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Second Skin
When Jay heads to the university’s learning center for help with his math class, he doesn’t expect his tutor to be tall, dark, and handsome. But Roswell is all that and more, and their instant connection over cult movies, books, and TV shows quickly evolves into dating.That’s when things get tricky.Roswell might claim he doesn’t have issues with Jay being trans, but when he’s constantly insisting they “take it slow,” Jay’s not so sure. He’s been hurt before, and he's not going to let it happen again.But then Roswell reveals that he, too, has a few secrets under his skin.Word 23,900; page 90
90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2016
3 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Alex Whitehall
30 books73 followersIf there are two types of people in the world, Alex Whitehall probably isn't one of them, despite being a person. Their favorite pastimes include reading, horseback riding, reading, watching geek-tastic television, reading, and running. While Alex prefers writing over doing anything else (except maybe reading), sometimes they emerge from the cave to be social and to hunt for food at the local market. They can be found blogging, scrolling Tumblr, and tending after their aloe plants.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 26, 2017
I do not recommend this book to trans and/or non-binary readers. It has intensely problematic representation of both trans and genderfluid characters and is likely to be harmful to read.
I plan to write a review, but for more specifics now, you can read my status notes. Please note that they do contain one thing that I guess could be thought of as a spoiler, that I am unable to discuss the book without naming: Please also note that they include specific descriptions of cissexism, cisnormativity, abuse, transmisogyny, misgendering, and trans panic.
I plan to write a review, but for more specifics now, you can read my status notes. Please note that they do contain one thing that I guess could be thought of as a spoiler, that I am unable to discuss the book without naming: Please also note that they include specific descriptions of cissexism, cisnormativity, abuse, transmisogyny, misgendering, and trans panic.
April 1, 2016
Second Skin had some serious potential. I love stories with a sci-fi element and pairing that with a human MC that knows what it is like to be different and misunderstood, I really thought this story would be a shoe in. It didn't quite work for me, though. I think part of it is that the story was really too short to really get a feel for the MC's. But also, there was so much awkwardness, I didn't really feel their connection, either.
Jay is a transgender young man trying to make his way through college life. He's struggling a bit with one of his math classes. He's also struggled with relationships because he's just learning how to live as he feels. Life is a work in progress, and Jay is young and still working it all out. He meets Roswell (and yeah, the complete ridiculousness of the name is touched upon) when he goes seeking tutoring for his math class.
Roswell knows what it's like to be different and what it's like to have a secret that not everyone would take so well. You've probably already guessed, by the blurb, that Roswell isn't exactly from around here, but his secrets go deeper than that. Not going to spoil it for you, though.
So, Roswell and Jay are actually pretty perfect for one another. But the awkwardness never really went away.
And lastly, there is no steam, at all, which isn't a requirement for me, so that's fine, but I didn't feel any intimacy, either, and that I sorely missed.
I'm giving Second Skin 3 *out of this world* stars.
ARC of Second Skin generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Jay is a transgender young man trying to make his way through college life. He's struggling a bit with one of his math classes. He's also struggled with relationships because he's just learning how to live as he feels. Life is a work in progress, and Jay is young and still working it all out. He meets Roswell (and yeah, the complete ridiculousness of the name is touched upon) when he goes seeking tutoring for his math class.
Roswell knows what it's like to be different and what it's like to have a secret that not everyone would take so well. You've probably already guessed, by the blurb, that Roswell isn't exactly from around here, but his secrets go deeper than that. Not going to spoil it for you, though.
So, Roswell and Jay are actually pretty perfect for one another. But the awkwardness never really went away.
And lastly, there is no steam, at all, which isn't a requirement for me, so that's fine, but I didn't feel any intimacy, either, and that I sorely missed.
I'm giving Second Skin 3 *out of this world* stars.
ARC of Second Skin generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2016
Jay and Roswell were both sweet, loved them as characters and as a couple.
I loved the way Roswell was so accepting of Jay but I didn't really like the way Jay reacted when Roswell revealed his own secret. I just thought it was a little extreme from someone who had been considered a freak all his life.
The twist was unexpected but IMHO the book was too short and needed to be longer to fully explore the issues between these two. Maybe there's a follow up planned, I don't know but Jay and Roswell's story doesn't feel finished to me, HFN rather than HEA.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I loved the way Roswell was so accepting of Jay but I didn't really like the way Jay reacted when Roswell revealed his own secret. I just thought it was a little extreme from someone who had been considered a freak all his life.
The twist was unexpected but IMHO the book was too short and needed to be longer to fully explore the issues between these two. Maybe there's a follow up planned, I don't know but Jay and Roswell's story doesn't feel finished to me, HFN rather than HEA.
*Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
April 2, 2016
I thought this was going to be another so-so romance and I was presently surprised.
We all judge others. It is something we do on a daily basis as we interact with people but we tend to forget that sometimes we can judge a person for something we also do. I can point my finger at another person and forget that three of my fingers point back at me.
This is a lovely novella which tries to explore the complexity of being on the margins and yet not recognising those margins in another person. It is a simple love story which portrays a very complex, but very human way of being.
It is brilliantly done and I was surprised by how much I liked it and by the way the story explores deep complexities but with such easy to read and comforting story telling.
I like stories that break the mold and do something different and this one does but not in an immediately obvious way. It doesn't have pages of Polyfilla cut and paste sex scenes and I found that very refreshing because it allowed the story to flow.
Here we have two young men Ros and Jay who discover an attraction for each other. Eventually they realise that there is more to the other than meets the eye, and they each have to confront and try and understand their differences.
I really liked the way the story focuses on a young trans person who is getting to grips with life on campus, dealing with the demands of study, desire, friendship and the need to live as the person he knows he is. I haven't come across many trans romances and this one is well written, pleasant to read and also engrossing, not in an adrenaline rush way but in a gentle opening of some very knotty issues.
