YA LGBT Books discussion

Our winning book of the month for Aug- Sept 2025 is The Long Run by James Acker

Two track and field athletes find an unexpected but powerful love in this unapologetically blunt and unforgettably real YA debut.

Sebastian Villeda is over it. Over his rep. Over his bros. Over being "Bash the Flash," fastest sprinter in South Jersey. His dad is gone, his mom is dead, and his stepfather is clueless. Bash has no idea what he wants out of life. Until he meets Sandro.

Sandro Miceli is too nice for his own good. The middle child in an always-growing, always-screaming Italian family, Sandro walks around on a broken foot to not bother his busy parents. All he wants is to get out and never look back.

When fate—in the form of a party that gets busted—brings these two very different boys together, neither of them could’ve predicted finding a love that they’d risk everything for…

Content warnings: (view spoiler)[ homophobia, misogyny (hide spoiler)]

I look forward to seeing what the group thinks of this one.

Sandro and Sebastian were realistic and relatable characters, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. I am curious as to what others might have to say about the depiction of sex between the two main characters. Some of my friends were uncomfortable with the way the author handled this part of the guys' relationship. They consider it too graphic for a YA book. I don't see any problem in this instance, but I'd love to get other perspectives.

Gene wrote: "Sandro and Sebastian were realistic and relatable characters, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. I am curious as to what others might have to say about the depiction of sex be..."

That's always going to be a judgement call - I'm fairly open to sex on page as YA in this group as long as the aim is plot and emotions, not eroticism. To me it can even be the difference between "dropped his shorts, revealing his dick" and "dropped his shorts, revealing his fat, hard dick..." The added visual or sensual details that turn factual sex into sex intended to arouse.

I own this one but haven't gotten to it. I'll have to check it out.