With or Without You now takes its place in my top ten most memorable books of all time. Even a day later, I can't shake the full bevy of emotions that I've been feeling since I finished the book. What Brian Farrey has done is craft a story that is so real, so raw, that it is almost too tough to read. He deals with subject matter that most writers are afraid to tackle, and does so with utter finesse. I am in love with this book.

Gushing aside, I'll do my best to explain to you what makes this such a fantastic read. First are the characters. Evan, Davis, Shan, Erik, every single one of these characters so wonderfully different. Their personalities shine off the page, and they are likable and believable. What I loved most was how Farrey bares their souls to the reader. For instance, when you see Evan, you don't just see a boy who is gay. You don't just see a boy who is a confused adolescent. Rather you see every single element that is Evan. From his love of painting, to his need to please those around him, right down to his utter and total love for his friend Davis, it's all there in vivid color. I think that is the reason why this book is so beautiful. There isn't any shade up between the reader and the characters. Evan is flawed, and it shows.

Then there are the relationships in the book. Rather than just dealing with the boyfriend relationship between Evan and Erik, With or Without You tackles so much more. We are allowed to see the friendship between Evan and Davis that seems so strong, but isn't as strong as they really think. There is the relationship between Evan and his parents that is tense, but loving in a very hidden way. Then there is the friendship/rivalry between Evan and his sister Shan. Each one of these is different and intriguing. It makes this story so multifaceted and, well, fascinating! Exploring each of these with Evan is what makes this book come alive.

Before I gush too much, or give too much away, I'll quickly tackle story line. Brian Farrey exhibits his talent as a writer by creating a story that will draw you in without you even realizing it. Evan is introduced to the reader and then, like rose petals, the different facets of his life are slowly pulled away and bit by bit more underneath is revealed. Evan's life unfolds in a gorgeous and raw manner, and you begin to see that everyone out there is not what they seem on the outside. Farrey shows us that we all have something we are hiding on the inside, some deep seeded secret, and in order to grow we need to face it and let it go.

It isn't very often that I find a book that so wholly draws me in that I forget to eat before going to work. If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. I was so immersed in With or Without You that I literally had to squeeze out every moment of available time before work so I could get to the last page. This book is, in a word, amazing. Raw, unnerving and beautiful, I am completely in love. ( )

Intense indeed. ?áFor once the gay teens are not adorable. ?áIn fact, even our MC is a little shit. ?áBecause his parents didn't have a fit when he came out to them, Evan justifies keeping his r'ship with Erik secret by saying, I won't tell them about Erik because they haven't earned the right to know I'm happy." ?á

Well, at least that's what he tells himself. ?áReally it's a lot more complicated that - Evan is eighteen, just out of high school, and a lot of things are happening in his life and inside of himself. ?áThe book takes place during the iconographic pivotal summer and exploits the frame perfectly. ?áBrilliantly but subtley written, we read that it's not just Evan who matures and gets more interesting - since this is first-person, we get to know the other characters better as Evan looks outside himself and sees them more clearly, too. ?á

Another wonderful thing is all the art. ?áI felt sufficiently familiar with each artist mentioned to feel it unnecessary to check out each particular work, but this book would be perfect on a color e-reader so the reader could instantly access those images.?á

So, yes, there's coming-of-age, there's romance, there's gay history, complex characters, adventure, humor, and even charming extra bits: ""The fastest speed in the universe isn't the speed of light but the speed of stupid. [Don't] make decisions at the speed of stupid." ?áThink things through first.

Iow, lots to recommend, and I do so whole-heartedly, for readers age 16 up." ( )

Review from library copy.

Parts are disturbing. I know it's hard on a relationship when one person is out and the other isn't. This, though, they were both out but one just didn't want to tell anyone about the relationship. I'm dissapointed in some of the characters. ( )

I could rally connect with the protagonist and his situation because I have been in a few of the same ones. I read this book because it was recommended to me by a friend because the protagonist is gay, like myself and I loved it.

I don't know if the ending was suppose to be sad, but I'm really disappointed. It's one of those books where I get really attached to the characters, I yell at them when they do the wrong things and I think about them when I'm not reading the book. Long story short the narrator's best friend forever in the world runs of to New York to get HIV, then gets raped, the narrator looks for him then goes back home. Through out the book it talks about key moments in their 9 year friendship, but the narrator just gives up when his friend is in a really crappy situation. Then him and his boyfriend take a "break". sdfjsfhajdkfhska ( )