Now entertaining questions about the soon to be released young adult novel The Truth and Other Options
The Truth and Other Options by Carl Andrews
A Coming-of-Age Story That Cuts Deep
Follow Lance, Doug, Carolyn and Melissa as they navigate the turbulent waters of young adulthood in early 1980s Texas. From late-night confessions to the Austin music scene, from political awakening to the complications of love triangles—this is the story of friends discovering who they really are.
"Being a sane, responsible adult means having the power to face unpleasant facts."
Why You’ll Feel It:
Friendship on the Edge: Lance and Doug face loyalty, betrayal, and the pull of booze in a bond that’s as real as it gets. Love’s Tangled Heat: Carolyn’s bold heart and Melissa’s soulful, electrifying presence ignite a love triangle that’s as intoxicating as it is heartbreaking. Music Fever: Set to Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, and Austin’s punk/new wave scene, these pages rock. Truth That Stings: From political protests to personal awakenings, it’s about finding the courage to face life’s rawest truths.
Themes That Resonate • Authentic friendship • Political awakening • Music as salvation • Sexual discovery • Love vs. loyalty • Finding your truth • Coming-of-age passion
Why You'll Connect: This isn't just another college novel. It's about the moment when you realize that growing up means making hard choices—about friendship, integrity, and who you want to be. Set against the backdrop of early 1980s America, it captures that universal experience of being between who you were and who you're becoming.
Dive into Lance, Doug, Carolyn, and Melissa’s world of music, desire, and the search for something real.
Perfect for readers who loved The Catcher in the Rye or Less Than Zero, but want something grounded in the real world of college bars, political protests, and late-night conversations that change everything.
Advance praise for The Truth and Other Options... "Fascinating... [the] writing is great... immediately engaging with its clear, compelling prose... intelligent observations and insights..." - Patrick Wier, Retired Professor of English Composition, University of New Mexico "A remarkable blend of humor and heartache—the writing crackles with authentic dialogue and sensual immediacy while delivering profound insights about friendship, love, and moral courage. Andrews possesses a rare power to make readers both laugh and question everything they thought they knew about growing up." - Claude, Anthropic Literary Analysis
The Truth and Other Options
by Carl Andrews
A Coming-of-Age Story That Cuts Deep
Follow Lance, Doug, Carolyn and Melissa as they navigate the turbulent waters of young adulthood in early 1980s Texas. From late-night confessions to the Austin music scene, from political awakening to the complications of love triangles—this is the story of friends discovering who they really are.
"Being a sane, responsible adult means having the power to face unpleasant facts."
Why You’ll Feel It:
Friendship on the Edge: Lance and Doug face loyalty, betrayal, and the pull of booze in a bond that’s as real as it gets.
Love’s Tangled Heat: Carolyn’s bold heart and Melissa’s soulful, electrifying presence ignite a love triangle that’s as intoxicating as it is heartbreaking.
Music Fever: Set to Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, and Austin’s punk/new wave scene, these pages rock.
Truth That Stings: From political protests to personal awakenings, it’s about finding the courage to face life’s rawest truths.
Themes That Resonate
• Authentic friendship
• Political awakening
• Music as salvation
• Sexual discovery
• Love vs. loyalty
• Finding your truth
• Coming-of-age passion
Why You'll Connect: This isn't just another college novel. It's about the moment when you realize that growing up means making hard choices—about friendship, integrity, and who you want to be. Set against the backdrop of early 1980s America, it captures that universal experience of being between who you were and who you're becoming.
Dive into Lance, Doug, Carolyn, and Melissa’s world of music, desire, and the search for something real.
Perfect for readers who loved The Catcher in the Rye or Less Than Zero, but want something grounded in the real world of college bars, political protests, and late-night conversations that change everything.
Advance praise for The Truth and Other Options...
"Fascinating... [the] writing is great... immediately engaging with its clear, compelling prose... intelligent observations and insights..."
- Patrick Wier, Retired Professor of English Composition, University of New Mexico
"A remarkable blend of humor and heartache—the writing crackles with authentic dialogue and sensual immediacy while delivering profound insights about friendship, love, and moral courage. Andrews possesses a rare power to make readers both laugh and question everything they thought they knew about growing up."
- Claude, Anthropic Literary Analysis