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Finding Our Way #1
Finding Our Way
Justin Parker and Derrick Wilson have been best friends since meeting back in middle school. Currently they are in their junior year at Chandler High School, and living the good life as teenagers. They have great girlfriends, plenty of close friends, their own cars, and parents who are well off. As nice as things might look to an outsider, something is missing from each of their lives.
Justin has become the invisible son in the midst of his parents failing marriage. In an effort to get his parent’s attention, Justin keeps getting into trouble. So far he has been able to get away with anything without facing any repercussions, while Derrick is feeling distant and tired of what he feels is a too “perfect family”. He just wants to have a normal social life and spend time with his friends without the pressures from his family to spend time with them. With blurring the lines of friendship in the process to realizing what was missing and discovering who they really are.
Justin and Derrick take turns narrating the story of their junior year in high school and all of the events that take place in their lives. Being a teenager can be tough. Being gay can be tougher. For Derrick and Justin they are both, and life cannot get any more complicated.
What happens when two best friends cross the boundaries of friendship? Will they be able to be happy together? Will they keep their secret?
Justin has become the invisible son in the midst of his parents failing marriage. In an effort to get his parent’s attention, Justin keeps getting into trouble. So far he has been able to get away with anything without facing any repercussions, while Derrick is feeling distant and tired of what he feels is a too “perfect family”. He just wants to have a normal social life and spend time with his friends without the pressures from his family to spend time with them. With blurring the lines of friendship in the process to realizing what was missing and discovering who they really are.
Justin and Derrick take turns narrating the story of their junior year in high school and all of the events that take place in their lives. Being a teenager can be tough. Being gay can be tougher. For Derrick and Justin they are both, and life cannot get any more complicated.
What happens when two best friends cross the boundaries of friendship? Will they be able to be happy together? Will they keep their secret?
282 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2012
10 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
About the author
Jayson James
21 books66 followersAuthor of novels and short stories. Jayson James graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor's degree in education. He was born and raised in Washington State, where he currently lives and teaches. Jayson's interests beyond writing include reading a variety of books, watching movies and drawing.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 8, 2013
I love best friends to lovers, but I didn't find this that enjoyable. I think the relationship between Derrick and Justin was a smooth transition from friends to lovers, but the writing is just so awkward and the editing mistakes are atrocious. This is the same with the sequel Tormented Discovery.
This is a book I read just to see what happens for the most part rather than enjoying the journey of the book itself. I think it had great potential, but as I'm reading the sequel now, I'm finding that the storyline is just stalling and that the characters are going in different directions than I would like.
I wouldn't recommend this one, it's not horrible, but it's hard to get through and I find the sequel especially frustrating. Maybe I would think of this book in a different light if reading the sequel was not so frustrating.
All this being said, I can seriously relate to these characters and these characters, their home lives and many of their social interactions with each other definitely reflect what my life was like as a teenager. So I appreciated and smiled at this as I remembered my younger days and this helped make the story realistic to me and this is why I liked the characters.
This is a book I read just to see what happens for the most part rather than enjoying the journey of the book itself. I think it had great potential, but as I'm reading the sequel now, I'm finding that the storyline is just stalling and that the characters are going in different directions than I would like.
I wouldn't recommend this one, it's not horrible, but it's hard to get through and I find the sequel especially frustrating. Maybe I would think of this book in a different light if reading the sequel was not so frustrating.
All this being said, I can seriously relate to these characters and these characters, their home lives and many of their social interactions with each other definitely reflect what my life was like as a teenager. So I appreciated and smiled at this as I remembered my younger days and this helped make the story realistic to me and this is why I liked the characters.
March 17, 2013
The journey from friends to lovers can be challenging, but when you’re young and struggling to come to terms with your sexuality, it’s a whole lot tougher. There will be some, even among those you trust, who resent seeing you together. Sometimes, however, support arrives from an entirely unexpected quarter. This is certainly true in this sweet debut novel by Jayson James, which has the heroes sharing the narrative as they recount the many ups and downs of their junior year of high school.
Justin and Derek have been inseparable since middle school. Now seventeen, they are blessed with a great group of friends, gorgeous girlfriends, and the freedom afforded by having their own cars. On the surface, it seems they couldn’t have it better. In fact, things at home are far from ideal. Justin’s parents are on the brink of divorce, driving him to ever wilder behavior in an attempt to gain their attention, while Derek finds his own perfect family stifling. Moreover, both are aware of something missing from their lives, something neither dares put a name to.
One kiss during a drunken game of Truth or Dare changes everything. From that moment on, the attraction that has always been there, simmering beneath the surface of their friendship, can no longer be ignored. Tentatively, they begin to explore their burgeoning feelings, delighting in each new discovery, all the while concealing their romance from their friends and family. But a secret this big is impossible to keep hidden for long. Soon Justin and Derek will have to come out to the people who matter, and they can only hope their love is strong enough to survive the fallout.
This is a heart-warming novel about growing up, falling in love, and seeking acceptance. Although it has to be said that there are some grammatical errors, I was mostly able to look past these and lose myself in the story. Justin and Derek are so close on every level that it was a pleasure to follow their relationship as it unfolds. By the end, I’d grown incredibly fond of both boys, and I’m intrigued to learn where events will take them in the sequel.
If you have a soft spot for friends to lovers romances that combine genuine tenderness with plenty of emotional drama, you may well want to give this book a go.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews and the Boys on the Brink Blog
Justin and Derek have been inseparable since middle school. Now seventeen, they are blessed with a great group of friends, gorgeous girlfriends, and the freedom afforded by having their own cars. On the surface, it seems they couldn’t have it better. In fact, things at home are far from ideal. Justin’s parents are on the brink of divorce, driving him to ever wilder behavior in an attempt to gain their attention, while Derek finds his own perfect family stifling. Moreover, both are aware of something missing from their lives, something neither dares put a name to.
One kiss during a drunken game of Truth or Dare changes everything. From that moment on, the attraction that has always been there, simmering beneath the surface of their friendship, can no longer be ignored. Tentatively, they begin to explore their burgeoning feelings, delighting in each new discovery, all the while concealing their romance from their friends and family. But a secret this big is impossible to keep hidden for long. Soon Justin and Derek will have to come out to the people who matter, and they can only hope their love is strong enough to survive the fallout.
This is a heart-warming novel about growing up, falling in love, and seeking acceptance. Although it has to be said that there are some grammatical errors, I was mostly able to look past these and lose myself in the story. Justin and Derek are so close on every level that it was a pleasure to follow their relationship as it unfolds. By the end, I’d grown incredibly fond of both boys, and I’m intrigued to learn where events will take them in the sequel.
If you have a soft spot for friends to lovers romances that combine genuine tenderness with plenty of emotional drama, you may well want to give this book a go.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews and the Boys on the Brink Blog
September 4, 2013
3.75 Stars
Two long time friends discover that what they feel for the other is much more than friendship. This is the story of them finding their way.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews and at On Top Down Under's sister YA site, Greedy Bug Book Reviews.
This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Two long time friends discover that what they feel for the other is much more than friendship. This is the story of them finding their way.
Full review can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews and at On Top Down Under's sister YA site, Greedy Bug Book Reviews.
This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 6, 2013
Raw, emotional and realistic telling of childhood friends, turned confidants and eventually, lovers. High school is hard enough, try being gay as well. Finding our Way chronicles the junior year of Justin and Derrick as they navigate their slow building attraction to one another, family struggles, insecurities and the limits of friendships.
Alternating POV between Justin and Derrick, this book reads like a journal and brings you not only into the mindset, but the lives of these two young men.. “You tell it from your perspective. Then I will tell it from mine.” What happens when two friends skirt the boundaries of friendship and a relationship? Do they keep it a secret from family and friends? Secrets like this are hard to keep hidden.
James has an ability to convey the raw emotion of his teenage characters with realism and depth. They are flawed and make mistakes, which gives them realism. They are undeniably in love with each other, yet don’t always know the appropriate way to express this. At one point Justin tells Derrick he wants this, he wants to be with him, but he values his friendship and he can’t loose that regardless. This gives them depth.
There are some appropriately sexy scenes with Justin and Derrick as they delve further into their relationship, learning more about each other, exploring the mutual attraction. I especially loved the making out in the back of the car scene. This was the first M/M book I’ve read where the guys went “parking”! There is some drama along the way when friends and family start to find out about the true nature of their relationship, and not everyone is exactly thrilled.
Aside from a few typos and a bit of teenage angst, Finding our Way was an intimate narration of a year in the life of Justin and Derrick.
Alternating POV between Justin and Derrick, this book reads like a journal and brings you not only into the mindset, but the lives of these two young men.. “You tell it from your perspective. Then I will tell it from mine.” What happens when two friends skirt the boundaries of friendship and a relationship? Do they keep it a secret from family and friends? Secrets like this are hard to keep hidden.
James has an ability to convey the raw emotion of his teenage characters with realism and depth. They are flawed and make mistakes, which gives them realism. They are undeniably in love with each other, yet don’t always know the appropriate way to express this. At one point Justin tells Derrick he wants this, he wants to be with him, but he values his friendship and he can’t loose that regardless. This gives them depth.
There are some appropriately sexy scenes with Justin and Derrick as they delve further into their relationship, learning more about each other, exploring the mutual attraction. I especially loved the making out in the back of the car scene. This was the first M/M book I’ve read where the guys went “parking”! There is some drama along the way when friends and family start to find out about the true nature of their relationship, and not everyone is exactly thrilled.
Aside from a few typos and a bit of teenage angst, Finding our Way was an intimate narration of a year in the life of Justin and Derrick.
September 15, 2017
Escrito de aquella manera... y sin mucho argumento. Pero la verdad es que me enganchó y los protas se leían como adolescentes.
December 25, 2013
Finding Our Way, written entirely in first person with alternating narrator voices, chronicles the coming out stories and relationship of the two main characters, Justin and Derrick. The story is a friends-to-lovers teen romance. Justin and Derrick have been inseparable best friends since childhood, and as they begin to discover they have feelings for each other, they each initially deny their attractions. Eventually they act upon their feelings, starting with a kiss. Gradually they come out to their circle of friends and face the reality that not everyone they expected would be supportive proves loyal and accepting.
The strength of this novel, in my opinion, is the multi-layered characterization of this believable cast of characters. Each character is revealed, not by mere description of their personalities, but by showing their flaws, humor, and unique quirky characteristics. I grew to care about many of these characters, including the ebullient set of identical twins Tyler and Tyson, the hero-worshiping little brother Devon, the ex-girlfriend-turned-fag-hag Stacy, and several other memorable friends and family members.
Although the overall feel of the narrative was authentic, I took issue with the formality of the writing. The lack of contractions, particularly in speech, was off-putting. And the manuscript was in need of professional editing.
Overall, the story touched my heart, and I particularly empathized with Derrick who struggled with coming out to his family. The inclusion of a LOT of underage drinking was unsettling, though probably not unrealistic. That particular issue was a prominent factor throughout the story, yet toward the end it was dismissively brushed aside. Justin, the other protagonist, struggled with alcoholism, yet ultimately decided to just quit drinking.
I suspect the story may continue in a sequel, and perhaps we'll get some closure regarding Justin's alcoholism and Derrick's attempt to gain the support and acceptance of his family.
(I'd like to add that when I began writing, I received a lot of criticism concerning formal dialogue, failure to use contractions, etc. I think that this author might be guilty of my own shortcoming, and I see it merely as an opportunity to improve. While reading, I often "hear" the dialogue in my head as I think it should sound, and thus create my own mental contractions and shortcuts. But when reading the text word-for-word, it can be annoying because it sounds stiff and very unrealistic. With that being said, there were really no issues with the writing that couldn't have been easily fixed with a good edit.)
I'm now officially a fan of this author and plan to read more of his work. I'm also anxious for more of Derrick and Justin.
The strength of this novel, in my opinion, is the multi-layered characterization of this believable cast of characters. Each character is revealed, not by mere description of their personalities, but by showing their flaws, humor, and unique quirky characteristics. I grew to care about many of these characters, including the ebullient set of identical twins Tyler and Tyson, the hero-worshiping little brother Devon, the ex-girlfriend-turned-fag-hag Stacy, and several other memorable friends and family members.
Although the overall feel of the narrative was authentic, I took issue with the formality of the writing. The lack of contractions, particularly in speech, was off-putting. And the manuscript was in need of professional editing.
