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Remember My Name
Every action can have devastating consequences. For Jackson Roanoke, the greatest consequence of his parents’ divorce was watching his mother drive away with his twin brother Ben, putting thousands of miles between them.
Eight years later and with college looming, Jackson is tasked with reroofing his father’s house. After a tempting offer of help from a young man, Jackson finds himself caught up in a growing attraction he’s hesitant to embrace. But when his brother Ben reappears at the front door, Jackson is confronted by more than he’s prepared for.
Brought together by circumstance, the estranged brothers are forced to navigate a relationship that persists only in their memories. Marked by the heat of a Midwest summer and rolling wheat fields, the short months are punctuated by scattered moments of closeness between the two brothers, hinting at the possibility of rekindling the connection they once shared.
Eight years later and with college looming, Jackson is tasked with reroofing his father’s house. After a tempting offer of help from a young man, Jackson finds himself caught up in a growing attraction he’s hesitant to embrace. But when his brother Ben reappears at the front door, Jackson is confronted by more than he’s prepared for.
Brought together by circumstance, the estranged brothers are forced to navigate a relationship that persists only in their memories. Marked by the heat of a Midwest summer and rolling wheat fields, the short months are punctuated by scattered moments of closeness between the two brothers, hinting at the possibility of rekindling the connection they once shared.
254 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2015
17 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Chase Potter
7 books204 followersChase Potter is a young author from St. Paul, Minnesota. Having enjoyed writing from a young age, Chase sharpened his skills during college and a year abroad in Germany, culminating in his first novel, The Race for Second.
Chase lives with his husband Mitchell and their dog Alex in an aging duplex they're slowly working to rehabilitate. During the day he works in import logistics, but writing is his true passion that he continues to pursue.
Chase lives with his husband Mitchell and their dog Alex in an aging duplex they're slowly working to rehabilitate. During the day he works in import logistics, but writing is his true passion that he continues to pursue.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 23, 2015
Chase Potter has made his way onto my frenemies list with this book. Chase is a very sweet, thoughtful guy, but he's also a great writer, so I can't help but dislike him a bit. His last book, The Race for Second, was great, but didn't fill my spiteful little heart with jealousy the way this one did.
Remember My Name will probably be shelved as m/m and that's fine, but it's so much more. This is a story about twin brothers who have grown apart and are forced back together by circumstance. The book tells the story of the two of them working through sibling rivalry and sibling devotion over the course of a summer.
The strength of this book is the prose; Chase Potter is an elegant writer and I enjoy his use of language a great deal. As with his last book, I recommend this for everyone looking for a change of pace from the standard m/m fare.
Remember My Name will probably be shelved as m/m and that's fine, but it's so much more. This is a story about twin brothers who have grown apart and are forced back together by circumstance. The book tells the story of the two of them working through sibling rivalry and sibling devotion over the course of a summer.
The strength of this book is the prose; Chase Potter is an elegant writer and I enjoy his use of language a great deal. As with his last book, I recommend this for everyone looking for a change of pace from the standard m/m fare.
February 15, 2015
I’m about to play matchmaker, so grab your dating card and check your hair in the mirror on the way back. Before all that, let’s get through the absolute basics: Remember My Name is about twin brothers, one straight the other gay, who have spent the last decade of their eighteen years apart. They reunite and struggle with getting to know each other again, unresolved issues tripping them up while they also try to make sense of other relationships—both parental and romantic.
Now then, let’s try to figure out if you and this book have any potential together. I’m not fond of shoehorning books into specific categories, and with stories such as this one, it’s an exercise in futility. Is Remember My Name a romance? Not really, even though you do get to experience many typical elements like the excitement of meeting someone new, the rockier moments of uncertainty, and a few steamy sex scenes. All that is more a sideline to the main plot, which is about two brothers trying to come together. Er, not like that. If you’re one of those twisted people who get off on the idea of twin brothers hooking up (raises hand) then you can stop wondering. That’s not what this book is about, although there are enough homoerotic moments between the brothers to fuel a number of fantasies. No, this book is about family and how frustrating it is that we are woven from the same cloth and yet have so little in common. Using identical twins to explore this phenomenon is inspired. Chase Potter does a great job of creating two characters that really do feel like brothers, but are different enough to have their own identities. The book alternates between their perspectives, which I enjoyed, although I found myself fonder of the straight brother than the gay one. Go figure.
It’s inevitable with a new author that each of their books will be compared to the previous. Only when their catalog has grown will each be taken at face value. It’s a rite of passage though, so here goes: I enjoyed The Race for Second more. I liked how that book left me torn up inside. The pain the main character goes through is one I know well. Remember My Name is about family, and mine is very independent. My siblings are all much older than me, and we’re not terribly concerned with staying in touch, so the plot of this book didn’t resonate with me as much. Here’s where we play matchmaker though, because if you were unhappy with the ending of The Race for Second, I think you’ll enjoy this book more. If you’re a little burnt out on the romance genre but don’t want to stray too far, this book is a perfect compromise. If you’re hungry for something new—well, I can’t say I’ve ever read a book like this one before!
The writing is excellent, feeling tighter than the previous book, the plot moving faster. You’ll find some beautiful turns of phrase (“The seconds hover in the air like dandelion seeds, as though waiting for a nonexistent wind to force them onward.”), the characters are nuanced, the plot engaging, and you can tell the author put a tremendous amount of love into creating this story. That’s the sort of book I adore, and I found myself eager to keep turning pages. It might not have knocked the previous book off its pedestal and taken its place as personal favorite, but I still had a good time reading it. You should do the same and decide how you feel. Ultimately, Remember My Name is a story about the power of love and the importance of commitment. Just not in the way you might expect.
Now then, let’s try to figure out if you and this book have any potential together. I’m not fond of shoehorning books into specific categories, and with stories such as this one, it’s an exercise in futility. Is Remember My Name a romance? Not really, even though you do get to experience many typical elements like the excitement of meeting someone new, the rockier moments of uncertainty, and a few steamy sex scenes. All that is more a sideline to the main plot, which is about two brothers trying to come together. Er, not like that. If you’re one of those twisted people who get off on the idea of twin brothers hooking up (raises hand) then you can stop wondering. That’s not what this book is about, although there are enough homoerotic moments between the brothers to fuel a number of fantasies. No, this book is about family and how frustrating it is that we are woven from the same cloth and yet have so little in common. Using identical twins to explore this phenomenon is inspired. Chase Potter does a great job of creating two characters that really do feel like brothers, but are different enough to have their own identities. The book alternates between their perspectives, which I enjoyed, although I found myself fonder of the straight brother than the gay one. Go figure.
It’s inevitable with a new author that each of their books will be compared to the previous. Only when their catalog has grown will each be taken at face value. It’s a rite of passage though, so here goes: I enjoyed The Race for Second more. I liked how that book left me torn up inside. The pain the main character goes through is one I know well. Remember My Name is about family, and mine is very independent. My siblings are all much older than me, and we’re not terribly concerned with staying in touch, so the plot of this book didn’t resonate with me as much. Here’s where we play matchmaker though, because if you were unhappy with the ending of The Race for Second, I think you’ll enjoy this book more. If you’re a little burnt out on the romance genre but don’t want to stray too far, this book is a perfect compromise. If you’re hungry for something new—well, I can’t say I’ve ever read a book like this one before!
The writing is excellent, feeling tighter than the previous book, the plot moving faster. You’ll find some beautiful turns of phrase (“The seconds hover in the air like dandelion seeds, as though waiting for a nonexistent wind to force them onward.”), the characters are nuanced, the plot engaging, and you can tell the author put a tremendous amount of love into creating this story. That’s the sort of book I adore, and I found myself eager to keep turning pages. It might not have knocked the previous book off its pedestal and taken its place as personal favorite, but I still had a good time reading it. You should do the same and decide how you feel. Ultimately, Remember My Name is a story about the power of love and the importance of commitment. Just not in the way you might expect.
December 30, 2015
The two words we've just exchanged are so much more than that. They contain more information than an encyclopedia and are more heartfelt than a romance novel. They're a declaration, an affirmation, and an oath -- of our brotherhood, and our twinship.
I think this particular line gives a good overview of what's in store for readers upon reading the book.
First, it shows the level of maturity and mastery that Chase Potter pours when he weaves his story. It is always a delight for a reader to be able to connect not only to the author's characters but also to the littlest of details encompassing those characters. To be captivated by how rural Minnesota is vividly described even just through details of the greenery. Or to be filled with warmth by how summer is recounted or plagued with worry when the author depicted the ruckus of a thunderstorm. Or to hear the nagging silence between brothers even when merely reading or the desperation of breaking their growing divide by analyzing what has not been said. That is a skill like no other. To be able to paint a picture with that much expressiveness and clarity is something that so many experienced authors lack today. Reading work such as this is like getting happily buzzed on some expensive wine you've been wanting to taste for so long.
In conjunction with the author's caliber in telling a story is his unique style of writing. The book gained good momentum from the onset, although I have to admit that it started to wane towards the end. Irregardless, it did not stand in the way of Chase Potter's exceptional style of writing. I love how he injected just bits of Jackson and Ben's past to form a solid foundation to the story set in the present. It was creatively done such that there was still a sense of mystery and suspense in the storyline prompting me to want to know more. But it was also done right such that my curiosity was piqued while not actually bombarded with too much information in trying to keep up with both their past and present.
Third, the line above definitely confirms that while there is romance, it is not the primary focus of this story. It transcends the kind of love shared by two people who are not affiliated by blood. It even transcends the kind of love shared by two people who are. While this is about family, for me, it goes beyond that by allowing us to comprehend a bond which is shared only by few. It gives us a realistic insight of what happens when that bond is unfortunately severed and the exasperating journey towards rebuilding the bridge that has been burned by time -- how our main characters try to understand themselves in the process of re-establishing the lost connection with one another. I've also read I'll Give You the Sun which more or less introduces the twin relationship like here in Remember My Name. And although both books are different in so many aspects (I could go on and on), one thing is definite: the relationship between twins is extraordinarily special.
Although Jackson and Ben are identical twins and both narrated over and over that physically they are almost alike, Chase Potter carefully and cleverly lays out the many differences between them beyond the aspect of physicality all throughout the book. Jackson has this strong and cool persona surrounding him which made him the protector in the eyes of Ben starting from their childhood years. Ben on the other hand, is sensitive and had been living in the shadows of his brother for so long. Both of them had their own idea of who plays what role in their unique relationship but the years apart and the changes brought by being far from the other made them reflect on those ingrained perceptions once again. Similar with Ben and Jackson, I was also forced to rethink my impression of the twins as the story progressed. I think this is really Chase Potter's intention. To break away from the stereotypes and eliminate the line that we drew for ourselves. It's funny that we call foul when people pass the wrong judgment about us but we are also guilty of having biases ourselves. Acceptance, understanding, and growth only come when we rid ourselves of all these biases and stereotypes (which for me was what helped forged Jackson and Ben's impregnable bond in the end).
In conclusion, I'd say that Chase Potter is a force to be reckoned with. I am definitely looking forward to more of this indie author's work in the future.
July 15, 2015
This may not be a romance, but THIS IS a love story with an incredibly satisfying ending.
The love in this story is that of 18-year old estranged twin brothers who have lived apart since their parent's divorce 10 years previously. Jackson is gay, though not yet out, and his brother is straight. As children, they were everything to each other, but when the family split up they broke apart.
The story centres around the summer after high school when Ben is forced to live with Jackson and his Dad. It is told in first person alternating POV which worked really well for me. I really "got" why the relationship was broken, I felt the hurts and understood why it was so hard for each to get close to the other again:
"It wasn't just a nickname. It meant all of what Jackson was to me. He was my Jacks. He was there for me whenever I needed him, my partner in crime, my best friend, my twin brother. He was everything to me. But none of that's true anymore. He knows it and so do I."
It's a very difficult summer for both Jackson and Ben but eventually they start to find each other again. There were many times when I just wanted to yell at them to just talk about things properly! However, I got why they couldn't do that. But once they finally understood each other again, they realized how strong their love for each other is and the bond between them becomes as solid as when they were children.
To me, this is just as, or more, satisfying than a romantic HEA because at that age, boyfriends/girlfriends come and go, but the deep bond between the brothers will continue for the rest of their lives. By the end of the book, I just know that these guys are going to make it and be happy in life because they are always going to be there for each other.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves coming of age stories, young adult m/m fiction and stories about mending broken family relationships.
The love in this story is that of 18-year old estranged twin brothers who have lived apart since their parent's divorce 10 years previously. Jackson is gay, though not yet out, and his brother is straight. As children, they were everything to each other, but when the family split up they broke apart.
The story centres around the summer after high school when Ben is forced to live with Jackson and his Dad. It is told in first person alternating POV which worked really well for me. I really "got" why the relationship was broken, I felt the hurts and understood why it was so hard for each to get close to the other again:
"It wasn't just a nickname. It meant all of what Jackson was to me. He was my Jacks. He was there for me whenever I needed him, my partner in crime, my best friend, my twin brother. He was everything to me. But none of that's true anymore. He knows it and so do I."
It's a very difficult summer for both Jackson and Ben but eventually they start to find each other again. There were many times when I just wanted to yell at them to just talk about things properly! However, I got why they couldn't do that. But once they finally understood each other again, they realized how strong their love for each other is and the bond between them becomes as solid as when they were children.
To me, this is just as, or more, satisfying than a romantic HEA because at that age, boyfriends/girlfriends come and go, but the deep bond between the brothers will continue for the rest of their lives. By the end of the book, I just know that these guys are going to make it and be happy in life because they are always going to be there for each other.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves coming of age stories, young adult m/m fiction and stories about mending broken family relationships.
February 13, 2015
Disclaimer: I was one of the early reviewers of this novel. However, I'm not one to mince words about books. With that, my review.
Remember My Name is Chase Potter's second book, following his debut novel called The Race for Second. Let me tell you: this guy's got it.
Without giving too much of the storyline away, Remember My Name opens with a scene where sparks fly from the very first sentence, and the book doesn't really let up in intensity until the very last page. It's at times sweet, other times sexy, and in some places very dark.
The book's main characters, Jackson and Ben, are twin brothers who, for all their shortcomings, are ultimately lovable. Their intertwined stories kept making me incredibly anxious to get back to reading whenever I had to stop and put the book down. And while I think some readers may find Jackson and Ben's sibling bond far-fetched, I found it believable once their back story was fully revealed.
There's also at least one character in the book who readers are going to love to despise. At one point, I yelled at him, out loud!
Sometimes, "sophomore" novels can be a bit of a let-down, but if anything, Remember My Name is even better than The Race for Second. Potter is a quickly emerging talent, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Remember My Name is Chase Potter's second book, following his debut novel called The Race for Second. Let me tell you: this guy's got it.
Without giving too much of the storyline away, Remember My Name opens with a scene where sparks fly from the very first sentence, and the book doesn't really let up in intensity until the very last page. It's at times sweet, other times sexy, and in some places very dark.
The book's main characters, Jackson and Ben, are twin brothers who, for all their shortcomings, are ultimately lovable. Their intertwined stories kept making me incredibly anxious to get back to reading whenever I had to stop and put the book down. And while I think some readers may find Jackson and Ben's sibling bond far-fetched, I found it believable once their back story was fully revealed.
There's also at least one character in the book who readers are going to love to despise. At one point, I yelled at him, out loud!
Sometimes, "sophomore" novels can be a bit of a let-down, but if anything, Remember My Name is even better than The Race for Second. Potter is a quickly emerging talent, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
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February 15, 2015
AWESOME BOOK!!!
Remember My Name by Chase Potter
That's EXACTLY what we need to do...Remember Chase Potter's name because he's a brilliant writer and he's going to be around for a while if he continues putting out novels like this one.
I read this book a few days ago and loved it. But I wanted to wait and think on this before I gave my opinion. And now I can honestly say without a doubt, that this has to be one of the best books that I have ever read! I don't know if it's because of the bonds I have with my own siblings and can relate so much to the story line or because it's just a well written novel. Whichever, I just loved this book.
I became a fan of Chase Potter after reading his debut novel, The Race For Second. He has a beautiful style of writing that keeps my attention and holds me in suspense till the end.
What I like about this book is although it falls under the m/m genre, it's more a story about family and sibling bonding. It's a novel that just happens to have a m/m relationship in the story.
Jackson and Ben Roanoke are identical twins. Inseparable from birth until a nasty divorce when they were ten sends Ben away with their mother in LA and Jackson staying with their father in Minnesota.
Heartbroken, the twins are forced apart. Neither understanding why the other chose to leave. Time and hurt feelings distance any relationship they once had, until eight years later circumstances send Ben back to Jackson for a summer visit.
All of those hurt feelings and questions resurface all over again, leaving both boys asking.......why did you ever leave me?
To complicate matters, Jackson is in the middle of reroofing the family home. While at the hardware store Jackson meets Matt, a college sophomore on summer break and offers him a job helping with the reroofing. Jackson can't keep his eyes off Matt and for the first time he finds himself in a gay relationship. A relationship that he wants desperately to keep secret from his family and friends.
Neither one of the brothers is excited about reuniting for the summer. Both have been living completely different lives and have grown too far apart to get back the closeness they once shared. But living together again, they realize how much they've missed each other. However, too much time has past and too many hard feelings over the years make it almost impossible to get that closeness back.
But when Jackson's troubled relationship with their father becomes apparent and Matt's true motives surface, it's Ben who will do whatever it takes to protect the brother he loves.
Some reviews I've read on this book say that there is no HEA ending in this story. I have to disagree. There most definitely is a HEA! And every brother out there will agree with me.
I absolutely recommend this novel to everyone wanting to read a great story. And look forward to the next novel from Chase Potter.
So yes...............Remember Chase Potter's name!!!
Great job Chase! Excellent novel!
Remember My Name by Chase Potter
That's EXACTLY what we need to do...Remember Chase Potter's name because he's a brilliant writer and he's going to be around for a while if he continues putting out novels like this one.
I read this book a few days ago and loved it. But I wanted to wait and think on this before I gave my opinion. And now I can honestly say without a doubt, that this has to be one of the best books that I have ever read! I don't know if it's because of the bonds I have with my own siblings and can relate so much to the story line or because it's just a well written novel. Whichever, I just loved this book.
I became a fan of Chase Potter after reading his debut novel, The Race For Second. He has a beautiful style of writing that keeps my attention and holds me in suspense till the end.
What I like about this book is although it falls under the m/m genre, it's more a story about family and sibling bonding. It's a novel that just happens to have a m/m relationship in the story.
Jackson and Ben Roanoke are identical twins. Inseparable from birth until a nasty divorce when they were ten sends Ben away with their mother in LA and Jackson staying with their father in Minnesota.
Heartbroken, the twins are forced apart. Neither understanding why the other chose to leave. Time and hurt feelings distance any relationship they once had, until eight years later circumstances send Ben back to Jackson for a summer visit.
All of those hurt feelings and questions resurface all over again, leaving both boys asking.......why did you ever leave me?
To complicate matters, Jackson is in the middle of reroofing the family home. While at the hardware store Jackson meets Matt, a college sophomore on summer break and offers him a job helping with the reroofing. Jackson can't keep his eyes off Matt and for the first time he finds himself in a gay relationship. A relationship that he wants desperately to keep secret from his family and friends.
Neither one of the brothers is excited about reuniting for the summer. Both have been living completely different lives and have grown too far apart to get back the closeness they once shared. But living together again, they realize how much they've missed each other. However, too much time has past and too many hard feelings over the years make it almost impossible to get that closeness back.
But when Jackson's troubled relationship with their father becomes apparent and Matt's true motives surface, it's Ben who will do whatever it takes to protect the brother he loves.
Some reviews I've read on this book say that there is no HEA ending in this story. I have to disagree. There most definitely is a HEA! And every brother out there will agree with me.
I absolutely recommend this novel to everyone wanting to read a great story. And look forward to the next novel from Chase Potter.
So yes...............Remember Chase Potter's name!!!
Great job Chase! Excellent novel!
February 23, 2015
I'd never heard of Chase Potter before. It was Jay Bell's review of this book appearing on my feed that piqued my interest. After reading Remember My Name, you can add me to the growing list of Potter fans.
Let's start with the characters. All of these characters felt like real people. They weren't over the top or too great to be real. They had flaws but at the same time were well developed. And don't even get me started on Benny and Jacks. I fell in love with these boys. I just wanted to hug each of them and tell them everything was going to work out.
The dialogue in this story was excellent. It didn't feel forced. I didn't cringe when I read the conversations between the characters. They felt natural. The ebb and flow between dialogue and narrative made for a well paced read.
There were so many things to like about this book that I feel like I could go on and on. I read this book in a matter of two days and that was only because other matters forced me to put it down. Otherwise it would have been one day.
I'm glad I gave this book a chance.
Let's start with the characters. All of these characters felt like real people. They weren't over the top or too great to be real. They had flaws but at the same time were well developed. And don't even get me started on Benny and Jacks. I fell in love with these boys. I just wanted to hug each of them and tell them everything was going to work out.
The dialogue in this story was excellent. It didn't feel forced. I didn't cringe when I read the conversations between the characters. They felt natural. The ebb and flow between dialogue and narrative made for a well paced read.
There were so many things to like about this book that I feel like I could go on and on. I read this book in a matter of two days and that was only because other matters forced me to put it down. Otherwise it would have been one day.
I'm glad I gave this book a chance.
February 12, 2015
When I had read Chase Potter’s first book „The Race For Second“, I’ve been very impressed by his ability and knowledge in creating believable, genuine characters and their surroundings.
I was curious, if he’d be able to do the same in his second book and I have to say it just so: “Wow, well done again, Chase!”
This is not the usual m/m romance, just to say that in the beginning. If you want two better than good guys getting their HEA, you’ll find out, this is not going to happen in this book. But I still would encourage you to read it. It’s a wonderfully written book that shows great writing skills. Each character is unique and subtly well crafted.
The book itself is a lot about growing up, finding out who you are and what you want.
Jackson and Ben had been inseparable as kids, twin brothers who were very different but had their backs. Then the unimaginable happened, their parents were getting divorced and circumstances were leading to their separation. Jackson is growing up with his father, not seeing Ben again. Then, during summer break years later, when Jackson actually wants to explore being gay and his sexuality with Matt, a guy only two years older than him, Ben is kind of “forced” back on him.
Neither of the two brothers is very comfortable with the situation. While being apart, living very different lives, they had been able to cope with the loss of the other but when living together again, they realize how much they missed the way things had been but they don’t seem to be able to go back to their former closeness. Too much has happened or even worse not happened and had been left unspoken.
I’ve read this book as a Betareader. New Adult, Young Adult or whatever you want to call it, books about growing up aren’t my usual reading material. But as said before, the sheer beauty and skill of Chase’s first book made me agree to read this one and I’m very, very happy that I could do this.
If you are looking for a book that doesn’t cater to the growing mass of “all the same” books but has substance, complex human characters, well-crafted atmosphere and is skillfully written – try this one. And while it doesn’t have a HEA, it certainly doesn’t need one. The end is nonetheless a good one.
I was curious, if he’d be able to do the same in his second book and I have to say it just so: “Wow, well done again, Chase!”
This is not the usual m/m romance, just to say that in the beginning. If you want two better than good guys getting their HEA, you’ll find out, this is not going to happen in this book. But I still would encourage you to read it. It’s a wonderfully written book that shows great writing skills. Each character is unique and subtly well crafted.
The book itself is a lot about growing up, finding out who you are and what you want.
Jackson and Ben had been inseparable as kids, twin brothers who were very different but had their backs. Then the unimaginable happened, their parents were getting divorced and circumstances were leading to their separation. Jackson is growing up with his father, not seeing Ben again. Then, during summer break years later, when Jackson actually wants to explore being gay and his sexuality with Matt, a guy only two years older than him, Ben is kind of “forced” back on him.
Neither of the two brothers is very comfortable with the situation. While being apart, living very different lives, they had been able to cope with the loss of the other but when living together again, they realize how much they missed the way things had been but they don’t seem to be able to go back to their former closeness. Too much has happened or even worse not happened and had been left unspoken.
I’ve read this book as a Betareader. New Adult, Young Adult or whatever you want to call it, books about growing up aren’t my usual reading material. But as said before, the sheer beauty and skill of Chase’s first book made me agree to read this one and I’m very, very happy that I could do this.
If you are looking for a book that doesn’t cater to the growing mass of “all the same” books but has substance, complex human characters, well-crafted atmosphere and is skillfully written – try this one. And while it doesn’t have a HEA, it certainly doesn’t need one. The end is nonetheless a good one.
April 15, 2015
Wow. I didn't expect this one to be as good as it turned out to be. My expectation was for a fairly light, fluffy read. But almost everything about this is exceedingly well done. My first reaction was to the cover -- I love the cover art. The brooding teen male is a good representation of the two main lead characters of the story.
The story itself had me engaged from the start, but when it turned about that Jackson had an identical twin brother and that the two of them had been separated nearly ten years earlier as part of their parents nasty separation and divorce, the story suddenly became even more engaging for me. Jackson has his own issues as a closeted gay guy living with and working for his father in the family greenhouse. He's very alone and he's terribly lonely, until he meets Matt and they have a tentative advance/retreat type of relationship. Here is the one place where I fault the author: I cannot picture a teenaged male with buckets of testosterone coursing through his bloodstream refusing sex like Jackson did. That part did not fit the rest of the picture of Jackson.
Benjamin, Jackson's identical twin brother, gets shipped to Minnesota to spend the summer with his father and his long estranged brother, much against his wishes. His mother has to leave on a multi-month business trip and even though he's eighteen, she wants him to have supervision while she's out of the country for such an extended period of time. Ben gets to Minnesota with an attitude, which isn't helped when he finds out that Jackson seems to be mad at him and disdainful of him. He's even more annoyed when he learns that he has to work at the greenhouse doing hard manual labor every day of the week. But its there that he meets a girl he really likes and finally works up the urge to ask out. The problem is that he's so focused on why Jackson is mad at him and the mistakes that he sees Jackson making with Matt, that he isn't able to focus sufficiently on her and they go their separate ways.
At first, Ben seems like a spoiled brat, but I still felt for him and for the situation he'd been dumped in that was completely outside of his control. To go from living in Los Angeles to living in rural Minnesota with next to no warning must have been brutal, and the author conveys this sense of loss, longing, and the fish out of water feeling Ben was experiencing.
Ben increasingly tries to make peace with Jackson because he's really missed the guy who for years was his best friend, the guy who knew him as well as he knew himself. But Jackson is angry. He's angry that Ben and his mom left him years ago with an angry, abusive father who took out his frustrations about his marriage failing on his innocent son. Ben is angry and that anger has built over the nearly ten years they'd been separated. It takes Ben a lot of work to get that from Jackson and to finally persuade him that Ben didn't do it, but the separation was inflicted on them and that neither of them had any control over the situation. They were kids and had no choice.
Things spiral downward for Jackson and I really felt for him as he watched everything fall apart. He's accidentally outed to the entire town when someone overhears a private conversation, the guy he'd been sort of seeing for two summers turns out to be a schmuck who uses him but intends to return to his real boyfriend at the end of summer. But as things go to hell so quickly, it gives Ben the entry into what's been happening to Jackson and why he's so mad.
When Ben sees what Jackson has had to endure, the non-stop psychological torture, the constant belittling his father heaps upon him, the occasional physical abuse, he decides he can't leave Jackson behind and together they take off. If you want to know more, you'll just have to red the book. Trust me, its a good read with great main characters.
I was a little unsure why the author included the little old lady who shopped at the greenhouse, but she appeared numerous times. It wasn't clear what her role was.
The story itself had me engaged from the start, but when it turned about that Jackson had an identical twin brother and that the two of them had been separated nearly ten years earlier as part of their parents nasty separation and divorce, the story suddenly became even more engaging for me. Jackson has his own issues as a closeted gay guy living with and working for his father in the family greenhouse. He's very alone and he's terribly lonely, until he meets Matt and they have a tentative advance/retreat type of relationship. Here is the one place where I fault the author: I cannot picture a teenaged male with buckets of testosterone coursing through his bloodstream refusing sex like Jackson did. That part did not fit the rest of the picture of Jackson.
Benjamin, Jackson's identical twin brother, gets shipped to Minnesota to spend the summer with his father and his long estranged brother, much against his wishes. His mother has to leave on a multi-month business trip and even though he's eighteen, she wants him to have supervision while she's out of the country for such an extended period of time. Ben gets to Minnesota with an attitude, which isn't helped when he finds out that Jackson seems to be mad at him and disdainful of him. He's even more annoyed when he learns that he has to work at the greenhouse doing hard manual labor every day of the week. But its there that he meets a girl he really likes and finally works up the urge to ask out. The problem is that he's so focused on why Jackson is mad at him and the mistakes that he sees Jackson making with Matt, that he isn't able to focus sufficiently on her and they go their separate ways.
At first, Ben seems like a spoiled brat, but I still felt for him and for the situation he'd been dumped in that was completely outside of his control. To go from living in Los Angeles to living in rural Minnesota with next to no warning must have been brutal, and the author conveys this sense of loss, longing, and the fish out of water feeling Ben was experiencing.
Ben increasingly tries to make peace with Jackson because he's really missed the guy who for years was his best friend, the guy who knew him as well as he knew himself. But Jackson is angry. He's angry that Ben and his mom left him years ago with an angry, abusive father who took out his frustrations about his marriage failing on his innocent son. Ben is angry and that anger has built over the nearly ten years they'd been separated. It takes Ben a lot of work to get that from Jackson and to finally persuade him that Ben didn't do it, but the separation was inflicted on them and that neither of them had any control over the situation. They were kids and had no choice.
Things spiral downward for Jackson and I really felt for him as he watched everything fall apart. He's accidentally outed to the entire town when someone overhears a private conversation, the guy he'd been sort of seeing for two summers turns out to be a schmuck who uses him but intends to return to his real boyfriend at the end of summer. But as things go to hell so quickly, it gives Ben the entry into what's been happening to Jackson and why he's so mad.
When Ben sees what Jackson has had to endure, the non-stop psychological torture, the constant belittling his father heaps upon him, the occasional physical abuse, he decides he can't leave Jackson behind and together they take off. If you want to know more, you'll just have to red the book. Trust me, its a good read with great main characters.
I was a little unsure why the author included the little old lady who shopped at the greenhouse, but she appeared numerous times. It wasn't clear what her role was.
April 13, 2016
Ok. I just finished reading this novel...for the 2nd time. The first time was at some point in 2015. However, there was a connection that I couldn't quite figure out that brought me back. Until now.
"Remember My Name" is a brilliantly written novel that I didn't see coming. It's about Jackson and Ben, identical twins, that are brought together after being apart for 8 years. Let's get this out of the way first: there is no and has never been an incestuous relationship between them. Period. One is gay, the other straight.
Ultimately "Remember My Name" is about losing your brother...your best friend...someone you would do anything for...the closest person to your heart. After years of being apart, they barely know each other...on the surface. It's what's underneath that gives an underlying hope, that neither Jackson nor Ben would admit, they will find each other again.
This isn't a Romance novel, although there are elements of one in it. It's something much better than that. It's about loss, confusion, anger, fear, love, and the warmth of the human heart. One unique to brothers...especially identical twins.
I'm not going to beat around the bush so I'll just say it. I felt then fell for both of them...though not romantically. I've never read anything like it. It took me reading this a 2nd time to realize and understand the true meaning of the title!
"Remember My Name" is about love-TRUE love, soul mates, and a connection few will have or experience. Although there are elements some might not understand, they are what keep Jackson and Ben at odds throughout with the hope that they can get back what they once had and lost. The fact that it's told from both brothers' point of view make it that much more in-depth. We get to know them both. Through and through. It's one of those novels where, while not too short, if it were longer...if it kept going, I wouldn't have noticed.
Like the novel they're in, Jackson and Ben will remain in my heart long after finishing this "chapter in their lives."
(Yes, Chase Potter, that had a double meaning-I seriously doubt that it is possible to have too much of this good...no great story and the twin brothers that make it so)
"Remember My Name" is a brilliantly written novel that I didn't see coming. It's about Jackson and Ben, identical twins, that are brought together after being apart for 8 years. Let's get this out of the way first: there is no and has never been an incestuous relationship between them. Period. One is gay, the other straight.
Ultimately "Remember My Name" is about losing your brother...your best friend...someone you would do anything for...the closest person to your heart. After years of being apart, they barely know each other...on the surface. It's what's underneath that gives an underlying hope, that neither Jackson nor Ben would admit, they will find each other again.
This isn't a Romance novel, although there are elements of one in it. It's something much better than that. It's about loss, confusion, anger, fear, love, and the warmth of the human heart. One unique to brothers...especially identical twins.
I'm not going to beat around the bush so I'll just say it. I felt then fell for both of them...though not romantically. I've never read anything like it. It took me reading this a 2nd time to realize and understand the true meaning of the title!
"Remember My Name" is about love-TRUE love, soul mates, and a connection few will have or experience. Although there are elements some might not understand, they are what keep Jackson and Ben at odds throughout with the hope that they can get back what they once had and lost. The fact that it's told from both brothers' point of view make it that much more in-depth. We get to know them both. Through and through. It's one of those novels where, while not too short, if it were longer...if it kept going, I wouldn't have noticed.
Like the novel they're in, Jackson and Ben will remain in my heart long after finishing this "chapter in their lives."
(Yes, Chase Potter, that had a double meaning-I seriously doubt that it is possible to have too much of this good...no great story and the twin brothers that make it so)
April 20, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. This is not a traditional mm romance. It's a sibling romance. This book was a recommendation and I'm so glad I picked it up. The book is about twin brothers who are seperated for years then suddenly reunited. The love these two have for each other is nothing short of inspirational. I was captivated, frustrated, and sometimes overwhelmed. 5 enthusiastic stars. Warning if your looking for a traditional romance or lots of sex don't pick this one up its not for you. This book was an emotional roller coaster of the sibling proportion and left me really really wanting to see my own.
July 19, 2019
After first reading 'Music of the Spheres' by Chase Potter, I knew with certainty that this book would not be as good. I was right. 'Music' was absolute perfection! So, if 'Music' was a 100 ... 'Remember My Name' was a 98. Chase Potter is now officially my favorite current author. Such deep, real characters that I can relate to so personally and he tells their story quite brilliantly. I know "hard to put down" is SO cliche ... but SO true for Potter's books. You just have to know what's going to happen to these people that you fall in love with! I'll be jumping right into the next one!
April 8, 2015
I've read the other Chase Potter story, and truly have to say this is far and away the better one. The thought of twins being separated, and then being able to reconnect. Even if in the intervening years, one of them lives hell on earth and decides to acknowledge a part of himself that is going to make the rest of his life just as much a hell in some places. But he has his other half back to help hi through it all.
February 18, 2015
I LOVED this book. There are two books that I read every single year, and I am making this book number three.
April 24, 2016
This was my first Chase Potter read and I must admit that I was impressed with his writing style and ability to deliver a compelling story.
But just to set correct expectations: This is *not* an M/M romance.
"Remember My Name" does have some elements of a romance, but sorry twincest fans, there are no 'sexy times' between the brothers.
At 18, Jackson and Ben are identical twins, inseparable until age 8, then forced apart for a decade, when their parents' divorce and their mother takes Ben and moves 2000 miles away.
This is the story of the brothers (one gay, one straight) reconnecting and getting past long-held resentments that came about due to a bad situation not of their own making.
Each brother feels abandoned by the other, causing serious damage that requires a lot of rebuilding of trust, which I found very interesting to experience on page here.
My only real criticism is that while both brothers are written as being downright desperate to reclaim the close relationship that they once had, when one brother extends an olive branch and begins to open up, *several* times in the story, the other brother basically spits in his face, then walks away, doing the exact opposite of what he truly wants.
“Sorry to tell you, Ben, but he’s gone. I’m still your brother, always have been, but things are different now. You might as well forget about the way it used to be between us, because that’s in the past.”Past hurts, yes, I get that. I may even have a few of my own, but those 'slapping away the olive branch' scenes came off as very heavy-handed after the 4th or 5th time that it happened and approached drama llama melodramatic for me.
I really enjoyed the story, especially once we get to the scene where Benny protects Jacks from their passive-aggressive father (that asshole scared the shit out of me, always about to boil over, if his authority was ever questioned), so I'd definitely suggest giving this 4-star book a read.
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This was my own copy of the book and was not provided by the publisher.
** NOTE: This is currently a free read with Kindle Unlimited, as of 2016-04-24.
May 13, 2015
This was not a romance. This was however an exceptional read. I will read more by this author and hope for maybe a spin off from this book.
August 30, 2015
5 Stars
I am so confused whether to give this book a 4 or a 5 stars. But at the end of the day, I am giving this a 5 since I did enjoy reading this book.
Don't expect to know everything. This book has many loose strings on it that leaves me craving for more but I guess Chase Potter intends to only give us a glimpse of a certain period in the lives of the twin brothers, Benny and Jackson, and imparting that certain period in their lives doesn't require a complete answers to all questions.
I've read this book since I thought it was an M/M Romance. I was not in the mood to read anything otherwise but I already started reading it so, whatever. This book is all about twin brothers who got separated due to a family crisis and now would like to get back the time they've lost because of that separation. One is well, gay and the other is straight. How will this difference as well as the bitterness and resentment throughout all the years they've been separated bring them back to one another?
I like the characters Chase created here but I have to admit that they left me confused. For example, I thought Matt was actually an okay guy but he turns out to be an asshole, and the twin's dad is also nice but has some major parental issues but that doesn't mean he's bad enough for them to abandon him. I feel for the dad since I really don't understand his issues (a flaw of this book.) I am not sure if the characters weren't just well-developed or well-cleared or it's a weakness of the author in a sense that he can't decide if a character is actually bad or not.
And the ever so overused romance plot twist - i.e. CHEATING - has been used again. C'mon, is there any other plot twist that can be used besides cheating? I mean, do we really imply that in every relationship, cheating will always be a present obstacle to brace a couple?
Other than this, it's a very compelling read. Enough that even if I am into a different genre, I still read the book until its end.
If you want family stuff and great angst, this book is for you.
I am so confused whether to give this book a 4 or a 5 stars. But at the end of the day, I am giving this a 5 since I did enjoy reading this book.
Don't expect to know everything. This book has many loose strings on it that leaves me craving for more but I guess Chase Potter intends to only give us a glimpse of a certain period in the lives of the twin brothers, Benny and Jackson, and imparting that certain period in their lives doesn't require a complete answers to all questions.
I've read this book since I thought it was an M/M Romance. I was not in the mood to read anything otherwise but I already started reading it so, whatever. This book is all about twin brothers who got separated due to a family crisis and now would like to get back the time they've lost because of that separation. One is well, gay and the other is straight. How will this difference as well as the bitterness and resentment throughout all the years they've been separated bring them back to one another?
I like the characters Chase created here but I have to admit that they left me confused. For example, I thought Matt was actually an okay guy but he turns out to be an asshole, and the twin's dad is also nice but has some major parental issues but that doesn't mean he's bad enough for them to abandon him. I feel for the dad since I really don't understand his issues (a flaw of this book.) I am not sure if the characters weren't just well-developed or well-cleared or it's a weakness of the author in a sense that he can't decide if a character is actually bad or not.
And the ever so overused romance plot twist - i.e. CHEATING - has been used again. C'mon, is there any other plot twist that can be used besides cheating? I mean, do we really imply that in every relationship, cheating will always be a present obstacle to brace a couple?
Other than this, it's a very compelling read. Enough that even if I am into a different genre, I still read the book until its end.
If you want family stuff and great angst, this book is for you.
July 9, 2016
*4 and a half stars*
This was my first book by Chase Potter and it certainly didn't disappoint. Although it might be shelved ( if it hasn't already) as M/M, it really isn't about that: it's about two 18 yr old twin brothers, one gay and one straight who struggle to reconnect after having been separated for 8 years in the aftermath of a messy divorce. The book's strength lies in its prose: strong and very elegant, it flows easily in alternating POVs from each of the twins. That's how we get to know them well and how we understand what a horrendous experience it was for them to lose that special bond that only twins have. Through a series of starts and stops they slowly regain what they once shared and was lost during those 8 years apart from each other. This is probably the book's only weak point: there are too many instances where one brother tries to apologize and really talk, only to be shut down by the other and it gets somewhat tiring, making the book drag a little and the pacing somewhat uneven. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it can be overlooked as we get a glimpse of what it is that twins share, a bond that cannot be broken and will survive even after so many years apart.
Even though there's a kind of romance ( or a series of hook-ups, really) and some hot sex scenes, this book isn't about the twins being physically attracted to each other so get your minds out of the gutter :D It's a story about family and unique bonds, with a little bit of coming out issues, homophobia, really bad parenting that borders on abuse and an extremely satisfying conclusion. Even though most of us don't have a twin, this book will resonate with anyone who's had any kind of issue with their family and it might make for a nice and welcome change in the usual M/M genre.
This was my first book by Chase Potter and it certainly didn't disappoint. Although it might be shelved ( if it hasn't already) as M/M, it really isn't about that: it's about two 18 yr old twin brothers, one gay and one straight who struggle to reconnect after having been separated for 8 years in the aftermath of a messy divorce. The book's strength lies in its prose: strong and very elegant, it flows easily in alternating POVs from each of the twins. That's how we get to know them well and how we understand what a horrendous experience it was for them to lose that special bond that only twins have. Through a series of starts and stops they slowly regain what they once shared and was lost during those 8 years apart from each other. This is probably the book's only weak point: there are too many instances where one brother tries to apologize and really talk, only to be shut down by the other and it gets somewhat tiring, making the book drag a little and the pacing somewhat uneven. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it can be overlooked as we get a glimpse of what it is that twins share, a bond that cannot be broken and will survive even after so many years apart.
Even though there's a kind of romance ( or a series of hook-ups, really) and some hot sex scenes, this book isn't about the twins being physically attracted to each other so get your minds out of the gutter :D It's a story about family and unique bonds, with a little bit of coming out issues, homophobia, really bad parenting that borders on abuse and an extremely satisfying conclusion. Even though most of us don't have a twin, this book will resonate with anyone who's had any kind of issue with their family and it might make for a nice and welcome change in the usual M/M genre.
May 18, 2015
NO SPOILERS
Well that was interesting. That's the best way to describe this book. Heartwarming is a good one too, but interesting is better.
Chase Potter apparently doesn't like to write typical stories and I respect that. The relationship between the two main characters is an interesting one, just like his previous book. It was also a powerful one. At time the relationship was a little over the top and weird, but I let it go because of the beautiful writing and hilarious dialogue between them.
Jackson is for the most part the star in my opinion, but Ben is the one who gets the story going. They are both very different characters, but similar enough.
I was engaged by page one! The only problem I have with this book is that
1: The Twin relationship was interesting, but also completely weird at times. There is no incest, but the writer does take a littler far sometimes.
2: Repetition. Especially in Ben's chapters. I can't tell you how many times he talked about how he "Surprisingly enjoyed getting dirty and working with his hands" I think that might be why I liked Jackson's chapters better.
Nonetheless you should think about checking it out if the plot intrigues you.
Well that was interesting. That's the best way to describe this book. Heartwarming is a good one too, but interesting is better.
Chase Potter apparently doesn't like to write typical stories and I respect that. The relationship between the two main characters is an interesting one, just like his previous book. It was also a powerful one. At time the relationship was a little over the top and weird, but I let it go because of the beautiful writing and hilarious dialogue between them.
Jackson is for the most part the star in my opinion, but Ben is the one who gets the story going. They are both very different characters, but similar enough.
I was engaged by page one! The only problem I have with this book is that
1: The Twin relationship was interesting, but also completely weird at times. There is no incest, but the writer does take a littler far sometimes.
2: Repetition. Especially in Ben's chapters. I can't tell you how many times he talked about how he "Surprisingly enjoyed getting dirty and working with his hands" I think that might be why I liked Jackson's chapters better.
Nonetheless you should think about checking it out if the plot intrigues you.
April 30, 2015
Well worth every one of the 5 stars I gave it. This is about Jackson and Ben, identical twin brothers separated for years because of their parents divorce. The boys are thrown back together at the age of 18 when their mother is sent away on a business trip. Ben returns to his childhood home to spend the summer with his brother and father and discover they have many issues to work through. Both desperately want to get back to the incredibly close relationship they once had but struggle with resentment and feelings of abandonment, placing blame on each other for the breakdown of what they once had. Although Jackson is gay and has a brief relationship, this is far from the focus of the story. I loved both boys and it was so lovely seeing them begin to talk things through and get back that unique intimacy that can only really be shared by identical twins. Would definitely read more by this author.
May 29, 2015
This story was a surprise read for me. I was expecting a discovery of the first time MM relationship for the MC, but soon discovered it was more about the MC's discovery for self actualization. The journey there proves to be dark and twisted, but brings him closer to his estranged twin.
The story itself relies heavily on the bond of family and the connection of siblings in a time of transition. The way that love/ hate relationship was portrayed felt very real. Even though I will never understand the connection twins have myself I felt it in this story. That's how good it was written.I highly recommend this read if you are looking for a change in the mm genre.
The story itself relies heavily on the bond of family and the connection of siblings in a time of transition. The way that love/ hate relationship was portrayed felt very real. Even though I will never understand the connection twins have myself I felt it in this story. That's how good it was written.I highly recommend this read if you are looking for a change in the mm genre.
July 6, 2016
Very sweet story, with great depth of emotion, and wonderful character insight. Felt like the ending needed a bit more; there were story-threads that left me wanting/needing more closure. But I love Chase Potter's books--after I've read something dark and deliciously dirty, they are like a brain-scrub of literary light. Great writing style, well-edited, easy to read books that focus on character emotions. Sex is minimal, and never erroneous in this author's books; always pertinent to plot advancement and character growth. Plan to read more by this author.
August 23, 2015
I really did enjoy this book!! I would not classify it under romance at all though. This book is a beautiful story of brothers being forced apart and coming back together. This would have been a 5 star book for me if the brothers had some sort of resolution with the father. Even if they could not repair the relationship, still just closure I guess. But overall a great read!!!
April 15, 2015
Great book
An unexpectedly engaging and gripping story. Fantastic characters with very real struggles and emotional tumult. I found a couple of minor points of contention, but overall I give it top marks.
An unexpectedly engaging and gripping story. Fantastic characters with very real struggles and emotional tumult. I found a couple of minor points of contention, but overall I give it top marks.
May 18, 2015
3.5 stars
Don't start this book with the wrong expectations. This is a story about twin brothers trying to repair their broken relationship after being estranged for 10 years. Yes one is gay and the other is straight and yes they have love interests but the focus is on the brothers.
Don't start this book with the wrong expectations. This is a story about twin brothers trying to repair their broken relationship after being estranged for 10 years. Yes one is gay and the other is straight and yes they have love interests but the focus is on the brothers.
March 14, 2015
I thought it was a goodbook, just not what I expected from the blurb. I also felt like the book rushed the ending and left out an important resolution with the boys father.
December 21, 2025
The blurb for this book is a bit misleading. It's not really MM Romance. There is a side story involving two guys dating, but the real story is about estranged twin brothers reuniting after seven years. They were separated at age ten as a result of their parents' contentious divorce. Jackson stayed with his dad in Minnesota, and Ben moved with his mother to California. The scene of the boys separating was heartbreaking. They were best friends. They promised that they would stay in touch and visit each other, but that never happened. They blame one another for breaking the promises they made. The boys' mother goes on a months-long international business trip and sends Ben to stay with his dad and Jackson for the summer. The story is set mostly in rural Minnesota. Needless to say, their initial meeting is adversarial. Ben wants to restore the close relationship they had as boys, but Jackson blocks any attempt at resolving their issues. The boys' lives while separated were vastly different. Ben has lived a privileged life with their mother who is now a corporate executive. Jackson's life has not been as rosy. He carries a lot of emotional baggage. When they were younger, Jackson was Ben's protector. Now, it's Ben's turn to save his brother. Ben is a neat-freak and has never had to work during summers away from school. His father expects him to work at his greenhouse business. Despite initially hating the idea, Ben finds a special love for plants and getting his hands dirty. It was good to see him grow.
Jackson met a young guy, Matt, the previous summer. Jackson was 17 and Matt 19. Matt was home from college. Jackson crushes on Matt, and they have a summer romance. The relationship never becomes sexual due to Jackson not being ready to go that far. They reunite the following year. Jackson is interested in picking up where they left off the previous summer, but Matt is reluctant. They finally agree to have a summer fling, with no commitments. Matt is not a good guy. No means no, right? Matt doesn't follow that rule. He's also very manipulative and has secrets about his life at college. Things don't end well. The story shows the difference in emotional maturity just two years can make in teens. Granted, Matt is not a good guy, but Jackson is very naive. I felt sorry for him. Thankfully, he has Ben.
Their father has not been honest with Jackson about the divorce and why Ben went with his mother to California. The lies have taken a toll on Jackson. He has a deep sense of rejection—that he's not good enough. Ben comes to the rescue. The book is interspersed with memories that the brothers have of when things were better between them. You can really see the love that the boys had for each other. I liked the contrast between the memories and now. Jackson bristled when Ben first arrived in Minnesota, but each new experience brought them closer to what they had as boys.
Overall, I liked the story. The writing was very good, and I liked the imagery of the Minnesota landscape. But I have a couple of issues. I wish there were more details on the divorce. I can't believe any court of law would allow twins to be separated without very clear rules for custody and visitation. I suspect this would have destroyed the story. I also didn't understand the need to make the father and town so homophobic. The father was already a terrible parent. There was no reason to make him a homophobe too.
Jackson met a young guy, Matt, the previous summer. Jackson was 17 and Matt 19. Matt was home from college. Jackson crushes on Matt, and they have a summer romance. The relationship never becomes sexual due to Jackson not being ready to go that far. They reunite the following year. Jackson is interested in picking up where they left off the previous summer, but Matt is reluctant. They finally agree to have a summer fling, with no commitments. Matt is not a good guy. No means no, right? Matt doesn't follow that rule. He's also very manipulative and has secrets about his life at college. Things don't end well. The story shows the difference in emotional maturity just two years can make in teens. Granted, Matt is not a good guy, but Jackson is very naive. I felt sorry for him. Thankfully, he has Ben.
Their father has not been honest with Jackson about the divorce and why Ben went with his mother to California. The lies have taken a toll on Jackson. He has a deep sense of rejection—that he's not good enough. Ben comes to the rescue. The book is interspersed with memories that the brothers have of when things were better between them. You can really see the love that the boys had for each other. I liked the contrast between the memories and now. Jackson bristled when Ben first arrived in Minnesota, but each new experience brought them closer to what they had as boys.
Overall, I liked the story. The writing was very good, and I liked the imagery of the Minnesota landscape. But I have a couple of issues. I wish there were more details on the divorce. I can't believe any court of law would allow twins to be separated without very clear rules for custody and visitation. I suspect this would have destroyed the story. I also didn't understand the need to make the father and town so homophobic. The father was already a terrible parent. There was no reason to make him a homophobe too.
August 17, 2017
Hmm, this was a strange one for me. It's not your typical YA story either...the storyline is not about one young guy's relationship with his boyfriend; it's about the relationship between two identical twins [and no, not twincest], separated at the age of 10 by their parents divorce, and treated like spoils of war. I honestly didn't think judges looked very favourably on children being split up/separated from their siblings as a result of their parents divorcing; in fact, I thought they encouraged one or other parent to take the kids as a unit, to keep the kids together and at least give them the comfort of having their brothers and sisters around, but that doesn't happen in this particular instance.
Jackson [Jacks] has to stay with their father in Minnesota while Ben [Benny] travels halfway across the USA with their mother to Los Angeles, where she's managed to get herself a high powered job, earning a fat wodge of cash. Contact between the two boys, who've always been really close as you would expect, is frequent at first but gradually tails off until they barely speak at all [and the parents don't seem to do anything about this], and when Ben is unexpectedly forced to go back to Minnesota as a result of their mum's extended business trip, to say things are frosty between the two boys would be a huge understatement.
Jackson has secrets he doesn't want to share with his estranged brother because Ben didn't care enough to keep in contact with him, and Ben....well, Ben just feels really resentful at having to spend what would have been a carefree summer, working for his dad instead. I couldn't get over how often they argued [they seemed to be not talking more than they actually talked], things festered especially between Jackson and Jeff, their dad [a lovely man...not], and it took a final act of nastiness on their dad's behalf for Ben to see that his brother was slowly coming apart.
I'll leave this one here, and would just add that yes, I enjoyed the ending but didn't see enough true reconciliation/reconnecting between the two of them to say that it felt credible, and with my misgivings about the splitting up, I'm giving 3.5 stars rounded up.
Jackson [Jacks] has to stay with their father in Minnesota while Ben [Benny] travels halfway across the USA with their mother to Los Angeles, where she's managed to get herself a high powered job, earning a fat wodge of cash. Contact between the two boys, who've always been really close as you would expect, is frequent at first but gradually tails off until they barely speak at all [and the parents don't seem to do anything about this], and when Ben is unexpectedly forced to go back to Minnesota as a result of their mum's extended business trip, to say things are frosty between the two boys would be a huge understatement.
Jackson has secrets he doesn't want to share with his estranged brother because Ben didn't care enough to keep in contact with him, and Ben....well, Ben just feels really resentful at having to spend what would have been a carefree summer, working for his dad instead. I couldn't get over how often they argued [they seemed to be not talking more than they actually talked], things festered especially between Jackson and Jeff, their dad [a lovely man...not], and it took a final act of nastiness on their dad's behalf for Ben to see that his brother was slowly coming apart.
I'll leave this one here, and would just add that yes, I enjoyed the ending but didn't see enough true reconciliation/reconnecting between the two of them to say that it felt credible, and with my misgivings about the splitting up, I'm giving 3.5 stars rounded up.
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