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What They Always Tell Us
JAMES AND ALEX have barely anything in common anymore—least of all their experiences in high school, where James is a popular senior and Alex is suddenly an outcast. But at home, there is Henry, the precocious 10-year-old across the street, who eagerly befriends them both. And when Alex takes up running, there is James's friend Nathen, who unites the brothers in moving and unexpected ways.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2008
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February 8, 2016
Cross-posted at Shelf Inflicted and at Outlaw Reviews
What They Always Tell Us is a very simple, quiet story told from the perspective of two brothers who live in Alabama. James is a high school senior. Even though he’s smart, has lots of friends, and is on the tennis team, the only thing he wants is to go to college and leave Alabama. Alex, a junior, is James’ younger brother. While he’s not as smart, athletic, or as popular as James, he has other qualities that James lacks – Alex is sensitive, caring, generous and compassionate.
Alex and James were once very close, until an incident at a party resulted in Alex’ hospitalization and the loss of his friends. Upset, embarrassed, and unable to understand, James withdraws from his brother, slowly severing the bond that once held them together.
Alex develops a love for running and tries out for the cross-country team. His life takes a turn for the better when his teammate and his brother’s friend, Nathen, turns out to be more than just a friend. I really liked how Alex’ sexuality is not the main focus of this novel. It is treated as a part of his life, just as his relationship with James, his friendships, and his running are.
Even though I disliked James in the beginning for his callous treatment of Alex, I really enjoyed how he changed and matured.
While this story is simply told, the characters are engaging, interesting, flawed, and very believable. I felt a deep connection with the characters, particularly Alex, and enjoyed spending time with them as they interact with family, friends, neighbors and cope with loneliness, identity issues, rejection, and acceptance.
What They Always Tell Us is a wonderful story. I wish it was around when I was a teenager.
What They Always Tell Us is a very simple, quiet story told from the perspective of two brothers who live in Alabama. James is a high school senior. Even though he’s smart, has lots of friends, and is on the tennis team, the only thing he wants is to go to college and leave Alabama. Alex, a junior, is James’ younger brother. While he’s not as smart, athletic, or as popular as James, he has other qualities that James lacks – Alex is sensitive, caring, generous and compassionate.
Alex and James were once very close, until an incident at a party resulted in Alex’ hospitalization and the loss of his friends. Upset, embarrassed, and unable to understand, James withdraws from his brother, slowly severing the bond that once held them together.
Alex develops a love for running and tries out for the cross-country team. His life takes a turn for the better when his teammate and his brother’s friend, Nathen, turns out to be more than just a friend. I really liked how Alex’ sexuality is not the main focus of this novel. It is treated as a part of his life, just as his relationship with James, his friendships, and his running are.
Even though I disliked James in the beginning for his callous treatment of Alex, I really enjoyed how he changed and matured.
While this story is simply told, the characters are engaging, interesting, flawed, and very believable. I felt a deep connection with the characters, particularly Alex, and enjoyed spending time with them as they interact with family, friends, neighbors and cope with loneliness, identity issues, rejection, and acceptance.
What They Always Tell Us is a wonderful story. I wish it was around when I was a teenager.
May 6, 2011
What They Always Tell Us is about two brothers, James and Alex, who are unlike each other in many ways - James is outgoing and popular, while Alex is compassionate and reserved. After Alex attempts to take his life at a party, James is left wondering what went wrong. Then, Alex meets James's friend Nathan, and the two form a friendship that could grown into something more.
This book is simple and stunning. As of May 2011, even after two years, it remains one of the best books I've ever read and my favorite young-adult novel that includes gay characters. The writing moved me to tears at one point - every time I pick up another book for teens with glbt themes I can't help but think I hope this is as good as What They Always Tell Us...
Not only did this novel provide a great read, it also helped me with personal struggles in my life. I am forever grateful to Barnes and Nobles, where this book happened to be on display as I walked by the young-adult section, and Martin Wilson, for writing such a quiet, uplifting story.
*cross-posted from my blog the quiet voice.
This book is simple and stunning. As of May 2011, even after two years, it remains one of the best books I've ever read and my favorite young-adult novel that includes gay characters. The writing moved me to tears at one point - every time I pick up another book for teens with glbt themes I can't help but think I hope this is as good as What They Always Tell Us...
Not only did this novel provide a great read, it also helped me with personal struggles in my life. I am forever grateful to Barnes and Nobles, where this book happened to be on display as I walked by the young-adult section, and Martin Wilson, for writing such a quiet, uplifting story.
*cross-posted from my blog the quiet voice.
January 20, 2018
Sometimes we read books whose wicked plots and twists, while blatantly aimed to make us feel something, fail their purpose and sometimes, sometimes, we come across a quiet book which lead us to strong and real feelings.
What they always tell us is that kind of books, and that's why, even though I have issues I can't overtake, lowering my rating below 3 stars wouldn't be fair in my opinion. I mean, I ate it up for fuck sake! Indeed contrary to many readers, my main problem wasn't the pacing, because I was never bored. It's a quiet book for sure, not our standard roller-coaster, but I do enjoy reading this kind of books sometimes, especially when they manage to make me feel, as it was the case here.
This being said, despite my utter involvement in Alex and James's lives (well, mostly Alex's, if I'm being honest), I can't help but feel cheated somehow, as the last 25% disappointed me and left me almost empty. Don't you hate it when you're LOVING a book and then you're only waiting for it to end? WORST. FEELING. EVER. Although I adored the first half, I began to slowly change my mind, finishing it in complete exasperation.
▧ This story deals with bullying and the importance of family in a believable and touching way, as we follow James and Alex, two brothers who try to build their relationship again after Alex became suddenly an outcast. Even if James never was my favorite person (mostly he's a know it all jerk for me, especially when it comes to girls - what a slut-shamer he is, I can't even), I understood the need and the interest to get his POV too.
Alex though. Alex broke my heart. Alex made me smile so big. Alex made me cry, too.
▧ What I really appreciated was the way bullying was portrayed, because to me it was realistic - Sometimes being ignored, laughed at, quietly belittled can be more hard to live than many persons acknowledge it, sadly, and Martin Wilson does a great job to picture the thin line between "friendship" (see the quotation marks? Yeah?), teasing and bullying. To be frank, I didn't get what Tyler's deal was (apart from being an asshole, that is), but we don't always understand why people act that way in real life too unfortunately.
"Tyler, in particular, used to bombard him with stinging comments, punctuated always by an empty "Just kidding, Alex."
➸ This sort of passive-aggressive comments is so common - and there they were supposed to be still friends. Damn. The guy pissed me off.
▧ Moreover, what we get here is a portray of realistic characters, with their flaws and their best parts. When I say that they sounded like real teenagers to me, that means that they sometimes think the most stupid things (trust me) - that I had to roll my eyes a few times, actually, but I didn't mind, because for once, I could have imagined them being people actually living.
▧ As for the romance, I must say that Alex and Nathen's gradual and growing relationship was fantastic to follow. They were the cutest, really, and I shipped them from the beginning to the end. Indeed I loved how Nathen tried to break Alex's shell without never being intrusive or judgmental. He was the best, really, even if he irked me with his addiction to the word BUDDY (for real - how many times can he say that?). The ending frustrated me so much though.
▧ I love when YA doesn't try to do YA. That is to say, a dick's a dick, that kind of things (the first shower scene made me laugh way too much for my own good - I don't even know if I was supposed to laugh. Oh, well)
▧ The whole subplot with their young neighbor was messy, especially towards the end where it was completely ridiculous. Let me sum it up : there's Henry, a little boy about 10 years old who moved with his mother at the beginning of the year and who's having a hard time fitting in at school. Nobody really knows why they're here and what his mother does for a living, therefore of course, of course, unfortunately, people can't mind their own business, and you know, speculate about them and wonder why they move around the country so much. Not to mention that the mother is gorgeous so you can infer in what place people's guesses go. Sigh. Add some drama lama in the end and you'll get an annoyed reader (yes, me). Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the friendship building between Henry and the two brothers but the whole drama with his mother got to my nerves, especially in the end because it stole the show and frankly? I didn't care.
▧ The lack of world-building. Yes, you read correctly, I wanted more world-building in my contemporary - or is it, really? After reading it I looked up the date of release and it was released in 2008, not so far away then, right? Now, tell me, did the teenagers had not cell phones and internet in 2008? Huh? Of course they did. Therefore from what I picked in the book (and trust me, there's almost nothing other than the lack of things) I can infer that the story is set in the 90s and therefore I would have LOVED to get some pop culture references or something, anything, really, to help me put the story in perspective because yes, I do think that it's important when we deal with how people react, especially when it comes to tolerance. That's why I'm shelving it as historical romance.
▧ The ending was unsatisfying at best, and mostly frustrating. Look, I'm not usually bothered by open ending but as I said earlier, what maddened me was the fact that we focus on the neighbors' subplot and I didn't fucking care about that. Finally, and it's my own inner brat talking, why the fuck do we get James's POV for the last chapter?
► I wanted Alex's so bad, and I don't give a damn if I'm being a sulking brat at this point.
May 12, 2020
I’m going to shamelessly steal an idea from this book to describe how I feel about this story.
You know when you’re younger (Or, OK, when you’re not so young if you’re anything like me) and you’re on a set of swings in your back garden? And I’m not talking about the swings in the park that are properly secured with cement or whatever they use. These are the ones your dad put up in the summer when he’d had a bit too much Carlsberg and he was drunk on burgers.
And, while you’re mid-swing, there’s that split second moment where you’re not sure whether you’ll crunch back down into the grass or you’ll tip backwards and end up skinning your elbows or, more likely, get concussion.
That split second moment is what this entire book felt like. Not sure whether it’s going to be happy, or sad ending… could go either way.
I had a sneaking suspicion I was going to love this book just from reading the synopsis. It ticks all the boxes that I want ticked when I’m looking for a story. Siblings, boys, sexuality, growing up, contemporary. Tick, tick, tick, tiiiiiick.
Thankfully, I wasn’t wrong.
What They Always Tell Us is such a gorgeous book and from the first page I was completely hooked. It took me a while to get my head around the third person, present tense (I think the only other book I’ve read with this style is The Piper’s Son) but once I did I was surprised at how well it worked with the story.
This book deals with a lot of diverse and sensitive issues, but with the story told in the way it was, there was this wonderful distance that stopped the book floundering in angst-ridden drama. Mr Wilson’s style of writing is so understated, so realistic and deals with the complicated emotions in a refreshingly matter-of-fact manner.
I really hate it when authors really hammer issues home to you and you end up just wanting to fling the book across the room and yell “OK! WE GET IT!”
All the characters were brilliant but I think my favourite was Alex. I loved how his story developed and the twisted and the turns it took; some I had guessed and others I had no idea about. And I adored how much time Mr Wilson took to develop the character, fleshing him out and making him into a real person, as opposed to a vessel for the Important Issues. I know that sounds stupid and stating-the-obvious-y but… well, not every author does that.
There was only one issue I had was that I was more invested in Alex’s story and thoughts than James’. I kind of felt that James’ chapters, although still interesting, lacked the emotional impact that Alex’s had. They sometimes felt like they were just in there to highlight Alex’s chapters when, in fact, they were doing fine on their own.
However, I did like the way that Mr Wilson portrayed James’ reaction to his brothers “accident”. It was fantastically written in all its uncomfortable and brutal honesty.
Just recently, I’ve been lucky to find this pool of brilliant American authors that I’d never read before and Martin Wilson is definitely part of the gang. If his next books are anything like What They Always Tell Us then I cannot wait.
Oh, you want to know which way the swing falls in this book?
Pfft, like I’m going to tell you.
Come on now.
You know when you’re younger (Or, OK, when you’re not so young if you’re anything like me) and you’re on a set of swings in your back garden? And I’m not talking about the swings in the park that are properly secured with cement or whatever they use. These are the ones your dad put up in the summer when he’d had a bit too much Carlsberg and he was drunk on burgers.
And, while you’re mid-swing, there’s that split second moment where you’re not sure whether you’ll crunch back down into the grass or you’ll tip backwards and end up skinning your elbows or, more likely, get concussion.
That split second moment is what this entire book felt like. Not sure whether it’s going to be happy, or sad ending… could go either way.
I had a sneaking suspicion I was going to love this book just from reading the synopsis. It ticks all the boxes that I want ticked when I’m looking for a story. Siblings, boys, sexuality, growing up, contemporary. Tick, tick, tick, tiiiiiick.
Thankfully, I wasn’t wrong.
What They Always Tell Us is such a gorgeous book and from the first page I was completely hooked. It took me a while to get my head around the third person, present tense (I think the only other book I’ve read with this style is The Piper’s Son) but once I did I was surprised at how well it worked with the story.
This book deals with a lot of diverse and sensitive issues, but with the story told in the way it was, there was this wonderful distance that stopped the book floundering in angst-ridden drama. Mr Wilson’s style of writing is so understated, so realistic and deals with the complicated emotions in a refreshingly matter-of-fact manner.
I really hate it when authors really hammer issues home to you and you end up just wanting to fling the book across the room and yell “OK! WE GET IT!”
All the characters were brilliant but I think my favourite was Alex. I loved how his story developed and the twisted and the turns it took; some I had guessed and others I had no idea about. And I adored how much time Mr Wilson took to develop the character, fleshing him out and making him into a real person, as opposed to a vessel for the Important Issues. I know that sounds stupid and stating-the-obvious-y but… well, not every author does that.
There was only one issue I had was that I was more invested in Alex’s story and thoughts than James’. I kind of felt that James’ chapters, although still interesting, lacked the emotional impact that Alex’s had. They sometimes felt like they were just in there to highlight Alex’s chapters when, in fact, they were doing fine on their own.
However, I did like the way that Mr Wilson portrayed James’ reaction to his brothers “accident”. It was fantastically written in all its uncomfortable and brutal honesty.
Just recently, I’ve been lucky to find this pool of brilliant American authors that I’d never read before and Martin Wilson is definitely part of the gang. If his next books are anything like What They Always Tell Us then I cannot wait.
Oh, you want to know which way the swing falls in this book?
Pfft, like I’m going to tell you.
Come on now.
November 12, 2017
This book reminded me of one of my fave songs from Vetusta Morla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7esb5...
There is this part that says 'fue tan largo el duelo que al final, casi lo confundo con mi hogar' and it's soooo fitting because that's how Alex, one of the MCs, feels for most of the book but no worries amig@s because this is not one of those sad stories I usually read. This one taught me that there is light at the end of the tunnel, you can fight depression guys and if you try hard enough you can win the battle
Even though there is a kind of romance part and despite the fact that is MM do NOT expect this to be a book mainly focused on romance because it is not. This is a book about family, about two brothers that were very closed once but not anymore. Not anymore because James doesn't get why Alex wanted to stop living and instead of trying to figure things out he gets as far away from Alex as he can.
We all know that someone who for one reason or another suffers of depression. Sometimes it's just a friend of a friend and you just feel sorry for them but that's all. Sometimes it can be someone from your family who you are not very close to. However, sometimes it can be someone you really care for and that's when it hits hard because you have no idea what to do, and not doing anything is all you can do. Support them, being there for them but it's not easy. I guess that's why James acts that way and I guess we all have been like James at one point in our lives. This book felt like a slap of reality, it felt like 'hey, don't look the other way. That would not help'. I won't lie, it was slow at times (specially James POV chapters), but it all made sense at the end.
It's also a book about Henry, the 10 year old neighbour who made me fall in love completely with this story. Because if there is one good thing that stands out in this story is its secondary characters, I loved them ALL. They were just humans, with their good and bad things. So it's really funny when as I reader I started judging them all but at the end I was kind of dissappointed in myself for being so opinionated instead of understanding. It served me well, I guess.
So as the song I mentioned earlier says, this had a hopeful ending.
'Cayeron los bordes
y el vaso ya está lleno.
Y ahora sólo intento vaciar
Sólo necesito despegar'
June 21, 2017
Audible
It is my third book in a row that I rated with 5 stars, and I am a bit confused of myself. But I don't think that I became less demanding, maybe I just LEARNED to filter books that appeal to me. Or maybe I have just a lucky hand to chose the right books for me.
Of course a story about two brothers, James and Alex, is the main story-line in this book, but it is in the first place a beautifully written wonderful story of growing up, discovering yourself, learning to come out of the crisis stronger than ever. It is a touching story about insecurity, and loneliness, the hardships of being a grown-up.
It is a gorgeous story of first love, true friendship and family ties.
I listened to an audiobook, but it is one of those books, that it is difficult to ruin, doesn't matter how hard a bad narrator would try to do it. Luckily, Jesse Einstein did a good job, and I enjoyed both - the story itself and its audio version. So you're free to chose what you prefer.
Highly recommended!
August 8, 2025
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
What They Always Tell Us is that things will look up. Things will get better; no one ever really tells us how; that's up to us. 😟 And for sixteen-year-old high school junior Alex, fresh from an ill-advised suicidal attempt at a party and his older brother, James, who didn't attend that party, that's only left him with unsettling and unshakeable feeling of guilt and shame. 💔💔
“It’s funny, but standing there, James can see so clearly that Alex is just a younger version of himself. Not identical, but close. And yet in many ways, they are strangers to each other.”
It's in the wake of that moment that shook their family and their own dynamic as brothers that lays the foundation of James' senior year of the uncertainty of his future and his disinterest with relationships and friends and Alex grappling with his own wrong and unnatural... sinful thoughts and a tremendous ache of emptiness of living a life without purpose that ultimately finds a way to bring them closer together in ways they least expected. 🌼
l enjoyed reading this, but I don't know how to express why. It's the author's debut released in 2008, but I never got a real sense of what time period this story was set in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, save for the lack of cell phone usage; which really could fall into any time before the late 2000s.
“Will he ever miss this place one day? But is this as good as it gets? He hopes with all his heart that it’s not. For his sake. And for Alex’s.”
Yet, the way he balanced Alex, James, and their concern for their neighbor, ten-year-old Henry's well-being was done well enough that I was invested in how their respective story-lines would progress. 😥 It kept me on tethers that with the shadow of Alex's suicide attempt lingering, there was just this offset chance that anyone of the characters who were facing their own demons might fall victim to that choice.
And that made the story impactful - moving. It carried the weight of how the brothers' bond had been tested and had to be reforged into a stronger and more understanding one; one that has James even questioning that if leaving his hometown for duke was the right decision, when he felt so much now at peace and at home with the ones he cared for. it was a questionable point to leave off at, but I kinda get it. 🤷🏻♀️
“—I can’t believe I’m an athlete now; I can’t believe I belong to a team; I can’t believe your arm is around me.”
I also liked the way the author rebuilt Alex's self-esteem and purpose in his life; how he broke free of his shell to find a sense of belonging and matter to someone; his fears, his hurt, his shame, it was honestly portrayed. 👍🏻 As changes slowly took place, starting with joining the cross-running team James' friend, Nathen invited him into, and then, eventually his heart was believable and tangible. I worried that Nathen would hurt him, but even if I was a bit wary of how their relationship started off, he genuinely cared for him and it showed. 🙂↕️
It showed enough that James even started to sense that there was something missing that he was not realizing or willing to see, that he was maybe not as good a person to others as he could be - should be. And when he finally saw the errors of his behavior - starting from his deliberate negligence of his brother's health and happiness - or lacking kindness, a skill-set that Nathen displays without hesitation or reservation - it was that one moment that healed their sibling repertoire that well, to quote another book I recently read, 'acceptance makes me emotional'; and I was. 🥺
“But I’m scared, James. I’m…” And with this, Alex starts crying.
“Hey, hey,” he whispers. “Don’t be scared.”
I loved the quiet innate concern he showed that compelled, okay, maybe not compelled, but convinced Alex to trust him as a brother who loved him. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹 And that whole bedroom scene between the two - the way he confessed his pain and shame and the soft comforting reassurance that James gave Alex through his breakdown - It’s gonna be okay was raw and real. 🫂
It was the crack in their facades that bonded them again as brothers united against those who threatened to hurt them. As reluctant as James was to let this much-needed bonding moment ensue - tears and crying usually make him cringe. But not now - it moved me. 😢 And the gut-wrenching way he shed his own grief and pain was also enough to convince me that the next stage as brothers would be a much deeper one.
“It’s like he wants to warn him, to protect him. But from what?”
Henry's own personal dilemma plays a huge part in repairing their conflicted dynamic, too; but they were both very firmly committed to caring for him and never shying from acting upon their concern for his happiness, happy to be his friend for how much he desperately needed one in a place of loneliness. 😔 But, as predictable as the nature of his predicament eventually was, it reflected upon the brother's own search for a sense of belonging - a counterpart for them to find a way to connect to their hometown and see how much they have been blessed with something good, if they could only see. 🎀
“When did it all change between them?”
What They Always Tell Us is that things will look up. Things will get better; no one ever really tells us how; that's up to us. 😟 And for sixteen-year-old high school junior Alex, fresh from an ill-advised suicidal attempt at a party and his older brother, James, who didn't attend that party, that's only left him with unsettling and unshakeable feeling of guilt and shame. 💔💔
“It’s funny, but standing there, James can see so clearly that Alex is just a younger version of himself. Not identical, but close. And yet in many ways, they are strangers to each other.”
It's in the wake of that moment that shook their family and their own dynamic as brothers that lays the foundation of James' senior year of the uncertainty of his future and his disinterest with relationships and friends and Alex grappling with his own wrong and unnatural... sinful thoughts and a tremendous ache of emptiness of living a life without purpose that ultimately finds a way to bring them closer together in ways they least expected. 🌼
l enjoyed reading this, but I don't know how to express why. It's the author's debut released in 2008, but I never got a real sense of what time period this story was set in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, save for the lack of cell phone usage; which really could fall into any time before the late 2000s.
“Will he ever miss this place one day? But is this as good as it gets? He hopes with all his heart that it’s not. For his sake. And for Alex’s.”
Yet, the way he balanced Alex, James, and their concern for their neighbor, ten-year-old Henry's well-being was done well enough that I was invested in how their respective story-lines would progress. 😥 It kept me on tethers that with the shadow of Alex's suicide attempt lingering, there was just this offset chance that anyone of the characters who were facing their own demons might fall victim to that choice.
And that made the story impactful - moving. It carried the weight of how the brothers' bond had been tested and had to be reforged into a stronger and more understanding one; one that has James even questioning that if leaving his hometown for duke was the right decision, when he felt so much now at peace and at home with the ones he cared for. it was a questionable point to leave off at, but I kinda get it. 🤷🏻♀️
“—I can’t believe I’m an athlete now; I can’t believe I belong to a team; I can’t believe your arm is around me.”
I also liked the way the author rebuilt Alex's self-esteem and purpose in his life; how he broke free of his shell to find a sense of belonging and matter to someone; his fears, his hurt, his shame, it was honestly portrayed. 👍🏻 As changes slowly took place, starting with joining the cross-running team James' friend, Nathen invited him into, and then, eventually his heart was believable and tangible. I worried that Nathen would hurt him, but even if I was a bit wary of how their relationship started off, he genuinely cared for him and it showed. 🙂↕️
It showed enough that James even started to sense that there was something missing that he was not realizing or willing to see, that he was maybe not as good a person to others as he could be - should be. And when he finally saw the errors of his behavior - starting from his deliberate negligence of his brother's health and happiness - or lacking kindness, a skill-set that Nathen displays without hesitation or reservation - it was that one moment that healed their sibling repertoire that well, to quote another book I recently read, 'acceptance makes me emotional'; and I was. 🥺
“But I’m scared, James. I’m…” And with this, Alex starts crying.
“Hey, hey,” he whispers. “Don’t be scared.”
I loved the quiet innate concern he showed that compelled, okay, maybe not compelled, but convinced Alex to trust him as a brother who loved him. ❤️🩹 ❤️🩹 And that whole bedroom scene between the two - the way he confessed his pain and shame and the soft comforting reassurance that James gave Alex through his breakdown - It’s gonna be okay was raw and real. 🫂
It was the crack in their facades that bonded them again as brothers united against those who threatened to hurt them. As reluctant as James was to let this much-needed bonding moment ensue - tears and crying usually make him cringe. But not now - it moved me. 😢 And the gut-wrenching way he shed his own grief and pain was also enough to convince me that the next stage as brothers would be a much deeper one.
“It’s like he wants to warn him, to protect him. But from what?”
Henry's own personal dilemma plays a huge part in repairing their conflicted dynamic, too; but they were both very firmly committed to caring for him and never shying from acting upon their concern for his happiness, happy to be his friend for how much he desperately needed one in a place of loneliness. 😔 But, as predictable as the nature of his predicament eventually was, it reflected upon the brother's own search for a sense of belonging - a counterpart for them to find a way to connect to their hometown and see how much they have been blessed with something good, if they could only see. 🎀
April 16, 2008
This is a great book dealing with depression, suicide attempts, and sexuality. However, it deals with so much more like compassion, relationships between brothers, social expectations, rumors, fear, and social posturing. I am not sure I can really describe exactly how well this books delves into a young persons psyche just trust me it does it well.
Told in alternating chapters between 2 brothers (1 year apart) dealing with the attempted suicide of the younger brother. This book is NOT heavy handed and treats their relationship as well as the sexual identity of the younger brother with some of the more touching, realistic writing I have ever read in a teen book. There are a few slow parts, and a few pat scenes but if you only read 1 teen book this year, this should be it!
Told in alternating chapters between 2 brothers (1 year apart) dealing with the attempted suicide of the younger brother. This book is NOT heavy handed and treats their relationship as well as the sexual identity of the younger brother with some of the more touching, realistic writing I have ever read in a teen book. There are a few slow parts, and a few pat scenes but if you only read 1 teen book this year, this should be it!
April 14, 2013
I bought this book several years ago -- before I knew about MM romance and just got acquainted with LGBT fiction. I haven't had the chance to read it because well, no romance made it less appealing. Until now, when I got bored with what published MM titles could offer ...
This story is WONDERFUL. It follows the life of two brothers:
Alex, the younger one, who feels alienated and lonely and different. His friends look at him as loser, after he drank a bottle of Pine-Sol at a party. And James, the big brother, who is the 'star' in the family, smart, an athlete ... but lately he feels restless and wants to get out from the town. In addition, he also feels slightly guilty because he isn't the good big brother for Alex.
I don't have brothers myself, so the dynamic of brothers always interest me. I love how both Alex and James grow up throughout this story. Alex finds what makes him happy, in running and in Nathen, James's friend, who later becomes more than just friend. While James finally makes a stance over people who hurt Alex, and he finally feels like he's the big brother again.
There is a secondary character that also wins my heart: a 10-year-old boy named Henry, who becomes a friend somehow for both brothers.
It's a lovely book about adolescents. ALTHOUGH, just like a number of LGBT Young-Adult Fiction that I have read, I want more of a closure, a promise of HEA so to speak. . I know this is lit-fic and not romance, still, I can hope :)
This story is WONDERFUL. It follows the life of two brothers:
Alex, the younger one, who feels alienated and lonely and different. His friends look at him as loser, after he drank a bottle of Pine-Sol at a party. And James, the big brother, who is the 'star' in the family, smart, an athlete ... but lately he feels restless and wants to get out from the town. In addition, he also feels slightly guilty because he isn't the good big brother for Alex.
I don't have brothers myself, so the dynamic of brothers always interest me. I love how both Alex and James grow up throughout this story. Alex finds what makes him happy, in running and in Nathen, James's friend, who later becomes more than just friend. While James finally makes a stance over people who hurt Alex, and he finally feels like he's the big brother again.
There is a secondary character that also wins my heart: a 10-year-old boy named Henry, who becomes a friend somehow for both brothers.
It's a lovely book about adolescents. ALTHOUGH, just like a number of LGBT Young-Adult Fiction that I have read, I want more of a closure, a promise of HEA so to speak. . I know this is lit-fic and not romance, still, I can hope :)
October 16, 2008
This is probably the best book I have every read about growing up--at least the most similar to how I grew up. It is a story of two brothers who both have to deal with repercussions of one night and the trickle effect it has on their entire life from high school to the family to themselves.
I think what I loved most was that neither brother was a simple character but they each surprised me in how clearly well rounded they were. I think it is very hard to not to rely on high school stereotypes but Martin Wilson makes everyone in the book much more than complex than any young adult book I have read before.
I think what I loved most was that neither brother was a simple character but they each surprised me in how clearly well rounded they were. I think it is very hard to not to rely on high school stereotypes but Martin Wilson makes everyone in the book much more than complex than any young adult book I have read before.
April 27, 2015
Some books take you somewhere outside yourself, someplace you couldn't have imagined. Other books know you. This is one of those. I've been to these places, I've known these people. They are me. I started this morning, and if this review were written in a letter the paper would be tear stained and the ink would be running I've cried so many times. Reading this was restorative, like I've been watching one long episode of Oprah, only better. I'm ready to live my best life now or something. Read it. I know you'll love it.
August 11, 2023
bruh wait what
i already finished it????
umm so i may have been studying for apush and went to GoodReads and saw that bekah wanted to read this
and then may have searched for an epub
and then may have preceded to read the whole book in one sitting
THE PAGES LITERALLY FLEW
the book was so freaking beautiful
and like I don't even know how to describe it
but I loved all the aspects
the writing, flawed characters, the way things were executed and portrayed
the subtle topics of mental health that don't overrule the characters or the book, same as the diversity, these aspects don't define these amazing characters, their life, and their novel
that's what I love so much about What They Always Tell Us
I love how romance isn't the whole focus of the book, it's just there
I love how heartbreakingly real it was
I love the characters; henry, james, alex, nathen, clare, alice
I also loved the cross country running aspects and now I wanna go run for hours...
not a lighthearted read but one that hits hard with harsh topics
wish I had some quotes but I read this in an online version :/
what an utterly gorgeous book
i already finished it????
umm so i may have been studying for apush and went to GoodReads and saw that bekah wanted to read this
and then may have searched for an epub
and then may have preceded to read the whole book in one sitting
THE PAGES LITERALLY FLEW
the book was so freaking beautiful
and like I don't even know how to describe it
but I loved all the aspects
the writing, flawed characters, the way things were executed and portrayed
the subtle topics of mental health that don't overrule the characters or the book, same as the diversity, these aspects don't define these amazing characters, their life, and their novel
that's what I love so much about What They Always Tell Us
I love how romance isn't the whole focus of the book, it's just there
I love how heartbreakingly real it was
I love the characters; henry, james, alex, nathen, clare, alice
I also loved the cross country running aspects and now I wanna go run for hours...
not a lighthearted read but one that hits hard with harsh topics
wish I had some quotes but I read this in an online version :/
what an utterly gorgeous book
October 28, 2019
Quel che dicono tutti è uno dei più belli young adult che abbia letto. Il genere non è tanto nelle mie corde ma questo libro è un gioiellino che mi sento davvero di consigliare.
La storia ci narra delle vicende di una famiglia americana media, padre, madre e due figli, entrambi maschi, con un solo anno di differenza che li fa quasi sembrare gemelli. Quasi è d’obbligo, in quanto non potrebbero essere più diversi.
James è sicuro di sé, di quello che sarà il suo futuro, dell’università che vuole scegliere, della compagnia di amici che ha. È brillante e tutto sembra riuscirgli con molta facilità
Alex è più introverso, non sa bene quale sia il suo posto nel mondo e una sera compie un gesto estremo. Da lì le dinamiche della famiglia iniziano a cambiare.
Dopo un’infanzia fatta di complicità, i due fratelli sembrano sempre più distanti tra loro, in un percorso complicato di crescita, per giungere a un cambiamento che li riporterà a essere di nuovo vicini.
Questo libro ci parla di adolescenti problematici, di accettazione delle diversità, della difficoltà di rapportarsi con gli altri, di un’adolescenza difficile, in una cittadina dove tutti sanno tutto di tutti, con le vicende narrate dal punto di vista alternato dei due fratelli.
Un libro introspettivo, scritto bene, che mi ha coinvolto in toto e che consiglio di leggere.
Per me 4,5 abbracci.
Alla prossima, la vostra Aylen
La storia ci narra delle vicende di una famiglia americana media, padre, madre e due figli, entrambi maschi, con un solo anno di differenza che li fa quasi sembrare gemelli. Quasi è d’obbligo, in quanto non potrebbero essere più diversi.
James è sicuro di sé, di quello che sarà il suo futuro, dell’università che vuole scegliere, della compagnia di amici che ha. È brillante e tutto sembra riuscirgli con molta facilità
Alex è più introverso, non sa bene quale sia il suo posto nel mondo e una sera compie un gesto estremo. Da lì le dinamiche della famiglia iniziano a cambiare.
Dopo un’infanzia fatta di complicità, i due fratelli sembrano sempre più distanti tra loro, in un percorso complicato di crescita, per giungere a un cambiamento che li riporterà a essere di nuovo vicini.
Questo libro ci parla di adolescenti problematici, di accettazione delle diversità, della difficoltà di rapportarsi con gli altri, di un’adolescenza difficile, in una cittadina dove tutti sanno tutto di tutti, con le vicende narrate dal punto di vista alternato dei due fratelli.
Un libro introspettivo, scritto bene, che mi ha coinvolto in toto e che consiglio di leggere.
Per me 4,5 abbracci.
Alla prossima, la vostra Aylen
June 27, 2011
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers: HERE
What They Always Tell Us is a wonderful, beautiful story about two brothers who were once very close, then drifted apart and slowly find their way to each other. The story is told in alternating chapters from each brother’s perspective and it follows both throughout this one year in their lives.
Alex is the youngest one, the quiet, solitary brother who’s been dealing with the repercussions of drinking Pine Sol one day at a party and ending up in hospital. Ever since then, his friends have disappeared, his parents treat him with extreme caution and his brother simply doesn’t seem to care. All Alex wants is to feel right again and things start to look up when he strikes two unlikely friendships: first with his 10 year old neighbour Henry and then with one of his brother’s best friends, Nathen. Henry is the one who reminds him what is like to have a brother but Nathen is the one who helps him grow up and the one who eventually becomes more than just a friend. Ah, l’amour.
The older brother, James, is a senior about to graduate and go to college. He is a top student, a great athlete, a very popular kid who is always surrounded by friends and girlfriends. He is also SICK of it all, bored with all the parties. He can’t understand why his brother did what he did and now all that he wants is to get the hell out of Alabama.
What They Always Tell Us is a quiet story. It progresses very slowly and the nature of its storytelling is more like a gentle breeze rather than a violent storm but no less effective for that. It is hard to express how well the author managed to take such charged topics like suicide and coming out and explore them in such a gentle manner. This gentleness (there is no better word for it) is in the way that Alex’s suicide attempt is revealed to the reader, the reasons behind it and how Alex feels about it. He knows it was a mistake and he’s been trying to atone for it ever since. But more than that, he’s been trying to understand it, to understand his feelings and yes, coming out as queer is part of it but it is not all of it and I hugely appreciated how the author treated this as part of who he was but not all that he was. His identity is about more than that: there is his surprise at being a good athlete, his passion for running, his friendships, his family and his relationship with his brother and yes, also his falling in love with Nathen. Although the potential complications of the latter are not glossed over – after all, this is Alabama – there is a lovely easy acceptance about their feelings for each other and it is ever so romantic (and also, hot).
Meanwhile, we have James. Who at first comes across as a tremendous sexist jerk and I wanted to punch him in the face with my Fists of Fury. He treats girls in the most horrible manner, he is whinny in his boredom with his life, he is angry with people he shouldn’t be angry with and it feels as though he is frozen in limbo. It was hard to warm up to James to start with but soon enough it becomes clear how affected he was by his brother’s suicide attempt and perhaps, just perhaps all of those feelings are a result of a pent-up anger at himself. His character arc is perhaps more obvious and less gentle than Alex’s and when the moment comes when James FINALLY gets angry with those who deserve his anger (and that includes himself) and realises how important his brother is, it is the sort of victorious, triumphant moment that made me want to fist pump and celebrate. He also becomes a better person in the end (although I have to say, I hoped his sexism would have been addressed more directly).
What They Always Tell Us is a story about brothers and about coming out. But I think that above all, this is a delicate exploration about what it means to be happy and how fleeting happiness can be. It is an effusive feeling? It is subtle? How much does happiness depend on external factors or internal ones? How much do other people affect your ability to be happy – or add to it? All characters to one extent or another are trying to understand what make them happy and trying catch it whenever them can, knowing that there are also shitty things that happen in life. There are no easy answers, there are no fixed outcomes but in the end Alex and James found each other again and as brothers and friends, they can face anything together.
I had such a taste of that elusive happiness when I read this book and I know it is not of the fleeting kind. This is the sort of book with the sort of characters that simply …stay.
What They Always Tell Us is a wonderful, beautiful story about two brothers who were once very close, then drifted apart and slowly find their way to each other. The story is told in alternating chapters from each brother’s perspective and it follows both throughout this one year in their lives.
Alex is the youngest one, the quiet, solitary brother who’s been dealing with the repercussions of drinking Pine Sol one day at a party and ending up in hospital. Ever since then, his friends have disappeared, his parents treat him with extreme caution and his brother simply doesn’t seem to care. All Alex wants is to feel right again and things start to look up when he strikes two unlikely friendships: first with his 10 year old neighbour Henry and then with one of his brother’s best friends, Nathen. Henry is the one who reminds him what is like to have a brother but Nathen is the one who helps him grow up and the one who eventually becomes more than just a friend. Ah, l’amour.
The older brother, James, is a senior about to graduate and go to college. He is a top student, a great athlete, a very popular kid who is always surrounded by friends and girlfriends. He is also SICK of it all, bored with all the parties. He can’t understand why his brother did what he did and now all that he wants is to get the hell out of Alabama.
What They Always Tell Us is a quiet story. It progresses very slowly and the nature of its storytelling is more like a gentle breeze rather than a violent storm but no less effective for that. It is hard to express how well the author managed to take such charged topics like suicide and coming out and explore them in such a gentle manner. This gentleness (there is no better word for it) is in the way that Alex’s suicide attempt is revealed to the reader, the reasons behind it and how Alex feels about it. He knows it was a mistake and he’s been trying to atone for it ever since. But more than that, he’s been trying to understand it, to understand his feelings and yes, coming out as queer is part of it but it is not all of it and I hugely appreciated how the author treated this as part of who he was but not all that he was. His identity is about more than that: there is his surprise at being a good athlete, his passion for running, his friendships, his family and his relationship with his brother and yes, also his falling in love with Nathen. Although the potential complications of the latter are not glossed over – after all, this is Alabama – there is a lovely easy acceptance about their feelings for each other and it is ever so romantic (and also, hot).
Meanwhile, we have James. Who at first comes across as a tremendous sexist jerk and I wanted to punch him in the face with my Fists of Fury. He treats girls in the most horrible manner, he is whinny in his boredom with his life, he is angry with people he shouldn’t be angry with and it feels as though he is frozen in limbo. It was hard to warm up to James to start with but soon enough it becomes clear how affected he was by his brother’s suicide attempt and perhaps, just perhaps all of those feelings are a result of a pent-up anger at himself. His character arc is perhaps more obvious and less gentle than Alex’s and when the moment comes when James FINALLY gets angry with those who deserve his anger (and that includes himself) and realises how important his brother is, it is the sort of victorious, triumphant moment that made me want to fist pump and celebrate. He also becomes a better person in the end (although I have to say, I hoped his sexism would have been addressed more directly).
What They Always Tell Us is a story about brothers and about coming out. But I think that above all, this is a delicate exploration about what it means to be happy and how fleeting happiness can be. It is an effusive feeling? It is subtle? How much does happiness depend on external factors or internal ones? How much do other people affect your ability to be happy – or add to it? All characters to one extent or another are trying to understand what make them happy and trying catch it whenever them can, knowing that there are also shitty things that happen in life. There are no easy answers, there are no fixed outcomes but in the end Alex and James found each other again and as brothers and friends, they can face anything together.
I had such a taste of that elusive happiness when I read this book and I know it is not of the fleeting kind. This is the sort of book with the sort of characters that simply …stay.
September 8, 2015
It's hard for me to read books about bullying, so I'll have to put a disclaimer right here that I'm not at my most objective (insofar as a person can be objective when expressing an opinion) about it.
The book revolves around two brothers: Alex, who survived an attempted suicide some time before the beginning of the book and became a social outcast and his brother James, a popular senior who's guilty for not being there for Alex and at the same time disdaining him as a dork.
The true strength in this novel is in its subtlety. There's no head-dunking or elaborately violent high school prank in the book. Wilson manages to portray what is probably most hurtful of high school behavior - the ignoring, the snickers, the laughter that you're SURE is meant for you, and the in-your-face hypocrisy.
The book is about very little. Centered around James and Alex and a few of their friends, it's ultimately about two things: change and his recovery from depression for Alex, and James' inability to break out of the mold to defend his brother.
It's painful to watch sometimes - James lets up chance after chance to defend his brother in social situations, going so far as to hang out with Alex's ex-friends, who shunned him. Alex can't seem to break out of his shell to talk or comfort people, even when he clearly wants to. He even ignores a little boy who has no friends and needs him most of the time.
And yet you can't help but empathize with them because it comes across as so true - at one point most of us have been in these situations. Deciding not to stir the pot for something as insignificant as principles just to stay on the friendship train, and apathy to someone else's situation even though we know we should feel sorry for them.
It's, as I said, a book about very little. The conclusion to the book is slightly unsatisfying too, considering all the build-up, and the relationship between the two brothers is never nauseatingly sweet like I hoped it would be.
But this is the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower should have been. I find many coming-of-age stories boring, and this is no different - the only difference is that this touched me, and I genuinely cared for the characters.
Which is a hell lot more than I can say for a lot of books out there.
The book revolves around two brothers: Alex, who survived an attempted suicide some time before the beginning of the book and became a social outcast and his brother James, a popular senior who's guilty for not being there for Alex and at the same time disdaining him as a dork.
The true strength in this novel is in its subtlety. There's no head-dunking or elaborately violent high school prank in the book. Wilson manages to portray what is probably most hurtful of high school behavior - the ignoring, the snickers, the laughter that you're SURE is meant for you, and the in-your-face hypocrisy.
The book is about very little. Centered around James and Alex and a few of their friends, it's ultimately about two things: change and his recovery from depression for Alex, and James' inability to break out of the mold to defend his brother.
It's painful to watch sometimes - James lets up chance after chance to defend his brother in social situations, going so far as to hang out with Alex's ex-friends, who shunned him. Alex can't seem to break out of his shell to talk or comfort people, even when he clearly wants to. He even ignores a little boy who has no friends and needs him most of the time.
And yet you can't help but empathize with them because it comes across as so true - at one point most of us have been in these situations. Deciding not to stir the pot for something as insignificant as principles just to stay on the friendship train, and apathy to someone else's situation even though we know we should feel sorry for them.
It's, as I said, a book about very little. The conclusion to the book is slightly unsatisfying too, considering all the build-up, and the relationship between the two brothers is never nauseatingly sweet like I hoped it would be.
But this is the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower should have been. I find many coming-of-age stories boring, and this is no different - the only difference is that this touched me, and I genuinely cared for the characters.
Which is a hell lot more than I can say for a lot of books out there.
August 2, 2011
Normally when I read books I cycle through about five or so until I find one that really consumes me. I will then focus on that book until I have exhausted its pages and digested the plot. With this novel, it took me a while to finally admit to myself that I was engrossed in the story. Such is the subtlety of this brilliant novel that you are pulled in immediately and only later does it hit you that you have been invested all along.
Alex is a quiet boy who shatters his family's complacent security with a single act during a back-to-school house party. From this moment, his old life unravels. James is Alex's popular athlete brother who is the most thrown by Alex's actions. He begins to question his brothers motives and is mostly confused about where they stand, causing them to drift further apart. Meanwhile Alex is trying to come to terms with himself and put his past behind him when he meets Henry, the young son of the new female neighbor across the way. Both brothers befriend Henry and bond over the odd visitors across the street and the boy's situation. Alex really starts to grow when he begins to run again and gains encouragement from James' close friend Nathen. Things move beyond friendship and throughout the year Alex regains his happiness and finds a newfound confidence.
