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justlily's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly loved every single thing about this book from the first page on. It's hilarious and genuine and so smartly written. I feel like I learned something from reading it. When I was a teenager, you just couldn't find books written so honestly and so well about the LGBTQ experience. So every time I find one now as an out adult, the younger me is like :D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So :D!!!!!!!!!
So :D!!!!!!!!!
jabereading's review against another edition
5.0
It was a great book! I finished it in one day and loved the story. It was a cute book, but you had to get use to the 3rd person narration. Even though we were following a single character’s journey it was odd to hear. But once you get used to that and get through a couple chapters you’ll be hooked!
inkstndfngrs's review against another edition
3.0
A valiant first effort by an author who can only improve. I look forward to the next work, but this one didn't quite hit all the marks for me.
christajls's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
From the very first line – “Alek stared at the menu suspiciously. He smelled marinara sauce and a trap.” - I knew I was going to love One Man Guy.
It’s narrated by an intelligent, kind of nerdy, very sarcastic Armenian boy named Alek and it is impossible not to fall completely in love with him. At the beginning of the novel his parents inform him he’s going to summer school – not because he’s failing any classes. But because his grades aren’t quite high enough to be on Honour Track. This opening scene is perfection – its establishes Alek’s quick wit and the pressure he faces from his family. But it also demonstrates that even though Alek is the protagonist, his family is going to play a central role in his story, and you are going to love them just as much as him.
Though Alek hates the idea of summer school – what kid wouldn’t? – he has to go. And it ends up being a life changing event because it is at summer school that Alek meets Ethan. In many ways Ethan is everything that Alek isn’t. He’s out and proud, he’s adventurous and bold, he goes into New York whenever he feels like it. And yet somehow they are drawn together in what is arguably one of the sweetest, most adorable love stories you’ll ever read. When Alek tells his best friend, Becky, that ““It’s like all my life I’ve been eating frozen yogurt. And kissing boys is ice cream.” I audibly “awwed” even though I was sitting in the middle of a busy coffee shop.
One Man Guy is a novel about falling in love for the first time and but it’s also about finding yourself. Before Ethan, Alek had never had a boyfriend. He had barely even considered the fact that he was gay. But that’s not the only thing he learns about himself. As you’ve probably gathered, his parents are rather strict and he’s always lived life by their rules. As the novel continues Alek gains more courage to try new things – like food and clothing. He gains the freedom to develop his own tastes and interests, making this an excellent “coming-of-age” story in addition to a “coming-out” story. In fact, in this case, they are one in the same.
I have to admit I didn’t know very much about Armenian culture before this novel but Baravika fills it with so many rich details, including a recipe for stuffed grape leaves at the back. There is a lot of scenes that revolve around meal times so beware this book will make you hungry! But there is also a lot of information about the Armenian genocide – a significant historic event that is often forgotten about by non-Armenians. I liked that even though Alek was trying to figure out his place in the world, he was still very connected to his culture and history. His choosing to be more independent was not a rejection of his family and that’s an important message for readers of all ages.
One Man Guy is an absolutely lovely story about relationships, friendship, family and New York City. Alek, Ethan, Becky and the whole Khederian family feel more like friends than simply characters on the page. It’s a short read, the pages will fly by much faster than you want them to. But thankfully this is the kind of book you can read over and over again. Highly recommended.
From the very first line – “Alek stared at the menu suspiciously. He smelled marinara sauce and a trap.” - I knew I was going to love One Man Guy.
It’s narrated by an intelligent, kind of nerdy, very sarcastic Armenian boy named Alek and it is impossible not to fall completely in love with him. At the beginning of the novel his parents inform him he’s going to summer school – not because he’s failing any classes. But because his grades aren’t quite high enough to be on Honour Track. This opening scene is perfection – its establishes Alek’s quick wit and the pressure he faces from his family. But it also demonstrates that even though Alek is the protagonist, his family is going to play a central role in his story, and you are going to love them just as much as him.
