"Maybe we weren't meant to collide. Maybe we were mean to explode."
Honesty by Seth King is a captivating coming of age love story. At the beginning of this novel, Coley (19) says " Nobody would ever want to read about how this life introduced two kids to each other over one messy year, remade their worlds and taught them what glory tasted like and then yanked them apart again." Coley and Nicky meet in a huge gym filled to the brim with people dripping sweat. This is Coley's father's last-ditch effort to get him to be 'one of the guys'. Someone who loves sports, has a deep manly laugh, and would make fun of guys just like Coley. Fortunately, Coley doesn't really care about what his dad thinks. When Coley is teased in the gym about his high-pitched girly laugh by the 'Bro Pack' , Nick is peer-pressured to join in. He complies but with little consent. Coley and Nicky keep finding themselves crossing paths with each other. Which is great for Coley but somewhat awkward for Nicky, still feeling guilty about the harassing. Coley and Nicky start to become better friends, possibly more. Almost as fast, Nicky starts putting walls up around himself that prevent him from accepting his own sexuality and feelings towards Coley. Nicky continues to push Coley away, and all Coley wishes is that Nicky would just let what is meant to happen, happen.
I think this book is good for ages 13+. It includes topics such as romance, sex, and tragedy. I would give this book 5 chickens.
If you liked The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle, Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters, or Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli then you might enjoy this novel.
If you like Honesty then you might want to read, Know Not Why by Hannah Johnson, I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, or Jerk Bait by Mia Siegert.
