Review: Love is Love...in any form
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 13, 2014
*Warning: may contain spoilers*I thought I couldn't be any more amazed by Ridener's writing than what I've already read. This is one of those "mark it on your calendar" rarities when I am wrong.Kasen Reed lives in the small town of Chartreuse, Alabama. It’s a town where everyone pretty much knows everyone else and their business. His mother suffered a drinking problem and mental issues, and his father was non existent. He is extremely shy, except when he’s at work. He’s “cool Kasey” on the radio and that’s the only place he feels like he can be himself. He feels like the only person he can talk to is his friend Jessica, who is completely aware of his "lifestyle" and perfectly accepting. Now there's a friend!Rowen Kelly moved to Chartreuse from Boston after his (now ex) boyfriend cheated on him...with a woman...He’s pretty much sworn off relationships, but when he sees Kasen at the dog park and hears his voice on the radio, he can’t help but wonder what if.....The descriptions of Boston were actually well done. I know Ridener's from a small town so it makes me wonder if she's ever actually been to Boston since the descriptions of even the weather were spot on.As the two guys slowly get to know each other and wonder what the other is thinking, or if the other is actually even gay, it goes to show you never really do know what someone else is thinking. Someone might feel like you do, think the same things, and have the same fear about moving forward that you do.Slowly they come together and their friendship blossoms more into a romance. Of course, living in a small town where everyone knows everyone, it isn’t too long before rumors begin to spread. Once that happens, it’s even less time before the anonymous death threats and violence starts. More than once Kasen is attacked physically, verbally and is even almost violated by a man at a gay club. So it’s not only straight men that only attack women. Hatred and violence is rampant in anyone who’s ignorant and disrespectful.“People are taught to fear what's different. They think they have to question it instead of just accepting it.” This is a profound quote that relates to anyone who hasn’t followed the ‘status quo’ of societal history. Women, homosexuals, etc…If you’re different than the mainstream, you’re feared. And if you’re feared you’re hated. Fear might be a natural behavior, but hatred is not. That is nurtured. Love is blind and it comes in all forms. This is shown by the way the town comes together and not only supports Kasen and Rowen, but by the way the two men also help Jessica out of her abusive relationship. Considering how her husband is one of Kasen’s attackers and the couple’s offender, it’s no surprise he’s just your average run of the mill douche bag. You see this kind of guy everywhere. He’s the loud mouth jackass that just has to be in charge all the time b/c he can’t stand anything different than the way “it’s always been”. But you come to realize how amazing love can be if you just let it happen. That’s what happens in this story. It’s never “uncomfortable” in any way. Even the intimate moments, which can sometimes be awkward in a book regardless of gender if the scene isn’t well written, don't come across as trying too hard in the least. They seem perfectly natural.That's probably b/c Ridener has a way of just making the reader FEEL instead of just reading. And what a tearful and emotional ending! I was so happy for Kasen and Rowen and they’re not even real people!It would be nice if this book were required reading in sociology classes, so some people can get an idea of how acceptance should actually work.