Reviews with content warning for Religious bigotry - Autoboyography

Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

94 reviews

claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I really really really wanted to love this book. In the end, though, I just wasn't rooting for the main couple. Their dynamic was insanely codependent, with Tanner having to do the work of deconstructing Sebastian's religion for him, and the ending left much to be desired. Sebastian was so on and off, it often felt like he was playing with Tanner, and despite Tanner having been warned by everyone in his life, he still was surprised Everytime Sebastian appeared to pick God over him. I think there are insightful and amazing ways to right conflicted queer characters and I fear that Sebastian just wasn't who he needed to be to carry this story.

Also what was the ranom plot point with Autumn? Why did that happen?? What was the actual point, I don't understand.

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kalebd_2125's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I thought the bisexual male rep was done well (we get so little of it in literature). The commentary on Mormonism was interesting too. But what really set me over the edge was the fact that this was a borderline teacher-student relationship. Disregarding that, I didn't find the romance that compelling anyway.

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angelo_vossen's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

„Autoboyography“ by Christina Lauren is a profoundly moving and heartfelt coming-of-age novel that explores love, identity, and the complex intersection of faith and sexuality. Set against the backdrop of a conservative Mormon community in Utah, the story follows Tanner, a bisexual high school senior who has recently moved from progressive California. Encouraged by his supportive family, Tanner enrolls in a writing seminar where he meets Sebastian, a devout Mormon and the teacher’s assistant for the class. Their immediate connection quickly blossoms into something deeper, forcing both boys to confront the harsh realities of their respective worlds.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is the way it captures the intensity and vulnerability of first love, particularly for queer teens navigating environments that may not accept them fully. Tanner’s voice is sincere and witty, but there’s an underlying tenderness and uncertainty that makes him relatable. His struggles to reconcile his feelings for Sebastian with the pressures of secrecy and fear ring true, especially as the tension between desire and religious doctrine mounts.

Sebastian’s character is equally compelling, as he is torn between the expectations of his faith and the undeniable pull of his emotions. His internal struggle is portrayed with compassion, allowing readers to empathize with the painful choices he faces. The authors skillfully handle sensitive issues such as the impact of religious beliefs on personal identity, while avoiding clichés or easy answers. Instead, they present a nuanced exploration of how love can challenge, transform, and sometimes complicate one’s understanding of self and community.

What makes „Autoboyography“ stand out is its balance between heartache and hope. While it doesn’t shy away from the difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in conservative settings, it also celebrates the beauty of love, acceptance, and personal growth. The writing is lyrical, with descriptions that evoke the emotional highs and lows of falling in love for the first time. The pacing keeps the story engaging, and the romance feels organic and genuine, never rushed or contrived. I really enjoyed the addition of religious themes to this otherwise „generic“ love story since it brings another deep layer to the novel.

Overall, „Autoboyography“ is an emotional, thought-provoking, and ultimately uplifting novel. Christina Lauren have crafted a powerful narrative that not only highlights the challenges of being queer in a faith-based community but also speaks to the universal experience of finding yourself through love and loss. It’s a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to be true to themselves in the face of external pressures, and it leaves a lasting impact.

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s_panfil's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

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amris's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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james1star's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Very enjoyable, well paced read and one I’d certainly recommend for both its intended YA audience and those older.

This follows Tanner who’s a recently re-closeted bi senior at his high school in Provo, Utah. He’s waiting to finish the year and head to freedom in college out of state but then Sebastian arrives to complicate things. He’s the Mormon prodigy who’s got a book deal from completing the ‘draft a book in a semester’ class and now returned to help the current cohort, which Tanner and his best friend Autumn are apart of. It’s not much of a spoiler but the book wouldn’t be much if it didn’t go anywhere but a relationship does somewhat blossom and we follow these two as they navigate something that isn’t really possible in Provo or for a Mormon boy.

I don’t usually like long romances but I felt the page count flew by because these characters seemed so real. They’re also just lovely people, it was joy being in their company and the way the authors (I never knew it was two women!) plotted and paced this book kept me entertained and intrigued at every point. Maybe a little dragged out but I didn’t really mind. I loved they way religion is talked about and explored in the novel, with both the good and bad parts of Mormonism and how it’s changing but there’s still certain things that are a no-go. It was handled with the nuance such conversations deserve and think it, alongside other topics, was appropriate. Tanner’s dad is an amazing character and I really appreciated they way he treated his son, he gave him the respect necessary for a 17/18 year old, speaking about important vital issues and parts of life in a sophisticated manner, he wasn’t just great as a dad of a queer child but for anyone. I don’t have anything much else to add other then it was very enjoyable. I didn’t like how often people ‘growled’ tho… a bit strange and there’s also kinda insta-love which I don’t really like but things do progress from attraction to a deeper bond.

Side note: the book cover is so stunning with the open book representing the mountain and if you read it you’ll understand the importance of the Utah mountains for Tanner and Sebastian.

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24carrotgay's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

this was an unexpectedly rough one. i should have put together that queer + mormon wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows (pun intended), but i did not. i went into this book expecting lightheartedness, which there was sometimes, but i found myself shaking with rage and on the brink of sobbing at the realness of this story. it hurt.

our boys got their happy ending, but i feel unsatisfied that we didn’t hear sebastian’s conversation with his parents.

regarding the narration, it was off-putting to me because it felt (a) robotic (b) too old for tanner and (c) out of character for tanner. overall though, this book was hard to put down. it’ll take me a bit to recover from all this emotion

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1_800_fuck_off's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ooohhh! where do i begin???

i deeply related to the religious aspect of this story. i was triggered by things that were discussed and it ripped my heart to shreds. i definitely had to take a few breaks to cry a bit and just take a breather. i feel a bit drained writing this right after i finished the book so i might come back later to revise this review but for now i’ll just say what i’m feeling at the moment.

i identified myself with sebastian so much, particularly about his struggle with his family and where he stood in the eyes of God. i also related with tanner in having a supportive family because, fortunately and unfortunately, i have both the really religious dad and the super supportive mom and they’re divorced so they have shown me two prominent paths of life. and unfortunately i’m also a bit of a people pleaser especially when it comes to my family so when your parents have two very differing ways of life they want you to live…well let’s just say that’s something i’m still struggling with. this book really felt like it took my soul apart and put it back together in the form of a book for all to see. i felt understood but it also made me feel vulnerable which made me feel what i struggle to suppress everyday so i’m not sure how i feel about that yet. many feelings, ew, lol.

for a good chunk of the story i believed this would be a five star read until that part where

tanner sleeps with autumn.

it jarred me to the point that it almost made me dnf the book. it completely disconnected me from tanner’s character and made me question why that was written in. i know it’s a real thing that happens and stuff but it’s just one of those things that i can’t comprehend and one of those actions i can’t bring myself to dismiss and move on about. so that affected my emotional investment from that point on. i didn’t feel as strongly as before and read on in a sort of detached state for the rest of the book. i no longer cried or felt much of anything for what happened. there were still things i related to, especially on sebastian’s pov chapters, but it’s like my heart closed itself off and didn’t allow me to feel it much anymore. maybe some sort of coping mechanism lol.

overall, i did really like the book, though, and i would recommend it. especially to queer kids struggling with religious expectations from their family. i see you, i feel you, i hear you. i hope you find some solace in these pages. i hope they make you feel seen and understood. you are not alone, you lovely soul. may life be kinder to you every day.

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rhythmofryn's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

OKAY LOOK. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I’m also bisexual. If anyone was going to be able to unpack this book, I dare say, it’s me.

Things that I liked:
-Tanner’s parents. Their support was so wholesome and kind an realistic and I appreciated it deeply.
-lack of biphobia. We LOVE to see it. Tanner is bi and sees no issue in that and never has a crisis about liking people of any gender. Lack of negative stereotypes 🥳 💖💜💙
-the lack of demonizing the Church and its members. I was SCARED going into this because I thought it’d be a soapbox for the authors to bash the Church and say that it’s evil and all its members are homophobic sheep cult members, etc. Everyone hates the Mormons and thinks we’re freaks so you learn to start flinching preemptively. This book didn’t do this. Tanner’s POV was unfamiliar with the Church which made sense bc the authors could explain to him and the audience, but there was real and genuine attempt to understand what it’s like to be a member and the culture here and I cannot overstate how much I appreciated that respect for my beliefs.
-Tanner’s mom leaving the Church. I hate to think that people could ever be so homophobic towards their own family but seriously, decades ago, it was bad and her beef with the Church and wanting to shield Tanner from that were very relatable and real to me. Helped the parent position a lot.
-the weather descriptions were perfect lol? That’s a Utah winter babey
-fascinated by the descriptions of how people dress and act here. Are we really that well-groomed?? Gonna be real, never lived outside Utah and I don’t have a ton of non-member friends so I can’t speak for this one. Also, I never picked up on the “must be polite always” thing but yeah that’s so real.
-that moment of being outed and seen as other and being terrified and knowing you shouldn’t be but you are and you’re so worried that this will completely shift how people view you and then you’ll no longer be worthy of their love??? …yeah. No further comment.
-constant hope of future revelation from the Prophet to change everything? …also yeah. If we could lift the Priesthood restrictions, what else could change 🤞😔

Things I didn’t like:
-no one they met was named Nephi/Ephraim/Teancum/Moroni/Alma/Sariah lmao. Points off for realism. (I’m 100% not joking here because I’ve personally met or known of people with all of these names)

holy sweet glory someone tell me why Tanner and Autumn had sex. It added nothing to the story, didn’t even really meaningfully change their friendship (how???), and didn’t present a major source of conflict for Tanner and Seb so like hello?? Why??

-I’m just super confused about how Seb was apparently grappling with his sexuality the whole time and also

his worthiness?? I wasn’t clear if Tanner and Seb had legit sex but even as far as they got that I could tell, that’s enough to disqualify you from a mission so if he’s really so devout, then ???

Also, I feel like there’s no way that Seb’s mom could submit his papers for him. He would have to do it himself so smh.
-THE RANDOM POV SHIFTS. We start in 1st person POV for Tanner and then it shifts to 3rd person for Seb and I was like okay weird but that’s fine but THEN IT WENT TO 3rd person for Tanner???? And then the book ended in 1st person for Tanner. Hate it. Make a choice y’all and stay consistent.
-Sebastian as a a character. Tbh I was disappointed. I was looking for some real grappling with doctrine and attraction and wanting something but feeling that’s it’s wrong and contemplating sacrificing your entire culture and identity and being absolutely terrified and I feel like I kinda got that but not really. I know that the authors probably felt like they couldn’t write that super personal struggle from Seb’s point of view so they choose to center on Tanner. As a queer person, I wanted to see that struggle. Sebastian believed that he wasn’t wrong in his feelings and I guess I always did believe I was wrong. While I’m typing this, I’m realizing this didn’t hit for *me* because it doesn’t align with my experience and what I wanted to see but it might work for other religious queer people.

In conclusion, I appreciate a lot of this but I have a lot of issues with it. 3 ⭐️

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vagaybond's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense

Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.75

This was so emotional. I'm not used to a YA book having such nuance. And to be as heartbreaking as this. No one died but I feel as emotionally wrought as I did watching the movie Holding The Man (2015) which was based on a book a man wrote about the love story between he and his partner after his partner died of AIDS and before he himself did. There is so much pain in queerness and I often wish to escape it all and have fluffy romance where nobody has to deal with things like I've been through.* And I know there are people who have been luckier than me who don't know pains related to it. But this captured this pain so well and so poetically. I often wish undying love were not so undying too.

*(Disclaimer: my family is imperfect and they were abusive to me, but I did assume coming out specifically would go okay until I actually came out and reality proved otherwise. I wasn't on speaking terms with my biological family from 19-27 or so. Honestly the reaction to coming out is probably what was the last straw, and I'm not sure that a last straw would have existed otherwise. And I needed that no-contact time to survive and become the person I am.)

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