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Except for Cough Drops
High school hallways hide deeper secrets than locker combinations.
Average fifteen-year-old? Maybe before he realized butterflies erupt for guys, not girls. Now, confessing to his best friend Brian, feels like stepping off a cliff. But amidst the confusion, he finds an unexpected anchor in a kindred spirit who speaks the language of hidden hearts.
Brian: Scoring goals is easier than navigating life's sudden curveballs. His carefully controlled world spins wildly, leaving him scrambling for his footing. When tragedy strikes Brian cracks, revealing vulnerabilities he desperately tries to deal with.
Travis: New kid, mid-year. The whispers follow him like "Why the move?" "Where'd you come from?" He longs to disappear, but as he carves his way through unfamiliar faces, he stumbles upon friendships as warm as stolen sunshine.
Together, they dive into a world where families shift like tectonic plates, love blooms in unexpected corners, and self-discovery hurts like growing pains. In a landscape painted with loss, first kisses, and whispered truths, they grapple with the messy, exhilarating chaos of finding themselves in a world obsessed with fitting in.
Except for Cough Drops is more than a coming-of-age story. It's a raw, honest exploration of belonging, acceptance, and the courage it takes to be who you want to be in a world obsessed with fitting in.
Book 1 of the new True Colors series,
Average fifteen-year-old? Maybe before he realized butterflies erupt for guys, not girls. Now, confessing to his best friend Brian, feels like stepping off a cliff. But amidst the confusion, he finds an unexpected anchor in a kindred spirit who speaks the language of hidden hearts.
Brian: Scoring goals is easier than navigating life's sudden curveballs. His carefully controlled world spins wildly, leaving him scrambling for his footing. When tragedy strikes Brian cracks, revealing vulnerabilities he desperately tries to deal with.
Travis: New kid, mid-year. The whispers follow him like "Why the move?" "Where'd you come from?" He longs to disappear, but as he carves his way through unfamiliar faces, he stumbles upon friendships as warm as stolen sunshine.
Together, they dive into a world where families shift like tectonic plates, love blooms in unexpected corners, and self-discovery hurts like growing pains. In a landscape painted with loss, first kisses, and whispered truths, they grapple with the messy, exhilarating chaos of finding themselves in a world obsessed with fitting in.
Except for Cough Drops is more than a coming-of-age story. It's a raw, honest exploration of belonging, acceptance, and the courage it takes to be who you want to be in a world obsessed with fitting in.
Book 1 of the new True Colors series,
- GenresLGBT
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2024
31 people want to read
About the author
Eric Dakota
2 books5 followersEric is a Texas native – born and bred, growing up in the suburbs of Houston, with family in the Midland area.
Eric has a BS in Theatre and has worked in regional theatre as an audio engineer as well as designing and installing audio-visual systems in corporate environments.
Like many kids Eric was forced out of the closet by circumstances outside his control – at least as far as to his parents. The experience wasn’t horrid, but it was still not the ideal coming-out experience. At the end of his senior year of high school he was brave enough to come out to one of his close friends – which went much better than he could have hoped.
At university Eric was out, unconcerned with what people thought of the whole situation. He had many great, and some not-so-great times in college – many of which have informed the stories that he is telling now through his writing.
His debut novel, Except for Cough Drops, marks a significant milestone in his creative journey. As a proud gay author, he’s poured his heart and soul into crafting a story that embraces honesty and self-discovery.
When he’s not lost in the world of words, he’s a dedicated companion to two amazing dogs who bring immeasurable joy to life.
Eric has a BS in Theatre and has worked in regional theatre as an audio engineer as well as designing and installing audio-visual systems in corporate environments.
Like many kids Eric was forced out of the closet by circumstances outside his control – at least as far as to his parents. The experience wasn’t horrid, but it was still not the ideal coming-out experience. At the end of his senior year of high school he was brave enough to come out to one of his close friends – which went much better than he could have hoped.
At university Eric was out, unconcerned with what people thought of the whole situation. He had many great, and some not-so-great times in college – many of which have informed the stories that he is telling now through his writing.
His debut novel, Except for Cough Drops, marks a significant milestone in his creative journey. As a proud gay author, he’s poured his heart and soul into crafting a story that embraces honesty and self-discovery.
When he’s not lost in the world of words, he’s a dedicated companion to two amazing dogs who bring immeasurable joy to life.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 18, 2024
🇬🇧ENG REVIEW
💗A story full of hearthwarming moments…
A story which talk about intense topic like death, fear, coming out, self discover and more in general puberty…
Through this pages we can see two character’s developement:
First of all, Brian with his self awarness
Second of all, Travis with his new mood and his capacity to take his life in his own hands.
✨Also important is the parents role in each adolescence character’s life. I really appreciated how this aspect was treated.
For me the most important subtitles of this story is that we have only one life and sometimes fear freeze us and don’t make us capable of do what we want…really want..to do.
✨So, stop put other’s opinion first of yours and became your true self…because, at the end of the story, what that matter is live an happy and meaningfull life!
🇮🇹ITA REVIEW
“𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈?”
✨Questa storia ci racconta le vicende di un gruppo di adolescenti concentrandosi su due pov in particolare: Brian e Travis.
🎹Travis è il ragazzo nuovo…nuova scuola, nuova famiglia, nuovi amici…
È difficile ricominciare da capo; soprattutto quando hai vissuto così tanto e in così pochi anni di vita (parliamo infatti di un quindicenne)…
Eppure Travis non demorde e si lancia di petto nell’aiutare Brian nel momento del bisogno.
⚽️Brian ha fatto finta di non vedere ciò che è sempre stato sotto il suo naso…ma arriva un momento in cui la vita ti schiaffeggia e, che tu sia pronto o meno, sei costretto a rispondere a tono!
✒️è un libro che parla di perdita e di sconfitta ma anche di rinascita e cambiamento…
💗Ho apprezzato molto il fatto che siano stati inclusi i genitori all’interno della narrazione, mostrandoci come nell’adolescenza il viaggio verso (e con) i propri pari, non possa di fatto fare a meno di una solida base: il nucleo genitoriale.
☀️Questa storia mi ha fatto riflettere sulla fugacità della vita e sull’importanza di avere qualcuno in grado di supportarci sempre…
🫂Di come chiedere aiuto non sia sbagliato e di come la famiglia sia costituita da chi ci sostiene a prescindere dai legami di sangue.
Ed infine di come il giudizio del prossimo è importante solo fino ad un certo punto…
“𝐼𝒻 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓇𝒾𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝒹𝒾𝑜𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹,𝓌𝑒’𝒹 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒.”
💗A story full of hearthwarming moments…
A story which talk about intense topic like death, fear, coming out, self discover and more in general puberty…
Through this pages we can see two character’s developement:
First of all, Brian with his self awarness
Second of all, Travis with his new mood and his capacity to take his life in his own hands.
✨Also important is the parents role in each adolescence character’s life. I really appreciated how this aspect was treated.
For me the most important subtitles of this story is that we have only one life and sometimes fear freeze us and don’t make us capable of do what we want…really want..to do.
✨So, stop put other’s opinion first of yours and became your true self…because, at the end of the story, what that matter is live an happy and meaningfull life!
🇮🇹ITA REVIEW
“𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈?”
✨Questa storia ci racconta le vicende di un gruppo di adolescenti concentrandosi su due pov in particolare: Brian e Travis.
🎹Travis è il ragazzo nuovo…nuova scuola, nuova famiglia, nuovi amici…
È difficile ricominciare da capo; soprattutto quando hai vissuto così tanto e in così pochi anni di vita (parliamo infatti di un quindicenne)…
Eppure Travis non demorde e si lancia di petto nell’aiutare Brian nel momento del bisogno.
⚽️Brian ha fatto finta di non vedere ciò che è sempre stato sotto il suo naso…ma arriva un momento in cui la vita ti schiaffeggia e, che tu sia pronto o meno, sei costretto a rispondere a tono!
✒️è un libro che parla di perdita e di sconfitta ma anche di rinascita e cambiamento…
💗Ho apprezzato molto il fatto che siano stati inclusi i genitori all’interno della narrazione, mostrandoci come nell’adolescenza il viaggio verso (e con) i propri pari, non possa di fatto fare a meno di una solida base: il nucleo genitoriale.
☀️Questa storia mi ha fatto riflettere sulla fugacità della vita e sull’importanza di avere qualcuno in grado di supportarci sempre…
🫂Di come chiedere aiuto non sia sbagliato e di come la famiglia sia costituita da chi ci sostiene a prescindere dai legami di sangue.
Ed infine di come il giudizio del prossimo è importante solo fino ad un certo punto…
“𝐼𝒻 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓇𝒾𝑒𝒹 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝒹𝒾𝑜𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹,𝓌𝑒’𝒹 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒.”
May 4, 2024
This was a real rollercoaster of emotions, you got a lot of ups but then also a lot od downs to outweigh it.
"I dream about kissing him. I am sure if he were to find out how I feel he would never talk to me again. True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops."
I loved reading Except for Cough Drops by Eric Dakota, because the time period when it takes place (early 2000's) is also quite a fresh compared to the other contemporary books, having admitted that this heavy contemporary story is really heavy.
“Why now? Why tonight?”
Brian lay back on the pillow. “Because I saw how Eric and Dylan looked at you, and I knew if I didn’t move fast one of them would steal you away.”
But even though I sometimes had a problem to keep in my mind the difference between Jason and Justin or Travis and Trace, I really enjoyed it and I am grateful to receive the ARC from the author and being able to discuss the book together. I am already looking forward to the next book from the series and then the rest in the next two years.
“Anyone who hates people because of their sexual orientation is no better than the people who hate because of race.”
Good job, Eric and for all the readers out there - this is strongly recommended!
"I dream about kissing him. I am sure if he were to find out how I feel he would never talk to me again. True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops."
I loved reading Except for Cough Drops by Eric Dakota, because the time period when it takes place (early 2000's) is also quite a fresh compared to the other contemporary books, having admitted that this heavy contemporary story is really heavy.
“Why now? Why tonight?”
Brian lay back on the pillow. “Because I saw how Eric and Dylan looked at you, and I knew if I didn’t move fast one of them would steal you away.”
But even though I sometimes had a problem to keep in my mind the difference between Jason and Justin or Travis and Trace, I really enjoyed it and I am grateful to receive the ARC from the author and being able to discuss the book together. I am already looking forward to the next book from the series and then the rest in the next two years.
“Anyone who hates people because of their sexual orientation is no better than the people who hate because of race.”
Good job, Eric and for all the readers out there - this is strongly recommended!
December 13, 2024
Beautiful book. A sweet and heart wrenching coming of age story about friends and the secrets they hide. A book that will make you think about the fact that you don't always have the time you think you do so you shouldn't waste what you're given.
June 5, 2024
LOVE LOVE LOVED this story, it's so sweet and tender. I can't wait to read part two. Right from the first chapter you're hooked into a scene where you're witnessing something that maybe you shouldn't of. Beautifully written, and it really pulls at your heart strings. I felt like these characters were my babies. Wish I could give them a hug. If you're in the mood for something emotional, funny and also sex-appropriate for the age, definitely give this one a read.
AND I love the cover.
AND I love the cover.
May 24, 2024
I think this book was really good! I did think some parts went a bit slowly, but the overall story was enough to keep me going. I fell in love with the characters, and at times, it was really easy to get completely into reading it. I especially liked how it showed how hard it can actually be to be queer in school - it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. It can also mean ending up in hospital and losing people who you thought meant something to you.
June 15, 2024
“Honey, there are times in life when you are going to fall in love with someone. It may happen slowly over weeks, months, or even years. It may be sudden. One thing I know for sure is that you don’t have a choice who it is. Not for real love you don’t. It’s not forced, it isn’t learned, you either do, or you don’t. My advise is that worry less about the gender of who you are with and more about their character.”
I absolutely loved it, the journey was incredible but there was an event that triggered me and I was admittedly devastated by it.
This is a coming of age queer story but admittedly so much more. I was engrossed in the evolution of Brian & Travis’s characters. I felt their pain, suffering and joy acutely: and I loved watching them build a found family that they could trust and lean on. I have spent a lot of time since finishing this book thinking about it and talking about it with my kids.
I am very happy that this is a series because there are a few characters that we need more of!
This is a HEA but understand that these characters worked through a lot to get there. Be sure to check out the triggers.
I absolutely loved it, the journey was incredible but there was an event that triggered me and I was admittedly devastated by it.
This is a coming of age queer story but admittedly so much more. I was engrossed in the evolution of Brian & Travis’s characters. I felt their pain, suffering and joy acutely: and I loved watching them build a found family that they could trust and lean on. I have spent a lot of time since finishing this book thinking about it and talking about it with my kids.
I am very happy that this is a series because there are a few characters that we need more of!
This is a HEA but understand that these characters worked through a lot to get there. Be sure to check out the triggers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews