This book was phenomenal start to finish. The writing was next level, you really felt for the characters.

Of the three books I DNFed, this is the one I wanted to like the most. I’d really been looking forward to this book and even did an interview with the author. But after reading this book for more than a month and only making it to 28%, I had to be honest with myself. I was not enjoying it.

To be fair, I’m not sure this is really the kind of book that you enjoy reading. It’s about conversion therapy, bullying, and an alcoholic parent. It’s really heartbreaking and it’s just not something that I need in my life right now.

I didn’t really get along with the writing style either. I didn’t mind it at the beginning of the book, but as it continued on, it just got to be way too much for me. Like, when Jonathan slams a door, the description is “whambamthankyouma’amSLAM.” Too much.

A lot of people have rated this book highly, but it wasn’t for me.

This is an excellent debut full of heart. The characters were wonderful, the theme of self-acceptance beautiful, and the author brought in the time period well so the setting almost felt like another character. Will recommend!

James Brandon has created a wonderful, heart-felt depiction of the struggles adolescent, gay boys lived with in the 1970s which translate to what's left over in today's contemporary society. Brandon takes an intense but rich story and weaves heart and soul into Jonathan and makes me want to just hug him. Well done.