What do you think?
Rate this book
Desert Sons #1
Desert Sons
A coming-of-age novel for gay men ages 15-30.
Scott Faraday is 16, gregarious, talented, never been in a relationship, and is out to only a select few. Ryan St. Charles is 17, hot-tempered, has already has been in a long relationship, yet is barely out to himself. Behind Ryan's carefully fashioned façade is emotional scarring from a past he's never been able to reconcile. When he comes to live with his uncle in Yucca Valley, CA, he meets Scott. An unlikely pair, the boys form a tentative friendship. When Scott starts to suspect that Ryan might be gay, he plans his coming out to him. The result is that he transforms their friendship into his first real relationship. Then, Ryan's hidden past comes into view. Scott is not at all prepared for what he discovers: suicide attempts, past abuse, and loads of denial.
Tightly focused on their new relationship, Desert Sons follows these two teenagers as they plunge headlong through a summer that will forever change them both.
340 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2001
22 people are currently reading
2249 people want to read
About the author
Mark Kendrick
10 books65 followers(Mark Ian Kendrick)
I wish I could say I come from a long line of creative types, that creative endeavors were encouraged, that creativity was a hallmark of my family. Alas, I'm the outcast... and DAMN proud of it.
In fact, I'm the only gay member of my family on both sides for generations. I know. I did our family's genealogy on computer a decade ago just to find the others. No gays. No painters. No writers. No artists. No inventors. No intellectuals. Just Republicans. And those addicted to mythological beings made up during the Bronze Age.
So, let this be a lesson to everyone. In every boring family a black sheep must be born to create a fresh look, to stir the pot. To force change! Words are power. Unleash them!
I wish I could say I come from a long line of creative types, that creative endeavors were encouraged, that creativity was a hallmark of my family. Alas, I'm the outcast... and DAMN proud of it.
In fact, I'm the only gay member of my family on both sides for generations. I know. I did our family's genealogy on computer a decade ago just to find the others. No gays. No painters. No writers. No artists. No inventors. No intellectuals. Just Republicans. And those addicted to mythological beings made up during the Bronze Age.
So, let this be a lesson to everyone. In every boring family a black sheep must be born to create a fresh look, to stir the pot. To force change! Words are power. Unleash them!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 21, 2013
One of my all time favorites :) Read it back when I was 17 and have read it a dozen times since. Guess you could say it was my gateway drug to my full on M/M addiction.
June 22, 2010
This is a very complex love story about two young men who are both coming to terms with their own mental demons. Scott, 16, is trying to figure out how he can go to college for music while his parents demand a much more stable business career. Ryan is finding himself in a new town after being thrown out of his grandmother's place. Ryan struggles from losing his parents and being in a abusive relationship with an older man. Scott & Ryan find themselves thrown together and slowly realize that they need each other. I really enjoyed the character of Scott. He's a complex 16 year old who is still trying to understand where he fits in the world. Filled with love, turmoil, sex, music, and adventures, this is a great overall love story between two young males who want to love the other more than they really know how to yet. A great book!
June 22, 2010
This is hands down one of my favorite books of all time. I discovered it in college one day while hiding in the stacks, and fell in love. I have read it numerous times, and though some of the things are dated (cassette tapes instead of CDs) it is a wonderful book that never fails to draw me in and tug at my heart. Even though I have parts of the book memorized from reading it so often, the characters feel so real that while reading it, I have to check the end of the book to make sure it still ends the way I remember it.
November 6, 2016
Pages and pages of feels
What an amazing book. It's a bit wordy, which is fine. Painting a picture in your mind helps pull you into the scene. I didn't want to put this book down until i finished the last page. A few typos didn't take me out of the story. 4.8 rounded to five.
What an amazing book. It's a bit wordy, which is fine. Painting a picture in your mind helps pull you into the scene. I didn't want to put this book down until i finished the last page. A few typos didn't take me out of the story. 4.8 rounded to five.
Read
July 23, 2011Desert Sons and its author Mark Kendrick are probably among the first examples of “not tragic” coming of age gay love story. Not so many years ago, less than 5, it was almost impossible to find a love story among gay teens without any drama happening in it, and most of the time, one or both main characters didn’t arrive to the end of the novel. Yes, I know, I’m maybe a little dramatic, but trust me, especially in the print books world the situation was not really far from what I described. That is the reason why I mostly stuck to ebooks, it was strange, but in the ebooks world things went different, and the happily ever after was possible.
Maybe due to my “bad” past experiences, I didn’t read sooner Desert Sons by Mark Kendrick, even if this is one of those covers that came often to my notice, and not since it is pretty; Mark Kendrick’s romance novels were among the few you could find in the Gay Fiction department in bookstores, and when you browsed the net, most often than not they came out atop of the search. Other than being mostly tragic, at the time it was also pretty common to have stories about teenagers, don’t know why, maybe since many authors had a not easy period at that same age and they really felt the matter was important.
What I immediately noticed about Desert Sons is that these two teenagers are… teenagers! They are not little men with a teenager body but an adult mind, they are two horny guys who mostly want to experience, and if in the meantime they also find love, well, even better. Truth be told, this is a better description for Scott, Ryan, poor guy, has not an easy life, and he is scared by everything, and being gay is one big secret more that he doesn’t want to reveal, I think since he is afraid that would be another reason for people to shun him. Ryan has not a steady family, he tragically lost his parents and his brother and grandmother are not enough for him to feel safe. He clings to every adult figure he meets, with or without sexual interest: that is the reason why he is friend with Frank, a married man who he sees as the only counsellor he can trust, and why he started an abusive relationship with Crawford, an older guy, 28 years old.
When things got awry, Ryan’s grandmother sends him living with his uncle Howard in the Desert. Here Ryan meets Scott, another gay teenager, even if at the beginning they don’t know about each other; Ryan thinks his entire problem derive from him being gay, and he doesn’t want to act upon it no more. But Scott has other ideas, above all since, as I said, he is gay in a place where there are no other boys like him, and when he meets Ryan it’s like the manna from the sky; it doesn’t hurt that Ryan is cute, but basically Scott wants so much a boyfriend that he would take everyone, and sincerely, at the beginning, I had the felling he didn’t like so much Ryan as a friend, but as a boyfriend he could do.
Now, joke aside, I wanted to highlight as this novel really pointed out how these two boys, 16 and 17 years old, are still young, and unsure, and with the whole life in front of them to make mistake; you cannot pretend from them to be comfortable with their own life, they need time to take they own decision, and yes, maybe even take them wrong. But, thumbs up to Mark Kendrick, at least he gave them the chance to do that, and also to learn from their mistake.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595191304/?...
Maybe due to my “bad” past experiences, I didn’t read sooner Desert Sons by Mark Kendrick, even if this is one of those covers that came often to my notice, and not since it is pretty; Mark Kendrick’s romance novels were among the few you could find in the Gay Fiction department in bookstores, and when you browsed the net, most often than not they came out atop of the search. Other than being mostly tragic, at the time it was also pretty common to have stories about teenagers, don’t know why, maybe since many authors had a not easy period at that same age and they really felt the matter was important.
What I immediately noticed about Desert Sons is that these two teenagers are… teenagers! They are not little men with a teenager body but an adult mind, they are two horny guys who mostly want to experience, and if in the meantime they also find love, well, even better. Truth be told, this is a better description for Scott, Ryan, poor guy, has not an easy life, and he is scared by everything, and being gay is one big secret more that he doesn’t want to reveal, I think since he is afraid that would be another reason for people to shun him. Ryan has not a steady family, he tragically lost his parents and his brother and grandmother are not enough for him to feel safe. He clings to every adult figure he meets, with or without sexual interest: that is the reason why he is friend with Frank, a married man who he sees as the only counsellor he can trust, and why he started an abusive relationship with Crawford, an older guy, 28 years old.
When things got awry, Ryan’s grandmother sends him living with his uncle Howard in the Desert. Here Ryan meets Scott, another gay teenager, even if at the beginning they don’t know about each other; Ryan thinks his entire problem derive from him being gay, and he doesn’t want to act upon it no more. But Scott has other ideas, above all since, as I said, he is gay in a place where there are no other boys like him, and when he meets Ryan it’s like the manna from the sky; it doesn’t hurt that Ryan is cute, but basically Scott wants so much a boyfriend that he would take everyone, and sincerely, at the beginning, I had the felling he didn’t like so much Ryan as a friend, but as a boyfriend he could do.
Now, joke aside, I wanted to highlight as this novel really pointed out how these two boys, 16 and 17 years old, are still young, and unsure, and with the whole life in front of them to make mistake; you cannot pretend from them to be comfortable with their own life, they need time to take they own decision, and yes, maybe even take them wrong. But, thumbs up to Mark Kendrick, at least he gave them the chance to do that, and also to learn from their mistake.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0595191304/?...
December 6, 2009
I'm embarrassed to admit that I read this pathetically written "account" of teen horniness. Can I take it back? Not that I have anything against the intensity of carnal desire in the teen years, it's just that some measure of articulate and engaging storytelling would have been appreciated. What the reader gets instead is rather badly written erotica--isn't that the definition of pornography? No, because pornography is supposed to be arousing. Left me completely cold.
October 10, 2012
I could not get into this book at all. It was not in my taste and the story itself could have been very good which is why I read it. Some people may love it but I am not one of those people.
April 7, 2014
Riddle me this:
Have you ever cooked a dish that you are particularly adept at cooking – for example, let’s use the gods’ gift to mankind, mashed potatoes – and after tasting it, thought to yourself: “Hmmmm, something’s missing?” If you’re like me, your first reaction is, “MORE SALT!!!” This does one of two things: 1. makes the dish at least palatable, or 2. ruins it by overcompensating. If we go with the first, then at least you can eat a somewhat enjoyable meal, even though you know something is still missing in the taste; the second makes you curse yourself as you still eat it (ya know, because it’s mashed potatoes).
This is the perfect analogue to express my opinion on this particular novel: something was missing. The story was good enough, but it wasn't spectacular; thus why I awarded a solid three star average. I think the author had some good ideas, but the story doesn't delve below a superficial reading of the text, and it lacked a certain substance that would have allowed me to rate it higher (don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting it to be Shakespeare). Just like the aforementioned mashed potato scenario, the author, perhaps realizing a lacking, added more and more salt to the story (of course, by salt I mean sex) hoping to make it palatable to the masses. However, he came to the verge of overdoing it; honestly, I think he did overdo it, to the point of making the story trite at times. In the end, for me, it lacked intellectual stimulation and focused solely on visceral stimulation.
In fact, the novel reminded me quite a bit of contemporary gay cinema: a somewhat shallow story (I don’t mean that in its moral sense, merely that it doesn't penetrate deeper than its surface) that keeps audiences watching by throwing in hot guys. However, with all that said, I didn't hate the read, in fact it engendered the crack of a smile and some “awwwww” moments on several occasions. Basically, if you are looking for an easy, light read that doesn't overly stimulate the mind (plenty of visceral stimulation, though), or make one ask probing questions about the human condition, then this would be a good book to consider reading. Personally, I try to look for something deeper in the novels I choose, but - paradoxically - I will probably still read its sequel.
Have you ever cooked a dish that you are particularly adept at cooking – for example, let’s use the gods’ gift to mankind, mashed potatoes – and after tasting it, thought to yourself: “Hmmmm, something’s missing?” If you’re like me, your first reaction is, “MORE SALT!!!” This does one of two things: 1. makes the dish at least palatable, or 2. ruins it by overcompensating. If we go with the first, then at least you can eat a somewhat enjoyable meal, even though you know something is still missing in the taste; the second makes you curse yourself as you still eat it (ya know, because it’s mashed potatoes).
This is the perfect analogue to express my opinion on this particular novel: something was missing. The story was good enough, but it wasn't spectacular; thus why I awarded a solid three star average. I think the author had some good ideas, but the story doesn't delve below a superficial reading of the text, and it lacked a certain substance that would have allowed me to rate it higher (don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting it to be Shakespeare). Just like the aforementioned mashed potato scenario, the author, perhaps realizing a lacking, added more and more salt to the story (of course, by salt I mean sex) hoping to make it palatable to the masses. However, he came to the verge of overdoing it; honestly, I think he did overdo it, to the point of making the story trite at times. In the end, for me, it lacked intellectual stimulation and focused solely on visceral stimulation.
In fact, the novel reminded me quite a bit of contemporary gay cinema: a somewhat shallow story (I don’t mean that in its moral sense, merely that it doesn't penetrate deeper than its surface) that keeps audiences watching by throwing in hot guys. However, with all that said, I didn't hate the read, in fact it engendered the crack of a smile and some “awwwww” moments on several occasions. Basically, if you are looking for an easy, light read that doesn't overly stimulate the mind (plenty of visceral stimulation, though), or make one ask probing questions about the human condition, then this would be a good book to consider reading. Personally, I try to look for something deeper in the novels I choose, but - paradoxically - I will probably still read its sequel.
January 8, 2019
HOT BOYS IN LOVE.
A very pleasant surprise, this boy romance novel is certainly one of the best of this genre. At times I wondered why because I did have issues with the characters at times and some of the writing but the overall drive of the story, detailing the adventures of our two sexy boys in love kept me fully engaged and had me keenly flicking through the pages all the way to the end of this long but never boring 340 page novel. And now I have to read the sequel!.
It's a great romance even if Scott, with the body of a 16/17 year old seems to have the maturity of someone twice his age (love all that political correctness, according to Scott). Perhaps appropriate for Scott to be so grown up because he has to sort out the troubled mind of the very vulnerable 17/18 year old Ryan who has the mind of a .... 17/18 year old!
However he has no trouble sorting out Ryan's body as the sex is more than plentiful but let's face it, what would you expect from a couple of hot and horny teenagers overflowing with testosterone! Thankfully, despite some very graphic descriptions of the boy's favorite activity, I didn't find the sex scenes too excessive. Loved the shenanigans when the two go camping early in the book which were very amusing and extremely sexy.
A good read!
A very pleasant surprise, this boy romance novel is certainly one of the best of this genre. At times I wondered why because I did have issues with the characters at times and some of the writing but the overall drive of the story, detailing the adventures of our two sexy boys in love kept me fully engaged and had me keenly flicking through the pages all the way to the end of this long but never boring 340 page novel. And now I have to read the sequel!.
It's a great romance even if Scott, with the body of a 16/17 year old seems to have the maturity of someone twice his age (love all that political correctness, according to Scott). Perhaps appropriate for Scott to be so grown up because he has to sort out the troubled mind of the very vulnerable 17/18 year old Ryan who has the mind of a .... 17/18 year old!
However he has no trouble sorting out Ryan's body as the sex is more than plentiful but let's face it, what would you expect from a couple of hot and horny teenagers overflowing with testosterone! Thankfully, despite some very graphic descriptions of the boy's favorite activity, I didn't find the sex scenes too excessive. Loved the shenanigans when the two go camping early in the book which were very amusing and extremely sexy.
A good read!
July 17, 2013
This book isn't just a fun loving humorous gay story. It goes beyond just 'coming of age' or acceptance of ones self. It dives into two REAL characters with captivating stories and their journey together while falling in love. Both Scott and Ryan told aspects of their stories that related directly to my own experiences and thoughts when I was a teenager. I cried and feared with Ryan, and I longed and prayed with Scott. Their stories are not just farces of reality. They are real stories that occur in a long period of time. The author didn't bother with the minor unimportant details of every scene. He generously grazed over the scenes that were irrelevant to Scott and Ryan's story. While reading, an erotic scene popped up and suddenly I got worried that this was only going to be a erotica story. But then I quickly realized that every sexual encounter with Ryan and Scott was a component to the overall story of their journey. I can't wait to read the sequel. I cried with Ryan and Scott, and I can't wait to continue laughing, crying, swearing, and enjoying their story!
February 5, 2013
Protagonists Scott and Ryan could hardly be poster boys for the "It Gets Better" campaign. Their lives in the California desert already are a lot better than the circumstances faced by most American gay teens. They are yuppies with plenty of spending money, they are popular with their peers, and each is athletic and exceedingly handsome. Yes, they are closeted, sort of, but they have family members who are supportive and teen pals who mostly don't care whether someone is gay. One aspect of the plot that does hold some interest is Ryan's effort to deal with a previous affair he had with a controlling older man. The early chapters have an element of suspense -- when will Scott and Ryan make it, and what will it be like? But after that is dealt with, the soft-porn passages become repetitive and routine. The plot is set up for a sequel -- Scott and Ryan go off to college. Does anyone care?
January 2, 2016
Loved the story, loved the characters, but this book was about 100 pages too long. It would have been far better if lots of the descriptive passages had been cut, in particular those attempting to describe the scenery and surroundings.
The two central characters were well drawn and their journey to the realisation that they loved each other was well told, and their developing sexual relationship fitted well in the story. A few reviews have criticised the erotic/pornographic nature of parts of the book, I would disagree with this, I think these scenes help the development of the narrative, though on a couple of occasions they do last a longer than required.
