Jack Reynolds’s Reviews > Just Between Us > Status Update

While Curtis’s HIV status wasn’t Luke’s news to break, I see why he had to given the second hospital visit of this book. Now having started medication, Curtis refuses to acknowledge Luke or do much with him. At the same time, Luke and a fellow band kid on the color guard, Robert, have formed a semi-friendship. Not a development I expected.

As time passes, Luke and Curtis keep on pushing and pulling due to the latter’s hesitation of pursuing something romantic due to his HIV. It’s leading to some confusing decisions, though. Not sure if Trumble’s handling them as well as he could.

I'm also not surprised that a moment of crisis brough Luke and Curtis back together, even if Luke's dad put a damper on it. The angst was getting a little too iffy for my tastes despite it being understandable. This book is almost a decade old, and it does show its age with how the characters react and work through their story beats.

After several chapters from Curtis's perspective, we pivoted back to Luke's. And man, after finding out Curtis is HIV positive, some of his thoughts were vicious. Even though Luke's gay himself, this doesn't mean he's free from homophobic thought. Props to Trumble for touching on that.

Also a bummer that although Jaleel's an allay, his parents don't support him living with Curtis. He's finding a way around that.

After several chapters from Curtis's perspective, we pivoted back to Luke's. And man, after finding out Curtis is HIV positive, some of his thoughts were vicious. Even though Luke's gay himself, this doesn't mean he's free from homophobic thought. Props to Trumble for touching on that.

Also a bummer that although Jaleel's an allay, his parents don't support him living with Curtis. He's finding a way around that.

The angst is already starting, but it should prove interesting. I wonder if Nathan was the focus of another Trumble book.

Plot wise, not much has happened so far beyond their initial thoughts of each other, set up for future conflict, and a tropical storm, but I feel Just Between Us may be more character driven.

Time for more queer lit! I found this while at work one day as it was shelved in my section before I started running it. This definitely feels like a New Adult novel in the fact that Trumble's writing it for an older audience (I also don't think Kensington publishes much, if any, YA), and Curtis is 19. I think Trumble's doing a good job at discussing how Curtis and Luke's queer experiences have been different.