Heartthrob

by Russell J. Sanders

Hollywood, the mid-1960s. President Kennedy has been assassinated, the country’s civil rights movement is in full swing, and teenager Nate Berrigan is a television sitcom star.

But Nate’s onscreen life looks nothing like the real thing, which stars abusive, addicted parents instead of swooning teenage girls. On top of that, Nate’s questioning his sexuality, and his boss is a demanding monster.

The pressure would get to anyone. Fortunately Nate has Tai Atua, his costar… and maybe the love of his life. As the boys slowly fall for each other, Nate tries to believe in the possibility of his own happiness. Tai could be his savior, pulling Nate away from the precarious knife-edge he’s balancing on.

Of course, he could also be his undoing. Because if anyone finds out about their relationship, Nate’s whole life will come crashing down around him. If that happened, Nate couldn’t live with himself….

298 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2021

About the author

A teacher, a singer, an actor, a director, a chef, a traveler, a writer...these are all descriptions of native Texas author Russell J. Sanders, now residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. A life spent in Texas led to a relocation adventure, because that's what life is about--embarking on adventures. So he and his husband set out for parts unknown and are loving it! Russell writes young adult novels, and his works are infused with his travel experiences. Thus far, his novels have taken readers to Ft. Worth, Houston, Chicago, Hollywood, and Nova Scotia. Since he has traveled to England, France, Italy, Japan, India, Bali, Jakarta, Toronto, Vancouver, Alaska, and Hawaii, who knows where he may lead his readers next? But one thing is certain, there will likely be a mention of Tex-Mex food in his books, for no matter where he travels, Russell seeks out Mexican food, not searching for the perfect enchilada, but just to experience what the food is like in far away places. It actually was pretty good, he says, in Jakarta, and not so good in Wyoming. Mostly, Russell's goal is to tell the world, through his writing, that we are all put on this earth to love one another, no matter our race, religion, or sexual preference.

Reviews

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Russell Sanders and loved his YA novel All You Need Is Love set in north Texas in 1969. Sanders has a keen eye for a historical setting and in Heartthrob, we are introduced to Nate Berrigan, an aspiring actor in the Hollywood of 1963.

On the surface, Nate is your standard Teen Beat hottie - funny, cute, the break-out star of a new sitcom called Kerry! where he plays the wisecracking teenage son. But of course his reality is much more grim and heartbreaking. Nate's parents are truly horrible - his father thinks of himself as Nate's manager, but loses Nate's money gambling, drinking and womanizing, while his mother manages her anxiety daily with handfuls of pills.

Nate liked acting. It gave him a chance to be somebody else. And getting away from his real life for a while each day was a big relief.

One of his co-stars is Tai Atua, whose loving and supportive family makes Nate realize how much he has been missing. Tai also offers Nate insight into racism and the dangers of "driving while black" but also the hope that Martin Luther King gives the nation with his inspiring "I Have a Dream" speech that summer of 1963.

The book is structured like a screenplay, with scenes instead of chapters and we get a lot of internal monologues and asides that provide insight into Nate and Tai and their families and fellow actors. Granted Kerry, as well as Nate's parents, read very much like caricatures but we get a very clear picture of how fame and fortune corrupt people, and how sometimes "America's Favorite Comedian" can be a raging homophobe and all-around jerk.

This is a YA novel so there are no on-page sex scenes and the love story that develops between Nate and Tai is sweet and very affirming. There are some tough issues (suicide) on the way to a nicely done HEA, and I really enjoyed this book for the characters as well as the well-done setting. 4 stars.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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[Elissa Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is both a romp and a serious exploration of gay love in the 60s. The backdrop? The civil rights movement, specifically the Civil Rights Act. JFK’s assassination. Homophobia. The novel has all the feels, and it incorporates characters on all sides of the issue. Ultimately, the relationship at the center of the book is the most important, and Sanders does a nice job of building the teens’ budding friendship, their tormented doubts, and their final acceptance of who they really are…and who they can be, in a world set against them. Although there are a couple of sex scenes, they’re done with a light touch, emphasizing primarily the genuineness of the relationship and the giddiness of having found a kindred spirit.

It feels like a movie, which is apt since the main characters meet as actors on a sitcom. You feel for the characters, and you get a sense of what it might have felt like to be ostracized for race or sexual preference (or simply for being good at your job).

But I’m making it sound like it’s SOOOO serious and dull, and that’s not the case at all. It’s a quick and fun read. Lots of twists and turns. Lots of angst and heartache. Lots of joy, too. Read it, you’ll see.

Caveat before reading: Keep in mind this book is set in the 60s, so sex scenes will not—purposely—show the teens choosing protection. Obviously, we know better today, but back then, gay men were not using protection. So, keep that in mind while reading.

Enjoy!