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The History of Us
Sometimes it's not about coming out, it's about settling in.
Eighteen-year-old Bradley Collins came out a year ago and hasn't looked back since. Who cares if he doesn’t know any other gay people? Bradley has friends and basketball—that’s all he needs. Even if that means always sitting on the sidelines when the guys go out looking for girls.
When cute film-boy TJ tries to flirt with Bradley while his friends are doing their thing, he freaks. Yeah, he’s gay, but he’s never had the opportunity to go out with a boy before. He’s never had to worry about how his friends will react to seeing him with a guy.
Bradley accompanies TJ on a road trip to film TJ’s senior project documentary. In each city they visit, they meet with people from different walks of life, and Bradley learns there’s a whole lot more to being honest about himself than just coming out. He still has to figure out who he really is and learn to be okay with what he discovers.
Eighteen-year-old Bradley Collins came out a year ago and hasn't looked back since. Who cares if he doesn’t know any other gay people? Bradley has friends and basketball—that’s all he needs. Even if that means always sitting on the sidelines when the guys go out looking for girls.
When cute film-boy TJ tries to flirt with Bradley while his friends are doing their thing, he freaks. Yeah, he’s gay, but he’s never had the opportunity to go out with a boy before. He’s never had to worry about how his friends will react to seeing him with a guy.
Bradley accompanies TJ on a road trip to film TJ’s senior project documentary. In each city they visit, they meet with people from different walks of life, and Bradley learns there’s a whole lot more to being honest about himself than just coming out. He still has to figure out who he really is and learn to be okay with what he discovers.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2015
65 people are currently reading
788 people want to read
About the author
Nyrae Dawn
33 books3,912 followersI am a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction.
I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me.
I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.
I love nothing more than writing about young adults. There is something so fresh and fun about it. You can pretty much always find me with a book in my hand or open document in front of me.
I live in Southern California with my husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 30, 2020
This book felt a lot more serious than I was hoping for, but I did still like it.
Essentially, this was a story about an out high school senior, Bradley, and him coming into his own, once he finally had the opportunity to "like" another boy.
As the story began, Bradley had been out for a year, but was far from what I would refer to as proud. His every action was dictated by his fears of what other people would think, especially his three best friends.
But as the story progressed, with him going on a road trip with TJ, a boy that he kinda, sorta-liked, I really enjoyed seeing Bradley's confidence and comfort level with being openly, unapologetically gay grow.
As I mentioned, though, the tone felt pretty serious, as Bradley helped TJ interview gay people from various walks of life for his documentary to educate the public on what some LGBTQ folks have had to deal with when coming out and living their lives.
Unlike some other reviewers, the story didn't feel preachy to me, but I felt that a bit more humor would've been nice to help alleviate some of the "it doesn't necessarily always get completely better / this is my struggle" personal stories that were told.
It took me a *very* long time to actually feel the romantic connection between the MC's, partly because the steam level was so low, but also because both MC's kept their feelings held tightly to their chests, even from themselves, for a large part of the book. Also, we only got Bradley's POV.
The angst was pretty manageable, but the story did (sadly) include a Big Misunderstanding / Long Separation, which came across as an "Add Large Dramatical Plot Point Here" type situation that I didn't feel was absolutely needed.
So while I enjoyed the story, it wasn't a mile a minute excitement, and I'd rate it at around 3.5 stars.
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June 24, 2015
3.5-4 Stars!!
This novel was my first m/m read by this author and I can totally say she really surprised me in a very good way. “The History of Us” is a great, bittersweet coming of age story about self-discovery, accepting your sexuality and finding love. An eye-opening, educative story, “The History of Us” is sweet, tender and even emotional at times and while it wasn’t something like I usually read, I really enjoyed it.
Bradley is 18 years old. He's gay and he’s out. His mother and his friends even his high school colleagues knows about his sexuality and supports him. But while he’s out, he’s not very proud. He wishes he could be straight, because he knows his life would be easier. No one gives him a hard time about his sexuality, so he knows he’s lucky. However he’s afraid to be him, a gay boy. He fears being judged or worse and on top if that he doesn’t know how to be gay. He feels lost and all he wants is to meet someone who is like him because he’s so tired of being so alone.
Everything changes for Bradley when he meets TJ.
TJ is out and very proud. He doesn’t care what anyone else thinks about his sexuality. He knows he can’t change anything about it and he really doesn’t want to, because he thinks people shouldn’t be judged by this aspect.
TJ wants to make a documentary about what means to be gay and how being gay can affect your life. He’s planning to go on a road trip and meet men and women who are gay, out or not, who want to tell their stories. Bradley decides to accompany TJ and they start a journey that will open their eyes and change them forever.
I really enjoyed this story. A character driven story, “The History of Us” was sweet, touching and wonderfully written. I liked the two main character, Bradley and TJ. Bradley’s character felt real and believable. He’s flawed like any of us, with fears and insecurities, but he’s honest – with others and with himself. His character growth is fantastically done and I liked how he changed his perspective about some aspects in the two weeks and the boy who became at the end of the journey. TJ was a likeable from the start. I loved his personality and the way he sees everything in life. He accepts Bradley’s perspective and he doesn’t judge him. I loved him for that! He is sweet, patient and considerate with him. He helps Bradley to see everything in a new light without pushing him. He’s awesome!
I love the idea of the road trip where you find who you are and who you want to be and also the idea of a documentary about LGBT community. The men and women the two boys meet felt real and their stories as well. Some of them are sad, some of them are happy, but all of them were believable. The other side characters – Bradley’s mother and his friends were great – supportive and accepting, exactly how everyone should be.
Bradley and TJ’s ‘romance’ was not the main aspect of the story so don’t expect much steam. Their slow burn ‘romance’ was cute but I really wanted something more. More romance I guess. Also I would have liked to see how their relationship progressed over the next few months maybe. An extended epilogue would have been nice.
Overall, a great read!
This novel was my first m/m read by this author and I can totally say she really surprised me in a very good way. “The History of Us” is a great, bittersweet coming of age story about self-discovery, accepting your sexuality and finding love. An eye-opening, educative story, “The History of Us” is sweet, tender and even emotional at times and while it wasn’t something like I usually read, I really enjoyed it.
“Why does it matter that you came out if you still think there’s something wrong with who you are?”
Bradley is 18 years old. He's gay and he’s out. His mother and his friends even his high school colleagues knows about his sexuality and supports him. But while he’s out, he’s not very proud. He wishes he could be straight, because he knows his life would be easier. No one gives him a hard time about his sexuality, so he knows he’s lucky. However he’s afraid to be him, a gay boy. He fears being judged or worse and on top if that he doesn’t know how to be gay. He feels lost and all he wants is to meet someone who is like him because he’s so tired of being so alone.
“I don’t want to discover the new me. I just want to fully understand who the old one is, and to be totally okay with him.”
Everything changes for Bradley when he meets TJ.
