Straight Up

The Brazen Boys #6

by Daryl Banner

“Straight” small-town boy Benny has a he is miserably in love with his punk roommate and childhood best friend Trent. When Benny goes on a date with the town’s “sure thing” girl, his night is wrecked by the ever-flamboyant Charlie, who doesn’t seem to buy that Benny is just another straight boy. Love, longing, and secrets torment Benny, and when a night of drunken partying goes too far, his crush on Trent might become more than just a fantasy ... ***Each novella in The Brazen Boys series is a standalone M/M romance. They can be read in any order.*** *** M/M sexuality and adult language. THE BRAZEN Dorm Game On The Edge Owned By The Freshman Dog Tags All Yours Tonight Straight Up Houseboy Rules

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Gay, LGBT, Fiction, Short Stories, College

136 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2015

About the author

Daryl Banner is a USA Today Bestselling author, composer, and performer. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston Honors College with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. He is happily married to his piano. Theory suggests this is why he writes romance.

During Daryl Banner's time in college, he wrote, composed, and produced a musical under Tony Award-winning musical and Theatre producer Stuart Ostrow, as well as two original plays produced under the mentorship of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, who also mentored Daryl through the writing of his very first novel. In addition to new adult and M/M romance, Daryl also writes post-apocalyptic fantasy as well as dystopian.

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Fun facts about Daryl Banner:

- He is an obsessive self-taught pianist.

- He is a huge video game enthusiast.

- He left his day job of 10 years to tour with a 2-woman-1-man original musical.

- He's been remixing video game music for over 20 years. One of his remixes is featured in the major motion picture "The Spy Who Dumped Me". Check out his work here: http://www.youtube.com/DarylBanner

- He composes original soundtracks that accompany his books and series, including The Beautiful Dead and OUTLIER. He is also the award-winning composer of the audio drama Janus Descending, as well as several films, games, podcasts, and other media. You can enjoy his music here: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com

Reviews

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of cover, 1 🌟 off. Then, the sex at 84% isn’t even the 2 MCs... story is pretty “real” but still...

[Toni FGMAMTC · Rating 5 out of 5]

FGMAMTC Blog #TopReads2015 Author Interview

FGMAMTC Blog Review

4.75 stars

This installment was the most relatable of the entire series for me. I've never been in Benny's position, but I've felt lost, questioned myself, made a mistake and embarrassed myself. I 'got' Benny. Like Bastian reading The Neverending Story, I was there when he was disheartened by his prospects at the party. I shadowed him nervously on the couch. I sat with tears in my eyes (yes, literally, I cried) when the shit hit the fan. I also enjoyed Charlie who is a total riot. I even have a spot for Trent. Basically, I had tons of feels, formed an emotional attachment, laughed and cried.

As hard as it is, I'm not going to give away anymore of the plot. I believe the message is that this is your actual life, not a test, so don't waste you're time. Go find yourself. I believe it also has a secondary moral that you have to face reality at some point.

***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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[Alex Tuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Brazen Boy is chock full of laugh out loud lines that I think my push the others out of the top spot for the funniest of the series. This one is about falling for someone you can’t have which I think EVERYONE can relate to... heck, it’s my life in a nutshell. I love the ending so much. I really had no clue how it was going to go, but I’m not going to give away even a little bit... go enjoy it for yourself!

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard there was a new Brazen Boy out I almost screamed - I love these books!

Benny is in the closet...and in love with his roommate and best friend, Trent (who after reading his description I couldn't stop picturing the English diver Tom Daly for some reason!!) 'Trent will always be the straight guy I can never have'.

Then there was 'the part'..one of those parts that Daryl writes so, so well that had me gasping and saying 'NOOOOO..Don't do it'....but he did, Benny went there!

Enter Charlie, the town gay guy who has put up with homophobic behavior all his life. Benny finds solace in him and let’s face it, he needs his help as he can’t live his life a lie. 'Fly birds, fly!!!'

This is a tale of unrequited love (and lust) - will Benny have his HEA? Read and find out!

And now I’m humming Paula Abdul - thanks Daryl!!!

[iliana G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC by the author for an honest review.

OH MY FREAKKING GOSH!!!!!


i truly don't know if i should hate Daryl or love him even more than i already do!!!

I have said he has a talent many times but daaaamnnnnn he has a talent !!!!


This was the first time that i read such a short story and truly don't know what to do...

it was fullfilling as a book yet i wanted more yet it was the exact amount of story needed....

It wasn't the sex scene that this book had that moved me but the emotional and social aspect of the book.

How gay people are viewed in small communities ,how friendship works ,how the strangest of people accept you for who you are before even you accept yourself.

I don't know if i wanted Benny's dream with Trent to come true or if the ending Daryl decided to give to his story is enough for me but damn it this book was awesome!!!

I really really loved this book and i really love this series.

Once again Daryl has outdone himself and gave us an exceptional book!

A must must must must must read!!!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I really loved this novella so much! It is very relevant and relatable to gays and straights I think and along with some mega-watt HOT sex (holy cow!!) there is a very deep and touching story of friendship and crossing lines, loyalty and discovering the basic truths about men and women and love.
Another really good and emotionally challenging Brazen Boy with so much heat in some parts my kindle almost melted and also providing some huge comic relief (OMG I love Charlie's character) with a lot of really funny bantering between the boys. Get it when it goes live this week =)

***** 5 ***** "nobody is totally gay or straight" stars

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Daryl Banner. The Brazen Boys is one of my favorite series!!! As expected, I loved this story from start to finish! <3 I found myself smiling and hysterically laughing while reading this. A perfect afternoon read that is both funny and sexy! Have you ever wanted someone so bad, maybe even loved that person, but you can't have them? I believe anyone can relate to this story. I <3 Charlie !!!!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight Up was my first Brazen Boys book. I really liked the dynamic between Benny and Trent. The addition of Charlie in to the mix was comical.
This was a quick, fun to read story with a few steamy pairings. I will definitely be checking out other books in the series.

[Marlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything from D. Banner and it was a good read. Definitely ended a lil different than I expected, but I enjoyed it. I would have loved for it to be longer. But I knew it was a novella walking in. Looking forward to reading more.

[Steph Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Brazen Boys series! This one has me laughing out loud. Great light read on a sunny afternoon.

[Ana Oh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What??!? I want to know what is going to happen next! Arrrgghhhhh!! Again, this author can do an amazing naughty scene. My toes were curling just reading the story. Whew!

[CARLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Contains: M/M sexuality and adult language.

This was his best one yet! I know I say that with every one but they just keep getting better and better. So look, I am a huge M/M romance fan so if you aren't into that, you should probably scroll on by. This is a stand alone M/M romance novella running a little over 100 pages. It was awesome! Benny (MC) is in the closet and secretly in love with his best straight friend (Trent) from school. Oh, and they are roommates. Intriguing no? I am no that into spoilers but it had some violence in it and the part where Trent is sleeping on the couch was pretty interesting.

He went deep with this one. Benny's seemed afraid/upset that others wouldn't except him as he is. His writing is so good you don't think you are reading a novella. It's like, there was so much meaning in every word, but, sheesh I can't explain it. I enjoyed it a lot.

Benny: He is stuck in a situation that can never be changed. Stagnant almost. He's gay, the object of his affection isn't. I don't think he liked himself much in the beginning. He was afraid to make that first move and be with a male unless they initiated it first.

Trent: He was like a teenager more than a man in his mentality. Always looking for the next party or some tail, unconcerned with anything unless it involved sex. He left Benny in the lurch more than once and quite frankly seemed incredibly self-centered. Honestly, I didn't care for him at all until the end.

Now Charlie was the 'town' gay. The people in the town are close minded for the most part and don't take kindly to that sort of thing. He didn't care. He wasn't running away from anything and didn't care what people thought, but something was missing in his life as well. Not love or sex. A new beginning I think. A place to grow. He was my favorite.

I will always read the next one and definitely recommend these to other M/M lovers!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Brazen boy down and this one fits in with the others pretty well. Daryl has the writers ability to get under the skin. He managed to do it this time. Without any spoiler I felt angst in full force and ended up having to skip a bit just to get through it. I'll be honest this wasn't my favourite one, I think Benny was a little tormented for him to have ousted Dog Tags. Once again I'll be keeping an eye out for the next boy to step up

[leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie's banter and Benny's wry internal monologue made this one for me, more so than the story or the sex (which were fine). Introspective, thought-provoking, and touching. This author is more than ready to tackle this genre with a full-length novel. Here's hoping.

Part of the Brazen Boys series. While the titles and covers market them as erotica shorts, these novellas are solid M/M romance.

Recommended.

[Suzanne Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this series but this book was least favorite. Confusing. No romance. Little bit of a coming out. A touch of bromance. Confusing.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a promising book until Charlie happened along with most of the words in it

[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even know wth I just read.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it and was satisfied with the unusual ending - 3.5 stars rounded down for some truly impossible for me to read scenes.

The blurb is a bit misleading and the cover is very misleading. But it is hard to give a synopsis without sort of ruining it. The themes are unrequited love, friendship, small towns, being yourself and living the life you are given.

The main character is Benny. In his early twenties and living very very deep in the closet with his straight best friend Trent. They both work dead end jobs, drink too much, play a lot of video games, and go out to boring parties. Benny also spends an inordinate amount of time fantasizing about Trent.

I really do not enjoy reading explicit fantasy or dream sequences. Generally I find them to be just an excuse for the author to include some steam when their plot does not actually call for it. And since they are not real I don't get involved in them at all. And that was pretty much the case here except that it is important to the story that we understand just how frustrated Benny is feeling. Still I think that could have been conveyed in a less graphic manner and word count been saved for more actual story.

Trent is continually trying to get Benny laid by setting him up with assorted women. On one of these dates he spies the "town homo" Charlie dancing by himself. Benny is disgusted by Charlie's actions but does end up taking care of drunk Charlie. Charlie is out and doe not give a fuck who knows. He has decent standards of behaviour even when drunk. Benny ought to have been paying attention but he is not quite ready yet.

If you are looking for romance this is really not the book. I found it mostly a sad commentary on small town closeted life with a bit of hope at the end. It won't be for everyone and I have included more detail down below but it might be better to go in without reading further. There was one scene I objected to a lot but I imagine it does occur. i just wish the characters had called a spade a spade in relation to that moment. Still overall I felt good at the end of the story.

At yet another party filled with underage outwardly heterosexual people Benny is sad and getting drunker. He decides to do some dancing of his own. This scene was so good that it kept me stuck to the book through the next one. I wonder why the author felt he needed to include non consensual sex acts. It was nasty and almost made me give up on the story.

Charlie and Benny end up talking a while later and Charlie informs Benny that they are not the only gay men in the town. I took that as a sad comment on the town and what Benny has to look forward to. Finally Charlie needs to speak to Trent. Up until that talk Trent was pretty sleazy but he redeems himself by both being true to his own needs and doing everything he can within that reality to take care of Benny. Even if he did not know Benny was gay he still understands the man and loves him.

[Toddles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every gay boy's dream and nightmare. Whether they are questioning or secure in their gayness.

3 boys lives cross lines.

Benny, a closeted gay boy, and his best friend/roommate Trent are just trying to live life simply and have fun. But Benny has a thing for Trent and he doesn't know. Then Benny meets Charlie and wires cross, and confessions awaken. Things blow up...

I can see it being a plot that's actually really realistic as much as I'd hate to say it, since it's rapey. Bc of that, this novella was just ok as it made me a bit uncomfortable.

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Benny has had a longtime friendship with Trent but Benny is deep in the closet so his lust for Trent is a deep dark secret until one night after many drinks Benny makes a move on sleeping Trent. Their friendship survives and they decided to head to college together taking Charlie a flamboyant out friend with them. A light amusing read.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Brazen Boys novella!

This story is relatable to many....having feelings for someone who doesn't feel the same. Throughout the story I really felt for Benny and his plight.

This book had me laughing at parts, shocked at others, but happy at the end.

Full of fun characters and situations, a highly enjoyable story.

[J. Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

You seriously have the right to be pissed when you are the one performing the non consent blowjob. The story I was quite liking up to that scene. And his friend who had that done to him forgives him too? Why would you?

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Xondra Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read.

[Sandrabookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Stacy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving these novellas

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best entries in this series and while not perhaps romance in a strict sense, it tackles real emotions in a way that Banner often doesn't dare to do.

[Lizzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

the r*pe scene (Benny sucking off trent while he was asleep) completely ruined the book for me. consent is sexy. this was not.

[Eve]

I'm like alt guys and was just kind of coming to realize how much so when I picked up this book. I had already read books by this author before. I like his books because they tend to not follow tropes conventionally in order to get a happy ending (although not hea or hfn just satisfied). so this book brought out the more healing, growing parts of this author's aura than just the unconventionally unapologetic parts. so yeah.

the flamboyant character I could relate to the best I think, but I was hung up on the alt guy which made me think I was more like the narrator, but then realized that the narrator is a common/prerequisite experience so yeah I identified as the flamboyant character for IRL but the stories circumstances I identify as the pining ones so yeah.

crap!, I use "so yeah" way too damn much. yikes.

so yeah is my filler and basically is my relational conjunction that gets used a lot especially in uncertain circumstances where I'm to emulate a position of authority.

OK now this is tmi, bye!

UPDATE: this review is from 2016. It is now 2022, and I've been able to transition to expressing my womanhood without so many euphemisms & getting stuck in the weeds. So this review I wrote hits differently... Like no shit I identified with the flamboyant one, especially since being visible in public is like half of my praxis. So this book is more of a coming of age story. I guess if I'm squicky about anything it has to do with having to teach others, but eh

[Arlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read in "The Brazen Boys" Series, and I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised and a bit impressed. I always enjoy checking out M/M reads written by male authors. Darrell Banner displays all of the rawness with a touch of crude that I would expect from a male author in this genre. However, what I didn't expect was the strong emotions his characters evoked in me and the humanity & depth he brings to their perfectly flawed personalities.

Trent, Benny and Charley are profoundly different, yet completely relatable characters who find themselves in layered relationships with one another which grow increasingly complex until they're on the cusp of change. This story felt real. A little too real. I found myself finishing this book with a sigh of melancholy nostalgia. This story brought me back to situations in my own life where I learned that while the people we love may live us back, it may not be in the way we want...and that hint of empty longing will forever color the relationship for one of the pair.

Moving without being overly sentimental. Smart, sexy and sympathetic characters. Recommended for fans of M/M romance erotica.