Review: The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis
SYNOPSIS:
Seventeen-year-old Evan Panos doesn’t know where he fits in. His strict Greek mother refuses to see him as anything but a disappointment. His quiet, workaholic father is a staunch believer in avoiding any kind of conflict. And his best friend Henry has somehow become distractingly attractive over the summer.
Tired, isolated, scared—Evan’s only escape is drawing in an abandoned church that feels as lonely as he is. And, yes, he kissed one guy over the summer. But it’s his best friend Henry who’s now proving to be irresistible. It’s Henry who suddenly seems interested in being more than friends. And it’s Henry who makes him believe that he’s more than his mother’s harsh words and terrifying abuse. But as things with Henry heat up, and his mother’s abuse escalates, Evan has to decide how to find his voice in a world where he has survived so long by avoiding attention at all costs.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
I was not prepared for the onslaughter of feelings this book provoked. This book is poignant, moving, and will resonate with any teen struggling with their identity and sense of self. This story was a true emotional roller-coaster, I would be giggling one moment and ready to sob all with the turn of a page. How in the ever loving h*ll is this Angelo Surmelis’s debut novel?! Seriously, the quick chapters, heart-wrenching tale, and moving story line do not say new author…not at all.
Evan had burrowed his way into my heart and honestly, his mother was horrid. I was wondering how could someone treat their own child so poorly. Also the woman deserves to rot, if I could have jumped into the pages to slap her…I would have. I was doused in a cold sense of reality that this is very real for many LGBT teens who come out to their parents. I just cannot even imagine the struggle, rejection, and fear teens face on a daily basis all for who they are…it breaks my heart. Angelo Surmelis brings a very real issue to the forefront of YA.
Evan is drowning in trying to manage and keep all aspects of his life separate. I think most teens will be able to relate to the sense of overwhelming pressure. Henry gave me all the warm, fuzzy feelings but the romance is a minor factor in this story. The real focal point is Evan’s struggle, journey, and finding some peace in a life filled with such terror.
The ending was not perfectly wrapped up in a bow and for that I am grateful because the endings for these teens often are HEAs. But what I can say is the ending left me feeling hopeful, with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. And I hope that the teens who read this will also find solace in its powerful message.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
