Brad and Ash

by Kevin Armstrong

Brad and Ash is a sweet, gay coming-of-age story set in Australia’s densely forested South-West region. Bradley and Glenda are the ideal, iconic boyfriend and girlfriend of Border Town High School. However Bradley becomes increasingly concerned when he finds he is becoming more attracted to his friend, ultra-cute Ashley. Ash lives on a broken down farm with his hopelessly alcoholic father. One fateful day he discovers a joey (a baby kangaroo) by the side of the highway. He nurses the joey back to health and then starts to develop a sanctuary for injured kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, possums and emus. Bradley reckons that the animals are even cuter than Ash with his bubble butt and mischievous grin. However almost unimaginable tragedy strikes out of a dark, lowering sky and Ash loses his family and his home. Will Bradley be able to convince his parents who are conservative church-goers that Ash should move into their home and share Brad’s room? And even more importantly – will Brad and Ash be able to save the sanctuary from closure and the animals from destruction? ABOUT THE Kevin Armstrong has worked extensively in theatre and film and television in Asia and the Land Down Under. He also teaches performance writing skills in universities and international schools. He is a travelling tragic and all too often may be found raconteuring in bars from Sydney to Shanghai. Brad and Ash will be of interest to gay boys just starting out, mature LGBT readers, bi-guys and even straight men and women. Approximately 55,000 words. Although this work is the first book in the BORDER TOWN BOYS series, it may be read as a complete, stand-alone story.

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2019

Reviews

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three generous stars. I almost gave this book 2 stars, but by skimming I enjoyed it ok. I don’t like skimming when I read, but this book has so much unnecessary filler between the actual story they I couldn’t help myself. I also felt preached at. Especially in the end when Bradley gives the speech about sharks. I also was unhappy that many things were left up in the air. The most important was how Brad’s religious parents felt about his relationship with Ash. He never even told them he was gay.

[SL Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story and something fresh. Disappointed at the way the ending just sort of dropped off.

[David Goldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was such a pleasure to read a unique story set in an Australian country town. There are a few factual errors (one is huge). There is too much detail in some areas and less when needed. Overall though a sweet nice story.