Reviewed by Danielle
Title: After School Activities
Author: Dirk Hunter
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: 200 pages
Blurb:
Two guys insist on complicating Dylan O’Connor’s life: one, his bully, and the other, his best friend.
It started out simple enough. Step one, outsmart Adam with wit and flair, goad him into doing something stupid, and land him in detention. Step two, play video games with Kai all night and laugh about it. Go to bed. Repeat tomorrow. Only, Adam and Kai are about to change the rules on him.
First, Adam’s bullying turns suddenly violent, leaving Dylan to wonder if his bully really needs a friend. Then, Kai makes an unexpected move Dylan has only imagined in his most secret fantasies. Only he’d never dreamed it might come at a price.
While Adam opens up, coming closer to revealing a secret he’s kept his entire life, Kai pulls away even as they get closer than ever.
With everything he thought he understood turned upside down, Dylan must decide what he really wants from the men in his life—before inaction loses him the very relationships he’s always relied on.
No pressure, Dylan. You got this. It’s just love. How hard could it be?
REVIEW:
Struggle…That’s what comes to mind. A struggle that Adam (especially) and in a way also Dylan had to go through in this story.
But also the struggle I had with this story. Not that it is a bad story, absolutely not, not that I didn’t like it, not that I didn’t connect with the characters, none of that at all.
So what then? what was it? While writing this review I am still trying to find out if am honest. The blurb had me intrigued from the moment I laid eyes on it, so I happily picked up this book for review.
In this story we get introduced to a few significant characters who appear in this story. Not only Adam and Dylan feature in this book but also Kai & Mel (Dylan’s best friends) and the jocks and cheerleaders from the football team are all significant characters here. (James, Charlotte, Tiffany).
And I think that is also the crux of the matter, as I liked some characters definitely more than others. I totally disliked Kai as the “so-called” best friend and as he plays a major part in the storyline it made me struggle to focus on the rest.
Where I loved Mel with her fierceness, her protectiveness, her honest and open opinion, I just couldn’t work with Kai being the straight, experimenting guy for fun etc.
Dylan having mixed feelings for Kai and Adam didn’t make it easier as I fell hard for Adam. His emotional turmoil, the way he was shy, sad , struggling, yet possessive and so wanting to be more really got to me. Kudo’s to the author for making me feel such strong feelings as a reader.
The story pretty much stands on it’s own feet, describing college and the choices to be made. When Dylan finds out about Adam’s secrets and his past, we as readers get treated to the expected doubts, insecurities and (teenage) drama.
That all being said the character that excelled in this story was Charlotte. Her honesty, her self reflection and support was a great bonus to this complete story.
Reading this story is certainly not a hardship, the writing is good and the story flows nicely. There is a good dose of drama and sensuality.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sequel coming. Perhaps if the author decides that Kai wasn’t just “experimenting” and I will tell you this even I would like to see that happen 🙂
Rating: 
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