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Scraps
Scraps: In rural 2003 Montana, two closeted teen boys navigate skateboarding, harsh small-town judgment, and a summer of unexpected young love.
When Gus Shepard’s quiet artistic life is upended by his mother’s death in 2003, he’s sent to the rural town of Livingston, Montana, to live with his estranged woodworking father. For Gus, it’s a place filled only with grief, painful childhood memories, and too much sawdust—until he meets Bridger Owens, a local skateboarder with a rebellious streak.
Drawn together by a deal—Gus will build Bridger a handcrafted board in exchange for skateboarding lessons—the two form an unexpected bond, inspiring each other to reach for bigger goals and make the most of their short summer. What starts as friendship soon blossoms into a tender romance they must keep hidden in a town where everyone already knows each other’s secrets.
In a town this small, escaping feels impossible.
Being… gay? Unthinkable.
Immediately suspicious, Bridger’s jealous skate crew leader, Max Stevens, resents Gus and his growing closeness to his best friend. And the coolest skater girl in Livingston, Tara Shae, senses that Gus, like her, doesn’t quite fit the town’s mold. As whispers turn into confrontations and family pressures mount, Gus and Bridger’s fragile relationship is tested at every turn.
Through late-night swims, daring skate sessions, and moments of breathtaking vulnerability, Scraps paints an unforgettable picture of discovering young queer love in the early 2000s. Will Gus and Bridger risk everything to hold onto what they’ve found, or will the weight of their separate worlds pull them apart?
When Gus Shepard’s quiet artistic life is upended by his mother’s death in 2003, he’s sent to the rural town of Livingston, Montana, to live with his estranged woodworking father. For Gus, it’s a place filled only with grief, painful childhood memories, and too much sawdust—until he meets Bridger Owens, a local skateboarder with a rebellious streak.
Drawn together by a deal—Gus will build Bridger a handcrafted board in exchange for skateboarding lessons—the two form an unexpected bond, inspiring each other to reach for bigger goals and make the most of their short summer. What starts as friendship soon blossoms into a tender romance they must keep hidden in a town where everyone already knows each other’s secrets.
In a town this small, escaping feels impossible.
Being… gay? Unthinkable.
Immediately suspicious, Bridger’s jealous skate crew leader, Max Stevens, resents Gus and his growing closeness to his best friend. And the coolest skater girl in Livingston, Tara Shae, senses that Gus, like her, doesn’t quite fit the town’s mold. As whispers turn into confrontations and family pressures mount, Gus and Bridger’s fragile relationship is tested at every turn.
Through late-night swims, daring skate sessions, and moments of breathtaking vulnerability, Scraps paints an unforgettable picture of discovering young queer love in the early 2000s. Will Gus and Bridger risk everything to hold onto what they’ve found, or will the weight of their separate worlds pull them apart?
216 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2025
12 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
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April 11, 2025
Bro this is the easiest 5 stars ever
Every so often, a book finds you at just the right moment and this was that book for me. From the very first page, I knew I was in for something special. The tone, the atmosphere, the vibes— they all whispered, “This one’s going to leave a mark.” And it did.
Francis captures teenage angst with a rawness and nuance that’s rare to find.
𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩? 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰... 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘺... 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵.
The struggle with identity, the desire to fit in, the quiet storm of being different— it was all so real, raw. Bridger and Gus weren’t just characters; they felt like living, breathing teenagers with fears, desires, and vulnerabilities that echoed truths I’ve known or seen.
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴," 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥, "𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹." 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯-
𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱.
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘴," 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯-
𝘶𝘦𝘥. "𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺."
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘎𝘶𝘴'𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳, 𝘎𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.
𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵... 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦," 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥.
"𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵."
Their relationship, slow-burning and tender, unraveled in a way that made every glance, every conversation mean something.
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸... 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶," 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.
𝘎𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱. 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥. "𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩," 𝘎𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦. "𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴... 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭."
But what really stunned me was the depth across the board— not just the leads, but the supporting cast too. Max, Tara, even Gus’s dad… each one was thoughtfully written, layered, and purposeful. Francis didn’t just give us a story; he gave us a world filled with characters who felt authentic, flawed, and whole.
There were moments in this book that moved me to tears, moments that made me smile, blush, ache, and think. The coming out scene especially hit home. It wasn’t dramatic for the sake of drama. It was intimate and full of heart. Gus’s father’s response wasn’t about gender; it was about embracing love in its fullness, in its wholeness, while you still can before a life of regret settles in.
This is more than a coming-of-age story. It’s a quiet, powerful exploration of love, friendship, identity, and the aching beauty of adolescence. Tbh I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
Every so often, a book finds you at just the right moment and this was that book for me. From the very first page, I knew I was in for something special. The tone, the atmosphere, the vibes— they all whispered, “This one’s going to leave a mark.” And it did.
Francis captures teenage angst with a rawness and nuance that’s rare to find.
𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩? 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰... 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘺... 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵.
The struggle with identity, the desire to fit in, the quiet storm of being different— it was all so real, raw. Bridger and Gus weren’t just characters; they felt like living, breathing teenagers with fears, desires, and vulnerabilities that echoed truths I’ve known or seen.
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴," 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥, "𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘹." 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯-
𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱.
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘴," 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯-
𝘶𝘦𝘥. "𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺."
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘎𝘶𝘴'𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳, 𝘎𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.
𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵... 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦," 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥.
"𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵."
Their relationship, slow-burning and tender, unraveled in a way that made every glance, every conversation mean something.
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸... 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶," 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.
𝘎𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱. 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥. "𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘩," 𝘎𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦. "𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴... 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭."
But what really stunned me was the depth across the board— not just the leads, but the supporting cast too. Max, Tara, even Gus’s dad… each one was thoughtfully written, layered, and purposeful. Francis didn’t just give us a story; he gave us a world filled with characters who felt authentic, flawed, and whole.
There were moments in this book that moved me to tears, moments that made me smile, blush, ache, and think. The coming out scene especially hit home. It wasn’t dramatic for the sake of drama. It was intimate and full of heart. Gus’s father’s response wasn’t about gender; it was about embracing love in its fullness, in its wholeness, while you still can before a life of regret settles in.
This is more than a coming-of-age story. It’s a quiet, powerful exploration of love, friendship, identity, and the aching beauty of adolescence. Tbh I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
June 22, 2025
I've seen a lot of good reviews for this book and while skeptical I thought I should give it a go. Unfortunately, the style just wasn't for me.
It's one of those books that you can see clearly in your mind, but the writing bothered me for some reason. Again, I have heard good things so maybe I'm the problem. Give it a go if you think it's something you'd enjoy. It's also available on Netgalley, even though it is out already.
Thank you Netgalley and the author for the copy.
It's one of those books that you can see clearly in your mind, but the writing bothered me for some reason. Again, I have heard good things so maybe I'm the problem. Give it a go if you think it's something you'd enjoy. It's also available on Netgalley, even though it is out already.
Thank you Netgalley and the author for the copy.
August 11, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!
What a beautiful story!!!!!!!🥹
This book has everything you could want in a sweet summer romance. The boys were adorable, the character development was heartfelt, and the ending was just perfect. Reading it felt like being wrapped in a warm summer bubble... where we got to watch Gus and Bridger’s relationship blossom.
The idea of having drawings on every page was a nice touch. It added to the vibe and actually made me feel closer to Gus. I smiled everytime I looked at the drawings.
I’ll admit, I know nothing about skating, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to fully appreciate that part of the story, but the way it was written made it super easy to follow. I loved how enthusiastic the boys were about it, it felt like we were discovering their world alongside Gus.
Max's parts were tough to read, but were definitely needed and played an important role. The experiences people have within the community can vary a lot, and the book does a good job at representing many of them through the characters. There were so many great lessons in the story and I truly felt like each character, Gus, Bridger, Tara, Max, Dan, all of them taught us something.
Overall I loved it. Even the ending. Although I wanted to read more and wanted their story to continue, the ending felt absolutely perfect and left me hopeful and excited for what’s to come.
___________
This book made me think of the movie Shelter (2007🏄♂️). If you are familiar with it you'll love this. It has that kind of vibe🥹💖
What a beautiful story!!!!!!!🥹
This book has everything you could want in a sweet summer romance. The boys were adorable, the character development was heartfelt, and the ending was just perfect. Reading it felt like being wrapped in a warm summer bubble... where we got to watch Gus and Bridger’s relationship blossom.
The idea of having drawings on every page was a nice touch. It added to the vibe and actually made me feel closer to Gus. I smiled everytime I looked at the drawings.
I’ll admit, I know nothing about skating, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to fully appreciate that part of the story, but the way it was written made it super easy to follow. I loved how enthusiastic the boys were about it, it felt like we were discovering their world alongside Gus.
Max's parts were tough to read, but were definitely needed and played an important role. The experiences people have within the community can vary a lot, and the book does a good job at representing many of them through the characters. There were so many great lessons in the story and I truly felt like each character, Gus, Bridger, Tara, Max, Dan, all of them taught us something.
Overall I loved it. Even the ending. Although I wanted to read more and wanted their story to continue, the ending felt absolutely perfect and left me hopeful and excited for what’s to come.
___________
This book made me think of the movie Shelter (2007🏄♂️). If you are familiar with it you'll love this. It has that kind of vibe🥹💖
April 13, 2025
This book was incredible! I have never read anything like this before. It was so emotional and written so perfectly. I loved getting to know the MMC’s and the other side characters. Such a good romance read that makes you feel so many different emotions throughout. I enjoyed this book the entire time reading.
April 6, 2025
Good God, I'm a WRECK!! 😭😭😭😭😭
June 7, 2025
This book really took me by surprise. It is such a perfect coming of age story, it made me feel all the emotions.
“You know… I love doing nothing with you,”
“Yeah, with us, nothing feels… special.”
We follow Gus, who moves back to rural Montana to live with his estranged father after his mother passes. He works with his dad in his furniture building workshop during the day and spends most of his free time sketching. When exploring the town one day, he stumbles upon a skatepark. Gus becomes fascinated with the skater group and decides he needs to learn how to skate to make new friends.
This is how he meets Bridger, a skater boy with a rebellious streak. The two of them strike a deal that leads them to spend a lot of time together. We see them develop a beautiful friendship that slowly turns into more.
The setting of this book is everything. It takes place during the summer of 2003 and as someone who grew up in the early 2000s, it made me so nostalgic. The skateboarding aspect was so fun and different from anything I've read before.
This is easily my favorite queer YA romance I've read. It explores so many important topics like self discovery, friendship, grief, first crushes, going away to college and love. The writing is beautiful and the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter were beautiful and a nice touch.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book!
“You know… I love doing nothing with you,”
“Yeah, with us, nothing feels… special.”
We follow Gus, who moves back to rural Montana to live with his estranged father after his mother passes. He works with his dad in his furniture building workshop during the day and spends most of his free time sketching. When exploring the town one day, he stumbles upon a skatepark. Gus becomes fascinated with the skater group and decides he needs to learn how to skate to make new friends.
This is how he meets Bridger, a skater boy with a rebellious streak. The two of them strike a deal that leads them to spend a lot of time together. We see them develop a beautiful friendship that slowly turns into more.
The setting of this book is everything. It takes place during the summer of 2003 and as someone who grew up in the early 2000s, it made me so nostalgic. The skateboarding aspect was so fun and different from anything I've read before.
This is easily my favorite queer YA romance I've read. It explores so many important topics like self discovery, friendship, grief, first crushes, going away to college and love. The writing is beautiful and the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter were beautiful and a nice touch.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book!
June 21, 2025
Scraps is an evocative read that I highly recommend, offering a refreshing take on the coming-of-age queer experience.
What captivated me most was the alternating male POVs, which, in my mind is reminiscent of "Peter Pan" in Neverland—imagine the Lost Boys navigating a collective gay panic!
It's also worth noting that the story includes an adorable meet-cute and a sports element, adding a layer of charm that easily captivates any book lover.
There's this scene early on where Bridger is invited to stay over at Gus's place, and he asks if he can sleep semi-naked. Before I could even catch my breath, I was internally screaming, "YES, PLEASE!" Of course, Gus wasn't quite as thirsty as I was.
Beyond the surface, the story offers a poignant and uplifting exploration of gender, depicting the performance of masculinity and sexual subversion in youths, however subtle and contextual.
What captivated me most was the alternating male POVs, which, in my mind is reminiscent of "Peter Pan" in Neverland—imagine the Lost Boys navigating a collective gay panic!
It's also worth noting that the story includes an adorable meet-cute and a sports element, adding a layer of charm that easily captivates any book lover.
There's this scene early on where Bridger is invited to stay over at Gus's place, and he asks if he can sleep semi-naked. Before I could even catch my breath, I was internally screaming, "YES, PLEASE!" Of course, Gus wasn't quite as thirsty as I was.
Beyond the surface, the story offers a poignant and uplifting exploration of gender, depicting the performance of masculinity and sexual subversion in youths, however subtle and contextual.
July 27, 2025
Sweet, atmospheric coming-of-age story, centered around Gus, who moves in to live with his estranged father in rural Montana. Friendship, first love, finding your way in life - common themes in such ya stories, yet I loved the way they were developed and intertwined. Did I wish for a different ending? Of course, yet this ending made more sense in this story. 4.5*
Want to read
February 18, 2025The Scraps short film was great. I'm excited for this book.
July 14, 2025
Scraps by Matthew Francis is a quiet queer romance with skateboards and grief, it is tender and emotionally layered.
Gus is just trying to get through the summer after his mom’s death when he meets Bridger, a very chaotic and fun skateboarder. Their connection builds slowly, full of stolen moments and unspoken fears. Their connection is real, sweet and a bit awkward at times, just like your everyday teen friendship that becomes a bit more as time goes on.
The small-town setting, the weight of what’s unsaid, and the way Gus reconnects with his dad all made this feel incredibly grounded. The ending is open but hopeful, which honestly made it hit even harder.
There is also a short story on youtube, everyone should check out 🤎
Gus is just trying to get through the summer after his mom’s death when he meets Bridger, a very chaotic and fun skateboarder. Their connection builds slowly, full of stolen moments and unspoken fears. Their connection is real, sweet and a bit awkward at times, just like your everyday teen friendship that becomes a bit more as time goes on.
The small-town setting, the weight of what’s unsaid, and the way Gus reconnects with his dad all made this feel incredibly grounded. The ending is open but hopeful, which honestly made it hit even harder.
There is also a short story on youtube, everyone should check out 🤎
April 23, 2025
nice read. I can't wait for the full-length film, but I'm going to watch the short film asap
April 4, 2025
I finished this book in a day, because it was just so easy to get lost in the world. There’s so much I could say about it!
🌄 The Atmosphere
As you read, you’re completely wrapped up in the world of the novel. Not just the time period, not just the place, but something more than that. It feels like you’re living inside this gorgeous, ephemeral summer, where moments of real melancholy are balanced by bursts of joy and excitement for the characters.
🛹 The Characters
The simplest way to explain it is: if you’re a queer person, you know these characters. Gus and Bridger are the kind of characters I wish I could have read about growing up. And shoutout to Tara, my personal favourite. We should all have a Tara in our lives!
💙 The Reality of It All
What makes this book so special is that it’s a queer story grounded in the real, the honest, and therefore sometimes the painful. Scraps doesn’t over romanticise young love into a fairytale, and it doesn’t frame queer love as something tragic either. There’s hope, there’s joy, but there’s also struggle and challenge. It holds all of it.
🥲 Trust Me, You’ll Cry
For all the right reasons. Whether Gus’ summer feels like a blast from your own past or like the coming of age summer you wish you had, it’s going to hit you right in the heart. Some lines just scratch that emotional catharsis itch, honestly.
I hope this book ends up on every shelf, in every library, in every high school. Because stories like this, queer stories like this, are and always have been so important.
🌄 The Atmosphere
As you read, you’re completely wrapped up in the world of the novel. Not just the time period, not just the place, but something more than that. It feels like you’re living inside this gorgeous, ephemeral summer, where moments of real melancholy are balanced by bursts of joy and excitement for the characters.
🛹 The Characters
The simplest way to explain it is: if you’re a queer person, you know these characters. Gus and Bridger are the kind of characters I wish I could have read about growing up. And shoutout to Tara, my personal favourite. We should all have a Tara in our lives!
💙 The Reality of It All
What makes this book so special is that it’s a queer story grounded in the real, the honest, and therefore sometimes the painful. Scraps doesn’t over romanticise young love into a fairytale, and it doesn’t frame queer love as something tragic either. There’s hope, there’s joy, but there’s also struggle and challenge. It holds all of it.
🥲 Trust Me, You’ll Cry
For all the right reasons. Whether Gus’ summer feels like a blast from your own past or like the coming of age summer you wish you had, it’s going to hit you right in the heart. Some lines just scratch that emotional catharsis itch, honestly.
I hope this book ends up on every shelf, in every library, in every high school. Because stories like this, queer stories like this, are and always have been so important.
August 7, 2025
«I'll never forget my summer with you, Bird Boy.»
(Scroll down to read the English version of this review).
Scraps, o traducido al español como Residuos , es un libro escrito por Matthew Francis, basado en el short film que lleva el mismo nombre. En este libro se nos presenta a Gus, un chico que llega a Montana tras la muerte de su madre, para vivir con su padre por un corto periodo de tiempo antes de entrar a la escuela de arte en Rhode Island. La conexión que tiene con su padre no es tan buena; sin embargo, Gus pronto encuentra una nueva actividad al ver a un grupo de chicos haciendo patinaje en un parque cercano. Ahí conoce a Bridger, quien se ofrece a enseñarle a patinar con la condición de que Gus le haga una patineta similar a la suya, usando los residuos del taller de carpintería de su padre.
Trama: 10/10
Creo que no hay palabras que puedan definir lo mucho que me encantó este libro. Incluso no pude dejar de compararlo con Aristóteles y Dante por algunas similitudes; siento que si eres fan del libro mencionado, este te va a encantar. Desde el momento en que lo inicié, supe que no quería dejar de leerlo. Es, sin duda alguna, un libro que te muestra los miedos de crecer, el cariño que le tienes a tu primer amor y los procesos de encontrarse con uno mismo, a la vez que te aterra empezar a pensar en lo que piensen los demás. Mi única queja es que el libro es muy corto, y yo quería leer más de Gus y Bridger. Siempre los voy a llevar en mi corazón.
Personajes: 10/10
Ver a Gus tener miedos e inseguridades sobre cómo hacer nuevos amigos o cómo acercarse al grupo de patinaje de Max me hizo pensar en mí, cuando no sabía cómo acercarme a los demás para poder entablar una conversación. También me vi muy reflejado en Bridger, por ese temor a amar a otro chico, algo que quizá se podría considerarprohibido o mal visto por sus amigos fue como oro puro.
Final: 10/10
Estuve llorando toda la última parte del libro, desde que los descubren hasta que Gus se tiene que ir de Montana. Fue, sin duda alguna, un libro hermoso, y no dudo que voy a volver a leerlo. Quiero ver ya el short film, y ojalá algún día se logre hacer una película de esta historia tan bonita. Muchas gracias a Netgalley y al autor por darme una copia avanzada del libro.
5/5
***
Scraps is a book written by Matthew Francis, based on the short film of the same name. In this book, we are introduced to Gus, a boy who arrives in Montana after his mother's death to live with his father for a short time before entering art school in Rhode Island. The relationship with his father isn't very good, but Gus soon finds a new activity when he sees a group of kids skateboarding in a nearby park. There he meets Bridger, who offers to teach him how to skateboard on the condition that Gus makes him a skateboard similar to his own, using scrap wood from his father's carpentry workshop.
Plot: 10/10
I don't think there are words to describe how much I loved this book. I couldn't help comparing it to Aristotle and Dante because of some similarities; I feel that if you are a fan of that book, you will love this one. From the moment I started reading it, I knew I didn't want to put it down. It is, without a doubt, a book that shows you the fears of growing up, the affection you have for your first love, and the process of finding yourself, while at the same time terrifying you to start thinking about what others think. My only complaint is that the book is very short, and I wanted to read more about Gus and Bridger. I will always carry them in my heart.
Characters: 10/10
Seeing Gus' fears and insecurities about making new friends or approaching Max's skating group made me think of myself, when I didn't know how to approach others to strike up a conversation. I also saw myself reflected in Bridger, in his fear of loving another boy, something that might be consideredforbidden or frowned upon by his friends, but which was like pure gold to him.
Finale: 10/10
I cried throughout the last part of the book, from the moment they are discovered until Gus has to leave Montana. It was, without a doubt, a beautiful book, and I will definitely read it again. I can't wait to see the short film, and I hope that one day they will make a movie out of this beautiful story. Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an advance copy of the book.
5/5
(Scroll down to read the English version of this review).
Scraps, o traducido al español como Residuos , es un libro escrito por Matthew Francis, basado en el short film que lleva el mismo nombre. En este libro se nos presenta a Gus, un chico que llega a Montana tras la muerte de su madre, para vivir con su padre por un corto periodo de tiempo antes de entrar a la escuela de arte en Rhode Island. La conexión que tiene con su padre no es tan buena; sin embargo, Gus pronto encuentra una nueva actividad al ver a un grupo de chicos haciendo patinaje en un parque cercano. Ahí conoce a Bridger, quien se ofrece a enseñarle a patinar con la condición de que Gus le haga una patineta similar a la suya, usando los residuos del taller de carpintería de su padre.
Trama: 10/10
Creo que no hay palabras que puedan definir lo mucho que me encantó este libro. Incluso no pude dejar de compararlo con Aristóteles y Dante por algunas similitudes; siento que si eres fan del libro mencionado, este te va a encantar. Desde el momento en que lo inicié, supe que no quería dejar de leerlo. Es, sin duda alguna, un libro que te muestra los miedos de crecer, el cariño que le tienes a tu primer amor y los procesos de encontrarse con uno mismo, a la vez que te aterra empezar a pensar en lo que piensen los demás. Mi única queja es que el libro es muy corto, y yo quería leer más de Gus y Bridger. Siempre los voy a llevar en mi corazón.
Personajes: 10/10
Ver a Gus tener miedos e inseguridades sobre cómo hacer nuevos amigos o cómo acercarse al grupo de patinaje de Max me hizo pensar en mí, cuando no sabía cómo acercarme a los demás para poder entablar una conversación. También me vi muy reflejado en Bridger, por ese temor a amar a otro chico, algo que quizá se podría considerar
Final: 10/10
Estuve llorando toda la última parte del libro, desde que los descubren hasta que Gus se tiene que ir de Montana. Fue, sin duda alguna, un libro hermoso, y no dudo que voy a volver a leerlo. Quiero ver ya el short film, y ojalá algún día se logre hacer una película de esta historia tan bonita. Muchas gracias a Netgalley y al autor por darme una copia avanzada del libro.
5/5
***
Scraps is a book written by Matthew Francis, based on the short film of the same name. In this book, we are introduced to Gus, a boy who arrives in Montana after his mother's death to live with his father for a short time before entering art school in Rhode Island. The relationship with his father isn't very good, but Gus soon finds a new activity when he sees a group of kids skateboarding in a nearby park. There he meets Bridger, who offers to teach him how to skateboard on the condition that Gus makes him a skateboard similar to his own, using scrap wood from his father's carpentry workshop.
Plot: 10/10
I don't think there are words to describe how much I loved this book. I couldn't help comparing it to Aristotle and Dante because of some similarities; I feel that if you are a fan of that book, you will love this one. From the moment I started reading it, I knew I didn't want to put it down. It is, without a doubt, a book that shows you the fears of growing up, the affection you have for your first love, and the process of finding yourself, while at the same time terrifying you to start thinking about what others think. My only complaint is that the book is very short, and I wanted to read more about Gus and Bridger. I will always carry them in my heart.
Characters: 10/10
Seeing Gus' fears and insecurities about making new friends or approaching Max's skating group made me think of myself, when I didn't know how to approach others to strike up a conversation. I also saw myself reflected in Bridger, in his fear of loving another boy, something that might be considered
Finale: 10/10
I cried throughout the last part of the book, from the moment they are discovered until Gus has to leave Montana. It was, without a doubt, a beautiful book, and I will definitely read it again. I can't wait to see the short film, and I hope that one day they will make a movie out of this beautiful story. Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an advance copy of the book.
5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
I found this story on You Tube and fell in with a sweet coming of age, gay awakening skateboarding story from early in the years of the 2000's. Gus and Bridger are easy to love as MCs and all their friends as found family were as well. I especially loved Tara and her honest relationship with Gus. The other characters were Gus's Dad and his sad realizations and wisdom he gave to Gus. And poor Max, I only hope he finds what he needs to make his life better. Oh and the artwork is stunning. There is a picture of a single skateboard that is perfect. I hope lots of people read this book and see the You Tube film and the expected full length film. It is a joy.
April 8, 2025
Easily one of my favorite gay stories out there. I highly recommend this book!
April 13, 2025
I really enjoyed the SCRAPS short film on YouTube and was excited when I saw the story was being expanded into a novel. A queer coming of age story set in the skateboarding world of the early 2000s definitely appeals to my interests. I did like getting to see more of Gus and Bridger’s story beyond where the short film ends. It was a quick, breezy read that has some nice small town atmosphere.
Unfortunately the writing held me back from being able to fully enjoy this. There were so many odd word choices when it came to descriptions. And I felt like there was more of an emphasis on describing locations and actions instead of the characters’ thoughts and emotions. It seemed like I was just getting an overview instead of being able to viscerally feel what they were going through. Also, I wasn’t a fan of how the POV switches happened. The book is mostly from Gus POV but sometimes in the middle of the chapter it would change to being Bridger, Gus’ dad, or one of Bridger’s friends' perspectives for a paragraph or two before switching back. It just felt a bit sloppy.
If you liked the short film and are dying for more of the story then check out the sample of the book and see if you enjoy the writing. If it works for you then the book should be a fast, cute read.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately the writing held me back from being able to fully enjoy this. There were so many odd word choices when it came to descriptions. And I felt like there was more of an emphasis on describing locations and actions instead of the characters’ thoughts and emotions. It seemed like I was just getting an overview instead of being able to viscerally feel what they were going through. Also, I wasn’t a fan of how the POV switches happened. The book is mostly from Gus POV but sometimes in the middle of the chapter it would change to being Bridger, Gus’ dad, or one of Bridger’s friends' perspectives for a paragraph or two before switching back. It just felt a bit sloppy.
If you liked the short film and are dying for more of the story then check out the sample of the book and see if you enjoy the writing. If it works for you then the book should be a fast, cute read.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 26, 2025
I'm lucking out and getting great books to read lately! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is one of my top five books for the year. It's currently the best I've read this year. It's based on a short movie of the same name. I can't post the link due to Amazon guidelines.
The story begins with Gus Shepard spending the summer before he enrolls in the Rhode Island Institute of Art with his estranged father. He had been living in Minnesota with his mother before her death. He hadn't seen his father in thirteen years.
He begins working with his father in his woodworking shop doing little things like sweeping and learning how to use the machines. One of his day off, Gus decides to go into town. He finds a skatepark.
"Shirtless, sunburnt teenage boys with baggy shorts rode skateboards up and down steep ramps. The skaters passed joints and chugged beers while vibing to music playing from a boombox. Pretty girls with silky hair and ripped jean skirts sat on the edges of the park, smoking cigarettes and chatting."
He notices one skater in particular, Bridger. He's the leader of the group. Gus is transfixed and watches for a while. He leaves after one of the skaters notice him watching.
He goes back to his father's and looks like skateboarding on the internet. Gus, at this point, is still deeply closeted and in denial about his sexuality. He will barely admit to himself that he's attracted to guys. He finds himself attracted to the bodies of the skaters, just like he was earlier at the park.
He decides that he wants to learn to skate. He goes to the skate shop in town which is run by the mother of Bridger's best friend Max. Max is a few years older than Bridger and Gus. He lost his father earlier. His mother has a new boyfriend who lives off of them. Max is rude to Gus when he comes into the shop. Gus can't afford a new board and Max basically tells him to get out.
Gus goes back on line to learn how to make his own board. He eventually does and goes to the park to try and learn how to skate. Bridger runs into him there and they spark up a friendship.
This is where I leave the story because I don't want to give away any spoilers. This is a classic coming of age story where both Gus and Bridger learn who they are. It's so well written. The plot keeps your interest even though you know where it's going. The secondary characters are all wonderful. Max is given depth towards the end of the book. He's not just a bully. We get a lesbian and character of color in Tara. She's one of the few females in town that the guys look up to and not just objectify. She can skate just as well as any of the boys.
I HIGHLY recommend this. This is the best book I've read so far this year. We get some spicy scenes, but that's mostly towards the end of the book too. I'd love to see a sequel to this. I want to know what happens to everyone. The author made me care that much about this little town in Montana. Thank you for that!
This is one of my top five books for the year. It's currently the best I've read this year. It's based on a short movie of the same name. I can't post the link due to Amazon guidelines.
The story begins with Gus Shepard spending the summer before he enrolls in the Rhode Island Institute of Art with his estranged father. He had been living in Minnesota with his mother before her death. He hadn't seen his father in thirteen years.
He begins working with his father in his woodworking shop doing little things like sweeping and learning how to use the machines. One of his day off, Gus decides to go into town. He finds a skatepark.
"Shirtless, sunburnt teenage boys with baggy shorts rode skateboards up and down steep ramps. The skaters passed joints and chugged beers while vibing to music playing from a boombox. Pretty girls with silky hair and ripped jean skirts sat on the edges of the park, smoking cigarettes and chatting."
He notices one skater in particular, Bridger. He's the leader of the group. Gus is transfixed and watches for a while. He leaves after one of the skaters notice him watching.
He goes back to his father's and looks like skateboarding on the internet. Gus, at this point, is still deeply closeted and in denial about his sexuality. He will barely admit to himself that he's attracted to guys. He finds himself attracted to the bodies of the skaters, just like he was earlier at the park.
He decides that he wants to learn to skate. He goes to the skate shop in town which is run by the mother of Bridger's best friend Max. Max is a few years older than Bridger and Gus. He lost his father earlier. His mother has a new boyfriend who lives off of them. Max is rude to Gus when he comes into the shop. Gus can't afford a new board and Max basically tells him to get out.
Gus goes back on line to learn how to make his own board. He eventually does and goes to the park to try and learn how to skate. Bridger runs into him there and they spark up a friendship.
This is where I leave the story because I don't want to give away any spoilers. This is a classic coming of age story where both Gus and Bridger learn who they are. It's so well written. The plot keeps your interest even though you know where it's going. The secondary characters are all wonderful. Max is given depth towards the end of the book. He's not just a bully. We get a lesbian and character of color in Tara. She's one of the few females in town that the guys look up to and not just objectify. She can skate just as well as any of the boys.
I HIGHLY recommend this. This is the best book I've read so far this year. We get some spicy scenes, but that's mostly towards the end of the book too. I'd love to see a sequel to this. I want to know what happens to everyone. The author made me care that much about this little town in Montana. Thank you for that!
May 2, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a sweet story this was.
Starting with the negatives, I feel like this book needed more editing. The writing is a bit stilted at times, and while we mostly stick with Gus, the omniscient narrator does jump between heads now and then. It's an amateurish flaw that isn’t really needed since the small bits of introspection we get from other characters could have easily come through Gus’s perspective. I get that Max’s POV was meant to add depth to his character, and my heart truly broke for him; but having Gus notice a bruise on his collarbone and seeing his stepfather enter the shop brusquely at the beginning of the book would have told readers well enough. Gus’s POV alone would have sufficed, but if the author wanted multiple perspectives, a dual POV between Gus and Bridger (with separated chapters) would have worked better than the narrator bouncing around.
Also, a few bits of modern-ish slang (like using "to clock" instead of "to notice", "vibing") pulled me out of the story, though those were thankfully rare.
That said, this book really nails what it feels like to grow up in a rural place, being the odd one out and finding your people among the "alt" kids. I, too, remember fondly those nights drinking beer in empty fields, falling asleep looking at the stars. I, too, thought "I didn’t know this was an option" (a line that broke my heart 😭) when I started figuring myself out.
However, while the book perfectly captures the queer teen experience and the rural living before cottagecore girlies thought it was cool, I didn't really feel the 2000s era from the book. I think it could have used more period-specific details about the environment, fashion, or even how houses were decorated to really sell the ambiance.
The illustrations inside the book were a wonderful touch, especially since Gus spends so much time drawing-it made the book feel even more alive.
The ending was bittersweet but exactly what this story needed, and I’m really happy with how it was wrapped up. It ends on a hopeful note, I think. Overall, I appreciated how tight the pacing was; the book never dragged or overstayed its welcome.
I’m genuinely excited to hear there will be a movie soon and I can’t wait to watch it!
What a sweet story this was.
Starting with the negatives, I feel like this book needed more editing. The writing is a bit stilted at times, and while we mostly stick with Gus, the omniscient narrator does jump between heads now and then. It's an amateurish flaw that isn’t really needed since the small bits of introspection we get from other characters could have easily come through Gus’s perspective. I get that Max’s POV was meant to add depth to his character, and my heart truly broke for him; but having Gus notice a bruise on his collarbone and seeing his stepfather enter the shop brusquely at the beginning of the book would have told readers well enough. Gus’s POV alone would have sufficed, but if the author wanted multiple perspectives, a dual POV between Gus and Bridger (with separated chapters) would have worked better than the narrator bouncing around.
Also, a few bits of modern-ish slang (like using "to clock" instead of "to notice", "vibing") pulled me out of the story, though those were thankfully rare.
That said, this book really nails what it feels like to grow up in a rural place, being the odd one out and finding your people among the "alt" kids. I, too, remember fondly those nights drinking beer in empty fields, falling asleep looking at the stars. I, too, thought "I didn’t know this was an option" (a line that broke my heart 😭) when I started figuring myself out.
However, while the book perfectly captures the queer teen experience and the rural living before cottagecore girlies thought it was cool, I didn't really feel the 2000s era from the book. I think it could have used more period-specific details about the environment, fashion, or even how houses were decorated to really sell the ambiance.
The illustrations inside the book were a wonderful touch, especially since Gus spends so much time drawing-it made the book feel even more alive.
The ending was bittersweet but exactly what this story needed, and I’m really happy with how it was wrapped up. It ends on a hopeful note, I think. Overall, I appreciated how tight the pacing was; the book never dragged or overstayed its welcome.
I’m genuinely excited to hear there will be a movie soon and I can’t wait to watch it!
August 17, 2025
Omggggg can we just swoon over how adorable Bridger and Gus are??!!!! 💙 Like seriously, Bridger has to be one of the best love interests out there. I love how he pulls Gus out of his shell and makes him brave enough to try new things! And the fact that this is a friends-to-lovers story just makes it even sweeter—I was grinning through half the book.
🛹 Summer Vibes
The early 2000s skateboarding backdrop is everything. The skatepark, the dusty summer days, the music and small-town feel—it all gave me this wave of nostalgia while still feeling so alive and fresh. You can almost hear the boards hitting the pavement and feel the awkward, exciting rush of teenage emotions.
💙 Gus + Bridger (again, because duh)
Their slow-burn friendship turning into something more had me absolutely feral. I loved how subtle and tender it was, every little glance and touch loaded with meaning. And Bridger?? He’s messy, bold, vulnerable, but he also has this softness that made me melt. Pair that with Gus’s quiet strength, and… yeah. Perfect pairing.
“You know… I love doing nothing with you.”
“Yeah. With us, nothing feels… special.”
😭😭😭 I’m still not okay.
✨ Why This Book Hit Me
It’s not just romance—it’s grief, queerness, family, friendship, identity. Francis doesn’t romanticize or dramatize too much; instead, he gives us a story that feels raw and real while still being hopeful. It shows that queer love can be joyful and complicated without needing tragedy to make it meaningful.
🌟 Final Thoughts
This book made me laugh, cry, and kick my feet like a teenager again. It’s tender, swoony, nostalgic, and real. I’ll be thinking about Gus and Bridger for a long time, and I’m so glad this story exists.
🛹 Summer Vibes
The early 2000s skateboarding backdrop is everything. The skatepark, the dusty summer days, the music and small-town feel—it all gave me this wave of nostalgia while still feeling so alive and fresh. You can almost hear the boards hitting the pavement and feel the awkward, exciting rush of teenage emotions.
💙 Gus + Bridger (again, because duh)
Their slow-burn friendship turning into something more had me absolutely feral. I loved how subtle and tender it was, every little glance and touch loaded with meaning. And Bridger?? He’s messy, bold, vulnerable, but he also has this softness that made me melt. Pair that with Gus’s quiet strength, and… yeah. Perfect pairing.
“You know… I love doing nothing with you.”
“Yeah. With us, nothing feels… special.”
😭😭😭 I’m still not okay.
✨ Why This Book Hit Me
It’s not just romance—it’s grief, queerness, family, friendship, identity. Francis doesn’t romanticize or dramatize too much; instead, he gives us a story that feels raw and real while still being hopeful. It shows that queer love can be joyful and complicated without needing tragedy to make it meaningful.
🌟 Final Thoughts
This book made me laugh, cry, and kick my feet like a teenager again. It’s tender, swoony, nostalgic, and real. I’ll be thinking about Gus and Bridger for a long time, and I’m so glad this story exists.
December 16, 2025
I need more!! I haven’t boohoo sobbed like this in I don’t even know how long.
I know that most realities would have them part ways forever, but that doesn’t seem like where this was going. I’d really love to see where Gus and Bridger end up, maybe continuing to grow the family biz with Dan or something.
All I know is I need more of them asap
I know that most realities would have them part ways forever, but that doesn’t seem like where this was going. I’d really love to see where Gus and Bridger end up, maybe continuing to grow the family biz with Dan or something.
All I know is I need more of them asap
April 24, 2025
Scraps by Matthew Francis
4.5/5 Stars 🌟 will be posted today
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Scraps!
Firstly, I absolutely adored the cover for this book and all of the illustrations that came with it on the chapter headers!
We start of with a young boy called Gus who’s lost his mother and had to move back to his dads house.
We find that Gus is an artist that is going to be going into an art college at the end of the summer. During his time he ventures into the old town he once knew and meets a few people at the local skate park.
Gus then makes his own skateboard using scraps of wood from his father’s woodworking shop and this follows on to meeting Bridger who goes on to teach Gus skateboarding.
He also meets a girl named Tara who at first I thought was very assuming of Gus’s sexuality but turns out she is just looking out for him in ways she knows she’d wanted to be back then.
We also meet hot headed Max who is stuck in the past and doesn’t want to change. This shows throughout the book but eventually things change.
There’s a scene in which Gus looks through a magazine and we see his emotions on girls and boys which was sad and could see some self guilt.
There’s some very cute moments between gus and his dad throughout the book and my favourite has to be when Dan (the dad) finally tells his son to stop calling him sir.
I love how Tara being part of the lgbt+ helps a lot for Gus while he’s struggling to learn and accept things for how they are.
Another of my favourite parts was Gus and his dads conversation about loneliness and love it was beautiful and accepting ❤️
I cried at the end and I fell in love with this book and will forever recommend it. I have kept as little details as possible out but please go look at this book it’s beautiful ❤️
Plus there’s a short film on YouTube I recommend watching!
4.5/5 Stars 🌟 will be posted today
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Scraps!
Firstly, I absolutely adored the cover for this book and all of the illustrations that came with it on the chapter headers!
We start of with a young boy called Gus who’s lost his mother and had to move back to his dads house.
We find that Gus is an artist that is going to be going into an art college at the end of the summer. During his time he ventures into the old town he once knew and meets a few people at the local skate park.
Gus then makes his own skateboard using scraps of wood from his father’s woodworking shop and this follows on to meeting Bridger who goes on to teach Gus skateboarding.
He also meets a girl named Tara who at first I thought was very assuming of Gus’s sexuality but turns out she is just looking out for him in ways she knows she’d wanted to be back then.
We also meet hot headed Max who is stuck in the past and doesn’t want to change. This shows throughout the book but eventually things change.
There’s a scene in which Gus looks through a magazine and we see his emotions on girls and boys which was sad and could see some self guilt.
There’s some very cute moments between gus and his dad throughout the book and my favourite has to be when Dan (the dad) finally tells his son to stop calling him sir.
I love how Tara being part of the lgbt+ helps a lot for Gus while he’s struggling to learn and accept things for how they are.
Another of my favourite parts was Gus and his dads conversation about loneliness and love it was beautiful and accepting ❤️
I cried at the end and I fell in love with this book and will forever recommend it. I have kept as little details as possible out but please go look at this book it’s beautiful ❤️
Plus there’s a short film on YouTube I recommend watching!
April 11, 2025
ARC provided by publisher: This one honestly felt more like a screenplay than a novel—and that tracks, since it started as a short film. The first third is basically a scene-for-scene adaptation, and I could picture the movie version way more clearly than I could connect to the book. The short film? Genuinely good. But turning it into a novel didn’t really work for me.
The comparisons to Heartstopper aren’t just vibes, think Heartstopper and skateboarding in the early aughts in a blender, but not fully blended—you can still spot the chunks. scenes, characters…. identifiable to me in a way that would be more than a coincidence
The writing itself feels pretty unpolished in a way that might be fine for younger readers, but threw me off, that screenwriting style again. Incredibly straightforward in its telling of people’s inter motivations, just handed to you like stage directions.
Becuase of that, the POV shifts all over the place—sometimes we’re in a parent’s head, sometimes side characters, sometimes it’s omniscient in a way that makes you question whether the narrator is seeing or knows this. Like a film.
And the main character’s identity arc? It felt like a Big Deal for about five pages, and then suddenly he was out and chill about it. There’s some very soft background homophobia implied, but it’s never shown or explored in a way that felt era-appropriate.
At the end of the day, I just don’t think this needed to be a book. If you liked the short film, you might enjoy spending more time with the characters. I won’t be picking up anything else by this author but would definitely watch the feature length film in preproduction.
The comparisons to Heartstopper aren’t just vibes, think Heartstopper and skateboarding in the early aughts in a blender, but not fully blended—you can still spot the chunks. scenes, characters…. identifiable to me in a way that would be more than a coincidence
The writing itself feels pretty unpolished in a way that might be fine for younger readers, but threw me off, that screenwriting style again. Incredibly straightforward in its telling of people’s inter motivations, just handed to you like stage directions.
Becuase of that, the POV shifts all over the place—sometimes we’re in a parent’s head, sometimes side characters, sometimes it’s omniscient in a way that makes you question whether the narrator is seeing or knows this. Like a film.
And the main character’s identity arc? It felt like a Big Deal for about five pages, and then suddenly he was out and chill about it. There’s some very soft background homophobia implied, but it’s never shown or explored in a way that felt era-appropriate.
At the end of the day, I just don’t think this needed to be a book. If you liked the short film, you might enjoy spending more time with the characters. I won’t be picking up anything else by this author but would definitely watch the feature length film in preproduction.
April 11, 2025
I adored this!! What an absolute delight this reading experience was.
I came across "Scraps" the shortfilm on YouTube late at night when I couldn't sleep. I watched it and fell absolutely in love with the story and the characters. I have been obsessed with the "Scraps" journey ever since. So of course as soon as I discovered that a book was releasing, I pre-ordered it on my kindle.
I adore Gus and Bridger, they hold such a dear place in my heart. And their relationship is so special to me as I'm sure it is for many. But everything else about the story is what makes me that little bit more obsessed.
The way Gus deals with grief is so unique and complex. Almost like he's constantly bottling up all the feelings about his mother being gone. Although this isn't exactly the "main" focus of the book it was such an important aspect of the story. Almost as though Gus' Mum was haunting the narrative, holding his hand though different decisions he makes throughout.
I adore Gus and his fathers relationship. The subtle and estranged awkwardness. Like having a parent figure but not really knowing them. And them not really knowing their child. It was such a complex and confusing and relateable dynamic.
I absolutely adore Tara, as I'm sure everyone else does. She's such a caring, kind, and understanding friends. LOVE HER! We all need a Tara in our lives. And of course I love Gus and Tara's friendship.
The skater gang, namely Max. Damn he's a complex character. The constant fear of growing up is very relatable. The way he outgrows his shoes in an awkward and uncomfortable manner is so sad. What a miserable character. But I feel so drawn to his character, eager to cradle him and give him comfort, way more than he probably deserves, but the amount that he NEEDS. Max struggles with internalised homophobia which causes him to be a sour and awful character, with pour actions and decisions. Max craves someone to help him out of that bottomless pit. Tara, of course being the awesome friend she always is, is that helping hand for him. Yet he still can't seem to get out, like he's constantly slapping those hands away, or pulling them down with him. So sad. He eventually needs to find his own way out, and Max and Bridger's rekindling, was that first step. He's finally realising what everyone around him is telling him, and finally he's starting to accept aspects about himself which keep him trapped in that bottomless pit.
The whole story is so complex, but written in a way which makes it so simplistic and casual, just like life. So matter of fact, which makes it feel all that more real.
Loved this!
I came across "Scraps" the shortfilm on YouTube late at night when I couldn't sleep. I watched it and fell absolutely in love with the story and the characters. I have been obsessed with the "Scraps" journey ever since. So of course as soon as I discovered that a book was releasing, I pre-ordered it on my kindle.
I adore Gus and Bridger, they hold such a dear place in my heart. And their relationship is so special to me as I'm sure it is for many. But everything else about the story is what makes me that little bit more obsessed.
The way Gus deals with grief is so unique and complex. Almost like he's constantly bottling up all the feelings about his mother being gone. Although this isn't exactly the "main" focus of the book it was such an important aspect of the story. Almost as though Gus' Mum was haunting the narrative, holding his hand though different decisions he makes throughout.
I adore Gus and his fathers relationship. The subtle and estranged awkwardness. Like having a parent figure but not really knowing them. And them not really knowing their child. It was such a complex and confusing and relateable dynamic.
I absolutely adore Tara, as I'm sure everyone else does. She's such a caring, kind, and understanding friends. LOVE HER! We all need a Tara in our lives. And of course I love Gus and Tara's friendship.
The skater gang, namely Max. Damn he's a complex character. The constant fear of growing up is very relatable. The way he outgrows his shoes in an awkward and uncomfortable manner is so sad. What a miserable character. But I feel so drawn to his character, eager to cradle him and give him comfort, way more than he probably deserves, but the amount that he NEEDS. Max struggles with internalised homophobia which causes him to be a sour and awful character, with pour actions and decisions. Max craves someone to help him out of that bottomless pit. Tara, of course being the awesome friend she always is, is that helping hand for him. Yet he still can't seem to get out, like he's constantly slapping those hands away, or pulling them down with him. So sad. He eventually needs to find his own way out, and Max and Bridger's rekindling, was that first step. He's finally realising what everyone around him is telling him, and finally he's starting to accept aspects about himself which keep him trapped in that bottomless pit.
The whole story is so complex, but written in a way which makes it so simplistic and casual, just like life. So matter of fact, which makes it feel all that more real.
Loved this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
*thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
I stayed up all night reading this gem of a story. It really caught me by surprise, in so many ways.
I'll be blunt and say, shamefully, I wasn't expecting much just by the description. I was expecting a cute little YA romance. SCRAPS is so much more than that, and I do love when my first instincts are proven wrong when it comes to books.
I've read many books that take place in different decades. It's in my opinion that some authors have trouble setting the scene, the vibe, the ambience and atmosphere of a specific time period. There are either too many details that saturate every other page (regarding what people are wearing, what kind of car they're driving, the brand of refrigerator that's in the kitchen...), or there aren't enough details and you forget that a book isn't in present time. With SCRAPS, there was a perfect amount of little injections of life in the early 2000s that effectively brought me back to my middle and high school years. The details were casual and not so in your face.
The two main characters were just so, so, so sweet. If only I had had a friend like either of them in my younger years, maybe some things would have turned out differently for me, but that's neither here nor there. Their mutual respect and unfiltered acceptance for one another was what really drew me in.
Their internal struggles with experiencing these new, scary, yet electrifying and exciting, foreign feelings were portrayed so realistically that I was immediately reminded of the first time I had similar feelings of the same nature.
Grief is also touched on here. Having recently suffered a great loss, those conversations, inner thoughts and scenes were hard-hitting for me. Sometimes I broke out in unexpected tears and I had to take a short intermission, because I was hit with my own overwhelming, and largely disregarded feelings of loss. I am so grateful though. So, incredibly grateful. I wish I could say more about the experience, but that's all I can muster up for now.
SCRAPS is a beautifully written story that touched my soul and warmed my very chilled heart. It gave me hope. Hope for love, for possibilities, for new beginnings, for facing fears; hope that it'll be alright, in more ways than one. That it's not too late to start living and appreciating this one extraordinary life we are so fortunate to receive. This book was a gift for me and I hope it reaches more people like me who need to receive the message that it conveys.
It should go without saying, but SCRAPS is the easiest 5-Star rating I've ever given.
I stayed up all night reading this gem of a story. It really caught me by surprise, in so many ways.
I'll be blunt and say, shamefully, I wasn't expecting much just by the description. I was expecting a cute little YA romance. SCRAPS is so much more than that, and I do love when my first instincts are proven wrong when it comes to books.
I've read many books that take place in different decades. It's in my opinion that some authors have trouble setting the scene, the vibe, the ambience and atmosphere of a specific time period. There are either too many details that saturate every other page (regarding what people are wearing, what kind of car they're driving, the brand of refrigerator that's in the kitchen...), or there aren't enough details and you forget that a book isn't in present time. With SCRAPS, there was a perfect amount of little injections of life in the early 2000s that effectively brought me back to my middle and high school years. The details were casual and not so in your face.
The two main characters were just so, so, so sweet. If only I had had a friend like either of them in my younger years, maybe some things would have turned out differently for me, but that's neither here nor there. Their mutual respect and unfiltered acceptance for one another was what really drew me in.
Their internal struggles with experiencing these new, scary, yet electrifying and exciting, foreign feelings were portrayed so realistically that I was immediately reminded of the first time I had similar feelings of the same nature.
Grief is also touched on here. Having recently suffered a great loss, those conversations, inner thoughts and scenes were hard-hitting for me. Sometimes I broke out in unexpected tears and I had to take a short intermission, because I was hit with my own overwhelming, and largely disregarded feelings of loss. I am so grateful though. So, incredibly grateful. I wish I could say more about the experience, but that's all I can muster up for now.
SCRAPS is a beautifully written story that touched my soul and warmed my very chilled heart. It gave me hope. Hope for love, for possibilities, for new beginnings, for facing fears; hope that it'll be alright, in more ways than one. That it's not too late to start living and appreciating this one extraordinary life we are so fortunate to receive. This book was a gift for me and I hope it reaches more people like me who need to receive the message that it conveys.
It should go without saying, but SCRAPS is the easiest 5-Star rating I've ever given.
June 10, 2025
This is a lovely coming-of-age novel and a heartfelt summer romance with themes of family, friendship, grief, and first love. Following the death of his mother, Gus moves back with his father Dan for the summer before he goes to art college. The distance between father and son at the beginning is obvious, and Dan goes about trying to make a connection by having Gus work with him in his woodshop. This soon works in Gus's favour. He starts off lonely and adrift and when he comes across the town's skatepark, he becomes determined to learn to skate, though he's more likely drawn in by the camaraderie he witnesses between the skaters. He uses his newly learned woodworking skills to make his own board, which catches the attention of one of the skater boys, Bridger, who offers to teach Gus how to skate in return for a board of his own. Thus begins their journey of strangers-to-friends-to-lovers.
The setting and atmosphere of the story is wonderfully visual, completely drawing you in to the heavy summer heat. It explores dark and heavy themes, such as grief and internalised and external homophobia, but it intertwines these elements with humour, a joyous, tentative love, and hope to bring an ultimately feel-good novel. The relationship between Gus and Bridger is sweet and heartwarming even in its rockier moments, which are entirely believable and realistic in the novel's early 2000s time-period (and even for many in our modern day).
There are lots of POV shifts, and while most of them are clear and useful in giving a more rounded view of the story, some feel a little random and occur within each other—there are a few small mind-jumps that make you unsure which POV you're in. This is quite possibly due to the novel being developed from the original short-film, where glimpses of other characters and quick scene shifts make sense. The wide range of POVs is enjoyable in the sense it gives you a more in-depth view of numerous side characters, such as Dan and Max and Tara, and makes them more three-dimensional, understandable, and relatable. However, I found myself a little disappointed because I felt I ended up knowing the likes of Max better than I knew Bridger, whose family life etc. is never explored in the same depth.
Ultimately though, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. It is reminiscent of the likes of Heartstopper if it was set a decade prior and rugby boys were replaced with skater boys, and its dusty summer atmosphere and coming-of-age, coming-out themes reminded me of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (both works close to my heart). I'd recommend to anyone wanting an emotional queer summer read and I'm excited to go watch the short film that started it all.
The setting and atmosphere of the story is wonderfully visual, completely drawing you in to the heavy summer heat. It explores dark and heavy themes, such as grief and internalised and external homophobia, but it intertwines these elements with humour, a joyous, tentative love, and hope to bring an ultimately feel-good novel. The relationship between Gus and Bridger is sweet and heartwarming even in its rockier moments, which are entirely believable and realistic in the novel's early 2000s time-period (and even for many in our modern day).
There are lots of POV shifts, and while most of them are clear and useful in giving a more rounded view of the story, some feel a little random and occur within each other—there are a few small mind-jumps that make you unsure which POV you're in. This is quite possibly due to the novel being developed from the original short-film, where glimpses of other characters and quick scene shifts make sense. The wide range of POVs is enjoyable in the sense it gives you a more in-depth view of numerous side characters, such as Dan and Max and Tara, and makes them more three-dimensional, understandable, and relatable. However, I found myself a little disappointed because I felt I ended up knowing the likes of Max better than I knew Bridger, whose family life etc. is never explored in the same depth.
Ultimately though, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. It is reminiscent of the likes of Heartstopper if it was set a decade prior and rugby boys were replaced with skater boys, and its dusty summer atmosphere and coming-of-age, coming-out themes reminded me of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (both works close to my heart). I'd recommend to anyone wanting an emotional queer summer read and I'm excited to go watch the short film that started it all.
June 22, 2025
I read a copy of this book on Netgalley.
I'm not much of a romance reader but this one was very enjoyable to read. The romance was so sweet and even though they suffered some ups and downs it was nice to see how the boys weathered those changes and how it ultimately served to bring them closer together.
The first chapter or so of this book were a little rough to me. I think it was a consequence of a writing style that favors character development through dialogue and as the first couple of chapters feature Dan, a character that speaks very little and his estranged son Gus, a character that has very little to say to his father, the first few chapters dragged for me. But my interest was piqued once we got some new characters on the page. Realistic, natural sounding dialogue is where this author really shines. I felt like I was back in high school in the best way, once again overhearing the skater boys in my class talk about the nothingness that makes up the very core of their world. It was such a pleasure to return to those memories and remember a time when the world was small enough to make every little thing important.
There is a lot of gorgeous descriptive language in this book, so it always made me disappointed when scenes would transition flatly without engaging in the senses that could be presented in the scene. Luckily, the characters and the sweetness of this story carry along so well that I think most readers wouldn’t even notice. I am just very picky and since that’s my problem I have no qualms about still rating this book 5 stars because I believe it fully deserves it. That this story was able to explore many different aspects of grief was amazing, showing both the isolation and the community that can happen when you’ve experienced loss.
It’s so hard to come to the end of a book like this wanting more but also knowing that this is a good place for things to end as well. I found so much of this very moving, a tricky thing when young men tend to skew toward abrasiveness in their interactions but I found that the range these characters got to express made them feel so very human.
Thank you for the opportunity to review your work and I look forward to reading more of what you have to offer in the future.
I'm not much of a romance reader but this one was very enjoyable to read. The romance was so sweet and even though they suffered some ups and downs it was nice to see how the boys weathered those changes and how it ultimately served to bring them closer together.
The first chapter or so of this book were a little rough to me. I think it was a consequence of a writing style that favors character development through dialogue and as the first couple of chapters feature Dan, a character that speaks very little and his estranged son Gus, a character that has very little to say to his father, the first few chapters dragged for me. But my interest was piqued once we got some new characters on the page. Realistic, natural sounding dialogue is where this author really shines. I felt like I was back in high school in the best way, once again overhearing the skater boys in my class talk about the nothingness that makes up the very core of their world. It was such a pleasure to return to those memories and remember a time when the world was small enough to make every little thing important.
There is a lot of gorgeous descriptive language in this book, so it always made me disappointed when scenes would transition flatly without engaging in the senses that could be presented in the scene. Luckily, the characters and the sweetness of this story carry along so well that I think most readers wouldn’t even notice. I am just very picky and since that’s my problem I have no qualms about still rating this book 5 stars because I believe it fully deserves it. That this story was able to explore many different aspects of grief was amazing, showing both the isolation and the community that can happen when you’ve experienced loss.
It’s so hard to come to the end of a book like this wanting more but also knowing that this is a good place for things to end as well. I found so much of this very moving, a tricky thing when young men tend to skew toward abrasiveness in their interactions but I found that the range these characters got to express made them feel so very human.
Thank you for the opportunity to review your work and I look forward to reading more of what you have to offer in the future.
June 26, 2025
Prime cuts
As you stare out of the car window while it winds it way through the Montana countryside, you lose yourself in moments of reflection as the world outside slips by. That is the feeling this book gives you and that is how the first chapter opens as you join Gus on the journey to his new home and a new life.
‘Scraps’ is a wonderful new YA book that expands beyond the short film of the same name you may have heard about. It follows Gus, shortly after his mother dies, as he moves across country to live with his estranged father in Montana. Having agreed to work with his father in his woodshop before he goes to art college, Gus tries to make friends with some boys at the local skateboard park. What unfolds is a wonderful coming of age story as Gus starts to develop feelings for Bridger as their growing friendship brings the two boys closer.
What is interesting about this book compared to other YA books is how well balanced all the themes are. We have moments of grief mixed with feelings of youthful joy. Social anxieties butted up against themes of friendships. They weave through one another without dwelling too long on any overriding issue. But it’s the relationship with Gus and Bridger that gets most of the focus. As we starts to see Gus become aware of his feelings towards Bridger, confusion and denial become wrapped up in emerging feelings of attraction. Expertly written and beautifully captured, you find yourself living the experience along with Gus. Shocked at what you’re feeling but unable to look away, wanting more but afraid it might slip from your grip. These are moments of perfection beautifully captured in print with an artistic grace. Short sentences of confusion perfectly punctuate the text, bringing to life a young man’s emerging sexual attraction for his friend. Many other authors might learn from Matthew Francis of how a friends to lovers romance should be written, as this book is a masterclass in the subtly of shifting feelings between two friends.
At its heart this book has a wonderful modern Americana feeling to it, with lazy days spent skateboarding in the park and fun afternoons messing around by the lake. It has a more-ish quality that makes you want to read one chapter after another, not wanting to leave this world, desperate to know what will happen between Gus and Bridger. There’s also a depth to how the author has written the side characters. None of their issues are new, but they’ve been expertly written and help make this world-on-a-page feel all the more real. It’s a book that leaves you wanting to know more. More about what happens to Bridger and Gus. More about what’s in store for Dan in his future. And more about where Max’s road will lead him. If there is ever a book that needs a sequel, this is it. And isn’t that the measure of success, to leave them wanting more!?!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As you stare out of the car window while it winds it way through the Montana countryside, you lose yourself in moments of reflection as the world outside slips by. That is the feeling this book gives you and that is how the first chapter opens as you join Gus on the journey to his new home and a new life.
‘Scraps’ is a wonderful new YA book that expands beyond the short film of the same name you may have heard about. It follows Gus, shortly after his mother dies, as he moves across country to live with his estranged father in Montana. Having agreed to work with his father in his woodshop before he goes to art college, Gus tries to make friends with some boys at the local skateboard park. What unfolds is a wonderful coming of age story as Gus starts to develop feelings for Bridger as their growing friendship brings the two boys closer.
What is interesting about this book compared to other YA books is how well balanced all the themes are. We have moments of grief mixed with feelings of youthful joy. Social anxieties butted up against themes of friendships. They weave through one another without dwelling too long on any overriding issue. But it’s the relationship with Gus and Bridger that gets most of the focus. As we starts to see Gus become aware of his feelings towards Bridger, confusion and denial become wrapped up in emerging feelings of attraction. Expertly written and beautifully captured, you find yourself living the experience along with Gus. Shocked at what you’re feeling but unable to look away, wanting more but afraid it might slip from your grip. These are moments of perfection beautifully captured in print with an artistic grace. Short sentences of confusion perfectly punctuate the text, bringing to life a young man’s emerging sexual attraction for his friend. Many other authors might learn from Matthew Francis of how a friends to lovers romance should be written, as this book is a masterclass in the subtly of shifting feelings between two friends.
At its heart this book has a wonderful modern Americana feeling to it, with lazy days spent skateboarding in the park and fun afternoons messing around by the lake. It has a more-ish quality that makes you want to read one chapter after another, not wanting to leave this world, desperate to know what will happen between Gus and Bridger. There’s also a depth to how the author has written the side characters. None of their issues are new, but they’ve been expertly written and help make this world-on-a-page feel all the more real. It’s a book that leaves you wanting to know more. More about what happens to Bridger and Gus. More about what’s in store for Dan in his future. And more about where Max’s road will lead him. If there is ever a book that needs a sequel, this is it. And isn’t that the measure of success, to leave them wanting more!?!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2025
A BEAUTIFUL COMING OFF AGE LOVE STORY!💕🛹
I watched the short film 2025 with the same name and was disappointed by how unresolved it ended but we were told to look out for the book and here we have the continuation- and it did not disappoint!
I love skater boys, I found them with another author and now we have Bridger Owen’s who goes on a sexual identity journey the summer of 2003 when he meets an intriguing shy, artist- Gus Shepard who returns to Livingston, Montana for the summer before College to live with his estranged carpenter father, after his mother dies…
Poignant, sweet, angsty and engaging regarding Bridger’s suppression of his attraction to Gus, and how he navigates the means of self acceptance, friendship, being your true self with the help of his crew members and oldest three best friends- Bennet, Avery and Coop!
“When I’m with the other guys,” Bridger pondered aloud, “I feel like I have to impress them. All the time. I never get to relax.”
“When I’m near girls, it’s like they’re pretty aliens,”
“But with you, I can just… breathe,”
Gus was very sweet and supportive in Bridger’s issue but what he did to Gus in return was just heartbreaking …💔
The supporting characters were beautifully depicted specifically Tara ( who had her own demons) and Gus’s father Dan, regarding the issue of small town homophobia, inner homophobia , self acceptance and gay love!
The antagonist was hateful in his jealousy and inner homophobia but hopefully he will redeem himself some day…
Scraps- the off cuts of pieces of wood that becomes the catalyst in broken souls finding their lost pieces and gluing them back together like they did with the skateboards created with scraps, glue, lots of sanding, paint and love…
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I watched the short film 2025 with the same name and was disappointed by how unresolved it ended but we were told to look out for the book and here we have the continuation- and it did not disappoint!
I love skater boys, I found them with another author and now we have Bridger Owen’s who goes on a sexual identity journey the summer of 2003 when he meets an intriguing shy, artist- Gus Shepard who returns to Livingston, Montana for the summer before College to live with his estranged carpenter father, after his mother dies…
Poignant, sweet, angsty and engaging regarding Bridger’s suppression of his attraction to Gus, and how he navigates the means of self acceptance, friendship, being your true self with the help of his crew members and oldest three best friends- Bennet, Avery and Coop!
“When I’m with the other guys,” Bridger pondered aloud, “I feel like I have to impress them. All the time. I never get to relax.”
“When I’m near girls, it’s like they’re pretty aliens,”
“But with you, I can just… breathe,”
Gus was very sweet and supportive in Bridger’s issue but what he did to Gus in return was just heartbreaking …💔
The supporting characters were beautifully depicted specifically Tara ( who had her own demons) and Gus’s father Dan, regarding the issue of small town homophobia, inner homophobia , self acceptance and gay love!
The antagonist was hateful in his jealousy and inner homophobia but hopefully he will redeem himself some day…
Scraps- the off cuts of pieces of wood that becomes the catalyst in broken souls finding their lost pieces and gluing them back together like they did with the skateboards created with scraps, glue, lots of sanding, paint and love…
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 23, 2025
୨୧ Scraps ୨୧
╰┈➤ [4 out of 5 ☆’s.]
❝𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐭.❞
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with this title in exchange for an honest review!
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
Song That I Listened to While Reading: “This Song” by Conan Gray.
This book took me back to my roots! :’) I felt like I was in school again — reading about queer characters in small towns navigating life and learning to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Gus + Bridger’s relationship is one that will stick with me for years to come! I adore them. :’)
Tara was also a standout character for me! Whenever she appeared on page my mood brightened! She was such an incredible friend to Gus. Tara deserves all of the good things.
Dan was also a character that I was fond of. His heart-to-heart with Gus at the end of the novel made me tear up. His support healed something inside of me.
I do wish that we would’ve seen a bit more of Bridger’s family and their dynamic.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I loved receiving glimpses into what was happening in each of the character’s heads & POVs! Knowing the emotions that everyone was experiencing throughout the story made it even more complex!
The art chapter headers were also an incredible addition that set the tone for what was to come! I looked forward to seeing each one!
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I do have to mention that there was a scene that was on the steamier side that made me a bit uncomfortable. I don’t mind spice or steam — that’s mostly what I read these days — but I wasn’t sure what the canon ages of these characters were (so I was expecting a little less detail & a quicker fade to black moment)?
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I wasn’t aware of the fact that this was a short film when I picked it up, but I’ll have to watch it now!
╰┈➤ [4 out of 5 ☆’s.]
❝𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐭.❞
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with this title in exchange for an honest review!
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
Song That I Listened to While Reading: “This Song” by Conan Gray.
This book took me back to my roots! :’) I felt like I was in school again — reading about queer characters in small towns navigating life and learning to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Gus + Bridger’s relationship is one that will stick with me for years to come! I adore them. :’)
Tara was also a standout character for me! Whenever she appeared on page my mood brightened! She was such an incredible friend to Gus. Tara deserves all of the good things.
Dan was also a character that I was fond of. His heart-to-heart with Gus at the end of the novel made me tear up. His support healed something inside of me.
I do wish that we would’ve seen a bit more of Bridger’s family and their dynamic.
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I loved receiving glimpses into what was happening in each of the character’s heads & POVs! Knowing the emotions that everyone was experiencing throughout the story made it even more complex!
The art chapter headers were also an incredible addition that set the tone for what was to come! I looked forward to seeing each one!
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I do have to mention that there was a scene that was on the steamier side that made me a bit uncomfortable. I don’t mind spice or steam — that’s mostly what I read these days — but I wasn’t sure what the canon ages of these characters were (so I was expecting a little less detail & a quicker fade to black moment)?
ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝
I wasn’t aware of the fact that this was a short film when I picked it up, but I’ll have to watch it now!
November 16, 2025
I kinda fell bad rating it so low, but... the book kinda did nothing for me? After seeing so many 5-stars reviews I was prepared to love it too, but unfortunately, it ultimately wasn't a book for me.
The writing is mediocre at best. I was under the impression that the authors had a story to tell, but didn't have the writing skills to make it into a great book. Turns out I was right - Scraps was first a short film and the authors have experimce in film-making. They may be fantastic storytellers, but that doesn't automatically make them good writers.
The story itself was alright, but nothing spectacular.
I didn't connect with the characters. Everything progressed so fast, especially their feelings -- they changed too fast to be believable to me. I didn't really root for their relationship because of how Bridger was treating Gus at the beginning and I don't find it believable that his feelings towards Gus changed so fast.
The worst aspect of the book is the characters' family backgrounds. Brider's family is pretty non-existent, while Gus's doesn't make much sense. His mum has just died a few months ago but he's not grieving in any way whatsoever? Every time he misses her, he thinks of the things that happened years ago when they were still living in Montana. Nothing recent. Her death is just a plot device to make Gus move to Montana and has no emotional impact.
I liked the arc of Max, and how Tara helped with his character development. His story was the most emotionally engaging, even if it wasn't pleasant.
This book has a potential, but feels more like draft that needs further developing. I've heard that a full lenght movie is in development and I think that since the authors are more of film-makers than writers, this story will be much more succesfull in a movie format. Can't wait to see it!
The writing is mediocre at best. I was under the impression that the authors had a story to tell, but didn't have the writing skills to make it into a great book. Turns out I was right - Scraps was first a short film and the authors have experimce in film-making. They may be fantastic storytellers, but that doesn't automatically make them good writers.
The story itself was alright, but nothing spectacular.
I didn't connect with the characters. Everything progressed so fast, especially their feelings -- they changed too fast to be believable to me. I didn't really root for their relationship because of how Bridger was treating Gus at the beginning and I don't find it believable that his feelings towards Gus changed so fast.
The worst aspect of the book is the characters' family backgrounds. Brider's family is pretty non-existent, while Gus's doesn't make much sense. His mum has just died a few months ago but he's not grieving in any way whatsoever? Every time he misses her, he thinks of the things that happened years ago when they were still living in Montana. Nothing recent. Her death is just a plot device to make Gus move to Montana and has no emotional impact.
I liked the arc of Max, and how Tara helped with his character development. His story was the most emotionally engaging, even if it wasn't pleasant.
This book has a potential, but feels more like draft that needs further developing. I've heard that a full lenght movie is in development and I think that since the authors are more of film-makers than writers, this story will be much more succesfull in a movie format. Can't wait to see it!
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