Stranger Things Have Happened: An Adrien English Write Your Own Damn Story in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Jan 13, 2014 Paola rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite, owned-as-print

A real treat from Josh Lanyon to Adrien and Jake fans, and a love letter to these beloved characters.
The author said in interviews and blog posts that this book was a way to give readers “a little bit of what they wanted without tampering with the actual series”, and that it became a much bigger project than it was when it was first envisioned two years ago. It sounds like the perfect project for an author who likes to think out of the box, to experiment with genres and techniques not previousl A real treat from Josh Lanyon to Adrien and Jake fans, and a love letter to these beloved characters.
The author said in interviews and blog posts that this book was a way to give readers “a little bit of what they wanted without tampering with the actual series”, and that it became a much bigger project than it was when it was first envisioned two years ago. It sounds like the perfect project for an author who likes to think out of the box, to experiment with genres and techniques not previously attempted, but for which he understood there was demand and interest from his reader base.

I thought as much while reading. Plus, I couldn’t imagine how Josh could keep all the various threads in his head without making extensive notes, and I admire him for that. Of course, the original Fatal Shadows this book is based upon is so well known to his readers that there was little need in STHH for in-depth characterization. Instead, the author drew upon on all those turning points in the plot of Fatal Shadows to see how things could have taken a different turn for Adrien and Jake, and some of the ancillary characters (some of them even from subsequent books in the series, like Paul Kane or Henry Harrison), and in some cases infusing these alternative paths with an admittedly “crazy” sense of humour.

It all makes for a very entertaining read. As I said, Fatal Shadows being so well known to Josh’s readers, it seems like the perfect choice for a Choose Your Own Adventure version, because the characters and their original trajectory are so familiar that it becomes easy for readers to experiment with and explore even the wildest alternative scenarios, (view spoiler)
The book also presents some new characters and some unexpectedly tender moments involving them, such as the storyline with Jean-Paul, which reconfirmed once and for all to me that Josh is a master in portraying the conflicting emotions going thru a (physically) damaged character and the healing power of love. In Josh's writing, each time this dynamic appears, far from being repetitive, it reads authentic and fresh.
However, a CYOA version of a familiar book featuring familiar characters doesn't mean that all the alternative storylines won't at some point reveal a new angle or nuance in the original story and in the characters: some of the most satisfying storylines in this book are IMO those where a little more is subtly revealed of a character’s emotion and thought than in the original book. It has a liberating effect, as the CYOA concept allows a lot of freedom to uncover all those fears or bottled up emotions that in the original Fatal Shadows had remained under the surface, partly because it had been originally written as a thriller featuring a gay amateur sleuth, rather than a m/m romance with elements of the thriller/detective story. So it was a wise choice from Josh to use Fatal Shadows for this project, rather than one of the subsequent four novels in the AE series.

The illustrations by Catherine Dair are the icing on the cake :). They make the book richer (and only a print edition could do them justice) and it’s a nice nod to the original CYOA book format which includes illustrations. And they’re not just there for decoration: Josh uses them as a plot device, so they can’t definitely be missed :)

All in all, I didn't expect such a rich and inventive book. What I did expect and looked forward to, and was not disappointed, was the apparently effortless way Josh has to combine humour, dry wit and emotion in such a creative and satisfying way.

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Mar 17, 2014 Ginn Hale rated it it was amazing

It helps to have read the Adrien English series if you want to get the full impact of this book. That said, a number of my friends haven't but they were still giggling and snorting like school boys after a sugar binge when we got together to read it aloud. The book is great fun and filled with hilarious wit.

Make one choice for the long suffering Adrien and you might be treated to a serious and gripping drama, or steamy love scene. Make a slightly different choice and you'll be laughing out loud ...more

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May 05, 2014 Jordan Lombard rated it really liked it

Shelves: a-own, g-romance-m-m, y-2014read, a-own-print, g-mys-rom

This book was fantastic. I laughed through most of this... when "I" wasn't busy picking up the books off the floor after getting robbed and ransacked, or dying. Adrien does have a great sense of humor.

The only thing I feel the need to warn new readers about is the fact that you MUST read the entire Adrien English series before reading this. Otherwise, most of the jokes, some of the characters, and some of the plot points won't make sense. ...more

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Jan 16, 2014 Antonella rated it it was amazing

I enjoyed a lot the variety of the book, going from romantic to goofy through gruesome or hilarious. It's really a great opportunity for the fans to revisit Adrien and Jake. The illustrations are also great.

About the price: there is a black and white edition, but also the coloured one was cheaper than indicated at least in Europe.

See also lovely review by KC.
ETA: And the equally lovely review by Johanna.

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Jan 15, 2014 Sarah rated it it was amazing

So. Much. Fun.!!! If you are a fan of the Adrien English series this book is a must have. I don't think I have ever had this much fun with a book! It is a perfect showcases for Josh Lanyon's witty, wonderful sense of humor. I wasn't flush enough at the moment to buy the color version, but the (much cheaper) black and white version is still great and very enjoyable. This is something you will pick up again and again. ...more

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Jan 18, 2014 Susan rated it it was amazing

Master storyteller Josh Lanyon has written something truly brilliant: a gift for his legion of Adrien English Mysteries fans. Stranger Things Have Happened is a "choose your own adventure" book. You read along, and at set points in the story, you get to choose in what direction the plot will go. If you don't like the way a particular plot point plays out, go back and make another choice. But you do have to be careful with your choices, because poor Adrien's life is constantly hanging in the bala ...more

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Apr 04, 2014 k reads rated it liked it

Shelves: queer, read-2014

fun.
But probably only for those who read and loved the Adrien English series.

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Jun 05, 2015 Lora rated it really liked it

I had some fun with this book. Loved page 9 and page 37. Especially page 9.

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Mar 01, 2014 Sandra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

A bit hard to keep track of read chapters on Kobo, but I loved choosing different paths for Adrien and Jake.
The illustrations were an awesome addition.

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