Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc, I grabbed a copy off of Kobo+ because I didn't get to the arc in time but this sounded right up my alley. That said, I really wasn't expecting a book with the tagline "Love knows no gender" to be filled homophobia and transphobia. If I didn't know better I would have thought this was written and set 30 years ago, not 3. Outside of that, everything was so surface level. I felt like I was back in high school with these characters changing their Facebook statuses to in a relationship then claiming they loved each other after no time. All these characters were extremely immature and Oakley did not deserve Jody, his journey from homophobia to in a queer relationship may work for some but it did not at all for me.

I absolutely loved this novel.
Such a great story with defined characters and a great plot.
What drew me in the most was how fleshed out the characters were
The writing style was fluid and relateable.
The cover was fascinating as well.
A reviting read overall
Definitely recommend adding this to your TBR!

I couldn't finish it. There was a lot of info-dumping in such a short amount of time I felt overwhelmed in a couple of minutes. The endless flashbacks didn't help either, going back and forth several times with a fast pace that disoriented me even more.

3.5⭐️ - I loved the essence of the story, and the conversation on trans issues was so well done. But it was hard to get through at times because of the writing. It felt like a debut, and I look forward to seeing where the author grows with their writing style.

I found Grayality to be an insightful tale of “coming out” in small town America, having to deal with prejudices and preconceived notions about romantic vs physical love.

The MCs, Oakley and Pate, are wonderfully full of hope for acceptance and yet flawed in their own respects.

The secondary characters (Maybelle, Bullet, Kelly, and Foster) and their actions, unfortunately, contribute to the growing anxiety and fearful existence that many in the LGBTQ community continue to face.

I had a feeling that Stormy was a bit of a glitter bomb himself and was hoping for more of an arc for his character.

This story also had great insight into family/friend dynamics and who are truly worth fighting to keep by your side.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley and Voracious Readers Only, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. When Oakley and Pate move to Montana to care for Oak's sick grandmother, both are forced to face who they are and who they want to be in their new rural Montana town

The book does a really deep dive into sexuality, romance, prejudice, and love within a romance novel. Oak and Pate have space to grow, make mistakes and find themselves in this book. The best friends are utterly charming together.

3.5/5 stars. Very enjoyable read

Trigger warning that there is transphobia and violence in the book.

Pate Boone, a twenty-six-year-old transgender man, embarks on a new adventure when his childhood best friend, and yes, ex-lover, Oakley Ogden, convinces him to escape their hometown in hopes for something new.
This was really one the best book I have read in 2022,i liked the writing style it's was really beautiful
The idea of a transgender and a bisexual man finding themselves, and their loves, it's was big yess for me.
I will definitely recommend this book to everyone!!!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

{{No spoilers}}

I actually enjoyed this book, I didn’t think I would. The characters were built really well, very well described. The author took time to really include trans issues, acceptance and made it personable and understandable. The plot was good, I could kind of see what was going to happen but that didn’t put me off carrying on:

Now, the not so good parts. I found the writing to be very tell and not much show. The author could have shown the reader a little more, don’t just tell us what’s going on, make us feel it!! It was also a little slow in places but then again it picked up in others.

Also make sure you’re okay with an emotional journey, this book does talk about suicide, mental health, bullying/harassment and more so make sure you can handle the epic storytelling.

The writing wasn’t great and some of the dialogue between characters just didn’t feel realistic, however, overall I had a fun time reading it. As much as i love multi-pov books I feel like it would of been better if Oakley and Pate each got their own book, so each of their characters could be fleshed out and developed more. Plus with both of there love stories being in one book it could feel rushed a lot of the time.

Thanks netgalley for this<3.
Honestly i kind of got the gist of what was happening from the blurb, and i decided to give it a try even tho the cover wasn't doing it for me.
so i started reading and like it was not awful? But i figured out the ending by like the 35% mark? So kind of very predictable. Overall it was nice to see some representation but i think this is just not for me.

It’s hard to decide where I land on this book. It had a very educational tone to it, which would be beneficial to someone who isn’t a part of the queer community, but felt maybe a little unnecessary for the target audience. Things like the phrase “my first shot of T (testosterone).” That being said, I enjoyed the platonic soulmate relationship between Pate and Oakley. The internalized homophobia that Oakley experiences was uncomfortable but realistic. I think this would be an excellent book to recommend to somebody who’s experience a gender or sexual identity crisis, but it’s not one I would reread.

It was hard to know what to rate this book and I ended up with 4 stars because of the journey this story took. It was very hard to read at times because of the homophobic language particular characters used. I almost couldn't finish it, but I am glad I did because even though this story is heartbreaking, it ends with characters receiving their happily ever afters.

In this story, we see Pate, a trans man along with his best friend, Oakley relocate from Georgia to Montana to help care for Oakley's Grandma. They start college in Montana and both meet partners who they begin dating. This is their journey of discovering who they are, admitting to themselves and being true to themselves. There are trigger warnings in this book which the author lists so please be aware.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC and this is my honest review.

How is this a debut novel?

Love TRULY knows no gender.

LGBTQ+ rep
Small town
Platonic soulmates

Please check content warnings! (Heavy emphasize on internalize homophobia and transphobia, suicidal thoughts, attempt of suicide (in the past), depression, social anxiety, mention of SA, cancer)

“Everyone else is just being themselves. And if that bothers you, well, that’s your problem. Not theirs.”

Pate and Oakley find themselves in small town Cloverleaf so that Oakley can take care of his grandma as she battles with breast cancer. She encourages the two to enroll in college while they are there. While, they each deal with their own internal struggles, you see their relationships and friendships been tested in this small town. Pate being a trans man and Oakley figuring out his sexuality. This is all laced with their past and their friendship; navigating new romantic relationships and what this means for each other and their future.

