Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Pictures of You
SERIES: ’90s Coming of Age #1
AUTHOR: Leta Blake
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 817 kb
RELEASE DATE: September 19th, 2016
BLURB:
Growing up gay isn’t easy. Growing up gay in Knoxville, Tennessee is even harder.
Eighteen-year-old Peter Mandel, a private school senior—class of 1990—is passionate about photography. Peter doesn’t have many friends, preferring to shoot pictures from behind the scenes to keep his homosexuality secret.
Enter Adam Algedi, a charming, worldly new guy who doesn’t do labels, but does want to do Peter. Hardly able to believe gorgeous Adam would want geeky, skinny him of all people, Peter’s swept away on a journey of first love and sexual discovery. But as their mutual web of lies spins tighter and tighter, can Peter find the confidence he needs to make the right choices? And will his crush on Daniel, a college acquaintance, open a new path?
Join Peter in the first of this four-part coming of age series as he struggles to love and be loved, and grow into a gay man worthy of his own respect.
REVIEW:
You know, I’ve probably said this like a bazillion times now but I friggin LOVE Leta Blake. I have no idea how she does it…but her books just sing. They’re like these catchy songs that just stick in your head and make you want to play them again and again. Book 1 of the ‘90s Coming of Age series is incredibly intense considering it centers on the lives of teenagers. It’s also out of this world good. Like so good I was doing mundane things in my everyday life and then all of the sudden, BOOM…I’d think of Adam and Peter.
18 year old Peter goes to his new schools orientation knowing things will be just as bad as they were at his old school. What he doesn’t anticipate is the intense connection he establishes with the other “new kid” Adam.
Also 18, Adam is wild…a sensitive, compassionate, reckless, and disturbingly insightful type of wild. He’s determined to establish himself at the new school and avoid any and all types of drama. It’s clear, however, very early on that Adam loves with all that he is. And what he feels for Peter is something that cannot be denied.
Book 1 introduces Peter and Adam, their families, and the band of crazy friends. I loved so much about this book. I loved Sarah, even though she was a total jerk, I think her methods sucked but I honestly believed she wanted what was best for her brother. I loved how they integrated Peter into the school and their cliques. They honestly paved the way and I really enjoyed that.
This story had my tummy in knots but it also made me smile on so many different occasions. This author is the reason I love the “Coming of Age” stories so much. It’s proven to be one of my favorite genres and this is without a doubt one of my favorites of the year.
ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND!!
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
I’ve really liked Leta’s books that I have read – particularly training season books. So another for the buy list!!
This one is really good!! I enjoyed Training Season as well. Also check out The River Leith and the Wake Up Married series…they’re so good….