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All the Way to Wrightsville
Who says you can’t run away from your problems? Twenty-one-year-old Pete plans to do just that: run away from his blue-collar, Massachusetts upbringing, his anger issues and most importantly, Jackson, his overbearing twin brother. And while he’s at it, he’ll take his deepest secret with him.
A recent college graduate, Pete moves to North Carolina to start his new job and his new life. After years of being compared to his gregarious and lovable twin, he needs to create an identity of his own and not be seen as the “angry one” or “Jackson’s brother.” What he finds are the same problems that have always held him back.
That is, until he has an affair with his boss, who is married with two kids. What starts out as a dream come true begins to take a darker turn, until Jackson shows up in North Carolina to—once again—upend Pete’s life.
Although Jackson’s intentions are pure, his help is reckless. He drags Pete out of the closet and tries his hardest to point him in the direction of real love.
Wickedly funny, sexy and deeply touching, ALL THE WAY TO WRIGHTSVILLE is the story of one man’s journey to find himself…and maybe even true love along the way.
A recent college graduate, Pete moves to North Carolina to start his new job and his new life. After years of being compared to his gregarious and lovable twin, he needs to create an identity of his own and not be seen as the “angry one” or “Jackson’s brother.” What he finds are the same problems that have always held him back.
That is, until he has an affair with his boss, who is married with two kids. What starts out as a dream come true begins to take a darker turn, until Jackson shows up in North Carolina to—once again—upend Pete’s life.
Although Jackson’s intentions are pure, his help is reckless. He drags Pete out of the closet and tries his hardest to point him in the direction of real love.
Wickedly funny, sexy and deeply touching, ALL THE WAY TO WRIGHTSVILLE is the story of one man’s journey to find himself…and maybe even true love along the way.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2021
16 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Richard LeMay
2 books3 followersAcclaimed filmmaker Richard LeMay is best known for directing the remake of Francis Ford Coppola's DEMENTIA 13 for NBC/Universal. Before his foray into the horror genre, LeMay was a prominent voice in LGBTQ cinema. He produced CHILDREN OF GOD, winner of 27 awards internationally and wrote, produced and directed the critically acclaimed NAKED AS WE CAME which the NEW YORK TIMES calls "A lovely surprise of a film." Though LeMay is an accomplished screenwriter, ALL THE WAY TO WRIGHTSVILLE is his first novel. He resides in New York City with his husband and two dogs. For more information about Richard, check out www.rlemay.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 13, 2021
Wow! Such a heartfelt book about finding one's self and all the bumps and struggles along the way.
Pete has grown up feeling like he was a shadow of his twin brother and always felt, well, different. His family was also very vocal on their views of certain things and situations. So when the time came to accept a job in another state, Pete jumped at the chance to be away from them all and start a new life. However, things aren't always that easy, are they? Pete not only finds that some of those problems that he has had over the years and was running from were not his brother but ones that he holds onto himself, but he also gets involved with his boss as his first "out" experience. But since it is his boss who is very much married with kids, it is still a very big secret. That is until his brother visits and Pete's whole world changes!
This is a very powerful and frustrating book. The whole time I was screaming at Pete to make better choices, accept and love himself, and be honest with those around him. And you know what, that is exactly the point the author is trying to make - you need to find yourself, love yourself, love who you are and are evolving into, and those that love you will stand by you and support you no matter what! At times I thought the story was rather slow, repetitive, and just kind of glossed over some subjects, yet at times it seemed like it was trying to touch on all of today's issues. But overall it represented really well how some people struggle within themselves, acceptance, and doing things in your own time not when others want you to. Oh, and it totally made me cry!
Pete has grown up feeling like he was a shadow of his twin brother and always felt, well, different. His family was also very vocal on their views of certain things and situations. So when the time came to accept a job in another state, Pete jumped at the chance to be away from them all and start a new life. However, things aren't always that easy, are they? Pete not only finds that some of those problems that he has had over the years and was running from were not his brother but ones that he holds onto himself, but he also gets involved with his boss as his first "out" experience. But since it is his boss who is very much married with kids, it is still a very big secret. That is until his brother visits and Pete's whole world changes!
This is a very powerful and frustrating book. The whole time I was screaming at Pete to make better choices, accept and love himself, and be honest with those around him. And you know what, that is exactly the point the author is trying to make - you need to find yourself, love yourself, love who you are and are evolving into, and those that love you will stand by you and support you no matter what! At times I thought the story was rather slow, repetitive, and just kind of glossed over some subjects, yet at times it seemed like it was trying to touch on all of today's issues. But overall it represented really well how some people struggle within themselves, acceptance, and doing things in your own time not when others want you to. Oh, and it totally made me cry!
January 12, 2022
All the Way to Wrightsville, noted filmmaker Richard LeMay’s first novel, feels like a coming-out story from the 1950s or ’60s that has been crammed onto a contemporary storyline. So much of the protagonist’s struggles rang true for someone reckoning with their sexuality earlier (LeMay was born in 1960), but not someone born in the 21’st century.
That’s because LeMay, whose film credits include Dementia 13 (Director 2013) and Children of God (Producer, 2010), has written a coming-out novel whose protagonist, Pete Moretti, suffers a seemingly unending series of reversals of fortune. Reading it almost reminded me of Fortunately, a children’s book, where the protagonist moves through a series of phenomena that reverse each other.
Fortunately, Pete gets a new job in North Carolina in a field he trained for. Unfortunately, Pete’s new boss is a weirdo who thinks taking his staff out to strip clubs is remotely acceptable in the era of Me Too (the book was published in 2021).
And it’s not merely the reversals of fortune. Everyone has those, and coming-out novels can be mainly filled with them. But so many of Pete’s lapses are due to his having almost no spine or drive on his own. He’s forever doubting his actions and second-guessing his reactions and, worse for the reader, failing to reveal his motivations.
For example, the write-up for the book states, “Twenty-one-year-old Pete plans to do just that: run away from his blue-collar, Massachusetts upbringing, his anger issues and most importantly, Jackson, his overbearing twin brother. And while he’s at it, he’ll take his deepest secret with him.”
Oh, that Pete would be that clear! Yes, he indeed leaves Massachusetts, and yes, it’s true that leaves, in part, to get away from Jackson. But Pete never spells out exactly why he’s leaving or that he is even aware of his homosexuality. He doesn’t make a clear statement about his desires until chapter five after he’s been established in North Carolina for a while and after his married boss has just crossed another employer-employee boundary and kissed him.
Now, in 2022, a young man who thinks he might be gay has most of the world, for good or ill, at his fingertips through the internet. But Pete never seems to have realized this. (The word Google or the concept of scouring the internet for facts or even pornography never appears in the novel).
On the positive side, LeMay delivers a three-dimensional character in Kadeesha (Peaches), a robust supportive figure, and does an excellent job with the dialogue in the book. Jackson, the twin brother, is also written well, and I particularly liked the way LeMay doesn’t populate the book with heterosexual people living such exemplary lives. Pete may be struggling to integrate a gay identity, but plenty of others in the book deal with their problems.
That’s because LeMay, whose film credits include Dementia 13 (Director 2013) and Children of God (Producer, 2010), has written a coming-out novel whose protagonist, Pete Moretti, suffers a seemingly unending series of reversals of fortune. Reading it almost reminded me of Fortunately, a children’s book, where the protagonist moves through a series of phenomena that reverse each other.
Fortunately, Pete gets a new job in North Carolina in a field he trained for. Unfortunately, Pete’s new boss is a weirdo who thinks taking his staff out to strip clubs is remotely acceptable in the era of Me Too (the book was published in 2021).
And it’s not merely the reversals of fortune. Everyone has those, and coming-out novels can be mainly filled with them. But so many of Pete’s lapses are due to his having almost no spine or drive on his own. He’s forever doubting his actions and second-guessing his reactions and, worse for the reader, failing to reveal his motivations.
For example, the write-up for the book states, “Twenty-one-year-old Pete plans to do just that: run away from his blue-collar, Massachusetts upbringing, his anger issues and most importantly, Jackson, his overbearing twin brother. And while he’s at it, he’ll take his deepest secret with him.”
Oh, that Pete would be that clear! Yes, he indeed leaves Massachusetts, and yes, it’s true that leaves, in part, to get away from Jackson. But Pete never spells out exactly why he’s leaving or that he is even aware of his homosexuality. He doesn’t make a clear statement about his desires until chapter five after he’s been established in North Carolina for a while and after his married boss has just crossed another employer-employee boundary and kissed him.
Now, in 2022, a young man who thinks he might be gay has most of the world, for good or ill, at his fingertips through the internet. But Pete never seems to have realized this. (The word Google or the concept of scouring the internet for facts or even pornography never appears in the novel).
On the positive side, LeMay delivers a three-dimensional character in Kadeesha (Peaches), a robust supportive figure, and does an excellent job with the dialogue in the book. Jackson, the twin brother, is also written well, and I particularly liked the way LeMay doesn’t populate the book with heterosexual people living such exemplary lives. Pete may be struggling to integrate a gay identity, but plenty of others in the book deal with their problems.
September 8, 2021
At its most basic, All the Way to Wrightsville tells the story of a young man named Pete. Pete is a recent college graduate who moves away from home to start his first job and adult life. The actual story of the various things that happen to him, and the the people he meets, makes for an interesting coming-of-age story.
However, there's a LOT more to this book than the surface plotline. Pete is gay, and has an identical twin. All his life, he's felt like he's been in Jackson's shadow, never really having a true identity of his own. As he strikes out by himself for the first time, he (naturally) learns a lot about himself. I found it fascinating to watch Pete's growth, as he figures out who he really is away from his family and his former identity as "Jackson's twin". These lessons are interesting, and sometimes difficult for Pete, but I enjoyed watching him progress.
Overall, five stars for a great story. Also five stars for a pretty profound lesson in the importance of knowing, accepting, and loving yourself. So technically ten stars, but the ratings system only goes up to five.
However, there's a LOT more to this book than the surface plotline. Pete is gay, and has an identical twin. All his life, he's felt like he's been in Jackson's shadow, never really having a true identity of his own. As he strikes out by himself for the first time, he (naturally) learns a lot about himself. I found it fascinating to watch Pete's growth, as he figures out who he really is away from his family and his former identity as "Jackson's twin". These lessons are interesting, and sometimes difficult for Pete, but I enjoyed watching him progress.
Overall, five stars for a great story. Also five stars for a pretty profound lesson in the importance of knowing, accepting, and loving yourself. So technically ten stars, but the ratings system only goes up to five.
August 27, 2023
All the way to wrightsville
Book started out great you know. Pete is just so human and relatable u cant help but connect. He is young, finding his way in life and wants to leave the shadow of his twin brother. His bravery for moving to a whole new state to start afresh was commendable. His emotions going through everything he was, was one of the best selling points of the book for me. Sometimes i read book but i just feel like this cant be so, seems so unreal but not here, nah ah.
The hot and cold, the stupid rationalizations of the worst decisions we make, Pete had them. I just wanted to hug him, i wanted to have the answers for him because Doug was a grade A predator in my books.
But sometime in the 30-45% of the book though enjoyable as it was i was starting to think about what the whole point of the book is you know…? The back and forth between his reasoning on breaking up with Doug dragged on a little bit much for me. I know it is just sometimes like that but I worried, i just wanted abit of direction for the poor guy…
Then there is Jacksons visit. I just want to like him. I can see he loves his brother, and he wants to connect with him. Feeling like your loosing your connection to your family is a scary and isolating feeling but TF Jackson! Some fucking space! Let the guy be for a fckn minute! In the end i got it abit, he loves his brother.
Pete *arrrgghhh* *pulling all my fckn hair out!*
Sigh.. After reading this book to an end i am not sure how i feel about the book. It sure did surprise me. It felt real and gritty. I guess it was nice change. Something… Different.
Book started out great you know. Pete is just so human and relatable u cant help but connect. He is young, finding his way in life and wants to leave the shadow of his twin brother. His bravery for moving to a whole new state to start afresh was commendable. His emotions going through everything he was, was one of the best selling points of the book for me. Sometimes i read book but i just feel like this cant be so, seems so unreal but not here, nah ah.
