This is technically an historical fiction (set 1980’s - early 1990’s) of two boys meeting and figuring out that they are in love. Cute romance with themes of religious bigotry.

I received this from Netgalley.com, this did not influence my review.

Some books are just incredibly sincere, earnest, and genuine. This was one of those books. The author deftly captures so much of the drama and uncertainty of growing up gay and the drastic highs and lows of first love; the uncertain line between close friendship and something more and the terrible apprehension of voicing that longing. There are definitely some elements of fantasy and escapism however, Alex and Brandon's relationship is almost cinema perfect at times and Alex's parents are understanding and kind almost to a perhaps unrealistic ideal. Yet even these elements have their place in the story and serve to enhance the book over all, (e.g. showing what a positive influence supportive parents can and should be).

There were a few things I felt got in the book's way, the writing at times seemed predictable and the dialogue sometimes didn't seem genuine. But, these few shortcomings are easily overlooked and the novel's depth, earnestness, and central themes of maturity, acceptance, and love win out easily. As a whole this book was a fantastic read that drew me in from start to finish, made me care about the characters, and provoke some very strong emotions. I was invested very early on and read most of it in one sitting, I would be interested to see what else this author creates.

Thank you, Athmosphere Press, for allowing me to read The You I See early.

Although I read a lot of queer YA titles, I hadn't heard of this story before. I love YA books set in the late eighties and early nineties, and I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading The You I See. The author immediately drew me into the story. I loved how the friendship between Alex and Brandon developed into something more and that Alex had such supportive parents back then. This book was so much more than I expected beforehand. I’d love to read more by Danny Freeman in the future!

I was surprised how much I truly enjoyed The You I See.
I think the author did a really job painting a picture of the way things are today.
The characters were realistic and really I enjoyed reading more about them.
Brandon and Alex, I loved these two boy's. They are very well portrayed.
Danny really did a great job here and I look forward to reading more of his work in TBE future.

Atmosphere Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

The You I See follows Alex and Brandon from the ages of twelve to eighteen as they bond after a meeting at church and gradually develop a friendship that turns into a relationship and all of the challenges in between. The book is incredibly earnest and sweet, the friendship between Alex and Brandon is the beating heart of the book, but additionally, the relationship between Alex and his parents, as well as Brandon and Alex's parents made up some of the most impactful scenes of the novel.

This being said, it's hard not to feel like the book could have cut a solid hundred pages just by narrowing down some of the more mundane moments and details. There is a lot of meandering passages that just reaffirm what is already known or discussed between the characters that could have really been edited to create a more engaging read. The bigger moments stick out such as Alex coming out and Brandon's parents' discovery of his sexuality, but they also feel a little rote and there's a strange mix of both too much trauma and too much wish fulfillment in the novel. Everything gets wrapped up tightly in a bow at the end and while that is the ideal outcome, it doesn't feel entirely realistic despite the repeated attempts at realism in the book when it comes to the trauma that Alex and Brandon endure.

It feels rough to critique the book for these reasons because the subject matter is so important and heart wrenching, but a bit more editing could have made this book a lot more compelling.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing book.

This is a story set over a few years following two teen boys growing up in the 80's/90's. They meet at church group and become friends. Their friendship grows over the years into a budding romance. The story also follows how coming out to your parents is hard and when they don't accept your choice, how much more difficult it can be.
5* Read..... Loved it!

This book was a pleasant surprise, I got it through NetGalley because I’m a sucker for some LGBTQ+ story and the sinopse gave me a glimpse of the book that really drew me in. In this sense I wasn’t expecting the best gay book ever written since I hadn’t heard a lot about it, but I think LGBTQ+ content is needed in every atmosphere possible. We need these stories to be told. That being said and considering this is the fist novel by the autor, it was a really enjoyable experience in the full, but I can’t say it was perfect. In some parts I sense the development was somehow shallow and a little predictable. I would recommend you to read and get to your own conclusions, and be prepared to be entangled in the world of Alex and Brandon.

I was apprehensive going into this as I’d seen some reviews about the language and intimacy being inappropriate. After reading I can definitely see that point and some of it did make me feel a little uncomfortable because of the age of the characters. However, the relationship ultimately developed pretty slowly and naturally. I do think some bits would have come across better if they’d been a tad bit older or written less bluntly. Was kind of weird when they were calling each other ‘hot’ and ‘horny’ but I do remember my friends talking to each other that way so it’s probably quite realistic, if rather odd reading from an adult perspective. They didn’t really do anything much till they were actually 18 so I didn’t think it was overly problematic.

I know that if had I read this when I was the age of these characters, I would have thought this was one of the best things I’d ever read. I probably would have cried in relief and in compassion for the characters. I imagine this book could mean a lot to young queer people and this is definitely the kind of story that needs telling.

I was compelled to keep reading and the relationship between Alex and Brandon was just so sweet and special. There were also so many important issues dealt with - safety of LGBTQ people, coming out, religion, scripture, homophobia, familial relationships and finding yourself. The inclusion of real political events was also a great detail.

Unfortunately, the writing felt quite inconsistent. Some bits were really great and then other bits felt clumsy. In particular, there was a lot of dialogue that felt stilted and not like how people talk - mainly when it was the adults speaking. It was also quite repetitive at times and could have been a lot shorter or perhaps followed them into adulthood a little. I would have liked to have seen that phase of their lives.

A book I have mixed and complex feelings about but, I am glad I read it. The afterword from the author was really interesting and gave great insight to their thinking behind the novel.

Author Danny Freeman has created a beautiful love story about two teens who discover themselves while also coming to terms with their sexuality. Alex and Brandon are inspirations as they develop a bond. Six years go by and we see them grow, come out to both themselves and to their families. The angst a teen has is well-portrayed. Alex has the luck of understanding parents whilst Brandon has a father who espouses homophobia. He is a preacher and cannot get past the basics of Christianity. One can argue that the portrayal of the preacher is unfair, but for me it's usually the preacher who is the unfair one, at least when it comes to gay rights and women's rights.
The novel could have been tightened up a bit, and I don't recommend it for younger readers. For older teens and adults, it is a heart-warming and entertaining read.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

I struggled in the beginning to make a connection with the characters and the storyline. The story was quite fast paced and maybe trying to add lots of idea's in at the start. As the book moved on it began to make more sense and flow better. It was a little wordy at some points.

By the end it was a beautiful love story between two boys who started off as friends and then progressed into a coming of age story that spanned over 6 years of their lives. The story shows the ups and downs people face in a Christian background and what struggles they would face. This was based in the 1980s to 1990s. Alex and Brandon meet at Christian camp and began spending many waking hours together. I would defiantly suggest the read. In the end it was all about coming together and having tough discussions between families involved with them. Another big theme in the book is about safety and what consequences may have happened in a world/ time the didn't understand the queer community.

I was really apprehensive going into this as I'd seen some reviews about the language and intimacy being inappropriate. After reading I can definitely see that point and some of it did make me feel a little uncomfortable because of the age of the characters. However, the relationship ultimately developed pretty slowly and naturally. I do think some bits would have come across better if they'd been a tad bit older or written less bluntly. Was kinda weird when they were calling each other 'hot' and 'horny' but I do remember my friends talking to each other that way so it's probably quite realistic, if rather odd reading from an adult perspective. They didn't really do anything much till they were actually 18 so I didn't think it was overly problematic.

I know that if had read this when I was the age of these characters, I would have thought this was one of the best things I'd ever read. I probably would have cried in relief and in compassion for the characters. I imagine this book could mean a lot to young queer people and this is definitely the kind of story that needs telling.

I was compelled to keep reading and the relationship between Alex and Brandon was just so sweet and special. There were also so many important issues dealt with - safety of LGBTQ people, coming out, religion, scripture, homophobia, familial relationships and finding yourself. The inclusion of real political events was also a great detail.

Unfortunately, the writing felt quite inconsistent. Some bits were really great and then other bits felt clumsy. In particular, there was a lot of dialogue that felt stilted and not like how people talk - mainly when it was the adults speaking. It was also quite repetitive at times and could have been a lot shorter or perhaps followed them into adulthood a little. I would have liked to have seen that phase of their lives.

A book have mixed and complex feelings about (hence the longer than normal review) but, I am glad I read it. The afterword from the author was really interesting and gave great insight to their thinking behind the novel.

Wow, what an absolutely delightful, heartwarming, and funny story about two boys coming-of-age, and coming out in the 80s and 90s. My Gen X, Prince Bride loving heart soared.

This was a love story, at a precious age, in an era where a lifeline was hard to come by, especially when you are questioning who you are and people around you are closed-minded and hateful. And though this deals with outright homophobia, the story never ceases to remain hopeful and affirming.

This so perfectly captured young/teenage boys; they were all the things teenagers are: funny, awkward, wise, and immature. Brandon is wild, energetic, and emotional. He has a huge heart and will fight (literally) anyone who hurts the people he loves. Alex is thoughtful, mature, and calm. They are the opposite sides of a coin. They make such a charming pair. And though things aren’t always smooth, there is no denying their bond is special and strong.

Thanks to some beautiful people in their lives, these two have a chance to love themselves and fight the shame some would want to bestow on them. It's a powerful story, that will leave you with all the feels.

I really enjoyed this book. It took me 2 attempts to really get into it because I don't think I was really prepared for Brandon's voice and found it slightly jarring to read. I couldn't really see why they would make the connection in the first place, I think. However once I got over that, I adored the book.
Alex and Brandon are two teenagers living in Houston, Texas in the 1990s, whose friendship evolves over the six years the book covers during their mid to late teens..
Over the course of the book, what starts as a startling and somewhat unlikely friendship pairing evolves where each boy can offer something the other needs.
Over the 6 years covered by the book, we see a lot of uncomfortable topics like religious homophobia by a parent, actually a lot of homophobia and hate crimes which is indicative of the time and place setting for the book. The scene were Alex talks about the killing of a local gay man at a bar/club not far from where he lives was not only chilling but speaks to the huge effect it has on the boys. And especially there need to be constantly on their guard regarding their relationship in public.

Despite some of the language and character voices making me uncomfortable, as I said earlier, I found the book as whole thoroughly wonderful. I feel very privileged to read such a raw book.

Thank you @netgalley for an eARC of this book.

This book took me by surprise! I had a little idea of what to expect from the summary, but I was not ready for how this story unfolded. Two (polar opposite) boys become unlikely friends and we get to watch them navigate their often weird and awkward friendship/ relationship grow over the course of a few years.

I loved how open, careful, and loving Alex's parents were. At times it felt unrealistic, but in this case it worked because it paints a picture of what it could be like to have parents like that. Alex is their world and they would do anything for him.

This book does touch on a few hot topics like possible domestic violence, verbal abuse, assault, anti-gay religion, hate crimes, but it also covers consent, love, friendship, repairing family ties/ bonds, commitment and more.

I enjoyed the characters and the world building. As well as how we move through time with these characters and watch their relations grow both amongst the MCs and the supporting characters.

This book had me tearing up a few times. Happy tears!

This book is a story of self-discovery, growing up, friendship, ultimately it’s a love story between two boys, Alex and Brandon, who are, on the face of it, as different as chalk and cheese.
I personally didn’t always get on with the author’s writing style so there were times when it felt like a bit of a slog to keep going. In my opinion, this is due, at least in part, to the huge amount of dialogue in the story, which I think could have been significantly cut down with negatively impacting on the story.
However, I must stress that I still enjoyed the book, I just think it had the potential to have been a book that I loved rather than liked.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this read. I'm a huge fan of friends to lovers and this didnt disappoint.
We follow Brandon and Alex as they discover their feelings and sleves while navigating being gay in the early 90's. I loved Alex's family. I wish every young queer person has someone in their corner.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this one, in exchange for an honest review.

The best I’ve ever read. This was amazing. Every scene had me reading more and more. Absolutely recommend.

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

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!