XO, Blake by Avery Aster

     Maybe because I didn't read the previous books.  Maybe because none of my homosexual friends behaved in the manner these characters did.  Maybe because I never hung around people that constantly got into trouble after trouble, after stinking trouble.  I just could not relate to Vive, Blake, Taddy and the rest of the crew.  They seemed to hemorrhage issues that can get pretty old after a while.

     I'm not going to say I didn't like this book, but I really couldn't get into it.  I found the style a bit off, but the voice was consistent.  I also found they were the most immature bunch I've ever reason.  It's sorta funny, because even though I was curious about boyfriends, sex and partying, I was also mature enough to only want love and keep away from people I knew were trouble, long before I ever got to college.  

     I understand there's a series to this book and Xo, Blake is just a small piece to the collection.  I'm not sure I'm ready for the previous books.  I'm not even sure I'm ready for the ones after this one!  I can say this, Avery Aster has a style all his own and it shows in Blake, the main character.  

     Xo, Blake is about a young man who's found family in a group of girls who are just as lost and confused as he is.  He's not flaming, but he's on the prowl for love... in a crush who's got some intense sexual desires.  Blake isn't ready for all this and he's not ready to give up his virginity- no matter how he dreams and fantasizes. 

     I wasn't really in to this book, but I can tell there's a style in the way it was written that could make for a fun read, if I was really in to this genre.  Sadly, I'm not but I do give this a decent rating.  There's a lot of background given and evidently stated from previous books, so there's a history you can use to work your way in to this series if you want it.  There's also another book calling my name so off to the next one!