SECOND STORY PR

PLOT:

Jackson is probably the only gay person in his small community of Thompson Hills.

And worst of all, he isn't out yet... completely... because although his only two friends and his mom know it, it is a secret he has kept from the entire city, although rumors have been spreading all around him.

But when Benjamin Lee comes into his life, being a proud gay man and wanting to organize a pride parade, in the small backward city he can't help but join in with the idea, although he is a bit sceptic about the idea...

But when an hate crime happens, a pride parade seems the best thing to raise up and make sure nothing is forgotten.

<<Get off your self-pity train and do the right thing for a change>>

REVIEW (3,5/5):

As always I am very very grateful to say that I received this book, from "Edelweiss" a platform where you can ask for ARCs of the latest bookish releases, in exchange for your honest opinion.

And as my honest opinion, I can't help but be in love with this book, which is perfect for this month, since it is absolutely LGBTQ+ approved, hence perfect for "pride month".

I will, as always, start with saying the flaws of this book, so that we can then move on with the amazingness of this book: first of all I think that this book tends to be a bit confusing, because I literally had to go back and re-read some scenes, because at first I didn't understand the meaning of them, but as always this might have been a problem due to the fact that English is not my first language.

Also, I found some of the parts of this book a bit too fairytale-like, and as much as there is nothing wrong with wanting the "happy ending", I still felt like it was a bit too much bookish-like, and not enough reality-like, although I absolutely loved the positive message it passed.

I believe that we honestly need more books like this, not only because of the positive message that it can get better, that although you are in a dark place right now, everything will solve and that you always have people to reach out too, but also about how much we can accomplish, through the involvement of a single person, with an idea.

It's amazing what happens through the book, the beautiful growth of the main character, Jackson, and its fight against the unspoken rules of a society which is all too small and backwards and is also all too known and seen in our world, no matter the fact that we are 2019, and progress and acceptance should be a common thing.

I couldn't help but shed a few tears, through the entire book, being a member of the LGBTQ+ community as an ally, seeing all the terrible things that both Benjamin and Jackson went through, just because of being different, and it was truly heartbreaking to realize that this happens in the reality much more than you might think.

Also, I loved not only the main characters, but also the side characters: each one has its reasons to be there.

Ryan is the different different, and alongside the representation of what an ally looks like, alongside having a very emotional role also in Jackson's life, through a very painful event and let me tell you I couldn't help but be a little in love (like Claire) with him, for being so strong, sarcastic and thoughtful.

Cody is also very interesting, he is the representation of internalized homophobia at its finest, but it is also the representation that people can learn and change and do the right thing, through education and meeting of the LGBTQ+ community.

I believe truly that this book is amazing masterpiece talking about any and every member of the rainbow community, in a way that makes us all question what we can do to make others feel better and more accepted, no matter the circumstances, because we can and we will do something better!

Please read it, when it shall come out on 17th of September, it won't disappoint you!

Any LGBTQ+ suggestions for this month?

See you soon!

Eroine Penzel.