Only a Boy

by Asher Brennan Chase

Joshua Davis is a high school drop-out who spends his nights working at MakDillard's 24-Hour General Store. Lucas Page is a homeless teen whose parents kicked him out after he told them that he's gay. When Lucas starts spending the cold winter nights sleeping in Josh's car, the two boys begin writing notes to one another, Lucas teaching Josh to live his own life, and Josh convincing Lucas that life is worth living. However, there is one Josh thinks Lucas is a girl. With deep feelings blooming between the lines of every letter they write, it is up to Josh and Lucas to help each other help themselves before everything comes crashing down.

Genres: Young Adult

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2018

Reviews

[annob [on hiatus]]

Dnf@ 21%
Debut author and a story with a gender twist made me want to take a chance on this. It turned out to be not for me. Two months after reading it, what remains most strongly with me is how the adults, family, neighbours and strangers alike, didn't react (or act!) when a teen becomes homeless in the depth of winter. So heartless, and I feel so sad for all the persons who ever had to experience something like that for real.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a total sucker for these stories where strangers fall in love with each other from the inside-out - where they form an emotional connection before they ever meet - and this was such a super-sweet read! I devoured it in pretty much one sitting.

Joshua is such a refreshing YA character. He's so devoted to his family, he sacrifices his whole life to help keep them afloat through hardship and not once does he whinge or whine about it. He has problems enough of his own, but even still he spares care for a complete stranger without any hesitation.

Lucas is openly gay and has hit rock bottom after opening up to his parents and being kicked out of his home. Despite being comfortable with his sexuality, he feels lost in himself and completely alone.

Lucas' first night sleeping rough and a wayward charm kickstarts a beautiful slow burn relationship of notes between the two.

In spite of a rather significant miscommunication and plenty of misdirection (mostly in the shape of a strange kid named Jake), the boys help each other to face their own demons (tackling some fairly heavy themes). And I loved that, though it could have been so easy for one to discover the identity of the other, they held off on it out of respect and a desire to protect their blossoming bond.

The narrative isn't particularly subtle and there are numerous slips between present and past tense, but Only A Boy is an enjoyable feel-good read with a satisfying HEA and I definitely recommend it.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good at all and clearly a copy of other popular books. The writing seems to be at a high school level (at best) and the plot is a bunch of tropes and cliches thrown together in a way that isn’t clever or original in any way.