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One Perfect Moment
Seventeen-year-old JAKE ANASTOS just got the chance of a lifetime—an audition to open for his favorite band. With his two best friends, Gage and Marcy, and new drummer, Bran, the band leaves Atlanta determined to make their dreams a reality. But the trip to Portland is a long one, and secrets loom, threatening to tear them apart long before they reach their destination.
GAGE MCLEOD has been searching for the PERFECT MOMENT to confess his feelings for his best friend, Jake. But he just can’t seem to find it. With the end of summer looming, Gage has to make a choice: Risk it all by telling Jake how he feels or accept the fact that sometimes we don’t always get what we want.
Two weeks on the road is enough to turn even the best of friends into enemies. Still, armed with only an instrument stuffed mini-van, a map of roadside attractions, and enough junk food to feed an army, four teens set out to make their dreams a reality while navigating the potholes (both literal and figurative) of life. Can they make it back to Atlanta with their dreams and relationships intact, or will they learn not everyone gets that ONE PERFECT MOMENT?
ONE PERFECT MOMENT will leave you longing for those long summer days on the open road and melt your heart like a candy bar on the dashboard.
GAGE MCLEOD has been searching for the PERFECT MOMENT to confess his feelings for his best friend, Jake. But he just can’t seem to find it. With the end of summer looming, Gage has to make a choice: Risk it all by telling Jake how he feels or accept the fact that sometimes we don’t always get what we want.
Two weeks on the road is enough to turn even the best of friends into enemies. Still, armed with only an instrument stuffed mini-van, a map of roadside attractions, and enough junk food to feed an army, four teens set out to make their dreams a reality while navigating the potholes (both literal and figurative) of life. Can they make it back to Atlanta with their dreams and relationships intact, or will they learn not everyone gets that ONE PERFECT MOMENT?
ONE PERFECT MOMENT will leave you longing for those long summer days on the open road and melt your heart like a candy bar on the dashboard.
275 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2022
28 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Alexander C. Eberhart
9 books254 followersA Metro Atlanta area native, Alexander has had a passion for writing from a young age. As he grew into his Queer identity, so did his works, and he is dedicated to bringing Queer stories to life in new and imaginative ways.
Alexander has penned over half a dozen titles, from Young Adult works exploring topics of Faith and Queer identities, to an Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with magic and just the right amount of spice.
When not crafting quality Queer fiction, Alexander works for a local service company. He still lives outside of Atlanta with his husband and their children (dogs).
Alexander has penned over half a dozen titles, from Young Adult works exploring topics of Faith and Queer identities, to an Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with magic and just the right amount of spice.
When not crafting quality Queer fiction, Alexander works for a local service company. He still lives outside of Atlanta with his husband and their children (dogs).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 8, 2022
3,5 stars.
Since reading my first book by Alexander C. Eberhart There Goes Sunday School I have read every one of his queer coming of age books and I honestly think he's one of the best authors in the genre. His characters are sweet and lovable, but often struggling with some serious issues like depression or eating disorders, which gives them the depth I search for in the books I read.
I love how he develops his characters throughout the story's he tells, and his books are always engaging and real well written.
Having said that, I have to admit that this one was my least favorite by his hand.
The one thing I really love about his books is character development, how the mc's come to terms with their mental health with a little help from the other mc, but in a mature way. Mental health problems tend to make a person wiser and older beyond their actual years, and I loved how the author managed to show that in his earlier books, like in Ghosting You or Lock & West and in the book I mentioned before. I really missed that in this book.
I liked the characters best, and I liked the idea of the road trip too. But I thought it was all a bit too immature, even not according to their age. As a mother, I don't know if I would have had the courage to let Jake go on a journey like this, going across the country. He was just a bit too much.
The only one acting his age and a bit more mature was Gage and maybe Marcy too. But the constant interruptions and the reasons for Gage needing that perfect moment to tell Jake about his feelings (they have been friends for years) were getting a little on my nerves.
I'm really sorry for not liking this book a bit more. I'll rate this 3 stars, and I add 0,5 because it's Alexander Eberthart and I know he's a gifted, wonderful author. It's just that this book did not meet my expectations and I'm quite bummed about that.
Thank you Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my honest, unbiased review
Since reading my first book by Alexander C. Eberhart There Goes Sunday School I have read every one of his queer coming of age books and I honestly think he's one of the best authors in the genre. His characters are sweet and lovable, but often struggling with some serious issues like depression or eating disorders, which gives them the depth I search for in the books I read.
I love how he develops his characters throughout the story's he tells, and his books are always engaging and real well written.
Having said that, I have to admit that this one was my least favorite by his hand.
The one thing I really love about his books is character development, how the mc's come to terms with their mental health with a little help from the other mc, but in a mature way. Mental health problems tend to make a person wiser and older beyond their actual years, and I loved how the author managed to show that in his earlier books, like in Ghosting You or Lock & West and in the book I mentioned before. I really missed that in this book.
I liked the characters best, and I liked the idea of the road trip too. But I thought it was all a bit too immature, even not according to their age. As a mother, I don't know if I would have had the courage to let Jake go on a journey like this, going across the country. He was just a bit too much.
The only one acting his age and a bit more mature was Gage and maybe Marcy too. But the constant interruptions and the reasons for Gage needing that perfect moment to tell Jake about his feelings (they have been friends for years) were getting a little on my nerves.
I'm really sorry for not liking this book a bit more. I'll rate this 3 stars, and I add 0,5 because it's Alexander Eberthart and I know he's a gifted, wonderful author. It's just that this book did not meet my expectations and I'm quite bummed about that.
Thank you Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my honest, unbiased review
July 12, 2022
*Gasp* Summer road trip with pining and best-friends-to-lovers???
You're welcome. :)
You're welcome. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2022
Four friends on a road trip, three secrets… actually more than just three secrets. Secrets they keep from each other but not from the reader. It’s kind of pointless writing a review without mentioning the problems behind these secrets, so be warned. But it’s nothing you won’t already know after reading the first few chapters.
The story is alternatingly told from the perspectives of Gage and Jake, childhood best friends, who have developed feelings for each other. Both are struggling to tell each other because they also have other problems in their way.
The eponymous one perfect moment that Gage is looking for so desperately drags on and on. From a personal perspective it’s absolutely relatable. From a reader’s perspective it’s a bit frustrating. Because it’s not just Gage’s perfectionism and his chickening out, more often than not it’s friends interrupting the “perfect moment” or some misunderstandings.
Thankfully halfway through the book Gage’s secret(s) are finally out. This is also some kind of turning point. The first half of the book is mostly about Gage and his problem(s) and the second half is more about Jake.
Although the narrative is split evenly between both of them, it feels more like Gage is the main protagonist in this book. Maybe it’s because of his more relatable personality. Maybe it’s because his problems are more palpable. Maybe this is just a me problem. But I have a feeling this also applies to the author as well.
This book is fast paced. I love fast paced. But here it is the kind of fast paced where a lot is left along the way. Marcy for example learns pretty early in the book about Jake’s problem. She is even kind of alarmed, but she never brings it up again. Never ever. It’s not really relevant to the plot, but there are more such moments and altogether they form a feeling of oddness about this book.
Another thing that left me with an uneasy feeling is Jake’s problem. He’s suffering from some sort of mental health problems. It’s never really worked out or even addressed what it actually is. At one point I even suspected a much bigger backstory about it after Jake’s mom was really alarmed about it. But it was just another loose thread.
All in all I really liked this book. I loved the original plot and the diverse and loveable characters. This book is 100% queer and a true comfort-read, despite some more serious themes.
The story is alternatingly told from the perspectives of Gage and Jake, childhood best friends, who have developed feelings for each other. Both are struggling to tell each other because they also have other problems in their way.
The eponymous one perfect moment that Gage is looking for so desperately drags on and on. From a personal perspective it’s absolutely relatable. From a reader’s perspective it’s a bit frustrating. Because it’s not just Gage’s perfectionism and his chickening out, more often than not it’s friends interrupting the “perfect moment” or some misunderstandings.
Thankfully halfway through the book Gage’s secret(s) are finally out. This is also some kind of turning point. The first half of the book is mostly about Gage and his problem(s) and the second half is more about Jake.
Although the narrative is split evenly between both of them, it feels more like Gage is the main protagonist in this book. Maybe it’s because of his more relatable personality. Maybe it’s because his problems are more palpable. Maybe this is just a me problem. But I have a feeling this also applies to the author as well.
This book is fast paced. I love fast paced. But here it is the kind of fast paced where a lot is left along the way. Marcy for example learns pretty early in the book about Jake’s problem. She is even kind of alarmed, but she never brings it up again. Never ever. It’s not really relevant to the plot, but there are more such moments and altogether they form a feeling of oddness about this book.
Another thing that left me with an uneasy feeling is Jake’s problem. He’s suffering from some sort of mental health problems. It’s never really worked out or even addressed what it actually is. At one point I even suspected a much bigger backstory about it after Jake’s mom was really alarmed about it. But it was just another loose thread.
All in all I really liked this book. I loved the original plot and the diverse and loveable characters. This book is 100% queer and a true comfort-read, despite some more serious themes.
October 25, 2022
Ein Roadtrip mit Freunden, slow-burn, queer, Friends-to-lovers
Jake, Gage, Bran und Marcy sind nicht nur gute Freunde, sondern auch eine Band. Sie haben die einmalige Möglichkeit bei einer Audition den Platz als Vorband ihrer gemeinsamen Lieblingsband zu gewinnen. Dafür müssen sie einmal quer durch das ganze Land fahren. Ob sich auf dieser Reise der perfekte Moment für Gage ergibt, seinem besten Freund Jake seine Gefühle zu gestehen?
Dieses Buch hat mich voll gecatcht!
Ich mochte die Dynamik zwischen den Freunden, auch wenn es mal nicht Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen Stimmung war. Jede*r hat seine Rolle in der Clique und trotzdem oder gerade deswegen sind sie sich auf der Reise nochmals näher gekommen.
Jake und Gage sind tolle Protagonisten! Sie sind beide seit vielen Jahren beste Freunde, doch in den letzten Wochen und Monaten hat Gage Gefühle für Jake entwickelt. Die Entwicklung Friends to Lovers wurde mich nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Ich habe die Emotionen gespürt.
Was mich sehr berührt hat, war Jakes Struggle. Ich hatte beim Lesen sehr häufig Tränen in den Augen.
Bei dem Cover habe ich eine lustige und leichte Lovestory erwartet, doch das Buch hatte deutlich mehr Tiefe als ich mir vorstellen konnte.
Jake, Gage, Bran und Marcy sind nicht nur gute Freunde, sondern auch eine Band. Sie haben die einmalige Möglichkeit bei einer Audition den Platz als Vorband ihrer gemeinsamen Lieblingsband zu gewinnen. Dafür müssen sie einmal quer durch das ganze Land fahren. Ob sich auf dieser Reise der perfekte Moment für Gage ergibt, seinem besten Freund Jake seine Gefühle zu gestehen?
Dieses Buch hat mich voll gecatcht!
Ich mochte die Dynamik zwischen den Freunden, auch wenn es mal nicht Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen Stimmung war. Jede*r hat seine Rolle in der Clique und trotzdem oder gerade deswegen sind sie sich auf der Reise nochmals näher gekommen.
Jake und Gage sind tolle Protagonisten! Sie sind beide seit vielen Jahren beste Freunde, doch in den letzten Wochen und Monaten hat Gage Gefühle für Jake entwickelt. Die Entwicklung Friends to Lovers wurde mich nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Ich habe die Emotionen gespürt.
Was mich sehr berührt hat, war Jakes Struggle. Ich hatte beim Lesen sehr häufig Tränen in den Augen.
Bei dem Cover habe ich eine lustige und leichte Lovestory erwartet, doch das Buch hatte deutlich mehr Tiefe als ich mir vorstellen konnte.
August 1, 2022
First I’d like to thank Gay Romance Reviews for sharing this book with me! It was a great coming of age story in the queer genre. Four friends, lots of laughter, and a journey of a life time. Would be interested in reading more stories with these characters.
August 1, 2022
One Perfect Moment is adorable, a fun story about four teenagers embarking on a cross-country trip from Atlanta to Portland to audition as the opening act for their favorite band. Jake and Gage have been best friends since they were small children and are opposites in a lot of ways. Jake is like a bouncy puppy, impulsive and exuberant on the surface. Gage is steady and responsible, a little obsessed with being perfect. They’re in love with each other, but both are afraid of saying anything, afraid of ruining their friendship. They head out with their friends and bandmates Marcy and Bran for a last bit of fun before their lives start to go in different directions. Jake and Gage are so cute together and balance each other really well. They both have a lot of anxiety and self-doubt, but I love the way they support each other. Eberhart does a great job of plotting their trip, and I enjoyed the descriptions of their roadside stops and the quick banter among the four of them. He does an excellent job of combining the optimism and drama that’s a part of being a teenager.
August 7, 2022
I have a love hate relationship with this book— I absolutely love the characters and their whole vibe as a friend group. Bram is the worlds best wingman and Marcy is the chaotic friend we all need to keep life entertaining. Gage is the “perfect” guy, and I love that the pressure of that is addressed. He spends a lot of this books struggling with telling Jake how he feels…for no apparent reason. The plot point of Gage moving would of done this fine on its own, but the two combined felt a little much. I have No complaints when it comes to Jake, whose depression really struck a chord with me. The thoughts of not being enough and being a burden are thoughts those with depression deal with every day, and it was refreshing to have those thoughts reflected in a fictional character. I love a good road trip story as well, and this is the perfect setting for this band of misfits to figure their stuff out and grow stronger as a band and a friend group. The slow burn is SLOW guys but when it gets there it’s teeth-hurting sweet and worth the wait.
August 3, 2022
great roadtrip
I loved this it was awesome there were a lot of great moments between everyone in this story and I loved the dinosaur stop it was hilarious and the surprise clothing change towards the end and how each person had a problem they helped each other through and the lyrics were great especially with the little side notes from his friends and I loved their parents and the black light art thing sounded epic and there were a lot of sweet and funny moments I really enjoyed along with the serious ones
I loved this it was awesome there were a lot of great moments between everyone in this story and I loved the dinosaur stop it was hilarious and the surprise clothing change towards the end and how each person had a problem they helped each other through and the lyrics were great especially with the little side notes from his friends and I loved their parents and the black light art thing sounded epic and there were a lot of sweet and funny moments I really enjoyed along with the serious ones
August 11, 2022
This was a fun coming of age, friends to lovers romance.
Reading this book literally makes we want to go on a road trip of my own😋
This us a new to me Author, and I absolutely loved their writing style.
The plot was entertaining, the characters were likeable, relatable and so much fun.
Overall, a definite win for me!!😉
Reading this book literally makes we want to go on a road trip of my own😋
This us a new to me Author, and I absolutely loved their writing style.
The plot was entertaining, the characters were likeable, relatable and so much fun.
Overall, a definite win for me!!😉
August 8, 2022
I love YA and this one is very sweet and delightful
A bunch of friends, roadtrip, besties to lovers, music, every topic that I love is in this story...
I think that the story is very funny, a lot of insecurity, perfectly understandable for the young age.
Thanks GRR for this story
A bunch of friends, roadtrip, besties to lovers, music, every topic that I love is in this story...
I think that the story is very funny, a lot of insecurity, perfectly understandable for the young age.
Thanks GRR for this story
February 13, 2025
This was soo sweet!
Gage and Jake are both such beautiful characters, and I’m a sucker for a love story that starts with inseparable best friends who realise their friendship has another element too.
Jake is excitable with a big heart but a lot of self doubt, whereas Gage helps to mellow him out, give him confidence and look after him. It’s a perfect combination. I liked how mental health was explore quite lightly, both with Jake and the negative thoughts in his head and with Gage struggling with the pressure of expectation, but the book still felt feel good and upbeat.
Marcy and Bran are a constant throughout the story too, and both bring their own personalities (I would love a follow-up story to see more Bran!).
The story itself is fairly predictable, with friends heading to an audition and needing the perfect song, but I love a happy ending so I’m not complaining.
Definitely enjoyed this, and wish there was more.
🚙🦄🎶
Gage and Jake are both such beautiful characters, and I’m a sucker for a love story that starts with inseparable best friends who realise their friendship has another element too.
Jake is excitable with a big heart but a lot of self doubt, whereas Gage helps to mellow him out, give him confidence and look after him. It’s a perfect combination. I liked how mental health was explore quite lightly, both with Jake and the negative thoughts in his head and with Gage struggling with the pressure of expectation, but the book still felt feel good and upbeat.
Marcy and Bran are a constant throughout the story too, and both bring their own personalities (I would love a follow-up story to see more Bran!).
The story itself is fairly predictable, with friends heading to an audition and needing the perfect song, but I love a happy ending so I’m not complaining.
Definitely enjoyed this, and wish there was more.
🚙🦄🎶
August 7, 2022
There’s so much to like in this story, which is ostensibly a road trip for four friends and is also kind of an odyssey on so many different levels— geographically, emotionally, etc. I loved the mixture of confidence, insecurity, and sometimes just sheer wonder each of the characters embody, and Jake and Gabe are good at being terrible (and adorable, and dramatic) at having Feelings for each other. There are a lot of perfectly imperfect moments along the way, and it’s such a rewarding experience being along for the ride. Well worth a read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
August 8, 2022
Loved the road trip aspects of this story as we're along for the ride, seeing the places they visit, what they eat, etc. I'd travel with this bunch in a heartbeat. Jake and Gage are great friends. Their different temperaments balance and complement each other. Whether they would work in a romantic relationship is what they, and we as readers, discover over the course of the journey. As always, Eberhart does a superb job of writing younger characters who talk and act their age, a delightful, frustrating and sometimes heartbreaking mix of maturity and immaturity.
August 6, 2022
Not my normal trope but after a slightly slow start the book progressed at a great rate. Gage wants everything to be perfect, Jake is a mess. Best friends for years now they are both wanting more but how to broach the subject. This book explores this as they travel with two band mates to an audition. The only flaw was the outcome of the audition was covered but what came next wasn’t really touched on.
August 7, 2022
This is the story of Jake and Gage. Please read the trigger warnings. I loved this book. The author portrayed the teenagers in my personal opinion perfectly. It is written wonderfully with amazing characters and you would be doing yourself a great favor by reading this story. I loved how supportive they were to each other. The humor just made me enjoy it more. Definitely recommended.
I received this book as an Arc and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I received this book as an Arc and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
January 14, 2024
This was a well written story, with a great road trip backdrop, and engaging characters. I think the romance was sweet and the hesitation in admitting attraction was believable. I particularly like the insight into the character who has those "brain weasels", as I grew up knowing them, or that voice in your head that just beats you up and brings up all of your faults instead of your successes.
The story was lovely and I definitely recommend it.
The story was lovely and I definitely recommend it.
August 7, 2022
This is a fabulous book. I love Gage and Jake as well as Bran, Marcy, and the other characters in the book. Gage, Jake, Bran and Marcy go on an epic road trip and learn more about themselves and each other on the way. This book has all the feels for me and brings back memories of my own (though much shorter distances) roadtrips growing up. And of course I love seeing Jake and Gage get their HEA.
August 8, 2022
They are about to have the chance of a lifetime, being the opening act for there favorite band. The road trip is going to be and problems will appear which could ruin everything. One is in love with another band member. What other secrets will appear? How will the road trip go? See if they make it to the end and see if they get their chance.
to-read-maybe
November 9, 2022I've enjoyed all of Eberhart's other books, but this one has been giving me a little bit of a hard time. I'm just not feeling the dramatic tension that I really need to keep my interest. (Plus, Gage's waffling and all of the poorly timed interruptions are super annoying, honestly.) I might come back, though. We'll see!
August 10, 2022
3.5 stars
This was just so cute. This book was just so sweet and it really melted my heart reading it. I had a wonderful time reading this one due to how adorable it was.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
This was just so cute. This book was just so sweet and it really melted my heart reading it. I had a wonderful time reading this one due to how adorable it was.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
November 25, 2022
I liked this book a lot more than Lock and West. There were lots of moments where I laughed out loud, which is very rare for me. I was still going through and crossing out commas or adding them or spelling words correctly, but the editing was a hell of a lot better.
Read
April 11, 2024Dnf
September 2, 2024
Dull
I had to make myself finish. It wasn't wh
at I thought it would be. The flow of the book just wasn't there.
I had to make myself finish. It wasn't wh
at I thought it would be. The flow of the book just wasn't there.
June 11, 2025
loved it
Such a cute story. Two people finding their love for each other. I love how the families and their friends knew they liked each other before they even did.
Such a cute story. Two people finding their love for each other. I love how the families and their friends knew they liked each other before they even did.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews