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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I was loving this book....until something happens toward the end that is literally SO POINTLESS and SO STUPID and it ruined the whole damn book for me. Now every time I see this freaking book on a shelf in a store I get angry. It had so much potential wasted on such an unnecessary and ineffective attempt at dramatic conflict. I hate this book lol
This book hurt me and I am so grateful for it. It's been a long time since I have cried over a book and I not only cried, I sobbed in the bathroom at 2:30 in the morning to not wake my husband who was getting up in 3 hrs. Ugh. I am still a mess just thinking about these boys and I never actually looked at the cover of this book until I started writing this and now I am crying again. OMG. That mountain, THEIR mountain is a damn book? Good lord. My heart can't take it.
I had absolutely no clue what I was getting in for with this and actually when Sebastian walks into Seminar and we get Tanner's reaction, I had to pull up the blurb to see if he was the one and thank goodness he was. These two killed me. I have a soft spot for coming of age stories when they are LGBTQ and when you add in a religious angle, I am a goner. I'll never understand how religions that preach a loving god could do what they do their LGBTQ members. It makes no sense. This deals with the Mormon religion and I honestly don't know many details of the inner workings of their religion so I was thankful the authors included it. I had a hard time not screaming at certain parts dealing with religion and wanted to soothe my anger with a watch of Latter Days because I needed some gay Mormon loving.
But I digress.
I read this book in one sitting, but not literally sitting considering I started this in bed last night when I remembered I borrowed it from the library. Once I started though, once Tanner let me inside his head I couldn't stop reading. I knew this book had the potential to hurt me and I didn't care, I had to know what would happen. I had so many ideas of how it could all go wrong, how Sebastian wasn't gay and how they would just remain friends. How Sebastian was gay but would make horrible choices along the way and Tanner's heart would be ripped to shreds. If you've read the book, you know how it turns out but man, I think I held my breath reading this.
I loved Tanner's voice and I love that we get the whole story as Tanner basically writes it. It really is a love letter and I am glad he couldn't stop writing it. This book is special, so damn special and I don't know how I hadn't read it until now but I do believe there is a time for everything and this was my time. I needed this book, I needed these boys and I needed a really good cry.
Ugh.
There were so many times I thought there was absolutely no way this book could have a happy ending and once we got Sebastian's POV, I started preparing myself for the worst.
I don't know what else I can say. Others have put it much better than me, more eloquently and with actual points about the story but I can't do anything but feel right now. I feel this book in my bones and I am getting teary again thinking of moments. These two deserve to be together, to be happy, to be free and to be loved.
I had absolutely no clue what I was getting in for with this and actually when Sebastian walks into Seminar and we get Tanner's reaction, I had to pull up the blurb to see if he was the one and thank goodness he was. These two killed me. I have a soft spot for coming of age stories when they are LGBTQ and when you add in a religious angle, I am a goner. I'll never understand how religions that preach a loving god could do what they do their LGBTQ members. It makes no sense. This deals with the Mormon religion and I honestly don't know many details of the inner workings of their religion so I was thankful the authors included it. I had a hard time not screaming at certain parts dealing with religion and wanted to soothe my anger with a watch of Latter Days because I needed some gay Mormon loving.
But I digress.
I read this book in one sitting, but not literally sitting considering I started this in bed last night when I remembered I borrowed it from the library. Once I started though, once Tanner let me inside his head I couldn't stop reading. I knew this book had the potential to hurt me and I didn't care, I had to know what would happen. I had so many ideas of how it could all go wrong, how Sebastian wasn't gay and how they would just remain friends. How Sebastian was gay but would make horrible choices along the way and Tanner's heart would be ripped to shreds. If you've read the book, you know how it turns out but man, I think I held my breath reading this.
The weirdest part? I don't want to stop writing about Sebastian. It's almost like I need to keep writing it in order to find out how it ends.
I loved Tanner's voice and I love that we get the whole story as Tanner basically writes it. It really is a love letter and I am glad he couldn't stop writing it. This book is special, so damn special and I don't know how I hadn't read it until now but I do believe there is a time for everything and this was my time. I needed this book, I needed these boys and I needed a really good cry.
Ugh.
There were so many times I thought there was absolutely no way this book could have a happy ending and once we got Sebastian's POV, I started preparing myself for the worst.
Spoiler
I honestly thought this book would end with them not together at all until those last three pages. Talk about stabbing me directly in the heart! I thought this would end with Sebastian gone and Tanner fighting as he said until forever still loving Sebastian. I am glad I was wrong. I am happy they are where they are and can a girl get a update please?I don't know what else I can say. Others have put it much better than me, more eloquently and with actual points about the story but I can't do anything but feel right now. I feel this book in my bones and I am getting teary again thinking of moments. These two deserve to be together, to be happy, to be free and to be loved.
Honestly this was a super cute story of love and discovery. I thought more sensitive discussions were handled well, the characters were likable and the story kept me flipping pages. I would be down for a sequel too, because while the end was complete it also left enough open that my curiosity is still there
I truly enjoyed it, couldn't put it down (would have finished it way earlier if I'd had the time). At first I was a little confused cause it focuses a lot on religion and not so much on the actual seminar but after all everything goes as it should and everything has the weight in the book that it needs to have. So, no complains. Only thing, I wish there was more if it, I want more!
lighthearted
fast-paced
I really enjoyed this! I found the romance to be a little too instalovey, but I quite liked the angst combined with the sweeter moments
This book was so cute! And I cried soooooo many times D: I'm so glad I decided to continue this at home, because blubbering on the bus would not have been good! :D
The pacing of the friendship / relationship between our two main guys Tanner and Sebastian was perfect
Bisexual main character!
The LDS church aspect was done really well and really respectfully. There was a nice contrast between the two characters relationship with the church. Tanner had a lot of his negative expectations quashed, while Sebastian had to look inwardly and outward to see if maybe some of the beliefs he had been taught were wrong. Both came away with different opinions as the ones they started with, but not once did it feel like the book was portraying the religion and it's followers in a harsh way.
Tanners parents had a nice arc, they accepted his bisexuality from the get go, but had to learn to /really/ accepting him. If you liked the parent aspect of this book then I definitely recommend [b:Openly Straight|16100972|Openly Straight (Openly Straight, #1)|Bill Konigsberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358050824s/16100972.jpg|21911266] which has a very similar parent / main character relationship
The pacing of the friendship / relationship between our two main guys Tanner and Sebastian was perfect
Bisexual main character!
The LDS church aspect was done really well and really respectfully. There was a nice contrast between the two characters relationship with the church. Tanner had a lot of his negative expectations quashed, while Sebastian had to look inwardly and outward to see if maybe some of the beliefs he had been taught were wrong. Both came away with different opinions as the ones they started with, but not once did it feel like the book was portraying the religion and it's followers in a harsh way.
Tanners parents had a nice arc, they accepted his bisexuality from the get go, but had to learn to /really/ accepting him. If you liked the parent aspect of this book then I definitely recommend [b:Openly Straight|16100972|Openly Straight (Openly Straight, #1)|Bill Konigsberg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358050824s/16100972.jpg|21911266] which has a very similar parent / main character relationship
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I rated books solely on my enjoyment of them, is have given this one 5 stars and I very nearly did because this one feels like one of those books that can cure a slump for me.
However, I try not to give five stars to a book unless I think it's a real masterpiece or virtually/negligibly unimproveable and while this book was indeed a wonderful reading experience that truly grabbed onto my emotions, I don't know that it'd be difficult to improve either. I was just very willing to overlook the, albeit small, areas for improvement because the emotional arcs were so good.
However, I try not to give five stars to a book unless I think it's a real masterpiece or virtually/negligibly unimproveable and while this book was indeed a wonderful reading experience that truly grabbed onto my emotions, I don't know that it'd be difficult to improve either. I was just very willing to overlook the, albeit small, areas for improvement because the emotional arcs were so good.
Such an amazing book!!!! I’m giving it five stars because there are not many great books that can make me cry, smile, and hurt for the characters. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.