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Everything I Know
Connor loves teaching. He loves working with kids, he loves feeling like he’s making a difference. And the kids—and parents—seem to love him. Until the afternoon he makes a small error in judgment, and an angry father’s thoughtless comments start the kind of rumor that destroys careers. And lives.Everything Connor thought he knew about himself and his world is now in doubt. But sometimes help comes from the most unexpected direction.
140 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2014
8 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
223 books5,418 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
September 1, 2016
Following the brilliant
which I gave a whopping 5 well-deserved stars, this was a bit of a letdown. Perhaps because Everything I Know lacked a mystery, there wasn’t enough to anchor the weak relationship development and Lanyon’s usual premise of a doormat character bowing down before an asshole character.
I don’t like the power play that goes on when one MC is clearly in the wrong, but the other MC just rolls over, ass in the air (and not to get fucked, mind you).
To be fair, it wasn’t quite that extreme in this book. Connor is a kindergarten teacher, and he does stand up for himself to a degree. He lets Wes, the father of one of the children in Con’s kindergarten class, grovel at least.
But Wes acted like such a complete and utter dick, I can’t believe Connor ever agreed to go out with him. And, yes, Wes apologizes; he tries to set things right; he offers Con other options. So I was pacified. For two seconds. Until.
Wes acted like a jerkoff.
AGAIN.
Granted, it wasn’t all frustrating. Everything I Know was well written. The secondary characters, especially Con’s friend Pip, were fairly well defined. And even though Wes’s daughter, Lizzy, was central to the plot, kids didn’t overtake the story.
But, the steam was almost nonexistent and, in typical Lanyon fashion, the ending was a non-ending and very abrupt. In the next book, Lanyon should just stop writing in the middle of a wo
which I gave a whopping 5 well-deserved stars, this was a bit of a letdown. Perhaps because Everything I Know lacked a mystery, there wasn’t enough to anchor the weak relationship development and Lanyon’s usual premise of a doormat character bowing down before an asshole character.
I don’t like the power play that goes on when one MC is clearly in the wrong, but the other MC just rolls over, ass in the air (and not to get fucked, mind you).
To be fair, it wasn’t quite that extreme in this book. Connor is a kindergarten teacher, and he does stand up for himself to a degree. He lets Wes, the father of one of the children in Con’s kindergarten class, grovel at least.
But Wes acted like such a complete and utter dick, I can’t believe Connor ever agreed to go out with him. And, yes, Wes apologizes; he tries to set things right; he offers Con other options. So I was pacified. For two seconds. Until.
Wes acted like a jerkoff.
AGAIN.
Granted, it wasn’t all frustrating. Everything I Know was well written. The secondary characters, especially Con’s friend Pip, were fairly well defined. And even though Wes’s daughter, Lizzy, was central to the plot, kids didn’t overtake the story.
But, the steam was almost nonexistent and, in typical Lanyon fashion, the ending was a non-ending and very abrupt. In the next book, Lanyon should just stop writing in the middle of a wo
September 15, 2014
I'm a horrible book girlfriend.
I suffer from a severe case of book disloyalty. It's a DISEASE! I CAN'T HELP MYSELF!
Instead of reading Fadeout with the lovely, kind & beautiful (hey, all of that is absolutely true -- and I'm kissing ass) Sofia, I read the newest Josh Lanyon.
It's amazing how many times I've cheated on other books & BR buddies to read Lanyon. I just want to say:
There! Doesn't Benedict Cumberbatch make everything better?
*grumble*Well I feel better anyway.*grumble*
Anyway, I don't have much of a review for this one. Everything Dani wrote in her review is spot on. I'm too lazy to write a real review. (I'm sunburned EVERYWHERE I applied sunscreen 70! Fucking 70! THE BOTTOM OF MY FUCKING FEET. Personally, I think sunscreen is crap and clearly invented by the Man to bring down the proletariat. But whatever.)
I should mention, however, that much of the plot seems to be loosely based on All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, which was popular roughly 4,287 years ago.
And I really identified with the tough time Con is having with his job, and, oh yeah, LIFE SITUATION. Who hasn't been there?
And I understand why Con may have fallen for Wes. He sounds hawt. And I can forgive a lot for being hawt. Or intelligent. Or hawt. Whatever.
And there's an 11 year age difference. Which is haaaaawt.
But you do really need to suspend reality to buy their relationship.
I think Dani would agree with me when I say that during the always necessary 3rd act "Oh noes! Will happiness ever ensue for our two heroes?" scene, I really wanted to punch Wes in the larynx. HARD. What a douche.
However....I was just thinking that it reminds me of those romances where the dude would jerk the girl around for 300 pgs then say I love you and everything would be peaches & sunshine. Ugh. That's one of the many reason I stopped reading het romance.
So why the 3 stars? Well, a) it's more like 3.25 and b) It just made me happy. It is typical non-mystery Lanyon, but he writes that stuff for a reason: many, many of his fans enjoy it. And I'm one of them. I'll probably even reread it.
EVEN IF LANYON DOES END ALL HIS BOOKS & NOVELLAS JUST WHEN THEY GET GOOD. Bastarding bastard from Bastardville.
(JK, Joshie, you know I lurve you, baby. Except when you're a BASTARD.)
June 2, 2014
Meh, the chemistry was severely lacking. And, if anyone ever made the insinuation to me that's made in this book (between the MCs no less!), I'd punch them in the fucking throat and be done with it.
November 8, 2016
3.25 stars
This is a quite okay little novella. However, it doesn't have the emotional-angst-punch-in-the-gut that I usually feel whenever I read a contemporary Josh Lanyon though. Maybe because it lacks of mystery? Or maybe because it's not about established or ex-es couple? Or maybe because I don't think there's enough groveling and I feel like there's something missing in the plot?
Con is having a bad day when he finds that his world is falling apart after an angry father's comment costs Con his job. In typical Josh Lanyon's fashion, we have that jerk of father ends up actually liking Con and asking him for a date. Well, we know how Josh a**hole characters work, don't we?
I really think Con should make Wes grovel a LOT more before accepting the date. I mean, Wes did cost Connor his job, right? Con should not make it easy on him. The whole switch from Connor knowing that Wes had a hand on him losing his job and then accepted Wes's asking him for a date was just, well, not good. Then again, maybe in Josh's stories, we do have our 'doormat' of characters whom we end up loving *haha*
So anyway, a little forgettable though I still kinda enjoy it.
This is a quite okay little novella. However, it doesn't have the emotional-angst-punch-in-the-gut that I usually feel whenever I read a contemporary Josh Lanyon though. Maybe because it lacks of mystery? Or maybe because it's not about established or ex-es couple? Or maybe because I don't think there's enough groveling and I feel like there's something missing in the plot?
Con is having a bad day when he finds that his world is falling apart after an angry father's comment costs Con his job. In typical Josh Lanyon's fashion, we have that jerk of father ends up actually liking Con and asking him for a date. Well, we know how Josh a**hole characters work, don't we?
I really think Con should make Wes grovel a LOT more before accepting the date. I mean, Wes did cost Connor his job, right? Con should not make it easy on him. The whole switch from Connor knowing that Wes had a hand on him losing his job and then accepted Wes's asking him for a date was just, well, not good. Then again, maybe in Josh's stories, we do have our 'doormat' of characters whom we end up loving *haha*
So anyway, a little forgettable though I still kinda enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2019
*3.5 stars*
I would have definitely rounded up if not for the way too abrupt ending. Did I want to pnch Wes on multiple occasions? Yes. Still, I liked it a lot. I think I'm one of the few people who prefer Lanyon's Contemporary, no or light on the mystery, books.
I would have definitely rounded up if not for the way too abrupt ending. Did I want to pnch Wes on multiple occasions? Yes. Still, I liked it a lot. I think I'm one of the few people who prefer Lanyon's Contemporary, no or light on the mystery, books.
August 1, 2020
Lanyon does contemporary without a murder mystery! And I liked it a lot! Just too abrupt an ending.
May 29, 2014
In Everything I Know, Connor Myers is a kindergarten teacher who starts the story having the day from hell. One of his charges breaks her arm on the playground, and due to the lack of a clear school policy in an emergency situation, he rushes her to the hospital for treatment. Her father, Wes Callahan -- the most important donor at the school -- objects (primarily because he is scared, already in a bad mood, and just generally pissy), and calls the school to complain. As a consequence, Connor ends up getting fired. Through a series of events that don't feel completely contrived, they end up reaching detente, dating, and falling for each other (though the "I love yous" came way too fast and really weren't earned; plus, Wes is a bit of a judgmental douche, but we can hand wave that -- he's no worse, and far better, than many other romance heroes).
The story is a brisk, pleasant read, but there was one big issue that I had with it, and I think that if Lanyon had eliminated it, he could have told much the same story. When Wes loses it on Connor, one of the things that he says to him at the hospital is, "What kind of normal grown man makes a career out of hanging around little kids?" Even worse, when Connor gets fired, the school administrators make it clear that Callahan has apparently said something similar to them, too, and they are parroting the sentiment, if not the words, back to Connor.
Lanyon leaves the meaning of these words deliberately ambiguous. Is this anti-gay sentiment? Since Callahan is the love interest (and presumably not the self-hating type), we assume no, but perhaps the administrators were showing animus when they made their insinuations. On the other hand, the statements could simply have reflected the stereotype of all male teachers of young children as potential predators. Whether he was being accused of specifically inappropriate behavior, or whether he was about to be the target of an old-school, Anita Bryant-esque, "they can't reproduce so they have to recruit" whispering campaign, Connor nearly went into a tailspin. Reputation counted, and if his wasn't sterling, he would lose his career. Lanyon makes this accusation a very important part of the early part of the story, but by the end, it doesn't seem to play a terribly important role in its resolution at all. And this is why I say that he could have eliminated it altogether, and the key plot elements would probably have remained the same.
Overall, it's a fine read, but that plot bunny was a detraction.
The story is a brisk, pleasant read, but there was one big issue that I had with it, and I think that if Lanyon had eliminated it, he could have told much the same story. When Wes loses it on Connor, one of the things that he says to him at the hospital is, "What kind of normal grown man makes a career out of hanging around little kids?" Even worse, when Connor gets fired, the school administrators make it clear that Callahan has apparently said something similar to them, too, and they are parroting the sentiment, if not the words, back to Connor.
Lanyon leaves the meaning of these words deliberately ambiguous. Is this anti-gay sentiment? Since Callahan is the love interest (and presumably not the self-hating type), we assume no, but perhaps the administrators were showing animus when they made their insinuations. On the other hand, the statements could simply have reflected the stereotype of all male teachers of young children as potential predators. Whether he was being accused of specifically inappropriate behavior, or whether he was about to be the target of an old-school, Anita Bryant-esque, "they can't reproduce so they have to recruit" whispering campaign, Connor nearly went into a tailspin. Reputation counted, and if his wasn't sterling, he would lose his career. Lanyon makes this accusation a very important part of the early part of the story, but by the end, it doesn't seem to play a terribly important role in its resolution at all. And this is why I say that he could have eliminated it altogether, and the key plot elements would probably have remained the same.
Overall, it's a fine read, but that plot bunny was a detraction.
September 20, 2019
2.5 stars
I wasn't too impressed with this story. I really liked Connor, but I did have problems with Wes and with the way Connor's work situation was resolved.
Michael Ferraiuolo's narration was great.
I wasn't too impressed with this story. I really liked Connor, but I did have problems with Wes and with the way Connor's work situation was resolved.
Michael Ferraiuolo's narration was great.
December 1, 2016
Now I want you to brace yourself. You braced? Ok…
Nobody dies in this book. Not even the bunny.
But this is Josh Lanyon I hear you cry (in a totally metaphysical we all share each other’s pain kind of way).
I know right? I can’t remember the last Lanyon I read that does not involve corpses, capers, or just downright skullduggery. But nonetheless, Everything I Know is just a good ol’ fashioned story of boy meets boy, boy gets fired because of boy, boy rages at boy, boy begs forgiveness, boy thinks it over, boy decides yes he will date boy, boy falls for boy….
(Am I the only one thinking that the word ‘boy’ has somehow lost all meaning and we are now in some alternate universe where ‘boy’ does not exist and that the longer we look at this word we find it odd and unsettling….yes? ok then.)
Despite my total break from reality there, I should let you know that I really enjoyed this. Despite the fact that there were no dead bodies. In my head Josh Lanyon and Mysteries are one and the same. Which I put down to the fact that he does them so damn well. It is all his fault, you see. But clearly he knows how to write other stuff. Good stuff. Great stuff. Stuff that makes me want to cry and rage and go back and give a million dollars to every teacher I ever had, because how they didn’t just snap one day and go on a killing spree cause they are surrounded by such bureaucratic idiocy, not to mention the kids…(ok, breathe….just breathe). I’m just saying, this book was good.
Conner is a good person, a great teacher, and while having moments of weakness in regards to hooking up with his total douche of an ex, does not deserve the crap that gets thrown at him during this book. He loves his job. I don’t know how he can do it. One little kid would wig me out, let alone twenty, but he loves the kids and the teaching. In my eyes the man is a freakin superhero. But one little misspoken word, and it all comes crashing down. One sentence said in anger and fear and frustration, and his life becomes a nightmare.
Because… What kind of normal grown man makes a career out of hanging around little kids?
Oh, I wanted to hate Wes for saying this. Despite understanding why he did it. But, gods, was I ready to take him down when he said it.
Too many parts of our culture, our world, associate ‘gay’ with evil monster. And throw children into the mix, and you’ve got an evil monster that hides under your kid’s bed. God how I despise this. But it is there, part of our social psyche, nonetheless.
How do I know?
Because I thought that once upon a time. Back in what I would consider my bad ol’ days. Before common sense and just plain human empathy kicked in. Before I thought my brain might be useful for something more than storing bible verses. You have no idea the depth of my shame for thinking this. For making monsters out of normal men and women, just because they were different from everything I was taught.
I am uncomfortable with parts of this book, because of what they mean, because of the damage they can do. I am uncomfortable because this topic doesn’t come up all that much. Because who wants to talk about it? Except if we never talk about it, it only becomes another monster hiding in our closets. Connor’s life gets taken apart by one sentence. One untrue, malicious thought–-though it was not intended to do as much harm as it did. And because of it. Because of the fear, because of the stigma, because of the school’s administration being swayed by money and fear, Connor doesn’t even get a say in what happens to him.
But…don’t worry. This book is not all doom and gloom. There is a good romance, that is probably all the better because it is tied up in all that other stuff. While I would have loved to have made Wes grovel some more…there was enough there that by the time the book ended I was cheering both Wes and Connor on.
And the kids, despite my whole phobia, were adorable.
And wow…this review went on a lot longer than I intended. So let me just say that I really enjoyed this book. Josh Lanyon is still pretty much a autobuy for me. And I recommend you read this. It is good. Really good.
Even with the lack of dead bodies.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Nobody dies in this book. Not even the bunny.
But this is Josh Lanyon I hear you cry (in a totally metaphysical we all share each other’s pain kind of way).
I know right? I can’t remember the last Lanyon I read that does not involve corpses, capers, or just downright skullduggery. But nonetheless, Everything I Know is just a good ol’ fashioned story of boy meets boy, boy gets fired because of boy, boy rages at boy, boy begs forgiveness, boy thinks it over, boy decides yes he will date boy, boy falls for boy….
(Am I the only one thinking that the word ‘boy’ has somehow lost all meaning and we are now in some alternate universe where ‘boy’ does not exist and that the longer we look at this word we find it odd and unsettling….yes? ok then.)
Despite my total break from reality there, I should let you know that I really enjoyed this. Despite the fact that there were no dead bodies. In my head Josh Lanyon and Mysteries are one and the same. Which I put down to the fact that he does them so damn well. It is all his fault, you see. But clearly he knows how to write other stuff. Good stuff. Great stuff. Stuff that makes me want to cry and rage and go back and give a million dollars to every teacher I ever had, because how they didn’t just snap one day and go on a killing spree cause they are surrounded by such bureaucratic idiocy, not to mention the kids…(ok, breathe….just breathe). I’m just saying, this book was good.
Conner is a good person, a great teacher, and while having moments of weakness in regards to hooking up with his total douche of an ex, does not deserve the crap that gets thrown at him during this book. He loves his job. I don’t know how he can do it. One little kid would wig me out, let alone twenty, but he loves the kids and the teaching. In my eyes the man is a freakin superhero. But one little misspoken word, and it all comes crashing down. One sentence said in anger and fear and frustration, and his life becomes a nightmare.
Because… What kind of normal grown man makes a career out of hanging around little kids?
Oh, I wanted to hate Wes for saying this. Despite understanding why he did it. But, gods, was I ready to take him down when he said it.
Too many parts of our culture, our world, associate ‘gay’ with evil monster. And throw children into the mix, and you’ve got an evil monster that hides under your kid’s bed. God how I despise this. But it is there, part of our social psyche, nonetheless.
How do I know?
Because I thought that once upon a time. Back in what I would consider my bad ol’ days. Before common sense and just plain human empathy kicked in. Before I thought my brain might be useful for something more than storing bible verses. You have no idea the depth of my shame for thinking this. For making monsters out of normal men and women, just because they were different from everything I was taught.
I am uncomfortable with parts of this book, because of what they mean, because of the damage they can do. I am uncomfortable because this topic doesn’t come up all that much. Because who wants to talk about it? Except if we never talk about it, it only becomes another monster hiding in our closets. Connor’s life gets taken apart by one sentence. One untrue, malicious thought–-though it was not intended to do as much harm as it did. And because of it. Because of the fear, because of the stigma, because of the school’s administration being swayed by money and fear, Connor doesn’t even get a say in what happens to him.
But…don’t worry. This book is not all doom and gloom. There is a good romance, that is probably all the better because it is tied up in all that other stuff. While I would have loved to have made Wes grovel some more…there was enough there that by the time the book ended I was cheering both Wes and Connor on.
And the kids, despite my whole phobia, were adorable.
And wow…this review went on a lot longer than I intended. So let me just say that I really enjoyed this book. Josh Lanyon is still pretty much a autobuy for me. And I recommend you read this. It is good. Really good.
Even with the lack of dead bodies.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
June 10, 2014
Unlike everything else I've read by Mr. Lanyon, this one has no mystery element (which makes me happy, because I prefer a straight-up romance).
It surprised me, repeatedly, with the depth of emotional reactions it provoked in me--particularly in regards to Connor's reactions to losing his job and to his mother's illness. This story is quite well-crafted and thoughtfully written. The ending was a wee bit rushed, but still made me happy.
It surprised me, repeatedly, with the depth of emotional reactions it provoked in me--particularly in regards to Connor's reactions to losing his job and to his mother's illness. This story is quite well-crafted and thoughtfully written. The ending was a wee bit rushed, but still made me happy.
November 18, 2016
Meh. Cute, pero meh.
May 29, 2014
I really liked Everything I Know — and that's saying something after it had made me feel physically ill for the first few chapters. I'm a teacher myself and some things that happened in this story must certainly be every teacher's nightmare.
I admire the way Josh Lanyon writes his characters so real, flawed and multidimensional. Some of them behave badly, almost unforgivably so, in this story. It's human to screw up, we all do it sometime, and it's such a blessing if you find a person who's still willing to care for you and give you another chance after he has seen you in your absolute worst behavior. I always enjoy witnessing how Josh Lanyon's characters fall, get up and grow during his books.
There are lots of things that I loved about this story. I enjoyed the way the secondary characters were drawn sharp-eyed with colorful crayons. I especially loved Connor's friend and co-worker, Pip. I also adored the way Lanyon used the quote from Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten throughout the book. I thought that reflecting the story with that quote was brilliant. All in all the story left me pondering over some fundamental things about teaching, pedagogics, education and economy.
But the main thought the book left me with is about taking chances. Maybe it's true that in the end we only regret the chances we didn't take? I wish I had as much courage as the main characters in this story have.
A sweet, romantic novella with unexpected main couple? Maybe. For me this was so much more. I highly recommend it. Only — be aware of wonder! :-)
I admire the way Josh Lanyon writes his characters so real, flawed and multidimensional. Some of them behave badly, almost unforgivably so, in this story. It's human to screw up, we all do it sometime, and it's such a blessing if you find a person who's still willing to care for you and give you another chance after he has seen you in your absolute worst behavior. I always enjoy witnessing how Josh Lanyon's characters fall, get up and grow during his books.
There are lots of things that I loved about this story. I enjoyed the way the secondary characters were drawn sharp-eyed with colorful crayons. I especially loved Connor's friend and co-worker, Pip. I also adored the way Lanyon used the quote from Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten throughout the book. I thought that reflecting the story with that quote was brilliant. All in all the story left me pondering over some fundamental things about teaching, pedagogics, education and economy.
But the main thought the book left me with is about taking chances. Maybe it's true that in the end we only regret the chances we didn't take? I wish I had as much courage as the main characters in this story have.
A sweet, romantic novella with unexpected main couple? Maybe. For me this was so much more. I highly recommend it. Only — be aware of wonder! :-)
June 23, 2017
Audible
3,5 stars
Where is a dead body?!
Josh Lanyon can write not only mystery, but also a contemporary!
VERY unusual. (But NOT BAD.)
(Well, I'm actually OVER-CRITICAL considering JL' works).
It is an EXCELLENT contemporary romance from your NOT usual contemporary writer.
Highly recommended.
May 31, 2014
***3.5***
A Josh Lanyon book without a mystery or dead body? Those are few and far between but I can always count on JL to give me an excellently written and entertaining story and this was no exception. It's a nice love story, if a bit unbelievable, and I really liked Connor. He was a little too quick to forgive and the ending came too soon but I expected that.
A Josh Lanyon book without a mystery or dead body? Those are few and far between but I can always count on JL to give me an excellently written and entertaining story and this was no exception. It's a nice love story, if a bit unbelievable, and I really liked Connor. He was a little too quick to forgive and the ending came too soon but I expected that.
May 4, 2016
I liked the quietness of this one.
3.5 stars
June 4, 2014
It looks like I’m in the minority here, but I really loved this book. Now in the interest of full disclosure, I have not read much Josh Lanyon. In fact, I’ve only read the first two Adrien English books, so I’m not that familiar with Josh’s work.
I thought this was really cute. Kindergarten teacher falling for the dad of one of his students. There’s much more to it than that. Connor has a lot of issues he’s dealing with, including unemployment, money trouble, meddling ex-boyfriends, potential rumors that could destroy his career. But in the end I found it to be a very sweet story.
I thought this was really cute. Kindergarten teacher falling for the dad of one of his students. There’s much more to it than that. Connor has a lot of issues he’s dealing with, including unemployment, money trouble, meddling ex-boyfriends, potential rumors that could destroy his career. But in the end I found it to be a very sweet story.
May 21, 2018
Overall book rating: 3.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Short. Yes. Good? You bet! What a mess! I have to say I do enjoy all the different scenarios the author gives us. It’s never boring I swear! This was sweet and and really enjoyed it. Also the MC's. They were great.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Short. Yes. Good? You bet! What a mess! I have to say I do enjoy all the different scenarios the author gives us. It’s never boring I swear! This was sweet and and really enjoyed it. Also the MC's. They were great.
July 31, 2024
While I love JL's stories and characters and will nearly always buy her novels, when it comes to her shorter works, they tend to be hit or miss for me. Sometimes they're perfect (A Perfect Day, Parting Glass) and sometimes not so much.
Things I like:
The very real terror of being suddenly unemployed was examined nicely, as well as Con's inner turmoil at how others do/don't perceive him. For teachers, the absolute worst accusation is inappropriate conduct with your students, and that fear is given a spotlight here. A little too bright, but I'll get to that later. I liked his friends rallying around him and giving him the support he needed. I liked that the resolution only came about because I liked the detail of his mom and really wish that would have been expanded on more.
Things I didn't like:
I think that's my main issue here is that the things I like (the fear/uneasiness that Con feels throughout) are so vivid and real, they were in stark contrast to the things I didn't like. It felt unbalanced, like there were two different stories being told. One was a semi-social commentary on a gay pre-K teacher suddenly fired and facing horrible accusations, and the other was a smarmy romance worthy of Lifetime. Neither story was given the time nor space to fully develop.
So wrapping this up, this was a hot unholy mess that would have been mediocre from any other author. I hold Josh to a higher calibre though, and this one just didn't stack up. I'm glad I borrowed it.
Things I like:
The very real terror of being suddenly unemployed was examined nicely, as well as Con's inner turmoil at how others do/don't perceive him. For teachers, the absolute worst accusation is inappropriate conduct with your students, and that fear is given a spotlight here. A little too bright, but I'll get to that later. I liked his friends rallying around him and giving him the support he needed. I liked that the resolution only came about because I liked the detail of his mom and really wish that would have been expanded on more.
Things I didn't like:
I think that's my main issue here is that the things I like (the fear/uneasiness that Con feels throughout) are so vivid and real, they were in stark contrast to the things I didn't like. It felt unbalanced, like there were two different stories being told. One was a semi-social commentary on a gay pre-K teacher suddenly fired and facing horrible accusations, and the other was a smarmy romance worthy of Lifetime. Neither story was given the time nor space to fully develop.
So wrapping this up, this was a hot unholy mess that would have been mediocre from any other author. I hold Josh to a higher calibre though, and this one just didn't stack up. I'm glad I borrowed it.
January 5, 2016
Everything I Know is a terrific, powerful, yet gentle and sweet story. It pulls you in right from the very beginning with a situation that is every teacher's nightmare and which transforms into another kind of nightmare born out of the power of a wrong word, and of a decision made with the best of intentions. But within this impossibly difficult scenario, a spark of kindness and love takes root and slowly grows into something wonderful.
The characters feel real, relatable, they're flawed, but mature. Connor is such an amazing guy. And Wes too. He's more reserved than Connor, who wears his heart on his sleeve, but he's a pretty great guy himself.
One of the things that i love best about this story, is how human it is. As in real life, until faced with a tricky or unfair situation, it's impossible to know how one might react, how others around us will react, what to expect. I love Connor for his inherent goodness, he's such a generous soul. He's someone i'd like to have as a friend. The story is a roller-coaster of emotion in the best way possible. I highly recommended it!
The characters feel real, relatable, they're flawed, but mature. Connor is such an amazing guy. And Wes too. He's more reserved than Connor, who wears his heart on his sleeve, but he's a pretty great guy himself.
One of the things that i love best about this story, is how human it is. As in real life, until faced with a tricky or unfair situation, it's impossible to know how one might react, how others around us will react, what to expect. I love Connor for his inherent goodness, he's such a generous soul. He's someone i'd like to have as a friend. The story is a roller-coaster of emotion in the best way possible. I highly recommended it!
February 16, 2015
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because I read it in one sitting and I found it very touching emotionally. Connor was a great MC, sensitive and caring and so lovable you couldn't help but want to hug him and make everything right for him:) Wes was more of a black box, but I think his steadiness was exactly what Connor needed. This must be the first JL book I read that has no mystery at all and I must say it was a pleasant surprise.
May 11, 2020
I just don't know how Connor could bring himself to get involved with a man responsible for him losing his job and who not once, but twice, said his part and walked off without giving Connor a chance to explain... and accuses Connor of bring the less mature of the two.
I did really like Connor, and the writing was as good as always... but WTF Connor, you got bad taste in men.
I did really like Connor, and the writing was as good as always... but WTF Connor, you got bad taste in men.
May 29, 2014
Just read the sample on ARe and - I CAN'T WAIT!!!
(Perhaps this book can take me out of my reading slump)
Well, thankfully there were several books that already helped getting me over my reading slump. Had I waited for this one, I would have been a tad bit disappointed. It was a very good read for the longest time, if only there weren't the nearly insta-love thing and on top of that the big, well, misunderstanding or just I-won't-talk-with-you-anymore. And then the rather rushed ending. Yes, that could have done better for this reader.
Overall I'll stick to my beloved, well not really, but nevertheless 3 stars.
(Perhaps this book can take me out of my reading slump)
Well, thankfully there were several books that already helped getting me over my reading slump. Had I waited for this one, I would have been a tad bit disappointed. It was a very good read for the longest time, if only there weren't the nearly insta-love thing and on top of that the big, well, misunderstanding or just I-won't-talk-with-you-anymore. And then the rather rushed ending. Yes, that could have done better for this reader.
Overall I'll stick to my beloved, well not really, but nevertheless 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2021
Connor is too much of a doormat and Wes makes me want to jump into the book and punch him myself 😩 i’ll just stick with Josh Lanyon’s mysteries…..
May 31, 2014
2.5 stars.
Umm..a bit of a disappointment. The writing was good, as always, and the premise was intriguing. But I found myself disliking Wes.. He was all apologetic for his actions and words- but it didn't pacify me at all. I wanted to smack Wes for his cluelessness...in this era when an innocent phrase can get someone sued for sexual harassment - how can you drop hints that your kid's teacher's behavior is suspicious? I really didn't get what the f*ck Wes meant saying to Con those unfair words..and he couldn't explain it himself. I found all that rather unforgivable, so Con's willingness to accept the apology and start going out with Wes, especially with all the scandal still being fresh and his situation so dire - was bewildering.
And to top it all - Wes fucks up again, and again doesn't have a satisfactory explanation for his behavior. Ugh.
To top it all, there was lots of insta-love going around. Which is my personal pet peeve.
Umm..a bit of a disappointment. The writing was good, as always, and the premise was intriguing. But I found myself disliking Wes.. He was all apologetic for his actions and words- but it didn't pacify me at all. I wanted to smack Wes for his cluelessness...in this era when an innocent phrase can get someone sued for sexual harassment - how can you drop hints that your kid's teacher's behavior is suspicious? I really didn't get what the f*ck Wes meant saying to Con those unfair words..and he couldn't explain it himself. I found all that rather unforgivable, so Con's willingness to accept the apology and start going out with Wes, especially with all the scandal still being fresh and his situation so dire - was bewildering.
And to top it all - Wes fucks up again, and again doesn't have a satisfactory explanation for his behavior. Ugh.
To top it all, there was lots of insta-love going around. Which is my personal pet peeve.
June 7, 2014
God, I just don't know and this KILLS me. I love Lanyon but this book, there was so much I really loved about this but so. very. much. I didn't. Unfortunately, I guess there comes a time when one of your most favorite authors writes something that just doesn't work for you and what you love about their writing just isn't enough. The anger I felt in regards to what happened in this book, well, there just wasn't enough words on page to make me feel forgiveness. This one didn't work.
May 29, 2014
Such a stressful little story. Riveting, yes, but I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed it. The writing was so effective that I was practically shaking with indignation on Connor's behalf. I think Lanyon's typical restraint (especially the fade-to-black sex) really worked against this story. It needed more affection and more intimacy to get the reader on Wes's side.
January 27, 2015
I wouldn't have liked this one as much as I do if not for the excellent way Connor was written. I loved the bugger. At the end, when he just kinda goes off...superb. I get so tired of characters just swallowing everything anyone dishes out and not saying a word in their own defense or being forthright at all. Connor definitely didn't have that problem, and I adored him for it.
June 24, 2016
Cute story! This time is no mystery case, no writer, no policeman xD
We have a kindergarten teacher and a very protective father who are not in a very good terms after an incident.
The private schools monkey business, the power to easily doom a teacher, the low credibility of the teacher against other interests and a beautiful love story ♥
We have a kindergarten teacher and a very protective father who are not in a very good terms after an incident.
The private schools monkey business, the power to easily doom a teacher, the low credibility of the teacher against other interests and a beautiful love story ♥
September 29, 2015
Who wrote this? Really. Tepid characters, no world building, none of the beautiful prose for which Lanyon is known. The storyline was mediocre at best. Yes, I know it's a short story, but it was very disappointing. One saving grace... Michael Ferraiuolo was a wonderful narrator.
June 9, 2016
Me ha encantado, sentimental, sencilla y con el punto justo de drama, personajes creíbles y con buena química. Adorable!
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