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A review by adk42
Red+Blue by A.B. Gayle
4.0
The book was supplied by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Ben Dutoit comes from Minnesota to San Francisco to be out and proud. To be in the Pride parade, pick up guys and generally be young and stupid. Adrian Sutherland is so far from out and proud that it's ridiculous (no, really!). Working in his dad's firm and ignoring his own sexuality, he's firmly denying any and every desire of his own.
The novel is split into three parts. One from Ben's POV, one from Adrian's and one that's shared. I had my misgivings about this, but the author manages to pull it off without the book seeming repetitive. It even works to the story's advantage that you get inside the head of both guys, so you see where they're coming from and their backstory is naturally explored without the narrative being held up by lengthy dialogue.
Generally Red+Blue is a very solid and entertaining if somewhat frustrating read. Both Ben and Adrian are likable and sweet characters... If only Adrian didn't frustrate the hell out of me!
I completely get that your parents have some sway over your actions, but why would Adrian so completely drop all his own ambitions not to mention his "gay tendencies"... what? Just because dad said so? Because he's a spineless moron? Because he has a strange Freudian mental illness making him incapable of standing up for himself?
But you do get emotionally involved and I found myself really rooting for the pair of them. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to give it five stars if it wasn't for one glaring flaw.
HIV/AIDS plays a prominent role in the story which I think is great. The question about people with HIV being able to get a life insurance is taken seriously and discussed in a way which suggests that the author has done her homework.
However - and this is a big however - what the Hell are Ben and Adrian thinking?
Adrian tries to seduce Ben with no condom at hand even when he knows Ben may be infected with HIV. That is not something a guy whose first boyfriend died of AIDS would do!
The story may treat the matter of HIV and AIDS with respect but the characters treat it with a stunning disregard considering their situation - and that's why I didn't give this story five stars.
Ben Dutoit comes from Minnesota to San Francisco to be out and proud. To be in the Pride parade, pick up guys and generally be young and stupid. Adrian Sutherland is so far from out and proud that it's ridiculous (no, really!). Working in his dad's firm and ignoring his own sexuality, he's firmly denying any and every desire of his own.
The novel is split into three parts. One from Ben's POV, one from Adrian's and one that's shared. I had my misgivings about this, but the author manages to pull it off without the book seeming repetitive. It even works to the story's advantage that you get inside the head of both guys, so you see where they're coming from and their backstory is naturally explored without the narrative being held up by lengthy dialogue.
Generally Red+Blue is a very solid and entertaining if somewhat frustrating read. Both Ben and Adrian are likable and sweet characters... If only Adrian didn't frustrate the hell out of me!
I completely get that your parents have some sway over your actions, but why would Adrian so completely drop all his own ambitions not to mention his "gay tendencies"... what? Just because dad said so? Because he's a spineless moron? Because he has a strange Freudian mental illness making him incapable of standing up for himself?
But you do get emotionally involved and I found myself really rooting for the pair of them. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to give it five stars if it wasn't for one glaring flaw.
HIV/AIDS plays a prominent role in the story which I think is great. The question about people with HIV being able to get a life insurance is taken seriously and discussed in a way which suggests that the author has done her homework.
However - and this is a big however - what the Hell are Ben and Adrian thinking?
Spoiler
Ben agrees to bareback with a guy he knows to be the male equivalent of Samantha from SATC. Stupid!Adrian tries to seduce Ben with no condom at hand even when he knows Ben may be infected with HIV. That is not something a guy whose first boyfriend died of AIDS would do!
The story may treat the matter of HIV and AIDS with respect but the characters treat it with a stunning disregard considering their situation - and that's why I didn't give this story five stars.