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Strings Attached Audiobook
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(3.01) - 321 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award Winner in Gay & Lesbian Fiction
Adolescence is a hazardous way of life for 17-year-old Jeremy Tyler; his father died in a mysterious accident when he was a child, and his mother has since descended into alcoholic hell and forced rehab; that’s when he’s sent from the Fresno slums of his childhood to the posh estate of his overbearing great aunt Katherine and her censorious husband7mdash;liberated from an economic prison, only to land in an emotional one—and is overwhelmed by the change. It’s not easy for him to fit into the upper crust, particularly because he’s trying to hide how much he’s attracted to other boys. Jeremy’s story of breaking free from the strands of dishonesty, deceit, and self-doubt has its parallels to the tale of Pinocchio, but Nolan’s take is totally contemporary: think the TV series The OC—girls with mean cheekbones, well-built guys with snotty attitudes, and Jeremy in the role of heartthrob Ryan Atwood. He’s a good-looking kid, with a sleek swimmer’s physique—and the swim team’s champ is out to get him. He dates one of the smart-set girls in an attempt to keep his hormones at bay—but that doesn’t do him much good. Nolan’s debut novel is a kitchen sink of genres—coming of age, coming out, mystery, romance, erotica, even a dash of the supernatural—that add up to an impressive story about the passage from boyhood to manhood.
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"I really liked this one! Not so much a romance as a coming of age story with a little bit of a suspense plot. When his mother ODs, a teenage boy is sent to live with rich relatives; while accustoming himself with his new situation (including school, friends, girls, boys...) he also comes into a position to unravel the mystery behind his father's early death at about the same time he realizes his own danger. There are allusions to Pinocchio, which the author explains in great depth in the afterword, so much for anyone who wanted to do their own literary analysis."
— Joy (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Strings Attached is the literary equivalent of a prime-time soap opera…Readers will have no trouble turning the pages of this engrossing novel…An easy book to get sucked into.
— Philadelphia Gay News -
Beautifully told, it grabs at your heart and emotions and does not let go…Nolan’s language is lush and his description is beautiful…His book is one to cherish and hold onto. We shall not see many like it.
— Amos Lassen, Literary Pride -
Strings Attached is a wonderful story…A multifaceted piece of fiction dealing with co-dependency, parent-child relationships, anger, violence, love, sexual exploration, and maturation…This is a fast read.
— Rich Wiesenthal, Diversity Rules Magazine
Strings Attached Listener Reviews
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" This book takes readers on an amazing ride through main character Jeremy Tyler's life, coming into adulthood, and reasoning with his sexuality. This also contains a great many number of plot twists. Expect to read this book in one sitting, with multiple crying sessions. "
— William, 2/1/2014 -
" This was an interesting read for me. I felt that the character development was a bit lacking for Tiffany and for Reed (both of whom I see as pretty important parts of the story). I haven't ever read a coming of age story about a gay teen, so it was an eye opener. I can't be sure how much of the book was exaggerated as I found the scene with Coby at the cabin a bit over the top. I also thought that the Pinnochio theme was obvious and forced which I didn't appreciate. Not sure if I'll read the follow up book due out this month, but this was quite an experience. "
— Sara, 1/26/2014 -
" Some passages are so creatively and beautifully descriptive that I could close my eyes and taste the saltiness of being on the beach, etc. Believable main characters, and engaging story, especially the first half. The end seemed hurried and too "neat," as though the author was running out of space / paper and must found ways to tidy everything up quickly. "
— Wei-Tang, 1/20/2014 -
" Good but uneven m/m romance about a high school senior who discovers, after his alcoholic mother ends up in treatment, that his dead father's family is wealthy. His transition to a life of privilege while he tries to figure out who he is and what he wants does not go smoothly. The author's afterward reveals numerous references to the story of Pinocchio, only a few of which I caught. I'd suggest including a forward with an abbreviated version of that story to help the reader... "
— Chris, 1/16/2014 -
" Not what I pictured this book to be when I started out, but it was very good page turner. "
— Sonya, 1/16/2014 -
" This was a fantastic book. I couldn't put it down. "
— David, 1/4/2014 -
" gay coming of age story. not very good. unbelievable in story and characters not well enough done to overcome that. "
— Marty, 12/26/2013 -
" Nick Nolan is one of the best... "
— Nadine, 12/26/2013 -
" I feel that a lot of gay literature is tripe. This was actaully decent. It could have used more editing but overall it was okay. "
— Bradley, 12/20/2013 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great characters. "
— Dave1962uk, 12/13/2013 -
" like watching a year's worth of Dynasty in two hours. "
— adrienne, 12/8/2013 -
" I read this book ... Grammatically speaking, it is terribly written. It's not intellectually stimulating in the least. That said, if you want a queer friendly book that will draw you into a drama and mystery filled world, this is a good read. "
— Heather, 7/26/2013 -
" Started okay and gradually got worse. Abandoned after page 107. "
— Troy, 5/3/2013 -
" I couldn't put this book down, loved it! "
— Jaime, 3/3/2013
About Nick Nolan
Nick Nolan wrote his first mystery in 5th grade and kept angst-ridden journals (featuring lots of sad poetry) during his teen years, but had to surrender his dream of becoming a writer to fund college. While building a happy life with his partner Jaime, Nick earned two degrees, worked extensively with homeless youth, rescued dogs, restored two homes, traveled extensively through Mexico, and owned scores of unusual cars, including a Dodge Challenger once used in the Mod Squad television series. Today Nick, Jaime, and their two beloved retrievers divide their time between their home in the San Fernando Valley and a mountaintop cabin.
About Luke Daniels
Luke Daniels, winner of sixteen AudioFile Earphones Awards and a finalist for the Audie Award for best narration, is a narrator whose many audiobook credits range from action and suspense to young-adult fiction. His background is in classical theater and film, and he has performed at repertory theaters around the country.