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One Man Guy

One Man Guy - Michael Barakiva

I lived and breathed this book since getting it in the mail.  After reading about this book on Fierce Reads, I knew I had to read it and then when I found out I won it, I was thrilled beyond belief.  I don’t know what it was about it but something hit a cord with me and Michael’s words won me over just the same as I started reading it.  The opening chapter lays the novel’s foundation and it had me in stitches as Alex’s family is out for dinner and his neurotic mother has the waitress frazzled as she makes ordering dinner and water a nightmare. Since Alex comes from a long line of Armenians, his family believes that the Armenian way is superior over American thinking which reminded me of the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  I found myself laughing at the references comparing American and Armenian things and how these details were affecting the two boys and their family.  Sometimes the effort to make the point was so ridiculous, you just had to laugh.   Alex is informed that his summer vacation would be replaced with summer school since his grades were not the best that he could get according to his father. His family however will take their planned summer vacation without him.  There is bright side; Alex was able to talk them into him staying home by himself.  His best friend Becky and he share everything, Becky would like to take the relationship further but Alex likes her just as a friend.  It’s freedom as last when his family leaves.  Summer school turns out not to be so bad, as that is where Alex meets Ethan.  An innocent relationship begins for the two of them and they run off into the big city for some fun adventure. Two guys hitting the town, nothing else.  The writing was perfect, the relationship was carefree and the conversation that followed opened up the world to possibilities that were enjoyable.   The more I read, the more I loved the relationships that followed, the communication, the possibilities, the honesty and the ability to just be yourself. The teens are dealing with some big issues and the realization as certain situation present themselves it made them more aware  of themselves.  It made them more aware of their own beliefs, their nationality, and their way of life and as they came to face these issues they had to deal with them, they couldn’t ignore them or pretend they didn’t exist, it all mattered now.  I really enjoyed this book, such a great book dealing with life as it presents itself to each person, as unique as the person we all are.

I won this book on Fierce Reads – thanks!