I got behind on my ARC reading this week because of the celebration in the Facebook group, and I think I saved the best for last... it's not a typical MM Romance Reviewed read, but even though it's a YA read, it is definitely a slow burn M/M romance! Let me introduce you to Sending Love Letters to Animals and Other Totally Normal Human Behaviors by Chase Connors:
From the Blurb:
Ryan Offsteader had one major problem, but now that he’s out of the closet and no one in his family or school actually cares, his problems are few. Life is a cycle of family, school, homework, Journalism Club, his friends, hanging out, and waiting for life to begin. It’s a simple, boring life at times, but his problems are few.
When Ms. Tabatabai, his English teacher and Journalism Club mentor, announces to the class that there will be a project where students pair up, Ryan and his best friend, Jules, assume they will work together. Ms. Tabatabai has other plans. Students will be paired off randomly. Ryan is left without a partner since his English class has an odd number of students. However, Ms. Tabatabai assures him that he will have a partner since a new student is enrolling. It’s not an ideal situation for Ryan since he is used to working with Jules on every project, but it’s not the worst.
Until the new student shows up and Ryan realizes this isn’t their first time meeting.
Ms. Tabatabai announces to the students that they are to get to know each other and write a paper about their partner. An oral report in front of the class will be expected once the project deadline arrives. There’s just one caveat—the pairs must get to know each other without speaking. How they do this is up to them. Points will be given for creativity.
Ryan’s partner does everything he can to make the project impossible, Ms. Tabatabai assigns Ryan to a new project in Journalism Club, his friends want to occupy all of his time, and, if all that wasn’t enough, he’s tasked with helping the Drama teacher, Mr. Melvin, organize the spring singing recital, A Night on Broadway.
Unless Ryan can confront his history and right a wrong, his whole world could fall apart. Will he choose to confront his past, or will history repeat itself?
My review:
Even though I figured out the plot twist fairly early on, Sending Love Letters to Animals and Other Totally Normal Human Behaviors was an amazing read! It blends just enough life philosophy with teen angst and obliviousness. Employing sweet, endearing and even somewhat mysterious characters, and told from Ryan's POV, you see him struggle to learn both life and love lessons and survive his final year of highschool.
Slow build and completely g rated, Sending Love Letters to Animals and Other Totally Normal Human Behaviors is a great book for teens and young adults to see themselves mirrored in a sweet story that blends friendship and more to bring things to a satisfying HFN.
Rating: 5 Stars
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