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Honesty
A radiant story of first love and self-acceptance for fans of John Green, Jandy Nelson, and Rainbow Rowell
“Maybe we weren’t meant to collide. Maybe we were meant to explode.”
As a closeted teenager in the Deep South with a holy-roller father and the scars to prove it, bookworm Cole Furman has resigned himself to experiencing life and love only within the pages of his favorite novels. But after Nick Flores seems to walk off a page and starts to rewrite his story, Cole finds his dreams spinning into a dazzling – and complicated – reality.
If you have ever found yourself on the wild breathless thriller ride that is young love, Honesty will rip you back again in screaming color.
“Maybe we weren’t meant to collide. Maybe we were meant to explode.”
As a closeted teenager in the Deep South with a holy-roller father and the scars to prove it, bookworm Cole Furman has resigned himself to experiencing life and love only within the pages of his favorite novels. But after Nick Flores seems to walk off a page and starts to rewrite his story, Cole finds his dreams spinning into a dazzling – and complicated – reality.
If you have ever found yourself on the wild breathless thriller ride that is young love, Honesty will rip you back again in screaming color.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
134 people are currently reading
1903 people want to read
About the author
Seth King
53 books1,870 followersSeth King is a twenty-eight-year-old American author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
February 22, 2016
"What's braver than honesty?"
This incredible, beautiful and tragic book exemplifies bravery and honesty, and has the potential to change people's lives. Its message needs to be heard. It should be in every high school and college library because of its realistic portrayal of the struggles that some people live with every single day. We see the daily injustices that people suffer as a result of others projecting their opinion onto anyone who is different from them. This book gives us a glimpse of the inner turmoil of two people who so desperately want to love each other, but keep getting pulled apart. We see what it's like to be young and in love while it seems as though the world is against you. When your family is at odds with who you fall in love with. When you so badly want the love you give to be returned to you, and how you deal with the hurt when sometimes you don't receive it back.
"What could you do when you grew into someone else's soul and then they stepped away?"
The story's narrator is Cole Furman. Cole is young and in love and is just the sweetest character. He has been worn down over the years by his crappy family and the cruel society he lives in. He wears his heart on his sleeve and tries to bring the good out in people. At times I was so frustrated with him for the way he allowed himself to be treated. So many times I just wanted to hug my kindle because he truly captured my heart, and I just wanted to give him the love he so desperately craved. When he hurt, I hurt, and when he raged and stood up for himself, I cheered for him. I loved watching him grow from a shy, insecure teenager into a person who gained confidence throughout his heartfelt journey.
Seth King bared his heart and poured his soul onto every page of this book. His previous books have tackled subjects such as the treatment of the disabled and the devastating grief after the loss of a loved one. In this book, he tackles yet another subject that is so relevant today. I love Seth's writing style, peppered with cultural references that for me, always make the story and its characters that much more relatable. Seth ended his book once again with a heartfelt author's note. This one was so brutally powerful and honest. I've read hundreds and hundreds of books, and I've never cried while reading an author's note - until I started reading his books. His notes are something that I look forward to reading, because I know that I'm about to read something so personal and touching. His stories have found a permanent place in my heart. His writing draws all kinds of emotions out of me that I crave to find while reading, and this book is no exception. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and pass it along to anyone that is in need of hearing its important message.
This incredible, beautiful and tragic book exemplifies bravery and honesty, and has the potential to change people's lives. Its message needs to be heard. It should be in every high school and college library because of its realistic portrayal of the struggles that some people live with every single day. We see the daily injustices that people suffer as a result of others projecting their opinion onto anyone who is different from them. This book gives us a glimpse of the inner turmoil of two people who so desperately want to love each other, but keep getting pulled apart. We see what it's like to be young and in love while it seems as though the world is against you. When your family is at odds with who you fall in love with. When you so badly want the love you give to be returned to you, and how you deal with the hurt when sometimes you don't receive it back.
"What could you do when you grew into someone else's soul and then they stepped away?"
The story's narrator is Cole Furman. Cole is young and in love and is just the sweetest character. He has been worn down over the years by his crappy family and the cruel society he lives in. He wears his heart on his sleeve and tries to bring the good out in people. At times I was so frustrated with him for the way he allowed himself to be treated. So many times I just wanted to hug my kindle because he truly captured my heart, and I just wanted to give him the love he so desperately craved. When he hurt, I hurt, and when he raged and stood up for himself, I cheered for him. I loved watching him grow from a shy, insecure teenager into a person who gained confidence throughout his heartfelt journey.
Seth King bared his heart and poured his soul onto every page of this book. His previous books have tackled subjects such as the treatment of the disabled and the devastating grief after the loss of a loved one. In this book, he tackles yet another subject that is so relevant today. I love Seth's writing style, peppered with cultural references that for me, always make the story and its characters that much more relatable. Seth ended his book once again with a heartfelt author's note. This one was so brutally powerful and honest. I've read hundreds and hundreds of books, and I've never cried while reading an author's note - until I started reading his books. His notes are something that I look forward to reading, because I know that I'm about to read something so personal and touching. His stories have found a permanent place in my heart. His writing draws all kinds of emotions out of me that I crave to find while reading, and this book is no exception. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and pass it along to anyone that is in need of hearing its important message.
March 2, 2016
UPDATE!!!
What is love… Is it the hand you hold so tightly and don’t want to let go? Is it in just one look, one that holds that power to lift you up so high that you feel you’re touching the stars? Is it the feeling of falling, soaring, flying—that feeling that can take your breath away with just one touch? Love. Just four letters, but one of the most powerful emotions humans experience. If you’re lucky, you find it, hold it as tightly as you can and never let go. But sometimes it’s not yours to keep and the pain is unbearable—like someone ripped out your heart and left you with a big gaping hole in your chest.
You never forget your first love. The first kiss, the first look, the first flutter. If you close your eyes, you can feel the way the person’s eyes held yours, the warm squeeze of their hand holding yours and the way you held your breathe when you shared your first kiss. Your first love molds you, transforms you, changes you—sometimes making you wish you could go back in time and relive it all over again. Your first love is never forgotten. So many of us always wonder “what if”, imagining how your life would have turned out had you would up with that particular person.
In Seth’s new novel, he takes you on the first love journey of a lifetime. You witness every first. First smile, first touch, first kiss, first laugh—so many firsts. You will fall head first, heart beating so rapidly, palms sweating, heart squeezing and aching all at once.
I cried, I laughed and my heart shattered. Once I finished and I had no words to describe to you how much this book touched me. And there’s always a lesson—always a message that you should carry with you, live by and follow.
The writing, the story, the emotions. Seth captured my heart and held it till the very last word. His writing is just out of this world and he by far one of the most talented authors out there. I can't begin to describe how I felt once I finished. Every time I think Seth can't possible top what he wrote last, he does. Seth has proven to me that he is a MUST READ author and this story will pull at your heartstrings. Incredible!!
6+++++++ STARS!!!
What is love… Is it the hand you hold so tightly and don’t want to let go? Is it in just one look, one that holds that power to lift you up so high that you feel you’re touching the stars? Is it the feeling of falling, soaring, flying—that feeling that can take your breath away with just one touch? Love. Just four letters, but one of the most powerful emotions humans experience. If you’re lucky, you find it, hold it as tightly as you can and never let go. But sometimes it’s not yours to keep and the pain is unbearable—like someone ripped out your heart and left you with a big gaping hole in your chest.
You never forget your first love. The first kiss, the first look, the first flutter. If you close your eyes, you can feel the way the person’s eyes held yours, the warm squeeze of their hand holding yours and the way you held your breathe when you shared your first kiss. Your first love molds you, transforms you, changes you—sometimes making you wish you could go back in time and relive it all over again. Your first love is never forgotten. So many of us always wonder “what if”, imagining how your life would have turned out had you would up with that particular person.
In Seth’s new novel, he takes you on the first love journey of a lifetime. You witness every first. First smile, first touch, first kiss, first laugh—so many firsts. You will fall head first, heart beating so rapidly, palms sweating, heart squeezing and aching all at once.
I cried, I laughed and my heart shattered. Once I finished and I had no words to describe to you how much this book touched me. And there’s always a lesson—always a message that you should carry with you, live by and follow.
“Don’t settle for the fear. Choose the hard thing. Choose the love. Always. Go redo your life. Redecorate your whole ecosystem. Create a world inside your head that is exactly as colorful as you want it to be, and then make it real. Now. While you still can.”
The writing, the story, the emotions. Seth captured my heart and held it till the very last word. His writing is just out of this world and he by far one of the most talented authors out there. I can't begin to describe how I felt once I finished. Every time I think Seth can't possible top what he wrote last, he does. Seth has proven to me that he is a MUST READ author and this story will pull at your heartstrings. Incredible!!