The hot and cold, the stupid rationalizations of the worst decisions we make, Pete had them. I just wanted to hug him, i wanted to have the answers for him because Doug was a grade A predator in my books.
But sometime in the 30-45% of the book though enjoyable as it was i was starting to think about what the whole point of the book is you know…? The back and forth between his reasoning on breaking up with Doug dragged on a little bit much for me. I know it is just sometimes like that but I worried, i just wanted abit of direction for the poor guy…
Then there is Jacksons visit. I just want to like him. I can see he loves his brother, and he wants to connect with him. Feeling like your loosing your connection to your family is a scary and isolating feeling but TF Jackson! Some fucking space! Let the guy be for a fckn minute! In the end i got it abit, he loves his brother.
Pete *arrrgghhh* *pulling all my fckn hair out!*
Sigh.. After reading this book to an end i am not sure how i feel about the book. It sure did surprise me. It felt real and gritty. I guess it was nice change. Something… Different.
June 10, 2021
A far reaching and in-depth story about family, love, acceptance and being true to oneself. Pete, our helpless hero's character arch in this story if wide and far reaching. His twin brother is his foil, the complete opposite of his twin though physically they look identical.
This is a coming out story. But also a story about coming to terms with our weaknesses, our faults and our strengths. It's about the lies we tell, to others and to ourselves. We can see ourselves in these characters, be it Pete, or Jackson, or Raul, or even Doug. We see every character's flaws and there strengths. No one is all bad an no one is all good. Each character makes mistakes. Just like Peaches and Kyle.
This is a book everyone should read regardless of sexual or gender identity.
This is a coming out story. But also a story about coming to terms with our weaknesses, our faults and our strengths. It's about the lies we tell, to others and to ourselves. We can see ourselves in these characters, be it Pete, or Jackson, or Raul, or even Doug. We see every character's flaws and there strengths. No one is all bad an no one is all good. Each character makes mistakes. Just like Peaches and Kyle.
This is a book everyone should read regardless of sexual or gender identity.
June 9, 2021
Journey
The book is about one’s journey of accepting himself in spite of everything he believed and grew up with. The plot is really simple yet truthful and mostly full of what ifs.
I’m sure a lot of gay men could relate to the story and what I’m taking out of it is that, “people will treat you the way you let or allow them to treat you.” Basically that’s how the lead character evolved in this story until it all blown up to his face and made a realization about himself and about his life in general.
I would recommend this book to younger generations to have a good insight about their feelings for themselves and life in general.
The book is about one’s journey of accepting himself in spite of everything he believed and grew up with. The plot is really simple yet truthful and mostly full of what ifs.
I’m sure a lot of gay men could relate to the story and what I’m taking out of it is that, “people will treat you the way you let or allow them to treat you.” Basically that’s how the lead character evolved in this story until it all blown up to his face and made a realization about himself and about his life in general.
I would recommend this book to younger generations to have a good insight about their feelings for themselves and life in general.
May 4, 2021
Fabulous
All the Way to Wrightsville is a poignant story of a mans journey to find himself and come to terms with what he finds. His story is outrageous at times, emotionally charged and told with a keen sense of humour. The characters were very believable and easy to relate to. A very good read that I just couldn’t put down.
All the Way to Wrightsville is a poignant story of a mans journey to find himself and come to terms with what he finds. His story is outrageous at times, emotionally charged and told with a keen sense of humour. The characters were very believable and easy to relate to. A very good read that I just couldn’t put down.
May 10, 2021
Great story
Beautiful coming out story for Pete, who also redefines his relationship with his twin brother Jackson. Fun to get into the head of this unique character as he makes a new life for himself.
Beautiful coming out story for Pete, who also redefines his relationship with his twin brother Jackson. Fun to get into the head of this unique character as he makes a new life for himself.
August 4, 2021
This book is amazing!
Life is complicated, but gay life is a whole different matter of complication and complexity of emotions and feelings and sadness and love and family dynamics, that as colorful as rainbow itself! I love this book! I can’t wait to read this author other masterpiece!
Life is complicated, but gay life is a whole different matter of complication and complexity of emotions and feelings and sadness and love and family dynamics, that as colorful as rainbow itself! I love this book! I can’t wait to read this author other masterpiece!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews