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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
“I don’t actually care if you break my heart, Sebastian. I went into this knowing it could happen and I gave it to you anyway. But I don’t want you to break your own. You have so much space in your heart for your church, but does it have space for you?”
This novel was an emotional roller coaster that wounded. Usually, I am personally not the kind to share personal stuff on a website that doesn’t call for it, but I know that my review on this book would not make sense otherwise. I got so emotional and invested in this one that I blew off school for the day just to finish it. I’m sure we’ve all read those books that led us to forget other duties, but I didn’t forget. I said to myself, screw it, I’m finishing this right here, right now.
I live in a small town along the part of the US dubbed the ‘Bible Belt.’ Here everyone goes to church, learns about a man who was judgment-free, and honors his memory by judging people more than usual. Now, don’t take that to mean everyone religious is like this. I know a few who take it seriously and live as closely as they can to judgment-free and they’re some of my favorite people. But this book showed the good, the bad, and the ugly of religion and it was painfully on point.
So many fiction novels handle religion in what I’m sad to say is an unrealistic manner. They act as if everyone who comes from a super religious family, abandons religion to pursue what they want that lays outside the bounds of their religion. That’s not always how it goes, though. More often than not, their struggle is more similar to Sebastian’s. Where you want both. You want your religion that you love so dearly and cherish, but you also want the things you love to be accepted by it. I have so many friends who upon realizing they were gay, didn’t leave the church. They found a church that accepted them and their LGBT selves as a package deal. They wanted the best of both worlds.
So to say I related to this book is an understatement.
I loved all the characters in this book dearly, especially Autumn and Tanner and my dear Sebastian. They felt real and raw, and I loved the character development each of them had. There were so many emotional moments for them, individually and even as a group, and I may have cried during most of them.
The writing and setting was a beautiful backdrop for the story. I’ve never been to Salt Lake City, but I felt like I was there throughout the whole story. I could smell the trees and crisp mountain air. I felt like I was there with the characters more so than most YA contemporaries.
Since I have to mention it, even though it seems a bit trivial in comparison to all the more profound things I’ve tried to articulate about this novel, I loved the writing aspect of this story. The characters were all writers, and since I can guess a majority of avid readers (especially my fellow Goodreads addicts) are also writers, that is yet another fantastic element of this story. It’s pretty funny that they’re stress over four months to write a novel since myself and plenty of other reader/writers on here have been doing NaNoWriMo for years now and that just seems like such a long time in comparison. Maybe that’s just a me thing. Either way, I would love a noveling class at my college please and thank you.
I’m going to cut myself off before I ramble any further. I could talk about how much I loved this for days. It was beautiful, cutting, emotional, and something I would love to reread sometime soon. Would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in LGBT, religious themes, creative writers, and YA contemporaries that impress.
This novel was an emotional roller coaster that wounded. Usually, I am personally not the kind to share personal stuff on a website that doesn’t call for it, but I know that my review on this book would not make sense otherwise. I got so emotional and invested in this one that I blew off school for the day just to finish it. I’m sure we’ve all read those books that led us to forget other duties, but I didn’t forget. I said to myself, screw it, I’m finishing this right here, right now.
I live in a small town along the part of the US dubbed the ‘Bible Belt.’ Here everyone goes to church, learns about a man who was judgment-free, and honors his memory by judging people more than usual. Now, don’t take that to mean everyone religious is like this. I know a few who take it seriously and live as closely as they can to judgment-free and they’re some of my favorite people. But this book showed the good, the bad, and the ugly of religion and it was painfully on point.
So many fiction novels handle religion in what I’m sad to say is an unrealistic manner. They act as if everyone who comes from a super religious family, abandons religion to pursue what they want that lays outside the bounds of their religion. That’s not always how it goes, though. More often than not, their struggle is more similar to Sebastian’s. Where you want both. You want your religion that you love so dearly and cherish, but you also want the things you love to be accepted by it. I have so many friends who upon realizing they were gay, didn’t leave the church. They found a church that accepted them and their LGBT selves as a package deal. They wanted the best of both worlds.
So to say I related to this book is an understatement.
I loved all the characters in this book dearly, especially Autumn and Tanner and my dear Sebastian. They felt real and raw, and I loved the character development each of them had. There were so many emotional moments for them, individually and even as a group, and I may have cried during most of them.
The writing and setting was a beautiful backdrop for the story. I’ve never been to Salt Lake City, but I felt like I was there throughout the whole story. I could smell the trees and crisp mountain air. I felt like I was there with the characters more so than most YA contemporaries.
Since I have to mention it, even though it seems a bit trivial in comparison to all the more profound things I’ve tried to articulate about this novel, I loved the writing aspect of this story. The characters were all writers, and since I can guess a majority of avid readers (especially my fellow Goodreads addicts) are also writers, that is yet another fantastic element of this story. It’s pretty funny that they’re stress over four months to write a novel since myself and plenty of other reader/writers on here have been doing NaNoWriMo for years now and that just seems like such a long time in comparison. Maybe that’s just a me thing. Either way, I would love a noveling class at my college please and thank you.
I’m going to cut myself off before I ramble any further. I could talk about how much I loved this for days. It was beautiful, cutting, emotional, and something I would love to reread sometime soon. Would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in LGBT, religious themes, creative writers, and YA contemporaries that impress.
actual rating: 3.5 stars.
It was good but it didn't wow me off my feet, you know?
It was good but it didn't wow me off my feet, you know?
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The perfect queer YA romance novel, following the typical romance style.
I had some trouble getting into it as someone who knows almost nothing about Christianity, which is a big theme in the book, and couldn’t get on board with the protagonist’s admiration of his boyfriend’s work as a missionary, or even his admiration of his boyfriend’s faith.
I had some trouble getting into it as someone who knows almost nothing about Christianity, which is a big theme in the book, and couldn’t get on board with the protagonist’s admiration of his boyfriend’s work as a missionary, or even his admiration of his boyfriend’s faith.
Minor spoiler? Maybe?
So I have mixed feelings on this one. It is 5 star writing for sure and I loved the whole element of the religious restrictions... But I just couldn't get over Tanner's actions post break-up. Still, definitely a must-read!!
So I have mixed feelings on this one. It is 5 star writing for sure and I loved the whole element of the religious restrictions... But I just couldn't get over Tanner's actions post break-up. Still, definitely a must-read!!
I expected this to be like any other romance, nothing special. So imagine my surprise when I ended up loving it <3
I'd say the main focus of the book is on religious views, exploring stereotypes regarding non-religious and religious thinking and their views on each-other as separate groups. A closeted boy with a supportive family in a heavily religious town falls in love with a Mormon boy with a strictly religious family. Not only did it explore this very relevant concept in a beautiful, realistic and respectful way (at least in my opinion) but it also made me think about my own stereotypical views on christianity. The characters had depth, proving they did not only exist for the romance storyline but also as individual characters with their own personality, goals and lives, which is important for any book.
(I'm also writing this review a few weeks after I finished… for some reason, so don't ask me about the side characters or why I gave it 4 and not 5 stars, I don't remember but I trust my own judgment for whatever the reason was)
Verdict: I recommend it :)
I'd say the main focus of the book is on religious views, exploring stereotypes regarding non-religious and religious thinking and their views on each-other as separate groups. A closeted boy with a supportive family in a heavily religious town falls in love with a Mormon boy with a strictly religious family. Not only did it explore this very relevant concept in a beautiful, realistic and respectful way (at least in my opinion) but it also made me think about my own stereotypical views on christianity. The characters had depth, proving they did not only exist for the romance storyline but also as individual characters with their own personality, goals and lives, which is important for any book.
(I'm also writing this review a few weeks after I finished… for some reason, so don't ask me about the side characters or why I gave it 4 and not 5 stars, I don't remember but I trust my own judgment for whatever the reason was)
Verdict: I recommend it :)