Dear Diary: Pride

Dear Diary #2

by Allison Cassatta

Heartthrobs, Chris and Josh are back for another tale in their budding romance.

Chris is on the right path to becoming a grown man. He’s doing all the big rites of passage and Josh is holding his hand for the entire ride, but when bullies get ahold of him, Chris starts to wonder if being with Josh was the right decision. Now, everyone in the family is worried about him. So, as a graduation gift, Chris’s parents agree to send the boys to a nearby Gay Pride Parade, but Chris is hesitant to go. He doesn’t see the point in being proud of what he is. Gay people are hated, or so he thinks. Maybe this will be an opportunity to change his life.

“Pride” picks up where “Dear Diary” left off. We follow along as Chris and Josh’s relationship grows. We see them take the next step and overcome hurdles together. Fall in love with Josh and Chris all over again.

Genres: Contemporary, M M Romance, Coming Of Age, High School, Young Adult

83 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2012

About the author

I am a married, 33 year old, female, with no children. By trade I am a network engineer with far too many years under my belt. My first book was published in 2010 by Kerlak Publishing, followed by a short story in 2011 through Dreamspinner Press. I don't have any formal training, I simply write what I feel. I have a vivid imagination and love building dream worlds for my readers to escape to.

I recently discovered that I am a hopeless romantic and that usually makes for some very turbulent stories. As most know, love is a mountain and at its peak there's infinite beauty, but it's best appreciated after a difficult climb... that's how I write. The world would be a boring place if we didn't have to fight a little for what we wanted, now wouldn't it.

Reviews

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel picks up Chris and Josh's story right at the point where the first book ended, and I loved that. The interesting thing for me was to see how Chris thought the worst was over now that he's come out to his family, but in the course of this story he discovers there are many more steps to take. Just like most eighteen-year-olds he doesn't think very far ahead, so the consequences of his actions keep surprising him. He deals with them as best he can, but there is a lot of back and forth, and he likes to tick his head in the sand before dealing with things. He isn’t yet very sure about his decisions, and still has to learn about standing up for himself when true controversy hits. In a word, he has to learn about "pride" – a very apt title for this book in more than one sense.

Chris goes through quite a few heartbreaking moments in this book. He is afraid of holding Josh's hand at the prom because he might get beaten up. Sadly, he does – but he is shocked that most of the hatred comes from two guys he's known since they were seven. He thought they were his friends, instead they turn out to be the ringleaders of the movement against him. Throughout everything Josh is there for him, even when Chris tries to push him away. It takes Chris a while to figure out how to reconcile his public actions with his internal convictions and desires.

Josh is as great as ever and he is very supportive, but he too has issues. Mainly when Chris rejects him in public - and he lets Chris know how much this affects him. His reactions help alert Chris to what he is doing, and his unwavering support makes Chris realize he may want to become a stronger, better man for his own sake, but he wants and needs Josh's support. In essence, Josh brings out the best in Chris while they're learning to become a true couple.

If you like stories that show you someone else's perspective on life, warts and all, if you enjoy reading about how a young man might deal with coming out to "the world", and if you're looking for a book that will touch your heart and move you deeply, then you definitely need to read this novel. I think it's a worthy sequel for the first book.





NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4*
After meeting Chris and Josh in Dear Diary, we see a progression of their relationship, but more than that , the growth of Chris. His acceptance of himself and his sexuality. This was maybe a bit idealistic, the great supportive parents and boyfriend and the bad homophobic jocks, but I enjoyed it and would like to see more of Josh and Chris.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for heartsonfirereviews.com


I really went back and forth on the rating for this, between 4 and 5. I leaned to 4 because there are parts that just seem too perfect. Ultimately, I went to a 5 because the parts that matter were very, very real.
This is the sequel to Dear Diary, a short story I absolutely loved, which introduces us to Chris and Josh, as they get ready to attend prom. Dear Diary is an adorable little story, very happy and made me smile. Dear Diary Pride has those same characters that I loved, but now they are facing real world problems. Ms. Cassatta does not pull her punches with the problems this couple (particularly Chris) face. What Chris does have is the complete and utter support of his family (it was here it seemed a little too perfect – they know Chris is gay and that Josh is his boyfriend, yet they allow Josh to spend the night) and the total adoration and love of Josh. So many gay teens don’t have either of those, and still have to face what Chris did.
What Chris doesn’t have is a high school that is accepting of everyone. All he wants to do is give Josh a dance at prom. This turns into a hate fest and a fight, started by people who Chris has been friends with for years. When he is attacked, more than anything he is devastated that some of his attackers had been his friends since he was seven years old. This one thing – who he fell in love with – turned their friendship into instant hatred. It was heart wrenching, and was even a more bitter pill to swallow knowing that it happens all over, every day, to people who have done nothing more than fall in love with the “wrong” person.
The ending is a little simplistic, yet again, with aspects that are completely real. The complete injustice done to him at graduation has (and unfortunately will again) happened in real life. The narrow-mindedness of people sometimes boggles the mind. The ending of this has hope, if not for the redemption of the haters, for the self worth of Chris.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted on World of Diversity Fiction Reviews


This is the second installment to the Dear Diary Series and it is as good if not better than the first. It’s another short read about Chris and Josh told in Chris’s POV. This time the story takes a turn showing us both the ugly side and the beautiful side of Chris’s coming out. There are parts of this story that I thought was a bit too much, like newly out Chris being allowed to have Josh stay the night in Chris’s bedroom with Chris’s parents being just fine with it. Not only is Chris still in High School he hasn’t been with Josh that long. It’s great to see such accepting parents but I really think there would be relatively few parents that would be okay with it. My other issue was the lack of condoms. I’m sure it happens in real life but having MC’s responsible enough to use them sets a good example to any young gay readers. So, just trivial things really, there was nothing that took me out of the story.

I thought Allison Cassatta did an excellent job with this story, from the heartbreaking things Chris must endure by the kids he thought were his friends after coming out at his prom to the loving way Josh and Chris bond and are there for each other.

Reading Dear Diary is a must if you want to pick this one up. Both are short, fast reads with a beautiful HEA that has the potential for many more stories with Chris and Josh. I’m looking forward to reading more about them. The wait for the next one isn’t going to be long at all Book 3 Relationships 101 will be out Oct 23, 2013 I’ll be marking that on my calendar!

I recommend this Novella and the Series.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe Allison Cassatta gave us a perfect balance of sweet romance, brutal honesty, and a dose of reality that we all need from time to time.

You can read the rest of Lynn's review at The Novel Approach

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one. I liked how this story picked up right where the last one ended. My problem with this one is that Chris just started to get annoying to me. While I felt bad for what he was going through, I started to get frustrated with the story.

[LiveYourLife BuyTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review

Pride is the sequel to Dear Diary and picks up straight after where the first left off - with Chris Bishop and his boyfriend, Josh, heading to Chris' Prom with Sarah, Chris' ex girlfriend, and Justin Hickman, Chris' best friend and Sarah's current boyfriend. It should have been a wonderful milestone. Instead it ends in a fight with two of Chris' friends from childhood that took exception when he danced with his boyfriend. The attack and loss of who he thought were his friends leaves Chris feeling wary of being out of the closet and scared of what it means to be a gay man. After all, If people he's know since they were all seven could instantly hate him because of his sexuality, what about people who didn't even know him? When he's later attacked again by the same boys in the school bathroom, his confidence is left just as battered as his face. Now all he wants to do is get through high school without any further incidents. Throughout this time, the support of his family and boyfriend remains rock solid. Hopefully they are enough to show him that he has every right to proud of who he is. All of who he is.

Pride doesn't sugarcoat what many gay teenagers have to deal with every day. My heart really hurt for Chris. As much as it would have been nice that everyone was accepting, or that everything had gone perfectly, that definitely would have felt completely unlikely given that Chris had already stated that the school, or a section of it, were intolerant and violent about it. I don't know about starting a fight inside the prom, knowing teachers were around. Then again, this is teenagers we're talking about after all, and they don't always think consequences through too well!

There was a little bit of a tendency to over explain some things while others were glossed over - such as when Chris was attacked; if he'd been hit as hard as was indicated why wouldn't his father take him to the hospital? At the very least, it's documentation of his injuries. During the prom fight, the switching between Justin's first and last name got a bit confusing. I had to keep stopping to remember it's just one person because there really wasn't enough time to get familiar enough with his character for that. The story had a few little inconsistencies and, considering the writing seems to be aimed at a younger audience of around fifteen to eighteen year olds, I personally think that condoms, especially, and lube really needed to be used in both sex scenes. Although it was mentioned, the attitude was pretty blasé.

Told from Chris' POV, the author really had the voice, reactions and thought processes of an eighteen year old male down. I liked that Chris doesn't just automatically change. The going back and forth between accepting and being scared felt very realistic. His growth leaps forward, steps back and takes time to adjust to his newly discovered sexuality and being out about it. The dialogue, both internally and between Chris and Josh, was a lot more realistic than in the first book. Chris and Josh are incredibly sweet together. Although Chris struggles with things, you never doubt just how in love they are. I really liked how the author used Chris' relationship with Sarah in juxtaposition to his with Josh without belittling Sarah or turning her into a cardboard cut out semi villain. In fact, all the characters came across as very real. Even Cassie, who appears so briefly, is extremely engaging.

Overall, Pride was a nice, positive story about becoming comfortable in your own skin and taking positives from adversities to move forward. The characters were as endearing as they were in the first book. The third person narrative, even though it was still solely from Chris' POV, gave the reader a much better sense of who Josh is. I loved the interactions between Chris and Josh and seeing them work through Chris' experiences in a very believable way. Despite the serious issues brought up in the book, it didn't go too angst filled, but tread that line between becoming too shallow very well.

[Pixie Mmgoodbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Hearts

Review of 2nd Edition

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

This book is part of a series and must be read in order. Chris and Josh share a dance at the prom but come up against abuse from people Chris thought were friends, Chris is disheartened by their reactions and becomes wary. Graduating high school should be one of the proudest moments of his life but the bullies make it a day of humiliation, and Chris begins to wonder if the love he has for his boyfriend Josh is worth all the abuse and humiliation. Josh and Chris’ parents decide to show him that not everyone is bigoted and small minded by arranging a weekend away at his first gay pride, but Chris doesn’t want to go until Josh sweet talks him.

This is an absolutely sweet and touching coming of age story that has angst, fear, anger, kindling hope and determination. In Dear Diary we are told the story of Chris and everything that had come about until the moment he was getting ready for his high school prom, in this story it picks up on the way to the prom continuing Chris’ and Josh’s story. Chris is cautious when he first gets to the prom, even though he knows that Josh is disappointed but he takes a chance and asks Josh to dance and it ends badly. Chris has to face up to the fact that some of his friends are now foes even though he doesn’t want to believe it, but the message is sent home further when he is cornered in the school bathroom. Josh tries to give Chris something to look forward to but to also give him perspective of the world around him with a trip to gay pride.

This isn’t a cutesy, rainbows dancing, love fest it’s a realistic coming of age, coming out story warts and all. Chris is faced with hate and anger from those he called friend, and he begins to wonder if being gay is worth the hassle. It is only because of the love and support of his family and friends that he gets through Graduation, but even that is tainted by humiliation. Josh is a super supportive boyfriend that sticks it through the tough times and gives Chris the love he rightly deserves, he also knows that seeing gay pride just might be what Chris needs.

There is a huge gamut of emotions that you feel as you read this book and we are made to see the fear, loss and anger that a young man faces when friends turn to foes. We see the effect it has on his confidence and emotions as he tries to work out why they are so prejudice and bigoted. We see the incredible support he gets from those that truly love him and the love he has for one special man. Josh and Chris’ relationship couldn’t have gone through a harder time, but their love for each other shines through and smashes the doubts. They are sweet together and their lovemaking is wonderful.

I recommend this to those who want a hard hitting coming out story, who want a young love that’s built from stone, that want realistic problems being faced and our young couple facing the fire and coming through stronger together.

[Cerulean · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 3.75 stars

Pride doesn’t sugarcoat what many gay teenagers have to deal with every day. My heart really hurt for Chris. As much as it would have been nice that everyone was accepting, or that everything had gone perfectly, that definitely would have felt completely unlikely given that Chris had already stated that the school, or a section of it, were intolerant and violent about it. I don’t know about starting a fight inside the prom, knowing teachers were around. Then again, this is teenagers we’re talking about after all, and they don’t always think consequences through too well!

The story had a few little inconsistencies and, considering the writing seems to be aimed at a younger audience of around fifteen to eighteen year olds, I personally think that condoms, especially, and lube really needed to be used in both sex scenes. Although it was mentioned, the attitude was pretty blasé.

Told from Chris’ POV, the author really had the voice, reactions and thought processes of an eighteen year old male down. I liked that Chris doesn’t just automatically change. The dialogue, both internally and between Chris and Josh, was a lot more realistic than in the first book. Chris and Josh are incredibly sweet together. Although Chris struggles with things, you never doubt just how in love they are.

Overall, Pride was a nice, positive story about becoming comfortable in your own skin and taking positives from adversities to move forward. The characters were as endearing as they were in the first book. I loved the interactions between Chris and Josh and seeing them work through Chris’ experiences in a very believable way. Despite the serious issues brought up in the book, it didn’t go too angst filled, but tread that line between becoming too shallow very well.

Read the full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read Dear Diary, you know it ends with Chris taking Josh to his prom as his date. He's nervous because it's still high school and he knows what happened to the last guy who came out in high school, but this is important to him and Josh is important to him. They are lowkey at first, but then Chris asks Josh to dance, they are confronted by a couple of the jocks and after Chris' friend stands up beside them, all of them are escorted out of the dance!

This is such a good book, it was sweet, it was painful, it's a reminder of what goes wrong in life when you are young and idealistic, but what can be right about that too.

While the first book was about Chris just being comfortable in where he was at that time, this book is more about where he goes now, who he chooses to let control who he is and what he expresses.

The supporting characters are so good - his parents are amazing. And Josh? While Chris had moments of doubt in his own mind, when Josh asks him if it would have been easier had they not met, his doubts are gone because being with Josh just feels so right because he's happy and calm when he's with him. I admit Josh asking that made me cry, as did the experiences Chris had with the jocks in his town after prom, but the people who helped him surprised him and they are a definite sign of hope that not everyone is close minded!

I don't know if any further books are planned for these two and their journey, I'd be happy to read them if there were because I really love these characters!

[Havan Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allison Cassatta has a gift of doing romance in a non-traditional way in my opinion. What I mean by that is she gets the real stuff - the stuff most romances sugar coat or completely shy away from - and she puts it in there for us to feel, rejoice in, flinch from and come out better for reading her book.

This wasn't some fluff piece, this book dealt with true issues and concerns and pulled your emotions out of you with force. I felt like I was going back to check on old friends - it was a bitter sweet reunion because I didn't have the power to make all right...Chris and Josh had to fight this battle together. And I hope that Ms. Cassatta sees fit to write about them again, I haven't had my fill yet.

Dear Diary: Pride is the sequel to Dear Diary - and they are both so worth not just a single read - both of them have high reread value in my opinion.

[Becky Condit · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we left Josh and Chris on their way to Prom at the end of Dear Diary, things were looking so great for the gay high school sweethearts. Allison Cassatta lets us know in PRIDE that things don’t always turn out as we expect.
While I loved Dear Diary and Pride I can’t help wishing Chris’ community was as accepting and loving as his family. That’s not the real world today but perhaps someday it will be. Ms Cassatta wrote this book because her fans asked for more about Chris and Josh, but be careful what you wish for. A fiction author can write fantasy or she can write a reality-based story. Ms Cassatta chose the latter and it is a better book for it.

See my complete review and contest to win a copy at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (Feb 25, 2012).

[Sherrie Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a cheesy, flowers and candy, birds-singing romance story, this isn't it. But if you want realism, real, true-to-life reactions, this is the story for you. Ms. Cassatta hits home with today's issues of a young man growing up, discovering his true sexuality and the consequences of coming out in a small-minded community. No sugar-coating here, from a brutal attack to name-calling, Ms. Cassatta doesn't shy away from the reality of being a gay male in his last few weeks of high school, on the verge of discovering who he truly is. This is a sequel to "Dear Diary" published June, 2011. Both are worth the read.

[Sadonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this follow-up to Dear Diary. There was no sugar-coating the fall-out from Josh and Chris going to Prom together. Once again, really loved Chris's family and of course Josh. Very realistic portrayal of Chris's desire to get through graduation and get out of town. I think a lot of kids experience that desire to leave their old "selves" behind and start fresh. Miss Jean and Gypsy were a great touch. Hopefully there will be more to this story someday.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a very strong follow up to the first book in the series, and I liked it more than the first book too. I liked the growth of the characters and how it was a bit more serious with the subject matter. I really like Chris and Josh, they're just so cute together!

[Chessney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED it.... not gonna lie it made me CRY.

[Sandra]

$0.99 on Nook

[Page Crusherz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good sequel. MC's are good, nice family. quick read

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing but too young for me.

[Shayla Mist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review at Read the Rainbow reviews.