The story shows that love and relationships are not always easy, and we know that, but the way the story portrays this is not at first obvious. I just floated along reading thinking it was an average romance and then suddenly and surprisingly there was the conundrum! And the rest of the story was very much about how to travel along in the light of that new knowledge.
And it is all good stuff!
It is difficult to review this without spoiling it but if you like your story to have a few different notes here and there, instead of playing familiar tunes this is a good one.
A good story with a complex issue, lovely characters, a dilemma and above all emotion, love and tenderness.
And also maths!
Thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We all judge others. It is something we do on a daily basis as we interact with people but we tend to forget that sometimes we can judge a person for something we also do. I can point my finger at another person and forget that three of my fingers point back at me.
This is a lovely novella which tries to explore the complexity of being on the margins and yet not recognising those margins in another person. It is a simple love story which portrays a very complex, but very human way of being.
It is brilliantly done and I was surprised by how much I liked it and by the way the story explores deep complexities but with such easy to read and comforting story telling.
I like stories that break the mold and do something different and this one does but not in an immediately obvious way. It doesn't have pages of Polyfilla cut and paste sex scenes and I found that very refreshing because it allowed the story to flow.
Here we have two young men Ros and Jay who discover an attraction for each other. Eventually they realise that there is more to the other than meets the eye, and they each have to confront and try and understand their differences.
I really liked the way the story focuses on a young trans person who is getting to grips with life on campus, dealing with the demands of study, desire, friendship and the need to live as the person he knows he is. I haven't come across many trans romances and this one is well written, pleasant to read and also engrossing, not in an adrenaline rush way but in a gentle opening of some very knotty issues.
The story shows that love and relationships are not always easy, and we know that, but the way the story portrays this is not at first obvious. I just floated along reading thinking it was an average romance and then suddenly and surprisingly there was the conundrum! And the rest of the story was very much about how to travel along in the light of that new knowledge.
And it is all good stuff!
It is difficult to review this without spoiling it but if you like your story to have a few different notes here and there, instead of playing familiar tunes this is a good one.
A good story with a complex issue, lovely characters, a dilemma and above all emotion, love and tenderness.
And also maths!
Thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2017
3/10 stars
"This book and I. I am so not okay with this book. There is just so much wrong with it." - Arthur
"[...]I had a bit of rage simmering in my gut that kind of spoiled the rest of it. I wanted to like this a lot, but unfortunately, I didn’t." - Maria
Find our full reviews here.
"This book and I. I am so not okay with this book. There is just so much wrong with it." - Arthur
"[...]I had a bit of rage simmering in my gut that kind of spoiled the rest of it. I wanted to like this a lot, but unfortunately, I didn’t." - Maria
Find our full reviews here.
April 2, 2016
I really need to pay better attention when I'm reading blurbs and checking out new to me books. And yeah, really that cover should have clued me in (gorgeous, right?) But sometimes, it's kind of fun to get startled by the unexpected. See, I thought I was getting a college age Contemporary Romance and, well, it was... But it had a sci-fi twist. The story was cruising along doing the expected and then I had a 'what was that!?! Oh, well that changes things. Adjusted. Moved on to appreciate an interesting new dynamic in the story.
The story opens with Jay headed to the library for a tutor to get some help with Math. Jay encounters the math tutor and he is instantly taken with Roswell. Roswell doesn't seem to care that Jay is transitioning and identifying as a 'he' instead of a 'she now. And Ros has a quirky geek love, too.
But when they start dating, Jay doesn't know what to make of Roswell's reluctance to take things deeper and asks for time. Is it because Roswell really does struggle with Jay being trans? Jay has met that before and it hurt a lot so now he is on edge. But when the truth comes, Jay suddenly is forced to confront his own perceptions about acceptance and differences.
I enjoyed the story. It is thoughtful and has a good premise, but I felt it cruised along in depths that were too shallow for the dynamics of this story. This influenced my impression of the characters somewhat. I struggled to connect at times, but there were some curiosity points, too. And, as some know about me, curiosity will hook me in and keep my attention when other things do not.
The author did something interesting when it came to Jay- intentional or otherwise I do not know. Jay is transitioning and has felt the effects of confusion, self-doubt, and negative opinions even from an earlier relationship. This colored his thinking, no doubt about that. Then there is his personality and interests that place him firmly in socially awkward geek territory. But he also has good things going for him from family and friends. Just by choosing to follow the path he has makes him a pretty strong person. I was all set to start rooting for him.
But (here's that interesting part that I mentioned) then the story got going and I realized through his thoughts and actions, that Jay was both the villain and hero of his own story.
Jay wants love and acceptance and thinks he finds it with Roswell. But even as things get going with this pair and with Jay's surrounding activities, I was struck that Jay is self-absorbed and let's his past color his perceptions of the present (don't we all). Roswell is generous and kind and comfortable to be with. But then when something truly out of this world occurs, Jay fails to demonstrate these traits in return to the one who gave immediate acceptance, understanding and friendship to him. And generously at that. The author pulled out some startling emotions for Jay when he learns Roswell's secret that wouldn't have occurred to me. Again, my curiosity was peeked even while I felt less connection to the story than I should.
Roswell is something of an enigma. I liked what I saw and he had big secrets. But after the reveal, he stays something of an enigma because the focus is solidly on Jay- which I get. However, it leaves me shrugging and not much to add about our Ros here. He had big stuff going on that sounded fascinating, but it was quickly explained and pushed past since this is Jay's story.
The romance was alright, but not really the thing that stayed with me at the end.
