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Adorkable: A College Mystery
College theatre major Billy Williams will be lucky if he doesn’t die before the end of his first semester. He also must choose between the hot actor or the cute geek as a boyfriend.
Life is hard for a freshman.
Billy chose his college carefully. His dead Uncle William went there, studied the same major as Billy, and for a reason that no one seems to understand, died there. Was it foul play? Or, did Uncle William really kill himself?
Billy has to find out. He has been walking in his uncle’s footsteps since the moment he was born. He was named for him, looks like him, and is gay like him. With every step he takes, a chain of events is unlocked, and the past comes back with a vengeance. Can he survive, or will he succumb to his uncle’s fate?
A witty and fun adventure of the life of a theatre freshman as he balances work, boyfriends, rehearsal, and certain death!
Life is hard for a freshman.
Billy chose his college carefully. His dead Uncle William went there, studied the same major as Billy, and for a reason that no one seems to understand, died there. Was it foul play? Or, did Uncle William really kill himself?
Billy has to find out. He has been walking in his uncle’s footsteps since the moment he was born. He was named for him, looks like him, and is gay like him. With every step he takes, a chain of events is unlocked, and the past comes back with a vengeance. Can he survive, or will he succumb to his uncle’s fate?
A witty and fun adventure of the life of a theatre freshman as he balances work, boyfriends, rehearsal, and certain death!
- GenresRomanceM M Romance
Audible Audio
Published January 6, 2021
32 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Shane K. Morton
65 books240 followersShane K Morton lives in California with his husband and their fur baby. His Novels include: The Point Pleasant Holiday Series, Bluegrass Boys Series, Moray University Collection- Adorkable, The Trouble With Off-Campus Housing, Private Waterloos and The Year of the Cock. Short stories: And We Call It Bella Notte, Ginger in the City and Get off of my Runway. Shane can usually be found at a film festival or performing in cabaret somewhere in a dark dive bar in LA.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 12, 2020
The big thing that stuck out to me as I read this book was it kept biting off more and more. Issues of class, maintaining identity vs. masking try to achieve accomplishments, bigoted educators, broken social-academic-networking structures within Universities and societies, overt racism and well-intended white people who can nevertheless compound racial injustices. Would it be able to manage all this? It is, after all, one book, and the blurb bills it as a mystery/romance not...everything I just described. So...could it chew what it bit off?
No, no, it could not. I'm not even sure that the author intended to bite all this off or realized what was happening. Maybe he did and simply couldn't manage, perhaps he was trying to do something else. I don't know.
I also noticed some editing errors, and I basically never notice editing errors. People who notice that kind of thing would surely notice many more, so if that bothers you, there will probably be issues with this book.
Other than that, the characters will pretty much all low-key jerks. Not evil or anything, just unappealing. Either I vaguely disliked them or managed to pull up a feeling of neutrality. Yuki was probably my favorite character, and we didn't see him much.
I didn't get a sense of "mystery" at all until close to the end of the book. I determined what happened pretty easily, although I didn't necessarily mind that. This seemed more like a "kids at college" book than a mystery of any kind.
I eye-rolled hard at the romantic conclusion.
No, no, it could not. I'm not even sure that the author intended to bite all this off or realized what was happening. Maybe he did and simply couldn't manage, perhaps he was trying to do something else. I don't know.
I also noticed some editing errors, and I basically never notice editing errors. People who notice that kind of thing would surely notice many more, so if that bothers you, there will probably be issues with this book.
Other than that, the characters will pretty much all low-key jerks. Not evil or anything, just unappealing. Either I vaguely disliked them or managed to pull up a feeling of neutrality. Yuki was probably my favorite character, and we didn't see him much.
I didn't get a sense of "mystery" at all until close to the end of the book. I determined what happened pretty easily, although I didn't necessarily mind that. This seemed more like a "kids at college" book than a mystery of any kind.
I eye-rolled hard at the romantic conclusion.
March 1, 2020
A mystery novel, set in a college, Adorkable, follows Billy Williams, as he enters his first year of attending the college that his uncle attended, before his death. As Billy, and his best friend, Gwen, navigate college life, Billy is drawn into the mystery of what happened to his uncle, while falling for two men, one a fellow comic lover, and one that is a fellow dancer and actor. I loved Billy and Gwen's friendship, along with their roommates, Barbie and Yuki. You can feel Billy's pain at never getting to know his uncle, who he resembles. Both Dante and Alex, Billy's love interests, are lovable in different ways, and you understand why Billy is interested in both of them. Adorkable is tale full of fun, drama, and mystery.
June 11, 2020
Adorkable (A college mystery)
By Shane K. Morton
Published by the author, 2020
Four stars
A really charming, winsome story, I liked this book a great deal. We follow Billy Williams and his best friend Gwen to college – at a fictional Kentucky university called Moray State. The set-up is sort of a classic YA trope – gay boy leaving his conservative, church-driven family in the small-town south to find freedom (and a boyfriend) at college.
On top of that there’s a mystery in Billy’s family – his uncle William, who he resembles in every way, died mysteriously while attending Moray State twenty years before – and that mystery haunts his family still. (Note here, that the late uncle would be 42 now, so that means Billy’s parents could be my children!)
All I’m guessing is that Moray State is based on wherever Shane Morton went to school, because it is described in loving detail in a way that makes it feel real. Billy’s two-pronged goal in college also feels authentic – finding himself in the world of dance and acting, and finding out about this mysterious doppelganger of an uncle.
There is a great deal that charms with Morton’s prose, but there are also weird points of carelessness that irked me throughout. I don’t know what it is with the resistance to using contractions in dialogue – because that’s the way people talk. Morton is no novice novelist, and it was weird to see this hiccup in his writing. The big payoff at the end was rather telegraphed in advanced, which I don’t mind; but it was handled in what was, to me, an oddly perfunctory way. All of this is what cost the book a star in my rating.
What I loved is the characters, from Billy himself, to his bestie Gwen, and their quirky roommates – Yuki and Barbie (oh, boy, Barbie pushed credulity, but was hilarious). Alex and Dante, vying for Billy’s attentions (much to Billy’s dismay), are as interesting as all the other students in the story become. The adults, from Billy’s teachers to the parental Williamses come to life, and sometimes in surprising ways. (I will say that I read this book after reading a new book on the lives of gay couples in Mississippi, which taught me a lot about the realities of being gay in the south. It gave me insight into the characters in Morton’s novel)
I enjoyed this book so much I couldn’t give it a 3, but its literary flaws made a five impossible. Morton’s voice and his ability to express emotions are what carried it to a four.
By Shane K. Morton
Published by the author, 2020
Four stars
A really charming, winsome story, I liked this book a great deal. We follow Billy Williams and his best friend Gwen to college – at a fictional Kentucky university called Moray State. The set-up is sort of a classic YA trope – gay boy leaving his conservative, church-driven family in the small-town south to find freedom (and a boyfriend) at college.
On top of that there’s a mystery in Billy’s family – his uncle William, who he resembles in every way, died mysteriously while attending Moray State twenty years before – and that mystery haunts his family still. (Note here, that the late uncle would be 42 now, so that means Billy’s parents could be my children!)
All I’m guessing is that Moray State is based on wherever Shane Morton went to school, because it is described in loving detail in a way that makes it feel real. Billy’s two-pronged goal in college also feels authentic – finding himself in the world of dance and acting, and finding out about this mysterious doppelganger of an uncle.
There is a great deal that charms with Morton’s prose, but there are also weird points of carelessness that irked me throughout. I don’t know what it is with the resistance to using contractions in dialogue – because that’s the way people talk. Morton is no novice novelist, and it was weird to see this hiccup in his writing. The big payoff at the end was rather telegraphed in advanced, which I don’t mind; but it was handled in what was, to me, an oddly perfunctory way. All of this is what cost the book a star in my rating.
What I loved is the characters, from Billy himself, to his bestie Gwen, and their quirky roommates – Yuki and Barbie (oh, boy, Barbie pushed credulity, but was hilarious). Alex and Dante, vying for Billy’s attentions (much to Billy’s dismay), are as interesting as all the other students in the story become. The adults, from Billy’s teachers to the parental Williamses come to life, and sometimes in surprising ways. (I will say that I read this book after reading a new book on the lives of gay couples in Mississippi, which taught me a lot about the realities of being gay in the south. It gave me insight into the characters in Morton’s novel)
I enjoyed this book so much I couldn’t give it a 3, but its literary flaws made a five impossible. Morton’s voice and his ability to express emotions are what carried it to a four.
February 28, 2020
Can theatre nerds & Greeks solve a murder mystery,?
I don't normally read books set in college. But this book drew me in. It is full of diverse & intriguing characters. There are several story lines going on, and Shane has balanced them perfectly. From sorority pledging to Sock & Buskin, opposites attracting, young love, comic books, and a murder mystery decades old, the story weaves it's way seamlessly towards the very happy ending. I loved this book.
Billy Williams wants to be a dancer & actor. But the college he chooses harbors a dark secret... his uncle was killed there. The killer never found. Add the fact that he looks like his uncle, and things get confusing. Top this off with two guys interested in him and Billy has his hands full.
Billy's best friend Gwen is there too. She actually has a roommate named Barbie who is all into pink & becoming a Greek. Gwen is fiercely independent, but Barbie drags her along for the ride. Billy's roommate sells & smokes pot. Yuki is also crushing on Barbie. When Billy's dance class friends talk him into Sock & Buskin, he begins to unravel the truth behind his uncle's death.
The plot has twists you'll never see coming. But loyal friends and family will come through in the end. You will love this book.
This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.
I don't normally read books set in college. But this book drew me in. It is full of diverse & intriguing characters. There are several story lines going on, and Shane has balanced them perfectly. From sorority pledging to Sock & Buskin, opposites attracting, young love, comic books, and a murder mystery decades old, the story weaves it's way seamlessly towards the very happy ending. I loved this book.
Billy Williams wants to be a dancer & actor. But the college he chooses harbors a dark secret... his uncle was killed there. The killer never found. Add the fact that he looks like his uncle, and things get confusing. Top this off with two guys interested in him and Billy has his hands full.
Billy's best friend Gwen is there too. She actually has a roommate named Barbie who is all into pink & becoming a Greek. Gwen is fiercely independent, but Barbie drags her along for the ride. Billy's roommate sells & smokes pot. Yuki is also crushing on Barbie. When Billy's dance class friends talk him into Sock & Buskin, he begins to unravel the truth behind his uncle's death.
The plot has twists you'll never see coming. But loyal friends and family will come through in the end. You will love this book.
This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.
March 8, 2020
Loved this book! Having gone to college with the author, I was reliving some of my own experiences through his words and I saw a few recognizable faces in the pages. The story was moving and exciting. The conflict between picking the geek or the sexy god very well expressed. Loved all the twists. Great read!!
May 20, 2021
Better than Gettin' Lucky in Kentucky but still very generic and trope heavy.
June 8, 2020
Billy is a twin of his uncle William which includes his name. Uncle William had died at college and the mystery stayed hidden from young Billy his whole life. His now out to solve the mystery so he can get on with his life instead of always living in the shadow of his uncle. Going to the same school he starts a happy life and makes new friends while he gently digs about for details of his uncle. Two men are vying for his attention and it is hard to make a choice. He stumbles onto the answer to the mystery, but did he bite off more than he chew? A sweet story of coming of age, learning to yourself, coming out and almost dying. Can't beat that for a good read.
February 23, 2020
Interesting
This was an interesting read. Maybe a few too many characters to get a complete feel for them. The plot was decent though.
This was an interesting read. Maybe a few too many characters to get a complete feel for them. The plot was decent though.
February 22, 2021
Enjoyable coming-of-age story with a side of murder and mayhem.
There are a few parts where the wrong name is referred to that makes you stop and think, "huh?" and then you realize that the name is wrong. an example is Gwen saying something and then Gwen replying back and you are like, "huh, wait, what?" and then you have the ah-ha moment when you realize that it was Barbie and not Gwen that first said something and the wrong name was used.
I kind of wanted for Billy and Alex to stay together and was a bit sad how it turns out. I did figure out the mystery early on, but that isn't really the point. This is Billy's story and not Uncle William's.
All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining read.
There are a few parts where the wrong name is referred to that makes you stop and think, "huh?" and then you realize that the name is wrong. an example is Gwen saying something and then Gwen replying back and you are like, "huh, wait, what?" and then you have the ah-ha moment when you realize that it was Barbie and not Gwen that first said something and the wrong name was used.
I kind of wanted for Billy and Alex to stay together and was a bit sad how it turns out. I did figure out the mystery early on, but that isn't really the point. This is Billy's story and not Uncle William's.
All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining read.
June 30, 2021
Adorkable
Contains Spoilers.
As ever Shane Morton pulls through. This doesn’t feel quite as polished as his Vicki Dean and Ursula Mooley novels to me but definitely deserves its 5* rating.
The reasons could be that I found the plot very uncomplicated and easily predicted various events; Billy & Dante, Billy & Alex, Gwen & Marcus, Barbie & Yuki and the identity of Dr P and the killer of William Williams.
A couple of times the wrong name was affixed to a character and the proof reader really should have picked that up along with a couple of changes of tense.
Contains Spoilers.
As ever Shane Morton pulls through. This doesn’t feel quite as polished as his Vicki Dean and Ursula Mooley novels to me but definitely deserves its 5* rating.
The reasons could be that I found the plot very uncomplicated and easily predicted various events; Billy & Dante, Billy & Alex, Gwen & Marcus, Barbie & Yuki and the identity of Dr P and the killer of William Williams.
A couple of times the wrong name was affixed to a character and the proof reader really should have picked that up along with a couple of changes of tense.
December 9, 2020
I enjoyed college all over again. Unfortunately I was not out in college. Boy I wish I had been, but that was not possible in the pre-historic days!
Adorkable was light and romantic while still having a mysterious background. The inclusion of the Greek kids, the romance of more than just the main character and a time line that had to cross 20-25 years gave the story depth and interest. Now I want to read some of the related stories that Shane Morton has written
Adorkable was light and romantic while still having a mysterious background. The inclusion of the Greek kids, the romance of more than just the main character and a time line that had to cross 20-25 years gave the story depth and interest. Now I want to read some of the related stories that Shane Morton has written
April 16, 2022
I enjoyed this college/mystery story. Billy goes to the same college as his deceased uncle in the hopes that he can learn more about him and the mystery surrounding his death. Billy also meets two upperclassmen, Dante and Alex, who both vie for his attention. There was a lot of humor and sweet moments, as well as hot sexy scenes. I liked the theatre aspects of the story and the mystery was well thought out and intriguing. It was also fun seeing Gwen's point of view throughout the story.
March 7, 2020
DNF. I gave up at 31%, I don't fully understand all the American College jargon, neither the titles or the pledging or the jargon the students speak. I kept hoping it would get better and onto something other than pledges or politics or class level names. I like this author but this book was just not for me. The sad bit is I'll never know what really happened to William Williams.
November 24, 2022
Adorkable book 📕 1
This is a great mm romance mystery with college friends and chosen family and best friends growing up with not such great parents .Sassy and snarky banter and witty humour and growing up.Needs some editing ❣️💃🏻😓🎥☹️😜
This is a great mm romance mystery with college friends and chosen family and best friends growing up with not such great parents .Sassy and snarky banter and witty humour and growing up.Needs some editing ❣️💃🏻😓🎥☹️😜
May 23, 2021
Five minutes in and both the story and the narrator (Audible edition) get a rating of EWW !!!
January 28, 2022
2.5 stars. Wasn't really into reading about their whole college experience but the uncle plot line was interesting.
September 25, 2022
TLDR: Me too happened before this was written. Power imbalances are not ok--especially when a character is only 18.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews