A beautifully written book depicting the love 16 year old Brian feels for his 17 year old best friend Jamie, set against the backdrop of the bible-belt South. J.P. Barnaby manages to realistically portray the agony, uncertainty, diffidence as well as the joy, elation and passion of first love. She also manages to capture the fear of discovery these young men must deal with in their small, closed-minded, intolerant town.

I'm not sure if this was planned by the author, but I found this book to be timeless, in that there is no mention of current popular culture that could date and therefore perhaps invalidate the story. In my mind the story could be set in the 1950s 1980s or 2011!

A definite RECOMMEND!
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This is an enchanting story. Brian and Jamie are such "normal" kids - except for the fact that being gay isn't considered normal by most of the people in their hometown.

They both fear discovery. Brian because he is a foster kid and he is scared of being sent away. Jamie because his parents are staunchly religious and make him listen to gay-condemning sermons every Sunday. This is the first of several books, and I can tell you, it had me spellbound. I laughed and I cried as Brian and Jamie discover who they are, as they get to know each other as more than friends... and I can't wait for the next installment! ( )

A coming of age, first love story. Very heartfelt. 4.5 stars ( )

Sigh. See comments on this special snowflake. ( )

This was a beautifully written story that broke my heart. I fell in love with the main characters immediately - Brian in particular - and my heart ached for them as they explored their feelings for each other in a deeply religious environment. Their parting made me weep and I was left with a feeling of heartache and trepidation. I'm planning on buying the next book in the series as soon as I can to find out what happens to Brian now that Jamie is gone and his secret is out. ( )