Overall, the story touched my heart, and I particularly empathized with Derrick who struggled with coming out to his family. The inclusion of a LOT of underage drinking was unsettling, though probably not unrealistic. That particular issue was a prominent factor throughout the story, yet toward the end it was dismissively brushed aside. Justin, the other protagonist, struggled with alcoholism, yet ultimately decided to just quit drinking.
I suspect the story may continue in a sequel, and perhaps we'll get some closure regarding Justin's alcoholism and Derrick's attempt to gain the support and acceptance of his family.
(I'd like to add that when I began writing, I received a lot of criticism concerning formal dialogue, failure to use contractions, etc. I think that this author might be guilty of my own shortcoming, and I see it merely as an opportunity to improve. While reading, I often "hear" the dialogue in my head as I think it should sound, and thus create my own mental contractions and shortcuts. But when reading the text word-for-word, it can be annoying because it sounds stiff and very unrealistic. With that being said, there were really no issues with the writing that couldn't have been easily fixed with a good edit.)
I'm now officially a fan of this author and plan to read more of his work. I'm also anxious for more of Derrick and Justin.
March 4, 2013
I received this book for an honest review...
This story is about Justin and Derrick who meet in middle school and have been best friends ever since. Both boys had girlfriends but always knew something was off. One night with there girlfriends and friends they were drinking and decided to play "truth or dare" that is when there whole life's changed...they had to kiss and not just a peck they had to make out with tongue. Both boys were afraid because they really enjoyed it. That is were there struggles begin, they have no idea what to do about there true feelings. They tried to keep everything secret but every time they are alone together things just happened. They try and keep things secret but all they wanted was just to be together. They go through the emotions of there friends and girlfriends finding out. Will there friends, and family except them for who they are? Is it just experimental?
This book was amazing! I could not stop reading i keep in touch with Jayson the whole way through. If i had a question he was there to answer everything for me. I literally cried because i was laughing so hard, there is so many emotions throughout the whole story but i loved how Jayson threw in so much humor in just the right parts. love you Jayson and can not wait to read all your stories!
This story is about Justin and Derrick who meet in middle school and have been best friends ever since. Both boys had girlfriends but always knew something was off. One night with there girlfriends and friends they were drinking and decided to play "truth or dare" that is when there whole life's changed...they had to kiss and not just a peck they had to make out with tongue. Both boys were afraid because they really enjoyed it. That is were there struggles begin, they have no idea what to do about there true feelings. They tried to keep everything secret but every time they are alone together things just happened. They try and keep things secret but all they wanted was just to be together. They go through the emotions of there friends and girlfriends finding out. Will there friends, and family except them for who they are? Is it just experimental?
This book was amazing! I could not stop reading i keep in touch with Jayson the whole way through. If i had a question he was there to answer everything for me. I literally cried because i was laughing so hard, there is so many emotions throughout the whole story but i loved how Jayson threw in so much humor in just the right parts. love you Jayson and can not wait to read all your stories!
May 14, 2013
I really enjoyed the story of this book and watching the realistic portrayal of two people discovering they aren't like everyone else and trying to navigate turning from friends to lovers.
The only problem I had with this book was the language used most of the time. When the boys were talking they used contractions like don't and wouldn't, but in the non verbal sections, even though they were written from the boys perspective, they tended to use proper English, do not and would not, the switch between the two methods was jarring.
The book is worth a read, if you can get past the language issue this is a great story.
The only problem I had with this book was the language used most of the time. When the boys were talking they used contractions like don't and wouldn't, but in the non verbal sections, even though they were written from the boys perspective, they tended to use proper English, do not and would not, the switch between the two methods was jarring.
The book is worth a read, if you can get past the language issue this is a great story.
January 6, 2013
Pretty good story but really needs better editing. Errors made it difficult to read at times.
January 5, 2014
I've read two of the three books in this trilogy - just getting Justin and Derrick out of Chandler High.
Three stars reflects my mixed feelings about these books. I've read scores of YA books - every possible variation on the coming out/nerd-jock/friends-to-lovers themes.
The best aspect of these books (assuming it carries on into the third volume) is the layered complexity of the boys' lives, and the wider community of friends who become part of the story. There is an authenticity to the shifting POVs in the books that makes me suspect that they reflect Jayson James' own life; they're too real not to be real.
