Review: Autoboyography

 Autoboyography
 Christina Lauren


So, thanks to SimonTeen's #25daysofChristmas I got to binge read this in a day, and it was the sweetest story I've read in a long time.

Tanner lives in a very conservative town. Like, Uber conservative. Religious conservative to be specific. The ladder day saints, LDS, town reigns over the people of Provo. Now, while Tanner doesn't necessarily mind the religion, it does go against who he is.

Tanner's family accepts their son and brother as Bi. When the family lived in California, Tanner was able to be more free with himself but now that they live in a highly religious town, they suggest that he keep to himself more. It's not ideal by any means but Tanner has his best friend and his routines and he goes about his daily life until he can escape to college.

When Autumn, the bestie, convinces him to sign up for The Seminar - a course that focuses on writing a whole book within the semester (hello NaNo for high schoolers), he finds himself introduced to previous published Seminar boy, Sebastian.  and Hello Gorgeous.

but.
there's always a but.

Sebastian is a hardcore Mormon (a member of the LDS) ... but when he meets Tanner, he begins to questions what he wants more in life: the person he wants to be freely, or his beliefs. These two concepts do not go hand in hand and it is an emotional ride as we see their relationship unfold.

As Sebastian helps Tanner on his book throughout the Seminar, they get closer and closer until they cannot deny their feelings any more. While it's of little consequence to Tanner, it means a lot for Sebastian's present and future.



While I found the story slow, overall, it was intense. Knowing nothing of the LDS, I found that the authors did a concise job in explaining the religious aspect that were needed for the story (there were moments where I wanted to look up more, but I was too distracted by the book).

Tanner and Sebastian's relationship is one of my favourites. The ups and downs, the one being more invested than the other, the off and on. The consequences. Tanner's voice throughout the whole book has a curious edge to it. He just wants to be happy. He knows who he is, and who he wants.

But how do you have a relationship in secret? You can't.
Is love worth giving up everything you know and believe?
Do you even have to choose?
Go read Tanner's book and find out.