Openly Straight

I was scrolling through my read books and apparently I've read this almost four years ago?? I literally have absolutely no memory of reading this. I swear I've never seen this cover a day in my life. The synopsis rings no bells. I'm so confused. I've never been more confused.

Someone call my FBI agents. I need an explanation.

I unexpectedly... hated this book. If you're looking for a cute LGBT+ romance - this isn't it. If you're looking for a likable protagonist - this isn't it. And that's the crux of the issue, I hate Rafe. He is in turns judgemental about everyone, woe is me about being ‘labled', and self-congratulatory about how open minded he is. It drove me nuts! I finished this book in the hopes of satisfying character growth. Alas, this did not happen.

I listened to the audiobook version of this and highly recommend it!

This is the story of Rafe a teenager who has been openly Gay in his hometown for quite a while. Rage decides he's tired of being the “gay kid” in his small town and takes the chance to go to all boys boarding school across the country for his Junior year and start fresh.

While at this new school he never outwardly admits to being Gay in his mind if he no one asks he won't tell and it won't be a lie. (This actually drives me nuts because then he actually does start lying, multiple times and still stubbornly doesn't see it as a problem or the same as being in the closet. But to each their own I guess)

While at school Rafe makes friends with the jocks, kids who would have never accepted him back home, and enjoys being just “one of the guys”. That is until he starts getting close to Ben.

Ben is different. Not judgmental like the other guys, and he doesn't care what anyone else thinks of him. He's deep and thoughtful and Rafe falls for him hard. That's of course where all the trouble starts.

This book was actually really sweet. And it was hard to not fall for Ben yourself seeing him through Rafe's eyes. I really enjoyed this book, it had me laughing at times and at others crying and I can't wait to pick up the sequel.

J'ai bien aimé l'idée originale de ce roman : après avoir passé des années en étant gay assumé au lycée, Rafe profite d'un changement de lycée pour retourner dans le placard où il n'avait jamais vraiment été jusque là. Sauf qu'il fait la connaissance de Ben, un garçon qui ne le laisse pas indifférent. Cela donne un récit sympathique et plaisant.

I must say that while I did like Bill Knoigsberg's writing, I wasn't seduced by this story. I don't know what was missing exactly but the whole felt a bit flat to me. I think Rafe's struggle, while well described, isn't really understood, and I had a hard time understanding his way of acting, while the course of event was by far too predictable. Still I had a nice moment reading this book, hence the 3 stars.

Rafe thinks it will be no big deal to keep the fact that he is gay a secret. He doesn't want his sexuality to be the only thing people see about him. He sees boarding school as a chance for others to know him in other ways. What he discovers is that you can't lie about or avoid a big chunk of how you experience the world, then think you can build a true relationship.

I once told a small lie to protect someone, but the lie grew, and lasted more years than I want to say. The initial lie was manageable, but the continuous lies to keep up the first one were what became hurtful. I had to confess to the person I'd lied to, and no matter how I tried to explain I'd no intention of hurting anyone, the person I'd deceived never quite forgave me. Several months ago, someone else tried to persuade me to tell another small lie which, older and wiser, I knew would end up too big to handle again. I apologized, and said no. Rafe got the lesson a lot quicker.

Rafe is very likable. Even when he is lying or making mistakes, it's easy to be in his corner. I find myself hoping the author will allow us to catch up with him in the future. I'll be the first person in line to buy a copy. (Okay, okay, I meant to say I'll happily preorder it for my Kindle!)

Lastly, the ending was honest, and fair. Which isn't to say it ended exactly how all readers would like, but it felt authentic.