Review: Uneven but good
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2014
I had wildly different reactions to different aspects of the story. Some of them were good, some meh, and one blew my socks off.The main story line, that of Alessandro and Jaime, was actually the biggest meh—yes Jaime’s gay, yes he’s completely inexperienced, yes Alessandro can cure him of that, and of course they will both fall in love. Nothing exactly wrong with it, aside from a certain paint-by-number effect as each lesson is laid out. But still, not especially gripping. Jaime’s heart transplant serves mostly as a vehicle to get him to 23 and never been kissed. Kind of a wasted opportunity—any feelings he has about living on someone else’s heart or the more practical aspects aren’t strong on the page.Alessandro’s past as a troubled teenager in the foster care system and how it’s affecting his life now made me sit up and take interest. He can both see himself in his youngest foster brother and try to mentor him to a better path. Unlike Jaime’s heart transplant, ten year old Tony, his actions and his attitudes matter to this story. He makes Alessandro pop as a character and as a good man who might not always have been so good. An old high-school nemesis lives in town, and while by himself he’s only 2.5 dimensional, he also prods Alessandro into examining moral choices.Another good aspect is that there is a sense of the characters having lived before they arrive on the page, rather than coming into existence where the book opens. This is largely a function of interactions with secondary characters. Eunice, the foster mom, and Jaime’s sister Shannon were fully fledged people and added to the depth of story.Where my socks and I parted ways: Alessandro takes Jaime to a club in Wilmington. This was the standout section of the book, and the reason I will return to this story. Both in the club and after they leave it, the actions and interactions are one of the most amazing demonstrations of caring, concern, uncertainly, blossoming, and hawtness ever. It’s perfect within the framework of their relationship. Anyone who wants to whine about cheating here should quit clutching their pearls so tightly and go back to reading het. It isn’t cheating, it is growth, and it’s beautiful all the way around. The reviewer who never bookmarks has this section bookmarked.The book had a feeling of unevenness that plateaued out at a higher level past the midpoint, so while the first half didn’t do a lot for me, the second half certainly did. The club scene especially, and while I want to rate high for that alone, the rest of the book isn’t really keeping up with it. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but it certainly won’t be the last.