Laws of Attraction

The Glendale Boys #1

by Celia Fay

Enter the world of Luke Hanson. He describes himself as “weird and gay.” Constantly moving towns, it’s hard to keep any type of relationship alive. When he moves to Glendale a few months before high school graduation, he’s ready to take some risks. And there’s that hot guy in class that everyone says is trouble. But he just can’t stop staring ...

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, High School, Young Adult, New Adult

122 pages, ebook

First published December 14, 2017

Reviews

[Hanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luke just moved to a new town, so he needs to go to a new high school. His first day there doesn’t start good. He will have good friends by the end of the day, so it doesn’t end bad. Luke also meets Kris. Luke is interested in Kris, but Kris is a cold and quiet boy. Luke doesn’t get Kris to talk to him, but Luke is determined to get a chance with Kris. They run into each other a few times and also have some classes together. Kris slowly opens up and will give Luke a chance.

I didn’t like this book. I almost stopped reading and it’s a novella. There were a few things that didn’t make sense to me and I also didn’t connect with Luke. Luke acted childish sometimes. He was deeply in love with Kris very quickly and I didn’t understand how that happened. They barely talked and Kris was rude to him. I liked Kris, especially after really knowing why he was rude and closed off. Life hasn’t been easy for him. Kris works hard and a lot after school.

Kris and Luke are in their last year of high school, but I won’t say this novella is Young Adult. There are some graphic descriptions and some subjects that feel more New Adult.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke and Kris

Luke thinks of himself as socially awkward. Never long at the same place...
When he sees Kris for the first time he finds him 'insanely' attractive....
Kris is a loner and doesn't respond at any approach of Luke. He is rude and short.
He is a bit mysterious and sometimes looks beaten up.

Luke is really stubborn, when Kris finally gives in... we get to know him a bit more. Luke is really determined to win his heart...

I loved it how Luke's brain works even if I found his intrusive behavior toward Kris sometimes embarrassing... Luckily Kris had other thoughts :)

Lovely young adult story... good written with a positive vibe, for the greatest part a friendly school/friends environment. It was entertaining and even it only spanned a couple of months you get a good impression of the picture.
I would love to see them as adults and how they work out together <3

Kindly received an arc from the author.

[Jerecho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something new to explore... Nowadays, stories like this are having a hype. Don't get me wrong, its just that I been stock in stereotyping like boys are for girls and girls are for boys. But now, there are many stories to explore. Relationship that are not typical yet they are beautiful indeed.

The storytelling is ok, but sometimes as you go along reading, you gonna ask, "Who's talking?". Few editing perhaps is required especially during chat convoy because there is a part there that luke is talking to crys and he is also talking to kris. But anyway, its still understandable.

Overall its a short story. It can be read in one sitting. I believe that this one belongs to a new adult genre because of some sexual content.

[Line]

Freebie at amazon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Laws-Attract...

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faina cartea asta. John Green meets Stephen Chbosky meets Matthew Quick, cu diferenta ca e vorba de doi adolescenti homosexuali. I absolutely loved it.

[S a n d r a · Rating 1 out of 5]

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I don't know what the hll I just read or why I pulled it to the end... I'm so glad I got this for free because I would rather not pay for it, thank you very much.

This is a cliche story about new guy and a unapproachable hot guy he meets. Do I mind cliches? Not at all, I kind of like them and sometimes I feel just like reading something cliche bit nice and enjoyable.

And there's where this fails.

Luke doesn't make sense as a character. And let's not get started with Kai... Their relationship is just ridiculous and I geld embarrassed reading some pretty ridiculous scenes.

I'm not gonna get into deep because I don't want to be too harsh and I have not even one good thing to say. So in short, this was not good at all for me.

[Funzee Shu · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I NEED to say that this book had given me the totally WRONG impression in some way.

First, the cover totally didn't match with the story inside!

I feel like kinda being 'fooled' because the cover gave me a bit 'mature' impression when the story was about a high school guys.

Second, I found out that the story and DETAILS was way more like NA rather than YA.

But I can't say it NA because the characters show this typical high schoolers attitude in their daily life complete with the jokes and immature act.

So, that's made me feels kinda absurd here with the author inconsistencies in the story, the background and the characters!

But I must admit that actually the story kinda sweet, but it seems being just sweet it's not enough. I can't say that the story is THAT bad or good. Some people may like it but I think it's just not for me because at the end it didn't impress me enough.

I know that Kris and Luke story will (presumably) have their HEA in the thrid book of this series, but I still can't say whether I will read it or not.

[Ken Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an InstaFreebie download to my reader, read under a deadline.

Without really knowing what the YA genre is like, I'd put this short novel into that category - senior year in high school, social misfits, first love. Yes, it does have two (a bit more than mildly) graphic sex scenes, but the story is full of teenage angst. A series, the HEA-for-now leaves the reader in a good mood, but without any actual enrichment. Characters are well drawn, there isn't too much detail regarding the schooling of these overachieving scholars, but the milieu felt forced. I read it in less than 3 hours, under the gun of a withdraw-and-replace-with-preview.

[caroline wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read
I received this book by the author for an honest opinion
I enjoyed this short coming of age book. This book is about Luke and Kris, two people from different backgrounds. Luke is from a privileged background where as Kris is from a poor one. At first there's a bit of angst between them as Kris has to deal with a homophobic uncle as he feels his way to a relationship between himself and Luke. Told in first person point of view, I also enjoyed the secondary characters that added a bit of humour. A good read.

[Emily Seelye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book skirts on the edge of YA and NA romance. The kids are in high school, but there is full on sexy times. Luke is the new kid at school and instantly develops a crush on Kris, who is in all his classes and tries to get his attention. Kris has some self esteem issues and doesn’t believe he’s serious. Once they get together, it’s sweet and hot.

*ARC provided by author

[ChiiChii · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 26%.

World building and characterization were all over the place and bizarre. Characters were annoying.

[Dani Elle Maas · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
review posted at www.lovebytesreviews.com

[Coco.V]

🎁 Books 1, 2 & 4 in the Series are FREE on Amazon today (10/2/2020)! 🎁

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an instafreebie free read for an honest review.

This book was written like a YA M/M romance. The sexual scenes were more graphic than most YA books. I was not in love with how shallow the characters are. The author didn't dive very deep and the main characters claim to "be in love" but it was written in a way that I don't believe them. This was a quick read and I would say it is a take it or leave it. I wouldn't re-read this one.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read, not least because the first chapter was enticing. The author kicked off the story by teasing the reader, invoking the nostalgia of being the awkward new kid at school. The characters were painted in broad strokes, with actions speaking volumes rather than words (as is often the case with adolescents). At the same time, the adolescents demonstrated extraordinary wisdom in conversation, sustaining the upbeat tone of narrative which was consistently observable throughout the book.

The author's writing style brought back quite a few memories from my time in school. The fear of being discovered as 'different' was refreshingly absent; a testament to the author's optimistic outlook. I found Luke to be adorable, although Kris stretched the limits of my ability to believe in his aloof personality. Things between the two seemed to fall into place far too conveniently as the story went on, which is probably a result of my cynicism about love. The supporting cast was just as intriguing, which is why I look forward to finding out what happens to them in upcoming books.

An ARC was provided to me in exchange for a candid review of this book, which I'd recommend to most individuals craving a HEA at the end of a long day.

[mrs sarah frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story of Luke and Kris. Luke moves to a new school a couple of month away from graduation. He wants to merge in unnoticed only to have pasta spilt on him on his first day by Jackson! He strikes up and friendship with Jackson, Amber and Mark. Then he notices him, Kris the sexy as hell bad boy!
Luke is determined something will happen between him and Kris, he even follows him home to what is the bad side of town. They get put together for a assignment and meet up in the library even though Luke has offered to use his house for studying. Luke keeps asking Kris why he doesn't like him but soon gets his answer when Kris finally invites him to study at his house, his abusive homophobic uncle. Kris has been missing from school for a week Luke goes hunting for him, finding out hes been staying in a old warehouse after his fight with his uncle. This is where Luke loses his virginity!
Gradually Kris let's Luke in more and more. They all graduate but Luke doesn't know if this means the end of their relationship as they will all be moving on until Kris says he's been offered a job in New York where Luke will be heading too!
This is a happy for now and kook forward to book 2.

[Xanthe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Possible spoilers.....
My first book by Celia Fay and I'm kinda 50/50 as to what is a good storyline with really interesting characters but interaction between Luke and Kris was quite frustrating.
The way Kris treated Luke for the majority of the book is poor. Whether that's the appeal to Luke, I'm not sure but when they go from 0-60 it's sudden and doesn't personally appeal to me. Obviously I know it's different for everyone so this is just the way I see it. I'm also slightly confused as to what Luke's parents actually do. House sitting I understand but why does he not see them for days at a time? I feel for Kris and the story of his childhood, that was only just touched on, though.
I do like the way Celia writes and the secondary characters - Amber, Jackson and Mark - provide friendship, comedic relief and is what Luke needs in a new home/school. The description of characters and the world around them was good and immersing.
I'd recommend it to try Celia's work but not if you're looking for a sweet romance. Reading rent-a-boyfriend next to see what happens with Jackson
I received an ARC and am providing an honest review

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good coming-of-age story that is a mix of young adult and new adult. It is set in high school, but there are also some full-on sex scenes.
Luke is the new kid at school, but despite a somewhat awkward first day, he quickly is befriended by three classmates. But from day one, his focus is on Kris. Luke is like a young puppy, a terrier, who won’t let go of Kris. I loved his stubbornness in coaxing Kris out of his shell. We see the world from Luke’s point of view, and we learn a lot about his personality. I loved his inner thoughts and the text messages. I read a bit like a diary. And by reading about Luke, we also get to know Kris. A bit distant, keeping to himself, and not having a pleasant home situation. Luke is the sunshine that balances the darker Kris.
This author did a wonderful job describing high school life and falling in love first the time. Stumbling, clumsy and really sweet.
No surprise that this book ends on an HFN. YA stories can hardly have an HEA ending, so it is appropriate to the genre. This is the first book in a series, and I am looking forward to reading more of Kris and Luke.

[Derreck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a free read from instafreebie.

I gotta say, I enjoyed this right from the first page. Luke Hanson kinda comes from a unique world. His parents are house sitters. Luke is quirky and when he see's something he wants, he goes for it. I gotta admit, Luke has balls when he chose to pursue someone as unapproachable as Kris.

Kris... what can I say about him? He's mysterious for starters, but underneath it all, he's honest and kinda romantic. Though were a few times I felt some second hand hurt, he can be a little harsh. Hell if anyone spoke or came that stand offish to me, I would've taken the hint.

But it was all worth it in the end.

My only issue is that the end seemed a bit rushed, and maybe if we were given a chance to get a little deeper in the side characters? Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed their banter with Luke but I would've liked to know more about them.

Over all, this was a charming read, and I'd like to see more of how their relationship progressed. This book has left a positive impression on me.

[Violet Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Glendale Boys Series. A journey of a book the writing was good. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters interesting. The characters were developed and thought out. Kris and Luke are the MC’s of this book and they are in High School. There was humor, first day of school problems, a face full of flying spaghetti, an insanely good-looking guy, new friends, house sitting, a tree and stars, graduation, tests and studying and so much more in this book. It ends in a HNF.

Here is a quote from the book, “I’m going to throw Mark’s pasta onto you,” I mutter. Jackson laughs his trademark high-pitched laugh, but doesn’t let up on the question. “Amber said he’s probably insane, so I looked and he’s good-looking,” I finally answer, shrugging.”. There is more but you will need to read the book. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Dawn B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The plot sounded good, but sadly I was almost immediately put off by the fact that the story is written in the first person perspective. Not only is this my least favourite writing style, but in this case it was particularly grating giving I'm a female reading something from a male's point of view, making it doubly difficult to "connect" with him.

I persevered though. The relationship progression seemed well paced initially, and the background characters were great, but.......as the end of the book approached the relationship suddenly jumped to hyper speed. One minute the other guy barely tolerated his presence, the next they were dating. It just seemed like a rush to reach a conclusion to me.

Overall not bad, but if this if Ms. Fay's usual style I won't be reading any more, as I prefer to stick with authors who write in third person, rather than first.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet love story about coming to grips with feelings while the torture of high school.
Luke moves to yet another new area and school having gone through the same process numerous times he never feels confident, and just wants to blend into the background. After a disastrous first day he gets taken under the wing of Amber,Jackson and Michael who do make him feel welcome, though they are a crazy lot. Sat in lesson Luke scans round and his eyes find a mysterious classmate who doesn't even acknowledge him.
Kris is just wanting to get through school and away from this town, having a relationship is the last thing he wants or needs. Finding Luke doing everything in his power to make a nuisance of himself by constantly appearing or sitting next to him in lectures is not helping the situation.
Follow how feelings and friendships develop and the heartache that follows.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story that was cute, but at the same time serious. Luke just moved to Glendale and started high school there. Part way through his seniro year, he starts out struggling to catch up. He meets three flighty friends right off and sees a guy, Kris, that he gets the tingles from as soon as he sees him. Luke words hard to get Kris to open up to him. It's a coming of age, lose your virginity, working a way into someone's closed off heart, dysfunctional families, homophobia, making friends, first loves, and preparing for the future through all the ins and outs of high school dramas. There are triggers too that the reader should be aware of especially emotional and physical abuse. It's a good story that tugs at the heart strings with an HFN ending that I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.

[Barbara Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

•*¨)☆♡¸.•*´¨)☆♡¸4 Sweet and Salty Stars•*´¨)☆♡♡☆(¸.`~•

I usually don't read NA/YA type stories with a couple of exceptions. I did like this teenaged angsty love story of Luke, a boy that has to change schools frequently so never feels like he fits in anywhere and Kris, a loner with secrets. When Luke starts at his new school, he does make some friends amongst a small group of misfits that stick together. But there is also a very attractive guy that catches Luke's eye and he finds that Kris has secrets. As Luke tries to befriend him and he gradually breaks down Kris' walls, the story becomes sweet and romantic with a bit of steam and a nice HFN ending. This is my first Celia Fay book, I will be keeping her on my radar!

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story with engaging characters. Kris and Luke are complete opposites and Kris is a loner and rebuffs Luke at every turn. Luke is new to town and dreaded starting a new school partway through his senior year in high school. He makes three new friends on the first day but he can't stop thinking about Kris. He forces Kris to pay attention to him and won't leave him alone. I wish there had been a lot more background information on all of the characters and the ending was too abrupt. There are many unanswered questions about Kris and Luke's future and Luke's parents. I just wanted more of everything and I hope the next book will be more complete.
I was given an ARC to review by the author.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lately I've just been reading books without going over the blurb, so I had no idea what I was getting into with this one.

Unfortunately I didn't really like it. This read like a YA book with very immature conversations and way too much angst, but with the dichotomy of the protagonists having full on rough mansmex (in a warehouse!). Overall this is a not a good combo for me because it makes me feel squirmy (and not in a good way). I think teenagers have enough issues to deal with (parents, school/grades, thinking of the future, career/job prospects) without tossing sex into the equation - especially same sex sex.

I finished it, but overall it was just meh for me.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts out describing the angst of a teenager transferred to a new high school in his senior year, adding to the misery he is gay and still a virgin. He adapts to the new school with a few bumps along the way and meets a core of friends . The story is well written from the point of view of Luke (the teenager). It is a of age story with a happy ending. I was given this book to read and review to give my opinion. It coming was a good read and really seems to get into the heads of today's teenagers .

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laws of Attraction by Celia Fay. This is the first book in a series. I actually read the second book first. I enjoyed the characters in this story very much. I also understand the second book a little more now. I enjoyed reading about Luke’s adventures at his new school and with his new found friends. Also about his attraction and maybe love at first sight with Kris. Can’t wait to read more about their life once the go to NY. Luke for College and Kris’s job at a music studio. Great short story!

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Luke and his attraction/obsession with Kris, the mysterious bad boy at school. Luke pesters him until Kris gives in to his attentions, but Kris does eventually allow himself to have feelings for Luke. While the main characters are seniors in high school, there are sex scenes, so this is not a YA read. I didn't feel like I got to know any of the characters' true inner feelings, but I did like them for the most part. I am interested in knowing what happens to this couple in the future.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Luke moves to Glendale to a house his parents are house-sitting and starts a new school he is befriended by Amber, Mark and Jackson but his crush is Kris, a guy who lives on the poor estate. Luke gradually befriends Kris doing assignments with him but will Luke ever have him as a boyfriend or will Jackson steal his heart.
This is an intriguing story, told in the present tense from Luke's point of view, and is the beginning of what should be an interesting series.