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A review by a_reader_obsessed
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
4.0
4 Stars
So here's the rub. This book is phenomenal in the writing, in the topical subject matter, in the strong feels and capturing first love in all its heady, unsure, obsessive intoxication. However, when it comes to religious intolerance and the inevitable self denial of one’s sexuality, that secret permeates everything with an insidious anxiety that may put a damper on some people’s overall enjoyment, no matter how big the love and romance is, no matter how amazing the story is.
I know it’s my old age that no longer has the patience for such, and I know that books like these need to be written, as an outlet, as a resource, as an example of hope and acceptance and validation. Even if you’re not a CLo fan, this book brings all that and more.
And….referencing the quote above, that’s kinda how I felt about this story. This has fabulous writing and apt angst portraying realistic barriers and issues regarding religious inflexibility in accepting LGBTQ members into their fold - specifically the Mormon faith. This is the main roadblock to Tanner and Sebastian, and though their coming together was so sweet, their conflict absolutely puts a damper on their burgeoning feelings, that Sebastian's faith has zero tolerance for any other interpretation on what love can be between two people if it’s not between a man and a woman.
Teen angst never hurt so good. Well…. you know what I mean. I will say that Tanner is a fabulous protagonist. He blends perfectly the innocence and earnestness of a young man who’s ready to fall wholeheartedly in love for the first time and deserves, like every teenager/young adult out there, to experience such without fear or recrimination. Despite his short 18 years, he grapples with many of the unfair issues that come up with him being attracted to Sebastian and vice versa, with a maturity that is particularly poignant and painful. This burgeoning crush has enough tentative insecurity and tender starts, that it doesn’t need the added burden where one has been taught his nontraditional feelings are wrong. Tanner shouldn’t have to deal with this. Sebastian shouldn’t have to either. Suffice it to say, this also contrasts two opposites of what a loving family does for their children. One is the epitome of total acceptance and nonjudgmental support. The other, predicated acceptance only if the doctrinated path is followed.
So yes, this is the ultimate in YA romance. Exploring and finding one’s identity in all its angsty glory, making grand gestures and grand mistakes. My heart hurt consistently throughout - this wasn’t a joy for me to read, especially with a tentative, albeit hopeful, HFN. However, CLo shows that they can move beyond fabulously smexy dirty to something heartfelt and important, and I certainly applaud that enthusiastically.
“I can’t tell if this feels good or terrible”
So here's the rub. This book is phenomenal in the writing, in the topical subject matter, in the strong feels and capturing first love in all its heady, unsure, obsessive intoxication. However, when it comes to religious intolerance and the inevitable self denial of one’s sexuality, that secret permeates everything with an insidious anxiety that may put a damper on some people’s overall enjoyment, no matter how big the love and romance is, no matter how amazing the story is.
I know it’s my old age that no longer has the patience for such, and I know that books like these need to be written, as an outlet, as a resource, as an example of hope and acceptance and validation. Even if you’re not a CLo fan, this book brings all that and more.
And….referencing the quote above, that’s kinda how I felt about this story. This has fabulous writing and apt angst portraying realistic barriers and issues regarding religious inflexibility in accepting LGBTQ members into their fold - specifically the Mormon faith. This is the main roadblock to Tanner and Sebastian, and though their coming together was so sweet, their conflict absolutely puts a damper on their burgeoning feelings, that Sebastian's faith has zero tolerance for any other interpretation on what love can be between two people if it’s not between a man and a woman.
Teen angst never hurt so good. Well…. you know what I mean. I will say that Tanner is a fabulous protagonist. He blends perfectly the innocence and earnestness of a young man who’s ready to fall wholeheartedly in love for the first time and deserves, like every teenager/young adult out there, to experience such without fear or recrimination. Despite his short 18 years, he grapples with many of the unfair issues that come up with him being attracted to Sebastian and vice versa, with a maturity that is particularly poignant and painful. This burgeoning crush has enough tentative insecurity and tender starts, that it doesn’t need the added burden where one has been taught his nontraditional feelings are wrong. Tanner shouldn’t have to deal with this. Sebastian shouldn’t have to either. Suffice it to say, this also contrasts two opposites of what a loving family does for their children. One is the epitome of total acceptance and nonjudgmental support. The other, predicated acceptance only if the doctrinated path is followed.
So yes, this is the ultimate in YA romance. Exploring and finding one’s identity in all its angsty glory, making grand gestures and grand mistakes. My heart hurt consistently throughout - this wasn’t a joy for me to read, especially with a tentative, albeit hopeful, HFN. However, CLo shows that they can move beyond fabulously smexy dirty to something heartfelt and important, and I certainly applaud that enthusiastically.