What do you think?
Rate this book
Avoiding Aiden
I avoid. It’s this thing I do. Like, right now, I’m avoiding talking about being dumped. Instead, I’m going to the bar, where my friend Elyse has a drink waiting and my friend Charlie is performing in drag. But they decide that a hookup is just what I need.That’s when I meet Jude. Jude is incredible, and then ... incredibly unavailable. Like, so unavailable. But, combined with advice from my siblings, I start seeing a counselor to talk about how I avoid.Then Carter, my ex, steps back into the picture for what I assume is going to be closure. And he assaults me. Jude is there to stop it and help me through the lawsuit and the trial. But Jude has his own stuff going on, and I’m graduating in the spring. At some point I’m going to have to deal with all the issues I’m facing ... especially when love is on the line.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2021
15 people want to read
About the author
Chris Cole
11 books15 followersChris (ze/zim) has too much to do, but there's not enough time to do it all.
Born and raised in Southeast Idaho, Chris has always had a love of stories: whether reading them, watching them, or telling them. Throughout school, ze always found time to write and be creative in multiple endeavors. From yearbook to choir to English assignments, Chris always found joy in creating.
First published in 2020, Chris has multiple books on the market, with many more in the works. These include three planned series in addition to the science-fiction series Fragments already published, several plays and screenplays, and sequels to books already and yet-to-be-published.
In May 2023, ze graduated with a master's degree in counseling. Currently working as a full-time licensed professional counselor, Chris continues to write in whatever spare time comes along. Ze also enjoys advocacy and outreach in the LGBTQ+ population, as well as participating in local theater.
Chris owns two adorably stubborn dogs, Chewie and Aramis, has three nephews, and may also be on yet another playthrough of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, already wanting more from the Dragon Age universe.
Born and raised in Southeast Idaho, Chris has always had a love of stories: whether reading them, watching them, or telling them. Throughout school, ze always found time to write and be creative in multiple endeavors. From yearbook to choir to English assignments, Chris always found joy in creating.
First published in 2020, Chris has multiple books on the market, with many more in the works. These include three planned series in addition to the science-fiction series Fragments already published, several plays and screenplays, and sequels to books already and yet-to-be-published.
In May 2023, ze graduated with a master's degree in counseling. Currently working as a full-time licensed professional counselor, Chris continues to write in whatever spare time comes along. Ze also enjoys advocacy and outreach in the LGBTQ+ population, as well as participating in local theater.
Chris owns two adorably stubborn dogs, Chewie and Aramis, has three nephews, and may also be on yet another playthrough of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, already wanting more from the Dragon Age universe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 26, 2022
A wonderful and exciting read. The characters are amazing and pull you in. The story is full of raw truth around living with and improving yourself. The story is a small glimpse of how cultural bias needlessly complicates not only every day life but also personal tragedies.Held my full attention from start to finish. I absolutely loved it and will buy from this author again. - Stephanie Martin
December 19, 2021
This story had me laughing at the beginning then it became more serious. I loved that it covered the different stigmas, heartaches, lost loves, and more, we go through IRL. I appreciated what the author did at the end, giving the two men a chance for a happy future. Well done.
April 6, 2022
Normally I am not one for first person stories but this novel grabbed my interest and held it to the very end. By writing in the first person the author was better able to showcase the sarcastic humor, which I love and can relate to. The ability to laugh at oneself amidst the times of trouble speaks volumes. The characters were intriguing and their stories compelling. I found them pulling at my heartstrings making me want to get to know them better. Avoiding Aiden had an amusing take on real life problems. I can see myself, using in the future as a feel good book to revisit and reread again.
September 10, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Avoiding Aiden is a contemporary work by author Chris Cole. It features a young adult and a slightly less young college instructor and covers some personal issues in great detail.
I liked the idea of unrequited love between a college student and his instructor. The book is told in first person from Aiden’s perspective and I enjoyed how our main character processes a lot more than just this unrequited love. Truth be told, I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the character. I think the framing of the story helped give me a broader sense of Aiden as a person, also. We see him talk himself through having his first-ever one-night stand, then spend his whole summer vacation at his (usually much older) siblings’ homes, enduring being set up with blind dates (that runs the gamut from terrible for the wrong reasons to terrible for the right ones), the finally returning to school where the bulk of the action takes place.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Avoiding Aiden is a contemporary work by author Chris Cole. It features a young adult and a slightly less young college instructor and covers some personal issues in great detail.
I liked the idea of unrequited love between a college student and his instructor. The book is told in first person from Aiden’s perspective and I enjoyed how our main character processes a lot more than just this unrequited love. Truth be told, I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the character. I think the framing of the story helped give me a broader sense of Aiden as a person, also. We see him talk himself through having his first-ever one-night stand, then spend his whole summer vacation at his (usually much older) siblings’ homes, enduring being set up with blind dates (that runs the gamut from terrible for the wrong reasons to terrible for the right ones), the finally returning to school where the bulk of the action takes place.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
June 17, 2022
Just in time for Pride Month.
Chris Cole's Avoiding Aiden is a sweet, moving, funny, traumatic, and heart tugging novel of a man who discovers love after his boyfriend breaks up with him and goes on a personal journey of self-discovery.
Aiden is a college student doubling in English and Human Resources and as he mentions in his first sentence "being dumped f#$_&@g sucks." His boyfriend, TV news reporter Carter broke up with him. Aiden dreads the inevitable conversation that would result. ("Oh hey Aiden how's it going?" "Oh great, literally anybody in my nightmare! Just picking up a few last minute things for dinner." "Same here. Hey how's Carter doing?")
His friends, Elyse and Charlie convince the depressed Aiden to go clubbing with them allegedly to see Charlie's drag performance but also Aiden could be hooked up with someone else.
Aiden is introduced to Jude, an English teacher. They have a cute and funny conversation about what vegetable and superhero they would be and what brings Jude to town to teach classes. ("You're here on purpose?," Aiden said, surprised that anyone would choose to live in his home state of Idaho.) They sleep together for a night and get along afterwards enough to exchange text messages while Jude gets into a serious relationship and Aiden goes to visit his four siblings who set him up with various unsuitable dates. After his eventful summer ends, Aiden returns to school and is shocked to discover that Jude is his English professor! As if that wasn't enough, Jude just ended his relationship and is still interested in Aiden. It gets better. Jude's ex is also Aiden's ex: Carter!
Avoiding Aiden alternates between touching and humorous, sometimes both at the same time. Aiden concedes that his family is unique with the eldest Brett as the only straight sibling who feels the pressure of being the only family member that is able to biologically continue the bloodline. Aiden also has a trans brother,Riley, who is hypersensitive about any signs of prejudice and two sisters, Sarah and Shenoah, who are a lesbian and bisexual respectively.
They also had the two most understanding, accepting, and supportive parents that are unfortunately deceased. Aiden goes through tremendous guilt and loss over his parent's deaths and has a hard time coming to terms with the grief, even well into adulthood. This grief is part of the reason that Aiden is so self critical and uncertain in relationships.
Aiden loves his siblings but sometimes resents their micromanaging of his love life.When they hear that he's single, they set him up with dates when he visits. They turn out to be disasters from Porter who likes using his tongue too much, to the well endowed Noah who gets possessive after only one date, to Patrick who "can't do complicated" and Han, who Aiden just doesn't feel the same way about them. Through this wild summer of reconnecting with siblings and having the worst rebounds possible, Aiden continues to text Jude so it's clear who he is really interested in.
Even when Aiden is reunited with Jude, things become even more complicated. With Jude being Aiden's professor, they realize that they could cross several boundaries that could cost Jude his job. There are hints that the issue is less of a student-teacher relationship but that it's a male professor-student relationship. That there is a double standard and if one were a female, the issue would be swept under the rug and most would look the other way. Aiden and Jude realize that every moment that they are together must be kept under the strictest confidence . It's up to them to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for and holding onto despite the potential outcome.
There is another complication: Carter. He's still in the picture and despite Aiden trying to get over the breakup, it's clear Carter hasn't either. However while Aiden tries to move on in a healthy manner, Carter becomes obsessive. In one chapter, he does something to Aiden that changes the focus of the book entirely. It is a traumatic event and it clearly shows that Carter has jumped way over the moral event horizon. It also shows Jude's loving and protective nature that he cares for and supports Aiden during this whole ordeal.
Aiden also emerges from this ordeal as a more mature and thoughtful person who is ready to open up his heart and get into a real relationship.
Aiden also learns to be more honest with himself. In avoiding relationships,he was avoiding himself. He avoided the parts of himself that made him emotional, self conscious, insecure, and feel like he is incapable of love and being loved. When he accepts himself, that's when Aiden knows that he can accept love. Accepting Aiden.
Chris Cole's Avoiding Aiden is a sweet, moving, funny, traumatic, and heart tugging novel of a man who discovers love after his boyfriend breaks up with him and goes on a personal journey of self-discovery.
Aiden is a college student doubling in English and Human Resources and as he mentions in his first sentence "being dumped f#$_&@g sucks." His boyfriend, TV news reporter Carter broke up with him. Aiden dreads the inevitable conversation that would result. ("Oh hey Aiden how's it going?" "Oh great, literally anybody in my nightmare! Just picking up a few last minute things for dinner." "Same here. Hey how's Carter doing?")
His friends, Elyse and Charlie convince the depressed Aiden to go clubbing with them allegedly to see Charlie's drag performance but also Aiden could be hooked up with someone else.
Aiden is introduced to Jude, an English teacher. They have a cute and funny conversation about what vegetable and superhero they would be and what brings Jude to town to teach classes. ("You're here on purpose?," Aiden said, surprised that anyone would choose to live in his home state of Idaho.) They sleep together for a night and get along afterwards enough to exchange text messages while Jude gets into a serious relationship and Aiden goes to visit his four siblings who set him up with various unsuitable dates. After his eventful summer ends, Aiden returns to school and is shocked to discover that Jude is his English professor! As if that wasn't enough, Jude just ended his relationship and is still interested in Aiden. It gets better. Jude's ex is also Aiden's ex: Carter!
Avoiding Aiden alternates between touching and humorous, sometimes both at the same time. Aiden concedes that his family is unique with the eldest Brett as the only straight sibling who feels the pressure of being the only family member that is able to biologically continue the bloodline. Aiden also has a trans brother,Riley, who is hypersensitive about any signs of prejudice and two sisters, Sarah and Shenoah, who are a lesbian and bisexual respectively.
They also had the two most understanding, accepting, and supportive parents that are unfortunately deceased. Aiden goes through tremendous guilt and loss over his parent's deaths and has a hard time coming to terms with the grief, even well into adulthood. This grief is part of the reason that Aiden is so self critical and uncertain in relationships.
Aiden loves his siblings but sometimes resents their micromanaging of his love life.When they hear that he's single, they set him up with dates when he visits. They turn out to be disasters from Porter who likes using his tongue too much, to the well endowed Noah who gets possessive after only one date, to Patrick who "can't do complicated" and Han, who Aiden just doesn't feel the same way about them. Through this wild summer of reconnecting with siblings and having the worst rebounds possible, Aiden continues to text Jude so it's clear who he is really interested in.
Even when Aiden is reunited with Jude, things become even more complicated. With Jude being Aiden's professor, they realize that they could cross several boundaries that could cost Jude his job. There are hints that the issue is less of a student-teacher relationship but that it's a male professor-student relationship. That there is a double standard and if one were a female, the issue would be swept under the rug and most would look the other way. Aiden and Jude realize that every moment that they are together must be kept under the strictest confidence . It's up to them to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for and holding onto despite the potential outcome.
There is another complication: Carter. He's still in the picture and despite Aiden trying to get over the breakup, it's clear Carter hasn't either. However while Aiden tries to move on in a healthy manner, Carter becomes obsessive. In one chapter, he does something to Aiden that changes the focus of the book entirely. It is a traumatic event and it clearly shows that Carter has jumped way over the moral event horizon. It also shows Jude's loving and protective nature that he cares for and supports Aiden during this whole ordeal.
Aiden also emerges from this ordeal as a more mature and thoughtful person who is ready to open up his heart and get into a real relationship.
Aiden also learns to be more honest with himself. In avoiding relationships,he was avoiding himself. He avoided the parts of himself that made him emotional, self conscious, insecure, and feel like he is incapable of love and being loved. When he accepts himself, that's when Aiden knows that he can accept love. Accepting Aiden.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2022
I just finished reading Avoiding Aiden. I did not know what to expect, I like to go in blind. It is a story about a young man about to graduate college, who is gay, and has the “usual” group of friends, that ends up experiencing more than any of us should! His life is pretty normal but with a twist. His friends and family love him, and he loves them. If you love to read good writing and enjoy learning while you read, at least for me, then take a chance on this book! Definitely a read worthy of your time! And it is a love story to boot.
September 13, 2022
Avoiding Aiden will grab you and take hold fast. There are so many relatable characters and great representation across the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Aiden's character arc is an important journey that all readers should experience. I'm proud of the author for the ability to capture serious topics like depression and challenge characters to seek professional counseling. There are some very serious themes but you will fall in love and root for the characters at every turn - and hate a few throughout. Top-notch writing and witty dialogue. Please pick this up.
May 12, 2022
I was sent a free copy of this book and went into it without knowing anything about it except the synopsis. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but it was entertaining enough. I read it really fast and didn’t see some of the plot twists coming. It was all together a story with a good plot that wasn’t explored the way I think is best. I really liked some of the characters, Jude being my favorite. I think trigger warnings should have been included in the book seeing as some scenes are very explicit and can be triggering to some.
At the end of the day it was entertaining.
At the end of the day it was entertaining.
July 23, 2022
1 - Star
DNF at 23%
Clearly a minority view, but my only regret is that I didn't quite earlier. So many unlikeable characters acting badly.
DNF at 23%
Clearly a minority view, but my only regret is that I didn't quite earlier. So many unlikeable characters acting badly.
October 28, 2022
“Avoiding Aiden” by Chris Cole is the perfect balance between a light read and a meaningful one. Though the book broaches many subjects that are particularly relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, it also shows aspects of the human experience that we all can relate to. The narration has a fascinating combination of action, description, and dialogue. I especially enjoyed the witty and authentic dialogues. This, along with the outstanding character development, makes “Avoiding Aiden” one of the books I’ve most enjoyed this year.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews