Sweet Nineteen (Gay Romance)

Firstly a confession. I'm a bit of a romantic at heart. And having spent years reading gay themed stories that end up tragically, as in those days gay people were seen to be in need of some ultimate punishment for being homosexual and against the so called norm, it is so gratifying to read a well written gay romance that has, as all romances must, a happy ending. Thank god for Anthony McDonald! Years ago I found a book of his called Adam, which became an instant favourite of mine, partly because it was set in France, where I have lived, and partly because I fell for the main character (plus a few of the others, it has to be admitted!). Obviously this new one is a genre novel, so in weight and style is lighter than his other more serious works, but he has brought to it all his powers of characterisation and description and of place that you would expect from a master of his craft. Plus some very satisfactory scenes of a sexual nature! To précis the story would be pointless; in this genre it is the journey that counts, and you want the two youngsters Mick and Tom to reach their goal of happiness, despite setbacks. Set in the garden of England, Kent, and Scotland, with one boy from a rich family and the narrator from a poorer one, this is an ideal read for anyone who likes to curl up and inwardly purr with contentment! Just discovered on Kindle that there is a second novel in what is obviously going to become a series, Gay Romance on Garda, so no doubt that will be full of Italian heat and passion! Have to say too that I love the covers. They are also themed. If you look the Garda one up, you'll see what I mean. Clever silhouettes! Thank you Anthony McDonald. All in all a five star read.

Well written, good story, entertaining read - recommended.

A generally good feel gay romance. Held my interest and developed themes well. The characters have realism and could be related to well enough.

As promised, a sweet story, told with humour and empathy, featuring likeable characters whom the reader is rooting for from start to finish. You close the book looking forward to reading it again soon with equal pleasure.

I was hooked from the first page, the author really managed to place me right there. There was one or two items that niggled me though hence only four stars but definitely worth a read.

For a young man of nineteen, first love can be difficult and painful.....especially if the object of desire is another guy. Tender love story with a very satisfying HEA ending.

a brilliant read explaining the journey of two nineteen year old boys who fall in love and their sexual exploits which are sensitively covered - takes the whole lives into account which is healthy too.

A good storey of close encounter and a great friendship that follows, how true love overcomes class difference and help and guidance from parents puts their lives on a whole new track.

Don't let the book's blurb put you off if you think this will be just another how-I-met-a-boy-and-became-gay story. Instead, get ready for one of the most amazingly plotted and beautifully written how-I-met-a-boy-and-fell-in-love stories you are likely to ever read. Set in a number of small towns surrounding Canterbury in England, and expanded occasionally to the highlands of Scotland, this tale of Tom and Mick will grab you quickly--like each of them tentatively grabbed each other on the bus--and hold you enthralled through the end. And leave you wishing for more. Perfectly drawn, Tom and Mick and their families create a wonderland of love, and the two boys create a magical, scorching and almost (yes, almost) angst-free relationship that sometimes bears down on each of them somehat ruefully because neither one of them can believe how the other one loves him so much. That's all I'm going to tell you. For the rest, just settle back and smile, sometimes laugh, sometimes wipe a tear, and have a lovely time.

A wonderful, but far too short, book about coming of age as a young man who is questioning their sexuality.

It's a wonderful book that tackles getting to know and accepting both oneself and sexuality. McDonald is a great writer: he writes vividly and his characters are so life-like! I happily recommend this book!

This book is the lovely needle in a haystack I have been looking for. I have now read scores of gay romance novels and written one. I have grown weary of every gay love story costing at least one character in the book a gay bashing within an inch of his life, being thrown out of his family, a suicide, over the top newspaper headline homophobic acting out. Yes those things do happen with morbid repetitive and regular occurance in the real world. Does that mean they have to exist between the pages of nearly every darn gay love story on Amazon.com? I for one don't think so. I think that when I read a romance novel I want there to be more romance and less violence and less reminders that in the "real" world terrible things still can and do happen to gay boys and men who dare to love each other. The main characters in this world meet, find attraction and romance, sex and love at the tender age of nineteen. Neither of them have labeled themselves when they begin their journey on a bus, a great metaphor for the road they will take together in life. Yes, there a couple of bumps on the road but nothing that takes away from the gentle unfolding of their caring for each other above all others. The book kept me up to the wee hours to finish and left me smiling. I am still smiling this morning as I write this. My thanks to the author for allowing me to escape from the headline horrors of the world into a tale of new and committed love. If only for a couple of hours. Call me crazy or a hopeless romantic but I think that in today's world there can be stories like this in real life as well.

A beautiful story of young love that is destined to last forever. Simply told in the first person, this novel is an engaging and heartwarming tale of two boys who grow into manhood. Oh to be nineteen again! Anthony McDonald writes in a compelling, sensitive manner. I have enjoyed all the books of his that I have read so far. Love overcomes as it should!