TJ is out and very proud. He doesn’t care what anyone else thinks about his sexuality. He knows he can’t change anything about it and he really doesn’t want to, because he thinks people shouldn’t be judged by this aspect.
TJ wants to make a documentary about what means to be gay and how being gay can affect your life. He’s planning to go on a road trip and meet men and women who are gay, out or not, who want to tell their stories. Bradley decides to accompany TJ and they start a journey that will open their eyes and change them forever.
“He makes me feel good. I always thought I felt okay, always thought I was happy and in tons of ways, I am. But being with him makes me feel like I won a play-off game I didn’t even know I was playing.”
I really enjoyed this story. A character driven story, “The History of Us” was sweet, touching and wonderfully written. I liked the two main character, Bradley and TJ. Bradley’s character felt real and believable. He’s flawed like any of us, with fears and insecurities, but he’s honest – with others and with himself. His character growth is fantastically done and I liked how he changed his perspective about some aspects in the two weeks and the boy who became at the end of the journey. TJ was a likeable from the start. I loved his personality and the way he sees everything in life. He accepts Bradley’s perspective and he doesn’t judge him. I loved him for that! He is sweet, patient and considerate with him. He helps Bradley to see everything in a new light without pushing him. He’s awesome!
I love the idea of the road trip where you find who you are and who you want to be and also the idea of a documentary about LGBT community. The men and women the two boys meet felt real and their stories as well. Some of them are sad, some of them are happy, but all of them were believable. The other side characters – Bradley’s mother and his friends were great – supportive and accepting, exactly how everyone should be.
Bradley and TJ’s ‘romance’ was not the main aspect of the story so don’t expect much steam. Their slow burn ‘romance’ was cute but I really wanted something more. More romance I guess. Also I would have liked to see how their relationship progressed over the next few months maybe. An extended epilogue would have been nice.
Overall, a great read!
“Sometimes it’s not about coming out, it’s about settling in.”
June 22, 2015
First of all, I want to say that I had NO idea that Nyrae Dawn wrote M/M, and I really enjoyed her foray into that genre. Yay for more mainstream M/M recognition!
While parts of this book were very sweet and touching, and I think the author got a lot of things right, it also made a few missteps. This book has MCs that are 18 and graduating high school. In a lot of ways, it nailed the mentality of boys of that age. The guys felt realistically self conscious and anxious about their friendships and family relationships. The way the MC talked and acted felt pretty true to life. I also think the author understood how someone could come out yet still be afraid to act "gay" and change his friends' perception of him.
However, on the flip side, I think the author also made these guys seem too young. This book is supposed to be YA, but when it came to sexual situations, it was like the characters could have been 15 or 16 or younger, IMO. I want to know who can sleep in a hotel with someone that they are dating and mostly just kiss at any age after puberty... who?! I know that at 18 (or much younger) you would have had to pry me from my boyfriend if we had that much alone time. That doesn't mean the guys couldn't have been nervous or that there had to be sex on page or that they even had to have sex, but I think that there would have been a lot more thinking about it and a LOT more heavy petting. It rang a bit... neutered for my taste.
I'm also torn about how I feel about the documentary these guys were making. On one hand, I think it was a sweet idea, and the stories of the LGBT community are always important to hear. However, I'm ambivalent about how I feel about this particular documentary. Though there were a few couples that were older or sick, the majority of the people they interviewed were good-looking, young people. In the day and age of "It Gets Better" videos and gay celebrities, it is less exciting to me to see videos of the same types of people. What happened to the trans community? The asexual community? The elderly? The people who aren't very attractive? I want to hear their stories, too.
Overall, I think this was a nice story with a sweet couple, but it wasn't quite a slam dunk for me. I think this would be a great read for a young teenager (12-14) who is scared to come out and could use a positive story.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
While parts of this book were very sweet and touching, and I think the author got a lot of things right, it also made a few missteps. This book has MCs that are 18 and graduating high school. In a lot of ways, it nailed the mentality of boys of that age. The guys felt realistically self conscious and anxious about their friendships and family relationships. The way the MC talked and acted felt pretty true to life. I also think the author understood how someone could come out yet still be afraid to act "gay" and change his friends' perception of him.
However, on the flip side, I think the author also made these guys seem too young. This book is supposed to be YA, but when it came to sexual situations, it was like the characters could have been 15 or 16 or younger, IMO. I want to know who can sleep in a hotel with someone that they are dating and mostly just kiss at any age after puberty... who?! I know that at 18 (or much younger) you would have had to pry me from my boyfriend if we had that much alone time. That doesn't mean the guys couldn't have been nervous or that there had to be sex on page or that they even had to have sex, but I think that there would have been a lot more thinking about it and a LOT more heavy petting. It rang a bit... neutered for my taste.
I'm also torn about how I feel about the documentary these guys were making. On one hand, I think it was a sweet idea, and the stories of the LGBT community are always important to hear. However, I'm ambivalent about how I feel about this particular documentary. Though there were a few couples that were older or sick, the majority of the people they interviewed were good-looking, young people. In the day and age of "It Gets Better" videos and gay celebrities, it is less exciting to me to see videos of the same types of people. What happened to the trans community? The asexual community? The elderly? The people who aren't very attractive? I want to hear their stories, too.
Overall, I think this was a nice story with a sweet couple, but it wasn't quite a slam dunk for me. I think this would be a great read for a young teenager (12-14) who is scared to come out and could use a positive story.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
January 26, 2020
3.5 Stars
The story follows 18-year-old Bradley as he discovers who is he, who he wants to be, and ultimately, how to be comfortable in his own skin. This is definitely a thought-provoking coming-of-age story, which really highlights the importance of learning to be comfortable and proud of who you are. It’s a message I think every single one of us needs to learn, although that’s always easier said than done.
For Bradley, his life is uncomplicatedly complicated. You see, Bradley came out to his friends and family a little over a year ago, and although he lucked out in the acceptance and support department – with a great group of accepting friends and the world’s most fantastically supportive mother – for reasons he’s not entirely clear on, he finds himself slightly uncomfortable and ashamed of his own sexual identity. Bradley’s constantly watching from the sidelines as his buddies chase skirts, but he shies away from any sort of situation which may lead to his own connection with other gay teens. He doesn’t know any other people within the LGBT community (for that matter, he probably doesn’t even know what that acronym stands for) and he doesn’t really know what it means for himself to be gay; he’s curious, but he’s naïve.
Enter TJ. TJ is a fellow 18 year old gay kid who approaches Bradley one night at their local hangout with a self-confidence that Bradley himself can only hope to possess one day. The two get off to a rocky start, but once Bradley’s mother learns that TJ plans on spending their upcoming Spring Break going on a road trip to film a LGBT documentary, she insists that Bradley join TJ on this once in a lifetime adventure – seriously, she’s the coolest mum ever!
As expected, Bradley and TJ develop a romantic relationship while on their road trip, and through meeting people from all walks of life and hearing their (often heartbreaking) stories, Bradley is guided through his own self-discovery, slowly developing an understanding of himself and his personal beliefs, as well as learning about what it means for himself to be gay. I definitely loved the road trip and documentary aspects of this book; I was even moved by several of the stories shared by the various characters the boys met along the way, particularly the scenes with Greg.
Although I liked the overall story in terms of the messages it conveyed, I ultimately felt like the narrative was more informative than emotionally engaging. At times, it read like an educational experience rather than an emotionally gripping coming-of-age story. I credit this to the fact that this is the type of YA story that is directly aimed at quite a young audience. This is fine and all, in fact, I think young readers who are curious about LGBT themed books, who may not have much background knowledge or understanding of these themes (much like Bradley himself), will probably benefit greatly from reading this kind of thought-provoking story.
The story follows 18-year-old Bradley as he discovers who is he, who he wants to be, and ultimately, how to be comfortable in his own skin. This is definitely a thought-provoking coming-of-age story, which really highlights the importance of learning to be comfortable and proud of who you are. It’s a message I think every single one of us needs to learn, although that’s always easier said than done.
For Bradley, his life is uncomplicatedly complicated. You see, Bradley came out to his friends and family a little over a year ago, and although he lucked out in the acceptance and support department – with a great group of accepting friends and the world’s most fantastically supportive mother – for reasons he’s not entirely clear on, he finds himself slightly uncomfortable and ashamed of his own sexual identity. Bradley’s constantly watching from the sidelines as his buddies chase skirts, but he shies away from any sort of situation which may lead to his own connection with other gay teens. He doesn’t know any other people within the LGBT community (for that matter, he probably doesn’t even know what that acronym stands for) and he doesn’t really know what it means for himself to be gay; he’s curious, but he’s naïve.
Enter TJ. TJ is a fellow 18 year old gay kid who approaches Bradley one night at their local hangout with a self-confidence that Bradley himself can only hope to possess one day. The two get off to a rocky start, but once Bradley’s mother learns that TJ plans on spending their upcoming Spring Break going on a road trip to film a LGBT documentary, she insists that Bradley join TJ on this once in a lifetime adventure – seriously, she’s the coolest mum ever!
As expected, Bradley and TJ develop a romantic relationship while on their road trip, and through meeting people from all walks of life and hearing their (often heartbreaking) stories, Bradley is guided through his own self-discovery, slowly developing an understanding of himself and his personal beliefs, as well as learning about what it means for himself to be gay. I definitely loved the road trip and documentary aspects of this book; I was even moved by several of the stories shared by the various characters the boys met along the way, particularly the scenes with Greg.
Although I liked the overall story in terms of the messages it conveyed, I ultimately felt like the narrative was more informative than emotionally engaging. At times, it read like an educational experience rather than an emotionally gripping coming-of-age story. I credit this to the fact that this is the type of YA story that is directly aimed at quite a young audience. This is fine and all, in fact, I think young readers who are curious about LGBT themed books, who may not have much background knowledge or understanding of these themes (much like Bradley himself), will probably benefit greatly from reading this kind of thought-provoking story.
June 10, 2017
I liken this to a public service announcement. It's a nice one - don't get me wrong - but a service announcement nonetheless. This had great messages to it - finding your true self, making goals and going after them no matter what, being comfortable and proud of who you are. It also touches on the harsh reality many in the LGTBQ community face everyday, everywhere, and that there is still a long way to go towards acceptance.
Having said that, I never really connected with the two characters and their interpersonal dynamic. For a more comprehensive perspective, check out Meag's review. Perhaps it was their age (though there is many a tame YA out there that I've loved) but the emotions were always just out of reach for me. Again, a book with great, topical intentions with romantic inclinations - just a case of "it's not you, it's me".
Having said that, I never really connected with the two characters and their interpersonal dynamic. For a more comprehensive perspective, check out Meag's review. Perhaps it was their age (though there is many a tame YA out there that I've loved) but the emotions were always just out of reach for me. Again, a book with great, topical intentions with romantic inclinations - just a case of "it's not you, it's me".
December 5, 2015
BR, June 21st with Momo.
This is the second MM book I’ve read of Nyrae Dawn. I really like her MF books and nails them everytime but somehow for me something misses in the MM novels. But I cheer her on in doing so!!
I liked the characters Bradley and TJ very much. Although I understand this is YA, I would’ve loved to see some more smexy times between these two. They were very sweet together but they are 18 years old!! They should’ve been all over each other….
At the beginning of the road-trip Bradley was uncomfortable with himself. He was out to his friends and his family was okay with it. Still he didn’t know who to “act” gay and was almost ashamed of it.
It was interesting to read these stories about different gay people. Some were heartbreaking.. These stories helpt Bradley coming to grip with his feelings of being gay.
"I look over at TJ. It’s because of him that I’m here. Because of him that I realize I’m okay with being me. Because of him that I’m finally starting to live with my eyes open the way I told him I wanted to do."
Nice, cute epilogue at the end... So very nicely done!!
I would recommend this to Young Adults!!!
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Two boys and a roadtrip.. Sounds good to me!!
July 6, 2015
I was thrilled to find out Nyrae Dawn was releasing a YA MM book! Oh the potential!
Ummm…oh the struggle?
I have to admit, maybe I oversold this one in my head. Maybe I set the bar too high. Maybe I sabotaged it from the get go. But, I just could NOT get into it for most the book. I would say, for at least the first 50% of the story, I was…bored.
Bradley, cool kid, basketball player with a posse, is out to his family and friends…but not really to himself. He struggles with the fact that he’s gay and what that implies for his life. How inconvenient! He meets TJ at the local cool-kids hangout and they start to flirt a bit. TJ is an aspiring young filmmaker, confident, out-and-proud and he fancies Bradley. Enough to put up with a LOT of BS from this kid.
Now, this pairing SHOULD work for me. I eat this stuff up. But I just couldn’t get into their connection. I wasn’t buying it. I didn’t know why TJ would put up with Bradley’s uncertainties that often manifested itself in cruel ways.
When the two of them go on a road trip to make TJ’s documentary about being gay in America, I hoped it would pick up. What ended up happening, though some of the stories they encountered powerful, was that I felt like I was being preached to. I felt like each story featured in their film was carefully chosen by the author to teach the reader a lesson…and ultimately, I was feeling this book would work really well as a fictionallized textbook for a class on gay America.
It didn’t work for me as a source of entertianment and romance.
Now…ALL that being said, when I thought all was lost and I was really struggling to get through, the author picks up the pace a bit and finally, something happens that makes me start to BELIEVE in this coupling and their attraction. I started to FEEL something for the two of them and wanting them together. It took awhile to get there, but by the end, there were tears and there was hope.
So…I’m conflicted. Would I recommend this to other readers? Ummm…maybe? I think some of the issues were me-not-you and your milage may vary. Ultimately, the book was okay…I guess.
January 5, 2020
Didactic.
Read
June 21, 2015A seriously poignant and heartfelt journey. One of Nyrae's strongest stories yet! <3
YA LGBT
YA LGBT
June 23, 2015
BR with Els!!!!
If you're looking for an exciting love story with steam, this is not for you. This is incredibly low steam, and its not even about the "romance" between Bradley and TJ. This is about Bradley figuring out who he is or who he wants to be and becoming comfortable with himself.
I liked it okay. Again, nothing stellar, but I liked the idea. I liked Bradley and TJ. Bradley was kind of jerk, but not really, he was just so unsure, about everything, and so worried about everything that he kind of just stayed stagnant. TJ pops up and is exactly what Bradley needed, or maybe not TJ as much as he needed this trip, he needed this exposure. And TJ's got his own shit going on.
I love the idea of the road trip and the making of the documentary and that TJ has connected with these people and that Bradley develops a connection with them. Some of the interviews are really really hard.
There was some repetition and I found myself a little frustrated with Bradley, but then I felt badly because he was just being honest and he was trying and he had insecurities and I think he owned up to them pretty well. But a few times, when he was like "I was being such a jerk" I was nodding, like yes, yes you are. But he pushed himself and I think he discovered a lot about other people and about himself.
Again, this is very low steam, and the relationship between the boys isn't necessarily deep, it develops rather quickly and I didn't feel it intensely, but they were cute and I liked them for each other.
If you're looking for an exciting love story with steam, this is not for you. This is incredibly low steam, and its not even about the "romance" between Bradley and TJ. This is about Bradley figuring out who he is or who he wants to be and becoming comfortable with himself.
I liked it okay. Again, nothing stellar, but I liked the idea. I liked Bradley and TJ. Bradley was kind of jerk, but not really, he was just so unsure, about everything, and so worried about everything that he kind of just stayed stagnant. TJ pops up and is exactly what Bradley needed, or maybe not TJ as much as he needed this trip, he needed this exposure. And TJ's got his own shit going on.
I love the idea of the road trip and the making of the documentary and that TJ has connected with these people and that Bradley develops a connection with them. Some of the interviews are really really hard.
There was some repetition and I found myself a little frustrated with Bradley, but then I felt badly because he was just being honest and he was trying and he had insecurities and I think he owned up to them pretty well. But a few times, when he was like "I was being such a jerk" I was nodding, like yes, yes you are. But he pushed himself and I think he discovered a lot about other people and about himself.
Again, this is very low steam, and the relationship between the boys isn't necessarily deep, it develops rather quickly and I didn't feel it intensely, but they were cute and I liked them for each other.
June 20, 2015
My. Goodness.
This is (so far) my very favorite Nyrae Dawn book. I love these characters, this story. More than I thought I would, which is saying a lot. Nyrae Dawn writes words beautifully, but her true strength is in the very real characters she creates. The History of Us is a wonderful, bittersweet story filled with all kinds of people and all kind of lives. I loved it.
This is (so far) my very favorite Nyrae Dawn book. I love these characters, this story. More than I thought I would, which is saying a lot. Nyrae Dawn writes words beautifully, but her true strength is in the very real characters she creates. The History of Us is a wonderful, bittersweet story filled with all kinds of people and all kind of lives. I loved it.
January 9, 2023
MM,hea,high school, ku, single pov
Spice: low to none
Angst: medium to low
This book is so cute.
Bradley came out as gay awhile ago and is so totally okay with being gay. Except... He's not. His best friends call things gay in a derogatory way but it's fine because they're just messing around. And they think it would be weird for him to be with a guy but they're just messing around. When Bradley meets TJ at the local coffee shop he's feeling all kinds of new things. As they become friends, Bradley joins TJ on a road trip for TJs documentary in which he interviews different gay people who talk about their experiences. As the trip goes on, Bradley realizes a lot about himself but also realizes he has feelings for TJ.
This book dealt with some heavy topics and yet, this is such a true glimpse into what it is like to be gay. There were parts that made me laugh and others that made me cry and several that had me nodding along because it reflected my feelings or experiences.
Spice: low to none
Angst: medium to low
This book is so cute.
Bradley came out as gay awhile ago and is so totally okay with being gay. Except... He's not. His best friends call things gay in a derogatory way but it's fine because they're just messing around. And they think it would be weird for him to be with a guy but they're just messing around. When Bradley meets TJ at the local coffee shop he's feeling all kinds of new things. As they become friends, Bradley joins TJ on a road trip for TJs documentary in which he interviews different gay people who talk about their experiences. As the trip goes on, Bradley realizes a lot about himself but also realizes he has feelings for TJ.
This book dealt with some heavy topics and yet, this is such a true glimpse into what it is like to be gay. There were parts that made me laugh and others that made me cry and several that had me nodding along because it reflected my feelings or experiences.
June 30, 2015
Lindy's Thoughts:
The History of Us by Nyrae Dawn was a powerful, poignant, real, and though provoking story. It gives us a clear look in to the thoughts and feelings of eighteen year old, Bradley Collins. Bradley has been best friends with Chase, Jabbar, and Marcus since Kindergarten. They are an extremely close knit group, and are all on their high school's basketball team. Bradley came out to his friends and his mother, his sophomore year of high school. Now, he is a senior in high school and has never had a boyfriend, shared a kiss with a guy, or even found a guy that he was interested in.
At times, Bradley feels lonely and left out with his friends. When they flirt with girls, or go out in a group to date, he prefers to hang back. One day, when his friends go to an arcade/coffee shop that they frequent, Bradley notices the cute guy that he see's around every once in a while. Bradley is attracted to him, but would never make a move. When they guy approaches Bradley, he introduces himself as T.J. and tries to pick up on him. Bradley is embarrassed, and responds rudely to T.J. However, he eventually apologizes, and they begin to hang out without Bradley's friends being made aware. Even though Bradley has admitted to being gay, he is still not comfortable in his own skin. He worries about what other people think of him, doesn't like feeling different from his other friends, and doesn't know how to move forward.
Bradley's mom stands strongly by her son's side and wants him to be happy. She see's him struggling, and when he tells her about a road trip that T.J. is going on, she encourages him to accompany T.J. The decision to go on the road trip is the beginning of an eye opening, soul searching experience, where both Bradley and T.J. learn about themselves as they interview a variety of gay couples, from different walks of life, and with various experiences and points of view.
The History of Us was a story that touched my heart. I cried for Bradley, and my heart broke for T.J., as well as those couples that were in horrible emotional pain. The theme that was beautifully woven throughout the story was that first and foremost, we are all people. We love, we endure painful loss, we struggle with who we are, we crave acceptance, and if we want something badly enough, we need to work and fight hard for it. Life isn't always fair or easy, but if you surround yourself with good people, they can help you through those tough times.
My Rating:
The History of Us was a story full of depth, and reflection. It impacted me deeply and I loved how Ms. Dawn spoke about derogatory gay stereotypes, as well as made me feel for and relate to these characters as people. It was eye-opening, profound, and compelling. I give, The History of Us, by Nyrae Dawn, 4.5 Touching, Enlightening, and Authentic Stars!
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
The History of Us by Nyrae Dawn was a powerful, poignant, real, and though provoking story. It gives us a clear look in to the thoughts and feelings of eighteen year old, Bradley Collins. Bradley has been best friends with Chase, Jabbar, and Marcus since Kindergarten. They are an extremely close knit group, and are all on their high school's basketball team. Bradley came out to his friends and his mother, his sophomore year of high school. Now, he is a senior in high school and has never had a boyfriend, shared a kiss with a guy, or even found a guy that he was interested in.
At times, Bradley feels lonely and left out with his friends. When they flirt with girls, or go out in a group to date, he prefers to hang back. One day, when his friends go to an arcade/coffee shop that they frequent, Bradley notices the cute guy that he see's around every once in a while. Bradley is attracted to him, but would never make a move. When they guy approaches Bradley, he introduces himself as T.J. and tries to pick up on him. Bradley is embarrassed, and responds rudely to T.J. However, he eventually apologizes, and they begin to hang out without Bradley's friends being made aware. Even though Bradley has admitted to being gay, he is still not comfortable in his own skin. He worries about what other people think of him, doesn't like feeling different from his other friends, and doesn't know how to move forward.
Bradley's mom stands strongly by her son's side and wants him to be happy. She see's him struggling, and when he tells her about a road trip that T.J. is going on, she encourages him to accompany T.J. The decision to go on the road trip is the beginning of an eye opening, soul searching experience, where both Bradley and T.J. learn about themselves as they interview a variety of gay couples, from different walks of life, and with various experiences and points of view.
The History of Us was a story that touched my heart. I cried for Bradley, and my heart broke for T.J., as well as those couples that were in horrible emotional pain. The theme that was beautifully woven throughout the story was that first and foremost, we are all people. We love, we endure painful loss, we struggle with who we are, we crave acceptance, and if we want something badly enough, we need to work and fight hard for it. Life isn't always fair or easy, but if you surround yourself with good people, they can help you through those tough times.
My Rating:
The History of Us was a story full of depth, and reflection. It impacted me deeply and I loved how Ms. Dawn spoke about derogatory gay stereotypes, as well as made me feel for and relate to these characters as people. It was eye-opening, profound, and compelling. I give, The History of Us, by Nyrae Dawn, 4.5 Touching, Enlightening, and Authentic Stars!
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
June 8, 2015
4.5 stars
With his mum’s encouragement, Bradley accompanies his new friend TJ on a road-trip, interviewing a wide cross-section of gay men and women for TJ’s documentary and listening to diverse stories as they cross the country.
Bradley finds his own assumptions and prejudices challenged as he meets many different gay people for the first time. He begins to take an uncomfortable look at his own sexual identity, his relationships and the choices he has made.
I love the characters in this story. The complexity of Bradley’s relationships with his hetero friends and his reluctance to fully embrace his sexuality feels honest, real and very modern. TJ’s external bravado and internal conflict is equally real.
This isn’t my favourite Nyrae Dawn story. At times, this feels more like a non-fiction exploration of sexual identity and an expose of gay lives through the past forty years. It is a fascinating collection of thoughts, perspectives and possibilities. Dawn offers readers role models, ideals and cautionary tales. I would recommend it for teens discovering their own sexuality.
I’m just not sure this works as a novel, or as a romance. And maybe it doesn’t have to. Like all of Nyrae Dawn’s work, it is beautifully written and the characters are carefully crafted. The road-trip settings are fantastic and Dawn perfectly captures the spirit of being eighteen - high school is ending and life for both boys is full of exciting possibilities.
There is some slow-burn romance in this book, but even for a new adult story, there is very little sex and not much steam. Bradley comes into himself as the story progresses, not necessarily into a relationship.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reviews.
With his mum’s encouragement, Bradley accompanies his new friend TJ on a road-trip, interviewing a wide cross-section of gay men and women for TJ’s documentary and listening to diverse stories as they cross the country.
Bradley finds his own assumptions and prejudices challenged as he meets many different gay people for the first time. He begins to take an uncomfortable look at his own sexual identity, his relationships and the choices he has made.
I love the characters in this story. The complexity of Bradley’s relationships with his hetero friends and his reluctance to fully embrace his sexuality feels honest, real and very modern. TJ’s external bravado and internal conflict is equally real.
This isn’t my favourite Nyrae Dawn story. At times, this feels more like a non-fiction exploration of sexual identity and an expose of gay lives through the past forty years. It is a fascinating collection of thoughts, perspectives and possibilities. Dawn offers readers role models, ideals and cautionary tales. I would recommend it for teens discovering their own sexuality.
I’m just not sure this works as a novel, or as a romance. And maybe it doesn’t have to. Like all of Nyrae Dawn’s work, it is beautifully written and the characters are carefully crafted. The road-trip settings are fantastic and Dawn perfectly captures the spirit of being eighteen - high school is ending and life for both boys is full of exciting possibilities.
There is some slow-burn romance in this book, but even for a new adult story, there is very little sex and not much steam. Bradley comes into himself as the story progresses, not necessarily into a relationship.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reviews.
June 11, 2015
I read an early copy of The History of us and let me just say, it's Nyrae Dawn. Really you shouldn't need more than that because she's amazing. However, I'm going to give you more. Just a little because I don't want to give away the details.
"Two boys on a road trip"...As is one of Nyrae Dawn's finest talents, you fall in love with the boys right away. You want to know more about them, see them interact and what adventures they will encounter.
"Talking to people from different walks of life, while making a documentary"...the people they come across are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking but will always make you glad you read about them.
"It's an experience that will change both their lives forever"...The best experiences do change you, good or bad doesn't matter. But the best part is, The History of Us will make you think about the stories that were told within it.
It's a story that's important whether you're already a fan of Nyrae Dawn or not. This is book should be read.
"Two boys on a road trip"...As is one of Nyrae Dawn's finest talents, you fall in love with the boys right away. You want to know more about them, see them interact and what adventures they will encounter.
"Talking to people from different walks of life, while making a documentary"...the people they come across are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking but will always make you glad you read about them.
"It's an experience that will change both their lives forever"...The best experiences do change you, good or bad doesn't matter. But the best part is, The History of Us will make you think about the stories that were told within it.
It's a story that's important whether you're already a fan of Nyrae Dawn or not. This is book should be read.
June 11, 2015
4.5 Stars by Jen Skewes
I could not wait for this book. I remember seeing Nyrae Dawn post about what she was working on at the time and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The History of Us is a story of two boys finding love but it is so much more than that. This is a story that everyone should read. It is a story that will touch you in so many ways. Because while this is TJ and Bradley’s story it is also tells the story of others who have faced their own struggles because of their sexuality.
Bradley is gay and he knows it, his friends know it and his mother knows it. They don't seem to have an issue with him being gay, and they never judged him for it. They accepted him for who he is. But since coming out Bradley seems to be the one with the issue. He is still so afraid of what other people will think that he has held back from truly being himself. The only people that he knows and hangs out with are his friends who are straight, who when out, are flirting and trying to pick up girls. But Bradley seems to be ok with it because these are people that he has been friends with since he was a kid. Until he meets TJ.
TJ is the guy who is gay and is proud of it. He has no issues being who he really is. He isn’t afraid of being out in the open for people to see. He accepts who he is and those around him need to accept it as well.
Tj is getting ready to go an a two week road trip for a documentary that he is making. He plans on traveling to different states to meet with men and women who are gay and have their own stories to tell. With encouragement from his mother Bradley decides to accompany TJ on this road trip. And this trip is exactly what Bradley needs. He has never really had a friend who is gay before. His mother has encouraged him to meet other people but his fears would get in the way. Together TJ and Bradley set out on this journey together. And in a way I think this journey is one of self discovery. It is a journey that will help open their eyes to the world around them. And most importantly Bradley learns how to be himself.
I loved this book for so many reasons. For one I loved TJ and Bradley. I felt for them and the struggles that they both faced. It took a lot for Bradley to come out to his family and friends but it takes so much more for him to see that it is ok to be who he is. TJ I just loved. He taught Bradley so much. But I think along the way he learned so much for himself as well.
This book was so unique and so different from anything that I have read before. Yes this is TJ and Bradley's journey and we see how their feelings of friendship start to become more. But it is more than that. Along the way we get to meet the people that they are fliming for their documentary. You get to hear these stories from people that will touch you in so many ways. Each one has their own story to tell. And you have no idea what you will get until TJ and Bradley get to their destination and set that camera up. And from that moment you are completely sucked into their life and want to know more about these people. You want to know it all and feel it all with them. And I did, I felt it with each person that they met along the way. Each story was different and my emotions changed with each story. Some broke my heart while others made me smile. Coming out is not easy and as the blurb says sometimes it is more about settling in. We see through the eyes of these people that TJ and Bradley met along the way, how difficult coming out and settling in can be for them. It isn't always an easy road but we see how these people try overcome it and work through it.
I just want to say while Tj and Bradley do find love this is more of a journey of self discovery. It is about finding yourself and learning to accept the person that you are. I loved watching the two of them grow and learn so much from their journey. Seeing Bradley come to accept who he was and learn from his journey just melted my heart. I loved watching them as they discover their feelings, discover what it is that they truly want and then go for it. Nyrae Dawn did an amazing job with this story. A must read.
I could not wait for this book. I remember seeing Nyrae Dawn post about what she was working on at the time and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The History of Us is a story of two boys finding love but it is so much more than that. This is a story that everyone should read. It is a story that will touch you in so many ways. Because while this is TJ and Bradley’s story it is also tells the story of others who have faced their own struggles because of their sexuality.
Bradley is gay and he knows it, his friends know it and his mother knows it. They don't seem to have an issue with him being gay, and they never judged him for it. They accepted him for who he is. But since coming out Bradley seems to be the one with the issue. He is still so afraid of what other people will think that he has held back from truly being himself. The only people that he knows and hangs out with are his friends who are straight, who when out, are flirting and trying to pick up girls. But Bradley seems to be ok with it because these are people that he has been friends with since he was a kid. Until he meets TJ.
TJ is the guy who is gay and is proud of it. He has no issues being who he really is. He isn’t afraid of being out in the open for people to see. He accepts who he is and those around him need to accept it as well.
Tj is getting ready to go an a two week road trip for a documentary that he is making. He plans on traveling to different states to meet with men and women who are gay and have their own stories to tell. With encouragement from his mother Bradley decides to accompany TJ on this road trip. And this trip is exactly what Bradley needs. He has never really had a friend who is gay before. His mother has encouraged him to meet other people but his fears would get in the way. Together TJ and Bradley set out on this journey together. And in a way I think this journey is one of self discovery. It is a journey that will help open their eyes to the world around them. And most importantly Bradley learns how to be himself.
I loved this book for so many reasons. For one I loved TJ and Bradley. I felt for them and the struggles that they both faced. It took a lot for Bradley to come out to his family and friends but it takes so much more for him to see that it is ok to be who he is. TJ I just loved. He taught Bradley so much. But I think along the way he learned so much for himself as well.
This book was so unique and so different from anything that I have read before. Yes this is TJ and Bradley's journey and we see how their feelings of friendship start to become more. But it is more than that. Along the way we get to meet the people that they are fliming for their documentary. You get to hear these stories from people that will touch you in so many ways. Each one has their own story to tell. And you have no idea what you will get until TJ and Bradley get to their destination and set that camera up. And from that moment you are completely sucked into their life and want to know more about these people. You want to know it all and feel it all with them. And I did, I felt it with each person that they met along the way. Each story was different and my emotions changed with each story. Some broke my heart while others made me smile. Coming out is not easy and as the blurb says sometimes it is more about settling in. We see through the eyes of these people that TJ and Bradley met along the way, how difficult coming out and settling in can be for them. It isn't always an easy road but we see how these people try overcome it and work through it.
I just want to say while Tj and Bradley do find love this is more of a journey of self discovery. It is about finding yourself and learning to accept the person that you are. I loved watching the two of them grow and learn so much from their journey. Seeing Bradley come to accept who he was and learn from his journey just melted my heart. I loved watching them as they discover their feelings, discover what it is that they truly want and then go for it. Nyrae Dawn did an amazing job with this story. A must read.
October 19, 2015
This is a coming of age/road trip story with a sweet romance that is told from a somewhat unique perspective.
This story is told from Bradley's POV. He is a high school senior. He's "out" but not yet comfortable with being gay. He's never known any gay people, let alone had any gay friends or a boyfriend. TJ is out and completely confident and comfortable with himself. They meet and become friends -- sort of -- but Bradley holds back because, although his friends know he is gay, he's not ready for them to actually see him with another gay boy.
Bradley's mom -- totally awesome and supportive, by the way -- convinces Bradley to tag along with TJ on TJ's spring break road trip. For his senior project, TJ is meeting with and filming the stories of LGBT people in several US cities.
Throughout the road trip, and from meeting these people and learning their stories, Bradley gradually starts to understand himself better and to become more comfortable in his own skin. The trip is full of lots of eye openers for him. At the same time, he and TJ become closer and closer. The romance is of a "sweet" nature (i.e. mostly just kisses).
I've read and enjoyed a number of this author's YA m/f books. I would highly recommend this for her YA m/f readers as an introduction to YA m/m. As an avid reader of YA m/m myself, the one critique I would have about this was that it read as a little didactic. That being said, this does tell an important story and it does put out there a different perspective on being young and gay.
This story is told from Bradley's POV. He is a high school senior. He's "out" but not yet comfortable with being gay. He's never known any gay people, let alone had any gay friends or a boyfriend. TJ is out and completely confident and comfortable with himself. They meet and become friends -- sort of -- but Bradley holds back because, although his friends know he is gay, he's not ready for them to actually see him with another gay boy.
Bradley's mom -- totally awesome and supportive, by the way -- convinces Bradley to tag along with TJ on TJ's spring break road trip. For his senior project, TJ is meeting with and filming the stories of LGBT people in several US cities.
Throughout the road trip, and from meeting these people and learning their stories, Bradley gradually starts to understand himself better and to become more comfortable in his own skin. The trip is full of lots of eye openers for him. At the same time, he and TJ become closer and closer. The romance is of a "sweet" nature (i.e. mostly just kisses).
I've read and enjoyed a number of this author's YA m/f books. I would highly recommend this for her YA m/f readers as an introduction to YA m/m. As an avid reader of YA m/m myself, the one critique I would have about this was that it read as a little didactic. That being said, this does tell an important story and it does put out there a different perspective on being young and gay.
June 13, 2015
I read this in almost one sitting. And maybe people might say it's trying too hard, but I found it very powerful and empowering.
It's gentle and sweet, and TJ's interviews with a number of gay people/couples might be considered a PC way to engage people with the issues facing the LGBTQIA community (although it's predominately gay men that he talks to), but the author never crosses into expository or preaching tones.
Bradley's narrative journey is always clearly the main focus, and he is genuine and thoughtful. TJ is a great guide and companion, and is worthy of Bradley's love.
Enjoyed it a lot.
It's gentle and sweet, and TJ's interviews with a number of gay people/couples might be considered a PC way to engage people with the issues facing the LGBTQIA community (although it's predominately gay men that he talks to), but the author never crosses into expository or preaching tones.
Bradley's narrative journey is always clearly the main focus, and he is genuine and thoughtful. TJ is a great guide and companion, and is worthy of Bradley's love.
Enjoyed it a lot.
November 2, 2024
Bold statement time, this is one of the best YA novels I have ever read, in fact I would go so far to say that Nyrae Dawn's YA novels are understated gems that deserve so much praise. This book moved me, much the way that Turn the World Upside Down did. I discovered The History of Us earlier this year, and was putting it off, knowing I had to wait for the right moment to dive in, and it was everything I wanted and so much more.
The story has an effortless flow, centered around self-discovery and learning to live your truth. When we initially meet Bradley, well I will be honest, he was kind of a d*ck and I had my reservations about him. But over the course of the story, his character arc does a 180. He goes from living his sheltered, narrow-minded life to really finding a way to accept who he is. But so much more than that, he finds love and learns so much about who he is and how he can give back. You learn this boy has endless depths of empathy and a tenderness that had my heart aching.
In a sharp contrast, TJ seems to have it all figured out but throughout the story, he starts to crack. His secrets are revealed and I was left reeling. These boys are so passionate, pure, and sweet, they had my heart and emotions all over the place. As they share their vulnerabilities, it was almost as if they were shedding their armor and trying to find self-acceptance. They find solace in each other but also discover they are so much more than a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
The story line itself is moving enough, you learn about various people's journeys in the LGBTQ+ community. Some of these stories filled my heart with joy while others gutted me. I have no doubt that the pain I felt reading these stories is only a glimpse of what these characters went through. If that wasn't enough TJ and Bradley are learning who they are and what defines them. This combination made for a poignant coming of age novel where acceptance means having to accept yourself first.
I feel raw and my emotions are frayed, its the type of story that has you looking into your own heart and your own thoughts and wonder where you can improve, how you can be better. Much like TJ and Bradley, I want to do more and be more. The epilogue was everything I wanted and so much more. In truth, I could continue reading about these boys until the end of time but the story left my heart so very full and I will be swooning about these boys for days to come.
The story has an effortless flow, centered around self-discovery and learning to live your truth. When we initially meet Bradley, well I will be honest, he was kind of a d*ck and I had my reservations about him. But over the course of the story, his character arc does a 180. He goes from living his sheltered, narrow-minded life to really finding a way to accept who he is. But so much more than that, he finds love and learns so much about who he is and how he can give back. You learn this boy has endless depths of empathy and a tenderness that had my heart aching.
In a sharp contrast, TJ seems to have it all figured out but throughout the story, he starts to crack. His secrets are revealed and I was left reeling. These boys are so passionate, pure, and sweet, they had my heart and emotions all over the place. As they share their vulnerabilities, it was almost as if they were shedding their armor and trying to find self-acceptance. They find solace in each other but also discover they are so much more than a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
The story line itself is moving enough, you learn about various people's journeys in the LGBTQ+ community. Some of these stories filled my heart with joy while others gutted me. I have no doubt that the pain I felt reading these stories is only a glimpse of what these characters went through. If that wasn't enough TJ and Bradley are learning who they are and what defines them. This combination made for a poignant coming of age novel where acceptance means having to accept yourself first.
I feel raw and my emotions are frayed, its the type of story that has you looking into your own heart and your own thoughts and wonder where you can improve, how you can be better. Much like TJ and Bradley, I want to do more and be more. The epilogue was everything I wanted and so much more. In truth, I could continue reading about these boys until the end of time but the story left my heart so very full and I will be swooning about these boys for days to come.
June 28, 2015
Loved the book!!!
Ok first off I've NEVER reviewed a book before so that right there should say something right? I use to be a huge YA fan then got into new adult (probably because I got older) and haven't read YA in at least a year. I'm a huge fan of Nyrae Dawn's "Rush"so I had to give this a shot. It was cute, and a fun read and I totally fell in love with the main character but the part that I really loved was all the side stories and interesting characters I met on the road trip. This book is AMAZING and definitely worth reading
Ok first off I've NEVER reviewed a book before so that right there should say something right? I use to be a huge YA fan then got into new adult (probably because I got older) and haven't read YA in at least a year. I'm a huge fan of Nyrae Dawn's "Rush"so I had to give this a shot. It was cute, and a fun read and I totally fell in love with the main character but the part that I really loved was all the side stories and interesting characters I met on the road trip. This book is AMAZING and definitely worth reading
February 21, 2016
4.5 Stars - beautifully written LGBT YA by Nyrae Dawn that brought me to tears, but left me smiling.
January 18, 2018
This book made me so emotional I need to recover before I can write coherently
January 20, 2020
This was a very poignant coming-of-age story.
I see a lot of reviewers mention they wish there were more "sexy times" in this book, but I completely disagree. For someone who's just learning to be comfortable with himself, I can't imagine Bradley jumping feet first into a full-fledged sexual relationship with TJ- even if they are both 18 and without parental supervision on this trip. I liked the way Ms, Dawn portrayed that aspect of their budding relationship.
The journey, literal and figurative, that Bradley and TJ went through during this book was really touching. I can only imagine the things they were both dealing with and questioning are the same things many young gay people face.
I know the people they met and the stories they shared were fictional, but again, I can only imagine that there are people out there with stories just like the ones depicted in this book, and that makes my heart hurt.
Like Bradley, I don't understand why people can't just love who they love without someone else making a big deal out of it.
I see a lot of reviewers mention they wish there were more "sexy times" in this book, but I completely disagree. For someone who's just learning to be comfortable with himself, I can't imagine Bradley jumping feet first into a full-fledged sexual relationship with TJ- even if they are both 18 and without parental supervision on this trip. I liked the way Ms, Dawn portrayed that aspect of their budding relationship.
The journey, literal and figurative, that Bradley and TJ went through during this book was really touching. I can only imagine the things they were both dealing with and questioning are the same things many young gay people face.
I know the people they met and the stories they shared were fictional, but again, I can only imagine that there are people out there with stories just like the ones depicted in this book, and that makes my heart hurt.
Like Bradley, I don't understand why people can't just love who they love without someone else making a big deal out of it.
April 24, 2020
I definitely see what the point was of this book and I greatly appreciate it. As someone who's been out for some time now, and as someone who's educated herself a lot over the years, I can't say that I learned a lot from this book, because I already knew. But it definitely made me emotional since I'm lucky enough to have a supportive environment, which can be a little bit of a bubble sometimes. Not everyone is as lucky and it's good to remind yourself of that.
And for someone who's only just came out, or who just realized that they aren't straight, this book could teach them a lot, not only about queer history, but also about privilege, self acceptance etc.
As for the book itself, the beginning was very rough in my opinion. Everything went really fast and progressed not naturally. Maybe the author knew what she wanted to do but didn't know how to make it happen without dragging it out a little? I don't know.
The whole story felt a little forced to me. Not that it's particularly bad, but it felt like the whole teaching aspect was there first and the story was only developed around that. Again, that's not a bad thing, but it the two things could have been brought together more naturally. It felt like the author had a check list with facts she wanted to thread into the story.
And for someone who's only just came out, or who just realized that they aren't straight, this book could teach them a lot, not only about queer history, but also about privilege, self acceptance etc.
As for the book itself, the beginning was very rough in my opinion. Everything went really fast and progressed not naturally. Maybe the author knew what she wanted to do but didn't know how to make it happen without dragging it out a little? I don't know.
The whole story felt a little forced to me. Not that it's particularly bad, but it felt like the whole teaching aspect was there first and the story was only developed around that. Again, that's not a bad thing, but it the two things could have been brought together more naturally. It felt like the author had a check list with facts she wanted to thread into the story.
October 17, 2021
Despite liking the lead characters and pulling for them to get together, the premise leaves a lot to be desired. A parent let’s her son go across the country with a guy he just met and skip school? Uh huh. And the documentary is about what gay people are like and what they have had to go through? It was poignant but also obvious if you’ve ever read anything before. I don’t want to sound angry here because those stories we heard are real and heartbreaking. They are a bit odd to be shared with some random high school kid who reached out to these people somehow on the internet? Even the super closeted basketball player? Far fetched.
But it gives the fuel for character growth and the push for secrets to be spilled. It helped fight against weirdly homophobic then not homophobic best friends.
In the end I enjoyed the book but thought it could have been better.
But it gives the fuel for character growth and the push for secrets to be spilled. It helped fight against weirdly homophobic then not homophobic best friends.
In the end I enjoyed the book but thought it could have been better.
July 15, 2021
I'm a sucker for the roadtrip trope, and so I enjoyed this book a lot. The reveal at the end though was kind of odd though. Not necessarily unexpected, but definitely underdeveloped and felt tacked on just for the sake of your usual late game misunderstanding.
December 31, 2015
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I’m not really sure if you could really categorize this as a romance. It was more about his journey to being comfortable in his own skin and knowing what it means to be a gay person in this age in America. The author touched on some really great topics in this book, such as how different it is to adopt in America as a gay couple, the AIDS epidemic in the ‘80’s which I remember a little even though I was young. The conflicting emotions of a gay person who has faith and believes that they will be shunned by their family and church if they came out. That one really got to me and made me realize that even though I am fully supportive of equal rights I still will never know what it is like to deal with prejudice as a gay person in America. It was very honest and heartfelt. The title of the book has a double meaning since while it was literally about his blossoming relationship; it also gave insight to gay history.
It felt very original and very authentic to how the reality would be for teenagers who come out now. While some people like to say, “We don’t care that you’re gay. It doesn’t change how we see you” For some people it doesn’t feel that way. The author helped me to feel a little of what it was like to not be comfortable in your own skin or even to have that label hanging over their heads. It was amazing really.
Brad was out but he wasn’t comfortable participating in a gay lifestyle. Never having a boyfriend or even other friends who were gay left him feeling very lonesome I thought. While TJ on the other hand seemed to opposite in that he had been living a gay lifestyle and seemed quite comfortable and even happy. Their journey was surprising and held lots of humor to break up the seriousness. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!
I’m not really sure if you could really categorize this as a romance. It was more about his journey to being comfortable in his own skin and knowing what it means to be a gay person in this age in America. The author touched on some really great topics in this book, such as how different it is to adopt in America as a gay couple, the AIDS epidemic in the ‘80’s which I remember a little even though I was young. The conflicting emotions of a gay person who has faith and believes that they will be shunned by their family and church if they came out. That one really got to me and made me realize that even though I am fully supportive of equal rights I still will never know what it is like to deal with prejudice as a gay person in America. It was very honest and heartfelt. The title of the book has a double meaning since while it was literally about his blossoming relationship; it also gave insight to gay history.
It felt very original and very authentic to how the reality would be for teenagers who come out now. While some people like to say, “We don’t care that you’re gay. It doesn’t change how we see you” For some people it doesn’t feel that way. The author helped me to feel a little of what it was like to not be comfortable in your own skin or even to have that label hanging over their heads. It was amazing really.
Brad was out but he wasn’t comfortable participating in a gay lifestyle. Never having a boyfriend or even other friends who were gay left him feeling very lonesome I thought. While TJ on the other hand seemed to opposite in that he had been living a gay lifestyle and seemed quite comfortable and even happy. Their journey was surprising and held lots of humor to break up the seriousness. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!
February 26, 2020
4.5 ⭐ Very touching about 2 seniors in high school coming to terms with their sexuality themselves and as others in their lives try to accept it. They take a road trip to make a documentary interviewing other queer people and their life experiences. Very interesting and eye opening. No intercourse and very little sexy times, but a very good read.
March 1, 2023
I gave The History of Us 5 of 5 stars and shelved it as one of my Best Books Evah on Goodreads because of how deeply Bradley and TJ's journey of discovery, both for themselves and the people they interviewed for the documentary, resonated with me. It transcended sexuality and delved into the essence of humanity, brought me to tears (which isn't easy to do) and changed the way I look at the world. If you only read one book in the next year, I recommend it be The History of Us.
My OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly’s Book Reviews.
My OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly’s Book Reviews.
June 19, 2016
This book.. I think everyone should read it for the mensagem it sends and the subjects that are mentioned... it really deep.
I'm not really in the spirit to write a review, although this book deserved one, but one thing I really need to say: Bradley's mom is amazing.
I'm not really in the spirit to write a review, although this book deserved one, but one thing I really need to say: Bradley's mom is amazing.
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