Though Alek hates the idea of summer school – what kid wouldn’t? – he has to go. And it ends up being a life changing event because it is at summer school that Alek meets Ethan. In many ways Ethan is everything that Alek isn’t. He’s out and proud, he’s adventurous and bold, he goes into New York whenever he feels like it. And yet somehow they are drawn together in what is arguably one of the sweetest, most adorable love stories you’ll ever read. When Alek tells his best friend, Becky, that ““It’s like all my life I’ve been eating frozen yogurt. And kissing boys is ice cream.” I audibly “awwed” even though I was sitting in the middle of a busy coffee shop.
One Man Guy is a novel about falling in love for the first time and but it’s also about finding yourself. Before Ethan, Alek had never had a boyfriend. He had barely even considered the fact that he was gay. But that’s not the only thing he learns about himself. As you’ve probably gathered, his parents are rather strict and he’s always lived life by their rules. As the novel continues Alek gains more courage to try new things – like food and clothing. He gains the freedom to develop his own tastes and interests, making this an excellent “coming-of-age” story in addition to a “coming-out” story. In fact, in this case, they are one in the same.
I have to admit I didn’t know very much about Armenian culture before this novel but Baravika fills it with so many rich details, including a recipe for stuffed grape leaves at the back. There is a lot of scenes that revolve around meal times so beware this book will make you hungry! But there is also a lot of information about the Armenian genocide – a significant historic event that is often forgotten about by non-Armenians. I liked that even though Alek was trying to figure out his place in the world, he was still very connected to his culture and history. His choosing to be more independent was not a rejection of his family and that’s an important message for readers of all ages.
One Man Guy is an absolutely lovely story about relationships, friendship, family and New York City. Alek, Ethan, Becky and the whole Khederian family feel more like friends than simply characters on the page. It’s a short read, the pages will fly by much faster than you want them to. But thankfully this is the kind of book you can read over and over again. Highly recommended.
dannimaxwellbabcock's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars. I really loved this book. Though the dialogue was a little cheesy at times and same with the nicknames I really like how this book played out and I can't wait to read more of Michael's books when they come out :)
angparc's review against another edition
3.0
One Man Guy by [a:Michael Barakiva|7258893|Michael Barakiva|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1442946096p2/7258893.jpg]
Cute story.
Cute story.
adambwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Took me a bit to get into this (something about the style) but somewhere around the 30% mark I was hooked - had a hard time putting it down after that. Very cute, just enough drama without being "dramatic." Probably too sweet and tidy, but that's okay every now and then. :)
cocopurplebooks's review against another edition
2.0
This book was very meh. I really wasn’t feeling it and it didn’t help that it was so boring and I didn’t click with none of the characters. Alek and Ethan’s relationship was rushed and the readers weren’t given much insight on how Alek discovered that he’s gay. One minute he’s denying that he’s gay and the next he’s kissing Ethan and is embracing it. There’s no development in between which sucks.
The writing is bland and basic and the plot is pretty fast paced and rushed. It felt like a chore to get through this book because I just wasn’t into it. The best part of the book was that Alek’s parents weren’t homophobic and they accepted him for being gay. I also liked Becky who was Alek’s best friend. Becky had a crush on Alek but her crush is forgotten (basically hardly brought up again) when she discovers that Alek’s gay. Becky was a good friend to Alek even when Alek treated her like crap.
I’m really disappointed by this book because I thought I would enjoy it but I’m super happy that I’m done with the book! On to more entertaining and better written books!
The writing is bland and basic and the plot is pretty fast paced and rushed. It felt like a chore to get through this book because I just wasn’t into it. The best part of the book was that Alek’s parents weren’t homophobic and they accepted him for being gay. I also liked Becky who was Alek’s best friend. Becky had a crush on Alek but her crush is forgotten (basically hardly brought up again) when she discovers that Alek’s gay. Becky was a good friend to Alek even when Alek treated her like crap.
I’m really disappointed by this book because I thought I would enjoy it but I’m super happy that I’m done with the book! On to more entertaining and better written books!
mesy_mark's review against another edition
A cute story of first-time romance for a gay teen understanding that he is a gay teen. Alek gets to know Ethan and older DO (drop out as his school refers to that crowd) in summer school. The school he only in it because Alek did not make an honor track.
Lots of fun to listen to.
Lots of fun to listen to.