Reviews

Maybe With a Chance of Certainty by John Goode

ryanpfw's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A quick read. Nice writing style and positive message. The characters balance each other well and I’m interested in continuing with this series, but the meeting seemed very forced at the beginning. Brad didn’t even know Kyle’s name when he asked him for homework help and seemed to only ask him because he looked like a nerd and nerds are smart, but then seemed to be interested almost right from the start despite Kyle’s very low profile. I wish there was some explanation about Brad’s motives.

stine_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This was so good! Well written, and much much darker than I'd anticipated.

lisabean's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This book was just the love-story-part. I missed good, complex characters, a story besides the falling in love and character development. It was kinda weak, but I enjoyed reading it.

litagentsaritza's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I've been looking for more Gay YA to read and was referred to this author by a few friends. I really enjoyed this book but wished all three installments were turned into one book. Felt like the story was rushed and the conflict not addressed enough in this short piece. The story has remained with me though so I would recommend the trilogy to others looking for strong Gay YA with HEA endings.

nicola949's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I bought this book (and the rest of the series) and obviously started with this one first - duh! I read and LOVED it. Then I had the chance to listen to the audio version. And WOW!

If I thought I enjoyed the story the first time round, the audio version just improved on it. The narrator, Michael Stellman, enhances the story and takes nothing away. It was so interesting to compare my thoughts on the story from my own reading experience versus my thoughts from the listening experience. Sometimes the narrator's voice and style doesn't match the characters I have built in my head but this one hit the nail on the head - brilliant! Michael Stellman's voice captured Kyle perfectly with a real sense of youth and emotion.

I loved the style of writing and characters were totally wonderful. I loved the emotion and challenge of growing up. I loved the nerd and the jock facing life head on. I loved public confrontations and grand gestures. But most of all I loved the strength and honesty.

I haven't read the second book, [b:End of the Beginning|13083650|End of the Beginning (Tales from Foster High, #2)|John Goode|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1321757417s/13083650.jpg|18253340] yet but have started listening to the audio version. I'm not too far in but loving the continuation of the story, this time from Brad's point of view.

I wouldn't usually come right out and recommend an audio book over the ebook or print edition (I'm a bit old-school that way and prefer the characters in my head) but this is the reverse for me. I actually originally rated the written book as a 4/4.5 but it is now a definite 5 and moving to my favourites shelf!

Visit my blog if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place! Because Two Men Are Better Than One!

jackiestone's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Wow. That progressed... Fast.

papercranestitches's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This story reads like a giant love letter to John Hughes (and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way).

It was a serviceable coming-of-age / accept-thyself story, but I found the characters to be too perfectly flawed to be believable. It also didn't help that the narrator's voice didn't sound like any teenager I've ever met (too hyper self-aware). That said, it had undeniably sweet moments and a handful of difficult/awkward moments that made for a good emotional balance in the story.

So... It was okay. Okay enough that I'd continue reading the next book in the series.

crtsjffrsn's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

When I read the description of Maybe With a Chance of Certainty, I was worried is was going to be just another cliche play on the 'quiet nerdy gay guy gets noticed by closeted jock and they have a brief fling and then the nerdy guy is cast aside because the jock can't come out along with him' which is a trope I've seen a number of times (see Geography Club). But there was something different about this one to me. There's an authenticity to Goode's writing of both Kyle and Brad that seemed to resonate with me on a different level than previous incarnations of this type of couple. Even though it's short, the story is well-paced and I found it was easy to quickly connect with the characters and follow their development.

There's more to this series, and I certainly plan to pick it up to learn what happens for them going forward.

emma_srak's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Really loved this story, Kyle and Brad had amazing chemistry and I really loved how Brad was persistant. Not too mention the end was f-ing great!

stevia333k's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

i read this book when a blogger was writing a similar story and wasn't posting for like 2-3 months. i think i put it down only 2 times and i completed it in less then 2 days so yeah it was a quick read. clean for the most part but hey they're in high school so it's ok.