When religiously raised Cyril Hayes begins his junior year at East Hill High School, every choice he makes suffers a greater consequence. While facing challenges of friends, family, and love, he learns that hate and intolerance are also a very large part of our world today.
Cyril Hayes is seemingly just like any other male his age. He has the perfect girlfriend, Melissa Summers, his best friend, Jake Rivers, and a lawyer father who brings home enough money to support his family and then some. When Cyril begins his junior year, he doesn't expect his life to spiral out of control when he meets Avery Branson, the new kid in school who has a big secret: he’s gay. At first, Cyril doesn't handle this truth well, due to the way he was raised, but as the story progresses, he ventures deep into the reality of homosexuality and begins to accept Avery for who he is.
Not everyone is happy with Cyril’s new friend, including Jake, who believes that homosexuality is a sin and is refusing to budge his beliefs. But Avery isn't the only one at East Hill with secrets. Soon a tragedy will strike, knocking Cyril’s world completely off balance and leaving a scar on his heart that will change his view of humanity all together.
I have ugly cried before when reading a book but never the way I cried with this book. It is a really great book. You really get attached to the characters. This book also deals with some really heavy subjects. It deals with hate crimes against members of the LGBT community and also their supporters. It also deals with the issue of if a straight guy can be just friends with a gay guy. Another subject it deals with is self harm or cutting. Also depression is touched upon in the book. You know, all the heavy or dark subjects no one wants to talk about now but needs to.
I read this book in a few hours. I read the prologue and I was hooked, I couldn't put it down. Like I said it deals with some heavy and dark subjects but even if you aren't LGBT you can find one character to identify with. You will fall in love with Cyril, Avery and Melissa especially. Jake is someone that you wonder what is wrong with him through most of the book but you find out at the end his major problem. There are other minor characters that you will either dislike or love. Some of them I couldn't stand but some of them reminded me of people I know and love dearly.
I usually don't read books like this. After reading this one I think I will look for more like it. In rating this book I give it 5 well deserved stars. Even though it was a tough subject to read about I absolutely loved the book. I can't wait to read the next book.
Alec John Belle is an online high school student that resides in the state of Massachusetts. At the age of 16 he wrote his first novel, Before I Break. His hobbies include reading, writing, and obsessing over Pretty Little Liars. He writes about tough topics that many are too afraid to talk about like suicide, homosexuality, self harm, cyberbullying, anxiety disorders, addiction, among other teenage issues, and he often blends these ideas with the paranormal.
I usually don't read books like this. After reading this one I think I will look for more like it. In rating this book I give it 5 well deserved stars. Even though it was a tough subject to read about I absolutely loved the book. I can't wait to read the next book.
Alec John Belle is an online high school student that resides in the state of Massachusetts. At the age of 16 he wrote his first novel, Before I Break. His hobbies include reading, writing, and obsessing over Pretty Little Liars. He writes about tough topics that many are too afraid to talk about like suicide, homosexuality, self harm, cyberbullying, anxiety disorders, addiction, among other teenage issues, and he often blends these ideas with the paranormal.
Website: https://alecjohnbelle.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alecbelle
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