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Adulting 101
The struggle is real.
Nick Stahlnecker is eighteen and not ready to grow up yet. He has a summer job, a case of existential panic, and a hopeless crush on the unattainable Jai Hazenbrook. Except how do you know that your coworker’s unattainable unless you ask to blow him in the porta-potty?
That’s probably not what Dad meant when he said Nick should act more like an adult.
Twenty-five-year-old Jai is back in his hometown of Franklin, Ohio, just long enough to earn the money to get the hell out again. His long-term goal of seeing more of the world is worth the short-term pain of living in his mother’s basement, but only barely.
Meeting Nick doesn’t fit in with Jai’s plans at all, but, as Jai soon learns, you don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have the adventure of a lifetime.
This is not a summer romance. This is a summer friendship-with-benefits. It’s got pizza with disgusting toppings, Netflix and chill, and accidental exhibitionism. That’s all. There are no feelings here. None. Shut up.
Nick Stahlnecker is eighteen and not ready to grow up yet. He has a summer job, a case of existential panic, and a hopeless crush on the unattainable Jai Hazenbrook. Except how do you know that your coworker’s unattainable unless you ask to blow him in the porta-potty?
That’s probably not what Dad meant when he said Nick should act more like an adult.
Twenty-five-year-old Jai is back in his hometown of Franklin, Ohio, just long enough to earn the money to get the hell out again. His long-term goal of seeing more of the world is worth the short-term pain of living in his mother’s basement, but only barely.
Meeting Nick doesn’t fit in with Jai’s plans at all, but, as Jai soon learns, you don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have the adventure of a lifetime.
This is not a summer romance. This is a summer friendship-with-benefits. It’s got pizza with disgusting toppings, Netflix and chill, and accidental exhibitionism. That’s all. There are no feelings here. None. Shut up.
231 pages, ebook
First published August 13, 2016
108 people are currently reading
2167 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Henry
102 books2,278 followersI like to tell stories. Mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters. They gotta work for it though. No free lunches on my watch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 628 reviews
August 12, 2016
*4.5 stars*
Adorable!!
Is the intensity of the world getting you down, and you don't want to read another book about a formally abused homeless shelter volunteer finding love with a recovering alcoholic who is supporting his disabled sister in a ramshackle apartment? In the mood for something lighter? Or, dare I say it, just fun? Then you are in the right place, because this book was light, sexy, and 100% enjoyable.
Now, I know what you are thinking. Lisa Henry?? Writing fluff?! Yes, friends, Lisa Henry can write fluff and she can write it damn well, as evidenced by a lot of her new adult offerings. If you haven't tried Lisa Henry-lite, I think you are in for a very pleasant surprise.
To start off my review, I will write a short ass-focused haiku because, like Nick, I do love a nice tush:
That ass is so round.
I want to bite it right there,
That plump bit on top.
*takes a bow*
How could you not love an MC who devotes an entire journal to ass-focused poetry? You have to love him! I adored Nick from his first moment on page. Some readers may find him to be a little grating, but I found him to be really endearing, and lovable in that goofy, accidentally sexy way. I liked how upfront Nick was about, well, everything. He literally just blurted out everything he thought the moment he thought it, with just no considering of consequences. I sort of loved him for that.
And how could you not fall in love with the relationship between Nick and his best friend, Devon.
It is the bromance to top all bromances, and Nick and Devon know how to snuggle like bosses. They were adorable together, and though Devon was the BFF and not the other MC, I really consider him like mini-main character.
The romance was slow-burn, though we get hook-ups right off the bat. The romance was cute but not epic, if you know what I mean, and we are left with a HFN ending, which worked for me due to the age of the MCs. The sex was HOT but also really true-to-life, meaning awkward at times and refreshingly honest.
The only think that I wish we got more of was descriptions. For some reason, Lisa Henry really skimped out on the descriptions of the characters' appearances. I had to make up how they all looked in my head, including the supporting characters. I'm talking big things like hair color and skin color and body type. I had a really hard time picturing everyone as a result.
However, despite any little issues, this book delivered on expectations perfectly. It was a funny (the writing is witty and on point!), sexy, silly, smart, and really captured the feeling of first love. High recommended!
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Adorable!!
Is the intensity of the world getting you down, and you don't want to read another book about a formally abused homeless shelter volunteer finding love with a recovering alcoholic who is supporting his disabled sister in a ramshackle apartment? In the mood for something lighter? Or, dare I say it, just fun? Then you are in the right place, because this book was light, sexy, and 100% enjoyable.
Now, I know what you are thinking. Lisa Henry?? Writing fluff?! Yes, friends, Lisa Henry can write fluff and she can write it damn well, as evidenced by a lot of her new adult offerings. If you haven't tried Lisa Henry-lite, I think you are in for a very pleasant surprise.
To start off my review, I will write a short ass-focused haiku because, like Nick, I do love a nice tush:
That ass is so round.
I want to bite it right there,
That plump bit on top.
*takes a bow*
How could you not love an MC who devotes an entire journal to ass-focused poetry? You have to love him! I adored Nick from his first moment on page. Some readers may find him to be a little grating, but I found him to be really endearing, and lovable in that goofy, accidentally sexy way. I liked how upfront Nick was about, well, everything. He literally just blurted out everything he thought the moment he thought it, with just no considering of consequences. I sort of loved him for that.
And how could you not fall in love with the relationship between Nick and his best friend, Devon.
It is the bromance to top all bromances, and Nick and Devon know how to snuggle like bosses. They were adorable together, and though Devon was the BFF and not the other MC, I really consider him like mini-main character.
The romance was slow-burn, though we get hook-ups right off the bat. The romance was cute but not epic, if you know what I mean, and we are left with a HFN ending, which worked for me due to the age of the MCs. The sex was HOT but also really true-to-life, meaning awkward at times and refreshingly honest.
The only think that I wish we got more of was descriptions. For some reason, Lisa Henry really skimped out on the descriptions of the characters' appearances. I had to make up how they all looked in my head, including the supporting characters. I'm talking big things like hair color and skin color and body type. I had a really hard time picturing everyone as a result.
However, despite any little issues, this book delivered on expectations perfectly. It was a funny (the writing is witty and on point!), sexy, silly, smart, and really captured the feeling of first love. High recommended!
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Read
May 21, 2016Here it is, you guys. Proof that not everything I write is first thrown into the wringer of angst and pain and despair.
I had ridiculous fun writing this, and I hope that you'll have fun reading it too.
I had ridiculous fun writing this, and I hope that you'll have fun reading it too.
June 28, 2016
Lisa Henry's latest book, Adulting 101, is a fun, light, low-angst read, with tons of humor.
Nick is an 18 year old high school graduate, with no real plans for this future and absolutely no filter, but hormones to spare. He's working for the summer in an office and spends too many hours writing haiku's about his co-worker Jai's ass.
At 25, Jai returns home to Ohio every summer to work and save enough money to travel the world for the rest of the year. He tends to fall into his romantic encounters, male or female, as they come, then when they're over, that's that and he moves on.
Jai's summer at home has just begun, so when cute, blurty Nick, wearing his " favorite red cocksucking shirt ," propositions Jai, their next ten weeks of casually hooking up are interesting, to say the least.
A great example of the tone of the book can be seen in how Nick interacts with Jai the very first time that the two actually speak to one another.
“Do you own leather pants?” Nick blurts.The dialogue between Nick and Jai is pretty funny, but generally not quite what I'd really consider banter. That happens between Nick and his adorable bromancey BFF, Devon.
“Wait! That was weird. Sorry, that was weird. I’m weird. So, um, if you can forget that thing I said about leather pants, that would be awesome.” Nick’s face is scrunched up, like a toddler refusing vegetables. “But, okay, I’m seriously wearing my favorite red shirt and I would really, really like to suck your dick.”
For a moment Jai only hears a strange buzzing in his head. It takes a little while for him to actually parse the words. Because on what otherwise ordinary Monday morning does anyone hear words like that? On what otherwise ordinary Monday morning does anyone say words like that?
The only way that I can describe Devon is to say that he's amazing in this story. Supportive, loving and affectionate, this boy is *everything* and their relationship was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
“But if you want to make certain, lean over and give your gay BFF a big kiss.”(Because... Jai porta-potty blowjob.)
“No,” Devon says firmly. “Not because I’m being homophobic, but because I know where your mouth has been today, and you probably haven’t even brushed your teeth.”
“That’s true,” Nick admits.
The humor in this one was definitely the big selling point for me. I found it reminiscent of Nash Summers' "Maps" books, but with some hot, steamy, often embarrassing sex.
The drama in this story is less about the inevitability that Nick and Jai's no strings, 'for the summer' arrangement will end soon and they'll move on, but more about Nick's freak outs and panic attacks about attending college and having to grow up. #HowVeryMillennial
So since fewer pages were devoted to deep declarations of feelings, the relationship aspects of the book weren't 100% believable for me.
I'm all for having realistic expectations when dating an 18 y.o., but as the book ends and phrases like "if we break up" and "if we're still together next year" were still seen on-page, I can only really see this one ending as an "I really 'like' you" HFN.
It was still hilarious and touching, so it rates around 4.25 stars and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, blurty, feel-good, NA story.
-------------------------------------------
My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
March 4, 2017
Oh boy. This book was so delicious!
We start off with a hilarious chat conversation between Nick and Devon. I did not have any feeling other than finding it funny. Then we meet Jai. And he is hot. Like, HOT hot! Then we start the ride of the plot of this book.
I'll start off by saying that whatever you felt when you read the title of this book is exactly what is inside the book. But it doesn't teach us how to be adults, or how to do "adulting" (yes, it is a word, okay?). No, it shows us from the perspective of a scared, shy kid how intimidating adulting feels when you are at the age of 18.
First off, this is NOT an insta-love. Insta-lust, yes, but insta-love? No. This love is so slow and so developed and so churned, I'm sure it must taste like an amazing cup of coffee. We see them start their relationship by terming it a hookup, which, true, guys, no other word for it. Then, slowly and subtly, they both get to know each other, their nature, their strengths and flaws, and that's when the sweet journey of their falling in love with each other begins.
Nick is a crazy smart guy, you see. I mean, who CAN connect dots of completely irrelevant things like that and make sense to me? He talks funny, but that is because he thinks at this high, super fast, super smart level, and it comes across as dumb (didn't fool me, but other secondary characters did get fooled, sadly), but the strongest thing you see is how much he panics at the thought of leaving his safe childhood behind and having to enter the abyss of growing up. I am 27, and I still panic at so many things and look for the safety net of my family.
And this solidifies the fact that you don't just grow up when you are past a certain age. It is a never-ending process where you learn and fail and succeed at different stages and in different situations.
I loved Nick, like, absolutely loved him. His friendship (bromance) with Devon was simply cute. I saw in Nick my own inner self, which tries to be smaller in size so that it doesn't dominate over that part of myself which is optimistic about growing up. We all have fears, but we don't verbalise them. But Nick, in all his fumbly adorableness, achieved just that feat. He showed us his struggle, his fear that he is alone, the pressure he feels to just accept this part of life, his need for distraction from the choking hold the future has over him, and how just being heard made him free of it all.
I loved Jai. His was such an amazing character, but Nick totally monopolised the highlight of being the main character. Jai was more like a supporting role, though he played it to perfection. It was inedibly yummy to see them together and figure things out.
I bet many of the readers of this book saw themselves in this book, in one role or another. This was that an enlightening book. Every word written with meaning, every page made to be savoured. Both Jai's and Nick's POVs were so distinguished in their voice that I never once felt the need to check whose POV I was reading at any given point.
A book that will stay in my mind for a long time to come, characters that I will miss a lot until my reread, perfection depicted using simple words.
We start off with a hilarious chat conversation between Nick and Devon. I did not have any feeling other than finding it funny. Then we meet Jai. And he is hot. Like, HOT hot! Then we start the ride of the plot of this book.
I'll start off by saying that whatever you felt when you read the title of this book is exactly what is inside the book. But it doesn't teach us how to be adults, or how to do "adulting" (yes, it is a word, okay?). No, it shows us from the perspective of a scared, shy kid how intimidating adulting feels when you are at the age of 18.
First off, this is NOT an insta-love. Insta-lust, yes, but insta-love? No. This love is so slow and so developed and so churned, I'm sure it must taste like an amazing cup of coffee. We see them start their relationship by terming it a hookup, which, true, guys, no other word for it. Then, slowly and subtly, they both get to know each other, their nature, their strengths and flaws, and that's when the sweet journey of their falling in love with each other begins.
Nick is a crazy smart guy, you see. I mean, who CAN connect dots of completely irrelevant things like that and make sense to me? He talks funny, but that is because he thinks at this high, super fast, super smart level, and it comes across as dumb (didn't fool me, but other secondary characters did get fooled, sadly), but the strongest thing you see is how much he panics at the thought of leaving his safe childhood behind and having to enter the abyss of growing up. I am 27, and I still panic at so many things and look for the safety net of my family.
And this solidifies the fact that you don't just grow up when you are past a certain age. It is a never-ending process where you learn and fail and succeed at different stages and in different situations.
I loved Nick, like, absolutely loved him. His friendship (bromance) with Devon was simply cute. I saw in Nick my own inner self, which tries to be smaller in size so that it doesn't dominate over that part of myself which is optimistic about growing up. We all have fears, but we don't verbalise them. But Nick, in all his fumbly adorableness, achieved just that feat. He showed us his struggle, his fear that he is alone, the pressure he feels to just accept this part of life, his need for distraction from the choking hold the future has over him, and how just being heard made him free of it all.
I loved Jai. His was such an amazing character, but Nick totally monopolised the highlight of being the main character. Jai was more like a supporting role, though he played it to perfection. It was inedibly yummy to see them together and figure things out.
I bet many of the readers of this book saw themselves in this book, in one role or another. This was that an enlightening book. Every word written with meaning, every page made to be savoured. Both Jai's and Nick's POVs were so distinguished in their voice that I never once felt the need to check whose POV I was reading at any given point.
A book that will stay in my mind for a long time to come, characters that I will miss a lot until my reread, perfection depicted using simple words.
August 25, 2016
It’s so hard to make a comedy. There are plenty of comedies, I know. And they are also popular.
I appreciate fun, seriously.
However, most of the times it’s just my mind the one who smiles. Sometimes my lips do.
But that’s all about it.
I’m usually this grumpy girl when everybody is obviously having a great time.
Maybe I just giggle on my own accord because I want to disconnect. But it doesn’t come from within me with full force.
I love to laugh. I really do. But very very very few times a book (or a movie) manages to make me laugh.
Laugh for real.
I often smile but I very rarely burst out laughing.
Well, in this book I laughed so hard I thought the veins in the eye would explode.
Nick is so authentic. His portrayal as this eighteen-year-old Peter Pan with a mind full of crazy ideas and a blatantly absence of mouth filter is very well built and endearing. A combination that gets out of hand more often than not.
Jai has an incredible ass and that’s reason enough for Nick to get to him and offer a BJ just after they exchange names. Best decision ever, because now he has aboyfriend fuck buddy.
Or worst, because they both lose their jobs.
And Jai desperately needs a job. He only stays in town for the summer. The rest of the year, he prepares his backpack and disappears. Sort of Mary Poppins.
And Nick desperately needs to forget college is coming in September. Because everything ends then: his childhood, his co-dependent relationship with his soul mate Devon, and it all comes down to clear a path to uncertainty and… adulthood.
But hey, it’s going to be the best summer ever. September is so far away.
This is the winner quote for me:
(Have you seen me with the kindle of my face trying to hold my intestines with my hand? Damn, I thought the laughs were going to make serious damage.)
Yes, the book is hilarious. I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard, maybe that movie about vampires sharing home in New Zealand, What We Do in the Shadows. Although I must admit that Klune also can bring me joy.
Whatever, there was no chance of my attention being drawn by anything else for long. This was too much!
There are many references to fantasy/epic movies and pop culture. Not snob or picky enough to be really challenging, so I’m glad I understood them all: The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Matrix, The Avengers, Pokemon… and David Lynch. The only one that was a true miss for me was Attack on Titan.
Adulting is so hard!
Adulting is really hard.
When that girl says she wants to be a Pediatric Surgeon I laughed out loud.
I’ve been like that, too.
Multiple times.
How can people be so sure what they want to do even before they have started?
Oh, I understand jealousy, they are all so sure what they can to do and how they are going to do it and how capable they all are to make it real. Lots of confidence? Or lack of such? Self-overrating? Or just dreams that won’t come true? Or will they after all?
I liked seeing how these doubts chew on Nick’s mind and fly around him like vultures. The clock is making “tick tack” sounds and everybody expects a reaction from him, a decision, a choice. Even not choosing is a choice by itself, and the consequences are unthinkable.
He cannot think.
But Jai is also “stuck” in his own way. He is 25 but still hasn’t settle on something, whatever that is. He began travelling to leave everything behind, but now he does it because he likes it. Despite this, he’s not as sure about his future as his attitude implies.
As someone told me: God has a tendency to laugh at people’s plans.
Or plainly: Life gives many turns.
So, once we have established the sense of humor made it for me, I’d like to say I expected more development of the relationship. There is a step from liking each other to liking-liking each other, and an abrupt one at that. Also, the step from liking-liking to love is missing. The book finishes with the promise of a HEA, but not a HEA per se. They start as friends with benefits and somewhere along the way they become boyfriends, but I couldn’t feel that transition for real. I feel there is chemistry, in and out of the bed, and the comfort and joy they find when they are together, but not much beyond that.
However, I could really feel the need for Nick to be with his BFF Devon at all times. If Devon was gay, that would be an amazing love story.
I couldn’t bring myself to really care about that.
Anyway, I conclude Lisa Henry can write everything. I got to know her with her contemporary BDSM facet, but then I tasted her historical flavor and later I dared with her sci-fi installsments. However, most of them are within the limits of the dark and the heavy. I had to see if she could deal with a lighter mood as well.
Well, after this demonstration, she aces in everything under the sun.
In my opinion, there is little she can’t do, she’s a very complete writer, and she demonstrates this once again in a coming-of-age comedy in which the laughs are guaranteed.
I really recommend this one.
*****
This was a review in group in BMBR!
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
I appreciate fun, seriously.
However, most of the times it’s just my mind the one who smiles. Sometimes my lips do.
But that’s all about it.
I’m usually this grumpy girl when everybody is obviously having a great time.
Maybe I just giggle on my own accord because I want to disconnect. But it doesn’t come from within me with full force.
I love to laugh. I really do. But very very very few times a book (or a movie) manages to make me laugh.
Laugh for real.
I often smile but I very rarely burst out laughing.
Well, in this book I laughed so hard I thought the veins in the eye would explode.
Nick is so authentic. His portrayal as this eighteen-year-old Peter Pan with a mind full of crazy ideas and a blatantly absence of mouth filter is very well built and endearing. A combination that gets out of hand more often than not.
Jai has an incredible ass and that’s reason enough for Nick to get to him and offer a BJ just after they exchange names. Best decision ever, because now he has a
Or worst, because they both lose their jobs.
And Jai desperately needs a job. He only stays in town for the summer. The rest of the year, he prepares his backpack and disappears. Sort of Mary Poppins.
And Nick desperately needs to forget college is coming in September. Because everything ends then: his childhood, his co-dependent relationship with his soul mate Devon, and it all comes down to clear a path to uncertainty and… adulthood.
But hey, it’s going to be the best summer ever. September is so far away.
This is the winner quote for me:
Jai shouldn’t keep looking, but he can’t help himself. He also should have known better than to open the notebook Nick accidentaly left behind, but he’s too shocked to castigate himself over that right now. He can’t stop turning the pages.
Holy shit.
Jai’s Ass: A sonnet (abandoned)
Jai’s ass is like the most incredible thing
I want to do things to it with my mouth
I look at it and heaps of angels sing
And (something that rhymes with mouth goes where)
He flips to the next page and discovers a limerick.
There once was a man called Jai
Who was the world’s most hottest guy
And I’m shit out of luck
If we never fuck
I’ll scream “Why Jesus why Jesus why???????
(Have you seen me with the kindle of my face trying to hold my intestines with my hand? Damn, I thought the laughs were going to make serious damage.)
Yes, the book is hilarious. I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard, maybe that movie about vampires sharing home in New Zealand, What We Do in the Shadows. Although I must admit that Klune also can bring me joy.
Whatever, there was no chance of my attention being drawn by anything else for long. This was too much!
There are many references to fantasy/epic movies and pop culture. Not snob or picky enough to be really challenging, so I’m glad I understood them all: The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Matrix, The Avengers, Pokemon… and David Lynch. The only one that was a true miss for me was Attack on Titan.
Adulting is so hard!
Adulting is really hard.
When that girl says she wants to be a Pediatric Surgeon I laughed out loud.
I’ve been like that, too.
Multiple times.
How can people be so sure what they want to do even before they have started?
Oh, I understand jealousy, they are all so sure what they can to do and how they are going to do it and how capable they all are to make it real. Lots of confidence? Or lack of such? Self-overrating? Or just dreams that won’t come true? Or will they after all?
I liked seeing how these doubts chew on Nick’s mind and fly around him like vultures. The clock is making “tick tack” sounds and everybody expects a reaction from him, a decision, a choice. Even not choosing is a choice by itself, and the consequences are unthinkable.
He cannot think.
But Jai is also “stuck” in his own way. He is 25 but still hasn’t settle on something, whatever that is. He began travelling to leave everything behind, but now he does it because he likes it. Despite this, he’s not as sure about his future as his attitude implies.
As someone told me: God has a tendency to laugh at people’s plans.
Or plainly: Life gives many turns.
So, once we have established the sense of humor made it for me, I’d like to say I expected more development of the relationship. There is a step from liking each other to liking-liking each other, and an abrupt one at that. Also, the step from liking-liking to love is missing. The book finishes with the promise of a HEA, but not a HEA per se. They start as friends with benefits and somewhere along the way they become boyfriends, but I couldn’t feel that transition for real. I feel there is chemistry, in and out of the bed, and the comfort and joy they find when they are together, but not much beyond that.
However, I could really feel the need for Nick to be with his BFF Devon at all times. If Devon was gay, that would be an amazing love story.
I couldn’t bring myself to really care about that.
Anyway, I conclude Lisa Henry can write everything. I got to know her with her contemporary BDSM facet, but then I tasted her historical flavor and later I dared with her sci-fi installsments. However, most of them are within the limits of the dark and the heavy. I had to see if she could deal with a lighter mood as well.
Well, after this demonstration, she aces in everything under the sun.
In my opinion, there is little she can’t do, she’s a very complete writer, and she demonstrates this once again in a coming-of-age comedy in which the laughs are guaranteed.
I really recommend this one.
*****
This was a review in group in BMBR!
***Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Read
May 22, 2016I am the luckiest person on the planet right now, because I got to beta read this. It's so good! Goddamn it's perfect! And it's all sweet and funny and not rapey AT ALL but it's still full of the best kind of Lisa Henry feels. If I rated stories I beta read I would give it all the stars.
