The Zero Knot

Jul 13, 2012 Reena Jacobs rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, reviewed, 2011-reads

Expect my full review January 14, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://wp.me/pPz8s-26N

I’ve been dying to try a young adult M/M romance. I’ve read a few m/m adult romances and have had a hard time getting into them. I’d hope adding the young adult element would pull me in where other novels had not. What I found was although this is a coming-of-age novel, it is NOT a young adult novel. Yes, the protagonists are young (18), but the sexual scenes are very adult. While the level of sex in...more Expect my full review January 14, 2012 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://wp.me/pPz8s-26N

I’ve been dying to try a young adult M/M romance. I’ve read a few m/m adult romances and have had a hard time getting into them. I’d hope adding the young adult element would pull me in where other novels had not. What I found was although this is a coming-of-age novel, it is NOT a young adult novel. Yes, the protagonists are young (18), but the sexual scenes are very adult. While the level of sex in the novel surprised me, it didn’t detract from the work at all. In fact, I loved the realism, which really helped make it into a discovery, coming-of-age novel. Well done, Ms. Snow!

When I first read the prologue, I was apprehensive about this piece. The prologue didn’t grab me at all, and after reading the entire book, I wish it’d been omitted. If nothing else, it would have been nice for me to the type of person to skip prologues. After the first chapter though, the book had me hooked.

One of the passages I loved from the Zero Knot was:

“You weren’t a Freebird who’d soon be earthbound. You were an alien, and you’d never be anything else.”

It’s such a beautiful truth. A big part of adolescence and even life in general is about finding yourself, trying to fit in. But what happens when you figure out you’ll never fit in the way society expects you to? No matter the outside image you portray, you’ll always be you inside… and that you is different from the established norm.

That sums up The Zero Knot in the nutshell — young men, despite living outside the social norm, coming to terms with who they are. Throughout it all, Ms. Snow splashed enough humor to keep me laughing when I wanted to cry about the injustice of an unfair world.

Who I’d recommend The Zero Knot to? That’s a tough one. I want to say everyone because the story line was so touching and provided such understanding. However, the graphic nature of some sex scenes makes this work suitable for adults. Parents should definitely read this one through before they consider passing it along to their teen.

I received this work from the publisher in exchange for a review.(less)

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Oct 16, 2011 Val Kovalin rated it 5 of 5 stars

5.0 out of 5.0 stars

This was so absorbing that I read it almost in one sitting. It has all the things I like…vivid details that make an ordinary setting come alive, complex characters, and a solid plot of cause and effect that elicits change and growth from the characters.

The two main characters are likable but distinctly different, which is wonderful. Jess is a bit of a flirt and party boy, but Mig is endearingly shy. The supporting characters are great. Little brother Jared is too funny. The d...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Lutawolf rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, badly-portrayed-females

I know, I know, I'm probably the only one not giving this book a high acclaim and it's not because the author really did anything wrong, it's for personal views. I'm a bisexual, I make no bones about it and the way bisexuality was portrayed in this book really upset me. I get enough abuse from straight and gay people telling me to pick a side or that I'm greedy. It sucks seeing it in a book from a genre that I think of as tolerant. Maybe it added to the plot line but for me it didn't.

Also I hat...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-books, bought-apr-2013, contemporary, contemporary-romance, glbt, read-in-2013, romance

The Zero Knot was certainly different from the types of books I normally read but I really enjoyed it.

Set in small-town America, it is the story of two friends Jess and Dylan (nicknamed Mig) coming to terms with the fact they are gay and that they also have feelings for each other. There is some angst involved (relating to coming out etc.) but overall the two protagonists are generally comfortable with the fact that they are gay. What isn't easy for either of them is trying to overcome the diff...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, romance-adult, ya-realistic, 4-star

this is why i keep on reading ya m/m. no matter how many disappointing experiences, i know there are books like this one out there, just waiting for me to find them.
jess and mig were incredibly realistic and lovable!
i could forgive jess everything, even things, like promiscuity, that i normally have problems with, because i could understand his motives and everything he felt - his love, too.
i even forgave tomby/dominga: three-dimensional, young and, in the end, a good person, even as a secondary...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: xxshelf-a-thon-challenge, 2013

Jess & Dylan aka Mig are at that point in their lives where they are ready to 'start growing up'.

I was quite surprised with this story, I wasn't expecting it to have such a 'heavy' plot. We get to see these guys go from hanging and 'messin' around in their 'club'...just being teenagers to finding themselves, a great friendship and an even better relationship. It definitely wasn't easy for these two along the way but they managed to figure how to get through it. A huge feat considering some...more

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Apr 12, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vals-picks

The Zero Knot by K.Z. Snow is a story of literary realism to savor, especially if you like young adult fiction, coming of age fiction, family stories, and romance that evolves childhood friends to lovers. Like much of this author’s fiction, The Zero Knot is set in the American Midwestern heartland of Wisconsin, and the vivid details of physical setting and working-class to middle-class cultural perspective make the story come alive. The main characters are strong and complex from the flirty (in...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Elisa Ramblings added it

Unexpected story. Maybe for the author, maybe for the publisher, I was expecting it to be more pretty, more kinky, less intense. And as usual, when you surprise me it’s totally a positive thing.

Even if The Zero Knot is about young adults on the upper side of teenagehood, it’s not really about sex or similar, and more about discovery and first love. Jess is one of the cool kids, he hangs around with other kids, pretending to be pansexual, i.e. goofing around with other kids and putting on the tro...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

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5+ stars
(view spoiler)...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Cryselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dreamspinner, m-m

Part of growing up is figuring out who you are, what you want, and what you're willing to do to get it. In The Zero Knot, KZ Snow gives us a coming of age story where three young men arrive at two different answers.

The blurb describes the story rather completely, so the question here isn't so much what happens as how it happens. It's a bumpy road for Jess and Mig; their interest in one another is blooming to love, but the call of the hormones drags them in several directions. Jess in particular...more Part of growing up is figuring out who you are, what you want, and what you're willing to do to get it. In The Zero Knot, KZ Snow gives us a coming of age story where three young men arrive at two different answers.

The blurb describes the story rather completely, so the question here isn't so much what happens as how it happens. It's a bumpy road for Jess and Mig; their interest in one another is blooming to love, but the call of the hormones drags them in several directions. Jess in particular is having a rough time of it; he wants Mig but the lure of casual sex is hard to resist. A sordid encounter at his Renfaire job opens his eyes to the path he's starting to tread, as do the wise words of an older friend:

“The scales will always tip in favor of what enriches your life. That's the thing you'll end up choosing.”

Mig is a more thoughtful young man from the beginning; he's concerned that what Jess wants may not be the same as what he wants and is willing to spare himself the heartbreak while Jess grows up a bit more. Sometimes Jess calls him Mig, sometimes Dylan, his given name, and it's a pretty good symbol of how mature Jess is capable of being at the moment.

Sometimes it's not much – a heavy frotting session in the driveway of the untrustworthy friend's house isn't exactly discreet. Other times, it's admirable, such as how he looks for the solution to the legal problems.

The secondary characters don't come off so well: Tomby the Meddlesome Female at least has an unique method of meddling and the beginnings of a conscience. Any growth displayed by Brandon, the fourth of the formerly close knit group, is backwards, towards spoiled brathood. All sets of parents, who hover in the background, have their own maturity issues to work through, with varying success. The one totally bright spot is irritating kid brother Jared, all intrusive, perceptive, and with the absolutely best lines.

KZ Snow lets the young people flounder with skillful and imaginative writing; we can see them growing up, sometimes one sentence at a time. Some of their adventures are a bit stomach churning, particularly the casual acceptance of drugs, but feel like real youth happening. How much one enjoys the story may depend on how accepting one is of adolescent angst, it could be entertaining or just aggravating. I hovered on the edge of wanting to slap everyone at one point or another. The vindictive act that sends Mig to jail was wanton cruelty, and I did spend part of that sequence trying to puzzle out the time line and did it match the way the justice system is supposed to work, which it didn't really.

A zero knot, as Tomby tells the young men, has no beginning or end, it can be distorted, but remains an unbroken loop unless it's completely destroyed, and as Jess finds, sometimes its other name is love. Jess and Dylan end well on their way to forging an unbreakable loop.
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Dec 12, 2011 ManOhMan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Reviewed by Stacey: As always, KZ Snow can be depended on to deliver a story packed with emotion, drama, and plot twists that keep you reading through to the end. This is a coming of age story featuring Jess Bonner and Dylan Finch (aka Mig), both eighteen. They've been friends for a very long time but only recently began to see each other as so much more.

They grew up as a part of a small group of friends, a club, who saw themselves as being different from the rest. But as Jess and Dylan decide...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jesse steht ein neuer Abschnitt in seinem Leben bevor. Er hat gerade die High School abgeschlossen und wird im kommenden Januar am College in Madison anfangen. Den Sommer und das restliche Jahr will er mit seiner Familie und seinen Freunden in seiner Heimatstadt verbringen, ein bisschen Geld bei seinem Job verdienen und ansonsten einfach nur Spaß haben. Er ist fest entschlossen, den auch zu bekommen, denn als typischer 18jähriger hat er nichts anderes als Sex im Kopf.
Die einzige kleine Besonderh...more Jesse steht ein neuer Abschnitt in seinem Leben bevor. Er hat gerade die High School abgeschlossen und wird im kommenden Januar am College in Madison anfangen. Den Sommer und das restliche Jahr will er mit seiner Familie und seinen Freunden in seiner Heimatstadt verbringen, ein bisschen Geld bei seinem Job verdienen und ansonsten einfach nur Spaß haben. Er ist fest entschlossen, den auch zu bekommen, denn als typischer 18jähriger hat er nichts anderes als Sex im Kopf.
Die einzige kleine Besonderheit: Jess ist schwul.
Das weiß aber noch niemand. Zwar hat er eine Gruppe von Freunden, die gleichgeschlechtlicher Liebe nicht abgeneigt sind, als schwul mag sich aber doch niemand outen, denn das ist in der Kleinstadt doch sehr ungern gesehen. Sie bezeichnen sich lieber als bi und haben eine Art Club, den Domino Club, gegründet. Mittlerweile hat Jesse die Spielchen und ständigen Sprüche dort aber satt, denn keiner von ihnen scheint wirklich zu wissen, wer er eigentlich ist, und versucht sich von ihnen zu distanzieren. Der einzige, den er wirklich vermissen würde, ist Dylan, allen bekannt als Mig. Er und Jesse sind seit ihrer Kindheit befreundet, doch in letzter Zeit hat sich irgendetwas zwischen ihnen verändert.
Als Jess feststellt, dass auch Mig die Nase voll vom Domino Club hat, führen die beiden das erste wirklich ernsthafte Gespräch ihres Lebens miteinander und beide sehen sich gezwungen, ihre Entscheidungen und Lebensweisen zu überdenken. Doch dass sich die beiden immer näher kommen ist nicht jedem recht. Schon bald will sich jemand zwischen sie drängen, was für einen der beiden im Gefängnis endet.

Irgendwie hatte ich das Gefühl, dass sich K.Z. Snow nicht so recht entscheiden konnte, was ihr Buch denn nun genau sein soll. Auf der einen Seite hat das Buch eine typische YA-Geschichte und grundsätzlich auch vom Schreibstil bzw. Niveau durchaus in diese Kategorie einzuordnen. Auf der anderen Seite aber hat es aber auch einiges an handfester Erotik zu bieten, die doch eindeutig an Erwachsene gerichtet ist. Denn hier wird wenig beschönigt und die Sexszenen werden teilweise doch recht detailliert beschrieben. Vor allem am Anfang war mir persönlich das einfach ein bisschen zu viel und hat sich zu sehr auf den sexuellen Aspekt fest gefahren.
Im Laufe der Geschichte aber hat sich das geändert. Je ernster die Sache zwischen den beiden jungen Männern wurde, um so mehr hat sich auf die Ernsthaftigkeit des Buches durchgesetzt. Natürlich geht es viel um das Coming Out, aber auch um die Toleranz oder eben deren Mangel, die vielen homosexuellen Jugendlichen nicht entgegen gebracht wird. Allerdings mangelt es auch hier nicht an einigen heißen Szenen.
Dementsprechend derb ist die Sprache natürlich auch stellenweise. Zwar fand ich sie nie übertrieben, dennoch hat sich die Autorin auch hier nicht zurückgehalten.
Die Charaktere selbst sind eigentlich recht gut gelungen. Mig und Jesse sind extrem unterschiedlich und trotzdem stimmt es zwischen den beiden einfach. Mein absoluter Liebling war aber Jesses kleiner Bruder Red, der für eine Menge lustiger und ziemlicher derber Sprüche gesorgt hat. Überhaupt war Jesses gesamte Familie ein echtes Highlight des Buches.

Insgesamt ist The Zero Not von K.Z. Snow aber doch eine Liebesgeschichte, die sich mit dem Kleinstadtleben schwuler Jugendlicher auseinandersetzt und trotz jeder Menge erotischer Elemente zu Beginn dennoch in der zweiten Hälfte einen sehr ruhigen und einfühlsamen Ton anschlägt.(less)

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Oct 16, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa by: top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com

Shelves: coming-of-age, contemporary-romance, favorites, glbt, m-m-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ”Life is a never-ending process of self-correction.” True. The key, however, is being able to determine what should be changed and to accept what shouldn’t, not because it can’t be corrected but because it isn’t wrong to begin with.

Eighteen—that monumental threshold between dependence and freedom, the invisible line between childhood and the realization that to discover who you are and what you want means altering your perspective, shedding the façade of ambiguity and embracing all the possibili...more ”Life is a never-ending process of self-correction.” True. The key, however, is being able to determine what should be changed and to accept what shouldn’t, not because it can’t be corrected but because it isn’t wrong to begin with.

Eighteen—that monumental threshold between dependence and freedom, the invisible line between childhood and the realization that to discover who you are and what you want means altering your perspective, shedding the façade of ambiguity and embracing all the possibilities the future holds. Eighteen—that incredible journey when you begin seeing life, friends, and family through the unfiltered lens of adulthood rather than the murky lens of teenage angst and self-absorption, when trying to figure out who you are depends so much upon with whom you associate. It is the point in time when making mistakes means owning them, learning from them, allowing them to shift your course, and to realize that, regardless of how old you are, having someone to rely on, someone to confide in, doesn’t mean you’re clinging to childhood; it simply means you’re among the most fortunate of people.

Sometimes the journey from child to adult begins with a first kiss, a true first kiss that means everything, that gives new definition to the feelings that are sparked with the recognition that someone who’s been right there in front of you all along was someone you didn’t truly see until the moment you finally recognized yourself for who and what you are, until the moment you began to see life and the world through new eyes; that is the someone you can see yourself loving beyond tomorrow.

So much of growing up is about fear—fear of showing people who you truly are, fear of standing up for your beliefs, fear of going against the grain, and fear of giving in to your feelings because you fear rejection. American author and poet Jean Toomer once wrote, “Fear is a noose that binds until it strangles.” Growing up means learning to decipher the knots that keep you bound and prevent you from living your own life on your own terms rather than conforming to what everyone else expects of you. Life is about tying, untangling, and retying knots, letting go of regrets, and letting go of some people, while holding on to the ones who matter most. Falling in love is about facing the fear that love might not be enough to see you through, but finding the courage to fall anyway, trusting that whatever happens, you won’t be facing it alone.

