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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Cute story, decent audio book, liked the interview with the authors and narrator at the end.
2.5 stars
This is a typical case of it's not you, it's me.
Let's start with the positives. The audio-book was good and the romance wasinitially cute. The story was engaging, at least for the first half.
But then the plot revealed its weakness: There just isn't that much going on, except for the romance. This is obviously fine in a romance novel, but I was bored for about half of this book (and this definitely could have been a hundred pages shorter). Of course the romance is insta-lovey because that isn't just lazy writing.
It also didn't help that I found Sebastian more and more unlikable the further I got. Yes, being gay and Mormon was incredibly difficult for him, but that doesn't excuse him being downright cruel to Tanner.
Not that Tanner is much of a better person, seeing how he acted towards Autumn. He was so incredibly shitty to her that I couldn't believe how easily she forgave him. Well, god forbid any character have enough self-respect to leave a relationship where the other person didn't treat them decently (which applies to Sebastian, Tanner and Autumn).
The characters all felt superficial and one-dimensional, although so much time was spent on Tanner thinking about Sebastian. I couldn't connect with them and I didn't really care. How their relationship would end was obvious enough, so there also wasn't that much tension there and I didn't have a reason to be invested into the story.
The only two characters that I liked were Autumn and Manny, which didn't nearly appear long enough for them carrying the story for me.
The conflict with religion and homosexuality was interesting enough of a topic but felt quite superficial and shallow, the resolution was contrived and, tbh, ooc for Seb. It was also kind of tone-deaf for Tanner to act like Sebastian's beliefs were just a hindrance to their relationship and not a very personal and important part of Sebastian and deeply ingrained into him.
Alas, it was obvious how this book would end, so while the execution of his arc was handled pretty clumsily, the direction it was taken was predictable.
I don't have more to say about the plot as so little happens, especially in terms of conflict (because there was more than one wasted opportunity, either with the girls that overheard Tanner's and Autumn's conversation while shopping or with what happened between them).
So, I guess what I want to say is read this if you're into contemporary lgbtq+ romances, don't if you actually want stuff to happenand the characters to be likable, but I think that was probably just me, reading all the glowing reviews on here. Objectively, this is probably closer to a three than a two star read, but I really didn't enjoy this that much.
This is a typical case of it's not you, it's me.
Let's start with the positives. The audio-book was good and the romance was
But then the plot revealed its weakness: There just isn't that much going on, except for the romance. This is obviously fine in a romance novel, but I was bored for about half of this book (and this definitely could have been a hundred pages shorter). Of course the romance is insta-lovey because that isn't just lazy writing.
It also didn't help that I found Sebastian more and more unlikable the further I got. Yes, being gay and Mormon was incredibly difficult for him, but that doesn't excuse him being downright cruel to Tanner.
Not that Tanner is much of a better person, seeing how he acted towards Autumn. He was so incredibly shitty to her that I couldn't believe how easily she forgave him. Well, god forbid any character have enough self-respect to leave a relationship where the other person didn't treat them decently (which applies to Sebastian, Tanner and Autumn).
The characters all felt superficial and one-dimensional, although so much time was spent on Tanner thinking about Sebastian. I couldn't connect with them and I didn't really care. How their relationship would end was obvious enough, so there also wasn't that much tension there and I didn't have a reason to be invested into the story.
The only two characters that I liked were Autumn and Manny, which didn't nearly appear long enough for them carrying the story for me.
The conflict with religion and homosexuality was interesting enough of a topic but felt quite superficial and shallow, the resolution
Spoiler
with Sebastian choosing TannerAlas, it was obvious how this book would end, so while the execution of his arc was handled pretty clumsily, the direction it was taken was predictable.
I don't have more to say about the plot as so little happens, especially in terms of conflict (because there was more than one wasted opportunity, either with the girls that overheard Tanner's and Autumn's conversation while shopping or with what happened between them).
So, I guess what I want to say is read this if you're into contemporary lgbtq+ romances, don't if you actually want stuff to happen
You know all the stuff I have said about not liking YA, I take it back. A lovely coming of age story. I loved Tanner, who knows himself and makes interesting and age-appropriate decisions. He is smart, thoughtful, and hard-working, a good friend and son and boyfriend. He is bi in a really authentic way. He knows he is privileged, and understands that comes with responsibilities. There is pain here, but in the end nothing is unnecessarily dramatic. I also loved that female virginity was not treated as the MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER but its loss is still given its due as a major life event. Tanner and Autumn particularly are such authentic characters. One of my regular YA issues is that the teens don't act like teens. That was not an issue here. My biggest issue with YA is that it oversimplifies issues, and that there are no secondary issues, its just the central conflict and nothing else exists in the world and no one is impacted but the primary characters. Not so here on either count. This is really a 4.5. I had a couple concerns. Given Tanner's mother's almost pathological PFLAG zeal I don't think she would have moved her kids to Provo, no matter how appealing the job offer. Also, years ago I spent a good deal of time in Utah for business reasons, and though I would NEVER want to live there, the LDS people I got to know were good people. I am not saying they would not reject their gay child if they had one, they well might, but there would be real pain and conflict and not just a bloodless rejection. I would have liked to get a hint of that. Otherwise just great.
Woah. This book had me in all the feels. I didn’t expect it to be so emotionally impacting. If y’all don’t have this on your tbr what are you doing?
oh wow, i don't even know where to start this was SUPER CUTE AND SOFT but also incredibly heartbreaking and angsty and i have SO MUCH LOVE for these precious characters i can't even. i think i might actually like this book more than Simon VS???????
RTC (but please, read this one)
RTC (but please, read this one)
3.8. I didn’t love Tanner and that bummed me out. Am I too old to be reading petulant teenage boy stories?
3.5 stars rounded up. This book had so many beautiful lines. I really enjoyed the story, though the building of the romance did seem to need a little more variety. There was a lot of "gazing" and watching of swallowing and I would have enjoyed a little more sexual tension being built up.
I also would have liked to hear more from Sebastian since he felt a little random in appearance, but I did love hearing his story.
I also would have liked to hear more from Sebastian since he felt a little random in appearance, but I did love hearing his story.
I mean, why did Tanner's parents even move to such a Mormon place any way? And if they are a wealthy computer scientist and heart surgeon, why did Tanner so desperately need a scholarship to afford an out of state school? What happened with prom? Autumn's boyfriend? Anything else in this book other than Sebastian?
Whatever. It was kinda sweet other than the parts that really weren't.
Whatever. It was kinda sweet other than the parts that really weren't.
OMG I LOVED THIS BOOKKKKKKK, So good, and am recommending it to everyone who hasn't read it
Feb 2019 update. Audiobook is delightful.
I really liked this book. Good chemistry, strong characters and interesting setting. I was full engaged throughout and was completely drawn in drama/tension. However, I did have a small problem with Tanner dating his TA ... an inappropriate relationship that should have been addressed in some way ...
Parts of it read a little to perfectly ... I really doubt it is that easy to write a book and be successful. Also, some of the relationship drama was resolved/forgiven a little too quickly for my liking ... but otherwise, a solid read and a new addition to my favourite books ...
I really liked this book. Good chemistry, strong characters and interesting setting. I was full engaged throughout and was completely drawn in drama/tension. However, I did have a small problem with Tanner dating his TA ... an inappropriate relationship that should have been addressed in some way ...
Parts of it read a little to perfectly ... I really doubt it is that easy to write a book and be successful. Also, some of the relationship drama was resolved/forgiven a little too quickly for my liking ... but otherwise, a solid read and a new addition to my favourite books ...