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Guys from High School #2
Kyle From High School
What happens when your childhood best friend—the unfairly hot one—shoves you against the drywall?
You kiss him.
I thought it would gross him out. Catch him off-guard.
But he liked it.
We’re both straight, and we're from different worlds: he's on the soccer team, and I'm a moody artist. But something magical happened that night twisted up in the sheets. For a fleeting moment, everything was perfect.
Why did we have to dig up all those dark secrets?
You kiss him.
I thought it would gross him out. Catch him off-guard.
But he liked it.
We’re both straight, and we're from different worlds: he's on the soccer team, and I'm a moody artist. But something magical happened that night twisted up in the sheets. For a fleeting moment, everything was perfect.
Why did we have to dig up all those dark secrets?
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2020
48 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 22, 2022
These are really quick reads!
November 7, 2020
I still have no idea what I just read. Its been my mission of the last day not to give up, there had to be an "aha" moment where I get what's going on. Didn't happen. This is a weirdly written book (so much inner monologue) about two best friends or sworn enemies, I'm not sure and I don't think the author is either.
August 8, 2020
I need to think about the review..
It bugged me that I missed background details. I wanted to know what the big secret and when I found out and what happened after that, it all felt a bit anticlimactic.
Ah, I don't like the cover. Sorry for that.
It bugged me that I missed background details. I wanted to know what the big secret and when I found out and what happened after that, it all felt a bit anticlimactic.
Ah, I don't like the cover. Sorry for that.
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August 1, 2020I don't even know what to think about this book. I forced myself to get to at least 15%, and I did, but I surprised myself at making that goal.
I'm not going to leave a star review since I didn't finish, but I am absolutely shocked that at the time I'm writing this review it has an over 4.5 star rating. HOW? Is it sorcery? Did I read a completely different book?!
I can't recall the names of the 2 MCs, but from the get go they sounded like enemies. Wait... they're childhood friends (and I think they're in high school or maybe they're older, now). One is dating the other one's sister and he doesn't like that, so to punish him they kiss (I can't remember who starts it, and really I don't care). Wait. They're liking it. They go upstairs to someone's bedroom all the while internally monologuing (sp?) memories of when they were kids, being friends, knowing each other since they were children and building those memories together yet one of them had said that they think of their friend as being 2 dimensional? I don't get it.
Oh, yeah. They're angry at each other and they each want the upper hand, so back to the kiss and they're finally in a room and more is starting to happen (even though they're both straight), but there's more of a monologue how one of them finally has power over the other... what? What total shite am I reading?!
I'm done - good luck if you give it a go.
I'm not going to leave a star review since I didn't finish, but I am absolutely shocked that at the time I'm writing this review it has an over 4.5 star rating. HOW? Is it sorcery? Did I read a completely different book?!
I can't recall the names of the 2 MCs, but from the get go they sounded like enemies. Wait... they're childhood friends (and I think they're in high school or maybe they're older, now). One is dating the other one's sister and he doesn't like that, so to punish him they kiss (I can't remember who starts it, and really I don't care). Wait. They're liking it. They go upstairs to someone's bedroom all the while internally monologuing (sp?) memories of when they were kids, being friends, knowing each other since they were children and building those memories together yet one of them had said that they think of their friend as being 2 dimensional? I don't get it.
Oh, yeah. They're angry at each other and they each want the upper hand, so back to the kiss and they're finally in a room and more is starting to happen (even though they're both straight), but there's more of a monologue how one of them finally has power over the other... what? What total shite am I reading?!
I'm done - good luck if you give it a go.
November 18, 2020
So- once I finally got to the end of this book, I THINK I understood it. The main issue I had (and I think a lot of other readers had as well) was the intense inner monologues that confused the plot. The whole 'Master Manipulator' aspect seemed unnecessary for me, as (I felt) the book focused more on the two boys who witnessed something that changed them, and because of that, it began to twist the feelings they had for each other. As they THOUGHT they witnessed a crime, it mutated their attraction to one another and made them both feel they wanted something 'wrong'. The beginning of the book was focused on a weird power-dynamic between the 2 MCs. To me, the story felt like it was intended to go one way, but then the author switched gears halfway through and didn't go back and edit the beginning to make the story flow.
I did like this book but felt that it either needed to be longer to course-correct or shorter to edit out the whole 'spider to the fly' vibe of the beginning.
I did like this book but felt that it either needed to be longer to course-correct or shorter to edit out the whole 'spider to the fly' vibe of the beginning.
November 7, 2021
Usually, I would start by saying how disappointed I was with this, but this honestly has me infuriated. This goes so far to standalone from the first book that it almost completely disassociates from that world. Congrats! You don't have to have read the first book to read this one.
Having read the first one, though, just a few weeks ago, I thought there would be some kind of plot or timeline alignment. I wanted the campfire scene from the first book to be a catalyst for Kyle and Phil getting together. It isn’t. In this retcon, that fire likely never happened. And now, in this, Kyle isn't a homophobic dick to Jon so we never find out WHY Kyle was such a homophobic dick in the first book. Then there's Simon, the villain of this tale, who I thought had to be the same villain from the first book expect THAT was Martin. The only friend Victor had in the first book was Martin. I literally went back and reread the first book to confirm that there was NEVER any mention of a Simon. Who is Simon, where did he come from and WHY DOES HE READ LIKE HE'S MARTIN?!!!! I feel like the author just forgot the name they gave the character from one book to the next and it was driving me nuts.
Also adding to my aggravation is the Fifty Shades reference. Jon From High School was published June 2020 and has a 10 year gap in the story, putting the characters in high school 2010 or earlier. Fifty Shades wasn't self-published until 2011 and didn't start gaining infamy until it was picked up by Vintage Books in 2012 so the idea that a pair of high school boys in 2010 would know about it to reference it in this book is just STUPID. It would have been equally ridiculous for them to reference the Twilight fanfiction series that Shades was adapted from, but if they had done that it would have at least been consistent with the timeline set by the first book.
Ignoring all of that and treating this as a standalone story, we get to the worst part of this read. The barn. The way that storyline took over this book about two seemingly underage boys is disturbing especially when there's no relevance to their future. It wasn't what brought them together and, thank God, it wasn't the way they chose to be together as adults, so what was the point unless it was to make Simon/Martin an overarching villain in this series -which would make sense because Martin has a book and it's saved for the last installment of this series. If that’s the case, though, then all the books connect, this isn't a true standalone and it should sync up better to the first book!
TLDR: I hated this book. If you read and liked Jon's story, SKIP THIS! Honestly, just skip this period.
Having read the first one, though, just a few weeks ago, I thought there would be some kind of plot or timeline alignment. I wanted the campfire scene from the first book to be a catalyst for Kyle and Phil getting together. It isn’t. In this retcon, that fire likely never happened. And now, in this, Kyle isn't a homophobic dick to Jon so we never find out WHY Kyle was such a homophobic dick in the first book. Then there's Simon, the villain of this tale, who I thought had to be the same villain from the first book expect THAT was Martin. The only friend Victor had in the first book was Martin. I literally went back and reread the first book to confirm that there was NEVER any mention of a Simon. Who is Simon, where did he come from and WHY DOES HE READ LIKE HE'S MARTIN?!!!! I feel like the author just forgot the name they gave the character from one book to the next and it was driving me nuts.
Also adding to my aggravation is the Fifty Shades reference. Jon From High School was published June 2020 and has a 10 year gap in the story, putting the characters in high school 2010 or earlier. Fifty Shades wasn't self-published until 2011 and didn't start gaining infamy until it was picked up by Vintage Books in 2012 so the idea that a pair of high school boys in 2010 would know about it to reference it in this book is just STUPID. It would have been equally ridiculous for them to reference the Twilight fanfiction series that Shades was adapted from, but if they had done that it would have at least been consistent with the timeline set by the first book.
Ignoring all of that and treating this as a standalone story, we get to the worst part of this read. The barn. The way that storyline took over this book about two seemingly underage boys is disturbing especially when there's no relevance to their future. It wasn't what brought them together and, thank God, it wasn't the way they chose to be together as adults, so what was the point unless it was to make Simon/Martin an overarching villain in this series -which would make sense because Martin has a book and it's saved for the last installment of this series. If that’s the case, though, then all the books connect, this isn't a true standalone and it should sync up better to the first book!
TLDR: I hated this book. If you read and liked Jon's story, SKIP THIS! Honestly, just skip this period.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2020
Phil Baron met up with Kyle Feywood to see what he wanted to talk to him about. He wasn’t prepared to be slammed up against a wall when Kyle asked what was between him and Julie, Kyle’s sister. Phil told him nothing, they were just talking. It was obvious Kyle didn’t believe it and threatened him while glaring at him in disgust. Kyle saw Phil as a manipulator who played with people for fun – and he didn’t want it happening to his sister. Phil was furious inside, wanting to show Kyle that HE was the dominant alpha, always the one in control! Thoughts raced through his head of how to shock him, then he jumped forward and kissed Kyle, wanting to see how he would react! It was about power and retaliation, and showing Kyle who was boss. Making him angry gave Phil the control. But Kyle kissed him again, hard, and then gently, until it wasn’t about punishment or anger anymore.
Kyle reached down and laced their fingers together, then walked with him to his dark bedroom. Kyle kissed him again and it didn’t feel like a game anymore. Phil had always been a manipulator who predicted behaviors and was constantly calculating steps far ahead of everyone else, and who always knew what to do. But for the first time, Kyle saw that Phil didn’t know what to do this time. He wasn’t living in the future now, but in the moment. Caught off guard, Phil was following Kyle’s lead now and it made him feel powerful. How far would Phil let him take this? Control was everything to Phil – and he was giving it over to Kyle! When Kyle finally told him he didn’t trust him, he could see it hurt Phil. And Phil got up and left. And everything kept going back to what they had seen at that barn long ago… what was it trying to tell them?
This was a heavy story where the reader had to keep looking through the surface dialog and internal dialog to determine what was really going on. Yet you could feel the story building itself from their early years of friendship to the incident they witnessed to their high school “experiment” and beyond. The story line takes you on quite a journey and I’m not sure if the journey ever ends.
Kyle reached down and laced their fingers together, then walked with him to his dark bedroom. Kyle kissed him again and it didn’t feel like a game anymore. Phil had always been a manipulator who predicted behaviors and was constantly calculating steps far ahead of everyone else, and who always knew what to do. But for the first time, Kyle saw that Phil didn’t know what to do this time. He wasn’t living in the future now, but in the moment. Caught off guard, Phil was following Kyle’s lead now and it made him feel powerful. How far would Phil let him take this? Control was everything to Phil – and he was giving it over to Kyle! When Kyle finally told him he didn’t trust him, he could see it hurt Phil. And Phil got up and left. And everything kept going back to what they had seen at that barn long ago… what was it trying to tell them?
This was a heavy story where the reader had to keep looking through the surface dialog and internal dialog to determine what was really going on. Yet you could feel the story building itself from their early years of friendship to the incident they witnessed to their high school “experiment” and beyond. The story line takes you on quite a journey and I’m not sure if the journey ever ends.
Read
July 31, 2020All it takes is one hot kiss to change everything
Kyle and Phil are supposed to be...straight? Kyle is a dominating, protecting, and controlling figure. Determined to show Phil he can't mess with his sister's feelings, his own plans are implemented. These two share a kiss. Far more intense than initially planned. Not to relinquish control, Kyle goes in again. This time, it was really, really different.
Both wrapped in the moment, holding hands, and enjoying the now; suddenly the ground shifted.
Leave it up to one man to throw a wrench in the works and tell Phil he does not trust him.
Their ride to a HEA included a past with a barn, letting go, learning to love one another and moving forward.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
Kyle and Phil are supposed to be...straight? Kyle is a dominating, protecting, and controlling figure. Determined to show Phil he can't mess with his sister's feelings, his own plans are implemented. These two share a kiss. Far more intense than initially planned. Not to relinquish control, Kyle goes in again. This time, it was really, really different.
Both wrapped in the moment, holding hands, and enjoying the now; suddenly the ground shifted.
Leave it up to one man to throw a wrench in the works and tell Phil he does not trust him.
Their ride to a HEA included a past with a barn, letting go, learning to love one another and moving forward.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
August 1, 2020
This is a fascinating and strange story. Kyle and Phil have been friends since 3rd grade, they were really close until there was an incident they weren't supposed to see. Phil got cold, dark and maniplitive. Kyle stayed the same, just a little more reserved around Phil. One night when they were in high school, Kyle saw Phil talking to his little sister and went off on Phil. Phil was hurt and angry, so he wanted to shock Kyle in a power play, so he kissed him. Phil thinks dark thoughts while he and Kyle work their way to Kyle's bedroom. Kyle thinks he can out manuever Phil and bring him down a peg or two. This thinking follows them after that night, and mixed in is their feelings about the incident, and how each changed. The story starts off dark, transitions into weird, then becomes romantic.
August 8, 2020
OK
After reading Jon's story it was great to catch up with Kyle and Phil. If you enjoy friends to lovers, then you'll like this book. The story is based around something they saw when they were younger and how it affected their friendship. I just found that the book was very focused on their inner feelings for each other, rather than an actual storyline.
After reading Jon's story it was great to catch up with Kyle and Phil. If you enjoy friends to lovers, then you'll like this book. The story is based around something they saw when they were younger and how it affected their friendship. I just found that the book was very focused on their inner feelings for each other, rather than an actual storyline.
February 19, 2021
The book started off strong with the first two chapters but then that scene dragged a little. I was a little bit disappointed it didn’t show more of the four friends, went on a tangent with the barn plus they seemed to enter into their secret relationship very quickly with little angst. I would have liked to seen more of them as adults as well.
I would be interested in Terry’s story.
I would be interested in Terry’s story.
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August 1, 2020I’m in disbelief at how easy it is to swing from straight to gay/bi? From traumatized by an event to getting horny by same event ? How ? 🤷♀️
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August 26, 2020This just went sideways with me......
September 7, 2024
3.5 stars 💚
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews