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The Forgotten Son
“Don’t he look like a sweet little bunny?”
The kind-hearted delivery nurse had no way of knowing that her well-intentioned words would doom Bunny Boy Potts to a lifetime of ridicule. Well, that and the unfortunate way his ears stuck out like two ping-pong paddles.
Living with his unhinged single mother, his entire life is spent apologizing for existing while scraping by for enough to survive. Food and love—neither is freely available in the Potts’ home, but the sharp sting of the strap is always on standby.
When Bunny meets Raquel, he thinks she could take him from scarecrow misfit to normal teen. Growing in the sunshine of her approval, Bunny even gets a job from his rancher neighbor, TC. For the first time in his life, Bunny can buy clothes that fit. He can eat enough to stave off the hunger that used to sing him to sleep every night. Along with a paycheck, he earns a nickname and the grudging respect of those around him as he begins to rise above the hand he’s been dealt.
But Bunny Boy Potts wasn’t meant to have a life like everyone else.
Debut author BJ Sloan serves us hope and despair in this gripping coming-of-age tale set in 1970s rural Texas.
The kind-hearted delivery nurse had no way of knowing that her well-intentioned words would doom Bunny Boy Potts to a lifetime of ridicule. Well, that and the unfortunate way his ears stuck out like two ping-pong paddles.
Living with his unhinged single mother, his entire life is spent apologizing for existing while scraping by for enough to survive. Food and love—neither is freely available in the Potts’ home, but the sharp sting of the strap is always on standby.
When Bunny meets Raquel, he thinks she could take him from scarecrow misfit to normal teen. Growing in the sunshine of her approval, Bunny even gets a job from his rancher neighbor, TC. For the first time in his life, Bunny can buy clothes that fit. He can eat enough to stave off the hunger that used to sing him to sleep every night. Along with a paycheck, he earns a nickname and the grudging respect of those around him as he begins to rise above the hand he’s been dealt.
But Bunny Boy Potts wasn’t meant to have a life like everyone else.
Debut author BJ Sloan serves us hope and despair in this gripping coming-of-age tale set in 1970s rural Texas.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2024
5 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 1, 2024
The tight and evocative narrative of the opening chapters of The Forgotten Son had me hooked and I couldn’t wait to see how Bunny Boy Pott’s life would pan out. Raised by single mum Nan, The Crazy Cat Woman with father unknown, he is starved of love and food, neglected and beaten yet hungers for a better life. The characters are well drawn – TC Conway, the strutting and cocksure, ride ‘em Cowboy; Bridget, his long-suffering, plain and put-upon wife; Jodie, their sassy yet insecure daughter and Bunny, The Ronald McDonald scarecrow, a complex conundrum, coloured by his past, warmed by kindness and burning for love. Sun-drenched hillscapes, high school hierarchy and rural Texan ranching dance off the page but be warned - there are some extremely graphic passages that are very difficult to read and stomach. A hard-hitting and no-holds-barred, coming-of-age story that moves, shocks and sickens in equal measure.
October 3, 2024
The Forgotten Son by BJ Sloan
Raised by a single mother, Bunny Boy Potts at sixteen wants to be accepted by other teens at school, but most of all, he wants to be Rachel’s boyfriend. When his neighbor, TC Conway gives him a job, Bunny can afford a truck and clothes that fit, but he has to deal with mean man Watson while his neighbor’s wife hires a PI to investigate TC. Can Bunny win respect and friendship in spite of all the undercover shenanigans in his small town?
Raised by a single mother, Bunny Boy Potts at sixteen wants to be accepted by other teens at school, but most of all, he wants to be Rachel’s boyfriend. When his neighbor, TC Conway gives him a job, Bunny can afford a truck and clothes that fit, but he has to deal with mean man Watson while his neighbor’s wife hires a PI to investigate TC. Can Bunny win respect and friendship in spite of all the undercover shenanigans in his small town?
November 5, 2024
Not long after I started reading this, I had to check the cover to make sure it wasn’t a Larry McMurtry book. It has the feel, especially in time and place, of one of his Thalia novels (The Last Picture Show, Duane’s Depressed, etc.). And yet, The Forgotten Son distinguishes itself from those McMurtry novels. I can’t wait to read more from BJ Sloan.
September 27, 2024
Sloan’s rural/small-town setting and the gritty characters who live there come alive on the page. As the story builds inexorably toward a stunning climax, you won’t be able to catch your breath until you finally know how things will turn out for Bunny Boy. "The Forgotten Son" captures the underbelly of life with a realism that few authors achieve.
December 25, 2024
Could not put this one down. An exciting coming of age story of Bunny Boy Potts searching for his father in a rural Texas setting in the 1970s.
March 29, 2025
One of my favorite things when reading books is to really be able to feel the unique perspective of the author come through in a super vibrant and memorable way, and BJ Sloan's The Forgotten Son did a wonderful job capturing the authentic heart of rural Texas, all the way from the attitudes of the people to the unforgiving, yet beautiful landscape. It was engaging all the way through, and I found myself staying up late to read *just one more chapter* more than once, lol!
Onto the details:
When I read multi-POV books, especially ones with a solid handful of perspectives (in this case, three primary perspectives), I do often find myself tending to enjoy some more than others. In this book, I bounced back and forth between my investment in the three POV characters a good bit throughout the book. Bunny's POV is heartbreaking all throughout, and his grief comes off the page. But as we weave in the other POV characters—T.C., an unfaithful, POS husband, and Bridget, his scorned wife—we take a look at the broader picture of the world. Bridget's chapters were particularly powerful to me. You see her dealing with her husband's cheating in what feels like a very realistic way for someone who depends on him for a lot, and does truly care about him, and I really liked her development as she was driven to action through the deeper discovery of the extent of T.C.'s antics. T.C.'s POV chapters, on the other hand, portray him as an interesting character, but also a complete piece of shit. I like getting his insight on his feelings towards Bunny as their stories weave together, and there are some funny moments where all his antics come crashing down, like However, I feel like there were moments where T.C. and Bridget's cheating/discovery plotline overshadowed Bunny's, and in the later half of the book, I felt that Bunny's growth stagnated in comparison to Bridget's, who we're clearly much more empathetic towards than T.C. in their plotline.
A little more on Bunny - some of this will go into spoiler territory, but I'll mark as necessary.
I feel that I had a hard time getting a read on his character as we go through the end moments of the book. I really liked his interactions with Jodie—she was awesome, and probably my favorite side character—but as the book is titled after Bunny, I was honestly hoping for more time on the page with him to understand his mind a little bit better. He goes through so much—, there's a lot to empathize with. However, it almost seemed like we had too many factors opposing him in his plot line, and aside from his pursuit of Raquel, it seemed that he had very little that he was striving to accomplish, bigger picture, and I don't feel that he had much in terms of emotional growth throughout the story. What we get is interesting—a picture of a boy who continues to spiral further and further down, punctuated by intense moments of poor-decision making in tough circumstances—but while his actions become more extreme, it doesn't seem as if he's ever really forced to reckon with the consequences of his violent tendencies, as most of his actions are brushed off. Ironically, This gave me a bit of whiplash as to whether or not I should be rooting for him/emotionally invested in him, and is partly what made Bridget the most compelling character to root for in the novel, as her emotional trajectory was more clear-cut to follow. Bunny had a lot of bits and pieces of conflict that all had lots of potential on their own to really come through, but I don't feel that any of them had a particularly satisfying conclusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading The Forgotten Son, and I'll definitely be reading whatever Sloan puts out next.
Thank you so much to BJ for a copy of her book to read!!
Onto the details:
When I read multi-POV books, especially ones with a solid handful of perspectives (in this case, three primary perspectives), I do often find myself tending to enjoy some more than others. In this book, I bounced back and forth between my investment in the three POV characters a good bit throughout the book. Bunny's POV is heartbreaking all throughout, and his grief comes off the page. But as we weave in the other POV characters—T.C., an unfaithful, POS husband, and Bridget, his scorned wife—we take a look at the broader picture of the world. Bridget's chapters were particularly powerful to me. You see her dealing with her husband's cheating in what feels like a very realistic way for someone who depends on him for a lot, and does truly care about him, and I really liked her development as she was driven to action through the deeper discovery of the extent of T.C.'s antics. T.C.'s POV chapters, on the other hand, portray him as an interesting character, but also a complete piece of shit. I like getting his insight on his feelings towards Bunny as their stories weave together, and there are some funny moments where all his antics come crashing down, like However, I feel like there were moments where T.C. and Bridget's cheating/discovery plotline overshadowed Bunny's, and in the later half of the book, I felt that Bunny's growth stagnated in comparison to Bridget's, who we're clearly much more empathetic towards than T.C. in their plotline.
A little more on Bunny - some of this will go into spoiler territory, but I'll mark as necessary.
I feel that I had a hard time getting a read on his character as we go through the end moments of the book. I really liked his interactions with Jodie—she was awesome, and probably my favorite side character—but as the book is titled after Bunny, I was honestly hoping for more time on the page with him to understand his mind a little bit better. He goes through so much—, there's a lot to empathize with. However, it almost seemed like we had too many factors opposing him in his plot line, and aside from his pursuit of Raquel, it seemed that he had very little that he was striving to accomplish, bigger picture, and I don't feel that he had much in terms of emotional growth throughout the story. What we get is interesting—a picture of a boy who continues to spiral further and further down, punctuated by intense moments of poor-decision making in tough circumstances—but while his actions become more extreme, it doesn't seem as if he's ever really forced to reckon with the consequences of his violent tendencies, as most of his actions are brushed off. Ironically, This gave me a bit of whiplash as to whether or not I should be rooting for him/emotionally invested in him, and is partly what made Bridget the most compelling character to root for in the novel, as her emotional trajectory was more clear-cut to follow. Bunny had a lot of bits and pieces of conflict that all had lots of potential on their own to really come through, but I don't feel that any of them had a particularly satisfying conclusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading The Forgotten Son, and I'll definitely be reading whatever Sloan puts out next.
Thank you so much to BJ for a copy of her book to read!!
August 5, 2025
I mean this in a good way: this is probably the most frustrating book I've ever read.
First, let me cover what I liked about this book. The prose and voice of Sloan's writing does a very good job of selling that the book takes place in rural Texas almost before it even comes up. The narrator talks exactly like someone from rural Texas, and so it keeps the reader very grounded in that setting.
The character dialogue also was good. Snappy, but at the same time, never shorter than it needed to be. The decisions of each and every character make sense throughout the story, so you never lose the suspension of disbelief due to continuity errors.
Without going into spoilers, the broad overview is that we follow Bunny's evolution as he goes from being a skinny abused outcast with an unhealthy crush to a more confident independent outcast with an unhealthy crush.
And of course TC. He starts out as this cool-headed desperately needed father figure for Bunny, only to end up having some very dark secrets of his own that involve, canonically, "half the county." TC was the most fascinating and yet most frustrating character by far. Every side character even remotely tied to him gave me a headache. If you've read the book, you know why. Sloan's writing did an amazing job at making me root for TC in some parts of the book and want him to kick the bucket in others. By the second half of the book, I will admit that a huge draw for me to continue reading was "oh boy, I wonder how TC will make the situation worse than it already is."
Raquel just seemed kind of all over the place. She had a couple of pretty huge almost story-changing moments in the second half of the book that just... kind of never got resolved? Her character journey just kind of confused me and I wish she'd gotten a bit more of an explanation into her mentality towards things. Honestly Raquel's unresolved character journey is the biggest reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5.
Bridget I just felt bad for. Jodie was my favorite character by far. Her "I'm not about that life, but I don't take BS from anyone either" personality was a breath of fresh air from literally every other character in the book. Shoutout to Momma J as well. She was cool.
My personal solution, by the end of this book, would be to take Bridget, Jodie, and Bunny out of town. And then nuke the entire town. I suspect his would solve more problems than it would create.
Overall 4/5 stars. Can't wait for the next project from BJ.
First, let me cover what I liked about this book. The prose and voice of Sloan's writing does a very good job of selling that the book takes place in rural Texas almost before it even comes up. The narrator talks exactly like someone from rural Texas, and so it keeps the reader very grounded in that setting.
The character dialogue also was good. Snappy, but at the same time, never shorter than it needed to be. The decisions of each and every character make sense throughout the story, so you never lose the suspension of disbelief due to continuity errors.
Without going into spoilers, the broad overview is that we follow Bunny's evolution as he goes from being a skinny abused outcast with an unhealthy crush to a more confident independent outcast with an unhealthy crush.
And of course TC. He starts out as this cool-headed desperately needed father figure for Bunny, only to end up having some very dark secrets of his own that involve, canonically, "half the county." TC was the most fascinating and yet most frustrating character by far. Every side character even remotely tied to him gave me a headache. If you've read the book, you know why. Sloan's writing did an amazing job at making me root for TC in some parts of the book and want him to kick the bucket in others. By the second half of the book, I will admit that a huge draw for me to continue reading was "oh boy, I wonder how TC will make the situation worse than it already is."
Raquel just seemed kind of all over the place. She had a couple of pretty huge almost story-changing moments in the second half of the book that just... kind of never got resolved? Her character journey just kind of confused me and I wish she'd gotten a bit more of an explanation into her mentality towards things. Honestly Raquel's unresolved character journey is the biggest reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5.
Bridget I just felt bad for. Jodie was my favorite character by far. Her "I'm not about that life, but I don't take BS from anyone either" personality was a breath of fresh air from literally every other character in the book. Shoutout to Momma J as well. She was cool.
My personal solution, by the end of this book, would be to take Bridget, Jodie, and Bunny out of town. And then nuke the entire town. I suspect his would solve more problems than it would create.
Overall 4/5 stars. Can't wait for the next project from BJ.
December 4, 2024
BJ Sloan's "The Forgotten Son" is powerful coming-of-age story that delves into the depths of human suffering and the extraordinary capacity for resilience. Set in the heart of rural Texas, the novel follows Bunny Potts, a young man burdened by poverty, neglect, and the weight of societal expectations.
Sloan's masterful storytelling brings Bunny's world to life with vivid detail and raw emotion. The author's ability to capture the nuances of small-town life, the harsh realities of poverty, and the power of human connection is truly impressive. As I read, I couldn't help but feel a deep empathy for Bunny and the other characters who populate his world. Their struggles, their hopes, and their dreams resonated with me profoundly.
One character who particularly tugged at my heartstrings was Bridget. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact of abuse and neglect. I couldn't help but feel a deep sadness for her, knowing the pain she endured.
This book is more than just a coming-of-age story; it's a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. Bunny's journey is one of self-discovery and growth, as he navigates the challenges of his past and strives for a better future.
Sloan's masterful storytelling brings Bunny's world to life with vivid detail and raw emotion. The author's ability to capture the nuances of small-town life, the harsh realities of poverty, and the power of human connection is truly impressive. As I read, I couldn't help but feel a deep empathy for Bunny and the other characters who populate his world. Their struggles, their hopes, and their dreams resonated with me profoundly.
One character who particularly tugged at my heartstrings was Bridget. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact of abuse and neglect. I couldn't help but feel a deep sadness for her, knowing the pain she endured.
This book is more than just a coming-of-age story; it's a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. Bunny's journey is one of self-discovery and growth, as he navigates the challenges of his past and strives for a better future.
February 28, 2025
The Forgotten Son depicts a unique American setting 50 years in the past that offers readers the chance to immerse themselves in an otherworldly experience. This tragic coming of age story keeps you rooting for Bunny Boy Potts, an unlucky teen deprived of a loving upbringing. Surviving the lifelong abuse of his single mother was hard enough before becoming her caregiver during a difficult decline. His newfound independence is met with the additional challenges of relentless high school bullying. His neighbor TC Conway tries to mentor the boy but reveals himself as a flawed excuse for a father figure. BJ Sloan creates a heartbreaking world in which every time it seems Bunny may have a shot at a better life, new disasters crush his dreams. Along the way you will admire Bunny’s determination to stand up for himself, no matter how reckless his choices. The book moves at an impressive pace with an intricately organized narrative. This is an impressive debut novel that will make you eager to read Sloan’s next work
November 21, 2024
This book's plot was easy to read and follow. The timeline was linear with a few references or flashbacks (brief) to earlier days which also made it easy to understand. The main character, Bunny, showed some growing maturity and more complexity as the book progressed, which is good. Other characters in the story, such as the school bullies, and many of the female characters were stereotyped into specific superficial roles. Even with some of those types of characters, the plot kept the reader's attention. The book contains some violence against women, animal abuse, child abuse, and murder---I'm not sure all needed to be included. Although the main male character was a help to Bunny, he had few redeeming qualities in his attitudes towards women. I don't really believe though that what happened to him was justifiable, and made for a unsatisfying ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2024
I am not really sure how I feel about this book. It was odd and kind of all over the place. TC was definitely a jerk, but I don't know that I would go so far as to say he deserved to die, especially as horrible as it was. Bunny was another quirky character. He was loving and gentle, but also cold and heartless (with the cats). I feel like Raquel was a tease and didn't really know what she wanted. I definitely felt bad for Bridget; she was just trying to be a good wife, but she had a terrible husband. And Jodie was just confusing. I don't feel like I ever got a good feel for her. The plot felt lacking, just kinda wandered for a while and then ended.
Thank you to LibraryThing and the author for giving me a chance to read it.
Thank you to LibraryThing and the author for giving me a chance to read it.
May 27, 2025
The Forgotten Son is hard to describe in such a good way. BJ Sloan's story of an unloved, unwanted teen boy trying to navigate life in rural Texas is definitely not predictable and absolutely kept me hooked. The tenderhearted part of me wanted Sloan's unflinching style to flinch sometimes (the cats!) But at the same time, I respect writing that gets under my skin, and it wouldn't be the same book without the hard edges. BJ Sloan does a great job of writing complex, unique characters, and The Forgotten Son really showcases her ability to weave a story; knowing which plot threads to solidly resolve and which threads to leave unsettlingly ambiguous.
June 4, 2025
The Forgotten Son by BJ Sloan is a wonderfully easy read, yet rich with depth and heart. Sloan has truly captured the authentic voice of small-town Texas — from its rhythms to its quiet complexities. The characters are well-crafted and feel genuine, each with their own struggles, hopes, and flaws that draw the reader in. The chapters move along effortlessly, making it hard to put the book down once you’ve started. You can’t help but find yourself rooting for poor ol’ Bunny Boy, hoping he’ll find some peace and redemption along the way. A great book that stays with you long after the last page.
August 26, 2025
Wow, what a great book! This one sticks with you long after you finished reading it. The main character, Bunny Potts is a 16 year old boy who is "The Forgotten Son". Raised by an abusive mother and not knowing who his father is, Bunny can't help his quesionable social skills. He is taken under the wing of TC, a local rancher, and his wife Brigette, who try to teach him some necessary social skills. And it's hard to teach someone who has always seen things as black and white, that things may not be as they appear, which leads to devestating results. Topics are romance, lust, adultery, love, trust, and, unfortunately, revenge.
December 4, 2024
The Forgotten Son was really a heartbreaking story. Bunny was raised by his mom, who seemingly blamed him for his very existence, in a household with no love and when he finally meets Raquel who is willing to be his friend, he doesn't fully know how to process it and pushes too far.
I really wanted to love Bunny and I started too but then when his relationship with Raquel doesn't go his way his character becomes less likeable. Either way I was fully engrossed in the story and was rooting for him all the way.
I really wanted to love Bunny and I started too but then when his relationship with Raquel doesn't go his way his character becomes less likeable. Either way I was fully engrossed in the story and was rooting for him all the way.
January 8, 2025
The Forgotten Son is a well-written, gritty tale of despair, lust, violence, and the search for family. Sloan will pull you in and keep you there but be ready to hang on—it’s a wild and bumpy ride! Sloan’s debut novel is engrossing and vivid. She will have you laughing out loud on one page and gasping in horror on the next. It’s a fun read. Just be sure your kitten isn’t looking over your shoulder.
September 1, 2025
This is such a great read. I really enjoyed how the author sets characters who are struggling at the bottom of the social ladder against those with great privilege. The voice is really compelling, and the small-town Texas setting makes me want to put on some cowboy boots and head out to grab a cold one. The emotional wounds of the characters gave this story a real depth. I will definitely read more from this author.
March 11, 2025
BJ Sloan takes us on a romp through the dark side of humanity. This book has all the feels— love, hate, hope, despair, and revenge. You’ll want to be aware of where you’re reading because you’re sure to give a “tsk tsk” now and then and will likely be murmuring, “Oh no he/she didn’t,” often. Fun read! Kept me guessing until the last page!
October 16, 2024
True Texas tale. The innocent, the betrayed and the philandering womanizer make for strong vulnerable characters in this contrast of the haves and have-nots. Weaving their stories together Sloan does a good job of asking questions that may never be answered.
November 11, 2024
I was given a free copy of "The Forgotten Son", by BJ Sloan via LibraryThing. This book does not follow the "I think I know where this is going" outline. You really don't know what to expect, which is quite refreshing. Well written and interesting. Well worth the time to read.
August 14, 2025
This was an excellent story that kept me hooked from start to finish. Each chapter takes you through such dramatic events with the characters and I was very satisfied with the shocking but fitting conclusion. I would definitely read and recommend other books from this author.
October 22, 2025
I'm a slow reader but I burned through this in two sittings. The characters were fully realized and I felt like I was there with them, going through the same disasters and heartbreak. Just well-written and the right mix of heavy and light moments with a satisfying conclusion. Go pick it up.
November 26, 2025
I was hooked by The Forgotten Son from the very beginning and found it hard to put down. BJ Sloan provides compelling characters and a realistic description of rural Texas 50 years ago. I felt for Bunny Boy Potts as he navigated a challenging life.
March 10, 2025
Couldn’t put it down! What a great story! The Texas scenery really hit home for me and the heartbreak of poor Bunny and all his trials and hardships. Really enjoyed it and would highly recommend.
June 18, 2025
Stark and beautiful
Sloan has a unique, almost poetic voice. Her richly drawn characters and authentic portrait of rural Texas life will draw you in and leave you in tears.
Sloan has a unique, almost poetic voice. Her richly drawn characters and authentic portrait of rural Texas life will draw you in and leave you in tears.
May 15, 2025
Sloan's debut is wonderfully heartbreaking and triumphant. Certainly this is the beginning of a lot of great books from a gifted new author.
October 27, 2025
Man.... OK, that was a wild romp. I do not want the life of any of these characters, but I sure as hell loved reading about them. Had me engaged all the way through. Poignant and funny and tragic but hopeful. Bunny, you will not be forgotten! Very much looking forward to more books from BJ.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews