What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfectly Good White Boy
You never know where we'll end up. There's so much possibility in life, you know? Hallie said. Sean Norwhalt can read between the lines. He knows Hallie's just dumped him. He was a perfectly good summer boyfriend, but now she's off to college, and he's still got another year to go. Her pep talk about futures and possibilities isn't exactly comforting. Sean's pretty sure he's seen his future and its possibilities, and they all look DISPOSABLE. Like the crappy rental his family moved into when his dad left. Like all the unwanted filthy old clothes he stuffs into the rag baler at his thrift-store job. Like everything good he's ever known. The only hopeful possibilities in Sean's life are the Marine Corps, where no one expected he'd go, and Neecie Albertson, whom he never expected to care about. Carrie Mesrobian follows her critically acclaimed debut, Sex & Violence, with another powerful and wrenching portrait of a teenage boy on the precipice of the new American future.
-- "Journal"
-- "Journal"
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
18 people are currently reading
1927 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
October 4, 2014
The story: Boy thinks a lot about sex, he has quite a lot of sex, he thinks a little bit about the future, he enlists and hides it from his family, everyday life continues while he does pretty much nothing apart from letting life go on. There are some dark corners in his life history, but he's never brought down by it.
At some point during this book, I thought "This is getting dull...but at least the writing is superb."
Completing the book, I was left with the feeling that I had read a book that gave me no action, no drama, no clear answers - just a boy who lives. Disappointing? Not really - because this is realism. This is what life is like. There are so few epiphanies, so few, if any, moments where your actual life reaches a point of no return, because in the here and now we just stumble along and make decisions based on convenience, avoidance, and what we think we know. The MC in this novel is a perfect example of the ordinary yet unique life everyone experiences. There is, in fact, a lot going on in his life, much of it potentially destructive and upsetting, but he moves through it because there's no stopping time.
So I ended up liking the book, and I've been thinking about it a lot too, in philosophical terms and such = for me, usually a sign it's a good book.
At some point during this book, I thought "This is getting dull...but at least the writing is superb."
Completing the book, I was left with the feeling that I had read a book that gave me no action, no drama, no clear answers - just a boy who lives. Disappointing? Not really - because this is realism. This is what life is like. There are so few epiphanies, so few, if any, moments where your actual life reaches a point of no return, because in the here and now we just stumble along and make decisions based on convenience, avoidance, and what we think we know. The MC in this novel is a perfect example of the ordinary yet unique life everyone experiences. There is, in fact, a lot going on in his life, much of it potentially destructive and upsetting, but he moves through it because there's no stopping time.
So I ended up liking the book, and I've been thinking about it a lot too, in philosophical terms and such = for me, usually a sign it's a good book.
May 15, 2014
Carrie Mesrobian is amazing. Though not as wrenching as SEX & VIOLENCE, this one is every bit as spot on. What's amazing to me is how brave this book is. And really, Carrie's writing in general. She's never afraid to go there, but it's never done in a sensational "shock and awe" manner. Perfectly Good White Boy is just a story about a teenager. He's not dying of cancer, he's not a secret vampire, he doesn't quote poetry or drive a motorcycle or have a drug addiction. But because of this book's honest, and successful, attempt at looking at life from a seemingly perfectly-good-white-boy's eye, it's powerful. I am always, ALWAYS fascinated by characters in books. A book has to be character driven more than plot driven for me. But with PGWB, I didn't feel like I was reading a character; I felt like I was reading a person. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Like the parts of oneself that you really don't want others to see. But by seeing them, being that person for all those pages...it's incredibly empathizing. And just as in S&V, I wanted Sean to be okay. I wanted things to work out. I wanted him to figure it out, at least a little bit of it anyway. I won't spoil whether he does or not, but I will say that Carrie has become, for me, one of those writers I trust. It almost doesn't matter what does or does not happen in her books; I know I'm going to come out on the other side feeling like I've been exposed to a totally new way of thinking. That I've spent so much time empathizing with this person, Sean in this case, that just getting to know someone so deeply...it's transformative. And that's why Carrie and this book are both so brilliant.
Also, a side note. PGWB has a character who is deaf. AND IT IS DONE BRILLIANTLY! Carrie and her books really are the perfect antidote for all the New Adult crap out there. Books and characters with issues, and it's all handled with honesty and respect. Compare this one with Colleen Hoover's MAYBE SOMEDAY, which also features a character who is deaf, and you'll see exactly what I mean. No 'Otherness', so sensationalism, no magic powers. Ah, it's a balm to my activist heart.
Also, a side note. PGWB has a character who is deaf. AND IT IS DONE BRILLIANTLY! Carrie and her books really are the perfect antidote for all the New Adult crap out there. Books and characters with issues, and it's all handled with honesty and respect. Compare this one with Colleen Hoover's MAYBE SOMEDAY, which also features a character who is deaf, and you'll see exactly what I mean. No 'Otherness', so sensationalism, no magic powers. Ah, it's a balm to my activist heart.
December 21, 2014
Realism in YA and Carrie Mesrobain's Perfectly Good White Boy
Disclaimer: I am friends with Carrie and I was a pre-reader for part of Perfectly Good White Boy while she was writing it. She gave me a copy of the books as a gift. I am not being compensated in anyway for this honest review.
Trigger Warnings: The book contains mentions of abortion, and has two scenes with graphic depictions of animal death. The r-word (ableist slur for people with intellectual disabilities and/or Down syndrome) is used twice in dialogue.
One of the things I love about realistic fiction is that it gives us an unfiltered view of life. Often that life is one that we have rarely seen portrayed authentically in fiction. In my opinion, realism in fiction is important, especially in a genre targeting young readers. That is not say that escapism is bad or of a lesser quality, but that both are needed to give readers the full spectrum view of life, the universe and everything.
Read the full review at Bibliodaze.
Disclaimer: I am friends with Carrie and I was a pre-reader for part of Perfectly Good White Boy while she was writing it. She gave me a copy of the books as a gift. I am not being compensated in anyway for this honest review.
Trigger Warnings: The book contains mentions of abortion, and has two scenes with graphic depictions of animal death. The r-word (ableist slur for people with intellectual disabilities and/or Down syndrome) is used twice in dialogue.
One of the things I love about realistic fiction is that it gives us an unfiltered view of life. Often that life is one that we have rarely seen portrayed authentically in fiction. In my opinion, realism in fiction is important, especially in a genre targeting young readers. That is not say that escapism is bad or of a lesser quality, but that both are needed to give readers the full spectrum view of life, the universe and everything.
Read the full review at Bibliodaze.
January 17, 2015
I don't think this is the right book for me. Is this how a 17-year old boy thinks? Because if so, then I am honestly scared for myself, and for my future daughters (if I have any).
The writing is beautiful, the narrative honest and the story emotional and personal. However, I felt like the story lacked development, as well as the characters, as I'm still trying to rack my brain with what happened?
I'm not sure what this book is trying to say. There is no development or even coming-of-age going on, or at least I did not feel it - that is usually what I feel after reading realistic fiction, more so because there is an extreme lack of, how do I put it, plot. What is the point of this book? is a question I have asked myself endlessly after reading it. Until now, I can't seem to answer this question.
Sean's sex addiction and his lack of purpose and drive are unexplained, as well as his other actions. A lot of plot points remain unresolved and I was left confused in the end.
The writing is beautiful, the narrative honest and the story emotional and personal. However, I felt like the story lacked development, as well as the characters, as I'm still trying to rack my brain with what happened?
I'm not sure what this book is trying to say. There is no development or even coming-of-age going on, or at least I did not feel it - that is usually what I feel after reading realistic fiction, more so because there is an extreme lack of, how do I put it, plot. What is the point of this book? is a question I have asked myself endlessly after reading it. Until now, I can't seem to answer this question.
Sean's sex addiction and his lack of purpose and drive are unexplained, as well as his other actions. A lot of plot points remain unresolved and I was left confused in the end.
November 13, 2014
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
After reading Carrie Mesrobian’s debut, I was pretty much going to read anything she ever wrote. Sex & Violence manages to be very unique somehow, and I get the same feeling from Perfectly Good White Boy. Mesrobian’s fiction is raw and honest. It’s graphic and doesn’t flinch away from the awkward or ugly stuff. In fact, it’s also a lot about sex and a bit about violence. The subject matter didn’t grip me quite as much, but I’m still left highly impressed with Mesrobian’s sophomore effort.
Once again, Mesrobian excels at writing a male narrative voice. Sean’s voice reads as very authentic. What I think really sells it for me is that, yeah, he’s a bit crude and often thinking about boobs and sex and masturbation, but that’s not all going through his brain. Sometimes authors try to make dude voice just swearing and sports and a step above grunting. Mesrobian doesn’t do that. She’s also so good at making me understand the character, despite being absolutely nothing like either of them, which takes serious talent.
Sean goes to this party during junior year and gets a bloody nose after someone hits him with a frisbee. This turns out to be the best thing to happen to him that year, since the senior girl, Hallie, who threw it felt really bad about it. They fool around that night but also begin to bond emotionally. Sean falls in love with her and he knows she’s going off to college but assumes things will work out somehow. He’s devastated when she dumps him before she leaves. It’s so nice to have fiction show that guys actually often love commitment and that it’s not just girls who get attached.
One of the big themes of the book is sex outside of a relationship, as exhibited both by Neecie and Sean. The two become friends when Sean learns that Neecie’s having a secret affair with a popular hockey player who won’t talk to her in public. Sean is a bit judgmental of this, but cannot resist falling into a similar pattern when Hannah comes back from college for breaks. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with this technically; they’re all consenting and it’s their choice whom to have sex with. However, despite the fact that they’re enjoying the sex, it’s also obvious that these relationships are making both Neecie and Sean feel really bad about themselves. They both want to stop but can’t figure out how to for several reasons. I like this subject matter, because YA really doesn’t get into this stuff too much. It’s considered too racy and graphic for teens and rarely gets published. I think Mesrobian shows, without any telling whatsoever, that a sexual relationship that makes you hate yourself or your partner is not a healthy one, which is no condemnation of sex in general. Plus, there’s definitely an emphasis on having safe sex.
Where I’m less attached to this book is the rest of the plot lines. I don’t really understand the point of everything. I feel like I’m missing the bigger picture somehow. There’s the stuff with deer hunting, including a disgusting scene of preparing one to eat, his family drama, his dog Otis, and, most obviously, Sean signing up for the Marines. The book is purportedly about a guy going into the Marines, but it ends before he gets there. The book even opens with a quote from Fullmetal Jacket. I just don’t really have any feelings about that or understand what it added to the story. That’s probably my failing, but also my experience of it.
Carrie Mesrobian is an author to watch. She writes some of the best male narrative YA and is very open about teen sexuality. If you’ve been wanting YA to stop being so sugarcoated, she’s an author that whose books you need to read.
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
After reading Carrie Mesrobian’s debut, I was pretty much going to read anything she ever wrote. Sex & Violence manages to be very unique somehow, and I get the same feeling from Perfectly Good White Boy. Mesrobian’s fiction is raw and honest. It’s graphic and doesn’t flinch away from the awkward or ugly stuff. In fact, it’s also a lot about sex and a bit about violence. The subject matter didn’t grip me quite as much, but I’m still left highly impressed with Mesrobian’s sophomore effort.
Once again, Mesrobian excels at writing a male narrative voice. Sean’s voice reads as very authentic. What I think really sells it for me is that, yeah, he’s a bit crude and often thinking about boobs and sex and masturbation, but that’s not all going through his brain. Sometimes authors try to make dude voice just swearing and sports and a step above grunting. Mesrobian doesn’t do that. She’s also so good at making me understand the character, despite being absolutely nothing like either of them, which takes serious talent.
Sean goes to this party during junior year and gets a bloody nose after someone hits him with a frisbee. This turns out to be the best thing to happen to him that year, since the senior girl, Hallie, who threw it felt really bad about it. They fool around that night but also begin to bond emotionally. Sean falls in love with her and he knows she’s going off to college but assumes things will work out somehow. He’s devastated when she dumps him before she leaves. It’s so nice to have fiction show that guys actually often love commitment and that it’s not just girls who get attached.
One of the big themes of the book is sex outside of a relationship, as exhibited both by Neecie and Sean. The two become friends when Sean learns that Neecie’s having a secret affair with a popular hockey player who won’t talk to her in public. Sean is a bit judgmental of this, but cannot resist falling into a similar pattern when Hannah comes back from college for breaks. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with this technically; they’re all consenting and it’s their choice whom to have sex with. However, despite the fact that they’re enjoying the sex, it’s also obvious that these relationships are making both Neecie and Sean feel really bad about themselves. They both want to stop but can’t figure out how to for several reasons. I like this subject matter, because YA really doesn’t get into this stuff too much. It’s considered too racy and graphic for teens and rarely gets published. I think Mesrobian shows, without any telling whatsoever, that a sexual relationship that makes you hate yourself or your partner is not a healthy one, which is no condemnation of sex in general. Plus, there’s definitely an emphasis on having safe sex.
Where I’m less attached to this book is the rest of the plot lines. I don’t really understand the point of everything. I feel like I’m missing the bigger picture somehow. There’s the stuff with deer hunting, including a disgusting scene of preparing one to eat, his family drama, his dog Otis, and, most obviously, Sean signing up for the Marines. The book is purportedly about a guy going into the Marines, but it ends before he gets there. The book even opens with a quote from Fullmetal Jacket. I just don’t really have any feelings about that or understand what it added to the story. That’s probably my failing, but also my experience of it.
Carrie Mesrobian is an author to watch. She writes some of the best male narrative YA and is very open about teen sexuality. If you’ve been wanting YA to stop being so sugarcoated, she’s an author that whose books you need to read.
February 10, 2015
Let me preface this by saying that I have not, nor will I ever be, a teenage boy. However I think Mesrobian really depicts an authentic teenage boy’s voice – yes, there’s a lot of reference to boobs and sex and his penis, which he has named ‘The Horn’ (facepalm), but those aren’t the only things our narrator Sean cares about.
He wants to get out of his dead-end small town and make a life for himself outside of a world that presents very few opportunities. He’s not the stereotype of a tail-chasing dude – yes, he can be kind of pervy and obnoxious, but he also has strong romantic feelings. Sean’s the first one to say “ I love you” in the relationship with Hallie, and is incredibly hurt when they break up when she leaves for college.
When getting physical, he checks to see if his partner is still okay with what they’re doing, and in his internal monologue during one scene, he mentions not carrying on if he hears ‘stop’ or ‘no’. CONSENT, YO. IT’S IMPORTANT. And I’m glad to see it depicted, especially from a boy’s perspective.
This isn’t to say Sean’s an angel – he still has many flaws. But he’s human, and I found him loveable despite this. He cries when he’s emotionally hurt (in secret, in his room). He adores his doggie. He’s also kind of funny – take this description of his swearing in to the Marines:
Though it felt like a wedding. A wedding with dudes. A dude wedding with no party afterwards.
I loved watching the relationship develop between himself and Neecie.
I didn’t care what she thought about me, because clearly she didn’t care about what I thought of her and that was nice, because normally, when I liked a girl, I was so tense around her I could barely speak. So this was all nice, because I thought she was cool, in all these different ways, like her hearing thing that made me have to think about what I said, whether I meant it, whether I wanted her to really know it.
It’s abrasive, but real, and as the second novel that I’ve read from this author, I can definitely confirm that I love her writing style, although it’s not for everyone.
“I get kind of blank when I think about the future,” she said. “There are so many things, you know? How do I know what to pick, when I haven’t seen any of the things out there?”
PREACH.
He wants to get out of his dead-end small town and make a life for himself outside of a world that presents very few opportunities. He’s not the stereotype of a tail-chasing dude – yes, he can be kind of pervy and obnoxious, but he also has strong romantic feelings. Sean’s the first one to say “ I love you” in the relationship with Hallie, and is incredibly hurt when they break up when she leaves for college.
When getting physical, he checks to see if his partner is still okay with what they’re doing, and in his internal monologue during one scene, he mentions not carrying on if he hears ‘stop’ or ‘no’. CONSENT, YO. IT’S IMPORTANT. And I’m glad to see it depicted, especially from a boy’s perspective.
This isn’t to say Sean’s an angel – he still has many flaws. But he’s human, and I found him loveable despite this. He cries when he’s emotionally hurt (in secret, in his room). He adores his doggie. He’s also kind of funny – take this description of his swearing in to the Marines:
Though it felt like a wedding. A wedding with dudes. A dude wedding with no party afterwards.
I loved watching the relationship develop between himself and Neecie.
I didn’t care what she thought about me, because clearly she didn’t care about what I thought of her and that was nice, because normally, when I liked a girl, I was so tense around her I could barely speak. So this was all nice, because I thought she was cool, in all these different ways, like her hearing thing that made me have to think about what I said, whether I meant it, whether I wanted her to really know it.
It’s abrasive, but real, and as the second novel that I’ve read from this author, I can definitely confirm that I love her writing style, although it’s not for everyone.
“I get kind of blank when I think about the future,” she said. “There are so many things, you know? How do I know what to pick, when I haven’t seen any of the things out there?”
PREACH.
October 21, 2014
Perfectly Good White Boy is one of those stories that will be taken one of two ways. Readers will either rave about the simplistic yet complex hero whose journey to adulthood harkens back to their own memories of coming of age or readers will end the book puzzled by the lack of action, structure, and motive. I personally fell in the middle. I liked the book in that it was an easy read and Mesrobian does a wonderful job of voicing an average normal seventeen year old boy. But I was also mystified by the story’s objective.
There is a frank honesty to the story that is somewhat appealing in this day and age when the adage that the more drama, angst, and plot lines added to YA, the better it will be. Mesrobian doesn’t imbibe our protagonist with the morals of a saint. He isn’t fighting against insurmountable odds, only to triumph by the skin of his teeth at the end. He isn’t hiding some deep dark secret. He isn’t tragically in love with the quintessential princess whom he can never have. This kid is astonishingly normal with normal friends, feelings, and family members which in YA is a miracle in itself.
Seth Norwalt is just entering his senior year of high school when his older girlfriend dumps him on her way to college. Not necessary upset, he was expecting it in a way, though he is put out she dumps him right after they have sex. He feels used. His job at a thrift store, along with his grades, doesn’t inspire him to go to college. An absent addict father and somewhat self involved mother leaves Seth pretty much on his own; dealing with the problems life is throwing at him.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.
There is a frank honesty to the story that is somewhat appealing in this day and age when the adage that the more drama, angst, and plot lines added to YA, the better it will be. Mesrobian doesn’t imbibe our protagonist with the morals of a saint. He isn’t fighting against insurmountable odds, only to triumph by the skin of his teeth at the end. He isn’t hiding some deep dark secret. He isn’t tragically in love with the quintessential princess whom he can never have. This kid is astonishingly normal with normal friends, feelings, and family members which in YA is a miracle in itself.
Seth Norwalt is just entering his senior year of high school when his older girlfriend dumps him on her way to college. Not necessary upset, he was expecting it in a way, though he is put out she dumps him right after they have sex. He feels used. His job at a thrift store, along with his grades, doesn’t inspire him to go to college. An absent addict father and somewhat self involved mother leaves Seth pretty much on his own; dealing with the problems life is throwing at him.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.
May 14, 2015
I had a very hard time with this book. I found the storyline was lost in the main character's almost sexual obsession. I understand that many teen boys have this on their mind at most times, but I don't need to know all about it when reading a book. I hope to one day go back and revisit this book and read it completely. I did try, but I review books for my school collection and this was one I could tell quite soon which would not be making it to our shelves.
November 13, 2018
Spoiler time!
Sean is such a dick
I cried
Sean is such a dick
I cried
May 20, 2015
On Friday I remembered that I had book club on Sunday and that the author, Carrie Mesrobian was invited to talk about the book. I had a super busy weekend planned and knew that it would probably be near impossible to finish the book but I gave it a try because you're supposed to actually read the books for book club. I didn't finish the entire book by Sunday but the book was such a fast read that I made it far enough to fake it. I however, was honest to my fellow book club members and the author admitting that I was still reading the book (even though I peeked at the last couple pages so I knew the ending).
This is a book in a teenage boy's voice about having sex for the first time, figuring out what he's going to do after high school and just dealing with the day-to-day problems with family, work, girls and school like almost any other kid in this screwed up world.
My favorite parts of the book was when Sean was working at the Thrift Bin and looking for things to put on the breakroom shelf of weird donated items; million-year-old condom, crucifix made of wire hangers etc. I should do that with the things I find inside of books at the library (yikes). My other favorite scene was the first time he had sex with Hallie; oh the awkwardness of the condom. I also loved all the scenes with Otis - all of them.
The title of the book comes from the movie 'Better Off Dead' After Lane falls into a dump truck when trying to commit suicide off of a bridge; "Man, that's a real shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that." I love that movie! Just not necessarily the title of this book. Did you know that authors aren't the ones that necessarily come up with the titles but that editors weigh in on the titles? Authors also don't have a lot of control when it comes to the cover art and I honestly said that I would have chosen the breakroom shelf as the cover.
I have given an honest review and rating of this book based on the superb writing of this story, even though I met the author Carrie Mesrobian at my book club and that she resides in my community. I recommend this book for older teens that are mature enough to handle the sex, drugs/drinking and swearing parts of the book.
2015 Book Challenge: 26/75 Books
This is a book in a teenage boy's voice about having sex for the first time, figuring out what he's going to do after high school and just dealing with the day-to-day problems with family, work, girls and school like almost any other kid in this screwed up world.
My favorite parts of the book was when Sean was working at the Thrift Bin and looking for things to put on the breakroom shelf of weird donated items; million-year-old condom, crucifix made of wire hangers etc. I should do that with the things I find inside of books at the library (yikes). My other favorite scene was the first time he had sex with Hallie; oh the awkwardness of the condom. I also loved all the scenes with Otis - all of them.
The title of the book comes from the movie 'Better Off Dead' After Lane falls into a dump truck when trying to commit suicide off of a bridge; "Man, that's a real shame when folks be throwin' away a perfectly good white boy like that." I love that movie! Just not necessarily the title of this book. Did you know that authors aren't the ones that necessarily come up with the titles but that editors weigh in on the titles? Authors also don't have a lot of control when it comes to the cover art and I honestly said that I would have chosen the breakroom shelf as the cover.
I have given an honest review and rating of this book based on the superb writing of this story, even though I met the author Carrie Mesrobian at my book club and that she resides in my community. I recommend this book for older teens that are mature enough to handle the sex, drugs/drinking and swearing parts of the book.
2015 Book Challenge: 26/75 Books
July 11, 2014
Initial reaction: Excellent New Adult contemporary. I'd read anything Carrie Mesrobian writes. Her dialogue is spot-on, and she explores the mind of a "Perfectly Good White Boy" with humor and substance. She doesn't shy away from exploring teen sexuality, but she writes candid sex scenes that are still emotional, even when they're being described by an easily around senior who calls his member The Horn. But this book is not just about sex, it's about the uncertainty of life, love, the future, and friendship for a guy who isn't a rich New York City prepster headed to the Ivy League.
When we talk about diversity, we sometimes forget to include class in the conversation. I love that Sean has to work and is lower-middle class as opposed to upper-middle class or downright rich like so many YA protagonists.
When we talk about diversity, we sometimes forget to include class in the conversation. I love that Sean has to work and is lower-middle class as opposed to upper-middle class or downright rich like so many YA protagonists.
July 1, 2015
"perfectly good white boy" follows sean as he navigates his first break-up, works in a thrift store, makes new friends, and joins the marines. i love carrie mesrobian's characters. they feel very real to me, and not everything gets tied up in a pretty ending. this book did ramble on a little bit towards the end, but i was ok with that because i was enjoying it so much.
i have to LOL at another reviewer mentioning that sean's "sex addiction" never gets addressed. sex addiction? a 17 year old boy who thinks about sex constantly has a sex addiction? have you ever met a teenage boy? haha.
one teeny complaint:
i have to LOL at another reviewer mentioning that sean's "sex addiction" never gets addressed. sex addiction? a 17 year old boy who thinks about sex constantly has a sex addiction? have you ever met a teenage boy? haha.
one teeny complaint:
January 2, 2015
I think I liked this even better than SEX & VIOLENCE. Carrie Mesrobian does such great male POV, and is so great at being thoughtful about the seemingly mundane when it comes to "being a man" and having relationships with women.
April 27, 2015
(2.75 STARS)
I have mixed feelings about this book. I mean, there were parts I liked, but there were parts that just bored me. I really enjoyed the author's first book, Sex and Violence, but this one just felt like a let down.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I mean, there were parts I liked, but there were parts that just bored me. I really enjoyed the author's first book, Sex and Violence, but this one just felt like a let down.
June 7, 2015
Authentically imperfect characters.
February 17, 2015
Crazy good.
Awesome voice.
Fab guy POV.
THIS is what realistic YA contemp is about.
Awesome voice.
Fab guy POV.
THIS is what realistic YA contemp is about.
April 10, 2018
Sean Norwhalt is a perfectly good white boy- average grades, average looks, average high school experiences. The summer before his senior year, Sean is graced by the presence and affection of the beautiful, older Hallie, and so ensues several weeks of blissful love and sex and time together- until Hallie leaves for college. Sean is caught in a snag, unsure of his dismal-looking future, his impoverished home life, and overall lack of direction.
The real issue here, though, is the lack of sex.
Without Hallie, Sean only has his thoughts to occupy him. And his hand.
And that's pretty much it.
To be frank, Sean is probably one of the worst f*cking people I've ever read about. He's beyond crude and consumed only by his sex drive. Everything is sexualized. He admits he loves Hallie and she reciprocates before leaving, but not once does Sean ever mention why he loves her other than their behavior in the bedroom. Which, honestly, Mesrobian attempts to describe in an "edgy" and "shocking" way. In reality I found it to be pretty inaccurate and just overall gross. Let's get the full picture before we begin that critique, shall we?
When Hallie prematurely returns from college due to a bagful of reasons, their relationship devolves into basic booty calls- Hallie texts, Sean shows up, and they do it in the laundry room. It's obvious from the get-go that Hallie is different. Sean is miffed for maybe half a chapter and then bam, instantaneous apathy. Why? Because he's still getting his lay. He doesn't give a shit about her mental well-being. Later really astounding revelations leave Sean just as cold as ever and I thought damn, who is this guy? And it never changes. He later gets with another girl, one he supposedly really likes, the very next day he makes a comment when he thinks the hotel receptionist is hitting on him along the lines of him panicking because he doesn't have any condoms left. WHO IS THIS GUY? I mean, kudos for writing a wholly unlikeable character. Mission successful, but what's the point? Who wants to read about such a jerk?
Now, to the hyped-up over-sexualized Sean himself.
Basically, if you took every douche-baggy male stereotype and combined them, you'd have Sean Norwhalt. He's only after one thing; he only thinks about one thing. He's insanely crude, to the point of being unbelievable. In my everyday life, I use the "f" word prolifically, in well-placed sentences to emphasize points, stress emotions, and get a few laughs. Sean (Mesrobian) just stuck it in for fun, in really ridiculous places. Was this to make it sound more realistic, because he's a teenage boy? Does Mesrobian believe all boys are this stupid? The answer is a resounding yes, because on top of this abomination, Sean refers to his dick as "The Horn".
Hey. You hear that?
That's me beating my head against my desk.
Sean's behavior towards Hallie is what's really horrifying. When he thought phrases like "Putting his dick all up in her" and the tying of the condoms and squishing it in her hand, I felt like it was Mesrobian trying for that shock value. I was shocked...In that a verified author wrote shit like that. Did I accidentally stumble across a poorly-written fanfiction.net link? Because yeah, boys obviously think about sex (Neecie, a small, redeeming character of this shit storm, is a bit of a kink and displays that girls think about sex too. Whoa!) but to totally deface males as nothing but shallow, lustful shells with no capacity for emotion seems pretty insane and in poor taste. Plenty of women write novels in male perspectives (See: Zac & Mia, Harry Potter) and vice versa (See: The Fault in Our Stars) with flawless characterization. This was the first novel that I really stopped and thought, 'You have o business writing in this perspective.'
A scene was added to (I guess?) make you feel for Sean and see his human side. It wasn't enough to remove the unsavory flavor of such a callous, asshole antagonist from my mouth.
Also- still haven't grasped the point of the title, either. Race had nothing to do with this novel. At all. I felt the title was triggering; that's why I picked it up. Apparently that's all it's there for- attention.
You're supposed to like the main character. Root for them.
The only thing I was rooting for was a semi-truck to come tunneling through Sean's house and just totally demolish him for good.
January 1, 2022
I read this book because it's being targeted by right wing "conservative Christian" parent groups, in an effort to have the book banned from school libraries.
This one is a book they said anyone would "have a hard time finding literary significance for".
Every time they say that and I read whatever book they are speaking of, I am reminding of Hermione telling Ron "just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon". Haha.
I digress.
This book is about a teen named Sean, and goes through his Jr. and Sr. years of high school. Taking us through drug and alcohol use and random sexual hookups.
The story behind this kid is made known, as far as significance goes, on about page 22,. although it doesn't give the full shituation (yes, shit-uation) until closer to the end of the book.
This kid has PTSD due to family issues, of which I will not spoil, and given what he has gone through, he's an amazing kid, actually.
This book would be important for teens to read, so they can see how they themselves play into the situations herein, and also so they can see how Sean rises above all of that, because HE DOES.
- Cj
This one is a book they said anyone would "have a hard time finding literary significance for".
Every time they say that and I read whatever book they are speaking of, I am reminding of Hermione telling Ron "just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon". Haha.
I digress.
This book is about a teen named Sean, and goes through his Jr. and Sr. years of high school. Taking us through drug and alcohol use and random sexual hookups.
The story behind this kid is made known, as far as significance goes, on about page 22,. although it doesn't give the full shituation (yes, shit-uation) until closer to the end of the book.
This kid has PTSD due to family issues, of which I will not spoil, and given what he has gone through, he's an amazing kid, actually.
This book would be important for teens to read, so they can see how they themselves play into the situations herein, and also so they can see how Sean rises above all of that, because HE DOES.
- Cj
August 21, 2018
I loved one of Mesrobian's novels, "Sex and Violence", hated another "Cut Both Ways" so it makes sense that "Perfectly Good White Boy" fell somewhere in the middle. You have to give Mesrobian credit for her willingness to portray gritty, unglamorous characters in challenging situations. The only downside is, as I experienced with "Cut Both Ways", it can be a stretch to empathize with and care about them.
In "White Boy", main character Sean struggles with the upheaval from his father's alcoholism, being dumped by his summer fling and his decision to join the Marines. I appreciate the realistic characters although I didn't really like any of them except sweet Neecie, Sean's coworker who ultimately becomes his crush. That being said, "Perfectly Good White Boy" is a shock of down and dirty realism in a genre chock full of glamour and fantasy.
In "White Boy", main character Sean struggles with the upheaval from his father's alcoholism, being dumped by his summer fling and his decision to join the Marines. I appreciate the realistic characters although I didn't really like any of them except sweet Neecie, Sean's coworker who ultimately becomes his crush. That being said, "Perfectly Good White Boy" is a shock of down and dirty realism in a genre chock full of glamour and fantasy.
March 24, 2017
Two things I like about this amble through Sean Norwhalt's senior year: he's a guy who for-sure isn't going to college; it's a depiction of a friendship between a boy and a girl that might have gone full-on romance if the stars had shifted the slightest bit.
I appreciate that Mesrobian's characters often live in families on the lower end of the economic spectrum. Their problems seem very true-to-life. This is true with Sean who is managing living in a crappy rental since they lost their home, also his father's absence due to drug rehab, and the planning of his older brother's wedding, which is a continual background happening through the year we spend with him.
There's not a lot of plot arc going on. Maybe the biggest thrust has to do with Sean's decision to join the Marines. But mostly you spend a year wandering through life with Sean. He's an enjoyable fellow though, so I didn't mind just hanging out.
I appreciate that Mesrobian's characters often live in families on the lower end of the economic spectrum. Their problems seem very true-to-life. This is true with Sean who is managing living in a crappy rental since they lost their home, also his father's absence due to drug rehab, and the planning of his older brother's wedding, which is a continual background happening through the year we spend with him.
There's not a lot of plot arc going on. Maybe the biggest thrust has to do with Sean's decision to join the Marines. But mostly you spend a year wandering through life with Sean. He's an enjoyable fellow though, so I didn't mind just hanging out.
October 3, 2014
4.25 stars
Let's talk about how brilliant Carrie Mesrobian is. She is so brilliant that she wrote a book that features two things I absolutely CANNOT stand and made me love the book! Love! After reading and LOVING Sex & Violence I was so flipping excited when I heard Mesrobian had a new book coming out, but then I read the description and I wasn't sure what exactly the book was about. His girlfriend dumped him. He lives in a crappy rental. He works in a thrift shop. But what's the plot? Well, I should have been worried because, uh-oh, this is a character-driven story. Which are pretty much the bane of my existence because, what's the point? But Carrie Mesrobian absolutely killed it by creating a main character and a world around him that were so interesting and real they were enough to hold my interest despite there not being a really pressing or immediate plot.
The other thing Mesrobian did that normally drives me mad, but, again, worked here, was tell a story that kept a secret for much of it. Sean's father has left and we know pretty early on that his dad has substance abuse problems and that his addiction caused Sean's family to lose their house and devastate his mom. We also know, from pretty much the first few pages, that Sean punched his best friend, something out of character for him, for a reason that had something to do with what his family was going through, but we don't find out until towards the end of the book what exactly happened between Sean and his father. It's not a huge secret in the book, but it is mentioned several times and is obviously something that had a big impact on Sean. The way that Mesrobian tells the story though, and how she created Sean's character, somehow made the secret really work and it didn't feel like it was being lorded over our heads.
Those are the two parts of the story I normally wouldn't like but ended up liking, but this book has so many other strong aspects like the way sex is handled, Sean's family, and the secondary characters. When I first started reading part of me worried that the character of Sean was going to end up being too similar to Evan from Sex & Violence. Both boys spend a lot of time thinking about girls, not always in the most respectful or appropriate way, but then I stepped back and realized that that description probably sums up 99% of teenage boys and also most of the guys I know in their 20s and early 30s. At the beginning of the story Sean meets Hallie Martin (also the name of a girl I went to middle school and high school with and it weirded me out the entire time), a senior girl (Sean is a junior) who takes an interest in Sean and the two start dating and eventually having sex. The sex they had was so honest and real and awkward and sweet and complicated and simple just like, you know, real life. It's also some of the most description and graphic sex I've ever come across in YA, which isn't a bad thing at all, it's done very tastefully, but it still surprised me.
Sean's family was also outstanding. For some reason going into the book I expected Sean to be neglected or to have had a really rough upbringing, but, even with his father's substance abuse problems, that wasn't the case. Sean lives with his mom, a school psychologist who tries really hard to be a part of Sean's life and support him. Along with Sean's grandfather, who's more in the background, but is clearly still important to Sean, he has a really solid foundation at home. Sean also has a somewhat mean older brother, but he still fit really well into the story, as did his fiancee, a really sweet girl who kind of mystifies Sean, but who obviously really cares about Sean.
Besides Sean and his family there's also Neecie, a girl who Sean works with at the thrift shop who becomes close to Sean after Hallie breaks up with him because she's going away to college. Neecie (who is hearing impaired and it was nice to see a character with a disability but not have the story be about the disability) was a great foil for Sean and while there is attraction between them Sean is mostly still hung up on Hallie and Neecie is secretly hooking up with a popular guy they go to school with. Neecie is a pretty central character, but Mesrobian also did a great job with the many secondary characters in the story. From Sean's coworkers and boss to the guy Neecie to hooking up with to Neecie's best friend and little sisters I felt like I knew the characters, big and small, inside and out.
Bottom Line: Perfectly Good White Boy is a character-driven story about a typical middle-America boy that just plain works. Sean was so real, the relationships he had were spot-on, and the rest of the characters were outstanding that the fact that it was a character-driven story and that it kept a secret for much of the book didn't bother me in the slightest. Carrie Mesrobian is seriously a YA master (if you haven't read Sex & Violence you need to do that NOW) and I am so excited to see what she does next.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
Let's talk about how brilliant Carrie Mesrobian is. She is so brilliant that she wrote a book that features two things I absolutely CANNOT stand and made me love the book! Love! After reading and LOVING Sex & Violence I was so flipping excited when I heard Mesrobian had a new book coming out, but then I read the description and I wasn't sure what exactly the book was about. His girlfriend dumped him. He lives in a crappy rental. He works in a thrift shop. But what's the plot? Well, I should have been worried because, uh-oh, this is a character-driven story. Which are pretty much the bane of my existence because, what's the point? But Carrie Mesrobian absolutely killed it by creating a main character and a world around him that were so interesting and real they were enough to hold my interest despite there not being a really pressing or immediate plot.
The other thing Mesrobian did that normally drives me mad, but, again, worked here, was tell a story that kept a secret for much of it. Sean's father has left and we know pretty early on that his dad has substance abuse problems and that his addiction caused Sean's family to lose their house and devastate his mom. We also know, from pretty much the first few pages, that Sean punched his best friend, something out of character for him, for a reason that had something to do with what his family was going through, but we don't find out until towards the end of the book what exactly happened between Sean and his father. It's not a huge secret in the book, but it is mentioned several times and is obviously something that had a big impact on Sean. The way that Mesrobian tells the story though, and how she created Sean's character, somehow made the secret really work and it didn't feel like it was being lorded over our heads.
Those are the two parts of the story I normally wouldn't like but ended up liking, but this book has so many other strong aspects like the way sex is handled, Sean's family, and the secondary characters. When I first started reading part of me worried that the character of Sean was going to end up being too similar to Evan from Sex & Violence. Both boys spend a lot of time thinking about girls, not always in the most respectful or appropriate way, but then I stepped back and realized that that description probably sums up 99% of teenage boys and also most of the guys I know in their 20s and early 30s. At the beginning of the story Sean meets Hallie Martin (also the name of a girl I went to middle school and high school with and it weirded me out the entire time), a senior girl (Sean is a junior) who takes an interest in Sean and the two start dating and eventually having sex. The sex they had was so honest and real and awkward and sweet and complicated and simple just like, you know, real life. It's also some of the most description and graphic sex I've ever come across in YA, which isn't a bad thing at all, it's done very tastefully, but it still surprised me.
Sean's family was also outstanding. For some reason going into the book I expected Sean to be neglected or to have had a really rough upbringing, but, even with his father's substance abuse problems, that wasn't the case. Sean lives with his mom, a school psychologist who tries really hard to be a part of Sean's life and support him. Along with Sean's grandfather, who's more in the background, but is clearly still important to Sean, he has a really solid foundation at home. Sean also has a somewhat mean older brother, but he still fit really well into the story, as did his fiancee, a really sweet girl who kind of mystifies Sean, but who obviously really cares about Sean.
Besides Sean and his family there's also Neecie, a girl who Sean works with at the thrift shop who becomes close to Sean after Hallie breaks up with him because she's going away to college. Neecie (who is hearing impaired and it was nice to see a character with a disability but not have the story be about the disability) was a great foil for Sean and while there is attraction between them Sean is mostly still hung up on Hallie and Neecie is secretly hooking up with a popular guy they go to school with. Neecie is a pretty central character, but Mesrobian also did a great job with the many secondary characters in the story. From Sean's coworkers and boss to the guy Neecie to hooking up with to Neecie's best friend and little sisters I felt like I knew the characters, big and small, inside and out.
Bottom Line: Perfectly Good White Boy is a character-driven story about a typical middle-America boy that just plain works. Sean was so real, the relationships he had were spot-on, and the rest of the characters were outstanding that the fact that it was a character-driven story and that it kept a secret for much of the book didn't bother me in the slightest. Carrie Mesrobian is seriously a YA master (if you haven't read Sex & Violence you need to do that NOW) and I am so excited to see what she does next.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
January 11, 2020
The book is about a 17-year-old kid that his Sex life and situation, there is also a lot of explanation that is not necessary to write, and the struggles a young have with his life. I don't know how this is going to help the reader with anything or the youth generation. We were supposed to learn for books, but this book is, in my opinion, it is not even making me learn anything.
January 7, 2021
While I enjoyed the book, it is just a book narrating Sean's life. I enjoy the realistic fiction aspect of this book, but it fell a little flat for me. However, I do recommend reading this at least once. It provided a unique internal narration that I was not expecting. It reminded me that everyone has issues that they dwell on too much. I would not read again, but I do not regret reading it.
December 11, 2017
Boring. Waste of time. Disappointing. What the hell was the point? Don’t bother, it made no sense. The only reason I gave it two stars was for the writing. The story and characters were garbage, and the ending stupid.
February 8, 2019
I liked this better than I thought I would. It's interesting because so much of it seemed so typical of high school students and the plot events were typical, but I was really drawn to it and wanted to keep reading.
January 11, 2020
I rate this gave this 2 stars, because this book talk a lot about Sex and other stuff and the trouble of a young 17 year old boy, I don't know how this is going to help the youth generation. I just gave 2 stars for the efforts they took for writing this book. 😏😏
January 2, 2021
This book was an emotional rollercoaster. It was very realistic and as it was told through Sean’s eyes and shared all of his thoughts, it felt very cathartic. It was at times sad, cringey, painful, funny, and intense. Overall, I enjoyed it and it kept me captivated.
February 16, 2020
This is basically a descriptive teen casual sex with multiple partners book... eh.
May 14, 2018
I think anyone who chooses to read this is to be 13 and older, but other than that is was really good the author wrote a really good book. Hope the people that read it like it.
December 22, 2014
Review originally posted on: Rather Be Reading Blog
After purchasing Carrie Mesrobian’s Sex & Violence back in February, I never imagined that Perfectly Good White Boy would be my first time officially reading her. (Though, I’m hoping by the time this review publishes I will have read my copy of her debut book.) But I’m glad this title finally got my butt into gear. For once, high expectations did not ruin my reading experience. Perfectly Good White Boy was that good.
Sean is a senior in high school, recently moved into a rental with his mom. His dad is off to rehab. His older brother is engaged to a bubbly girl and they are in the midst of planning their wedding. (The DIY projects peppered throughout the story made me smile.) Over the summer, Sean fell into an unexpected romance with Hallie, a older girl he knows from school who is off to college. I appreciated how Mesrobian crafted Sean’s character. He was a pretty normal teen who was dealing with the aftermath of his family torn apart, he was very open with himself about his sexual urges, and he was also incredibly sensitive. So it’s heartbreaking to him, after being attached to Hallie’s hip, that she decides she wants to start college single.
So Sean is without Hallie (but still missing her), hanging out at home, and also working his part-time job at a thrift shop. I worked so much retail in high school, and I loved how his job was such a big part of his social life. He liked people he worked with, while he disliked others. They all had their quirks, too. In another surprising turn of events, Sean finds himself getting into a friendship with Neecie. It happens by accident but she begins to confide in him about the guy she is sort of seeing. He starts to open up to her in a way he hasn’t with others, and they suddenly have this awesome friendship. Can it be more? Sean isn’t so sure.
Especially because Sean is determined to go into the Marine Corps once he graduates. He doesn’t tell his mother, or call a family meeting. He enrolls, not even wanting to see what happens with his senior year. I was back and forth through the whole book wondering if Sean would go through with it, and, of course, curious about the reaction of his family when they finally found out. I know I had to work through my own acceptance of Sean’s future so I could only imagine what people closest to him were feeling. But, sometimes, we have to make decisions just for us. We just have to.
Perfectly Good White Boy was like this snapshot of Sean’s life before it changed even more than it had already. None of his feelings or the things that happen to him and his friends aren’t necessarily groundbreaking but the fact that they are expressed so authentically on the page made all the difference. From depression to disappointment to the expectations of sex and beyond. I laughed, I teared up, and I wondered what would happen in a year’s time to these characters and their relationships. They all felt like people I knew, and that made the book even more effective for me.
All in all, a super refreshing voice in young adult combined with so many discussion-worthy elements? A winner, for sure.
After purchasing Carrie Mesrobian’s Sex & Violence back in February, I never imagined that Perfectly Good White Boy would be my first time officially reading her. (Though, I’m hoping by the time this review publishes I will have read my copy of her debut book.) But I’m glad this title finally got my butt into gear. For once, high expectations did not ruin my reading experience. Perfectly Good White Boy was that good.
Sean is a senior in high school, recently moved into a rental with his mom. His dad is off to rehab. His older brother is engaged to a bubbly girl and they are in the midst of planning their wedding. (The DIY projects peppered throughout the story made me smile.) Over the summer, Sean fell into an unexpected romance with Hallie, a older girl he knows from school who is off to college. I appreciated how Mesrobian crafted Sean’s character. He was a pretty normal teen who was dealing with the aftermath of his family torn apart, he was very open with himself about his sexual urges, and he was also incredibly sensitive. So it’s heartbreaking to him, after being attached to Hallie’s hip, that she decides she wants to start college single.
So Sean is without Hallie (but still missing her), hanging out at home, and also working his part-time job at a thrift shop. I worked so much retail in high school, and I loved how his job was such a big part of his social life. He liked people he worked with, while he disliked others. They all had their quirks, too. In another surprising turn of events, Sean finds himself getting into a friendship with Neecie. It happens by accident but she begins to confide in him about the guy she is sort of seeing. He starts to open up to her in a way he hasn’t with others, and they suddenly have this awesome friendship. Can it be more? Sean isn’t so sure.
Especially because Sean is determined to go into the Marine Corps once he graduates. He doesn’t tell his mother, or call a family meeting. He enrolls, not even wanting to see what happens with his senior year. I was back and forth through the whole book wondering if Sean would go through with it, and, of course, curious about the reaction of his family when they finally found out. I know I had to work through my own acceptance of Sean’s future so I could only imagine what people closest to him were feeling. But, sometimes, we have to make decisions just for us. We just have to.
Perfectly Good White Boy was like this snapshot of Sean’s life before it changed even more than it had already. None of his feelings or the things that happen to him and his friends aren’t necessarily groundbreaking but the fact that they are expressed so authentically on the page made all the difference. From depression to disappointment to the expectations of sex and beyond. I laughed, I teared up, and I wondered what would happen in a year’s time to these characters and their relationships. They all felt like people I knew, and that made the book even more effective for me.
All in all, a super refreshing voice in young adult combined with so many discussion-worthy elements? A winner, for sure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews