Until September by Harker Jones

Until September is a coming of age story with all the insecurities of not only that age but acknowledging their sexual attraction.  There are more issues thrown in and it is a melancholy story without a HEA.

From the blurb:

“I was so young when it all began that the blame hardly feels like mine. …”

In the lull between the conservative ’50s and the turbulent ’60s, Kyle Ryan Quinn, an introspective, sentimental boy, leads a golden life. He’s rich, beautiful and smart, and he summers every year on the same island with the same group of friends. Haunted by the ghosts of a tragedy that took place in his youth, Kyle is more sensitive than his privileged peers. He understands loss, and secrets.

When he meets Jack Averill, a quiet, bookish boy, his fateful 18th summer on the island, Kyle attempts to integrate him into his tight-knit yet troubled circle while at the same time he’s pursued by another summer boy, and his best friend toys with the affections of an island girl. Amid mounting familial, sexual and peer pressures, all four young men make heartbreaking decisions that will steal their innocence, destroy lives and consume them forever.

Until September is not just another coming-out or coming-of-age story. It’s an authentically emotional tale of obsessive first love with vivid, relatable characters who will take your breath away and break your heart. If you like Brokeback Mountain and Call Me By Your Name, you’ll fall in love with Kyle as he navigates his own summer of love.

Reedkaye's Review:

Coming of age story that once I started it, I had to see where these characters were going. Having big plans for their summer vacation before going to college a group of friends find all doesn’t go as planned

The group has been together a long time and have been vacationing at the same place for years but with all the this year is supposed to be a celebration and vacation. Then Kyle meets Jack and is attracted to him. He tries to include Jack in the group but that just doesn’t work especially since the other guy in the group has had an attraction to Kyle for awhile. 

As this conflict plays out things don’t go as anticipated. Kyle not only is attracted to Jack he is also suffering loss and depression. Kyle had previously been faced with an event that shocked him and he keeps remembering things about the person involved. No one around him seems to know how to deal with this. 

This story is not written as the usual romance where everything ends in a hea. I feel anyone not wanting to deal with heartbreak should avoid this story. I also think this is original and not the run of the mill romance.

Rating: 4 Stars

Until September is available to buy in ebook and paperback formats.