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60th out of 156 books
—
221 voters
Love Drugged
by
James Klise
If you could change who you are, would you? Should you?
Fifteen-year-old Jamie Bates has a simple strategy for surviving high school: fit in, keep a low profile, and above all, protect his biggest secret--he's gay. But when a classmate discovers the truth, a terrified Jamie does all he can to change who he is. At first, it's easy. Everyone notices when he starts hanging out
...morePaperback, 306 pages
Published
September 8th 2010
by Flux
(first published September 1st 2010)
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Stereotypical gay male character. This turned me off and I put the book down. I'm a gay male myself and this just made me angry. The author pinned the main character as a cliche homosexual and it just didn't go well with me.
This is an outstanding book, with an interesting, almost fantasy type of theme. Jamie is 15 years old and trying to get through school without anyone discovering he is gay. The one outlet he allows himself is participating in an online chatline of gay boys who like movies. Jamie is fine, enjoying this one release, until mistakenly he provides real information to one chatter, only to discover the boy is not only in his high school, but on one of the other library computers.
When Jamie becomes invo...more
When Jamie becomes invo...more
To put this bluntly, I chose to read the book Love Drugged by James Klise because 1. I thought the cover was cute, and two, it seemed interesting to read about and step into the life of a gay fifteen-year-old who’d do just about anything to become straight but come out of the closet. This story is about a teen named Jamie Bates who’d do whatever it took to become straight. Just the thought of revealing himself as homosexual terrifies him. He falls in love with a the richest, prettiest girl in al...more
Jamie's not comfortable with who he is and right now he'd do anything to fit in - which also means being straight. Because the worst thing to happen to a guy in high school is to be gay and everyone finding out. Jamie's fears keep him from having real relationships with his friends and family. But when an opportunity arises to suppress his homosexual feelings with a untested drug - he jumps at the chance and starts a slow descent into a hell he'd never imagined.
This was a wonderful book and I re...more
This was a wonderful book and I re...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
When I was a wee little boy and my eye began to linger a bit longer on the boys it was right around the time I began to reread the books of my early days as a reader. All the books I read, especially the one's by Judy Blume centered on some young protagonist whom felt they were different than everyone around them. I picked several favorites and read and reread them over and over savoring the outsider tales identifying with them deeply.
If I had come across a book like Love Drugged during my early...more
If I had come across a book like Love Drugged during my early...more
This is one of those times I really wish I could give half-stars - because my feelings are more than "liked it" - but thanks to the ending I'm not totally behind the "really liked it" rating.
What did I really like? Klise gives an excellent portrayal of LGBT youth who are terrified to come out - feelings of fear and loathing and an overwhelming desire to do anything to be normal. It's easy to say that Jamie is making the wrong choice, taking a pill to "cure" his homosexuality - but at 15, I think...more
What did I really like? Klise gives an excellent portrayal of LGBT youth who are terrified to come out - feelings of fear and loathing and an overwhelming desire to do anything to be normal. It's easy to say that Jamie is making the wrong choice, taking a pill to "cure" his homosexuality - but at 15, I think...more
An entertaining read with an interesting premise: What if a drug became available that eliminated same-sex desire? For Jamie, a freshman in high school who just wants to blend in, this possibility seems like the answer to his prayers. Perhaps he doesn't have to be gay after all. Perhaps he won't have to come out to his parents and friends. Perhaps he can be a proper boyfriend to beautiful, rich Celia Gamez, a classmate who seems inexplicably interested in him. Although the novel ends too quickly...more
I think the synopsis is an excellent question and really is the heart of this story. If you could change who you are, would you? For 15 yo Jamie, it was a resounding yes. He was not comfortable with his attraction to other boys. He certainly didn't welcome the dreams of his hot classmate Ivan. Jamie wanted to fit in; be normal. He saw enough movies to know that stories of people who came out of the closet didn't always have a happy ending. He starts to explore his homosexual feelings by surfing...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Loved the writing. It was easy and simple and smooth. The concept was so much fun and unique--a 15-year-old boy who begins taking untested prescription drugs in hopes to 'cure' his homosexuality.
Jamie and Celia's relationship was sweet and believable. It was obvious he cared about her, and his want to be a good boyfriend and try to fix himself for that to happen was endearing. There comes a point wherein he isn't just taking these pills for himself, but for her, too.
I really would've liked to...more
Jamie and Celia's relationship was sweet and believable. It was obvious he cared about her, and his want to be a good boyfriend and try to fix himself for that to happen was endearing. There comes a point wherein he isn't just taking these pills for himself, but for her, too.
I really would've liked to...more
It was more like a 3.5. The story is okay and it can relate to homosexual. It gave me a sad feeling every time what Jamie is dealing with.
Jamie was terrified that one of the gay knows his secret—he’s gay too. In order to save himself, he tried to hook up with the hottest girl, Celia. Plus, her dad is a doctor who made pills. And one of the pills can make him lose his attraction in guys. Jamie stole the pills and continues to date Celia. As the pills begin to “work,” it also make him sick and he...more
Jamie was terrified that one of the gay knows his secret—he’s gay too. In order to save himself, he tried to hook up with the hottest girl, Celia. Plus, her dad is a doctor who made pills. And one of the pills can make him lose his attraction in guys. Jamie stole the pills and continues to date Celia. As the pills begin to “work,” it also make him sick and he...more
I personally loved this book, I am not a gay male, so I didn't find its stereotypical nature to be offensive. But as a lesbian, I did find the underlying theme of this book, being the enormous pressure to fit in, to be right on point with what just about every LGBTQ teen goes through at some point in their high school or college career. I love the fact that the author was so blatant about the pressures put on the LGBTQ Teen community by society by creating a ridiculous sounding drug manufactured...more
What if there was a drug that could remove homosexual tendencies? That's the premise of this book. Jamie is a 15 year old and he's gay. He wishes more than anything to just be normal, and when he comes across the chance to "be normal", as in not gay, he goes for it, and takes an experimental drug. The drug works, but Jamie realizes his mistake and comes to accept himself for who he is. The Chicago setting was fun. The story is not dark in any way, despite the potential to be a serious topic.
The...more
The...more
Love Drugged is an amazing book. James Klise, the author, creates the book with so much suspense and humor that keeps the reader itching to read more. The book is realistic fiction so it all seems so real. Its about a gay dude, Jamie Bates, but he doesn't want anyone to know. Jamie tries to hide his secret by hanging out with Celia Gamez, the most beautiful and richest chick in school. Celia's dad is a doctor so Jamie steals these new pills that'll make him like girls. Will the pills actually w...more
I really wanted to like this book. It was a Stonewall honor book this year and the premise sounded intriguing. And while there were good moments, overall I felt the book was another typical coming of age story.
We know about the pills early on, but then we spend around the first 100 pages getting to know Jamie, setting up his relationship with Celia before the pills are even introduced. And then when they are, they're still more a backstory than anything else. Mostly this is a book about Jamie t...more
We know about the pills early on, but then we spend around the first 100 pages getting to know Jamie, setting up his relationship with Celia before the pills are even introduced. And then when they are, they're still more a backstory than anything else. Mostly this is a book about Jamie t...more
Jamie knows he's gay, so when his pretend-girlfriend's father tells him about a drug he's developing to "cure" gayness, Jamie steals some pills. Eventually he is blackmailed into taking the pills as part of an unofficial study on their effectiveness. By the end of the story, Jamie is out to his family, out to his school, and off the pills. As a side plot, Jamie's best friend has been on Ritalin and chooses to go off of it without telling anyone, with disastrous consequences.
The premise of this...more
The premise of this...more
2011 honor book for the Stonewall Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature AwardThe award is given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered experience.
I like this interesting story line because it isn't all that far fetched; the boy just wants to be "normal" and would do almost anything. The end portion was definitely glossed over and I felt a little like the author had built up the plot an...more
I like this interesting story line because it isn't all that far fetched; the boy just wants to be "normal" and would do almost anything. The end portion was definitely glossed over and I felt a little like the author had built up the plot an...more
I meant to publish this with my rating, but apparently forgot... whoops!(I'm trying to practice writing reviews for school)
An excellent read that any teenager struggling with finding their identity will relate to. Jamie is an average fifteen-year old who just wants to fit in, but he is also struggling with a secret: he’s gay. When he discovers there may be a drug that enables gay men to be straight, Jamie leaps at the chance, though this decision will have more consequences than Jamie could ever...more
An excellent read that any teenager struggling with finding their identity will relate to. Jamie is an average fifteen-year old who just wants to fit in, but he is also struggling with a secret: he’s gay. When he discovers there may be a drug that enables gay men to be straight, Jamie leaps at the chance, though this decision will have more consequences than Jamie could ever...more
This was a really good book. I enjoyed it mostly because the characters were so believable. Jamie is exactly (or mostly) what I believe a gay teenage boy just coming to terms with his identity might be in real life. Celia is what I know (from experience) girls in high school are like. All characters, even the supporting ones, were realistic and very believable.
Why I gave it three stars and not more is because the plot of the book was completely crazy. Not only do I believe it would never happen...more
Why I gave it three stars and not more is because the plot of the book was completely crazy. Not only do I believe it would never happen...more
This was not an easy read - I am not sure if it is because I started reading Loved Drugged so soon after the recent suicides of homosexual teens or because it was hard watching someone go to the brink of death to change who he is, maybe both.
Jamie's home life is unconventional, he lives with his grandparents while his parents run a packing business upstairs. Jamie is gay, but he doesn't plan on coming out anytime soon. How could he? When ever we want to insult someone we say "that's gay or fag...more
Having met this author who is a teacher/librarian at a local CPS high school at the Lit Fest downtown may have influenced how much I enjoyed this book. It is always fun to read a local author's story. The story's premise was interesting and the main character was believable as I am sure it was based on the author's experiences. The character of Celia's father was a bit disappointing as he was unbelievable, but as a YA book, it may not be much of an issue for younger readers. Because the other ch...more
Book twisted from reality to thriller in an odd bit at the end. Character motivations are very fuzzy, especially the main character & his major decision to start taking the drug. There is no reflection, which seems very odd because if there is one thing that teenagers do, it's overthink everything. Interesting concept, somewhat disappionting execution. Subplot about friend's ADHD and Ritalin regime feels a little shoe-horned into the plot & Celia's "Mary Sue" personality resulted in a bo...more
James Klise takes on the controversial subject of reparitive therapy in this funny, heartfelt novel. Jamie Bates has won the heart of the prettiest, coolest girl in school. Too bad he doesn't like girls in that way. Can a new experimental drug make him 'normal'? Does he want to be?
Klise has done an excellent job of writing a YA book about GLBT issues, without making it an issues book. You can't help but root for Jamie, while at the same time wanting to shove him in a locker. I look forward to mo...more
Klise has done an excellent job of writing a YA book about GLBT issues, without making it an issues book. You can't help but root for Jamie, while at the same time wanting to shove him in a locker. I look forward to mo...more
This book made me sad. Jamie is fifteen years old and he's gay. He is desperate to be "normal" (i.e. straight). When he starts spending time with a female classmate, he learns that her father has developed a drug that can make him straight. Jamie starts stealing pills, despite not knowing the potential negative side effects. What made me so deeply sad about this book is that so many gay teenagers would make the same choice Jamie did. Suppressing their sexuality and missing out on so many wonderf...more
LOVE DRUGGED was kind of a sad book to read. Not that it actually made me sad but it was sad to see a boy so uncomfortable with himself that he'd be willing to pop unknown pills and suffer through some horrifying side effects just to be "normal." But I guess it's true, isn't it? Even the author admitted in his blurb at the end, that if given the chance when he was Jamie's age he would have taken Dr. Gamez's wonder pills and see if they helped. The fictional character and the real one can't be th...more
This is yet another book that I picked up at BEA but just finished reading. I've read a lot of novels for teens with gay characters but this one was truly unique because it imagines that a drug has been created that quells the urge to be gay. In other words, a teen boy who likes boys, takes the pill and doesn't feel the same attraction he once felt toward a classmate, for example. So he thinks this will be better for him since it's tough fitting in when you're gay. You'll have to read the book t...more
Nov 07, 2011
Jerica Griffin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
gay/questioning youth, homophobics, people who want an inside view on the struggles to be gay
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Gay teenager Jamie has caught the attention of the most beautiful girl in school. He is ecstatic... If only he was actually attracted to her. He's not. But when he finds out about her father's experimental drug meant to change boys like him, Jamie finds hope for the first time... But can it actually work?
When I think about Love Drugged the first thing that comes to my mind is the word true. Then real. Because Love Drugged is both of these things and more. If asked, how many teenage (and even adu...more
When I think about Love Drugged the first thing that comes to my mind is the word true. Then real. Because Love Drugged is both of these things and more. If asked, how many teenage (and even adu...more
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Jan 15, 2012 11:02pm