I unreservedly think you should pre-order this sucker and swear you will not regret it.
I unreservedly think you should pre-order this sucker and swear you will not regret it.
May 24, 2020
4.5 Stars!
This is a Lisa Henry I’ve never seen before. Well, maybe with her DiscontentedWinter alter ego, but I typically associate her with angst, drama, and suspense. This was the complete opposite.
Know that you’ll get totally likeable characters in the spastic Nick, who lacks a bit of confidence but never on spewing what’s immediately on his mind. It’s his last summer before college and there’s lots of pressure to prepare for the next level. However, Nick’s drowning in the expectations others have of him, and all he wants to do is hook up with his sexy coworker Jai.
Jai’s time in town is fleeting. He’s home for the summer to earn money before he leaves off again to travel the world for the rest of the year, but there’s a snag in his plans and it comes in the form of the bumbling, no filter Nick, who propositions him. How can Jai say no?
This overflows with funny and embarrassment and cock blocking in all forms of epic proportions. It was smart with pop culture love, and this made me laugh as Nick and Jai struggle to figure out their wants and needs and goals. Don’t worry, as this never shorts the reader on the feels either.
I should know better than to think Henry could ever be a one note author. Again, full of humor that’s in the spirit of American Pie but oh so much more. This was a fabulous reprieve from #reallifeproblems that I very much appreciated and was perfectly, just what I needed!
This is a Lisa Henry I’ve never seen before. Well, maybe with her DiscontentedWinter alter ego, but I typically associate her with angst, drama, and suspense. This was the complete opposite.
Know that you’ll get totally likeable characters in the spastic Nick, who lacks a bit of confidence but never on spewing what’s immediately on his mind. It’s his last summer before college and there’s lots of pressure to prepare for the next level. However, Nick’s drowning in the expectations others have of him, and all he wants to do is hook up with his sexy coworker Jai.
Jai’s time in town is fleeting. He’s home for the summer to earn money before he leaves off again to travel the world for the rest of the year, but there’s a snag in his plans and it comes in the form of the bumbling, no filter Nick, who propositions him. How can Jai say no?
This overflows with funny and embarrassment and cock blocking in all forms of epic proportions. It was smart with pop culture love, and this made me laugh as Nick and Jai struggle to figure out their wants and needs and goals. Don’t worry, as this never shorts the reader on the feels either.
I should know better than to think Henry could ever be a one note author. Again, full of humor that’s in the spirit of American Pie but oh so much more. This was a fabulous reprieve from #reallifeproblems that I very much appreciated and was perfectly, just what I needed!
August 18, 2016
I'm never going back and you can't make me.
Whoever started that ridiculous idea that late adolescence is the best years of your life needs to be flagellated. Severely. Needless to say, this is a time machine special so that the reader can recall the crappy anxiety about themselves, their life, and EVERYTHING else.
Nick Stahlnecker, recent graduate is enjoying the last summer before college--or trying to. His dad has ideas about how he needs to straighten up and fly right. Get a job. In fact, he manages to get one for him. Nick's not invested in this job, but it does have one perk.
Jai Hazenbrook.
He's the eye candy of Grover Construction, and he's got a fanbase. Okay, might only be a couple people, but whatever. Needless to say, Nick is spellbound. Nick is also an extremely determined young man when something's in his target range.
Sometimes things are a bad idea and you do them anyway.
Even after advice to the contrary.
Even knowing it, you do it.
*facepalm*
Nick's Score: 10 for Effort, 3 for Execution.
Nick is brazen and unrepentant. Half the time I was embarrassed for him. And at others, yeah... no. Porta potty--no fucking way! EEEEEWWWW!
And then there's things I have fundamental ideological differences with... pineapple does NOT belong on a pizza. And “Meatlovers with anchovies and pineapple.”
This is not a pizza.
Thing is, Nick has ideological differences with his parents, but being mellow he's been herded by his parents into a series of decisions that don't suit him. He's gotta figure a way to sort that out while working out exactly what's happening with Jai.
The characters are disturbingly realistic, and the situations while veering towards absurdity skate the edge and highlight the hyperbolic ridiculousness of being eighteen, a kid and adult at the same time. I laughed and groaned and totally got my utils ($$$) from the purchase.
Favorite quote:
Overall:
Whoever started that ridiculous idea that late adolescence is the best years of your life needs to be flagellated. Severely. Needless to say, this is a time machine special so that the reader can recall the crappy anxiety about themselves, their life, and EVERYTHING else.
Nick Stahlnecker, recent graduate is enjoying the last summer before college--or trying to. His dad has ideas about how he needs to straighten up and fly right. Get a job. In fact, he manages to get one for him. Nick's not invested in this job, but it does have one perk.
Jai Hazenbrook.
He's the eye candy of Grover Construction, and he's got a fanbase. Okay, might only be a couple people, but whatever. Needless to say, Nick is spellbound. Nick is also an extremely determined young man when something's in his target range.
Sometimes things are a bad idea and you do them anyway.
Even after advice to the contrary.
Even knowing it, you do it.
*facepalm*
Nick's Score: 10 for Effort, 3 for Execution.
Nick is brazen and unrepentant. Half the time I was embarrassed for him. And at others, yeah... no. Porta potty--no fucking way! EEEEEWWWW!
And then there's things I have fundamental ideological differences with... pineapple does NOT belong on a pizza. And “Meatlovers with anchovies and pineapple.”
This is not a pizza.
Thing is, Nick has ideological differences with his parents, but being mellow he's been herded by his parents into a series of decisions that don't suit him. He's gotta figure a way to sort that out while working out exactly what's happening with Jai.
The characters are disturbingly realistic, and the situations while veering towards absurdity skate the edge and highlight the hyperbolic ridiculousness of being eighteen, a kid and adult at the same time. I laughed and groaned and totally got my utils ($$$) from the purchase.
Favorite quote:
Jai’s not sure what worries him most: the fact he’s already noticing the things Nick would love, or that he’s apparently hooking up with the teenage-boy version of his mom.
Overall:
February 15, 2017
“If Nick were on a quest to return the One Ring to the fiery pits of Mount Doom, Jai Hazenbrook would totally be the hot-as-fuck elf in tight leather pants who could shoot the left testicle off an orc at a thousand paces. Whereas Nick, of course, would be the short hairy-footed guy who liked beer and fireworks and second breakfasts. Even in his fantasy worlds, Nick is a realist.”
➦This. book. was. funny. And also cute and sweet. It tried to be sexy too, at times, but funny suddenly burst in to take over.
➦Like, s'cuse me! i know you're trying to get it ON, but I got an awkward joke to tell and I promise it will be all worth it! And now that I'm done, carry on...
➦But now you're laughing and the moment is gone but yes, indeed, it was totally worth it. It's that kind of book. In a nut shell, it's about two guys falling in love while trying to be in a casual summer relationship.
➦Nick, having just graduated high school, is having anxiety about what to do with his life. He is expected to attend college but he's not quite sure he's ready.
➦That's exactly how I felt after high school! hehe In short, adulting sucks. Nick is working at the office on a construction site. Not as much working, though, as ogling a hot guy by the name of Jai. So after a while Nick decides to bring his best game and be an adult and go talk to Jai.
➦And you know what, sometimes, being honest and straight to the point gets you places. Because when Nick straight up tells Jai he's like to "blow him" things escalate fast. And besides the fact that they get caught and fired for fooling around on a job, they still have each other... right?
➦Read this book if you enjoy M/M and you want some laughs. If you enjoy T.J. Klune's books, the ones with humor in them, you will probably like this one too. You'll find out how Jai and Nick's relationship develops from a fling into friendship/love and how Jai helps Nick with that whole adulting business. :)
June 29, 2017
It's a unicorn group review with Adam, Cupcake and Sheziss
4.25 Hearts--
Adulting is hard as fuck, yeah?
I mean I am one and I totally can say it's a struggle. The struggle is real.
Some days all you wanna do is this:
And adulting just comes in to ruin your day wearing a respectable pinstriped suit, waving responsibility and bills and less fun things like it was going out of style. :/
They're probably going to be fifty-eleventy gazillon reviews on this book (including our group review) because it's Lisa Henry. And a light Lisa Henry which makes it more special? I'm still new to the LH bandwagon but I've enjoyed myself with this story...though I struggled with Nick, the 18 year-old protagonist who struggles with adulting.
My relationship with Nick went through stages:
Like & Laughter ~~>
"Does he turn off for just a minute?" ~~>
"Hmm...guess not" ~~>
Ambivalent ~~>
"Hey, this guy reminds me of someone" ~~>
No...it couldn't be him ~~>
**Sterek break...[I binged read for an entire day]**
Back to Adulting 101...trickle reading... "I think I like Nick. I'd totally swipe him" ~~>
"Hey he's just misunderstood." ~~>
"OMG I think I like like him. Has it been the entire time?"~~>
Feels, they've been lightly scratched. ~~>
Y'know what? Nick was perfectly normal and adorable."
I overcame my struggle with Nick. He's so eighteen - full of youth, dumb and hormones. What a mix.
I think Henry captured a modern day 18 year old pretty wonderfully. And Jai? At first I was one #teamdoubt when I saw Nick lusting after a 25 year old. Because you know the main thing they'll be talking about it gential gymnastics.
But both men (*snort* I'm calling Nick a man very lightly) were on an even playing field. Adulting 101 is set in Franklin, Ohio. It's the summer before college and Nick is struggling with coming of age. And Jai...he is sort of dealing with his issues. The two start a fuck buddy relationship in one very HEE-LARIOUS scene. I refer to it as the holy sheet 8%.
And while they "Netflix and chill" and try to keep it light, they're drawn to each other. Nothing major heavy, nothing too serious. And it was a pleasure to read. I think that was the magic of Adulting 101. It's relatable, it's funny, it has some honest moments. But the way Nick and Jai realize their fuck-ship is something more without making it too crazy, that was my favorite. New Adult is a fave genre and I think the author captured all the great key elements to make this work. (The texting was an excellent touch)
The side characters, though? Dude, they were excellent. For serious. Everyone one of them from the codependent BFF Devon, to the entire Hazenbrook family (down to the littlest one, Noah) to Chris' dad. he might come off as a pencildick at times but he meant well.
There are hot moments, especially when they were interrupted. Especially the interruptions [Pretends to ignore my exhibitionist kink] And the laughs were a great balance. I'm not a fan of books that try too hard to be funny. This book read closer to effortless than not.
And the ending? I was a little worried the more I got into the novel. I really got into Nick's head, I sympathized and have been there in his shoes. I think we all have...except for those types who know exactly what they're going to do for every damn thing, But it couldn't have ended any more perfect for Nick and Jai. It's a solid HFN.
I think Nick and Jai passed Adulting 101 with an A.
Fun, light, with a sprinkling of realism...couldn't have asked for anything more.
A copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.
4.25 Hearts--
"Are we Netflix and chilling?"
"I don't know what that means."
"Are you twenty-five or are you eighty-five?"
"Whippersnapper."
Adulting is hard as fuck, yeah?
I mean I am one and I totally can say it's a struggle. The struggle is real.
Some days all you wanna do is this:
And adulting just comes in to ruin your day wearing a respectable pinstriped suit, waving responsibility and bills and less fun things like it was going out of style. :/
They're probably going to be fifty-eleventy gazillon reviews on this book (including our group review) because it's Lisa Henry. And a light Lisa Henry which makes it more special? I'm still new to the LH bandwagon but I've enjoyed myself with this story...though I struggled with Nick, the 18 year-old protagonist who struggles with adulting.
My relationship with Nick went through stages:
Like & Laughter ~~>
"Does he turn off for just a minute?" ~~>
"Hmm...guess not" ~~>
Ambivalent ~~>
"Hey, this guy reminds me of someone" ~~>
No...it couldn't be him ~~>
**Sterek break...[I binged read for an entire day]**
Back to Adulting 101...trickle reading... "I think I like Nick. I'd totally swipe him" ~~>
"Hey he's just misunderstood." ~~>
"OMG I think I like like him. Has it been the entire time?"~~>
Feels, they've been lightly scratched. ~~>
Y'know what? Nick was perfectly normal and adorable."
I overcame my struggle with Nick. He's so eighteen - full of youth, dumb and hormones. What a mix.
I think Henry captured a modern day 18 year old pretty wonderfully. And Jai? At first I was one #teamdoubt when I saw Nick lusting after a 25 year old. Because you know the main thing they'll be talking about it gential gymnastics.
But both men (*snort* I'm calling Nick a man very lightly) were on an even playing field. Adulting 101 is set in Franklin, Ohio. It's the summer before college and Nick is struggling with coming of age. And Jai...he is sort of dealing with his issues. The two start a fuck buddy relationship in one very HEE-LARIOUS scene. I refer to it as the holy sheet 8%.
And while they "Netflix and chill" and try to keep it light, they're drawn to each other. Nothing major heavy, nothing too serious. And it was a pleasure to read. I think that was the magic of Adulting 101. It's relatable, it's funny, it has some honest moments. But the way Nick and Jai realize their fuck-ship is something more without making it too crazy, that was my favorite. New Adult is a fave genre and I think the author captured all the great key elements to make this work. (The texting was an excellent touch)
The side characters, though? Dude, they were excellent. For serious. Everyone one of them from the codependent BFF Devon, to the entire Hazenbrook family (down to the littlest one, Noah) to Chris' dad. he might come off as a pencildick at times but he meant well.
There are hot moments, especially when they were interrupted. Especially the interruptions [Pretends to ignore my exhibitionist kink] And the laughs were a great balance. I'm not a fan of books that try too hard to be funny. This book read closer to effortless than not.
And the ending? I was a little worried the more I got into the novel. I really got into Nick's head, I sympathized and have been there in his shoes. I think we all have...except for those types who know exactly what they're going to do for every damn thing, But it couldn't have ended any more perfect for Nick and Jai. It's a solid HFN.
I think Nick and Jai passed Adulting 101 with an A.
Fun, light, with a sprinkling of realism...couldn't have asked for anything more.
A copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.
August 6, 2017
*4.5 stars*
I usually don't listen to audiobooks that I've read in ebook form because I'm always afraid that the narration will ruin the story. However, this certainly wasn't the case with Adulting 101. Nick J. Russo simply crushed it with his stellar reading.
The book was everything that I remembered. It was funny, charming, totally endearing, and sexy in a clumsy, overexcited way.
The best part of the story, other than the spot-on narration, was the bromance between the MC and his best friend. Their friendship gave my insides squishy, happy feelings, and I couldn't get enough of their texting banter.
Adulting 101 is hilarious. You will laugh with/at the characters and at their ridiculous situations, and it will make you feel simply good. It's a feel-good story.
My only issue with the story, and the reason for my 1/2-star deduction, was fact that it was written in third person, present tense. Third person, present tense is incredibly awkward while reading, but it sounds even worse when read aloud. I couldn't stand it, and I think if the book was written in past tense I would have given it the full 5-stars.
Overall, you can't go wrong with this one. Sure, it isn't a marriage-proposal level of commitment by the end (I'd say tentative HEA), but it is one of the most entertaining audiobooks that I've listened to in a long time. Total win.
August 8, 2016
I was really worried when I started this one.
I had a hard time with Nick. Some of the things out of his mouth really made me cringe.
Let's face it, I haven't been 18 for quite sometime. But I imagine a lot of what Nick went through, most kids go through. Heck, I'm pretty sure I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life when I was 18 and went to college.
And honestly, what I do now probably isn't it. But hey, it is what it is. So with that regards, I thought this was a pretty realistic read.
And Nick grew on me by the end.
Jai was *dreamy sigh* perfection. Loved him. His family...yeah
I even loved Devon and Nick's somewhat odd relationship.
In the end I really ended up liking this one. Definitely a HFN ending so I really hope we get to catch up with Jai and Nick again!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I had a hard time with Nick. Some of the things out of his mouth really made me cringe.
Let's face it, I haven't been 18 for quite sometime. But I imagine a lot of what Nick went through, most kids go through. Heck, I'm pretty sure I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life when I was 18 and went to college.
And honestly, what I do now probably isn't it. But hey, it is what it is. So with that regards, I thought this was a pretty realistic read.
And Nick grew on me by the end.
Jai was *dreamy sigh* perfection. Loved him. His family...yeah
I even loved Devon and Nick's somewhat odd relationship.
In the end I really ended up liking this one. Definitely a HFN ending so I really hope we get to catch up with Jai and Nick again!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 4, 2018
Reread may 2017 - This is one of those books that people will either love or hate because Nick is incredibly immature. He's also adorable and my love for him and this story hasn't lessened even a little.
All the stars (I'm about to get my stats out and I know you like it when I do that, don't lie, it turns you on)
5 (I can give it)
+ 16 (4 people gave this 1 star, they each left 4 stars so 4 x 4 = 16)
+ 102 (34 people gave this 2 stars, they each left 3 stars so 3 x 34 = 102)
123 stars because I can and because it may just be the best book I've read this year. My face aches from grinning like a fool. A fucking toothy fool I tell you!
I was going to write all this shit about how incredibly funny, endearing and honest it was, how I wish it wasn't over, how I want you all to read it, and it's immediately going on my favourites list, even though I don't normally read MM books but this was easily the funniest book I've read all year, despite the sex being awkward and Nick being a complete muppet. Instead, I'm just going to stop here and hope you have enough sense to try it because it's so worth it.
"And Nick is totally, absolutely going to suck Jai’s mythical elf unicorn dick if it’s the last thing he does."
“Hey.” Jai grabs his wrist. Gently forces his hand away from his face. “What’s wrong?”
Nick’s face is scarlet, and he can’t quite meet Jai’s gaze. “Um, sorry. I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Nick looks at him like he’s crazy.
“For, um, bringing dishonor on my family name and humiliating every single one of my proud ancestors by coming instantaneously? It was like fifteen seconds, dude. I counted.”
"Zing! A wild burst of pleasure shoots through Nick like lightning. Hello, prostate. Nice to finally meet you. Wow. That’s just . . . wow."
"Nick: You are also smart and wonderful and give the best hugs. If u were gay, I would have jumped u years ago.
Devon: U sort of did.
Nick: And u were very cool about it, my poor confused little straight boy.
Devon: Because of u I thought I was gay for a week.
Nick: You’re welcome!"
All the stars (I'm about to get my stats out and I know you like it when I do that, don't lie, it turns you on)
5 (I can give it)
+ 16 (4 people gave this 1 star, they each left 4 stars so 4 x 4 = 16)
+ 102 (34 people gave this 2 stars, they each left 3 stars so 3 x 34 = 102)
123 stars because I can and because it may just be the best book I've read this year. My face aches from grinning like a fool. A fucking toothy fool I tell you!
I was going to write all this shit about how incredibly funny, endearing and honest it was, how I wish it wasn't over, how I want you all to read it, and it's immediately going on my favourites list, even though I don't normally read MM books but this was easily the funniest book I've read all year, despite the sex being awkward and Nick being a complete muppet. Instead, I'm just going to stop here and hope you have enough sense to try it because it's so worth it.
"And Nick is totally, absolutely going to suck Jai’s mythical elf unicorn dick if it’s the last thing he does."
“Hey.” Jai grabs his wrist. Gently forces his hand away from his face. “What’s wrong?”
Nick’s face is scarlet, and he can’t quite meet Jai’s gaze. “Um, sorry. I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Nick looks at him like he’s crazy.
“For, um, bringing dishonor on my family name and humiliating every single one of my proud ancestors by coming instantaneously? It was like fifteen seconds, dude. I counted.”
"Zing! A wild burst of pleasure shoots through Nick like lightning. Hello, prostate. Nice to finally meet you. Wow. That’s just . . . wow."
"Nick: You are also smart and wonderful and give the best hugs. If u were gay, I would have jumped u years ago.
Devon: U sort of did.
Nick: And u were very cool about it, my poor confused little straight boy.
Devon: Because of u I thought I was gay for a week.
Nick: You’re welcome!"
August 19, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Nick is an 18-year old high school graduate, spending his summer before college slacking off at his first real job while fantasizing about crossing one particular item off of his bucket list . . .
“Today’s life goal: blow Jai Hazenbrook.”
The story propels full speed ahead to a very awkward offer by Nick to do just that and an even more awkward moment of getting caught in the act in a not-so-romantic locale . . . .
And right there is where I knew I was in love. Oh my glob this story. How can I make you all understand how this book made me feel?????? Wait, I know! I’ll do it via an image (I know, so unlike me) . . . .
If you want to channel your inner Elf and realize that smiling is your favorite, then this is the one for you. And I’m telling you right now, spare me your complaints if you don’t end up liking it because . . . .
I realize that Nick is more than a bit of a PITA when it comes to being a functional (almost) adult, but hell I’m not a functional adult a few days a week and I’m fucking ancient. If you ride out the story things do get explained, but seriously LIGHTEN UP. This book is all about fun, and in my case accidentally weeing in your pants a few times from trying to hold back the snortlaughs while reading at work . . .
^Truth.
Anyway, I’m not going to give much away. Just know Adulting 101 begins as a simple 10-week session of . . .
But in the end becomes something a little more substantial when it comes to learning about life, learning about growing up and maybe even learning a little about love . . . .
Many thanks to Wart for putting this gem on my radar.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Nick is an 18-year old high school graduate, spending his summer before college slacking off at his first real job while fantasizing about crossing one particular item off of his bucket list . . .
“Today’s life goal: blow Jai Hazenbrook.”
The story propels full speed ahead to a very awkward offer by Nick to do just that and an even more awkward moment of getting caught in the act in a not-so-romantic locale . . . .
And right there is where I knew I was in love. Oh my glob this story. How can I make you all understand how this book made me feel?????? Wait, I know! I’ll do it via an image (I know, so unlike me) . . . .
If you want to channel your inner Elf and realize that smiling is your favorite, then this is the one for you. And I’m telling you right now, spare me your complaints if you don’t end up liking it because . . . .
I realize that Nick is more than a bit of a PITA when it comes to being a functional (almost) adult, but hell I’m not a functional adult a few days a week and I’m fucking ancient. If you ride out the story things do get explained, but seriously LIGHTEN UP. This book is all about fun, and in my case accidentally weeing in your pants a few times from trying to hold back the snortlaughs while reading at work . . .
^Truth.
Anyway, I’m not going to give much away. Just know Adulting 101 begins as a simple 10-week session of . . .
But in the end becomes something a little more substantial when it comes to learning about life, learning about growing up and maybe even learning a little about love . . . .
Many thanks to Wart for putting this gem on my radar.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
May 31, 2019
One of the rarer occasions is me picking up a YA novel, LOL.
But when Lisa Henry writes one, it is a must read for me!
This is the story of Nick, 18 year old high school graduate who is about to go to college in the fall. But unlike some of his friends, he doesn't have his life mapped out in front of him.
On the contrary, he has absolutely no idea what he wants to do with his life.
Stapling paper at a construction company's office isn't really the fulfillment he's desperately seeking. While his beloved fictional heroes Luke Skywalker or Harry Potter save their universes from evil foes, Nick is stuck in an office doing insignificant things.
At least there's handsome hot construction worker Jay who swaggers in and out of the office every now and then. And whose ass is the center of Nick's romantic notebook drawings.
An unfortunate encounter in a porta-potty on the construction site has both Nick and Jay lose their jobs, however.
So what better to do with their time than be friends with benefits?
The plot does sound a bit lame. If it was ONLY the plot here, there wouldn't be much excitement to be had out of this book. But Nick and Jay are both very endearing and interesting characters, it totally didn't matter what they DID as long as they gave us their interesting takes on life.
Jay is a 25 year old guy who never went to college. He is traveling the world instead and has not yet settled down anywhere or with anybody. His summer construction gigs only serve to earn him enough cash to make the next trip.
Nick is about to head out to college, but isn't sure about what direction he wants his life to take. He also knows he's too young to settle down romantically, especially as he is about to move out of town soon anyway.
But feeling are feelings - and Jay isn't just a handsome face (and ass) but also a genuinely nice guy who makes Nick's life so much more happier.
I totally wanted to see if they could make this work and wasn't disappointed with the ending at all.
Still, guys in this particular (young) stage of life aren't my favorite MCs, which is actually the only issue I had with this story. Other than that is was masterfully told - and funny as hell.
4.5 stars
But when Lisa Henry writes one, it is a must read for me!
This is the story of Nick, 18 year old high school graduate who is about to go to college in the fall. But unlike some of his friends, he doesn't have his life mapped out in front of him.
On the contrary, he has absolutely no idea what he wants to do with his life.
Stapling paper at a construction company's office isn't really the fulfillment he's desperately seeking. While his beloved fictional heroes Luke Skywalker or Harry Potter save their universes from evil foes, Nick is stuck in an office doing insignificant things.
At least there's handsome hot construction worker Jay who swaggers in and out of the office every now and then. And whose ass is the center of Nick's romantic notebook drawings.
An unfortunate encounter in a porta-potty on the construction site has both Nick and Jay lose their jobs, however.
So what better to do with their time than be friends with benefits?
The plot does sound a bit lame. If it was ONLY the plot here, there wouldn't be much excitement to be had out of this book. But Nick and Jay are both very endearing and interesting characters, it totally didn't matter what they DID as long as they gave us their interesting takes on life.
Jay is a 25 year old guy who never went to college. He is traveling the world instead and has not yet settled down anywhere or with anybody. His summer construction gigs only serve to earn him enough cash to make the next trip.
Nick is about to head out to college, but isn't sure about what direction he wants his life to take. He also knows he's too young to settle down romantically, especially as he is about to move out of town soon anyway.
But feeling are feelings - and Jay isn't just a handsome face (and ass) but also a genuinely nice guy who makes Nick's life so much more happier.
I totally wanted to see if they could make this work and wasn't disappointed with the ending at all.
Still, guys in this particular (young) stage of life aren't my favorite MCs, which is actually the only issue I had with this story. Other than that is was masterfully told - and funny as hell.
4.5 stars
August 16, 2016
4.5 stars. Just a fun, light, sweet read with a very engaging young-guy narrative voice. Nick is on the cusp of adulthood, in the summer after his high school graduation. He's smart, but a bit scatterbrained and obsessive, with really crappy impulse control. He has no real goals, and a tendency to panic under pressure. (In fact, he's a scarily true-to-life middle-class-privileged 18-year-old, and an example of why a year of public service work between high-school and college would be good for many American teens IMO.)
But he also has a warm heart, and a sunny disposition. He's obsessed with Jai, the hot young guy who sometimes comes into the office where Nick is working for the summer. And when he decides to go for it, proposition Jai and make a dent in his own virginity, events spiral out of his control. Although not always in bad ways.
Jai is twenty-five and has figured out his life, for now. He works summers, travels cheap and light the rest of the year, has sex with men or women who appeal to him casually along the way. He's not determined to do this forever,but he's not ready to settle down yet. Nick's offer of a blow-job seems like more of the same, but Nick's failure to lock the door has unfortunate consequences. Jai's summer earning plans are in peril, and at the same time, Nick's sweet, oblivious, innocently sexy attention isn't as annoying as it should be. Or really, annoying at all. More like fun. And hot, and light, of course. Just for the summer. Even if Nick really could use a keeper...
Until now, Nick has had a keeper in his best friend Devon. This is the ultimate bromance, two guys, friends since childhood, with no sexual interest but who are there for each other, with hugs, and even cuddles, and ILY when it counts. Devon is the greatest straight friend ever, but he's headed off to a different college when fall comes. Nick is silently panicking at the thought of being on his own and rudderless, without goals, brakes, or support. Every time his mom does one more college prep thing, his mouth goes dry.
But that's life, right? Moving on? College? He's going to enjoy this summer fling with Jai. (Wow, he scored Jai. Unbelievable luck.) And not insist on anything more. He can totally be cool about this (when not panicking.)
I love Nick's POV voice, and Jai is a sweet solid presence to back him up, a guy who made his life work after the shock of losing his dad, and who is just now wondering if there might be a piece missing. If maybe, casual friendships and drive-by sex are finally getting a little shallow. Because Nick is sweet and sexy and a bit lost, and Jai really wants to see him stay safe and happy and fizzy and wide-eyed at life.
This was fun (with just a shade of Sterek IMO - Nick echoes some of Stiles, not in a bad way.) There is butt poetry and first time sex and falling sideways into a relationship I can see lasting. Heart-warming snicker-inducing fun.
But he also has a warm heart, and a sunny disposition. He's obsessed with Jai, the hot young guy who sometimes comes into the office where Nick is working for the summer. And when he decides to go for it, proposition Jai and make a dent in his own virginity, events spiral out of his control. Although not always in bad ways.
Jai is twenty-five and has figured out his life, for now. He works summers, travels cheap and light the rest of the year, has sex with men or women who appeal to him casually along the way. He's not determined to do this forever,but he's not ready to settle down yet. Nick's offer of a blow-job seems like more of the same, but Nick's failure to lock the door has unfortunate consequences. Jai's summer earning plans are in peril, and at the same time, Nick's sweet, oblivious, innocently sexy attention isn't as annoying as it should be. Or really, annoying at all. More like fun. And hot, and light, of course. Just for the summer. Even if Nick really could use a keeper...
Until now, Nick has had a keeper in his best friend Devon. This is the ultimate bromance, two guys, friends since childhood, with no sexual interest but who are there for each other, with hugs, and even cuddles, and ILY when it counts. Devon is the greatest straight friend ever, but he's headed off to a different college when fall comes. Nick is silently panicking at the thought of being on his own and rudderless, without goals, brakes, or support. Every time his mom does one more college prep thing, his mouth goes dry.
But that's life, right? Moving on? College? He's going to enjoy this summer fling with Jai. (Wow, he scored Jai. Unbelievable luck.) And not insist on anything more. He can totally be cool about this (when not panicking.)
I love Nick's POV voice, and Jai is a sweet solid presence to back him up, a guy who made his life work after the shock of losing his dad, and who is just now wondering if there might be a piece missing. If maybe, casual friendships and drive-by sex are finally getting a little shallow. Because Nick is sweet and sexy and a bit lost, and Jai really wants to see him stay safe and happy and fizzy and wide-eyed at life.
This was fun (with just a shade of Sterek IMO - Nick echoes some of Stiles, not in a bad way.) There is butt poetry and first time sex and falling sideways into a relationship I can see lasting. Heart-warming snicker-inducing fun.
October 26, 2016
2.5 Awkward AF stars
A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT !!
Ahhh .. Another bummer for me, I was really excited when i first saw this book on net-galley. I really liked the synopsis & instantly i request the book, but they rejected my request. *bloody publishers* But that made me read this book more. So, on the day of publishing i bought it on kindle and read after some days with so much excitement that i was bouncing on my seat like a child on Christmas. :D
For the first 60% it was good, funny, entertaining with some cringe worthy moments but it was acceptable but after that the shit went downhill. I think i rolled my eyes a 1000 times till the end that they were pretty much aching :/ I kept prying for this book to end but it went and went and went. ThankGod i don't have to read this now or ever!! or i'll die cringing and rolling my eyes. Wouldn't it be awkward when there will be breaking news that ..
BREAKING NEWS: A GIRL DIED BECAUSE OF ROLLING HER EYES AND CRINGING WHILE READING A MM BOOK.
Yeah it WOULD be weird to die like this... So, avoid re-reading it .. Ever.
Adulting 101 promised us a summer fling with alot of fun and pizza. There was alot of pizza with summer fling to, but where was fun?? I tried to find it but there was none. It was practically a book of ..
Cringe-worthy fanfic representations.
Awkward as hell sex scenes.
Nick's college drama.
Nick & Devons *rolling my eyes* brocode drama.
Drama
Drama
and
Drama.
Nothinggggg moreeeee!!
I really don't like Nick, i despise him. At starting her weird sense of humour was good and acceptable but after that it became hard not to roll my eyes on his childish behaviour and his cringe worthy No filter language. I am good with no filter guys but Nick really was OTT character, with a really creepy crush on Jai our second MC. I can understand Nick's feeling about college and future but the Drama was really un-necessary. Also the family drama was really a pet peeve of mine which was really a issue in this book. After 60% their was not any moment when i liked anything about this book or nick or anyone.
Jai, I liked him he was the only reason i was putting myself to finish this book after 60% and he deserves much better than what he got in this book. I liked Jai's family and his sense of adventure and their family crisis. With Jai everything was good. The way he his character developed was really good other than Nick's whose character was getting downfall instead of developing. He was becoming more childlike than ever with the pace of the book.
I am really disappointed with this book. But as i am giving this book my 2.5 precious stars. So, here are the things i reallylaughed out loud liked about this book.
A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT !!
<< Unpopular Review Time >>
Ahhh .. Another bummer for me, I was really excited when i first saw this book on net-galley. I really liked the synopsis & instantly i request the book, but they rejected my request. *bloody publishers* But that made me read this book more. So, on the day of publishing i bought it on kindle and read after some days with so much excitement that i was bouncing on my seat like a child on Christmas. :D
For the first 60% it was good, funny, entertaining with some cringe worthy moments but it was acceptable but after that the shit went downhill. I think i rolled my eyes a 1000 times till the end that they were pretty much aching :/ I kept prying for this book to end but it went and went and went. ThankGod i don't have to read this now or ever!! or i'll die cringing and rolling my eyes. Wouldn't it be awkward when there will be breaking news that ..
BREAKING NEWS: A GIRL DIED BECAUSE OF ROLLING HER EYES AND CRINGING WHILE READING A MM BOOK.
Yeah it WOULD be weird to die like this... So, avoid re-reading it .. Ever.
“Are we Netflix and chilling?” he asks.
Jai makes a face. “I don’t know what that means.”
“Are you twenty-five or are you eighty-five?” Nick asks, eyes bright.
“Whippersnapper,” Jai grumbles, and Nick laughs.”
Adulting 101 promised us a summer fling with alot of fun and pizza. There was alot of pizza with summer fling to, but where was fun?? I tried to find it but there was none. It was practically a book of ..
Cringe-worthy fanfic representations.
Awkward as hell sex scenes.
Nick's college drama.
Nick & Devons *rolling my eyes* brocode drama.
Drama
Drama
and
Drama.
Nothinggggg moreeeee!!
“It was an accident?” Nick attempts.
“An accident?” Chris huffs out. “An accident? You accidentally gave someone a blowjob?”
If Nick never hears the word “blowjob” come out of his dad’s mouth again, he’ll die a happy man.”
I really don't like Nick, i despise him. At starting her weird sense of humour was good and acceptable but after that it became hard not to roll my eyes on his childish behaviour and his cringe worthy No filter language. I am good with no filter guys but Nick really was OTT character, with a really creepy crush on Jai our second MC. I can understand Nick's feeling about college and future but the Drama was really un-necessary. Also the family drama was really a pet peeve of mine which was really a issue in this book. After 60% their was not any moment when i liked anything about this book or nick or anyone.
Jai, I liked him he was the only reason i was putting myself to finish this book after 60% and he deserves much better than what he got in this book. I liked Jai's family and his sense of adventure and their family crisis. With Jai everything was good. The way he his character developed was really good other than Nick's whose character was getting downfall instead of developing. He was becoming more childlike than ever with the pace of the book.
“If Nick were on a quest to return the One Ring to the fiery pits of Mount Doom, Jai Hazenbrook would totally be the hot-as-fuck elf in tight leather pants who could shoot the left testicle off an orc at a thousand paces. Whereas Nick, of course, would be the short hairy-footed guy who liked beer and fireworks and second breakfasts. Even in his fantasy worlds, Nick is a realist.”
I am really disappointed with this book. But as i am giving this book my 2.5 precious stars. So, here are the things i really
Jai shouldn’t keep looking, but he can’t help himself. He also should have known better than to open the notebook Nick accidentaly left behind, but he’s too shocked to castigate himself over that right now. He can’t stop turning the pages.
Holy shit.
Jai’s Ass: A sonnet (abandoned)
Jai’s ass is like the most incredible thing
I want to do things to it with my mouth
I look at it and heaps of angels sing
And (something that rhymes with mouth goes where)
He flips to the next page and discovers a limerick.
There once was a man called Jai
Who was the world’s most hottest guy
And I’m shit out of luck
If we never fuck
I’ll scream “Why Jesus why Jesus why???????
“Nick is also supportive. Once, when Devon was dating a girl back in high school, Nick had even helped him research how to give oral. Seriously, the internet knows everything. Except how to alleviate a cramped tongue, apparently, which had been Devon’s downfall in the end.”
"Nick: Got my first BJ last night!
Devon: Congratulations?
Nick: Fuck yeah congratulations! Except it was over really fast. :(
Devon: TMI.
Nick: Seriously though? How long did u last when that Mathlete girl blew u?
Devon: HOURS, BRO. HOURS. I was like a machine.
Nick: Dirty liar.
Devon: :D
August 10, 2016
*4.5 stars*
It is. It really, really is.
Lisa Henry is one amazing storyteller! I'm usually scared shitless to pick up her books, because there's so much darkness and heartache in them. But a review promised this is not rapey, and I know that she nails NA, because Prescott College series. I'm so glad I decided to read this one.
Adulting 101 is fun! No, seriously, it's REALLY funny! The kind that makes you laugh so hard, you have to keep wiping your tears. This is comedy material, people! But make no mistake, there are feels too, because Lisa Henry. And underneath it all, there is the core of the matter: the struggle of adulting.
Nick, the eighteen year-old character, has absolutely no filter. He blurts out the first thing that comes to mind, and keeps screwing things up. To his father's disappointment , he has no plans about the future, and can't even hold down a summer job. But he's horny. Yes, Nick is horny all.the.time! Because 18 years old!
And then there's Jai...
Yup, that about sums it up.
Like I said, this is low angst and ridiculously funny, but it's so real. I work with teenagers every day, and I can tell you that NOT all of them have a life plan. On the contrary, most of them are terrified and clueless about the future, despite the attitude. And feeling like losers, like Nick did, doesn't help at all. The author hits the nail on the head! And the way the story ended in that regard, was so fitting. This is exactly what Nick needed to do.
As for the romance, it felt just right. If you 're looking for hearts and flowers or vows for eteral love, you won't find it here. And really, considering Nick's age and Jai's character, it would seem totally fake. BUT there is a very strong connection between these two and you can tell without a doubt that they 're falling hard for each other.
The ending, IMO, is a strong HFN. Again, I felt it was very fitting for this story. I'll quote Rainbow Rowell here: "17-year-olds don’t get endings. They get beginnings." That said, I wouldn't mind at all seeing Nick and Jai again, having a more solid ending.
I admit that I didn't manage to get used to the third-person present-tense POV, but this didn't stop me from enjoying the story, which speaks volumes for the quality of the writing. Overall, this was great, and I definitely recomend it. And most of all, so much FUN!
*Review cross-posted on Gay Book Reviews.*
"Adulting is hard.
The struggle is real.
It is. It really, really is.
Lisa Henry is one amazing storyteller! I'm usually scared shitless to pick up her books, because there's so much darkness and heartache in them. But a review promised this is not rapey, and I know that she nails NA, because Prescott College series. I'm so glad I decided to read this one.
Adulting 101 is fun! No, seriously, it's REALLY funny! The kind that makes you laugh so hard, you have to keep wiping your tears. This is comedy material, people! But make no mistake, there are feels too, because Lisa Henry. And underneath it all, there is the core of the matter: the struggle of adulting.
Nick, the eighteen year-old character, has absolutely no filter. He blurts out the first thing that comes to mind, and keeps screwing things up. To his father's disappointment , he has no plans about the future, and can't even hold down a summer job. But he's horny. Yes, Nick is horny all.the.time! Because 18 years old!
"Nick had thought that once he was getting off regularly with someone other than his own hand, he’d maybe learn some control or something? Get just enough experience to say, Hey there, boner, what do you say you settle the fuck down for a minute, huh? That does not appear to have happened at all. Nick probably needs more experience."
And then there's Jai...
"There’s always a part of Jai looking to escape. Escape this conversation, escape the grind, escape this small town. He spends his days lugging bricks and dreaming of the world outside Franklin, Ohio."
Yup, that about sums it up.
Like I said, this is low angst and ridiculously funny, but it's so real. I work with teenagers every day, and I can tell you that NOT all of them have a life plan. On the contrary, most of them are terrified and clueless about the future, despite the attitude. And feeling like losers, like Nick did, doesn't help at all. The author hits the nail on the head! And the way the story ended in that regard, was so fitting. This is exactly what Nick needed to do.
"Like, does becoming an adult mean losing a part of himself? Or is he just being a fucking teenage drama queen?"
As for the romance, it felt just right. If you 're looking for hearts and flowers or vows for eteral love, you won't find it here. And really, considering Nick's age and Jai's character, it would seem totally fake. BUT there is a very strong connection between these two and you can tell without a doubt that they 're falling hard for each other.
The ending, IMO, is a strong HFN. Again, I felt it was very fitting for this story. I'll quote Rainbow Rowell here: "17-year-olds don’t get endings. They get beginnings." That said, I wouldn't mind at all seeing Nick and Jai again, having a more solid ending.
I admit that I didn't manage to get used to the third-person present-tense POV, but this didn't stop me from enjoying the story, which speaks volumes for the quality of the writing. Overall, this was great, and I definitely recomend it. And most of all, so much FUN!
“I was totally going to ask if I could top you tonight,” he whispers when Jai breaks the kiss. “Then I had some beer for, like, Dutch courage, and then some more, and now I’m so courageous I’m sort of seeing double, and I think if you had two asses I wouldn’t know which one to aim for.”
*Review cross-posted on Gay Book Reviews.*
August 26, 2016
Unicorn Pile Review!
I seem to be on a fluffy kick lately. This was so fluffy and cute I wanted to hug it. But hugging it out with a kindle is… unsatisfying.
I know the whole “adulting is hard” thing is a pithy, slangy quip, but that doesn’t make it false. Adulting is hard. It’s a PITA sometimes. Never more so than during one of those pivotal phases of life like transitioning from living with your parents to moving into a college dorm and being on your own for the first time, an adult but not quite an adult.
I remember that time and it scared me shitless. I empathized with Nick on so many levels. A four year education isn’t the right path for everyone especially when you don’t have a clue what you want to do which is Nick’s predicament. He also doesn’t want to disappoint his parents and isn’t all that certain of alternate options. All of his uncertainties and angst spoke to me and are what I liked best about him.
Nick reminds me an awful lot of Stiles. Sometimes Stiles’ ADHD can overwhelm me and initially I feared that would be the case but while he retains his verbal vomiting tendencies throughout he does have depth. His randomness is focused if you can follow along and thankfully Jai can. Jai also balances out some of Nick’s Tasmanian devilness.
Jai is 7 yrs older and is a wanderluster. He only comes home for the summers to save up enough money to travel the other nine months of the year, usually doing construction. After he and Nick get canned from the construction company FOR REASONS Nick finagles him a job at Pizza Perfecto. I’m still not sold that he could save up enough working at Pizza Perfecto to travel the rest of the year but… *shrugs* it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this story in the slightest.
It made me laugh and feel good and that’s what’s most important to me when I read these sorts of stories. Jai and Nick start as fuck buddies that turn into something more, all of which felt like a natural progression. There are some differences between them but I wouldn’t call them opposites. I liked that Jai could meet Nick where he was and see that he’s more than just a spaz. He helps him with the whole adulting thing and slowly becomes attached to him. It seems as though he’s just as surprised by his feelings for Nick as Nick is surprised by Jai's feelings for Nick which is what made the fluffy EXTRA fluffy and delightful.
I do have to say, though, that as much as I liked Jai and Nick, Nick and Devon’s bromance was my favorite part. Their texting and conversations were comedy gold. Jai’s family are pretty comedic in their own rite and their dynamics entertained the bejesus out of me.
There are some sexy times that aren’t really that sexy. Because 18 yr old virgin but I have hopes he’ll continue to improve. With practice. I also really hope their Bidness Time will stop being interrupted by everyone and their father. DAMN! Also, would not be mad if there were to be a sequel. If someone were so inclined.
Anyone who enjoys Henry’s DiscontentedWinter writes or coming of age stories will enjoy this fluffy bit of goodness.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I seem to be on a fluffy kick lately. This was so fluffy and cute I wanted to hug it. But hugging it out with a kindle is… unsatisfying.
I know the whole “adulting is hard” thing is a pithy, slangy quip, but that doesn’t make it false. Adulting is hard. It’s a PITA sometimes. Never more so than during one of those pivotal phases of life like transitioning from living with your parents to moving into a college dorm and being on your own for the first time, an adult but not quite an adult.
I remember that time and it scared me shitless. I empathized with Nick on so many levels. A four year education isn’t the right path for everyone especially when you don’t have a clue what you want to do which is Nick’s predicament. He also doesn’t want to disappoint his parents and isn’t all that certain of alternate options. All of his uncertainties and angst spoke to me and are what I liked best about him.
Nick reminds me an awful lot of Stiles. Sometimes Stiles’ ADHD can overwhelm me and initially I feared that would be the case but while he retains his verbal vomiting tendencies throughout he does have depth. His randomness is focused if you can follow along and thankfully Jai can. Jai also balances out some of Nick’s Tasmanian devilness.
Jai is 7 yrs older and is a wanderluster. He only comes home for the summers to save up enough money to travel the other nine months of the year, usually doing construction. After he and Nick get canned from the construction company FOR REASONS Nick finagles him a job at Pizza Perfecto. I’m still not sold that he could save up enough working at Pizza Perfecto to travel the rest of the year but… *shrugs* it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this story in the slightest.
It made me laugh and feel good and that’s what’s most important to me when I read these sorts of stories. Jai and Nick start as fuck buddies that turn into something more, all of which felt like a natural progression. There are some differences between them but I wouldn’t call them opposites. I liked that Jai could meet Nick where he was and see that he’s more than just a spaz. He helps him with the whole adulting thing and slowly becomes attached to him. It seems as though he’s just as surprised by his feelings for Nick as Nick is surprised by Jai's feelings for Nick which is what made the fluffy EXTRA fluffy and delightful.
I do have to say, though, that as much as I liked Jai and Nick, Nick and Devon’s bromance was my favorite part. Their texting and conversations were comedy gold. Jai’s family are pretty comedic in their own rite and their dynamics entertained the bejesus out of me.
There are some sexy times that aren’t really that sexy. Because 18 yr old virgin but I have hopes he’ll continue to improve. With practice. I also really hope their Bidness Time will stop being interrupted by everyone and their father. DAMN! Also, would not be mad if there were to be a sequel. If someone were so inclined.
Anyone who enjoys Henry’s DiscontentedWinter writes or coming of age stories will enjoy this fluffy bit of goodness.
An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2019
Audio-4.25 stars
Story-4.5 stars
This has got to be one of the most adorably funny stories I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. 😍😂 Not only did I enjoy the relationship between the MCs, Jai and Nick, I also fell in love, and at times, swooned over the close friendship between Nick and his straight bestfriend, Devon.
I so wish this was a series, but I'd settle for a follow-up novella, since the ending was more HFN than HEA.
Story-4.5 stars
This has got to be one of the most adorably funny stories I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. 😍😂 Not only did I enjoy the relationship between the MCs, Jai and Nick, I also fell in love, and at times, swooned over the close friendship between Nick and his straight bestfriend, Devon.
I so wish this was a series, but I'd settle for a follow-up novella, since the ending was more HFN than HEA.
August 23, 2016
Adulting is hard. No lie. I'm 46 years old and sometimes I still have trouble with it. And the fact that I've been adulting for far longer than I should have been, interestingly enough, doesn't make it any easier. And I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Adulting 101 is a very humorous story about an 18 year old boy who isn't ready to adult. Nick thinks - and I think his parents might be at least partially to blame - that he should have a clue as to what he wants to be when he grows up. His parents put all kinds of pressure on him about working and college and making grown up decisions and doing the right thing. Those are all very good things, except when they aren't stopping to actually talk to Nick about what he wants to do. Nick is simply expected to magically know or at least want to follow the path his parents have laid out. Nick, though, has trouble asserting himself where his parents and his anxieties meet. Ah, growing up.
Like Nick, I have been known to write the occasional (read WAY TOO MANY) haiku. So I thought I would give it a shot here, as well (Sorry for subjecting you to my awful poetry skills #SorryNotSorry):
Nick becomes rather obsessed with Jai during what is supposed to be his summer job before embarking on that college adventure. Well, Nick doesn't get a whole lot of work done, but he writes haiku and sonnets about Jai's ass. So I wrote one, too. I mean, why not?
Jai is a bit older than Nick, and definitely more worldly. Jai spends his summers working and the rest of the year, he travels. I think that's pretty cool. I wish I would have had the courage to do the same thing when I was young. Jai doesn't want life to pass him by without having taken chances. He wants to really live and experience the many wonders this world has to offer. And he doesn't see the need for an actual relationship. On his travels, Jai has hooked up with many people and whether it was for a day, or a week, it's been fine. Jai is an introvert and really functions well alone. Normally, someone as full of energy, like Nick, would totally exhaust him, but he really takes to Nick, word salad and randomness and all. Oh, I would be remiss if I didn't have a haiku for Nick, too:
What I really loved about Adulting 101 is that embedded in the humor and the over-the-topness and blurtiness of Nick, is a story that has depth and relevance and characters that are well drawn. Growing up really is hard and there are so many pressures put on young people to rush out and get that degree - whether or not they even want it - and be successful. But success isn't something that can really be measured by how much money you make a year. And adulting isn't something that magically happens when you turn 18.
Nick and Jai each have their own lessons in this story. Nick learns that adulting doesn't come with a script and Jai learns that you don't always have to go around the world to find home.
Well done!
----------------
Review copy of Adulting 101 was generously provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Adulting 101 is a very humorous story about an 18 year old boy who isn't ready to adult. Nick thinks - and I think his parents might be at least partially to blame - that he should have a clue as to what he wants to be when he grows up. His parents put all kinds of pressure on him about working and college and making grown up decisions and doing the right thing. Those are all very good things, except when they aren't stopping to actually talk to Nick about what he wants to do. Nick is simply expected to magically know or at least want to follow the path his parents have laid out. Nick, though, has trouble asserting himself where his parents and his anxieties meet. Ah, growing up.
Like Nick, I have been known to write the occasional (read WAY TOO MANY) haiku. So I thought I would give it a shot here, as well (Sorry for subjecting you to my awful poetry skills #SorryNotSorry):
Adulting is hard
And highly overrated
Don't wanna grow up
Nick becomes rather obsessed with Jai during what is supposed to be his summer job before embarking on that college adventure. Well, Nick doesn't get a whole lot of work done, but he writes haiku and sonnets about Jai's ass. So I wrote one, too. I mean, why not?
Jai's ass is so fine
It so deserves monuments
Made in its honor
Jai is a bit older than Nick, and definitely more worldly. Jai spends his summers working and the rest of the year, he travels. I think that's pretty cool. I wish I would have had the courage to do the same thing when I was young. Jai doesn't want life to pass him by without having taken chances. He wants to really live and experience the many wonders this world has to offer. And he doesn't see the need for an actual relationship. On his travels, Jai has hooked up with many people and whether it was for a day, or a week, it's been fine. Jai is an introvert and really functions well alone. Normally, someone as full of energy, like Nick, would totally exhaust him, but he really takes to Nick, word salad and randomness and all. Oh, I would be remiss if I didn't have a haiku for Nick, too:
Nick loves word salad
Fandom is strong in this one
Random is random
What I really loved about Adulting 101 is that embedded in the humor and the over-the-topness and blurtiness of Nick, is a story that has depth and relevance and characters that are well drawn. Growing up really is hard and there are so many pressures put on young people to rush out and get that degree - whether or not they even want it - and be successful. But success isn't something that can really be measured by how much money you make a year. And adulting isn't something that magically happens when you turn 18.
Nick and Jai each have their own lessons in this story. Nick learns that adulting doesn't come with a script and Jai learns that you don't always have to go around the world to find home.
Well done!
----------------
Review copy of Adulting 101 was generously provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2017
So I now know two things: 1. that even at forty I can sometimes screw up the whole "adulting" thing because I stayed up way too late reading this, and 2. I straight up loved and adored this. It was absolutely, completely, and totally worth staying up late to finish it!
Nick Stahlnecker is eighteen and wants to experience life. He's smart, but doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, has no filter, and has a pretty co-dependent relationship with his best friend Devon. There's a lot he doesn't know, but what he does know is that construction worker, Jai Hazenbrook, is super hot and he really, really wants to know what he tastes like.
Life is meant to be experienced, right? YOLO. How do you know what's good until you try it?
When Jai and Nick are caught in a hilariously compromised position, Nick learns two things. First that:
Jai is twenty-five and spends three months every summer working back in his hometown and living in his mom's basement just so he can afford to spend the next nine months traveling the globe experiencing life. He's completely unprepared for this weird kid to come into his life.
But the more time he spends with Nick, the more he realizes that he likes him.
Adulting 101 is low angst, really sweet, ridiculously funny, totally awesome, and I seriously cannot recommend it enough.
Side Note: If you've ever read Lisa Henry's lighter free fanfiction work as DiscontentedWinter, then you'll already know how much humor and emotion she can pack into a story. Also, you'll know how much you're going to love this story.
Recommended!
For my audio review of the story click here.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Adulting 101 provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Nick Stahlnecker is eighteen and wants to experience life. He's smart, but doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, has no filter, and has a pretty co-dependent relationship with his best friend Devon. There's a lot he doesn't know, but what he does know is that construction worker, Jai Hazenbrook, is super hot and he really, really wants to know what he tastes like.
Life is meant to be experienced, right? YOLO. How do you know what's good until you try it?
It’s like the time he tried blue cheese. It looked pretty good, and heaps of other people like it, and right up until the moment he put it in his mouth, he was totally keeping an open mind. And then it turned out it tasted like ass. Like Satan’s ass. But he hadn’t known until he tried it for himself. And how else is he supposed to learn things except by trying them?
When Jai and Nick are caught in a hilariously compromised position, Nick learns two things. First that:
Adulting is hard....and second, that Jai is willing to be a friend with benefits and Nick is all about learning as much as he possibly can before going away to college in the fall.
The struggle is real.
Jai is twenty-five and spends three months every summer working back in his hometown and living in his mom's basement just so he can afford to spend the next nine months traveling the globe experiencing life. He's completely unprepared for this weird kid to come into his life.
How is this kid even real? Real people have filters.
But the more time he spends with Nick, the more he realizes that he likes him.
It’s weird, then, that he likes Nick.
Nick is everything Jai is not. Nick is loud. Nick has no discernable filter. He’s smart, but he’s also scatterbrained. He has energy levels that can only be attributed to a diet full of caffeine and sugar. By rights, Jai should find him exasperating. Instead, he finds him oddly charming.
Adulting 101 is low angst, really sweet, ridiculously funny, totally awesome, and I seriously cannot recommend it enough.
Side Note: If you've ever read Lisa Henry's lighter free fanfiction work as DiscontentedWinter, then you'll already know how much humor and emotion she can pack into a story. Also, you'll know how much you're going to love this story.
Recommended!
For my audio review of the story click here.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Adulting 101 provided by Riptide Publishing in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
August 20, 2016
I loved this book ! It was just what I needed.
This book is about 18 year old Nick, who by the way was awesome. He has finished high school and is right now working through his summer vacation, before he has to start college. His dad wants him to be more responsible....in other words, it's time to grow up and become an adult.
However, sucking someone off in a portable toilet ad getting caught, may not be considered the right way to go about that. Ofcourse he loses his job, as does the receiver of said blowjob.
Damn but this book made me laugh and almost pee myself !!!
Jay, receiver of the infamous blowjob, is not really happy about losing his job. He is a real traveling man and only comes home for three months during summer to make money. After that, he is off again. He's not mad at Nick though, after all, when Nick asked him if he wanted a BJ, he said yes. Which is the same answer he gives when Nick asks him if he wants to be fuckbuddies.
This deal between the two of them is cause for some really akward sexscenes !!
I'm not going into the storyline any further, just know that these guys were akward as hell, but also hot, really funny and extremely adorable..... I loved them together... Nick's rambling was so freaking cute.
I had an awesome time reading this one !!! I also want to give some extra credit to Nicks best friend Devon, who was a real amazing guy !!!
August 27, 2016
This book was EVERYTHING. I laughed, I cried, total meltdown.
The characters were so real, so flawed. I loved how it gently addressed 'adulting' not just for 18yo Nick, but also for 25yo Jai. That just because he was older, didn't mean he had everything figured out, and yet, he could also acknowledge the ways in which he DID grow up.
It was funny without trying too hard. The situational humor, the vivid side characters, the dialogues, the text messages, pop culture references... Ah... cloud 9 :)
The characters were so real, so flawed. I loved how it gently addressed 'adulting' not just for 18yo Nick, but also for 25yo Jai. That just because he was older, didn't mean he had everything figured out, and yet, he could also acknowledge the ways in which he DID grow up.
It was funny without trying too hard. The situational humor, the vivid side characters, the dialogues, the text messages, pop culture references... Ah... cloud 9 :)
November 12, 2019
Cute, funny, sexy. Very rereadable. And I even loved the audiobook, who am I.
May 14, 2020
4.5 Stars
Adulting 101 is a mood-boosting coming-of-age romance, that managed to be both emotionally charged and funny as hell.
Nick, our 18-year-old goofy MC, is a hot mess and it was fantastic. Even at 35 I could relate to all of Nick’s fears and insecurities about life and purpose—seriously, that shit never goes away (unless you’re some magical unicorn that loves what they do and where they are in life, you lucky bastards!). Nick is one of those characters that verbally vomits on everyone he meets, but remains, to his core, the sweetest, most endearing guy around. I adored him, simple as that.
Jai, our 25-year-old world-wanderer, is equally as wonderful. He is so kind, patient, supportive, sexy, and unwaveringly positive in his approach to handling life’s challenges. He is the perfect guy—or at least the perfect guy for Nick. I adored him, too, and who could blame me!?
What needs to be mentioned with most enthusiasm is the wonderful support cast, particularly Nick’s BFF Devon and Jai’s family. These side characters, who surrounded Nick and Jai with love and support, boosted the story to even greater heights. I was so pleased every time they graced the pages with their good humour and warm hearts.
Needless to say, this was a fun, sexy, heart-warming story and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s the perfect read for anyone suffering from those pesky isolation blues!
Adulting 101 is a mood-boosting coming-of-age romance, that managed to be both emotionally charged and funny as hell.
Nick, our 18-year-old goofy MC, is a hot mess and it was fantastic. Even at 35 I could relate to all of Nick’s fears and insecurities about life and purpose—seriously, that shit never goes away (unless you’re some magical unicorn that loves what they do and where they are in life, you lucky bastards!). Nick is one of those characters that verbally vomits on everyone he meets, but remains, to his core, the sweetest, most endearing guy around. I adored him, simple as that.
Jai, our 25-year-old world-wanderer, is equally as wonderful. He is so kind, patient, supportive, sexy, and unwaveringly positive in his approach to handling life’s challenges. He is the perfect guy—or at least the perfect guy for Nick. I adored him, too, and who could blame me!?
What needs to be mentioned with most enthusiasm is the wonderful support cast, particularly Nick’s BFF Devon and Jai’s family. These side characters, who surrounded Nick and Jai with love and support, boosted the story to even greater heights. I was so pleased every time they graced the pages with their good humour and warm hearts.
Needless to say, this was a fun, sexy, heart-warming story and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s the perfect read for anyone suffering from those pesky isolation blues!
February 7, 2017
If you've ever been the parent of an 18 year old...
then you know this is not a mind that you want to spend a lot of time in and yet, I was drawn to this book. Mostly because I'm more than a little impressed by this author and I was curious to see if she could pull this off. I mean seriously I wanted to see if Ms Henry was as good as I think she is because I truly think it takes balls to be a woman and write a book about an 18 year old boy.
I have 4 brothers and a son and thanks to my son I've had the joy of experiencing the 18 year old male viewpoint on more than one occasion from more than one 18 year old male during my adult life unlike my brothers who are all older than me and I simply remember them as just being weird at that age. I honestly have to say I'm impressed because there was more than one instance of me laughing and nodding my head and I thought yeah, I remember that whether it was part of my 18 year old sons life or one of his friends.
While I wasn't instantly overwhelmed with feelz for Nick, I was definitely entertained by him. Nick in some ways was an amalgamation of every 18 year old boy I've ever known. He had his superficial moments and let's face it at that age who doesn't male or female, he had insecurities which he often tried to hide with a touch of brashness and a bit of bravado, he had his moments of insight and revelation like when he realized that his parents had been people with their own interest and personalities before they became mom and dad and that maybe his dad wasn't really boring just not the person that Nick wanted to be and he has hormones...lord have mercy he has those in abundance just like every other 18 year old boy (and girl) I've ever met. Eighteen is also one of the toughest ages to be because it's that time when the world says you're an adult and expects you to act like one but doesn't always treat you like one and you don't always feel like you're ready to be one.
I actually liked Jai from the word go and ironically it was mostly due to the way he treated Nick. He was good to Nick. He could have been mad about the whole porta-potty incident and blamed it on Nick but that wasn't the way he was wired. He was genuinely a nice guy and hot really, really hot. I know this because Nick told me several times...see superficial, but we can forgive him for this because he's 18 and he did also realize that Jai as well as being good looking Jai was also a really good person and that he liked being with him...see that Nick's growing up.
I loved Devon and Nick's bromance it was beyond cool. That Devon at times was more mature than Nick and so there for him without being asked was awesome but Devon also had his moments and like a true bro Nick was there for him.
Nick and Jai's relationship was probably one of the most entertaining relationships I've encountered in a while. I mean seriously in no universe anywhere, ever has having sex while there are family members or authority figures of any kind on the premises ever gone well...ever!!! and it was no exception here except for the fact that not being one of the parties involved allowed me to sit back and enjoy the occasion.
For me the icing on the cake was the ending. Was it a case of 'and they all lived happily ever after' who knows, Nick's only 18, Jai's all of 25 and the fact that they're 'happy for now' is far more realistic. Do I want more...oh hell yeah, I'd love a story somewhere down the road to find out how things are going with Nick and Jai and their families and friends. I have every confidence that it would be every bit as entertaining as 'Adulting 101' was, maybe even more so.
So did Ms Henry succeed in writing a book about an 18 year old male? For me, she nailed it with panache and a huge dose of humor. So is she as good as I think she is? Hell no, she's way better. I not only recommend this one I encourage it.
*******************
An ARC of 'Adulting 101' was graciously provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
then you know this is not a mind that you want to spend a lot of time in and yet, I was drawn to this book. Mostly because I'm more than a little impressed by this author and I was curious to see if she could pull this off. I mean seriously I wanted to see if Ms Henry was as good as I think she is because I truly think it takes balls to be a woman and write a book about an 18 year old boy.
I have 4 brothers and a son and thanks to my son I've had the joy of experiencing the 18 year old male viewpoint on more than one occasion from more than one 18 year old male during my adult life unlike my brothers who are all older than me and I simply remember them as just being weird at that age. I honestly have to say I'm impressed because there was more than one instance of me laughing and nodding my head and I thought yeah, I remember that whether it was part of my 18 year old sons life or one of his friends.
While I wasn't instantly overwhelmed with feelz for Nick, I was definitely entertained by him. Nick in some ways was an amalgamation of every 18 year old boy I've ever known. He had his superficial moments and let's face it at that age who doesn't male or female, he had insecurities which he often tried to hide with a touch of brashness and a bit of bravado, he had his moments of insight and revelation like when he realized that his parents had been people with their own interest and personalities before they became mom and dad and that maybe his dad wasn't really boring just not the person that Nick wanted to be and he has hormones...lord have mercy he has those in abundance just like every other 18 year old boy (and girl) I've ever met. Eighteen is also one of the toughest ages to be because it's that time when the world says you're an adult and expects you to act like one but doesn't always treat you like one and you don't always feel like you're ready to be one.
I actually liked Jai from the word go and ironically it was mostly due to the way he treated Nick. He was good to Nick. He could have been mad about the whole porta-potty incident and blamed it on Nick but that wasn't the way he was wired. He was genuinely a nice guy and hot really, really hot. I know this because Nick told me several times...see superficial, but we can forgive him for this because he's 18 and he did also realize that Jai as well as being good looking Jai was also a really good person and that he liked being with him...see that Nick's growing up.
I loved Devon and Nick's bromance it was beyond cool. That Devon at times was more mature than Nick and so there for him without being asked was awesome but Devon also had his moments and like a true bro Nick was there for him.
Nick and Jai's relationship was probably one of the most entertaining relationships I've encountered in a while. I mean seriously in no universe anywhere, ever has having sex while there are family members or authority figures of any kind on the premises ever gone well...ever!!! and it was no exception here except for the fact that not being one of the parties involved allowed me to sit back and enjoy the occasion.
For me the icing on the cake was the ending. Was it a case of 'and they all lived happily ever after' who knows, Nick's only 18, Jai's all of 25 and the fact that they're 'happy for now' is far more realistic. Do I want more...oh hell yeah, I'd love a story somewhere down the road to find out how things are going with Nick and Jai and their families and friends. I have every confidence that it would be every bit as entertaining as 'Adulting 101' was, maybe even more so.
So did Ms Henry succeed in writing a book about an 18 year old male? For me, she nailed it with panache and a huge dose of humor. So is she as good as I think she is? Hell no, she's way better. I not only recommend this one I encourage it.
*******************
An ARC of 'Adulting 101' was graciously provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2016
4.5 stars
I liked this a lot! It made me laugh and I really needed that right now.
I liked this a lot! It made me laugh and I really needed that right now.
June 29, 2016
Adulting 101 was such a fun read! It's about a young man who has no clue what he wants to do with his life, a hot 25-year-old who loves to travel, and an awesome best friend.
There was so much to like about this book. Here are some of my highlights:
1. Humor. I was cracking about through almost the entirety of this book. Nick's lack of filter and the messages between him and his BFF Devon will have you smiling and forgetting your worries. <---True story!
2. Jai. He was just awesome and has been added to my Book Boyfriend List. He was sweet, patient, and loyal. He had this calming quality to his character.
3. Nick. He was funny as hell, but there was a vulnerability to his character that made me want to protect him.
4. Devon. He gets the BFF of the Year Award. Their friendship was very "this is my brother from another mother". It was adorable.
5. I appreciated that it was a different take on New Adult. New Adult stories tend to be more severe and dramatic- in this book the same issues are underlined but with a light/low angst vibe. But it still managed to make me feel the character's fears and insecurities. It was nicely done.
6. The story is narrated through a dual POV.
My only niggles:
1. I wanted more one on one time between Nick and Jai. We were told they spent a lot of time together in Jai's basement but most of it off page. I wish we'd gotten a glimpse of their time together.
2. I wanted a more solid ending. I like to know my characters are going to have their HEA, and this almost felt like a tentative HFN.
I am PRAYING that we get a book 2. I NEED a book 2! Pretty please with sugar on top, Ms. Henry?
People always ask about steam... I'm not going to lie- I would've liked some more. On a scale from 1 to 5: I'd say 2.5.
All in all, this was a great little story. It was genuine, relatable, fun, sweet, and with a feel good vibe. HIGHLY recommend. 4 Stars!
PS. I would like to take another moment to say: please write a sequel, Ms. Henry.
ARC kindly provided by Riptide via NetGalley for an honest review.
December 30, 2018
4,25 stars
This book was extremely funny. I had so much fun reading it. I laughed so hard so many times! I highlighted so much. Most of them can't be shared here. Or shouldn't. I don't know. I just know I had such a great time reading this... I laughed so hard! My husband wasn't that impressed when I read to him some excerpts but I told him he should read this on his own to get it ;)
Wish I could express better how much I enjoyed reading this. Super funny AND well written doesn't even cover it!
This book was extremely funny. I had so much fun reading it. I laughed so hard so many times! I highlighted so much. Most of them can't be shared here. Or shouldn't. I don't know. I just know I had such a great time reading this... I laughed so hard! My husband wasn't that impressed when I read to him some excerpts but I told him he should read this on his own to get it ;)
Wish I could express better how much I enjoyed reading this. Super funny AND well written doesn't even cover it!
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