I genuinely remember reading the synopsis of this book and I knew I was going to be a mess of a human being — but for the last 20% of the book I was SOBBING non stop. This is truly a beautiful story of platonic relationships, figuring out your sexuality, trying to find your identity, loving yourself wholeheartedly and all while moving to a really small town and trying to find their footing with a new crowd.

Both Pate and Oakley are in very different points of understanding their own identities and sexuality orientation and Carey PW does a BEAUTIFUL job of depicting this journey — as hard as it is at times.

I swear from minute one I was in love with Pate, Oakley, Stormy and Jody!!!! I would give anything for a novella or another book about them. They truly hurt my feelings in the best way possible.

I also think i planned Maybelle’s death after 20% into this book —- Jesus i wanted to strangle her.

Pate and Oakley broke my heart to put it all back together. Friendship is utterly the best thing I’ve read so far. I could read about them for years on end. What a heart wrenching love stories — I am still SOBBING!

The only thing that bothered me was that there was a frequent slurs used… but that could also be because I am a bit of a sensitive reader so that made me feel icky.

Overall this was a 4.5 starts and everyone should go and read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Carey PW for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a heartfelt story! This story really touches on so much about being in the LGBT+ community ESPECIALLY in a small town in Montana!!!

This was such a rare gem for me. I had not seen it anywhere on Booksta or BookTok. I stumbled across it on NetGalley and I cannot stop singing my praise now!

Please please please go read this one!

I received an eARC of Grayality by Carey PW through NetGalley and Pride Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Grayality is out July 12, 2022!

Well this was just a little out of my comfort zone. I read a lot of gay romances and lots of trans stories that are full of tropes and super sweet. This was NOT that! Throughout the book we follow Pate, someone who knows his queer identity well but is scared to tell his potential significant other, and Oakley, someone who goes through the full motions of figuring out his sexuality and unpacking prejudices instilled in him since childhood. I loved that the author took the time to show the rawness of internalized homophobia and the turmoil one feels figuring themself out as Oakley comes to term with his sexuality. I loved both stories and while I expected to be more engaged with Pate's story, I actually liked Oakley's much more. In part because his significant other was easily my favorite character and I wanted the best for him the entire time. But also because it is very hard to write internalized homophobia and show the character going through the motions is still a genuinely good person regardless of what they seem to believe or have been taught. The complexity was incredible to read about. I was honestly turned away from the book because of the cover, but I did genuinely enjoy this raw and messy exploration of queer self while not shying away from heavy and scary themes that come with being queer.

My main problem while reading this was that it was hard to read through the internalized homophobia so much, it was definitely uncomfortable as someone who is very comfortable in their identity. But go into this book knowing it is a necessary part of the journey, and not something that will go justified. Still, it was very uncomfortable to read through and I had to make sure not to internalize it because at first the characters try to justify it.

Grayality By Carey PW captured the real society nowdays. As someone queer who lived in 'No Queer' environment, Its easey for me to feels the same way as Pete

REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grayality by Carey P W is the touching and compelling story of Pate Boone, a twenty-six year old transgender man and his best friend and ex-lover, Oakley Ogden. The two must find their niche in the rural Montana town that is not always open and accepting. Pate becomes enthralled with Maybelle to whom he has yet to reveal his transgender identity. Oakley, while supportive of his friend’s budding relationship, finds himself falling for Jody, a confident and gay drag queen, and struggles with accepting his own bisexuality. Is the love between Pate and Maybelle strong enough for her to accept him as he truly is? And can Oakley overcome his insecurities before he loses the love of his life?⠀
⠀
This is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that explores the idea of love being blind to gender. The story is authentic and honest as these two men struggle to find their identity in a judgmental and often unaccepting society. After pursuing a relationship myself with a transgender man whom I loved deeply, I can speak authoritatively of the author’s depiction of the struggles and conflicts involved. I wish a book like this had been around back then. ⠀

I really enjoyed this book. This is a real portrayal of two friends discovering themselves and how love can further define who you are. Sometimes you uncover things about yourself when the right person comes along. Heartfelt, honest and raw, this book takes you on an emotional journey everyone can relate to. A human one.

The reason why I choose this book is that I am interested in gender.
The main character is Pate Boone, he is a twenty-six years old man, also he is a transgender man.
The book depicts the struggles of various characters and how each character grows through these struggles.
What would you do if your old friend came out to you about his or her sexuality?
This book makes you think deeply about current LGBT issues.
I recommend you to read this book strongly!

I’m surely not the right person to judge or hardly have an opinion about Casey PW’s Grayality. I’m just an aging gay white man who was reminded not very long ago by a cocky young woman that GWM hide behind our gayness to avoid examine other biases. So, I feel too old and too binary to comment.
The book has a definite educational tone. I’ve also been told that I need to educate myself about others’ experiences, so I am grateful to stumble into a friendly education offering about others’ identities and lived experience.
I’m always startled to read about queer experience in red states. I’m afraid of the entire country these days, and have a hard time imagining how people have the courage to live there. Grandmothers in need of care explain a great deal, but still made me hold my breath the whole time.
I was puzzled the whole way along why Pate was chasing an unsuitable woman. Young men do have a habit of doing foolish things, and of course, a book does need its drama. Back in my day, there was a trope about people recently out of the closet behaving in surprising, perhaps immature ways. I wonder if this is analogous to the time around transition. Finding ourselves as emotional teenagers in our twenties, thirties, or later.
Oakley taking a shine to a drag queen is very sweet. And so is the drag queen.
My very favourite part of the book is the surprise. I’ll be good and say nothing more, but it’s hopeful and believable and makes a fine ending.
I don’t understand the title, and if the book explains it, I missed it. The subtitle, “Love knows no gender,” is surely true.