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Grayality
Love knows no gender.
Pate Boone, a twenty-six-year-old transgender man, embarks on a new adventure when his childhood best friend, and yes, ex-lover, Oakley Ogden, convinces him to escape their hometown in hopes for something new.
They land in Cloverleaf, a tiny rural town in Montana, so that Oakley can care for his granny who is battling breast cancer. She pressures the two young men to enroll in a nearby college. Pate immediately becomes enthralled with Maybelle, a young, vivacious freshman to whom he fears revealing his transgender identity. Still, he finds it impossible to resist Maybelle, even after he meets her ex, Bullet, a large, violent man determined to keep Pate away from “his girl.”
But there are others who accept Pate immediately, like Stormy. An outdoorsy, rugged freshman, Stormy warns Pate away from Maybelle and Bullet, but Pate’s too infatuated to heed these warnings.
Oakley tries to support his friend’s new love but finds himself entangled in his own emotional calamity when he unintentionally falls for Jody, a gay and ostentatiously confident drag queen. This new relationship awakens deep internal conflicts in Oakley as he struggles to accept his bisexuality, lashing out at Pate and causing friction between him and Jody.
Oakley must decide if he can overcome his insecurities so he doesn’t lose the love of his life. And Pate must discover if the love between him and Maybelle is strong enough for her to accept him as a transgender man, or if she will break his heart.
Reader advisory: This book contains references to homophobia, transphobia, physical assault and a past suicide attempt. There is use of marijuana and smoking, as well as mentions of gender dysphoria and past sexual assault.
Pate Boone, a twenty-six-year-old transgender man, embarks on a new adventure when his childhood best friend, and yes, ex-lover, Oakley Ogden, convinces him to escape their hometown in hopes for something new.
They land in Cloverleaf, a tiny rural town in Montana, so that Oakley can care for his granny who is battling breast cancer. She pressures the two young men to enroll in a nearby college. Pate immediately becomes enthralled with Maybelle, a young, vivacious freshman to whom he fears revealing his transgender identity. Still, he finds it impossible to resist Maybelle, even after he meets her ex, Bullet, a large, violent man determined to keep Pate away from “his girl.”
But there are others who accept Pate immediately, like Stormy. An outdoorsy, rugged freshman, Stormy warns Pate away from Maybelle and Bullet, but Pate’s too infatuated to heed these warnings.
Oakley tries to support his friend’s new love but finds himself entangled in his own emotional calamity when he unintentionally falls for Jody, a gay and ostentatiously confident drag queen. This new relationship awakens deep internal conflicts in Oakley as he struggles to accept his bisexuality, lashing out at Pate and causing friction between him and Jody.
Oakley must decide if he can overcome his insecurities so he doesn’t lose the love of his life. And Pate must discover if the love between him and Maybelle is strong enough for her to accept him as a transgender man, or if she will break his heart.
Reader advisory: This book contains references to homophobia, transphobia, physical assault and a past suicide attempt. There is use of marijuana and smoking, as well as mentions of gender dysphoria and past sexual assault.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2022
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2577 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 12, 2022
This story broke me down but then it put me back together again. Following these characters as they navigated through their lives while not only trying to discover who they are to themselves but also to and with others made for an intense experience while reading this story. I was all worth it though. Please pay attention to the trigger warnings.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
July 12, 2022
How is this a debut novel?
Love TRULY knows no gender.
LGBTQ+ rep
Small town
Platonic soulmates
Please check content warnings! (Heavy emphasize on internalize homophobia and transphobia, suicidal thoughts, attempt of suicide (in the past), depression, social anxiety, mention of SA, cancer)
“Everyone else is just being themselves. And if that bothers you, well, that’s your problem. Not theirs.”
Pate and Oakley find themselves in small town Cloverleaf so that Oakley can take care of his grandma as she battles with breast cancer. She encourages the two to enroll in college while they are there. While, they each deal with their own internal struggles, you see their relationships and friendships been tested in this small town. Pate being a trans man and Oakley figuring out his sexuality. This is all laced with their past and their friendship; navigating new romantic relationships and what this means for each other and their future.
I genuinely remember reading the synopsis of this book and I knew I was going to be a mess of a human being — but for the last 20% of the book I was SOBBING non stop. This is truly a beautiful story of platonic relationships, figuring out your sexuality, trying to find your identity, loving yourself wholeheartedly and all while moving to a really small town and trying to find their footing with a new crowd.
