Title: Swan Song for an Ugly Duckling
Author: Michael Murphy
Genre: Contemporary/ Coming of Age
Length: Novel (220 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62798-708-0
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 28th 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Aaron and Josh come from extraordinarily different backgrounds in small town America. Aaron is the only child of a fundamentalist preacher who fears and condemns the ways of the world outside their community. Josh is a jock who can only seem to express the feelings Aaron stirs in him by tormenting Aaron about how he looks and dresses. But one day, Josh’s world is turned upside down by a simple sentence spoken by Aaron, and he decides to get closer to Aaron.
Aaron assumes it is a new form of torture, but Josh persists: first, a ride home, then talking with Aaron while he does his afternoon farm chores. Then Josh persuades Aaron’s father to let him participate in a scholastic event out-of-town one weekend. Josh pays a huge price for Aaron to attend, but that one weekend persuades Aaron to get free of his parents and attend college.
College doesn’t solve all their problems, though. Josh is horrified when a senior on campus seduces Aaron. He can’t believe Aaron has always been gay and he missed it—and missed getting to be Aaron’s first. But when Aaron finds out his boyfriend isn’t faithful, things go from tense to worse.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5006
Review: This is a beautifully written story of two young men from two different cultures. It deals with bullying and abuse.
Aaron pretty much hates his life. He has to dress as his father says, do as he says and eat what he allows. His father is a very strict head of the family and community. He has Aaron’s life planned out. The only reason he allowed Aaron to go to high school is to help in taking over his father’s business (the Farm, the church and leading the community). He has already arranged for him a wife though he isn’t quite 18 yet. Aaron wants the freedom to see what’s in the world, dress as he pleases and fit in better. He sticks out like a sore thumb with old out of date glasses, and the traditional handmade black pants and white long sleeve shirt.
Josh and his group have picked on Aaron since he began school. Aaron is very big enough to hold his own, but his culture doesn’t allow him to fight, ignoring the issue just fuels the fire. Then one day Aaron fires back at Josh when he goes on how funny and weird, he looks. He replies that he knows it and that peaks Josh’s interest. Josh becomes relentless in finding out more about Aaron and they become friends.
This is such a beautiful, touching story though it does start out a bit rough. There will be moments you will cry. I absolutely loved the dynamics in Josh and Aaron. They are both good boys at heart, though Josh started out as a bully. It brings up a very good point though. A lot of bullying is because the other doesn’t understand why someone is different. I liked the slow development with Josh and Aaron’s relationship. I found the sex of the page still sensually hot and adequate.
I had two little issues: I found in a few places it was a slight bit repetitive. Something in one paragraph may be repeated in the next couple. This didn’t happen a lot or enough to be too distracting though. And I found the ending a bit flat. I would have liked a bit more. Perhaps an epilogue letting us know how they do or hint of a new book.
Overall, it’s a beautiful story. If you like Young Adult, coming of age, Amish, bullying, sweet but off the page man-sex, friends to lovers and a good romance this is for you!
* I received a copy of this book free-of-charge from MMgoodbookreviews http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own*