Books from G.A. Hauser > The Boy Next Door

As high school seniors, Brandon is the first to recognize his attraction to his best-friend Zach and I thought that the vulnerability of that age in dealing with such a dilemma came shining through. I could understand why Brandon kept his feelings to himself, but I admired the fact that he admitted to himself that Zach was special to him. I really loved that it was Zach that made the first move because it made their first intimacy even more amazing because Brandon wondrously describes the experience through his eyes. Brandon has loving parents that accept him and I think that this gift grants him the ability to forgive.

Zach's eagerness about his relationship with Brandon is genuine, but he fears being labeled as a homosexual, so he questions whether he is or isn't gay. When everything falls apart, I really felt sorry for him. I couldn't imagine being place in such a dreadful situation and to be forced to make life changing decisions at such a young age. He doesn't handle things well, but under the circumstances, I don't really think he was given any choices. I was thrilled when he finally gets the opportunity to right old wrongs and to redeem himself.

These two boys are just adorable. Their zeal for one another is hot and almost frantic as it would be for adolescents in new discovery of their sexuality. Although they first appear at the inquisitive age of 10, the majority of the story takes place during their last year in high school and then ten years after that. The drama that unfolds due to Zach's parents' lack of acceptance is handled with sensitivity and heart-rending realism. Sex between them evolves from experimenting teens to impassioned men and it was titillating to watch their appetites mature. I thoroughly enjoyed this coming-of-age romance.