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lizzys_wonderland's review
5.0
This was a book that showed that people who are open about their sexuality aren't alway comfortable with who they are. I loved this book because it showed the "double-life" of an openly gay kid (Rafe) back home and a -may I say it- openly straight kid at boarding school. This is a book worthy of a five star rating.
rjdenney's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this read. Toby is one of my favorite characters now
and I thought that this one really fun and light but also deep in ways.
Book Thoughts VIDEO coming next week to my booktube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/booksboysandsuch
and I thought that this one really fun and light but also deep in ways.
Book Thoughts VIDEO coming next week to my booktube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/booksboysandsuch
imme_van_gorp's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so, there are things I really liked about this book, but also things I really did not like. Thus leaving me with mostly mixed feelings about the book in general.
I enjoyed reading this book, I really did, but I was never enthralled by it or anything. I guess the emotional factor was always a bit on the down low, making it hard to really connect with the characters, rather than merely being interested in the plot.
And that's exactly what it was for me: I was interested in what was happening and certain points that were being made, but I wasn't feeling it. The feelings were missing, and those are really important to me.
The main character, Rafe, is a bit of a difficult person to pin down. On the one hand he is very authentic: flawed although never having any bad intentions, but on the other hand he did grate on me, especially when he was ignorant or oblivious. How he doesn't understand what he did to Ben was seriously not cool is quite baffling. It is so obvious why Ben would feel betrayed, yet Rafe never really gets it...
Besides my complicated feelings towards Rafe, though, there are plenty other characters who I did unapologetically like, such as Toby and Albie, but first and foremost: Ben. Ben was a breath of fresh air in this novel, as he was quite literally a golden retriever in human form. He gave me a bit of a break from all the weird looks I had to give my book while reading some of the extravagant or odd antics of some of the other characters. Not saying these couldn't be funny, but it wasn't exactly normal and in the case of Rafe’s parents it was honestly just flat-out annoying. Those two would honestly drive me absolutely bat-shit crazy in real life. Anyway, as I was saying, Ben was a break from all that. He was smart, funny, loyal and sweet: I could totally see why Rafe fell for him, and although I do think their relationship was adorable and could have potentially even been really good, I don't necessarily think they should 'get back together' (if they were ever even really together to begin with, which is surely debatable). Their basis is just too fucked up to ever really get over, I think.
The writing style in this novel was also something I was on the fence about. Although I liked the writing overall, I wasn't a big fan of the interludes with Rafe writing to his teacher. They were boring to me and did not add much to the overall story, in my opinion.
Anyhow, I definitely had fun with this book and I don't mind having read it at all. But.. that's about it. No big feelings here. Just an interesting discussion about labels and a moderately high level of enjoyment.
I enjoyed reading this book, I really did, but I was never enthralled by it or anything. I guess the emotional factor was always a bit on the down low, making it hard to really connect with the characters, rather than merely being interested in the plot.
And that's exactly what it was for me: I was interested in what was happening and certain points that were being made, but I wasn't feeling it. The feelings were missing, and those are really important to me.
The main character, Rafe, is a bit of a difficult person to pin down. On the one hand he is very authentic: flawed although never having any bad intentions, but on the other hand he did grate on me, especially when he was ignorant or oblivious. How he doesn't understand what he did to Ben was seriously not cool is quite baffling. It is so obvious why Ben would feel betrayed, yet Rafe never really gets it...
Besides my complicated feelings towards Rafe, though, there are plenty other characters who I did unapologetically like, such as Toby and Albie, but first and foremost: Ben. Ben was a breath of fresh air in this novel, as he was quite literally a golden retriever in human form. He gave me a bit of a break from all the weird looks I had to give my book while reading some of the extravagant or odd antics of some of the other characters. Not saying these couldn't be funny, but it wasn't exactly normal and in the case of Rafe’s parents it was honestly just flat-out annoying. Those two would honestly drive me absolutely bat-shit crazy in real life. Anyway, as I was saying, Ben was a break from all that. He was smart, funny, loyal and sweet: I could totally see why Rafe fell for him, and although I do think their relationship was adorable and could have potentially even been really good, I don't necessarily think they should 'get back together' (if they were ever even really together to begin with, which is surely debatable). Their basis is just too fucked up to ever really get over, I think.
The writing style in this novel was also something I was on the fence about. Although I liked the writing overall, I wasn't a big fan of the interludes with Rafe writing to his teacher. They were boring to me and did not add much to the overall story, in my opinion.
Anyhow, I definitely had fun with this book and I don't mind having read it at all. But.. that's about it. No big feelings here. Just an interesting discussion about labels and a moderately high level of enjoyment.
reefie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
delulubel's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
melissaverasreads's review
3.0
I expected more of this book. It has a nice message, but... I did not like Rafe all that much. And the ending was... WTF man.
That been said, it was a nice reading between "heavier" books.
That been said, it was a nice reading between "heavier" books.
jessicajessica101's review
4.0
3.5
Openly Straight est un livre qui parle de l'homosexualité sous un angle assez différent des autres livre YA sur ce sujet.
Dans ce livre, le personne principal décide de retourner dans "le placard", il décide qu'il ne veut plus être ouvertement gay, être vu comme tout le monde n'ont pas comme Rafe mais comme le garçon gay du lycée. Alors quand il va quand un internat, il décide de "redevenir"hétéro aux yeux de tout le monde.
Le sujet était intéressant, j'ai bien aimé les personnages et la morale sous jacente à l'histoire, après c'est vrai que j'ai aimé pas mal déçu par la fin, et ça m'a pas mal refroidie.
Mais ça reste une bonne lecture !
Openly Straight est un livre qui parle de l'homosexualité sous un angle assez différent des autres livre YA sur ce sujet.
Dans ce livre, le personne principal décide de retourner dans "le placard", il décide qu'il ne veut plus être ouvertement gay, être vu comme tout le monde n'ont pas comme Rafe mais comme le garçon gay du lycée. Alors quand il va quand un internat, il décide de "redevenir"hétéro aux yeux de tout le monde.
Le sujet était intéressant, j'ai bien aimé les personnages et la morale sous jacente à l'histoire, après c'est vrai que j'ai aimé pas mal déçu par la fin, et ça m'a pas mal refroidie.
Mais ça reste une bonne lecture !
labunnywtf's review
5.0
The servers were down at work the last two days. While everyone else was whinging about not getting any work done, I quite happily sat at my desk, knitting and reading more than I have in months. In fact, I can't remember the last time I read a book, start to finish, in one day.
To be fair, I'd only gotten through 3/4 of the book by the time work ended. I then came home, and found many things to do while staring down at this book. Lots of baking.
Mmm, brownies.
This book is fantastic. I need to do a mass recommend on it, which I try to avoid doing at all cost.
The premise is already intriguing. A boy who has already been out of the closet for some time changing schools, and deciding to be "in the doorway" instead. Reading this, I felt so uncomfortable for him. As a completely boring straight person, I don't know what it is to be afraid that a gesture will completely ruin the facade of my life.
Well, okay, sometimes I worry that one drop of my willpower and people will realize I'm a complete psychopath, but that's actually easier to deal with. People step away from psychopaths. They avoid them, as opposed to come at them with heavy objects and harsh words.
And I fell in love with Ben. I can't imagine any reader not falling a little in love with him. So sweet, so genuine, and my heart started ripping at the edges, because I just knew this was not going to end well.
But I had hope. And I want every boy to have a gay best friend now. Not so they can suddenly learn they are gay, but because Ben was so relaxed and comfortable with Rafe, and...hunh. I need a spoiler cut.
And that's really what I love about this book. If you remove the omance part of their bromance, it's still a fantastic story. Because even if they'd never kissed, even if they'd never taken it any further than good hugs and shoulders to cry on, I could still see Ben being hurt because he was so close to Rafe, and this huge secret that he couldn't see was always between them. He wouldn't need to be homophobic to be hurt/offended at the lie. He loved him, whether romantic or as a friend, but he didn't know him. And that would hurt without the agape and eros and all that wonderful language.
But the romance was so wonderful. It felt real, and like Bill Konigsberg had this exact relationship, and wrote what happened verbatim. And I will rest gracefully in the belief that his partner is the Ben in this story, and that after that terribly dissatisfying ending, they made up and lived happily ever after with puppies and plastic screwdrivers every Sunday.
After I finished the book, I closed the cover, walked to my phone, and tweeted to Mr. Konigsberg, capslocking at him for ending it that way.
Because evil, that's why. Just evil.
To be fair, I'd only gotten through 3/4 of the book by the time work ended. I then came home, and found many things to do while staring down at this book. Lots of baking.
Mmm, brownies.
This book is fantastic. I need to do a mass recommend on it, which I try to avoid doing at all cost.
The premise is already intriguing. A boy who has already been out of the closet for some time changing schools, and deciding to be "in the doorway" instead. Reading this, I felt so uncomfortable for him. As a completely boring straight person, I don't know what it is to be afraid that a gesture will completely ruin the facade of my life.
Well, okay, sometimes I worry that one drop of my willpower and people will realize I'm a complete psychopath, but that's actually easier to deal with. People step away from psychopaths. They avoid them, as opposed to come at them with heavy objects and harsh words.
And I fell in love with Ben. I can't imagine any reader not falling a little in love with him. So sweet, so genuine, and my heart started ripping at the edges, because I just knew this was not going to end well.
But I had hope. And I want every boy to have a gay best friend now. Not so they can suddenly learn they are gay, but because Ben was so relaxed and comfortable with Rafe, and...hunh. I need a spoiler cut.
Spoiler
And even if Ben decides that no, he isn't gay, he does like women and he is going to continue down the straight and not-too-narrow path, just being friends with Rafe was such a good experience for him, broken heart at the end or not. It's a beautiful friendship, even if you remove the relationship part from it.And that's really what I love about this book. If you remove the omance part of their bromance, it's still a fantastic story. Because even if they'd never kissed, even if they'd never taken it any further than good hugs and shoulders to cry on, I could still see Ben being hurt because he was so close to Rafe, and this huge secret that he couldn't see was always between them. He wouldn't need to be homophobic to be hurt/offended at the lie. He loved him, whether romantic or as a friend, but he didn't know him. And that would hurt without the agape and eros and all that wonderful language.
But the romance was so wonderful. It felt real, and like Bill Konigsberg had this exact relationship, and wrote what happened verbatim. And I will rest gracefully in the belief that his partner is the Ben in this story, and that after that terribly dissatisfying ending, they made up and lived happily ever after with puppies and plastic screwdrivers every Sunday.
After I finished the book, I closed the cover, walked to my phone, and tweeted to Mr. Konigsberg, capslocking at him for ending it that way.
Because evil, that's why. Just evil.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
5.0
The world needs people who are more comfortable standing still. We keep the earth on its axis when everyone else is bouncing around.
Sometimes, when I really and truly love a book, and I come back to it years later, I find that I was too generous with my review. I should've sat on it for a longer time, or I was just too punch drunk with a certain part of it, and the rating should go down.
I rated this five stars initially.
I kind of wish I could rate it six this time around.
I feel a lot better about [b: Honestly Ben|27230789|Honestly Ben (Openly Straight, #2)|Bill Konigsberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468438526s/27230789.jpg|47275620] after finishing this. Because it had been so long since I read this, and I'd lost some of who Ben and Rafe were in this book. Re-acquainting myself with Ben through Rafe's eyes opened entire new doors that were presented to me with HB, and made the experience entirely different.
I will *not* be re-reading HB now, because that would be crazy. But I definitely should've re-read this before starting on the sequel.
Seriously, this book is so fucking sweet, I can't handle it. I just want to hug it forever. More than anything else that happens between Ben and Rafe, the friendship is everything. This sweet, organic relationship that blossoms naturally throughout the chapters, and you watch them fall in love. It makes sense in a way YA romance rarely gets right, and I could read 1,000 different versions of this love story and never grow tired of it.
Ugh. Love. So much.
Sometimes, when I really and truly love a book, and I come back to it years later, I find that I was too generous with my review. I should've sat on it for a longer time, or I was just too punch drunk with a certain part of it, and the rating should go down.
I rated this five stars initially.
I kind of wish I could rate it six this time around.
I feel a lot better about [b: Honestly Ben|27230789|Honestly Ben (Openly Straight, #2)|Bill Konigsberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468438526s/27230789.jpg|47275620] after finishing this. Because it had been so long since I read this, and I'd lost some of who Ben and Rafe were in this book. Re-acquainting myself with Ben through Rafe's eyes opened entire new doors that were presented to me with HB, and made the experience entirely different.
I will *not* be re-reading HB now, because that would be crazy. But I definitely should've re-read this before starting on the sequel.
Seriously, this book is so fucking sweet, I can't handle it. I just want to hug it forever. More than anything else that happens between Ben and Rafe, the friendship is everything. This sweet, organic relationship that blossoms naturally throughout the chapters, and you watch them fall in love. It makes sense in a way YA romance rarely gets right, and I could read 1,000 different versions of this love story and never grow tired of it.
Ugh. Love. So much.
lydiastorytime's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I loved being in this world. I loved all the introspection and journaling bits. I loved the value placed on friendships. I loved every fabulously awkward and unique charicters and how they remind me of people I know.
this also made me think about the performed audience developmental stage where you think everyone is watching you. I wonder if this is amplified for minorities because sometimes we are being watched and evaluated. I think my experience as a kid this stage hit hard as everyone in teen years is obsessed with sexuality and I was working hard to surpres mine.
this also made me think about the performed audience developmental stage where you think everyone is watching you. I wonder if this is amplified for minorities because sometimes we are being watched and evaluated. I think my experience as a kid this stage hit hard as everyone in teen years is obsessed with sexuality and I was working hard to surpres mine.