A review by xabbeylongx
Fourteen Summers by Quinn Anderson

hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Book Review: 

I honestly was a little bit wary of this book at the start, it took a while for me to really get into it, but once I got into it, I actually really enjoyed it. 

Most of the character’s I liked. Aiden and Oliver were really well fleshed out, I think, and I connected with Aiden because I felt like he was the underdog a bit. Max was really entitled, and I didn’t like the way he reacted to Aiden at all. I think Aiden was well within his rights to act the way he did, especially considering with what he put up with for ages before he finally stood up for himself. However, the idea of them being at each other’s throats because of growing pains really hit me deeply, although I don’t know why. Just the fact that they’re both growing up to be the people they want to be, and even though they may not want it, they can’t stop it. 

I must admit, I’ve never read a book that has gay sex scenes in before, and this is a really good first example of first time sex. It’s new and fresh, and exhilarating, and you can feel that from the characters. It felt really real and raw, which really makes a good sex scene. Personally, I really like intimacy in my sex scenes, and this certainly had so much of that; you can tell they really care for each other. I also love how they practice safe sex, and it doesn’t paint it in an embarrassing light, which is amazing. Although it isn’t perfect - as no ‘first time’ generally is - it’s perfect for them, and I love that. 

I just really like the emphasis on family, and found-family, and I love the love between all the characters. It’s really sweet, and it’s refreshing to have a romance book where there isn’t this massive betrayal (Max being betrayed by Aiden and Oliver getting together definitely does not count!). A lovely book, an easy read, and so cute! 

 

Book Summary: 

We follow two identical twins, Max (who, he likes to remind everyone, is five minutes older) and Aiden, and their childhood best friend, Oliver. When they were younger, they used to play weddings together, and Max and Oliver would get married, and they’d all pledge to be brothers. Oliver would spend most of his time at the twin’s house, due to the fact his parents couldn’t stand each other, and they always argued. Unfortunately, he ended up moving away. 

Ten years later, he is reunited with them. They find him at the shops, and invite him over to dinner. They quickly find it’s like no time has passed. But something has changed… Aiden has come out as gay, and so has Oliver. Secretly, they both had crushes on each other when they were younger, but they were too scared to do anything about it. 

Now that they’re older and figuring out themselves more, Aiden and Oliver can’t stop the magnetic pull between them, drawing them closer. They end up having moments, and they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Max has always been the one in charge, but now, as he sees his twin brother and oldest friend, making plans and moments without him, he’s getting scared. He lashes out, and takes it out on Aiden, because they’re supposed to put each other first. Oliver, who often felt like he was the root of his parent’s problems, now thinks he’s the cause of the twin’s problems, and so plans to move away until they figure stuff out. Aiden is beside himself, not wanting to lose Oliver again, so Max and Aiden sort out their differences. They set boundaries, and both make changes, and Aiden and Olive start dating, and it ends at their wedding, after they’ve got married! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content