Speak the Truth

Speak the Truth #1

by Twoony

Some enemies start out as friends. Some friends start out as enemies. Some lovers start out as an evil nemesis from the fiery pits of hell.

Prince Aron Vaughn hates the annoying overachiever Quinton Underwood, and the feeling is absolutely mutual. Aron wants nothing more than to have Quinton expelled from their luxurious private academy. All he has to do is ask his father, the king, to be rid of his newfound arch-nemesis, but doing so will only prove that Aron is nothing without his title. He’s determined to defeat Quinton on his own!

However, as the two boys constantly butt heads over the years, they come to learn about one another, thus changing their once strenuous relationship and leading them into new and unknown territory. Are they enemies? Are they friends? Can they ever be more?

Warning: Bullying

With over 2 million views and 40k subscribers, Speak the Truth is a serialized webnovel about a coming of age romance between two boys who have to learn to accept themselves, their feelings for each other, and grow up under the harsh scrutiny of others. This is the first of three volumes.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Gay, Graphic Novels, Contemporary, Queer, Enemies To Lovers

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

Twoony is an agender and asexual geek with a love for story telling in all forms; movies, comics, books, games, and more. They write YA and adult stories ranging from the always enjoyable teen rom-com to high fantasy romance. At the age of twelve, they posted their first story online and have been addicted to sharing ever since. Now, they are a self-published author with six works available on Amazon and nine available on tapas along with three comics.

Although Twoony graduated from California University of PA with a Bachelors in Graphics & Multimedia, their true passion has always been writing. After writing original novels and comics on sites like Tapas and Wattpad, amounting over 144k subscribers and 7m+ reads, they have managed to live the dream. Twoony creates fulltime, lives with three needy cats, and not enough bookshelves.

Reviews

[Twoony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my story so I'm biased but 5 outta 5 xD

In all seriousness, this story was written years ago and I definitely have PLENTY to nitpick about. My biggest gripe, and probably everyone else's, is Aron and Quinton come across pretty misogynistic. I did want them to struggle with their sexuality and masculinity. Aron's meant to have a really hard time realizing just because he's a prince he doesn't have to be "the prince from fairy tales," that he can be "girly" and it isn't an issue, but I didn't pull it off that well. Quinton uses that fear of Aron's as a way to get back at him and tease because he's still a bratty teenager, but it can get suuuuuper annoying. I don't want to change it in the novel, though (although I do cut it from the comic,) because then it seems like I'm hiding how I haven't always known how to handle everything. Just a warning for that and I TOTALLY understand if that makes you not want to read it. But they definitely aren't like that in the sequel since they're older and I don't wanna add that to any story ever anymore.

Aron is SUPER bratty in the beginning too. Do not expect to like him right off the bat. Quinton has some pretty big jerk moments too, but they do get better as they grow as people and as a couple.

[nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reasons for hating each other made absolutely no-sense and personally, the pining was too long. Like we get it, you've discovered new feelings, let's get to the point.

[sunnoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loveddd this book 🥰🥰🥰

[Kayleigh Petroski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see a lot of complaints about the miscommunication and misunderstandings between the characters, but honestly, I feel like that’s just how teenage boys are. It feels more real that they’re just absolutely oblivious to everything and I do appreciate that. I did remove a star for the numerous spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes littered throughout the novel. Overall though it is worth the read! The main characters are two idiots and I absolutely love them together. Pacing is rough at times, but it’s a great love story and I’m eager to continue.

[Acordul Fin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and not so cute at the same time. Highly readable and quite enjoyable read. However, the misunderstandings and the lack of communication between these two are severe and I feel my nerves will be tested in the sequels.

[Gregg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hesitate to give this two stars because it wasn't AWFUL but it also wasn't three star worthy for me. I will say it's a solid 2.5 because boy did this book test every last nerve in my body. To start, the dialogue and inner monologue of Aron along with his lack of manners made me quite possibly hate him as a character. There was maybe one likeable thing about him and it didn't even show up until the end. Quite frankly, Aron was the bully throughout the first half of the story and it was...not cute. I get it, you're a spoiled prince. That's it, that's his character. Moving on to the good, Quinton. I did enjoy Quinton's character a bit more and honestly he was the only reason I didn't dnf. I plan on finishing the series (since I already own it), but I don't have high hopes that Aron will become a better MC.

[jJennifer28 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8*

[Darareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading for the millionth time. Writing is far from spectacular but damn does it make me giggle.

[TaliYUH:3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

TERRIBLE but it didnt stop me from enjoying it wayyyy too much

like im sorry its awful but i was still so invested for no good reason
+ my friend read it and told me to bump it from 2 to 3 so yk <3

[Laur · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not going to shame young people for learning how to write, but as soon as you take something you've uploaded on a site like wattpad (or wherever this was originally) and format it to sell for MONEY, you ARE allowed to edit it again. In fact, PLEASE edit it again. From the start the setup was inconsistent, how would everyone "know how to act around him" if it was his literal first day of school? Same for the ML, how is he the best in class when it's also his first day? Why does the monarchy have states? He's learned how to work with someone politically but doesn’t know how to charm/play nice? The tenses. Were all over the place.
Exhausting

[Oliwia · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Emmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

abandoned. got really bored reading it. was taking me forever to try and get through it

[Matilda · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf like 10% in and got a refund. just go on ao3, you'll find better writing there

[Dori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this requires turning off your brain and just enjoying the stuff going on between 2 stupid teenagers. They both seem insufferable most of the time, but it gets cute (somehow).

I just can't seem to process the fact that their currency is USD, while there's a prince in their country. Like.... yeah, fiction, but again. Turn off your brain and don't think too much if you wanna enjoy reading this.

Aron was a brat in the beginning, so it explains why he's annoyed with Quinton. I wish we got more of Quinton's POV or dual POV, so I can understand why he was so casual about picking fights with the PRINCE ??? Or is this explained by the magical "love at first sight, so I want to get his attention by teasing him."

Language is super easy. I wouldn't say that entertaining, I was only there for some action between them. I love how Aron turns into a blushing mess later on.

Exactly what I needed after reading a feminist essay and thinking too much. A bit of stupidity, simple words, and high schoolers. Эмоциональная разгрузка.

[puduthiast · Rating 4 out of 5]

i first read this a few years back on tapas and was delighted with the stupidity of it all. aron is a great narrator cus everything he says and thinks is laughable and o so dramatic. the relationships in the book are amazing, aron and quintons stupid banter and langley constantly making fun of aron but still being an amazing friend is just chefs kiss. looking forward to reading the rest of the series again!

[♥ Alma ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars
wow that was good it pissed me off that like they kept arguing and couldnt have a serious convo but then i realized thats just their brand they love each other so much also that scene when he told him abt his dad an trusted him enough im DEAD their frikin adorable its crazy how he went from no feelings to hella feelings this guy FEELS and i relate so much the overthinking was also so relatable but i adore them and im just going right into the second book bc why not

[Aliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love,Love this book and will be reading over and over again.

First read was on tapas and I didn’t know there was a volume 3 so had to re-read and I love it as much as I did the first time I read it .

*I think I read the edited version because none of the fault or complaint are in the one I read *

[Ann Jeanett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kjøpte denne med uhell når jeg fikk Kindel. Var litt skeptisk skal ikke lyga men historien var overraskende gøy å lese. Gir meg Wattpad vibe men elske “enemies to lovers” historier så den falt litt i smak for meg (thithi). Er første bok i en serie.

[Keaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is one of my favorite! It's enemies to lovers done flawlessly that has the reader absolutely enthralled in the experience. Twoony creates characters that you understand and sympathize with, so you can't help but become emotionally attached. This is the type of story where a simple handhold will have you grinning giddily, and has obstacles for the characters that feel realistic and relevant. You will not regret buying such a great novel (soon to be great series of novels); it will make you smile, sob, and laugh in the best of ways.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover art is stunning 💖 very slow burn enemies to lovers and not what I expected at all. I loved Aaron's chaos and Quinton is a very classic grumpy love interest. Looking forward to seeing how their story develops in the next two books.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fost o poveste drăguță și merită 5 stele dar la final .....nici măcar nu poți să spui că este un final dar totuși merită citită

[Chiara Licandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars :)

[Tina Garnac · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, I hate Aron with all my heart. Time was moving too quicky and it was kinda boring ngl... I read this book beacouse I saw all the tiktoks about it, but defenitely not worth it.

[Lou Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book last year after discovering the author on tiktok and full disclosure- I sold the book on and lived to regret it. This is the review I wrote for the book I have also included a revised review too!

Old Review:
Speak the Truth by Twoony is like a rollercoaster of emotions—exciting, unpredictable, and with a few moments that make you question your life choices. The characters are full of personality, and the dynamic between Prince Aron and Quinton is as sizzling as it is chaotic. Their banter is on point, and there’s no shortage of moments that will make you laugh out loud.

The plot? Well, it’s a wild ride of twists, turns, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked. I couldn’t put it down, but at times I also found myself taking a mental breather—because wow, some of these twists hit hard.

Overall, a fun, heart-thumping read with just the right blend of humour and tension. Four stars, because honestly, I might need a few days to recover from the emotional whiplash. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a thrilling, yet laugh-out-loud good time.

Revised Review:
Not much difference to what past me said but can we take a moment of silence- I saw this book and was talking to the author about sunshine and grumpy trope because I didn't know what it was. And so to discover on goodreads when I'm posting this that the book was also wrote by someone who's part of the ace community- Book two I will be back for. The thing that caught my attnetion about this book initially is I mistook it for Ouran High Host Club. I was impressed with the comedy within the pages. I am not one for romance and I hate the miscommunication tropes with a passion but this book was wrote in such a way that it didn't feel like I was forcing myself to read, nor did I feel like it was trope after trope. Maybe because I'm not so familiar with the sunshine and grumpy tropes, but selling the book on vinted is something I don't think I'll ever allow myself to live down. This book more than deserved a place on my shelf and I cannot wait till pay day to get book two. I am also debating starting one of Twoony's other series.

I don't often find books which I'd be comfortable buying because to put it shortly- I read TOO MUCH. However- independently published gay stories - there aren't many that catch my eye and Twoony's writing style as well as their personality over on tiktok was enough to sell me on this series. Just like Hibiscus and Home by James Conway will also always be a recommendation for me- support our independent gay stories. They usually read a lot better than a lot of the mass marketed rubbish on the shelves. Or maybe they are usually just overhyped?

I don't know.

This book is an investment. Not quite five stars- but definitely worth buying and reading. I cannot stress that enough. And once more- I regret selling this book on so when I get paid book one and two are straight to cart. Also whilst I can't remember who did the art its gorgeous. Can we get some noise for the gorgeous artwork? Its simple, its beautiful. Its eyecatching. Everyone NEEDS Twoony on their radar. If you are a fan of LGBTQ+ books and you have never heard of them before- trust me, you need to read into them. Literally.

[river · Rating 3 out of 5]

this review will probably not be long.

aron is annoying, but he does grow a smidge towards the end of the book.

but some of the writing is repetitive because its just aron's thoughts and him constantly being like "i hate quinton, hes an asshole. stupid stubborn bastard i wanna punch him" like boy stfu. denial is not just a river.

but it was annoying towards the end when they were legit dating he was still like "quinton is satan" like ????

also like i saw this book was first written in 2012 and idk how old the author was at the time, but it was published in 2022. and like i'm in my 30s, and idk how old the author is. i
but like why are we writing explicit scenes when the characters in the book are children? like i think theyre 17 at the time and it legit describes a scene where theyre like kissing/hard both like touch each other and orgasm, LIKE they are 17. like i dont care if teenagers do these things in real life why are we writing about kids having sex?

like there is a 10 year difference to when this book was published, so assuming the author is an adult now and not a child/teen they could have edited that scene out.


really dont think ill read the rest of the series.

if i read any more of these authors books, ill see if they have grown as a person and their writing has developed. and im definitely only getting them from the library


edit; i forgot to add this, but some of the pacing and time skips was a little weird, like, it talked about their full freshmen year of school and then jumped ahead a bit and theyre juniors? like the pacing was weird. also the typos, and some of the grammar was weird and i had to reread portions cause i was like confused. normally i can read a book quickly, but this is was getting bored because it was so repetitive and i did not really wanna pick it up and read it.

[Salt · Rating 4 out of 5]

CUTE CUTE CUTE

This book has been on my radar for ages yet was a very spontaneous midnight read....its 4:25 AM I was hooked.

I had major butterflies reading this it was so cute! like even tho they literally fight eachother and had major beef at the start they became so bantery and soft to eachother as the story went on XD

I will say the names Quinton and Aron took me out at first - like ik a Quinton and my haidresser's name is Aron - but i kinda just learnt to roll w it.

I will also say i could tell from the first part of the book that the chapters were originally published on a staggerd timeline (weekly releases) and not as a full book but the story became more coheasive (spelling?) as it progressed so it wasnt that big a deal.

All in all a solid 4.2 because this really was a sweet book and i enjoyed the characters and story a lot!

Wait i just need to add *SPOILER* but when A was throwing up and Q came into the bathroom to hold his hair and rub his back EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STILL NEMISIS AND "DIDN'T EVEN LIKE EACHOTHER"!!! Ugh i died

[Neon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I technically read it in a day, but i have weird sleeping hours. Anyways….

I’m getting into reading more and honestly this was really cute. I’m waiting to get the next book in the mail and I can’t wait.

I will say that the rivalry was funny, but sometimes a little annoying because they fought about the dumbest things, but they’re high school kids and it just also makes sense. And the slow switch to friends where they had little moments worked well with what they did. The way it’s written threw me off just a bit. It’s written in first person pov of the main character and he talks to the reader a bit? as if we’re in his head? so it surprised me a bit, but i got over quickly.

otherwise very cute and im happy to have this on my shelf :)

[Cameo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eugh this is so sweet. I read the comic about a year ago, that ends a bit before the book does, so I knew what was going to happen most of the time. But that didn't take away any of my enjoyment.
Yes, it is a bit problematic with the bully getting with his victim, but - I don't really see this as actual bullying, more like "boy tugs on the ponytails of the girl he likes".
That's the vibe I'm getting.

The story takes place over about a year and a half, so the romance progresses at a normal pace, no instalove here! Which is really refreshing, and their banter is so good and funny, you can definitely feel the chemistry from the getgo.

I look forward to the last two volumes to see how they grow and tackle the specific problems given both their situations.

[Megan Allain · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok my first reaction would be to knock off a star because of how much I disliked the main character Aron at first (after finding out who the character is based on it made so much sense because I hate them too lol)

I had such visceral second hand embarrassment and cringe from some of their antics HOWEVER after I finished this book and went on to read the rest of the series... I feel differently.

First they're in high school.. who isn't the worst human ever as a teen right? But also the fact that Twoony wove characters so well to make people have such a strong reaction is a skill in itself. You get to watch them grow up and navigate their relationship vs adult responsibilities. Loved the series. No notes.

[André Amorim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a charming book, though the writing occasionally suffers from redundancy. Told in the first person, it relies heavily on internal monologue, which often fixates on the same three ideas to the point of excess.

While it’s true that people can become obsessive, especially when grappling with unresolved emotions. the repetition here doesn’t feel like a deliberate or insightful portrayal of a neurotic thought pattern. Instead, it lacks the depth or nuance that might justify its persistence, and it’s unclear whether this was the author’s intention.

Still, there’s something undeniably heartwarming about their dynamic, and about an LGBT enemies-to-lovers romance that had me kicking my feet at the sheer cuteness.