During the summer following their high school graduation, Jess Bonner and Dylan “Mig” Finch navigate that slippery ascent into adulthood and love. Doubts and mistakes, jealousy and a self-centered deception will simultaneously keep them apart and draw them even closer together; it will prove that their own zero knot, no matter how it’s twisted and manipulated, is still the circle that will hold them together.

K.Z. Snow tells this story skillfully, conveying the emotions and fears of both young men as they struggle to find a place in the world where they fit in and where they fit together. Love at eighteen rarely means forever, but that isn’t enough to diminish the beauty of the happiness Jess and Dylan find in their here and now. The glory and innocence of first love lies in the belief of that magical feeling, the feeling that the future is infinite with possibilities.
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Oct 27, 2011 T.A. Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars

"The scales will always tip in favor of what enriches your life. That's the thing you'll end up choosing."

Jess, a young man ready to start his college life away from his small hometown, friends with a group of young people who are "different" - sexually ambiguous, finds himself suddenly looking at one of his oldest friends in a totally new light.

Dylan, "Mig" to his buds, has been friends with Jess, has secrets of his own. He is gay, not bi, working as a welder, closeted, the only son of conserva...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Jeff Erno rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-themed-young-adult

Once again, the superior quality of KZ Snow's writing talent shines through in this very touching, heart-gripping, romantic drama. Zero Knot is a coming-of-age, coming-out, edgy and realistic romance that is heavily laced with richly textured characters and powerful, thought-provoking messaging.

Jess and Mig (aka Dylan) have been friends most of their lives. Both eighteen and fresh out of high school, their hormones are raging. When they realize that they both are crushing on each other, they hav...more Once again, the superior quality of KZ Snow's writing talent shines through in this very touching, heart-gripping, romantic drama. Zero Knot is a coming-of-age, coming-out, edgy and realistic romance that is heavily laced with richly textured characters and powerful, thought-provoking messaging.

Jess and Mig (aka Dylan) have been friends most of their lives. Both eighteen and fresh out of high school, their hormones are raging. When they realize that they both are crushing on each other, they have to tackle a number of obstacles in order to be together. First and foremost among their challenges are their obtuse parents, who do not seem to even have a clue that their sons are gay.

Jess also has a mouthy little brother (my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHARACTER in the story!!!) named Jared. His nickname is Red, and he is quick to blurt out everything that adults are too polite to say. This character alone would have made this book worthy of a five-star rating. Be prepared, though, because you're going to fall in love with this kid, and then you'll be bawling your eyes out. I don't want to ruin this with a spoiler, but the boy goes through a trauma. If KZ had decided to kill the kid off I'd have had to hunt her down and strangle her.

The love story was absolutely beautiful. The characters were sweet--at times sugary sweet--but flawed at the same time. I believed them and I believed IN them. I loved how the author captured the angsty emotion-driven dynamic of their first-love relationship. There was also a major hurdle thrown in, in the form of a jealous, wannabe lover. Brandon, the snarky, shallow, know-it-all, fashion queen socialite epitomized everything that I always hated about the gay community when I was 18 and emerging from my own closet. I thought he made the perfect villain.

Well, it comes as no surprise that KZ delivered another book which I now have to add to my all-time-favorites list. It's an amazing story--beautifully written and incredibly memorable. If I could give it ten stars, I would.(less)

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Nov 07, 2011 Deja Dei rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had to let this digest a little before attempting a review. But I stick with what I said-K.Z. Snow is still one of my favorite authors, one of the few authors I think I would buy anything she wrote without hesitation. The fact that I enjoyed this book as much as I did is a real testament to her talent as a writer. I have kind of a short attention span so I tend to like fast-paced, action, adventure and fantasy books with loads of conflict and fighting and sex. This book is not like that. It's...more I had to let this digest a little before attempting a review. But I stick with what I said-K.Z. Snow is still one of my favorite authors, one of the few authors I think I would buy anything she wrote without hesitation. The fact that I enjoyed this book as much as I did is a real testament to her talent as a writer. I have kind of a short attention span so I tend to like fast-paced, action, adventure and fantasy books with loads of conflict and fighting and sex. This book is not like that. It's a very realistic portrait of small town life, friendships and how they evolve in unexpected ways, family realtionships, and personal goals. Though the plot moves slowly and the characters are doing everyday things like fishing or going to work, the author injects these activities with relevance, and the story is never dull or dragging.

The characters are easy to relate to. For me I especially sympathized with how scary it is to come out in a small town where everybody knows everybody else's business. The small-minded, suburban attitude is captured very well without being turned into a diatribe. There are many judgemental people in this little town, but there are also supportive people like Jess's dad and his friend Ginger. Jess's little brother Jared is a fantastic character in that he loves his brother and tries to be supportive in his own way, even if that means being a wise ass. The characterization is subtle, everything grows slowly and nothing is ever shoved in the reader's face. Because of that, Dylan (Mig), Jess, Jared, and the others feel very real. All of them have many different sides to their personalities that make them come alive.

This is a coming of age and coming out story, but it's also the story of how two men decide what they want is different from what they wanted as children (I guess that is coming of age.) The conflict is mostly internal as Jess and Dylan (I hate using his nickname) struggle with their feelings and what admitting them will mean for their futures. The story stays realistic. Nothing happens that wouldn't happen in a typical town in middle America, but it feels profound because the effects on Jess and Dylan are profound. While these characters are often confused, there's no overblown angst and no long, flowery speeches. These characters have communication issues at first, like many young men, but they are determined to work through them. By the end of the first chapter I felt a deep connection to these characters and wanted them to be happy so much.

I'm really glad I took a chance on a type of book I wouldn't normally choose. I recommend it highly.(less)

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Nov 14, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, m-m

4 1/2 Wonderful Stars!!!

They only reason I am not giving this book a full 5 stars is simply because I felt the beginning was a little slow to me, but that said, we also spent that time getting to know the characters, whom I must say, I totally loved!!! Jess Bonner and Dylan 'Mig' Finch have been friends for years and both have begun to feel a little more than 'friendship' for each other recently. This is a wonderful coming of age and coming into your sexuality story. It is honest, raw, and beau...more

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Nov 14, 2011 ~ames~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, contemporary, e-book, netgalley, m-m

K.Z. Snow is an author I've always wanted to read and I finally got around to it with The Zero Knot. After reading this, I am definitely going to be reading more of this author's backlist.

Jess Bonner and Dylan 'Mig' Finch are part of the Domino Club, a group of friends who get together from time to time. What draws them all together? They're bisexual. But Jess realizes that he is tired of the face he puts on for the club, he's not being true to himself and he decides to cut ties to the other mem...more K.Z. Snow is an author I've always wanted to read and I finally got around to it with The Zero Knot. After reading this, I am definitely going to be reading more of this author's backlist.

Jess Bonner and Dylan 'Mig' Finch are part of the Domino Club, a group of friends who get together from time to time. What draws them all together? They're bisexual. But Jess realizes that he is tired of the face he puts on for the club, he's not being true to himself and he decides to cut ties to the other members. Except Dylan. He can see that Dylan is feeling the same way and after discussing how he feels with Dylan, Jess realizes that Dylan is smoking hot in a subtle way - at least Jess has never really noticed it before!

Jess is all gung-ho to start something with Dylan, but Dylan has a few concerns. First, there's Jess' past with one of the other members of the club (a past that rears it's ugly head soon into their romance). There's also the fact that Jess is going away to college in a few months. And neither man is out - so they would have to be very careful, especially Dylan who comes from a very conservative background.

I enjoy these kind of romances - the blush of first love, especially poignant during that time period between walking away from your childhood and entering into adulthood. There are so many conflicts inherent in this time frame as well, especially when it comes to your character. Do two young men want to embark on a serious relationship before they've really experienced anything? There's also the coming out factor, moving away to college...KZ Snow does a good job of bringing it all together as well as crafting a truly enjoyable romance.

I thought the doubts and fears that Jess and Dylan had were realistic. The experience of coming out for each boy was drastically different and I thought Dylan's character was a bit more mature compared to Jess', he had a more practical perspective on the world. Jess was a fun character that definitely embodied a young, care-free man who has his eyes opened to the ways of the world. Jess and Dylan defnitely balanced each other out. Jess' younger brother was a nice comic touch as well.

The Zero Knot was a solidly written tale about a young man finding himself and falling in love for the first time. I definitely recommend this title. (less)

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Feb 01, 2013 Eli Easton rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. I admire K.Z. Snow's writing ability and this book is certainly well-written. I liked both the MCs and Jess' family was well drawn.

I had to push myself through the book, though, because the plot line was not so much my thing. The two MCs are long-time gay friends just out of high school. They get together early on in the story and then there's essentially a lot of angst that keeps them apart through most of the book. The angst is both internally generated (misunderstandings, I don't w...more

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Dec 30, 2011 rameau rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, lgbt, something-positive-shelf, romance, psychology, i-salute-you-captain-obvious, characterisation-fail, read-in-2011, contemporary

Though I can see why this book has above four star average on Goodreads–it's well written, easy to read, and has a plot with some M/M erotica on the side instead the other way around, which is my usual gripe–there are several reason why The Zero Knot didn't work as well for me.

The title is cute, different, and enticing, the kind that makes you–read me–pick up a book and read it without even considering the blurb. Unfortunately, that feeling didn't last as I began reading the explanations–yes, i...more Though I can see why this book has above four star average on Goodreads–it's well written, easy to read, and has a plot with some M/M erotica on the side instead the other way around, which is my usual gripe–there are several reason why The Zero Knot didn't work as well for me.

The title is cute, different, and enticing, the kind that makes you–read me–pick up a book and read it without even considering the blurb. Unfortunately, that feeling didn't last as I began reading the explanations–yes, it's a plural–behind the title. In the end I was left with a feeling that the author had gone out of her way to find a new way to describe love and worked overtime to fit a plot for it. It pains me to say this, because I'd really like to see mathematics and other–what I consider hard–sciences further fit into non-scifi stories.

I know I'm somewhat thick with these things–not to mention woefully straight as an arrow–but I couldn't help but notice a certain slant in Snow's writing. Some might even call it an attitude problem.

There wasn't a single positive heterosexual or bisexual couple portrayed. The good heterosexuals were either divorced or far, far in the sidelines to play any part in the story. And the bisexual characters were vilified for the sake of plot and–what I felt like–maliciousness. There wasn't a happy middle in sight. If your message is that gay is good, you don't need to sully the rest of the population in delivering it.

Speaking of characterisation failures, Mr and Mrs Finch are another example. From the way they were described in the beginning of the book–magnanimous but stern, and gracious but judgemental–I really thought that their reactions to the reveal should have been the reverse. (view spoiler)

Most of these things I would have missed hadn't I been forced to read through the book slowly due to holiday hurries. On the surface, Snow's writing is that good. It's effortless and flowing enough to bury even the small faltering in the storytelling, but not quite good enough. Not for this reader.

It's a shame because Jesse's and Dylan's young romance feels like something only really lucky people–gay, bi, or straight–get to experience.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 28, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Erotica, m/m, romannce,

Recommended to Angela by: netgalley

Shelves: ebook, erotica, fiction, m-m-romance, netgalley, romance

This was a really good story about finding out who you really are and what you want in life and love. Jess and Dylan decide that they have grown apart from their high school friends and have a strong attraction to each other. While trying to figure out their feelings for each other an act of jealousy causes a brush with the law and coming out to their families.

I thought that Jess and Dylan were a very believable couple beginning a new relationship. I really liked them together and really liked...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Serena Yates rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, young-adult

This is a great coming of age story. The main character, Jess, is depicted realistically and had me fascinated. His fears, aspirations, disappointmments and hopes, the desperate need to fit in somewhere all seemed logical to him, where I kept thinking that, with a litte more life experience, things would look quite different. Which is the point of a coming of age story, I guess, and this is a good example.

Recommended if you want to be reminded of 'what it was like', have children in that age gro...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Vivian Archer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-contemp, 2013-scavenger, 2013az

The emotional development of the two main characters as they transition for kids to adults and friends to lovers is inspiring and quite poignant. It had a lot more depth than I was expecting, not because it had a crazy plot, but the strength of Dylan and Jess to stop lying to themselves and others and stand up for what they want. Jess trajectory as the primary character is dominant and we ride along with him. His introspection is worth reading. Plus, I'd give up all three of my siblings to have...more

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Nov 13, 2011 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, romance, hs-childhood-loves

Finally! After reading two other K. Z. Snow books (novellas really), I was getting doubtful that I would find something that I liked from this author. My chief complaint with both precious_boy and Fugly was that the books had great plots and so much potential, but both stories were simply too short to have real character development and the books felt rushed. I didn't feel that way with the Zero Knot at all. I think I finally found a book from K. Z. Snow that lives up to its potential.

Jesse and...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy KZ Snow's books. They tend to be a little edgier than other books I read and this one didn't disappoint. Not going to go into descriptions of the book because quite frankly the blurb is good enough. The plot has no huge shocks or surprises but enjoyable just the same. Loved Jesse's family, I bet everyone would want to have a dad like Jim and I absolutely loved Jesse's little brother Red (Jared), his 'supportive' comments absolutely had me laughing out loud. Seriously "Jock Juice"?...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Jayhjay rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review was originally published on my blog Joyfully Jay

It is the summer after high school and 18-year-old Jess Bonner is starting to realize he is changing and growing and perhaps moving past some of his childhood friends and activities. He is also realizing that he has strong feelings for his long-time friend Dylan "Mig" Finch. Dylan shares Jess' feelings of growing past his childhood friends and interests. He has a full-time job as a well respected welder, but still lives at home with his...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, m-m, con-rom, i-own, ya

The story of Jess and Mig, two life-time friends coming to terms with the truth that they are both gay and not bi, is touching, well-written and has the feel of a genuine adolescent journey. While there is the inevitable drama, this story is not angst-ridden or forced. And the cast of supporting characters is so strong you can tell Snow made a conscious effort to make this story feel real from beginning to end. My favorite character in the book, hands down, was Red - Jess's little brother. Comic...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Leora Stark rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book in one night, so, yeah, you could say I liked it! The characters are very real and true and the chemistry between them is amazing. The storyline feels very real and believable with just the right amount of conflict and trauma to drive the plot. KZ Snow has done a great job of capturing the anxiety we all feel when transiting into adulthood. The small town setting and contextual information is also very true and detailed, and the metaphor of the Zero Knot that drives the story is...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Plainbrownwrapper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

Ahhh....hmmmm...

I can't decide how to rate this one. Coming-of-age stories aren't really my thing in general, so I'm a bit biased against this one from the start. And then the climactic blowup depended on one of the MCs doing something really really stupid, which I just don't believe he would have done. (view spoiler)...more

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May 24, 2013 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, coming-of-age, friends-to-lovers, young-adult-mm

"Because I lay with him...I´ve caught a glimpse of heaven. Or I understand what I need. Or I have the courage to be myself."

Two boys, Jess & Dylan, understanding feelings that have been with them for a long time. Finally acting on them. And Facing the consequences.
This book had a bit of a slow start, but it was all part of the story development.
For both Jess and Dylan, facing who they really are was a hard step to take. And they both have different experience when it actually happens.
They a...more

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