With or without you gay book
Evan has a boyfriend, Erik, who he keeps private from everyone, including his childhood friend, Davis, who is also gay. However, when Evan and Davis are recruited to attach the Chasers, a deceptively dangerous group that promises protection for queer teens, Evan has to select between his loyalty to Davis and his admire for Erik.
Publisher’s Description:
Eighteen-year-old Evan and his best acquaintance, Davis, get beaten up for being loners. For being gay. For just being themselves. But as rough as things often seem, at least Evan can take comfort in his sweet, sexy lover Erik – whom he’s kept secret from everyone for almost a year.
Then Evan and Davis are recruited to join the Chasers, a fringe crowd that promises them protection and status. Davis is swept up in the excitement, but Evan is caught between his loyalty to Davis and his love for Erik. Evan’s lied to keep his two worlds separate. Now his lies are about to implode…and destroy the very relationships he’s been trying to protect.
Genre: Contemporary
Representation:
Gender:
Cis boys: Evan, Davis, Erik, Sabel
Sexuality:
Gay/Queer: Evan, Davis, Erik, Sabel
Romantic Orientation:
Not mentioned in the book
Dear FCC: I bought an electronic copy of this book. Additional Disclaimer: This book was written by my editor, who is a debut author in his own right.
Reader Gut Reaction: With or Without You is a story of love, friendship, family, and holding speedy to what makes you you despite overwhelming pressure to do otherwise. At the beginning of the story, graduating senior Evan Weiss seems to recognize exactly who he is and where he’s going—specifically, he and his finest friend Davis are getting out of Madison, where they have to endure the taunts and beatings that go along with being gay, and heading for college in Chicago in the fall. But not only do his plans change quicker than he imagined, we as readers also learn that there’s a lot of uncertainty hidden beneath Evan’s calm surface.
This wasn’t an easy book to read in the feeling that it was painful to bear witness to the way gay teenagers are treated in many places in the U.S. At the same hour, it was also distressing to see the dysfunctional way some individuals elect to respond to mistreatment—distressing because it rang so true.
Concerning Character: The narrator Evan Weiss is a truly relat
Q & A with Brian Farrey
Brian Farrey, who has worked as both a bookseller and as a book publicist in the Twin Cities, became a published author in 2011 with the launch of his debut novel, With or Without You, a contemporary YA. Since then Farrey has become firmly ensconced in the middle grade fantasy earth, with his Vengekeep Prophecies trilogy and a stand-alone, The Secret of Deadwillow Carse. His newest novel, The Counterclockwise Heart, is position in a state on the verge of war as two young people cross paths while seeking to unearth the secrets of their lives. While Prince Alphonsus and his mother retain secret that there is a clock ticking in his chest, Esme is searching for her estranged mother, the Nachtfrau, to destroy her and thus lift a curse. We spoke with Farrey about who and what inspires him to document , his attempts to dispel gender stereotypes and consider visibility in his function, and his creed that even the most evil villain possesses redeeming qualities.
How did the framework for The Counterclockwise Heart come about?
I think a lot of it was my previous novel, The Secret of Deadwillow Carse. It was about the importan
With or Without You by Brian Farrey
Cover via Goodreads
Rating: 4.5/5 stars.
Evan and Davis hold been best friends since the third grade. They distribute many things: their sexuality, beatings from bullies, and a desire to flee their lonely minute town of Madison, Wisconsin. In evidence, they both design to attend the University of Chicago this upcoming tumble. However, Evan has one thing Davis doesn’t – a comforting and faithful boyfriend named Erik. Evan has successfully kept Erik a secret from his friends and his family for quite some time, but when Davis gets recruited to participate the Chasers and pulls Evan along with him, Evan’s relationships take a turn for the worse.
I’ll focus on the good things first. I loved the characters and the writing. Evan and Erik’s partnership was real and compassionate. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t awkward and clumsy either. Though I disliked Davis, I liked how Brian Farrey kept his and Evan’s friendship a prominent part of the story without making it more than that. The writing didn’t amaze me, but it added a nice contact to the plot and there were some lines I wanted to compose down and sav
Eighteen year-old Evan and his best friend, Davis, receive beaten up for creature loners. For being homosexual. For just being themselves. But as rough as things often seem, at least Evan can get comfort in his nice, sexy boyfriend Erik--whom he’s kept secret from everyone for almost a year.
Then Evan and Davis are recruited to join the Chasers, a fringe crowd that promises them protection and status. Davis is swept up in the excitement, but Evan is caught between his loyalty to Davis and his love for Erik. Evan’s lied to keep his two worlds separate. Now his lies are about to implode…and destroy the very relationships he’s been trying to protect.
OPINION: 5 STARS
The Small Version:
A beautiful blend of light and emotional, and holding all the makings of true writing talent, With or Without You navigates a a coming of age story with a gay protagonist in a realistic, relatable, and easy manner. Evan is a fantastic central nature, not defined by his sexual orientation and driving home the point of just how normal he is, and shines even amongst a cast of other dynamic, well defined characters. With a adv paced, gritty, and reflection provoking plot,