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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After the last book I read by Christina Lauren, I was filled with a sense of dread when I realized that this was a young adult book. (I thought part of Twice in a Blue Moon read like a badly written YA book.) Then, I learned that the story was about a bisexual teen living in Utah who has fallen in love with a Mormon, and it took all of my energy not to scream. I mean, can we just add teen pregnancy in to check all the boxes off?
But, ultimately, I liked the book. It took a bit to get into, but I thought the writing was strong. They handled the main characters with great respect, and they made what could have been a hokey book a book worth reading.
But, ultimately, I liked the book. It took a bit to get into, but I thought the writing was strong. They handled the main characters with great respect, and they made what could have been a hokey book a book worth reading.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ugh. This book was so cute. I just randomly stumbled across this in my Libby app and I am so glad that I chose to give it a listen. This has all those fucked teenage angsty feelings of when you’re finishing high school, trying to work out what path you’re taking, moving away from friends and family, trying to get good grades to get into uni/college and then throw in a secret queer crush in a super religious town.
This is coming from someone who has no religious trauma and doesn’t really know anything about Mormons or LDS… but it felt like the whole religion aspect of the story was handled really well. They made the community up of humans that were layered (🧅) while also not letting them get away with bigotry. My heart really broke for Sebastian 💔
Genre: Romance MM
Format: Audio
POV: Single (I think there might be another POV at the end?? IDK)
Tropes: Highschool, Mormon town, secretly queer, student/teacher aid, rainbow bumper stickers, pray about it.
Spice: 0.5 /5 : Mostly flowery, after the fact descriptions
Ending: HEA
Age suggestion: 16+
A heartbreaking, uplifting, funny, sweet, amazing story that needs to be told and heard. Tanner and Sebastian are characters to fall in love with. They are young adults we aspired to be and hope our children will be. And their struggles to grow up and find out who they are are both personal and universal.
I loved that the story was told in kindness to all the players and their motivations. This book had understanding and compassion for all. And that is love. And I hope that everyone reads it and deepens their own love for each other and all of our sparkly, interesting, confusing differences.
I loved that the story was told in kindness to all the players and their motivations. This book had understanding and compassion for all. And that is love. And I hope that everyone reads it and deepens their own love for each other and all of our sparkly, interesting, confusing differences.
The characters in this book may have annoyed me from time to time but over all I loved it and fell in love. I wasn’t able to put the book down which is why I was able to finish it in a day 😊 really recommend it!!
I can’t believe I almost returned this title to the library before reading it. Wasn’t sure what to expect from a Christina Lauren YA novel but damn did they hit it out of the park. I’m not one for organized religion but the take here on Mormonism and queerness is done really thoughtfully and gently. It’s a tough one for kids raised with religion to find that who they are at the core is somehow not acceptable to their family and community. I loved The Seminar aspect of this book, lots of references to great books and the idea of writing what you know, of having one’s novel capture what it feels like to fall in love for the first time was spot on. And both boy’s families! Ugh break my heart over and over. A beautiful, tough, thoughtful story about love and belonging, highly recommend.
wow. I can't even think right now. I think this is the peak of all queer rollercoaster books and it was so extremely heartbreaking but beautiful and perfect at the same time that i just want to keep reading it over and over like a certain someone from these very pages
my thanks that books like these exist in the world and that they can portray so clearly and wholly the battles and losses as well as the pure and whole relationships.
my thanks that books like these exist in the world and that they can portray so clearly and wholly the battles and losses as well as the pure and whole relationships.
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Wow I loved this book so much. YA is a comfort genre for me, and LGBTQIA lit is a comfort genre for me, and this is a wonderful combination of queer YA romance that is going on my comfort reading list. On top of that greatness, it's a book about books, which just layers on the comfort. My only issues were personal - the combination of Mormonism and queerness made me want to rage instead of the balance that the authors offer, but that's just me.