Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

A Southern Thing #3

My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding

Rate this book
6 hrs 2 mins

When he was a kid, Jack Miller thought life would be a certain way, then he figured out he liked boys and not girls, changing the course of his future. Jack has spent the last few years learning that life doesn't always give you what you expect, in both good and bad ways.

Andrew's gone missing and Jack's parents have split. He's made it through high school, but the future is nothing without Andrew. To be complete, Jack knows he needs to find Andrew and bring him home. But Andrew has disappeared.

Lost doesn't even begin to describe how Andrew Collins feels. Homeless and destitute, he's ready to end it all. Thinking that Jack is dead, Andrew returns to Sweet to end his life on Jack's grave. Instead, he finds lies were told that drove him to a path of destruction.

After not seeing each other for almost a year, Jack and Andrew come together, but their problems don't end there. They must work hard to make it to their big fat Southern gay wedding or risk losing it all.

Warning: This book contains dubious content.

7 pages, Audible Audio

First published March 31, 2014

23 people are currently reading
273 people want to read

About the author

Sara York

153 books567 followers
Sara York, the author of Colorado Wild, twists words together to create worlds where characters make good and bad decisions that don't always work out so well. Romance and books have been a part of Sara York's life since learning to read. Sara York is a trans-male author writing gay romance. Coming out is the best decision Sara York has made. Live your life out loud. Sara York encourages you to be yourself.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
262 (45%)
4 stars
192 (33%)
3 stars
102 (17%)
2 stars
20 (3%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for BWT.
2,252 reviews245 followers
March 10, 2019
Belens Audio Book Review

The story picks up a few months after the events in Sending Jack Off To Jesus (A Southern Thing, #2) and both Jack and Andrew’s lives are in a tailspin. Andrew believes Jack is dead and is hitchhiking his was across the country aimlessly moving trying to find a way through his devastation. Jack has been rescued from the psycho hate camp and is desperately trying to find Andrew. As the weeks turn into months Jack begins to allow doubts to creep in that Andrew may be dead because he knows in his heart nothing short of death would keep them apart.

Andrew winds up in Miami and sinks further into depression with the things he has to do in order to survive. Fear of his parents finding him and finishing the job of murdering him keeps him from reaching out to anyone from Sweet or his past. When things turn particularly dark Andrew makes the decision to go home,

However, when he returns he finds Jack is not only alive, but he’s been searching for him for nearly a year. Andrew’s fear of Jack’s response to his physical scars, and the emotional guilt over the things he’s done while trying to survive, eat at him.

He needn’t have worried – Jack is so relieved and happy to have found him that everything is quickly forgiven and they begin to build their lives together.

From here the story goes into sweetness overdrive. York gives readers a super fabulous extra special wonderful super sweet happy ending, which include the boys getting through college, Andrew’s parents being brought to justice, Jack’s father, Nathanial, having a complete 180 degree turn in attitude as just a few things thrown in among the treacly sweetness.

As for the narration, Frazier sometimes has a lazy tonal quality to his narration which drives me crazy. However, with the exception of Billy's voice, he does such excellent character voices bringing everyone to life so well that all is forgiven. But Billy's voice...wow. So bad for me. Like a Muppet freebasing helium and crack. With that one exception, I loved his characters voices. Hands down Frazier does some of the best female character voices I've ever heard from a male narrator.

For the readers who have suffered with the boys and everything they’ve been through: know that as soon as the boys get back together nothing bad happens to them ever again. It's rainbows and kittens and unicorns from that point out. York doesn't disappoint with her hard-fought and hard-won HEA.

Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dee Wy.
1,455 reviews
December 16, 2014
3.5 stars. Really enjoyed seeing Andrew and Jack get their happy ever after. All the loose strings were tied up, perhaps a bit too easily and too picture perfect, but these two deserved it. Glad to hear Billy will get his own story next. Yea!
Profile Image for Mark.
357 reviews163 followers
November 23, 2015
PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING: LISTENING MAY INDUCE UNCONTROLLABLE SOBBING, GOOFY GRINS AND CHEESY SIGHS!

