What do you think?
Rate this book
You Belong With Me...?
Tyler Evans is your pretty average high school nerd. He takes advanced placement classes, is in the marching band, works in the IT department and is a scholarship student at one of Washington's most prestigious private schools, The St. Helena Academy.
Brad Stevenson is every thing most teenage boys wish they could be, he's gorgeous, popular, a star athlete, has more money than he knows how to spend and is dating the head cheerleader, but his life isn't as perfect as everyone seems to think.
One dreary afternoon Tyler discovers someone sitting at the window adjacent his own, crying. He reaches out in the form of a hand written note that he holds up so the other can see it from the window. This action starts a tentative but intense friendship between the two, that begins to develop into something more serious than either expected. Into something Brad denies due to his own personal demons.
It takes a major event and a grand gesture from Tyler to prove to Brad that there are more important things in life than living up to other people's expectations; like good chocolate, bad pop music and voyeurism.
Brad Stevenson is every thing most teenage boys wish they could be, he's gorgeous, popular, a star athlete, has more money than he knows how to spend and is dating the head cheerleader, but his life isn't as perfect as everyone seems to think.
One dreary afternoon Tyler discovers someone sitting at the window adjacent his own, crying. He reaches out in the form of a hand written note that he holds up so the other can see it from the window. This action starts a tentative but intense friendship between the two, that begins to develop into something more serious than either expected. Into something Brad denies due to his own personal demons.
It takes a major event and a grand gesture from Tyler to prove to Brad that there are more important things in life than living up to other people's expectations; like good chocolate, bad pop music and voyeurism.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2017
38 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 28, 2021
I would’ve like this more if Tyler wasn’t doing everything wrong. He pretty much outed Brad when he talked to their guidance counselor and to his friend, Jen. He also tends to exaggerate which is one of the reasons why the author already warned that this is full of cliches; but it’s also cringe-y. What I really hate is the fact that he kissed Brad, and Brad asked him to apologized but he stoutly said “no”, which really says about what kind of a person he is. And also the fact that he recorded a video of Brad masturbating when it’s a private thing? Ugh, he’s doing everything wrong and he’s still wallowing in self-pity as if the world owes him everything when he doesn’t have much that background in the book that I can consider.
January 5, 2019
Update: Apparently this book is essentially a retelling of a Taylor Swift song/music video? That would explain all the Taylor Swift reference....
“Before I get started with my story let me first warn you that this is so full of clichés that you may want to find a bucket.”
The book warns you ahead of time that it’s gonna be cliche....and it is. The overall idea of the story was super cute and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The overall writing of the story however wasn’t done as well. I stayed for the story and not necessarily the writing.
I’d say this is between a 3 and 3.5 rating.
It wasn’t the worst writing I’ve read. I obviously liked it enough to finish reading the book and the writing did get better the further into the book you got. Just don’t go in expecting the writing to be amazing.
The pace was back and forth. I feel like most scenes could have been extended, especially scenes where Tyler and Brad were getting to know each other. Like I said, the overall idea was super cute but it’s not built up enough. You only get vague ideas of them getting to know each other. Stuff like we stayed up all night playing games, the more time I spent with him the more I liked him, etc. The parts where we did get more insight into their relationship were done well. It just felt rushed mostly.
Overall, a cute book. Characters were likable enough and the story was gripping. I feel like with more experience and time this author could be really good.
“Before I get started with my story let me first warn you that this is so full of clichés that you may want to find a bucket.”
The book warns you ahead of time that it’s gonna be cliche....and it is. The overall idea of the story was super cute and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The overall writing of the story however wasn’t done as well. I stayed for the story and not necessarily the writing.
I’d say this is between a 3 and 3.5 rating.
It wasn’t the worst writing I’ve read. I obviously liked it enough to finish reading the book and the writing did get better the further into the book you got. Just don’t go in expecting the writing to be amazing.
The pace was back and forth. I feel like most scenes could have been extended, especially scenes where Tyler and Brad were getting to know each other. Like I said, the overall idea was super cute but it’s not built up enough. You only get vague ideas of them getting to know each other. Stuff like we stayed up all night playing games, the more time I spent with him the more I liked him, etc. The parts where we did get more insight into their relationship were done well. It just felt rushed mostly.
Overall, a cute book. Characters were likable enough and the story was gripping. I feel like with more experience and time this author could be really good.
October 31, 2017
Tyler + Brad =
To be fair the book warns you at the beginning that it is pretty cliche. It's completely like they took the Taylor Swift song and made it into a book but instead of it being m/f it's m/m. It was cheesy AF but still cute.
To be fair the book warns you at the beginning that it is pretty cliche. It's completely like they took the Taylor Swift song and made it into a book but instead of it being m/f it's m/m. It was cheesy AF but still cute.
October 8, 2017
4 stars for the story, but ... pacing ... just a little bit less rushed, please ...
October 6, 2017
This book was cute, and exactly what I was looking for in a high-school romcom/drama story. Nice easy read with quite a few 'laugh out loud' moments!
March 22, 2020
2.5*
okay a couple things
1) f****t is not a word that needs to be used at all, let alone multiple times. there are ways of dealing with internalised homophobia than that. trust me.
2) this isn’t a YA book. i get they’re in high school but there’s a whole bunch of explicit content between the two mc’s (both 18), and it just doesn’t feel very YA to me 🤷🏻♀️
3) filming someone through a window when they’re jacking off is 100% illegal and it’s just used as this funny joke thing and it’s.....just not?
idk it was cute in parts? i’m a sucker for the you belong with me music video so i Get It but idk the whole thing was a bit rushed and parts were just a bit weird tbh
okay a couple things
1) f****t is not a word that needs to be used at all, let alone multiple times. there are ways of dealing with internalised homophobia than that. trust me.
2) this isn’t a YA book. i get they’re in high school but there’s a whole bunch of explicit content between the two mc’s (both 18), and it just doesn’t feel very YA to me 🤷🏻♀️
3) filming someone through a window when they’re jacking off is 100% illegal and it’s just used as this funny joke thing and it’s.....just not?
idk it was cute in parts? i’m a sucker for the you belong with me music video so i Get It but idk the whole thing was a bit rushed and parts were just a bit weird tbh
May 11, 2018
This told in the first person and only from Tyler's POV. Made the story very one sided and really bland because the more interesting character is Brad. He has way more going on with him and his struggles were not on the page because we never got his side. This book needed dual POV to work. So because of that it was just ok for me. First love story with a somewhat happy ending but no real closure.
April 3, 2022
Let me start by saying that I love a book that is self aware.
The first lines of this book are
'Before I get started with my story let me first warn you that this is so full of clichés that you may want to find a bucket.'
So I was fully prepared going into this that it wasn't going to be a literary classic, but I enjoyed it.
So it follows Tyler who is 18, kinda nerdy, has only a couple of friends and is gay, and his neighbour Brad who is also 18, a jock, captain of the football team, class president, y'know all the clichés and he has a girlfriend.
They start communicating one evening through messages written in notebooks from their bedroom windows that ,of course, face into each other.
We basically follow their budding friendship, with a few bumps in the road because Tyler has a crush on Brad.
I'm assuming by now you have picked up on the fact that this book is very obviously based on the Taylor Swift song You Belong with Me and there is a couple of Taylor references, mainly a drunken Tyler dancing around in his room to her songs, no judgement we have all been there.
It's very much a coming of age story and I enjoyed it.
It was a quick read however I will say that it got a tad smutty all of a sudden which I wasn't expecting.
There was a couple of spelling mistakes but that doesn't overly bother me, I know it really annoys some people though.
Trigger warning for Homophobic language and child abuse.
The first lines of this book are
'Before I get started with my story let me first warn you that this is so full of clichés that you may want to find a bucket.'
So I was fully prepared going into this that it wasn't going to be a literary classic, but I enjoyed it.
So it follows Tyler who is 18, kinda nerdy, has only a couple of friends and is gay, and his neighbour Brad who is also 18, a jock, captain of the football team, class president, y'know all the clichés and he has a girlfriend.
They start communicating one evening through messages written in notebooks from their bedroom windows that ,of course, face into each other.
We basically follow their budding friendship, with a few bumps in the road because Tyler has a crush on Brad.
I'm assuming by now you have picked up on the fact that this book is very obviously based on the Taylor Swift song You Belong with Me and there is a couple of Taylor references, mainly a drunken Tyler dancing around in his room to her songs, no judgement we have all been there.
It's very much a coming of age story and I enjoyed it.
It was a quick read however I will say that it got a tad smutty all of a sudden which I wasn't expecting.
There was a couple of spelling mistakes but that doesn't overly bother me, I know it really annoys some people though.
Trigger warning for Homophobic language and child abuse.
February 10, 2019
Here’s your sign
The story is good. Nerd/Jock trope. Some of the language didn’t match that of American boy speak. I think another pass with an editor to smooth out the story and make it believable, since it’s based in reality, would have been helpful. 3.0 for little red lights.
The story is good. Nerd/Jock trope. Some of the language didn’t match that of American boy speak. I think another pass with an editor to smooth out the story and make it believable, since it’s based in reality, would have been helpful. 3.0 for little red lights.
April 17, 2020
Erm
Erm...
Kinda cute. Kinda weird. Kinda filmed him wait what?! So I thought this was going to be a trashy romance, and though it was, all you needed was some celebrity names for the characters and you had a classic fanfic. Also, filmed him what?!
Erm...
Kinda cute. Kinda weird. Kinda filmed him wait what?! So I thought this was going to be a trashy romance, and though it was, all you needed was some celebrity names for the characters and you had a classic fanfic. Also, filmed him what?!
October 20, 2020
It’s the internalised homophobia, videoing someone masturbating without their knowledge or consent, outing someone as gay who has expressly said that they cannot come out as their father will literally abuse them if they do, and just general absolute 12-year-old-writing-their-first-fanfic vibes for me.
How in the fuck anyone could actually enjoy this is completely beyond me
How in the fuck anyone could actually enjoy this is completely beyond me
December 3, 2020
wanted a cute romcom, got a horror story.
November 14, 2021
What did I just read?!?
I can't give 0 stars but if i could i would
I can't give 0 stars but if i could i would
April 16, 2018
You Belong with Me?
By Tim O. Fletcher
2017
Four stars
Given that it’s a novella based on a fantasy about a Taylor Swift song, this is pretty good.
It’s embarrassing for an old man to confess being a Taylor Swift Fan, but both “You Belong with Me” and the gay spoof on it that I found online years ago have stuck with me. Clearly the author, whatever his/her real name is, loved that video as much as I did.
And I’m grateful.
Fletcher is a pretty clever writer, giving a strong first-person voice to Tyler Evans’ proud almost-out nerd. This is a boy who knows himself and is not passively mooning over the hot jock (which is a clear trope in YA/LGBT stories). I loved Tyler, and through him learned to understand the real Brad Stevenson, outwardly the golden boy, but privately torn with personal conflict and unhappiness. Fletcher takes the story far beyond the one-note story arc of the two videos. He befriends a young man in real pain, which is of course the root of what happens afterward.
And the author, who can’t quite disguise his/her Australian roots, doesn’t leave the parents out—at least Evan’s mother, who, in spite of being nameless, carries a huge weight in this narrative.
By Tim O. Fletcher
2017
Four stars
Given that it’s a novella based on a fantasy about a Taylor Swift song, this is pretty good.
It’s embarrassing for an old man to confess being a Taylor Swift Fan, but both “You Belong with Me” and the gay spoof on it that I found online years ago have stuck with me. Clearly the author, whatever his/her real name is, loved that video as much as I did.
And I’m grateful.
Fletcher is a pretty clever writer, giving a strong first-person voice to Tyler Evans’ proud almost-out nerd. This is a boy who knows himself and is not passively mooning over the hot jock (which is a clear trope in YA/LGBT stories). I loved Tyler, and through him learned to understand the real Brad Stevenson, outwardly the golden boy, but privately torn with personal conflict and unhappiness. Fletcher takes the story far beyond the one-note story arc of the two videos. He befriends a young man in real pain, which is of course the root of what happens afterward.
And the author, who can’t quite disguise his/her Australian roots, doesn’t leave the parents out—at least Evan’s mother, who, in spite of being nameless, carries a huge weight in this narrative.
October 31, 2020
This is the CUTEST story ever, with every teen-boy cringe moment you can image, when crushing on a straight boy.
It is NOT YA!
Let me say that again, for those in the back...THIS BOOK IS NOT YA. But you should still read it. It doesn't take itself seriously, it sets you up for cliche heaven from page one, and you shouldn't take it seriously, either. It's a fun, happy read with a few dark moments, that is 100% NOT YA, because it has some seriously 18+ moments. It's cute, funny, silly, and light. There are dark topics, but they're second-hand.
Warnings: voyeurism, 18yo bedroom-action, gay panic, R-Rated humour, drunk teens, unrequited crush, coming out, teens making stupid decisions, first time, virgins, Gay-For-You/Out-For-You, coming of age.
Favourite Quote:
"He laughed at that and beamed me a smile that almost made me fall off my chair. God, I was so screwed. How was I supposed to spend a day alone with him in Seattle without at least touching him inappropriately?"
"It was so confusing, he was looking at me like I was a Twinkie and he was three months into his weight watchers regiment."
It is NOT YA!
Let me say that again, for those in the back...THIS BOOK IS NOT YA. But you should still read it. It doesn't take itself seriously, it sets you up for cliche heaven from page one, and you shouldn't take it seriously, either. It's a fun, happy read with a few dark moments, that is 100% NOT YA, because it has some seriously 18+ moments. It's cute, funny, silly, and light. There are dark topics, but they're second-hand.
Warnings: voyeurism, 18yo bedroom-action, gay panic, R-Rated humour, drunk teens, unrequited crush, coming out, teens making stupid decisions, first time, virgins, Gay-For-You/Out-For-You, coming of age.
Favourite Quote:
"He laughed at that and beamed me a smile that almost made me fall off my chair. God, I was so screwed. How was I supposed to spend a day alone with him in Seattle without at least touching him inappropriately?"
"It was so confusing, he was looking at me like I was a Twinkie and he was three months into his weight watchers regiment."
May 17, 2025
This was bad on so many levels. We get a warning for cliches, but this….just no.
These characters did not belong together and that happy ending was neither earned nor believable.
Brad was closeted, in denial, and maybe even nursing some internal homophobia? And the way he treats Tyler when he toes that line, is not ok.
Tyler was not much better. He outs Brad left and right. His guidance counselor, his best friend Jen, the entire school at prom! The whole prom scene was not cool. Tyler confessed his love for Brad and expects Brad to either “accept himself” by coming out and confessing right back or treat Tyler like a pariah, but really hoping for the former. He puts Brad on the spot and kinda forces a coming out. Given Brad’s home life and the fact that he can’t even come to terms with his sexuality, ain’t no way it should end well. But! Miraculously, Brad is ok with everything, comes out and the two return home to mess around. The end.
1 star may be too generous.
These characters did not belong together and that happy ending was neither earned nor believable.
Brad was closeted, in denial, and maybe even nursing some internal homophobia? And the way he treats Tyler when he toes that line, is not ok.
Tyler was not much better. He outs Brad left and right. His guidance counselor, his best friend Jen, the entire school at prom! The whole prom scene was not cool. Tyler confessed his love for Brad and expects Brad to either “accept himself” by coming out and confessing right back or treat Tyler like a pariah, but really hoping for the former. He puts Brad on the spot and kinda forces a coming out. Given Brad’s home life and the fact that he can’t even come to terms with his sexuality, ain’t no way it should end well. But! Miraculously, Brad is ok with everything, comes out and the two return home to mess around. The end.
1 star may be too generous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2022
This book felt like a summary than a fully fleshed book with scenes just slipping important parts and led to the pacing being far to fast. I also got that impression their relationship was moving far to fast. If Tyler was viewed from Brad's perspective, half the time I would consider him the bad guy but he book does try and convince you he's doing nothing wrong.
The grand gesture at the end shouldn't have happened. He outed Brad to the entire school and Brad was just fine with it even though his entire arc up to that point had been denial because of his abusive father? Again happened far too fast.
Brad was a stock charcater this entire book, maybe his viewpoint would flesh him out more but in this book he was "perfect" football captain with abusive dad™.
The stuff with Tara also felt quite misogynistic at points.
The grand gesture at the end shouldn't have happened. He outed Brad to the entire school and Brad was just fine with it even though his entire arc up to that point had been denial because of his abusive father? Again happened far too fast.
Brad was a stock charcater this entire book, maybe his viewpoint would flesh him out more but in this book he was "perfect" football captain with abusive dad™.
The stuff with Tara also felt quite misogynistic at points.
January 13, 2023
Happily (n)ever after?
Book: You belong with me?
Author: Tim.o.fletcher
Pages 152
When i saw the book cover, i thought i was a manga, but then i was completely wrong as it was my first time reading lgbtq romance. The writing wasn't complicated, but it was kept simple. The book has a total of 10 chapters.
The story tells about 2 people: one is brad who was school popular kid and other tyler who is a nerd. It gave me "you belong to me" taylor swift vibes ( I mean the communication, the way how it started between them). We should accept the way we are. The author tries to communicate this message with us, and it has been perfectly. Author could have patched up the son and father relationship. Nevertheless, as it is only 152 pages, it mostly describes about brad accepting himself who he is.
It is solid 3 to 3.5 for me.
Book: You belong with me?
Author: Tim.o.fletcher
Pages 152
When i saw the book cover, i thought i was a manga, but then i was completely wrong as it was my first time reading lgbtq romance. The writing wasn't complicated, but it was kept simple. The book has a total of 10 chapters.
The story tells about 2 people: one is brad who was school popular kid and other tyler who is a nerd. It gave me "you belong to me" taylor swift vibes ( I mean the communication, the way how it started between them). We should accept the way we are. The author tries to communicate this message with us, and it has been perfectly. Author could have patched up the son and father relationship. Nevertheless, as it is only 152 pages, it mostly describes about brad accepting himself who he is.
It is solid 3 to 3.5 for me.
February 5, 2024
I really didn’t like Tyler - I tried but I just couldn’t 😕
The story could have been pretty sweet, a closeted gay football star who strikes up an unlikely friendship (and romance) with the geeky guy. But Tyler was basically horrible!
He kissed Brad without consent and got annoyed when Brad didn’t like it. He watched Brad masturbate without consent and even filmed him doing it. He seemed to think Brad was less of a man because, at 18 and with an abusive, homophobic parent, he wasn’t ready to come out. And worst of all, he outed Brad to his whole school even after Brad told him he was worried his dad would “literally kill him”. Safe to say I was not rooting for their relationship!
For what it’s worth, I thought Brad wasn’t too bad as a character 😅
The story could have been pretty sweet, a closeted gay football star who strikes up an unlikely friendship (and romance) with the geeky guy. But Tyler was basically horrible!
He kissed Brad without consent and got annoyed when Brad didn’t like it. He watched Brad masturbate without consent and even filmed him doing it. He seemed to think Brad was less of a man because, at 18 and with an abusive, homophobic parent, he wasn’t ready to come out. And worst of all, he outed Brad to his whole school even after Brad told him he was worried his dad would “literally kill him”. Safe to say I was not rooting for their relationship!
For what it’s worth, I thought Brad wasn’t too bad as a character 😅
March 28, 2020
It was cute and just an all right story. Nothing was too exciting, it was just...okay.
I had a major problem with Tyler watching Brad jerk off though and the recording him and I know that Brad didn’t really care in the end, but it was still a shitty and problematic thing to do. Also the line about how Tyler would like to go clubbing with Brad where he will drink so he could possibly touch him and get away with it didn’t sit right with me.
Also, having a story based on the premise of Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me music video seemed like a cop out of having to try and come up a good way to get them to meet and confess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2020
Great
I was very surprised with this, as it was described within the beginning, this book was filled with cliches, plenty of them. I even loved the reference to Queer as Folk (hopeful meant the US version), the ending was certainly as surprise, very sweet how they revealed their feelings, but to immediately follow with the bedroom scene, wow. It would be interesting to see how their relationship would progress when the story finished. i give this book 8 out of 10, a nice surprise.
I was very surprised with this, as it was described within the beginning, this book was filled with cliches, plenty of them. I even loved the reference to Queer as Folk (hopeful meant the US version), the ending was certainly as surprise, very sweet how they revealed their feelings, but to immediately follow with the bedroom scene, wow. It would be interesting to see how their relationship would progress when the story finished. i give this book 8 out of 10, a nice surprise.
January 8, 2018
it was okay
the story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat while reading, but i personally feel as if there was too much conflict for such a short story. at some points it felt as if i was reading a fanfiction rather than a book. it’s a good read if you don’t have anything else to read, but definitely not in one of my top reads.
the story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat while reading, but i personally feel as if there was too much conflict for such a short story. at some points it felt as if i was reading a fanfiction rather than a book. it’s a good read if you don’t have anything else to read, but definitely not in one of my top reads.
May 1, 2018
a fun easy read that coming of age thing the awkwardness etc we all dealt with and unfortunately some people are still reluctant to deal with. In any event it is entertaining. I guess their is some sense of vindication that yes the nerd and football class president rich kid are able to win each others hearts. I liked it it gives hope to us all.
January 5, 2019
Great story.
Though I found the story to be rather realistic and quit comical in several places, there were areas I found disturbing. I understand Brad's situation, but him playing with Tyler's feelings was horrible.
Also, my grammar Nazi was in an uproar several times through out the story, where there were many errors.
For the most part, I did enjoy the story.
Though I found the story to be rather realistic and quit comical in several places, there were areas I found disturbing. I understand Brad's situation, but him playing with Tyler's feelings was horrible.
Also, my grammar Nazi was in an uproar several times through out the story, where there were many errors.
For the most part, I did enjoy the story.
May 1, 2022
Hmmm it's like a teen version of a story but only telling the good bits - so many questions after the big end scene, and a likelyhood that life would not be kind in that respect.
Also this book has one character outing the other to a counsellor in school - not cool. Also not cool, videoing someone without their consent. These two things were enough to give me the ick when reading this.
Also this book has one character outing the other to a counsellor in school - not cool. Also not cool, videoing someone without their consent. These two things were enough to give me the ick when reading this.
October 3, 2022
Main character was very unlikeable, writing not that good. The story idea was definitely cute and I wouldn't mind the clichés, what bothered me was the tone it was presented in. It just wasn't done very well, parts of the book felt problematic or at least toxic. Could be a very good story if it was presented differently and not that rushed.
December 28, 2024
The story of Tyler and Brad is quite cute. It is very much a high school cliche with a nerd and a jock, but that is warned in the opening couple sentences and sometimes a cliche story is what you’re looking for. I did enjoy this easy read as it was short and sweet.
However, there are definitely some disturbing and inappropriate comments and moments that shouldn’t be normalised!
However, there are definitely some disturbing and inappropriate comments and moments that shouldn’t be normalised!
April 2, 2018
It was short and cute, but the writing style left something major to be desired and there were spelling and grammar errors throughout, which bothered me a lot. Also it was very smut heavy, which was well written but a lot more graphic than I was expecting for a YA novel.
March 24, 2020
This was a fun little book. A nerdy gay guy and the most popular jock in high school. I know it’s cliche, but I’ll always read it! Lots of stuff going on in the book, and it seems a little jumbled at times. Still fun to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews