Friday, June 13, 2014

Review: Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

Title: Fan Art
Author: Sarah Tregay
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, LGBT
Release Date: 17 June, 2014
Source: Katherine Tegen via Edelweiss
Goodreads


When the picture tells the story…

Senior year is almost over, and Jamie Peterson has a big problem. Not college—that’s all set. Not prom—he’ll find a date somehow. No, it’s the worst problem of all: he’s fallen for his best friend.

As much as Jamie tries to keep it under wraps, everyone seems to know where his affections lie, and the giggling girls in art class are determined to help Jamie get together with Mason. But Jamie isn’t sure if that’s what he wants—because as much as Jamie would like to come clean to Mason, what if the truth ruins everything? What if there are no more road trips, taco dinners, or movie nights? Does he dare risk a childhood friendship for romance?

This book is about what happens when a picture reveals what we can’t say, when art is truer than life, and how falling in love is easy, except when it’s not. Fan Art explores the joys and pains of friendship, of pressing boundaries, and how facing our worst fears can sometimes lead us to what we want most.
Review by Nara


Fan Art was just the perfect type of cute, heartwarming read that I was looking for after reading a flurry of historicals, high fantasies and paranormals. After reading a lot of darker books, this contemporary romance was just what I needed. Sometimes it's just nice to read a book that has its roots so firmly planted in reality, you know?

Fan Art had the perfect balance of thought-provoking and fluffy (erring a bit more on the wonderfully fluffy side), and despite the blurb, the biggest focus of the story was actually not on the romance and Jamie's friendship with Mason, but on Jamie's acceptance of his own identity and his struggle with his sexuality in a relatively homophobic environment. Actually, Mason was hardly in any of the book, to be honest.

That being said, the relationship development was quite excellent. In fact, all of the characters were relatively well developed. I must say, a few were a bit subpar, but on the whole, definitely a pretty good cast. Jamie and Mason were adorable, Jamie's family was realistic (and actually present in the book, rather than the old Disappearing Parent Syndrome) and Eden and Challis (two of Jamie's friends) were the type of supportive, great friend we all like to read about.

And okay, the ending. I have to admit, it was pretty dang cliched, but really, it was the exact ending that I wanted, and the exact ending that the book needed. So, no complaints from me.

Really liked it

Ratings
Overall: 9/10
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5