Don't Let Me Go

by J.H. Trumble

Some people spend their whole lives looking for the right partner. Nate Schaper found his in high school. In the eight months since their cautious flirting became a real, honest, tell-the-parents relationship, Nate and Adam have been inseparable. Even when local kids take their homophobia to brutal levels, Nate is undaunted. He and Adam are rock solid. Two parts of a whole. Yin and yang.

But when Adam graduates and takes an Off-Broadway job in New York—at Nate’s insistence—that certainty begins to flicker. Nate starts a blog to vent his frustrations and becomes the center of a school controversy, drawing ire and support in equal amounts. But it is the attention of a new boy who is looking for more than guidance that forces him to confront who and what he really wants.

J.H. Trumble’s debut, DON’T LET ME GO, is a witty, beautifully written novel that is both a sweet story of love and long-distance relationships, and a timely discourse about bullying, bigotry, and hate in high schools.

Genres: LGBT, Young Adult, M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay

337 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2011

About the author

J.H. Trumble is a Texas native and graduate of Sam Houston State University. You can visit the author online at http://www.jhtrumble.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

[Kai Spellmeier]

“They say you can't always get what you want. But sometimes you can, and you do, even when you don't deserve it.”

Let's start with the main character. Sometimes I wonder why authors decide to create a main character that is so dislikeable. And not for literary reasons. Not like Jane Austen's Emma who is supposed to be a difficult and arrogant person. Apparently J. H. Trumble found him sympathetic and friendly and thought to herself that she was going to write the book about Nate, when his boyfriend Adam's POV would have been so much better.
Let me tell you about Nate. On a jealousy scale from 0 to 10 Nate is a 12.5. He has zero trust in his boyfriend and gets upset about the tiniest things. He is so jealous that he even gets annoyed when his Adam, as opposed to him, does not get jealous when Nate mentions hanging out with another guy. Nate gets super angry at his boyfriend for hiding their relationship and being flirted with by a girl, even though he was the one to suggest hiding it. Out of anger at Adam he starts a so-called relationship with a completely unexperienced guy who is two years younger and uses him. I could go on and on. Nate is most of the things I hate in a main character.

I think young adult literature has come far in the last few years. When you're used to Lev Rosen, Aiden Thomas and Adib Khorram books like this fall short. Especially since they know what they are talking about because they are actual gay men while Trumble lacks that insight. This book is the perfect example of why we badly need OwnVoices authors. The world isn't divided into people who accept gays and complete homophobes. Only in this book it is. Not everyone will pour their drinks over you, beat you up, harrass you and whisper behind your back because OHMYGOSH TWO GUYS HOLDING HANDS. Not even in 2011 when this book was released.

Again, I could go on forever, but I want to put this book aside and get over it. I'll just think about the coming release of There Will Be Other Summers instead.

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[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross-posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted

If you decide to read this book, there are two things you need to overlook.

- The frequent time jumps throughout the story can be disorienting. Considering that very bad things happen to the main characters, I appreciate the author’s use of this technique that in some ways helps to lessen the intensity of the events and in other ways makes them even more horrifying. Just pay attention and you will find the story flows nicely and comes together in the end.

- The end! The craptacular ending that takes place 10 years after the story’s events. Though it was nice to see most of the story’s main conflicts resolved, I wanted more evidence of the characters’ work to get to that point. I also felt that certain significant issues were not addressed, which left me feeling vaguely unsatisfied.

Nate and Adam meet in high school and are joined at the hip. Their love is true, but Adam heads off to New York to take an acting job after graduation, putting great strain on their relationship. Nate and Adam’s relationship has all the passion and intensity of young people in love and was portrayed so effectively and authentically, that I found myself remembering my own difficult teenage years. It was easy to empathize with Nate and Adam, even if they lacked communication skills that would have prevented many of their problems. This is not just a love story, though. There is pain, heartbreak, and betrayal in spades. And there is the brutal sexual assault that left Nate emotionally wounded long after his injuries healed. Sensitive readers need not worry. Trumble skillfully interweaves details of the attack and its aftermath delicately through flashbacks.

I loved this book and gobbled it up in two days, discreetly swiping my tears while I was riding the bus to work. Nate and Adam were so real that I wanted to reach through the pages and hug them. Though Nate’s neediness and insecurity irritated me at times, I had to keep reminding myself that he is a teenager who suffered a traumatic experience. I’m glad Nate and Adam had the support of their friends – Danial, a straight ally of Pakistani descent; Juliet, Adam’s best friend who has a crush on Nate; and Luke, a sensitive, closeted boy who is drawn to Nate and is equally as needy. While I liked the supporting cast, I couldn’t help being slightly annoyed by Juliet. One of these days I would like to read about a strong female character who can have a close gay male friend while still having a fulfilling life of her own. I realize this is a book for young adults, but I was slightly bothered that the sexual intimacy between Nate and Adam was perfunctorily handled and lacking in sensuality. It would have been nice to have a tender love scene contrast with all the homophobia and brutality.

Minor complaints aside, this was an amazing book. Very highly recommended!

I can’t wait to read Luke’s story.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most angst-filled books that I have ever read... holy crap.

This book is completely polarizing among my friends. Some hate it and 1 starred it, others loved it and favorited it. I feel like I'm on both ends simultaneously, so I settled on 3 stars.

What I liked:
- This book felt like an older YA book and I'm not talking about sex content. The way the characters acted and felt was authentic and mature while still staying appropriate for their age. It is a huge pet peeve of mine in YA when the characters are portrayed as simple or underdeveloped, like that's okay because it is YA. It isn't. Here, the 18 year olds had passion, fears, and angst poring out of every orifice- like real 18 year olds. It felt very, very true-to-life for me.
- The relationship felt like a real relationship. This was a difficult point for me to acknowledge. I remember what it was like with my high school boyfriend- the ups, the downs, the misunderstandings, the drunken fights... it all was present here. As much as I loathed reading about the relationship between Adam and Nate at times, it rang painfully true. I felt their love, their passion, and really felt like I knew them as a couple, very intimately.
- The character of Danial. Awesome in every way.
- The grandma. Awesome in every way.
- The editing and the writing. This book feels polished and professional. Someone took painstaking amounts of time to make it so. And it shows.
- The way this book made me feel. F, it takes a lot for me to feel this passionate about a book, for good or for bad, so I have to acknowledge that this book elicited big emotions in me.
- The character of Adam. You tried your best, poor thing.

What I didn't like
- I'm going to have to limit this because it could get a bit... rambly. I'll start with the time-jumps. It was confusing as hell for me at times. Time jumped from different points in the past to the present, and I often had trouble following. Just didn't really work for me.
- Nate. Nate, you narcissistic, broken, needy little f-er. I have this strange love/hate relationship with him. I hate him for what he did to Adam. God, Nate was so needy and difficult and selfish at times. I really can't forgive him for some of the things that he did. I wanted to punch him towards the end of the book. Hard. But I also got where he was coming from a lot of the time. He was truly in need of some serious therapy and he took on way too much. I think this book catches him at an incredibly difficult point in his life and I don't think it was the most flattering time for him. I feel for him but I'm still angry at him.
- Luke's dad. The school principle's reaction towards him was 100% unrealistic and insane.
- Juliet. Was I the only one who thought it was strange that she kept hitting on Nate, even while he was dating her best friend?
- The angst up to wazoo. I'm an angst lover but this was even pushing it for me at times. The misunderstandings were out of control.
- That ending. I felt like it was a cop out.

Overall, I loved parts of this book and hated parts of this book. However, I think that this author is fabulously talented, so I can't wait to read more by her.

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, how I struggled with this book. It was YA fiction written with the worst of the m/m tropes. Gay bashing? Check! Rampant homophobia? Check! Hurt/comfort? yes! Rape with a tyre iron, no less! Check! Fag hag who tries to sleep with her gay best friend, and then vicariously lives through their relationship until she gets her own? Check! Straightsplaining by the straight characters? Oh, yes, check! Add to all of this a horrendously co-dependent relationship which makes Twilight look a little bit saner and an epilogue that ties up all loose ends ten years later without really working for it, and I was ready to cry from insanity. Funny how the aforementioned Twilight gets (justifiably) criticised for a notorious depiction of emotionally abusive relationships, and this one gets embraced as a fully blooded romance just because it's two guys.

Seriously, I haven't read a book that made me this angry in AGES. There is great YA gay fiction out there. This isn't it.

[Sarah (saz101) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love. It’s romanticised, mythologised – frequently sanitised – and at its most beautiful, its most pure, there is no single greater force for good in this world. Yet soured or corrupted, or viewed from aside with a poisoned heart, the hatred it incites is perhaps the most destructive, and it is this – love and hate, and the price of both – that Don’t Let Me Go examines – in often heartbreaking extremes.

It’s a basic right, particularly in the Western world, that we may love who we choose, or, should the adage prove true, who our hearts decide we must. Yet many who take this simple freedom granted for themselves do not believe it a right, but a privilege, one earned by merit of religion, the colour of one’s skin, position, or gender.

We meet Nate, our narrator, and Adam, the Juliet to his Romeo – or vice versa – on page one, which also happens to be the middle of their story. Through a series of flashbacks, Trumble shows the couple’s past and present: sweet romance and horrifying brutality in parallels to a present of petty fights and bickering, of distance which renders hearts strangers, not stronger in their affections. Yet to talk of Don’t Let Me Go in context of romance or of ethical allegory alone is to do it an injustice, for it is so much more than each, or either.

It's a story of extremes, of shining love and blackest hate, of marginalization and bullying, and about a gay teen dealing with a world who views him as a thing which must be ‘dealt with’, rather than a boy with feelings and a beating, hurting heart. Concerned as it is with hate and homophobia (though I suppose the two are, truly, synonymous), it is far more than a simple parable. Dealing with the broader meaning of love than romance alone, family, friendship, and, above all, finding oneself, Trumble handles her characters with sensitivity, warmth and humour. The story’s heartache is balanced with joy, and a love story so tender and pure in its honesty, its messiness, its good and bad, it’s intoxicating. Don’t Let Me Go a ‘feeling’ book, an emotional one, one driven very much by its vividly real characters.

The cast of Don’t Let Me Go is varied and disparate, and amongst its friends and families and heroes, is a love so beautiful and fierce it is humbling to witness. Yet none of them are perfect. Some are certainly more so than others – Adam’s family, Nate’s grandmother, the lovely Juliet and hilarious Daniel Quasimi among them. Others are profoundly flawed, with Nate – broken, combative, and self-destructive – winning that race by a country mile. Nate is not always easy to like. He makes impulsive, foolish decisions, acts in anger and hurts those who love him most. Yet there’s a painful authenticity to his actions, and Trumble doesn’t make excuses for her characters, showing them simply as they are: human. Despite his failings, readers will find in Nate a sympathetic hero, even more so as his story and history unfolds in heartbreaking clarity.

Four hundred years ago Shakespeare penned his now famous maxim on the path of love and, while comic in context, it rings, loudly, true in Don’t Let Me Go. Marrying (500) Days of Summer and Hannah Harrington's Speechless with the raw emotional authenticity of Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series, Don’t Let Me Go is a powerful story with a profound message.

Don’t Let Me Go starts with goodbyes, and ends with hope, with promise of a future just beyond a not-so-distant horizon. It’s not possible to take the journey through this tale without seeing horrifying truths and the blackest sides of humanity, but, ultimately, it is ‘much to do with hate but more with love,’ and it is this – love – which makes it such a powerful story. Interwoven with a deep appreciation of music, a warm sense of humour, and profound understanding of how much our world needs books such as this, and needs to have such conversations, Don’t Let Me Go is a gem – one uncut and unpolished, authentic and untainted, and immeasurably precious.

I sometimes wish simply saying 'read this book’ were enough – because this book has something very important to say, and to teach, and it's also (when it's not utterly heartbreaking) an absolute joy to read. So perhaps I'll say it anyway, if I may: Read this book. And love. Above all things, in all things, love.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I moved heaven and earth to find it. Well, not really - I searched all of my local libraries, and the nearby bookstores. I couldn't buy it on Amazon in case my mom got to it before I did. I resorted to ordering it through Barnes & Noble, and I'm still not sure why Don't Let Me Go was so difficult to obtain.

It's like gay chick-lit, but better. The story revolves around Nate Schaper, a high school senior who has already found his soul mate. Nate and Adam are inseparable, bonded by true love that has survived huge amounts of homophobia - even a heinous hate crime. But when Adam graduates and gets an acting job in New York, their relationship is put to the ultimate test.

There should me more books like Don't Let Me Go. I loved how J.H. Trumble addressed homosexuality and how tough it can be to be gay in high school. She took a sensitive and honest approach to coming out, cycles of abuse, and gay/straight friendships. Her care for the characters appeared prominently on every page.

Before I get into why I didn't love the book, I want to make it clear that I have every intention of reading Trumble's next novel. Her writing is raw and sincere, and her utilization of flashbacks uniquely fleshed out the characters. I only wish she had showed some of the scenes instead of telling them. However, the romance in the novel was real and intense and made me wish that I had a boyfriend. Perhaps that's how girls feel when they read books like Anna and the French Kiss.

Now, the only reason I'm giving this book three stars instead of five is Nate. Nate. Schaper. It's taking every ounce of my self-control not to just rant about him. As the protagonist of the book and the narrator, I did empathize with him. I understood how hurt and vulnerable he was. But there comes a time when characters cross the line from emotionally distraught and damaged to acting like an insensitive, immature idiot. Almost every single plot problem arose from his insecurity or his inability to communicate like a mature human being. The pain I felt for Adam cut way deeper than the pain I felt for Nate. He deserved a sharp slap across the face, or something that would wake him from his slumber of stupidity.

Don't get me wrong, I still recommend this book, especially to those searching for a great story centered on a gay relationship. Just get ready to put up with a protagonist who is not exactly likeable.

*review cross-posted on my blog, the quiet voice.

[Brigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this book was amazing.

This book was marketed as adult, but I'd say it's pretty damn fine YA. I'd put this up there with John Green and David Levithan. YES. REALLY.

First off, I couldn't put it down. Seriously. I read on my phone, I read at the gym -- WHILE RUNNING, people -- I read in the car (while someone else was driving), I read any chance I could get.

The romance? Amazing. The characters? Amazing. The whole story was just beautiful and fulfilling and ... seriously, I just want to hug Nate.

You know how sometimes you read books and you want to shake people and say, "You need to read this book!!"? This is that book. This book made me want to be a better writer.

There is some sexuality and language in this book (no explicit sex, but a few occasional explicit references to sex), but everything suited the story perfectly, and everything was true to each character.

I know some reviews mentioned that they had a problem with the time line. The story is told in alternating periods of current time and flashbacks, but I thought it was exactly what the story needed. It was very reminiscent of Barry Lyga's Boy Toy.

Seriously. Read it. You won't be disappointed.

[Deeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story of first love.

We get to follow Nate and Adam as they journey through the upheavals of first love and life. Their journey is a roller coaster ride that will leave you feeling everything from hope and love to frustration and heartbreak.

Along the way we get to meet some wonderful characters and some pretty nasty ones too. All play a big part in this story.


I admit I struggled with the way this book was written. The time line was not always clear, and as in most cases the flash backs came when I least wanted them too and ended before I was ready. But don’t let that put you off reading a wonderful story of two guys falling in love and the struggles they go through.


This is a must read for all who love a college age story. Strike that, this is a must read for all those that love a good love story.

[Pamela (slytherpuff) · Rating 1 out of 5]

See more of my reviews at Bettering Me Up.

This book had SO much potential and fell terribly flat. I absolutely love the premise and I totally swooned over the cover. Other reviewers compared this to works by David Levithan and John Green, so I was expecting to be wowed.

And I was. Just not in a good way.

To be fair, I am not gay. I am also not a guy. So I have no idea what it's like to be a recently-out 17-year-old high school boy. But I DO read a fair bit of GLBT YA fiction, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with the genre.

I have so many problems with this book that I don't even know where to begin. Which is why I'm so glad that I took notes on my Kindle, once I started getting really annoyed.

1. In this book, everyone who is not gay is either: 1) head-over-heels in love with someone of the opposite sex who IS gay (taking "fag hag" to an extreme); 2) a mother or a sibling of someone who is gay; or 3) a hateful person who spews vitriol at every opportunity and beats up homosexuals. I mean, EVERYONE. Parents. Friends. Schoolmates. Strangers. There isn't a single person who is indifferent or supportive.



2. All gay guys look like this:



No, wait. This is okay.

3. If you are of any sort of ethnic heritage, people automatically cannot pronounce your last name. Because there are so few non-Caucasians in Texas.

4. School administrators don't care if students are bullied, assaulted, or attempt suicide. Or are beaten by their parents.

5a. Some cheating is okay, but just don't get caught!

5b. Even if your ex wants to fool around, you don't HAVE to! No one is forcing you, no matter how much he begs and pleads! Seriously. Stop being such a baby about it.



6. Gays need bodyguards.



7. Teenagers don't know anything about blogs.

8. The timelines and chronology were all over the place, which made the story really hard to follow. There were random sections with a lot of unnecessary detail: re-stringing a guitar; tuning a guitar; the temporormandibular joints (just say TMJ!); and playing football.

9. The mid-story angst--the arc of the story that is supposed to tug at your heartstrings and make your stomach plummet with dread--felt very forced. And then there was swine flu! And a huge fight (or four)! And OMG, I should feel something! But no.

By the time I got to the epilogue, I wasn't sure I could handle the inanity of last few pages: everyone is happy and in love and making babies and seeking closure to those few drama-filled days from TEN YEARS AGO.



I am actually debating whether or not to request a refund from Amazon. I am that disappointed.

[June Helmsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy fuckstick on a fucking narwhal/velociraptor/dragon beast, this book is the best thing since ever and holy shit! I'm smiling so hard people are noticing.

I'm going to try to write a coherent review but I don't know if I can do it. Here it goes.

FIRST
You know something horrible happened to Nate and there are a lot of flashbacks but it's done well so you're not like "I thought this happened then and what's what?"

SECOND
Nate and Adam are the best couple since Connor and David in Kamikaze Boys and that's saying something. Their relationship feels so real, and the heartbreak is goddamn palpable.

THIRD
Okay, you know that scene in Kill Bill (or maybe it's the sequel) when they show that cartoon of The Bride getting punched by the assassins, and it's similar to the end of Death Proof when those chicks were beating up on that dude? That's so going to happen to you while you read this book. Not in a bad way, but this book will get all up in your face saying "You're going to feel this heartache" and you're like "Holy shit!" and it keeps on going! If you're like me you start freaking out and screaming on the bus and the driver threatens to ban you but fuck that guy!

Okay so Nate and Adam are the perfect couple, but these fuckmouth assholes assault Nate and he has to go through a trial and everything. Adam's there for him the entire time but then he gets an offer to go to New York and Nate convinces him to go even though he wants him to stay. One of Adam's roommates is a total manslut and then Nate starts getting the eye for this cute guy and things go all crazy! This book is not predictable in ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM AND HOLY SHIT IS THIS BOOK AWESOME. SERIOUSLY, I CAN'T EVEN.

Oh my god did this book fuck my soul. And it felt so good.

The ending? Will MAKE. YOU. SAY. FUCK. YES. And it's not contrived, it feels so real!

Prepare to be OWNED by this amazing book! You SO HAVE TO READ THIS!

FUCK!!! :D :D

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This male-male romance packs quite an emotional punch with its issue-driven, complex story. High school students Nate and Adam, deeply in love, experience numerous setbacks to their relationship when Adam takes off for New York to pursue his dreams. Besides dealing with the stress of their separation, Nate is trying to survive in the often cruel world of high school as an openly gay person. His courage and strength of purpose stole my heart. Kudos to the author for writing this amazing, heartfelt novel! - Kris E.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to begin by saying that I have never, never in all my life become so attached to a book's characters or so utterly engrossed into the world of a novel. Not since I read Maria McCann's As Meat Loves Salt have I actually let my emotions meld with those of the characters themselves. I fell in love with these characters. I got angry at them. I felt their pain and their loss and their joy. There were at least eight times when I had to turn the book over and set it aside for a moment because I was so upset at what they had done. Once, I actually punched the book. Punched it. For real. I read this book voraciously, whenever I had the time. I was actually angry when I had to be somewhere else and counted the minutes until I could be home again reading.

Ms. Trumble's writing is very true; the voices are real. Each character felt distinct to me in every way. I could envision each of them in my mind and hear them talking. The prose felt natural and flowed like listening to someone tell me an amazingly emotional story.

I am glad I found this book. I am glad I got to read it. As much as I wanted to punch many of the characters in the face, I suppose that is a sign of good writing; the fact that I cared that much is rare. If you're looking for an authentic and engaging reading experience, read this book. You may want to throw it across the room, but you won't be disappointed.

[Nichole (DirrtyH) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So bottom line: I Fucking Loved This Book.

Now, that said, I must give fair warning because there are some of you out there who are just plain picky, and if you're not going to like it, then you should know now so you can skip it. There are some issues in this book that, while they didn't bother me, are hard limits for others.

1. Oh, the teenage angst. While this did not approach Amy Lane levels in my opinion, we are dealing with high school students who are dramatic and immature, as well as some pretty serious events that help tip the angst scale.

2. The Big Misunderstanding. This is probably the most irritating of all the issues, at least for me. It's one of those "just talk to each other, you idiots!" kind of things. But if you're giving allowances for the stupid teenager factor, you can almost succeed at overlooking it.

3. A serious case of time jumping. Basically, every other chapter alternates between the present and the past; however, the "past" chapters are not at all chronological. They jump all over the place. I'm one who is usually not bothered by time jumping, but even I was super confused at first until I started to get a feel for what was going on. If this is something you don't like, then you should skip this book. If it's something you don't mind, then just go into it prepared to be a little confused until the pieces start to fit, and you'll be fine.

4. Yes, it's first person, but not present tense.

5. All the sex is fade to black. No on-page smutty times. Personally, I'm finding that I prefer this these days.

6. This one will be the hard limit for most of you: There is cheating. Full on "you fucking idiot, what are you doing?!?!" cheating. It will take a cheese grater to your soul.

I am the type that can overlook almost anything if the author engages me, and that was the case here. In addition to the things above that I know can be sticky points for others, there were some other minor flaws. I thought the character of Adam could have been more fleshed out, and there were a few events that I felt were glossed over too much. I believe this was an intentional choice on the author's part, since while it was a pretty pivotal event for the character, it wasn't the true focus of the story, but I wanted more information about Nate's rape and the outcome of the trial. What happened to Andrew Cargill? Did that bastard go to jail??? I also would have liked a little more insight into Nate's therapy. Did he actually go? Did it help?

But ultimately, I just really loved it. It sucked me in, and I found that I cared about these characters and I was dying to know what happened to them. It was romantic and sweet and it made me laugh and it made me cry (metaphorically. I never actually cry, I have a heart of stone.) It made me FEEL things. It was an emotional roller coaster that I was more than happy to be on and I loved every moment of it.

In some ways it was kind of similar to Something Like Summer, another book I adored (but Adam is nothing like Tim!!), and I find myself wishing J.H. Trumble would do what Jay Bell did, and write a "sequel" that shows the events from Adam's point of view. Just floating that out there, J.H. Trumble. Are you on Goodreads? Do you read your reviews??

[Jason Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literally still wiping my tears away as I write this. This book had me so deep in my feelings that it became an immersive experience.

This story was beautiful. Tragic, painful, rage-inducing, disturbing, profoundly upsetting – but beautiful. Filled with emotional sucker punches, moments that made my blood run cold, and so much compassion it overwhelmed me.

Stories with post-traumatic stress disorder at their center are important. Stories about LGBTQ+ individuals and their experiences with PTSD are crucial. Because those stories are people’s realities – and sharing them can shed light on just how dangerous it can be to merely exist as a queer person. The queer people in this book were incredible.

Nate. Oh, Nate. He was such a complex and elaborate character. The way that he was written was so genuine. The thoughts that he had, the actions he took, the choices he made … were so clearly those of a traumatized boy struggling to put his life and mind back together. And unfortunately, we learn firsthand just how challenging it is to adjust to life in the aftermath of violence and trauma. But he was brave, resilient, and never stopped trying.

Adam. Adam was absolutely amazing. The way he loved Nate when he was at his absolute darkest was so touching. He was selfless, gentle, and supportive. Everything a partner should be. He was strong enough for both him and Nate when Nate had no strength left in him.

Luke. I just wanted to hug him. He was delicate, intricate, and innocent. And though I was so boldly rooting for Nate and Adam to stay together, my heart was torn – because Luke was such a wonderful human being. I loved watching his journey. And his favorite music artist is Taylor Swift! Same, Luke. Same.

That epilogue brought so many tears along with it. Following what seemed to be an abrupt ending, I was so beyond happy to see what happened 10 years down the line.

The non-chronological structure took a while to adjust to, but as events started intersecting and being revealed, it made more sense.

This book comes with HUGE trigger warnings. What I appreciated a lot was that the actual traumatic event itself was not gone into in explicit, graphic detail. What we were given was enough and to have gone into more specifics may have been overkill. We didn’t need to relive it, as is done in similar stories.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book. But I was blown away, and I couldn’t put it down until I knew what happened. And I have nothing but love for it.

---

“I’d say I love you even at your darkest – please don’t go. / I’d fall to pieces on the floor if you weren’t around. / I’ll be your summer sun forever – forever winter if you go.”

- Forever Winter // Taylor Swift

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"He made you feel like you were the only person in the world, that what you had to say was more important then any other worlds uttered since the dawn of time."

It is hard to believe that this is "J h Trumble's" debut novel. It was spectacular, and incredible well written. It may be a book for young adults with no extrem sexual context, but there was plenty of sexual tension. And god was it profound and deep. It made me feel more then many of the books I have read combined. It has gone not only days, but weeks, and I find myself thinking about it. Nate and Adam was a excellent couple, I loved them both so much. It's a lovely story about first love.

This books starts when they have been together a year are as happy that any couple can be. Their happy but angst filled past, are told in flash backs. Something I don´t normally like, but the author makes it work. She is a fantastic writer. If any couple are meant to be it is Adam and Nate. That is obvious through the whole book. But their relationship begins to weaken when, newly graduated Adam, gets a job in New York and he and Nate are forced to a long distance relationship. Trust issues begins to take a toll on their relationship, and maybe they aren´t so strong as they and everyone else think?

This is not only a excellent love story, it also contains some serious topics like homophobia.The language is very easy to get in to, and the author sure knows how to make the reader turn the page. I am so glad I have read this book and one of the guys, Adam, has qualified to be one of my book boyfriends. He must be one of the most perfect guys in the world, honestly. So if you are looking for a compelling read between two guys that are destened to be, but also with some real life matters, then Don´t let Let Me Go is the book for you. This beautiful novel is one of the best books I have read lately and it will stay with me for a long time. Even if you don´t usually read m/m novels, I really recommend this! I promise, it is well worth your time. It is heart breaking and sad, but it also has its funny moments.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those books that start with a prologue with young characters, maybe in high school or college then the actual book is their story ten years from that point? This wonderful book is exactly the opposite. We get to see Nate and Adam when they are young, just coming to terms with their being gay. We get to see them struggling with family and school and hate crime while coming out. We get to see what happens to them (and many others) when one half of a high school love affair moves away. Then we get the epilogue, ten years later.

This was such a great book. I felt so much of what the characters were feeling. I found myself smiling, laughing, crying and feeling actual anxiety like I was living their situation. I know, it's pathetic to be that involded with fictional characters. But, that's the thing. Nate, Adam, Luke, Danial and Juliet are so well written, that I was able to feel like I was there with them. I can name on one hand the books that have made me feel this close to the characters.

Don't Let Me Go is appropriate for YA. It is clean, the sex is handled delicately and I believe young people who are struggling with or coming to terms with their homosexuality will easily identify with these characters. That said, I am a 47 year old woman and I identified with them. Anyone who is or has ever been a teenager (and who hasn't?) will feel things and remember their own high school experience.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Not just for lovers of M/M romance, although it is at heart, a gay romance. It is also a story about friendship, being a parent, being a child and all the mistakes we all make in life and redemption for some of those mistakes.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Because Nate & Adam aren't Ben and Tim (although this novel is by far more sophisticated).... and epilogues are so cheap.

I also demand, as do many others, that J.H. Trumble write another novel to fill in that space, cause we ALL need to know what happened to Nate and Adam

i know you're good
i know you're right
i know you mean the best every time you stop by
don't know what to say
don't know how to act
cause i'm still moved by you
cause you just have to ask

no it doesn't hurt
unless i walk
i don't feel any pain
unless i try to talk
i don't even cry
unless i open my eyes
i don't need to kick or scream or curse no
it doesn't hurt

you don't have to call
to make sure i'm up
cause i'm still wide awake
cause i'm still lost in shock
i know you're concerned
i know you're just sick
and i know you'd feel better if i were over it so
It Doesn't Hurt - Katie Thompson

This is the third time I have stumbled upon a gay anthem; the other two are Call me by your Name and Two Boys Kissing. However, given the great depth and the author’s adept skill with the exploration of m/m adolescent relationships and life in general, and her keen awareness of straddling real, raw subject matter, yet not sensationalizing it, I feel obligated to provide some trigger warnings.

T.H Trumble has tremendous strength in her ability to traverse dark/tragic/horrifying topics, in a manner that avoids the heavy handedness that other authors take up when writing similar novels. This method is painfully more realistic and hurtful. She omits things, creating unbearable tension. Sickening, unbearable, uncomfortable tension. It was written like a slow churning horror story, with parental abuse, LOTS OF BULLYING, suicide, sexual assault, and homophobia at its center. I have encountered ‘mild’ homophobia, but this wasn’t what set me on edge. The events surrounding the sexual assault, which slowly materialized, had me clutching my boy parts, grabbing the couch cushions and shoving the book away. I’ve never been sexually assaulted. This represents the power of this book. Again, this is a strikingly accurate portrayal of growing up gay.

This novel is difficult to review, partly because it is two different perspectives, the past and the present, but also because it is so scrumptiously captured, a feat for all YA to cower by its giant feet, that I feel I’ll f it up.

As most high school loves begin, Adam and Nate meet in a hallway over a banana and a bullying incident. The flirtatious spark that ignites is hard to ignore, and as their two lives intertwined, with a very flashy-the-opposite-of-modest-redhead Juliet as adhesive binding the couple, it intensifies. Things are all sad for a while for jealous Juliet, but she gets over it; barely. It’s junior year, for Nate, and senior year for our handsome Adam.

As Nate recounts his past, much of it pleasant, an overwhelming amount not so much, the reader sits among memories of coming out, the integration of their sexuality/sexual identity with their parents, friends, and school their intimacy blooms. There is bliss, as the two fortify against covert homophobia, non-verbals and whispers, and verbal, physical/sexual abuse, and other forms of overt homophobia. Adam holds a figurative, and sometimes physical, hand out for Nate, literally stifling a reenactment of Carrie. They go to plays. They drink coffee and eat with Adam’s stepfather and mom. They exchange sweat, spit, and… They go to parties, exposing a hesitant, but sometimes welcoming crowd to same sex relationships. They hold hands in public. They challenge conformity, both of a heterosexual dominate society, as well as gay stereotypes.

Then there is the bad. The black plague of modern culture; spiteful venomous hate. After the ‘event’, Adam and Nate, tormented and torn by guilt, fear, and their own hate—an obvious, harrowing residue from the assault—, as a couple retain a solid frame. It is worth noting that T.H Trumble brilliantly conveys, not only the event itself, but the tragedy that befalls a person, a couple, and a community. PTSD is handled respectfully and accurately. She does this, not through a shock-porn lens, but carefully and delicately, through an exploration of the outfall, the court proceedings, and ever so slightly touching on the actual event. It isn’t graphic per se, and it certainly is on the other side of the continuum of Flynn, waving and yelling, “This is how It’s done, bitches”. Then there are the self inflicted wounds of being in a relationship, which are almost has bad as the wounds they inflict on one another.

On the shores of a beach, and after a disclosure from Adam, we watch as Adam and Nate, ever resolved in the survival of their relationship and attentive to each other’s needs—though, you know, Adam more than Nate—, agree to a long distance relationship.

Adam is thrust into New York, as an actor. Nate, still damaged from an atrocious and gut-wrenching sexual assault that still makes me want to give my tonsils a boat ride in the nearest toilet, remains in the turbulent undertone of past trauma. Juliet, the conjoined twin of Adam and Nate, is still there, though, and she offers stability.

There is one other special guy that is a huge ally. There is Danial, a handsome fellow with Pakistani roots. Nate and Danial grow close, and soon Juliet, the ever so tag-along, cuddles up to the two. As always, Juliet the instigator, unable to fully recognize that she won’t ever have Nate, continues her dance for whomever is attentive. One of them becomes her bed partner. Nate and Danial become closer, and Nate, all high up on one of Danial’s vices, sorta kinda has a Jack (Will and Grace) moment, or two. He becomes Nate’s confidant, and eventually, when shits the minor and then huge fan, Adorable Danial becomes somewhat of a knight. It really is fucking adorable! All.of.it. all.of.it.

Alone, except for Juliet and eventually Danial, Nate no longer has the restraint provided by Adam. He basically announces at a loud speaker, “Fuck that noise”. He does this as only Nate could; though a t-shirt protest, an ever growing fan and ally, supportive peers, and a blog. The whole world, or at least the school, screams back with equal might, both for and against equality. Slowly, but singlehandedly, Dearest Lovable Nate scissors through the sinew, revealing both hate and love, forcing the hateful, the victims, and the bystanders, to bare swords. And boy do they go at it. Dance-ins, public displays of affection, protesters, t-shirts and more t-shirts AND MORE, principals being the assholes my generation knows they can be, teachers struggling to sustain an ethos of hate while others stretch thumbs up to the sky. It all happens, it all happens.

Adam and Nate’s relationship continues during this year. While they have a few face-to-faces, and these really only allot for brief tosses between the sheets, the majority of their interactions are restricted to online. Skype dating becomes as annoying as one of those singing Hallmark cards. Skype slowly makes for the exit, as texting and brief phone calls take its place. Confusion, manipulation, and infractions abound. I could relate to Nate. I could relate to Adam. That was scary stuff. The end result may or may not be what one initially expected.

At the start of the t-shirt protest a new face graces Nate’s life; fucking Sad Clown Luke (FSCL). FSCL is a sophomore, closeted, growing up in a household smothered in masculinity. He is stuck to Nate like a Chinese finger trap. He is whiny, manipulative, and has a myriad of character flaws. The impact FSCL has on Adam and Nate is smoldering at first, but as Danial waves a warning finger, it seems far to late for even the largest gaggle of firewo/men to extinguish. It seems avant garde for T.H Trumble to make the choice she made—at the very end of the book—, one that seems so out of character for Nate. For a boy who was stripped of his integrity and then carefully rebuilt it, this seemed far from what he was capable of, even if it was “Time for Luke”, or whatever the line.

This is a gay anthem, and that warrants repeating, however, it wasn’t without its faults. The division between past and present was dizzying, kaleidoscopic, and I struggled with it until about half way in. I could say that this was a unique way to help the reader orient him/herself to Nate’s troubling past and questionable future, but this would be way, way beyond a reach. Once finished I can reflect back on the structure of the book and tip my hat to Trumble. She fully embraced the style, and did it expertly, but at times the flipping between time periods was distracting, and I feel strongly that it detracted from the overall book. I liked it, but I wished that the corset’s laces were less slack.

The incident between Nate, Luke, Luke’s father, and the assistant principal was bewildering. Perhaps the level of accountability, and the management, both legally and ethically, is far different up here in the north, but I don’t believe any principal would leave himself culpable and responsible for the ramifications of protecting Luke’s father, at least not to that degree.

One of my other complaints was the way sexual acts were portrayed. Trumble held such a delicate finger over the subject matter, that sometimes it was so vague and translucent. There was one scene, towards the end, that really required further exploration, mainly because of the configuration of the two people and their moral compass, but also because of issues pertaining to sexual experience. In my opinion this would have clearly been a place brimming with emotions, emotions that we, as readers, should have been a part of. Likewise, I found it troubling that Nate and Adam’s sex life was so cryptic, that it deviated from their physical displays of public intimacy. Other than the repeated line of orifices hurting—I kid you not, and this playful wording contrasted sharply with the delicate portrayal of sex—, we really didn’t get to witness the emotional context of sex. Defining sex and appraising its emotional value for each character was an important portion of the last few chapters, and we didn’t have anything for comparison because of the way it was handled earlier.

The worst of worst, though, was the 10-year jump. It’s endlessly tiring to see books neatened up in this way. HFN is not a bad thing, and should be an accepted way to conclude a book. Trumble clearly values neat, remarkably swift, and elusive style to writing. Unfortunately, by concluding the book with a hastily raked up epilogue, the spirit of this remarkably successful book suffered. Equally important was that, in an effort to fold the kami as tightly as possible, the pacing was unbalanced and awkward. The author overcrowded these few papers with the ten years of life of Juliet, Luke, Danial, Adam, and Nate. There was so little detail, because the grand swift swipes by the author only allowed for a general abbreviated version. It was a pity. This could have been ended at the 'incident' and picked up in a second book.

Overall, a hugely successful and triumphant accomplishment, and an honest and genuine gay anthem. I regard this as one of the more remarkable pieces of gay lit, YA or otherwise. It was expertly written, finely tuned, the characters well conceived, and the overall book was magnificent. I really, really, urge you to read it.






As always with these books, I beg you, if you are lonely, hurting, questioning, PLEASE, PLEASE reach out. You may not think you have anyone in your life to confide in, but there is always someone at the Travor Lifeline, just waiting for your call. It may not get better, at least right now, but they can help you survive, until it gets better, cause I am not lying, it honestly gets fucking better, not perfect, but better!

"I’M THINKING ABOUT KILLING MYSELF."

We're here for you. Please call the Trevor Lifeline (866-488-7386) - it's free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also ask for help on TrevorChat or TrevorText.

"I NEED A SAFE, NON-JUDGMENTAL PLACE TO TALK."

Talk to us on the Trevor Lifeline (866-488-7386), over TrevorChat, or through TrevorText - our trained volunteer counselors are ready to listen. TrevorText - Available on Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. PT). Text the word “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200. Standard text messaging rates apply. TrevorChat - Available 7 days a week (3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PT).



*Something like(…) and this book are remarkably similar. The M/C maintain many of the same attributes. There is a savior, Danial here, Jace’s best friend in Something like(…). The confusion, drama, and cracks in the relationships are like lost blood relatives. Juliet and Allison share the same common role, and for me achieve the same goals. They each provided sound advice, a distraction, and acted Velcro for each of the respective couples. Then we have the Nate/Ben music thing... to many similarities. oh, and you know, Texas.

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotional story of a teen who survived a violent abusive gay-bashing, as he tries to rebuild his life as a senior in high school, while his boyfriend is off in New York having his big chance doing theater. Nate likes to believe that he's basically healed from the trauma - which we see bits of in blocks of flashbacks, intense but nor graphic. But he's clearly not in a good headspace as the book opens.

He's encouraged his beloved boyfriend Adam to go off to New York for this big break, by lying about wanting to figure out who he is on his own. In fact, he's scared, needy, jealous, and insecure. Nate was doing pretty well after the trial of his assailant, considering, when he had Adam by his side. But as soon as Adam is somewhere else, crammed in a NY apartment with three other gay theater guys, Nate's anxiety starts ripping down what they have together.

Nate starts a blog about being out, and wears gay-slogan T-shirts to school. He was forced into a position where everyone knows what happened to him, the trial was public, and the only way he sees to get through it is to be even more in-your-face than before. At the same time he's desperately lonely, despite friends old and new, and resents Adam for leaving even though he pushed him to go. He imagines every missed call, or brief text, is a sign that he's not enough for Adam. But he doesn't tell Adam what he wants from him, expecting him to somehow figure it out.

In fact, Nate is the very definition of a hot mess who probably needs more therapy. Sometimes it's hard to empathize with him, as he sabotages the best thing in his life. But it feels very real.

There are some very good secondary characters, not just other teens but adults. I liked that the parents were a real presence in this YA story. People weren't perfect (although his friend Danial is awesome). I was set to give this 5 stars, despite the sometimes-confusing time jumps back and forth between past and present.

But at the end, an emotional resolution I deeply wanted to see on the page is given to us in an epilogue, retrospectively, with the emotions leached out of it. In a book that built and built to that moment, that was a disappointment. The resolution is still good, and I might reread this someday, but I am still sad about not getting to spend that time in the character's head, and to feel those vital moments as they happened. So a 4 star recommended read with a caution for triggering content : homophobia, assault, rape, cheating, parental abuse

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly can't remember where I heard the early buzz for this book. All I do remember is putting it on my wishlist and checking the release date every Tuesday for at least a month before I was finally able to download it to my nook. I gotta say, it was well worth the wait.

Don't Let Me Go is told from the point of view of Nate, a gay high school senior recounting his relationship with Adam, his first and only boyfriend, and the many events that bind them together. When Adam leaves Texas to work off off-Broadway for a few months, things threaten to fall apart and their love is put through some heavy trials.

Let me just say, I had some worries early on, thinking that this could turn out to be some shallow romance story of young gay love (*cough* Boy Meets Boy *cough*), but the more I read, the more I was hooked. There were more than a few nights that I didn't get in bed until 3AM because I didn't want to stop reading. I was just that involved in the story, which is a rarity for me as most books have to fight for my attention. I don't take the world of fiction very lightly, boys and girls.

What J.H. Trumble managed to do here was capture that teenage passion and emotion so accurately, it was almost unnerving. Multiple times in the book I would catch something all too similar to my own experiences 10 years ago (sometimes less, but let's not go there), whether it be fights with boyfriends, that dramatically unyielding desire to be with someone or simple interactions between former friends. I could see pieces of myself in Nate, Adam and Luke (a closeted gay boy in Nate's school) to the point where I actually felt embarrassed realizing my own past actions were mirrored on the page. I know so, so many readers, gay or straight, will see themselves there too and it's one of the things that make this book such a valuable read regardless of age, gender or orientation.

These characters are so honest and real that their actions can make you sting or your heart melt. I liked these people and enjoyed learning their ins, outs, desires and motivations. Hell, I, the self-professed anti-romance cynic (newly appointed as of Summer 2011) even got misty eyed over moments between Nate and Adam. Granted it didn't make me want to run out and start dating again, but it did remind me of what it felt like to throw yourself into someone heart and soul (read the book, you'll get it), regardless of consequence.

If Goodreads allowed half stars, this would be a 4.5, missing the 5 star mark only because I'm stingy with the stars and I have some minor issues with the last 2 chapters. But hey, that's only due to the fact that I'm a cynical bastard with just a few blocks' walk to Thirtiesville.

But don't let my curmudgeony attitude deter you. READ THIS! I absolutely loved it and will be pushing it on my friends startinnnnng...now.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious, delicious angst. God knows I love it. And this book delivers it in spades. We jump right into Adam and nate's relationship and are introduced right as they are about to step out of the honeymoon phase. Adam is a year older and heading to New York, while Nate is to stay behind and finish his last year of high school. We are reassured by flashbacks of how much this couple went through to get to where they are (coming out, being harassed, being sexually assaulted, abandoned by parents). Heavy stuff. Somehow, the humor and puppy love between this adorable pair and the characters keeps us readers afloat. But what happens when that love they fought so hard to keep falls apart?

As I said before, this story has a lot of angst. The jealousy, petty arguments, insecurity, trust issues...checkmate. Hearts are broken because of the stupidest miscommunication and the characters are so stubborn you may be inclined to throw your kindle or preferred reading device at various points throughout the book. They make things a whole lot harder for themselves.It's annoying, but it's also being in love for the first time at a young age. It's growing up and all of the shit that comes with it. And out of the ashes, the most beautifully broken pieces can come together. I'm old enough to say that now, right? We are all better for breaking! Thank you JH Trumble for reminding me why.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book came highly recommended when I went looking for lgbt books to get from my library.

For the first part of this novel, I thought this was the second part in a series and I'd missed it, but it's a stand alone - it's just written with a lot of flashbacks and a lot of the story in the past is just alluded to and reads like you're supposed to already know that. While I enjoyed that it jumped right into the story, I didn't care for the flashbacks at all and found they slowed the book down.

As for the story... This seemed like your standard gay "Will they stay together or not?" story from the start, but it got a little more interesting through the side stories and the other characters. The writing style however was sloppy and amateurish. I didn't mind reading this, I was entertained, but it's not a good book.

[David James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trumble has this way of creating very real, very flawed characters that enhance all the messages and morals of the story. Don't Let Me Go is about relationships, about love, about life. And in the end you're left with the realization that there are, in fact, many different kinds of love. Perhaps the one we have is not the one we think we had, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. The loves we all have bring us back to this: Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble will hit close to home with you no matter who you are or who you love.

Also, Chapter 52 is perfect. I read it twice just to live in it again.

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This m/m romance makes for quite an obsessive read and yet there were no highlighted passages to quote.. weird! Follows high school senior Nate as he deals with his absentee boyfriend Adam and the aftermath of a vicious assault.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should probably wait until the tears subside to write this review, but you know what...I don't want to.

After all, this is a book about being true to yourself and those you love and being responsible both for and to them. I've been trying to think about whether there has ever been a (literary)relationship I've rooted for harder than I rooted for Nate and Adams's and I can't think of one.

J.H. Trumble has done the most difficult of things: created complex, REAL, characters who aren't fighting zombies or vampires or the otherworldly, but instead are fighting themselves and who they've been told they "should be", fighting against bigotry, and fighting against fear.

This is, ultimately, a book about what it means to be human, and vulnerable, and strong, and confused, and hurt and all of those thing that makes us us.

Read it.

[Riley Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books.

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2012 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)

[Yvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book when it was recommended to me on Goodreads based on books I had already read. The synopsis intrigued me and I downloaded a sample to my ereader. And boy, am I glad that I did.

Don’t Let Me Go is a story of love and hate. Love, because the two main protagonists are in an all consuming relationship; and hate because of the repercussions the two main protagonists have to face as a result of their sexuality.

Nate and Adam are madly in love with each other. After skirting around the subject that they may have feelings for the other (and with the added complication of Adam’s best friend, Juliet, trying everything in her power to make Nate her boyfriend), they finally come out to each other and, subsequently, to their friends and family. And their coming out is not without its consequences.

Nate falls victim to a horrific and violent attack and is trying to get his life back on track with Adam’s help. Yet when Adam graduates and is offered a part in an off Broadway production (which Nate convinces him to take), it means that Nate has to face his demons on his own. And herein starts the fallout.

Combine Nate’s anger at the abusive attitude of his peers, with the fact that Adam’s roommate is blatantly trying to make a play for him and Nate starts to spiral out of control. What follows is a roller-coaster of emotions as we live through Nate’s pain and anger, his love and jealousy, his loneliness and his feelings of abandonment.

As Nate starts to realise he is losing Adam, he forms a friendship with Danial who ultimately becomes his savior; and Luke who (I felt) Nate recognises as being a younger version of himself.

Told part in flashback and part in present time, the brutality of Nate’s attack is handled sensitively. Whilst it is not told in detail, there is no denying that the events that are hinted at are horrifying and something that no one should have to experience. And, I felt, it was Nate trying to seek closure of some kind on this incident that formed the basis of his relationship with Luke, the younger, more impressionable guy who ‘fan boys’ Nate and (unwittingly or not) causes the fallout at the end of the book.

Throughout this story my allegiances with the four main characters changed with every chapter. I went from loving both Adam and Nate and hating Danial, to loving Nate and Danial and hating Adam, to loving Danial and Adam and being immensely frustrated with Nate; to loving all three of them. As for Luke? I’ll leave let you decide how you feel about him.

The relationship between Nate and Adam is told with tenderness and warmth and there was not one single chapter that didn’t pull at my heartstrings particularly towards the end when the relationship between them breaks down completely. The meeting between Nate and Adam at Juliet’s New Year’s Eve party in particular, had me reaching for my tissues.

J.H Trumble manages to use the perfect words and phrases and just the right descriptions to leave you with the warm and fuzzies and with heartache at exactly the same time - and it is for that reason, that I found myself thinking about this story long after I finished it (so much so that I couldn’t do anything else except read it again immediately!). I cried, I laughed, I swooned and I cried some more.

The content of Don’t Let Me Go isn't for everyone, but if you are willing to think out of this box, then I would ask you to give this a chance. Because above all, this is a story about relationships - falling in love and learning to be loved; being selfish and being selfless; depending on others and others depending on you; passion and fury; give and take; trust and distrust; promises to break and promises to keep.

And as far as promises go, I can assure you this - once you've allowed these characters into your life, you'll never want to let them go.

[Sandra Cortez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gooodness I was expecting a sweet M/M YA romance but holy angst. Seriously this was angst overload and I was not expecting that at all but it wasn't a bad thing either. NATE you drove me absolutely insane but I had to remember you are kid and teens are undoubtedly selfish people. I'm not sure how I found this book but it's been on my wish list forever and when it went on sale I scooped it up and read immediately. It coming of age YA is your jam or a lover of angst than I highly recommend. Despite the high angst there was a good message and I've reread the last 10% 3x LOL!!

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be your ultimate definition of "Love is complicated"

The book starts out from the heart of one of the most frustrating relationships. It's genius, polarizing, and heartbreaking, yet it made me want to throw my phone at the wall, I couldn't bare with Nate, yet I related to him on so many levels. Polarizing and it's not funny.

The book has got it all, from the swooning-worthy gay couple to the hurt/comfort angst, I enjoyed this book so much and when I finished it I wanted more. I didn't like Nate and his voice at the beginning of the book, but surprisingly enough I loved him by the end. I thought he was selfish and self centered, but it turned out that he was one of these complicated characters that unintentionally craved attention just to find a new hiding place. I strongly wanted to strangle Nate, and then wrap him in a fluffy blanket to get him warm and cosy, that's how polarizing this character is.

Adam, he is an angel, and I think it might not be even fair enough to call a character that literally light the whole page when its name is spoken an angel. I loved how he handled everything that was going on between him and Nate wisely and lovingly.

I might not have liked Luke that much but I felt so sorry for him and maybe shed a tear or two or millions for that matter for him.

Danial, Danial Danial, Danial, you Aristotle-ish black-haired love guru! You deserve better than what the author has given you tbh! You deserve more! God, I loved him!

As much as I enjoyed this book and cried, laughed and swooned over it, I have had some problems with it that it might have at some point made me consider actually putting it down -but gay angst is my weakness, so yeah- how can a so beautifully written book contains that much of typos? I literally met a line where "your" was written "you're" I went ape shit, tbh this might hurt a beautiful piece of work. That and the way the ending felt way too good to be true, I like happy endings but then not way too happy endings.

The closure was absolutely beautiful, I loved the last chapter and I wish if it had been more detailed, it was everything beautiful!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Nate. He's sometimes impulsive, he's kind of immature (but who isn't at age 17?), he's musically talented, and he's an ex-jock. Oh, and one more thing: he's here, he's queer, get over it.

Meet Adam. He's tall, he's dark, he's handsome, he's strong both emotionally and physically, he's a drama geek, he's gifted with an incredibly loving family, and he's calm, cool, and collected. Sometimes a little too cool and collected for Nate's tastes.

Don't Let Me Go is Nate and Adam's story, a tale of love, trauma, heartbreak, and forgiveness. And while some may scoff at some of the stereotypes that cropped up in the novel (yes, there were some), the book is a powerful exploration of how two people can find strength within each other to persevere in spite of some pretty trying circumstances.

One of the things that I really liked about this book, similar to what I enjoyed about Jay Bell's Something Like Summer and Something Like Winter , is that even though they were far from perfect, both the main and secondary characters were ultimately likeable. Sure, in some parts of the book, you just want to shake one or more of them and say, "Stop being so dense! Don't you see what a wonderful thing you have right here under your nose?!" But that's life, and at the end of it all, you can't help but care about these characters.

Another thing I enjoyed about Don't Let Me Go is that it's far from some sappy, unrealistic romance novel. From the very beginning, there's conflict, there's pain, and in some places in the book, there's a gritty realness that, if you let down your guard just a little, will pull you through an emotional ringer.

Take the time to zip through this one; it only took me three days of reading during my commute to get through the whole thing. It was well worth my time, and it'll be well worth yours. Just do yourself a favor and have a Kleenex or two standing by.