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Thanks a Lot, John LeClair
A Companion to Here's to You, Zeb Pike On the surface, life looks pretty good for sixteen-year-old Emmitt he’s popular, doing well in school, and he’s poised to lead his small-town Vermont hockey team all the way to the state championship—and that’ll lead to attention from scouts. Emmitt might manage to follow in the footsteps of his hockey hero, John LeClair, who he’s been secretly writing to for years. But beneath the perfect façade, Emmitt is struggling. All he wants is to hold on to the two things he hockey and his boyfriend, Dusty. But Emmitt’s absentee father has recently returned to breathe down his neck, and not everyone is eager to see him succeed. Few people in town know Emmitt is gay, and it’s getting harder to stay in the closet. On top of everything, Dusty seems to be hiding his own secrets.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Johanna Parkhurst
4 books39 followersJohanna Parkhurst grew up on a small dairy farm in northern Vermont before relocating to the rocky mountains of Colorado. Johanna taught middle and elementary school for fourteen years, and only once during that entire time did she ever have to rescue a sweatshirt from a ceiling fan. She strives to share stories of kids and young adults who are as determined, passionate, and complex as the ones she has shared classrooms with.
Johanna holds degrees from Albertus Magnus College and Teachers College, Columbia University. She loves traveling, the Food Network, skiing, hiking, and yelling at the TV during football and hockey season.
Johanna holds degrees from Albertus Magnus College and Teachers College, Columbia University. She loves traveling, the Food Network, skiing, hiking, and yelling at the TV during football and hockey season.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 7, 2017
4 stars
These guys are such good guys, and so sweet together. I didn't love this quite as much as Here's to You Zeb Pike probably because Dusty captured my heart so completely in Zeb Pike and this story is from Emmitt's perspective. This is also part coming of age and part romance, but it's focused on Emmitt trying to come to figure out how he can be a star hockey player and be "out". Like the first book, there's lots of focus on family here too. I'd really recommend these two stories if you're looking for "younger" YA m/m romance.
These guys are such good guys, and so sweet together. I didn't love this quite as much as Here's to You Zeb Pike probably because Dusty captured my heart so completely in Zeb Pike and this story is from Emmitt's perspective. This is also part coming of age and part romance, but it's focused on Emmitt trying to come to figure out how he can be a star hockey player and be "out". Like the first book, there's lots of focus on family here too. I'd really recommend these two stories if you're looking for "younger" YA m/m romance.
May 10, 2017
It's not just a companion book, it's a necessary follow up after Here's to You, Zeb Pike. Here's to You was about Dusty's family drama and his new found self, while Thanks a Lot exploring more about Emmit's life to the extent of his relationship with Dusty. So it's part coming of age, part romance.
I love how the author showing Emmit's background through his letter for John LeClair. We saw his development from 7yo to his 16yo, when was he first time realized that he's like boys, or a glimpse of what happened in Here's to You from his view. My fave part was his letter when he's 7yo, it's just too cute!
And it's me everytime I finished Johanna Parkhurst's book...
I love how the author showing Emmit's background through his letter for John LeClair. We saw his development from 7yo to his 16yo, when was he first time realized that he's like boys, or a glimpse of what happened in Here's to You from his view. My fave part was his letter when he's 7yo, it's just too cute!
And it's me everytime I finished Johanna Parkhurst's book...
June 14, 2017
** I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This impacts my review in no way at all. **
Actual rating: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5
What I Loved
The best part about this book was the overall feeling. The feelings of being a teenager and not knowing what do to with your life but also the feelings of knowing exactly what you want to do but not knowing if you'll get there. This book talks about hope and dreams with the added mixture of family drama that nobody can escape from. If was a very realistically written book and it almost made me feeling like I was 16 again.
Even though there was such a mixture of emotions, this was actually a happy book. It made me feel good about myself and I felt happy for these characters in the end. They went through a dramatic growth period and ended up better after it. That's something we tend to see a lack of in YA books right now.
It's hard to describe the plot because there wasn't really anything exciting about it. It just was. Things happened that made you worry for our main character. Was he going to get in trouble, is he going to be ok, but nothing like the action of a fantasy or thriller. Yet somehow the author kept me hooked. I think it was the characters that glued me to the pages of this story, keeping my eyes stuck until the very last page.
What I Didn't Love
I feel like it was so close to a five stars for me. There was just a little something missing (probably the fact that my preferred genre is fantasy and I'm used to action) and that kept me from the full five stars. That's ok though! The only difference (for me) between four and five stars is personal preference. That said, there wasn't anything I didn't love about this book.
Who I'd Recommend To
I’d recommend this to those who are on the hunt for diverse reads (an LGBT relationship is seen during this whole story). I think the author did a great job at keeping this relationship an important part of the story while also not making a big deal about it. (I'm hoping that made as much sense as it did in my brain.) I also think a lot of contemporary lovers will really enjoy this one, especially those who are currently in their teenage years.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5
What I Loved
The best part about this book was the overall feeling. The feelings of being a teenager and not knowing what do to with your life but also the feelings of knowing exactly what you want to do but not knowing if you'll get there. This book talks about hope and dreams with the added mixture of family drama that nobody can escape from. If was a very realistically written book and it almost made me feeling like I was 16 again.
Even though there was such a mixture of emotions, this was actually a happy book. It made me feel good about myself and I felt happy for these characters in the end. They went through a dramatic growth period and ended up better after it. That's something we tend to see a lack of in YA books right now.
It's hard to describe the plot because there wasn't really anything exciting about it. It just was. Things happened that made you worry for our main character. Was he going to get in trouble, is he going to be ok, but nothing like the action of a fantasy or thriller. Yet somehow the author kept me hooked. I think it was the characters that glued me to the pages of this story, keeping my eyes stuck until the very last page.
What I Didn't Love
I feel like it was so close to a five stars for me. There was just a little something missing (probably the fact that my preferred genre is fantasy and I'm used to action) and that kept me from the full five stars. That's ok though! The only difference (for me) between four and five stars is personal preference. That said, there wasn't anything I didn't love about this book.
Who I'd Recommend To
I’d recommend this to those who are on the hunt for diverse reads (an LGBT relationship is seen during this whole story). I think the author did a great job at keeping this relationship an important part of the story while also not making a big deal about it. (I'm hoping that made as much sense as it did in my brain.) I also think a lot of contemporary lovers will really enjoy this one, especially those who are currently in their teenage years.
December 21, 2016
I am so glad I found this series! I love YA books and when I read the first book in this series, Here's to You, Zeb Pike, I fell in love with Johanna Parkhurst's storytelling.
As much as I loved reading Zeb Pike, I actually believe this is the better book! Maybe it's because I'm already so invested because the first book was that good.
This series has so much to offer our young readers about family, friendship, hope, love,...and even forgiveness.
And there's even a little mystery too.
This was an excellent example of master storytelling from Johanna Parkhurst. I only hope she will give us another book in the series!
Easily FIVE GIGANTIC stars from me!!!!!
As much as I loved reading Zeb Pike, I actually believe this is the better book! Maybe it's because I'm already so invested because the first book was that good.
This series has so much to offer our young readers about family, friendship, hope, love,...and even forgiveness.
And there's even a little mystery too.
This was an excellent example of master storytelling from Johanna Parkhurst. I only hope she will give us another book in the series!
Easily FIVE GIGANTIC stars from me!!!!!
Read
December 14, 2016Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Clipping
Drinking Buddy: Raise the (Stanley) Cup
Testosterone Level: High Sticking
Talky Talk: Penalty Shot
Bonus Factor: Dear Mr. Henshaw
Bromance Status: Teammates
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Clipping
Drinking Buddy: Raise the (Stanley) Cup
Testosterone Level: High Sticking
Talky Talk: Penalty Shot
Bonus Factor: Dear Mr. Henshaw
Bromance Status: Teammates
Read the full book report here.
March 19, 2018
Thank a lot, Johanna Parkhurst.
What a wonderful sequel to the first book. The first book could have been a standalone but I’m really glad we got a second book.
I do have to say this is a book that would definitely be a great recommendation for teenagers. It speaks about acceptance and the importance of a community. How role models are important, especially in male sports, where homosexuality can still be a sensitive topic and hiding sadly still the best option to avoid the homophobic remarks.
Sadly there are still no openly gay players in NHL in 2018, despite the efforts and the wonderful You can play campaign, that is also mentioned in the book. Like in the book all you need is one courageous person and that person might change the lives of thousands of questioning teenagers, who are probably asking themselves if it’s ok to be a hockey player and gay.
December 15, 2016
Since the moment he met former NHL star John LeClair, Emmitt has wanted nothing more than to play professional hockey. At sixteen, he hasn’t changed his mind. Even if it means that he has to keep his relationship with his boyfriend Dusty a secret from most of the world. For all that You Can Play says, there are no out professional hockey players and Emmitt doesn’t see that changing any time soon. But when his love of the game starts to put strain on his relationships–not only with Dusty but with his friends and family–he has to decide which matters more to him, his secret or the people he loves?
For the most part I enjoyed this story. Though I certainly feel like I would have gotten more out of it if I had read the first book in the series, Here's to You, Zeb Pike, beforehand. In book one we get to see all these relationships come together (or fall apart) and while you can read this book as a standalone, it would probably be even better after having read book one.
As someone who had a rather tempestuous relationship with my father at nearly the same age as Emmitt, I can really sympathize with Emmitt and his little brother Casey. I really liked that their father wasn’t evil–if a bit of a dick–but also showed how hard it was on them to have him around and trying to have a part of their lives they were not ready to give back.
YA is not something I read a lot of, but seeing as this book was about hockey and I am about all things hockey, I decided to give it a go. And for the most part, I liked this aspect of the story. But since I tend to find teenage shenanigans a bit tiresome I think this book tended to slow down a bit too much for me in places it might not do so for others. It really wasn’t much of a problem overall, but I found their plan to get back at a certain someone to be kinda horrible. I can totally see why they wanted to do it–the guy was a bit of a douche, no argument there–but their solution wasn’t exactly any better.
Other than that, though, this really was an enjoyable story. The hockey was fun and all the characters were very well written. If you like YA sport stories, I think you will like this one. And maybe even if YA isn’t your bag, I would say give it a shot.
3.5 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.
For the most part I enjoyed this story. Though I certainly feel like I would have gotten more out of it if I had read the first book in the series, Here's to You, Zeb Pike, beforehand. In book one we get to see all these relationships come together (or fall apart) and while you can read this book as a standalone, it would probably be even better after having read book one.
As someone who had a rather tempestuous relationship with my father at nearly the same age as Emmitt, I can really sympathize with Emmitt and his little brother Casey. I really liked that their father wasn’t evil–if a bit of a dick–but also showed how hard it was on them to have him around and trying to have a part of their lives they were not ready to give back.
YA is not something I read a lot of, but seeing as this book was about hockey and I am about all things hockey, I decided to give it a go. And for the most part, I liked this aspect of the story. But since I tend to find teenage shenanigans a bit tiresome I think this book tended to slow down a bit too much for me in places it might not do so for others. It really wasn’t much of a problem overall, but I found their plan to get back at a certain someone to be kinda horrible. I can totally see why they wanted to do it–the guy was a bit of a douche, no argument there–but their solution wasn’t exactly any better.
Other than that, though, this really was an enjoyable story. The hockey was fun and all the characters were very well written. If you like YA sport stories, I think you will like this one. And maybe even if YA isn’t your bag, I would say give it a shot.
3.5 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.
March 10, 2017
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
_________
First of all, this book has two of my favourite things: hockey and LGBTAIQ* characters. Second of all, I love this book. It’s a companion novel to another book, Here’s to you, Zeb Pike, which I haven’t read yet and which tells the story of how Emmitt and Dusty got together, I believe. But even without having read the other book I had no trouble following this story. Part of Emmitt’s and Dusty’s history is explained through memories and hints, and it’s enough information to understand what’s needed to follow the story.
Emmitt and Dusty are super cute together and I loved reading about an ongoing relationship instead of a developing romance. It also highlights some of the problems that still exist in professional sports, and illustrates the effect the lack of out players in the NHl can have on future generations of players.
Tied into that is the reappearance of Emmitt’s estranged father, who has left his family to move to Ohio where he has a new family now. I’ll be frank with you, I wanted to punch him for what was probably the entirety of the book. He wasn’t a very likeable character in my opinion and got a lot more from Emmitt and his brother Casey than he deserved.
Nevertheless, Thanks a lot, John LeClair is ultimately an incredibly hopeful book that’s trying to tell its readers that things will be okay, and that sometimes it only takes one person to start an avalanche.
_________
First of all, this book has two of my favourite things: hockey and LGBTAIQ* characters. Second of all, I love this book. It’s a companion novel to another book, Here’s to you, Zeb Pike, which I haven’t read yet and which tells the story of how Emmitt and Dusty got together, I believe. But even without having read the other book I had no trouble following this story. Part of Emmitt’s and Dusty’s history is explained through memories and hints, and it’s enough information to understand what’s needed to follow the story.
Emmitt and Dusty are super cute together and I loved reading about an ongoing relationship instead of a developing romance. It also highlights some of the problems that still exist in professional sports, and illustrates the effect the lack of out players in the NHl can have on future generations of players.
Tied into that is the reappearance of Emmitt’s estranged father, who has left his family to move to Ohio where he has a new family now. I’ll be frank with you, I wanted to punch him for what was probably the entirety of the book. He wasn’t a very likeable character in my opinion and got a lot more from Emmitt and his brother Casey than he deserved.
Nevertheless, Thanks a lot, John LeClair is ultimately an incredibly hopeful book that’s trying to tell its readers that things will be okay, and that sometimes it only takes one person to start an avalanche.
December 24, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Johanna Parkhurst has written what she calls a “companion” book to her story, Here’s To You, Zeb Pike. It is a novel that I must shamefully admit I have not read—no worries though, for I immediately purchased it after reading her latest release, Thanks a Lot, John LeClair. While it is not absolutely necessary that you read Zeb Pike prior to this one, I will tell you that reading these in order enriches the overall story. However, this author is so very skilled at storytelling and cleverly constructs this new novel that even without the benefit of reading the first you are able to dive right into the teenage world of Emmitt and Dusty and absolutely enjoy every second you are there. There is so much to this book—so much depth of characterization, a rich story line that carefully constructs supportive families that don’t appear either unrealistic or weak, and real teenage dilemmas that are not easily fixed or dismissed without being addressed. Thanks a Lot, John LeClair plumbs the depths of teens on the cusp of adulthood and does so with grace, intelligence, and humor and I would definitely put it on the must buy list for 2016.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Johanna Parkhurst has written what she calls a “companion” book to her story, Here’s To You, Zeb Pike. It is a novel that I must shamefully admit I have not read—no worries though, for I immediately purchased it after reading her latest release, Thanks a Lot, John LeClair. While it is not absolutely necessary that you read Zeb Pike prior to this one, I will tell you that reading these in order enriches the overall story. However, this author is so very skilled at storytelling and cleverly constructs this new novel that even without the benefit of reading the first you are able to dive right into the teenage world of Emmitt and Dusty and absolutely enjoy every second you are there. There is so much to this book—so much depth of characterization, a rich story line that carefully constructs supportive families that don’t appear either unrealistic or weak, and real teenage dilemmas that are not easily fixed or dismissed without being addressed. Thanks a Lot, John LeClair plumbs the depths of teens on the cusp of adulthood and does so with grace, intelligence, and humor and I would definitely put it on the must buy list for 2016.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
October 30, 2016
*I received a review copy from the publisher for an honest review*
Not going to lie, this was a bigger dose of sugar sweet than I normally go for. That being said, I really enjoyed it and found it a pretty refreshing portrait of teen boys in a functional, non-angsty relationships ... who are grappling with the issues of coming out together.
I really liked that it followed an athlete and really delved into the world of hockey. I'm a hockey fan and so the title caught my attention right away. In a lot of ways, this is what I wish Jerkbait had been ... more focused on the life/interactions of the athlete himself rather than through a lens. But, I do have to say I think the writing in Jerkbait was overall better if angsty.
I hadn't read Zeb Pike when I came to read this story. I don't think it affected my understanding, but it might have been cool to read about Emmit/Dusty before they were in love and established. Sometimes this one seemed to lack a bit of romantic tension.
Overall, this is a cute and short read. I think it's an important book for teens who are queer and into sports, to prove that a fluffy existence is possible for them? And that there is support from others for issues of coming out?
Not going to lie, this was a bigger dose of sugar sweet than I normally go for. That being said, I really enjoyed it and found it a pretty refreshing portrait of teen boys in a functional, non-angsty relationships ... who are grappling with the issues of coming out together.
I really liked that it followed an athlete and really delved into the world of hockey. I'm a hockey fan and so the title caught my attention right away. In a lot of ways, this is what I wish Jerkbait had been ... more focused on the life/interactions of the athlete himself rather than through a lens. But, I do have to say I think the writing in Jerkbait was overall better if angsty.
I hadn't read Zeb Pike when I came to read this story. I don't think it affected my understanding, but it might have been cool to read about Emmit/Dusty before they were in love and established. Sometimes this one seemed to lack a bit of romantic tension.
Overall, this is a cute and short read. I think it's an important book for teens who are queer and into sports, to prove that a fluffy existence is possible for them? And that there is support from others for issues of coming out?
November 3, 2016
Johanna Parkhurst writes the sweetest and most charming YAs out there! I love how she handles tough and sensitive topics with optimism and care, and how her characters find themselves - and realistic solutions to the obstacles they face - through the support of others. The characters don't necessarily get everything they hope for and want, but the ending leaves you with a bright smile :)
This was a very satisfying read indeed.
THANKS A LOT is a companion novel to HERE'S TO YOU, ZEB PIKE, but it stands well on its own and can be enjoyed by readers who haven't met Emmitt and Dusty before. You don't need to be a hockey fan either!
This was a very satisfying read indeed.
THANKS A LOT is a companion novel to HERE'S TO YOU, ZEB PIKE, but it stands well on its own and can be enjoyed by readers who haven't met Emmitt and Dusty before. You don't need to be a hockey fan either!
August 3, 2019
A few years ago (long after 1996) Johanna Parkhurst taught in the same middle school as my husband in the mountains of Colorado. When she had a book signing for this gem we drove to the town where she currently lives to see her and obtain a signed copy. Then I totally failed to read it. I fixed that yesterday and I am so glad that I did. It is wonderful.
The book is YA which I usually hate. It is a romantic, coming of age tale which I sometimes hate. But this one is smart, funny, sweet, and captivating. Johanna did her research. I like hockey and feel like I have a decent amount of knowledge of the sport but I learned much from this book. I found myself looking up terms and names that she dropped to confirm they were real and used correctly, and they were. Every single time. She completely immersed me in the world of hockey.
But there are a few things that make this book unique and special. First, Johanna creates the story of an elite athlete who happens to be gay. She allows the reader to see his fear, experience his coming out, feel empathy for him when some in his life are unsupportive and mean-spirited. She gave us a character who is kind, smart, loyal, dedicated, focused and warm. He is completely likable, real and brave. He proves that it is no longer 1996.
I have an LGBTQIA son and have found that he needs to be brave often so that he can withstand the vitriol that can come his way. My son has been highlighted in our local newspapers and received those horrible internet comments that Emmit had to read about himself. I have seen my son fight just to be accepted for who he is, and cry when people are too mean. I have seen him struggle to find books, movies, television shows in which there are heroic characters like himself. And wonderfully, like Emmit, he found the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He read it and reread it. He gives it as gifts. He asks the people in his life whom he cares about to read it for him. Those pages when Emmit is talking about the books meaning to him really resonated with me.
I am so grateful that there are authors like Johanna Parkhurst who give people like my son the heroic characters they need. She proves that it is no longer 1996. (Read the book to understand why.)
This one is an easy read because it is meant for teens. But it is nonetheless rich and engrossing. And mostly it is charming, satisfying, poignant and heartwarming. You should read it.
*****
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The book is YA which I usually hate. It is a romantic, coming of age tale which I sometimes hate. But this one is smart, funny, sweet, and captivating. Johanna did her research. I like hockey and feel like I have a decent amount of knowledge of the sport but I learned much from this book. I found myself looking up terms and names that she dropped to confirm they were real and used correctly, and they were. Every single time. She completely immersed me in the world of hockey.
But there are a few things that make this book unique and special. First, Johanna creates the story of an elite athlete who happens to be gay. She allows the reader to see his fear, experience his coming out, feel empathy for him when some in his life are unsupportive and mean-spirited. She gave us a character who is kind, smart, loyal, dedicated, focused and warm. He is completely likable, real and brave. He proves that it is no longer 1996.
I have an LGBTQIA son and have found that he needs to be brave often so that he can withstand the vitriol that can come his way. My son has been highlighted in our local newspapers and received those horrible internet comments that Emmit had to read about himself. I have seen my son fight just to be accepted for who he is, and cry when people are too mean. I have seen him struggle to find books, movies, television shows in which there are heroic characters like himself. And wonderfully, like Emmit, he found the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He read it and reread it. He gives it as gifts. He asks the people in his life whom he cares about to read it for him. Those pages when Emmit is talking about the books meaning to him really resonated with me.
I am so grateful that there are authors like Johanna Parkhurst who give people like my son the heroic characters they need. She proves that it is no longer 1996. (Read the book to understand why.)
This one is an easy read because it is meant for teens. But it is nonetheless rich and engrossing. And mostly it is charming, satisfying, poignant and heartwarming. You should read it.
*****
Please follow me on my Facebook book blog:
https://www.facebook.com/Kelly-Hunsak...
and Bookstagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kelly_hunsa...
December 17, 2016
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
Emmitt LaPoint loves playing hockey. Hockey has been his refuge from the world ever since he was little. He is the golden boy of Colby, Vermont what with being the captain of the high school hockey team and having a near perfect GPA but he is also gay.
Emmitt finds it hard to reconcile his love for Dusty with his love for hockey because as he knows it there are no gay hockey players in the NHL. But when things between Dusty and him deteriorate, he has to take a stand for what he wants in his life irrespective of what his Dad or the world at large seems to want for him.
My only bone to pick with this book is that when it ended I wanted more! Lots more! I almost wish I could read about Emmitt forever.
This book was engaging and so very interesting. It was also incredibly well written. One of things I didn't like about the first book was that it seemed to be composed entirely of facts with very little exposition. Also the lack of exposition made me feel that things in the first book were happening at break neck speed which could have been intentional on the author's part but it put a dent in my reading experience. So I am delighted to acknowledge that those dents in the first book were completely hammered out in this book. It was just so beautifully written.
This story was written in first person and I have realised that first person narratives are especially lovely when you can relate to the narrator and that is what I loved about this book, the fact that it made me fall in love with Emmitt. I pretty much already loved Dusty, Casey and the Mortons but as the first book is mostly focused on Dusty's life at home, I hadn't really formed any opinion on Emmitt. So this book was an eye opener for me. One of the things I loved about Emmitt was that he realised that being impressive and courageous can actually be very tiring, even if it comes instinctually to you, when people start to expect it from you. But in this regard I loved what Coach Jackson had to say, I think I fell in love with him over his words.
“You think success is some trophy you put on your shelf? Some number you graduate high school with? Success isn’t something you hold up for other people to look at. It’s a life that’s filled with happiness. Hope. Meaning. Things like that. That’s what the goal is. You end up with any of those things, and it won’t matter how many trophies and numbers you have to show off.”
This book deals with so many themes but the most consistent theme that runs throughout this book is that of coming out. But don't let that statement pigeon hole this book for you because it has so much else to teach. One thing I love about the young adult/new adult genre is that I always get to learn something and on that count this book is a treasure trove. And then there was hockey. Ice Hockey is a sport I have fallen in love with only on the basis of what I have read of it in mm romance novels, I have no idea if I will enjoy its real life counterpart but I am not in any hurry to find out especially because I have really fallen in love with how it is portrayed in these books and especially this one. I love the whole new dimension that sports can add to a story and I loved how that aspect was used in this book.
This book is a must read. It is awfully amazing.
Cover Art by Anne Cain. I liked the cover but somehow I can’t agree with the choice of the font for the title what with all its sharp edges and the decision to have the title spread over so much of the cover.
Emmitt LaPoint loves playing hockey. Hockey has been his refuge from the world ever since he was little. He is the golden boy of Colby, Vermont what with being the captain of the high school hockey team and having a near perfect GPA but he is also gay.
Emmitt finds it hard to reconcile his love for Dusty with his love for hockey because as he knows it there are no gay hockey players in the NHL. But when things between Dusty and him deteriorate, he has to take a stand for what he wants in his life irrespective of what his Dad or the world at large seems to want for him.
My only bone to pick with this book is that when it ended I wanted more! Lots more! I almost wish I could read about Emmitt forever.
This book was engaging and so very interesting. It was also incredibly well written. One of things I didn't like about the first book was that it seemed to be composed entirely of facts with very little exposition. Also the lack of exposition made me feel that things in the first book were happening at break neck speed which could have been intentional on the author's part but it put a dent in my reading experience. So I am delighted to acknowledge that those dents in the first book were completely hammered out in this book. It was just so beautifully written.
This story was written in first person and I have realised that first person narratives are especially lovely when you can relate to the narrator and that is what I loved about this book, the fact that it made me fall in love with Emmitt. I pretty much already loved Dusty, Casey and the Mortons but as the first book is mostly focused on Dusty's life at home, I hadn't really formed any opinion on Emmitt. So this book was an eye opener for me. One of the things I loved about Emmitt was that he realised that being impressive and courageous can actually be very tiring, even if it comes instinctually to you, when people start to expect it from you. But in this regard I loved what Coach Jackson had to say, I think I fell in love with him over his words.
“You think success is some trophy you put on your shelf? Some number you graduate high school with? Success isn’t something you hold up for other people to look at. It’s a life that’s filled with happiness. Hope. Meaning. Things like that. That’s what the goal is. You end up with any of those things, and it won’t matter how many trophies and numbers you have to show off.”
This book deals with so many themes but the most consistent theme that runs throughout this book is that of coming out. But don't let that statement pigeon hole this book for you because it has so much else to teach. One thing I love about the young adult/new adult genre is that I always get to learn something and on that count this book is a treasure trove. And then there was hockey. Ice Hockey is a sport I have fallen in love with only on the basis of what I have read of it in mm romance novels, I have no idea if I will enjoy its real life counterpart but I am not in any hurry to find out especially because I have really fallen in love with how it is portrayed in these books and especially this one. I love the whole new dimension that sports can add to a story and I loved how that aspect was used in this book.
This book is a must read. It is awfully amazing.
Cover Art by Anne Cain. I liked the cover but somehow I can’t agree with the choice of the font for the title what with all its sharp edges and the decision to have the title spread over so much of the cover.
December 15, 2016
I love YA books. Like a lot. And when they're also about 2 boys and hockey and family and friends? Well, to me there's nothing better. If you're not a fan of hockey, don't worry. Thanks A Lot, John LeClair by Johanna Parkhurst has lots more going on than just some fabulous hockey scenes, though Parkhurst really nailed these with realism and action. This is a companion to the book, Here's To You, Zeb Pike, which I didn't read but will, but I wasn't the least bit lost and didn't feel like I was missing anything in the least.
So our two heroes, Emmitt LaPoint and Dusty Porter were pretty fabulous. Each has their own strengths but by no means are they perfect. Dusty is stubborn and moody, though that's pretty typical for a teenage boy, yeah? And Emmitt ... well he's a bit selfish and clueless to his own privilege. But these two together were so sweet. Sure there's the stereotypical jock who wants to hide his being gay and relationship with his boyfriend for fear of his team's nonacceptance. And yeah, this IS stereotypical for sure, but that doesn't mean it's not a valid fear, does it? Emmitt is the star of his hockey team. He's been taking care of his mom and younger brother since his dad walked out on their family. He's feeling the pressure to have excellent grades, lead his team to a state championship, and still be there for his family and boyfriend. That's a lot for anyone to manage, let alone a seventeen year old elite athlete who only wants to play hockey. Then we have Dusty, who is still dealing with his own issues on top of being in a secret relationship when he only wants to be recognized in public by Emmitt as his boyfriend.
There are many issues brought up in Thanks A Lot, John LeClair. Fear of coming out and only wanting acceptance. The pressures of being an athlete. Divorce and family relationships. Just struggling to balance school and life and sports. High school isn't easy in the best of times but throw in being gay and in the spotlight, and well, things sure get magnified ten-fold. I loved the relationship between Emmitt and his brother, Casey, and their mother. I really appreciated how Parkhurst portrayed Emmitt's absentee father when he came back around. And how things aren't always black and white. Parents aren't perfect people, they make mistakes, and then hopefully they try to make up for them like Emmitt's father did here. I really liked all the hockey and the action of the games; Parkhurst did a marvelous job making me feel the anxiety and excitement. What I most enjoyed was the spotlight on the You Can Play organization. It really hit home for me that there are STILL so few out professional athletes despite many of them being a spokesperson of an organization that emphasizes inclusion of all genders and orientations and races in sports. Yeah, the world is changing, but there is still so much farther to go.
This book, while relatively angst-free and maybe a tad unrealistic in it's perfection in how everything turned out, was, all in all really quite lovely. Sure there is a need for books that deal with heavier topics in a much more serious way, but there's also a well deserved and somewhat lacking need and desire for lighthearted and sweet romances between two boys or two girls or two gender queer kids or however else they fall on the spectrum that shows solid family relationships and friendships and how coming out might not be the nightmare some envision. Johanna Parkhurst delivers a tender and heartwarming story of two boys finding their way that will leave you hopeful and with a smile on your face. I recommend this book to everyone.
So our two heroes, Emmitt LaPoint and Dusty Porter were pretty fabulous. Each has their own strengths but by no means are they perfect. Dusty is stubborn and moody, though that's pretty typical for a teenage boy, yeah? And Emmitt ... well he's a bit selfish and clueless to his own privilege. But these two together were so sweet. Sure there's the stereotypical jock who wants to hide his being gay and relationship with his boyfriend for fear of his team's nonacceptance. And yeah, this IS stereotypical for sure, but that doesn't mean it's not a valid fear, does it? Emmitt is the star of his hockey team. He's been taking care of his mom and younger brother since his dad walked out on their family. He's feeling the pressure to have excellent grades, lead his team to a state championship, and still be there for his family and boyfriend. That's a lot for anyone to manage, let alone a seventeen year old elite athlete who only wants to play hockey. Then we have Dusty, who is still dealing with his own issues on top of being in a secret relationship when he only wants to be recognized in public by Emmitt as his boyfriend.
There are many issues brought up in Thanks A Lot, John LeClair. Fear of coming out and only wanting acceptance. The pressures of being an athlete. Divorce and family relationships. Just struggling to balance school and life and sports. High school isn't easy in the best of times but throw in being gay and in the spotlight, and well, things sure get magnified ten-fold. I loved the relationship between Emmitt and his brother, Casey, and their mother. I really appreciated how Parkhurst portrayed Emmitt's absentee father when he came back around. And how things aren't always black and white. Parents aren't perfect people, they make mistakes, and then hopefully they try to make up for them like Emmitt's father did here. I really liked all the hockey and the action of the games; Parkhurst did a marvelous job making me feel the anxiety and excitement. What I most enjoyed was the spotlight on the You Can Play organization. It really hit home for me that there are STILL so few out professional athletes despite many of them being a spokesperson of an organization that emphasizes inclusion of all genders and orientations and races in sports. Yeah, the world is changing, but there is still so much farther to go.
This book, while relatively angst-free and maybe a tad unrealistic in it's perfection in how everything turned out, was, all in all really quite lovely. Sure there is a need for books that deal with heavier topics in a much more serious way, but there's also a well deserved and somewhat lacking need and desire for lighthearted and sweet romances between two boys or two girls or two gender queer kids or however else they fall on the spectrum that shows solid family relationships and friendships and how coming out might not be the nightmare some envision. Johanna Parkhurst delivers a tender and heartwarming story of two boys finding their way that will leave you hopeful and with a smile on your face. I recommend this book to everyone.
April 22, 2017
See more of my reviews on my blog the Book Deviant
I would like to thank the author and Julia Ember for providing an ARC of this novel!
Smart, fluffy, and important
When I started this book, I believed that it would be about Emmitt trying to win the championship with his boyfriend Dusty backing him up, with a little mystery thrown in. But instead I get something so much better. You get that standard stereotype of the jock trying to hide a gay relationship (I had actually just read a book with this, and was curious to see that it was in the point of view of the jock). But instead of seeing the normal plot go down with this, you see Emmitt actually try and fix this.
Thanks a Lot, John LeClair deals a lot with coming out and acceptance. It mentioned a lot of real world hockey players, including John LeClair, as well as a real organization called "You Can Play". (Look it up, it's kind of inspiring.) Emmitt is originally afraid of how people will react, and that is the main reason why he wanted his and Dusty's relationship to stay secret. But as the book goes on, Emmitt realizes that hiding it was wrong, and, honestly, how he deals with it is amazingly brave, yet hilarious.
There was a lot of meaning packed into this small book, and I found myself needing to read more and more whenever I was able to pick this one up. This book was also brutally honest, with how not everyone would accept you. But as it points out, those who matter wouldn't care. And those who care, don't matter. (Dr. Suess, anyone?)
Almost there in terms of everything else
While this book rocked me emotionally while reading, now that I'm sitting down to consider it, there are a few things that I noticed.
The way it was written was quite odd. It wasn't bad, but with the book so thin, the writing felt thickened, yet so much was happening on one page. I found myself reading this book for hours on end, and only read about 60 pages. I'm not a slow reader, but I'm certainly not a fast reader either, so when I saw that I only read 60 pages in three hours I was a little more than . . . confused.
Dusty's arch of mystery was also resolved fairly quickly. It didn't start right away, and it ended even before the 150 mark, which was a bit of a surprise. But overall, it really did help the message of the book, because Dusty was there with Emmitt throughout the ride with coming out and everything else. But in terms of the plot, and what was promised with the summary, I thought it took up too little time, and could have been expanded upon more.
Speaking of Emmitt and Dusty, weren't those two just adorable. I loved both of their characterizations, and how well they meshed together. It was especially a lot more funny because Emmitt's brother Casey is best friends with Dusty, so everything with those three was always in sync and absolutely hilarious.
Four and a half stars - Overall?
I love this book. I love it a lot more than I was expecting. I'm still not even that big of a fan of hockey, but damn was that inspiring. Especially towards LGBT+ sports youth, it's important. Especially with the way Parkhurst ended this beauty, I loved it.
Would I Recommend?
As I said, yes. I think I'll be reading the companion to this book, Here's to You, Zeb Pike, sometime soon, just to see Emmitt and Dusty again. I might even reread this book, slower, just so I can catch every little thing.
I would like to thank the author and Julia Ember for providing an ARC of this novel!
Smart, fluffy, and important
When I started this book, I believed that it would be about Emmitt trying to win the championship with his boyfriend Dusty backing him up, with a little mystery thrown in. But instead I get something so much better. You get that standard stereotype of the jock trying to hide a gay relationship (I had actually just read a book with this, and was curious to see that it was in the point of view of the jock). But instead of seeing the normal plot go down with this, you see Emmitt actually try and fix this.
Thanks a Lot, John LeClair deals a lot with coming out and acceptance. It mentioned a lot of real world hockey players, including John LeClair, as well as a real organization called "You Can Play". (Look it up, it's kind of inspiring.) Emmitt is originally afraid of how people will react, and that is the main reason why he wanted his and Dusty's relationship to stay secret. But as the book goes on, Emmitt realizes that hiding it was wrong, and, honestly, how he deals with it is amazingly brave, yet hilarious.
There was a lot of meaning packed into this small book, and I found myself needing to read more and more whenever I was able to pick this one up. This book was also brutally honest, with how not everyone would accept you. But as it points out, those who matter wouldn't care. And those who care, don't matter. (Dr. Suess, anyone?)
Almost there in terms of everything else
While this book rocked me emotionally while reading, now that I'm sitting down to consider it, there are a few things that I noticed.
The way it was written was quite odd. It wasn't bad, but with the book so thin, the writing felt thickened, yet so much was happening on one page. I found myself reading this book for hours on end, and only read about 60 pages. I'm not a slow reader, but I'm certainly not a fast reader either, so when I saw that I only read 60 pages in three hours I was a little more than . . . confused.
Dusty's arch of mystery was also resolved fairly quickly. It didn't start right away, and it ended even before the 150 mark, which was a bit of a surprise. But overall, it really did help the message of the book, because Dusty was there with Emmitt throughout the ride with coming out and everything else. But in terms of the plot, and what was promised with the summary, I thought it took up too little time, and could have been expanded upon more.
Speaking of Emmitt and Dusty, weren't those two just adorable. I loved both of their characterizations, and how well they meshed together. It was especially a lot more funny because Emmitt's brother Casey is best friends with Dusty, so everything with those three was always in sync and absolutely hilarious.
Four and a half stars - Overall?
I love this book. I love it a lot more than I was expecting. I'm still not even that big of a fan of hockey, but damn was that inspiring. Especially towards LGBT+ sports youth, it's important. Especially with the way Parkhurst ended this beauty, I loved it.
Would I Recommend?
As I said, yes. I think I'll be reading the companion to this book, Here's to You, Zeb Pike, sometime soon, just to see Emmitt and Dusty again. I might even reread this book, slower, just so I can catch every little thing.
February 5, 2017
* a free copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
Johanna Parkhurst is a new author for me and I am really happy I've found her. This story is GOOD and I'm looking forward to reading her other books.
This is the second book after "Here's to You, Zeb Pike" with Dusty and Emmitt as main characters, but obviously it can be read as a standalone . It's a story about a young, 16yo hockey player who hides his sexuality from everyone but his family in case it might be bad for his future career. This is not only a great young-adult romance book, but also a story that talks about young, gay/bi athletes who has to make a choice between their careers and private lives.
I absolutely LOVED author's writing style. It is believable and real. All characters feel real and I could fully understand their motives, actions and the way they were thinking. It is one of the most important things in book, to understand MCs. Here I was happy when Emmitt and Dusty solved their problems, when Colby hockey team won, I was furious at Rice's player and Emmitt's father. This story made me FEEL and that says something.
The pace is pretty fast, it is impossible to get bored. MCs are just adorable (I wish I could just hug them real tight because I am proud of them both) and I liked all characters.
It is funny, romantic, sometimes sad, but always ENJOYABLE. I can recommend this to everyone who loves stories with teenage characters.
Johanna Parkhurst is a new author for me and I am really happy I've found her. This story is GOOD and I'm looking forward to reading her other books.
This is the second book after "Here's to You, Zeb Pike" with Dusty and Emmitt as main characters, but obviously it can be read as a standalone . It's a story about a young, 16yo hockey player who hides his sexuality from everyone but his family in case it might be bad for his future career. This is not only a great young-adult romance book, but also a story that talks about young, gay/bi athletes who has to make a choice between their careers and private lives.
I absolutely LOVED author's writing style. It is believable and real. All characters feel real and I could fully understand their motives, actions and the way they were thinking. It is one of the most important things in book, to understand MCs. Here I was happy when Emmitt and Dusty solved their problems, when Colby hockey team won, I was furious at Rice's player and Emmitt's father. This story made me FEEL and that says something.
The pace is pretty fast, it is impossible to get bored. MCs are just adorable (I wish I could just hug them real tight because I am proud of them both) and I liked all characters.
It is funny, romantic, sometimes sad, but always ENJOYABLE. I can recommend this to everyone who loves stories with teenage characters.
January 3, 2017
I'm not always a fan of companion novels because they are often the same story from another character's perspective. This book is fantastic and stands well on its own. I loved reading more about Emmitt and learning about his background. Emmitt's problems are realistic and genuine; readers will be able to relate to him and feel for him as if he's their friend. Parkhurst does a great job creating characters that talk and act like real teenagers. This book has enough action and romance to keep readers hooked. I personally love hockey and was really into those scenes, but there aren't so many that it would turn off readers who don't like sports.
January 13, 2017
Review Copy received from author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed for Alpha Book Club by Cheryl.
This book can be read as a stand alone but seriously, why would you want to when the first one was so good?! The same characters are involved but this time the story is told from the POV of Emmitt and although we cover some of the same time period, the story begins way before Dusty comes onto the scene.
John LeClair is a hockey legend that comes from a small town near where Emmitt lives and is his hero and inspiration. Having met the man when he was just seven years old, he regularly wrote to him, telling him quite literally, everything that was going on in his head. These letters however, are never sent, as for Emmit, the very act of writing them is cathartic. The reader follows Emmitt’s somewhat emotional journey from being a little boy, trying to work out his feelings about hockey and boys to being a young man who realises that sometimes you have to fight for what you want, no matter what anyone else may think and that it may be possible to have both.
There really isn’t anything about any of the characters who appear in these books that isn’t likeable. They all play a huge part in showing each other that family is what you make it and I had a huge soft spot for Coach Morton (Dusty’s uncle). He was there for the boys every step of the way.
JP has a writing style that draws the reader in from the very beginning and keeps you hooked. The boys, their situations and even the language they use felt so real that I’m sure these characters must exist somewhere in the world. My only gripe about this book is the way it ended. The boys get an HFN ending but I really want to know what happens next. Does Emmitt go to a school near home? Does he become a famous hockey player? Does he still have Dusty firmly by his side? I NEED to know…….
This book can be read as a stand alone but seriously, why would you want to when the first one was so good?! The same characters are involved but this time the story is told from the POV of Emmitt and although we cover some of the same time period, the story begins way before Dusty comes onto the scene.
John LeClair is a hockey legend that comes from a small town near where Emmitt lives and is his hero and inspiration. Having met the man when he was just seven years old, he regularly wrote to him, telling him quite literally, everything that was going on in his head. These letters however, are never sent, as for Emmit, the very act of writing them is cathartic. The reader follows Emmitt’s somewhat emotional journey from being a little boy, trying to work out his feelings about hockey and boys to being a young man who realises that sometimes you have to fight for what you want, no matter what anyone else may think and that it may be possible to have both.
There really isn’t anything about any of the characters who appear in these books that isn’t likeable. They all play a huge part in showing each other that family is what you make it and I had a huge soft spot for Coach Morton (Dusty’s uncle). He was there for the boys every step of the way.
JP has a writing style that draws the reader in from the very beginning and keeps you hooked. The boys, their situations and even the language they use felt so real that I’m sure these characters must exist somewhere in the world. My only gripe about this book is the way it ended. The boys get an HFN ending but I really want to know what happens next. Does Emmitt go to a school near home? Does he become a famous hockey player? Does he still have Dusty firmly by his side? I NEED to know…….
July 31, 2017
Great message and strong characters! Not a big fan of sports, but I enjoyed it none the less.
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
February 10, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks a Lot, John LeClair was a very enjoyable read.
Emmitt LaPoint is a boy who loves hockey and whose lifelong dream has been to become a professional hockey player, however he is gay and he feels that he can't be himself and have a future in the hockey world, so he decides to hide his relationship with his boyfriend, Dusty, which, obviously, leads to a lot of problems and that is what this book deals with.
The characterization is good. If you have read the companion novel, Here's to you, Zeb Pike, you'd have met the characters already (if you haven't, this book fills you in on the major plot points and events of Here's To You so don't worry).
I feel that they are tridimensional characters with their own personalities, ideas and flaws, , they are very real teenagers.
Emmitt is a boy who everyone thinks is perfect and The Golden Boy but, in reality, he is not and the pressure gets to him in the end just like it would with any teenager.
I really liked that every chapter started with a letter to John LeClair (an NHL player who Emmitt admires) because we get to glimpse into Emmitt's mind growing up and thoughts during key moments of life, rather than having them as flashbacks stalling the plot. It was, also, very nice to read about events of Here's To You, Zeb Pike through Emmitt's eyes.
I was interested in this book because of the hockey, I am a fan of sport and I thought that the games and description of plays were well executed. Kudos to Johanna!
Since I am a hockey fan, I am aware of the problems regarding LGBTQ+ players in the NHL and Johanna dressed these problems well. Emmitt is scared of coming out because there is no precedent, he can't know how it would be to be an out NHL player because no one has come out.
Yes, there are openly gay hockey players but none of them are related to the NHL. So how does he know he'll be wanted by the league after his coming out? And as he wonders in the book, the You Can Play Project exists and the organizations within the league say that they will be fine with gay/bi/trans players but nobody is out, why? I believe that is has to do with the toxic masculinity of the sports world and how there are a lot of players who act, probably, homophobic in the locker room and use slurs on the ice (see Andrew Shaw's suspension last year), as well as the homophobic fans. However, this year it seems that the league is making a better effort of changing these attitudes (this month is Pride Month!!), so hopefully we will see some changes. All in all, the issues the book presents really hit home for me and I liked how they were dealt with.
(Emmitt, also, addresses VERY briefly racism within the his community, not only the hockey community).
It deals, as well, with an absent parent and forgiveness.
The prose the book uses is very simple, so if you like books that use Big Words and metaphors and stuff, this is not the book for you. But it makes for a very light, fun and easy read.
What i didn't like, though, is how the narrative was repetitive at times, for example, Emmitt would say that X thing was better than the first time he did A, B, C and D. Then, a few chapters later, he'd say that he got angry and how he was angrier than the time D happened or Z or Y, and this type of comparisons would be used again and again and again.
Throughout the book, Emmitt mentions events that happened in the other book and it was kind of annoying, but that's probably just me, as i read Here's To You and then immediately started this one.
And, yes, I know that this is done so that the people who haven't read the other story, won't get confused.
Overall, this vas a really nice and light read. And I really enjoyed it!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks a Lot, John LeClair was a very enjoyable read.
Emmitt LaPoint is a boy who loves hockey and whose lifelong dream has been to become a professional hockey player, however he is gay and he feels that he can't be himself and have a future in the hockey world, so he decides to hide his relationship with his boyfriend, Dusty, which, obviously, leads to a lot of problems and that is what this book deals with.
The characterization is good. If you have read the companion novel, Here's to you, Zeb Pike, you'd have met the characters already (if you haven't, this book fills you in on the major plot points and events of Here's To You so don't worry).
I feel that they are tridimensional characters with their own personalities, ideas and flaws, , they are very real teenagers.
Emmitt is a boy who everyone thinks is perfect and The Golden Boy but, in reality, he is not and the pressure gets to him in the end just like it would with any teenager.
I really liked that every chapter started with a letter to John LeClair (an NHL player who Emmitt admires) because we get to glimpse into Emmitt's mind growing up and thoughts during key moments of life, rather than having them as flashbacks stalling the plot. It was, also, very nice to read about events of Here's To You, Zeb Pike through Emmitt's eyes.
I was interested in this book because of the hockey, I am a fan of sport and I thought that the games and description of plays were well executed. Kudos to Johanna!
Since I am a hockey fan, I am aware of the problems regarding LGBTQ+ players in the NHL and Johanna dressed these problems well. Emmitt is scared of coming out because there is no precedent, he can't know how it would be to be an out NHL player because no one has come out.
Yes, there are openly gay hockey players but none of them are related to the NHL. So how does he know he'll be wanted by the league after his coming out? And as he wonders in the book, the You Can Play Project exists and the organizations within the league say that they will be fine with gay/bi/trans players but nobody is out, why? I believe that is has to do with the toxic masculinity of the sports world and how there are a lot of players who act, probably, homophobic in the locker room and use slurs on the ice (see Andrew Shaw's suspension last year), as well as the homophobic fans. However, this year it seems that the league is making a better effort of changing these attitudes (this month is Pride Month!!), so hopefully we will see some changes. All in all, the issues the book presents really hit home for me and I liked how they were dealt with.
(Emmitt, also, addresses VERY briefly racism within the his community, not only the hockey community).
It deals, as well, with an absent parent and forgiveness.
The prose the book uses is very simple, so if you like books that use Big Words and metaphors and stuff, this is not the book for you. But it makes for a very light, fun and easy read.
What i didn't like, though, is how the narrative was repetitive at times, for example, Emmitt would say that X thing was better than the first time he did A, B, C and D. Then, a few chapters later, he'd say that he got angry and how he was angrier than the time D happened or Z or Y, and this type of comparisons would be used again and again and again.
Throughout the book, Emmitt mentions events that happened in the other book and it was kind of annoying, but that's probably just me, as i read Here's To You and then immediately started this one.
And, yes, I know that this is done so that the people who haven't read the other story, won't get confused.
Overall, this vas a really nice and light read. And I really enjoyed it!
February 18, 2017
I was given a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Emmitt seems perfect at everything he does. He’s sixteen and star of his town’s hockey team. He has excellent grades and he helps is mom by taking care of his younger brother since his dad left them years ago. He’s got a great boyfriend too, Dusty. The problem is that they have to keep their relationship a secret for fear that it could ruin Emmitt’s chances at being drafted by the NHL after high school. Everything seems great for a while until Emmitt’s dad decides he wants to be a part of his life again and starts making unwanted decisions that affect his hockey career. And Dusty starts acting odd and it’s clear he’s hiding something. When Dusty breaks up with him, he goes into a downward spiral. He blows a huge hockey game and nothing seems to matter anymore. Emmitt finally realizes Dusty is who is important to him and gets some help to get him back. It takes some work, but they deal with the problems Dusty was facing and Emmitt makes some really grand gestures that show Dusty just how serious he is about how he feels about him. It’s a really sweet HEA.
This is a well written book. The characters are very likable. The pacing is just right and the dialogue flows naturally. It's a very feel-good story. Emmitt is very mature for his age but he had to grow up fast because his father left when he was younger and his mother relied on him a lot, needing him to help her with his younger brother. His and Dusty's relationship seems appropriate for their age. There's no sex in the story. If you haven't read Here's to You, Zeb Pike, I highly recommend it. It's the book prior to this one and is Dusty's story. Both are stand alone stories, but you will understand Dusty and some of the minor characters in this story a little better. And it's a great book too! This is an overall enjoyable and satisfying read and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes young adult books.
Emmitt seems perfect at everything he does. He’s sixteen and star of his town’s hockey team. He has excellent grades and he helps is mom by taking care of his younger brother since his dad left them years ago. He’s got a great boyfriend too, Dusty. The problem is that they have to keep their relationship a secret for fear that it could ruin Emmitt’s chances at being drafted by the NHL after high school. Everything seems great for a while until Emmitt’s dad decides he wants to be a part of his life again and starts making unwanted decisions that affect his hockey career. And Dusty starts acting odd and it’s clear he’s hiding something. When Dusty breaks up with him, he goes into a downward spiral. He blows a huge hockey game and nothing seems to matter anymore. Emmitt finally realizes Dusty is who is important to him and gets some help to get him back. It takes some work, but they deal with the problems Dusty was facing and Emmitt makes some really grand gestures that show Dusty just how serious he is about how he feels about him. It’s a really sweet HEA.
This is a well written book. The characters are very likable. The pacing is just right and the dialogue flows naturally. It's a very feel-good story. Emmitt is very mature for his age but he had to grow up fast because his father left when he was younger and his mother relied on him a lot, needing him to help her with his younger brother. His and Dusty's relationship seems appropriate for their age. There's no sex in the story. If you haven't read Here's to You, Zeb Pike, I highly recommend it. It's the book prior to this one and is Dusty's story. Both are stand alone stories, but you will understand Dusty and some of the minor characters in this story a little better. And it's a great book too! This is an overall enjoyable and satisfying read and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes young adult books.
December 10, 2016
First of all, this book was really cute. It starts off really well with Emmitt and his love for hockey. He's worried because his boyfriend Dusty didn't go to his game. Emmitt is really cool and he's your typical golden boy. He wears khakis and he is one the most popular guys in school. He is the ace of his hockey team and in the novel, the team is trying to have an undefeated season ~ which is awesome tbh.
Dusty is the cute, brother's best friend boy. He is dating Emmitt and everything seems to be going good and beautiful. What Emmitt doesn't know is that Dusty is hiding something really big, and he is not telling anyone about it. This plot is the big part of the first half of this novel. Everything follows around this big thing that Dusty is keeping hidden.
The pace of the novel is great and there are fun things to look forward in this book. The family relationships were amazing. I really liked Dusty's family aka the coach and his brothers. Also Emmitt's family is everything; his brother is always supporting him and they have fun together. Plus the little fact that Dusty is Emmitt's brother's best friend. You get the see their first meeting through both POVs, so that's kind of cool too.
It also tackles things like how it's wrong to fetishize m/m relationships (though they don't actually do anything, just comment it's wrong), how it's weird that there is a big quantity of white players in hockey, etc. This is also a companion novel to another book Johanna wrote called Here's To You, Zeb Pike. I didn't read that one but this book, the one I did read, really talks a lot about what happened in the other one. Like scenes and things the characters did in the other book. I was confused for a bit like I didn't know anything that happened before. It is a companion novel and tbh it can be read as a standalone. But advice? You'll understand better if you read that other book before reading this one because it does have the same main characters/couple. Though it is written in Dusty's POV.
There are various things I didn't enjoy in this book and I want to talk about them. Maybe you've seen my tweets about this but it's important to say them again.
1) It's wrong, so very wrong to out someone to another person. Even if that other person is friends with the guy being outed. You can't do that!!! without!!! consent!!! Never. I mean Emmitt forgives and forgets. But tbh it's so wrong. It's not that person's decision to tell other people about something a friend told you in secret.
2) Also wrong? Pressuring someone to tell everyone they're gay. Each person has the way they want to do this. If you pressure someone or if there is a situation where the character is being pressured to tell everyone they're gay, that's also very wrong because they're not doing it for themselves, they're doing it so the situation doesn't get out of control or they're doing it so your boyfriend doesn't guilt-trips you.
3) Spoilers ahead!!
Dusty is the cute, brother's best friend boy. He is dating Emmitt and everything seems to be going good and beautiful. What Emmitt doesn't know is that Dusty is hiding something really big, and he is not telling anyone about it. This plot is the big part of the first half of this novel. Everything follows around this big thing that Dusty is keeping hidden.
The pace of the novel is great and there are fun things to look forward in this book. The family relationships were amazing. I really liked Dusty's family aka the coach and his brothers. Also Emmitt's family is everything; his brother is always supporting him and they have fun together. Plus the little fact that Dusty is Emmitt's brother's best friend. You get the see their first meeting through both POVs, so that's kind of cool too.
It also tackles things like how it's wrong to fetishize m/m relationships (though they don't actually do anything, just comment it's wrong), how it's weird that there is a big quantity of white players in hockey, etc. This is also a companion novel to another book Johanna wrote called Here's To You, Zeb Pike. I didn't read that one but this book, the one I did read, really talks a lot about what happened in the other one. Like scenes and things the characters did in the other book. I was confused for a bit like I didn't know anything that happened before. It is a companion novel and tbh it can be read as a standalone. But advice? You'll understand better if you read that other book before reading this one because it does have the same main characters/couple. Though it is written in Dusty's POV.
There are various things I didn't enjoy in this book and I want to talk about them. Maybe you've seen my tweets about this but it's important to say them again.
1) It's wrong, so very wrong to out someone to another person. Even if that other person is friends with the guy being outed. You can't do that!!! without!!! consent!!! Never. I mean Emmitt forgives and forgets. But tbh it's so wrong. It's not that person's decision to tell other people about something a friend told you in secret.
2) Also wrong? Pressuring someone to tell everyone they're gay. Each person has the way they want to do this. If you pressure someone or if there is a situation where the character is being pressured to tell everyone they're gay, that's also very wrong because they're not doing it for themselves, they're doing it so the situation doesn't get out of control or they're doing it so your boyfriend doesn't guilt-trips you.
3) Spoilers ahead!!
November 30, 2016
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
Well I'm just a big puddle of disappointment right now. For two reasons. One, I hate it when I get this supernice review request for a book that's actually right up my alley and then I end up not liking the book. It's the worst. And two, I think this book could have been so great but it just... failed to impress me. Which is never fun, obviously. And I'm going to explain why that is in list form because sometimes all you can do is just make a list.
♦ First off, this does not feel like a companion novel to me. This is a sequel. And I didn't know that going in. I've read some reviews after I started this and it said it could be read as a standalone but it just didn't feel that way to me. I feel like I missed the first part of the story. Which I did because the first book tells us how Emmitt and Dusty meet and fall in love. And here I just feel like I was dropped into the middle of a story and I was just a bit lost. And it also stopped me from connecting to the romance fully. Which makes me all of the sad.
♦ And it doesn't really help that the writing is nothing all that special to me. Though I did like most of the dialogue, which can be very hard to get right in a YA novel.
♦ I feel like there were no stakes at all for Emmitt, which makes all of the drama rather pointless. I never once felt like Emmitt was being challenged. Because everything always worked out perfectly for him. Sometimes even so perfectly that it became a tad unrealistic. That would be after he finally decides to come out. The stuff that happens because of it was just... Yeah I just didn't buy it. Not at all.
♦ Also, Emmitt was too perfect. Did he have flaws? Yeah sure but because everything always works out perfectly for him anyway those flaws kind of get cancelled out. And I didn't feel like he changed all that much by the end, character-wise. Sure he came out to everyone and is now honest about who he is... but he's still the same person. He didn't really grow all that much in my eyes. Which = sadness. But I did like his relationship with his brother Casey.
♦ I also liked that it puts a spotlight on the You Can Play project, which is so massively important that it deserves all the attention it can get.
♦ Another thing I didn't struggle with and actually liked is the sports aspect of the book. I'm not into sports in real life, but for some reason I like reading about them. Also anime. Sports anime are awesome. But that's not important right now. So yeah. I liked the sports aspect of this book.
Overall, it kind of pains me to say that I didn't really like this book all that much. Should you try it? Sure! I'll never tell anyone not to read a book because I don't like it. For all I know you could love it to pieces. But I'd also like to recommend Jerkbait by Mia Siegert along with this one because that one also features hockey and LGBT awesomeness and I loved that one so. Try both if you're into those things.
Well I'm just a big puddle of disappointment right now. For two reasons. One, I hate it when I get this supernice review request for a book that's actually right up my alley and then I end up not liking the book. It's the worst. And two, I think this book could have been so great but it just... failed to impress me. Which is never fun, obviously. And I'm going to explain why that is in list form because sometimes all you can do is just make a list.
♦ First off, this does not feel like a companion novel to me. This is a sequel. And I didn't know that going in. I've read some reviews after I started this and it said it could be read as a standalone but it just didn't feel that way to me. I feel like I missed the first part of the story. Which I did because the first book tells us how Emmitt and Dusty meet and fall in love. And here I just feel like I was dropped into the middle of a story and I was just a bit lost. And it also stopped me from connecting to the romance fully. Which makes me all of the sad.
♦ And it doesn't really help that the writing is nothing all that special to me. Though I did like most of the dialogue, which can be very hard to get right in a YA novel.
♦ I feel like there were no stakes at all for Emmitt, which makes all of the drama rather pointless. I never once felt like Emmitt was being challenged. Because everything always worked out perfectly for him. Sometimes even so perfectly that it became a tad unrealistic. That would be after he finally decides to come out. The stuff that happens because of it was just... Yeah I just didn't buy it. Not at all.
♦ Also, Emmitt was too perfect. Did he have flaws? Yeah sure but because everything always works out perfectly for him anyway those flaws kind of get cancelled out. And I didn't feel like he changed all that much by the end, character-wise. Sure he came out to everyone and is now honest about who he is... but he's still the same person. He didn't really grow all that much in my eyes. Which = sadness. But I did like his relationship with his brother Casey.
♦ I also liked that it puts a spotlight on the You Can Play project, which is so massively important that it deserves all the attention it can get.
♦ Another thing I didn't struggle with and actually liked is the sports aspect of the book. I'm not into sports in real life, but for some reason I like reading about them. Also anime. Sports anime are awesome. But that's not important right now. So yeah. I liked the sports aspect of this book.
Overall, it kind of pains me to say that I didn't really like this book all that much. Should you try it? Sure! I'll never tell anyone not to read a book because I don't like it. For all I know you could love it to pieces. But I'd also like to recommend Jerkbait by Mia Siegert along with this one because that one also features hockey and LGBT awesomeness and I loved that one so. Try both if you're into those things.
December 11, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hey, an ice hockey romance! Of course, I had to read it!!!
This is a companion to Here's to You, Zeb Pike, which I haven't read. To some extent, it might be better to read that first, but I don't think it's necessary. Parkhurst introduces the main characters well enough to enjoy this book on its own. Really well, in fact, as I could connect with Emmitt within a couple of chapters! He seemed genuine in his drive to succeed, his high achievements coupled with a lot of humility. I liked how each chapter started with a letter from Emmitt to his hero John LeClair (never sent), giving us a snapshot into Emmitt's life at different ages. Actually, all of the characters were realistic, and Parkhurst did particularly well letting innocence shine through her younger ones.
Dusty and Emmitt's relationship was life. They were so sweet together, really caring for each other right from the start. (Because this is sort of a sequel, their relationship is already established at the start of the book.) That being said, Emmitt had a very real concern about making the relationship public, coming out of the closet that's more firmly closed for kids in sports. This struggle between enjoying and celebrating his relationship with Dusty and still being the town's golden boy hockey star was the central issue in the book. While it hurt to read at times, I appreciate that Parkhurst didn't make this too dark, as similar books have done. I know not everything can be sunshine and rainbows, but this one definitely falls in the sweeter, more hopeful group, and it was just what I needed to read. I'll save the emotionally intensive stuff for when I'm not so busy!
One of the things that really hit me was the situation with Emmitt and Casey and their father. I know it wasn't the main focus of the story, but it was relevant to my own experiences the past few years. You have no idea how well I could relate to it, how I could completely feel the anger Casey felt. Trust me, being in your 20s when your parents split does not make it any easier, especially when your dad suddenly seems to have another kid (already grown at the point).
Overall, a really sweet story (not like the dirty sports romances I usually read...) that tackles the issue of LGBT+ in sports! It left me feeling hopeful and happy, but also more educated about the real movement happening thanks to the You Can Play Project.
Hey, an ice hockey romance! Of course, I had to read it!!!
This is a companion to Here's to You, Zeb Pike, which I haven't read. To some extent, it might be better to read that first, but I don't think it's necessary. Parkhurst introduces the main characters well enough to enjoy this book on its own. Really well, in fact, as I could connect with Emmitt within a couple of chapters! He seemed genuine in his drive to succeed, his high achievements coupled with a lot of humility. I liked how each chapter started with a letter from Emmitt to his hero John LeClair (never sent), giving us a snapshot into Emmitt's life at different ages. Actually, all of the characters were realistic, and Parkhurst did particularly well letting innocence shine through her younger ones.
Dusty and Emmitt's relationship was life. They were so sweet together, really caring for each other right from the start. (Because this is sort of a sequel, their relationship is already established at the start of the book.) That being said, Emmitt had a very real concern about making the relationship public, coming out of the closet that's more firmly closed for kids in sports. This struggle between enjoying and celebrating his relationship with Dusty and still being the town's golden boy hockey star was the central issue in the book. While it hurt to read at times, I appreciate that Parkhurst didn't make this too dark, as similar books have done. I know not everything can be sunshine and rainbows, but this one definitely falls in the sweeter, more hopeful group, and it was just what I needed to read. I'll save the emotionally intensive stuff for when I'm not so busy!
One of the things that really hit me was the situation with Emmitt and Casey and their father. I know it wasn't the main focus of the story, but it was relevant to my own experiences the past few years. You have no idea how well I could relate to it, how I could completely feel the anger Casey felt. Trust me, being in your 20s when your parents split does not make it any easier, especially when your dad suddenly seems to have another kid (already grown at the point).
Overall, a really sweet story (not like the dirty sports romances I usually read...) that tackles the issue of LGBT+ in sports! It left me feeling hopeful and happy, but also more educated about the real movement happening thanks to the You Can Play Project.
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
February 18, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author via the M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review.
For some reason I have this thought in my head that I am not a fan of YA books, but in the last year quite of few of my top reads have been YA books. This definitely applies to Thanks a Lot, John LeClair and the first book in the series, Here’s to You, Zeb Pike. While you can read each as standalones, I think you would enjoy both books more if read in order.
The book picks up after the first left off, but this one is from Emmitt’s perspective. He & Dusty are dating but keeping it from all but their immediate family. Emmitt is dealing with the pressure he puts on himself to excel in all things academic & athletic. We get an inside look in his life with the letters he writes (but never sends) to his hockey hero, John LeClair that start each chapter. He is a good kid who is dealing with everyday teenage angst that is complicated by keeping his & Dusty’s relationship secret. Another challenge for Emmitt is the fact that his father tries to assert himself into his & Casey’s life after being absent for many years, so he has to deal with his feelings towards his father as well as be there for Casey, who resents his father for leaving and starting a new family very much.
I really enjoyed the book. Emmitt & Dusty have issues they need to work through and the pressure of keeping their relationship secret takes a toll, but everything works out. The secondary characters are back, which was awesome because I loved them all. Both Emmitt & Dusty have wonderful familial support, which is so nice to have in a book especially a YA one. I very much recommend both books, I enjoyed them very much.
For some reason I have this thought in my head that I am not a fan of YA books, but in the last year quite of few of my top reads have been YA books. This definitely applies to Thanks a Lot, John LeClair and the first book in the series, Here’s to You, Zeb Pike. While you can read each as standalones, I think you would enjoy both books more if read in order.
The book picks up after the first left off, but this one is from Emmitt’s perspective. He & Dusty are dating but keeping it from all but their immediate family. Emmitt is dealing with the pressure he puts on himself to excel in all things academic & athletic. We get an inside look in his life with the letters he writes (but never sends) to his hockey hero, John LeClair that start each chapter. He is a good kid who is dealing with everyday teenage angst that is complicated by keeping his & Dusty’s relationship secret. Another challenge for Emmitt is the fact that his father tries to assert himself into his & Casey’s life after being absent for many years, so he has to deal with his feelings towards his father as well as be there for Casey, who resents his father for leaving and starting a new family very much.
I really enjoyed the book. Emmitt & Dusty have issues they need to work through and the pressure of keeping their relationship secret takes a toll, but everything works out. The secondary characters are back, which was awesome because I loved them all. Both Emmitt & Dusty have wonderful familial support, which is so nice to have in a book especially a YA one. I very much recommend both books, I enjoyed them very much.
February 16, 2017
I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of the M/M Romance Group's DBML program.
Where to start? Well first of all, I will say that I rarely read YA. In fact, I haven't for years now. But when I read the blurb for this one, I had to read it. I am a sucker for a sports romance and maybe that's why. And I don't regret that decision for a second. I am actually wondering why it took me so long to finally read Emmit and Dusty's story.
It is such a well written book, you get that Johanna Parkhurst either knows what she's talking about or she's done a ton of research really well. I don't want to say anything about the story that will give it away to anyone who hasn't read it yet. But I will tell you my favorite part if when Emmit and his brother Casey finally make up with their dad (sort of). He (their dad) is not a bad guy, just really clueless.
Anyway, thank you so much Johanna Parkhurst for such an amazing story. It was my first book by you and I will definitely be reading all the others you write.
Where to start? Well first of all, I will say that I rarely read YA. In fact, I haven't for years now. But when I read the blurb for this one, I had to read it. I am a sucker for a sports romance and maybe that's why. And I don't regret that decision for a second. I am actually wondering why it took me so long to finally read Emmit and Dusty's story.
It is such a well written book, you get that Johanna Parkhurst either knows what she's talking about or she's done a ton of research really well. I don't want to say anything about the story that will give it away to anyone who hasn't read it yet. But I will tell you my favorite part if when Emmit and his brother Casey finally make up with their dad (sort of). He (their dad) is not a bad guy, just really clueless.
Anyway, thank you so much Johanna Parkhurst for such an amazing story. It was my first book by you and I will definitely be reading all the others you write.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2017
I didn't read Here’s to You, Zeb Pike the first story chronicling Dusty and Emmitt relationship. Thanks A Lot, John LeClair can be read as a standalone. It's told from Emmitt POV and does a good job explaining the characters situation so it's not confusing. I do think it will be a better if you read Here's to You, Zab Pike since it a companion read to this book. I think you can get away with giving first and than going back to read the first since readers are given the gist of what happened to Dusty. Just be aware that spoilers are given since this is book 2 but blurb for book 1 should suffice for this book. So it actually works out.
Thanks A Lot, John LeClair is told by Emmitt perspective. We get to know him and his passion for hockey, his relationship with Dusty and his family situation. Readers really follow along on the ups and downs of his teenage life and his plight of staying closeted. When his boyfriend, Dusty starts acting weird, Emmitt doesn't know what to make of it. He decides to wait him out but when his boyfriend breaks up with him, Emmitt kind of loses a bit of his discipline during an important hockey game and no one knows why except close friends and family. He thinks he's ruined his chances but he isn't going to go down without a fight. With the encouragement of his brother, he set out to win Dusty back and finds out why Dusty hasn't been himself. What he uncovers forces him into making some difficult choices.
I really enjoyed reading this. Emmitt was a likable character and had a strong moral standing. He was considerate of others and it really made him stand out. I liked getting to know him and how he handled himself. Emmitt family dynamic was interesting and it great that his mom was so supportive of him and his brother and urged her kids to reconcile with their father. I liked seeing how he handled the trial and tribulations that came his way.
A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks A Lot, John LeClair is told by Emmitt perspective. We get to know him and his passion for hockey, his relationship with Dusty and his family situation. Readers really follow along on the ups and downs of his teenage life and his plight of staying closeted. When his boyfriend, Dusty starts acting weird, Emmitt doesn't know what to make of it. He decides to wait him out but when his boyfriend breaks up with him, Emmitt kind of loses a bit of his discipline during an important hockey game and no one knows why except close friends and family. He thinks he's ruined his chances but he isn't going to go down without a fight. With the encouragement of his brother, he set out to win Dusty back and finds out why Dusty hasn't been himself. What he uncovers forces him into making some difficult choices.
I really enjoyed reading this. Emmitt was a likable character and had a strong moral standing. He was considerate of others and it really made him stand out. I liked getting to know him and how he handled himself. Emmitt family dynamic was interesting and it great that his mom was so supportive of him and his brother and urged her kids to reconcile with their father. I liked seeing how he handled the trial and tribulations that came his way.
A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2017
A copy of this ebook was given to me by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Emmitt is a high school hockey player with a secret boyfriend Dusty. His dad walked out on his family years ago, so he feels a lot of pressure to take care of his mom and younger brother Casey. This is in addition to all the pressure from having to keep his sexuality hidden as well as impressing hockey scouts who may be interested.
I was torn about how much I liked reading this. The story had a quick pace and was easy to read. I liked how every chapter began with a letter to John LeClair, written from different points in Emmitt's life. Honestly though, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Emmitt was way too understanding and rational all the time to be believable as a 16 year old boy. I thought he should have been more reactive, at least some of the time. Whenever he got angry, it was for 5 seconds before he realized that maybe he should give the person the benefit of the doubt. I don't want him to be broody, but I wish we were able to work through his issues instead of him coming up with the solution so quickly.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and recommend it just to see what it's like to be a gay athlete in high school. Younger readers may appreciate it more and would probably benefit from important points made throughout the book, like having more faith that the people around you will accept you for who you are.
Emmitt is a high school hockey player with a secret boyfriend Dusty. His dad walked out on his family years ago, so he feels a lot of pressure to take care of his mom and younger brother Casey. This is in addition to all the pressure from having to keep his sexuality hidden as well as impressing hockey scouts who may be interested.
I was torn about how much I liked reading this. The story had a quick pace and was easy to read. I liked how every chapter began with a letter to John LeClair, written from different points in Emmitt's life. Honestly though, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Emmitt was way too understanding and rational all the time to be believable as a 16 year old boy. I thought he should have been more reactive, at least some of the time. Whenever he got angry, it was for 5 seconds before he realized that maybe he should give the person the benefit of the doubt. I don't want him to be broody, but I wish we were able to work through his issues instead of him coming up with the solution so quickly.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and recommend it just to see what it's like to be a gay athlete in high school. Younger readers may appreciate it more and would probably benefit from important points made throughout the book, like having more faith that the people around you will accept you for who you are.
February 28, 2017
*A copy of this book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
First things first, I think you should definitely read Here's to You, Zeb Pike first. You won't be lost, but I think things will make more sense. You'll understand Dusty a lot better and you'll get the whole Rick thing more.
I loved reading about Dusty and Emmitt. They felt like actual people, not just how people think teens are. I felt for them. I liked that the romance was age appropriate, they are 14 & 16 yr olds who just like each other. It's sweet and cute. I wasn't crazy about Emmitt's dad, I don't really forgive absentee parents, but as the book continued I started to soften and think he just didn't know how to be a decent present dad, but he loved them. I love Casey(Kind of wondering if in 10-15 years, he'll end up with Dusty's little brother). I loved the letters, was hoping Emmitt would meet John again, but hey, it's better that his idea of him doesn't get tainted and Alek was great.) The hockey was fine, I'm not a fan of the sport, but I like it in books. I really loved Emmitt's relationship with his mother and her pride in him. I'm not thrilled with how the plot with Rick was resolved. GO TO COACH. I don't like the idea of 2 teen girls doing what they did and it being treated as OKAY and ADMIRABLE. It was disgusting and over the line. Getting someone drunk so you can recorded them doing sexual acts(even if the acts didn't end up happening, it was their plan) is never okay, especially a minor. I don't care if the person is a jerk blackmailing your friend. I wish there had been some kind of punishment or talk about how that is HORRIBLE when Jack found out.
That aside, I loved this duology, and recommend it for anyone looking for realistic, appropriate YA.
First things first, I think you should definitely read Here's to You, Zeb Pike first. You won't be lost, but I think things will make more sense. You'll understand Dusty a lot better and you'll get the whole Rick thing more.
I loved reading about Dusty and Emmitt. They felt like actual people, not just how people think teens are. I felt for them. I liked that the romance was age appropriate, they are 14 & 16 yr olds who just like each other. It's sweet and cute. I wasn't crazy about Emmitt's dad, I don't really forgive absentee parents, but as the book continued I started to soften and think he just didn't know how to be a decent present dad, but he loved them. I love Casey(Kind of wondering if in 10-15 years, he'll end up with Dusty's little brother). I loved the letters, was hoping Emmitt would meet John again, but hey, it's better that his idea of him doesn't get tainted and Alek was great.) The hockey was fine, I'm not a fan of the sport, but I like it in books. I really loved Emmitt's relationship with his mother and her pride in him. I'm not thrilled with how the plot with Rick was resolved. GO TO COACH. I don't like the idea of 2 teen girls doing what they did and it being treated as OKAY and ADMIRABLE. It was disgusting and over the line. Getting someone drunk so you can recorded them doing sexual acts(even if the acts didn't end up happening, it was their plan) is never okay, especially a minor. I don't care if the person is a jerk blackmailing your friend. I wish there had been some kind of punishment or talk about how that is HORRIBLE when Jack found out.
That aside, I loved this duology, and recommend it for anyone looking for realistic, appropriate YA.
January 22, 2017
This is the book I never knew I wanted until I read it!
Johanna Parkhurst is one of those authors who I love. Her YA/NA stories are so well written, her characterisation and storytelling suits me perfectly. I pick up a book by this author and can't put it down - yet I feel she gets a bit overlooked by the plethora of more well-known names in the M/M genre. Maybe because she does write more YA/NA rather than older MC's, I don't know but I would absolutely recommend her to everyone.
Here's to You, Zeb Pike, was one of my favourite reads a couple of years ago and I am so excited to revisit those characters in this follow up story. It was great seeing things form Emmitt's point of view. How seeing the 'golden boy' from his own eyes and how things are never as simple as they seem to the rest of the world. It's a good lesson for us all, we can't really know what anyone's life is like other than or own.
With thoughtful and insightful writing, Parkhurst captures these characters perfectly; not just the MCs, but the extended families and friends of them. Growing up is hard. Growing up gay is harder for many, many people - even those lucky enough to have understanding family and friends. Thanks a Lot, John LeClair, shows us this perfectly.
I really would recommend people read this author. She should be far better known than she is - in my humble opinion anyway!
Johanna Parkhurst is one of those authors who I love. Her YA/NA stories are so well written, her characterisation and storytelling suits me perfectly. I pick up a book by this author and can't put it down - yet I feel she gets a bit overlooked by the plethora of more well-known names in the M/M genre. Maybe because she does write more YA/NA rather than older MC's, I don't know but I would absolutely recommend her to everyone.
Here's to You, Zeb Pike, was one of my favourite reads a couple of years ago and I am so excited to revisit those characters in this follow up story. It was great seeing things form Emmitt's point of view. How seeing the 'golden boy' from his own eyes and how things are never as simple as they seem to the rest of the world. It's a good lesson for us all, we can't really know what anyone's life is like other than or own.
With thoughtful and insightful writing, Parkhurst captures these characters perfectly; not just the MCs, but the extended families and friends of them. Growing up is hard. Growing up gay is harder for many, many people - even those lucky enough to have understanding family and friends. Thanks a Lot, John LeClair, shows us this perfectly.
I really would recommend people read this author. She should be far better known than she is - in my humble opinion anyway!
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