This book covers the final months of secondary school as well as the summer between school and university. More adventures of the world's most promiscuous nerd.
Size: 442 KB (85,424 words)
Genre: Coming of Age
Sex Contents: Some Sex
Tags: mt/ft, mt/Fa, Consensual, Heterosexual, Fiction, Rags To Riches, School, Light Bond, Interracial, White Male, White Female, Indian Female, Anal Sex, Analingus, Exhibitionism, Oral Sex, Safe Sex
Review by Quasirandom [other reviews by Quasirandom]
Reviewed: - (Review Updated: )
I do like me a good, long coming-of-age story about a young person coming into their own as a mature grown-up. And this novel in many, many installments is indeed long, is so far good, and with Andrew needing to grow up a lot, is very much about his coming of age.
Since this book covers his graduation from secondary school and ending shortly before his departure for university, it’s a decent place to take stock.
To wit: the writing is as engaging as ever, and Andrew and several of his friends are appealing characters. I was, I confess, getting a little worried during the previous installment, where some of Andrew’s growing-up lessons almost cycled in place, and some of his challenges seemed too easily resolved. This book quiets many of those misgivings—with his transition into his next life stage, Andrew deliberately (sometimes systematically) breaks down many of the structures that were giving the story stasis. Not a lot happens on the life lessons front, but the developments are organic on the character level yet dovetail nicely on the plotting level. Nicely pulled off there.
I still remain annoyed that what we’re told about Andrew’s family does not match what little we’re actually shown. A single scene, somewhere, anywhere, preferably early on, where his mother is shown acting snobbish and getting in the last word, regardless of its wisdom, would go a long way to supporting her stated characterization. We do, in this installment, finally see the bratty sister enabled by an indulgent father, but honestly, it’s a bit late.
I’m definitely still reading this, and am looking forward to seeing how the author sets up new challenges and tensions in an entirely new setting, university life. Recommended.
Review by manddscott [other reviews by manddscott]
Reviewed:
A young boy finds out he has cancer. Will the treatments work? In the cancer ward, he meets another in a similar situation, and a promise is made. If he makes it, he will live on for both of them. What one doesn't expect is the amount of work that might be involved, and the adventures that arise, from "living two lives".
A word of warning... this is a review of the entire series, not just the first two books. Yes, I broke down and bought the entire series on the sister site.
For plot, an A+ (9). The character development is good, and although there is sex in the story (eventually), it doesn't take over the whole storyline.
For technical score, an A (8). I gave the score the benefit of the doubt in any cases where British spelling may differ from American spelling, but there were still some areas that needed improvement. Overall, they did not detract from the work.
For appeal, a solid A+ (9) across the entire series. Why not a 10? It delves a bit into BDSM, something I care little about personally. There are also a few spots where the author hints at future events, but in the end seemed to forget to wrap those up. I would love to find out a bit more about that future which had been hinted at, even if it was just a small chapter at the end looking back on the lives of the main characters.
