Received from NetgGalley in exchange for an honest review

I have a lot of thoughts on this book. Let's start with the good stuff, because there is quite a bit to like.

First, this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Conversion therapy YA horror? GENIUS. How is this not its own genre?! Such an incredible premise that I can't believe I am hearing of it for the first time. 10 points.

Also, I thought most of the teens were depicted pretty realistically. They're generally horny, dramatic, non-strategic thinkers- reminds me of high school! That checks out. Also, I find with a sizeable amount of YA, that when teens are betrayed by their parents and/or family they can write them off fairly easily, without a lot of hand wringing. That's not how life works. It's an incredibly difficult and emotional decision and I thought that was illustrated fairly well.

However, overall I was a bit disappointed and I think I will chalk that up somewhat to my own expectations. Conversion therapy is an insidious and evil practice, made more so by the fact that many people who offer it do so because they think they are acting out of love and a desire to help. That's complex af and could have really lent this plot a lot of depth and nuance to create an atmospheric, psychological horror.

But mostly it's just sort of campy? There are some plot contrivances and a hole or two you could drive a truck through. The counsellors just want to generally hurt and torture these kids (Miss Manners might as well be Pennywise), which I think was likely the least exciting interpretation of our villains. And the romance was instalove bunk with a very strange cave encounter that I don't feel made sense/was earned.

I think if you go in realizing the book is more interested in being an action thriller, instead of a horror it will land differently. For me, I would have preferred the psychological horror route. I just think that's a kick ass idea, but we actually don't get too many action-based lgbtq thrillers for teens so I am sure there is an audience for this. It just wasn't me this time- sorry!

All that being said, awesome title, great concept, very defined sense of place, and solid pacing. I think this is a good read for teens 14+ and much better than many YA action/thrillers on the market.

Best of luck to this author on his novel debut. Perhaps the next one will be more my speed.

I have been hearing about this book for so long, and then I read it and it was beyond anything I had imagined. Yes, it's like LOST or LORD OF THE FLIES but queer, but it's anything but derivative. This book takes so many literary conventions and busts them apart, then crafts them into something utterly new. I loved the daring nonlinear unraveling of the timeline and mystery, which goes so much deeper than expected. I loved how unflinchingly the book examines the messy reality of queer life, and all the places the queer community builds family and strength for themselves. This isn't a book written for someone who wants a smoothed-over image of queer experiences, you can tell this comes deeply from a real OwnVoices perspective. It's for the young people who need to hear that voice, their voice, and see both the struggles more inescapable than an isolated island and triumphs possible. The presentation of queerness was so good (including a model of how to handle pronouns for trans characters through a character's POV). Connor is a voice that's going to stick in my head for a long time. The story is a wild adventure, but by the end I was a crying mess, holding my breath as I turned the final pages.

Review will be cross-posted to Amazon after release date.

I knew Surrender Your Sons wasn’t really going to be my kind of book almost from before I actually started reading it. So this review and rating are more about what I couldn’t deal with, more than a statement on how good the book itself is.

My main issue was that the whole thing gave me a vague undercurrent of anxiety throughout, because I was waiting for something horrific and graphic to happen at the conversion therapy camp. In the grand scheme of things, that part wasn’t actually so bad. There isn’t anything that’s detailed and graphic about the activities that make up conversion therapy. So if you’re worried about that, then it’s fine in that sense. Because I was worried about that and that is what gave me the uneasy sense throughout and probably ruined at least part of any likelihood of me enjoying it.

So, really, that was my main problem. And yeah, with that, I probably started picking up on other things more easily. You know how it goes.

The whole thing takes place, somewhat disbelievingly, over the course of a single day. Connor arrives at night, wakes up the next day, and by the time 24 hours has passed by, the entire camp has been taken down. Now, I might be able to believe that a little better if, say, there had been a plan in place that Connor just slots into. But there isn’t.

However, I’m well aware that’s an issue with my inability to suspend my disbelief.

But then it also turns out all of the homophobic villains are actually gay. And that I really didn’t like here, to be honest. Would it have been so hard to have them be straight? Really? And, okay, so the real Big Bad is probably straight, but the immediate villains in this were not. So that didn’t feel so great. It felt, at times, as if it was saying “maybe you should feel sorry for this violently homophobic man because he’s gay and closeted and self-hating”. So fine, I feel sorry in theory, but in general, too many homophobes in media across the board are written as gay and self-hating, that I’m not really a fan of the trope, regardless of who writes it.

Finally, there were some questionable age gaps in a few relationships. Like Drew and Briggs who are 20 and 40-plus (and also in a doubly questionable situation where Briggs is a guard at the camp and Drew one of the “campers”), and later, a character is described as dating an adult, when he’s a college freshman.

But I did manage to find a positive in all this, I will say. It’s a fairly extreme way of showing it, sure, but the book does show you that the whole “come out at all costs” mindset can be incredibly dangerous. I liked that it took a strong stance on that, especially hot on the heels of having read a book where two characters insisted that someone had to be out for them to be in their respective relationships. For me, this isn’t something you can equivocate about, so that message was great. And there’s a happy ending, which is even better.

Plus I learned that the phrase “rode hard and put away wet” has a massively different meaning for some people than it does for me.

SET IN A QUEER CONVERSION CAMP, SURRENDER YOUR SONS KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT!

Not only the suspense was absolutely titillating but the story and how the author unpacks the reality of cruel, immoral and dystopian queer conversion camp made it a difficult read for me!

And the fact that these very camps do exist in reality only amplified my terror. A very well plotted thriller with an important message that promises to show society the extent of injustice, such camps force upon queer people to make them "STRAIGHT and NORMAL"

The thriller aspect of the story definitely didn't fall back and I was amazed how the author managed to make it unpredictable and nailbitting at the same time!

I feel bad giving this one a 1-star, but I'm just so tired of reading about queer pain. I'm tired of reading about conversion therapy, and homophobic violence, and terror, and death. Should queer narratives have those things? Yes, because people's lives have pain and fear, and to accurately and thoughtfully compose narratives with queer characters, pain and fear should be included. But my God, I just have no interest in a book that focuses, in intimate detail, on the pain of queer teenagers. I felt constantly sick reading this book, and while I understand that was the intent, that doesn't mean I have to like experiencing such primal dread. I unequivocally do not recommend this book.

What a fantastic book! This book is basically like the show Lost but where everyone is gay. I love a good LGBTQ book!! Its so relatable and relevant. Kudos to the author for capturing what's wrong w our society and supporting gay rights. This book follows a group of young men who are trapped on an island and forced to attend a conversion therapy session. Such a great read and I highly recommend it!

That was one heavy book. I expected that and that's why it took me so long to get to it and quite a while to get through it but it doesn't mean that it hit any less strongly. It's a story of a group of queer teenagers trying to break out from a conversion camp. As the author himself says, it's a story of queer trauma and it's full of violence and queerphobia, so please be mindful going into it.

It is also a very necessary book. So many people think that nowadays we live in some queer paradise but so many queer lives are threatened every day, so many queer people face violence, so many become homeless, so many commit suicide and so many are sent to conversion camps. I'm so thankful this book exists and casts the live on these issues.

So why only 3 stars? I think it's a it's-not-you-it's-me case. The sheer amount of violence and queerphobia made me really cautious while reading it and stopped me from connecting with a story. I didn't let the book resonate with me as much as it should have as a protective mechanism. Also, thriller is not really my genre. I still claim it's a great book and I hope that it will reach a broad audience and make them think.

Now I deserve some sweet and wholesome and overly optimistic queer love story.

I try not to give any spoilers away while writing reviews.

So many tears. I can't say how many times I was scared, hurt or worried for Connor Major. This book brings out sooo many emotions. It hurts because some people doesn't want to ever believe the truth. I had so many theories while reading this book. I'm one that would have a sign waiting that says "Believes and Loves".

Mr. Sass, thank you for writing this book. It will always have me hoping for the best for CM+MC.


Thank you, Mr. Sass and Netgalley for letting me review this book.

SURRENDER YOUR SONS is a gripping, angry, thrilling, exciting story that deals with the real life dangers of Conversion Therapy camps, and the dangerous, toxic mindsets of homophobia. Reading this book is an adventure but it’s also important in the many queer lives it teaches about.

This book is similar to Orpheus Girl, in its subject matter, but unlike that book, this one is a lot more hopeful, which I definitely appreciated. I was surprised by what a short amount of time it took place over, but it really worked for the book.
If you read Orpheus Girl, but thought it was too much pain and not enough hope, I definitely recommend checking this book out. Also, I'm really glad I've been reading the prequel because it really made this book that much better

As someone who has been unfortunately familiar with homophobia, this book gave me so many emotions that I was unable to actually form a review for a good week after reading it. I would definitely recommend it to any YA contemporary reader.
This is a coming-out story that morphs into a thriller after a few chapters, and once you open it, it's impossible to put down. Adam Sass does an amazing job of showing the very real consequences of "conversion therapy" camps on LGBT teens, and conveying the terrible feeling that nothing will ever be the same when you've lived through this kind of experience.
How do you trust your loved ones again, when they're the ones who betrayed you for daring to be who you are ? How do you cope when everyone around you says you're wrong and twisted, and asks you to "Surrender your sins" ?

The following review will be posted to my blog on 6/6/2020.

I was absolutely floored that I was given the opportunity to read this eARC as it was my first ever NetGalley "wish" from a publisher- I'm very thankful for the opportunity!

*Be warned, I'm somewhat vague in this review- but could be seen as potential spoilers*

This has been on my radar ever since I first heard about it a few months back, I heard that a debut author had penned a story about an actual nightmare that many gay teens may have worried about ever being a possibility. When I came out in high school, gay conversion therapy and gay conversion camps were something I'd heard about, but never really worried about much. To me it seemed to be a concept too messed up to ever actually exist, parents would never actually hate the idea of their own children being LGBT so much as to send them to these types of establishments right? As I grew older, I realized that this wasn't something "cooked up" to scare young gay teens into being straight, and that this was something that apparently still happens today. While the practice is illegal in many states, it still exists in others. What an actual freaking nightmare.

I had a tough time coming up with a genre for this book. Horror? Because why the hell do these things exist? Thriller? Because of the panic the characters go through? Fantasy? Because this shit can't be real, right? I ultimately decided on thriller because I think it more closely aligns with the content of the book, even though horror would fit too.

The book is about a recently (and forcibly) outed gay teen who is unexpectedly and dramatically removed from his normal life and is dumped at a gay conversion camp. Confused and a little freaked out, he immediately attempts to figure out how to get the hell of the island he was brought to. Along the way he realizes that he doesn't just need to escape the island, but to bring it down and stop the whole operation.

Reading this as a teen, I would probably be freaked out that this could happen to me. The details are extremely vivid, no doubt in an attempt to highlight just how messed up these camps can be, and haunting. One event in particular had my jaw on the floor, another had me smiling and hugging my kindle close to my chest. I didn't particularly care for the ending, but you know what? So many gay youth don't get a happy ending like we all want. So many gay youth live traumatic lives and don't get the opportunity to achieve their dreams. So I'm okay with the ending, the realness of this book is powerful. The events that happen are real, have happened, and unfortunately may still happen until something is done to end conversion therapy.

Overall, I devoured this book. Even though some of the subject matter was a bit tough to deal with, I still think it's an important read. I definitely laughed, cried, shook my head, and slammed my kindle down on the bed multiple times, but I'm still so glad I read it. This is one that will be with me for a long, long time. As an educator, I am excited to have this in my classroom library and would happily recommend it to my students.

Thanks again to Flux, North Star Editions, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

~ ARC received in exchange for an honest review ~

'Surrender Your Sons' written by Adam Sass tells the story of gay teenager Connor who is sent to conversion therapy camp by his religious zealot mother. It's a really good read but I'm probably not the intended audience and feel like I'd have enjoyed it a lot more when I was a teenager.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title.

I went into this book without knowing a whole lot about it, but I was immediately captivated by the very first page. I found the plot to be absolutely gripping and the pacing was fast which I really appreciated considering the thriller aspect. I really loved the cast of characters and the intensity of the overall plot. My feels were all over the place and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I enjoyed this book and am eager for more from the author!

With all the buzz I'd seen about this book on Twitter, I was beyond excited to receive an ARC.

This book isn't for everyone.  It deals with some dark, heavy topics, and parts of it are absolutely gut-wrenching.  The slurs and vitriol spat out by some of these characters is horrific and repulsive - and yet some people in the world still feel this way.  It's unfathomable to me. 

My heart broke for Connor and his friends and the unimaginable circumstances they were forced into.  Despite their grim situations, this group of queer kids stick together and support each other.  The heartfelt bonds, friendships, and romantic relationships they form are one of the best parts of the novel, and I wanted to just hug every one of them.  

With tension-filled moments and layers upon layers of secrets, this book is difficult to put down.  My only critique would be the time frame.  Everything happens on the island in roughly twenty-four hours, and I found that a little tough to swallow.  Trust me - a lot happens.

Although some parts are tough to read, this book is full of heart and hope and one I highly recommend.

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

I was gifted an eARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.



** Spoiler Alert**
This one was incredibly hard to read, not only because of the story line but because of all of the pain throughout the story. It was painful to read how miss-informed, judgmental and downright evil some people can be. How a mother can sacrifice her son to a conversion camp because of her own fears – fears of being judged by a churchy small town who are so backwards in their ways its borderline tragic. I read this book feeling so angry, and sad, so sad. Adam did an amazing job at telling a story that is so true it could have been a true-life story. Its 2020 and this madness still exists in society where it shouldn’t have a place anymore. There were parts in this story that had me shook to the core, its real, its gritty and needs to be read.

After Conner gets pressured to come out to his mom all hell breaks loose, kidnapped by the Reverend of his small town and shipped off to a conversion camp on a Costa Rica island, a mystery needs to be solved and escape is on all the campers minds. We see bonds formed and friendships made, comradery and fierce connections between the characters I fell in love with.

There is a trigger warning for a reason, there will be parts that are extremely hard to read. But it’s the realness that makes this book worth reading. The writing was exceptional and Conner’s story was told in an absolutely brilliant way.

SURRENDER YOUR SINS (SONS)

This book is haunting and grips you from start to finish. A perfect, dark escape that will inspire you to get off of your own island that traps you.

"Nightlight has no TV, no running water, no basic necessities... but they're got body bags."

I loved this book. And I don't think it would have exceeded as well as it did without the author. Adam Sass breathed life into this book. Despite the dark concepts, there were still moments of humor and smiles that kept this book afloat. The MC, Connor Major, was 1000% my favorite part of the story.

Connor Major was kickass. A beautiful balance of strength and vulnerability, of grit and fear. He had a smart-mouth and was fearless, but he was still human enough to panic, to feel fear and doubt and guilt in his decisions.

"I finally did the right thing. I didn't leave them. I stayed. Whatever comes next, we're on the same team."

The plot itself was dark. But I'm glad it was written as a YA. If it had been any darker, I don't think my heart could have handled it. I liked that it was dark, and exposed the darker sides of humanity (view spoiler), but it still held hope. I think that's my favorite aspect of the story: hope. Hope for goodness amidst the darkness.

I highly recommend this as a read.

"Nightlight tried to snuff it out, but love grew. Love found its way to the island, and this sanctuary made it possible."

So lovely. We need queer books by queer authors. I fell in love with all the characters immediately. The story was harrowing and heartbreaking and so much fun to read. I can’t wait to read more of Sass’s work.

I received this advanced copy from the publisher via netgalley to give my honest review. There are so many things I’d like to say about this book, and the first is that it took my breath away.
Seriously, I had to take some time to catch my breath after i finished reading and process everything.
It's a fast paced thriller, filled with mysterious situations and dubious characters, who are deeply tragic. Nothing justifies conversion therapy, homophobia, hate crime, but it was impossible not to feel pity for these sad, horrible people. They are so limited by their own beliefs, prejudice and hypocrisy, and lack of compassion and love, their lives are empty.
That's a testament of Adam Sass' writing. The story is moving, well crafted, made me feel so many emotions. Anger, fear, sadness, pity, but also hope.
The kids at the camp lean on each other for strength, finding small pockets of joy in such a horrible place, and use the companionship they build to keep themselves sane. The group is a diverse and lively bunch, and I loved them all. Connor is the spark they need to fight back for freedom, his hope even through fear making him a relatable character.
The plot twists and revelations are chocking, not only the big camp conspiracy and the reverend mystery, but also the secrets kept by characters like Briggs, a brainwashed former camper who now works at the camp. His story is so deeply sad and tragic, and he was part of scenes which were some of the rawest and most intense I’ve ever read.
Intense is my key word for this book. I loved it, perhaps specially because of that intensity and the complex themes in it, but I understand it's not for everyone. It deals with LGBTphobia, hate crimes, suicide, harmful language, but it's also about resistance, courage, struggle and hope. There's an author's note before the narrative starts warning about possible triggers, and I thought that was really positive and thoughtful. I was very happy to have had the opportunity to read this amazing book, and i thank the publisher, the author and netgalley.

A conversion therapy thriller in which the kids fight back against their homophobic captors - I didn't realize I needed such a story in my life until I read it.

I love thrillers and this was quite a tense and brutal one. I really appreciate the forewarning in the author's note as well as his statement on how this story is "not about queer pain. It’s about what queers do with pain." It's an important note since there is a LOT of pain and horror in this book - at times, it did get quite tough to read and I had to take some breaks, especially towards the end. But it's not completely bleak - there's a strong thread of hope and resilience that runs throughout the story and it ends on a fairly positive note as well.

The POV of our main character Connor also helps a lot. He's quite a compelling MC; well fleshed out, sympathetic, capable, brave and sweet. It was easy to root for him. The rest of the characters were just as complex and interesting, which is impressive since there is a pretty big cast here. Adam Sass managed to successfully capture entire personalities of characters in just a few snippets. I loved the portrayal of the transgender character and the avoidance of his deadname; sadly, it's still rare to see a cis author portray trans people with respect.

I also liked the moral complexity at work here with the antagonists; a character has been horribly abused as a teen and so continues that cycle of abuse when he grows up, yet the narrative never tries to excuse his cruel actions.

There's a rather sweet romance that happens on the side as well and I really liked the love interest's personality and background. I did think it was a bit insta-lovey but considering the high-stakes and intense situation, understandable.

Overall, this is an extremely well-crafted, fast-paced and gripping read. I would really advise readers to read the author's note - it has very important content warnings, particularly regarding a suicide scene in the middle of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!