Thursday, September 20, 2018

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: THAT FEELING WHEN by S.M. James (#lovehim #1)


That Feeling When

Author: S. M. James

Publisher: May Books
Cover Artist: Story Styling
Genre/s: YA, LGBT, contemporary romance
Length: 77,000 Words/343 pages
Release Date: September 16, 2018 (Available now in paperback)



Blurb

Dance Academy reject, Archie Corrigan, resents the stereotype guy ballet dancers are gay. Because he isn’t. At all. Forced to reassess his life goal at Camp Crystal Cove, it’s by sheer dumb luck he meets Landon Summers, who turns everything Archie was sure of into chaos.

Poor boy turned teen heartthrob, Landon Summers, is the name on everyone’s lips. With his unexpected leap to fame, his agent advises him to keep his bi status on the down low. Not a problem! Until Landon meets Archie.

Their unexpected friendship leads to an inevitable kiss, but their moment is caught in high definition and used as fuel for blackmail. If the truth gets out, Landon’s career could be over, and Archie will be forced to acknowledge the one thing he’s fought to deny.

But how do you go back to your average life once you’ve experienced That Feeling When ... you’re finally happy?


Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 





Excerpt

Landon Summers is into guys. I think he likes you.
And while Meredith didn’t say anything about me, there was something way too knowing in her look. Everyone else seems too into their own lives to be paying us any attention, and even when we’re announced winners of the trivia, my celebration doesn’t crack the surface chill that’s taken over me.
Meredith’s wrapped her arm through mine, and she’s cheering with the others, one hand in the air.
I’m a week in the past. Watching Landon pull on that stupid costume in the dark. The spark in his eyes as he thanked me. The brush of his skin on mine.
How was that only a week ago?
Why can’t I go back and enjoy that moment more? Savor my time with him?

Really take it all in, before he went and messed it all up.


Carra's Review

This is a new-to-me author, and I was pleasantly surprised with what was a very well written coming of age story.  The characters had depth, the story flowed nicely, and my interest was captured right away and held to the very end.

Archie is in a position that many young adults find themselves, denying he could be anything but straight (and getting annoyed with people who assume he isn’t because he is a dancer), but then questioning things due to feelings that he develops for Landon.  It’s confusing for him, and the path that follows is his journey of self discovery.  Landon on the other hand knows he is bisexual, but keeps that fact out of public knowledge due to his job as an actor.  They go from strangers to acquaintances to friends, then finally to more once Archie realizes the truth about himself.

Things aren’t simple though, and with the blackmail threat the angst level shoots up.  It’s really good to see the support both Landon and Archie have from friends and family, in particular with Archie’s parents.  While the heavily positive attitude from most of the characters in the story may not reflect actual real-world experiences even in this day and age, it is refreshing to read about, and puts their relationship in an encouraging light—something young adult readers need to show them that not every coming out experience will be fraught with trouble.

So often relationships in YA stories lack a feeling of permanence since the characters are young enough to be still finding their way and discovering who they are...That Feeling When may not be a full HEA because of that, but it still is a more than satisfying ending that made my heart sing, and does point toward a bright future for Landon and Archie together.


That Feeling When was a 4.5-star read for me, and I highly recommend it—especially for mature young adult readers who need positive stories regarding coming out and coming of age.  


About the Author

SM James in an Australian author who writes books for teens about squishy sweet characters. While not writing, SM is a readaholic and netflix addict who regularly lives on a sustainable diet of chocolate and coffee. Member of SCBWI. Unapologetically dishing out HEAs for LGBT+ characters.





Giveaway!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

1 x Paperback copy of That Feeling When (US only)

2 x $15 Amazon gift card (international)

3 x eBook copy of That Feeling When (international)




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