Straight Boy Kindle Edition

The book had 276 pages or 5901 locations on my kindle. The book was about 2 best friends, Andrew and Carter. Andrew was a gay and proud teenager, in high school. Carter was a straight guy, who was guilt written. The book was long, no romance, no steam, no heat, a bunch of teenage angst and a bit of drama. The book is told thru Andrew's pov. I loved the characters. Andrew was patient, caring, loving and hopelessly in love with Carter. Carter was a sweet and sensitive boy, who was soooo straight, he could never love another man. The writer does an amazing job of building up this loving and caring relationship between the two boys. I spent page after page becoming invested and waiting for Carter to realize, Andrew was the love of his life, but nope. The ending just ruined this book for me.Spoiler Alert:Andrew and Carter do not end up as a couple:(:(

It'll be difficult for me to review this book properly (especially since I seem to be leaving the first review) without depending on using a few end-of-book secrets - but I'll try my best. My advance order popped up on my Kindle late last night and since I was having trouble sleeping, I decided to go ahead and tackle it. I read for about 4 hours last night and continued for maybe 3 hours today before finishing it. Except for deciding that the Tucker "gang" had 2 or 3 too many members, I totally loved this book.I truly admired the first half or so of the book when Andrew and Carter were quickly beginning to know and to love one another. The story of the earliest days of their "relationship" was beautifully paced and beautifully written. I romantically empathized with Andrew (and was pulling so much for him to get the love he wanted) because of my own long ago life experiences with "gay guy" falling for "straight guy" situations. But the author does not make the story easy (nor does he take the "easy way out" for those of us who are overly romantic). In fact, the reading was difficult - in an emotional way - at times, especially during the last half.At about 50-60% of my journey into the book, complications: a girlfriend, pain and heartbreak, violence and drama (in a well written sense) - though these factors had been hinted at earlier on in the novel - began coming to the forefront of this memorable story. And these "complications" are mostly due to Bobby Tucker whose machinations showed him to be - from the very beginning - just about the most manipulative teen antagonist I've ever read about in a YA M/M book.STRAIGHT BOY does not end in exactly the way I would have wanted (i.e., the "easy way out") but neither does it end the way I was beginning to expect (and actually sort of dreaded) at about 80% through. Even so, the denouement was beautiful and uplifting in its own way. Rest assured, the conclusion left me with some unanswered questions - perhaps just to figure out with my own imagination because STRAIGHT BOY does not seem to be the beginning of a series. But, then, neither did the same author's SOMETHING LIKE SUMMER and we all saw where that went ;-}Thanks to Jay Bell for another unforgettable M/M read!

A unique love story between two high school students, Andrew Evans (gay) and Carter King (straight) who meet when their families move from Albuquerque, New Mexico (Andrew) and Tucson, Arizona (Carter) to Chicago, Illinois. They both end up in the Open Classroom Project - a new program where each student is given a set of academic goals and expected to reach them on their own. They become best friends. Andrew says, “I swear to always be your friend. From now until the last breath escapes from my lips.” Carter replies, “And I swear to be your friend, even beyond that. Oh. And to protect you until my dying day.” Meanwhile, Carter is also a friend of Bobby Tucker an aggressive bully who picked on Andrew on his first day in school. Teenage relationships are both complex and complicated. Carter saves Andrew’s life and then Andrew saves Carter’s life. Beautifully written. Highly recommended.

Bell is great at capturing the real feelings that real gay people have, rather than the cookie cutter stereotypical outside world look on what gay lives are like.The first two thirds of this story are just like that, and you get to know and love the characters. The jokes make you laugh, the characters feel real. References to gay culture are made without being explicit, but you know exactly what he's talking about ;)But then, it feels like the author lost track of where they wanted to go with the story. It takes a very sharp, very fast turn into a different genre entirely. This was not appreciated and was upsetting. Jay Bell, if I wanted to read a story like that I would have chosen a different book.

If you've read Jay's stories before--any or all (me = all)--then you won't be surprised at all that this is a gay author who gets it right, all of it.His storylines are always twisting and sort of sneaky but it's his characters that are the best parts. I love dialog, and his characters--main or minor--speak to us, yes. The coolest part of that for me, though (as an English teacher, I do love words) is that Jay uses his character's thoughts inside also speak to us, if that makes sense?The only drawback to reading this is that probably means I'm gonna' have to wait awhile for another book...boo.Btw, another thing about his stories that as a gay man I appreciate is that there is zero time spent describing sex, a point that seems to elude most female M/M writers. Then again, if you're a regular Jay Bell reader, you knew that. ;-)

Jay Bell's new book Straight Boy is not everyone's favourite, I'm sure. The happy-ever-after walking-into-the-sunset ending is not there - thank goodness; something much better takes its place.I have for some time now admired the ability of gay authors to have the deepest insight into the complexities of finding a way to relate to another person, let alone managing the impossible task of finding a life partner. I don't know why gay literature is such a rich source of understanding about relationships. Almost more significant is the value placed on kindness. My guess is that 'coming out' may have something to do with it. Whereas heteronormative people really don't have to think too much about their own or other people's feelings, coming out presents a unique challenge. It demands very special qualities if it is to be negotiated well - qualities admired by the Native American 'Two Spirit' recognition. In the first place, there is the stage of coming out to oneself - acknowledging a realisation that one is different in a major and highly significant way, discovering something about oneself that is central to who one is, and something which still, in the 21st century, may cause hostility, rejection or even physical danger from the most unexpected directions. You have to be very sure you are truly gay before you take that risk, and with something as complex and varied as sexual orientation, deciding where one is on that wide spectrum is hard for all except the few who occupy the extreme end. That requires a great deal of careful introspection, and by its nature cannot easily be discussed with others.Then there is the need to come out to other people. To be who one truly is to other people can be hard, and living a lie is a very powerful attraction, even though it's a choice that can take a terrible toll on those who choose that route through life.More difficult still is the dilemma that presents itself when falling for someone who does not fall for you. It is really painful for the hetero, but nothing compared with the agony of the gay individual, where it is so much more complicated.Jay Bell explores this area in Straight Boy, taking on as well the abusive relationship which seems so clear and simple to deal with to those on the outside, but is in fact often fraught with difficulties for those caught in its entanglements. The courage needed to expose the abuse is a parallel to the courage needed to reveal a gay attraction.I highly recommend Chapters 11, 12 & 13 for the deep insight they contain into the uncertainties of relationship, and I compliment Jay for his masterly writing in that section of the book. There are other sections that I shall be wanting to keep in my mind as rich examples of understanding human nature, and the necessity of holding on to one's mind and to one's capacity for kindness in the face of challenges from other people.I have a slightly uncomfortable feeling that, following the tense plot resolution at the end of the book, the resolution of the relationships that form the stuff of the plot is rather rushed, and largely consigned to the inevitable Epilogue (which in itself is beautifully managed, but why does it have to be there at all?). The excitement of the final drama does seem rather to have eclipsed the central theme.There is a distinct possibility that after all the ending is happy, which perhaps could have been explored in more detail. I can't help wondering if publisher's deadlines might have got in the way. This remains an important book, and possibly the best yet from this author.

The one book I think that I'll party hat and love the character are amazing (I really like carter ) I am sad that they don't get together but I'm home the storey thrilling all then same and near then end when it seemed like it was all lost just cried it was hard to read ( in happy at the end that there still best friends and there with one another) I also envy then as I never got to do any crazy teen stuff (but I still say he should have slept with carter even if they doesn't get together )but all in all I love it it help me under stand much like how to cope in angry situations and that there may be many people that need help or may be hiding disability or there sexual that part it my heart as I've always tried to help people but with my mental disability it's hard and I've had people help me it many my trying to help them and others just being horrid or taking advantage so that made me really happy and that it was for love brings me hope (and I hope I meet a guy like carter )

Not the usual predictable love story that follows the normal formula, there’s no way you’ll predict the ending, even though it’s a good one. There’s a little sadness, a lot of love and finally happiness. Takes a while for good to win over bad, and until the end, the plot twists will keep you guessing.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. It is one of the best MM books that I've read, and the audio book is also remarkably good.Don't stay up all night reading it. As I did.

A real cliff hanger in every way. Will they or won't they? I really loved this great story from a reliable author. Full of twists and turns.