leahrosereads
Written on Nov 2, 2019
Funny and poignant coming-of-age novel from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren about two boys who fall in love in a writing class, one from a progressive family and the other from a conservative religious community.
Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.
But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar, where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester, Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.
It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.
- ISBN10 1534420371
- ISBN13 9781534420373
- Publish Date 21 September 2017 (first published 12 September 2017)
- Publish Status Out of Stock
- Out of Print 11 June 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Simon & Schuster
- Edition Export
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 416
- Language English
Reviews
layawaydragon
Written on Jun 21, 2018
Autoboyography isn't anywhere close to perfect, but I enjoyed reading it and finding out what happened with these characters. If I could, I'd put 3.5 stars but Goodreads and Amazon don't do halfies so 3 it is.
The most annoying part for me was dealing with all the Mormonism. It's a ridiculous religion and fuck missionaries. It's so fucked up I had a hard time stomaching it. Yes, I am sympathetic for kids raised in it and dealing with their fucked up policies but I just wanted to scream "what about the other shit?!?"
*deep heaving sigh* The worst part was hoping God's representative would proclaim being gay as acceptable. Any day now! It could happen at any time!
The chance of LDS accepting gay people is as likely as Quiverfulls doing it.
Anyways, cute typical romance, unusual best friendship that I loved and hated at times, one supportive family, one homophobic one, and enough angst to overdose on.
Notes While Reading:
---->"What Autumn really hates is that I leave things to the last minute and then manage to get what I want anyway. "
---->"His smile ruins me. "
---->"When I started questioning my sexuality, they told me their love for me was not dependent on where I stick my dick. Okay, they didn't use those exact words; I just like saying it. "
---->I feel for Hailey with her brother that fails upwards, lol. Poor goth.
---->"Pick almost anyone here and it's like six degrees of second base. But it's not like there's anything better to do. "
---->"Because of missionary efforts in Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, there's a surprisingly large number of Polynesians in Utah. " Ugh missionary colonizers. Fuck 'em.
---->"We are liberated Unitarian Jewstians," Mom says, gliding into the room in her yoga pants, her hair in a high, messy bun. "
---->"He laughs, confused but clearly amused. "It's like your first day with a new arm."
---->"Tonight Dad barely seems to chew before he's swallowed. Mom's normally smiling mouth is turning down at the corners."
---->"He swallows, and a million pornographic images fly through my head in the ten seconds before he speaks again. "
---->"Her motto is 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.'"
---->"Although Mom means well, my thoughts about Sebastian are a runaway train: the engineer is gone and the engine is basically on fire."
---->"Interesting that the Native Americans don't live here anymore because of those settlers."
---->"And I remember something he said earlier today: I can't tell if this feels good or terrible."
---->"Dad smiles at me. "Not for a single second. Your mom is my sun. My world is only warm when she is in it."
---->"But it's one thing to support it in theory. It's another to have it right there, in her life. In her best friend."
---->"It feels like I'm pushing through the dark and I know that what's ahead is safe, but no one is following me there."
---->"You have so much space in your heart for your church, but does it have space for you?"
---->Sudden POV change. This one works, good addition too.
Pigpen.Reads
Written on Mar 21, 2018
It has made my top 5 list for sure!
I would highly recommend this fantastic book. Everyone who has raved about it, is right.
Chelsea
Written on Dec 7, 2017
I also really loved how sweet everything was. The romance was slow but not slow enough to drive you crazy. It was also nice just seeing the main character do things that made him happy instead of worrying what everyone else thought. Sure he went over the consequences in his head but at the end he decided that he should be happy above all else.
Stephanie
Written on Nov 9, 2017
Kait ✨
Written on Sep 17, 2017
Sam@WLABB
Written on Sep 12, 2017
Pro: Tanner had the most awesome family ever. They were able to be open and honest and it was quite a lovely thing to see. #FamilyGoals
Pro: Tanner is awesome. I totally fell in love with him myself. He was funny, witty, and intelligent. This made for some great banter in this book, and also made the time spent inside his head quite enjoyable.
Pro: This book is not just about sexual identity. It's about identity in general, being your true self and doing things that are fulfilling and make you happy. I think a wide audience would be able to relate to this story on that level.
Pro: The authors did such a fantastic job making me understand Sebastian's inner struggle. My heart physically ached for him. Shoot! I am getting a little misty just thinking about it right now.
Con: I could have done without the Autumn-Tanner thing. It wasn't the worst, but it frustrated me. Obviously, it wasn't a deal breaker, as I still gave this book 5-stars, but I just didn't care for it.
Pro: I am always a little scared to read books that feature religion, because religious people are often demonized in books, but Christina Lauren presented the LDS church from many sides. They showed good things about the church, and how some progress has been made regarding homosexuality, but they also acknowledged that more progress is necessary. They had characters who had left the church, and present their grievances with the church, but they also showed current members, who were more progressive and did not follow every last tenant to the T. It was a fair and balanced treatment of the church and I appreciated getting the various viewpoints.
Pro: I adored watching the romance between Tanner and Sebastian blossom. It totally put a stupid grin on my face.
Pro: To all those authors out there, who have disappointed me with their endings - listen up! This is how you do an epilogue. I got closure, and that is all I ever ask for.
Overall: A beautiful and poignant love story packed with feels, which left me so warm, happy, and hopeful.