I have to mention another interesting response I had to this story. Though I didn't connect as well with the major players, Jay or Roswell, I did connect with Jay's best friend, Connor. If anyone comes out feeling heroic in this story, it's Connor. All along he is the guy that just shines. He may not struggle with gender or sexual orientation, but he was still true to self. He looks like a popular person and he could have been in looks, ease of manner, and athletic ability, but he didn't hide his other 'geek' side and he openly hung out with socially awkward people. He valued everyone and not those just like him. And he was a true friend. He forced Jay to look carefully at his words and actions when it would have been easy just to give affirmation to Jay when he breaks it off with Ros even while promising to have Jay's back, always.
The sci-fi aspect was more of a sci-fi realism thing. It's there and important, but this story doesn't feel sci-fi. I think this is because the important reason for it's presence is to draw attention to the concept of acceptance and diversity.
In summary, this is going to be one of those stories that I enjoyed for all the wrong reasons I think. I enjoyed the theme, the curious aspects, the secondary character while tolerating the main players and the romance. I think those looking for a quick, thought-provoking read in the m/m sci-fi romance category should take a look at this one.
My thanks to Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with Jay headed to the library for a tutor to get some help with Math. Jay encounters the math tutor and he is instantly taken with Roswell. Roswell doesn't seem to care that Jay is transitioning and identifying as a 'he' instead of a 'she now. And Ros has a quirky geek love, too.
But when they start dating, Jay doesn't know what to make of Roswell's reluctance to take things deeper and asks for time. Is it because Roswell really does struggle with Jay being trans? Jay has met that before and it hurt a lot so now he is on edge. But when the truth comes, Jay suddenly is forced to confront his own perceptions about acceptance and differences.
I enjoyed the story. It is thoughtful and has a good premise, but I felt it cruised along in depths that were too shallow for the dynamics of this story. This influenced my impression of the characters somewhat. I struggled to connect at times, but there were some curiosity points, too. And, as some know about me, curiosity will hook me in and keep my attention when other things do not.
The author did something interesting when it came to Jay- intentional or otherwise I do not know. Jay is transitioning and has felt the effects of confusion, self-doubt, and negative opinions even from an earlier relationship. This colored his thinking, no doubt about that. Then there is his personality and interests that place him firmly in socially awkward geek territory. But he also has good things going for him from family and friends. Just by choosing to follow the path he has makes him a pretty strong person. I was all set to start rooting for him.
But (here's that interesting part that I mentioned) then the story got going and I realized through his thoughts and actions, that Jay was both the villain and hero of his own story.
Jay wants love and acceptance and thinks he finds it with Roswell. But even as things get going with this pair and with Jay's surrounding activities, I was struck that Jay is self-absorbed and let's his past color his perceptions of the present (don't we all). Roswell is generous and kind and comfortable to be with. But then when something truly out of this world occurs, Jay fails to demonstrate these traits in return to the one who gave immediate acceptance, understanding and friendship to him. And generously at that. The author pulled out some startling emotions for Jay when he learns Roswell's secret that wouldn't have occurred to me. Again, my curiosity was peeked even while I felt less connection to the story than I should.
Roswell is something of an enigma. I liked what I saw and he had big secrets. But after the reveal, he stays something of an enigma because the focus is solidly on Jay- which I get. However, it leaves me shrugging and not much to add about our Ros here. He had big stuff going on that sounded fascinating, but it was quickly explained and pushed past since this is Jay's story.
The romance was alright, but not really the thing that stayed with me at the end.
I have to mention another interesting response I had to this story. Though I didn't connect as well with the major players, Jay or Roswell, I did connect with Jay's best friend, Connor. If anyone comes out feeling heroic in this story, it's Connor. All along he is the guy that just shines. He may not struggle with gender or sexual orientation, but he was still true to self. He looks like a popular person and he could have been in looks, ease of manner, and athletic ability, but he didn't hide his other 'geek' side and he openly hung out with socially awkward people. He valued everyone and not those just like him. And he was a true friend. He forced Jay to look carefully at his words and actions when it would have been easy just to give affirmation to Jay when he breaks it off with Ros even while promising to have Jay's back, always.
The sci-fi aspect was more of a sci-fi realism thing. It's there and important, but this story doesn't feel sci-fi. I think this is because the important reason for it's presence is to draw attention to the concept of acceptance and diversity.
In summary, this is going to be one of those stories that I enjoyed for all the wrong reasons I think. I enjoyed the theme, the curious aspects, the secondary character while tolerating the main players and the romance. I think those looking for a quick, thought-provoking read in the m/m sci-fi romance category should take a look at this one.
My thanks to Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 17, 2024This book didn't work for me. There were minor things, and then things like Jay getting stared at and misgendered by his entire class for showing up briefly to get his stuff in baggy clothes and no binder (it felt both unbelievable and unnecessary to me); and the conversation where Jay calls Ros a freak and Jay's friend then deadnames Jay to make a point. Since that friend had otherwise been shown to be a truly accepting, ride or die kind of friend, it's confusing, disappointing and not a good vibe. The overall premise of the book is one with a lot of potential for exploring questions about gender, sex, bodies, and sexuality, but also with many potential pitfalls and I really didn't feel like it hit the mark. Both as a trans story and a sci-fi story it was underwhelming to me.
did-not-finish
August 8, 2017DNF ~20%
Started: August 4, 2017
Stopped: August 8, 2017
Warnings (for what I read): transmisia, deadnaming, ableism
Please take a look at this review and this review, from trans people, who managed to read through the whole book.
Started: August 4, 2017
Stopped: August 8, 2017
Warnings (for what I read): transmisia, deadnaming, ableism
Please take a look at this review and this review, from trans people, who managed to read through the whole book.