“Life could be so beautiful, after all, if you let it be…”
July 24, 2016
Honesty by Seth King ~ 4.5 Stars
A radiant story of first love and self-acceptance for fans of John Green, Jandy Nelson, and Rainbow Rowell
“Maybe we weren’t meant to collide. Maybe we were meant to explode.”
As a closeted teenager in the Deep South with a holy-roller father and the scars to prove it, bookworm Cole Furman has resigned himself to experiencing life and love only within the pages of his favorite novels. But after Nick Flores seems to walk off a page and starts to rewrite his story, Cole finds his dreams spinning into a dazzling – and complicated – reality.
If you have ever found yourself on the wild breathless thriller ride that is young love, Honesty will rip you back again in screaming color.
*** WOW! Honesty is honestly just beautifully written and deals with a such difficult subject matter. You want a book with feels – this is it folks. I laughed, cried, fell in love, got angry and sad, felt pain and cried some more :( My heart broke for Cole and Nicky throughout the book but it broke a million times over by the end when I found out Honesty is based on a true story.
This story is about Cole and Nicky who is the love of his life. When Cole met Nicky he was pretty sure of who he was but couldn’t be entirely free growing up in the deep south with a church goer community. Add to that an asshole of a father and a society / family that isn’t ready to accept the real Cole. He struggles to fit in with friends his age but most are of the same mindset and cruel. When he met Nicky it was like he could breathe gain. Nicky was hesitant at first but you can’t help who you love. Their relationship, however, was turbulent – break up and make up - the love they have for each other is beyond beautiful but overshadowed by secrecy and guilt.
Living on the west coast it is easy for me to think of Cole and Nicky’s relationship as no big deal – it is “normal” and acceptable everywhere. I never really thought about what it would be like for people like Cole having to grow up and try to fit in with community where everyone is still closed minded. So, I guess this book is an eye opener and it brings awareness to all of us that Cole and Nicky are just two humans with the same cells, molecules and same heart as you and I. They have the same emotions and they love just the same. This is a story that needs to be written and I think the author is so brave to tell us his story and bare his heart and soul to the world. It’s admirable and frankly brilliant.
Honesty is a must read – but be warned it’s heart-breaking although at the same time inspiriting – it unquestionably left a profound message to readers. Honesty is not just a summer romance between two young people – make no mistake the romance is definitely gorgeous. But it’s so much more - it’s about intolerance and unfairness, dealing with life and adversity, and acceptance.
My only hiccup is that the narrative was quite long and drawn out but I understand the author is telling his story and what is on his mind … I am just used to a little more dialogues and banters from the romance books I normally read. I highly recommend this book – I got a dose of reality and it is definitely a story I remember for a long time. First time, I read from author Seth King and I am looking forward to his next book.
Thank you to the author and the Bookworm box for providing this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review for AC Book Blog ~ http://acbookblog.com
A radiant story of first love and self-acceptance for fans of John Green, Jandy Nelson, and Rainbow Rowell
“Maybe we weren’t meant to collide. Maybe we were meant to explode.”
As a closeted teenager in the Deep South with a holy-roller father and the scars to prove it, bookworm Cole Furman has resigned himself to experiencing life and love only within the pages of his favorite novels. But after Nick Flores seems to walk off a page and starts to rewrite his story, Cole finds his dreams spinning into a dazzling – and complicated – reality.
If you have ever found yourself on the wild breathless thriller ride that is young love, Honesty will rip you back again in screaming color.
*** WOW! Honesty is honestly just beautifully written and deals with a such difficult subject matter. You want a book with feels – this is it folks. I laughed, cried, fell in love, got angry and sad, felt pain and cried some more :( My heart broke for Cole and Nicky throughout the book but it broke a million times over by the end when I found out Honesty is based on a true story.
This story is about Cole and Nicky who is the love of his life. When Cole met Nicky he was pretty sure of who he was but couldn’t be entirely free growing up in the deep south with a church goer community. Add to that an asshole of a father and a society / family that isn’t ready to accept the real Cole. He struggles to fit in with friends his age but most are of the same mindset and cruel. When he met Nicky it was like he could breathe gain. Nicky was hesitant at first but you can’t help who you love. Their relationship, however, was turbulent – break up and make up - the love they have for each other is beyond beautiful but overshadowed by secrecy and guilt.
Living on the west coast it is easy for me to think of Cole and Nicky’s relationship as no big deal – it is “normal” and acceptable everywhere. I never really thought about what it would be like for people like Cole having to grow up and try to fit in with community where everyone is still closed minded. So, I guess this book is an eye opener and it brings awareness to all of us that Cole and Nicky are just two humans with the same cells, molecules and same heart as you and I. They have the same emotions and they love just the same. This is a story that needs to be written and I think the author is so brave to tell us his story and bare his heart and soul to the world. It’s admirable and frankly brilliant.
Honesty is a must read – but be warned it’s heart-breaking although at the same time inspiriting – it unquestionably left a profound message to readers. Honesty is not just a summer romance between two young people – make no mistake the romance is definitely gorgeous. But it’s so much more - it’s about intolerance and unfairness, dealing with life and adversity, and acceptance.
My only hiccup is that the narrative was quite long and drawn out but I understand the author is telling his story and what is on his mind … I am just used to a little more dialogues and banters from the romance books I normally read. I highly recommend this book – I got a dose of reality and it is definitely a story I remember for a long time. First time, I read from author Seth King and I am looking forward to his next book.
Thank you to the author and the Bookworm box for providing this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review for AC Book Blog ~ http://acbookblog.com
February 4, 2016
5 Honesty stars.
Honesty by Seth King
5 Honesty Stars
I’ve been very blessed in this blogging world, I’ve read some amazing books by some amazing authors and one in particular, Seth King. I feel in love with Seth King’s writing when I read and reviewed The Summer Remains http://afterdarkbooklovers.com/2015/0.... It amazed me that such a young man like himself could write such a beautiful love story, that until this day, I still think about and recommend. So on a Tuesday evening, young Seth messages me to let me know that he has sent me Honesty, I was like a little girl at a toy story getting her new Barbie.
Seth is a storyteller through and through and he makes you see and feel things. The story is about Cole Furman about his one true love. His point of view is to be read very carefully to truly understand and grasp Cole’s love and heartache. His dysfunctional family, dealing with society as a whole, yet he could not forget that one love, the one with the galaxy eyes. Cole struggles trying to fit it a world where there is still prejudices and bigotry for loving someone you’re not supposed to fall in love with. I didn’t know if I wanted to hug or shake Cole at times. He would put himself out there for Nicky and Nicky not reciprocating. Like that old saying “the heart wants what the heart wants”.
I don’t know what you will get from reading Honesty as a reader. Hopefully, you will understand the struggles of being termed “different” will impact you. If anything, it will give you pause and reflect how Cole and even Nicky felt with their struggles. Acceptance is the keyword here, ladies and gentlemen. Seth Nicholas King bared his soul with this story and hopefully will change the simple-minded views and also save a life or two. I could go on and on with my praise of Seth King’s words, but you need to feel and read the same emotions that I had. He will always be one of those authors that I can always count on to make me feel emotions so evocative that I don’t know what to do with them. Seth King will always have a fan in me especially if he continues to give me the type of read that I want to shout through the rooftops. So thank you, for letting me into your world.
*An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.
Honesty by Seth King
5 Honesty Stars
I’ve been very blessed in this blogging world, I’ve read some amazing books by some amazing authors and one in particular, Seth King. I feel in love with Seth King’s writing when I read and reviewed The Summer Remains http://afterdarkbooklovers.com/2015/0.... It amazed me that such a young man like himself could write such a beautiful love story, that until this day, I still think about and recommend. So on a Tuesday evening, young Seth messages me to let me know that he has sent me Honesty, I was like a little girl at a toy story getting her new Barbie.
Seth is a storyteller through and through and he makes you see and feel things. The story is about Cole Furman about his one true love. His point of view is to be read very carefully to truly understand and grasp Cole’s love and heartache. His dysfunctional family, dealing with society as a whole, yet he could not forget that one love, the one with the galaxy eyes. Cole struggles trying to fit it a world where there is still prejudices and bigotry for loving someone you’re not supposed to fall in love with. I didn’t know if I wanted to hug or shake Cole at times. He would put himself out there for Nicky and Nicky not reciprocating. Like that old saying “the heart wants what the heart wants”.
I don’t know what you will get from reading Honesty as a reader. Hopefully, you will understand the struggles of being termed “different” will impact you. If anything, it will give you pause and reflect how Cole and even Nicky felt with their struggles. Acceptance is the keyword here, ladies and gentlemen. Seth Nicholas King bared his soul with this story and hopefully will change the simple-minded views and also save a life or two. I could go on and on with my praise of Seth King’s words, but you need to feel and read the same emotions that I had. He will always be one of those authors that I can always count on to make me feel emotions so evocative that I don’t know what to do with them. Seth King will always have a fan in me especially if he continues to give me the type of read that I want to shout through the rooftops. So thank you, for letting me into your world.
*An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.
March 1, 2016
Ten million stars .
Honesty ... Seth couldn't have picked a better title . This is so much more than just a book. I can't even find words to describe it. It's so much more than a love story . It's a beautiful, emotional and tragic journey. It touched my heart so deeply . It's the story of being different , so different you wouldn't fit into a world that was shaped to suffocate you and swallow you whole. Being different in a way you couldn't even beat yourself let alone make others accept you. Gosh, the feels and the emotions were so raw and real you'd could feel every single emotion pouring out of the pages . Every moment of pure and utter sadness and desperation , of raw and crazy happiness . I couldn't breath through some part of the book and there were other parts were I couldn't see through my tears and soaked my kindle screen . I wanted to reach out and hug these characters they have found their way into my heart and I'll carry them forever with me . The writing , oh my god , beautiful , poetic artsy and so very real ... I loved every second of it. I felt as though we were in a session me and the narrator as he was pouring his heart out and bleeding into these pages.
And then soon came the best of Seth Nicholas king's books : his authors note . I couldn't stop sobbing . I am in a awe of this youn and courageous and fearless author . What an inspiring young man . The world is not really a shitty place with people and authors like Seth. I want to thank him for this masterpiece . For me his best work to date .
Thank you Seth . For this book. Thank you so much for having the guts to write complicated issues and put yourself out there for the world to see . I couldn't be more proud of you as a human being and I'm undoubtedly and unconditionally one of your biggest fans . I have nothing but utmost respect and love for you .
Hands down the best book of the year so far .
Honesty ... Seth couldn't have picked a better title . This is so much more than just a book. I can't even find words to describe it. It's so much more than a love story . It's a beautiful, emotional and tragic journey. It touched my heart so deeply . It's the story of being different , so different you wouldn't fit into a world that was shaped to suffocate you and swallow you whole. Being different in a way you couldn't even beat yourself let alone make others accept you. Gosh, the feels and the emotions were so raw and real you'd could feel every single emotion pouring out of the pages . Every moment of pure and utter sadness and desperation , of raw and crazy happiness . I couldn't breath through some part of the book and there were other parts were I couldn't see through my tears and soaked my kindle screen . I wanted to reach out and hug these characters they have found their way into my heart and I'll carry them forever with me . The writing , oh my god , beautiful , poetic artsy and so very real ... I loved every second of it. I felt as though we were in a session me and the narrator as he was pouring his heart out and bleeding into these pages.
And then soon came the best of Seth Nicholas king's books : his authors note . I couldn't stop sobbing . I am in a awe of this youn and courageous and fearless author . What an inspiring young man . The world is not really a shitty place with people and authors like Seth. I want to thank him for this masterpiece . For me his best work to date .
Thank you Seth . For this book. Thank you so much for having the guts to write complicated issues and put yourself out there for the world to see . I couldn't be more proud of you as a human being and I'm undoubtedly and unconditionally one of your biggest fans . I have nothing but utmost respect and love for you .
Hands down the best book of the year so far .
March 1, 2016
Honesty, Seth King's latest book, tells of first love in in all its pain and glory- It grabs your hand and begs you to follow into the story of Cole and Nicky - two teens whose relationship is overshadowed by shame, ignorance, and fear. It is told from the point of view of Cole Furman, a nineteen year old who is struggling to live up to the expectations of his family and society in general, only to feel such self loathing that he can't measure up.
As usual, this author takes you on a journey with his characters that leaves you at a destination thinking about the way you live your life. Through the struggles that Nicky and Cole face, you find yourself wanting to be a better human being, wanting to make it right for them. You realize the simple gifts we are given in life, that sense of belonging and acceptance we all take for granted, are not gifts everyone gets. Cole's feeling of hope over something as simple as walking down the street holding the hand of the one he loves, literally hurt my heart. The idea that someone couldn't experience this pulled at something deep inside me.
Seth King's writing style is such that he mixes different life situations with raw emotion, while illustrating such beauty through poetic language that you hardly realize he's taken you on the journey of a lifetime in a few short pages. It leaves you wanting to paint the picture yourself and being disappointed you haven't already done so. While taking you through the complicated love story of Cole and Nicky - their disagreements, breakups, makeups, etc..., there is a message that needs to be shared, one that needs to be heard.
Cole's emotional journey basically turns into one the reader experiences right along side of him. Throughout this book you will feel the anger, pain, and sorrow that eventually leads to Cole's realization that he is stronger than he thinks and that he may just be able to change the world by being himself.
I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt different, overlooked or insignificant simply by existing and for those who have never done anything to change it. Honesty has taken up residence within my heart and has left me forever changed- I dare anyone who reads this book to walk away unaffected by it.
.
As usual, this author takes you on a journey with his characters that leaves you at a destination thinking about the way you live your life. Through the struggles that Nicky and Cole face, you find yourself wanting to be a better human being, wanting to make it right for them. You realize the simple gifts we are given in life, that sense of belonging and acceptance we all take for granted, are not gifts everyone gets. Cole's feeling of hope over something as simple as walking down the street holding the hand of the one he loves, literally hurt my heart. The idea that someone couldn't experience this pulled at something deep inside me.
Seth King's writing style is such that he mixes different life situations with raw emotion, while illustrating such beauty through poetic language that you hardly realize he's taken you on the journey of a lifetime in a few short pages. It leaves you wanting to paint the picture yourself and being disappointed you haven't already done so. While taking you through the complicated love story of Cole and Nicky - their disagreements, breakups, makeups, etc..., there is a message that needs to be shared, one that needs to be heard.
Cole's emotional journey basically turns into one the reader experiences right along side of him. Throughout this book you will feel the anger, pain, and sorrow that eventually leads to Cole's realization that he is stronger than he thinks and that he may just be able to change the world by being himself.
I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt different, overlooked or insignificant simply by existing and for those who have never done anything to change it. Honesty has taken up residence within my heart and has left me forever changed- I dare anyone who reads this book to walk away unaffected by it.
.
December 30, 2021
[1.5] a seemingly never-ending, unhealthy back-and-forth between two closeted college kids in the deep south until their relationship ends on a wholly dissatisfying and unnecessarily tragic note.
half the rants the narrator would go on were reminiscent of empty, drawn-out threads on twitter, and one that i found especially ironic was toward the beginning when Cole was airing his grievances about the lack of profound & contemplative gay novels out there...... despite the fact that the author weaving his tale had basically written yet another cliché story with mcs drowning in self-hate, fathers oozing toxic masculinity, and an ending that further perpetuates the harmful narrative that love between two closeted gay guys can only end in tragedy 😩 needless to say, this wasn't my cup of tea at all.
tw:
half the rants the narrator would go on were reminiscent of empty, drawn-out threads on twitter, and one that i found especially ironic was toward the beginning when Cole was airing his grievances about the lack of profound & contemplative gay novels out there...... despite the fact that the author weaving his tale had basically written yet another cliché story with mcs drowning in self-hate, fathers oozing toxic masculinity, and an ending that further perpetuates the harmful narrative that love between two closeted gay guys can only end in tragedy 😩 needless to say, this wasn't my cup of tea at all.
tw:
April 1, 2016
Cannot recommend. The book consists primarily of the main character’s inner monologue—essentially a diatribe of self-loathing and indecision. Even as a gay man who grew up in the south, I had difficulty relating to the stunted characters and oppressive society depicted. Most of the time, I felt as if I was reading the transcript of a self-pitying teen’s therapy session rather than a novel. The Kindle edition also was riddled with typos and gaffes. Overall, deeply disappointing.
March 2, 2016
I need a T-shirt 'I've read Seth King's books and I survived.'
I don't know how Seth manages this, but whenever I'm reading his books I have a feeling he wrote it for my soul. And whenever I finish his book, a piece of my soul is left in those books. His way of telling a story is magnificent. His books are out of this world amazing!
Honesty is another masterpiece by Seth King. And I think his books should be read in schools (especially this one) because his topics are so real. I won't talk much about the book, but this book is definitely one of the best books I've ever read (well to be honest Seth King is among my top 5 favorite authors). The story is about Cole, 19 year old teenager trying to find a place in the world. Furthermore, he's trying to understand it but the way to that spot is everything but easy. Cole's story stole my heat, broke it and put it back together.
Cannot wait for more books by the amazing Seth.
I don't know how Seth manages this, but whenever I'm reading his books I have a feeling he wrote it for my soul. And whenever I finish his book, a piece of my soul is left in those books. His way of telling a story is magnificent. His books are out of this world amazing!
Honesty is another masterpiece by Seth King. And I think his books should be read in schools (especially this one) because his topics are so real. I won't talk much about the book, but this book is definitely one of the best books I've ever read (well to be honest Seth King is among my top 5 favorite authors). The story is about Cole, 19 year old teenager trying to find a place in the world. Furthermore, he's trying to understand it but the way to that spot is everything but easy. Cole's story stole my heat, broke it and put it back together.
Cannot wait for more books by the amazing Seth.
February 18, 2016
It took me a few days to write this review and honestly, I was a tad bit mad at the author. I mean, I feel like he put me through the complete wringer. I started this novel with all of the little bee's of hope buzzing around in my belly. You know, that feeling you get when you know you are reading a truly epic kind of love story. I was having all of the feelings. ALL. OF. THEM.
Under a violet July dawn, love grabbed me and ran away with me.
Then I started to experience the twisting and churning of my stomach. The kind of feeling you get when there is just too much hate in the world. The kind that you know exist abundantly on this planet we live on but that you adamantly try to ignore because it just hurts that people could be so cruel or awful to two people who aren't hurting anyone, that are just loving each other. I have to tell you that this feeling occurred so much in this book that it literally made me sick and squelched all of my hope. It was hard to read some of this because it just made me feel so strongly but I forged ahead. Because I was still pining for my happily ever after because Seth King sold me on it. I was a slave to the gorgeous words of one hopeful boy.
Alone, we were lost. Together, we were on fire.
This author built me up and then pulled me down over and over again and I found myself on this crazy emotional rollercoaster of love, hope, despair, hope, desperation, and hope again. I honestly didn't know up from down and I was just praying for my boy. His HEA was so hard fought, I wanted him to have it so bad.
"You mean the moon to me, then."
"I'll take the moon."
And then the ending, I was completely and totally obliterated. I mean, just shattered. And so so angry. But I should have known. It really couldn't end another way. But that didn't stop me from wishing it would. I was mad at Seth for a bit but more enraged at the world we live in. It was a rough ride, but an amazing one.
This book is just SO well written. The words are just everything. I swear I highlighted half of this book because all of the brilliant quotes. I really hope that some kid like the characters in this book pick up this novel one day and it changes their lives.
There's nothing wrong with chandeliers.
~Amie
Under a violet July dawn, love grabbed me and ran away with me.
Then I started to experience the twisting and churning of my stomach. The kind of feeling you get when there is just too much hate in the world. The kind that you know exist abundantly on this planet we live on but that you adamantly try to ignore because it just hurts that people could be so cruel or awful to two people who aren't hurting anyone, that are just loving each other. I have to tell you that this feeling occurred so much in this book that it literally made me sick and squelched all of my hope. It was hard to read some of this because it just made me feel so strongly but I forged ahead. Because I was still pining for my happily ever after because Seth King sold me on it. I was a slave to the gorgeous words of one hopeful boy.
Alone, we were lost. Together, we were on fire.
This author built me up and then pulled me down over and over again and I found myself on this crazy emotional rollercoaster of love, hope, despair, hope, desperation, and hope again. I honestly didn't know up from down and I was just praying for my boy. His HEA was so hard fought, I wanted him to have it so bad.
"You mean the moon to me, then."
"I'll take the moon."
And then the ending, I was completely and totally obliterated. I mean, just shattered. And so so angry. But I should have known. It really couldn't end another way. But that didn't stop me from wishing it would. I was mad at Seth for a bit but more enraged at the world we live in. It was a rough ride, but an amazing one.
This book is just SO well written. The words are just everything. I swear I highlighted half of this book because all of the brilliant quotes. I really hope that some kid like the characters in this book pick up this novel one day and it changes their lives.
There's nothing wrong with chandeliers.
~Amie
January 14, 2016
Seth King does it again......5 stars (wish there were more to give) on his next book. I really didn't know what to expect going into this one and it blew me away. Seth astutely has his pulse on the society we think has come so far yet remains so ignorant.
Get the wine, chocolate, coffee, tea or whatever you think you'll need to make it through this book. But get the book. Absorb it. Really take a moment to let it all sink in.
And at the end
It was the year of getting to know myself
And realizing that nobody's love was going to save me
But my own
Seth King
Get the wine, chocolate, coffee, tea or whatever you think you'll need to make it through this book. But get the book. Absorb it. Really take a moment to let it all sink in.
And at the end
It was the year of getting to know myself
And realizing that nobody's love was going to save me
But my own
Seth King
December 27, 2016
Early on, the main character laments the lack of good books written about gay male characters, in a way that was both insulting and ignorant. That told me the author hasn't spent much, if any, time reading books with two male protagonists. The message I got was, "So here's my gift to you: finally, a good story about two guys who love each other." He then proceeds to write the most cliched gay storyline imaginable, the disapproving homophobic father and the two closeted gay guys whose love can only end tragically. I mean, it's so cliched it's funny. Before you insult every author in a genre, you should do a little research so you don't create the most overwritten joke of a plot.
If the author did any research, he would see that time and time again, guys are asking for books featuring gay characters that aren't depressing and tragic. Watch the documentary called "The Celluloid Closet" about how gay people are portrayed in film (that came out 20 years ago!) that talks about how often gay characters come to a tragic ending. I feel like the author set back the LGBT movement about 30 years. I literally checked the copyright date two times to make sure this book was actually written in 2016. And he has the egotism to say in his note after the book that he's writing this book to help kids. How is it helping anyone to show that being gay will give you to a depressing, closeted life? If you want a book that shows two boys ACTUALLY living normal lives and having normal relationships, I could give you a long list! Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Openly Straight, the Something Like series by Jay Bell, anything by R Cooper, the amazing graphic novel The Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal, just to name a few.
The writing is overwrought, repetitive, melodramatic, preachy, and everything else that means the opposite of subtle. The emotional level is dialed up to 11 throughout the whole book, so you never know when a scene is supposed to be important. Oh, they broke up? Is it for real this time? Because they broke up about five times already and got back together. The inconsistencies were maddening - too numerous to begin to list. The repetitiveness was painful. If I had to read "galaxy eyes" one more time or be told again how Nicky was like a book, I thought I would throw my kindle across the room. Cole was always suddenly realizing something he had suddenly realized two pages ago. I can't tell you how many times he "suddenly realized" he loved Nicky or "it suddenly hit him" that Nicky was never going to change. The author is addicted to similes and metaphors. Loving Nicky was like flying to the moon while seeing life burst into color for the first time and having someone pull off your oxygen mask and deny you air and then suddenly fill your lungs with pure crack. Every page is like that.
And the moralizing - again, if the author had read ANY lit with LGBT characters he wouldn't have had the characters ranting about every issue that has been covered ad nauseum, as if you're the only one who has ever thought of these things. "Why don't straight people have to come out?" I mean, put one or two of those issues in your book, not every single one, as if no one has mentioned these things before. I just found it all so unbelievably arrogant.
If the author did any research, he would see that time and time again, guys are asking for books featuring gay characters that aren't depressing and tragic. Watch the documentary called "The Celluloid Closet" about how gay people are portrayed in film (that came out 20 years ago!) that talks about how often gay characters come to a tragic ending. I feel like the author set back the LGBT movement about 30 years. I literally checked the copyright date two times to make sure this book was actually written in 2016. And he has the egotism to say in his note after the book that he's writing this book to help kids. How is it helping anyone to show that being gay will give you to a depressing, closeted life? If you want a book that shows two boys ACTUALLY living normal lives and having normal relationships, I could give you a long list! Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Openly Straight, the Something Like series by Jay Bell, anything by R Cooper, the amazing graphic novel The Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal, just to name a few.
The writing is overwrought, repetitive, melodramatic, preachy, and everything else that means the opposite of subtle. The emotional level is dialed up to 11 throughout the whole book, so you never know when a scene is supposed to be important. Oh, they broke up? Is it for real this time? Because they broke up about five times already and got back together. The inconsistencies were maddening - too numerous to begin to list. The repetitiveness was painful. If I had to read "galaxy eyes" one more time or be told again how Nicky was like a book, I thought I would throw my kindle across the room. Cole was always suddenly realizing something he had suddenly realized two pages ago. I can't tell you how many times he "suddenly realized" he loved Nicky or "it suddenly hit him" that Nicky was never going to change. The author is addicted to similes and metaphors. Loving Nicky was like flying to the moon while seeing life burst into color for the first time and having someone pull off your oxygen mask and deny you air and then suddenly fill your lungs with pure crack. Every page is like that.
And the moralizing - again, if the author had read ANY lit with LGBT characters he wouldn't have had the characters ranting about every issue that has been covered ad nauseum, as if you're the only one who has ever thought of these things. "Why don't straight people have to come out?" I mean, put one or two of those issues in your book, not every single one, as if no one has mentioned these things before. I just found it all so unbelievably arrogant.
November 27, 2016
5+ stars!
Edited review: Nov 26,2015
Read: March 3, 2016
Jesus. There are no words. None to describe or review the amazing of a book. It's my first book that I read in the m/m genre and woah was this was one hell of a way to start. Easily one of my favorite books of 2016 and ever written. Even months after reading this I can easily say that.
Honesty is reality for many people living in this world today. And that is so fucking sad. It's an ugly world that makes people scared to be who they really and accept themselves when in all honesty they shouldn't be. Everyone should be able to accept you for who you are. Because there is no switch in real life that dictates who you can and can't fall in love with.
This book speaks volumes because you should be who you want to be and don't be one of those who will regret the "what if". This story was about being able to accept yourself and not care about what others think sometimes. It's your life, live it how you want to not how others want you to. It's about loss, regret, love and being able to find yourselves.
This book will break your heart, make you feel a million emotions, and change your perceptive and maybe your life in a lot of aspects.
If you're ever looking for a book outside of your comfort zone, I will highly recommend this. Seth does a phenomenal job with writing this story and captivating you like nothing else. If I could I would go back just to read this book for the first time. And this is the only book I've ever said that too.
An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review!
Edited review: Nov 26,2015
Read: March 3, 2016
"That was the day I realized I could really, truly make people happy just by making them feel comfortable, by making them feel heard, making them feel witnessed, like they mattered.”
Jesus. There are no words. None to describe or review the amazing of a book. It's my first book that I read in the m/m genre and woah was this was one hell of a way to start. Easily one of my favorite books of 2016 and ever written. Even months after reading this I can easily say that.
Honesty is reality for many people living in this world today. And that is so fucking sad. It's an ugly world that makes people scared to be who they really and accept themselves when in all honesty they shouldn't be. Everyone should be able to accept you for who you are. Because there is no switch in real life that dictates who you can and can't fall in love with.
“The best gift you can ever give the people around you is your own happiness, because you can never be there for anyone else if you’re gone, yourself."
This book speaks volumes because you should be who you want to be and don't be one of those who will regret the "what if". This story was about being able to accept yourself and not care about what others think sometimes. It's your life, live it how you want to not how others want you to. It's about loss, regret, love and being able to find yourselves.
“You’re like my favorite book. I wish I could go back to the first page and read you all over again, just to enjoy you twice.”
This book will break your heart, make you feel a million emotions, and change your perceptive and maybe your life in a lot of aspects.
If you're ever looking for a book outside of your comfort zone, I will highly recommend this. Seth does a phenomenal job with writing this story and captivating you like nothing else. If I could I would go back just to read this book for the first time. And this is the only book I've ever said that too.
An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review!
June 4, 2016
This lengthy book set in northern Florida tells the story of nineteen year olds Cole and Nicky and their doomed closeted romance. Told in the first person from Cole's pov, this started well but soon Cole's introspective narrative became a little tiresome and I started to skim. I felt that the story could be improved by a severe edit to help move the action on.
'..and so it was with a heavy heart and a half erect penis that I shoved my kindle into my drawer, walked into the giant gym full of sweaty college guys on Third Street, and tried to figure out how to pretend like I wasn't two seconds away from orgasming into my new workout shorts.'
'..and so it was with a heavy heart and a half erect penis that I shoved my kindle into my drawer, walked into the giant gym full of sweaty college guys on Third Street, and tried to figure out how to pretend like I wasn't two seconds away from orgasming into my new workout shorts.'
October 12, 2016
I have so many feels.
The author bared himself,being scathingly honest and his truth is heartbreaking.
This book is beautiful and I'll never forget it but I don't want to add anything else because I don't want to ruin your experience.Read it...just read it with an open mind and an even more open heart.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
March 2, 2016
Honesty is one of the best books I’ve have ever had the pleasure of reading. From the writing to the story to the characters it is a great read which everyone should go out and read straight way so they can understand how heartbreaking, emotional and honest this book really is. I have had to try and think how to put down how I’m feeling but I am still a little emotional.
Honesty is about Cole and Nicky whose first love relationship with each other is darkened by fear, shame and ignorance. Cole is the narrator of this story and he is the sort of person who you automatically connect with when reading, he always sees the best in other people and its hard not to feel sorry for him with all the problems he has going on in his life. Everything changes for Cole when he meets Nicky, and its love at first sight. Thoughtout the story we see the troubles and hardships both Cole and Nicky have to go through just to be together. I will not say anymore about the plot because this sort of story you need to go into without knowing much and experience Cole and Nicky’s experiences with them.
Cole is a great character and perfect narrator for this book because you are with him every step of his journey and you feel what he feels. When Cole is angry, you get angry; when Cole cries, you cry; when Cole feels loved you feel loved. There was serval times i just wanted to hug Cole and tell him ‘Everything was going to be okay’. Throughout the whole book you are connected with Cole and the journey he goes through with Nicky and the problems he faces with his parents. You can differently see the journey Cole goes on from the start of the book to the end, he has grown up and no longer the shy insecure boy we met at the beginning.
The writing completely draws you in and never lets you go. This is my first Seth King book and i know it not going to be my last because I’m in love with his writing. This beautiful book is full of emotion and depth and honesty, that it shocked me a little, in a way that I was not prepared for it to be so honest. Seth King does not try to sugar coat his words or restricts what he wants to write, he tells the truth. When reading you can tell that this story is a true and coming from Seth King’s past experiences because the story is so emotional and full of heart. I had to stop a few times and compose myself because it felt asif I was reading a memoir instead of a fictional book.
I would recommend this book to everyone because everyone has felt one time or another that they are not good enough or they are alone in their life and this book shows that life is still worth living. Even if love stories are not your thing, you should check this book out just for pure perfection of the writing, you will not regret it. I can truthfully see myself re-reading this book every year and not get bored by it. Honesty is a great title because thats what this book is, its honest. Im sorry if this review does not make much sense, but if I can give you anything for this review and that is that you should go and read this as soon as you can.
I rate this book 5/5 stars (I would rate it more if I could)
March 3, 2016
4.5 stars
I went into this book with only knowing that it had a simple yet GORGEOUS cover and it was enough to have me wanting to read it immediately. Lucky enough I got an arc, but nothing prepared me for what I got myself into.
Sometimes I think it’s best to go into a story blind because once you read a blurb and read quotes from the story, you begin to form ideas and assumptions as to how the story will play itself out. I’m glad I went into this book as blindly as possible especially it being my first Seth King book.
Honesty is a beautiful tragic love story. It’s a story that I was quite easily able to relate to. A story that will have you falling in love with the main characters. A story that will make you sad and angry at the same time.
Love can be extremely beautiful but it is hard, especially when your love comes with certain stipulations.
Cole & Nicky’s love was all things amazing and I had such a pleasure reading about it, but just as easily as there was good, the bad always stick it’s ugly head out. And what an ugly bastard it was. Their love was put to the test numerous times and with each time getting harder and harder.
Make sure to bring out the tissues when reading.
Seth King bared his soul with this book. It was raw, honest and heartbreaking. Don’t even get me started on the writing and the authors note at the end. The way he puts words together to make some of the best sentences I’ve ever read had me blushing and sighing constantly.
Here are just a few of my favorite quotes <3
“Under a violet July dawn, love grabbed me and ran away with me.”
“Being around him was usually like driving down a highway too quickly and being unable to see anything at all – he blurred the world, and it terrified me.”
“We weren’t perfect, but we were eager – we were exploring, breaking new ground. And the way I moved with him, so in sync, made me swear I’d known him forever.”
“I fell away and let the fury take me to some horrible place nobody knew but me. I never expected how painful this would be, to fall apart in secret.”
“We’d met in the shadows and bloomed in the dark. But now he was mine, and I would safeguard him for eternity.”
Read this book, and let it change your LIFE.
I went into this book with only knowing that it had a simple yet GORGEOUS cover and it was enough to have me wanting to read it immediately. Lucky enough I got an arc, but nothing prepared me for what I got myself into.
Sometimes I think it’s best to go into a story blind because once you read a blurb and read quotes from the story, you begin to form ideas and assumptions as to how the story will play itself out. I’m glad I went into this book as blindly as possible especially it being my first Seth King book.
Honesty is a beautiful tragic love story. It’s a story that I was quite easily able to relate to. A story that will have you falling in love with the main characters. A story that will make you sad and angry at the same time.
Love can be extremely beautiful but it is hard, especially when your love comes with certain stipulations.
Cole & Nicky’s love was all things amazing and I had such a pleasure reading about it, but just as easily as there was good, the bad always stick it’s ugly head out. And what an ugly bastard it was. Their love was put to the test numerous times and with each time getting harder and harder.
Make sure to bring out the tissues when reading.
Seth King bared his soul with this book. It was raw, honest and heartbreaking. Don’t even get me started on the writing and the authors note at the end. The way he puts words together to make some of the best sentences I’ve ever read had me blushing and sighing constantly.
Here are just a few of my favorite quotes <3
“Under a violet July dawn, love grabbed me and ran away with me.”
“Being around him was usually like driving down a highway too quickly and being unable to see anything at all – he blurred the world, and it terrified me.”
“We weren’t perfect, but we were eager – we were exploring, breaking new ground. And the way I moved with him, so in sync, made me swear I’d known him forever.”
“I fell away and let the fury take me to some horrible place nobody knew but me. I never expected how painful this would be, to fall apart in secret.”
“We’d met in the shadows and bloomed in the dark. But now he was mine, and I would safeguard him for eternity.”
Read this book, and let it change your LIFE.
March 10, 2016
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Being torn between reviewing this book or a YA I liked very much, I decided to do this book and its author justice and review them first. If you follow me on *Milky Way of Books* I did a special post in the part of a Feature and Follow meme, writing a letter to my favorite author. I chose Seth King for this and the reason is this one:
Nicky and Cole are two people with different backgrounds yet they couldn't more perfect for each other. They both fear to reveal their true selves, firstly because they live in the American South (I read my History so I know a few facts) and secondly because their own families pressure them very much about how the world should see them.
Both Cole and Nicky fall in love and they are two sides of the same coin. Cole finds his release in books and blogging, while Nicky struggles by pretending to be 'normal'. The whole story is magical, with intense and emotional scenes while at the same time it delivers a solid, big punch to the society, explaining that many times a person's own personality has been smothered, destroyed in order to 'fit' within the 'normal', acceptible rules.
As a person who got bullied in high school, yet found the strengh to move on within my own family, I feel angry for the behaviors of both Nicki's and Cole's families. Not only that but despite the funny moments and the very gut wreching final ones, I couldn't help but notice that none of the main characters had REAL friends. I believe that sometimes a friend can be equal in worth with a family member.
Seth King delivers yet another amazing book. If you read his personal final note at the end of the book, you realise that this one is more than a simple story of beginnings and endings, love and social standards. It's a message to everyone who think or feel different and want nothing more than be accepted and loved.
If Coleen Hoover is the Queen of Contemporary Romance, then Seth King is...well, the King of it. ;)
Being torn between reviewing this book or a YA I liked very much, I decided to do this book and its author justice and review them first. If you follow me on *Milky Way of Books* I did a special post in the part of a Feature and Follow meme, writing a letter to my favorite author. I chose Seth King for this and the reason is this one:
Nicky and Cole are two people with different backgrounds yet they couldn't more perfect for each other. They both fear to reveal their true selves, firstly because they live in the American South (I read my History so I know a few facts) and secondly because their own families pressure them very much about how the world should see them.
Both Cole and Nicky fall in love and they are two sides of the same coin. Cole finds his release in books and blogging, while Nicky struggles by pretending to be 'normal'. The whole story is magical, with intense and emotional scenes while at the same time it delivers a solid, big punch to the society, explaining that many times a person's own personality has been smothered, destroyed in order to 'fit' within the 'normal', acceptible rules.
As a person who got bullied in high school, yet found the strengh to move on within my own family, I feel angry for the behaviors of both Nicki's and Cole's families. Not only that but despite the funny moments and the very gut wreching final ones, I couldn't help but notice that none of the main characters had REAL friends. I believe that sometimes a friend can be equal in worth with a family member.
Seth King delivers yet another amazing book. If you read his personal final note at the end of the book, you realise that this one is more than a simple story of beginnings and endings, love and social standards. It's a message to everyone who think or feel different and want nothing more than be accepted and loved.
If Coleen Hoover is the Queen of Contemporary Romance, then Seth King is...well, the King of it. ;)
April 5, 2016
As much as it pains me to write this, especially considering the connection Seth King has to the story, and the note he wrote at the end, this book was exhausting. I wanted to love it, and at points I really did, I just could not get over how ramble-y and quasi-pretentious a lot of it felt. The entire last quarter of the novel felt unnecessary and long. I found myself skimming, or even skipping, entire pages. The length of the paragraphs and the amount of information packed into each one made it hard for me to follow the story at some points. It all felt a bit...messy.
Not to mention how often the author knocked other YA and NA literature. And, if I'm not mistaken, I remember him taking a dig at books that were about gay kids coming out - but that's exactly what this book was. Another story about a boy coming out and struggling with acceptance. I understand it's supposed to be Cole's POV, but still.
I gave this book 3.5 stars, though. Because it was good, and the writing was even great at times. It also featured two flawed characters I was rooting for. Flawed main characters that aren't always likeable aren't the norm, so I give King credit for introducing me to these two boys and making me feel all the feelings. I just wish the writing would've been a little more edited and trimmed down.
Not to mention how often the author knocked other YA and NA literature. And, if I'm not mistaken, I remember him taking a dig at books that were about gay kids coming out - but that's exactly what this book was. Another story about a boy coming out and struggling with acceptance. I understand it's supposed to be Cole's POV, but still.
I gave this book 3.5 stars, though. Because it was good, and the writing was even great at times. It also featured two flawed characters I was rooting for. Flawed main characters that aren't always likeable aren't the norm, so I give King credit for introducing me to these two boys and making me feel all the feelings. I just wish the writing would've been a little more edited and trimmed down.
July 8, 2017
3.5 stars from me. Gah!! That bloody closet, how awful must it be to be the one on the outside looking in...or should that be trapped on the inside looking out?? I spent most of the story being completely infuriated by but at the same time extraordinarily saddened by Cole's happy acceptance of any tiny scrap of affection grudgingly given to him by Nicky, and it's for this reason that I've taken nearly 2 months to finish it.
The author, a young Southern guy, has strong and forthright views on the Bible and its hypocrisy (should the B word really start with a capital letter?? I'm not at all religious), the lukewarm or non-acceptance of gays in the southern states of the U.S. that still exists regardless of any laws that may have been passed, the role of women authors in M/M romance - a good or bad thing...
On the plus side, I have to say I thought the writing itself was good, and it's Seth's first M/M story, although I do get the impression from reading his very personal and heartfelt note at the end of the story that he may be bisexual himself [??], so in a way, perhaps this is his coming out story. On the downside, I agree with Dreamer's review that the story is far too long though and would've benefited from a good, tight edit, and I also admit to skimming :( but it hopefully won't be my last Seth King read.
The author, a young Southern guy, has strong and forthright views on the Bible and its hypocrisy (should the B word really start with a capital letter?? I'm not at all religious), the lukewarm or non-acceptance of gays in the southern states of the U.S. that still exists regardless of any laws that may have been passed, the role of women authors in M/M romance - a good or bad thing...
On the plus side, I have to say I thought the writing itself was good, and it's Seth's first M/M story, although I do get the impression from reading his very personal and heartfelt note at the end of the story that he may be bisexual himself [??], so in a way, perhaps this is his coming out story. On the downside, I agree with Dreamer's review that the story is far too long though and would've benefited from a good, tight edit, and I also admit to skimming :( but it hopefully won't be my last Seth King read.
May 6, 2016
After looking at all the 5 star ratings I thought this would be an excellent book but I was wrong! The first thing that confused me was whether Cole was in high school or college. He was suppose to be in college but the story read like he was in high school. I've been to community college and regular university and I've never had a gym class there.
I faithfully read about 20% until the text became too verbose and the inner monologue too much. Then I started not to like Nicky very much and Cole was too insecure to put up with Nicky's bullshit. So I skipped a whole chunk to 58% and nothing much was going on. I skimmed some more and finally came upon
This book was too long and the way the story was told was just not engaging for me.
I faithfully read about 20% until the text became too verbose and the inner monologue too much. Then I started not to like Nicky very much and Cole was too insecure to put up with Nicky's bullshit. So I skipped a whole chunk to 58% and nothing much was going on. I skimmed some more and finally came upon
This book was too long and the way the story was told was just not engaging for me.
Read
August 4, 2016I read most of this book but skimmed a lot of it, and I don't really know how I feel about it so I'm not going to rate it.
From a technical standpoint, it needed an editor. There were some nice bits of writing but overall it was overwrought and repetitive. I think it would have worked better if a lot of it had been trimmed. It's an intense story, and most of the novel just felt like the same thing happening over and over again: It tried to make every moment the moment: in that moment, he suddenly realized that he was in love. Two pages later, he suddenly realized that he would love him forever no matter what, and that it would destroy him. Three pages later, he was suddenly realizing something else about the intensity of their feelings and their situation.
Also, a lot of the examples of homophobia in the story felt over the top. Two guys walking through the mall together or just crossing the street, and an old man "gaped at us open-mouthed like we'd killed his firstborn child." These guys were hyper aware of people watching, so they weren't holding hands or being affectionate, so why in god's name would anyone think these kids were gay because they're hanging out in public?
And at every turn, the characters were bombarded with homophobia. Side characters constantly throwing out slurs, or the MCs turning on the TV to see news of a gay hate crime, or having one of the characters remember that his mom found the body of a married man who killed himself because he found out he had HIV. There wasn't a single moment of relief. And it got to the point where it just felt ridiculous, that they never met a single LGBTQ person who was happy or out, that no one offered any compassion or relief. Angst for the sake of angst, angst to manipulate the reader into an emotional reaction.
There were a few specific quotes that I took real issue with.
Now on to my personal overall feelings/reactions, with spoilers.
If this whole review is tl;dr and you want the short version of trigger warnings, here you go:
From a technical standpoint, it needed an editor. There were some nice bits of writing but overall it was overwrought and repetitive. I think it would have worked better if a lot of it had been trimmed. It's an intense story, and most of the novel just felt like the same thing happening over and over again: It tried to make every moment the moment: in that moment, he suddenly realized that he was in love. Two pages later, he suddenly realized that he would love him forever no matter what, and that it would destroy him. Three pages later, he was suddenly realizing something else about the intensity of their feelings and their situation.
Also, a lot of the examples of homophobia in the story felt over the top. Two guys walking through the mall together or just crossing the street, and an old man "gaped at us open-mouthed like we'd killed his firstborn child." These guys were hyper aware of people watching, so they weren't holding hands or being affectionate, so why in god's name would anyone think these kids were gay because they're hanging out in public?
And at every turn, the characters were bombarded with homophobia. Side characters constantly throwing out slurs, or the MCs turning on the TV to see news of a gay hate crime, or having one of the characters remember that his mom found the body of a married man who killed himself because he found out he had HIV. There wasn't a single moment of relief. And it got to the point where it just felt ridiculous, that they never met a single LGBTQ person who was happy or out, that no one offered any compassion or relief. Angst for the sake of angst, angst to manipulate the reader into an emotional reaction.
There were a few specific quotes that I took real issue with.
Now on to my personal overall feelings/reactions, with spoilers.
If this whole review is tl;dr and you want the short version of trigger warnings, here you go:
March 1, 2016
4.5- “I’ll take the moon.”- Stars
https://veronikasreaderfeeder.wordpre...
*ARC was kindly provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.*
I don’t know if I will ever read a Seth King book that will not rip me apart. He gave us a beautifully written story again, but a kind of book which broke my soul to its foundations.
I think the base of the story was brilliant. The main character Cole is a photographer who has a blog named ‘Honesty’. The site is composed by confessions of strangers who he meets on the streets or in random places. If he sees something in someone’s eyes, he sits down talking with them and after a matter of time they tell him their deepest secrets, their confessions that nobody knows, and he posts these on his site anonymously. The ‘Honesty’ already has thirty-three thousand fans and he is really famous in the virtual world, but in the reality he is also one of the people who are living in the dark, and in fear with their hidden secrets.
This story is about Cole and his first true love, a beautiful boy with galaxy eyes, who gives him the very high and at the same time pushes him to the depth. Cole and Nicky live in the South, where homosexuality is still taboo and rejected. In the story we can follow through the wonder of their love and at the same time the struggle of Cole and Nicky against the word where they not fit in, the word what feels its right to tell everybody who we can or cannot love. They fight against themselves, their daemons, their intolerant family, their desperation and their fears that someone will realize that they are a little different. This story tear out my heart again and again and I felt all the joy and all the deepness that Cole and Nicky lived through.
This book was raw and honest, but packed in beautiful, poetically written package. I think Seth King is one of the most talented young contemporary authors. He has an amazing writing style and nowadays it is pretty rare to an author writing such a high level as he. And maybe this book wasn’t perfect, maybe I would focus a little more on the blog and maybe the pace of the storytelling was a little slow, but I just can't get past the wonder that he poured his heart out to the pages, that he gave away a piece of his soul for his readers with his beautiful words. And I think this is something not every author can accomplish. Seth King always manages to put some kind of deepness into his books and it is really rare and astonishing at the same time. When I read his books I always feel as if I am trespassing, as if I just figured out his deepest secrets. And he is the one and only author who always makes me cry with his postscripts. Because they are always honest.
I would lie if I said that I understand what are these young souls going through struggling with their own feelings and accepting themselves, but I think maybe with this book I stepped a little closer to understanding it, and I think that was the whole point of the author. To speak to the word, to speak to the youth and to speak to the people who don’t see any way out from the labels defined by the world.
This book is not an easy read and maybe a little different from the lot of sugarcoated books on the market in this genre. Because it was painful and raw, but it was very real.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog:
https://veronikasreaderfeeder.wordpre...
https://www.facebook.com/veronikasrea...
https://veronikasreaderfeeder.wordpre...
*ARC was kindly provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.*
I don’t know if I will ever read a Seth King book that will not rip me apart. He gave us a beautifully written story again, but a kind of book which broke my soul to its foundations.
I think the base of the story was brilliant. The main character Cole is a photographer who has a blog named ‘Honesty’. The site is composed by confessions of strangers who he meets on the streets or in random places. If he sees something in someone’s eyes, he sits down talking with them and after a matter of time they tell him their deepest secrets, their confessions that nobody knows, and he posts these on his site anonymously. The ‘Honesty’ already has thirty-three thousand fans and he is really famous in the virtual world, but in the reality he is also one of the people who are living in the dark, and in fear with their hidden secrets.
This story is about Cole and his first true love, a beautiful boy with galaxy eyes, who gives him the very high and at the same time pushes him to the depth. Cole and Nicky live in the South, where homosexuality is still taboo and rejected. In the story we can follow through the wonder of their love and at the same time the struggle of Cole and Nicky against the word where they not fit in, the word what feels its right to tell everybody who we can or cannot love. They fight against themselves, their daemons, their intolerant family, their desperation and their fears that someone will realize that they are a little different. This story tear out my heart again and again and I felt all the joy and all the deepness that Cole and Nicky lived through.
This book was raw and honest, but packed in beautiful, poetically written package. I think Seth King is one of the most talented young contemporary authors. He has an amazing writing style and nowadays it is pretty rare to an author writing such a high level as he. And maybe this book wasn’t perfect, maybe I would focus a little more on the blog and maybe the pace of the storytelling was a little slow, but I just can't get past the wonder that he poured his heart out to the pages, that he gave away a piece of his soul for his readers with his beautiful words. And I think this is something not every author can accomplish. Seth King always manages to put some kind of deepness into his books and it is really rare and astonishing at the same time. When I read his books I always feel as if I am trespassing, as if I just figured out his deepest secrets. And he is the one and only author who always makes me cry with his postscripts. Because they are always honest.
I would lie if I said that I understand what are these young souls going through struggling with their own feelings and accepting themselves, but I think maybe with this book I stepped a little closer to understanding it, and I think that was the whole point of the author. To speak to the word, to speak to the youth and to speak to the people who don’t see any way out from the labels defined by the world.
This book is not an easy read and maybe a little different from the lot of sugarcoated books on the market in this genre. Because it was painful and raw, but it was very real.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog:
https://veronikasreaderfeeder.wordpre...
https://www.facebook.com/veronikasrea...
February 17, 2016
Honesty. I am unsure if there is possibly a better name for this book.
Just as Seth's 3 previous books have been, he has given us a piece of him. Actually, with this book he has given us more than just a piece, he gave us his soul. This book is a book that honestly, I believe every person could learn from. From the first chapter all the way to the beautiful Author's note, we are learning. Learning from Cole & Nicky. Learning that life isn't always fair but we are learning everyday, how to live, how to go on, how to battle against the world and the hatred many harbor in their hearts.
In this day and age, it's so sad to find that many people think it's their place to tell us who we can love, where we can show affection to those we love and what's wrong and right. But as we know, our beliefs are not everyone else's belief. My hope would be that someone would read this book and find a new "normal". Who we love is no one's business, it's our God given right to fall in love.
These young men spent their times together, hidden away. As reading I wanted to find Cole, give him a hug and maybe even shake him a bit. He allowed himself to be hidden, to feel shame for loving who he loved. It honestly broke my heart, he deserved so much more but didn't believe he was worthy.
And Nicky, this poor young man, he wasn't sure who he was, what was right and the turmoil in his life was absolutely heartbreaking. I wanted to yell at him one moment and hold him the next.
Their relationship was a rocky road but deep down their friendship and love was beautiful. They needed each other, and maybe what is was was all that was meant to be.
Just another beautiful book by Seth King. Again, he has done it. Seth has captured my attention with his beautiful words and story and I am honored he let me have an early look at his book.
**Ironically I finished this book 1 year (almost to the day) since I read The Summer Remains**
Just as Seth's 3 previous books have been, he has given us a piece of him. Actually, with this book he has given us more than just a piece, he gave us his soul. This book is a book that honestly, I believe every person could learn from. From the first chapter all the way to the beautiful Author's note, we are learning. Learning from Cole & Nicky. Learning that life isn't always fair but we are learning everyday, how to live, how to go on, how to battle against the world and the hatred many harbor in their hearts.
In this day and age, it's so sad to find that many people think it's their place to tell us who we can love, where we can show affection to those we love and what's wrong and right. But as we know, our beliefs are not everyone else's belief. My hope would be that someone would read this book and find a new "normal". Who we love is no one's business, it's our God given right to fall in love.
These young men spent their times together, hidden away. As reading I wanted to find Cole, give him a hug and maybe even shake him a bit. He allowed himself to be hidden, to feel shame for loving who he loved. It honestly broke my heart, he deserved so much more but didn't believe he was worthy.
"I wished I could be strong enough to demand the love I knew i deserved but I wasn't, I was too afraid that without him, I'd be nothing at all."
And Nicky, this poor young man, he wasn't sure who he was, what was right and the turmoil in his life was absolutely heartbreaking. I wanted to yell at him one moment and hold him the next.
Their relationship was a rocky road but deep down their friendship and love was beautiful. They needed each other, and maybe what is was was all that was meant to be.
"You're the closest thing I've ever found to heaven, and I want to live in that heaven while I'm still on Earth."
Just another beautiful book by Seth King. Again, he has done it. Seth has captured my attention with his beautiful words and story and I am honored he let me have an early look at his book.
**Ironically I finished this book 1 year (almost to the day) since I read The Summer Remains**
February 5, 2016
How does one review a Seth King book without giving spoilers? I find it extremely easy because I could talk about his writing for days. Seth doesn't sugar coat things. He isn't afraid to write about things that a lot of authors wouldn't and this is why his books are so very special. He is my go to author. I will drop everything to read his books and they consume me in the best possible way. Honesty was no different. I thought about it constantly, even when I wasn't reading it, the story was swirling in my head and it still does.
I expect a lot from Seth after reading and loving his previous books and 'Honesty' exceeded all my expectations. Seth writes from the heart. No one can deny it. I love the language and the rawness of the story and I felt every emotion that Cole and Nicky went through. I not only read the words, but I felt how much they loved each other. I felt how nervous and awkward they were in many scenes, so much so, I wanted to dive in and console them. This book gave me a whole new understanding on a topic that I hadn't read before and made me realise just how difficult loving a person can be for some. Their love story is one that every person, young or old needs to read and it's one I will never forget. It teaches us that love isn't always easy and even if society is against you, that you should always follow your heart. Never give up on love, because it may only happen once in your life.
I call Seth the master of memorable, emotional quotes. I highlight more in one book of his than I have in all the books I've ever read and 'Honesty' was no different.
"You're the closest thing I've ever found to heaven, and I want to live in that heaven while I'm still on earth"
"Don't look down. Nothing down there matters"
"You're like my favourite book. I wish I could go back and read you all over again just to enjoy you twice"
"He was like a book, one of the really good ones where you had to slip away and press your face close to the page and disappear into the world that was slowly opening between the two of you"
If you haven't read a Seth King book before, I urge you to read this book, it is everything and more than I ever expected. If I could describe Seth's writing in one word it would be 'honest' which seems fitting with the title of the book. He writes books like no other I've ever read and I look forward to seeing what journey he will take us on next.
5 big, beautiful, emotional stars.
I expect a lot from Seth after reading and loving his previous books and 'Honesty' exceeded all my expectations. Seth writes from the heart. No one can deny it. I love the language and the rawness of the story and I felt every emotion that Cole and Nicky went through. I not only read the words, but I felt how much they loved each other. I felt how nervous and awkward they were in many scenes, so much so, I wanted to dive in and console them. This book gave me a whole new understanding on a topic that I hadn't read before and made me realise just how difficult loving a person can be for some. Their love story is one that every person, young or old needs to read and it's one I will never forget. It teaches us that love isn't always easy and even if society is against you, that you should always follow your heart. Never give up on love, because it may only happen once in your life.
I call Seth the master of memorable, emotional quotes. I highlight more in one book of his than I have in all the books I've ever read and 'Honesty' was no different.
"You're the closest thing I've ever found to heaven, and I want to live in that heaven while I'm still on earth"
"Don't look down. Nothing down there matters"
"You're like my favourite book. I wish I could go back and read you all over again just to enjoy you twice"
"He was like a book, one of the really good ones where you had to slip away and press your face close to the page and disappear into the world that was slowly opening between the two of you"
If you haven't read a Seth King book before, I urge you to read this book, it is everything and more than I ever expected. If I could describe Seth's writing in one word it would be 'honest' which seems fitting with the title of the book. He writes books like no other I've ever read and I look forward to seeing what journey he will take us on next.
5 big, beautiful, emotional stars.
February 4, 2016
It’s been about a week since I finished Honesty, and I am still unsure if I can put my thoughts in working order. Seth is a brilliant and courageous writer. With each and every story he writes you can feel his all consuming passion to not only push himself as a writer, but society as well.
Honesty is a story of all consuming love. We all have at least one person in our lives that can break us, rearrange us and make us whole. The two characters Honesty, Coley and Nicky are magnets for each other. The two of them gravitated towards colliding at a speed neither of them could have predicted. When they are together their love is intoxicating to them .For Coley and Nicky their love is the center of a hurricane it is what calms them and revitalizes them brings out the light in the darkness. Together Coley and Nicky must learn to battle the outside world they face. One filled with judgments, expectations and at times hate.
Honesty is much more than a love story it is a novel about growing up, making mistakes, getting backup when you fall down, and discovering who you really are VS. The person you think your suppose to be, or rather what society expects you to be.
Honesty is undoubtedly one of my favorite books of 2016, despite how early it is in the year I truly believe this book will leave its mark on you. Not only does the book have Harry Potter references as soon as I saw the word Dumbledore I knew this story would infiltrate it’s way into my heart. Sometimes in ways I didn’t even notice. It has all the ingredients we come to expect from writer Seth King. Similar to his other novels, The Summer Remains, Autumn Rising, and Invincible Summer. Seth takes a topic and gives his voice to the voiceless pulling them down to earth and loving them with his words. He is telling everyone who has ever felt lost he sees them and is fighting right along side them. Honesty is touching, charismatic, and organic. It will test you, challenge your perception devastate you, inspire you, love you, cast a spell on you, but its up to you to the see the magic.
Honesty is a story of all consuming love. We all have at least one person in our lives that can break us, rearrange us and make us whole. The two characters Honesty, Coley and Nicky are magnets for each other. The two of them gravitated towards colliding at a speed neither of them could have predicted. When they are together their love is intoxicating to them .For Coley and Nicky their love is the center of a hurricane it is what calms them and revitalizes them brings out the light in the darkness. Together Coley and Nicky must learn to battle the outside world they face. One filled with judgments, expectations and at times hate.
Honesty is much more than a love story it is a novel about growing up, making mistakes, getting backup when you fall down, and discovering who you really are VS. The person you think your suppose to be, or rather what society expects you to be.
Honesty is undoubtedly one of my favorite books of 2016, despite how early it is in the year I truly believe this book will leave its mark on you. Not only does the book have Harry Potter references as soon as I saw the word Dumbledore I knew this story would infiltrate it’s way into my heart. Sometimes in ways I didn’t even notice. It has all the ingredients we come to expect from writer Seth King. Similar to his other novels, The Summer Remains, Autumn Rising, and Invincible Summer. Seth takes a topic and gives his voice to the voiceless pulling them down to earth and loving them with his words. He is telling everyone who has ever felt lost he sees them and is fighting right along side them. Honesty is touching, charismatic, and organic. It will test you, challenge your perception devastate you, inspire you, love you, cast a spell on you, but its up to you to the see the magic.
March 3, 2016
So it's almost 1:00 am in the morning and I just finished Honesty in one sitting I have never felt so haunted by a book in my life. When I chose to read this book I thought to myself " I'm not going to be able to relate to this book." Lies, Lies such lies I felt every emotion while reading this book, the main characters Cole and Nicky were so real I felt that I could reach out and touch them. When you read this book you will find that love is love and yes you should be able to love anyone you want " it is ok to like chandeliers." I'm not going to give you a brief synopsis of the book, just read it because it will open your eyes to what problems the LGBTQ community still experiences in 2016. I had a cousin that died of AIDS in 1997 and he was also closeted I just wish that there were more writers like Seth King that he could have related to. This book will stay with me for a lifetime .
March 1, 2016
I went into this book blind. Expecting some heartache. And so much freaking swooning and trust me I got that and so much more.
Seth has a way with words, it's crazy really.
It's beautiful.
"There's nothing wrong with chandeliers"
Seth has a way with words, it's crazy really.
It's beautiful.
"There's nothing wrong with chandeliers"
February 12, 2016
5+++ STARS!!!
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
September 1, 2016
Ugh, no.
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