(Blog Tour) Book Review: BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS

TITLE: BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS
AUTHOR: Alex Sanchez
IMPRINT: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing
PUBLICATION DATE: 19 April 2011
PREVIOUS TITLES IN SERIES: Standalone

Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences?
Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's gay? Does it mean she's bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.

Boyfriends with Girlfriends is Alex Sanchez at his best, writing with a sensitive hand to portray four very real teens striving to find their places in the world--and with each other.


BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

I received an electronic galley of BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS from Simon and Schuster GALLEY GRAB.

The BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS Blog Tour was arranged by TEEN BOOK SCENE.

THE TWEET
BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS: An honest look at 4 teens exploring and embracing their sexuality while discovering who they truly want to be.

WHAT WORKED
What I liked best about BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS is how realistic the characters in the novel are.  They are easy to relate to and to emphathize with.  I also liked the contrast of the four main characters, Lance, Sergio, Allie and Kimiko.  Lance is an out gay teen who feels that Sergio is using bisexuality as a cop out- a reason to avoid choosing to be out as gay. Allie is straight with a boyfriend, but starts to question this when she meets and is intrigued by Kimiko, who is a lesbian.  The relationships that develop between these four characters are very authentic and believable and I found myself wondering what the ending would be as I continued reading the story.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK
I didn't like how rushed the story was.  While the actual relationships and characters were good, I felt that the development of the attraction between the two couples was too fast. I would have liked to see more growth of the two relationships from the first moment of attraction through to when they became an actual couple.

OVERALL
I think that this story will resonate with teens, even straight ones, because it is so real and honest.  Author Alex Sanchez seems to have done a great job of translating the uncertainty of being a GLBT teen into writing and ultimately finding confort with one's self, despite what others may think or feel.

MY RATING IS

Click here to purchase BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS from The Book Depository.

To learn more about BOYFRIENDS WITH GIRLFRIENDS, author Alex Sanchez and his other novels, visit his WEBSITE.