Us Three

One Voice #1

by Mia Kerick

One Book One

In his junior year at a public high school, sweet, bright Casey Minton’s biggest worry isn’t being gay. Keeping from being too badly bullied by his so-called friends, a group of girls called the Queen Bees, is more pressing. Nate De Marco has no friends, his tough home life having taken its toll on his reputation, but he’s determined to get through high school. Zander Zane’s story is he’s popular, a jock. Zander knows he’s gay, but fellow students don’t, and he’d like to keep it that way.

No one expects much when these three are grouped together for a class project, yet in the process the boys discover each other’s talents and traits, and a new bond forms. But what if Nate, Zander, and Casey fall in love—each with the other and all three together? Not only gay but also a threesome, for them high school becomes infinitely more complicated and maybe even dangerous. To survive and keep their love alive, they must find their individual strengths and courage and stand together, honest and united. If they can do that, they might prevail against the Queen Bees and a student body frightened into silence—and even against their own crippling fears.

Genres: M M Romance, M M M, Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Menage, High School

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2014

About the author

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another at a dance conservatory, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishing houses for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.

Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia Kerick isn’t a new author to me, I’ve read her novel Out of Hiding not too long ago but after reading the premise of Us Three I had my doubts. A Young Adult ménage? How would that work? Frankly I wasn’t too keen on starting this one but my curiosity finally got the better of me and after reading only a few pages I couldn’t put it down!

I totally lost myself in this book, it’s a sad tale, especially as one of the sweetest characters ever, is the target of the most vicious bullying I’ve experienced in the pages of a book, but I liked how Mia showed us Casey’s struggles with his emotions, and how he grows as a character, opening up to the friendship and love of both Nate and Zander, who despite having personal issues of their own, they are there for Casey. These boys are incredibly endearing and I just loved them so much.

“Us three. Most people’d say that just the idea of it was fucked-up. And I’m not talking ’bout the gay part. Folks’d say that love was meant for two. That huggin’ and kissin’ and holdin’ each other and shit was meant for two, not for three.”

Casey is such an adorable boy and he has so much to endure. His high school time seems to be a complete nightmare. Those Queen Bees are just evil, spiteful bitches, bullies at their worst. I never realised that it’s not always the guys that are the bullies, girls are even worse. *shudders*.

Mia Kerick describes the relationship development between Casey, Zander and Nate beautifully. All three of them are so cute… and the way they come together and figure themselves out is wonderfully written. Their journey through hell together is a real tearjerker, so brace yourself for a bumpy ride to high school hell and back. No graphic sex btw… but lots of touching and intimacy, Mia’s writing of this is excellent.

The story is told in a very original way, we get the thoughts of Casey, Zander and Nate from three different and very unique points of views. Each boy shared with us what was in their hearts and what they were going through, and that worked just perfectly for me. By the end, my heart was filled with hope for Casey, Nate and Zander’s future, trusting all would be alright in their world.

“It’s us three now. We’ll figure it out.”

Overall, Us Three is powerful, moving, thought provoking and flawlessly told story, and these boys will now and for always have a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a book about finding true love in the oddest of places and about standing up for yourself and what is right for the the people you love, this truly is a must read. Parents, love your children, cherish them, listen to them. Teachers, schoolmates, give bullying no chance… and add this book to your reading list! Highly recommended!

Edit: Mia is currently working on the 2nd book 'One Voice'. It's Nate's story. OMG... I can't wait to get it into my hands! :)

[.Lili. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this one. This is the story of three very different teenagers that come together after being assigned work together on a group project at school. Each one is suffering but through their friendship that develops into a loving relationship they find strength.

What I loved:
*Each character had a voice. I loved the way she gave us each character's POV.
*Great character development.
*The author made me feel a part of the story making me feel what the characters were feeling.
*Dialogue was realistic. I thought each character sounded like a teenager. Sometimes you read books and you think- "a teenager would never say that". Not the case with this book. Mia Kerick has teenagers down to a "t".
*She made a M/M/M YA romance book work. To be honest it made me a little nervous but the author pulled it off.

My only criticism would be that I wished a little more time had been spent on the beginning of their romantic relationship. Friendship development was very smooth but it seemed (to me) like they just jumped into being together. I just wanted a little bit more. Once together though- she did an excellent job at developing how their relationship worked and what each one's role was in it was.

In the end this was a 4.5 Star read for me. It was a beautiful story of friendship and strength. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

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

4.5*

“Underneath his sparkly surface there’s a whole thick level of a damaged soul. I know this, because I got to see it.”


Wow, what a story.
My love for all things m/m/m is no secret and when I saw Mia Kerick wrote one and a YA one at that, I knew I just had to read it.
I've read two other books by this author and I have to say, she has young, hurting and healing down solid.
This book is full of feelings and emotions, it had me running the gamut on all of them. From anger and fear to indignation and such sadness but also happiness and hopefulness, by the end I was just a melting puddle of Mandy.

I love these boys, all hurting in one way or another but so damn brave and resilient and just plain good. They are also wise beyond their years I'd say, each one having to grow up faster due to circumstances beyond their control.
“And let’s face it, none of us fits into the mold of the other guys at school, so why don’t we just make our own fucking mold?”
I like when I get all POVs, and in a story with three main characters that's even more important for me.
The way the story is told, not only did I get all three POVs, it was done in such a unique and original way for each boy. For me at least, this was the perfect way to have Casey, Zander and Nate share what was in their hearts and what was happening around them.

I think Casey is the sweetest thing ever, or maybe because I think this, his words and feelings and heartache were the hardest for me to read.
The blurb is clear, this boy is Bullied with a capital B.
“Because I’d been here—I’d done this “friendship” thing with these very same girls before—and it had turned out ugly. Uglier than just plain ugly, to be honest. More accurately, it had been horrifying. It had changed my life. I shuddered again."

But despite his previous horrible experience and the daily ridicule and mind games these kids unleash on Casey he is still such a bright, hopeful and happy boy. He has his moments, his panic attacks, his nightmares, but even with all that, I was amazed, he is still so willing to trust, willing to give the benefit of the doubt and most of all willing to be brave.
“Funny, wasn’t it, that the only one of us with enough balls to speak was the one whose trust had been so shattered by every single one of the other kids he’d ever thought’d been his friends?”

Then there is Nate, what a gentle giant. Not knowing gentleness or a safe home life himself, he is amazingly open and caring with Casey and Zander. He has anger, but it's righteous anger and only on behalf of others, never for himself. Like he doesn't think he's worth caring about or protecting.
Zander pours his heart out to his brother via email and lets me share his thoughts and feelings that way, and again, a kid who at first glance has it all, but until we look behind closed doors we never really know what burdens people carry.
They are unlikely friends and even unlikelier lovers, but they fit so well and give each other things that have been missing in their lives.
“Being together makes me a better person, makes Casey feel supported, and Nate… well, I think Nate just needs some people to call his.”

They grow together but they also all grow as individuals and start to overcome their fears.
I loved watching it happen.

I was sad and angry reading about the school situation, the teachers possible willful ignorance or downplaying the issue since the perpetrators were girls. Also the very real fear those students feel, the ones who just don't want to come to the attention of the bullies so they stand by when others are tormented, just grateful not to be the one in the crosshairs.
“It had taken them less than a semester to back me into a corner. I knew I’d never be free of this hunted feeling.”

All my feelings were worth it in the end, yes the ending was possibility a little idealistic, but I don't care, this is a book I know I will read again.
I was smiling and hopeful when I reached the last page, but also a little sad because I really wanted to read more about these boys and their bright future. I would love for Mia Kerick to revisit these boys and I am so glad I got to know and love them.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure about this when I first began, knowing that it was YA. But then I was quickly sucked into each of these three boy’s world. Each came from a totally different walk of life, they each experience their own kind of turmoil. They were just so different only something like fate could bring them together.

That fate was in the form of a French class project that they were grouped for.

Casey is the equivocal twink; tiny, sweet, loving and too damn naive for his own good. Nate is a burnout, a gentle giant underneath his dark, stoic exterior. And Zander is a popular jock with a big secret, something he’s known for a long time, he’s gay.

It begins with Nate and Zander having empathy for Casey who’s brutally bullied by a group of mean girls. That together with their project opens their eyes to romantic possibilities.

It was sweet and there was more steam than I would’ve expected, ie a lot of hand jobs. I liked that the three each had a distinctive voice. I liked that the writing was juvenile, making it realistic.

My problem is too much details, too much unnecessary information. Give me a good story with no filler, I don’t care if it’s 300 pages or 50.

And then the ending was rather anticlimactic. I felt a little gipped, like I held out and suffered the headache to finish all this for that? Yeah, no thanks.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this MMM YA story. The romance was very sweet. The story was a bit tough to read since it focusses on bullying, but I loved how these guys dealt with it in the end.

Casey, Nate and Zander are 16 years old and attending Benjamin Franklin High school, where the popular kids rule the school (isn’t that always the case in high school?).

Casey is the one being severely bullied here. It got so bad when he was 14 that he left school for 18 months after a terribly upsetting incident. And what makes it even worse is that the school is not that helpful in this case since the bullies are girls. And we all know girls can’t really harm boys, right? Well, wrong.

All Casey ever did was just be himself with all his fabulousness on display. He just doesn’t have any other way to be. And why does he keep trying to be friends with these awful girls? All he wants is to be accepted.

So when Casey is forced into a project group with druggie outcast Nate and popular jock Zander, he just knows the bullying will probably get worse. What he didn’t expect was to become friends with Nate and Zander, who each have their own problems at home, and in school…

These boys were incredibly sweet together. I loved how tenderhearted Casey was, despite that not being helpful with the bullying. And I loved how protective Nate was of Casey and how gentle hearted despite him coming from an abusive home. And Zander.. at first I wasn’t too sure about him, because he was too passive with the bullying (he was aware of this himself), but he ended being the one person to take action to make their school a safer place.

There are some sweet sexy scenes in this, appropriate for 16 year olds. Not too detailed, but no fade to black either. It was perfect for this story.

This is quite the angsty book, but I was happy that there wasn’t a lot of relationship angst. These guys become fast friends and the love follows pretty soon, but they never hide their feelings from each other. These guys talk things through.

A sweet MMM YA book that deals with some severe high school issues, like bullying.

[Mtsnow13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 for some unresolved issues, but a FANTASTIC story!

My thoughts:
From the very first paragraph, the story grabbed me.

EXCERPT

“18 months ago

I WAS down again… flat on my belly in the grass this time. There was no use in trying to get up. I was outnumbered, and most of them were bigger than me. Something sharp smacked into the back of my head. This time it was a high-heeled boot; it tumbled past my face. I pushed my chin harder against the ground and stuffed my head under my arms. “

I guess I wasn’t expecting a tear-jerker, but oh my gosh! The meanness of high school girls...Good grief. I wanted to kick some serious ‘you-know-what’ after the prologue. It basically gives us a preview of what Casey went through during his freshman year in high school with what were SUPPOSED to be his best friends...right after a wonderful, happy trip to the mall, and ice-cream... What they do to him, well just...no. Casey, so kind, sweet, clueless, happy, and naïve...

Continue story. He is now a junior. And he has a reputation of being the smartest kid in class. His ‘friends’, the Queen Bees, have dibs on him, or so they think. He is back at school after a year and a half of being home-schooled:

Excerpt:

““You are sitting with us, hon’.” The girls basically wrestled me into a seat at their table. “No arguments.”

Well, it’s not as if I have anyone else to sit with…

I sat down, and I’m going to make a confession: I felt a little bit giddy because I was surrounded by people who wanted me with them, like I actually counted for something. But at the same time, I was more than slightly anxious. Because I’d been here—I’d done this “friendship” thing with these very same girls before—and it had turned out ugly. Uglier than just plain ugly, to be honest. More accurately, it had been horrifying. It had changed my life. I shuddered again. “


So how do these boys actually work things out with all three of them? You’ll just have to read the story to find out :)

To give you a better picture of each of the other two boys, the author does a creative job of breaking up the story into 3 individual POVs, It flowed rather well and allowed me as a reader to fill in the blanks of the in between time. Basically this reads as Casey’s story, but we get to tune in to each of the other boy’s minds via two creative means:

Nate’s Diary – This is something that Nate’ therapist requires Nate to write/journal to help him deal with his anger management issues. He is big, rough looking, and everyone gives him a wide berth. He has absentee parents, an abusive uncle, and 13-yr old sister he has to keep an eye on for her protection.

November 5

“Dude Least Likely to Keep a Diary.” Out of the whole junior class, that’s what I’d be voted.

But in your face—cuz here it is! Yup, Nate DeMarco’s Diary. Nate’s feelings. Not gonna make no excuses for it. And I sure as shit don’t owe nobody no explanation, even if there was a soul alive who cared to hear one, but I figure that this journal is gonna help me keep my shit together.

Zander’s emails to his older brother, Dan. Dan has gone off to college and he’s the only one that knows his little brother is gay. And get this. Zander is the popular jock who is part of the same ‘in-crowd’ that messed with Casey. We never hear ‘directly’ from Z’s brother, but his responses to Z’s emails are alluded to in a way that we can guess what advice he is giving Zander.

zanderZ@catchme.com

Dan the Man – Soccer season’s gone, gone, gone, as Phil Phillips would sing. (Not a bad tune—you think?) Wish like hell you could’ve seen me play, though….

….And there’s this one really smart kid in Survey who gets ranked on so frigging badly, Dan. It’s tough to watch. (Remember that thing I told you about me? You know, how I think I might be. This kid, Casey Minton, is definitely that way. And he can’t hide it, or even tone it down, I don’t think.)

These little ventures into each of the boys’ thoughts give this book a contemporary ‘young’ vibe, and I can see a teen connecting with any one of them. This story wouldn’t be bad if it just ended at how they all become friends, then boyfriends with their various backgrounds and interests, but it gets better. It seems the author wants to use this as an opportunity to show how kids can actually ‘make it better’. I really appreciated the examples used to turn this into a life lesson for many who are not just victims of bullying, but also the bystanders, who, by just standing there, are passive-aggressively taking part in the activity. And it especially helped that it didn’t come across as preachy.

In fact, it felt very realistic. Hurrah to the author for addressing this prevalent issue that goes on in all walks of life and in various schools across the country, and probably globally as well. Unfortunately, I know it goes on in elementary and middle schools too, but this is a great start to addressing a problem we all know is there, and hopefully will help young readers think again before just turning and looking the other way.

The only downside for me was the lack of closure for the reader as to how the boy’s handled everything outside of school after the initial issue was resolved. I don’t get the impression their home lives changed much, other than now, at least they have friends and a support system. But then the book would have had to be longer than 180 pgs

[Jay Northcote · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, it had been on my kindle for a while. But once I started I was hooked.
It's not an easy read, in the sense that it deals with some pretty horrific bullying. But it's an easy read in that it flows well, it's paced well and the different characters' voices are well written and compelling.

I really liked the way the author kept the voices so distinct and used different methods of narration for each of them. I think she did a great job with that and it made them feel very real to me. The characters were well-developed, the writing was great and it was hard to put down.

I'm not sure it would be a re-read book because I don't want to have to suffer with Casey again, but I'm interested to see there is a sequel. I would like to know more about these boys.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll need to collect my thoughts about this book and the message it contains, but while I do that, y'all go buy this, m'kay? And then make sure every high schooler reads this too.

Full review will be on Booklikes and my blog. See you there.

[Riina Y.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥ B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥

What a wonderful story. I so love these boys, all hurting in one way or another, all wonderful in their own way and so so so adorable, brave and strong together.

Our sexuality is ours. We shouldn’t have to hide it.

High school, bullies, hurt, unexpected friendship, help & comfort, hope and, of course, sweet and tender love - this was just so my kind of book.

I guess, somehow, the story is predictable, but that's okay, because it was really well done and them being three wonderful boys was something fresh and new, for me at least - the complete package was just unlike anything I’ve read before.

This story just worked for me, most of all because I felt - the hurt and anger, pain and love. The chemistry between Casey, Zander and Nate wasn't sizzling, but it was there, the love and friendship, between three young boys, it was real heartwarming, and their future is very promising.

Us Three is told from each boy's POV, in three different types - Nate's Diary, Casey's Real Life and Zander's emails to his big brother, who is away in College. The flow of the story was perfect, I really enjoyed losing myself in their lives.

Highly recommended!!!! ♥♥♥

All three boys have a hard life, difficult things to deal with - corrupt families or bullying - but together they can enjoy life for a while….

“Being together makes me a better person, makes Casey feel supported, and Nate… well, I think Nate just needs some people to call his.”

All that said, if the story is really believable is up to.. I don't know who. I have to admit, I can't really see this happening at the age of sixteen, but personally I don't give a damn about that tiny fact. It was a beautiful story and I would read it again and again.

Fiction is fiction, and even if it's contemporary, I think it should be treated as fiction and simply be enjoyed.

[Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the hard thing for me with many YA/NA reads is the lesson aspect. There's always a teaching angle and sometimes that angle is more palatable than others of its ilk. This story focuses on bullying Liz was a psychopath, IMO. For her actions to be so easily dismissed and Casey told to man up just made me angry. I get it's a lesson but it was definitely a tad bit too over the top in your face "this is what bullying is and how you can make it better" lesson and reading what Casey was forced to endure day after day was brutal. I loved Casey. I loved his attitude, his brightness and I even understood why he gravitated to the very people who tormented him endlessly. His struggle really struck a cord with me and I wanted to see what happened to him in the end.

This story is also a menage between Casey and two of his classmates Nate and Zander. A very sweet, very emotional connection with tentative forays into more intense physical interactions. No full on sex here which I was happy to see, I needed to see the guys come to trust each other and I could definitely see the sex happening in the near future.

I loved the story for the developing relationships. The bullying was a part of that development in how they all responded and dealt with it but it was difficult to read. I'm glad I stuck with it though.

[D.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. A lot, actually, but I don't think as much as some other people did.

Overall, it was well handled, and I had no issues with the triad in a YA book (and feel that YA should reflect as many different realities for kids as possible). Why is this a three instead of a four star for me? Much of the book was about the bullying issues rather than the relationship, and it touched on a lot of rather grim realities very briefly. Secondly, and not unrelated, it came across as a very young YA for the subject matter at hand, and I think that was one of my main issues with what was a well written book.

I don't think I would give this to a thirteen or fourteen year old, and it seems a little simple for the seventeen or eighteen year old who might be giving serious thought to the nature of relationships. I wanted a little more meat, and a little more about the relationship between the three boys.

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, truly wish I could rate this one higher. I really liked the characters, and their romance was sweet. Unfortunately, the subject matter, while something everyone should take seriously, was a bit heavy-handed, and the romance was just slightly unbelievable. I like the idea of three young men forging such a strong bond between them, but the fact of the matter is, such a situation is highly unlikely to happen. At 16, I don't see anyone having the emotional maturity to grasp what a menage relationship even is, much less put it into practice. Now let's say, for the sake of reality suspension, that three teenagers could somehow make it work; it wasn't eased into all that well in this story. The three different viewpoints was an interesting idea, but Zander's emails to his older brother really didn't seem all that plausible.

I wanted to like it more. And it's a good book. Just not one that blew me away, and I definitely won't be revisiting it.

Removed from Kindle

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

To put it simply, I hated the way this book was written. I didn't like the first person POVs from all three MCs, stereotypes were taken to such extremes that the story wasn't believable to me, and the way they spoke and behaved wasn't realistic either. It reads more like a story made up and written by a teenager than a recounting of something that actually happened to a teenager. I just couldn't buy a single aspect of it. I'd recommend reading the free sample before purchasing to see if the writing is an issue for you.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars from me for this one. The relationship between the 3 young guys didn't really work for me, it was sort of 'Oh, let's have 3 stereotypical kids....the gay geek, the jock in the closet and the huge brooding moron who no-one talks to', and bring them all together....nope, sorry.

Much preferred The Red Sheet by this author.

[Eli Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this YA story. It's sweet and angsty and a bit steamy too. The author did a great job on the three first-person voices. Just great.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read young adult stories all that much, but it is stories like this one that make me willing to try. I’m not a big fan of teen angst and just all the crap that comes with being a teenager–-I had more than my share when I was growing up and I try my best to distance myself from that part of my life-–but there is something about a well written story that gets me every time. Stories that are written to mean something, that deal with the real issues of teenagerhood-–and not just the perils of falling in love with sparkly vampires (glitter. everywhere.)—-are worth crossing my normal boundaries for. Ok…I also love a good three-way story, but while that might have been the hook, the story of what they three teens had to deal with is what kept me. And left me desperately wanting more.

This book was written from the perspective of all three of our MCs: Casey Minton, Nate De Marco, and Zander Zane. They are all juniors at Benjamin Franklin High School, though before they get put into a group for a project in their Survey of French class, they were about as likely to interact as Liz Trainer (Queen bitch Bee) was likely to take up petting orphan children as a hobby. But fates (or French teachers) intervened, and their lives would never be the same.

Casey

“It’s not just what happened today. It’s every day… nobody gets me there. I don’t fit in at Benjamin Franklin High.”

Any more than Wendy fits in with the Lost Boys….

Or Clay Aiken fits in at a Metallica concert….

Or Grey Poupon mustard fits in a peanut butter sandwich….

Or… well, face it, I could go on forever, but I thought I’d spare the effort and stop there.

Casey is the center of the story. What happens to him, what he does, and what he chooses to be and do, is what fuels the action here. Not that the others don’t have their own shit to deal with, but Casey is taking the brunt of hate and bullying, and it is that that draws the others to him.

In 9th grade Casey was assaulted by a pack of girls, taunted, hurt, and at the point losing it completely, his parents decided to take him out of school and let him be homeschooled instead. But for his junior year they have decided to send him back. Much to his horror. If anything the bullying is worse, more hateful, more twisted, and he has no idea how he is even going to get thru the year, let alone the rest of his high school career.

He sections of the story are probably the most angst filled. And they have a way of breaking my heart into sizable chunks. No one should have to go thru what he did. No one, for no reason, should be tormented like this. And that the adults in his life let it happen, let it continue, is something I will never understand. I have had a lot of issues with this, myself. With the hurtful way that supposed ‘friends’ can turn on you. My middle school years were pretty much hell for me. Maybe this is why Casey affects me so much. Why I get him so easily. I wasn’t dealing with sexual identity issues, but god, I was trying desperately to get thru each day while it felt like everyone I trusted had turned into evil banshees. That struggle to survive, to have to survive something like that just because you are different, is portrayed so very well here.

Nate

I’m no talker, not that I’m some wise old owl who sits up there in the oak tree watchin’ and thinkin’ and figurin’ shit out. Not him either. I’m just the smart motherfucker who’s already put it together that the shit hits the fan way the fuck less when I keep my goddamned trap shut. And I learned my lesson the friggin’ toughest way possible…

Nate’s life is not easy. Or nice. His mom’s in jail, his uncle-–who Nate and his little sis are staying with-–is an abusive asshole, and everyone in school thinks he is a loser and one scary-ass-dude. He doesn’t have friends, he’s just trying to get thru school without getting too badly crushed in the process. Nate doesn’t know what it is about Casey that makes him want to protect the guy, but…he wants to anyways. He’s big, he can make the other kids back down, and Casey seems to appreciate that. And him. And while he wishes that Zane would get off his ass and do something about the crazy bitches tormenting Casey, Nate is also starting to see something worth having around in the popular jock.

If I had to pick a favorite out of the three guys, it would probably be Nate. Casey has my heart, but god, Nate has my respect. The man has had some tough shit going on in his life, but he has not let it make him into a hateful person. He has his anger issues (boy does he) but he tries to do good. To protect, not break down. It felt, at times, like he could have easily been left at the sides by Casey and Zane, but he became the foundation that the others used to ground themselves. And while they were doing that, Nate used the other two to find some type of hope, some type of life worth living in his messed up world.

His section was told in diary entries, and while this has never been my favorite method of storytelling, I have to say it made Nate seem more honest. More real. He wasn’t holding anything back, he didn’t try to hide from himself or from other people, because this was just who he was. The good, the bad, the fucking complicated. Like all three of these guys, his voice and his perspective was wholly his own, and it is one of the things I love about this story. These guys stand out from each other, even as they try and deal with some of the same things.

Zane

So yeah, you’re right-—sometimes you need to stand up and shut it down when you see this kind of crap going on. But, besides not wanting those girls to start slinging their shit at me, I felt sort of stuck in the middle, you know? The girls go to all of the parties I go to, and one of them, the leader of the pack, Liz, is dating Jake. How am I supposed to put her in her place when she’s my best pal’s girlfriend?

If there was going to be one guy that would be considered the ‘well adjusted’ one, it would be Zane. But looks can be deceiving. Sure he is popular, and no one is actively trying to beat him down, but there is a lot about Zane’s life that is not so cool. His mother has basically checked out of his life, leaving him to raise himself. He has an awesome brother, but he is away at college, and emails and the occasional phone call aren’t exactly the solution to his lack of a home life. Especially when he finds himself falling for a guy-–two guys–and has no idea how to handle it. Not to mention he has pretty much figured out he is a freaking coward, since he can’t seem to find the balls to protect the guys he is falling for. Popularity is a fleeting thing, especially when you are trying to stand up for what is right.

Oh, Zane. How I want to shake you. And shake your hand. While the other two are dealing with some pretty heavy outside problems, a lot of Zane’s issues come from inside. He knows what is the right thing to do. He knows. But god, it is hard to step outside of his safe little box and do something, anything. His struggle to come out, and to man up, is something that I think we can all identify with. It is so damn easy to sit back and simply let things happen. You may not be a part of the problem, but being a part of the solution is not exactly a walk in the park. And it takes a lot of guts to try. I like how Zane went about it as well.

Like with Nate’s sections, Zane’s is told in a way that is normally not my thing. But the emails he sends to his brother in college are just as good as Casey and Nate’s povs. Not only does it show his connection to his brother, but it gives us a look into just how hard he trying to change, to be a better man. Someone his brother would be proud of. Hell, that Zane would be proud of. And I think it was cool that he was the catalyst for the whole relationship between the three. Who knows how long they would have been circling each other if he hadn’t just manned up and declared his crush on the other two. He is all about the motion of the story, even if that motion is hard fought and slow to begin with.

The relationship that is built here, between these three guys was very well written. It wasn’t an instant lust thing–-hell two of the guys didn’t even really identify as gay till the whole thing started to snowball–-but the way they worked it out, and how they are with each other, was just great. And I think the way this story is told, with the alternating povs, helped us see just where everyone was coming from. And what they really wanted. I like that it was three guys coming together and falling together, and not a couple finding a third-–mostly because those are hella complicated on top of all the normal complications that come with this type of relationship. I am a sucker for a good three-way relationship, and this story just worked right into my sweet spot. There is not a lot of the sex part of their relationship, seeing as this is YA and those generally don’t go all hot and heavy on us, but the romance was sweet enough for me to not feel the loss.

The Queen Bees in this story were a little over the top, I must admit. Granted, I know just how terrifying and awful chicks can get (especially ones that have claimed to be your ‘friends’ in the past), but this was like crazy awful, how they were acting. And I don’t know why the adults in this school even have their jobs anymore ‘cause if you are letting this happen, right under your nose, you suck. I get that teachers are not superhuman, and cannot do all things for all people, but this is in-your-face bullying of the worst kind, and if you are not even trying, I have no sympathy for you. Though, I personally think if you decide to teach in high school you should be carried around on a lounge chair and lauded with praise for it (not to mention given a goddamn decent paycheck)-–teens are evil and crazy and I have no desire to get within 100 ft of them, let alone try and teach and guide them.

Even for a book that had several thing I don’t normally like (YA, letter/diary storytelling, over-the-top villains), the story that is told, and the way it is told, worked really well. I was kinda disappointed when it ended because I want…no, I need to know what happens to these guys. Their story is only just beginning and with all the problems they are going to face-–being gay in high school can suck, but throw in their unconventional three person relationship and you’ve got yourself a heap of issues barreling down on you–-and I would love to see them face it together. So this is me, on my (metaphorical) knees, begging you, Mia Kerick, to please, please, pleeeaaaassssseeeee give us a sequel to this story. If it is not too much trouble. I’d offer to bake you cupcakes or something, but my baking skills kinda suck, and that is not exactly the best way to go about bribing people.

Really, you should read this book. Even if young-adult isn’t your thang. It is a highly entertaining story, with some great characters, and a truly lovely romance between the three of them. And the while the bullying felt sometimes a little over the top, I think it does a lot to show just how traumatizing the verbal/mental aspect of bullying can be on people. And how it isn’t just the dudes who can break you down–girls can be just as vicious. And both, given a chance, can be just as kind.

4.5 stars


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Minton is young naive and jaded. An incident in his past brought on by his "best friends" have left him a vulnerable and he suffers from frequent panic attacks. His family life is fantastic though. His parents know he is gay even though he isn't out at school and they are very understanding, he has a great relationship with his little sisters, but his mother is extremely over protective after the incident in the 9th grade.

Nate De Marco is the poster boy for tall, dark, handsome and brooding. A loner at school and at home, having to live with an abusive uncle because his parents aren't there. He takes the brunt of the abuse to protect his little sister. Again, he knows he's gay but he hasn't told anyone, not even his family. He just takes everything one day at a time, going through the motions.

Zander Zane is the popular guy, he's in thick with the 'in crowd' but he's not cruel or ignorant and passive like the rest of his peers. He's kind of quiet and laid back, hiding under all that hair, until the day he's partnered up for a class project with Casey and Nate. And so the story of the three unfolds told from three very unique and differing points of view. Nate tells his part through his personal diary, Zander's thoughts and emotions show in email communications with his brother, and the reader follows the story in real time with Casey, as he navigates through high school on the shit list of the Queen B's and in the arms of the last two people on earth he never fathomed would be there to comfort him when the bottom falls out.

What starts out as a comittment to work together turns into a genuine friendship as the three learn more about each other everday. Before long shy, longing stares and touches that start out innocent but grow with intensity and heat bring the three together in a dangerous but beautiful threesome. As with everything in their relationship, it's a gradual growth, and Kerick manages to capture each different young mans thoughts and feelings throughout.

Casey is just a genuinely good person with a soft heart and a kind soul. This gets him into some serious trouble that not even his guys can save him from. Some people are just evil to the core, their mission in life is to make everyone else miserable, but this particular Queen B has her sights set on Casey. Nate is the quiet giant. He makes it his mission in life to protect what he loves, and that is Casey and Zan. When he can't protect Casey it almost tears him apart. And Zan, he is the glue that hold these three together. He has the most laid back attitude and everyday life of the three. He makes it his mission to raise awareness at school and get everyone under the Queen B's influence to think for themselves. Individually each of these characters has their own weakness's but together, as a trifecta, they find a love and a strength they never knew they had.

I just fell in love with this story and with these three guys. It took me a couple chapters to get with the flow of writing as being told from three distinctly different POV with emails, diaries and in real time. But once I figured out how the book was going to read, I was completely engrossed in the story. The storyline was engaging and thought provoking and the three ML were so endearing. While there were a couple rough patches with some deep seeding hate, there was a lot of love in between. This is a must read guys, especially if you're looking for a story about finding true love in the oddest of places and not only standing up for yourself, but what is right and the the people you love.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only $1.99 on All Romance Ebooks right now https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...


4.5 stars

I have to admit that the premise of this YA book had me a little weirded out. I mean comm'n! a threesome for underage kids? that just seems creepy! BUT don't be freaked it out. In the end, the relationship develops very naturally into a non-weird-like poly type of friendship/love among these guys and you don't feel like it is wrong. But right for them in their world of "them" vrs "us."

So in short, yes this is a MMM YA book. With none of the usual trappings of a typical MMM Adult romance (and by that I mean a LOT of threesome/acrobatic sex).

I am not even going to complain about the very evil female antagonists and only say that I got tired of the two other guys calling Casey "sweet" and "cute." He is another boy not a kitten!

[Smith Barney]

Stereotypical-cliche-unoriginal-driveling-menage between three high school guys: An effeminate geek, a brooding loner..and a dumb jock in an amateur alternating 1st person POV narration of all (3) MC's viewpoints.

Too rehearsed and too predictable. Perhaps it gets better as it goes on but somehow I can't see it (for me). I really enjoy YA and the more the merrier is my motto regarding menage romances. But I need to believe it to make it happen successfully. If you enjoy reading angst-ridden drama you'll probably enjoy this story. I'm too attention-challenged and low-maintenance.

[Pjm12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the three different narrative voices and formats of telling. But I thought the excessive and cruel bullying wasn't dealt with realistically. No teacher I know would put up with the behaviour of students in class that the french teacher did here.

And then just to be contrary, the way the issue was resolved was also unrealistic. It was too much the other way - too easy & too happy.

I was so glad these boys found each other though. Loved the romantic elements of the story.

[Alona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A very sweet story but not really believable. I can't see a threesome working at that age (16!!) I think a three way relationship is difficult to build as adults, so as teenagers that dealing with finding their sexuality, bullying and hard family situations to just smoothly go into a threesome... With no fear of what their families will say, the bullies at school or even jealousy... Still, I loved Nate, Casey and Zander to enjoy the story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to read about these guys as adults together.

[BWT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know just how easy it is to be bullied and ostracized and on the outs of a crowd you were once (or thought you were once) a part of.

I loved how the relationship between Casey, Zander, and Nate evolved.

What I didn't understand was how Casey could have kept giving chances to Liz and her group of toxic hyenas.

What the fuck? Why? Seriously, why?

The way the story was written (Nate's POV through his journal, Casey's normal kind of POV, and Zander's emails to his brother) was an interesting way to get the message across, but I wished it had been a more straightforward multiple POV. I also wish we'd gotten an epilogue or something with them maybe in college or some years down the road where they were still together and hapoy.

All that said, it was compelling and I hope the boys make it.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not into books about threesomes. I just never quite figured out how they would work, but this book changed my perception so that, for the first time, I could see how it might work for the right three people. Told in first person alternating viewpoints through Casey’s recollection of events, Nate’s journal entries, and Zander's emails to his brother who is away at college, I just loved being inside these character’s heads. Three boys, so very different: Casey is sweet, innocent, flamboyant, brutally bullied, and yet determined to carry on; Nate is the former druggy, tough guy who knows far too much about the curriculum at the school-of-hard-knocks, so focused on getting his sister and himself through school and out of their uncle’s abusive household that he’s never pondered his sexuality; and Zander the in-crowd, flying-beneath-the-radar jock, worried about becoming a new target should his friends learn that he is gay, but finally mustering the courage to go beyond standing up to his bullying friends and taking steps to make a real difference for the future of his high school. This book takes a brutally honest look at the effects of bullying and how devastating it is not only for the victims but the pall it casts over an entire community, powerless to help lest they place themselves in the bully’s sights. Also a beautiful love story that demonstrates though we may be very different, we all basically need the same things: to be loved, to feel safe, and to be accepted for who we are.

Mia Kerick welcome to my OMG shelf. Ms. Kerick does a brilliant job of gathering characters from very different walks of life and injecting them with unique voices that give her characters a rich sense of authenticity. A must-read for everyone, whether you’re into threesomes or not.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, shit. I wasn't ready for that to be over. But here I am, at 100% on my kindle, and no mater how many times I swipe for another page...nada. These boys were very cute, and very bruised, and very much perfect for each other. Ménage isn't my thing, and I always have a favorite (spoiler...it was Nate...sigh), but it really worked here. From the very first time Nate uttered the words, it truly was Us Three versus all the rest of them. I don't know if bullying is this severe on the reg or not, as it's been a looonnngg time since I was in high school, but it was pretty gut wrenching. I woulda wanted to kill those BITCHES too, Nate! 4.5 stars for a few niggles with whiney Casey and the email/diary/real life thing (which I liked but somehow was annoyed with at the same time). Go figure. But on the plus side, the few incidences of sexy times that were there were very enjoyable. 4/28/14

Reread for the sequel. Loved these guys just as much the 2nd time around.

[Tinnean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do I think, GR? Instead of working on edits for a book I hadn't been sure would ever come out, I spent the afternoon reading this. Casey, Zander, and Nate were sweet (and I know Nate would hate hearing that, but hey, it's the truth, and he can suck it up.) They bring out the best in each other.

I have to say I worried about his little sister (I know, I get dragged off on tangents) and just hope Uncle Rich doesn't decide she's looking tasty. I'd love to see a sequel to this where the three guys live happily together, Cindy is safe, (maybe living with Casey's parents? They're good people.) and Liz meets a mean girl who's even worst than she is.

So as you can see, this is five stars IMHO. Go buy it and see for yourself. :-)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was picked for me for a challenge.
I don't usually read YA / NA but this was really good.
The story of 3 boys who come together in high school. Casey is gay and is bullied by the It Girls. His friends Zander and Nate rally around him.
Over the course of the book, the three become closer and turn into a threesome.
The story of their relationship and Casey's being bullied is told from the 3 point of views. Casey through real life. Nate through his diary and Zander through e mails to his older brother.
I was hoping that Liz was prosecuted for what she did to Casey.
A good book certainly worth reading.

[Paula´s Brief Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un YA muy triste pero muy dulce a la vez.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I loved this book!! Let me start off by saying I am not a huge fan of menage so I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but I immediately bonded with Casey. I felt so bad for him and was in tears after reading just the first 10 pages. Bullying is always a trigger for me and makes me tear up. I just can't control myself :-(

Anyway, I loved how Casey, Nate, and Zane came together and all needed each other to feel complete and to balance each other out. I wasn't sure how their "coming together" was going to be handled since this is YA, but I thought their interactions were written very tastefully.

The only reason I gave this 4.5 instead of 5 was because Casey never seemed to learn his lesson! I know he was innocent and just wanted to believe people were ultimately good and could change BUT after the 10th time of being treated like shit by the same girls, why would you even THINK about going shopping with them?!?! He should have known better. Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you, fool me a zillion times WTF? lol

Also, very interesting twist about the bullies being girls. I found that a little unbelievable - not that girls can't be mean and verbally abusive, of course they can, but that a girl has the strength to overpower a boy. I guess when they were in a group like the first incident I could see it happening, but that last incident where Casey was kicked repeatedly by one girl - I'm thinking she had to be a pretty big (muscular) girl?

Anyway, bottom line, no one should have to live like that. Being teased, bullied, physically abused and just plain scared to go to school on a daily basis must be a horrible thing to endure and I am so glad Casey found Nate and Zane to stick up and care for him. I can't wait to read book 2 and am going to try and start it tonight.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this all I could think was "how can you pull off a menage relationship with 18 year olds?" Well, for the most part, I think the author pulled it off! I really enjoyed the 3 ways the story was told, through e-mails, a diary, and then real life. I just LOVED Nate..I clearly have a soft spot for the tough bad ass with a heart of gold, so he really stood out for me.

I guess my main issue was that I felt like the bullying was just over and over again to the point where it just wasn't believable to me anymore. Unfortunately, I'm sure these things happen to kids in schools, but I don't know what teacher wouldn't stop what was going on between those girls and Casey before it escalated that much. However, overall there was a great message to this story about bullying and standing up for people, and I really did enjoy reading this story.

I would love to read about these three 10 years later, after college or something, too!