What do you think?
Rate this book
Only Half A Boy
THERE’S SOMETHING IN FOREST…
Davian Matthews tries to be the perfect son. He goes to church on Sunday and even endures hunting trips with his dad and his uncle. But no matter what he does, it's never enough, and that becomes even more clear when he finds the body of Magdalene Foster in her own home and his whole life starts to unravel.
Taylor Foster grew up in the same small town as Davian and did everything he could to get out. Now he’s being dragged back by the gruesome death of his aunt and the lack of answers anyone has for him. Davian, his old classmate, is the only chance he has at finding out the truth.
But there are strange things in the forest, and stranger things are happening to the town.
Davian Matthews tries to be the perfect son. He goes to church on Sunday and even endures hunting trips with his dad and his uncle. But no matter what he does, it's never enough, and that becomes even more clear when he finds the body of Magdalene Foster in her own home and his whole life starts to unravel.
Taylor Foster grew up in the same small town as Davian and did everything he could to get out. Now he’s being dragged back by the gruesome death of his aunt and the lack of answers anyone has for him. Davian, his old classmate, is the only chance he has at finding out the truth.
But there are strange things in the forest, and stranger things are happening to the town.
308 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2024
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 23, 2024
Ess knocked it out of the park again with Only Half A Boy! The characters were lovable and relatable as always! I really appreciated the trigger warnings on this book. It hit way too close to home. As a person who lived on my own in a bigger city, free to be myself and being comfortable to express my gender, to moving to my small hometown surrounded by religious family who do not agree with who I am. So as much as I LOVED this book, it was a bit difficult to read at times so please check the trigger warnings!
I loved the whole mystery and supernatural bits of the story as well. Through the whole book I kept wanting to know more about Taylor’s Aunt Maggie! I think Ess did a wonderful job combining four separate plots: what happened to Aunt Maggie? Where did the supernatural creatures come from? The mystery of the lake. And Davi and Taylor’s romance all into one cohesive story that flowed and intertwined with each other flawlessly! This was one book where even though it ended i wasn’t done reading about them! I can’t praise this book enough.
I loved the whole mystery and supernatural bits of the story as well. Through the whole book I kept wanting to know more about Taylor’s Aunt Maggie! I think Ess did a wonderful job combining four separate plots: what happened to Aunt Maggie? Where did the supernatural creatures come from? The mystery of the lake. And Davi and Taylor’s romance all into one cohesive story that flowed and intertwined with each other flawlessly! This was one book where even though it ended i wasn’t done reading about them! I can’t praise this book enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2024
Ess really knocked it out of the park with this one! It’s all at once a fantasy, romance, and suspense novel, with themes of LGBTQ+ representation and the importance of belonging mixed in.
Davi and Taylor, the main characters, start working together to discover what happened to Taylor’s late Aunt Maggie who had recently been killed. What starts as a begrudging working relationship blossoms into a friendship and romantic relationship that is so beautifully written that I found myself tearing up reading about it. Taylor may be the first person who’s ever truly SEEN Davi as who he is rather than who others want him to be. Davi goes through his own journey of self-discovery and acceptance, with Taylor there to support him every step of the way. Taylor also has the BEST friend group, one that is uber-supportive, accepting, and accommodating without having to be asked. The characters in this book are so lovable; some of the best Ess has written in my opinion. This book also showcased what friendships and support are supposed to be like without actually saying anything about them.
Is Aunt Maggie’s untimely demise solved? Yes. Are the fantasy aspects a big part of this book? For sure. But the more I think about it, it’s the relationships and their dynamics that stuck with me. I enjoyed the fantasy and suspense aspects, but there is SO much more depth to this novel. Stellar messaging, stellar characters, phenomenal read!
Davi and Taylor, the main characters, start working together to discover what happened to Taylor’s late Aunt Maggie who had recently been killed. What starts as a begrudging working relationship blossoms into a friendship and romantic relationship that is so beautifully written that I found myself tearing up reading about it. Taylor may be the first person who’s ever truly SEEN Davi as who he is rather than who others want him to be. Davi goes through his own journey of self-discovery and acceptance, with Taylor there to support him every step of the way. Taylor also has the BEST friend group, one that is uber-supportive, accepting, and accommodating without having to be asked. The characters in this book are so lovable; some of the best Ess has written in my opinion. This book also showcased what friendships and support are supposed to be like without actually saying anything about them.
Is Aunt Maggie’s untimely demise solved? Yes. Are the fantasy aspects a big part of this book? For sure. But the more I think about it, it’s the relationships and their dynamics that stuck with me. I enjoyed the fantasy and suspense aspects, but there is SO much more depth to this novel. Stellar messaging, stellar characters, phenomenal read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2024
Thank you to Ess for the ARC of their book. Wow there was a lot to unpack in this novel. I love the representation in the book and it was great to have trigger warnings before reading. While I don't live in Oklahoma, I relate strongly to the characters in this small conservative town. The elements of paranormal just elevated this story to another level.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews