Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Out of Character
SERIES: True Colors #2
AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Casablanca
LENGTH: 329 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2021
BLURB:
Jasper Quigley is tired of being everyone’s favorite sidekick. He wants to become the hero of his own life, but that’s not going to happen if he agrees to help out his former best friend turned king of the jocks, Milo Lionetti. High school was miserable enough, thanks, and Jasper has no interest in dredging up painful memories of his old secret crush.
But Milo’s got nowhere else to go. His life is spiraling out of control and he’s looking to turn things back around. Step one? Replace the rare Odyssey cards he lost in an idiotic bet. Step two? Tell his ex-best-friend exactly how he feels—how he’s always felt.
Jasper may be reluctant to reopen old wounds, but he never could resist Milo. There’s a catch, though: if Milo wants his help, he’s going to have to pitch in to make the upcoming children’s hospital charity ball the best ever. But as the two don cosplay for the kids and hunt for rare cards, nostalgia for their lost friendship may turn into something even more lasting…
REVIEW:
Out of Character is a fun, best friends to enemies to friends to lovers story. Phew, that’s a mouthful. This new adult novel is about second chances: one young man must learn to accept himself and become a better person, while the other needs to decide if he can once again trust his former best friend. Can they find their way back to each other? This is the second book in the True Colors series that revolves around a group of friends brought together by the fictional, collectors’ card game, Odyssey.
Jasper and Milo were nerdy, childhood best friends until Milo joined the soccer team in high school and turned his back on Jasper. The jocks were too cool for school, and definitely too cool to be friends with the likes of Jasper, so Milo followed suit and even stood by silently while his new cohorts bullied Jasper and his buddies. Closeted Milo especially couldn’t associate with Jasper when he joined the Rainbow Alliance at school.
Now, eight years later, the high school nerd is a popular college student who has found where he belongs. His social life is centered around gaming and playing Odyssey. The only thing he lacks is a loving partner to go through life with, and he wistfully watches his friends couple up. Milo, meanwhile, is stuck in a rut. He’s made some bad decisions that have had long-lasting consequences. He’s still associating with his bully friends, and hates himself for all of it. He’s still in the closet and just wishes he could be his true self.
Lo and behold, an act of stupidity leaves Milo in a predicament that only Jasper can help him with, so he must crawl back to Jasper and beg for help. Seeing his old friend as he is now, Milo yearns for him and regrets missing everything about him for years. Jasper is more than generous in accepting Milo’s apology and is open to friendship, but he’s hesitant to reestablish trust. He doesn’t know if he’s willing to risk heartbreak again on his long-ago crush.
Central to the story is Milo’s growth arc which is a very rewarding plotline. At the onset of the book, Milo is still closeted and afraid to be himself for fear of disappointing those closest to him. He wants to be a better man, not only for himself, but for Jasper who won’t accept him as he is. Jasper is proud of Milo for the progress he makes, and urges him to continue on the path of self-acceptance even if the men don’t work out as a couple.
I enjoyed catching up with Conrad and Alden, and Professors Tuttle and Herrera from Conventionally Yours. The full cast of secondary characters, including friends Jasmine and Kellan, Jasper’s sister April, and Milo’s brother Bruno, all add to the depth of the narrative. Even the obnoxious villain is a well-written character.
Jasper and Milo’s love story is a tender one, and I’m happy this book has slightly more heat than its predecessor. It’s easy to fall in love with these men as they work hard for their happy ending. If you enjoyed Conventionally Yours you will most certainly enjoy this book, which can also be read as a standalone. I recommend Out of Character to readers who enjoy books featuring college-aged heroes who are both adorable and sympathetic.
RATING: 
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