Both Pate and Oakley are in very different points of understanding their own identities and sexuality orientation and Carey PW does a BEAUTIFUL job of depicting this journey — as hard as it is at times.
I swear from minute one I was in love with Pate, Oakley, Stormy and Jody!!!! I would give anything for a novella or another book about them. They truly hurt my feelings in the best way possible.
I also think i planned Maybelle’s death after 20% into this book —- Jesus i wanted to strangle her.
Pate and Oakley broke my heart to put it all back together. Friendship is utterly the best thing I’ve read so far. I could read about them for years on end. What a heart wrenching love stories — I am still SOBBING!
The only thing that bothered me was that there was a frequent slurs used… but that could also be because I am a bit of a sensitive reader so that made me feel icky.
Overall this was a 4.5 starts and everyone should go and read it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Carey PW for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Love TRULY knows no gender.
LGBTQ+ rep
Small town
Platonic soulmates
Please check content warnings! (Heavy emphasize on internalize homophobia and transphobia, suicidal thoughts, attempt of suicide (in the past), depression, social anxiety, mention of SA, cancer)
“Everyone else is just being themselves. And if that bothers you, well, that’s your problem. Not theirs.”
Pate and Oakley find themselves in small town Cloverleaf so that Oakley can take care of his grandma as she battles with breast cancer. She encourages the two to enroll in college while they are there. While, they each deal with their own internal struggles, you see their relationships and friendships been tested in this small town. Pate being a trans man and Oakley figuring out his sexuality. This is all laced with their past and their friendship; navigating new romantic relationships and what this means for each other and their future.
I genuinely remember reading the synopsis of this book and I knew I was going to be a mess of a human being — but for the last 20% of the book I was SOBBING non stop. This is truly a beautiful story of platonic relationships, figuring out your sexuality, trying to find your identity, loving yourself wholeheartedly and all while moving to a really small town and trying to find their footing with a new crowd.
Both Pate and Oakley are in very different points of understanding their own identities and sexuality orientation and Carey PW does a BEAUTIFUL job of depicting this journey — as hard as it is at times.
I swear from minute one I was in love with Pate, Oakley, Stormy and Jody!!!! I would give anything for a novella or another book about them. They truly hurt my feelings in the best way possible.
I also think i planned Maybelle’s death after 20% into this book —- Jesus i wanted to strangle her.
Pate and Oakley broke my heart to put it all back together. Friendship is utterly the best thing I’ve read so far. I could read about them for years on end. What a heart wrenching love stories — I am still SOBBING!
The only thing that bothered me was that there was a frequent slurs used… but that could also be because I am a bit of a sensitive reader so that made me feel icky.
Overall this was a 4.5 starts and everyone should go and read it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Carey PW for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 2, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Grayality is the debut book by author Carey PW. It’s set primarily in rural Montana starring a couple of misfit “city” boys from Georgia. There are a lot of themes at play here. Homophobia is a huge theme; the general population in this town are assumed to be homophobes and several of the characters are shown to be bigoted. Transphobia doesn’t come out until much later, but that’s because Pate keeps that fact to himself for as long as humanly possible. (Content warning: not only is there a bashing, but he gets outed in a sexual encounter gone wrong.) There’s also a lot of country bumpkin stereotyping, which I thought was strongly conveyed through a lot of negative language about a main supporting character named Stormy.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Grayality is the debut book by author Carey PW. It’s set primarily in rural Montana starring a couple of misfit “city” boys from Georgia. There are a lot of themes at play here. Homophobia is a huge theme; the general population in this town are assumed to be homophobes and several of the characters are shown to be bigoted. Transphobia doesn’t come out until much later, but that’s because Pate keeps that fact to himself for as long as humanly possible. (Content warning: not only is there a bashing, but he gets outed in a sexual encounter gone wrong.) There’s also a lot of country bumpkin stereotyping, which I thought was strongly conveyed through a lot of negative language about a main supporting character named Stormy.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
October 4, 2022
GRAYALITY is a book full of emotions, both good and bad. Pate is a trans-man who likes the on-and-off again girlfriend of the local bully, and Oakley, his best friend, thinks he is straight until he meets Sadie at a drag-queen show. Their new start in a small country town just got more complicated.
There are words of wisdom in here, spoken between the two best friends, or their new friends. However, there is also a lot of country stereotypical behaviour that may or may not be exaggerated.
I loved seeing Pate and Oak go through their relationships, although I can honestly say I couldn't stand Maybelle from the beginning. Oak is the one who had to change his thinking the most and is also the one who suffered the most, I would say. Pate is the one who physically paid for being who he is.
This was a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is emotional and almost tangible in what our young friends go through. A brilliant read that I highly recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
There are words of wisdom in here, spoken between the two best friends, or their new friends. However, there is also a lot of country stereotypical behaviour that may or may not be exaggerated.
I loved seeing Pate and Oak go through their relationships, although I can honestly say I couldn't stand Maybelle from the beginning. Oak is the one who had to change his thinking the most and is also the one who suffered the most, I would say. Pate is the one who physically paid for being who he is.
This was a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is emotional and almost tangible in what our young friends go through. A brilliant read that I highly recommend.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
July 20, 2022
4+stars
The cover of Grayality drew my eye immediately and caught my attention enough to read the blurb. The idea of a transgender and a bisexual man finding themselves, and their loves, in rural Montana was different enough that I had to dive in and see what this new author had up their sleeve.
Overall, I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. Grayality is unique in that it features two main characters who have their own friendship and personal struggles to navigate, as well as individual relationships separate from one another, but it worked. Additionally, the writing style was a bit different from most of the novels I read. It wasn’t that it was lacking flow entirely, but it had a bit of a stilted rhythm. That said, I soon settled into the style and setup of Oakley and Pate’s story and found myself completely caught up in their experiences and desire to make sense of the new community they’ve found themselves in.
There are definitely some intense moments in Grayality that make this a read better geared to those who prefer books with some inner and external angst driving the plot. However, I thought the honest portrayal of emotions, questioning one’s personal feelings, and moments of self-doubt were brilliantly captured. In fact, I can’t say that I’ve ever read a book that had a more personal look into the myriad of feelings and experiences of a transgender character. By the end of Grayality, I felt fully immersed in Oakley and Pate’s lives and was oh so happy with the resolutions.
If you enjoy coming-of-age books detailing self-discovery that contain angst and some external conflict, Grayality is certainly worth the read.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
The cover of Grayality drew my eye immediately and caught my attention enough to read the blurb. The idea of a transgender and a bisexual man finding themselves, and their loves, in rural Montana was different enough that I had to dive in and see what this new author had up their sleeve.
Overall, I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story. Grayality is unique in that it features two main characters who have their own friendship and personal struggles to navigate, as well as individual relationships separate from one another, but it worked. Additionally, the writing style was a bit different from most of the novels I read. It wasn’t that it was lacking flow entirely, but it had a bit of a stilted rhythm. That said, I soon settled into the style and setup of Oakley and Pate’s story and found myself completely caught up in their experiences and desire to make sense of the new community they’ve found themselves in.
There are definitely some intense moments in Grayality that make this a read better geared to those who prefer books with some inner and external angst driving the plot. However, I thought the honest portrayal of emotions, questioning one’s personal feelings, and moments of self-doubt were brilliantly captured. In fact, I can’t say that I’ve ever read a book that had a more personal look into the myriad of feelings and experiences of a transgender character. By the end of Grayality, I felt fully immersed in Oakley and Pate’s lives and was oh so happy with the resolutions.
If you enjoy coming-of-age books detailing self-discovery that contain angst and some external conflict, Grayality is certainly worth the read.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
July 23, 2022
I absolutely loved this. It's so easy to tell that the author wrote from personal experience because there's so much depth in the characters. I personally related to a lot of Pate's experiences and to see it in written form felt oddly validating. It's such an unusual format to have two parallel romances happening at once in a dual POV book, but it worked so well and so seamlessly. They had such different journeys to go on but they complemented each other perfectly. I kind of wish I could unread this book just to read it all over again. Carey PW - please write more books!
(I received a review copy of this book through VRO)
(I received a review copy of this book through VRO)
July 11, 2022
This book has a lot in it in terms of main characters and supporting cast exploring the nature of gender as it pertains to romantic and/or physical love. What really matters, and what doesn't? I especially appreciate that the story takes place in a rural setting, where such questions are less likely to be as well received. I feel like the content and themes of the story were good. I loved the characters (Stormy was my favorite!) and got swept up in seeing them work through their challenges and come together as a group. And I liked the ending. However, the beginning starts off with an insta-love, which is just not something I care for. I was also a little foggy on the school they were attending, whether it was a university or a trade school. Obviously, the story has nothing to do with those elements, but if they had been tightened up a little more, more of my attention could have been focused on the author's message. I did really enjoy it, and I look forward to reading more from P.W. in the future. (I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.)
August 9, 2022
The LGBTQ+ community has become more mainstream and visible than ever, but for those who live in small or rural towns, they may still struggle. Pate Boone, a young transman in his 20s, knows this all too well. When he moves to the tiny rural town of Cloverleaf with his best friend Oakley Ogden, he does not expect much. Neither does Oakley to be honest, but to their surprise, both end up finding love with mixed results.
Grayality by Carey PW is a raw look at what not only transgender people and those questioning their sexuality/identity go through on their road to acceptance. At times, Pate and Oakley’s story can get downright uncomfortable. Homophobic slurs and behaviors are thrown about in a way you would expect from a conservative and judgemental community. However, it does the job of painting the environment these friends are trying to navigate and survive in. Despite this, they still put their heart out there, trying to look for love. For queer kids, more is at stake than just their hearts.
No character is a hundred percent perfect. Pate and Oakley, themselves have their own flaws. The author creates these three-dimensional characters that you can’t help but root for. Some villains or bullies might appear two-dimensional, but any queer kid living in a small town will tell you how persuasive homophobia can be. This is yet another thing Carey PW gets perfectly in this book. He truly holds nothing back in his depiction of these homophobic townies (such as Bullet) who are fueled by their hatred.
I am giving Grayality written by Carey PW 5 out of 5 stars for its authentic portrayal of what it is like to be on the LGBT spectrum and the harassment that can be directed towards them. This might be a difficult read. Yet, this makes it such a memorable one! It holds no punches and has readers on edge till the end.
Grayality by Carey PW is a raw look at what not only transgender people and those questioning their sexuality/identity go through on their road to acceptance. At times, Pate and Oakley’s story can get downright uncomfortable. Homophobic slurs and behaviors are thrown about in a way you would expect from a conservative and judgemental community. However, it does the job of painting the environment these friends are trying to navigate and survive in. Despite this, they still put their heart out there, trying to look for love. For queer kids, more is at stake than just their hearts.
No character is a hundred percent perfect. Pate and Oakley, themselves have their own flaws. The author creates these three-dimensional characters that you can’t help but root for. Some villains or bullies might appear two-dimensional, but any queer kid living in a small town will tell you how persuasive homophobia can be. This is yet another thing Carey PW gets perfectly in this book. He truly holds nothing back in his depiction of these homophobic townies (such as Bullet) who are fueled by their hatred.
I am giving Grayality written by Carey PW 5 out of 5 stars for its authentic portrayal of what it is like to be on the LGBT spectrum and the harassment that can be directed towards them. This might be a difficult read. Yet, this makes it such a memorable one! It holds no punches and has readers on edge till the end.
July 21, 2022
Grayality is a beautifully told story about the complexities of feelings and emotion within the relationships we choose to have. Pate and Oakley both move to a small town in Montana in hopes of creating a better life than the one they were living before. While learning to accept things about themselves, they each navigate their own unique yet complicated relationships that exposes their deepest hopes and fears. Carey PW writes such raw and heart wrenching emotions for both Pate and Oakley that you can truly grasp the hardships that come with finding and being the most authentic version of yourself, especially one that does not fit the social norm.
I found myself enthralled with this book and did not want it to end. There were many points about social anxiety and acceptance of one’s own feelings throughout the novel that I found myself deeply relating to Pate and Oakley, and it was comforting to read about such topics that are not talked about enough. I cannot wait to read more from Carey PW, and I highly recommend Grayality to anyone wanting an unapologetically genuine story about falling in love and finding oneself despite hardships that come along the way.
I received an advanced reader copy of the novel for free, and I am giving an honest and unbiased review voluntarily.
I found myself enthralled with this book and did not want it to end. There were many points about social anxiety and acceptance of one’s own feelings throughout the novel that I found myself deeply relating to Pate and Oakley, and it was comforting to read about such topics that are not talked about enough. I cannot wait to read more from Carey PW, and I highly recommend Grayality to anyone wanting an unapologetically genuine story about falling in love and finding oneself despite hardships that come along the way.
I received an advanced reader copy of the novel for free, and I am giving an honest and unbiased review voluntarily.
July 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was complex and intriguing. To see what these characters went through throughout the story was amazing. It deals with a lot of sensitive topics that were handled with such respect and that was so great to see. I loved Pate’s story and all the trials he wen through and you could really feel what he was going through. With his anxiety and nerves around revealing his true self you could see the struggle and it just made me want to hug him and tell him everything is going to be okay. I also loved seeing Oakley’s story and the struggles he was going through in accepting himself and his bisexuality. I could really relate to Oakley and his struggles. All in all this was a truly amazing book to read and I will for sure read this book again!
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens, and this is my honest review.
POV: 1st Person Dual POV
Standalone or series: Standalone
Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩
Would I read it again: Most definitely!
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens, and this is my honest review.
POV: 1st Person Dual POV
Standalone or series: Standalone
Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩
Would I read it again: Most definitely!
June 17, 2024
I really wasn't expecting a book with the tagline "Love knows no gender" to be filled homophobia and transphobia. If I didn't know better I would have thought this was written and set 30 years ago, not 3. Outside of that, everything was so surface level. I felt like I was back in high school with these characters changing their Facebook statuses to in a relationship then claiming they loved each other after no time. All these characters were extremely immature and Oakley did not deserve Jody, his journey from homophobia to in a queer relationship may work for some but it did not at all for me. I had an arc of this I didn't get to at the time and now I'm glad because I don't like leaving negative arc reviews.
November 4, 2024
it took me a long time to finish this, mainly because of the transphobic and homophobic language in the book. as a trans and queer person myself, it made it hard to read, and the inner turmoil of pate and oakley frustrated me. but, it made it up to me with the ending. pate and his relationship with maybelle had me like “JUST TELL HER!” but i understand the fear. it wrapped up quite nicely, ditch the bigots and let in the people who will truly accept you and be PROUD to stand beside you. in the case of oakley, ditch society’s opinions and love who you want! stormy and jody, best boys, but stormy is my favorite. <3
i’d recommend to anyone who is grappling with their sexuality and gender, just keep in mind that it has content that may be hard to read or even triggering.
i’d recommend to anyone who is grappling with their sexuality and gender, just keep in mind that it has content that may be hard to read or even triggering.
July 14, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book as an ARC. I was dubious of requesting this because it wouldn’t be the normal books that I would read, but I was delightfully surprised and now glad that I did receive this.
This book is about self discovery and growing confidence to be yourself. One of the main characters, Pate, is transgender and finding the confidence to be part of society. I loved how that novel shows the topic from different perspectives. It shows the emotions and acts of the Pate, and also from his best friend, and ex lover, Oakley.
Triggers: Suicide, gender dysphoria, physical assault, hate crime.
(I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.)
This book is about self discovery and growing confidence to be yourself. One of the main characters, Pate, is transgender and finding the confidence to be part of society. I loved how that novel shows the topic from different perspectives. It shows the emotions and acts of the Pate, and also from his best friend, and ex lover, Oakley.
Triggers: Suicide, gender dysphoria, physical assault, hate crime.
(I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.)
July 20, 2022
I really don’t know where to start I finished the book about 2 hours ago, for a long while went through what I had read in my head, not sure if that was good or bad as all the emotions came flowing out.
1.The cover is beautiful.
2. Pate’s Journey opened up a window so I could “see”.
3. My review won’t do this story justice but my heart knows I will do my best.
Pate Boone a 26 year old transgender man had such a journey that only an incredible strong man could emerge from.
This whole story took me places that I have never been before.
The truth that’s in this wonderful book is written so well , it makes you cry and laugh .
Oakley Ogden is Pate’s ex-lover and his very best friend,
Love knows no gender, perfect words life should be that but unfortunately, it isn't so, this story will tell you the truth.
Jody, Pate, Stormy and Oakley we're perfect.
There were times when in the small community I was dreading, a party, all together, that's trouble brewing I was thinking.
The ending warmed my heart.
What a wonderful book through the author's eyes and personal experience.
Congratulations Carey P.W. Thank you for your words, and thank you for being you.
1.The cover is beautiful.
2. Pate’s Journey opened up a window so I could “see”.
3. My review won’t do this story justice but my heart knows I will do my best.
Pate Boone a 26 year old transgender man had such a journey that only an incredible strong man could emerge from.
This whole story took me places that I have never been before.
The truth that’s in this wonderful book is written so well , it makes you cry and laugh .
Oakley Ogden is Pate’s ex-lover and his very best friend,
Love knows no gender, perfect words life should be that but unfortunately, it isn't so, this story will tell you the truth.
Jody, Pate, Stormy and Oakley we're perfect.
There were times when in the small community I was dreading, a party, all together, that's trouble brewing I was thinking.
The ending warmed my heart.
What a wonderful book through the author's eyes and personal experience.
Congratulations Carey P.W. Thank you for your words, and thank you for being you.
July 20, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this book. It was hard to read at parts but that just made the sweet moments sweeter. Pate, a trans man, and his best friend Oakley are the new guys in town. A very, very small town where everyone already knows everyone. Add to that starting college, dating, bullying, and sexual awakenings these two guys are in for a wild, sometimes difficult, ride. Grayality was a poignant piece on the queer lifestyle in rural America and how it is still so difficult for people to be who they truly are in this country, without risk of societal backlash.
I enjoyed this book. It was hard to read at parts but that just made the sweet moments sweeter. Pate, a trans man, and his best friend Oakley are the new guys in town. A very, very small town where everyone already knows everyone. Add to that starting college, dating, bullying, and sexual awakenings these two guys are in for a wild, sometimes difficult, ride. Grayality was a poignant piece on the queer lifestyle in rural America and how it is still so difficult for people to be who they truly are in this country, without risk of societal backlash.
July 25, 2022
It was hard to know what to rate this book and I ended up with three stars because of the journey this story took. It was very hard to read at times because of the homophobic language particular characters used. There were some truly horrible characters in this book. I almost couldn't finish it, but I am glad I did because even though this story is heartbreaking, it ends with characters receiving their happily ever afters.
In this story, we see Pate, a trans man along with his best friend, Oakley relocate from Georgia to Montana to help care for Oakley's Grandma. They start college in Montana and both meet partners who they begin dating. This is their journey of discovering who they are, admitting to themselves and being true to themselves. There are trigger warnings in this book which the author lists so please be aware.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC and this is my honest review.
In this story, we see Pate, a trans man along with his best friend, Oakley relocate from Georgia to Montana to help care for Oakley's Grandma. They start college in Montana and both meet partners who they begin dating. This is their journey of discovering who they are, admitting to themselves and being true to themselves. There are trigger warnings in this book which the author lists so please be aware.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC and this is my honest review.
July 16, 2022
I wasn't sure how this was going to read given their are 2 main characters who each have their story told but it totally worked. This was a very character driven storyline that was fabulously written. The beautiful thing about books is living in others minds and learning IMO. This book does a beautiful job dealing with issues of gender, sexuality and love. I recommend this read wholeheartedly.
July 23, 2022
It’s hard to decide where I land on this book. It had a very educational tone to it, which would be beneficial to someone who isn’t a part of the queer community, but felt maybe a little unnecessary for the target audience. Things like the phrase “my first shot of T (testosterone).” That being said, I enjoyed the platonic soulmate relationship between Pate and Oakley. The internalized homophobia that Oakley experiences was uncomfortable but realistic. I think this would be an excellent book to recommend to somebody who’s experience a gender or sexual identity crisis, but it’s not one I would reread.
August 12, 2022
{{No spoilers}}
I actually enjoyed this book, I didn’t think I would. The characters were built really well, very well described. The author took time to really include trans issues, acceptance and made it personable and understandable. The plot was good, I could kind of see what was going to happen but that didn’t put me off carrying on:
Now, the not so good parts. I found the writing to be very tell and not much show. The author could have shown the reader a little more, don’t just tell us what’s going on, make us feel it!! It was also a little slow in places but then again it picked up in others.
Also make sure you’re okay with an emotional journey, this book does talk about suicide, mental health, bullying/harassment and more so make sure you can handle the epic storytelling.
I actually enjoyed this book, I didn’t think I would. The characters were built really well, very well described. The author took time to really include trans issues, acceptance and made it personable and understandable. The plot was good, I could kind of see what was going to happen but that didn’t put me off carrying on:
Now, the not so good parts. I found the writing to be very tell and not much show. The author could have shown the reader a little more, don’t just tell us what’s going on, make us feel it!! It was also a little slow in places but then again it picked up in others.
Also make sure you’re okay with an emotional journey, this book does talk about suicide, mental health, bullying/harassment and more so make sure you can handle the epic storytelling.
July 16, 2022
Beautifully written story about the beauty, confusion of LGBTQ+ relationships. Always been curious about this topic which was honestly and sensitively portrayed. Kudos to the author. Thanks as always to VRO for this free review copy.
July 25, 2022
Thanks netgalley for this<3.
Honestly i kind of got the gist of what was happening from the blurb, and i decided to give it a try even tho the cover wasn't doing it for me.
so i started reading and like it was not awful? But i figured out the ending by like the 35% mark? So kind of very predictable. Overall it was nice to see some representation but i think this is just not for me.
Honestly i kind of got the gist of what was happening from the blurb, and i decided to give it a try even tho the cover wasn't doing it for me.
so i started reading and like it was not awful? But i figured out the ending by like the 35% mark? So kind of very predictable. Overall it was nice to see some representation but i think this is just not for me.
September 6, 2022
This story provides such an emotional and deep take of not only Pate wading through his trans journey, but Oakley's bisexuality as well.
I have read both trans and bi romance before, but this one felt so much more authentic, and you can tell the author has intimate knowledge of what someone going through these situations feels like. It was all the emotions and complications and innocence of trans and bi teens stepping out of their comfort zones for the first time and getting a front row seat as you read along. I felt sad and burdened, giddy, and worried for the boys as I read their story.
Would definitely recommend.
I have read both trans and bi romance before, but this one felt so much more authentic, and you can tell the author has intimate knowledge of what someone going through these situations feels like. It was all the emotions and complications and innocence of trans and bi teens stepping out of their comfort zones for the first time and getting a front row seat as you read along. I felt sad and burdened, giddy, and worried for the boys as I read their story.
Would definitely recommend.
July 18, 2022
This book was extraordinary. I cried a few times. The writing was fresh and different. Jody, Pate, Stormy and Oakley were the very best characters. It doesn’t happen very often but I didn’t want the book to end. Read this book, you won’t regret it.
July 11, 2022
What a heartfelt story! This story really touches on so much about being in the LGBT+ community ESPECIALLY in a small town in Montana!!!
This was such a rare gem for me. I had not seen it anywhere on Booksta or BookTok. I stumbled across it on NetGalley and I cannot stop singing my praise now!
Please please please go read this one!
I received an eARC of Grayality by Carey PW through NetGalley and Pride Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Grayality is out July 12, 2022!
This was such a rare gem for me. I had not seen it anywhere on Booksta or BookTok. I stumbled across it on NetGalley and I cannot stop singing my praise now!
Please please please go read this one!
I received an eARC of Grayality by Carey PW through NetGalley and Pride Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Grayality is out July 12, 2022!
July 18, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of this book and I'm so glad I did. It is raw and engaging. It is by far one of the best LGBTQIA+ books I've ever read.
July 13, 2022
A love story for all to enjoy. They go to a new town and they will soon be enjoying a new life in the town. Love will appear but it will also lead to many different consequences. Can it all end well for them all? See if it can
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July 21, 2022I absolutely loved Pat's story.
His journey to life and love as a Transgender man was such an emotional and heart felt journey.
I loved every second of Pat's growth as a character and him finding his solace and happiness.
Definitely loved this book
His journey to life and love as a Transgender man was such an emotional and heart felt journey.
I loved every second of Pat's growth as a character and him finding his solace and happiness.
Definitely loved this book
July 4, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. This is a real portrayal of two friends discovering themselves and how love can further define who you are. Sometimes you uncover things about yourself when the right person comes along. Heartfelt, honest and raw, this book takes you on an emotional journey everyone can relate to. A human one.
February 16, 2025
Well this was just a little out of my comfort zone. I read a lot of gay romances and lots of trans stories that are full of tropes and super sweet. This was NOT that! Throughout the book we follow Pate, someone who knows his queer identity well but is scared to tell his potential significant other, and Oakley, someone who goes through the full motions of figuring out his sexuality and unpacking prejudices instilled in him since childhood. I loved that the author took the time to show the rawness of internalized homophobia and the turmoil one feels figuring themself out as Oakley comes to term with his sexuality. I loved both stories and while I expected to be more engaged with Pate's story, I actually liked Oakley's much more. In part because his significant other was easily my favorite character and I wanted the best for him the entire time. But also because it is very hard to write internalized homophobia and show the character going through the motions is still a genuinely good person regardless of what they seem to believe or have been taught. The complexity was incredible to read about. I was honestly turned away from the book because of the cover, but I did genuinely enjoy this raw and messy exploration of queer self while not shying away from heavy and scary themes that come with being queer.
My main problem while reading this was that it was hard to read through the internalized homophobia so much, it was definitely uncomfortable as someone who is very comfortable in their identity. But go into this book knowing it is a necessary part of the journey, and not something that will go justified. Still, it was very uncomfortable to read through and I had to make sure not to internalize it because at first the characters try to justify it.
Please check the trigger warnings if you want to read. Like, seriously do not go into this clueless. To list a few (as I'm sure I am forgetting some): fat phobia, body shaming, vivid descriptions of gender dysphoria and usage of female body descriptions used for a trans body, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, aphobia, depression, drug and alcohol usage.
My main problem while reading this was that it was hard to read through the internalized homophobia so much, it was definitely uncomfortable as someone who is very comfortable in their identity. But go into this book knowing it is a necessary part of the journey, and not something that will go justified. Still, it was very uncomfortable to read through and I had to make sure not to internalize it because at first the characters try to justify it.
Please check the trigger warnings if you want to read. Like, seriously do not go into this clueless. To list a few (as I'm sure I am forgetting some): fat phobia, body shaming, vivid descriptions of gender dysphoria and usage of female body descriptions used for a trans body, transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, aphobia, depression, drug and alcohol usage.
January 25, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I could not, for the life of me, get behind this book.
Almost every time I started to get into reading it, something offensive or uncomfortable would come up. This book offended me so much that I couldn't even tell that someone in the LGBTQ community had written it. I couldn't connect with the characters because I hated them all. It took me forever to get into this book because every other page was offensive to me. Honestly, I don't ever think I did get into it.
Maybe, it's because I didn't grow up in a place where people are this outwardly homophobic and transphobic. Maybe, it's because the depictions of homophobia and transphobia were harmful, and outlandish at best.
This, at times, literally made me nauseous. I felt physically ill reading this book. I guess for some people, this type of book that brings out a trauma response could be good. To me, it just feels like someone's internalized issues were brought up and dumped onto paper.
It wasn't even well written. Obviously, this is all just my opinion but I feel like there was potential for better character arcs. Like the guy with internalized homophobia realizing he's not straight was basic. The bully was basic. The terrible girlfriend character was basic. They were all characters I had seen before in other stories, just this time they weren't written quite as well.
Even Jody and Pate fell flat. All of these characters, and all of the writing, could have been good. It had potential. But to me, it all comes down to the language that was used to portray the things that happened.
If there was only one character in the whole book that used offensive language and it was addressed in a good way, this book could have been great. The main characters of the story use this harmful language to refer to themselves and each other. If there is no way for you to depict homophobia and transphobia, internal or not, without using slurs and other offensive phrases, then you shouldn't be doing it.
To me, it's just lazy writing. But that's just me, I guess.
I could not, for the life of me, get behind this book.
Almost every time I started to get into reading it, something offensive or uncomfortable would come up. This book offended me so much that I couldn't even tell that someone in the LGBTQ community had written it. I couldn't connect with the characters because I hated them all. It took me forever to get into this book because every other page was offensive to me. Honestly, I don't ever think I did get into it.
Maybe, it's because I didn't grow up in a place where people are this outwardly homophobic and transphobic. Maybe, it's because the depictions of homophobia and transphobia were harmful, and outlandish at best.
This, at times, literally made me nauseous. I felt physically ill reading this book. I guess for some people, this type of book that brings out a trauma response could be good. To me, it just feels like someone's internalized issues were brought up and dumped onto paper.
It wasn't even well written. Obviously, this is all just my opinion but I feel like there was potential for better character arcs. Like the guy with internalized homophobia realizing he's not straight was basic. The bully was basic. The terrible girlfriend character was basic. They were all characters I had seen before in other stories, just this time they weren't written quite as well.
Even Jody and Pate fell flat. All of these characters, and all of the writing, could have been good. It had potential. But to me, it all comes down to the language that was used to portray the things that happened.
If there was only one character in the whole book that used offensive language and it was addressed in a good way, this book could have been great. The main characters of the story use this harmful language to refer to themselves and each other. If there is no way for you to depict homophobia and transphobia, internal or not, without using slurs and other offensive phrases, then you shouldn't be doing it.
To me, it's just lazy writing. But that's just me, I guess.
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