Virgin and gay-wannabe Smart Fallon desperately wants to come out of the closet. When he moves to the big city and college, he figures he's found his chance. In fact, he finds even more than that when he meets Tommy and Mike, his first gay friends.
Will Smart ever find his own love, though? Maybe he will, if he can make it through everything life throws at him. Alex is everything he wants, but Smart isn't sure if he and Alex can find their way and help Tommy and Mike make it through. Can they all find happiness?
In Ethan Day's group there had been a lot of discussion about AKM Miles and the fantastic books that she writes; of course I had to check them out. I bought three books ~ Dare To, a Christmas short Dare's Christmas Gift and Smart Alex. I've just finshed the latter and now have added ALL her books to my gotta-get-soon list.
Her stories have so much heart, so much emotional richness and detail that, while you could easily be overwhelmed, the characters keep you grounded. There is one element in both the stories that I've read that leapt to my notice, but it in no way hinders my enjoyment. It's that the romance moves fast... and by fast may I say 'warp speed'? But in AKM Miles's stories, it's the relationships between the men that are the focus, the meat of the story. Not so much that they do fall in love ~ because that's a given ~ but how their love helps them through the very difficult situations and / or events that occur in the story. It's about hope, friendship and love and how all these are necessary for love to withstand the very worst that can be thrown at it.
In Smart Alex, our hero Smart is a young man who's trying to find a place where he fits. He knows he's gay ~ at least he's pretty sure he is ~ but he's never had an opportunity to find out for himself. That is, until he leaves his small hometown and heads off to university. Luckily for him two of the first people he connects with, Mike and Tommy, are the kind of friends everyone should have. They take him under their wing and offer him a friendship the like of which he's never experienced.
I absolutely LOVED the dynamics of the relationships: Smart with Mike and Tommy and then Tommy and Mike... oh those two are so very special. When Smart meets Alex, fireworks ignite... and love finds a home.
This story is not only a romance, but a story of the strength of true and lasting friendships and just how vital they can be in our lives.
If you love a story in which you can lose yourself and yet, at the same time, discover the strength of friendship and real love, then AKM Mile's Smart Alex is just the book for you. But don't stop here; I guarantee that you'll discover that the rest of her stories are just as amazing!
3.5* This was a very sweet story about two couples actually. Mike and Tommy, who go through quite a bad time when Mike is brutally beaten, and Smart and Alex. Smart met Alex at the hospital where Mike was being treated, and although he is only 23 he was very mature! Ok, I liked the story and read it straight through, but everyone except 2 homophobic asshats ( well and one set of parents that eventually came around) were ultra supportive and understanding and caring and loving and mature! It was almost a bit too 'perfect' for me, yes, Mike had problems after his traumatic experience, but eventually all was perfect again. But, I was in the mood for a story with a lot of love and this one had that!
Smart is a small town boy. From a so small town that, at eighteen years old he is still virgin. Oh, he knows he is gay, since he has never been attracted by women and instead he has dreamed on his high school mate, but he is the only gay man in town and so no chance for him. But Smart is also very "smart" (from where his nickname) and he wins a full scholarship for a big college in the north and leaves his home full of hopes, included the possibility to find love.
And the very first day, in the college dorm he steps into Tommy and Mike, a two years old gay couple. Tommy lives in the same dorm of Smart, and since they get along very well, they decide to share a room. In this way Smart has the chance to see a real life gay couple, really in love, and this is a one more push for him to find the same thing.
Unfortunately not all the people arounf them are so happy of this open gay behaviour and Mike is the victim of a gay bashing. He is in very critical condition and all the families, of Tommy and Mike, and also Smart spend all the time by his side in hospital. And here Smart meets Alex, a tech nurse who happens to be also a very handsome gay man. But Alex is also tender and caring and Smart can't believe to have finally found the man of his life.
The story is very tender and smooth. The feelings are simple and sweet, a very romantic tale of first and true love. Both the characters, Smart and Alex, are young and good boys. Really they are the poster boys for the next door guy. No one is dominant in this couple, maybe Alex is a bit more experienced, and so sometimes takes the lead, but you can clearly see that Smart, growing old, will be an equal partner for him.
If not for the nasty accident of Mike, this tale would be really a Pollyanna's style story. One of that stories which remind you butter biscuit and sugar tea and love me forever.
I think I found a new author to add to my favorites list. Ms. Miles creates a story that's different than most out there in the sense that there isn't much angst. Yeah, there's problems in the story but they did not originate because there was a misunderstanding between the lovers. Most stories rely on angst to make up most of the book. This one didn't. Some parts/characters were too perfect, true, but then again it's also just a story.
I loved the characters. I always look at the characters, main or secondary, and that is a huge part of my review or liking of the story. Ms. Miles created wonderful characters that I immediately fell in love with. Tommy and Mike were too cute. Their love was bright and every action was filled with that love. . They were perfect for each other. Alex and Smart were amazing as a couple. They were great people without each other but together, whew! Instantaneous amazing came forth. And the way they acted towards each other made me jealous. I want that connection with someone! :) Alex was perfect incarnate. The perfect boyfriend, the perfect friend and the perfect tech (maybe too perfect??). He knew just what to say to Mike and Tommy, not to mention Smart, to relieve their fears and doubts. He was in control but in an assholey way. I like Smart less than Alex but I still loved him to bits. (Says something about Ms. Miles writing, huh?) I really don't know why I liked Alex more; I just did. Smart's reaction to Tommy and Mike was too funny.He was so surprised in a good way and then came to love them. Mitch and Marie just have to be mentioned. They are so accepting and caring. I honestly wish more parents/people were like them.
Overall: 4 stars A great read that didn't make you go through a torment of emotions before reaching the last page. A great choice if you're between books and just want to coast through. :)
This was a very sweet read and at times it was a little to sweet. When I say something like that it really means something, because my threshold for sweetnes in romance is very high. I felt that the relationship between Mike and Tommy was more interesting and how they have to find each other again after Mike is attacked and brutally beaten. Smart really idolizes Mike and Tommy and wants to have the same kind of relationship as they do. He does find that in Alex and both Smart and Alex are really good people and they are good together.
All in all this was a sweet coming of age story and I kind of felt privilged to explore Smart´s sexuality with him and Alex. In between all the sweet talk they do go at it like bunnies :)
This book it about two different couples. It is titled Smart Alex because of Smart and Alex, but theirs is not the only romance or story told. In fact, there seemed to be more about Tommy and Mike than Smart and Alex. Alex isn't even introduced until almost a quarter of the way into the book.
Alex and Smart meet under dire circumstances and fall for each other fast. They spend a lot of the time in the book helping Tommy and Mike with their relationship.
I thought the story was sweet and enjoyed reading it. However, the dialog was stilted some and everything just worked out too easily. If you are looking for a long but very light read this might be for you.
Smart grew up in a tiny town. He was excited when he won a scholarship to the biggest university in the state. His first day moving in the dorm he ran into Tommy and Mike kissing in the hall. Tommy lived in the dorm and Mike lived at home with his Parents. They were in love and tried to spend as much time together as possible.
The story follows the guys in college. Tommy and Mike are very lovey dovey all the time. We find out that Mike's parents don't like him being gay. After Mike is attacked and sent to the hospital we meet Alex. Alex is a tech at the hospital. Alex and Smart fall for each other and humping like bunnies on speed.
Sometimes very little angst is the way to go! I see myself re reading this because it's about friendship, having mentors to guide you and finding true love. My heart broke for Mike tho and I loved how Smart and Tommy stood by him.
God, what a sweet book. It really is a book about two couples, Mike and Tommy and Smart and Alex. Wonderfully tragic and still so touching. A little on the sappy side for me, but still a nice feel-good book.