Review: Another Must Read from Fessenden
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2014
Jake and Danny... what can I say about this screwed up pair? Well first thing first, the title is very apt. Danny and Jake both have issues from high school that still haunt them in college. Of course, Jake has the added pressure of a douchecanoe for a father and junior douchecanoes for older brothers. Jake isn't out, and Danny doesn't think he is worthy of love. Add in some good old fashion college antics and you have an entertaining read, with teeth.The characters in the dorm are very real. I felt like I was back in college, myself. I was not in an "artistic" dorm, but I was in the "honors" dorm. Many of the characters were taken right from my own past. I had a Paul. I had a Danny and Jake. I wasn't nearly as cool as Eva, but we can't have everything. Even though I am not a gay male, I can certainly relate to some of the issues Jake is holding on to from high school. Everyone will find something to which to relate in Screwups, from the weekly D&D; game to the Police Box to the characters surrounding the main couple.When I first started reading Screwups, I had a hard time seeing Danny as "Danny". It wasn't a matter of bad character development or bad naming choices (just the opposite). It was the fact that I saw him as someone from my past. At about the 1/4 mark of the story, however, I was completely sucked in and didn't come up for air until I was done.These people aren't perfect. There are no pretty ribbons and bows. There is no fairytale romance. What there is is slow and real, hurting, misunderstanding, over reacting, groveling, holding, kissing, loving, and hoping.On a side note, I have to admit, my reaction (you know the one I mentioned up top) is not COMPLETELY because of Screwups.  I recently read another Fessenden title by the name of Billy's Bones.  While I did not review it here, I would also highly recommend that one (and it is available in Audio).Review originally written for Prism Book Alliance