April 12, 2016
3.25*
Alex Whitehall’s Second Skin is a stand-alone title, set mainly on an American college campus. I really appreciate and admire what the author is trying to do with this story.Second Skin is a NA (New Adult) romance title, this I believe places protagonists in their early twenties. NA is a sub-genre that is hard to get exactly right, and like the YA romance category is more open to criticism for including either too much sex or too little. Sadly, I don’t feel this author gets it quite right this time for several reasons.
Jay is a trans man attending university. He is having a few problems with Maths and assigned a student mentor. His mentor is Roswell, a handsome man to whom Jay is attracted from the off and happily, it seems the attraction is reciprocated. The trans conversation is a non-issue, in that Jay has been listed as ‘Jenna’, his assigned birth name, on Roswell’s list, and so Jay can explain and Roswell accepts this with little question. Due to the sci-fi sub-genre, I let go unchallenged this early in the novella, the ease with which difficult concepts - like rejecting gendered birth names and living in a campus that denies his gender – are approached. However, I had a number of issues with the novella that no later plot twist could resolve.
One was the dialogue. These are twenty-somethings, and although it could be argued that there is a reason for ‘Roswell’ having slightly stilted dialogue, it applies to all the characters. They either spoke like grandparents or blushed like young teens.
"Oh." Roswell blinked and glanced around. “Sorry, I think I, uh, was daydreaming there. What were we saying?”
“I was just talking about my god-awful English class,” Jay lied. Roswell slid a half smile his way – sad. But appreciative.
None of the conversations sound believable and all the characters emote either by blushing or if straight, by ruffling Jay’s hair, roughly. I think this was called a ‘noogie’.
Some of the descriptions are very ‘off’ too A bony dorm couch was flanked by two equally stiff lounge chairs that sat opposite a television, but if the problems were limited to the language and the dialogue, I could still have lost myself in a good plot. Unfortunately, the plot is very thin and the conflict - caused by something that would be a spoiler too far here – is more or less resolved by the most overused trope ever - ‘accident’ and ‘injury’.
I don’t mean to be harsh because trans stories are needed. We need beautiful, hopeful romances for trans people, especially the young. Romances that show their lives can be filled, with love and acceptance like any other. This love story was sweet, but the characters were too stiff and stilted even for the plot twist. Plus, after reading it, I didn’t feel that trans people could experience passionate romance. The message felt - if you are trans you can only find love with someone who is more alienated, and different than you feel yourself to be.
Full Review www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview...
Alex Whitehall’s Second Skin is a stand-alone title, set mainly on an American college campus. I really appreciate and admire what the author is trying to do with this story.Second Skin is a NA (New Adult) romance title, this I believe places protagonists in their early twenties. NA is a sub-genre that is hard to get exactly right, and like the YA romance category is more open to criticism for including either too much sex or too little. Sadly, I don’t feel this author gets it quite right this time for several reasons.
Jay is a trans man attending university. He is having a few problems with Maths and assigned a student mentor. His mentor is Roswell, a handsome man to whom Jay is attracted from the off and happily, it seems the attraction is reciprocated. The trans conversation is a non-issue, in that Jay has been listed as ‘Jenna’, his assigned birth name, on Roswell’s list, and so Jay can explain and Roswell accepts this with little question. Due to the sci-fi sub-genre, I let go unchallenged this early in the novella, the ease with which difficult concepts - like rejecting gendered birth names and living in a campus that denies his gender – are approached. However, I had a number of issues with the novella that no later plot twist could resolve.
One was the dialogue. These are twenty-somethings, and although it could be argued that there is a reason for ‘Roswell’ having slightly stilted dialogue, it applies to all the characters. They either spoke like grandparents or blushed like young teens.
"Oh." Roswell blinked and glanced around. “Sorry, I think I, uh, was daydreaming there. What were we saying?”
“I was just talking about my god-awful English class,” Jay lied. Roswell slid a half smile his way – sad. But appreciative.
None of the conversations sound believable and all the characters emote either by blushing or if straight, by ruffling Jay’s hair, roughly. I think this was called a ‘noogie’.
Some of the descriptions are very ‘off’ too A bony dorm couch was flanked by two equally stiff lounge chairs that sat opposite a television, but if the problems were limited to the language and the dialogue, I could still have lost myself in a good plot. Unfortunately, the plot is very thin and the conflict - caused by something that would be a spoiler too far here – is more or less resolved by the most overused trope ever - ‘accident’ and ‘injury’.
I don’t mean to be harsh because trans stories are needed. We need beautiful, hopeful romances for trans people, especially the young. Romances that show their lives can be filled, with love and acceptance like any other. This love story was sweet, but the characters were too stiff and stilted even for the plot twist. Plus, after reading it, I didn’t feel that trans people could experience passionate romance. The message felt - if you are trans you can only find love with someone who is more alienated, and different than you feel yourself to be.
Full Review www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview...
April 25, 2016
3 Stars - Coming of Age & True Identity with a twist!
This is my first book by author Alex Whitehall. I obviously didn't catch the twist part in the blurb to this story or I might have skipped it. Although I rated the story a 3 star, I am glad I read it because this story, while unique, had a very important message in it. The author took the situation of transgenderism and being the wrong sex for the gender you identify with and added a unique twist that made you think. So Bravo to the author for being brave enough to get the message across.
You truly cannot judge this book by it's beautiful cover but if you read it you may be pleasantly surprised. I wish it was a little longer, had some more feeling, maybe more backstory. However, as is it's a solid 3 star story ~ :-)
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
This is my first book by author Alex Whitehall. I obviously didn't catch the twist part in the blurb to this story or I might have skipped it. Although I rated the story a 3 star, I am glad I read it because this story, while unique, had a very important message in it. The author took the situation of transgenderism and being the wrong sex for the gender you identify with and added a unique twist that made you think. So Bravo to the author for being brave enough to get the message across.
You truly cannot judge this book by it's beautiful cover but if you read it you may be pleasantly surprised. I wish it was a little longer, had some more feeling, maybe more backstory. However, as is it's a solid 3 star story ~ :-)
❥❥**´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
May 8, 2016
Hovering between a 3.5 and a 4....
Well, that was different... gotta love a twist that catches you totally off guard ;)
Okay, so there's not a lot I can tell you about Second Skin without giving anything away. I can tell you that I liked both the characters, the supporting characters and the way that Jay being trans was handled. The only BIG problem I had with this story was that it is way too short. I know, you've heard me say that before, but sometimes you just need more to take a story from a sweet little romance to awesome. I have no problem with sweet little romances either, but this one had some much 'awesome' potential that it was a shame to cut it so short. *sigh*
I received Second Skin in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Well, that was different... gotta love a twist that catches you totally off guard ;)
Okay, so there's not a lot I can tell you about Second Skin without giving anything away. I can tell you that I liked both the characters, the supporting characters and the way that Jay being trans was handled. The only BIG problem I had with this story was that it is way too short. I know, you've heard me say that before, but sometimes you just need more to take a story from a sweet little romance to awesome. I have no problem with sweet little romances either, but this one had some much 'awesome' potential that it was a shame to cut it so short. *sigh*
I received Second Skin in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 12, 2020
Very sweet new adult paranormal. I kinda wish there’d been more to this novella, so I’m off to read more from this author!
Read
October 22, 2020Honestly not quite sure how I felt about this.
May 4, 2016
Stuck in a math class that even math majors avoid, Jay is in desperate need of help. Luckily there is a math tutor on campus for just this thing. And the tutoring is great, except Jay can’t help jamming his foot in his mouth every time he sees Ros. But despite the fact he has no control of his mouth in the presence of the hot tutor, Ros seems to really like Jay. Which, good. Great even. Except Jay keeps getting the feeling that Ros isn’t being completely truthful with him. And after one relationship crashing and burning because a guy can’t handle Jay being trans, he is a bit gun-shy.
*twirls happily in a circle*
I went into this book thinking it was gonna be pretty ok. The whole “falling in love with your tutor” thing is hardly unique, but it’s something I enjoy. Plus, trans characters are a major sell for me. Especially well written ones. So I was thinking I was gonna read a nice short story with bit of geeky coolness to top it off…and then something happened. Something awesome and so unexpected I did a whole happy hand-flail thing (it was embarrassing, to be honest, so it is probably good only the cats were witness to it).
And what is this “thing” I hear you ask? Well…I can’t tell you. Sorry. (not sorry)
It’s a secret and I plan on keeping it that way.
But it was pretty dang awesome.
Just trust me.
I loved how Jay and Ros were so relaxed together. They had a real thing going on from the very beginning and despite Jay’s total inability to form sentences it was adorable and totally relatable. And Ros: sexy, smart, and mysterious. Oh how my heart flutters. I have a real weakness for smart dudes. That he is so smart and yet so clueless about some things (with reasons) only made it better.
Jay’s group o’ geeks was something I’m well acquainted with. Granted the whole role-playing-game thing was something I was never really interested in, but I liked how Jay and his friends totally went with it.
One of the things that really got me though, was just how much I identify with Jay. Especially the whole name thing. Dear god, but it is a pain trying to come up with a name that you feel is you. I’ve been thinking on it for nearly a year and still haven’t got any real hits. I like how this book dealt with the little things, as well as the big ones, about being transgender. How it was just a fact that these things were going to crop up and no you don’t have to deal with them all now but they certainly are always there in the back of your mind.
All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable story. I loved how even the parts that were **spoiler** were well tied into the rest of the story and only enhanced the plot instead of throwing me wildly off course. I recommend you try it, especially if you are looking for a fun story with a trans protagonist.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
*twirls happily in a circle*
I went into this book thinking it was gonna be pretty ok. The whole “falling in love with your tutor” thing is hardly unique, but it’s something I enjoy. Plus, trans characters are a major sell for me. Especially well written ones. So I was thinking I was gonna read a nice short story with bit of geeky coolness to top it off…and then something happened. Something awesome and so unexpected I did a whole happy hand-flail thing (it was embarrassing, to be honest, so it is probably good only the cats were witness to it).
And what is this “thing” I hear you ask? Well…I can’t tell you. Sorry. (not sorry)
It’s a secret and I plan on keeping it that way.
But it was pretty dang awesome.
Just trust me.
I loved how Jay and Ros were so relaxed together. They had a real thing going on from the very beginning and despite Jay’s total inability to form sentences it was adorable and totally relatable. And Ros: sexy, smart, and mysterious. Oh how my heart flutters. I have a real weakness for smart dudes. That he is so smart and yet so clueless about some things (with reasons) only made it better.
Jay’s group o’ geeks was something I’m well acquainted with. Granted the whole role-playing-game thing was something I was never really interested in, but I liked how Jay and his friends totally went with it.
One of the things that really got me though, was just how much I identify with Jay. Especially the whole name thing. Dear god, but it is a pain trying to come up with a name that you feel is you. I’ve been thinking on it for nearly a year and still haven’t got any real hits. I like how this book dealt with the little things, as well as the big ones, about being transgender. How it was just a fact that these things were going to crop up and no you don’t have to deal with them all now but they certainly are always there in the back of your mind.
All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable story. I loved how even the parts that were **spoiler** were well tied into the rest of the story and only enhanced the plot instead of throwing me wildly off course. I recommend you try it, especially if you are looking for a fun story with a trans protagonist.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
April 18, 2016
*2.5 stars*
I think it's impossible to review this book without some spoilers, so only read ahead if you are okay with that. I'll try to stick to the basics, but the blurb is pretty vague and I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.
