A review by james1star
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

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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