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Jerkbait
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Even though they're identical, Tristan isn't close to his twin Robbie at all—until Robbie tries to kill himself.
Forced to share a room to prevent Robbie from hurting himself, the brothers begin to feel the weight of each other's lives on the ice, and off. Tristan starts seeing his twin not as a hockey star whose shadow Tristan can't escape, but a struggling gay teen terri ...more
Forced to share a room to prevent Robbie from hurting himself, the brothers begin to feel the weight of each other's lives on the ice, and off. Tristan starts seeing his twin not as a hockey star whose shadow Tristan can't escape, but a struggling gay teen terri ...more
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Paperback, 350 pages
Published
May 3rd 2016
by Jolly Fish Press
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Barb
I think this would be a very appropriate book for high schoolers.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Jerkbait

I'm honestly not the person to write negative reviews, but in this case I feel like it's warranted. After reading a few reviews on goodreads before the release, I was really excited to read this book. I'm always looking for good LGBT novels and this one seemed interesting in regards to it dealing with homophobia in professional sports. I'm not even sure I can express how severely disappointed I am.
This may seem over exaggerated and blunt but I honestly felt like I was reading a first draft of so ...more
This may seem over exaggerated and blunt but I honestly felt like I was reading a first draft of so ...more

Jul 23, 2015
Mia Siegert
added it
· (Review from the author)
Shelves:
hockey,
contemporary,
glbt,
fiction,
ya,
young-adult,
lgbt,
sports,
interracial-couple,
twisted
#1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult LGBT Issues Fiction on Amazon.com
#3 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Gay and Lesbian Fiction on Amazon.com
The #JERKBAIT Playlist is featured on Books and Ladders. Check it out and listen on Spotify.
What Others Have to Say about JERKBAIT (Updated 3/19/16):
"Every athlete, parent and high school kid, gay or straight, will see some of themselves reflected in Jerkbait’s teammates and families. So will every ally who wants to see change. Jerkbait is guts ...more
#3 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Gay and Lesbian Fiction on Amazon.com
The #JERKBAIT Playlist is featured on Books and Ladders. Check it out and listen on Spotify.
What Others Have to Say about JERKBAIT (Updated 3/19/16):
"Every athlete, parent and high school kid, gay or straight, will see some of themselves reflected in Jerkbait’s teammates and families. So will every ally who wants to see change. Jerkbait is guts ...more

You know how there are books that are impossible to read passively? Instead, the whole time you’re reading you’re going a little crazy because you want to leap into the pages and actually interact with the characters.
JERKBAIT was like that.
I wanted to hug Robbie and Tristan because I was so sad for them, and shake their parents for screwing up so horribly, and slap Heather for… well, you should probably read and find out for yourself.
Tristan, the narrator, is smart, funny, and overall a good g ...more
JERKBAIT was like that.
I wanted to hug Robbie and Tristan because I was so sad for them, and shake their parents for screwing up so horribly, and slap Heather for… well, you should probably read and find out for yourself.
Tristan, the narrator, is smart, funny, and overall a good g ...more

rep: Black li, gay side character with depression
amazing! a Sad & Tragic Gay Book™! sth we have NEVER read before!!!
things u can expect in this "gem":
(spoilers, obviously)
- rape
- merciless bullying at school
- (the victim is a straight boy instead of the gay one!! it's refreshing like that! for a few chapters anyway)
- abusive parents who literally buy their kid's cooperation w presents
- a guy punishing his twin brother for being suicidal!!
- & a total lack of characterisation!!! none of those p ...more
amazing! a Sad & Tragic Gay Book™! sth we have NEVER read before!!!
things u can expect in this "gem":
(spoilers, obviously)
- rape
- merciless bullying at school
- (the victim is a straight boy instead of the gay one!! it's refreshing like that! for a few chapters anyway)
- abusive parents who literally buy their kid's cooperation w presents
- a guy punishing his twin brother for being suicidal!!
- & a total lack of characterisation!!! none of those p ...more

Glee has so much to answer for...
*UPDATE* I've re-read this book and am changing my review by a whole star - sorry this reads so badly on a second pass through and bits I either blanked out or skipped over are so bad (the whole end 1/4 of the book) I have bumped it down. Don't bother with this book... for better books see the end of my review *END UPDATE*
This book could have been interesting and well developed yet it sadly suffers from some of the worst gay related tropes I have read for a while ...more
*UPDATE* I've re-read this book and am changing my review by a whole star - sorry this reads so badly on a second pass through and bits I either blanked out or skipped over are so bad (the whole end 1/4 of the book) I have bumped it down. Don't bother with this book... for better books see the end of my review *END UPDATE*
This book could have been interesting and well developed yet it sadly suffers from some of the worst gay related tropes I have read for a while ...more

I'm very pleased with how much I ended up liking this book! Tristan was a really likeable main character, and I was especially fond of him because i'm a sucker for wallflower protagonists who observe and rarely devote to the action or conversation unless there's a necessity to. In this particular case, a story about a boy watching the unfolding drama of his twin brother coming out as gay in a sports world, it was even more interesting. The dynamic between Robbie and Tristan was so believable and
...more

JERKBAIT is one of those novels that tackles a TON of very serious and very dark subjects - teen suicide, bullying, homophobia, abuse, internet predators - but does so without ever becoming a depressing read. On the contrary, this novel, about two brothers struggling to find themselves in the face of intense pressure to match up to others' expectations, is filled with hope and humor. The twins at the heart of the story both evince an incredible amount of courage as they fight to define and embra
...more

So, JERKBAIT was one of my most anticipated 2016 releases. And it’s kind of ironic, because the main characters in the book are hockey players, and I’m a Canadian who knows nothing about hockey. What I was more interested in were the themes in this book, especially how gay athletes are treated in this sport. I wanted to see how the author, Mia Siegert, portrayed this treatment through her characters.
What I got was a book that’s bold, brave, and unflinchingly honest. A book that’s also sensitive ...more
What I got was a book that’s bold, brave, and unflinchingly honest. A book that’s also sensitive ...more

Review on my blog • Twitter • Instagram
Rep: gay side character, black love interest
Content warnings: rape, homophobia
Whoa boy, okay. I don’t know where to start with this. I expected something else from this, and I didn’t get it. It sounded like something I would like but a terrible main character and other plot elements resulted in the opposite.
You know what one of my least favourite things is? When a characters struggles is shown from an outsider’s perspective. Especially when it’s the focus ...more

this was such a.......weird book.
i feel off about such abusive parenting being not fully addressed.
and the "twin telepathy" thing that started happening toward the end of the book was so completely out of nowhere and jarring that i couldn't help but laugh. like, what, was that.
it was nice enough for robbie to get a happy ending with the boy he liked but that also came out of nowhere.
actually yeah i think that's a running theme throughout this entire book, like, tristan's best friend heather ...more
i feel off about such abusive parenting being not fully addressed.
and the "twin telepathy" thing that started happening toward the end of the book was so completely out of nowhere and jarring that i couldn't help but laugh. like, what, was that.
it was nice enough for robbie to get a happy ending with the boy he liked but that also came out of nowhere.
actually yeah i think that's a running theme throughout this entire book, like, tristan's best friend heather ...more

Well, I'm a Rangers fan. And you see the rating. That's how great this very Devils-centric book is.

This is essentially a very painful book about two brothers who are both trying to find themselves and come to grips with their identities. To boil it down to the basics, Robbie is gay and anxious about coming out in a sports environment, and Tristan doesn't want to play hockey at all and would rather do theater.

They have little in common, but as the book progresses their bond really strengthens a ...more

This is essentially a very painful book about two brothers who are both trying to find themselves and come to grips with their identities. To boil it down to the basics, Robbie is gay and anxious about coming out in a sports environment, and Tristan doesn't want to play hockey at all and would rather do theater.

They have little in common, but as the book progresses their bond really strengthens a ...more

Identical twins were supposed to share so much, but we might as well have not been related.
As far as first chapters go, I can't recall a book hooking me in after a mere couple of pages like Jerkbait did. This was because of how excellently Sergent illustrates the dynamics of Tristan's family life. It really aided the story, even if it was just a brief introductory look at his family. However it really enables the reader to get an idea of the characters and it gives the reader context
Jerkbait ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I couldn't put this book down! The story of two hockey-playing brothers, Tristan and Robbie, this book deals head-on with the issue of gay athletes, the stereotypes associated with sports & artistic endeavours. This book is a rollercoaster ride, and our hearts break for the two brothers, who initially not close at all, are thrust together after a suicide attempt. But should one brother be his brother's keeper? And if the students in their school are bigoted, they pale in comparison with the boys
...more

Oct 19, 2015
Cabee
marked it as to-read
SO freakin' excited for this to come out!
...more

Oct 18, 2015
Jamie (Books and Ladders)
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
readproud,
cover-love,
may-2016,
2016-debuts,
lgbtq,
jolly-fish-press,
preordered,
owned-paperback,
young-adult,
contemporary
Actual Rating: 4.5*
One of the best things about Jerkbait was that while it was dark and raw, it was also hopeful and witty -- oh, and super gay! I really enjoyed the look at how young sports athletes feel pressure to be The Best™ and To Succeed™. I also really liked that Tristan was trying to figure out his own shit while also helping Robbie deal with his. I loved how family dynamics were shown in this one.
I loved the writing style. It was so easy to be in Tristan's head and understand his thoug ...more
One of the best things about Jerkbait was that while it was dark and raw, it was also hopeful and witty -- oh, and super gay! I really enjoyed the look at how young sports athletes feel pressure to be The Best™ and To Succeed™. I also really liked that Tristan was trying to figure out his own shit while also helping Robbie deal with his. I loved how family dynamics were shown in this one.
I loved the writing style. It was so easy to be in Tristan's head and understand his thoug ...more

I hate giving one star on a book! I try and at least bump it up to two stars if it has some redeeming qualities to it...but this one really dumbfounded me.
The characters weren't very believable and the plot was all over the place so that by the end it felt like it was three books mashed together. The characters weren't very believable, especially the parents, and even though so many bad things happened to the characters, because they were so two-dimensional, I didn't feel anything for them. I r ...more
The characters weren't very believable and the plot was all over the place so that by the end it felt like it was three books mashed together. The characters weren't very believable, especially the parents, and even though so many bad things happened to the characters, because they were so two-dimensional, I didn't feel anything for them. I r ...more

This book gave me so much feels. Motsly angry. Angry at their parents. Heather that bitch omg screw u angry at the people around them. The bullies. Etc etc. And i was sad too. Its like i want to hug Roddie and tell him everythink will gonna be okay everytime that thing happened and tell Tristan that hes the best people i know. I really like when hes angry after his mom asked Robbie to say that him being gay is just a lie.
And hurayy, Heather deserve that lmaao. Im still didnt believe she did tha ...more
And hurayy, Heather deserve that lmaao. Im still didnt believe she did tha ...more

I finished this book in two big sittings because I just didn't want to put it down. Lots of themes deeply explored here: coming out, bullying, stereotypes, and authenticity. When I read the description, I was like, hm, hockey? I know nothing about hockey, but this book highlights so many important YA topics and does so in a way that anyone can appreciate (I loved all the musical theater stuff.... a lot.)
A few odd things-- the ending twist threw me for a loop-- but over all, a great book about b ...more
A few odd things-- the ending twist threw me for a loop-- but over all, a great book about b ...more

Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
Right now I'm looking very hard for reasons why I shouldn't just give this book 5 stars and be done with it. Is it flawless? No. Are those flaws good reasons to lower my rating? Also no. Because I just loved this book so very much. So 5 stars it is.
After a slur of disappointing and pretty-good-but-not-great books, I really needed a book that just blew all of them out of the water. I needed something great. I should've known that a LGBT book would do th ...more
Right now I'm looking very hard for reasons why I shouldn't just give this book 5 stars and be done with it. Is it flawless? No. Are those flaws good reasons to lower my rating? Also no. Because I just loved this book so very much. So 5 stars it is.
After a slur of disappointing and pretty-good-but-not-great books, I really needed a book that just blew all of them out of the water. I needed something great. I should've known that a LGBT book would do th ...more

**mild spoilers**
Tristan and Robbie are identical twin but their twiness (is that even a word? ^^) stop there. Telepathic thinking? Nope! Same interest? Nope! Tristan always been Robbie's shadow; the high school hockey star. Tristan play hockey as Robbie's winger but he always have his own dream: star of Broadway. And when Robbie tried to kill himself, their parent put them together in one room. The message was clear: Tristan have to look after Robbie. But how can Tristan help Robbie if they're ...more
Tristan and Robbie are identical twin but their twiness (is that even a word? ^^) stop there. Telepathic thinking? Nope! Same interest? Nope! Tristan always been Robbie's shadow; the high school hockey star. Tristan play hockey as Robbie's winger but he always have his own dream: star of Broadway. And when Robbie tried to kill himself, their parent put them together in one room. The message was clear: Tristan have to look after Robbie. But how can Tristan help Robbie if they're ...more

JERKBAIT is a book I’ve been looking forward to reading for quite a while – and I’m happy to report that it totally lived up to my (high) expectations! It’s a serious book that tackles a lot of very serious issues, but it is also very easy to read, which was obviously achieved by some kind of sorcery (I’m on to you, Mia).
The protagonist is Tristan, and he’s VERY likeable. He’s witty, a bit nerdy, and he has big dreams, so he’s my favourite kind of contemporary protagonist. Even though Tristan is ...more
The protagonist is Tristan, and he’s VERY likeable. He’s witty, a bit nerdy, and he has big dreams, so he’s my favourite kind of contemporary protagonist. Even though Tristan is ...more

Jerkbait could have been a really good book...it tackles some important issues like attempted suicide, trying to cope with coming out and letting the world know you're gay, being gay in sports. Those are all really important issues that I applaud the author for trying to taking on.
I think the book got lost in the muddle of too many issues because there was also drama with Robbie's twin Tristan. It was just to much for one book.
The other thing that kind of turned my nose up was the weird ass pa ...more
I think the book got lost in the muddle of too many issues because there was also drama with Robbie's twin Tristan. It was just to much for one book.
The other thing that kind of turned my nose up was the weird ass pa ...more

The book was ok, I had some small, easy to overlook, issues with the book (I don't care who is saying it "rainbows, unicorns, and lisps, oh my" was not an appropriate way to describe another human being...), but it was a relatively enjoyable story.
Till the end that is. (view spoiler) ...more
Till the end that is. (view spoiler) ...more

Very powerful book that deals with issues such as rampant homophobia and suicide, well written especially considering this is the author's debut novel and with well defined characters. Sadly the story starts to drag around the middle and then becomes mostly implausible. Had the author chosen to stay on the path she was on at the beginning, this would have been a sure winner. As it is, 3 stars is all I'm willing to give it.
...more

I received an eARC from my fellow JFP author.
JERKBAIT was a pleasure to read. Tristan's character struggles with protecting his troubled sibling, dealing with his overbearing parents, and choosing his own path. The story is an honest portrayal of the homophobia in sports and the consequences of being ostracized and bullied. ...more
JERKBAIT was a pleasure to read. Tristan's character struggles with protecting his troubled sibling, dealing with his overbearing parents, and choosing his own path. The story is an honest portrayal of the homophobia in sports and the consequences of being ostracized and bullied. ...more

Oct 28, 2015
Sanjiyan Unkara
added it
HAHA I READ IT FIRST SO FU BITCHES!
(no seriously, I did. And this was posted with the full blessing of the author)
(no seriously, I did. And this was posted with the full blessing of the author)

Jan 22, 2016
Camus Grimwood
marked it as to-read
THIS IS EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR. LGBT HOCKEY STUFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I CAN'T WAIT!
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crazy for Young A...: Jerkbait, by Mia Siegert → Start Date: July 28, 2017 | 10 | 12 | Jul 31, 2017 09:25PM | |
Preorder Incentive! | 3 | 9 | Feb 25, 2016 05:17AM | |
Which JERKBAIT Character Are You? (A Fun Quiz) | 1 | 9 | Jan 30, 2016 07:25AM | |
Part of Chapter One (as posted on YA Highway) | 1 | 11 | Dec 29, 2015 08:11AM |
Mia Siegert's sophomore novel SOMEBODY TOLD ME released in Spring 2020 with great trade reviews (SLJ's verdict was "Highly Recommended Read") and features in Teen Vogue, Book Riot, Buzzfeed, and many more.
Siegert's debut JERKBAIT made Goodreads Best YA of May 2016, Top 12 Indie YA from Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, Top 10 YA of 2016 from AndPop!, and gained attention from SB Nation, Publishers Weekly, ...more
Siegert's debut JERKBAIT made Goodreads Best YA of May 2016, Top 12 Indie YA from Barnes & Noble Teen Blog, Top 10 YA of 2016 from AndPop!, and gained attention from SB Nation, Publishers Weekly, ...more
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