*some spoilers to follow*
I went into this book knowing (from other reviews) that Jay is a transman and Roswell is an alien. That was pretty much where I was starting this book, and those factors had me excited. I've actually cultivated a pretty decent collection of trans, genderqueer, and non-binary books (check my shelf), and I'm always up for a romance with a character that falls into those categories. However, this book really didn't live up to my expectations.
Once I found out the type of alien that Roswell is, I felt sort of... underwhelmed. I've read Static by L.A. Witt, and once you've read a book that has that sort of twist in it, it isn't as exciting the second time. Sure, this book has the added change up of Jay being trans, but it also lacked a lot of interest for me.
Also, while I'm on the subject of Jay, this didn't affect me at all but readers might want to know that Jay is totally pre-op. I'm not sure if he is on hormones or not, but all of his anatomy that he was born with is still present. Just putting that out there.
While this book was nicely written, and I think it dealt very well with Jay's issues of his body during his transition, it was very disappointing in the alien aspect. That part of the story I had 1,000,000 questions about, but most details about Roswell's past and home planet are completely bypassed. It is like Roswell being an alien is just a vehicle for Jay to discuss how he feels about himself some more. I wanted to know EVERYTHING about Roswell, and I felt like that author missed some great opportunities there.
I think this book was hindered by its length, which really should have been longer to deal with all of the topics that it raised. While not a bad book, it doesn't rise above "okay" for me.
**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**
I think it's impossible to review this book without some spoilers, so only read ahead if you are okay with that. I'll try to stick to the basics, but the blurb is pretty vague and I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.
*some spoilers to follow*
I went into this book knowing (from other reviews) that Jay is a transman and Roswell is an alien. That was pretty much where I was starting this book, and those factors had me excited. I've actually cultivated a pretty decent collection of trans, genderqueer, and non-binary books (check my shelf), and I'm always up for a romance with a character that falls into those categories. However, this book really didn't live up to my expectations.
Once I found out the type of alien that Roswell is, I felt sort of... underwhelmed. I've read Static by L.A. Witt, and once you've read a book that has that sort of twist in it, it isn't as exciting the second time. Sure, this book has the added change up of Jay being trans, but it also lacked a lot of interest for me.
Also, while I'm on the subject of Jay, this didn't affect me at all but readers might want to know that Jay is totally pre-op. I'm not sure if he is on hormones or not, but all of his anatomy that he was born with is still present. Just putting that out there.
While this book was nicely written, and I think it dealt very well with Jay's issues of his body during his transition, it was very disappointing in the alien aspect. That part of the story I had 1,000,000 questions about, but most details about Roswell's past and home planet are completely bypassed. It is like Roswell being an alien is just a vehicle for Jay to discuss how he feels about himself some more. I wanted to know EVERYTHING about Roswell, and I felt like that author missed some great opportunities there.
I think this book was hindered by its length, which really should have been longer to deal with all of the topics that it raised. While not a bad book, it doesn't rise above "okay" for me.
**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review**
May 29, 2016
Okay, so ummmm… I really like Second Skin, but I’m worried that some readers are going to get to the part in the book where Roswell’s secret is revealed and will not be happy about it. Truth be told, I didn’t spend too much time contemplating what the secrets under Roswell’s skin were, but I can say the truth wasn’t even on my short list of possibilities. Fortunately, I’m one of those readers who have very little issue when a book seemingly switches genres mid-stream as long as the author’s writing is strong and the storyline flows well – which was the case with Second Skin. When Whitehall takes the hard left out of what starts off as a new adult transgender romance into a I’m-not-going-to-ruin-the-surprise-and-tell-you-the-new-genre romance, I went with it because I’m a fan of the genre. As this is my first book by Whitehall, I have no idea if this is the norm for the author or not, but I will say that I enjoyed it and felt that she pulled it off very well.
Because this is a new adult novel, the fact that Jay and Roswell move their relationship forward rather quickly is believable, especially when factoring in how comfortable Roswell seems with Jay’s transgender status. As for Jay, he’s sweet as can be and lovable to boot. Of course, his reaction to Roswell’s secret isn’t as enlightened as Roswell had hoped, but it was a legitimate response and one I couldn’t fault him for at all. As Second Skin is a novella, the end came too quickly as I was enjoying spending time with Roswell and Jay. I certainly hope that Whitehall’s muse starts demanding a sequel because I would love to see more of how they manage to pursue a relationship in light of Roswell’s secret. This was an enjoyable read for me and I do hope other readers give it a chance because the unexpected direction the story took made for a couple of hours of entertaining reading.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
Because this is a new adult novel, the fact that Jay and Roswell move their relationship forward rather quickly is believable, especially when factoring in how comfortable Roswell seems with Jay’s transgender status. As for Jay, he’s sweet as can be and lovable to boot. Of course, his reaction to Roswell’s secret isn’t as enlightened as Roswell had hoped, but it was a legitimate response and one I couldn’t fault him for at all. As Second Skin is a novella, the end came too quickly as I was enjoying spending time with Roswell and Jay. I certainly hope that Whitehall’s muse starts demanding a sequel because I would love to see more of how they manage to pursue a relationship in light of Roswell’s secret. This was an enjoyable read for me and I do hope other readers give it a chance because the unexpected direction the story took made for a couple of hours of entertaining reading.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!
April 18, 2016
Reviewed for Just Love Romance
Second Skin is a quick and fairly light read. The cover is beautiful and I think Alex packs quite a bit of story in under 100 pages. This is only the second book I’ve read featuring transgender characters but I’m pleased to see that more are popping up on my radar. I feel it’s important that Romance embraces the entirety of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, especially with a book such as this where young people can identify with college students Jay and Roswell.
Jay is a student who needs help with his math class and there’s insta-attraction when he meets his new tutor Roswell. They’re both self-proclaimed nerds who have a lot in common and they get along famously right from the start. Ros is open to Jay as a trans man but has a secret of his own and I’ll admit I wondered after the reveal how I didn’t see it coming.
I liked that Alex really makes you think about Jay’s character. Jay’s still coming to terms with his body and dealing with being called a freak. He puts on a confident face when hanging with friends but inside there’s a lot of hurt from a past relationship gone bad that’ll make it difficult for him to trust someone getting close to him. I thought he reacted too harsh when he discovers Roswell’s secret and it wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized what that was really all about.
When something happens to Roswell I was surprised that Jay would go alone to help him considering how mad he was. It says a lot about how the problem he has with Roswell’s secret is more about his own issues and less about Roswell himself. Still, I feel the hurt/comfort trope is a little played out so I would’ve liked to have seen more of a twist in the conflict resolution.
Overall, I think the character development is done well but the dialog is stilted at times and the story fell a little flat in the end. These are not major issues, though, so I would definitely recommend picking up this enjoyable read.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Second Skin is a quick and fairly light read. The cover is beautiful and I think Alex packs quite a bit of story in under 100 pages. This is only the second book I’ve read featuring transgender characters but I’m pleased to see that more are popping up on my radar. I feel it’s important that Romance embraces the entirety of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, especially with a book such as this where young people can identify with college students Jay and Roswell.
Jay is a student who needs help with his math class and there’s insta-attraction when he meets his new tutor Roswell. They’re both self-proclaimed nerds who have a lot in common and they get along famously right from the start. Ros is open to Jay as a trans man but has a secret of his own and I’ll admit I wondered after the reveal how I didn’t see it coming.
I liked that Alex really makes you think about Jay’s character. Jay’s still coming to terms with his body and dealing with being called a freak. He puts on a confident face when hanging with friends but inside there’s a lot of hurt from a past relationship gone bad that’ll make it difficult for him to trust someone getting close to him. I thought he reacted too harsh when he discovers Roswell’s secret and it wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized what that was really all about.
When something happens to Roswell I was surprised that Jay would go alone to help him considering how mad he was. It says a lot about how the problem he has with Roswell’s secret is more about his own issues and less about Roswell himself. Still, I feel the hurt/comfort trope is a little played out so I would’ve liked to have seen more of a twist in the conflict resolution.
Overall, I think the character development is done well but the dialog is stilted at times and the story fell a little flat in the end. These are not major issues, though, so I would definitely recommend picking up this enjoyable read.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 12, 2016
This was a very sweet and romantic story that I kinda devoured within a day—which is quite unusual for me. Jay is a math student who needs tutoring—by a geeky, hot older student, Roswell.
There’s insta-attraction—geez, that’s for sure—and I think I do prefer some more build-up, but I could go with it here, especially since they take their time afterwards. This actually confuses Jay, since he fears it’s because he is trans, but Ros keeps insisting it’s not and the reader realises that Ros is keeping some secrets, or has some baggage in his past that might prevent him from moving too fast and opening up completely.
I think this was well-done. The secrecy, Jay’s reaction when he finds out, the suspense afterwards. I fear that I can’t go into more detail because Ros’s secret is something you really don’t want to know beforehand. The whole story is built around it and that would awfully spoil the whole reading experience.
I really liked how Jay being trans wasn’t a huge issue on the one hand but also how it played into his reaction to Ros’s secret. That was pretty cool.
I think this book would have been better had it been longer. It felt a bit rushed in parts, though not massively.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this. It’s a book for some light and charming reading, and readers looking for trans characters, should definitely check it out.
ETA: Or maybe not. Please read also Wart's review for another very opposing opinion. Beware that their review is full of spoilers, though.
___________________________
Genre: contemporary romance
Tags: m/m, trans, plot secret:
Rating: 3.5 stars
Blog: Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
There’s insta-attraction—geez, that’s for sure—and I think I do prefer some more build-up, but I could go with it here, especially since they take their time afterwards. This actually confuses Jay, since he fears it’s because he is trans, but Ros keeps insisting it’s not and the reader realises that Ros is keeping some secrets, or has some baggage in his past that might prevent him from moving too fast and opening up completely.
I think this was well-done. The secrecy, Jay’s reaction when he finds out, the suspense afterwards. I fear that I can’t go into more detail because Ros’s secret is something you really don’t want to know beforehand. The whole story is built around it and that would awfully spoil the whole reading experience.
I really liked how Jay being trans wasn’t a huge issue on the one hand but also how it played into his reaction to Ros’s secret. That was pretty cool.
I think this book would have been better had it been longer. It felt a bit rushed in parts, though not massively.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this. It’s a book for some light and charming reading, and readers looking for trans characters, should definitely check it out.
ETA: Or maybe not. Please read also Wart's review for another very opposing opinion. Beware that their review is full of spoilers, though.
___________________________
Genre: contemporary romance
Tags: m/m, trans, plot secret:
Rating: 3.5 stars
Blog: Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 17, 2017
2.5*
As Jay is trans, I felt this was perhaps a bit superficial in terms of how life would be for someone in this situation - I have no direct experience but felt like there would be more issues to address in terms of telling people, being in what sounded like female dorms etc.
I wasn't aware of Roswell's history pre reading so that was a surprise but I did feel he was still hiding info by the end.
I thought the writing was good and clean style but the story could have done with more set up, depth and longer time frame for me to fully enjoy
As Jay is trans, I felt this was perhaps a bit superficial in terms of how life would be for someone in this situation - I have no direct experience but felt like there would be more issues to address in terms of telling people, being in what sounded like female dorms etc.
I wasn't aware of Roswell's history pre reading so that was a surprise but I did feel he was still hiding info by the end.
I thought the writing was good and clean style but the story could have done with more set up, depth and longer time frame for me to fully enjoy
May 15, 2016
Book – Second Skin
Author – Alex Whitehall
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 90
Cover – Nice!
POV – 3rd person, singular POV
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – LGBT, Supernatural, Contemporary, College
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
Okay, so this was totally not what I was expecting, but in a good way.
I'm a sucker for a college romance, especially when it involves geeks. This one didn't disappoint. Jay and Roswell were such awesome characters, both with their quirks, flaws and problems. Together, they made a really cute couple, with some off the charts chemistry. But, forget about the 18+ sexy stuff, because this story didn't need it. What it had in abundance was chemistry, romance and sweet, geek love.
The chapter headings and break images made for a really sweet (and geeky) presentation of a story that fits the same labels.
The plot twist was a surprise, but a great one and I won't ruin it by saying what it was. I just love how it explored a side of Jay that we hadn't seen yet and showed how even people who face prejudice can feel it towards others, without realising that it's lying dormant within them. Sure, Jay figure it all out eventually, but the shock was that he was capable of such a thing. The great part was watching him work through it, come to the truth and see the inevitable conclusion for himself.
Jay and Roswell are a match made in heaven. I love them. I wish there had been more and, for that and a few strange turns of phrase, I can't make this the wallop of a 5 star it could have been. Still, it's a 4 star spectacular, fun ride.
Author – Alex Whitehall
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 90
Cover – Nice!
POV – 3rd person, singular POV
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – LGBT, Supernatural, Contemporary, College
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
Okay, so this was totally not what I was expecting, but in a good way.
I'm a sucker for a college romance, especially when it involves geeks. This one didn't disappoint. Jay and Roswell were such awesome characters, both with their quirks, flaws and problems. Together, they made a really cute couple, with some off the charts chemistry. But, forget about the 18+ sexy stuff, because this story didn't need it. What it had in abundance was chemistry, romance and sweet, geek love.
The chapter headings and break images made for a really sweet (and geeky) presentation of a story that fits the same labels.
The plot twist was a surprise, but a great one and I won't ruin it by saying what it was. I just love how it explored a side of Jay that we hadn't seen yet and showed how even people who face prejudice can feel it towards others, without realising that it's lying dormant within them. Sure, Jay figure it all out eventually, but the shock was that he was capable of such a thing. The great part was watching him work through it, come to the truth and see the inevitable conclusion for himself.
Jay and Roswell are a match made in heaven. I love them. I wish there had been more and, for that and a few strange turns of phrase, I can't make this the wallop of a 5 star it could have been. Still, it's a 4 star spectacular, fun ride.
April 27, 2016
Going into this book I only knew half of what to expect. I had never read a transgender story so I was very excited to read this book. I knew that Jay is transgender and is struggling to get through his college years just like any other college student.
When Roswell’s secret is revealed it wasn’t what I had expected at all. I don’t want to say that I was disappointed after that, but I wish I had had some sort of clue as to the direction this story would go. And no, I don’t think the cover of the story was enough of an indication.
I still enjoyed the story. It is very well written, and I have never DNF’d a book. Although there’s no indication of a sequel to this book, I can’t help but wonder if that thought is in the back of the author’s the mind based on the ending of the book. I feel like the lives of Jay/Damien and Roswell are left hanging in the balance at the end. I wish I could give the story 5 stars, but not knowing the direction the story would take me was a bit of a mood killer. Especially when this was my first transgender story. I'm sorry. I received a free copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
When Roswell’s secret is revealed it wasn’t what I had expected at all. I don’t want to say that I was disappointed after that, but I wish I had had some sort of clue as to the direction this story would go. And no, I don’t think the cover of the story was enough of an indication.
I still enjoyed the story. It is very well written, and I have never DNF’d a book. Although there’s no indication of a sequel to this book, I can’t help but wonder if that thought is in the back of the author’s the mind based on the ending of the book. I feel like the lives of Jay/Damien and Roswell are left hanging in the balance at the end. I wish I could give the story 5 stars, but not knowing the direction the story would take me was a bit of a mood killer. Especially when this was my first transgender story. I'm sorry. I received a free copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Second Skin is an unusual story and, honestly, I was astonished by Roswell’s revelation, although I loved the way in which Whitehall ties the two characters together and the author made a believer out of me!
Roswell and Jay make a charming couple and the times they spend together are wonderful for the reader to share, particularly because they are both so geeky. Their interests and conversations mean that we are able to laugh with them, not at them, and this makes Second Skin a really enjoyable story.
Whitehall ensures that we understand Jay and his insecurities, especially those about his body, and although we don’t want to see him and Roswell fight, we feel compassion towards Jay and the situation.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Second Skin is an unusual story and, honestly, I was astonished by Roswell’s revelation, although I loved the way in which Whitehall ties the two characters together and the author made a believer out of me!
Roswell and Jay make a charming couple and the times they spend together are wonderful for the reader to share, particularly because they are both so geeky. Their interests and conversations mean that we are able to laugh with them, not at them, and this makes Second Skin a really enjoyable story.
Whitehall ensures that we understand Jay and his insecurities, especially those about his body, and although we don’t want to see him and Roswell fight, we feel compassion towards Jay and the situation.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
May 10, 2017
If its meant to be a sci-fi then make it sci-fi it was just your normal romance until the last 10% when the author added in a few space words. It had so much potential but didn't live up to the mark for me.
May 31, 2016
1.5 stars
May 20, 2016
intriguing concept, executed in a basic way. The characters were pleasant, but the story wasn't meaty enough.
December 31, 2016
2.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews