Pride and Joy

by M.L. Rice

Being popular, beautiful, determined, and a star athlete on her high school swim team is all that Bryce Montgomery has ever known. When she decides she wants to attend the Coast Guard Academy to become an officer, she knows that nothing can stand in her way. She is tested, however, when a harrowing encounter at a party leads to an unexpected attraction to one of her female friends. As their relationship blossoms, Bryce readily accepts her newfound sexuality, but her parents are horrified by the revelation. Being deeply religious, they shun Bryce and try to force her to change her sexuality or risk being kicked out of her own home. Luckily, her friends are there to support her through her ordeal. Despite the lack of support from her parents, Bryce achieves her dreams, but what will happen when that dream is shattered? Will her parents change their minds and help her pick up the pieces or will a friend from her past come to her rescue once again?

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Slice Of Life, Military Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

Reviews

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't quite know how to describe a book that is both incredibly depressing and a page-turner. I felt so sad reading this but I couldn't stop reading, despite the domino effect of each event playing out on the page.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great book - I'll even want to read it again, but the attempted rape, homophobia, conversion therapy and life-changing accident are hard hitting so make sure you're in the right place to read this before you start.

The book is split into parts - spanning approximately 10 years of the main characters life, starting with senior year in high school. Bryce's realisation that she's gay came a little quickly for my liking but her comfort level with the realisation is a welcome change of pace. I really enjoyed the friendship group that features around Bryce, especially as they're another great example of chosen family.

This is a quick read, which despite it's heavy storyline has lots of redeeming features and is well worth the time to read.

[Diana P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another story that focused on the coming out of one of the lead characters, leaving the romance/love quite aside.

Even though there were some nice moments I think the relationship between the lead characters didn’t feel totally right for me. I mean, they knew each other when they were young but Bryce never really feel enough attraction, let alone love for Daniela. At the time she was actually falling for someone else (Leah). It seemed like her first love or interest even though she had already meet Daniela and btw Daniela was always truly in love with her. And even though she’s told that Daniela has feelings for her she just doesn’t believe it and to be honest I think she didn’t really give it enough though since she was more interested in Leah. However, after some years, Daniela comes back to her when she is picking up the pieces of her life after some difficult incident she went through, but then this time she really notices Daniela and falls in love with her. I don’t know, I think the first half of the book was disappointing, knowing that the other lead character was pushed away while she(Bryce) was introduced to another character that had really captured her attention and who was not by far the person she would end up with.

After their reencounter their friendship goes back to what it once was (kinda) but now with some feelings. This time also from Bryce. Because seeing it from Daniela’s perspective from the very beginning it was clearly an unrequited love. In fact, at the end (about 3 pages before the end) Daniela tells her how much she loved her from the first moment she saw her and so on… while it was clearly not the same for the other character. I don’t know, I guess the romance itself just didn’t feel right to me, quite unbalanced in my opinion.

I’d say this was very focused on Bryce’s coming out situation, her interests and her life from adolescence to adulthood including her difficult moments and romantic interests. But when it came to love or real romance/real love this book doesn’t really have much to show about it.

Now, about the narration, since it was objective (except in Bryce’s case), we really don’t get to know much about Daniela, except from the conversations between them and from Bryce’s point of view. However, even that little info was enough to make her my fave character.

Regarding the intimate moments, even though there weren’t any specific or detailed scenes, the ones that are closer to that, are between a lead and a non-lead character which for me is something disappointing. In fact, with the other lead character it was treated more lightly. I guess it makes some sense since the other lead character (Daniela) didn’t appear in several chapters, not even in Bryce’s mind.

Finally, the epilogue, it was just okay.

I guess I really didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was expecting. Only after a long while I could feel it was getting somewhere, and even then, it was quite complicated and unnerving due to one of the characters’ attitude, which is somehow understandable but I think it’d have been better if the romance had felt adequate. A shame because I was truly excited to read it. Of course, these are only my thoughts about it, so it’s probable you enjoy it since it has a good rating.

2.5 stars.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

I’ve not read this author before but I’m certainly glad I did. It’s a great story and I read it as fast as I could. In fact, I’m kind of sad it’s over. Definitely check out this one.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, quick read. Not sure if it was me, but the characters seemed too broadly written and finally didn't find a place in my heart.

The coming out element was handled quite well (except for the element of self discovery that I found unconvincing). The religious bigotry of the main character's parents was interesting to read and no doubt write.

Jump forward 4 years and a life changing event, it's a different story with the same characters. Again I was more than a little unengaged with the main character. While sympathetic with her issues, the abrupt nature of the various plot devices almost always knocked me out of "the moment".

Not a bad book, just not a great one either.

[Natsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew it. The "Autospoila Award" goes to... me.

Anyway, Dani's POV would have made me rate this higher. The story just seemed incomplete with only Bryce's side in focus.

It's more coming out story/family drama with a dash of romance.

I really like Dani so I'm rounding off to 3 stars. ha ha ha!

[SpritetheRight · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good coming of age story.

[Karolmarce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8. A mi me gustó, más que el romance fue la historia en si de Brice, la historia con su familia y lo mucho que puede ser identificado con historias de miles de personas. Es más, el que no se haya centrado mucho en eso y lo dejara como en segundo plano, desde mi punto de vista, le bajo puntos, porque al final se quedó a medias en las dos cosas, la complejidad de la historia de Brice y el romance. Pero bueno, tampoco esperaba una obra maestra, así que estuvo bien.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, it was Joy&Pride to read this book! For some it might be eye opener, for me confirmation that life can be difficult and loving someone might cost you a lot, but in the end it is well worth it. 😊

[PJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to get through. This just felt very disjointed and the dialogue forced.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute must read!!!