This was such a vivid story that I won’t forget any time soon.

Set in California in the 1970s, this story surrounds RJ and his life at the age of 15 years old. While his mom works hard, he steps in and takes care of the younger children when she works, always telling them stories...

In his town, the Blackjacks are the gang that rule the streets. He has mainly been able to stay away from them until they recruit RJ for a vandalism task in an old man’s house.

There is so much at stake in this coming of age novel. I adored RJ and how protective he was of his siblings, especially his brother Charley. He must deal with demons from his upbringing that he never had any control over. And the old man whose home he breaks into is more than he expects.

I am so thankful to have been gifted this DRC via NetGalley. This was unique and interesting, especially if you are a fan of urban historical fiction.

I found this to be boring. Nothing happens until like the last 3 chapters. I didnt guess the plot twist. If you could even call anything in this plot.

While this book had a bumpy beginning, I'm so glad with the turns it took. It had a diverse cast of characters and a story that warms your heart even when you think all is lost. It has growth and found families and love and lost and such real, relatable experiences(apart from being in a gang?) that touched home in so many ways.

It’s the cover that first caught my attention, then the blurb sealed the deal with its 70s setting in Northern California.

RJ hasn’t had the easiest life. His father committed suicide when RJ was just a child, his single mother works long hours leaving him to care for his five younger sibllings, and his family isn’t exactly rolling in cash. RJ also has a knack for getting in trouble with his actions and smart mouth. In some aspects he’s wise beyond his years, but still a mischievous teenager. Despite his antics, he manages to maintain a pretty strong moral compass. He’s also a storyteller, and his tales reminded me of Gordie’s in the movie Stand By Me, and the overall tone of this book is similar to that movie.

Although the Blackjacks play a prominent role, don’t go into this novel expecting lots of action and gang wars – it’s not that kind of book. It’s very much a teenager’s journey to facing the realities of life and learning there’s more than one path into the future. The writing is vivid and descriptive, but also humorous – teen boys are absolutely funny and weird at times. RJ’s friendship with Manny and relationship with his family are among my favorite parts of this story. I also enjoyed the references to 70s songs and fashion (bell bottom jeans!).

It’s not exactly what I’d expected, but Bones of a Saint is an engaging read. A couple of twists pop up, but this is a leisurely paced story that’s more about the journey than the destination.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This gave me S.E. Hinton and English class vibes, and as someone who has been out of school for... let's just say awhile, I'm not sure if I particularly enjoy that aspect of it. I keep on waiting for one of my teachers to pop out from behind the couch and ask me about the symbolism behind pigeons and various Catholic references, that I didn't understand because I'm basically a pagan. Despite those vibes, I found the choices that RJ made throughout the novel interesting and not entirely predictable. He's that good guy in a bad situation, that tugs at the heartstrings and makes readers cheer for them. He also has some teenage Han Solo vibes, and his personal Millennium Falcon is a silver bike that does a Banzai run. And while I want to tell him to "stay gold" I fear that it is already too late, but at least there is redemption in sight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for providing me with an eARC of this novel, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you ever looked at a cover of a book and felt instant love? That was me with this book. Then after I read the synopsis, I was captivated. The nature of evil always gets me excited.

It’s the late 70s in Northern California. The Blackjacks rule the area. You’re either with them or against them. When they call on you, you better run. You don’t ever double-cross a gang who has run that town for generations. But what happens when you think you can swindle a gang to get out of doing some horrible things?

This started off weird to me because I was a little confused and didn’t know where it was going. After about thirty pages or so, I got sucked into this nitty gritty town in California and I never wanted to leave.

RJ and his narrative had me glued to every page. The way he helped his family without even a horrible thought was touching. He always thought outside the box to fix what was wrong. And when he made friends with Mr. Leguin, it melted my black heart. It brought tears to my eyes when we find out the big secret between those two.

Bones of a Saint was truly an amazing read that I’m ready to read again. After finishing this book, I automatically went and preordered a copy. I will say that there’s a big clue about the story in the title of the book. I didn’t realize that until I was halfway through and it made me that much more excited to find out all the answers to my questions. This is definitely a book that will sting you with all of its chaos. It’s a coming of age story that you’ll never forget. I know that I never want to.

The blurb of this book sounded interesting, but it was so hard for me to get into the story, and I also couldn't connect to the characters.

My store sells teen books like this easily. With this cover and fantasy storyline I'll be able to handsell it as well as just put a shelf talker & it'll sell from that :)

The premise of this book is very interesting, but some of the aspects of the story fell flat. But it was an ambitious plot and I think the author did an excellent job of creating a diverse, unique read.

"Bones of a Saint" by Grant Farley is a gritty, rough-edged novel following the wild adventures of a fifteen-year-old boy on his journey into adulthood and finding redemption.

"Bones of a Saint" was a fun novel to dive into as the main character, RJ Armante, is a mouthy smart-ass with a knack for getting himself into incredibly dangerous and troublesome situations. While the novel isn't exactly fast-paced, the narrative voice is incredibly unique with its jarring and snappy sentences which work perfectly with RJ's tough-boy exterior. There's a very nostalgic feel to the characters, setting, and overall story as it unfolds, which was completely unexpected but turned out to be a pretty cool sensation.

This novel reads more like creative non-fiction, an unwinding journey through a young boy's eyes as he is faced with a notorious gang in his hometown, the struggles of looking after his many siblings, the hecticness of growing older, and facing his own fears head-on as he tumbles into adulthood headfirst. It's a great leisurely read that tackles a lot of issues teens of any age and gender may face as they grow older. While the beginning of the novel is a bit of a bumpy road, for the readers who hang on and give this novel a chance, the writing and story itself are really going to surprise them.

RJ is exactly the kind of person a reader wants to journey along with as he fights through one crappy situation after another. This is definitely a novel worth giving a shot! The expected publication date is March 23rd, 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley and Soho Press (Soho Teen) for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Special thank to NetGalley for providing me the eARC of this title! The synopsis for this book sounded really intriguing to me when I read it but once I began reading it I started losing interest. I tend to prefer really character driver novels and to me I didn’t feel like I was able to for a connection or attachment to any of the particular characters and that caused me to also lose interest in the plot as well. I may try to give this another chance later on and hopefully enjoy it more but at the moment it just wasn’t for me.

I could not get into the book. I am usually a fan of novels in their own voice, about fighting your own demons, about boys having to look after their younger siblings (I'm a big sucker for that), refusing a gang's rule, too smart for their own good (love smart characters)... but for some reason the story didn't take me in, probably because I am not the target audience, maybe because I wasn't into the mood. I'm not quite sure what it was. Maybe it was the setting, I guess the 70s have little appeal to me... I don't know what was missing. Maybe it was a question of characters. The main is very interesting, but I was not invested in any of the supporting cast. And I am afraid that when I don't like the characters in a book I loose interest.
The pace is a little slow, the book takes its time, but that's only to better build the tension. There is a mystery weighing on everything, one that slowly builds up. There is the threat of the gang, there is the stories our main protagonist doesn't want to share... there is a lot to like for a teen boy, but it wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. I was actually taken by the surprise with this story as it was nothing at all what I’d expected after reading the summary. It ended up being a relative fast read for me, but the story kinda dragged in parts. However I still enjoyed it, and the message of self-discovery and redemption this story conveys is one that I think most of us can relate to on some level in our lives. Even if our circumstances aren’t as dire RJ’s. The writing was simple yet still managed to pack a punch to your feels.

Overall, I rate this book 3.5 stars.

Unfortunately, it was not possible to download this book in time. The 5* star rating was chosen in order to not hurt the book sales or ranking, even though it was not possible to read it.

Farley’s book Bones of a Saint is a mixed bag that mostly delivers once you get into the unique writing style that Farley uses to tell his story. This is not a bad thing but for readers who take the time, will be rewarded an excellent story that unfolds at its own pace.

Dealing with 1977’s America and looking through a lens that doesn’t romanticise the time but rather a more realistic one. The plot works but it does take a little time to get into this as the unique writing style throws the reader slightly off. After a few chapters, it does find its rhythm and unfolds to a rewarding conclusion. As the story is told through the eyes of a teenager, this may account for the structure.

The characters are all very much well developed and the main character of RJ and the intelligence and plot devices used make him an extremely interesting character to get involved. The story is told through his eyes and his role of unsuspected hero works well. Roxanne is a tragic figure and the relationship RJ has with the old gentleman helps the pieces fall into place. This is what holds the story together and keeps the reader piqued.

Overall, this is an excellent read for people who give it the time. It does run at its own pace and for people who stick with it will be rewarded by a very special story that works on all counts. There are some strings left unattached but this does give is a realistic approach considering that not all mysteries do get solved. The characters and situation read very life like given the story an emotional punch that helps guide the story along.

RJ Armante is fifteen years old, lives in a trailer in Northern California with his mum and 5 siblings and got kicked out of school. The true rulers of their small, backwater town are the Blackjacks, a generation-old local gang. When they tell RJ to break into the house of an old man who just moved into the abandoned house on the outskirts of town he can't refuse them. But over time, RJ's reluctance to be pulled into the dangerous gang world increases, and he starts to look for a way out.

This book is magnificent. Written in a very distinct voice, it paints the vivid picture of a struggling family, an abandoned town in the middle of nowhere, and a burning summer in the late '70s. RJ's struggle with what he has to do and what he thinks is right is heartbreaking, as the story makes it clear how near impossible it is to truly escape from your own circumstances. A fantastic coming-of-age story with memorable characters in a vivid and real setting. Perfect if you loved Catcher in the Rye, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, or Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking Series.
I would definitely recommend it!

It took a while to get into the book. The pacing felt slightly awkward, and the characters were not lovable or relatable to me. However, this does not stop it from being an interesting and good book. It is definitely a book you either hate or love.