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Not Broken, Just Bent
Braving the start of high school, longtime childhood friends Benjamin Wells and Timmy Norton quickly realize they are entering a whole new world colored by their family responsibilities. Ben is trying to please his strict father; Timmy is taking care of his younger sisters. While their easy camaraderie is still comfortable, Ben notices Timmy growing distant and evasive, but Ben has his own problems. It's easier to let concerns about Timmy's home life slide, especially when Timmy changes directions and starts to get a little too close. Ben doesn't know how to handle the new feelings Timmy's desire for love inspires, and his continuing denial wounds Timmy deeply.
But what Timmy perceives as Ben's greatest betrayal is yet to come, and the fallout threatens to break them apart forever. Over the next four years, the push and pull between them and the outside world twists and tears at Ben and Timmy, and they are haunted by fear and regret. However, sometimes what seems broken is just a little bent, and if they can find forgiveness within themselves, Ben and Timmy may be able to move forward together.
But what Timmy perceives as Ben's greatest betrayal is yet to come, and the fallout threatens to break them apart forever. Over the next four years, the push and pull between them and the outside world twists and tears at Ben and Timmy, and they are haunted by fear and regret. However, sometimes what seems broken is just a little bent, and if they can find forgiveness within themselves, Ben and Timmy may be able to move forward together.
180 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2013
6 people are currently reading
569 people want to read
About the author
Mia Kerick
42 books539 followersMia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another at a dance conservatory, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishing houses for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.
Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 8, 2014
This was an adorable story! Ben and Timmy were just such a cute couple when it came down to it. I felt Ben's regret and I understood why he felt the way he did, but I do wonder if it was better that they had some time apart. They were so young, and obviously not ready. I think it might have been problematic if they had been together from the beginning.
There is abuse in this book, but it isn't graphic. I think most people will be able to read it without issue.
If you like young adult books with two adorable characters and some very cute scenes, this will be the book for you. Ben and Timmy are just adorable together and it the book is really well written.
There is abuse in this book, but it isn't graphic. I think most people will be able to read it without issue.
If you like young adult books with two adorable characters and some very cute scenes, this will be the book for you. Ben and Timmy are just adorable together and it the book is really well written.
November 5, 2014
So apparently I'm in a 'have my heart stomped to pieces' mood at the moment and who better than Mia Kerick to provide such reading material?
Not Broken Just Bent was a genuinely heartbreaking book, for many reasons. In that way that Mia Kerick has, she gets right inside the characters heads and hearts and gives us the truth of them - not a cleaned up, perfect version. I wonder if this is why I like YA so much? Often the characters are more real, not a stereo-type. They are fully rounded...*shrugs* I don't know, but anyone who's ever read a review by me knows that characterisation is front and foremost in my reading must haves.
Ben and Tom - best friends since they were nippers. Neither has a perfect life, but Tom is certainly the worst off. Before I go any further can I say - Benny's dad is probably one of my favourite characters ever. His role is minor - but if people had parents like this in real life. Well, more people need parents like this, I aspire to be him. Life's not been a bed of roses for him, but he acts like an adult, he cares about Ben and he makes good, fully rounded decisions and is such a great dad. Really, really great.
Anyway, back to the MC's. Ben and Tom are best friends, and this is a story about their friendship. It's about the difficult decisions teens (heck we ALL) have to make. It's about not always making the right choices but about being able to admit mistakes. It's about not giving up. It's about growing up. It's about true love. It's about life.
Small choices, guilt, being afraid - being brave. They are all at the heart of this story. Ben's dad is the pin that keeps things held together - mostly, kinda, though it's hard to see it sometimes. This book is so good. It's not an easy read - but it's worth reading. It has an HEA, but you're put through the wringer to get to it.
For anyone who has struggled between doing what's right and doing what's comfortable and knowing that human's make wrong choices, bad decisions. For anyone who believes in second chances, this is the book for you.
Not Broken Just Bent was a genuinely heartbreaking book, for many reasons. In that way that Mia Kerick has, she gets right inside the characters heads and hearts and gives us the truth of them - not a cleaned up, perfect version. I wonder if this is why I like YA so much? Often the characters are more real, not a stereo-type. They are fully rounded...*shrugs* I don't know, but anyone who's ever read a review by me knows that characterisation is front and foremost in my reading must haves.
Ben and Tom - best friends since they were nippers. Neither has a perfect life, but Tom is certainly the worst off. Before I go any further can I say - Benny's dad is probably one of my favourite characters ever. His role is minor - but if people had parents like this in real life. Well, more people need parents like this, I aspire to be him. Life's not been a bed of roses for him, but he acts like an adult, he cares about Ben and he makes good, fully rounded decisions and is such a great dad. Really, really great.
Anyway, back to the MC's. Ben and Tom are best friends, and this is a story about their friendship. It's about the difficult decisions teens (heck we ALL) have to make. It's about not always making the right choices but about being able to admit mistakes. It's about not giving up. It's about growing up. It's about true love. It's about life.
Small choices, guilt, being afraid - being brave. They are all at the heart of this story. Ben's dad is the pin that keeps things held together - mostly, kinda, though it's hard to see it sometimes. This book is so good. It's not an easy read - but it's worth reading. It has an HEA, but you're put through the wringer to get to it.
For anyone who has struggled between doing what's right and doing what's comfortable and knowing that human's make wrong choices, bad decisions. For anyone who believes in second chances, this is the book for you.
December 21, 2013
3.75 Stars
A realistic coming-of-age story between two friends, with the perfect amount of drama in it.
I liked the characters and the plot is well written, but maybe the fact that it is easy to guess what was going to happen, the lack of the surprise factor, and because maybe is a little short and the resolution is given soon for my taste, is what I don't give the full 4 stars, but it is a recomended read if you like this kind of stories.
A realistic coming-of-age story between two friends, with the perfect amount of drama in it.
I liked the characters and the plot is well written, but maybe the fact that it is easy to guess what was going to happen, the lack of the surprise factor, and because maybe is a little short and the resolution is given soon for my taste, is what I don't give the full 4 stars, but it is a recomended read if you like this kind of stories.
November 22, 2013
Not Broken, Just Bent is the story of two boys, Ben and Tim, who grow up as best friends and then realize in their high school years that their feelings for each other transcend friendship. What makes this a compelling story is the candor and sincerity of the narrative as told in a first person point of view by Ben, the main character. The author, Mia Kerick, does well to provide dialog and introspection that treats the subject matter with the right amount of respect and humor. Respect comes through by dealing with difficult issues of love, loss and identity by approaching them directly and with a genuine appreciation for the latter teen years. The humor often comes in the form of self-deprecating insights from Ben as he tells his story.
This is a lovingly crafted, caring and honest character study that confirms the power of love to overcome adversity. And really, who can resist a good story with a happy ending?
This is a lovingly crafted, caring and honest character study that confirms the power of love to overcome adversity. And really, who can resist a good story with a happy ending?
December 15, 2013
This was a really lovely story of two boys who grow up together and face some pretty tough problems as they do so, problems that eventually tear them apart for a while at least.
Timmy and Benny were just meant to be together and I loved watching their relationship grow into a deep love. It's a hard road for them getting there, but that only makes their HEA even more satisfying.
Timmy and Benny were just meant to be together and I loved watching their relationship grow into a deep love. It's a hard road for them getting there, but that only makes their HEA even more satisfying.
November 24, 2013
°•○★5 Stars ~ KAPOW!★○•°
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
“He came over one night for dinner when we were eight years or so, after I’d found him playing on the swing set behind the trailer park a ways down the road, and he just kept on coming back.”
When Ben Wells first spots Timmy Norton on that swing set for the first time, they form an immediate bond and it sees the start of a wonderful friendship. Ben lives with his father, his mother having left them before he was even a year old. His father may be a little strict but it’s obvious he loves his son. He accepts Tim’s presence in Ben’s life right from the start, including him as part of their little family despite Tim’s family being regarded as ‘trailer trash’. Ben’s father knows that Timmy’s home life is less than ideal, although he is unaware as to the extent of how bad it is. As the boys’ birthdays are only a couple of weeks apart, it had become tradition for them to celebrate them together with Ben’s father. Tim’s mother, stepfather and three little sisters all live at the local trailer park. Timmy has been physically and mentally abused by his stepfather, Larry, for years. Tim’s mother rarely leaves her room and both parents abuse alcohol and drugs. Ben, being a young teenager and not knowing what to do about the abuse he suspects his friends is subjected to, chooses to take Tim’s word at face value that everything is fine and he can handle it. It’s a tendency Ben has for shying away from things he finds too difficult to deal with, such as the dawning realisation that his feelings for Timmy go deeper than friendship.
The summer before their junior year in high school, Timmy and Benny are working at their job at the local gas station. After work, they head home to Ben’s for the night, as per their usual routine. This time, however, they decide to crash in a nest of blankets on floor in front of the TV in Ben’s bedroom instead of in the bunk beds. When Tim asks Ben if they could move closer together, Ben’s immediate reaction is to freak out from his increasing suspicion about his real feelings for his best friend and he uses the marks on Tim’s back as a distraction from his body’s demands. When he asks Tim about them, Tim tells him that it’s fine, he can handle what his stepfather dishes out to him, because it’s better than his mother or sisters getting it instead. Ben takes his best friend’s hand in his as they fall asleep together. And that’s how they continue every time after that.
In the summer before their senior year, the two best friends decide to go camping together for a weekend. Just the two of them. And it’s there that their friendship takes another step, although Ben is still unwilling to inspect either his feeling for Timmy or his sexuality too closely. Then, in the fall of their senior year, Ben takes Tim to visit his grandma. When Timmy goes to kiss Ben, Benny shies away even though there’s nothing he wants more than to kiss Timmy. He can see the hurt mixed in with the affection in his best friend’s eyes, but he doesn’t yet feel ready to accept that he’s gay and very possibly in love with his best friend. “I hoped I could accept the nameless feeling and own it before it was too late.”
Just Broken, Not Bent is wonderful coming of age YA story told from the POV of the eighteen year Ben. I really liked the ‘voice’ right from the start. It felt very authentic without being overdone to the point of irritating and remained consistently true throughout the whole book. The character development and unfolding of the story is wonderful and layered. I felt everything along with not only Ben, but also Timmy; the love they had for each other right from the start, their changing feelings for each other as they got older, the heartache caused by Ben’s mistakes and the inevitable consequence of decisions made, as well as the hope when they re-unite. I deeply felt every one of those things the characters went through. It was all so realistically and believably portrayed – the good and the bad. Because there are consequences to actions, life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and some people do go through bad times. But they also have joy and fun and there can be happiness at the end of the rainbow.
I really loved this book. I loved the characters, loved their relationship and loved the realistic way they were drawn. I even loved that some of it made me cry. The slow realisation of Ben, both that he was gay and that he was in love with Timmy, was sweet and made my heart ache for Timmy at the same time. The bond and affection those two always had with each other is so very endearing, the time hinted at in the prologue notwithstanding. I so loved these boys and really, really wanted them to have their happy. Not Broken, Just Bent was my first book by Mia Kerick. It certainly won’t be my last!
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
“He came over one night for dinner when we were eight years or so, after I’d found him playing on the swing set behind the trailer park a ways down the road, and he just kept on coming back.”
When Ben Wells first spots Timmy Norton on that swing set for the first time, they form an immediate bond and it sees the start of a wonderful friendship. Ben lives with his father, his mother having left them before he was even a year old. His father may be a little strict but it’s obvious he loves his son. He accepts Tim’s presence in Ben’s life right from the start, including him as part of their little family despite Tim’s family being regarded as ‘trailer trash’. Ben’s father knows that Timmy’s home life is less than ideal, although he is unaware as to the extent of how bad it is. As the boys’ birthdays are only a couple of weeks apart, it had become tradition for them to celebrate them together with Ben’s father. Tim’s mother, stepfather and three little sisters all live at the local trailer park. Timmy has been physically and mentally abused by his stepfather, Larry, for years. Tim’s mother rarely leaves her room and both parents abuse alcohol and drugs. Ben, being a young teenager and not knowing what to do about the abuse he suspects his friends is subjected to, chooses to take Tim’s word at face value that everything is fine and he can handle it. It’s a tendency Ben has for shying away from things he finds too difficult to deal with, such as the dawning realisation that his feelings for Timmy go deeper than friendship.
The summer before their junior year in high school, Timmy and Benny are working at their job at the local gas station. After work, they head home to Ben’s for the night, as per their usual routine. This time, however, they decide to crash in a nest of blankets on floor in front of the TV in Ben’s bedroom instead of in the bunk beds. When Tim asks Ben if they could move closer together, Ben’s immediate reaction is to freak out from his increasing suspicion about his real feelings for his best friend and he uses the marks on Tim’s back as a distraction from his body’s demands. When he asks Tim about them, Tim tells him that it’s fine, he can handle what his stepfather dishes out to him, because it’s better than his mother or sisters getting it instead. Ben takes his best friend’s hand in his as they fall asleep together. And that’s how they continue every time after that.
In the summer before their senior year, the two best friends decide to go camping together for a weekend. Just the two of them. And it’s there that their friendship takes another step, although Ben is still unwilling to inspect either his feeling for Timmy or his sexuality too closely. Then, in the fall of their senior year, Ben takes Tim to visit his grandma. When Timmy goes to kiss Ben, Benny shies away even though there’s nothing he wants more than to kiss Timmy. He can see the hurt mixed in with the affection in his best friend’s eyes, but he doesn’t yet feel ready to accept that he’s gay and very possibly in love with his best friend. “I hoped I could accept the nameless feeling and own it before it was too late.”
Just Broken, Not Bent is wonderful coming of age YA story told from the POV of the eighteen year Ben. I really liked the ‘voice’ right from the start. It felt very authentic without being overdone to the point of irritating and remained consistently true throughout the whole book. The character development and unfolding of the story is wonderful and layered. I felt everything along with not only Ben, but also Timmy; the love they had for each other right from the start, their changing feelings for each other as they got older, the heartache caused by Ben’s mistakes and the inevitable consequence of decisions made, as well as the hope when they re-unite. I deeply felt every one of those things the characters went through. It was all so realistically and believably portrayed – the good and the bad. Because there are consequences to actions, life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and some people do go through bad times. But they also have joy and fun and there can be happiness at the end of the rainbow.
I really loved this book. I loved the characters, loved their relationship and loved the realistic way they were drawn. I even loved that some of it made me cry. The slow realisation of Ben, both that he was gay and that he was in love with Timmy, was sweet and made my heart ache for Timmy at the same time. The bond and affection those two always had with each other is so very endearing, the time hinted at in the prologue notwithstanding. I so loved these boys and really, really wanted them to have their happy. Not Broken, Just Bent was my first book by Mia Kerick. It certainly won’t be my last!
November 22, 2013
This was a wonderful book about Benny and Timmy broken down by the time periods. Like Freshman Year Winter and such. It made me weepy, it made me happy, it made me extremely frustrated...I loved it. That being said, this is truly a YA novel. As in my 13 yr could safely read it. No sex. A little frotting, a little kissing but that's it. Would have a been a 5 star if there were at least a couple of scenes. Bummer!
November 14, 2013
Realistic coming of age story about two boys, best friends. Full review on Booklikes.
May 10, 2014
Mia Kerick has a way with teenage boys. They are all the same, and yet each one is unique. Straight or gay, they see the world with a combination of needy anxiety (which they fight not to express) and stubborn resistance (which they express readily). Writing YA novels about gay teens needs a delicate hand, and Kerick seems to have it.
Benny and Timmy are childhood friends. Best friends. As with all too many of the boys in Kerick’s novels, there are absent parents (not unlike most Disney movies, I might point out). This book is about their journey together—and apart. It made me cry, but not in a bad way.
I can’t go into details about absent parents without spoiling too much of the plot. Suffice it to say that Tim’s stepfather is wicked in the worst fairytale tradition. Ben’s dad, on the other hand, is very present and not at all wicked. At first he seems something of a cipher—a bit of a martinet and a by-the-rules sort of guy. But, as we learn about Ben and Tim, Ben’s father comes increasingly into focus, and ultimately becomes a catalyst in the narrative. I love that Kerick honors the role of parents, and their struggles to raise their boys in spite of their own demons.
But the two core voices in this book are Ben’s and Tim’s. This story is a duet, with Ben’s voice as the main melody, Tim’s weaving around it as the counterpoint. Not sure where the musical metaphor popped into my head, but there it is, and it seems to fit. Their story is a song with two melodic lines, and it can’t be complete without both of them.
Kerick captures a teenage boy’s mind gratifyingly well. I marvel at the ability of a straight married woman to write the voice of gay teenaged boys. I suppose it stems from some ineffable emotional difference between men and women. Gay men can write this; straight women can write this (or, perhaps, all women—I know some brilliant lesbian writers of m/m fiction). On the other hand, I’ve never seen a straight man write about a gay boy convincingly (and I’m thinking in particular of Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue—nice try, but no cigar).
What I never know is how many teenage boys read YA novels aimed at LGBT youth. If I was fifteen and facing the truth about myself, Mia Kerick’s books would both thought-provoking and comforting. If I was the parent of a gay teen, likewise. All we can do is hope that these books find their audience.
January 24, 2014
I'd give Not Broken, Just Bent a 2.5. The writing itself was good which I really appreciated. I felt drawn into Benny's character and I enjoyed getting to know him. As the story went on, however, I just felt like nothing new was happening. Ben and Tim went to school. They went to work. Tim got abused by his stepfather and went to get high. Ben tried to take care of him. The two of them held hands while they slept. Around page eighty or so my interest began to wane because those were the only things happening. I guess I expected more drama, but that's just my personal taste.
In general I thought this was a nice, bittersweet story about teenage love.
In general I thought this was a nice, bittersweet story about teenage love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2013
I completely loved watching these boys grow up together. The strength Timmy displayed while surviving his home life was offset by the vulnerability he only showed to Ben. At the same time, Ben was so used to people leaving him he felt he couldn’t be honest about his sexuality for fear he would lose his father. When Timmy and Ben are reunited, will they be able to move forward or will they both have to live with what could have been?
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
October 12, 2016
Initially, I was slightly hesitant to pick this book up as the title didn’t grab me, but after how much I loved ’The Red Sheet’ I thought I would give it a go (don’t judge a book by its cover and all that ,P).
Of course, I was not disappointed! Mia Kerick’ s style really draws you in and I was hooked on the story. There were certain parts of the book I could not stop reading until I knew how everything was going to be resolved! I love a story that can do that :) Lovely build up and a very sweet romance. (and I love how the title was woven in at the end!)
Thank you.
Suki^^
Of course, I was not disappointed! Mia Kerick’ s style really draws you in and I was hooked on the story. There were certain parts of the book I could not stop reading until I knew how everything was going to be resolved! I love a story that can do that :) Lovely build up and a very sweet romance. (and I love how the title was woven in at the end!)
Thank you.
Suki^^
July 15, 2015
This is a beautiful coming of age tale of two best friends that gradually fell in love. It's hard to find two more perfect souls: Tim who lived in a trailer park, was abused by his stepfather and essentially had to raise his three little sisters and Ben, Tim's loyal friend, who struggled with being gay and ultimately felt that he failed Tim by knowing about the abuse but not doing anything about it. I would highly recommend this book to those who love stories of coming of age stories, y-a romance and friends that become lovers.
April 10, 2014
A very great story. No sex, but a lot of emotions.
December 24, 2014
My review will be posted on GGR-Review dot com.
September 10, 2018
Sweet and sad and achingly beautiful!
June 4, 2018
Enjoyable realistic read of two young boys grappling with who they are as individuals, mates and as a couple.
February 8, 2018
That ws an awesome YA. No unnecessary drama, sweet guys, a great friendship and love and a HEA. Sometimes it's all I need.
March 1, 2019
4.5 stars. I can be hard to please when it comes to mm romance but if you give me two childhood friends, a close emotional relationship that blossoms into romance, and some beautiful and touching hurt/comfort, then I’m pretty much sold tbh. This book gave me all of that and more, and I loved every second of it! Timmy and Ben had a beautiful love story and I was so happy to see Tim, my baby boy with his sweet, caring, loving soul, end up with the kind of life he deserved from the start.
December 1, 2013
I think reading Not Broken, Just Bent is the fastest I have ever finished one of Mia Kerick's books. It has to do with one of the main characters, Ben Wells, who is the only point of view. As he ages throughout the story and his frame of mind goes through several changes, Ms. Kerick makes all those transitions so seamless, so fluid, that I just kept reading and reading. I knew time was passing, Ben was growing, and his ideas were evolving, but the story flows so smoothly I didn't think to stop at all. I opened this book twice: once early one night, had one day of work in between, and opened it again till I finished it late the second night - that's how smoothly I slipped into the tale and reached the end.
Childhood friends Benjamin Wells and Timmy Norton, or 'BenandTim' as other kids eventually called them, begin high school facing challenges that will put a strain on their relationship. Ben's trying hard to please his strict father and get along with the other guys in school, but he's ignoring Tim's very difficult home life, and ignoring his own growing feelings for Tim that go beyond friendship. Tim gets more distant, and keeps escaping his problems through too much partying and drugs. Ben's desperate efforts to save his friend and deny his own feelings bring about a betrayal of trust that will irrevocably change their lives.
Mia Kerick has written very sweet, touching stories of troubled teens rising above their difficult lives, and I have enjoyed those stories, but this is the first time I've come across a tale where she shows me how that difficult life unfolds. I loved the tender treatment of Tim's problematic domicile, softened by taking the point of view of the best friend trying to ignore said trouble. Tim's and Ben's friendship was well portrayed, not just by how they were with each other, but how other characters interacted with that friendship. From the responsibility both boys feel for Tim's three younger sisters, to the unspoken affection Ben's father shows for Tim, treating his son's best friend as his own kid every time Tim came over, these supporting characters showed the boys had a friendship that was solid and had built up over time. I also loved the subtle way Ben's thinking evolved: how angst in his younger years changed over time, how his maturity blossomed, and all done in an easygoing, friendly voice that flowed so smoothly from one chapter to another. Ben is not a 'together' guy, and I committed to him immediately, but it is the tone of amiable openness and smooth transitions as the boys grew up that makes the pages fly by.
Not Broken, Just Bent is a must read. The characters are likeable and their dilemmas are very moving. It is Ms. Kerick's skill in tone and subtle character development that absorbed my attention, and I hope others discover this sweet YA story. Recommended.
Childhood friends Benjamin Wells and Timmy Norton, or 'BenandTim' as other kids eventually called them, begin high school facing challenges that will put a strain on their relationship. Ben's trying hard to please his strict father and get along with the other guys in school, but he's ignoring Tim's very difficult home life, and ignoring his own growing feelings for Tim that go beyond friendship. Tim gets more distant, and keeps escaping his problems through too much partying and drugs. Ben's desperate efforts to save his friend and deny his own feelings bring about a betrayal of trust that will irrevocably change their lives.
Mia Kerick has written very sweet, touching stories of troubled teens rising above their difficult lives, and I have enjoyed those stories, but this is the first time I've come across a tale where she shows me how that difficult life unfolds. I loved the tender treatment of Tim's problematic domicile, softened by taking the point of view of the best friend trying to ignore said trouble. Tim's and Ben's friendship was well portrayed, not just by how they were with each other, but how other characters interacted with that friendship. From the responsibility both boys feel for Tim's three younger sisters, to the unspoken affection Ben's father shows for Tim, treating his son's best friend as his own kid every time Tim came over, these supporting characters showed the boys had a friendship that was solid and had built up over time. I also loved the subtle way Ben's thinking evolved: how angst in his younger years changed over time, how his maturity blossomed, and all done in an easygoing, friendly voice that flowed so smoothly from one chapter to another. Ben is not a 'together' guy, and I committed to him immediately, but it is the tone of amiable openness and smooth transitions as the boys grew up that makes the pages fly by.
Not Broken, Just Bent is a must read. The characters are likeable and their dilemmas are very moving. It is Ms. Kerick's skill in tone and subtle character development that absorbed my attention, and I hope others discover this sweet YA story. Recommended.
July 17, 2014
Reviewed by Tanja
4.5*
I struggled a little getting into this story. The author is new to me as well as the writing style needed some getting used to it. As soon as I overcome those problems I really enjoyed the journey of Ben and Tim.
This story is told from Ben´s point of view and spans a time period of around four years although a huge part focuses on what happened at senior year in high school and the aftermath of it.
Ben met Tim at the age of eight and they are friends since then. Both have difficult family situations. Ben is living with his overprotective and strict father, who has great expectations of his son. His mother vanished when he was a baby and to not to disappoint his father he never even once steps out of the rules his father has set for him. Tim on the other hand has a mother with mental illness, an abusive stepfather and on top he looks after his three younger sisters. I just didn´t know for whom I had more compassion. I loved the friendship those two had. Even when other people didn´t want to have anything to do with Tim, who was also called white trash, Ben was at his side. Both characters felt so real, three dimensional with so many facet of their personality, it was a great pleasure to read this book.
Thrown into the first experience of high school and family problems were the growing feelings Tim had for Ben and vice versa. Ben in his glory just couldn´t deal with them as well as he couldn´t deal with the problems Tim had at home. So he did what a teenager often does, he ignored it. That´s where the problems started and yes I often thought “good god Ben, get your head out of your ass” but what should I say, he is a teenager and that´s it. Of course ignoring things won´t get them out of the way and so when the dam broke, it was big and tore them apart. Literally, because Tim vanished.
Since Tim is out of the picture, you only get what Ben went through and I felt the pain he was in so clearly. I wanted to hold his hand, give him a hug and tell him that it will get better…someday. It´s so well written, every step of the way after the fallout….just great. Ben was going through a huge character development here. At his side was his father, who turned out to be a big supportive person for Ben in this time.
Tim and Ben met again, per chance at college. I really liked that they didn´t immediately become friends again, it felt more real to me. Now you also get Tim´s side of the story when he explained things to Ben. I was so happy for Tim about what he achieved but nonetheless they had to work hard for their HEA.
The fact that this is a ya should not hold you back from reading this great story. Recommended!!
4.5*
I struggled a little getting into this story. The author is new to me as well as the writing style needed some getting used to it. As soon as I overcome those problems I really enjoyed the journey of Ben and Tim.
This story is told from Ben´s point of view and spans a time period of around four years although a huge part focuses on what happened at senior year in high school and the aftermath of it.
Ben met Tim at the age of eight and they are friends since then. Both have difficult family situations. Ben is living with his overprotective and strict father, who has great expectations of his son. His mother vanished when he was a baby and to not to disappoint his father he never even once steps out of the rules his father has set for him. Tim on the other hand has a mother with mental illness, an abusive stepfather and on top he looks after his three younger sisters. I just didn´t know for whom I had more compassion. I loved the friendship those two had. Even when other people didn´t want to have anything to do with Tim, who was also called white trash, Ben was at his side. Both characters felt so real, three dimensional with so many facet of their personality, it was a great pleasure to read this book.
Thrown into the first experience of high school and family problems were the growing feelings Tim had for Ben and vice versa. Ben in his glory just couldn´t deal with them as well as he couldn´t deal with the problems Tim had at home. So he did what a teenager often does, he ignored it. That´s where the problems started and yes I often thought “good god Ben, get your head out of your ass” but what should I say, he is a teenager and that´s it. Of course ignoring things won´t get them out of the way and so when the dam broke, it was big and tore them apart. Literally, because Tim vanished.
Since Tim is out of the picture, you only get what Ben went through and I felt the pain he was in so clearly. I wanted to hold his hand, give him a hug and tell him that it will get better…someday. It´s so well written, every step of the way after the fallout….just great. Ben was going through a huge character development here. At his side was his father, who turned out to be a big supportive person for Ben in this time.
Tim and Ben met again, per chance at college. I really liked that they didn´t immediately become friends again, it felt more real to me. Now you also get Tim´s side of the story when he explained things to Ben. I was so happy for Tim about what he achieved but nonetheless they had to work hard for their HEA.
The fact that this is a ya should not hold you back from reading this great story. Recommended!!
November 25, 2013
When Ben Wells first spots Timmy Norton on that swing set for the first time, they form an immediate bond and it sees the start of a wonderful friendship. Ben lives with his father, his mother having left them before he was even a year old. His father may be a little strict but it’s obvious he loves his son. He accepts Tim’s presence in Ben’s life right from the start, including him as part of their little family despite Tim’s family being regarded as ‘trailer trash’. Ben’s father knows that Timmy’s home life is less than ideal, although he is unaware as to the extent of how bad it is. As the boys’ birthdays are only a couple of weeks apart, it had become tradition for them to celebrate them together with Ben’s father. Tim’s mother, stepfather and three little sisters all live at the local trailer park. Timmy has been physically and mentally abused by his stepfather, Larry, for years. Tim’s mother rarely leaves her room and both parents abuse alcohol and drugs. Ben, being a young teenager and not knowing what to do about the abuse he suspects his friends is subjected to, chooses to take Tim’s word at face value that everything is fine and he can handle it. It’s a tendency Ben has for shying away from things he finds too difficult to deal with, such as the dawning realisation that his feelings for Timmy go deeper than friendship.
Just Broken, Not Bent is wonderful coming of age YA story told from the POV of the eighteen year Ben. I really liked the ‘voice’ right from the start. It felt very authentic without being overdone to the point of irritating and remained consistently true throughout the whole book. The character development and unfolding of the story is wonderful and layered. I felt everything along with not only Ben, but also Timmy; the love they had for each other right from the start, their changing feelings for each other as they got older, the heartache caused by Ben’s mistakes and the inevitable consequence of decisions made, as well as the hope when they re-unite. I deeply felt every one of those things the characters went through. It was all so realistically and believably portrayed – the good and the bad. Because there are consequences to actions, life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and some people do go through bad times. But they also have joy and fun and there can be happiness at the end of the rainbow.
Read the full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book
Just Broken, Not Bent is wonderful coming of age YA story told from the POV of the eighteen year Ben. I really liked the ‘voice’ right from the start. It felt very authentic without being overdone to the point of irritating and remained consistently true throughout the whole book. The character development and unfolding of the story is wonderful and layered. I felt everything along with not only Ben, but also Timmy; the love they had for each other right from the start, their changing feelings for each other as they got older, the heartache caused by Ben’s mistakes and the inevitable consequence of decisions made, as well as the hope when they re-unite. I deeply felt every one of those things the characters went through. It was all so realistically and believably portrayed – the good and the bad. Because there are consequences to actions, life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and some people do go through bad times. But they also have joy and fun and there can be happiness at the end of the rainbow.
Read the full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book
March 17, 2014
3.5* rounded up
Some YA books are enthralling and exciting for adults just as any other adult title. This book though is a YA story for a pure YA audience.
So, I find it interesting and not easy at all to write a review while separating that concept from the overall enjoyment of the book.
These character’s voices are unique, simple and genuine.
There are no high expectations, there are grammar complications, even the language and style of the dialogue is simple, easy to follow.
Everyday life, everyday choices these boys have to make, and above all real life experiences with the normal reactions and consequences of those choices.
Both Tim and Ben are faced with the transition from childhood into adulthood in different ways. They come from different backgrounds and are dealing with their own situations at home.
Their friendship, is the one constant in their lives. For Tim it’s a safe haven, for Ben it represents a challenge.
But while they are both comfortable with each other, and with exploring their new found desires together, both of them are still not being one hundred percent honest with each other.
Ben struggles with his sexuality. Tim with his family reality. And like the boys they are, they don’t know how to deal with it all. They make mistakes, and learn from them.
I liked the simplicity of the story telling, it felt real. I liked the sense of “conversation” Ben has with the readers throughout the book, but I found myself wanting more of that.
I loved how the author managed to keep the sex off page, but was able to share and transmit the intimacy of their relationship to the readers.
While strict, Ben’s father was an amazing character, and contrary to many YA titles a great role model. It is hard to find a father figure that is present, that imposes respect, that teaches values and is demonstrative of his love for his child.
I want to see more parents like this one! I don’t want to always hate the parent, or find them unfitting for the task of raising a child.
Even with Tim’s issues this book proves that you can have fully functional characters, real characters, and still make a great story.
I think this is the message, the value of friendship. The value of love, parental and romantic. That no matter what, if given the opportunity even a broken boy can heal and overcome adversity.
Overall, for me, this was a great book for the YA audience.
Reviewed for Gay List Book Reviews
Some YA books are enthralling and exciting for adults just as any other adult title. This book though is a YA story for a pure YA audience.
So, I find it interesting and not easy at all to write a review while separating that concept from the overall enjoyment of the book.
These character’s voices are unique, simple and genuine.
There are no high expectations, there are grammar complications, even the language and style of the dialogue is simple, easy to follow.
Everyday life, everyday choices these boys have to make, and above all real life experiences with the normal reactions and consequences of those choices.
Both Tim and Ben are faced with the transition from childhood into adulthood in different ways. They come from different backgrounds and are dealing with their own situations at home.
Their friendship, is the one constant in their lives. For Tim it’s a safe haven, for Ben it represents a challenge.
But while they are both comfortable with each other, and with exploring their new found desires together, both of them are still not being one hundred percent honest with each other.
Ben struggles with his sexuality. Tim with his family reality. And like the boys they are, they don’t know how to deal with it all. They make mistakes, and learn from them.
I liked the simplicity of the story telling, it felt real. I liked the sense of “conversation” Ben has with the readers throughout the book, but I found myself wanting more of that.
I loved how the author managed to keep the sex off page, but was able to share and transmit the intimacy of their relationship to the readers.
While strict, Ben’s father was an amazing character, and contrary to many YA titles a great role model. It is hard to find a father figure that is present, that imposes respect, that teaches values and is demonstrative of his love for his child.
I want to see more parents like this one! I don’t want to always hate the parent, or find them unfitting for the task of raising a child.
Even with Tim’s issues this book proves that you can have fully functional characters, real characters, and still make a great story.
I think this is the message, the value of friendship. The value of love, parental and romantic. That no matter what, if given the opportunity even a broken boy can heal and overcome adversity.
Overall, for me, this was a great book for the YA audience.
Reviewed for Gay List Book Reviews
November 5, 2014
4.25 stars
Having read Mia Kerick's The Red Sheet not that long ago and really enjoying it, I was looking for other books by her...this one stood out so I thought I would give it a go and it didn't disappoint.
I loved this one almost as much as The Red Sheet - I may have even liked the characters more. The characters were amazing young men that I just adored throughout. I am not joking when I say that my heart HURT for them, so much! while I was reading this, especially around the middle of the book where Ben realises his regrets and what he might have lost - god I think I almost cried along with him and I. Dont. Cry! Ben's dad is also awesome and despite initial impressions, I really loved his character by the end too.
This has a lot more angst and heartache/break than in The Red Sheet and the incredibly funny humour isn't there either, which is why I think maybe I didn't enjoy it quite as much overall. It isn't a bad thing, it's just a different kind of story...heavier in tone maybe. The thing that adds some lightness to this and redeems it from being an angst-fest is the almost innocent and deep friendship and love between the two guys throughout - it was just incredibly sweet. They really were adorable together but not in a sickly sweet way.
I was a little disappointed that everything was resolved as quickly as it was once they meet up again - but then again, I didn't really want it to drag out any longer or happen differently, as I was rooting for them so much!
There really isn't anything much of a sexual nature in this - so actually I was surprised at the very end with the topic on the last couple of pages as I didn't think it really needed to go there to complete the story - but I was kind of disappointed that as it decided to take that turn, that we didn't see SLIGHTLY more. I mean don't tease with that kind of ending and then not show us ANYTHING! :) But yeah to be honest, for once I really didn't care much at all - the story didn't need to have it in there because it was so good.
Mia Kerick is definitely going on my fave authors list for YA.
Having read Mia Kerick's The Red Sheet not that long ago and really enjoying it, I was looking for other books by her...this one stood out so I thought I would give it a go and it didn't disappoint.
I loved this one almost as much as The Red Sheet - I may have even liked the characters more. The characters were amazing young men that I just adored throughout. I am not joking when I say that my heart HURT for them, so much! while I was reading this, especially around the middle of the book where Ben realises his regrets and what he might have lost - god I think I almost cried along with him and I. Dont. Cry! Ben's dad is also awesome and despite initial impressions, I really loved his character by the end too.
This has a lot more angst and heartache/break than in The Red Sheet and the incredibly funny humour isn't there either, which is why I think maybe I didn't enjoy it quite as much overall. It isn't a bad thing, it's just a different kind of story...heavier in tone maybe. The thing that adds some lightness to this and redeems it from being an angst-fest is the almost innocent and deep friendship and love between the two guys throughout - it was just incredibly sweet. They really were adorable together but not in a sickly sweet way.
I was a little disappointed that everything was resolved as quickly as it was once they meet up again - but then again, I didn't really want it to drag out any longer or happen differently, as I was rooting for them so much!
There really isn't anything much of a sexual nature in this - so actually I was surprised at the very end with the topic on the last couple of pages as I didn't think it really needed to go there to complete the story - but I was kind of disappointed that as it decided to take that turn, that we didn't see SLIGHTLY more. I mean don't tease with that kind of ending and then not show us ANYTHING! :) But yeah to be honest, for once I really didn't care much at all - the story didn't need to have it in there because it was so good.
Mia Kerick is definitely going on my fave authors list for YA.
December 7, 2013
4.5/5 stars
The story is told from Ben’s POV as he relives their story, his and Timmy’s. Ben and Tim, as their friends call them, are pretty much inseparable until normal adolescent problems and hidden feelings start to get in the way. Ben is trying so hard to please his unpleasable father while Tim is dealing with issues of his own. He starts to pull away from Ben, partying and doing drugs. When Tim realizes he has feelings for Ben that go beyond friendship and tries to explore them, Ben shuts him down, not wanting to admit to himself that his feelings for Tim go beyond friendship as well. In an attempt to protect his friend, Ben makes a decision that has severe consequences.
I loved that this story was told from the one characters POV, almost like a journal he’d written about their life together. As you live Ben and Tim’s life through Ben’s eyes, you get to see them grow and change so much. Through the good and the bad, they truly are meant to be together. The title of this book is absolutely perfect; they aren’t broken, just bent. After Ben broke Tim’s trust they fell apart for a while. Both of them went through a lot of personal growth throughout and came out the other side stronger. Ben’s voice is passionate and smooth, and you can almost feel his pain when he has to let Tim go. Even finding their way back to each other, Tim admitting how hurt he was and yet, how much he still loved Ben.
Let me start by saying Cover Love! That is what drew me to this book initially. Then the blurb sealed the deal. What I got was a really good gay YA story. Kept my attention from start to finish with mild angst and subtle character development. Definitely recommend this one.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
The story is told from Ben’s POV as he relives their story, his and Timmy’s. Ben and Tim, as their friends call them, are pretty much inseparable until normal adolescent problems and hidden feelings start to get in the way. Ben is trying so hard to please his unpleasable father while Tim is dealing with issues of his own. He starts to pull away from Ben, partying and doing drugs. When Tim realizes he has feelings for Ben that go beyond friendship and tries to explore them, Ben shuts him down, not wanting to admit to himself that his feelings for Tim go beyond friendship as well. In an attempt to protect his friend, Ben makes a decision that has severe consequences.
I loved that this story was told from the one characters POV, almost like a journal he’d written about their life together. As you live Ben and Tim’s life through Ben’s eyes, you get to see them grow and change so much. Through the good and the bad, they truly are meant to be together. The title of this book is absolutely perfect; they aren’t broken, just bent. After Ben broke Tim’s trust they fell apart for a while. Both of them went through a lot of personal growth throughout and came out the other side stronger. Ben’s voice is passionate and smooth, and you can almost feel his pain when he has to let Tim go. Even finding their way back to each other, Tim admitting how hurt he was and yet, how much he still loved Ben.
Let me start by saying Cover Love! That is what drew me to this book initially. Then the blurb sealed the deal. What I got was a really good gay YA story. Kept my attention from start to finish with mild angst and subtle character development. Definitely recommend this one.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com
January 4, 2016
Full review can be found herE:
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?p=3309
So I am not a huge reader of Young Adult fiction. It isn't that I don't think highly of those authors willing to take on a very difficult genre (especially dealing with issues pertinent to GLBTQ youth), it just generally escapes my radar until someone says "You need to read this". Well one such title kept catching my attention... I think it was actually the cover that caught me first. Just look at it (you know up at the top of this post), can you get more haunting than that? As I told the author, it is the eyes... they just grab you and pull you in. After reading this book, I must say the the cover is absolutely perfect for the story (and I don't often say that). But unlike many times I come across an awesome cover, what it hides lives up to the bar set by Ronaldo Gutierrez's cover. Secondly, I had a few friends that were absolutely raving about this book, so I was intrigued.
Not Broken, Just Bent is about two boys from very different families who grew up as best friends. We first meet them when they are 14 and just starting high school, after they have known each other since they were 8. We watch as their relationship deepens and grows. We watch as Timmy struggles with a less than ideal (to put it mildly) home life. Our hearts break with them as they struggle to realize what they have. We cry with them as it all falls apart.
Kerick tells us a beautiful coming of age story, forcing you to empathize with Ben as he makes some rather questionable choices. She makes you fall in love with Ben and Timmy from the first pages. She breaks your heart repeatedly, just as she breaks the hearts of her boys. She makes these boys work hard to earn their happily ever after. She ends it on an absolutely perfect note.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?p=3309
So I am not a huge reader of Young Adult fiction. It isn't that I don't think highly of those authors willing to take on a very difficult genre (especially dealing with issues pertinent to GLBTQ youth), it just generally escapes my radar until someone says "You need to read this". Well one such title kept catching my attention... I think it was actually the cover that caught me first. Just look at it (you know up at the top of this post), can you get more haunting than that? As I told the author, it is the eyes... they just grab you and pull you in. After reading this book, I must say the the cover is absolutely perfect for the story (and I don't often say that). But unlike many times I come across an awesome cover, what it hides lives up to the bar set by Ronaldo Gutierrez's cover. Secondly, I had a few friends that were absolutely raving about this book, so I was intrigued.
Not Broken, Just Bent is about two boys from very different families who grew up as best friends. We first meet them when they are 14 and just starting high school, after they have known each other since they were 8. We watch as their relationship deepens and grows. We watch as Timmy struggles with a less than ideal (to put it mildly) home life. Our hearts break with them as they struggle to realize what they have. We cry with them as it all falls apart.
Kerick tells us a beautiful coming of age story, forcing you to empathize with Ben as he makes some rather questionable choices. She makes you fall in love with Ben and Timmy from the first pages. She breaks your heart repeatedly, just as she breaks the hearts of her boys. She makes these boys work hard to earn their happily ever after. She ends it on an absolutely perfect note.
December 1, 2013
This book is a bit different. It's not all about sex. Um, what?! A male/male romance novel that isn't slick with lube? I was sort of wondering when the sex would emerge, but then I found that I was engrossed in the story of Ben Wells and Tim Norton. The boys have been friends since middle school, and the development of their stories is amazing. They are best friends, but both have their own secrets. Even though they more or less know each others deepest thoughts, and that guides almost all of their interactions, they just can't seem to let the other one know what is really going on in their adolescent minds. The character development surpasses many books in this genre, where once you know the protagonists' names, the bump and grind starts. In Not Broken, Just Bent, Mia Kerick concentrates on the relationship between the boys, their parental units (such as they are), and their social circles. Yep, there's plenty of machismo, and a double helping of adolescent angst, but if you're a gay guy who knew it before middle school, you will definitely identify with Ben and Tim. If you're a parent of teen boys who are throwing out all the machinations of adolescent pain, you'll identify with this book. Hints towards a spicy climax are thrown out, awwww...no spoilers here. This is a story about what happens when conscience takes precedence over love. When two boys are best friends, many things will go down. But what happens when one does the right thing? Take that as you will, but this book is compelling. I found it authentic in many, many ways, with a relationship I could identify with. I read it in three short evenings; I couldn't put it down.
November 17, 2013
Not Broken Just Bent tells the story of how two young rural boys fall in love over time, and at first it doesn't have the feeling of a gay romance. They are just two boys, doing what boys do, like fishing, going to baseball games, eating lots of pizza. Soon it becomes clear that Timmy is dealing with some tougher things in his life, that he and Ben both try to sweep under the rug. As that is happening, their relationship starts to evolve from friendship into something more. Ben attempts to deny Timmy's efforts at emotional closeness because he is not ready to address, and publicly deal with, being gay, but he eventually realizes that his biggest mistake was that he failed to act on the fact that that Tim was being beaten by his stepfather. When Ben finally comes to the conclusion that he has to tell his father about the violence at Tim's house, all hell breaks loose. Timmy and his sisters are removed from their home and Timmy is furious- blaming it all on Ben. . For 9 months Ben is forced to face the consequences of his choices alone and lives to regret all his past mistakes. He also learns a lot from the actions he failed to take.
I found this story to be truly romantic and as emotional, but also very painful. It is very realistic- things in this story don't happen as you hope or wish that they would, but that is actually what actually makes the story ring true. The ending was very romantic and hopeful for the future. I would definitely recommend and I am going to share this book with my friends because I know that they will relate to it and love it too
I found this story to be truly romantic and as emotional, but also very painful. It is very realistic- things in this story don't happen as you hope or wish that they would, but that is actually what actually makes the story ring true. The ending was very romantic and hopeful for the future. I would definitely recommend and I am going to share this book with my friends because I know that they will relate to it and love it too
November 14, 2013
I really got into this book very much. I love Mia Kerick's books- they are always filled with emotions and one of the characters is usually very sweet and nice so you just want to hug him. Tim and Ben were very regular boys growing up together in a small NH town. They act just like ordinary boys and do all the things boys I know do. In high school, they start to have stronger feelings for each other, and in private, they act on it to some extent, but they never talk about it. Another thing they NEVER talk about is the fact that Timmy is being abused by his stepfather, usually whipped with a belt on his back when his stepdad is drunk. They just act like it isn't happening. So when two people pretend that so much that is happening between them isn't happening, bad things start to happen.
Although Timmy was very sweet, and he was probably my favorite character, I really identified most with Ben. Ben made some major mistakes, but he paid a big price. He learned a lot throughout the book and it took him a really long time to learn. Like almost half the book. So I was waiting for when Tim would come back into the story for what felt like a long time.
The sex wasn't very hot, but it was real for kids this age. I loved the very ending. It just felt so right. I wish I could know what happens next in their lives.
This was a great kind of straight forward YA novel. Very real.
Although Timmy was very sweet, and he was probably my favorite character, I really identified most with Ben. Ben made some major mistakes, but he paid a big price. He learned a lot throughout the book and it took him a really long time to learn. Like almost half the book. So I was waiting for when Tim would come back into the story for what felt like a long time.
The sex wasn't very hot, but it was real for kids this age. I loved the very ending. It just felt so right. I wish I could know what happens next in their lives.
This was a great kind of straight forward YA novel. Very real.
November 18, 2013
First, let me say that it takes an exceptional book for me to pick it up and read it through to the end in one sitting. That said, when I started Not Broken, Just Bent by Mia Kerick, I was captured right from the beginning. I’m not a huge fan of first person point of view, especially when that point of view is only one character throughout the whole story, but Mia has such a way of writing it, that you feel as if Ben is right there, sitting next to you and telling you his life story. I was also impressed that Ms. Kerick was able to nail the dialect for the age of her characters.
It was extraordinary in that you felt the emotions between Ben and Timmy, felt their pain and joy and confusion as if it were your own. You celebrated with them, got angry with them and for them. You wanted to hit something over what Timmy went through in his young life and through it all, you rooted for these two young men to find their way and each other and have their happily forever after.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! As my first Young Adult gay-themed story, I feel it has left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling and the need to read more, both YA gay themed stories and this author in particular. Did I shed a few tears? I did. But, in the end, it was well worth every gasp of lost breath, skipped heart beat and groan of emotion.
It was extraordinary in that you felt the emotions between Ben and Timmy, felt their pain and joy and confusion as if it were your own. You celebrated with them, got angry with them and for them. You wanted to hit something over what Timmy went through in his young life and through it all, you rooted for these two young men to find their way and each other and have their happily forever after.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! As my first Young Adult gay-themed story, I feel it has left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling and the need to read more, both YA gay themed stories and this author in particular. Did I shed a few tears? I did. But, in the end, it was well worth every gasp of lost breath, skipped heart beat and groan of emotion.
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