The magic is in the familiarity of the stressful situations of both brothers who have to adapt to new challenges at school and breaching the walls that have grown between them. The novel has a fluid pacing, my heartbeat often quickening near the end of a chapter as I looked for more information, anticipating the next page.
Alex is a quiet boy who shatters his family's complacent security with a single act during a back-to-school house party. From this moment, his old life unravels. James is Alex's popular athlete brother who is the most thrown by Alex's actions. He begins to question his brothers motives and is mostly confused about where they stand, causing them to drift further apart. Meanwhile Alex is trying to come to terms with himself and put his past behind him when he meets Henry, the young son of the new female neighbor across the way. Both brothers befriend Henry and bond over the odd visitors across the street and the boy's situation. Alex really starts to grow when he begins to run again and gains encouragement from James' close friend Nathen. Things move beyond friendship and throughout the year Alex regains his happiness and finds a newfound confidence.
The magic is in the familiarity of the stressful situations of both brothers who have to adapt to new challenges at school and breaching the walls that have grown between them. The novel has a fluid pacing, my heartbeat often quickening near the end of a chapter as I looked for more information, anticipating the next page.
July 26, 2016
This was sweet. Really liked it.
As always, I will first discuss the characters. Alex was a sweetie, and I loved him. James, to be perfectly honest, was kind of a dick at first, but he went through a shit ton of character development and I grew to like him. I also really liked Nathen and Alice.
It's amazing that not much happens plot-wise and yet I was never bored. There's no exciting action or adventure, it's just a glimpse into the lives of some high school students trying to live and love. It's ordinary but that's what makes it so relatable.
Ugh, the romance was to die for. I ship it so hard. It's very mild, there's no sexually explicit scenes. It's more kissing and intimate moments, my favorite kind of romantic moments.
I don't really have much to say, except that I quite enjoyed it and I would totally recommend it. For some reason it kind of reminds me of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, so if you liked that then totally check this out.
Tl;dr version- A really sweet story that involves an adorable romance and a realistic glimpse into the lives of high school students.
As always, I will first discuss the characters. Alex was a sweetie, and I loved him. James, to be perfectly honest, was kind of a dick at first, but he went through a shit ton of character development and I grew to like him. I also really liked Nathen and Alice.
It's amazing that not much happens plot-wise and yet I was never bored. There's no exciting action or adventure, it's just a glimpse into the lives of some high school students trying to live and love. It's ordinary but that's what makes it so relatable.
Ugh, the romance was to die for. I ship it so hard. It's very mild, there's no sexually explicit scenes. It's more kissing and intimate moments, my favorite kind of romantic moments.
I don't really have much to say, except that I quite enjoyed it and I would totally recommend it. For some reason it kind of reminds me of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, so if you liked that then totally check this out.
Tl;dr version- A really sweet story that involves an adorable romance and a realistic glimpse into the lives of high school students.
October 24, 2019
Incredibilmente reale, delicato e introspettivo.
Presto la recensione
Presto la recensione
May 18, 2017
As I told my friend just as I had finished it, I found this book to be "probably the most boring good book I've ever read."
Okay, maybe that was a little ridiculous of me. But seriously, the plot-line is... Undramatic.
But I loved it. The smooth, quiet writing. The flawed characters and their struggles in growing up. This is a true coming of age novel.
Alex and James are two teenage brothers, both struggling to survive in the small town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Told in the third person, alternating perspectives for each chapter, the reader gets a glimpse into the popular life of James, and the shunned and ignored every day life of Alex. The two seemingly opposite brothers are drawn together by a mysterious ten-year-old boy who moves into the house across the street, and Alex learns to enjoy life more with the help of his new friend Nathen.
As the story unfolds, the complexity of the two main characters becomes apparent, and they come to realize more about both themselves and the world around them.
Through the moderate pacing of the story along with the developing characters, everything within the novel seemed to come to life. As I put down the book, I almost wondered about what Alex and James are doing now, as if they really were in Tuscaloosa.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone (be prepared for a fairly undramatic narrative, though), but especially to teenagers who, just like Alex and James, are on the hard road to growing up.
Okay, maybe that was a little ridiculous of me. But seriously, the plot-line is... Undramatic.
But I loved it. The smooth, quiet writing. The flawed characters and their struggles in growing up. This is a true coming of age novel.
Alex and James are two teenage brothers, both struggling to survive in the small town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Told in the third person, alternating perspectives for each chapter, the reader gets a glimpse into the popular life of James, and the shunned and ignored every day life of Alex. The two seemingly opposite brothers are drawn together by a mysterious ten-year-old boy who moves into the house across the street, and Alex learns to enjoy life more with the help of his new friend Nathen.
As the story unfolds, the complexity of the two main characters becomes apparent, and they come to realize more about both themselves and the world around them.
Through the moderate pacing of the story along with the developing characters, everything within the novel seemed to come to life. As I put down the book, I almost wondered about what Alex and James are doing now, as if they really were in Tuscaloosa.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone (be prepared for a fairly undramatic narrative, though), but especially to teenagers who, just like Alex and James, are on the hard road to growing up.
October 6, 2010
What They Always Tell us is told from two point of views. Alex, the younger brother, who is a social outcast after he makes a mistake at a party and James, the older brother, who is mister popularity. The boys used to be close when they were younger, but ever since Alex's mistake, they've grown apart. The novel follows the two boys relationship with each other and Alex's friendship with Nathen - his brothers friend - and Henry, the strange boy across the street.
I absolutely loved this novel! It was recommended to me by one of my friends on here and I'm glad I read it. It was able to keep my attention and make me want to keep on reading. I liked all of the characters, even the antagonist. They were well developed and I'm sad that it had to end.
The only thing I didn't like was how everything ended with Tyler. It seemed almost anti-climactic. I was waiting for something bad to happen, and then nothing.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed YA novels or enjoys LGBT novels.
I absolutely loved this novel! It was recommended to me by one of my friends on here and I'm glad I read it. It was able to keep my attention and make me want to keep on reading. I liked all of the characters, even the antagonist. They were well developed and I'm sad that it had to end.
The only thing I didn't like was how everything ended with Tyler. It seemed almost anti-climactic. I was waiting for something bad to happen, and then nothing.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed YA novels or enjoys LGBT novels.
October 21, 2013
The more I replay these scenes through my head, the more miraculous to me they seem. This book is an understated achievement. A true joy.
January 4, 2021
(2.5)
Rep: gay mc with depression, biracial Indian American gay li
CWs: attempted suicide, car accident, casual racism & homophobia, homophobic slurs
Rep: gay mc with depression, biracial Indian American gay li
CWs: attempted suicide, car accident, casual racism & homophobia, homophobic slurs
October 13, 2015
I remembered my high school days reading this. But it's like seeing it in a different perspective, seeing the bigger picture. I thought of the countless moments of confusion, alienation, anger, frustration, bitterness, fear of the great unknown... multiplied to the nth hormonal level. Reflecting on it, I can see that many of us back then were fighting our own internal battles with each one of us trying to subdue it and keep it low key, thinking, "I must be a freak for feeling this."
I remember being annoyed when treated like a kid by adults, remember always hurrying to grow up, remember being told to act like an adult for being immature... it's confusing as hell. All of these coupled with the many changes to the body and the constant peer pressure, adolescence is definitely an overwhelming and over dramatic period. As I was reading the book, I am able to finally grasp my level of maturity today as compared to the person I was years back. I can't help but laugh at the irony of being irritated by these fictional teenagers when I once was in their shoes before. I really am old, damn it!
This book allows us to reflect on the the time that was, how foreign a teenage life can be. It is an interesting book -- one which lets us conclude that adolescence is indeed a time for self-exploration and self-discovery. It is a journey of the self. Sure, we were a bunch of f*ck-ups back then but in many respects, those experiences have contributed in bulk to our totality as a person today. We can't disregard. We can't avoid, either.
November 19, 2014
What They Always Tell Us is excellent. Incredible writing. I'm still in shock about how much I adored this book. James and Alex are brothers but you wouldn't think so, considering how different they are. Ever since Alex swallowed pine sol at a party, chugging it down like a beer, he became an outcast. Even his brother wasn't really Team Alex after the incident. James is the social one while Alex stands on the sidelines. Along comes Nathan, my personal favorite character!, and Alex's world is turned upside down. Alex starts running with Nathan, and finds a hobby and friend in him. Alex explores the depth of his talent, and his sexuality with Nathan. So much angst, struggle, fight to do the right thing, so much yes. I was a bit upset that James didn't stand up for his little bro but that's what makes it so very wonderful. It was real and raw. Big brothers don't usually go out punching, knocking out and unfriending everyone who is mean to their brother. James wanted to do the right thing, but that would've been uncool. And okay, yes, James did the best thing he could've done in the end (so yes James!!) He became Team Alex, undoubtedly. :) Which we all know how big and scary bad reputations can be in high school. But anyways, give this extraordinary book a chance! Amazingly awesome.
October 7, 2009
What They Always Tell us is told from two point of views. Alex, the younger brother, who is a social outcast after he makes a mistake at a party and James, the older brother, who is mister popularity. The boys used to be close when they were younger, but ever since Alex's mistake, they've grown apart. The novel follows the two boys relationship with each other and Alex's friendship with Nathen - his brothers friend - and Henry, the strange boy across the street.
I absolutely loved this novel! It was recommended to me by one of my friends on here and I'm glad I read it. It was able to keep my attention and make me want to keep on reading. I liked all of the characters, even the antagonist. They were well developed and I'm sad that it had to end.
The only thing I didn't like was how everything ended with Tyler. It seemed almost anti-climactic. I was waiting for something bad to happen, and then nothing.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed YA novels or enjoys LGBT novels.
I absolutely loved this novel! It was recommended to me by one of my friends on here and I'm glad I read it. It was able to keep my attention and make me want to keep on reading. I liked all of the characters, even the antagonist. They were well developed and I'm sad that it had to end.
The only thing I didn't like was how everything ended with Tyler. It seemed almost anti-climactic. I was waiting for something bad to happen, and then nothing.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed YA novels or enjoys LGBT novels.
November 18, 2012
This book is truly beautiful, a must read for teenagers especially but for everyone really. The author takes up some really heavy subjects and handle them extremely well. There are so many things going on in this book but it never felt artificial. It's just everyday life told by the brothers Alex and James.
Alex struggles to come back from depression and suicide attempt while being shunned by almost everybody.
James struggles with his own feelings of shock, anger, helplessness and fear because of Alex's suicide attempt. He has a hard time regaining his trust in Alex (or rather confidence that he will not come home and find his brother dead) and growing into the person and brother he wants to be.
The parents are trying to hold everything together but are of course just as shocked and afraid about the "incident".
As someone with personal experience with similar situations, both as sister and as stepmother, I think the author explained the feelings of all parties perfectly.
Thankfully everyone got out of this stronger and more confident in themselves and their place in life.
Alex struggles to come back from depression and suicide attempt while being shunned by almost everybody.
James struggles with his own feelings of shock, anger, helplessness and fear because of Alex's suicide attempt. He has a hard time regaining his trust in Alex (or rather confidence that he will not come home and find his brother dead) and growing into the person and brother he wants to be.
The parents are trying to hold everything together but are of course just as shocked and afraid about the "incident".
As someone with personal experience with similar situations, both as sister and as stepmother, I think the author explained the feelings of all parties perfectly.
Thankfully everyone got out of this stronger and more confident in themselves and their place in life.
January 7, 2013
Errgh. This book has such great characters and plot. Everything was really well thought out. I especially liked some of the minor characters. Everyone had a story. There were a lot of emotions covered in this book, and it was just really sweet. The only thing I didn't like, especially at he beginning, was the writing style. But it does get better, or at least you get used to it, one of the two, by the middle of the book, so if the writing really bothers you at the beginning of the book, push through because it's worth it. Oh also, it is told in duel perspectives between Alex and his brother James, which I guess is just a personal preference, but I loved that aspect, and it was done really well. Mmmm ya, good stuff.
December 13, 2011
Un.For.Get.Ta.Ble.
Stunning in its sheer simplicity.
This is one man who understands-really UNDERSTANDS the life of a teenager.
No other author I'm aware of could have done it better. Martin Wilson manages to convey teen life, and not only conveys it, but also enhances the reader's comprehension of it.
I'm (luckily) still a teen myself, and I have never come across a book which has *nailed* a teenager's experience in this contradictory world so well.
Martin Wilson-I applaud you.
(Hopefully he's working on another book now.)
Stunning in its sheer simplicity.
This is one man who understands-really UNDERSTANDS the life of a teenager.
No other author I'm aware of could have done it better. Martin Wilson manages to convey teen life, and not only conveys it, but also enhances the reader's comprehension of it.
I'm (luckily) still a teen myself, and I have never come across a book which has *nailed* a teenager's experience in this contradictory world so well.
Martin Wilson-I applaud you.
(Hopefully he's working on another book now.)
March 1, 2022
I liked this book. It was short and to the point which was both good and bad for me. I found pleasing aspects in both James & Alex, but I feel like something was missing. The plot was predictable but very pleasant to read. The book as a whole is wholesome. It culminates to a happy ending for all the characters including first love, College acceptance, & tightening family bonds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2022
“So maybe Alex’s life will always be that way—fleeting happiness surrounded by the ever present reality of life.”
1 Sentence Summary: After Alex tries to end his life by drinking a bottle of Pine-Sol at a party, nothing is the same—his friends ignore him, he’s an outcast at school, and even his own brother, James, doesn’t see him the same way anymore; but when Alex decides to take up running again, James’s friend Nathen convinces him to join the cross country team and helps him begin to see that maybe he really does belong here.
My Thoughts: Ugh I love this book so much. (This is actually my second time reading this book, but last time I read it I didn’t have Goodreads…)
It’s so well written and it flows perfectly; it’s like you don’t even realize you’re reading as you’re reading it because the words and the story just melt through your brain. It’s heartbreaking and yet hopeful at the same time.
I love the way Martin Wilson addressed suicide and mental health in such a sensitive and real way (and without coming off as preachy at all).
The romance was really well developed and not overwhelming, and I loved the focus on family and on Alex’s relationship with James. The alternating perspectives was cool as well.
Anyway, like I said before, I love this book and the characters are all so well developed and being taken on this journey of hope and healing is definitely worth the read.
Recommend to: People who want to read a real story concerning mental health and teen suicide.
(Warnings: swearing; sexual content; underage drinking; attempted suicide)
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