This One Time

I have yet to read a book from this author that I didn’t like, and this one is no exception. I don’t think I have ever read an MM romance from the viewpoint of a hormonal, constantly horny, 17 year old teenage boy before, and this one was an eye opener (never having been a boy at all), and immensely entertaining in so many ways, yet emotional and sad in others. One thing I loved in the book was Ryver’s mother explaining where her children’s names came from in response to a question from Ryver — almost TMI, but memorable just the same.

When Ryver (pronounced River) begins his senior year in a new high school, courtesy of his dad’s military service, he is very tense and anxious as his fourth high school year re-do begins. No friends, unfamiliar with classes or the building layout, unsure where to go, he is rescued by this tall, hot “angel”, ready to step in and take him where he needs to be. Thus begin his crush on Jorrin, team quarterback, popular man on campus, and heartbreakingly handsome senior. The book covers Ryver’s senior year until Homecoming, with classes, making friends, standing up against bullies, a near-death experience, running on the track team, dealing with a hyper-critical and cold feeling dad but offset by a loving and supportive mom, and Jorrin — just the life of a teenage boy dealing with unexpected and inappropriate hard-ons at the most in-opportune times, all with the crush on the quarterback often in his thoughts.

There are humorous times such as Ryver’s pre-sports physical to endure (nice to know boys had those embarrassing and uncomfortable physicals, too) and a late night return home due to a “stuck in the mud” incident, among several others, as well as emotional ones when Ryver agonizes about coming out to his mom and fears telling his dad, as well as the expected concerns about what people will say and how they will treat him once he does. Luckily, Ryver has the unwavering support from Jorrin, Stanley, and Ben through many of his trials and tribulations working through the angst common to most teenagers.

Jorrin is pretty laid-back, calm and collected, sure of himself and his place in the school hierarchy, a calming influence for Ryver, and a place of safety and security with his anxiety and anger episodes. Jorrin is everything Ryver could want in a partner, a loving and stabilizing influence in his life.

The growing connection and then romance between the two is slow to develop and beautiful to watch unfold. It is not explicit but the feelings come through loud and clear. You go with Ryver on his journey of fear knowing he is gay but afraid to come out to his parents because of a strict, critical, homophobic father, to realizing he cannot hold it in anymore, to embracing who he is when confident in the attention and love from Jorrin, and also to see him stand up for his friends and be true to himself when he does. It is a heartfelt book with realistic characters as teens and adults, and a realistic situation faced by many teens today, but it is positive and uplifting, too. There is also an epilogue years later at the end, almost poetic justice for Ryver and his husband.

I highly recommend this book for one out of the ordinary, entering the mind of a teenage boy trying to figure himself and his place in life out. I would give 10 stars if I could.

This book has a lot going for it. I put myself in the shoes of most of the characters to try to understand why they were going through. It was so well written, I was able to do that.

I enjoyed this ebook very much.

A+++++

I'm not usually someone who wants to read a book from seeing the cover, but this one was different. The cover was so eye catching, bright, vibrant, and full of cover. Upon reading the blurb I knew I had to read this, and I am so glad I did!

When I started reading this story I was caught off guard by the way this was written, I wasn't expecting it to have such a distinct voice describing the scenery and the characters. You know how in some movies there is some who is narrating what's going on? The way this was written gave off that vibe, it was really unique!

Ryvver and Jorrin both are amazing characters! I adored how they took it slow and danced around each other. There was so many awkward moments that were followed by adorable ones, that it just made their relationship more realistic and relatable. All of the side characters that are apart of this story all have a reason for being there. If one of them was missing I don't think this would've been as successful. They provided so much dialogue, both comedic dialogue and serious dialogue. They all helped the plot progress and you could tell that they all became friends by the end of the story.

Overall, I absolutely loved this story!!

This book really hooked me. The story of Ryver, a young man whose father is a soldier. Their relationship is strange, to say the least. And now he has yet another transfer to another school with no friends and there you are. Here he meets Jorrin, among others. And Jorrin and Ryver get to know each other, they are both different. And at school this should be a problem, but fortunately it is not that bad. It takes him time to make friends. But in the end it works. Ryver's relationship with his father is not as it should be, but this becomes clear when Ryver comes out. And after all his problems, well teenage problems, hormones that have a life of their own, he finds out that his father and his father's friend share a secret. A secret that may tell a lot. I have to say I didn't see this twist coming. It was also nice that both their sons told the same excuse about their late evening, as what their parents/fathers had used in the past. But also not that the story ends so abruptly, in my opinion, and that Ryver and Jorrin are married and have a child. This undergoes the mandatory inspection with just as many doubts as his father. I want to know what happens to the parents, the sisters and what Ryver and Jorrin have been through. I have rarely laughed so much and cried a little with this story. Highly recommended.