Out in the Open, by A.J. Truman

[Ulysses]

Out in the Open
By A.J. Truman
Four stars

A fun new-adult kind of book that sets up the classic young adult tropes (nerdy college boy falling for frat house jock) and then sort of dodges around them to offer up surprisingly thoughtful ideas about self-identity and the college experience. There’s a wealth of sex in this one, although it’s quite integral to the premise of the story and in a way defines the relationship between Ethan Follett and Greg Sanderson.

Ethan is out, and comfortable in his skin. He runs with a smart, nerdy crowd of good students on the south side of Browerton’s campus. He likes his friends, and has a crush on another gay guy named Preston. But he’s awkward, hesitant to relax and be himself. Bad memories of high school loneliness make him very cautious. He hovers on the edge of his group, grateful to have friends and careful not to make waves.

Then Ethan, late for his Constitutional Law lecture, is stuck in the back of the room next to a hot frat boy named Greg from the north side of campus. Greg seems disinterested in the class, and his insouciance irritates Ethan, who inadvertently sparks a heated moment that triggers a quick sexual encounter, surprising both of them. Greg, the fearless instigator, quickly draws Ethan into a fun, risky sort of affair that would have made me uncomfortable if Ethan hadn’t been perfectly aware of what was going on. Greg’s desirability counters Ethan’s reticence, and he finds himself behaving in ways that change him.

But nothing is simple, of course. Greg is deeply closeted and fearful of his parents’ expectations. The charming frat boy is more afraid of who he is than the nerdy Ethan. It is a rather different dynamic from the classic YA mode, and keeps the story interesting right to the end.

Most important is Ethan’s agency – never is he doing something he doesn’t want to do. He knows who Greg is and knows what he’s gotten himself into – and he loves the rush he gets from his adventures with Greg. This opens him up to other things, particularly the exploration of other aspects of college life with Lorna, a sorority girl who shows him that partying isn’t just for mindless jocks. Ethan experiences new things, discovers a self-confidence he hadn’t had before. He also begins to learn his limits.

What I particularly liked about this story is the way it really looks at Ethan’s relationships and explores the value of each one. The romantic arc is not always inevitable, and Truman manages to wring a surprise from the end that drives home everything that Ethan has learned. If I had a misgiving at all, it was simply that Ethan becomes a little ideal…the college boy who sheds all his prejudices and embraces all of humanity. I don’t know if I ever met a college kid like that—but it’s a lovely fantasy, and Truman uses Ethan’s transformation skillfully to enliven the narrative and move the romance along.

This is one of a series of stand-alone m/m books set at a fictional Browerton College in western Pennsylvania. Truman’s writing is engaging, and he seems to capture the mind-set of the young adult authentically. I think I need to read more of these.