Reviewed by True
TITLE: A Short Essay on Love
AUTHOR: Pat Henshaw
PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC
LENGTH: 49 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 18, 2020
BLURB:
English writing tutor Steve Smith only has two more semesters to graduate from Vermillion College in California. Then he hopes to get a top-paying job writing copy for a tech firm. Until he reaches his self-fulfilled dreams, however, he’s working his way through school without borrowing from his successful Chinese-American parents.
Vermillion football star Jason Woodard, on the other hand, grew up in a state-run home and is struggling to make his athletic scholarship and all that goes with it mesh with his academic requirements. He too is about to finish but, having put off first year English composition, has to rely on the writing lab where Steve works for help with an essay about love. Since Jase says he’s never encountered love, he can’t figure out how to write his essay.
As they talk about love, they discover two things: falling in love is easier than talking about it and nobody in the school’s athletic program wants two guys to fall in love.
When the abuse of athletes across the country comes to light, Steve realizes Jase too has been abused and needs more help than a tutor can give.
REVIEW:
Gosh, this story made me cry ugly tears. I loved it hard!
I loved this short one, even though in the very first I had to get used to the way of storytelling, I’m not sure why because later on I forgot that fact.
Also, I had no idea what to expect, I didn’t read the blurb, something intrigued me to take a chance reading this narrative. So glad I did. For me, it was a little gem.
“Nobody hated us, but nobody loved us either.”
The content is a bit harsh at times, but oh so plausible, and please let’s not forget the sweet moments!
In short, Jason needs a tutor with writing an essay about love, and finds it with Steve. As child from Chinese-American parents Steve is not what Jase expected behind the name Smith.
Jason is Vermillion’s College football star, there is a rumor he will eventually end up with the NFL. Something nice is blooming between Steve and Jason. The further the story gets the more disturbing events are happening, first silently, until it all exposed.
“What he did was love me, and I love him back.”
I felt it all deeply, it stirred something in me I couldn’t stop crying.
The writing was wonderfully done, it made the story intriguing and captivatingly entertaining.
It also surprised the hell out of me. It took, for me, a very unexpected turn.
I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want it to end either.
Applause!
RATING: 
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