal guy like everyone else.
Obviously, his plan does not work out well and he has to face a lot of difficulties having sincere relationships and maintaining his double life.
The plot is very predictable. And personally, I did not find any of the characters very likeable and the dialogues and the dynamic between them seemed a little bit off.
Although the story itself did not much for me, this book got me to think. About labels, about how exactly we should accept differences in our society and about how much being not straight influences someone's personality.
Honestly, it's quite unusual that a Young Adult book does this with me and I like being confronted and having to question and overthink my perception. And maybe this book is more about this than about the story itself for me.
2.5 stars.
Obviously, his plan does not work out well and he has to face a lot of difficulties having sincere relationships and maintaining his double life.
The plot is very predictable. And personally, I did not find any of the characters very likeable and the dialogues and the dynamic between them seemed a little bit off.
Although the story itself did not much for me, this book got me to think. About labels, about how exactly we should accept differences in our society and about how much being not straight influences someone's personality.
Honestly, it's quite unusual that a Young Adult book does this with me and I like being confronted and having to question and overthink my perception. And maybe this book is more about this than about the story itself for me.
2.5 stars.
Bawled. Like. A. Baby!!! Oh Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, BEN!!!! Why can't you just SEE what is so obvious to me???
Okay. Here's the review - I loved absolutely everything about this book and I am planning to read every other thing this gentleman has ever written in order to soak up all of his writerly glory!!! Beautiful beautiful story and even the deeply personal, intimate "boy" stuff (ya know???) was handled with openness and an honesty that made me fall so in love with Rafe that I wish he were a real boy.
So so so special a title. It's going on my recommendations shelf!
Okay. Here's the review - I loved absolutely everything about this book and I am planning to read every other thing this gentleman has ever written in order to soak up all of his writerly glory!!! Beautiful beautiful story and even the deeply personal, intimate "boy" stuff (ya know???) was handled with openness and an honesty that made me fall so in love with Rafe that I wish he were a real boy.
So so so special a title. It's going on my recommendations shelf!
I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I was very excited to read this book but was largely disappointed. There was no resolution to the conflict yes Rafe talked with Ben but the book ended rather abruptly. The author rushed the ending and not giving readers any final wrap ups he just left some loose strings. The book was adorable and I loved the characters, the relationships are adequte but could be developed more. It is almost like the book is just a lot of puff no real plot and not a lot of storytelling mostly background and no real conclusion.
This is my third book about a gay character's coming of age in the last few weeks. I liked how accessible this story was to all teenagers who are trying to be more than their labels.
Openly Straight by [a:Bill Konigsberg|1304838|Bill Konigsberg|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1358139113p2/1304838.jpg]
"The hole in my heart, I can’t even begin to describe. It’s hard when you open your heart and let someone in and then suddenly they’re not in it anymore. It doesn’t matter whose fault it is; that empty spot stings so bad that you want to find any kind of relief, or wrap yourself up so tight you can’t feel it anymore. I knew it might be there a little while. Or maybe even a long while. For both of us."
"We were dancers and drummers and standers and jugglers, and there was nothing anyone needed to accept or tolerate. We celebrated."
All the fucking stars.
"The hole in my heart, I can’t even begin to describe. It’s hard when you open your heart and let someone in and then suddenly they’re not in it anymore. It doesn’t matter whose fault it is; that empty spot stings so bad that you want to find any kind of relief, or wrap yourself up so tight you can’t feel it anymore. I knew it might be there a little while. Or maybe even a long while. For both of us."
"We were dancers and drummers and standers and jugglers, and there was nothing anyone needed to accept or tolerate. We celebrated."
All the fucking stars.