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Oak River Boys #1
Time for Goodbyes
An openly gay jock. A boy next door. The latter dates a girl, but will that change soon? After Kevin meets Lucas, he can’t get him out of his mind. And as if life at Oak River High isn’t hard enough, Kevin has a girlfriend. In the web of mixed feelings and unjust expectations, one thing leads to another, and ultimately someone’s heart is broken. Time for Goodbyes is a sweet romance and the first novel in Jay Argent’s Oak River Boys series. It’s a story about the kind of love that isn’t always easy but is definitely worth fighting for.
161 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2019
180 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Jay Argent
24 books119 followersJay Argent is a novelist in his forties who lives a peaceful life with his husband. His favorite hobbies are music, movies, and romantic novels. He obtained a degree in engineering in 2001 and started his career in a management consulting firm. Right now, he is pursuing his true passion of writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 15, 2020
Not bad but not great. There was so much potential here and it didn't live up to my hopes. A decent start, and there a happy for now ending. There was too much inner thoughts from other characters, and the...I don't know how to say it...it just wasn't real enough I guess. With some more fleshing out of the MCs, and eliminating side characters monologues, this could have been brilliant. I needed more angst!!!!!!!!!! More drama, and not fake drama as filler.
Rating more like 2.75 stars. Overall the writing was good and the MCs were likeable enough, but I didn't really know them.
Rating more like 2.75 stars. Overall the writing was good and the MCs were likeable enough, but I didn't really know them.
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April 4, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/4/2020)! 🎁
April 12, 2022
Kevin has been doing fine in high school - he has a girlfriend and he's friends with a popular soccer player. But when he meets Lucas, he realizes that he wants to do more than be just fine. But when Lucas comes out at school, things get tough for him quickly. Kevin is unsure if he should stand up for Lucas or stay out of it.
This was a solid read. It started strongly, but I felt that the characters didn't grow much throughout the book. They were likeable but not engaging. There were also plenty of monologues from secondary characters that slowed the plot down. This book did largely focus on two characters, but there were an additional two characters who had some of their own chapters as well. There's also a kind of weird cliffhanger at the end of the book, which I felt detracted from the otherwise satisfying ending.
Overall this was a good read. The lack of engaging characters, the insta-love, and including so many POVs in such a short book left me wanting more, however.
This was a solid read. It started strongly, but I felt that the characters didn't grow much throughout the book. They were likeable but not engaging. There were also plenty of monologues from secondary characters that slowed the plot down. This book did largely focus on two characters, but there were an additional two characters who had some of their own chapters as well. There's also a kind of weird cliffhanger at the end of the book, which I felt detracted from the otherwise satisfying ending.
Overall this was a good read. The lack of engaging characters, the insta-love, and including so many POVs in such a short book left me wanting more, however.
June 26, 2022
I almost threw in the towel multiple times while reading this, but in the end I ending up rage reading to the end.
So many of the characters were awful, there were multiple editing and grammatical errors, characters were called incorrect names, this was just bad. It really could have benefitted from an editor and a beta reader or 2. It had the potential to be a good coming of age story, but there was just too much wrong and bad about it. I feel bad saying this, but it is not worth the read.
So many of the characters were awful, there were multiple editing and grammatical errors, characters were called incorrect names, this was just bad. It really could have benefitted from an editor and a beta reader or 2. It had the potential to be a good coming of age story, but there was just too much wrong and bad about it. I feel bad saying this, but it is not worth the read.
March 24, 2019
Jay Argent does a great job writing the feelings of a boy who is dating a girl who loves him but the boy knows something is off. He hasn’t yet realized his own sexuality and cannot understand why he cannot reciprocate the love. I look forward to reading the next one.
March 2, 2020
It was good!!!!!
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2020...
***Spoilers? Eh maybe?
So okay! This book was good. It was crazy how Lucas's brother Jorge treated him, and his parents don't get on his brother for anything he does. Not only that, Conner was mean to Lucas too, but he wasn't as mean as Dominic was to Lucas even Kevin sometimes. Dominic is a horrible person, in my opinion, because he made things hard for Conner too, and Conner kept blaming Lucas for everything that was happening! It took for him to see his best friend Kevin kissing Lucas for Conner to accept Lucas as being gay. Kevin finally admitted that he was gay... Conner wanted his friend regardless of him being gay...
It'sIt's crazy how Dominic looked at Conner in away. But I was glad when Conner push Dominic away from Lucas when they were fighting by the locker. You look at it Dominic was the only one besides Conner who has a problem with gay people (e.g. Lucas, now Kevin). Conner finally accepted that Lucas is gay because of who his best friend is, "Kevin."
Which, I was glad because it took Conner along time to understand that their coach wanted him to apologize to Lucas about what he said about him. I was glad he did because it sucked that he got kicked off the team because of Dominic provoking him to say those bad things about Lucas.
Besides that, I was glad Conner got back on the team.
Plus, that ending has me curious about that basketball player. I think he's about to make havoc in Lucas... especially Kevin's life. I hope Kevin doesn't let that guy mess his relationship up with Lucas. That would suck. Not only that, but I was also glad that he talk to Hailey, and she understood why his feelings were wasn't there anymore.
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2020...
***Spoilers? Eh maybe?
So okay! This book was good. It was crazy how Lucas's brother Jorge treated him, and his parents don't get on his brother for anything he does. Not only that, Conner was mean to Lucas too, but he wasn't as mean as Dominic was to Lucas even Kevin sometimes. Dominic is a horrible person, in my opinion, because he made things hard for Conner too, and Conner kept blaming Lucas for everything that was happening! It took for him to see his best friend Kevin kissing Lucas for Conner to accept Lucas as being gay. Kevin finally admitted that he was gay... Conner wanted his friend regardless of him being gay...
It'sIt's crazy how Dominic looked at Conner in away. But I was glad when Conner push Dominic away from Lucas when they were fighting by the locker. You look at it Dominic was the only one besides Conner who has a problem with gay people (e.g. Lucas, now Kevin). Conner finally accepted that Lucas is gay because of who his best friend is, "Kevin."
Which, I was glad because it took Conner along time to understand that their coach wanted him to apologize to Lucas about what he said about him. I was glad he did because it sucked that he got kicked off the team because of Dominic provoking him to say those bad things about Lucas.
Besides that, I was glad Conner got back on the team.
Plus, that ending has me curious about that basketball player. I think he's about to make havoc in Lucas... especially Kevin's life. I hope Kevin doesn't let that guy mess his relationship up with Lucas. That would suck. Not only that, but I was also glad that he talk to Hailey, and she understood why his feelings were wasn't there anymore.
June 6, 2021
I needed a bit of a palate cleanser after the intense mindfuckery of the latest Tal Bauer novel, and this fairly short YA romance pretty much did the trick. It's a mite predictable and rather on the shallow side, and there's a lot (and by that I mean A LOT) of teenage idiocy going on, but it was a quick and rather cute read nonetheless.
June 7, 2019
It's difficult to like a book with so many unattractive characters.
July 20, 2019
Thought provoking with the feels
I liked the story thread. There are a lot of different character pov used and the transitions are a little abrupt at times. I'm glad this is a series because there are so many aspects of the story that feel unresolved for me.
I truly felt Kevin's struggle. It made me think about my own high school experiences and how the bullies made it feel like the there is no safe place. I was scared for the main characters' safety and the sad realization that this kind of thing is an everyday occurrence.
I was fascinated by Connor's pov. It gave me insight into how hate builds from perceived wrongs. The coach, by trying to do the right thing, only exacerbated the situation. Definitely makes me wonder how to combat the ignorance and hate.
A good baseline to build on. Looking forward to the next book.
I liked the story thread. There are a lot of different character pov used and the transitions are a little abrupt at times. I'm glad this is a series because there are so many aspects of the story that feel unresolved for me.
I truly felt Kevin's struggle. It made me think about my own high school experiences and how the bullies made it feel like the there is no safe place. I was scared for the main characters' safety and the sad realization that this kind of thing is an everyday occurrence.
I was fascinated by Connor's pov. It gave me insight into how hate builds from perceived wrongs. The coach, by trying to do the right thing, only exacerbated the situation. Definitely makes me wonder how to combat the ignorance and hate.
A good baseline to build on. Looking forward to the next book.
April 11, 2019
Excellent read
Jay has done it again. He has woven and excellent story. Believable characters in believable and typical situations, all behaving like every day people would.
I'm not going to go through the story line. That my friends you will have to read. It is a quick read that will frustrated you with characters as much as make you want to turn the page to see what they do next.
And, that characters are beautifully crafted. Their adolescent fobiles, behaviors, and attitudes are so beautifully put together one wonders if it is your brother or even your memories he is writing about.
Excellent job Jay.
Jay has done it again. He has woven and excellent story. Believable characters in believable and typical situations, all behaving like every day people would.
I'm not going to go through the story line. That my friends you will have to read. It is a quick read that will frustrated you with characters as much as make you want to turn the page to see what they do next.
And, that characters are beautifully crafted. Their adolescent fobiles, behaviors, and attitudes are so beautifully put together one wonders if it is your brother or even your memories he is writing about.
Excellent job Jay.
July 19, 2019
Who am I?
Growing up and getting through high school is hard enough, but discovering scary things about yourself turns it into a nightmare. Girlfriends, boyfriends, bullying, intrusive parents, homophobia and dating disasters are realistically portrayed in this well written book. One can never discount the importance of forgiveness and second chances. This is definitely going to be a wonderful series.
Growing up and getting through high school is hard enough, but discovering scary things about yourself turns it into a nightmare. Girlfriends, boyfriends, bullying, intrusive parents, homophobia and dating disasters are realistically portrayed in this well written book. One can never discount the importance of forgiveness and second chances. This is definitely going to be a wonderful series.
October 25, 2021
Not an outstanding piece of literature, but still pretty cute. I really liked Lucas, he was by far my favorite. The POV changes were a bit rough at times though, and could sort of take me out of the story a bit more than I liked. I'm also not a huge fan of insta-love, and this felt like it was skimming far too close to that for my liking. Still, I also enjoy a meet-cute story, so it ended up working enough for me to enjoy it. A nice, short read!
March 31, 2019
A true love story and the complexity of coming out
This had live and those who struggle with coming out. The guys who get behind a girl to avoid being outed. The fear of family and friends acceptance and the unrelenting bullies who are merciless to the gay community. The school who doesn’t address the issue
This had live and those who struggle with coming out. The guys who get behind a girl to avoid being outed. The fear of family and friends acceptance and the unrelenting bullies who are merciless to the gay community. The school who doesn’t address the issue
June 11, 2019
I love the way that the main characters are written in this book. In many stories with a high school setting the main characters are either entirely good or evil. The characters here are more realistic. Both protagonists and antagonists are teenagers who true to form can be self centered, unwise and painfully not self aware. As a result I never found myself asking why would someone do that.
March 28, 2019
Don't worry be happy
A story about a young man who has a lot to be thankful for being with people realize that being gay is not all about what you are but. What you are and how they really want you
A story about a young man who has a lot to be thankful for being with people realize that being gay is not all about what you are but. What you are and how they really want you
October 13, 2019
Excellent Story
I don't leave reviews very often but on this one I felt like I had to. I just want to say this is the first book from Jay Argent I have read ,and loved it. I can't wait for the next one.
I don't leave reviews very often but on this one I felt like I had to. I just want to say this is the first book from Jay Argent I have read ,and loved it. I can't wait for the next one.
April 11, 2020
Great Young Adult book for questioning teens...
As an adult, I found this book great for Young Adult readers who may be questioning their sexuality. Did I find the prose great, no. But it was well written for the YA group.
As an adult, I found this book great for Young Adult readers who may be questioning their sexuality. Did I find the prose great, no. But it was well written for the YA group.
June 22, 2020
KU Read
A short read..The POV is all over the place & that makes it hard for me to read.
But the story is typical. Gay kid in the closet until he's not. Guy working out his sexuality with a girlfriend who is really a beard. No real surprises other than Lucas' brother being a dick.
A short read..The POV is all over the place & that makes it hard for me to read.
But the story is typical. Gay kid in the closet until he's not. Guy working out his sexuality with a girlfriend who is really a beard. No real surprises other than Lucas' brother being a dick.
July 2, 2020
Loved this!
Such a cute story with all the classic highschool drama. I loved Lucas's character and found Kevin to be a bit of a conundrum. It will be interesting to see how the next book plays out.
Such a cute story with all the classic highschool drama. I loved Lucas's character and found Kevin to be a bit of a conundrum. It will be interesting to see how the next book plays out.
August 1, 2020
Everything works out in the end
American high school sounds like a nightmare at best for some students, add switching straight to gay and coming out, and you don’t expect it to go well, but it mostly does in a sweet love story
American high school sounds like a nightmare at best for some students, add switching straight to gay and coming out, and you don’t expect it to go well, but it mostly does in a sweet love story
November 22, 2020
Bring on the next in the series
Read this in a day, very absorbing, couldn't put it down, wanting to find out what happened next and how it all pans out, very good read. Now want the next in the series !
Read this in a day, very absorbing, couldn't put it down, wanting to find out what happened next and how it all pans out, very good read. Now want the next in the series !
July 9, 2021
Ugh. I wanted to like this. The story had so much potential. But I hate the head hopping. The author switched povs constantly, but characters we don’t need to hear from.
Connor’s a complete ass and I hate the way everything is wrapped up.
Connor’s a complete ass and I hate the way everything is wrapped up.
July 17, 2021
Beautiful!
Jay Argent is a wonderful writer and he’s done it again. This a beautiful story about a boy who is not to sure of himself and it takes time for him to finally get it. The world around him is much more beautiful than he thinks especially with the one he knows he loves.
Jay Argent is a wonderful writer and he’s done it again. This a beautiful story about a boy who is not to sure of himself and it takes time for him to finally get it. The world around him is much more beautiful than he thinks especially with the one he knows he loves.
November 22, 2021
simplistic
Simplistic and nonsensical. I like coming out stories but this one is not well put together. Too many unlikely events. There are better coming-out stories available. Besides, anyone writing a short book like this followed by sequels is being lazy.
Simplistic and nonsensical. I like coming out stories but this one is not well put together. Too many unlikely events. There are better coming-out stories available. Besides, anyone writing a short book like this followed by sequels is being lazy.
April 26, 2019
Stressing out
Coming to terms with one sexuality can be stressful. I'm surprised there are not more gray haired teens and twenty somethings. A good read.
Coming to terms with one sexuality can be stressful. I'm surprised there are not more gray haired teens and twenty somethings. A good read.
May 2, 2019
Great book
Could not stop reading this book I finished it in an hour can not wait for the next one.
Fabulous
Could not stop reading this book I finished it in an hour can not wait for the next one.
Fabulous
October 7, 2019
I don't buy the ending. It was wrapped up way too neatly. I wanted something more.
Read
December 6, 2019Great Reading
Like many other books I have read recently I enjoyed it a great deal. When you write more I will be sure to get them.😃
Like many other books I have read recently I enjoyed it a great deal. When you write more I will be sure to get them.😃
April 3, 2020
A Story about Coming Out!
There are no sex scenes. Not sure if I should give more stars for that or less?! A story about high school experimentation.
There are no sex scenes. Not sure if I should give more stars for that or less?! A story about high school experimentation.
May 9, 2020
Jay Argent is an amazing story teller. Truly an amazing story. We need more authors like him. I can’t wait to read book 2
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews