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Dumb Jock #1
(Dumb Jock) [By: Erno, Jeff] [Jun, 2013]
When Jeff Irwin is asked to tutor the town's high school football hero, they find that their relationship proves more challenging than any tutoring session.
Paperback
First published February 1, 2009
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About the author
Jeff Erno
71 books641 followersJeff Erno currently lives in southern Michigan. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management and human resources. Jeff began writing stories in the late 1990's and initially posted them to a free online amateur website. The positive feedback he received from readers encouraged him to continue, and this eventually led to the publication of his first novel, Dumb Jock. Erno has subsequently published several other novels.
His greatest passion in life is writing, and he hopes to be able to continue sharing his work with readers worldwide.
His greatest passion in life is writing, and he hopes to be able to continue sharing his work with readers worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
September 1, 2016
*1.5 stars*
Yes, I rounded down. I really hated this book.
It's been awhile since I've stumbled across a book that gave me as strong of a gut reaction as this story. Every fiber of my being just said NO while I was listening to this one (more on the audio aspect of the book later). However, looking at my friends' reviews, I seem to be in the vast minority. What am I missing here, folks???
What is odd is that on the surface, this book has many of the things that I like in my books. I'm into age gaps, I'm into power-plays, and I'm into light D/s themes. However, I should specify that I'm into these things in my ADULT books. ADULT. These elements take on a whole different light in the YA setting of this story.
This book is about a 14 year old high school freshman and a 17 year old high school junior. The 14 year old, Jeff, is described pretty well. He is a skinny, thin, geeky pre-pubescent boy who is unsure of himself and his sexuality. He has a very messed up home life, and he is fragile in many, many ways. Brett is a 17 year old post-pubescent young man, one with a pretty stable home life, popularity, and looks on his side.
While a three year age difference may not be a lot, when you have a person described as basically a boy being intimate with someone described as basically a man... well, it squicked me out. A lot.
Combine that physical difference (Jeff's voice hasn't even changed yet in the story!) with the D/s themes and things get veeerrrrry weird. Brett called Jeff "pup" and "sport" all the time, which felt nasty to me. Puppy play with kids barely in their teens?? No thank you. Jeff also described himself as "puny" and "inferior", but not in a play-way like I would expect in an adult D/s book. Jeff had real self-esteem issues, and I didn't like seeing that mixed in with D/s themes. The whole kink vibe felt soooo verrrryyyy wroooonnnng. I would almost call it abusive, if I'm being honest.
It wasn't just the kinkiness or the power differences that bothered me, but also the characters themselves. Jeff was a whiny, annoying doormat who gave Brett second chances followed by third and forth chances. He was extremely vulnerable and irritating, and I didn't enjoy being in his head one bit. Brett was just an ass. We didn't get his POV, but I honestly didn't understand him at all. Like, AT ALL. He was hot and cold, totally unreadable, and made no sense as a character.
The side character were also so clichéd. The absentee father, the beleaguered mother, the gay teacher, the bullies... it was like a hit list of everything to include in your YA book. So done before, you know?
To top it off, the plot was a rambling, disordered series of events that loosely could be considered a story arc. For me, it dragged on and on, and it lacked proper structure and editing.
But the kicker was the audiobook narration. Tommy O'Brien really phoned this one in with a stilted, wooden narration with no differentiation between the characters' voices. It made for a really difficult listening experience.
After over 7.5 hours of listening to the audiobook and forcing myself to finish, I just don't have it in me to be charitable. I didn't like this story, and I'll hesitate to try another Jeff Erno book again.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
May 3, 2013
Jeff Irwin is delicately built, sensitive, and doesn’t care at all for sports. Brett Willson is popular, good-looking, a star football player, and a candidate for Homecoming King. Unfortunately, he failed English twice and if he fails a third time, he will be removed from sports altogether. Brett’s coach coerces Jeff into tutoring Brett so he can pass and in return promises Jeff an “A” in gym. The two young men eventually become close friends and lovers, not so easy while living in a small town in Michigan during the less-enlightened 80’s.
This is not just a story about the relationship between Brett and Jeff. It is also about Jeff’s relationship with his parents, his close friendships with three students who don’t quite “fit in”, and the difficulty he and Brett have with accepting themselves.
Jeff has some self-worth issues and idolizes Brett a lot more than he deserves, but he is no wimp. He’s a truly amazing character with a great deal of strength and courage. During his freshman year in high school, a number of harrowing events occur that would devastate those who are less resilient. Jeff grieves, copes, learns to be independent, and manages to go on with his life. As Jeff gradually becomes a whole person, his relationship with Brett becomes more balanced.
I really enjoyed this sad, sweet, and touching story.
Also reviewed at Hearts on Fire Reviews
This is not just a story about the relationship between Brett and Jeff. It is also about Jeff’s relationship with his parents, his close friendships with three students who don’t quite “fit in”, and the difficulty he and Brett have with accepting themselves.
Jeff has some self-worth issues and idolizes Brett a lot more than he deserves, but he is no wimp. He’s a truly amazing character with a great deal of strength and courage. During his freshman year in high school, a number of harrowing events occur that would devastate those who are less resilient. Jeff grieves, copes, learns to be independent, and manages to go on with his life. As Jeff gradually becomes a whole person, his relationship with Brett becomes more balanced.
I really enjoyed this sad, sweet, and touching story.
Also reviewed at Hearts on Fire Reviews
October 29, 2021
Dumb Jock não foi um trust me na vida, mas foi um bom livro.Teve algumas coisas parecidas com trust me, mas teve sua própria história. Claramente o autor curte clichês de personagens nerd vs fodões do ensino médio ( confesso que tbm curto). Só não curto personagens passivos ao limite ( o grande problema do protagonista 😅).
Confesso que teve momentos no livro que fiquei aborrecida com Jeff e Brett, não acho saudável ficar se depreciando como Jeff ficava, ficar se diminuindo para aumentar o ego de outra pessoa não é um bom caminho. Não é porquê você é gay que vai se achar menor do que os outros, o problema não tá na sexualidade, o problema tá na mentalidade da pessoa. Acho a palavra bicha muito ofensiva para se referir aos gays. Não gosto nada de pessoas que os usam para diminuí-los, ouvir isso da boca de jovens que são gays é ainda pior. Tudo bem que a maioria dos jovens gays nos 80 não queriam ser assim e ficavam se depreciando por não se aceitar, mas claramente só piora suas mentalidades sobre si mesmo. Personagens muito submissos são problemáticos, o defeito de Jeff foi ser submisso além da conta. Querer endeusar Brett não foi saudável. Dei 4 porque mesmo que o protagonista tenha sido muito um cachorrinho na vida, achei uma história bem construída e achei que Brett só me conquistou no final. É isso... Pegarei outros livros de Jeff Erno para ler, gosto do clichê que ele usa.
Confesso que teve momentos no livro que fiquei aborrecida com Jeff e Brett, não acho saudável ficar se depreciando como Jeff ficava, ficar se diminuindo para aumentar o ego de outra pessoa não é um bom caminho. Não é porquê você é gay que vai se achar menor do que os outros, o problema não tá na sexualidade, o problema tá na mentalidade da pessoa. Acho a palavra bicha muito ofensiva para se referir aos gays. Não gosto nada de pessoas que os usam para diminuí-los, ouvir isso da boca de jovens que são gays é ainda pior. Tudo bem que a maioria dos jovens gays nos 80 não queriam ser assim e ficavam se depreciando por não se aceitar, mas claramente só piora suas mentalidades sobre si mesmo. Personagens muito submissos são problemáticos, o defeito de Jeff foi ser submisso além da conta. Querer endeusar Brett não foi saudável. Dei 4 porque mesmo que o protagonista tenha sido muito um cachorrinho na vida, achei uma história bem construída e achei que Brett só me conquistou no final. É isso... Pegarei outros livros de Jeff Erno para ler, gosto do clichê que ele usa.
August 15, 2010
^^THIS JOCK AINT SO DUMB!^^
Dumb Jock is a coming of age story set in the 80’s and that is like Jurassic years to the gay movement. I cannot fathom how hard it must have been to be a homosexual person, when you are surrounded by bigoted minds, and hateful words. This story made me cry, and not the silent tears streaming down my face, but the headache induced tears that made my heart break. It was just a beautiful story of a young boy finding his place in the world through love, heartache an intense tragedy.
Jeff Irwin is the boy you never see, he is small, studious and quiet, and at fourteen, that description can sound all kinds of hellish. Well Jeff stays away from bigger crowds and keeps to his very small group of friends. His very small world becomes huge, when he is blackmailed into tutoring Brett Willson; secretly Jeff is excited because he worships Brett, and not that type of worship. They type where you nerdy Jeff wants to be like jock Brett. There is a lot of preconceived notions between the two, Jeff was expecting a dumb insensitive jock and he gets the complete opposite, this is a little life lesson of never judge a book by its cover.
What begin's is a genuine ,and a love that will test everything they have ever known. To say this relationship is not easy, when the very basis of what they are is degraded everyday. Brett does not fit that mould because he is a man’s man. There is no way the star football player could like boys, but the small boy who seems effeminate is definitely gay. Just proves the type of close-minded world we live in. Their meetings and embraces happen behind closed doors, even their very friendship had to remain a secret. With all this love, tragedy makes its way into their lives, and this is the reason why this story feels so very real. It is a pause between, this can happen, this does happen.
The relationship between Brett and Jeff is very sweet. Their kisses and feeling towards each other feels like that of teenagers. They do have sex and the reader will know this, but it’s not uncomfortable because it is not detailed sex, you just know that they did it. I was perfectly fine with this; it just seemed to blend it with the story. They are teenage boys gimme a break, I would have been surprised if there was no sex. I liked both characters but Jeff more so he was no push over.
This book brings up a devastating topic, gay teenage suicide and this is what mad me cry. As a mother, it pains me to see our children kill themselves because of their sexuality. So many things wrong with the world and sexual orientation should not be an issue. Children should not feel less than they are because they happen to like the same sex, I just think it plain fuckin sucks. This book manages to bring many issues in to light, homosexuality and the church, and I dislike people spewing hate in the name of God. God is love, and some of us have seem to forgotten that part.
My main dislike is the usage of the word f*g in this book, I plain just hate that word. I do not like when they call themselves that and I really do not like when it is used to hurt. It the most unnecessary, part of the book.
Overall, a very sweet and touching read filled with wonderful characters, and a realistic view of others who spew hate because they just do not understand. Dumb Jock is a great coming of age novel that should not be missed. Do not be deterred for the fact that there are young boys having sex. It is not explicit and the book is so much more than that. I guess this book readers will have a many different opinions, I for one found it deeply emotional and the sex, and that Jeff was somewhat submissive too Brett was just the side issue. I think I understand what the author was trying to convey, life is a bitch and bad things do happen, but throughout all of it you have to remain yourself. The ending might seem unrealistic, but in a perfect world you can hope all things end this way. Where gay boys can stand in front of a crowd and declare themselves in love, and to hell with everyone else. This is what I took away from this book.
SideNote- Really enjoyed the songs Jeff, made it so super sweet and I even recognized a few of them.
Dumb Jock is a coming of age story set in the 80’s and that is like Jurassic years to the gay movement. I cannot fathom how hard it must have been to be a homosexual person, when you are surrounded by bigoted minds, and hateful words. This story made me cry, and not the silent tears streaming down my face, but the headache induced tears that made my heart break. It was just a beautiful story of a young boy finding his place in the world through love, heartache an intense tragedy.
Jeff Irwin is the boy you never see, he is small, studious and quiet, and at fourteen, that description can sound all kinds of hellish. Well Jeff stays away from bigger crowds and keeps to his very small group of friends. His very small world becomes huge, when he is blackmailed into tutoring Brett Willson; secretly Jeff is excited because he worships Brett, and not that type of worship. They type where you nerdy Jeff wants to be like jock Brett. There is a lot of preconceived notions between the two, Jeff was expecting a dumb insensitive jock and he gets the complete opposite, this is a little life lesson of never judge a book by its cover.
What begin's is a genuine ,and a love that will test everything they have ever known. To say this relationship is not easy, when the very basis of what they are is degraded everyday. Brett does not fit that mould because he is a man’s man. There is no way the star football player could like boys, but the small boy who seems effeminate is definitely gay. Just proves the type of close-minded world we live in. Their meetings and embraces happen behind closed doors, even their very friendship had to remain a secret. With all this love, tragedy makes its way into their lives, and this is the reason why this story feels so very real. It is a pause between, this can happen, this does happen.
The relationship between Brett and Jeff is very sweet. Their kisses and feeling towards each other feels like that of teenagers. They do have sex and the reader will know this, but it’s not uncomfortable because it is not detailed sex, you just know that they did it. I was perfectly fine with this; it just seemed to blend it with the story. They are teenage boys gimme a break, I would have been surprised if there was no sex. I liked both characters but Jeff more so he was no push over.
This book brings up a devastating topic, gay teenage suicide and this is what mad me cry. As a mother, it pains me to see our children kill themselves because of their sexuality. So many things wrong with the world and sexual orientation should not be an issue. Children should not feel less than they are because they happen to like the same sex, I just think it plain fuckin sucks. This book manages to bring many issues in to light, homosexuality and the church, and I dislike people spewing hate in the name of God. God is love, and some of us have seem to forgotten that part.
My main dislike is the usage of the word f*g in this book, I plain just hate that word. I do not like when they call themselves that and I really do not like when it is used to hurt. It the most unnecessary, part of the book.
Overall, a very sweet and touching read filled with wonderful characters, and a realistic view of others who spew hate because they just do not understand. Dumb Jock is a great coming of age novel that should not be missed. Do not be deterred for the fact that there are young boys having sex. It is not explicit and the book is so much more than that. I guess this book readers will have a many different opinions, I for one found it deeply emotional and the sex, and that Jeff was somewhat submissive too Brett was just the side issue. I think I understand what the author was trying to convey, life is a bitch and bad things do happen, but throughout all of it you have to remain yourself. The ending might seem unrealistic, but in a perfect world you can hope all things end this way. Where gay boys can stand in front of a crowd and declare themselves in love, and to hell with everyone else. This is what I took away from this book.
SideNote- Really enjoyed the songs Jeff, made it so super sweet and I even recognized a few of them.
June 2, 2013
If I ever decide to write a book, I know it will be YA. The recipe is already there, you just have to put it all in, mix it around, give it your own flavor, and voila!
So, it’s no shock that “Dumb Jock” is about Jeff, a small, shy, smart, bullied kid who’s forced into tutoring Brett, the big, perfect, star quarterback jock…who’s also deep in the closet. And as most YA books go, there are your stereotypical, over-the-top side characters that include religious zealots, a tough-guy coach who spews hate words, unaccepting parents, a gay teacher/mentor, and the gorgeous but brainless cheerleader fake-girlfriend.
I am one who EATS UP these stories. I love them. I love the little guy. I cheer for the big guy. I feel happy when they fall in love. I hate the haters. And I love those that support them and help them find their way. And as far as those basics go, Dumb Jock does really well.
HOWEVER, the author then throws in so much more stuff that just doesn’t fit. Some school youth group called Campus Life. A random lesbian friend who gets kicked out of church. A suicide. A family death. There was just A LOT to take in.
And though some of these moments were really emotional (and I cried…boy did I cry!) and some tender and some inspirational…it was just A LOT to take in.
Along with ALL of this, the writing was all over the place. I’d be reading about a scene and the next paragraph would have Jeff reminiscing about that same scene. And then I’d be back in that scene. It was confusing (<-much as my description there was confusing! :)) So, with all these basic YA bits PLUS all the extraneous bits PLUS all these flawed writing bits…it was just A LOT to take in.
Lastly, the main MC was only 14 years old in this book. Look, I'm no prude and I'm not that naive to think teens that young are having sex. BUT, reading about it in a YA book at such a young age...something about that squigged me out a bit. And, (say it with me now)...just A LOT to take in.
All in all, the book was enjoyable. Not my favorite YA but not awful either. Maybe, ultimately, just TOO MUCH to take in…
This full review can be found at: http://sidlove.wordpress.com/2013/06/...
December 8, 2009
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It had several elements that I really enjoy in gay fiction - coming out, coming of age, the 80’s, first love. I was in high school at the same time these characters were.
Let me begin by saying that I enjoyed the book over all...even though my review here will give the impression that I didn’t.
The story centers around Jeff. Jeff is a 14-year-old boy who has fallen for Brett, the most popular boy in school. Brett is a dumb jock about to fail English and Jeff is a brainiac about to fail gym. In order for Brett to continue playing sports he has to pass English...the coach steps in and blackmails Jeff into helping Brett pass English in exchange for an “A” in gym. Jeff agrees to tutor Brett and over the course of the tutoring the two become friends and more.
That in itself would have been a nice story if the focus had just been on the two of them building a relationship with the average struggles that gay youth faced in the less tolerant than now 80’s. Unfortunately a depressing amount of bad events are piled up at Jeff’s door and around this story. Divorce, suicide, death of a loved one, the closet, crushed love, loss of parental affection, friendship issues, gay hate, workplace discrimination. It’s just one depressing event after another...so many that when happy things occur they aren’t big enough to overcome the sad things. Truth be told, I couldn’t even enjoy the conclusion because it was a) unrealistic (but acceptably so) b) over as soon as it happened c) overshadowed by everything that had happened.
The most touching and engaging point of the book is the death of one of Jeff’s loved ones. In the Q&A section and the end of the book the author talks about how this event was written from personal experience and you can tell. It’s a tearjerker and riveting.
I’m not sure what I would classify this book as...I thought it would be young adult but the sex scenes are a little more detailed than your average young adult book. As the book progressed it became less about a boy coming out and more about a submissive being born. One clear thing about Jeff is that he has crushing self-worth issues. It was difficult at times to read him being so self-deprecating and so sure that what he was saying was fact.
His opinion, both boy’s opinions, about what it means to be gay or “a fag” were solidly stereotypical...I kept having to remind myself that these were teens and it was the 80’s. Their opinions will change as they are exposed to the realities of what kinds of gay people there are in the world.
Let me begin by saying that I enjoyed the book over all...even though my review here will give the impression that I didn’t.
The story centers around Jeff. Jeff is a 14-year-old boy who has fallen for Brett, the most popular boy in school. Brett is a dumb jock about to fail English and Jeff is a brainiac about to fail gym. In order for Brett to continue playing sports he has to pass English...the coach steps in and blackmails Jeff into helping Brett pass English in exchange for an “A” in gym. Jeff agrees to tutor Brett and over the course of the tutoring the two become friends and more.
That in itself would have been a nice story if the focus had just been on the two of them building a relationship with the average struggles that gay youth faced in the less tolerant than now 80’s. Unfortunately a depressing amount of bad events are piled up at Jeff’s door and around this story. Divorce, suicide, death of a loved one, the closet, crushed love, loss of parental affection, friendship issues, gay hate, workplace discrimination. It’s just one depressing event after another...so many that when happy things occur they aren’t big enough to overcome the sad things. Truth be told, I couldn’t even enjoy the conclusion because it was a) unrealistic (but acceptably so) b) over as soon as it happened c) overshadowed by everything that had happened.
The most touching and engaging point of the book is the death of one of Jeff’s loved ones. In the Q&A section and the end of the book the author talks about how this event was written from personal experience and you can tell. It’s a tearjerker and riveting.
I’m not sure what I would classify this book as...I thought it would be young adult but the sex scenes are a little more detailed than your average young adult book. As the book progressed it became less about a boy coming out and more about a submissive being born. One clear thing about Jeff is that he has crushing self-worth issues. It was difficult at times to read him being so self-deprecating and so sure that what he was saying was fact.
His opinion, both boy’s opinions, about what it means to be gay or “a fag” were solidly stereotypical...I kept having to remind myself that these were teens and it was the 80’s. Their opinions will change as they are exposed to the realities of what kinds of gay people there are in the world.
January 5, 2017
3.5 stars!
I have to admit that I was a little reluctant to pick up Dumb Jock by Jeff Erno considering the fact that it is actually a young adult setting with quite young main characters - Jeff is 14 years old and a freshman, while Brett is 17. Jeff is a geek, who has problems to get along with the other teens in school. He is unsure of himself and is only starting to discover his sexuality. Brett on the other hand is a popular jock, who is extremely confident.
A three years age gape is actually not such a big deal, but the light D/s elements and the power plays between them put the relationship between Jeff and Brett into another light. It didn’t bother me that much, I could still enjoy the story – but it was actually something that made me a little uneasy at the beginning. So, just be aware of this before picking up this book.
The plot of the story was actually quite full of clichés and all characters apart Jeff were rather difficult to get. It was however an entertaining read with a lot of emotional ups and downs. Some scenes had me heartbroken and I was suffering with Jeff. I have to admit that the ending .
I’m definitely going to continue this series, I’m super curious to find out more about Jeff Erno as a writer and about the characters I just met.
I have to admit that I was a little reluctant to pick up Dumb Jock by Jeff Erno considering the fact that it is actually a young adult setting with quite young main characters - Jeff is 14 years old and a freshman, while Brett is 17. Jeff is a geek, who has problems to get along with the other teens in school. He is unsure of himself and is only starting to discover his sexuality. Brett on the other hand is a popular jock, who is extremely confident.
A three years age gape is actually not such a big deal, but the light D/s elements and the power plays between them put the relationship between Jeff and Brett into another light. It didn’t bother me that much, I could still enjoy the story – but it was actually something that made me a little uneasy at the beginning. So, just be aware of this before picking up this book.
The plot of the story was actually quite full of clichés and all characters apart Jeff were rather difficult to get. It was however an entertaining read with a lot of emotional ups and downs. Some scenes had me heartbroken and I was suffering with Jeff. I have to admit that the ending .
I’m definitely going to continue this series, I’m super curious to find out more about Jeff Erno as a writer and about the characters I just met.
July 25, 2012
I love reading good coming of age stories, and these characters felt very real to me. My heart goes out to Jeff, the main character, who is a very sensitive and emotional guy trying to navigate very difficult life circumstances at a young age. I too consider myself overly sensitive and had a lot of empathy for Jeff. Did he shed a lot of tears? Yes, but I felt each and every one was warranted, especially considering his young age and lack of life experience.
It took a while for Brett to grow on me, and it took a while for me to really root for them as a couple, but that was the beauty of the story. Their relationship did evolve over time into something truly beautiful. The scene in the gym, where the boys played dodgeball was the real turning point for me. That made me cry even more than the main tragedy (don't want to spoil it).
I appreciated Jeff's level of self-awareness (even if he didn't act on it). As I was thinking that their relationship was imbalanced and that Brett was selfish and insensitive, Jeff was thinking it too. He dismissed it, but at least he was aware of it. Theirs could have easily devolved into an abusive situation, but thankfully it did not. As the characters grew and matured, so did their relationship. I felt the D/s nature of their relationship was satisfying for both of them as well. In the end, these boys really do turn out to be perfect for each other.
The only thing that bothered me as I read this novel was that there were not any contractions (see what I did there?). At all. That felt awkward to me. People don't talk like that, do they? Other than Data from Star Trek.
I loved this book, and highly recommend it.
It took a while for Brett to grow on me, and it took a while for me to really root for them as a couple, but that was the beauty of the story. Their relationship did evolve over time into something truly beautiful. The scene in the gym, where the boys played dodgeball was the real turning point for me. That made me cry even more than the main tragedy (don't want to spoil it).
I appreciated Jeff's level of self-awareness (even if he didn't act on it). As I was thinking that their relationship was imbalanced and that Brett was selfish and insensitive, Jeff was thinking it too. He dismissed it, but at least he was aware of it. Theirs could have easily devolved into an abusive situation, but thankfully it did not. As the characters grew and matured, so did their relationship. I felt the D/s nature of their relationship was satisfying for both of them as well. In the end, these boys really do turn out to be perfect for each other.
The only thing that bothered me as I read this novel was that there were not any contractions (see what I did there?). At all. That felt awkward to me. People don't talk like that, do they? Other than Data from Star Trek.
I loved this book, and highly recommend it.
April 2, 2012
So I just finished this book and I'm going to go find the next one Another Dumb Jock .
Dumb Jock is the story of a young boy (14 at the beginning of the book) discovering his orientation, his needs and desires, and moving toward his adult self in his first year in high-school. The narrator of this book, Jeff, is a very introspective guy and he is writing from the perspective of an adult looking back (talking about a record player as being like a modern CD changer, for example.) Sometimes this makes his voice seem older than he is as the story takes place. But he sucked me in to caring about him pretty quickly.
The relationship between the nerd and the jock developed nicely. (They do have off-page sex, which is very believable in context but should be noted if that's a concern to a reader.) Brett, the jock, is 16 so this is a relationship between two young teens and felt natural in its development.
One interesting aspect of this book is that the two boys have a little bit of a Dom/sub relationship going on, that they are both happy with. It made me stop and think. Normally that kind of imbalance between teen MC's might make me think one was using the other. But in this case, it did feel like the beginning of a lifelong relationship that would work for both of them. There's no reason a teen couldn't feel like D/s was where they belonged emotionally. I came around to that opinion as I read through the story, and that was one of the things I liked here, that it made me think outside the usual box a bit.
The ending was sweet, although I would love to know what happened after the big moment. Maybe the next book will look back on that, even if it is about the couple's son primarily.
This book is in some ways a typical first book. There is a little stilted quality to the dialog and over-explaining. But the story shines through that. I can't wait to see the next one, with more experience under the author's belt. And this one is definitely worth a read.
Dumb Jock is the story of a young boy (14 at the beginning of the book) discovering his orientation, his needs and desires, and moving toward his adult self in his first year in high-school. The narrator of this book, Jeff, is a very introspective guy and he is writing from the perspective of an adult looking back (talking about a record player as being like a modern CD changer, for example.) Sometimes this makes his voice seem older than he is as the story takes place. But he sucked me in to caring about him pretty quickly.
The relationship between the nerd and the jock developed nicely. (They do have off-page sex, which is very believable in context but should be noted if that's a concern to a reader.) Brett, the jock, is 16 so this is a relationship between two young teens and felt natural in its development.
One interesting aspect of this book is that the two boys have a little bit of a Dom/sub relationship going on, that they are both happy with. It made me stop and think. Normally that kind of imbalance between teen MC's might make me think one was using the other. But in this case, it did feel like the beginning of a lifelong relationship that would work for both of them. There's no reason a teen couldn't feel like D/s was where they belonged emotionally. I came around to that opinion as I read through the story, and that was one of the things I liked here, that it made me think outside the usual box a bit.
The ending was sweet, although I would love to know what happened after the big moment. Maybe the next book will look back on that, even if it is about the couple's son primarily.
This book is in some ways a typical first book. There is a little stilted quality to the dialog and over-explaining. But the story shines through that. I can't wait to see the next one, with more experience under the author's belt. And this one is definitely worth a read.
July 16, 2021
I liked it. Despite some qualms about the nature of Brett and Jeff's relationship, the core of the story touched me very deeply. It was written from the heart. I liked seeing Jeff come into his own and working him way through some pretty deep issues - not just the typical teenager issues, but with his family. And darn it, I liked that epilogue.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
January 30, 2014
The perfect antidote to my earlier angst fest. And yay for the HEA. :) Forget literary, I'm a romantic at heart . After all love makes the world go round. Amiright?
February 22, 2012
I finally finished this! God, this was difficult.
The Good:
- A gay story.
- Elaine, which reminds me of Adele.
The Bad:
- CLICHED like Hell. Too many cliches. The plot is cliche.
- "Pup" is disturbing.
- I don't like Jeff's character. He's too needy I wanted to barf sometimes.
- More telling, less showing.
- Ineffective and inefficient use of supporting characters.
It was a bit entertaining in the end, but terribly written. I actually postponed reading this for a while. But I didn't want to quit. So there, done!
The Good:
- A gay story.
- Elaine, which reminds me of Adele.
The Bad:
- CLICHED like Hell. Too many cliches. The plot is cliche.
- "Pup" is disturbing.
- I don't like Jeff's character. He's too needy I wanted to barf sometimes.
- More telling, less showing.
- Ineffective and inefficient use of supporting characters.
It was a bit entertaining in the end, but terribly written. I actually postponed reading this for a while. But I didn't want to quit. So there, done!
August 22, 2015
3.5 stars I had originally read book 3 in this series, Dumb Jock: The Musical, which takes place in present day and loosely references Bret and Jeff. I loved it and was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to backtrack. But enough time had gone by that I didn't feel I would be comparing the two side by side, so I decided to give this a chance.
It was really good, although it felt like it ended rather abruptly so that left me with a less than stellar last impression. Especially given the emphasis that had been placed on the difficulties of being gay in a small town in the 80's, it ended without addressing any of the repercussions.
But I enjoyed these guys together and I enjoyed their interactions. I believed their stated age, and I believed the emotions and stages they were going through. I was seriously emotionally invested with the situation in Jeff's family life . And while the sex is only alluded to and not graphic, I still felt their connection and the sexual tension.
I'll admit I was surprised that the second book in the series didn't continue with Jeff and Bret's story, but I assume we will learn some of what they went through when hearing their son Adam's story. I plan to continue the series, and hope the audio is available.
The only other book I've listened to narrated by Tommy O'Brien is Shy, which I was not a fan of. Luckily, I think that was due to the book and not the narration. Tommy did a good job with this. Perhaps that was magnified by the fact that it is only told from Jeff's POV, but I believed his voice and felt the emotion in scenes that required it. And I'm not gonna lie, even as an atheist that scene where he sings had me tearing up. Like, a lot. And by tearing up I mean a full-on ugly cry.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
It was really good, although it felt like it ended rather abruptly so that left me with a less than stellar last impression. Especially given the emphasis that had been placed on the difficulties of being gay in a small town in the 80's, it ended without addressing any of the repercussions.
But I enjoyed these guys together and I enjoyed their interactions. I believed their stated age, and I believed the emotions and stages they were going through. I was seriously emotionally invested with the situation in Jeff's family life . And while the sex is only alluded to and not graphic, I still felt their connection and the sexual tension.
I'll admit I was surprised that the second book in the series didn't continue with Jeff and Bret's story, but I assume we will learn some of what they went through when hearing their son Adam's story. I plan to continue the series, and hope the audio is available.
The only other book I've listened to narrated by Tommy O'Brien is Shy, which I was not a fan of. Luckily, I think that was due to the book and not the narration. Tommy did a good job with this. Perhaps that was magnified by the fact that it is only told from Jeff's POV, but I believed his voice and felt the emotion in scenes that required it. And I'm not gonna lie, even as an atheist that scene where he sings had me tearing up. Like, a lot. And by tearing up I mean a full-on ugly cry.
Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
April 22, 2013
Having just read a laterJeff Erno story that I gave 5 stars to I just want to say that this probably would have been a 5 star rating too but for the fact that I never really settled fully into the writing style that Jeff institutes in this story. I believe its the very first book he wrote and as a story it's ultra enjoyable but the problem in my eyes was the lack of contractions. There are hardly any at all, giving it a very strange over formal feel that at times interfered with the teen emotions and their impact for me. Jeff is 14 but the lack of kid speak makes him sound much older, even Brett who's supposed to be a laid back jock, talks at times like a brainy professor. Its all a bit too stilted and precise. Almost robotic at times! Once I noticed it, it was hard to dismiss and it goes on till the very end.
However ...taking that away, like before I really enjoyed this jock/ geek story. Set in the 80's pre aids and as it says in the book pre the era of Will, Grace and Jack, it centres around 14 year old Jeff, small, very emotional , yet stronger than he seems character, who pulls you in to his dysfunctional family and school life, and 17 year old Brett, the object of his love and popular ' Dumb' jock of the book. The blurb gives a good basic idea of the story so I won't rehash it but it covers all the drama of school including their friendship/secret love, jealousies, quirky friendships, bullying and of course coping with feelings of attraction for someone of the same sex when its not even accepted by the person who's feeling it! There are very poignant moments involving Jeffs family life and frustrations surrounding Brett's treatment of Jeff and there's a lot of off page sex ( its a bit D/s in style which is also odd to see between kids so young ) but its obvious that these two are going all the way in the sexual side of their relationship. At first I thought it was a bit off to have such a young couple having such an intense relationship but lets be honest rightly or wrongly, teens experiment and have just the same feelings as anyone else, so after a while I accepted that this was an integral part of the story and got on with it. I think Jeff Erno is very good at portraying the angst of young gay teens so I'll definitely be checking out more from him. I think his style must change a lot because the last book had a very laid back style, so different from this one. Still a really good read though so it gets 4 well deserved stars and is a keeper.
However ...taking that away, like before I really enjoyed this jock/ geek story. Set in the 80's pre aids and as it says in the book pre the era of Will, Grace and Jack, it centres around 14 year old Jeff, small, very emotional , yet stronger than he seems character, who pulls you in to his dysfunctional family and school life, and 17 year old Brett, the object of his love and popular ' Dumb' jock of the book. The blurb gives a good basic idea of the story so I won't rehash it but it covers all the drama of school including their friendship/secret love, jealousies, quirky friendships, bullying and of course coping with feelings of attraction for someone of the same sex when its not even accepted by the person who's feeling it! There are very poignant moments involving Jeffs family life and frustrations surrounding Brett's treatment of Jeff and there's a lot of off page sex ( its a bit D/s in style which is also odd to see between kids so young ) but its obvious that these two are going all the way in the sexual side of their relationship. At first I thought it was a bit off to have such a young couple having such an intense relationship but lets be honest rightly or wrongly, teens experiment and have just the same feelings as anyone else, so after a while I accepted that this was an integral part of the story and got on with it. I think Jeff Erno is very good at portraying the angst of young gay teens so I'll definitely be checking out more from him. I think his style must change a lot because the last book had a very laid back style, so different from this one. Still a really good read though so it gets 4 well deserved stars and is a keeper.
August 4, 2018
2.5 Stars
The romance was sweet, the angst was appropriately dramatic (and oftentimes upsetting), and the epilogue provided an extremely satisfying ending.
Unfortunately, I had a few niggles, particularly in relation to the writing style. This could very much be a “me” thing, and seeing as this is my first Jeff Erno story and I have no prior experience with his writing before now, I like to keep an open mind.
Initially, it took me way longer than is probably acceptable to realise this story takes place in the 80s. Once I came to this realisation (because I'm a nuff-nuff and didn't read the synopsis), I really enjoyed the setting and all the awesome references to prominent music, books and fashion styles of that time. However, I felt some of the dialogue was more reminiscent of even earlier decades (sometimes as far back as the 50s). It didn’t always ring true with me, especially when characters were conversing. It also didn’t help that there was a complete lack of contractions used during the dialogue throughout this book. Teenagers don’t talk like this, at least not where I’m from. It’s too formal. Brett, who could barely string a grammatically correct sentence together at the beginning of the story, began saying things like “Tell me you have not been feeling this too. Tell me you do not want me. I know what you are afraid of.” And yes, this all makes perfect sense and won’t bother many readers, but I look at those lines and simply see the lack of haven’t, don’t and you’re. I’m being ridiculously nit-picky here, but I don’t know any teenagers who would speak in such a way. If it was one character, fine, but it was all characters, all of the time. Clearly, this is a personal hang-up of mine and a deliberate writing choice by the author, but it simply didn’t work for me.
Speaking of things that didn’t work for me - was I meant to swoon all over Brett and his awkward endearments for Jeff? Calling the one you love, pup, sport or guy--Guy?! WTH!?--was, like, the opposite of sexy. Potential readers should also be aware that the MC, Jeff, is only 14 years old during what I can only describe as his “sexual awakening”. I’m not naïve enough to think for a second that kids aren’t having sex this young, but you’ll notice I use the word “kids” because that’s exactly what I consider a 14 year old. Not to mention, Jeff is a young 14 year old, if you catch my drift. He’s extremely childlike in his mentality and naivety, which only added to my awkwardness. But I digress...
I’m sounding a bit negative, which honestly wasn’t my intention when I started writing this review. Issues just began to snowball out of control in my head and it can’t be helped. Bear in mind, I quite enjoyed this story as a whole. It was an easy, mindless read--one I desperately needed after a slew of intense reads--and I will more than likely continue with this series in the near future.
The romance was sweet, the angst was appropriately dramatic (and oftentimes upsetting), and the epilogue provided an extremely satisfying ending.
Unfortunately, I had a few niggles, particularly in relation to the writing style. This could very much be a “me” thing, and seeing as this is my first Jeff Erno story and I have no prior experience with his writing before now, I like to keep an open mind.
Initially, it took me way longer than is probably acceptable to realise this story takes place in the 80s. Once I came to this realisation (because I'm a nuff-nuff and didn't read the synopsis), I really enjoyed the setting and all the awesome references to prominent music, books and fashion styles of that time. However, I felt some of the dialogue was more reminiscent of even earlier decades (sometimes as far back as the 50s). It didn’t always ring true with me, especially when characters were conversing. It also didn’t help that there was a complete lack of contractions used during the dialogue throughout this book. Teenagers don’t talk like this, at least not where I’m from. It’s too formal. Brett, who could barely string a grammatically correct sentence together at the beginning of the story, began saying things like “Tell me you have not been feeling this too. Tell me you do not want me. I know what you are afraid of.” And yes, this all makes perfect sense and won’t bother many readers, but I look at those lines and simply see the lack of haven’t, don’t and you’re. I’m being ridiculously nit-picky here, but I don’t know any teenagers who would speak in such a way. If it was one character, fine, but it was all characters, all of the time. Clearly, this is a personal hang-up of mine and a deliberate writing choice by the author, but it simply didn’t work for me.
Speaking of things that didn’t work for me - was I meant to swoon all over Brett and his awkward endearments for Jeff? Calling the one you love, pup, sport or guy--Guy?! WTH!?--was, like, the opposite of sexy. Potential readers should also be aware that the MC, Jeff, is only 14 years old during what I can only describe as his “sexual awakening”. I’m not naïve enough to think for a second that kids aren’t having sex this young, but you’ll notice I use the word “kids” because that’s exactly what I consider a 14 year old. Not to mention, Jeff is a young 14 year old, if you catch my drift. He’s extremely childlike in his mentality and naivety, which only added to my awkwardness. But I digress...
I’m sounding a bit negative, which honestly wasn’t my intention when I started writing this review. Issues just began to snowball out of control in my head and it can’t be helped. Bear in mind, I quite enjoyed this story as a whole. It was an easy, mindless read--one I desperately needed after a slew of intense reads--and I will more than likely continue with this series in the near future.
May 23, 2014
With a title like DUMB JOCK, I expected a light, silly, high school tale of love and coming out. What I expected and what I got were two different things.
I haven't read many YA novels. This is maybe my second or third one. I also have not read (in our genre) that many books that touched me as deeply as this one did, YA or not.
A little background. My partner and I just went through the journey of helping his mother reach the end of her life with as much love and dignity as we could give her. And I think we succeeded. We also learned a few things along the way. Actually we learned a lot. About life, about death, and especially about the final days of living. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there is a chapter in this book (Chapter 15, to be exact) that delves into the issue of death. And everything Mr. Erno says in that chapter on the subject was so spot on it sent chills through me. It mirrored almost exactly what my partner and I had gone through with his mother. When I asked my partner to read portions of the chapter, his eyes welled up and he got the same chills I did.
It's a wonderful thing when a writer can grasp the truth as unerringly as Jeff Erno did in the writing of this book. And I don't just mean Chapter 15. I mean all of it. The romance was sweet. The characters real. The writing clean and honest and crystal clear. I'm so glad I picked up this book.
It isn't every day that the reading of a book is anything special. I mean, some stories amuse us, or make us sad, or touch us in some way. But how often do they really reach in and squeeze our hearts?
Thank you Mr. Erno. You've not only moved me with this story, you also make me want to be a better writer.
I haven't read many YA novels. This is maybe my second or third one. I also have not read (in our genre) that many books that touched me as deeply as this one did, YA or not.
A little background. My partner and I just went through the journey of helping his mother reach the end of her life with as much love and dignity as we could give her. And I think we succeeded. We also learned a few things along the way. Actually we learned a lot. About life, about death, and especially about the final days of living. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there is a chapter in this book (Chapter 15, to be exact) that delves into the issue of death. And everything Mr. Erno says in that chapter on the subject was so spot on it sent chills through me. It mirrored almost exactly what my partner and I had gone through with his mother. When I asked my partner to read portions of the chapter, his eyes welled up and he got the same chills I did.
It's a wonderful thing when a writer can grasp the truth as unerringly as Jeff Erno did in the writing of this book. And I don't just mean Chapter 15. I mean all of it. The romance was sweet. The characters real. The writing clean and honest and crystal clear. I'm so glad I picked up this book.
It isn't every day that the reading of a book is anything special. I mean, some stories amuse us, or make us sad, or touch us in some way. But how often do they really reach in and squeeze our hearts?
Thank you Mr. Erno. You've not only moved me with this story, you also make me want to be a better writer.
January 16, 2013
I'm not going to lie... The dominance/submissive relationship between Brett and Jeff came off as creepy to me. Also, the fact that Jeff is a sexually experienced 17 year old and Jeff is just 14 also somewhat bothered me, as I feel like Jeff was taken advantage of in a sense by Brett. This made it hard for me to buy into their love story because as it is even described in the book, the relationship is unequal, with Jeff loving Brett both physically and emotionally and Brett not necessarily reciprocating these feelings and actions. However, this story also has some redeeming qualities. However, it is not the best m/m "teenage first love" story that I have read, so if you're new to this genre, I'd recommend "Something Like Summer" by Jay Bell which has the great follow up piece "Something Like Winter." All of this being said, I may look into the sequel to "Dumb Jock" just out of curiosity and because the story introduces different characters as it takes place years after the time period of "Dumb Jock."
Read
September 6, 2015BR, September 3rd with Paul,
I've read it but I shouldn't have, so I won't be rating this.
For a more elaborate review please read Paul's
December 27, 2015
Audible
Very good writing, some insightful thoughts about discovering one's self, bullying, coming out, coping with tragic changes in life etc.
What I loved here, was the author's voice. It drew me in despite my scepticism and reserve towards YA couples. And we are not even talking legal age, in this case. The main character is 14, for God's sake! Yet, I wanted to listen to the end, maybe not so much for the sake of romance, but more and more for those sudden bursts of wisdom Jeff Erno threw in. I couldn't help but respect him for keeping me interested even when I couldn't stand one of the main characters and wished for the other one to find someone else. He's made sure the romance between two teenagers is realistically imperfect for that age group. And, as painful as it is to 'observe' the development of such an immature relationship, I couldn't help but agree that in that age, the majority of us are complete fools, esecially in love.
I'd give the story itself 3 stars, but the writing has won me over.
Therefore, ***rounded up to 4 stars*** and I'm definitely reading more of Jeff Erno.
Very good writing, some insightful thoughts about discovering one's self, bullying, coming out, coping with tragic changes in life etc.
What I loved here, was the author's voice. It drew me in despite my scepticism and reserve towards YA couples. And we are not even talking legal age, in this case. The main character is 14, for God's sake! Yet, I wanted to listen to the end, maybe not so much for the sake of romance, but more and more for those sudden bursts of wisdom Jeff Erno threw in. I couldn't help but respect him for keeping me interested even when I couldn't stand one of the main characters and wished for the other one to find someone else. He's made sure the romance between two teenagers is realistically imperfect for that age group. And, as painful as it is to 'observe' the development of such an immature relationship, I couldn't help but agree that in that age, the majority of us are complete fools, esecially in love.
I'd give the story itself 3 stars, but the writing has won me over.
Therefore, ***rounded up to 4 stars*** and I'm definitely reading more of Jeff Erno.
January 30, 2015
This is my first Erno book, and the Jock v High Achiever in this made for such light change from my usually darker loves and haunts. Brett surprised me; I suspected he'd do what he did once pressure was applied, but the redemption for his screw-ups was a good way to finish the story. The twisted part in me wanted to see him hurt for his sins for a little longer, but the understanding was there with how difficult his redemption would have been for him, and my own need for revenge wasn't who Jeff was, certainly not in the social context and time period that this novel was written.
January 27, 2012
He said it was his first real book and it shows. No one thing about it was bad just a lot of things I didn’t care for or that could have been done better. Characters in the latter half came out of nowhere, I found neither Jeff or Brett to be very believable or realistic and the ending seemed to come out of nowhere.
October 25, 2015
2009 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
April 13, 2012
I loved it jeff describes things beautifuly i was crying at one point .
May 7, 2014
So I recently had a discussion with an author of BDSM about why I have an issue with Jeff Erno's books ... My main 'issue' has always been the element of humiliation in the D/s he portrays in his stories, although Dumb Jock minimised this aspect to some extent, it is a common theme through his other books and definitely influenced how I perceived the characters in this story.
During the discussion with the other author, she caused me to question my perceptions and judgments ... according to her, I was perhaps not understanding the need for subjugation in the submissive characters because I was a strong independent person who didn't have that particular kink in my psyche ... she then advised me to try and read Erno again with the filter of judgement removed to see if I could enjoy his work more.
So now I come to my actual review of Dumb Jock ... previously the only Erno book that I'd managed to finish ... hmmm ... did I enjoy the reading experience? ... Not really ... the story was fairly dark and perhaps, reminded me too much of the misery of my own high school experience ... I must admit tho', after the aforementioned discussion, I was able to look past the perception of softness and weakness in Jeff's character and see, not a boy being used but instead, a character who, to an extent, manipulated the jock to get his own needs for being nurtured met ... I could see that the roles that both Jeff and Brett assumed, satisfied needs and complimented each other ... I suppose in a lot of cases it just comes down to an issue of consent and happiness ... Jeff was definitely consensual and their relationship made them both happy.
I'll go on to read the other 4 Erno books I have now and see if I can be a more analytical and objective reader ... I don't think I'll ever read an Erno book for escapism or fun but I can see the value in his writing now that I've been given a different perspective to see them from.
Original Review (2012)...
★☆ rounded up to ★★
I've tried to read a number of Jeff Erno's books now & this is the only one I've actually finished ... all the others have been DNF's or skimmed ... this seems to be unusual for this author as most of the reviews I've read have been very positive ... I re-read Dumb Jock today to try & determine why I have so much difficultly with his (Erno's) books & the only thing I can pin-point is that his hero's, to me, seem like selfish jerks *ducks & weaves to avoid stones thrown by Erno fans* ... the bigger or Jock hero behaves like some sort of God-ling & the smaller/submissive/younger character seems to get more excited the more he is subjugated & demeaned ... I get enough of that in real life thanks! I certainly don't need to read about it! ... if you get off on reading about humiliation & subjugation then Erno is the author for you because it is a common theme he writes about ... if you're plotting your husbands demise because he too closely resembles the 'hero' in Erno's books, I'd read something else IMO.
During the discussion with the other author, she caused me to question my perceptions and judgments ... according to her, I was perhaps not understanding the need for subjugation in the submissive characters because I was a strong independent person who didn't have that particular kink in my psyche ... she then advised me to try and read Erno again with the filter of judgement removed to see if I could enjoy his work more.
So now I come to my actual review of Dumb Jock ... previously the only Erno book that I'd managed to finish ... hmmm ... did I enjoy the reading experience? ... Not really ... the story was fairly dark and perhaps, reminded me too much of the misery of my own high school experience ... I must admit tho', after the aforementioned discussion, I was able to look past the perception of softness and weakness in Jeff's character and see, not a boy being used but instead, a character who, to an extent, manipulated the jock to get his own needs for being nurtured met ... I could see that the roles that both Jeff and Brett assumed, satisfied needs and complimented each other ... I suppose in a lot of cases it just comes down to an issue of consent and happiness ... Jeff was definitely consensual and their relationship made them both happy.
I'll go on to read the other 4 Erno books I have now and see if I can be a more analytical and objective reader ... I don't think I'll ever read an Erno book for escapism or fun but I can see the value in his writing now that I've been given a different perspective to see them from.
Original Review (2012)...
★☆ rounded up to ★★
I've tried to read a number of Jeff Erno's books now & this is the only one I've actually finished ... all the others have been DNF's or skimmed ... this seems to be unusual for this author as most of the reviews I've read have been very positive ... I re-read Dumb Jock today to try & determine why I have so much difficultly with his (Erno's) books & the only thing I can pin-point is that his hero's, to me, seem like selfish jerks *ducks & weaves to avoid stones thrown by Erno fans* ... the bigger or Jock hero behaves like some sort of God-ling & the smaller/submissive/younger character seems to get more excited the more he is subjugated & demeaned ... I get enough of that in real life thanks! I certainly don't need to read about it! ... if you get off on reading about humiliation & subjugation then Erno is the author for you because it is a common theme he writes about ... if you're plotting your husbands demise because he too closely resembles the 'hero' in Erno's books, I'd read something else IMO.
November 9, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Set in the 1980's, DUMB JOCK illustrates the struggle of two young teens coming to terms with their sexuality and their growing love. Although the book is not autobiographical, author Jeff Erno looked to his own personal struggle of coming out as gay in a small northern Michigan town.
Jeff and Brett are as different as night and day in appearance and interests. Jeff is a slightly built freshman with no athletic talent whatsoever. His friends are other social outcasts, and he is often the target for mean remarks and cruel practical jokes. His mother loves and dotes on him while his father finds him odd and annoying.
Brett is a junior and the talented quarterback everyone hopes will take the team to a state championship. He runs with the popular crowd, attending parties and getting voted homecoming king. He is the last person people would think of being gay.
When Coach McDonald, gym teacher/football coach, uses the threat of failing freshman gym class as motivation for forcing Jeff to tutor Brett in English, no one would have guessed the final outcome. It doesn't take long for the two teens to become comfortable with each other and begin an emotional and sexual relationship. They aren't afraid to express their feelings to one another, but revealing their relationship in public in the tiny Michigan community would surely ruin their lives.
Jeff Erno tells the story of their young love with honesty and directness. He reveals their heart-stopping passion as well as the agony of fear and jealousy that threaten to break them apart. Times have changed some since the 80's, but small towns still breed the misunderstanding and prejudice evident in Erno's story.
DUMB JOCK is a bold example of one author's attempt to create a novel to help teens accept their own sexuality or better understand that of those around them. It is a worthy addition to any high school collection.
Set in the 1980's, DUMB JOCK illustrates the struggle of two young teens coming to terms with their sexuality and their growing love. Although the book is not autobiographical, author Jeff Erno looked to his own personal struggle of coming out as gay in a small northern Michigan town.
Jeff and Brett are as different as night and day in appearance and interests. Jeff is a slightly built freshman with no athletic talent whatsoever. His friends are other social outcasts, and he is often the target for mean remarks and cruel practical jokes. His mother loves and dotes on him while his father finds him odd and annoying.
Brett is a junior and the talented quarterback everyone hopes will take the team to a state championship. He runs with the popular crowd, attending parties and getting voted homecoming king. He is the last person people would think of being gay.
When Coach McDonald, gym teacher/football coach, uses the threat of failing freshman gym class as motivation for forcing Jeff to tutor Brett in English, no one would have guessed the final outcome. It doesn't take long for the two teens to become comfortable with each other and begin an emotional and sexual relationship. They aren't afraid to express their feelings to one another, but revealing their relationship in public in the tiny Michigan community would surely ruin their lives.
Jeff Erno tells the story of their young love with honesty and directness. He reveals their heart-stopping passion as well as the agony of fear and jealousy that threaten to break them apart. Times have changed some since the 80's, but small towns still breed the misunderstanding and prejudice evident in Erno's story.
DUMB JOCK is a bold example of one author's attempt to create a novel to help teens accept their own sexuality or better understand that of those around them. It is a worthy addition to any high school collection.
June 13, 2013
Prepare to recall the awkwardness and confusion of being a teen and the struggle to understand one's feelings. The story rambles and repeats, much like the mantras running through a teen's head, but it can be a bit slow. The reader really does join Jeff's journey and rides along, the pace is realistic, but perhaps too realistic if one is looking for a more structured read; this one is like a diary.
It is a painful journey with ups and downs--a lot of downs, but it is optimistic even with the heavy issues addressed. Set in the 80s with all sorts of references: turntables, Dukes of Hazzard posters, and Reagan. All of this is what surrounds one young man as he comes to grips with who he is, his life and accept who he loves.
That love is a hometown hero, a larger than life person. Brett is flawed. He hurts Jeff multiple times, not maliciously, but in the careless fashion of self-absorbed teens who are preoccupied by their own space and fail to always recognize the consequences of their actions or are afraid of them.
There are similarities to Erno's Puppy Love, which is much more intense in the power dynamics though they both explore D/s, here it is younger and less coalesced without the more extreme kink. I found this to be more romantic of the two with Brett being a more sympathetic protagonist.
Recommended for a reader who wants to patiently retrace a coming out story and enjoys dipping back into the 80s.
Favorite quote:
His job included handling me with care in a protective, possessive manner. My job was to idolize him and strive always to please him.
~~ A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
It is a painful journey with ups and downs--a lot of downs, but it is optimistic even with the heavy issues addressed. Set in the 80s with all sorts of references: turntables, Dukes of Hazzard posters, and Reagan. All of this is what surrounds one young man as he comes to grips with who he is, his life and accept who he loves.
That love is a hometown hero, a larger than life person. Brett is flawed. He hurts Jeff multiple times, not maliciously, but in the careless fashion of self-absorbed teens who are preoccupied by their own space and fail to always recognize the consequences of their actions or are afraid of them.
There are similarities to Erno's Puppy Love, which is much more intense in the power dynamics though they both explore D/s, here it is younger and less coalesced without the more extreme kink. I found this to be more romantic of the two with Brett being a more sympathetic protagonist.
Recommended for a reader who wants to patiently retrace a coming out story and enjoys dipping back into the 80s.
Favorite quote:
His job included handling me with care in a protective, possessive manner. My job was to idolize him and strive always to please him.
~~ A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
September 10, 2015
This is a YA book – so you can expect that this has a fairly predictable message – but it’s a sweet and good one. Nerd loves jock. Jock surprises nerd and loves him back. Everyone has to grow up and be brave.
I think there was a lot of “fantasy” type stuff in here – meaning, that people didn’t necessarily act like I think they would IRL. But… that being said – they could act that way… especially since this is only one perspective- Jeff’s.
I appreciated the lengths the author went to really get inside Jeff’s head and let this story out as one of hope for all those bullied along in high school.
There are some interesting components to this – as a YA book. 1) Off page sex – both are underage and it fits, but it’s there. 2) a bit of a Dom/sub thing – not overworked or “inappropriate” per se – interesting setting for it, though.
Audio
Tommy O’Brien is not my favorite narrator but he did a nice job with the narration, neither really adding nor detracting from the overall experience.
I think my overall impression was one of “good”. It was good. It didn’t “wow” me or make me think “how awful”. It was good. Certainly enough to make me consider more from the series when I’m in a YA mood.
I think there was a lot of “fantasy” type stuff in here – meaning, that people didn’t necessarily act like I think they would IRL. But… that being said – they could act that way… especially since this is only one perspective- Jeff’s.
I appreciated the lengths the author went to really get inside Jeff’s head and let this story out as one of hope for all those bullied along in high school.
There are some interesting components to this – as a YA book. 1) Off page sex – both are underage and it fits, but it’s there. 2) a bit of a Dom/sub thing – not overworked or “inappropriate” per se – interesting setting for it, though.
Audio
Tommy O’Brien is not my favorite narrator but he did a nice job with the narration, neither really adding nor detracting from the overall experience.
I think my overall impression was one of “good”. It was good. It didn’t “wow” me or make me think “how awful”. It was good. Certainly enough to make me consider more from the series when I’m in a YA mood.
January 17, 2010
I didn't like this book. Jeff, the geek character, hated himself so much and the jock character, Brett just wanted to dominate him in bed. I know we're all suppose to love the high school jock but he seemed like a jerk. I read it as a very sad relationship. So much bad stuff happened to Jeff that it was hard to believe.
Read
July 27, 2014i really didn't like it. it was boring and predictable.
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