Learning to Feel

DNF - PG 8

Why?

When I sat down to this, I was expecting - and hoping - for a cute little gay/bi realization story that would be as soft and sweet as the cover. Reading the reviews indicate to me that that would have been a Forlorn Hope (tm) because it's little more than boring porn, apparently. I, however, didn't even make it that far, thanks entirely to the heavy-handed-ness of the story. Quotes direct from the book follow.

Something was incomplete, and I had no idea what it was.She'd [sister] hugged me and whispered, “I hope you find what you're looking for.”. My brother joined our hug. “And I hope she's hot.”“[...His dad speaking]Take happiness wherever you find it, Son. Don't deny yourself anything.”. It was an odd thing for him to say, and he was nervous and unsure, which told me that there was a double meaning to his words.I shook his hand, and he grinned at me, his eyes intensely curious and for a moment I was caught in his stare. His eyebrow flinched, and his smile became a smirk. I felt a warmth spread over my skin and I pulled my hand away, embarrassed at my reaction. “I've gotta grab my bags,” I blurted out, and quickly walked outside to my car.. I popped the trunk and took some deep breaths, wondering why I noticed that he had dimples and nice lips, why I noticed that his hand was warm, why I noticed that he smelled of paint and coffee.[...]again, I was stuck staring at him.I didn't look deliberately, but he was right in front of me, and I found myself looking at his legs and the shape of his shoulders. It wasn't until I got to the top of the stairs I realized I'd just checked him out.. Him.. A guy.. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked me. “You looked a little pale.”

I...just don't want to. Look, life is too short to read things I don't enjoy - even free things I don't enjoy. And, yes, for those curious every quote came from the first eight pages. There's a small part of me that is horrifyingly curious as to how much worse it can get.