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Like You a Latte
Do you listen to your head or your heart?
Spencer Sharp goes with his head. He believes in order, that there's a place for everything and everything goes in its place. He just doesn't know where to put Owen Moore. The easy going, free spirited boy is nothing like him, but Spencer can't help but be attracted to him anyway. This school year has been difficult; maybe Owen is the breath of fresh air he needs.
As the year progresses and they get to know each other, can Spencer stop thinking with his head and follow his heart for once?
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Like You A Latte is a young adult romance for those who enjoy LGBT+ books. This is a sweet standalone story that features two boys getting to know each other, opposites attracting, a coffee shop, and humor.
Spencer Sharp goes with his head. He believes in order, that there's a place for everything and everything goes in its place. He just doesn't know where to put Owen Moore. The easy going, free spirited boy is nothing like him, but Spencer can't help but be attracted to him anyway. This school year has been difficult; maybe Owen is the breath of fresh air he needs.
As the year progresses and they get to know each other, can Spencer stop thinking with his head and follow his heart for once?
---
Like You A Latte is a young adult romance for those who enjoy LGBT+ books. This is a sweet standalone story that features two boys getting to know each other, opposites attracting, a coffee shop, and humor.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2019
16 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
F.N. Manning
43 books81 followersF.N. Manning writes the One More Thing and Ward Magic series while living in a small town on the North Carolina coast and not going to the beach enough. The author loves complex characters and cancelled TV shows. F.N. makes the world gayer by writing one M/M romance novel at a time.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 17, 2022
I couldn’t put this book down. I loved it, and at times I hated it. I started out hating Spencer. He was so infuriating and rude. Then I hated Owen because he was so indecisive.
It was so beautifully written and the prose just flowed. I became swept up in the story and wanting the best for everyone. I would certainly read a sequel to find out what happens in college.
It was so beautifully written and the prose just flowed. I became swept up in the story and wanting the best for everyone. I would certainly read a sequel to find out what happens in college.
April 5, 2021
Realistic slice of life, with genuine imperfect characters. Refreshingly believable, hopeful, and unresolved.
September 19, 2021
Figuring Things Out . . .
A junior at McAllister Preparatory Academy, Spencer Sharp is 100% aimed at studying with his GPA in jeopardy. He was taking three AP courses and a full schedule with tutoring, newspaper, orchestra, National Honors Society, and track to keep him in shape. As he and his BFF and study partner Quinn Harper, stood in line at the fancy coffee shop, she suggested he find someone to take his mind off the rough school year they were having. Laughing, she said it would help his crabbiness. Owen Moore waited on him and it was like he knew Spencer. When he ordered pumpkin lattes, Owen said he would have guessed his drink would be Earl Gray tea, which it would have been if Quinn had not insisted on the latte. Then he suggested he come back that evening – it was a good place to study, and he pegged Spencer as an academic.
A half hour late for their study session, Spencer saw how angry Quinn was. She finally blew up over his offer to write up their schedule plan, which designated when bathroom breaks were to be taken to minimize study disruption. She had enough of this. She tried to talk about the football player taking a date to prom and Spencer dismissed the discussion as gossip and boring. So after their inevitable ugly fight, the only place to study is the coffee shop. The evening there was much quieter, not so much hurrying, people typing quietly on computers. Owen gifted him with a pumpkin latte and asked if it was ok. When Spencer commented “it will do”, Owen raved about the “high praise”. Trying to make amends, Spencer announced, “You’re very skilled at… applying whipped cream.” Owen happily accepted the compliment and asked if he could join him in 5 minutes when he got his break. He immediately said yes, without having to think about it, and that worried him! By the time Owen came and and took his break, Spencer knew he wanted to get to know Owen, and something told him Owen would definitely be worth it. And as their relationship developed, he was worth it! He was perfect… until a girl at a party shattered his world and Owen confessed about his indecision about his own preferences. But all Spencer thought was that the confused Owen deliberately used him for amusement.
There is so much going on here, but Spencer is too regimented and meeting Owen provided him with some balance. Spencer never considered that Owen needed him too. Owen is a free spirit, happy, delightful, and all the things Spencer has not mastered yet. But as Owen fills the spot Quinn left, Spencer switches his intensity over to Owen. And then it all shatters.
This story line feels so realistic regarding the struggles of growing up and becoming the person you are with all the doubts and confusion along the way. And one thing I appreciated was the author’s use of analogies to give the reader a clear image of what was being described. A counselor comparing junior year to a rollercoaster, where it started off as having sharp curves, unexpected drops, flipping you upside down at times, but the view at the top was amazing – to which Spencer shockingly added that sometimes you wanted to throw up and you needed to get off the ride occasionally before you got back on. Somehow that whole insightful description resonated with me as a great summary of Life and a crystalizing of the story to come.
A junior at McAllister Preparatory Academy, Spencer Sharp is 100% aimed at studying with his GPA in jeopardy. He was taking three AP courses and a full schedule with tutoring, newspaper, orchestra, National Honors Society, and track to keep him in shape. As he and his BFF and study partner Quinn Harper, stood in line at the fancy coffee shop, she suggested he find someone to take his mind off the rough school year they were having. Laughing, she said it would help his crabbiness. Owen Moore waited on him and it was like he knew Spencer. When he ordered pumpkin lattes, Owen said he would have guessed his drink would be Earl Gray tea, which it would have been if Quinn had not insisted on the latte. Then he suggested he come back that evening – it was a good place to study, and he pegged Spencer as an academic.
A half hour late for their study session, Spencer saw how angry Quinn was. She finally blew up over his offer to write up their schedule plan, which designated when bathroom breaks were to be taken to minimize study disruption. She had enough of this. She tried to talk about the football player taking a date to prom and Spencer dismissed the discussion as gossip and boring. So after their inevitable ugly fight, the only place to study is the coffee shop. The evening there was much quieter, not so much hurrying, people typing quietly on computers. Owen gifted him with a pumpkin latte and asked if it was ok. When Spencer commented “it will do”, Owen raved about the “high praise”. Trying to make amends, Spencer announced, “You’re very skilled at… applying whipped cream.” Owen happily accepted the compliment and asked if he could join him in 5 minutes when he got his break. He immediately said yes, without having to think about it, and that worried him! By the time Owen came and and took his break, Spencer knew he wanted to get to know Owen, and something told him Owen would definitely be worth it. And as their relationship developed, he was worth it! He was perfect… until a girl at a party shattered his world and Owen confessed about his indecision about his own preferences. But all Spencer thought was that the confused Owen deliberately used him for amusement.
There is so much going on here, but Spencer is too regimented and meeting Owen provided him with some balance. Spencer never considered that Owen needed him too. Owen is a free spirit, happy, delightful, and all the things Spencer has not mastered yet. But as Owen fills the spot Quinn left, Spencer switches his intensity over to Owen. And then it all shatters.
This story line feels so realistic regarding the struggles of growing up and becoming the person you are with all the doubts and confusion along the way. And one thing I appreciated was the author’s use of analogies to give the reader a clear image of what was being described. A counselor comparing junior year to a rollercoaster, where it started off as having sharp curves, unexpected drops, flipping you upside down at times, but the view at the top was amazing – to which Spencer shockingly added that sometimes you wanted to throw up and you needed to get off the ride occasionally before you got back on. Somehow that whole insightful description resonated with me as a great summary of Life and a crystalizing of the story to come.
September 26, 2021
OMG, this felt like a flash-back for me. Trying to fit everything in, studying, striving for perfection, AP classes, honors. Everything. Add to that, questions about sexuality and trying to date, Spencer has a full plate. Then he quarrels with his best friend, his home life implodes, and even his love life may be on the rocks. Is there a HEA in here somewhere? Well, the book has a smile on the cover, but I'll let you read it for yourself to find out. I loved the realistic characters and Spencer's attributes, both good and over-bearing. I think the happy medium lies somewhere between Spencer's persona and Owen's.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 19, 2021
3.5 stars
This book is difficult for me to rate because there was a lot about it that I didn't particularly care for yet there were parts that were adorable and I thoroughly enjoyed. The hardest part for me was Spencer being so wrapped up in his own head space and not being able to be more flexible in life. If I had to guess I'd say that he was likely on the autism spectrum. I did enjoy watching him grow some towards the second part of the book and to accept more flexibility into his world and his relationship with Owen.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is difficult for me to rate because there was a lot about it that I didn't particularly care for yet there were parts that were adorable and I thoroughly enjoyed. The hardest part for me was Spencer being so wrapped up in his own head space and not being able to be more flexible in life. If I had to guess I'd say that he was likely on the autism spectrum. I did enjoy watching him grow some towards the second part of the book and to accept more flexibility into his world and his relationship with Owen.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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July 28, 2022DNF, a rarety for me, but I just struggled too much with this. I don’t mind YA stories but this was just too much. High school juniors; nope! I might have been able to continue if any of the characters were likable, but I found Spencer to be obnoxious, stuck-up, elitest (he has the nerve to criticize the super rich kids), i.e.; totally unlikable. I read a lot of the other reviews, including some that indicate the story and characters get better. Sorry, I was getting zero enjoyment, my main reason for reading, so I’m giving up on this one.
September 26, 2021
Spencer is all about his studies. Anything he does has to be planned and he has no time to relax and have fun. Owen is just the opposite, he's laid back, doesn't have to plan for everything and he loves to have fun. They meet and are attracted to each other. They try dating but when their at a party someone comes between them. I enjoyed this book.
March 17, 2025
This was a simple story of love—normal and sweet! I enjoyed the lovers' interaction, but it just did not wow me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 17, 2019
Manning captures the personality of a high school overachiever perfectly. Unfortunately, the author doesn’t adhere to the perfectionism of the main character, Spencer, who would never have published this book with such poor editing.
January 8, 2020
It's alright overall. It starts off pretty slow. Some editing would be beneficial.
Want to read
June 3, 2021Like You A Latte
By F.N. Manning
By F.N. Manning
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews