Title: Enlightened, Little Boy Lost Series Book One
Author: J.P. Barnaby
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Buy link: Buy Link Little Boy Lost Series
Genre: Contemporary M/M, coming of age
Length: Novel (60K words)
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
A guest review by Leslie
In a nutshell: A pitch perfect coming of age story. Not to be missed!
Blurb:
Little Boy Lost is the story of Brian McAllister, the boy next door.
Brian goes to school, does his homework, and helps his foster parents around the house. Brian also has a secret: he is in love with his best friend, Jamie. But in Crayford, Alabama, being in love with another boy is the worst kind of sin.
Brian and Jamie will discover just how deep their emotional bond runs, and at what cost. What will they do if their secret is discovered? From fumbling through their first sexual experiences to hiding all aspects of their relationship from everyone in their lives, Brian and Jamie battle for the one thing that is truly theirs—love.
Review:
What a difference a year makes! I reviewed this book here on the site a year ago (you can read it here). At that time it was unknown, hard-to-find, and self-published. Now, 12 months later, it’s been picked up by Dreamspinner, has a new cover, and is for sale in a variety of formats in all the major outlets. I hope it becomes very well-known because it is an excellent story and deserves a place of honor on everyone’s TBR list. I know it will be on my Top Ten list for this year—just like it was last year in its previous incarnation.
This is a compulsively readable book. I sat down with it the other day, intending just to skim it for this re-review, but within a few pages I was pulled completely into the story just like I was last year. Brian and Jamie are wonderful characters, beautifully drawn and realized. They experience the wonder and excitement of their first love, going through each step: a touch, a kiss, an embrace, and more. At the same time, they are terrified of what might happen to them should anyone find out about their relationship. They live in a very small town in Alabama where faggot jokes and homophobia are the norm. How do they reconcile their feelings for each other with the reality of the time and place in which they are living?
In my review last year, I thought that Brian’s paranoia about being discovered was a bit overdrawn. I don’t feel that way anymore. With the increased awareness of bullying and gay youth suicide, it has become clear to me that Brian’s worries are very real and not to be taken lightly. The story also points out the helplessness that kids have when they are teens. An underage adolescent can’t just up and move—they have to hang around and wait for it to “get better.” However, for many young people, it will get worse before it gets better and unfortunately, that seems to be what’s in store for Brian and Jamie and the great big wide open ending of the book.
But before we get to the ending, there’s the rest of the book with lots of wonderful, touching scenes. Told from Brian’s first person POV, he’s a shy, introverted orphan who has been best friends with Jamie since the day he moved to Crayford, at age 12, to live with his new foster family. Jamie is an all-American blond haired, blue eyed nice kid. He’s not a jock and he’s not part of the “in” crowd, but he’s popular and well-liked. Brian is convinced that Jamie will hate him if his feelings become known; imagine his absolute amazement when he learns that Jamie feels the same way about him! And thus begins their journey together.
I rated the book 4.5 stars last year but bumped it up to 5 because it felt a little more polished and complete in this new version. The author told me that three new scenes have been added and they helped to fill out the story and add a bit more depth and dimension to the two main characters. The writing overall seemed a bit smoother too—I suspect that is the result of a thorough edit from the folks at Dreamspinner. In my opinion, this was a very good book that is now great and I am happy to give it a 5 star rating.
The only change I didn’t like is the new cover. The author explained to me that Dreamspinner wanted to use the same two models through all six books of the series. Okay, that’s a reasonable explanation. Still, I feel like there’s a new trend in m/m covers: we’ve gone from naked, headless torsos to leering faces and I’m not sure that’s an improvement! Fortunately, I read on my Kindle so it’s easy to ignore the cover, which I did.
All in all, this is a terrific book and I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to the future books in the series which I will be reviewing here. The next book, Abandoned, is due out in May. I am on tenterhooks for its release!
Note: The characters in this story are 16 (Brian) and 17 (Jamie), just in case anyone has a problem with that. Frankly, I think teenagers have sex and it was handled in a realistic and touching way. Still, I include this information in the spirit of full disclosure.
Hmmm might try this one. I quite like coming of age stories. As you said, the cover is a bit off-putting and I almost didn’t read the review because of it! But it sounds like a great read so maybe…
Just ignore the cover completely. That’s not even how I picture Jamie and Brian! I have to chuckle–the book takes place in Alabama in the spring and summer and there are several references to how hot and humid it is. So why on earth is the blond haired kid wearing a long-sleeved turtleneck shirt? 😀 😕
L
This is one of my all time favorite books EVER and I whined and nagged poor JP mercilessly to hurry the sequel! Am so happy for her that Dreamspinner opted in…everyone should read this as it is a sweet story about first love. Excellent review, Leslie!!
SusieQ, I definitely recommend reading this new version. You’ll love it as much as the first time around and the new scenes are a bonus.
L
Oh I will be reading it, Leslie. But am waiting till closer to second installment release.
Leslie – thank you so much for giving Little Boy Lost a chance, I’m truly thrilled that you enjoyed it. You don’t have to wait much longer – Little Boy Lost: Abandoned will be out May 16th.
For the cover, I know it’s not as intimate as the first edition. Originally, I had planned to go with unrelated images for the series. The people that followed my books knew that it was a series, so there wasn’t a big issue with continuity. With Dreamspinner, people who had never heard of me would be reading and we wanted to make absolutely sure when they got to that ending, they’d know more was coming. I couldn’t imagine the lynching I’d get otherwise. 🙂 Brian and Jamie are exactly who I pictured in my head. The series of images she found for Jamie were perfect for the progression of his character through the books, but there were only a few portraying the model as a sweet, beautiful teenage boy. I wasn’t much bothered by the turtleneck because it was the boy that I saw. I also think that the tree house is a really important focal point for the book so it needed to be represented. The only other thing I asked for was that the boys be clothed. The books aren’t about sex though sex is certainly represented throughout the series. Little Boy Lost is about Brian and Jamie, how they grow and change, adapting to all of the challenges life throws at them. To me, the cover is just a vehicle to show you who I see when I sit down at my computer.
Hi JP,
Thanks for dropping by! People can debate covers endlessly and for me, the bottom line is that I rarely make a purchase decision based on the cover. So…For me, I do like picturing the characters in my imagination so I’ve never been particularly fond of *any* cover that tries to show me what a character might look like. But really, for this book, it’s a minor point. Read what’s inside…that’s what counts!
L
You know, J.P., initially the cover was off-putting to me (maybe cuz I was so use to the other version) But the more I see this one, the more perfect I think it is! This really is Brian & Jamie…and of course the tree house is pivotal to the story!
An excellent review to what sounds like an interesting and emotional coming of age story. I’m not a huge fan of coming out stories, but I will put this on my list.
As for the cover, I’ve gotten so tired of naked torsos that this cover was rather refreshing. I think Dreamspinner Press does a great job with most their covers.
Congratulations on a winner, J.B.
Give this one a go, Alan. It’s much more about coming of age vs. coming out.
L
Thanks for the excellent review Leslie. I had been debating to myself about picking this book up. Now I’ll be going over to Dreamspinner and getting a copy of it. Can’t wait to read this.
I hope you enjoy it, Patty. I am sure you will.
L
Oh, this is definitely on my TBR list! It sounds wonderful!
It is wonderful. Enjoy, Rowan!
L
Wonderful review! This sounds like a great story.
It is a great story, Lily. I can’t wait to read more about Jamie and Brian…
L
Great review Leslie! I’m excited to read this. Six books? Did I read that right? I hope that the time between books won’t be too long, or I might wait a while to get started so I can read through. But, I love coming of age stories and I can commiserate with growing up in a similar setting. So, I will definitely be reading this!
I wondered about the characters being underage… Doesn’t Dreamspinner have a rule about that, or is it just when one character is over 18 and one under? It doesn’t bother me personally, unless you know… one character is an old man and the other is a kid. Thanks again 🙂
The standard actually varies with the publisher. Some will not take under 18 at all, and some like Dreamspinner will not take stories that contain adults with teenagers. Because Brian and Jamie are close in age, they did not find anything inappropriate in their relationship. They never asked me to make them older, which I would have refused. Their ages are necessary for the progression of the story.
Yes, six books. I am sort of hoping the last one ends with the two of them getting married because I really want a HEA for these two guys. LOL.
As for the ages, I don’t know if Dreamspinner has a rule and relaxed it in this case, or it wasn’t an issue. The way the story is written is completely realistic and very touching and sweet. They are learning together, asking each other questions, validating their feelings and emotions–everything they do together is totally consensual. Their ages were not an issue for me.
L
Leslie
Great re-review. I remember reading the previous book and my questions about the changes between that one and this version are answered. I agree about the cover. Do you know who is the artist?
Teens are having sex earlier so I don’t understand the publishers’ concerns. What? Are they hoping to stem the flow? That horse went through the barn door a long time ago. 😆
According to the front matter of the book, the artist is Catt Ford.
As for teenage sex, my recollection of m/f teenage books is that sex has been portrayed in those books since forever. Remember Seventeenth Summer (which was written in the forties)? There was kissing and making out in that. So what’s the issue with m/m teenage sex?
L
I’m thinking I will purchase this one tomorrow at the same time as With Abandon. Great review thanks. I somehow missed this one from DreamSpinner. It is out now isn’t it?
It is out now, yes. It was released on March 13th.
L
Heh, I actually passed on this due to the cover, thought it was too … juvenile? amateurish? But since you say it’s good, I’ll give it a try.
I really enjoyed it the first time I read it and now, one year later with a second re-read, I enjoyed it even more. Give it a try, Saga. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
L
Yeah, I will. I have been weary of reading unknown authors from dreamspinner without a recommendation or something extra to pull me in. Bought some really bad books from them lately and now I usually wait for reviews unless it’s an author I know.
Fantastic review, Leslie. Or re-review, as Wave called it. I’m adding it to the wish list now!
I am sure you will enjoy it, Buda. It’s a really great story. Thanks for the compliment!
Hey, great review of what sounds like a terrific book – As soon as the exchequer has recovered a bit (I went on a book binge recently) it moves to the top of my list. And I’m with Alan, I am so over naked bodies on the covers.
As for the age thing, I don’t see a problem. If there’s anybody around who doesn’t think teen age boys are sexually active, I’d like to know what planet they’re from.
Congrats, J.P.
Bloody hell, why do I always have trouble posting comments? The one that I just submitted seems to have vanished – so now I get to do it all over again, I guess.
What I said…well, what did I say? Terrific review, sounds like a great book, congrats J.P., and I agree with Alan, I’m tired of naked bodies on book covers. Oh, the age thing – if anyone reading this doesn’t think teenage boys are sexually active, I’d like to know what planet they’re living on.
Now, I suppose this will show up twice. What is it about me and the internet? I spent most of the morning trying to find my disappearing Yahell groups – for the 3rd time!
Good work, J.P., and thanks Leslie for an insightful review.
Victor, your comment is great…twice! Thanks for writing and when the bank account allows it, give this book a go. It’s terrific.
L
Eek, see, there it is, twice.
This book is great!! I promise you will not be disappointed.
I completely agree, Rachel. Thanks for your comment!
I just finished. This book was really great. However, I’m just so sad for Jamie and Brian right now. This series could really do me in. Thanks for reviewing and bringing it to my attention Leslie! 🙁
I am so glad you enjoyed it Lisa and just remember, the next story in the series will be out in May. Just 2 months to wait!
L
I just read this book this week–in one devouring three-hour session. It is a beautifully told exploration of burgeoning sexuality and love. I thought it was completely realistic in its depiction of small-town life in the South, of the sometimes horrifying experience of high school, and of the kinds of questions of both morality and practicality (is it wrong? am I wrong? how does it work?) that a gay teenager might ask. At times heartrending and at times heartwarming, this book was a joy to read. I can’t wait for the story to continue. And way to go Dreamspinner for taking on a lovely and timely series.
Andi – Thank you so much – I’m glad that you enjoyed the book! And you’re not the only one, actually. I’ve had a few people tell me they’ve read it in one sitting. 🙂 My intention with the series was something like Stephen King’s The Green Mile – a series of short novels. They just came out longer than I had expected. Brian and Jamie are very good storytellers.