I've loved Sean since his days on Will and Grace and to see him as an author only bought me so much joy. This story was so cute and so much needed.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This was a great read! I loved how it incorporated all aspects of Barclays life. The characters were interesting and made some big strides. Christopher was the perfect leading man.

Thoughts

I didn't come into this one expecting much, and I was pleasantly surprised. This book is everything is claims to be, a struggle for identity and acceptance with a fair bit of (very welcome) self-confidence. Plus, any YA book that's light on the romance side of things is a breath of fresh air, so it has that going for it, too.

Pros
Self-Confidence: The first thing I loved in this book was Barclay's pure confidence. Often, in books about coming out of the closet, there's an immediate sense of unease, dread, and trepidation -- for good reason, of course. We don't get that here. Barclay's intentions are noble (and perhaps a little too hopeful). He wants to pave a path for other kids like him. He's nervous to make the declaration, but those nerves are trumped by his eagerness to have it all out there, the whole truth about himself. And I appreciate that starting point because it is different. It is refreshing, even if things don't pan out the way Barclay wants.

Small Town Change: I also loved the really unexpected passion this book has for local voting. I've always been an advocate for voting local. Change starts close to home. Change there is very real, very achievable, and it really does pave the way for bigger, more national changes. I love that this book focuses on what we can do, and I especially love that its set in Georgia. Because if any state has shown us that local populations can be heard, its Georgia, right?

Hard Conversations: This book doesn't shy away from hard conversations, especially conversations that need to be had. Barclay was so, so confident in coming out. He didn't see that even the people closest to him would be wary about this declaration. He didn't see that this part of himself wouldn't be as important to others as to himself. His mom, his sister, his former friends... They all have choice words, even if they're still "on his side." This book is about all the aggressions someone who doesn't fit the mold can feel, both big and small, and that's so important.


Cons
Teammate Troubles: You know what most of Barclay's teammates were to me? A jumble of names. Of course, there were a few that stuck out -- you know, the ones that actually influenced the plot. The rest, especially early on, made absolutely no impression to me. Which is kind of a problem when Barclay says "even so-and-so won't look at me." Because XYZ person means nothing to me. So many names and so little personal connection!

Bland: The story is important. The message is great! The writing is bland. There's nothing to get excited about here, which is kind of disappointing with so many names on this cover. With the writing so simple, the emotion doesn't always shine through, making is hard to get excited about and for the characters and their development.

Self-Sabotage: While Barclay's emotional lashing-out comes at varying levels of understandable, it was still highly annoying! Especially when it came to his best friend Zack, Barclay was more likely to jump at his throat than hear him out. Zack makes some mistakes, but none that warrant what he gets from Barclay. This interpersonal self-sabotage felt more like it was serving the plot and less like it was related to the characters.


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7/10

Fans of Alyson Derrick's Forget Me Not will enjoy this new snapshot of coming out in rural America. Those who enjoyed Kevin Christopher Snipes's Milo and Marcos at the End of the World will like this new clandestine couple.

I DNFed a little over 50% in. I have a hard time reading gun violence against teens in contemporary books, and maybe a more appropriate response is discussed later in the book. But when the main character is understandable scared after canvassing and then threatened with a shotgun, his love interest points out that the man probably wouldn’t have shot two white boys in broad daylight and that it won’t stop him from canvassing to other people like that man because it’s how he stands up for himself.

I understand the sentiment, but with how prevalent gun violence is here, I’m just not comfortable with that messaging and I can’t myself continue with the book. I think a more mature, better response would be to go back and add that persons house to a list of houses to avoid or that need certain care or something. I don’t know, this scene honestly rattled me more than the main character.

I was already annoyed at certain characters and how certain things were portrayed. Like, if the main character is working at a diner and he’s not getting tips, than quitting and getting another job makes sense since servers usually get paid almost nothing on the assumption they’ll be tipped.

That’s a nitpick, along with the rest that was dragging the story down and doesn’t make me feel to bad stepping away and dnfing this book after that scene.

This fast-paced read is bursting with emotion. Navigating the high-pressure environment of varsity sports in small town America when championships, college scouts, and much-needed scholarships are on the line can be crazy tough for anyone. Add in fresh grief, a struggling family, and all the anxiety of coming out and it can easily seem overwhelming, especially if your desire to live out and proud is met with unexpected backlash. That's what Barclay faces, and it tore my heart out! Time Out captures the anxiety and volatility of teen emotion well. Thankfully, it also captures the power of positive influence, the benefits of pursuing the things that matter to you, the impact of fighting for what is right, and the importance of allowing people to grow. Much like the best sports comeback movies, the experience of reading Time Out puts your heart through its paces and then lifts you high with a satisfying ending worthy of the 90s Rom-Coms favored by Barclay and his friends. It's a good one.

I, overall, enjoyed this story. Certain parts were harder to read, though. There was a lot of homophobic language and harassment based off the MCs sexuality. The story also dealt with loss and the process of grieving. Barclay Elliot has just come out to the entire school and most of the town. It doesn't quite go how he planned. Now, after facing personal hardships, bullying at school, difficulties at home, and losing his drive for basketball and the closeness of his team: Elliot is feeling hopelessly lost. Enter his best friend and ride-or-die, Amy. She introduces him to the world of investigative journalism and how the written word can make a difference in their lives and their community (namely- by voting!). She also introduces him to the only other out, gay kid in school, Christopher. Armed with this new mode of fighting back, and new friends who support the real him, Elliot is bound and determined to see those who wronged him brought to justice. All seems to finally be going right for Barclay, but fear and uncertainty cause Barcley to doubt himself. Can Elliot overcome his fears and fight for his new found team, or give up on everything he has worked so hard for?

Time Out was a coming of age, coming out story in small town Georgia. Trigger warnings for homophobia, bullying, and the loss of a family member (off page). The story mainly focused on Barclay's coming out journey, there was a tiny dash of romance but it was by no means the main focus of the story. I also really appreciated the focus the authors had on the importance of voting, particularly for young voters (register to vote!!). My only complaint, is that I wish we got more at the end. I wanted to see the 'villains' get more of their comeuppance. As well as more closure for Elliot and his family. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story.
*3.5 rounded up

I’ll be honest, I find gay books about sports a bit overdone. The cliche of the star athlete secretly being into dudes has been done time and time again….but where this sets itself apart Is Barclay knows what he wants and is not willing to hide in order to get it. That was refreshing and made the story a lot more enjoyable than the angst lying in the character hiding their sexuality. That isn’t to say there are no struggles…honestly I don’t know how Barclay was able to forgive the team for the hell they put him through, and a subplot of politics witching their community takes this from your run of the mill gay athlete coming out story to one with depth and a point of view beyond teenage sexuality angst.

What will a small town in Georgia do when their golden boy captain of the basketball team announces he’s gay? Barclays thinks he’ll be fine, that everyone in town has his back. Reality is much uglier than he expected and he needs to figure out what is really important to him and who his real friends are.

As someone who doesn't know the first thing about sports, I'm pleased to say that this book kept me interested from start to finish with its engaging plot and well-developed protagonist, Barclay Elliot. The story takes place in a small Georgia town where basketball is everything, and Barclay is the star player. When he comes out at the biggest pep rally in the town’s history, he faces unexpected hostility from his own team and community. The author does an excellent job of delving into Barclay's struggles and the impact of his decision to come out on his relationships, particularly with his teammates and grandfather.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of growing up queer in a small southern town. It doesn't shy away from the realities of living in a community where traditional gender roles and conservative values are still deeply ingrained. Through Barclay's story, the author highlights the challenges that many LGBTQIA+ individuals face, such as bullying, discrimination, and rejection from family and friends.

The book also sheds light on the importance of finding a supportive community and being true to oneself, no matter the consequences. Barclay's journey is an inspiring one, and his story serves as a reminder that it's never too late to start living as your true self.

However, while Barclay is a well-developed character, I wanted more development of the other characters, particularly Christopher. Despite their initial animosity, Barclay and Christopher's relationship develops quickly, and I wished there had been more time devoted to exploring their characters and relationship.

Overall, this book is an insightful and poignant exploration of what it means to be queer in a small southern town, with a well-developed protagonist and an engaging plot. It's a story that will resonate with readers, regardless of their sexual orientation or background, and a powerful reminder that everyone deserves to love and be loved. While it could have benefited from more character development for secondary characters, it's a story that will keep readers hooked until the end.

While it is important that books exist (LGBTQ+ sports/drama/romance), I think it could've been executed much more effectively. It was engaging, for the most part, but all of the characters had one goal/mindset and nothing deeper than that. Additionally, the language very much had a "hello fellow teens" vibe -- much of it felt like what a boomer thinks gen z sounds like. Notable examples were one of the teens wondering where the other got a physical newspaper and the use of the phrase "some protagonist shit" rather than "main character shit."

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I received an eARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was honestly surprised to give this book a 3 star since I had high expectations going into here. For having 3 authors write this, I was expecting this to be one of the best books I ever read. Sadly, not the case. This felt very rushed (just over 200 pages), and I felt like there should have been more.

Barlcay I didn’t necessarily like, but I could relate to. He lost his grandpa in a car crash, and that’s very sad. Besides that; there wasn’t a lot of characters that I loved. Zach, Tabby, & Christopher were the only other ones I really liked.

And the one thing that really annoyed me was the amount of homophobia. Normally in YA books I don’t see that much, but for how short this book was, it was expressed almost the ENTIRE TIME, and it was like ugly and awful. I almost DNF’d it for how many times someone made slurs, beat up someone, or just anything really.

I felt like there should’ve been like 5 extra chapters to go more in-depth about everything, especially with the ending, which was cute, but very rushed and incomplete.

If you need a quick read to finish up/add to your reading goal, this is a good option, but there is a lot of homophobia & slurs mentioned & expressed throughout the whole time.

Thanks Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I really enjoyed reading Time Out and couldn’t put it down! Barclay is the star of the basketball team and loved by everyone. But due to recent loss he decides he can’t keep his secret anymore, he’s gay. But it shouldn’t be a big deal with anyone as the all love him. But what if things don’t go as planned? His best friend Amy also needs his help getting young people to register to vote in their town, which brings him in close contact with Christopher, as the two spend time together will something more develop? I loved Barclay’s journey to figuring out his identities and how they all fit together! Time out is a sweet, touching story surrounding a coming out that doesn’t go perfectly, something all LGBTQIAP+ people can relate too! Perfect for sports fans! I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read it again!

5000000/5 stars! GAHHH!!! I love this book so much. It couldn't have been more appropriate than comparing this to Heartstopper. This truly is Heartstopper fleshed out as a book rather than a graphic novel. I loved Barclay. He seemed so authentically a teen figuring out his life. I loved watching the development of the story and also the side characters growing and becoming more accepting. I cannot express enough how much this book hit me in the feels. Perfect queer YA read!

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Engrossing story about a basketball star coming to terms with life in his home town after he comes out. The characters were well-developed and the story moves along quickly, but still holds onto the building tension without rushing key moments. Overall, this is a realistic view of life in small-town America and the prejudices teens face.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The Goodreads synopsis describes Time Out as Heartstopper meets Friday Night Lights and that’s such a perfect description.
Barclay really goes through it and I loved that he made some dumbass decisions that felt very authentic to a boy in high school whose life is falling apart. I also loved how he stood up for himself from the beginning rather than learning how to along the way.
I don’t really want to give away who the love interest is even though you find out pretty early on because I didn’t pick up on it right away and when it clicked I was so on board. The flirting progression is really sweet and they’re SUCH a cute couple once things finally get there.
I really appreciate the grief representation between Barclay, his mom, Maggie and Devin. This book is less than 300 pages and I’m impressed with how fleshed out each member of the Elliot family is and how they’re affected by Barclay’s grandfather’s death.
I’ve said this so many times about all the queer YA I’ve read lately, but I’m so happy this story exists. I was a queer teen in the South that graduated high school in 2010 so stories like this either didn’t exist or weren’t widely accessible so seeing more and more great queer YA coming out is really amazing.

This was a really great read that made me feel all of the emotions. A very well-done and well-written coming-of-age story!