Kenneth C. Logan

This is one of the better coming out books that I've read. I really like the protagonist's voice and the way that he writes letters to people as sort of a way of keeping a diary. The writer does a good job of documenting how a closeted person takes in the things that are said around him and internalizes some of the words and phrases that other don't think much about. It shows how impactful words are and that the seemingly innocuous things that we say without a care can have a big impact on show more another person's life and the way they see themselves. Being closeted and the act of coming out is always surrounded by a measure of fear, uncertainty, confusion, and grief. There is also an internal struggle between breaking free and being able to live an honest life and not wanting to disturb the image of you that other people have constructed. We don't want to disappoint people and we tend to live up to the way that others see us instead of being our true selves.

There are a lot of good friendships depicted in this book as well as family, schoolmate, and teammate relationships. I really enjoy this author's writing and the quick wit of his characters. I hope to find more by this author. show less

The ending was a little abrupt, but otherwise I loved the story.

The whole book made me feel awkward, like I was seeing something I shouldn't. I felt all kinds of embarrassed - for no reason I could pin. So maybe that's just me. *shrug*

This was very realistic. Awkward and frustrating at times, but I'd nod a lot thinking "Yeah, that's how it goes". So while I felt like shaking some sense into James occasionally, I'd also be broiling in frustration and being all "Why is life like this?!? Gods, show more people are so unfair!"

It also made me think about all those norms and conventions. We really are given a certain set of expectations basically from the day we are born. Hell, even when we die people expect us to have been something. And they get all disappointed when it isn't so.
I still have no clue why we cling to all these gender-bound expectations. It's so very limiting. What's the point?

Anyway.
This is a good book. You should give it a try. show less

I really enjoyed this one!!! Our main character is a stereotypical DUDE BRO, which I feel like isn't something we normally see--normally our gay main characters are very sensitive and self-aware. He was kind of a jerk at points, which made him feel like someone I'd know in real life, and I absolutely loved conversations where people tried to make him talk about his feelings and he's like "SO YEAH, THE WEATHER." Also the three siblings were fab.

I was surprised this was set in Vermont yet show more really lacked a supportive community, but that adds another perspective. Wish they hadn't made James out to be SUCH a writer as he really didn't write that much and it felt quite tropey, and I'm a tad disappointed the whole book wasn't written in an epistolary format.

Oh, and that cover is very phallic until one realises it's a Pez dispenser. But I'm splitting hairs. show less

This book seemed to me like it harkened way back to the coming out stories where everything was awful for gay kids, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's really realistic; you do get homophobic responses but it's a lot more positive than a lot more coming out stories I've read.

James is a fun narrator and I really liked his voice, as well as all the other characters (except Mark can choke). He had a pretty big circle of friends, all of whom can be casually homophobic so I can see why he was show more so stressed out about coming out.

For a while during the story, things look bleak for James: it looks like everyone hates gay people, his parents don't support him, because all James sees is the homophobia. And granted: there's a fair amount of homophobia, more than I've seen in a lot of recent books, and that can be quite hard to read. But things turn out fine in the end; most of his friends are accepting of him and so's his family. So I'm pleased. show less