Scan barcode
aleena662's review against another edition
4.0
Openly Straight follows Rafe and his journey through being an openly gay kid in Boulder, Colorado to deciding to hide it in his boarding school in Massachusetts. Now, I’ve read a lot (and I mean A LOT) of LGBT+ YA fiction in my time and I think this is definitely the one that has hit me the most (Is it the best? No that would go to [b:The Miseducation of Cameron Post|40801157|The Miseducation of Cameron Post|Emily M. Danforth|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1531501951s/40801157.jpg|16537207] ). This book really explored labels and being gay in a way that I’d never even thought about, and I feel like this book has actually how I think about coming out.
Rafe grew up in Boulder, Colorado and came out when he was in eighth grade. His parents were 100% accepting (heck his mom even became president of a GSA type group in Boulder) and he never faced any real discrimination in school. With encouragement from his mom and best friend Claire Olivia, he even gives talks about being a gay youth. Being openly gay became a double-edged sword or Rafe though, as he was only seen as the “gay kid” in school, which lead to him wanting to go away for his junior year.
When Rafe would talk about being gay in Colorado, it honestly made me mad (a lot in this book made me mad which I get was the point but it’s also what made this lose a star in my mind). I’m gay and in high school in a small town smack dab in the middle of nowhere. While where I live isn’t exactly ruled by hate groups, it’s very conservative to the point kids getting kicked out of the house for being gay is a . Parents don’t want their kids hanging out with the “gay kids”, a place so much different than where Rafe lived. When Rafe would complain about being accepted it made it hard to finish this book. He would go give talks on what it was like to be a gay teenager but he’d never faced half the things most of us go through. He never had to worry if he’d been too touchy with his significant other or he’d get . He never had to question if his family loved him enough to look past him being gay. He never had to wonder if maybe he was broken or wrong because he lived in a very accepting place. It’s absolutely horrible that gay people still go through all that in 2019 but it’s unfortunately reality. I guess I’m jealous of Rafe and the life he got in Colorado, even if he was seen as the “gay kid”. This whole attitude came across as super privileged throughout the book and although he comes to realize that, it still made me really mad.
Now on to Ben, boy was he a roller coaster of a character. He’s honestly a really great person and I liked him better than Rafe. He felt real and how he felt about Rafe really hit me the most in this book. That line of dating but not, the whole is this love platonic or not was written so well it felt real. But when Ben comes out with that internalized homophobia thing I actually screamed. I get that losing your family is very hard (see above gay struggles) but DID I REALLY GET THROUGH THE WHOLE BOOK FOR THAT? Will I read the sequel? Yes. Am I still ready to strangle Ben? Absolutely.
And finally to the whole point of this wonderful book- Labels. Do I think it was a good idea for Rafe to hide being gay? It’s complicated. Should he have told Ben? Definitely. Should he have been openly gay? I don’t know. Rafe goes along with this whole plan because he figures that it’d be easy to just not show that part of himself. It’s not lying per say, just omitting the truth (and I feel that because I still have that attitude about coming out to certain people). But then as he becomes closer to people at school he realizes that that is a core part of himself that he can’t just ditch. And this is where we come to a dilemma. I feel like being openly gay (at least for me) is a little unnecessary. The subject of being gay only comes up when I’m talking about my love life or joking (which is only with close friends) so what’s the point of shouting “I’M GAY!!!” to the world? At the end of the book, one of the kids at the GSA has a sentiment similar to mine:
“Why do we need to march in parades and spread awareness? People are aware that other people are gay.”
Now, these are supposed to raise awareness for people who face homophobia daily which a worthy cause, I’m not refuting that. But does this all really help? And after all, isn’t being gay just deal with who you’re attracted to and not who you are?
But on the other side of that coin if I don’t come out to people I feel like I’m lying. If people didn’t know that I was dating my best friend I felt like they needed to know. A couple of years ago I made a very good friend at summer camp and we still talk to this day. She’s very religious and doesn’t agree with the “decision to be homosexual” which as much as I disagree with her I don’t hate her for it. She lives in another state and to be honest I don’t know when I’d ever see her in person again so why would I come out to her? I felt like I was lying if I didn’t, even though we’d never talk about anything close to romantic interests. So that’s the paradox, is being gay a huge part of who you are? Yes, but huge enough to make that a core part of your personality/character? No. So where’s the balance.
Now I’m just one gay high schooler and in no way at all do I claim to speak for all gay people. This is just based off of my experiences and if you disagree with me more power to you. This book just made me think a lot and I felt like it was best to write it all out.
Rafe grew up in Boulder, Colorado and came out when he was in eighth grade. His parents were 100% accepting (heck his mom even became president of a GSA type group in Boulder) and he never faced any real discrimination in school. With encouragement from his mom and best friend Claire Olivia, he even gives talks about being a gay youth. Being openly gay became a double-edged sword or Rafe though, as he was only seen as the “gay kid” in school, which lead to him wanting to go away for his junior year.
When Rafe would talk about being gay in Colorado, it honestly made me mad (a lot in this book made me mad which I get was the point but it’s also what made this lose a star in my mind). I’m gay and in high school in a small town smack dab in the middle of nowhere. While where I live isn’t exactly ruled by hate groups, it’s very conservative to the point kids getting kicked out of the house for being gay is a . Parents don’t want their kids hanging out with the “gay kids”, a place so much different than where Rafe lived. When Rafe would complain about being accepted it made it hard to finish this book. He would go give talks on what it was like to be a gay teenager but he’d never faced half the things most of us go through. He never had to worry if he’d been too touchy with his significant other or he’d get . He never had to question if his family loved him enough to look past him being gay. He never had to wonder if maybe he was broken or wrong because he lived in a very accepting place. It’s absolutely horrible that gay people still go through all that in 2019 but it’s unfortunately reality. I guess I’m jealous of Rafe and the life he got in Colorado, even if he was seen as the “gay kid”. This whole attitude came across as super privileged throughout the book and although he comes to realize that, it still made me really mad.
Now on to Ben, boy was he a roller coaster of a character. He’s honestly a really great person and I liked him better than Rafe. He felt real and how he felt about Rafe really hit me the most in this book. That line of dating but not, the whole is this love platonic or not was written so well it felt real. But when Ben comes out with that internalized homophobia thing I actually screamed. I get that losing your family is very hard (see above gay struggles) but DID I REALLY GET THROUGH THE WHOLE BOOK FOR THAT? Will I read the sequel? Yes. Am I still ready to strangle Ben? Absolutely.
And finally to the whole point of this wonderful book- Labels. Do I think it was a good idea for Rafe to hide being gay? It’s complicated. Should he have told Ben? Definitely. Should he have been openly gay? I don’t know. Rafe goes along with this whole plan because he figures that it’d be easy to just not show that part of himself. It’s not lying per say, just omitting the truth (and I feel that because I still have that attitude about coming out to certain people). But then as he becomes closer to people at school he realizes that that is a core part of himself that he can’t just ditch. And this is where we come to a dilemma. I feel like being openly gay (at least for me) is a little unnecessary. The subject of being gay only comes up when I’m talking about my love life or joking (which is only with close friends) so what’s the point of shouting “I’M GAY!!!” to the world? At the end of the book, one of the kids at the GSA has a sentiment similar to mine:
“Why do we need to march in parades and spread awareness? People are aware that other people are gay.”
Now, these are supposed to raise awareness for people who face homophobia daily which a worthy cause, I’m not refuting that. But does this all really help? And after all, isn’t being gay just deal with who you’re attracted to and not who you are?
But on the other side of that coin if I don’t come out to people I feel like I’m lying. If people didn’t know that I was dating my best friend I felt like they needed to know. A couple of years ago I made a very good friend at summer camp and we still talk to this day. She’s very religious and doesn’t agree with the “decision to be homosexual” which as much as I disagree with her I don’t hate her for it. She lives in another state and to be honest I don’t know when I’d ever see her in person again so why would I come out to her? I felt like I was lying if I didn’t, even though we’d never talk about anything close to romantic interests. So that’s the paradox, is being gay a huge part of who you are? Yes, but huge enough to make that a core part of your personality/character? No. So where’s the balance.
Now I’m just one gay high schooler and in no way at all do I claim to speak for all gay people. This is just based off of my experiences and if you disagree with me more power to you. This book just made me think a lot and I felt like it was best to write it all out.
raphaliest's review
I bought the book based on recommendation from Storygraph. The plot summary sounded interesting, but the beginning turned me off due to the quality of language and dialogue. Not for me right now, maybe another time.
cristamajo's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
first and last time i trust goodreads for a book recommendation. my poor mother bought this for me for christmas, and this is the thanks she gets??? why are the poverty-stricken always slighted against!! why must we suffer! now to repay her i have to pay half of our mortgage for the rest of my life AND call her boyfriend eric “dad.” THANKS bill K.
arogers159's review
5.0
What even happened? I went into this book expecting a kind of cutesy love story. I should have checked it out more because I was not ready for the pure HEARTBREAK that was this book. Honestly, I need time to recover.
mehsi's review
5.0
UPDATE: Review for the Re-read to come, I will be using my old review and add new comments and feelings to it. Will post it on Monday/Tuesday.
My rating will stay the same, I still love this book to pieces.
New review: 2017
So, since this book was getting a sequel, and a novella I decided to re-read this book. Well, actually I first tried the novella but couldn't get into it at all. I was just utterly confused. I read my review for this book, I checked the blurb, but I just couldn't get into the story. So a re-read was in order. I had to dig a bit to find this book, but when I did I immediately went to reading it.
This review will consist of parts from my old review (bold type) with new comments (normal type).
Rafe is an openly gay guy, but he wants to get rid of the spotlight and all the labels. So what does he do? He transfers to a boarding school far away from his family and friends, and ditches his labels. He is still gay but not openly. He soon becomes friends with various people, from Jocks to the outsiders.
It was so interesting to see Rafe and how he turned into a whole new person. How he was exploring, discovering new things. How he was trying to handle all this newness, and also explain it to those close to him. It was fun to see him interact with various characters from sporty guys to his roommate and his best friend.
I loved the book, I loved Rafe. Though I didn't really like the descriptions of him doing things with himself. I don't need to know that, or what he fantasizes about. :\
I loved Rafe still, I even loved him more in this second read, I am not sure how to explain, but I could see it clearer on why he would want to not say anything about his gayness. Sure, I wasn't agreeing with the fact he was making up little lies. But I could understand that he just wanted to be treated normally for once. That he could just be with guys without them making jokes, or treating him like a pariah, like he would go to bed with all of them. I could understand that.
I was a bit surprised that he wanted to ditch labels, but in the mean time was putting himself in a new label, and also labelling others (for instance the whole jock stuff).
I didn't really have a problem this round with the sexual stuff. If anything I was wondering what the me from 4 years ago had a problem (if you would call it that), as I didn't see anything that was that outstanding. There were a few things here and there, but nothing groundbreaking. I guess I changed a bit in those 4 years.
Since tags don't work: BOLD I loved his relationship with Ben, though I was quite sad
Yep, I still had a problem with this when this one popped up in the book. It just annoyed me so. Ben and Rafe were so cute together, they did a lot of things together. But then Rafe confesses something, and it was like the world exploded for Ben, as if Rafe was this big bad person. And yes, I do agree that Rafe's lies weren't good (though I wouldn't consider him hiding his gayness a lie), but that the fact he was gay shouldn't be that big of a deal breaker for you. So what if he was openly gay, so what? Does that make this experience less for you and him? Does that make this, what you guys have, something worthless? Can't you understand why he wouldn't say anything? Can't you at least listen to his reasons. I just found it really weird that he was all open to exploring, but when suddenly someone turns out gay he just goes a whole different direction.
Some more on the relationship between Ben and Rafe. I just found them both to be very cute. I was definitely shipping them and rooting for them to get together. For Rafe to finally be honest with Ben, and they would be forever together. I also loved how well they balanced and complimented each other, they were a great match. Both of them intelligent and interested in various topics, and I loved their discussions. Their conversations were really fun to read.
I am not sure what to think of the parents. Yes, I was happy they were so open with Rafe, and that they accepted him as he was. However, at times I found them a bit TOO much. Especially with his coming out, I just felt, this especially goes for the mom, that they were a bit too eager and too enthusiastic and over the top. Giving him books, taking him too meetings, even the mom becoming a president of a network for parents with gay kids. It felt like she was forcing him, not helping him. Continuous discussion about gayness, oppression and more. Yes, it is important, but your kid is more than just GAY. He is also a boy, he also wants to talk about something different for once. Let him live a bit. Let him explore on his own. If he has questions he can always go to you guys, but it is also important that he is able to figure out stuff himself. To find a place for him to belong.
Claire Olive, eh, at times I quite liked her, her voice was really well written, but at times I just wanted to hit the girl on the head. For various reasons.
I loved the little parts in between the chapters, that featured Rafe's life and how he became what he is now.
For some reason I was just not interested in these parts that much this round. I was bored, and I even noticed myself getting distracted by other things when these parts came up. Maybe it was because I already read them and vaguely remembered them, or maybe it was something else entirely. I did like the teacher's notes, they were quite fun to read.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I will be re-reading it someday again.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old review: 2013
This will be a short review, because I am quite tired, but I want to atleast give my feelings on the book.
I wasn't sure what to expect of this book. I read the blurb and I was sold. It sounded absolutely wonderful, and it turned out it was.
Rafe is an openly gay guy, but he wants to get rid of the spotlight and all the labels. So what does he do? He transfers to a boarding school far away from his family and friends, and ditches his labels. He is still gay but not openly. He soon becomes friends with various people, from Jocks to the outsiders.
I loved the book, I loved Rafe. Though I didn't really like the descriptions of him doing things with himself. I don't need to know that, or what he fantasizes about. :\
I loved his relationship with Ben, though I was quite sad
I loved the little parts inbetween the chapters, that featured Rafe's life and how he became what he is now.
I would recommend this book to people who: Don't mind someone being gay, boarding schools, short stories about someone's life.
My rating will stay the same, I still love this book to pieces.
New review: 2017
So, since this book was getting a sequel, and a novella I decided to re-read this book. Well, actually I first tried the novella but couldn't get into it at all. I was just utterly confused. I read my review for this book, I checked the blurb, but I just couldn't get into the story. So a re-read was in order. I had to dig a bit to find this book, but when I did I immediately went to reading it.
This review will consist of parts from my old review (bold type) with new comments (normal type).
Rafe is an openly gay guy, but he wants to get rid of the spotlight and all the labels. So what does he do? He transfers to a boarding school far away from his family and friends, and ditches his labels. He is still gay but not openly. He soon becomes friends with various people, from Jocks to the outsiders.
It was so interesting to see Rafe and how he turned into a whole new person. How he was exploring, discovering new things. How he was trying to handle all this newness, and also explain it to those close to him. It was fun to see him interact with various characters from sporty guys to his roommate and his best friend.
I loved the book, I loved Rafe. Though I didn't really like the descriptions of him doing things with himself. I don't need to know that, or what he fantasizes about. :\
I loved Rafe still, I even loved him more in this second read, I am not sure how to explain, but I could see it clearer on why he would want to not say anything about his gayness. Sure, I wasn't agreeing with the fact he was making up little lies. But I could understand that he just wanted to be treated normally for once. That he could just be with guys without them making jokes, or treating him like a pariah, like he would go to bed with all of them. I could understand that.
I was a bit surprised that he wanted to ditch labels, but in the mean time was putting himself in a new label, and also labelling others (for instance the whole jock stuff).
I didn't really have a problem this round with the sexual stuff. If anything I was wondering what the me from 4 years ago had a problem (if you would call it that), as I didn't see anything that was that outstanding. There were a few things here and there, but nothing groundbreaking. I guess I changed a bit in those 4 years.
Since tags don't work: BOLD I loved his relationship with Ben, though I was quite sad
Spoiler
when it didn't work out, because Ben found out that Rafe was keeping things away from him (aka him being gay), which I found really weak of Ben. Omg you would do it (aka sex) because he is straight? But now he is gay, you don't like it? Wtf? /BOLDYep, I still had a problem with this when this one popped up in the book. It just annoyed me so. Ben and Rafe were so cute together, they did a lot of things together. But then Rafe confesses something, and it was like the world exploded for Ben, as if Rafe was this big bad person. And yes, I do agree that Rafe's lies weren't good (though I wouldn't consider him hiding his gayness a lie), but that the fact he was gay shouldn't be that big of a deal breaker for you. So what if he was openly gay, so what? Does that make this experience less for you and him? Does that make this, what you guys have, something worthless? Can't you understand why he wouldn't say anything? Can't you at least listen to his reasons. I just found it really weird that he was all open to exploring, but when suddenly someone turns out gay he just goes a whole different direction.
Some more on the relationship between Ben and Rafe. I just found them both to be very cute. I was definitely shipping them and rooting for them to get together. For Rafe to finally be honest with Ben, and they would be forever together. I also loved how well they balanced and complimented each other, they were a great match. Both of them intelligent and interested in various topics, and I loved their discussions. Their conversations were really fun to read.
I am not sure what to think of the parents. Yes, I was happy they were so open with Rafe, and that they accepted him as he was. However, at times I found them a bit TOO much. Especially with his coming out, I just felt, this especially goes for the mom, that they were a bit too eager and too enthusiastic and over the top. Giving him books, taking him too meetings, even the mom becoming a president of a network for parents with gay kids. It felt like she was forcing him, not helping him. Continuous discussion about gayness, oppression and more. Yes, it is important, but your kid is more than just GAY. He is also a boy, he also wants to talk about something different for once. Let him live a bit. Let him explore on his own. If he has questions he can always go to you guys, but it is also important that he is able to figure out stuff himself. To find a place for him to belong.
Claire Olive, eh, at times I quite liked her, her voice was really well written, but at times I just wanted to hit the girl on the head. For various reasons.
I loved the little parts in between the chapters, that featured Rafe's life and how he became what he is now.
For some reason I was just not interested in these parts that much this round. I was bored, and I even noticed myself getting distracted by other things when these parts came up. Maybe it was because I already read them and vaguely remembered them, or maybe it was something else entirely. I did like the teacher's notes, they were quite fun to read.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I will be re-reading it someday again.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old review: 2013
This will be a short review, because I am quite tired, but I want to atleast give my feelings on the book.
I wasn't sure what to expect of this book. I read the blurb and I was sold. It sounded absolutely wonderful, and it turned out it was.
Rafe is an openly gay guy, but he wants to get rid of the spotlight and all the labels. So what does he do? He transfers to a boarding school far away from his family and friends, and ditches his labels. He is still gay but not openly. He soon becomes friends with various people, from Jocks to the outsiders.
I loved the book, I loved Rafe. Though I didn't really like the descriptions of him doing things with himself. I don't need to know that, or what he fantasizes about. :\
I loved his relationship with Ben, though I was quite sad
Spoiler
when it didn't work out, because Ben found out that Rafe was keeping things away from him (aka him being gay), which I found really weak of Ben. Omg you would do it (aka sex) because he is straight? But now he is gay, you don't like it? Wtf?I loved the little parts inbetween the chapters, that featured Rafe's life and how he became what he is now.
I would recommend this book to people who: Don't mind someone being gay, boarding schools, short stories about someone's life.
vimki's review
4.0
4.5 stars!! i rly rly rly enjoyed this. i flew through it. the only bit i didnt like was the ending but thats just my preference. yaaaaaaaay!!
erikaq's review
4.0
(Possible spoilers below)
Here is the thing about this book: It is a contemporary romance YA and it absolutely hits every single mark in that regard. The protagonist, Rafe, is likable, well rounded, and flawed. But we root for him. We want him to get the boy and for his plan to work. And this could have been a simple rom com esque high school romance involving two boys intead of the usual het couple, but instead we get an exploration into what identity in terms of sexuality means and how that defining fact is not easily shed and shouldn't be shed. We get a book that creates a conversation about the complexities of coming out and how every single person goes through it differently.
I loved the connection between Rafe and Ben. I loved that we got to see them become friends and how the progression from friendship to attraction to kissing was handled in such an organic way. I loved how different they are to each other and that none of the secret/lying was brushed off and that it indeed had a lasting effect.
All the other characters were great too in their unique and quirky ways. I can't wait to read Honestly Ben and seeing the different perspective and the continuation of this story.
Would recomend. It's a very light and quick read and certainly enjoyable.
Here is the thing about this book: It is a contemporary romance YA and it absolutely hits every single mark in that regard. The protagonist, Rafe, is likable, well rounded, and flawed. But we root for him. We want him to get the boy and for his plan to work. And this could have been a simple rom com esque high school romance involving two boys intead of the usual het couple, but instead we get an exploration into what identity in terms of sexuality means and how that defining fact is not easily shed and shouldn't be shed. We get a book that creates a conversation about the complexities of coming out and how every single person goes through it differently.
I loved the connection between Rafe and Ben. I loved that we got to see them become friends and how the progression from friendship to attraction to kissing was handled in such an organic way. I loved how different they are to each other and that none of the secret/lying was brushed off and that it indeed had a lasting effect.
All the other characters were great too in their unique and quirky ways. I can't wait to read Honestly Ben and seeing the different perspective and the continuation of this story.
Would recomend. It's a very light and quick read and certainly enjoyable.
akookieforyou's review
4.0
*4.5*
"I guess I'd like to think of what we have as agape. A higher love. Something that transcends. Something not about sex or brotherhood but about two people truly connecting."
This book was really funny, sweet, and it opened my mind to even more perspectives on things. I've never noticed before how important it is to people to label literally everything, and how we shouldn't let those labels define us entirely. We're all more than just our sexuality, and I wish more people would see that.
"I guess I'd like to think of what we have as agape. A higher love. Something that transcends. Something not about sex or brotherhood but about two people truly connecting."
This book was really funny, sweet, and it opened my mind to even more perspectives on things. I've never noticed before how important it is to people to label literally everything, and how we shouldn't let those labels define us entirely. We're all more than just our sexuality, and I wish more people would see that.