As a middle-aged gay man, I remember a lot of this, even though my high school years were forty years ago. What has changed, and dramatically, is the possibility of really finding love for a gay boy in high school, and the possibility that being out won't destroy your life. I don't think those options were really on the books for my generation.
As part of a two-dad family with teenagers (whom we've raised since infancy), I confess that I'm appalled at the way parents are presented in these books. I'm not saying that it's not accurate, from a teenager's perspective; simply that it is depressing to think that teenagers see adults, and specifically their parents, in this way. I suppose my own kids, in spite of having gay dads who are lenient and liberal, feel this way about us, and it just makes me want to weep.
Then again, as much as I adored and loved being with my parents as a teenager, I know I saw them as essentially alien beings. Sigh.
The negative aspects of the book are the poor editing and even worse grammar. Weirdly, these two significant defects make them feel oddly authentic - just the sort of sloppy writing I'd expect from teenage boys. However, I don't think that the author, who is a teacher (!!!) did this intentionally. These are very long books for YA, and part of that length is simply meandering, unedited plot.
In the end, after two of the three books, I feel like I've experienced something very realistic, very true to life. As folk narratives these are fascinating and, possibly, important. As literature, I'm afraid I have to say I think the writing interferes with the reader's enjoyment.
Three stars reflects my mixed feelings about these books. I've read scores of YA books - every possible variation on the coming out/nerd-jock/friends-to-lovers themes.
The best aspect of these books (assuming it carries on into the third volume) is the layered complexity of the boys' lives, and the wider community of friends who become part of the story. There is an authenticity to the shifting POVs in the books that makes me suspect that they reflect Jayson James' own life; they're too real not to be real.
As a middle-aged gay man, I remember a lot of this, even though my high school years were forty years ago. What has changed, and dramatically, is the possibility of really finding love for a gay boy in high school, and the possibility that being out won't destroy your life. I don't think those options were really on the books for my generation.
As part of a two-dad family with teenagers (whom we've raised since infancy), I confess that I'm appalled at the way parents are presented in these books. I'm not saying that it's not accurate, from a teenager's perspective; simply that it is depressing to think that teenagers see adults, and specifically their parents, in this way. I suppose my own kids, in spite of having gay dads who are lenient and liberal, feel this way about us, and it just makes me want to weep.
Then again, as much as I adored and loved being with my parents as a teenager, I know I saw them as essentially alien beings. Sigh.
The negative aspects of the book are the poor editing and even worse grammar. Weirdly, these two significant defects make them feel oddly authentic - just the sort of sloppy writing I'd expect from teenage boys. However, I don't think that the author, who is a teacher (!!!) did this intentionally. These are very long books for YA, and part of that length is simply meandering, unedited plot.
In the end, after two of the three books, I feel like I've experienced something very realistic, very true to life. As folk narratives these are fascinating and, possibly, important. As literature, I'm afraid I have to say I think the writing interferes with the reader's enjoyment.
May 6, 2013
I will start this out by saying that I hate romance novels. Hate is an awfully strong word; abhor is a stronger one. Regardless of my feelings towards romance and love (they throw it in every movie, every comic, every song...) I read this book because a friend of mine gave it to me and cared about my opinion.. And I'm not one to disappoint. First off, I have many gripes about this book but at the same time, I did enjoy it. It wasn't a tough book to get through. The story is about two friends who discover their feelings for one another as they go through the tormented parts of their teenage years. The story is the first in a series from Jayson James and as far as first time novels go, it wasn't disappointing. The characters start off pretty basic but as the story continues, they grow more depth and become more intricate. The novel switches tenses between the two friends, each giving their perspective on the what is going on. At first it doesn't move the story very far, but the more you read, the more the switching helped the story along. I liked the backgrounds for the two characters, Justin and Derrick, and felt I could identify, at some point in the story, with either. As I've mentioned, I'm not a fan of romance, I tend to lean towards fantasy and horror, but reading this wasn't a chore. Once you get through a bulk of the chapters, you can't help but to wonder what happens next. As for whether or not I'll delve into the other two books in this trilogy, I am not sure. The editing was dodgy at times, and there were instances where certain sentences, passages or phrases were confusing but otherwise, the storyline kept the attention of this reader.
April 6, 2013
I was given a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. A love story is a love story no matter who the characters are. Justin and Derrick are your typical successful teenagers until a kiss changes things. Who knew something that was so basic could change so much and define your life in such a fundamental way?
I am an open-minded person and will read anything. I have no boundaries on my passion for feeding my literary hunger. Jayson James managed to create something that was different from what I am used to. I am not talking about the same-sex relationship. In this day and age that is not a big deal. I was enthralled with the layers of complexity he created in the relationship. How often do we see that anymore? This was a book that seemed so real, I felt like I could call up these young men to see how they were doing.
I cried at the pain you knew they were feeling. I know a lot of people who have struggled to come out to their friends and family and this is the first time that a story has seemed so mesmerizing and real. You can feel the emotion ripple off the page. I am thrilled to discover this author and hope you all check him out!
I am an open-minded person and will read anything. I have no boundaries on my passion for feeding my literary hunger. Jayson James managed to create something that was different from what I am used to. I am not talking about the same-sex relationship. In this day and age that is not a big deal. I was enthralled with the layers of complexity he created in the relationship. How often do we see that anymore? This was a book that seemed so real, I felt like I could call up these young men to see how they were doing.
I cried at the pain you knew they were feeling. I know a lot of people who have struggled to come out to their friends and family and this is the first time that a story has seemed so mesmerizing and real. You can feel the emotion ripple off the page. I am thrilled to discover this author and hope you all check him out!
August 8, 2015
I gave up on this because it is so very badly written. I very much doubt that this book has ever seen an editor and it desperately needs one. It's filled with mistakes and typos, the language is so stilted and clunky and the dialogue in particular is appalling. It may have had the bones of a decent story (I have a real weakness for 'friends to lovers' YA so I'd expected to love it!) however I couldn't tell you because the writing made me too irritated and frustrated to continue!
Want to read
April 12, 2013Kindle freebie today 4/12/13.
April 20, 2021
This was a book...that I...well...that I read.
If you like anything from Wattpad, you'll probably like this. The writing is...interesting. First of all, it goes from being very stagnant to being very rushed. It is very choppy and direct. One minute Justin decides that he is not gay and the next he says he is in love with Derrick. And there is no context given. No "Oh he loved him since forever and was just in denial" and no "Oh I think I might have feelings for him." Nope, just a complete 180 in character development. Second of all, the diction was very off. It included phrases such as "the five-knuckle shuffle," "throes of passion," and "tongue wrestling sessions." I want to douse my eyes in bleach. Then there is the just awful scene where this is written,
"I pulled up to the four-way stop. Then Justin pulled up. It was like fate.
I jumped out of my SUV and ran towards his car, hoping that he would not drive off. Justin jumped out of his car and started running towards me."
WHAT WAS THE REASON? Why was the setting of this scene at a four-way stop instead of the side of the road? Jesus Christ will never know and neither will I. Jayson, please enlighten me.
That being said, I liked the romance ok and I love best friends to lovers. The friend group seemed somewhat realistic and there were some very wholesome scenes. Derrick's relationship with his siblings was sweet and enjoyable to read. The characters were easy to identify, though a little bland with the exception of Tyson and Tyler. It was also entertaining and easy to read.
If you like anything from Wattpad, you'll probably like this. The writing is...interesting. First of all, it goes from being very stagnant to being very rushed. It is very choppy and direct. One minute Justin decides that he is not gay and the next he says he is in love with Derrick. And there is no context given. No "Oh he loved him since forever and was just in denial" and no "Oh I think I might have feelings for him." Nope, just a complete 180 in character development. Second of all, the diction was very off. It included phrases such as "the five-knuckle shuffle," "throes of passion," and "tongue wrestling sessions." I want to douse my eyes in bleach. Then there is the just awful scene where this is written,
"I pulled up to the four-way stop. Then Justin pulled up. It was like fate.
I jumped out of my SUV and ran towards his car, hoping that he would not drive off. Justin jumped out of his car and started running towards me."
WHAT WAS THE REASON? Why was the setting of this scene at a four-way stop instead of the side of the road? Jesus Christ will never know and neither will I. Jayson, please enlighten me.
That being said, I liked the romance ok and I love best friends to lovers. The friend group seemed somewhat realistic and there were some very wholesome scenes. Derrick's relationship with his siblings was sweet and enjoyable to read. The characters were easy to identify, though a little bland with the exception of Tyson and Tyler. It was also entertaining and easy to read.
March 10, 2017
Over all a good coming of age M/M romance. You like the characters as the stumble through the beginning of a relationship in a less than fully accepting world.
Story drags at times and can be difficult to remember who's writing.
Story drags at times and can be difficult to remember who's writing.
December 5, 2013
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, I know falling in love with Justin and Derrick never came to mind!
Jayson James uses both Justin and Derrick's point of views in Finding Our Way, which I liked because they have very different minds and the writing showed that. I never forgot which character was talking at a given time.
Being best friends is often a hard thing, when you move from friends to lovers it can get tricky. While same sex couples are being more accepted, not everyone feels it is ok. Being scared of their families and friends finding out adds even more to their story.
Will Justin and Derrick survive the turmoil that goes along with being teenagers, growing up and being gay?
I don't so "spoilers" in my reviews I think it cheats the people that haven't read the books yet! So you will have to take my word for it and read the book! You will love Justin and Derrick and their friends as much as I do!
Jayson James uses both Justin and Derrick's point of views in Finding Our Way, which I liked because they have very different minds and the writing showed that. I never forgot which character was talking at a given time.
Being best friends is often a hard thing, when you move from friends to lovers it can get tricky. While same sex couples are being more accepted, not everyone feels it is ok. Being scared of their families and friends finding out adds even more to their story.
Will Justin and Derrick survive the turmoil that goes along with being teenagers, growing up and being gay?
I don't so "spoilers" in my reviews I think it cheats the people that haven't read the books yet! So you will have to take my word for it and read the book! You will love Justin and Derrick and their friends as much as I do!
March 16, 2014
This is a very slow paced story about to childhood friends that discover they love each other. The story menders through their lives starting when they are just close friends and ending with both their friends and family knowing they are a couple.
I found the writing in this book very stilted and uncomfortable. It didn't flow very well so the first part of the book was hard for me to connect with the characters. But as the story progress somewhere along the way I found that I was engrossed in the book. There is a lot of real feelings in this book and neither character is perfect or totally flawed either. Both Derek and Justin have their own set of problems to deal with. I like the fact that this doesn't have a lot of easy outs or unbelievable plot twists in it.
If the writing flowed better that this would have been a 4 to 5 star book, but it is still has some interesting characters without over the top drama or quick fix solutions.
I found the writing in this book very stilted and uncomfortable. It didn't flow very well so the first part of the book was hard for me to connect with the characters. But as the story progress somewhere along the way I found that I was engrossed in the book. There is a lot of real feelings in this book and neither character is perfect or totally flawed either. Both Derek and Justin have their own set of problems to deal with. I like the fact that this doesn't have a lot of easy outs or unbelievable plot twists in it.
If the writing flowed better that this would have been a 4 to 5 star book, but it is still has some interesting characters without over the top drama or quick fix solutions.
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November 4, 2013Finding Our Way follows the lives of best friends Justin and Derrick, who seem to live pretty normal lives; but Justin is torn between his parents’ failing marriage and Derrick is pulling away from his smothering family. Both young men struggle to find their own paths, and discover what they have may be more than friendship. This text presents a complex and emotional view of the difficulties of teen life, and the struggle of discovering one’s sexuality. The text is raw and realistic, and students who are also struggling with their sexuality will be able to identify with the characters’ struggles. From a teacher’s stance, this wouldn’t be the ideal book to teach, however suggesting it to a student who may be dealing difficulties in their lives, be they the everyday struggles of a teen or deeper issues of home life or sexuality may give students something to relate to.
October 24, 2013
41/2. Only thing I didn't like was the very formal speech. No contractions during conversations. I don't know anyone who speaks like that, especially kids, but the book was fab!! Loved it!! Reading the next one!
April 26, 2013
Best for high/middle school boys questioning if they are gay. Lots of eating food, masturbating and hanging with the boys. Just not for me.
April 6, 2014
Overall liked the relationship between Derrick and Justin and how they untlimately got together but the story seemed to drag on quite a bit for me...
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April 20, 2013Got this for free
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