I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters in this book and did not get very far into it before I decided to put it down.

Very good book. Loved the characters and world building! There were a few moments where I found the story to be moving a long a little slow, but they definitely didn't last very long. Definitely a to-buy!

Some stories make your heart sing with swooney romance and some others leave you feel wanting. For me, this book was the latter.

Listed as historical fiction, this book comes across more like a memoir and while the story itself seems a genuine reflection of the era and the stigmatism that plagued the LGBT+ community, I couldn’t really warm to any of the characters and found it difficult to engage with the writing. It just didn’t grab me.

Thank you Jere’ M. Fishback, NineStar Press LLC, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me feel weirdly uncomfortable. A lot of the word choices were awkward and distracted from the story. The characters weren't very likable, and some of Johnny's actions were off-putting.

I can appreciate the author's inclusion of current events of the time, but the way they were introduced was almost clinical.

I wanted to like this story but, unfortunately, it didn't work for me on several different levels.

Great storyline. Being gay myself, it was interesting to read a male homosexual story. I have read LGTB novels in the past, but were mainly lesbian story lines.
At first I Loved Johnny and then slowly liked him a little less! No spoilers though.
This story will grip your heart. Thank you NetGalley for this chance to review.

I really enjoyed I Love You, Johnny Darling. It's a bit like a bittersweet memory now laced with wisdom and a little regret.

Back in the 70's I was a preteen/early teen and I have some pretty vivid memories of those times. I also grew up in Florida so Johnny's world was essentially my world-- he was just a few years older. Today, the world is a completely different place.

Jere M. Fishback take on an interesting writing style with I Love You, Johnny Darling. The narrative is from Johnny's perspective but at the same time, Fishback seems to incorporate a somewhat disconnected point of view in this telling. I don't mean that it is sterile but the narrative does not take the overwrought emotional point of view. Maybe better stated, though told in 'present tense' it has the feel of a reflective memory. This is historical fiction but it sure feels autobiographical.

I think going in to this you have to remember the time period and the somewhat fickle age of adolescence. Doing the right thing isn't always the most obvious; sometimes making mistakes doesn't come with the foresight of the cost.

Johnny, Ben and Steve are all likable teens, coming of age in a world that won't readily accept them. Their coming out with their secret lives receives similar responses as they would today, but I think a higher personal toll. Fishback carefully reveals the boys' characters in a measured tone, not necessarily sympathetic but also non-judgemental. Fishback reminds us that we see things (and experience them) much differently as adults than we did in our youth. What matters is how things look in the end.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.