Overall a good story, showing two young guys coming to terms with their love for each other, which despite any previous comments makes me want to read the follow up novel.
The two central characters were well drawn and their journey to the realisation that they loved each other was well told, and their developing sexual relationship fitted well in the story. A few reviews have criticised the erotic/pornographic nature of parts of the book, I would disagree with this, I think these scenes help the development of the narrative, though on a couple of occasions they do last a longer than required.
Overall a good story, showing two young guys coming to terms with their love for each other, which despite any previous comments makes me want to read the follow up novel.
April 26, 2010
3.5 Stars
I really wanted to like this book more than I ultimately did. Scott and Ryan both initially seemed like quite interesting characters, but I didn't feel there was enough development of them for my liking. To be honest, I ended up not liking Scott a lot of the time as I felt his attraction to Ryan was purely superficial and sexual and he had no real interest in getting to know Ryan and the demons that plagued him. I also felt the sexual content was a bit excessive and overshadowed the story, taking away from the journey of self discovery the boys were on.
I appreciate that this book has many fans and that it has touched many readers, but I'm afraid it just wasn't for me in the end.
I really wanted to like this book more than I ultimately did. Scott and Ryan both initially seemed like quite interesting characters, but I didn't feel there was enough development of them for my liking. To be honest, I ended up not liking Scott a lot of the time as I felt his attraction to Ryan was purely superficial and sexual and he had no real interest in getting to know Ryan and the demons that plagued him. I also felt the sexual content was a bit excessive and overshadowed the story, taking away from the journey of self discovery the boys were on.
I appreciate that this book has many fans and that it has touched many readers, but I'm afraid it just wasn't for me in the end.
January 3, 2011
I thought this was a great read! It was more focused on character development than anything else. I enjoyed the internal conflicts of the characters, and the trials of forming a relationship.
November 21, 2015
Rather boring and uneventful. Actually, it was really boring.
September 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this one.
I usually have to be in the right mood to read YA, but I think this one would work for me any day of the week. I think because it's a little bit dated. The book is over 15 years old, and you notice here and there. This wasn't a bad thing. I enjoyed those parts. If it's not something you'd like, its small things that won't effect your enjoyment.
I think I would have related to this book a lot, many, many years ago. Especially Ryan. Now, I can appreciate it, and enjoy it.
I usually have to be in the right mood to read YA, but I think this one would work for me any day of the week. I think because it's a little bit dated. The book is over 15 years old, and you notice here and there. This wasn't a bad thing. I enjoyed those parts. If it's not something you'd like, its small things that won't effect your enjoyment.
I think I would have related to this book a lot, many, many years ago. Especially Ryan. Now, I can appreciate it, and enjoy it.
October 30, 2017
Very Slow
Another wanna-be author. The way the story is told is almost mechanical, and even that is poorly done. This is yet another person who thinks that "backseat" and "backyard" are actual words, but not consistently. IMO, someone making these types of elementary errors will struggle at building a decent novel.
Another wanna-be author. The way the story is told is almost mechanical, and even that is poorly done. This is yet another person who thinks that "backseat" and "backyard" are actual words, but not consistently. IMO, someone making these types of elementary errors will struggle at building a decent novel.
June 14, 2024
I really enjoyed how most of the attention stayed on our two main characters. Yes, there are other characters, but by focusing more on Ryan and Scott, I find the author better captures the psyche of a teenager. Looking forward to the second book.
February 5, 2019
I really really wanted to like this book. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great as well. I’ve read coming Of age stories and LGBT books better than this one.
I don’t necessarily like a third POV. Which is how this book is written. That’s just me though. I’m okay with head hopping with their own chapters. but again not a third POV.
Also, throughout the book it got really boring. I like interactions and dialogue amongst the characters. But I felt like the author was more concerned about world building. I don’t care that the road had a crack in it or that the rocks along the pavement were different sizes (not that he described any of this but you get the picture). Their road trip got especially boring. It took me a a day or two more to finish up the book simply because I was dreading it! That’s not good! Without all the descriptions, I think the book could of had been a 100 pages less. And if he cut to the chase it wouldn’t have been dreadful.
Nonetheless, I think the story between the two boys was beautiful. Seeing as Scott was proud to be gay (was just scared to tell his father) and Ryan was in denial in sexuality.
One other thing, I think I missed it... but I wasn’t sure what decade the story was in. Seeing as they used maps instead of GPS. Or used house phones instead of cellphones. 90s?
Edit: I realized that the book was written in 2001, so that answers my above questions:)
I don’t necessarily like a third POV. Which is how this book is written. That’s just me though. I’m okay with head hopping with their own chapters. but again not a third POV.
Also, throughout the book it got really boring. I like interactions and dialogue amongst the characters. But I felt like the author was more concerned about world building. I don’t care that the road had a crack in it or that the rocks along the pavement were different sizes (not that he described any of this but you get the picture). Their road trip got especially boring. It took me a a day or two more to finish up the book simply because I was dreading it! That’s not good! Without all the descriptions, I think the book could of had been a 100 pages less. And if he cut to the chase it wouldn’t have been dreadful.
Nonetheless, I think the story between the two boys was beautiful. Seeing as Scott was proud to be gay (was just scared to tell his father) and Ryan was in denial in sexuality.
One other thing, I think I missed it... but I wasn’t sure what decade the story was in. Seeing as they used maps instead of GPS. Or used house phones instead of cellphones. 90s?
Edit: I realized that the book was written in 2001, so that answers my above questions:)
August 15, 2020
Cute
Read this book in high school, and decided to read it again as an adult. It's fun coming out book, and it's a different perspective from the norm.
Read this book in high school, and decided to read it again as an adult. It's fun coming out book, and it's a different perspective from the norm.
August 29, 2015
Mark Kendrick could do with reading more nc-17 fanfics. This was the very very bad kind of smut, usually when something is this bad it's usually a virgin newbie writer.
First of all, these are too many pages without plot. I don't mean little plot - I mean non at all! Sure the two boys go places and do stuff, but there is no real development.
And the worse is there is potential there, lots of it. This is way I went on reading after the Kindle sample even though there wasn't anything too compelling about the writing.
Now, let's move on to what is the main theme of this book - sex. There's lots of it and it's bad. Really really bad. Just like the plot it's all about the 'went there, did that'. Good sex has meaning, has emotional context and is relevant to either the development of the plot or the understanding of the character.
Ryan just came out of an abusive relationship, the first time he has sex has to have a great sagnificant. It means he allows himself to be vulnerable again. How important and emotional is that? According to Kendrik none at all.
Also, please let me know if you have any clue how Rayn and Scott look. It's so much that there are no description of them, but that they seem to be the same person. Kendrick even changes PoV back and force, sometimes even between 3 characters, in the same paragraph.
All in all - very very bad writing. I won't even recomend it as smut since all of them are basically the same, and none of them are actually erotic. It seems more like a screenplay for a porn film than an eotic novel.
Don't read, seriously, you can find much much better stuff online for free.
First of all, these are too many pages without plot. I don't mean little plot - I mean non at all! Sure the two boys go places and do stuff, but there is no real development.
And the worse is there is potential there, lots of it. This is way I went on reading after the Kindle sample even though there wasn't anything too compelling about the writing.
Now, let's move on to what is the main theme of this book - sex. There's lots of it and it's bad. Really really bad. Just like the plot it's all about the 'went there, did that'. Good sex has meaning, has emotional context and is relevant to either the development of the plot or the understanding of the character.
Ryan just came out of an abusive relationship, the first time he has sex has to have a great sagnificant. It means he allows himself to be vulnerable again. How important and emotional is that? According to Kendrik none at all.
Also, please let me know if you have any clue how Rayn and Scott look. It's so much that there are no description of them, but that they seem to be the same person. Kendrick even changes PoV back and force, sometimes even between 3 characters, in the same paragraph.
All in all - very very bad writing. I won't even recomend it as smut since all of them are basically the same, and none of them are actually erotic. It seems more like a screenplay for a porn film than an eotic novel.
Don't read, seriously, you can find much much better stuff online for free.
August 6, 2013
This is one of my favorite LGBT YA novels.
Scott is sixteen and a bit of a pariah in the family. He's much more eccentric than his parents and brother--who left the family (and the family business) to travel to a new country and follow his passion in a different form of business. Scott, who works at the family restaurant, would rather go on to school for music than take business classes and take over the family business.
Ryan is seventeen and troubled. His parents died leaving him with an elderly relative who can't handle his abrasiveness and extreme behavior. When he's sent to live with his uncle in Yucca Valley, the two cross paths, and Ryan slowly learns to open himself up, accept himself, and be happy.
It's a great book. It's a coming-of-age book just as much as it is a coming out book. Ryan has to come out to himself and slowly starts realizing that he has crushes on guys and that this may not just be a phase, while Scott knows he's gay and instead has to come to terms with the fact that he wants to live a life different than what his parents want for him.
Ryan's struggle is more internal, whereas Scott's trouble is external. But the boys, after being forced to become friends, learn to navigate the world together.
Scott is sixteen and a bit of a pariah in the family. He's much more eccentric than his parents and brother--who left the family (and the family business) to travel to a new country and follow his passion in a different form of business. Scott, who works at the family restaurant, would rather go on to school for music than take business classes and take over the family business.
Ryan is seventeen and troubled. His parents died leaving him with an elderly relative who can't handle his abrasiveness and extreme behavior. When he's sent to live with his uncle in Yucca Valley, the two cross paths, and Ryan slowly learns to open himself up, accept himself, and be happy.
It's a great book. It's a coming-of-age book just as much as it is a coming out book. Ryan has to come out to himself and slowly starts realizing that he has crushes on guys and that this may not just be a phase, while Scott knows he's gay and instead has to come to terms with the fact that he wants to live a life different than what his parents want for him.
Ryan's struggle is more internal, whereas Scott's trouble is external. But the boys, after being forced to become friends, learn to navigate the world together.
July 10, 2014
This story of two gay boys who come to terms with their own sexuality is one of the best YA/MM books I've read in the past couple of years. Scott and Ryan meet when Ryan moves to Yucca valley. Since their parents and guardian are already friends, the two boys meet and immediately feel the draw that can happen when two strangers meet for the first time. Especially two gay strangers with fairly acute gaydar and very active hormones.
The progression of the story takes the two different paths that Scott and Ryan have lived and with the help of friends, the two boys are able to get together and begin a new life that is exactly what they want. Both background stories are different which leads to some of the difficulties that are faced in the book, but as I read the book I was able to identify the truth of both stories and didn't feel manipulated in any way by the author.
I don't usually read sequels right away, but I enjoyed this book so much that I have already started reading the second (and final) book of the series.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. By the way, some of the passages are very erotic so if that is not what you like stick to the books you read.
The progression of the story takes the two different paths that Scott and Ryan have lived and with the help of friends, the two boys are able to get together and begin a new life that is exactly what they want. Both background stories are different which leads to some of the difficulties that are faced in the book, but as I read the book I was able to identify the truth of both stories and didn't feel manipulated in any way by the author.
I don't usually read sequels right away, but I enjoyed this book so much that I have already started reading the second (and final) book of the series.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. By the way, some of the passages are very erotic so if that is not what you like stick to the books you read.
February 25, 2015
4 amazing stars!!
Wow! I didn't know why I didn't read this sooner! This was such a Great read! Loved it! This boom is so real, it isn't just about love and romance its about everyday life struggles, about first love, abuse, grief, sense of loss, depression, feeling safe for the first time,overcome traumas and depression, also we see other issues like family matters , homosexuality, etc...
This was just what I needed! i really liked Scott and Ryan too, both boys were so young when they met each other , each with their own baggage and problems. I felt sorry for Ryan , my heart broke when he told scott about his parents and crawford, Meeting scott was the best that cod ever happen to him. I alsp loved that their relAtionaship was not rushed they were friends first, got to know each other and when the time was right they just webt for it. I also liked reading how they were lusting after each other and wondering if they were gay, and scott provoking and hinting about his sexuam orientation. There are also a bunch of quotes I loved.
This book totally goes straigh to my faves shelf.
Wow! I didn't know why I didn't read this sooner! This was such a Great read! Loved it! This boom is so real, it isn't just about love and romance its about everyday life struggles, about first love, abuse, grief, sense of loss, depression, feeling safe for the first time,overcome traumas and depression, also we see other issues like family matters , homosexuality, etc...
This was just what I needed! i really liked Scott and Ryan too, both boys were so young when they met each other , each with their own baggage and problems. I felt sorry for Ryan , my heart broke when he told scott about his parents and crawford, Meeting scott was the best that cod ever happen to him. I alsp loved that their relAtionaship was not rushed they were friends first, got to know each other and when the time was right they just webt for it. I also liked reading how they were lusting after each other and wondering if they were gay, and scott provoking and hinting about his sexuam orientation. There are also a bunch of quotes I loved.
This book totally goes straigh to my faves shelf.
May 26, 2012
I personally think it's a good book so far. Some of the stuff is a bit random and crazy like when they just suddenly pull off the interstate but I like it. I just wish it focused more on the emotional side of the relationship than the sexual side. I don't really like how they have sex every time they see each other and the author doesn't go into more detail about the making out and foreplay beforehand. Besides all that though, I started reading and was hooked from page one. I love the character of Ryan to death and Scott is pretty interesting too. I love how the dialogue is appropriate for most teenagers, (not just boys, mind you). To me it seems very real and very realistic as far as being different from the rest of society goes. I like how the writer shows how horrible society treats anybody who is different so accurately. Anyway, great book thus far. Excited to read book 2. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody. As a matter of fact, I already have. :)
June 24, 2015
Okay, so I got this and the sequel used because I was intrigued by the exploration of gay teen romance and thought I'd give it a shot. I'll say that it certainly paints a complicated and full story of two closeted teens trying to handle having a serious relationship and coming out at the same time.
The book certainly got me interested but I have to agree that the overuse of explicit sex scenes was completely unnecessary. I get it. You have two hormonal teenagers discovering their sexuality and humping like rabbits but the constant repetition took away from the real meat (excuse the pun) of the story. I started to grow bored to tears after awhile that I barely got through the sequel to see the same thing over and over again.
As whole, Desert Sons is an okay read. It has some good elements but it didn't have enough to keep me interested. I definitely see this being a one time read and donating it to the next person.
The book certainly got me interested but I have to agree that the overuse of explicit sex scenes was completely unnecessary. I get it. You have two hormonal teenagers discovering their sexuality and humping like rabbits but the constant repetition took away from the real meat (excuse the pun) of the story. I started to grow bored to tears after awhile that I barely got through the sequel to see the same thing over and over again.
As whole, Desert Sons is an okay read. It has some good elements but it didn't have enough to keep me interested. I definitely see this being a one time read and donating it to the next person.
May 30, 2015
4.25 stars
This book is about the relationship between two boys who have to discover and search for what they want in life. The most focused character is Ryan who has mysterious problems in this life and is about to open up his chest and confine in Scott as they grow to know each other gradually.
Since I love reading coming of age books, it automatically went through my to-read list and finally I've killed it of my to-read lost and put it in read list. Laughing, awing, ohhhhhing, and blushing were all what I did while reading. Honestly, I didn't expect my face to turn as red as an apple the first time I picked up this book, but the sudden unexpected scene hit me hard. The romance and self-discovering are also the reasons that put this book to a better level.
This book is about the relationship between two boys who have to discover and search for what they want in life. The most focused character is Ryan who has mysterious problems in this life and is about to open up his chest and confine in Scott as they grow to know each other gradually.
Since I love reading coming of age books, it automatically went through my to-read list and finally I've killed it of my to-read lost and put it in read list. Laughing, awing, ohhhhhing, and blushing were all what I did while reading. Honestly, I didn't expect my face to turn as red as an apple the first time I picked up this book, but the sudden unexpected scene hit me hard. The romance and self-discovering are also the reasons that put this book to a better level.
February 7, 2017
Fantastic coming of age story.
Side note:
I didn't know it was published in 2001 until I came across the word Bitchin'. It was extrange and nostalgic to see the change in only 15 years through the use of specific words.
Side note:
I didn't know it was published in 2001 until I came across the word Bitchin'. It was extrange and nostalgic to see the change in only 15 years through the use of specific words.
May 17, 2016
I liked Scott and Ryan a little bit in this. Scott is openly gay (to a few) and Ryan is gay, but in denial. I felt this story was very slow building. Ryan had a lot of drama going on with him to. The writing was ok in this as well. The story actually seemed to have a plot and progressed, but I felt that it was too slow in getting there. I think the only thing that kept it going was Ryan. Scott is a jerk when they first acknowledge their relationship as more than friends. He's pressuring Ryan and ultimately forcing and coercing him faster than he's ready. It caused problems with them in the long run. Of course it all got resolved, but as a whole it didn't work for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews