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Love Grows In Honest Places #1
Skyler Phoenix
I knew it would be bad…
…but I didn’t think my family would abandon me.
I don't understand my foster parents any more. How can they promise to love everyone at church but choose to hate me because I'm different?
The social worker told me to keep my chin up, but I don’t know if I’m headed for the streets or the orphanage on the other side of town. Wherever I go, I won’t let them discover my dirty little secret. I can’t risk telling them the truth everyone hates about me.
I wish I could take it back.
I wish I'd never fallen in love with my best friend, Cameron.
Skyler Phoenix is the first book of the Love Grows in Honest Places series.
Get it now.
This book was originally published as The Climb.
…but I didn’t think my family would abandon me.
I don't understand my foster parents any more. How can they promise to love everyone at church but choose to hate me because I'm different?
The social worker told me to keep my chin up, but I don’t know if I’m headed for the streets or the orphanage on the other side of town. Wherever I go, I won’t let them discover my dirty little secret. I can’t risk telling them the truth everyone hates about me.
I wish I could take it back.
I wish I'd never fallen in love with my best friend, Cameron.
Skyler Phoenix is the first book of the Love Grows in Honest Places series.
Get it now.
This book was originally published as The Climb.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2016
182 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Damien Benoit-Ledoux
23 books77 followersDamien Benoit-Ledoux is an author and freelance editor. His mind is a magical and nerdy place where fantastic heroes defend amazing worlds from dangerous villains who run amuck in an epic struggle to take over the universe. Recently, the brightest and best from this colorful cast of characters have made their way into notes, plots, stories, and novels for you to read and enjoy.
Damien strongly believes the real world we live in should be a place where LGBTQ equality and respect are second nature and never questioned. When he's not working or spending time with his husband, their two beautiful sons, and their dog, Damien weaves this philosophy into the exciting lives of his characters and the fantastic space battles and romances they endure so they'll stop taking over his dreams at night.
And finally, he wants you to remember a very important thing: No matter how bad your day is at work, it’s always important to be grateful that you don’t work for a Sith Lord.
Damien strongly believes the real world we live in should be a place where LGBTQ equality and respect are second nature and never questioned. When he's not working or spending time with his husband, their two beautiful sons, and their dog, Damien weaves this philosophy into the exciting lives of his characters and the fantastic space battles and romances they endure so they'll stop taking over his dreams at night.
And finally, he wants you to remember a very important thing: No matter how bad your day is at work, it’s always important to be grateful that you don’t work for a Sith Lord.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 29, 2020
The Climb of the Phoenix Skyler
The worst possibilities for a young boy is to be orphaned into the foster care system. You have few choices and they are all based on survival. But a pattern develops that destroys your self esteem and makes fear your closest companion.
Foster homes are never perfect, but some try to milk the system for the money from providing care to pay for drink and drug habits. This creates hatred for the kid and abuse increases over time. Sometimes it gets stopped.
Some foster families go for the glory and prestige of caring for others in a perfect family and do not care about the kid. Most common in in families with strong Christian beliefs and absolute judgements. Always emotionally abusive.
Some families operate on mutual love and understanding to support the foster child where they can heal and thrive.
Skyler is a survivor who struggles to fly like a Phoenix with friends and family. This book is a demonstration of challenges and healing as he climbs out of the pit into a new life as himself.
The worst possibilities for a young boy is to be orphaned into the foster care system. You have few choices and they are all based on survival. But a pattern develops that destroys your self esteem and makes fear your closest companion.
Foster homes are never perfect, but some try to milk the system for the money from providing care to pay for drink and drug habits. This creates hatred for the kid and abuse increases over time. Sometimes it gets stopped.
Some foster families go for the glory and prestige of caring for others in a perfect family and do not care about the kid. Most common in in families with strong Christian beliefs and absolute judgements. Always emotionally abusive.
Some families operate on mutual love and understanding to support the foster child where they can heal and thrive.
Skyler is a survivor who struggles to fly like a Phoenix with friends and family. This book is a demonstration of challenges and healing as he climbs out of the pit into a new life as himself.
January 22, 2022
The idea of the story itself is not a bad one, and definitely a story worth telling, but I think the way it's told is... not very good, unfortunately. The story is written in the most over the top way that I find it hard to take seriously. The religious foster mom is the most stereotypical hellfire and brimstone homophobic Christian you can imagine, as are the church pastors. The church pastor who was gay that talked about how Jesus' testicles are what gave him the strength to endure the crucifixion or whatever was... no one talks like that! Yes, it is an unfortunate reality that gay men will end up in positions like that, but the dialogue was too unbelievable. And then once he moves to the new house, everything becomes sunshine and rainbows and everything is absolutely perfect, and it's just... hard to buy. It's this weird forced positivity, and he's surrounded by these friends that are immediately loving and supportive and give him sage advice that doesn't sound like anything a teenager would say. The romance that happens is okay, but sort of bland and uninteresting. The homophobic bully is gay, of course, and the reveal with his drunk, abusive father is written in the most stereotypical, cliche, slur-spewing sort of way, that's sort of emblematic of my problem with the entire book. It's not that the idea of the story itself is bad, but it's not at all written with the tact or care such a story requires. Instead the characters are all shallow cardboard cutouts, they're all like what everyone thinks homophobic people are like. There's no nuance or tact to any of it, so ultimately the message the book is trying to get across falls flat.
January 2, 2023
This book made me feel every single possible emotion in my arsenal. And then some. Deep sadness. Anger and fury. Anxiety. Resentment. Disbelief. Pure joy. Hope. Optimism. You name it, I felt it. I found myself in tears throughout the book – happy tears, mad tears, and heartbroken tears.
Skyler is a boy trapped in the flawed, dysfunctional, and often quite cruel, foster care system. Long story short -- he loses everything. Again. Torn apart from the boy he loves deeply and relocated from his current foster home because he's gay, he has to start again. And at age 16, this is the third time he's had to do so.
The best part of the book were its characters. Let’s start with the title protagonist. Skyler was an incredible, resilient, strong, intelligent, thoughtful, selfless boy. One that you truly root for. I loved him dearly from the start. Despite the world hurting him and giving him so many reasons to give up, he persisted. Watching his story arc -- him finding himself, finding love, and finding a family was rewarding and beautiful. I was so proud of him and so moved by his journey.
The Kelleys, Skyler’s foster family, were fantastic, loving, accepting characters. The family he always deserved. I loved Dale and Liara so much, but CK was one of my favorite people in the book. Watching him accept Skyler from the first moment they met and seeing their relationship develop was such a delight. CK being moved to tears by how much he loved his brother was beyond touching.
Kalin? What. A. Man. He was so gentle and patient with Skyler, and I appreciated that so much.
Tracy, Cody, and Tommy? Outstanding supporting characters.
Daren. Although he was absolutely insufferable for most of the book, the big reveal (although it came as no surprise) broke my heart for him. Seeing Skyler defend him put my broken heart back together.
This book touched on so many important topics. The foster care system and its countless downfalls. But also, the moments in which the foster care works for the people it’s built to protect. Religious hypocrisy, bigotry, and trauma. Love and acceptance. Abuse, alcoholism, and mental health. Topics that need to be discussed.
Despite all the lows of the story, there were far more highs. It gave me such hope and filled me with optimism for LGBTQ youth – especially those in the foster care system. I cannot get over how much I adored this book. I am so excited to read the other 2 books in the series. Damien Benoit-Ledoux wrote something truly special when he wrote Skyler Phoenix. I needed stories like this when I was younger. I’m glad that they exist for the kids who desperately need them today.
I almost always associate every book I read with a Taylor Swift song. You’re On Your Own, Kid is so unbelievably fitting for this gem of a book.
“Because there were pages turned with the bridges burned – everything you lose is a step you take. / So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it – you’ve got no reason to be afraid. / You’re on your own, kid – you can face this. You’re on your own, kid – you always have been.”
Skyler is a boy trapped in the flawed, dysfunctional, and often quite cruel, foster care system. Long story short -- he loses everything. Again. Torn apart from the boy he loves deeply and relocated from his current foster home because he's gay, he has to start again. And at age 16, this is the third time he's had to do so.
The best part of the book were its characters. Let’s start with the title protagonist. Skyler was an incredible, resilient, strong, intelligent, thoughtful, selfless boy. One that you truly root for. I loved him dearly from the start. Despite the world hurting him and giving him so many reasons to give up, he persisted. Watching his story arc -- him finding himself, finding love, and finding a family was rewarding and beautiful. I was so proud of him and so moved by his journey.
The Kelleys, Skyler’s foster family, were fantastic, loving, accepting characters. The family he always deserved. I loved Dale and Liara so much, but CK was one of my favorite people in the book. Watching him accept Skyler from the first moment they met and seeing their relationship develop was such a delight. CK being moved to tears by how much he loved his brother was beyond touching.
Kalin? What. A. Man. He was so gentle and patient with Skyler, and I appreciated that so much.
Tracy, Cody, and Tommy? Outstanding supporting characters.
Daren. Although he was absolutely insufferable for most of the book, the big reveal (although it came as no surprise) broke my heart for him. Seeing Skyler defend him put my broken heart back together.
This book touched on so many important topics. The foster care system and its countless downfalls. But also, the moments in which the foster care works for the people it’s built to protect. Religious hypocrisy, bigotry, and trauma. Love and acceptance. Abuse, alcoholism, and mental health. Topics that need to be discussed.
Despite all the lows of the story, there were far more highs. It gave me such hope and filled me with optimism for LGBTQ youth – especially those in the foster care system. I cannot get over how much I adored this book. I am so excited to read the other 2 books in the series. Damien Benoit-Ledoux wrote something truly special when he wrote Skyler Phoenix. I needed stories like this when I was younger. I’m glad that they exist for the kids who desperately need them today.
I almost always associate every book I read with a Taylor Swift song. You’re On Your Own, Kid is so unbelievably fitting for this gem of a book.
“Because there were pages turned with the bridges burned – everything you lose is a step you take. / So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it – you’ve got no reason to be afraid. / You’re on your own, kid – you can face this. You’re on your own, kid – you always have been.”
December 19, 2022
Skyler Phoenix
By Damien Benoit-Ledoux
Published by Purple Spekter Press, 2016 (second edition 2021)
Four stars
This is the story of a boy who goes from one bad trauma to a worse one; a story that follows him on his journey from sadness and fear to happiness. It’s important that you know it’s a happy ending, because the journey is perilous and frightening. And, I’m afraid, all too real.
Skyler Phoenix is an orphan, thrown into the foster-care system at the age of ten. Although the author notes that the book is semi-autobiographical, it makes good hair-raising fiction for anyone who grew up anywhere on the LGBTQ rainbow any time in the last half century.
Interestingly, the book is not an indictment of foster care, only of the inability of case-workers to be able to read the minds of those to set themselves up to be foster parents. Katie, Skyler’s case-worker, ends up being a kind of hero; but only after Skyler has suffered – not once but twice – at the hands of families who do him more harm than good.
It is not a simple good-guys-bad-guys story, and that makes it all the more painful. The violence of alcoholism is no better or worse than that of religious intolerance; and the threat of violence is every bit as damaging as physical violence, at least on a child’s psyche. Skyler’s story is Dickensian, if you think of “Oliver Twist,” and that orphan Oliver’s voyage from bad to worse to happiness. (Think of the son in the movie musical, “Where is love?” and it’ll make you cry; or at least I did.)
This book is set in the 21st century, and yet Skyler suffers far more than I did coming out in the 1970s. It’s all the luck of the draw, the hand he is dealt (and the amazingly lucky hand I was dealt). The story emphasizes the importance of love – real love, not conditional love – as a powerful tool for healing; and also underscores the point that children are really helpless to improve their lives when the context of their lives is inimical to their happiness.
If I had any regret at all, I’d say that the one religious perspective in the book is not given any counterpoint other than the “I’m spiritual, not religious” alternative. Having spent half my life in an Episcopal church where many gay children were happily launched into the world knowing they were loved by their religious community and their families, it just seems unfair not to at least acknowledge this. Then again, this is the author’s semi-autobiographical story, so perhaps I’m being unduly concerned.
The world I came out in was far more hostile than it is now. Events of the last six years have proved, however, that LGBTQ people are still not really safe in this country unless they are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. Damien Benoit-Ledoux’s heartfelt story is a reminder of that all-too-important truth.
By Damien Benoit-Ledoux
Published by Purple Spekter Press, 2016 (second edition 2021)
Four stars
This is the story of a boy who goes from one bad trauma to a worse one; a story that follows him on his journey from sadness and fear to happiness. It’s important that you know it’s a happy ending, because the journey is perilous and frightening. And, I’m afraid, all too real.
Skyler Phoenix is an orphan, thrown into the foster-care system at the age of ten. Although the author notes that the book is semi-autobiographical, it makes good hair-raising fiction for anyone who grew up anywhere on the LGBTQ rainbow any time in the last half century.
Interestingly, the book is not an indictment of foster care, only of the inability of case-workers to be able to read the minds of those to set themselves up to be foster parents. Katie, Skyler’s case-worker, ends up being a kind of hero; but only after Skyler has suffered – not once but twice – at the hands of families who do him more harm than good.
It is not a simple good-guys-bad-guys story, and that makes it all the more painful. The violence of alcoholism is no better or worse than that of religious intolerance; and the threat of violence is every bit as damaging as physical violence, at least on a child’s psyche. Skyler’s story is Dickensian, if you think of “Oliver Twist,” and that orphan Oliver’s voyage from bad to worse to happiness. (Think of the son in the movie musical, “Where is love?” and it’ll make you cry; or at least I did.)
This book is set in the 21st century, and yet Skyler suffers far more than I did coming out in the 1970s. It’s all the luck of the draw, the hand he is dealt (and the amazingly lucky hand I was dealt). The story emphasizes the importance of love – real love, not conditional love – as a powerful tool for healing; and also underscores the point that children are really helpless to improve their lives when the context of their lives is inimical to their happiness.
If I had any regret at all, I’d say that the one religious perspective in the book is not given any counterpoint other than the “I’m spiritual, not religious” alternative. Having spent half my life in an Episcopal church where many gay children were happily launched into the world knowing they were loved by their religious community and their families, it just seems unfair not to at least acknowledge this. Then again, this is the author’s semi-autobiographical story, so perhaps I’m being unduly concerned.
The world I came out in was far more hostile than it is now. Events of the last six years have proved, however, that LGBTQ people are still not really safe in this country unless they are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. Damien Benoit-Ledoux’s heartfelt story is a reminder of that all-too-important truth.
October 4, 2021
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An e-copy of the book has been provided by the author, Damien Benoit-Ledoux.
There are no words that can describe the struggles Skyler Phoenix has went through. It molded him to the person who he became, but it did not ruin him. It made him better. And that is what made this story absolutely beautiful.
Despite the wonderful message of the book, of course, I had my issues with it. I was not particularly fond of the narration. There was a weird tone to it that made Skyler seem older than he is—obviously his hardship has a huge contribution to this. It was a little too flimsy. It did not have any effect on the pacing and transitioning whatsoever, but it did affect my overall reading experience. There were also a surplus of flirtatious moment that seems off and unrealistic. With the amount of winking this book has, I’m surprised the characters didn’t get cramps in their eyelids. A large portion of the novel reminded me of why I veer away from YA books recently.
In line with the theme of the book, it should be said that this book has some serious homophobia. Strongly so, in the form of religion. As much as it is an integral part of the story, though, I think that the message could have come across with fewer passages. I feel for Skyler, I do. But the repetition of the religious dilemma can become rather tiring and anxiety inducing. I never experienced this myself, and although my family has some slight prejudice come religion as well, they were mostly passive with it; however, it still gave me a strong fear for rejection and it was hard to read not only for both the experience and imagery of it, but also for the redundancy.
I loved all of the characters of the book. Aside from, for obvious reasons, the certain family who adopted Skyler. I even felt for Daren who was also a villain of sort of the story. I think he was interestingly made. On the other hand, the breaks of the novel are well done and the transitions felt really smooth and easy flowing making this such a quick read.
A bag of thousand emotions, Skyler Phoenix was such a fantastic experience. It left me with a strong sense of understanding towards people and the fights only they know. Additionally, it left me with the desire to be better even when the world is getting worse.
An e-copy of the book has been provided by the author, Damien Benoit-Ledoux.
“He realized, despite the recent bullshit, he had grown into a good guy who had survived an overdose of Christianity that had proven itself to be hypocritical. They pretend to love you until they find a reason to hate you.”
There are no words that can describe the struggles Skyler Phoenix has went through. It molded him to the person who he became, but it did not ruin him. It made him better. And that is what made this story absolutely beautiful.
Despite the wonderful message of the book, of course, I had my issues with it. I was not particularly fond of the narration. There was a weird tone to it that made Skyler seem older than he is—obviously his hardship has a huge contribution to this. It was a little too flimsy. It did not have any effect on the pacing and transitioning whatsoever, but it did affect my overall reading experience. There were also a surplus of flirtatious moment that seems off and unrealistic. With the amount of winking this book has, I’m surprised the characters didn’t get cramps in their eyelids. A large portion of the novel reminded me of why I veer away from YA books recently.
“You know I don’t buy into all the churchy Jesus stuff. I wasn’t raised with it. Most of it sounds so crazy to me. I know it’s not your perspective, and you’re much more involved with it than I am, but, seriously, this isn’t the way it is. It can’t be. There’s too much hate when it’s supposed to be about God’s love.”
In line with the theme of the book, it should be said that this book has some serious homophobia. Strongly so, in the form of religion. As much as it is an integral part of the story, though, I think that the message could have come across with fewer passages. I feel for Skyler, I do. But the repetition of the religious dilemma can become rather tiring and anxiety inducing. I never experienced this myself, and although my family has some slight prejudice come religion as well, they were mostly passive with it; however, it still gave me a strong fear for rejection and it was hard to read not only for both the experience and imagery of it, but also for the redundancy.
I loved all of the characters of the book. Aside from, for obvious reasons, the certain family who adopted Skyler. I even felt for Daren who was also a villain of sort of the story. I think he was interestingly made. On the other hand, the breaks of the novel are well done and the transitions felt really smooth and easy flowing making this such a quick read.
“But if you simply be you, then people have nothing to talk about, unless they want to be catty, which, no matter what you do, you will never, ever be able to prevent anyway.”
A bag of thousand emotions, Skyler Phoenix was such a fantastic experience. It left me with a strong sense of understanding towards people and the fights only they know. Additionally, it left me with the desire to be better even when the world is getting worse.
February 5, 2017
The Climb is an amazing book. As a straight guy with many gay friends, I thought I knew how difficult it was for them all to come out. This book helps paint a very vivid picture for the friends and family who need help understanding the difficulties that many people in the LGBT community are going through. In addition, this book serves as a great tool for those who are still waiting to come out, or are too afraid.
Reading the climb has changed my already very supportive perspective of the LGBT community into an even stronger one.
Very great storyline, and very inspiring message.
Enjoy!
Reading the climb has changed my already very supportive perspective of the LGBT community into an even stronger one.
Very great storyline, and very inspiring message.
Enjoy!
May 2, 2023
Trigger Warnings: foster, religion/Christianity, terminal illness, past death of a parent, alcohol, abuse, homophobia, sex, masturbation, cancer, cursing, underage drinking, coming out, outing, bullying, violence, police interactions, alcoholism
Representation: Gay
Skyler Phoenix is a gay romance about Skyler Phoenix, who is abandoned by his foster parents when they find out he is gay. Skyler doesn’t understand how they can promise to love everyone at church but choose to hate him because he’s different. Skyler’s social worker told him to keep his chin up, but that is hard when he doesn’t know if he’s headed for the streets or the orphanage on the other side of town.
This audiobook was provided by the publisher via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I’m a little ashamed to admit this but I always fall victim to the misconception that indie published books are of a lower quality than traditionally published. I am so happy to say this story proved me incredibly wrong! This is a great story from an unknown to me author who perfectly captures what it’s like to not be accepted by “family” because of your sexuality. He did such a great job with balancing religious trauma and romance, no easy feat! While I have no experience with the foster care system, I thought this was a great example of some of the horrors within. Overall, I just really enjoyed this story and I hope it becomes way more popular soon!
Representation: Gay
Skyler Phoenix is a gay romance about Skyler Phoenix, who is abandoned by his foster parents when they find out he is gay. Skyler doesn’t understand how they can promise to love everyone at church but choose to hate him because he’s different. Skyler’s social worker told him to keep his chin up, but that is hard when he doesn’t know if he’s headed for the streets or the orphanage on the other side of town.
This audiobook was provided by the publisher via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I’m a little ashamed to admit this but I always fall victim to the misconception that indie published books are of a lower quality than traditionally published. I am so happy to say this story proved me incredibly wrong! This is a great story from an unknown to me author who perfectly captures what it’s like to not be accepted by “family” because of your sexuality. He did such a great job with balancing religious trauma and romance, no easy feat! While I have no experience with the foster care system, I thought this was a great example of some of the horrors within. Overall, I just really enjoyed this story and I hope it becomes way more popular soon!
January 9, 2022
This was a solid coming-of-age book, with good messages of becoming who you are and acceptance.
I admit I was way more intrigued by the first part when Skyler was with his second foster family than afterward. I think that the exploration of the hypocrisy and bigotry of some sectors of religious people and the struggle for young kids to understand and accept themselves in these circumstances is something that deserves more space and exploration.
This quote particularly stuck with me:
“He realized, despite the recent bullshit, he had grown into a good guy who had survived an overdose of Christianity that had proven itself to be hypocritical. They pretend to love you until they find a reason to hate you.”
After Skyler gets transferred, the book became more flat and overdramatic and for sure too long. Some anecdotes were recounted over and over again, which made it a bit pedantic at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as a cute queer story and the narrator for the audiobook was really great, he made the experience so much better!
I admit I was way more intrigued by the first part when Skyler was with his second foster family than afterward. I think that the exploration of the hypocrisy and bigotry of some sectors of religious people and the struggle for young kids to understand and accept themselves in these circumstances is something that deserves more space and exploration.
This quote particularly stuck with me:
“He realized, despite the recent bullshit, he had grown into a good guy who had survived an overdose of Christianity that had proven itself to be hypocritical. They pretend to love you until they find a reason to hate you.”
After Skyler gets transferred, the book became more flat and overdramatic and for sure too long. Some anecdotes were recounted over and over again, which made it a bit pedantic at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book as a cute queer story and the narrator for the audiobook was really great, he made the experience so much better!
June 30, 2022
Super good book! Love the story line regarding reglious upbringing but conflicted about being gay. Great outcome in the end!!
June 24, 2017
Buckle up...this one is a long ride.
Skyler sure was dealt a challenging childhood. Faced with the death of his mom and an abusive (physical & mental) foster care home number 1 & 2. Believing nothing good lasts, Skyler finds himself transplanted to foster care home number 3, where for the first time since living with his mother, he's accepted and loved. He knows this is too good to be true. He struggles with the change of his new environment; perhaps Skyler was brainwashed to believe he isn't good enough in foster care home 1 & 2. I think it was Liara, his new foster care mother, who told him they'd just keep telling Skyler he was welcomed and loved until he believed it.
Most of the book is a series of de-programming Skyler. Getting him to let his mind catch up to what his heart already knows. There were some powerful passages that had me tearing up. I'd like to get more resolve with two characters...maybe that'll be book 2? 4.25 for Cody.
Skyler sure was dealt a challenging childhood. Faced with the death of his mom and an abusive (physical & mental) foster care home number 1 & 2. Believing nothing good lasts, Skyler finds himself transplanted to foster care home number 3, where for the first time since living with his mother, he's accepted and loved. He knows this is too good to be true. He struggles with the change of his new environment; perhaps Skyler was brainwashed to believe he isn't good enough in foster care home 1 & 2. I think it was Liara, his new foster care mother, who told him they'd just keep telling Skyler he was welcomed and loved until he believed it.
Most of the book is a series of de-programming Skyler. Getting him to let his mind catch up to what his heart already knows. There were some powerful passages that had me tearing up. I'd like to get more resolve with two characters...maybe that'll be book 2? 4.25 for Cody.
October 19, 2021
It Gets Better - But very seldom any better than this
Lately I've been reading a wide variety of things at once, so I'd forgotten what was said in the book blurb when I started listening to this. I was a bit surprised at the way this developed. From the moment we meet the Tinsdales, Skyler's second foster family, it felt a bit like boarding the Titanic. It seems very posh, but there are clues that this is going to end with him on the outside in the cold. Skyler's and Cam's sweet stumblings into a relationship were heartwarming, but I felt a continual sense of dread at what might happen if the boys were outed.
When that does happen, the novel quickly devolves into the struggle between the ultra-religious foster-mother Rachel Tinsdale and freshly outed Skylar. After dismissing the laughable attempts of the church's “prayer warriors” to convert him, Skyler is sent packing again. Finally, the tale switches to a hopeful one of recovery and growth. In his third placement Skyler is incredibly lucky.
His new family, the Kellys, are completely accepting. His new foster bother CK is overjoyed to finally have a sibling, and is incredibly supportive. Perhaps, it's a bit unbelievable just how supportive almost everyone in his new New York home is. ...Not to mention how gorgeous all the guys are. Skyler feels like it's “to good to be true” and is initially untrusting in his new environment. Given his history, that's completely understandable. Worrying about remaining closeted as long as he does, almost ruins some of his best possibilities, but once he truly realizes that he's safe, he really starts to blossom.
Skyler's first “real date” is about as romantic as any I've ever read. And his confrontation with the lone bully in his new environment is satisfying as well. Some critics have even panned this as being unrealistically positive. I'd like to believe that it does, in fact, get better and what we see here is just modeling some of that attitude.
Ben Palacios does a workman-like job as the narrator in what appears to be his first performance. This story is told in third person from the POV of Skyler. If we infer that the voices we hear are Skyler's renditions of the those voices, parts of this work better. As read, Ben Palacios's voice no way sounds like a 7 year old girl's, or her sanctimonious 30-something mother. But they're not that far from what they'd sound like as imitated by Skyler.
Overall, the narration works but it's not without flaws. Tracy, a particularly irrepressible character, calls for a voice actor to dial up the characterization to 10. Problem is here it's been dialed up to 15. It still works to a degree, and can be discounted for the most part. Some other characters are voiced pretty boisterously as well, but generally it makes the tale just that much more appealing.
A little overenthusiastic dialogue can really spice up a story. Unfortunately the Audible sample audio-clip uses an excerpt with Tracy at her most irrepressible. It nearly put me off selecting this book. 14 hours of dialogue at that level would NOT have been enjoyable at all. Cinnamon is a great spice, but one will never know that, if one first samples cinnamon by swallowing a tablespoon full of it.
There are some times in the narration where it's tough to tell what Skyler's thinking versus what he's saying aloud. There are also a few minor moments when the voice characterizations become inconsistent, or vary from what's described in the text. Also the voice of Liara didn't feel quiet natural to my ear. I felt that both Liara and Tracy would have sounded better as voiced in my head if I'd been reading the text than as I was hearing them. Conversely CK and Kalen both had moments in the audio-book that were better than what I would have imagined. For those that tend to be particularly demanding listeners, this might actually work better as text than as an audio-book.
Either way, if you like YA fiction, and are ready for really romantic tale; one that pulls no punches when depicting evangelical Christianity, and the damage than can be done by over zealousness, this might be the book for you. It's a bit preachy in spots but then so's the opposition.
Content warning: Some scenes of domestic abuse (to the point of summoning ambulances) are depicted in this tale.
***Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
Lately I've been reading a wide variety of things at once, so I'd forgotten what was said in the book blurb when I started listening to this. I was a bit surprised at the way this developed. From the moment we meet the Tinsdales, Skyler's second foster family, it felt a bit like boarding the Titanic. It seems very posh, but there are clues that this is going to end with him on the outside in the cold. Skyler's and Cam's sweet stumblings into a relationship were heartwarming, but I felt a continual sense of dread at what might happen if the boys were outed.
When that does happen, the novel quickly devolves into the struggle between the ultra-religious foster-mother Rachel Tinsdale and freshly outed Skylar. After dismissing the laughable attempts of the church's “prayer warriors” to convert him, Skyler is sent packing again. Finally, the tale switches to a hopeful one of recovery and growth. In his third placement Skyler is incredibly lucky.
His new family, the Kellys, are completely accepting. His new foster bother CK is overjoyed to finally have a sibling, and is incredibly supportive. Perhaps, it's a bit unbelievable just how supportive almost everyone in his new New York home is. ...Not to mention how gorgeous all the guys are. Skyler feels like it's “to good to be true” and is initially untrusting in his new environment. Given his history, that's completely understandable. Worrying about remaining closeted as long as he does, almost ruins some of his best possibilities, but once he truly realizes that he's safe, he really starts to blossom.
Skyler's first “real date” is about as romantic as any I've ever read. And his confrontation with the lone bully in his new environment is satisfying as well. Some critics have even panned this as being unrealistically positive. I'd like to believe that it does, in fact, get better and what we see here is just modeling some of that attitude.
Ben Palacios does a workman-like job as the narrator in what appears to be his first performance. This story is told in third person from the POV of Skyler. If we infer that the voices we hear are Skyler's renditions of the those voices, parts of this work better. As read, Ben Palacios's voice no way sounds like a 7 year old girl's, or her sanctimonious 30-something mother. But they're not that far from what they'd sound like as imitated by Skyler.
Overall, the narration works but it's not without flaws. Tracy, a particularly irrepressible character, calls for a voice actor to dial up the characterization to 10. Problem is here it's been dialed up to 15. It still works to a degree, and can be discounted for the most part. Some other characters are voiced pretty boisterously as well, but generally it makes the tale just that much more appealing.
A little overenthusiastic dialogue can really spice up a story. Unfortunately the Audible sample audio-clip uses an excerpt with Tracy at her most irrepressible. It nearly put me off selecting this book. 14 hours of dialogue at that level would NOT have been enjoyable at all. Cinnamon is a great spice, but one will never know that, if one first samples cinnamon by swallowing a tablespoon full of it.
There are some times in the narration where it's tough to tell what Skyler's thinking versus what he's saying aloud. There are also a few minor moments when the voice characterizations become inconsistent, or vary from what's described in the text. Also the voice of Liara didn't feel quiet natural to my ear. I felt that both Liara and Tracy would have sounded better as voiced in my head if I'd been reading the text than as I was hearing them. Conversely CK and Kalen both had moments in the audio-book that were better than what I would have imagined. For those that tend to be particularly demanding listeners, this might actually work better as text than as an audio-book.
Either way, if you like YA fiction, and are ready for really romantic tale; one that pulls no punches when depicting evangelical Christianity, and the damage than can be done by over zealousness, this might be the book for you. It's a bit preachy in spots but then so's the opposition.
Content warning: Some scenes of domestic abuse (to the point of summoning ambulances) are depicted in this tale.
***Note: I am voluntarily reviewing this after receiving a complimentary copy ***
April 12, 2023
I'm giving this book a solid 3 stars. I absolutely loved the book's first half when Sklyer is dealing with the situation with the Tisdales and Cam. There were solid emotional beats, and the story felt realistic. I am from the South, and this is precisely how anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community would be treated. I was a snotty mess when he watched Prayers for Bobby with his foster dad, Stephen, and siblings. It adds some nuance to the story. Not everyone who is a Christian is completely irredeemable, and the best way to help them is to educate them. I definitely feel like Stephen could change and did change. Whether he will stay that way once his wife regains control of him remains to be seen. It also broke my heart when Skyler had to say goodbye to his siblings.
Then we get to the middle of the book when Sklyar meets his third foster family, the Kelleys. This was okay, if not a little too good to be true. I did immensely enjoy Dale and Liara. I love that their relationship is so open and the way they talk to CK and Skyler, and how supportive they are. It's from about the point in the story when Skylar starts going out with Kalin that things begin to fall apart for me. I do like Kalin, and they make a cute couple, but the story seemed to stumble here and made the last bit of the book feel like it lasted forever, and I ended up losing some interest in the characters. Some of the dialogue, especially once Skylar makes it to the Kelley household, is a bit much. Teenagers do not talk or even act in some of the ways described.
I did listen to this as an audiobook, and the narration was a bit much at times. It was hard to decipher between many of the male voices, which seemed very stereotypical surfer dudes. The female voices came out as overly Valley Girl in most cases. Giggles were also a little weird.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and took many great moments from it.
Then we get to the middle of the book when Sklyar meets his third foster family, the Kelleys. This was okay, if not a little too good to be true. I did immensely enjoy Dale and Liara. I love that their relationship is so open and the way they talk to CK and Skyler, and how supportive they are. It's from about the point in the story when Skylar starts going out with Kalin that things begin to fall apart for me. I do like Kalin, and they make a cute couple, but the story seemed to stumble here and made the last bit of the book feel like it lasted forever, and I ended up losing some interest in the characters. Some of the dialogue, especially once Skylar makes it to the Kelley household, is a bit much. Teenagers do not talk or even act in some of the ways described.
I did listen to this as an audiobook, and the narration was a bit much at times. It was hard to decipher between many of the male voices, which seemed very stereotypical surfer dudes. The female voices came out as overly Valley Girl in most cases. Giggles were also a little weird.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and took many great moments from it.
September 23, 2021
“Skyler Phoenix” by Damien Benoit-Ledoux
Where does one even start, first of all I’d like to thank Damien for asking me to read his books and give my review. All I can say is this book has made me go through all the emotions. Sadness, happiness, anger, and there were tears, lots of them if I’m going to be honest. This was always my first time reading a book and having notes for my review, so without further ado let me get started.
Skyler is a teen boy in the foster care system, and he is put into the system at age 10 after his mother lost her fight with cancer. Skyler hasn’t had the easiest of times in the system. His first family was abusive, dealt with a drink foster father. When that came to light he got moved to a very religious family, and spent five years of his life there, but that all changed when his boyfriend Cam and him got caught or outed. His foster mother Rebecca is a bitch, and his foster father Stephen has no back bone. Rebecca tries to send him to a councilor at the church and they try to pray the “gay” away. Skyler gets sick of it and fights back, but him doing that gets him shipped out. Now Skyler is his third foster family the Kelley’s. He has a new brother CK and new parents. While there he finds himself, and with the help of this new family Skyler comes out. His new family, he’s new friends Tracy, Cody, Tommy, and Kalin all support him grow.
Kalin and Skyler grow into something beautiful. Skyler has to deal with a bunk bully Daren. I won’t tell much more, because you need to read this beautiful book. All I will say is Skyler started out as an orphan, but ended with a family.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏳️🌈
Where does one even start, first of all I’d like to thank Damien for asking me to read his books and give my review. All I can say is this book has made me go through all the emotions. Sadness, happiness, anger, and there were tears, lots of them if I’m going to be honest. This was always my first time reading a book and having notes for my review, so without further ado let me get started.
Skyler is a teen boy in the foster care system, and he is put into the system at age 10 after his mother lost her fight with cancer. Skyler hasn’t had the easiest of times in the system. His first family was abusive, dealt with a drink foster father. When that came to light he got moved to a very religious family, and spent five years of his life there, but that all changed when his boyfriend Cam and him got caught or outed. His foster mother Rebecca is a bitch, and his foster father Stephen has no back bone. Rebecca tries to send him to a councilor at the church and they try to pray the “gay” away. Skyler gets sick of it and fights back, but him doing that gets him shipped out. Now Skyler is his third foster family the Kelley’s. He has a new brother CK and new parents. While there he finds himself, and with the help of this new family Skyler comes out. His new family, he’s new friends Tracy, Cody, Tommy, and Kalin all support him grow.
Kalin and Skyler grow into something beautiful. Skyler has to deal with a bunk bully Daren. I won’t tell much more, because you need to read this beautiful book. All I will say is Skyler started out as an orphan, but ended with a family.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏳️🌈
February 25, 2024
It was fine, then not fine, then good, then repetitive, so I don’t know
October 7, 2025
read this for the first time about 4 years ago. safe to say i remembered nothing, especially how fucking sad the first part is. but my god what an amazing book.
January 15, 2026
The way the audio book narrator made the characters talk - absolutely over the top with exaggerated, pretentious emotions - instantly made me hate characters you are supposed to like. The female characters are voiced especially poorly. One girl that is supposed to be outgoing and friendly was narrated in such an aggressively annoying way that it made her into a crazy person and made me want to punch faces. Really, it's not even funny.
Also, if the book says "he coughed and said..." I don't want to hear the narrator go [cough cough cough], then read what 'he' said. We are neither too dumb to interpret lines on our own nor do we wish to hear your badly acted respiratory outbursts, thank you.
And then there's the laughing. The horrible fake laughing all the time. Horror clowns everywhere.
It is not a voice actor's place to push over-the-top, flamboyantly exaggerated emotions in each and every line or make the characters use childish sing-song voices when no written line indicates such things.
The only reason I didn't drop this horribly overacted audio book was that I couldn't find the ebook version.
All the while I am 110% certain the narrator actually could have done a good job since he has a nice versatile voice and clearly is able to use it nuancedly. So if this aggressively bad execution is on the recording studio, let me say: Shame on the director.
(If the book really was written by AI and this is the voice artist's reaction to an AI book, I entirely approve of voicing it exactly as terribly as it deserves.)
The book itself isn't worth the effort of going through any of this. It is so ridiculously bad.
At first the story seems to convey a clear message in favor of decent humanity with the main character as a focus point for emotional investment, before it diffuses into a cringy slice of life drama without sense or destination. The character design was well enough done at first to make me suffer through the audio book (even though that was a close call) since I wanted to know how the protagonist fared. Later on he lost his charm and credibility, and only self-hate and rage made me endure. While this book's initial message of 'don't be a bigot, it hurts people!' certainly needs a place in modern media, the narrative structure, pacing and writing add up to a clumsy something at first, then slowly diffuse into a mist of bla while the being needlessly dragged out.
Several noteworthy points of annoyance deserve to be mentioned.
First, this book breaks all the timeless gravity it could have had with in-your-face praise for certain real world media - not once, but multiple times - in the manner of character A: 'Do you know these Youtube videos? I love them!' Character B: 'Why yes, they helped me a lot!' (I wish I made this up.) The same media is mentioned repeatedly and it gets old really fast. There really was no need to construct, then abuse the flow of the story several times to preach to the readers - presumably teenagers in difficult spots? - about what videos and what movie to watch (while also spoiling the movie). The movie's praise gets ridiculous to the point that a secondary character drones on for several minutes about how important the its message was for the protagonist in her opinion - and he nods, smiles and appreciates being patronized.
I am wondering if the actual people who decided to read this book really are in such dire need of being educated with a wooden hammer. Or maybe I got it wrong and the real meaning of the book is promoting acceptance towards being patronized.
The lack of a deeper message might be excused if the story was at all enjoyable - but the poor writing skills get in the way of that. This brings me to the next point of critique: the readers get tortured with needlessly frequent over-explanations - meta and story-immanent - as well as so, so, so many repetitions. On a small scale, there are single-word repetitions, for example an unimaginative overuse of 'said'. Also, every single smile that is smiled is pointed out - repeatedly, sometimes four sentences in a row. If you drank a shot for every time the word 'smile' appears, you might actually be smiling a lot yourself.
Spotlights are violently pushed on information we already comfortably got from the context and the characters over-explain themselves inside the story all the time. In doing so, the teenagers talk like they each had an encyclopedia for breakfast. For example, the protagonist casually describes his first alcoholic foster family in comparison to the christian extremist second family like this: 'The limited potential abuse doesn't compare with the nastiness of the people who were cruel by rejecting me for being me, a gay kid'. You are telling me a real human, not AI, wrote this thinking a real human kid talks like this?
The main character loses further credibility by not just talking, but also acting like a grown-up who spent decades in therapy and then some more time and dollar bills on a psychology degree. His inner voice often further explains what we just then, just now, read, which is entirely unnecessary most of the time, because w e g e t i t.
What I don't get, however, is the following: Why must the story's flow be stopped every five minutes to inform us of the exact colours of a random item of clothing? Why are there several (!) occasions of detailed retellings of the last part of the story using the exact same words (with no new perspective) we just read? Did the author have to reach a certain word count? What did the historical figure Hildegart von Bingen do to the author so that he named a mean neighbour after her?
All the blunt hits on the nose bruise over time.
The author seems to assume his readers can't come to their own conclusions if even one detail is left chilling in the subtle or not so subtle context. It hurts to see all that flailing context information being dragged into daylight by brute force.
Another uncomfortable part of the book is the incredible cringeworthiness.
This book turns the reader into a voyeur to the teenaged protagonist's intimate experiences. He also expresses predatory thoughts towards other kids, taking the reader along for the ride. This, plainly, makes him seem like a creep. Also it clashes with his otherwise overly selfless personality and the overall moral high ground this book takes.
At the other times, some situations are so sappy and full of klischees the cringe-o-meter's needle maxes out in the other direction.
The grown-ups are pretty bad in their own right. Nobody lets the poor kid just be and even the presumably 'good' third foster family members (who are rich, giving, full of love and a heavily implied as being a perfect family) really act patronizing and put him through mortifying experiences and retellings of his traumata - all of which is portrayed as entirely positive and desirable. A few examples: We are forced to witness the flawless super parents tell the kid (in detail) about how they rejuvenated their sex life in an effort to conceive a child. They make the biggest fuss about his first date. And they pester him with very personal questions all the time - and the 16 year old is like, wow, you are so open, thanks for telling me all this and doing all that and he smiles, then smiles some more. In fact, every smile is pointed out. I cringe a lot over his lack of cringing (if you easily cringe about a lack of privacy, skip his first date scene, btw).
Next point: For all the psychological deepness and educational value the story seems to claim, it depicts some painfully unrealistic trauma processing. The protagonist has one nightmare about what he experienced, he is sad for a bit and develops a few insecurities - but overcomes all hardships immediately by the power of Youtube, a movie and his certified self-reflecting inner monologue. His human - aka flawed - behavioural reactions towards losing his biological family, his repeated relocations or the months of hurt and shame the christian bigots put him through are superficial at best. The protagonist lashes out exactly once (and in the same breath explains himself to gain immediate redemption), never hurts others for more than a millisecond (apart from two instances of self-defense, in which he naturally bests his opponents in battle) and always articulates his feelings perfectly in the very next breath. Also, needless to say, he is sweet and caring towards his foster siblings, integrates flawlessly, is handsome and athletic and immediately popular wherever he goes. He even develops immunity to bullying within one day. Who doesn't enjoy a protagonist like that?
This superhuman being only needs one good talk and a hug since his self reflection skills are over the top all the time, enabling him to win the hearts of everybody around him.
All in all the story evolves into a fairytale and - next point of criticism - it j u s t d o e s n o t e n d.
You might hope for this review to end soon, too, but since I'm typing and editing while still listening to the never ending story, new things pop up while this review slowly revolves into a preview. Spoiler: It does not get better.
Never have I checked for an audio book's remaining listening time so often while wishing for it to be over soon. What do you mean the protagonist's journey to accept himself is successful, his traumata miraculously are things of the past, healthy new relationships effortlessly drop into his lap and there are still close to four hours left?? Just let it end ffs. One more 'He smiled and laughed and said "Hahahahah! I agree, hehehe!," while smiling cheerfully with a big smile on his happy face that was smiling' and I might smilingly unalive myself.
Alas, he still needs to successfully un-assholify and befriend the stereotypical gay bully, because no flawed human beings are allowed to exist in the radiance of his shining light.
Yo know what, I suffered enough,and so did you. I just can't take more stupidity and I don't care how this ends, bye
Also, if the book says "he coughed and said..." I don't want to hear the narrator go [cough cough cough], then read what 'he' said. We are neither too dumb to interpret lines on our own nor do we wish to hear your badly acted respiratory outbursts, thank you.
And then there's the laughing. The horrible fake laughing all the time. Horror clowns everywhere.
It is not a voice actor's place to push over-the-top, flamboyantly exaggerated emotions in each and every line or make the characters use childish sing-song voices when no written line indicates such things.
The only reason I didn't drop this horribly overacted audio book was that I couldn't find the ebook version.
All the while I am 110% certain the narrator actually could have done a good job since he has a nice versatile voice and clearly is able to use it nuancedly. So if this aggressively bad execution is on the recording studio, let me say: Shame on the director.
(If the book really was written by AI and this is the voice artist's reaction to an AI book, I entirely approve of voicing it exactly as terribly as it deserves.)
The book itself isn't worth the effort of going through any of this. It is so ridiculously bad.
At first the story seems to convey a clear message in favor of decent humanity with the main character as a focus point for emotional investment, before it diffuses into a cringy slice of life drama without sense or destination. The character design was well enough done at first to make me suffer through the audio book (even though that was a close call) since I wanted to know how the protagonist fared. Later on he lost his charm and credibility, and only self-hate and rage made me endure. While this book's initial message of 'don't be a bigot, it hurts people!' certainly needs a place in modern media, the narrative structure, pacing and writing add up to a clumsy something at first, then slowly diffuse into a mist of bla while the being needlessly dragged out.
Several noteworthy points of annoyance deserve to be mentioned.
First, this book breaks all the timeless gravity it could have had with in-your-face praise for certain real world media - not once, but multiple times - in the manner of character A: 'Do you know these Youtube videos? I love them!' Character B: 'Why yes, they helped me a lot!' (I wish I made this up.) The same media is mentioned repeatedly and it gets old really fast. There really was no need to construct, then abuse the flow of the story several times to preach to the readers - presumably teenagers in difficult spots? - about what videos and what movie to watch (while also spoiling the movie). The movie's praise gets ridiculous to the point that a secondary character drones on for several minutes about how important the its message was for the protagonist in her opinion - and he nods, smiles and appreciates being patronized.
I am wondering if the actual people who decided to read this book really are in such dire need of being educated with a wooden hammer. Or maybe I got it wrong and the real meaning of the book is promoting acceptance towards being patronized.
The lack of a deeper message might be excused if the story was at all enjoyable - but the poor writing skills get in the way of that. This brings me to the next point of critique: the readers get tortured with needlessly frequent over-explanations - meta and story-immanent - as well as so, so, so many repetitions. On a small scale, there are single-word repetitions, for example an unimaginative overuse of 'said'. Also, every single smile that is smiled is pointed out - repeatedly, sometimes four sentences in a row. If you drank a shot for every time the word 'smile' appears, you might actually be smiling a lot yourself.
Spotlights are violently pushed on information we already comfortably got from the context and the characters over-explain themselves inside the story all the time. In doing so, the teenagers talk like they each had an encyclopedia for breakfast. For example, the protagonist casually describes his first alcoholic foster family in comparison to the christian extremist second family like this: 'The limited potential abuse doesn't compare with the nastiness of the people who were cruel by rejecting me for being me, a gay kid'. You are telling me a real human, not AI, wrote this thinking a real human kid talks like this?
The main character loses further credibility by not just talking, but also acting like a grown-up who spent decades in therapy and then some more time and dollar bills on a psychology degree. His inner voice often further explains what we just then, just now, read, which is entirely unnecessary most of the time, because w e g e t i t.
What I don't get, however, is the following: Why must the story's flow be stopped every five minutes to inform us of the exact colours of a random item of clothing? Why are there several (!) occasions of detailed retellings of the last part of the story using the exact same words (with no new perspective) we just read? Did the author have to reach a certain word count? What did the historical figure Hildegart von Bingen do to the author so that he named a mean neighbour after her?
All the blunt hits on the nose bruise over time.
The author seems to assume his readers can't come to their own conclusions if even one detail is left chilling in the subtle or not so subtle context. It hurts to see all that flailing context information being dragged into daylight by brute force.
Another uncomfortable part of the book is the incredible cringeworthiness.
This book turns the reader into a voyeur to the teenaged protagonist's intimate experiences. He also expresses predatory thoughts towards other kids, taking the reader along for the ride. This, plainly, makes him seem like a creep. Also it clashes with his otherwise overly selfless personality and the overall moral high ground this book takes.
At the other times, some situations are so sappy and full of klischees the cringe-o-meter's needle maxes out in the other direction.
The grown-ups are pretty bad in their own right. Nobody lets the poor kid just be and even the presumably 'good' third foster family members (who are rich, giving, full of love and a heavily implied as being a perfect family) really act patronizing and put him through mortifying experiences and retellings of his traumata - all of which is portrayed as entirely positive and desirable. A few examples: We are forced to witness the flawless super parents tell the kid (in detail) about how they rejuvenated their sex life in an effort to conceive a child. They make the biggest fuss about his first date. And they pester him with very personal questions all the time - and the 16 year old is like, wow, you are so open, thanks for telling me all this and doing all that and he smiles, then smiles some more. In fact, every smile is pointed out. I cringe a lot over his lack of cringing (if you easily cringe about a lack of privacy, skip his first date scene, btw).
Next point: For all the psychological deepness and educational value the story seems to claim, it depicts some painfully unrealistic trauma processing. The protagonist has one nightmare about what he experienced, he is sad for a bit and develops a few insecurities - but overcomes all hardships immediately by the power of Youtube, a movie and his certified self-reflecting inner monologue. His human - aka flawed - behavioural reactions towards losing his biological family, his repeated relocations or the months of hurt and shame the christian bigots put him through are superficial at best. The protagonist lashes out exactly once (and in the same breath explains himself to gain immediate redemption), never hurts others for more than a millisecond (apart from two instances of self-defense, in which he naturally bests his opponents in battle) and always articulates his feelings perfectly in the very next breath. Also, needless to say, he is sweet and caring towards his foster siblings, integrates flawlessly, is handsome and athletic and immediately popular wherever he goes. He even develops immunity to bullying within one day. Who doesn't enjoy a protagonist like that?
This superhuman being only needs one good talk and a hug since his self reflection skills are over the top all the time, enabling him to win the hearts of everybody around him.
All in all the story evolves into a fairytale and - next point of criticism - it j u s t d o e s n o t e n d.
You might hope for this review to end soon, too, but since I'm typing and editing while still listening to the never ending story, new things pop up while this review slowly revolves into a preview. Spoiler: It does not get better.
Never have I checked for an audio book's remaining listening time so often while wishing for it to be over soon. What do you mean the protagonist's journey to accept himself is successful, his traumata miraculously are things of the past, healthy new relationships effortlessly drop into his lap and there are still close to four hours left?? Just let it end ffs. One more 'He smiled and laughed and said "Hahahahah! I agree, hehehe!," while smiling cheerfully with a big smile on his happy face that was smiling' and I might smilingly unalive myself.
Alas, he still needs to successfully un-assholify and befriend the stereotypical gay bully, because no flawed human beings are allowed to exist in the radiance of his shining light.
Yo know what, I suffered enough,and so did you. I just can't take more stupidity and I don't care how this ends, bye
July 11, 2020
The amount of winking that occurred in this book was TOO DAMN HIGH! I have never met another human that intentionally winks with any kind of regularity. And yet, here in this book, one person or another would be winking at every turn. I started supplementing the word "wink" with "smile" so I could get through the book with passing levels of believe-ability. Even with that precautionary measure, there was still a lot of stretching of my credulity. Mostly everything felt oversimplified and sped-up. Like, the kid is there 2 weeks and they already love him and he is pouring his heart out about his abusive past? The author did a heck of a lot more of telling us how he had trust issues than ever showing us. And everyone just happens to be absurdly attractive with amazing abs? I mean... come on. But whatever. All my complaints aside, it was a sweet story. I'm sure it could be a hopeful read for someone in a similar situation. Everyone can use an uplifting story from time to, even if it is a little fantastical.
April 2, 2025
So good that, when I went back to find a passage that I was trying to recall, I wound up re-reading it.
March 31, 2025
Ooph, this was a mess.
The intended story here is important and relevant and needs to be told, but the pacing and writing style didn’t work for me.
This is the story of Skyler Phoenix, ward of the state after the passing of his mother when he’s ten years old. He’s placed in a physically abusive foster home, removed and placed in an emotionally abusive foster home, and ultimately is placed in a loving, supportive environment where he is surrounded by people who have his back.
For so many reasons, the story just doesn’t work, but I’ll go with three stars because it tries so hard and for many is so important, especially with the state of our world.
We begin with Skyler in his second foster home, with an ultra-religious foster mother who knows no better than to weaponize her faith against Skyler once he is outed as gay. His boyfriend’s family moves rather than allow Skyler to stay in contact with him, the boyfriend is religiously manipulated into going along with this, and the mother relinquishes Skyler back as she cannot convert the gay out of him.
The storyline is a little gray. Skyler’s foster father tries and is open to seeing reason but lets his wife call the shots. His three siblings are on his side but the mother overpowers everything. They’re not villains but they’re deeply unhealthy.
He’s then brought to his final foster home, where he is immediately accepted for who he is. Everyone is very in touch with their emotions, nothing is uncomfortable or off-limits, and his foster brother accepts him within moments. I genuinely questioned whether there was going to be a romance with the foster-brother within the first few minutes of his arrival based on the writing style, but the plot doesn’t go there but hits you over the head with how comfortable they are around each other.
At this point we’re about 25% of the way into the story. Tyler tells his story many time to the characters and we sit through it time and time again, despite having read it initially. The book just feels excessively padded. The characters are sweet and kind but it’s so overdone. Teenagers do not speak like teenagers. Much of the plot, about acceptance of yourself, of trust, of seeing the damage in others and being forgiving and accepting, is really powerful, but I felt like I was reading a pamphlet and didn’t emotionally connect.
Everything was too over the top, and while this is not the fault of the book itself, the Audible narrator gave the single worst performance I’ve heard in hundreds of narrations. I’m at the mercy of Audibles due to my schedule, but every character was a giggling, sing-songy Valley girl, which wasn’t helpful in a book I felt was over the top.
It wasn’t the story being told, but I would have liked some further connection to his second foster family after he got so settled, to have them see the damage they caused, and for Skyler, in a stronger place, be able to make clear to them how unbroken he always was.
Exceptional message, but difficult execution.
The intended story here is important and relevant and needs to be told, but the pacing and writing style didn’t work for me.
This is the story of Skyler Phoenix, ward of the state after the passing of his mother when he’s ten years old. He’s placed in a physically abusive foster home, removed and placed in an emotionally abusive foster home, and ultimately is placed in a loving, supportive environment where he is surrounded by people who have his back.
For so many reasons, the story just doesn’t work, but I’ll go with three stars because it tries so hard and for many is so important, especially with the state of our world.
We begin with Skyler in his second foster home, with an ultra-religious foster mother who knows no better than to weaponize her faith against Skyler once he is outed as gay. His boyfriend’s family moves rather than allow Skyler to stay in contact with him, the boyfriend is religiously manipulated into going along with this, and the mother relinquishes Skyler back as she cannot convert the gay out of him.
The storyline is a little gray. Skyler’s foster father tries and is open to seeing reason but lets his wife call the shots. His three siblings are on his side but the mother overpowers everything. They’re not villains but they’re deeply unhealthy.
He’s then brought to his final foster home, where he is immediately accepted for who he is. Everyone is very in touch with their emotions, nothing is uncomfortable or off-limits, and his foster brother accepts him within moments. I genuinely questioned whether there was going to be a romance with the foster-brother within the first few minutes of his arrival based on the writing style, but the plot doesn’t go there but hits you over the head with how comfortable they are around each other.
At this point we’re about 25% of the way into the story. Tyler tells his story many time to the characters and we sit through it time and time again, despite having read it initially. The book just feels excessively padded. The characters are sweet and kind but it’s so overdone. Teenagers do not speak like teenagers. Much of the plot, about acceptance of yourself, of trust, of seeing the damage in others and being forgiving and accepting, is really powerful, but I felt like I was reading a pamphlet and didn’t emotionally connect.
Everything was too over the top, and while this is not the fault of the book itself, the Audible narrator gave the single worst performance I’ve heard in hundreds of narrations. I’m at the mercy of Audibles due to my schedule, but every character was a giggling, sing-songy Valley girl, which wasn’t helpful in a book I felt was over the top.
It wasn’t the story being told, but I would have liked some further connection to his second foster family after he got so settled, to have them see the damage they caused, and for Skyler, in a stronger place, be able to make clear to them how unbroken he always was.
Exceptional message, but difficult execution.
November 3, 2021
DNF - 65%
Honestly I feel like I wasted my time even attempting to read this book after the 25% mark when the plot devolved into nothingness and this book lost all sense of direction. If it had stayed their there would be a soldu three star review which the review that it was emotional and handles the subject well despite the technical aspects of the writing no quite being there.
But when the plot isn't laser focused and devolves to nothing the writing but cringey dialogue and a tone that can only be described as mandatory happiness - not overly optimistic, the shove it down your throat kind that actually leaves you feeling more frustrated than anything else.
I wasn't invested in the charcaters in the slightest, they were all "perfect" cookie cutter characters...the awful dialogue they were given making everyone come off as socially awkward even when the author clearly didn't mean them to and robotic in a way. NO HUMAN SPEAKS LIKE THAT!!!
Making the relationship that we are meant I be invested in for the second half of the book seem pointless, I couldn't be investe in it no matter how hard I tried. And too bad that's the entire plot of the rest of the book... Oh yeah and the bully is gay (my fav trope/s) so that revolutionary storytelling is what you are missing!
Also the author has a habit of repeating the entire story through the main characters habit of trauma dumping his entire life story onto random people at unnatural moment just in case the reader had dosed off and randomly skipped the first half of the book ...
So overall just no I don't see this merit of picking up this book at all.
Honestly I feel like I wasted my time even attempting to read this book after the 25% mark when the plot devolved into nothingness and this book lost all sense of direction. If it had stayed their there would be a soldu three star review which the review that it was emotional and handles the subject well despite the technical aspects of the writing no quite being there.
But when the plot isn't laser focused and devolves to nothing the writing but cringey dialogue and a tone that can only be described as mandatory happiness - not overly optimistic, the shove it down your throat kind that actually leaves you feeling more frustrated than anything else.
I wasn't invested in the charcaters in the slightest, they were all "perfect" cookie cutter characters...the awful dialogue they were given making everyone come off as socially awkward even when the author clearly didn't mean them to and robotic in a way. NO HUMAN SPEAKS LIKE THAT!!!
Making the relationship that we are meant I be invested in for the second half of the book seem pointless, I couldn't be investe in it no matter how hard I tried. And too bad that's the entire plot of the rest of the book... Oh yeah and the bully is gay (my fav trope/s) so that revolutionary storytelling is what you are missing!
Also the author has a habit of repeating the entire story through the main characters habit of trauma dumping his entire life story onto random people at unnatural moment just in case the reader had dosed off and randomly skipped the first half of the book ...
So overall just no I don't see this merit of picking up this book at all.
July 4, 2023
This could have been a really good book. I did not mind the lack of originality at the very beginning, as it felt like just the warming up part to the actual storyline. But no, that was the story, if there was a storyline at all. So yep, all in all I am disappointed, expected much more.
May 28, 2021
Heartwarming and positive coming-of-age
This book has been a pretty good way to spend my downtime at work. I read a lot of gay romances, though usually pretty smutty. This is not like any of them.
It looks as though the author has a great editor because there were no typos that I noticed. Those of you who read a lot of ebooks will appreciate that! While sometimes the dialogues seemed a little contrived and saccharine, the book was really well laid-out. It never felt like a chore reading it, even if some of the characters seem almost too perfect.
If you are an adolescent LGBT (particularly gay young men) this could be a very positive book for you. I personally didn't have a family like the Kelley's (or at least I thought I didn't--turns out they're actually pretty cool!) and their embrace of Skyler and his identity was heartwarming. If nothing else, this will just be a good way to pass time. It's also a fairly nonsexual book, which is probably why it was recommended to me as YA.
Benoit-Ledoux is one of my fave fiction authors now. Download it. Read it. Love it.
I'm off to read the next.
This book has been a pretty good way to spend my downtime at work. I read a lot of gay romances, though usually pretty smutty. This is not like any of them.
It looks as though the author has a great editor because there were no typos that I noticed. Those of you who read a lot of ebooks will appreciate that! While sometimes the dialogues seemed a little contrived and saccharine, the book was really well laid-out. It never felt like a chore reading it, even if some of the characters seem almost too perfect.
If you are an adolescent LGBT (particularly gay young men) this could be a very positive book for you. I personally didn't have a family like the Kelley's (or at least I thought I didn't--turns out they're actually pretty cool!) and their embrace of Skyler and his identity was heartwarming. If nothing else, this will just be a good way to pass time. It's also a fairly nonsexual book, which is probably why it was recommended to me as YA.
Benoit-Ledoux is one of my fave fiction authors now. Download it. Read it. Love it.
I'm off to read the next.
January 9, 2023
Review of the audiobook.
This was a truly heartfelt, uplifting and engaging story, and one I think every gay teenager or anyone who has ever been bullied, or been a bully needs to hear. Heck, maybe every teenager. I think there is something here in the angst of youth for everyone to relate to. I think some of the growth and healing at the end came rather quickly, but I liked the outcome for everyone. I felt so much for Skyler, he had been through so much pain. I really thought his second home would be a respite, but it was not to be. Thankfully, the third time was the charm for him, and he was able to overcome the dysfunction of his prior foster homes. One thing I would have done differently as the author is vary the names more. Having so many hard C's and close-sounding names (Cam, Colton/CK, Cody, Kalen) did make it hard sometimes for me to keep all the different characters clear.
The narration was pretty good, but sometimes it wasn't clear if Skyler was just thinking something or actually saying the words out loud. Also, the "giggling" was a little weird.
I received a free copy of the audiobook through StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
This was a truly heartfelt, uplifting and engaging story, and one I think every gay teenager or anyone who has ever been bullied, or been a bully needs to hear. Heck, maybe every teenager. I think there is something here in the angst of youth for everyone to relate to. I think some of the growth and healing at the end came rather quickly, but I liked the outcome for everyone. I felt so much for Skyler, he had been through so much pain. I really thought his second home would be a respite, but it was not to be. Thankfully, the third time was the charm for him, and he was able to overcome the dysfunction of his prior foster homes. One thing I would have done differently as the author is vary the names more. Having so many hard C's and close-sounding names (Cam, Colton/CK, Cody, Kalen) did make it hard sometimes for me to keep all the different characters clear.
The narration was pretty good, but sometimes it wasn't clear if Skyler was just thinking something or actually saying the words out loud. Also, the "giggling" was a little weird.
I received a free copy of the audiobook through StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
August 2, 2025
Overall 5 STAR
Performance 5 STAR
Story 5 STAR
I absolutely loved listening Ben Palacios bring this emotional story to life. All my emotions were tugged on for this one. Shock, anger, love, joy, frustration, sadness, emptiness, tears, smiles, laughter and warm fuzzies were all part of the roller coaster ride.
A wonderful cast of characters. I look forward to the rest of the series.
*Please be mindful of CW/TW because this one is stock full of sensitive/heavy topics that may be triggering to some readers including : mental / physical abuse, bullying, homophobia, alcoholism, "pray the gay away" ...
This did not ruin the book for me but there are long pauses in between chapters and sometimes within the chapters and I always wondered if my device turned off. I like a short pause but when you have too long of a pause it disrupts the flow.
Performance 5 STAR
Story 5 STAR
I absolutely loved listening Ben Palacios bring this emotional story to life. All my emotions were tugged on for this one. Shock, anger, love, joy, frustration, sadness, emptiness, tears, smiles, laughter and warm fuzzies were all part of the roller coaster ride.
A wonderful cast of characters. I look forward to the rest of the series.
*Please be mindful of CW/TW because this one is stock full of sensitive/heavy topics that may be triggering to some readers including : mental / physical abuse, bullying, homophobia, alcoholism, "pray the gay away" ...
This did not ruin the book for me but there are long pauses in between chapters and sometimes within the chapters and I always wondered if my device turned off. I like a short pause but when you have too long of a pause it disrupts the flow.
December 26, 2021
A nice uplifting romantic story about healing when your identity has been crushed because of hate. The author describes very well thought the eyes of the characters in the story how hate is ingrained and learned in society, how it can be unlearned, and how it affects both those who hate, and those who receive hate.
In doing so, I would have preferred a less world-descriptive language, which at times is a bit tedious, and instead I would have preferred a more emotional-descriptive one, to be able to better understand how the thoughts of the characters in the story develop. That's, of course, personal taste, but at times, it feels the author was simply trying to add word count to the book, describing things that really didn't play a part on developing the story.
Overall, however, a really good book, and looking forward to reading the next ones in the series!
In doing so, I would have preferred a less world-descriptive language, which at times is a bit tedious, and instead I would have preferred a more emotional-descriptive one, to be able to better understand how the thoughts of the characters in the story develop. That's, of course, personal taste, but at times, it feels the author was simply trying to add word count to the book, describing things that really didn't play a part on developing the story.
Overall, however, a really good book, and looking forward to reading the next ones in the series!
January 30, 2020
Excellent book
This was an excellent book and great find! The authors writing and story telling places you right there with the characters. The scene where the author describes Skyler’s religious foster family watching the movie “Prayers for Bobby” was emotionally powerful. You could feel the words and emotions described in this scene. I’d never seen or heard of this Life Time movie, so I looked it up on YouTube after I finished the book and watched it. Although a Life Time movie, I see why the author used that movie. Every described in the book was felt watching that movie. I highly recommend this book to new readers! I hope there’s a book 3 soon.
This was an excellent book and great find! The authors writing and story telling places you right there with the characters. The scene where the author describes Skyler’s religious foster family watching the movie “Prayers for Bobby” was emotionally powerful. You could feel the words and emotions described in this scene. I’d never seen or heard of this Life Time movie, so I looked it up on YouTube after I finished the book and watched it. Although a Life Time movie, I see why the author used that movie. Every described in the book was felt watching that movie. I highly recommend this book to new readers! I hope there’s a book 3 soon.
July 31, 2020
Glad to have read this rollercoaster, emotional story that while at times maybe a little overwrought and thematic, still evokes feelings and thoughts that I think all personal coming out or alliance stories end up considering on their journeys. Positive and in no way a misery fest, it sings hope. Admittedly from a European viewpoint I don't understand the American hang ups over swearing and more impotant I certainly don't recognise their vengeful god of hate, which just makes me thankful and empathetic for those living in places where thats what christianity looks like. But the major message of the book is ultimately love conquers all and all is conquered by love.
October 22, 2021
Eh…
So the beginning was ok. But going forward I felt like it was written by a kid or something. Everything was so repetitive and WAY too detailed. Also, the never ending worry and hesitation despite complete support and love that was constantly around him and basically NO animosity towards him being gay besides 1 or 2 kids who were thoroughly put in their place numerous times, the MC just wouldn’t let it go! And it just seemed way too repetitive and unrealistic. And describing EVERY SINGLE movement and thought and discussion in WAAAAY too much simple detail was definitely what made me stop a little more than halfway through. Sad bc I had hope but nah. Oh, well.
So the beginning was ok. But going forward I felt like it was written by a kid or something. Everything was so repetitive and WAY too detailed. Also, the never ending worry and hesitation despite complete support and love that was constantly around him and basically NO animosity towards him being gay besides 1 or 2 kids who were thoroughly put in their place numerous times, the MC just wouldn’t let it go! And it just seemed way too repetitive and unrealistic. And describing EVERY SINGLE movement and thought and discussion in WAAAAY too much simple detail was definitely what made me stop a little more than halfway through. Sad bc I had hope but nah. Oh, well.
November 13, 2021
A must read book
I read constantly. I have my favorite authors. I am also a freelance editor. There are 3 authors I edit for, one a very popular writer. I was looking for something new to read. The description provided about this book got me interested. It has been a long time since I read a book of this quality. Fantastic story. Skyler is an amazing person and like the “Phoenix” he rises from the ashes of a broken life and soars. I prefer stories that are believable. This is both believable and in fact I hope this story plays out in a real person’s life somewhere. If it does, it will be another wonderful story. Read and enjoy.
I read constantly. I have my favorite authors. I am also a freelance editor. There are 3 authors I edit for, one a very popular writer. I was looking for something new to read. The description provided about this book got me interested. It has been a long time since I read a book of this quality. Fantastic story. Skyler is an amazing person and like the “Phoenix” he rises from the ashes of a broken life and soars. I prefer stories that are believable. This is both believable and in fact I hope this story plays out in a real person’s life somewhere. If it does, it will be another wonderful story. Read and enjoy.
August 31, 2022
Sorry ... not sorry! I slowly waded through the muck of this book until about the halfway point and ... UGH! ... I just can't waste another minute on it.😖 I wanted to see Skyler get his "happy ever after" ending but I'll have to just assume he gets it. Everything about this is WAY over-the-top ridiculous and unbelievable! The author is very obviously "preaching to the choir" about his personal bad experiences with religion but this was absolutely laugh-out-loud comical ... which I'm pretty sure defeats the purpose! 🙄🤦♂️😒 Please don't waste your time on this when there are SO many other books to enjoy!
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