This volume begins immediately after the previous one, from the point where Colin hit Tory. The two of them finally sit down and talk about the things they've been hiding...for the most part. Colin talks about the Gaia Project and his involvement in it, and Tory no longer tries to hide the fact that he's been keeping tabs on Colin. The one thing they dance around, however, is their feelings for each other.

I didn't think I was going to get to read this volume. Physical copies are no longer available for purchase, and I don't like buying electronic manga or comics. I wasn't sure interlibrary loan was going to work out since the number of libraries that own this volume is in the single digits, but thankfully one of those libraries was willing to lend it to me.

I wasn't wild about the first two volumes, but I was interested enough in Tory and Colin's story to want to know how it ended. Folks who liked the first two volumes more than me should definitely try to read this last volume - it's the best one in the series and does a fairly good job of wrapping things up.

After two volumes of not even being sure what genre I was reading, it was nice to finally get some answers. I still think the overall pacing and clarity could have been better - I understand that the Gaia Project was a mysterious thing Tory could focus on and tell himself was the real reason he was interested in Colin, but readers got so little information in those first two volumes that it really did look like the Gaia Project might end up being more important than it actually turned out to be. Honestly, Colin's explanation of it sounded kind of silly - I still don't understand why he, in particular, had to be involved, and I agree with Tory that whatever Dr. Garretts (whose name was spelled with one t earlier in the series but is now spelled with two) was doing with him sounded illegal.

Tory and Colin's awkward attempts at recognizing and exploring their feelings for each other were sweet (and completely lacking in any sort of gay angst, even after other characters found out), and Tory demonstrated that he'd grown a lot since the first volume. His reaction to Colin's actions and later announcement was better than I'd expected. I braced myself for a bittersweet ending and was glad the series wrapped up on a happier note, but at the same time I felt a little let down. I'd have preferred it if the bonus story at the end had focused on Tory and Colin after the time jump, to provide a little more closure, rather than on Paul and his girlfriend.

Extras:

• A 5-page bonus story starring Paul and his girlfriend.
• A letter from the editor.
• A message from Jen Lee Quick.
• Four 4-panel bonus comics.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

Yes, I've reached the end of my journey with Jillian Tamaki. I just finished her first work with her cousin Mariko entitled Skim. One thing is for certain...Tamaki has the corner market on teenage angst. (As you can probably tell, I'm over the angst.) The story follows a girl named Kim who is your typical teen who believes she's a practicing witch. (Normal for Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer so...) You might be wondering why Kim is nicknamed Skim. Me too. The explanation given didn't make much sense to me so I'm not going to even bother telling you. In Kim's school there is a preoccupation with suicide and depression. Most of the other students believe that Kim is at risk and as a result a lot of unwanted attention is turner her way. She develops an unconventional relationship with someone (I'm vague to avoid spoilers) and her relationships with others suffer. SO MUCH ANGST. I did enjoy this one more than This One Summer but it is by no means the best graphic novel I've ever read (that honor goes to Through the Woods by Emily Carroll). If you like manga type illustrations then you might enjoy this one for the aesthetic value alone but if you're looking for a WHOA kind of book then you might want to keep looking.

Photo source: http://theliterarysisters.wordpress.com

At first blush, I didn't think I was cool enough to totally get this book. It starts off fast-paced and in your face. The humor is quite specialized...I don't know how else to describe it except 'hipster'. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it, however. One of my favorite booktubers (look it up), Ariel Bissett, kept talking about the graphic novel SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki and how much she loved it. She flipped through its pages and the artwork which is primarily in black and white really appealed to me. The story follows a group of high school seniors as they navigate their way through the pitfalls of youth...except they're in a school full of mutants and magicians. After a time you forget that it's unusual for a character to be able to change its shape at will or travel through space. It becomes more about the relationships between the characters. My three favorites were Frances, Marsha, and Cheddar. Their cynical worldview and sarcastic wit had me chuckling with glee while on the train. Frances is a performance artist whose expression changes little from panel to panel. Marsha is in love with her female best friend and instead of telling her derides her at every opportunity. Cheddar just wants to get out of high school and undermines his teachers every chance that he gets (like Bender in The Breakfast Club). There are poignant moments about the fleetingness (I Googled this and its a real word so there) of youth and the seeming insignificance that most teenagers (and adults) have felt at one time or another. I do want to warn those with sensitive sensibilities because there is vulgar language and dirty jokes but since this is about teenage angst I think it's to be expected. (When does that kind of humor cease to be funny? For me, it't still going quite strong.) Overall, a quick, witty read that I think will appeal to those with an ability to laugh at themselves.

YOUNG LOVE

Author: Dean Amory

Tags: young romance, first love, young love, teenage romance, teenage love, coming of age, new adult, young adult, romance, novel, high school romance,

He who looks outside dreams;

he who looks inside awakes. (Carl Jung)

Dean Amory entices with atypical New Adult Romance Novel Series about real young people in a real world

Are you done with romance stories that rely on princes, werewolves or dark secrets?   Here is a set of refreshing contemporary New Adult Romance Stories about ordinary people that deal with love, loss and growing up.

Imagine a romance novel with no billionaires or earls, no unexpected heritages, no criminal boyfriends with dark secrets, no paranormal gifts, no vampires or zombies, … in short: A novel that doesn’t rely on well-trodden stereotypes, but depicts all the uncertainties and overpowering emotions that come with true young love and describes the heroes psychological struggle in an honest, original and genuine way.

Such is exactly what you will find in Dean Amory’s Young Love Novels Part 1, A Schoolyard Love Story and Part 2, First Love’s Shadow: Two refreshing high school romance novels set in Europe, Flanders, in the early seventies of the previous century, that have it all: they are witty, bittersweet, touching and rich in culture and history.

The “Young Love” novels are available in most quality web shops, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu, Kindle, Feedaread, Shopmybooks, Smashwords, etc….

At http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Jaimelavie the book is also available in a luxury hardcover boxset edition which includes both stories.

Dean Amory, real name Edgard (Eddy) Adriaens, was born 21.09.1953 in the Flemish city of Aalst.   After finishing high school, he worked at a few local SMEs as a correspondent and assistant (sales) executive. In 1986 he was recruited by Bacob Bank, and started as a relationship manager. After the bank’s merger with the Dexia Bank, he moved on to be an Electronic Banking Expertise Officer at Dexia, later renamed Belfius bank.

There is something endearing and innocent about young love; it’s irresistible. 

Here are two unconventional young adult romance novels with a unique rhythm that echoes the cadence and energy of youth, and a wonderful underlying pulse that quickly captures your imagination.  YOUNG LOVE is a unique and welcome look at love and romance from the young man’s perspective. It looks at first love in diverse and unconventional ways, which is what we need in young adult novels today: 

About Young Love, part 1: "A Schoolyard Love Story"

In “Young Love part 1, A school Yard Love Story”, Sean and Katherine fall in love the first day they meet. Theirs is a complicated relationship from the start, but although Katherine questions Sean's true intentions, and doesn't always like his behaviour, she cannot help falling in love with him. However, when their relationship becomes too serious and threatens to disrupt her studies and ruin the good understanding with the teachers and with her parents, she breaks up.

For Sean, being dumped is hard enough, but things become really complicated when Katherine  promises she will return to him after they graduate from high school. When he discovers that Katherine cannot shake him from her mind, Sean struggles to live up to her expectations and restore their bond. In the process, he is forced to have a good look at himself and to discover his own identity.  Slowly, he finds that it’s okay not to have all the answers.   After trying for months to convince Katherine to reconsider, Sean gives up.  But with Katherine always nearby, he never really manages to distance himself from her. 

Sean is only seventeen, but the serious issues he faces when he falls in love with his new class mate, Katherine, resonate also with older readers.

Readers will appreciate the realistic depiction of the tortured hero's psychological struggle after the heroine ends the relationship, especially when it becomes clear that both young people remain drawn to each other anyway and struggle to regain their balance during the rest of the school year.

A refreshing high school romance set in Europe, Flanders, in the early seventies of the previous century with a total lack of stereotyping, that has it all: it's witty, bittersweet, touching and rich in culture and history. The story depicts all the uncertainties and overpowering emotions that come with true young love in a most original and genuine way.

About Young Love, part 2: "First Love's Shadow"

Dean Amory, author of the critically acclaimed coming of age novel “Young Love, A Schoolyard Love Story”, returns with a poignant, striking sequel that skilfully captures the singular experience of being a teenager: “Young Love, First Love’s Shadow”. Dean Amory chronicles the hero’s life through the thrills, heartbreaks, joy and despair of the final year in high school and the consecutive transition to a labour environment

The sequel “Young Love Part 2, First Love’s Shadow”, starts at the beginning of the summer holiday. After the traumatic end of the school year, Sean has accepted a holiday job at a hotel in a seaside resort.  He tries to move on with his life. Away from Katherine, he opens up again, meets new people and falls in love again. It’s difficult though to forget about Katherine, when so many of the issues he experiences in his new relationships look almost identical to what he went through before with her.

With past experiences haunting him, he must face some hard truths about himself.   Torn between old dreams and new hopes, he questions himself and the rules he’s always lived by. By the time he returns home after the summer holiday, he feels reborn and ready to face the world. But is he also ready to face Katherine?

At the start of their last year at school, Sean and Katherine discover that it’s not always simple to spend most active hours of every life in the same classroom with your ex.  Someone you loved and adored with all of your being and with whom it’s still easy to talk because they know and  understand you.  When she broke up, Katherine had a simple plan: put studies before love and return to Sean after graduating from high school only.

Seeing how Sean has distanced himself from her, she realizes she is running the risk of losing him completely and invites him to reunite with her until the end of the school year, at which point she wants to re evaluate her life.   Will they lay their hearts on the line again? Are second chances really possible? Can recreating the past help the young couple to create a different future?  And is Sean even willing to accept the terms Katherine's offer comes with?

In this imaginative, surprising and complex page-turner, which will certainly appeal to all fans of young adult and new adult romance novels, Dean Amory has brought a vivid, clever and heartfelt portrayal of what it’s like to be a teenager in love. "Young Love Part 2, First Love's Shadow" is a gripping story in which the distance between lost and found is often less than a text line long.

If you’re looking for a great contemporary romance check out YOUNG LOVE.

YOUNG LOVE  is a wonderful contemporary romance.  Dean Amory does an excellent job at giving us humour and characters that have depth, and portraying love, heartbreak and fate in this great coming-of-age story. He gives us the thoughts and musings of young adults, and shows us that in a world seemingly without a cure, there is always hope in one form or another.

Dean Amory is a master at writing characters that come alive on the page.  The emotional tension between Sean and Katherine  is beautifully written. You really get a good sense of what both characters are feeling.   The sweetness of young love. The anguish of regret.   The sadness of time lost.   Not only did I fall in love with Sean and Katherine, but I really enjoyed watching Sean struggle to become the person he wanted to be and remain honest and consequent, even when his decisions came with an obvious cost.

I don’t know about you, but I totally love high school romance stories, especially when they involve young people trying to become the best they can.  I highly recommend this book.   It’s a wonderful read, and it leaves you with a sigh and a smile.  

Some Comments:

Great writing!  Could not stop reading!!

When I first picked up this book I wasn't all that sure I would like it, but I was pleasantly surprised when I read it. Now I can say with complete honesty that I enjoyed the story very much and am so glad I picked it! The story drew me in and I felt all the joy and all the pain.  It was intelligent and well developed and the dynamic between the main characters was great. 

I really enjoyed the characters. The characters are very well written: they have substance, and are unique without ever being overdone. The author didn't go over the top with unrealistic scenes, though sometimes I became frustrated with Sean and even yelled at him once or twice. He took his time and you felt him struggle with his feelings. 

I was a little sad at some times and even cried at one point.  His heartbreak over losing Katherine was really sad. I was left with a little bit of hmmmm a hang.

All in all it was a sweet read and wish this author only success with many more to come.

Total recommend for someone who's looking for a really good, original romance novel.

(Nele)

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I usually don't leave reviews, but this book was TOO good not to. This is an incredible book that you will not regret reading.  The story really caught me up in it. It had me hooked within minutes and I couldn't put it down!  I love this type of stories because they give you that feeling of first love discovery and transport you back to the days of high school and the emotional highs and lows of young love. 

The book is very well written and unique because it takes the boy's point of view, which is rather unusual for a romance. Also, it isn't as superficial as most romance stories: you really get to know the main characters very well. Especially Sean of course. To me, it was unexpected who he ended up with. Throughout the book, I kept hoping Sean and Katherine would come together in the end, after they finished school. After all, they loved each other, had known each other for years and had always been there for each other, even when they were not so close. I can honestly say that my feelings were hurt when they did not, even though they probably made the best choice for themselves.

I hope the author will consider publishing the book with an alternate ending with Sean picking Katherine, after they finally realize they've been each other's true love all along! Definitely recommend this book. I will be buying other books by this author. 

(Megan)

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I'm so glad to have come across this book! This truly is a gem!  I have absolutely enjoyed reading it! I fell in love with the characters right away and felt as if I were in high school right along beside them.  They are totally realistic and relatable.

I loved the special bond Sean and Katherine shared.

The story had me go through a roller coaster of emotions. The plot line was sweet and endearing but also honest and never too sappy! Even though Sean's heart gets broken along the way, he refuses to settle for anything less than true love. I'm so glad for the silver lined cloud in the end. 

The story is paced evenly throughout the book with no huge time jumps or overworking of parts. I would definitely recommend you purchase this book. You will not be disappointed! 

(Sharon)

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Wow, I loved this book!  Really amazing! This book contains a well thought story plot. The characters are genuine, and their decisions easy to understand.

Sean's personal struggle adds just enough drama, but I most of all adored Katherine. Unlike Sean, she does not allow her hormones to rule her life and fights for what she knows is right, even if this means that she has to suffer a lot. 

I absolutely loved this book!

(Caroline)

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Wonderful book. I literally just finished it and am sitting here a little stunned by how much I liked it. From the beginning I felt a connection with Sean.  I absolutely loved this story! It had me smiling, made me feel sad, even crying and on edge.  I was amazed at how well written it was.  The book is easy to understand, but also very different to the usual superficial falling-in-and-out-of-love kind of teen romance.  I loved it!

This is definitely one of the better young adult romance novels I have read in a long time!  Anybody who loves a great teen romance should definitely read this book.

(Madelyn)

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Wow, "Young Love" is absolutely awesome and I really enjoyed reading it.

I don't usually read young adult books because I thought they are too juvenile for me.  But I decided to give it a shot anyway.  After reading Young Love, I am persuaded otherwise!  The story captivated me from the start. I realy liked this book. It was so full of emotions that it overwhelmed me sometimes.

The story is good and it's well-written. I was able to connect to the characters and feel the emotion they were going through. I started reading it last night and couldn't put it down anymore.  I finished it about 15 minutes ago. 

My emotions were everywhere! The book reminds me of my own life story.

I appreciated the honesty with which the author describes Sean's personal struggle.

The boy took my heart away just because he's not perfect or fake, but one hundred percent authentic.  And Katherine was so strong!  Doing the right thing all the time even though she knew it would cause her pain.  

(Abigail)

Young Love is available at:

Lulu.com

http://www.lulu.com/shop/dean-amory/young-love-part-1-a-school-yard-love-story/paperback/product-22211969.html

http://www.lulu.com/shop/dean-amory/young-love-part-2-first-loves-shadow/paperback/product-22225251.html

Amazon.com (also Amazon Fr, De, Uk ...)

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Love-Part-School-Story/dp/1514332035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434526760&sr=8-1&keywords=dean+amory+young+love

http://www.amazon.com/Young-Love-Part-Shadow-Volume/dp/1514641836/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0EY2KAM7CTJ2KJXQDJ6R

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Love-Part-School-Story/dp/1514332035/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434526665&sr=8-2&keywords=dean+amory

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=dean+amory

Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/young-love-part-1-mr-dean-amory/1122130623?ean=9781514332030

ShopmyBooks

http://www.shopmybooks.com/BE/en/books?query=dean+amory

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/550243

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552606

The lovely Gabrielle dela Cruz commented on one of my Instagram posts informing that debut novella is free on Kindle. So, i grabbed the opportunity to download it.

It’s a story of a teenage witch named Caitlyn who has been bullied because of her hair color. She don’t have any closed friends until she met Yuri. Caitlyn’s huge crush on their class’ hearththrob Angelo, brought her to her mom’s “Book of Spell”.

I read this book last Friday for like less than two hours. It is a very easy read. For me this book is not just only for Halloween even it has something to do with witches and spells.

The target audience of this book are teenagers and I’m glad that the author included the issue about bullying. I’ve read from one of her interview that she was once a victim of bullying and she wrote this book as an inspiration to others.

It’s loosely based in my life because I too, was bullied in school. I’m a transgender woman who was studying in a Catholic school exclusive for boys, a kid bullied me but what’s worse was the teachers and Principal, were the ones who made my life a living hell. My dad even almost got to the point of suing the authorities because of how they treated me for being different. (source)

I cannot say that I don’t like the story because I enjoyed reading it and it is totally not a waste of time. The story is cute and eventhough the ending is obvious, it is still unexpected.

I can say that the author did a great job (Pinay Pride!) on her debut and I’m looking forward to read more of her future works.