intheend's review
3.0
I was getting tired of Rusty constantly feeling inadequate. It was like a broken record especially because Oliver never made it seem like he was less than in any way.
myzanm's review
5.0
Sweet, sweet sweet....
I loved the build up and that Oliver actually accepted that Rusty needed time to get his head around things. I loved Rusty and hated his parents... Oliver acted like a spoiled brat at times, but I still liked him. The other quirky characters were a bonus.
I would love to get Nicole's and Joey's story as well as to find out what happened to Rex. Loved that we got a little glimpse of those in the epilogue.
I loved the build up and that Oliver actually accepted that Rusty needed time to get his head around things. I loved Rusty and hated his parents... Oliver acted like a spoiled brat at times, but I still liked him. The other quirky characters were a bonus.
I would love to get Nicole's and Joey's story as well as to find out what happened to Rex. Loved that we got a little glimpse of those in the epilogue.
intheblackout's review against another edition
4.0
If you're looking for a Christmas romance that's not the typical over the top fluffy read, then you should give Christmas Kitsch a try.
We follow Rusty as he begins to realise that he's attracted to guys, specifically Oliver. The term Oliversexual was used; which was a bit cringe but I'll allow it because they're so cute together.
A big part of the story are Rusty's parents, the pressure they put on him and the negative effect that has on him as that's not who he is or who he wants to be. He goes to college, he doesn't want to be at and has a breakdown from the stress, but they still kick him out for being gay. It was so good to see Rusty break out from their clutches.
One of my favourite parts of the story are Oliver's family. They're so loving and accepting; the complete opposite of Rusty's parents. It made me so happy to see how they welcomed Rusty into their family.
I was hoping that Rusty's college roommate Rex got his own book, but it doesn't look like he did. This book did come out in 2013 , however it's still not too late to write his story [a:Amy Lane|151973|Amy Lane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1429039455p2/151973.jpg]!
___
Thank you, Sir Reginald Percival Elfcelsior Whiskerbottom, for the gift!!
We follow Rusty as he begins to realise that he's attracted to guys, specifically Oliver. The term Oliversexual was used; which was a bit cringe but I'll allow it because they're so cute together.
A big part of the story are Rusty's parents, the pressure they put on him and the negative effect that has on him as that's not who he is or who he wants to be. He goes to college, he doesn't want to be at and has a breakdown from the stress, but they still kick him out for being gay. It was so good to see Rusty break out from their clutches.
One of my favourite parts of the story are Oliver's family. They're so loving and accepting; the complete opposite of Rusty's parents. It made me so happy to see how they welcomed Rusty into their family.
I was hoping that Rusty's college roommate Rex got his own book, but it doesn't look like he did. This book did come out in 2013 , however it's still not too late to write his story [a:Amy Lane|151973|Amy Lane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1429039455p2/151973.jpg]!
___
Thank you, Sir Reginald Percival Elfcelsior Whiskerbottom, for the gift!!
loishojmark's review against another edition
4.0
I've been putting off reading this book because I thought it was too young. It was NA (I hate that name). But it was also soo good and it made me cry several times... both snotty crying and classy, running tears. Definitely worth the time.
nasaje's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
My heart ached for Rusty throughout the story. Life really threw him a curveball with his parents. He never belives he is good enough, or that he deserves to be loved. I cried my eyes out because it was all so relatable, it hit close to home, and it was so well-written that you could not avoid feeling everything Rusty did.
However, I grew a little impatient in the part after Berkeley, because while I got his reasoning for keeping his distance from Oliver and everyone, it frustrated me that he handled it the way he did. I also grew a little tired of his 'I'm dumb'-mantra when he clearly wasn't and just had shitty parents who didn't support him in the areas where he excelled.
The angst was high, the pairing was sweet. All in all, an entertaining read.
My heart ached for Rusty throughout the story. Life really threw him a curveball with his parents. He never belives he is good enough, or that he deserves to be loved. I cried my eyes out because it was all so relatable, it hit close to home, and it was so well-written that you could not avoid feeling everything Rusty did.
However, I grew a little impatient in the part after Berkeley, because while I got his reasoning for keeping his distance from Oliver and everyone, it frustrated me that he handled it the way he did. I also grew a little tired of his 'I'm dumb'-mantra when he clearly wasn't and just had shitty parents who didn't support him in the areas where he excelled.
The angst was high, the pairing was sweet. All in all, an entertaining read.
tmclain4's review
I don't fully dislike this book but I don't love it. I just don't feel any draw to finish it so I'm DNFing.
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
3.0
Rusty Baker has led what many would think is a charmed life. Coming from an affluent family and being an integral part of the football team in high school, he never really wanted for anything. But when he becomes friends with Oliver Campbell, he quickly learns there is a lot in life that he may have been missing--including knowledge about who he is. With Oliver's help, Rusty tries his hardest to continue down the path his family has set for him, but he struggles knowing it's not really who he wants to be...and that what he truly wants out of life might just be to spend it with Oliver.
Another charming story from Amy Lane. I absolutely adored Oliver and he was a bit of a saint putting up with Rusty and being patient with him while he sorted everything out. As is the tendency with Ms. Lane's novels, I felt like this ran a bit long and could have been paced a bit more quickly, but it's still definitely worth a read.
Another charming story from Amy Lane. I absolutely adored Oliver and he was a bit of a saint putting up with Rusty and being patient with him while he sorted everything out. As is the tendency with Ms. Lane's novels, I felt like this ran a bit long and could have been paced a bit more quickly, but it's still definitely worth a read.
jenvile's review against another edition
2.0
It was just getting a little too cheesy for me to continue reading it... I don't think I'll finish it, and I'm in no hurry to finish it.
the_argumentative_bong's review
5.0
4.5⭐ (rounded off)
I love Rusty so much ...I want to hug him and put him inside my heart and keep him there so that no hurt, no sorrow can touch him ever.
I love Rusty so much ...I want to hug him and put him inside my heart and keep him there so that no hurt, no sorrow can touch him ever.