I’m a self-confessed, unashamed, romantic sap and this last book hit home like no other. Yes, this last book which sees Jack and Andrew reach their final and incredible happy end. It was a long journey, hard fought and after all they had been through all the more deserved than any other HEA I have ever read. Yes, I think I cried a river at the beginning of this book, in the middle and at the end. Tears of desolation and joy. I can’t believe I have only got around to listening to this series now.
At the end of the second book we leave Jack and Andrew believing that both were dead. This leads them to a one year separation where both are basically in mourning. Andrew has no direction anymore in his life, is homeless, destitute and has reached the point where he just wants to end it all. He just can’t continue without the one man that meant the world to him. So when he can’t bear it anymore, returns home to Sweet where he thinks Jack is buried to be with him one last time. However, when he is in Sweet he bumps into his former foster parents. Reunion scene no. 1 = I lost it and bawled my eyes out! Andrew is reunited with Jack’s mum and Billy. Reunion scene no. 2 = I lost it and cried a river! Jack comes home and sees Andrew for the first time. Reunion scene no. 3 = I lost it and ran out of tissues!
All this time Jack continuously searches for Andrew not knowing what happened to him or where he went. Believing he had moved yet again with his parents. Oh the heart ache when you miss someone so much. But alas it was starting to effect his studies and slowly begins to come around to the fact that he may never see Andrew alive again. He is just not able to move on or love someone else. He starts to feel he should but this leads him into a bigger dilemma than before. Andrew is too much a part of him until reunion scene no. 3 and we now know how I felt there!
Now they are together but the fight is still not quite over. The have to find each other again. Andrew is unsure that Jack will want him back when he hears about what had happened to him and what he had done. Jack now needs to readjust everything to make sure that Andrew never leaves him again. But their love is strong and together their experiences have made them even stronger. So they start to carve out a future together and making sure this time that nothing, absolutely nothing will stand in their way ever again. When Jack proposes to Andrew to marry him………yes, more tears. By this stage my tear ducts were on overdrive. I think I was personally responsible for the level of The Rhine rising by about 3 feet in one afternoon and another foot by the time we get to the wedding ceremony.
However, a few issues still have to be solved and that is Jack’s position on the football team. When he is finally outed against his will by a nasty spite attack by a not very nice person, it was heart warming to hear all the support he gets from his teammates and coaches. OK, here I must admit that I did have my only little eye roll in the whole book. Jack comes out but then so does half the football team. Here I was seriously thinking this was possibly a little too much of the “gay.” I couldn’t really believe that a football team would or could have so many gay players. If this was the case then get me in that locker room quick, but I seriously doubt that would be the case in reality. One or two yes, but half the team? However, I suspended belief on that point as not to ruin the rest of this exquisite story.
There is also justice served to Andrew’s parents – YES! And blow me down there is a glimmer of hope for Nathaniel yet. When faced with losing everything he holds dear due to his bigoted attitudes he starts to reassess and re-evaluate things. It’s only a glimmer but it promises hope.
Then we get to the Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding and once more the waterworks were in danger of bursting a dam. The beautiful thing is that Jack and Andrew now know that there are also people out there who accept them, love them for who they are, support them and only see the incredible love that two people can share. This is a far cry from where they have come but gives them strength to continue and never look back.
I can only say that this book affected me deeply. A beautiful journey of two boys, fighting for their love, never giving up and becoming stronger than they ever were. Big sighs all round.

Narration

So where do I begin. Although I had a few reservations at the beginning of the series as a whole it was absolutely perfectly narrated. The emotion that Jason Frazier manages to get into his voice characterisations are fit for a film. To be honest this whole series should be made into a film. I loved every minute of it and Jason brought me to tears so often throughout this book it really is a testament to his craft.
Will I go on to the fourth book and listen to Billy’s story? No, not at the moment. Of course I would love to hear Billy’s story but my problem is that the fourth book is narrated by someone else, namely Sean Crisden. He is also a fantastic narrator but after you have listened and got used to the the voice characterisations of one narrator it would pull me out of the listening experience I have just had. Therefore, I’ll listen to a few other books before I come back to Billy’s story so I’m not comparing the narrations of Jason with Sean. I feel this wouldn’t be fair to do and need to approach the fourth book with a different narrator afresh.
Profile Image for Kim Stone.
1,552 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2018
I cried as I read this book. So much pain. A moving part of this story of Jack and Andrew. Off to read Billy.
Profile Image for SoCalBookReviews.
602 reviews20 followers
May 2, 2018
The end.... Hate will Never Win....
This is the Third and final installment of Jack and Andrews story in A Southern Thing series.
These books will take you on an emotional heart wrenching journey reading and listening to everything Jack and Andrew have to deal with along the way to finding their forever with each other.
Andrew is finally away from his Abusive parents, but is dealing with a lot of emotional turmoil, not knowing what happened with Jack. He decides to make his way back to Sweet to say his final goodbyes. Jack is devastated having to move away from Sweet, and not knowing what happened to Andrew. He just cannot get over Andrew, and will Never give up on trying to find him. But of course fate will prevail and bring them back together. They still have a lot to deal with, getting to know each other all over again, and the emotions it brings when learning what they both had to deal with in the time they were away from each other. Jack is determined to never let Andrew out of his sight again. Finally they are on the right track. Getting into, and going to school. Getting jobs and helping the rest of Jacks family. And helping Jacks younger brother Billy learn that its ok to be *and dress* however you feel you should, and not let anyone tell you how you should feel. I was glad to see/hear that Andrew's parents finally *barely* get what they deserved, when they are caught. And that Jack and Andrew get the Happily Ever After that they both totally and fully deserve with each other. My main issue with this Book is Jacks Dad.... He is a Jerk.. He will always be a jerk. He will never Not be a jerk. And to try and give him any redemption was pushing it a bit. I do not think that someone like that can just change his thinking so quickly and I wouldn't trust him and forgive him as fast as they all seemed to. But other than that one concern, I was happy with how this book and the whole series played out.
Audio - Great finish to this series narration by Jason. I loved listening to his narration for Jack and Andrew through each of these books. He made sure that all of the emotions and intensity he put into his voice were correct when needed for the story. and I would definitely recommend the Audio of these books. But make sure you listen to all of them, and in order or you will be lost.
Profile Image for Denise White.
2,030 reviews
January 19, 2015
Ok I loved the 1st two books I was so emotional connected with Andrew and Jack but this final installment was just disappointing I felt non of that emotional pull..I'm glad they got their HEA but this book just wasn't all that good for me.. I wanted to like it I just couldn't
Profile Image for Trio.
3,618 reviews209 followers
May 12, 2022
Yay, Andrew and Jack get their happily ever after. Personally my favorite part was the beginning, where they're trying to get their lives on track... but seeing them make a life together is nice too.

A simply stunning performance by Jason Frazier! He does all the voices so beautifully. I highly recommend doing the first three books in A Southern Thing in audio, Mr. Frazier is a wonderful voice actor and adds so much to this powerful story.
Profile Image for Kim Stone.
1,552 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2022
I cried as I read this book. So much pain. A moving part of this story of Jack and Andrew. Off to read Billy.
Profile Image for T.M. Smith.
Author 28 books316 followers
July 12, 2015
Andrew is finally out from under his abusive parent’s control, but his life is in a tail spin. You see, Andrew has not only hit rock bottom, he believes his soul died along with Jack, so he returns to Sweet one last time to say goodbye to his love. I swear, angels were rejoicing when these two were reunited but time apart and life’s hard knocks have left lasting marks on both young men, both body and soul.

Andrew is honest with Jack about where he has been and what he has done. And while Jack understands the limited choices Andrew had, there is still a sting when he thinks about his beloved being with anyone other than him. Jealously leads to discourse and trust issues and Jack often misunderstands a situation as the two of them try to navigate the mine field they now call life. It’s a long, hard road to recovery and happiness, but by god they both know they deserve and very much want their happy ever after.

It was hard for me to listen to the pain in Andrew’s voice when he was away from Jack. But you could also hear the understanding, pride and love under the pain. Andrew understood that Jack had to go to college and unfortunately it caused them to live apart for a while, but I love how York explained all those thoughts and internal conversations Andrew had with himself while they were apart. It really showed how he was growing as a person, determined to make lemonade out of the lemons life had dealt them. Then you add in Frazier’s narration and it was the perfect blend of thought and sound, really bringing the characters to life.

Jack though, he did the most growing up in this installment. He’s now in college, has the love of his life back, his hateful father is out of the picture and yet, he’s still suffering. His thoughts betray his heart a lot while he struggles to come to terms with everything that has happened to him and Andrew. Again, York not only shown the growth with her words, but she wrote it in such a way that it was completely different than following Andrew on his journey. Jack and Andrew are obviously soul-mates; they literally went to hell and back to be together. But they stand on their own as individuals as well.

I had one teensy issue with this installment of the series, Jack’s father, Nathanial. He does this complete 180, like stopping on a dime and reversing course in the blink of an eye. No, sorry, I do not buy it. That man is evil incarnate and makes my skin crawl. Kudos to Frazier for having the ability to capture so much vitriol and disdain with just a tone of voice for this character, and perhaps that is why I absolutely loath the man. I did, however, love the scene where Andrew has to face his parents and does it standing tall and proud with Jack by his side.

A Southern Thing is one of the most emotionally wrought series I’ve read. But for all the darkness in these stories, there is light, there is hope and most important, there is love. I encourage everyone to give this series a chance; I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. York’s writing is intense and emotional while bringing this story and these characters to life. And Frazier only amplifies the intensity and emotion by giving them a voice.
I highly recommend this series, it is a must read but it also must be read in order.
Profile Image for Dawn Smith.
188 reviews16 followers
April 23, 2014
I was given an ARC of this series by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot tell you how hard I fell in love with this amazing M/M series. I adored everything about these books, which contain everything you could possibly want for a perfect read: love, drama, romance, sexiness, angst, and emotion. This series will pull at your heartstrings and make you fall in love over and over again.

The series starts out with Pray The Gay Away. This is the story of Jack, the star football player, who wants nothing more than a man of his own, and, Andrew, the sweet, shy boy who only wants to graduate and be able to get away. The pair meet and start to fall in love but then the unthinkable happens when Jack’s parents discover that he is gay.

This book is an emotional read. Jack and Andrew are both young, but you know their relationship has the ability to bloom into something spectacular, but all is not rainbows and roses. The pair have to face abuse, prejudice and pain because of their relationship. They have to face more than any couple should have to in order to be together. Which leads us to book two, Sending Jack Off To Jesus.

This book required a lot of kleenex. It made me so angry and then would make me cry only to turn around and make me fall in love with Jack and Andrew again. Jack’s parents are messed up. They are in denial and will stop at nothing to rid Jack of his “gayness”. Jack’s mother is convinced that sex with a girl will turn Jack into a heterosexual and his father has decided that a Pray the Gay away camp will rid Jack of his gayness. I have never disliked two characters more than Jack’s parents. They each made me want to throw my kindle against the wall. And then there is poor Andrew. While Jack is being sent away he is being put through unspeakable agony. I was on pins and needles the entire length of this book. Would Jack and Andrew ever find their way back together? On to My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding.

I will be honest in telling you that I think I cried the entire length of this book. Andrew and Jack are separated, lost to each other. They are in horrible emotional pain because they are without the other. Their love is still strong, but Jack and Andrew are broken after having been through the whirlwind of their lives. Jack is trying so hard to find Andrew, who has disappeared and Andrew is convinced that all is lost and is determined to end it all. This is an amazing conclusion to this series, but you will cry. I was an emotional wreck. Many times I had to put my kindle down and take a breath. Kudos to Sara York for creating this incredible series filled with one of my favorite all time couples- Jack and Andrew. You really have to work for this HEA but it is so incredible and so worth it. This is a fantastic series and I would highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 big old stars from this reviewer.

Profile Image for Caroline Brand.
1,755 reviews68 followers
April 4, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

Jack and Andrews story continues here. Let’s hope they can finally see some happiness!

This book picks the story up a few months from where we left the boys in book 2 and their lives have not got any happier or easier.
Andrew is feeling bereft. He is travelling from state to state with any trucker that will give him a ride by whatever means possible. As he sinks further and further into depression, believing his beloved Jack is dead, he does things he never believed possible just to survive. His fear of his parents finding him prevents him from reaching out to anyone from his past life.
Jack has finished high school and is ready to start college and playing football again but his heart really isn’t in it. Every day he worries and wonders about Andrew, praying that he is alive and safe, but as weeks turn into months he can’t help but become more disillusioned. Every spare moment he has is spent trying to track him down but it seems like he has vanished from the face of the earth.
After a short spell working in Miami Andrew has finally hit his limit. He calmly makes up his mind that he is going to return to Sweet to visit Jacks grave and then end his life so he can be with his lover. He is shaken to the core when he arrives and finds out that he has been deceived by Jacks father and Jack is actually alive and well and has been frantically searching for him.
When they are finally reunited they have been apart for a nearly a year and neither boy is the same person. Andrew worries that Jack will not be able to get past the things he had to do to survive or overlook the scars that now cover his body. Jack is still plagued by the memories of the camp and how close he came to death. Both of them are constantly second guessing each other worrying that they may not be enough.
As the two boys find each other again it is beautiful to watch Andrews confidence build and it really helps to redefine their relationship. With Andrews parents still at large, college, money worries and the everlasting fear of bigotry the pair will have to hope their love is strong enough to last and end with them achieving their ultimate dream.
This was a fab finale to the story. As in the first two books the secondary characters are almost a story on their own. It was good to see Billy thriving in a much more positive environment. The real heroes though are Jack and Andrew. After all they had been through their growth and forgiveness was amazing. I cannot recommend this series enough!!
Profile Image for Jodie.
37 reviews2 followers
April 1, 2014
WOW,WOW,WOW!

Jack and Andrew, where do I start. The entire series has been well written, amazingly thought through and has shown us all what True Love is all about.

At the end of Sending Jack to Jesus, I was completely heartbroken, This continued through the Southern Wedding, To a point of taking me to a place that the tears were streaming down my face!

The story is like two opposites emotions, Jack is trying desperately to find Andrew, with all the determination in the world to get his other half of his soul in a way back. Andrew on the other hand is trying to live day by day, thinking all the while that things will never be the same again.

Thankfully things do get better and with a lot of tears shed, we get a glimpse into their future together.

A truly beautiful story, from Pray the Gay away right up to My Big Fat Southern Wedding.

I would recommend that you read them all back to back, as if you are like me. You wont be able to put it down.
84 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2014
Beautiful love story

Wow, this story is so wonderful. Jack and Andrew, truly in love letting nothing get between them. Their story is a sadly difficult one with too much angst on each other's side of families. Their parents being so closed minded just / about ruined the boy's lives but once again LOVE conquered all. And love is love no matter who the people are. Things story is pure, beautiful, breathtaking, goose-bumpleing (made that one up), heart thumping and romantic love between 2 men and may not be for everyone. So be, forewarned. As a very liberal woman and grandmother I must recommend this story. If it sounds like your cup of tea, go for it. I did and I'm glad I did. Enjoy.
Profile Image for Tracy.
276 reviews
April 18, 2014
This series from start to finish took me on a journey I wasn't expecting. I went through so many emotions and ended up crying tear of sadness as well as joy. Sara York captured the realities young people still go through today perfectly!
I fell in love with Jack and Andrew and also a few other characters but this was all down to the authors amazing ability to make you feel part of the storyline.

These characters will stay with me for a long time and I will certainly be recommending this series to everyone I know. The writing is superb as is the storyline!

I can not express just how wonderful this series is, I can only say it's a must read that I can not recommended highly enough!!
Profile Image for Charles.
154 reviews13 followers
May 2, 2015
I have absolutely loved all of Sara York's "A Souther Thing" books and this one was no different. My heart absolutely broke seeing their struggles. This book definitely pulled my heartstrings. I was so happy they receive their HEA, as it was definitely deserved.

I listened to the audiobook. Jason Frazier never fails to meet my expectations. The passion and emotion he emits while narrating a story creates a link between the listener and the characters. His voice gives the characters life, which is not a task many voice actors have the ability to accomplish.

As a team, he and Sara York make excellent storytellers!
Profile Image for Renee Entress.
5,593 reviews78 followers
April 15, 2014
Stars 4.4

This book start off where the last one end. This last book in the series is the journey of Jack tracking down Andrew. Will Jack be able to forgive all the wrongs that Andrew has to do after he thought he had lost Jack forever?

Wrap up for the series was great. I was worried after reading the first story I would not be able to get into the other two but they way outshined the first one.
Profile Image for Melisa.
630 reviews12 followers
June 27, 2014
<3<3<3
I'm so happy they got their HEA!! Do we get a Billy book?!
Profile Image for Elaine.
1,446 reviews16 followers
June 2, 2014
A FANTASTIC SERIES. Loved it.
Profile Image for Dale Bay.
82 reviews
August 26, 2017
Loose ends. Six guys on the Auburn football club come out as gay or bi and and the PR people treat Jack as the story that has to be managed in the media? Like how long would it take some enterprising reporters to latch on to that much bigger story? AUBURN THE GAY TEAM!!! Yeah, FOX and the right wing religious media would run with that story. Every college team would be under the "Fag Detector". Politically in the long run this would be great as a further step towards normalizing gay people. As part of this book it's a nagging loose end.

There were so many repetitive sex scenes, few of which added to the story, that I just started skipping them.

News flash to female writers of gay lit: anal doesn't always hurt. Lube is not always required. I'm in my 60s and have never used lube nor felt pain. Same for my various partners. My point is that gay sex is not, ahem, one size fits all. Try to differentiate your characters in bed.

As for presentation of gay characters, the author did a very good job. Despite popular and media stereotypes we aren't clones. Billy, Jack, Andrew, Mike and Mitch inter alia are gay and unique. Nor are religious people. I like stories with realistic characters and plausible story lines.

Finally the wedding. It was tense. It was beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Helen.
1,003 reviews4 followers
November 13, 2021
Fantastic ending

Again I sobbed in some parts of this book, very emotional, heart-wrenching at times, loving and beautiful, and very frustrating. So glad I found this series and listened to it.

Sara has written a very emotional book on an even more emotional subject and sold it. So we finally get our HEA. Well done.

Jason Frazier did an excellent job, especially with the emotional side. I did speed up Audible to 1.25, which is usual for me.

My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding
A Southern Thing: Volume 3
By: Sara York
Narrated by: Jason Frazier
Series: A Southern Thing, Book 3

❤❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audible
1,550 reviews11 followers
September 23, 2020
My heart was ripped in two!
I honestly spent the first half of the audiobook sobbing uncontrollably for these two poor guys, kept apart by ignorance and hatred. My heart broke for both Jack and Andrew, both believing the other half of their soul is dead and losing all hope.
But when they finally meet again, it’s so beautiful and full of love, that my heart was patched together again, and the second part of the book got me smiling so big my face hurt.
This is a great series and I can’t wait to read Billy’s story next!
Profile Image for Gavin Stephenson-Jackman.
1,677 reviews
August 15, 2024
Andrew's parents have disappeared and Jack's parents have separated. Jack is in college and in a dorm because of his scholarship. They can't live together yet and they still need time to adjust after the trauma they've been through. Finding time alone together is still difficult and a trip finds trouble and for Andrew strength he didn't know he had. Making the vow to be together is their final step. An excellent conclusion to the series.
Profile Image for Ken Cook.
1,577 reviews6 followers
December 28, 2024
Angst and hope

While a series, this is the first I've read. High school love, unaccepting parents, and some real challenges are layered into this tale of two young men in love. Difficult subjects are raised, stress and tension stream through the plot, but some bits of happiness kept shining through.
195 reviews
September 19, 2022
Oh, So This Is What A Tearjerker Looks Like

I actually wept reading parts of this book. Some of this series has been tough to read, because I’ve seen stuff like this in my long life. It’s sad that the hatred still continues.
Profile Image for multitaskingmomma.
1,359 reviews44 followers
June 23, 2014
Original Blog Post: http://www.multitaskingmommas.com/201...

A friend recommended this but it took me a bit of time to finally pick this series up. Once I did though, all I could do was just read. I expected a really dramatic YA story, something that would leave me with a heavy heart even when the HEA is reached. This is an HEA, but it takes the author until the third book to tell the story of Jack and Andrew.

Jack and Andrew's story, as told in this series, is kind of a fairy tale. It is written lightly, it is easy to read, and although the drama and romance plot sounded heavy on the blurb, it actually was not. This is the main reason why I could not stop reading these three over the past two days. I could not put the books down and I could not be bothered to think of putting them down. This is written in a manner that can grip your attention and you live the lives of the two young men.

As the blurbs of each book implies, it is rough sailing for these two before they finally get to their wedding. It all starts out like a regular YA angst ridden story, of Jack hiding his homosexuality from his bigoted parents and siblings, hiding the homosexuality of his youngest brother who is transgender. He is the eldest of a brood of ten and he is a very responsible young man, a trait of an eldest child really. When he gets assigned to welcome Andrew into their community, the sense of responsibility is extended over to him as well.

Andrew comes from a not-so-sane family. His parents are practically cuckoo and twisted, hiding their abusive tendencies and actions within the pages of the Old Testament Bible. His situation tugs at the heart of Jack and Andrew is confused why a hunky jock like him would befriend him. When he finds out Jack's secret, it was confusing again, but exciting.

As their relationship moves on, and they get found out, the plot twists and the second book opens. This second book, Sending Jack Off To Jesus, is probably the lowest point in both the young men's lives. It drives them to the very hell they were cursed at but not because of their love. They were in their hell because they were placed there by their own parents whose need to insist on their own needs and wants and bigotry overwhelmed their logic. However, thinking back, I don't think they were logical in the first place so they were just plain stupid crazy.

The third book, this is the happy book. This is when the two men rediscover each other and move on with their lives. It reaches its climax in the My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding scene that, as the author noted, was quite dubious. You need to find out by reading the books to know where that doubt comes from.

All the two boys wanted was to have love and be free about it. Their journey to that happiness was not paved smooth. It was more like a treacherous journey, a path filled with hate and bigotry. Their end of the rainbow is reached and we finally get the HEA.

This series should have been mega epic, it should have been mega dramatic and mega angst ridden. It was not. I thought hard about it and finally reached the conclusion that stories like those of Jack and Andrew may be difficult but it does not need to be told roughly and in a heavy handed manner either. Sara York managed to successfully weave a highly sensitive story and came out with a very light read. I honestly loved this, especially as it showed me things that I refused to see before for fear of being scared. The best part is: the whole series did not even leave any bad taste.


Highly recommended reads.
Profile Image for Angela Goodrich.
1,608 reviews102 followers
April 28, 2016
I am in awe. Ms. York’s A Southern Thing series has been a beautifully written and emotional journey that I am so pleased that I could be a part of because when I read, I immerse myself in the book. My Big Fat Southern Gay Wedding was just as intense as the previous two books in the series. And while you can gather from the title that Andrew and Jack finally get their happy ending, their path was just as full of obstacles in this installment of their story. There were many adjustments to be made as they found one another again, but I will share no specifics because I would hate to ruin the journey for you.

If you’ve read my reviews of other books, you know that I typically discuss the level of sexual interactions (i.e., none vs tons, suggestive scenes vs graphic detail) found in a book. For me, the lack of or overabundance of sex in a book is not a deal breaker, but rather I use the info to decide when I may want to read a particular book. I have had a difficult time discussing the sexual activity between Andrew and Jack. Initially I thought it may have been due to their ages, even though they were 18 in the first book, but then I realized that I have had no issue discussing sex in other new adult books so I couldn’t chalk it up to that. I knew it wasn’t because the sexual relationship was between two guys because that tends to turn me on. It wasn’t until this book that I realized what my issue was. In the first book, all of their sexual interactions were heavy petting and some oral sex, the type of interactions you would expect between two men their age who are learning to accept their sexuality. In the second book, these interactions continued along with the two finally giving one another their virginity in a beautifully written scene. However, in this book I realized that the reason I was having difficulty commenting on their sexual behaviors was because they weren’t having sex, they were making love and the difference between the two types of interactions is so apparent between Jack and Andrew. That said, as their relationship developed further, they continued to make love AND have sex and the sex is HOT.

Obviously if M/M relationships bother you, you will want to steer clear of this series. But if they don’t, I strongly recommend Ms. York’s A Southern Thing series. Be warned that it is an emotionally intense series that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions making you feel love, hate, frustration, helplessness, hope, acceptance, and love and you may need a tissue or three, but it is a journey worth taking. My only complaint is that the journey is over.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
492 reviews7 followers
February 8, 2022
it’s over :/

This book was really heartbreaking and an eye opener into reality. The book took a dark turn with both jack and Andrew. I was so happy with the ending I cried a little bit with how the story started and ended. Jack and Andrew will always have a place in my kindle book :).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.