Review: Love Drugged by James Klise

Love Drugged by James Klise

Review by: Lauren

Copy From: Author--his site

Amazon Associates: Buy the book from the link and we get a small percentage

Offiical Summary: If you could change who you are, would you? Should you?

Fifteen-year-old Jamie Bates has a simple strategy for surviving high school: fit in, keep a low profile, and above all, protect his biggest secret-he's gay. But when a classmate discovers the truth, a terrified Jamie does all he can to change who he is. At first, it's easy. Everyone notices when he starts hanging out with Celia Gamez, the richest and most beautiful girl in school. And when he steals an experimental new drug that's supposed to "cure" his attraction to guys, Jamie thinks he's finally going to have a "normal" life.

But as the drug's side effects worsen and his relationship with Celia heats up, Jamie begins to realize that lying and using could shatter the fragile world of deception that he's created-and hurt the people closest to him.

Told with equal doses of humor and suspense, Love Drugged explores the consequences of a life constructed almost entirely of lies . . . especially the lies we tell ourselves.

Review: I love LGBT literature, but Love Drugged doesn't seem to completley fit that category. Don't get me wrong...yes, Jamie is gay and yes, he is dealing with his own coming out story (in a very unique way, might I add you)...but I'd classify this as more pre-LGBT. Why? Well, Jamie never fully becomes himself until the end and he spends a lot of time trying to make the pills work and hoping that his relationship with Celia will actually begin to feel real to him

Parts of the book dragged a bit, only because I really wanted Jamie to come to terms with who he was and  find someone to really appreciate him. This does and does not happen in the book, but I won't give everything away. I will say that I loved the end. The suspense really picked up and the pills become one interesting addition to this coming-of-age/coming-out story that really makes Love Drugged intriguing.

By the end, it's like you've entered an action film with fire and threats, and I certainly enjoyed this book's villian. It's not your classic YA fare...at least when it comes to contemporary novels, but it's certainly fun.

Letters to Your Favorite Authors: Prize Pack Giveaway

Whether you've read David Inside Out or not, this is still one week that you want to pay attention to.

In Lee's novel, main character David and his best friend Eddie write letters to their favorite authors. Obviously, all of you reading out there are probably book lovers yourself and wish you could tell your own favorite author something.

Thankfully, four bloggers (one is an author herself) were willing and able to write up a letter to an author they love and post it on their blog. You must check out their respective blogs, on their particular date, to find the letter though. By doing so, leaving your thoughts, and even following the various blogs...you get entered into a prize pack (more prizes will be added as this goes along so keep an eye on the list).

First off, here is the schedule:

Tuesday, Nov. 16- Eleni from http://www.lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, Nov. 17- Courtney from http://www.ctnyrene.blogspot.com/
Thursday, Nov. 18-Cass from http://bonjourcass.blogspot.com/
Friday, Nov. 19-Brent from http://naughtybookkitties.blogspot.com/

Rules to Enter the Giveaway:

+1 you will get a point for each letter you comment on. That is a chance to earn four points. (leave a new comment on this blog each time you do though!)

+2 for every single blog you follow, including Let's Get Beyond Tolerance. That is a chance to earn ten points (leave two new comments for each blog you follow)

If you have any questions, please let me know.

The giveaway will end November 30th and it's open to U.S. only, I'm afraid.

Prize List

A signed copy of David Inside Out by Lee Bantle donated by the author
$5 Amazon Gift Code donated by Lauren
$10 Starbucks Gift Card donated by Courtney

--more may be added!

Eleni will have her own, seperate giveaway on La Femme Readers that goes along with the author she wrote. Be sure to follow those rules there!


Note to Bloggers: a lot of bloggers were, unfortunately, unable to write a letter for this, so I'm hoping to do something similar with more bloggers posting letters and a bigger prize pack in the new year. If you want to help, let me know.

Amazon Associates: buy the book from the above link, and we get a small percentage to support the site.

Filled With Glee (Giveaway)

Thanks to BenBella Books, I have one copy of Filled With Glee to giveaway. This is an anthology of essays (by various authors) that have to do with...what else...the show Glee.

I was lucky to recieve a review copy and will hopefully have my thoughts posted soon. For now though, I want to hold the giveaway so I hope you will enter and spread the word to other Glee fans (whether you like the show or not).






To Enter: What other book from BenBella would you like to read?

Open To: U.S. and Canada

Ends: November 20th

Extra Entries


+5 follow the instructions on this post. It's really not that hard, and it would be a great help if you could!! (please leave five separate comments so I don't miss your points)

+2 for every single post you leave a comment on, whether a past post or future...so check what you've already commented on! (Let's Get Beyond Tolerance blog ONLY!) (please leave two separate comments each time so I don't miss points)