Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: You are not Me
SERIES: ’90s Coming of Age
AUTHOR: Leta Blake
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 10 hours and 21 minutes
RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2023
BLURB:
Follow Peter into the summer following his senior year to face new beginnings, new friends, and old baggage.
After a tumultuous final year of high school, Peter Mandel needs a break. It’s the summer of 1991, and his secret relationship with his “best friend” Adam Algedi is put on hold as Adam goes away to Italy for the summer. On the cusp of adulthood, Peter has a couple of months to explore who he is without Adam at his side.
Enter Daniel McPeak, a slightly older, out, responsible college guy with a posse of gay friends and an attraction for Peter. Drawn into the brave new world of the local gay club, Peter embarks on a whirlwind of experiences—good and bad—which culminate in a hotel room where he has to make the ultimate choice.
But Adam will come back eventually, and there are promises that have to be kept. As autumn draws near and college awaits, can Peter break free of the binds of twisted first love? And what exactly is Daniel’s role in his life–a brief temptation, or something more?
Leta Blake’s ’90s Coming of Age series is a must-listen for fans of New Adult Romance and coming-of-age fiction.
This series by Leta Blake is an M/M New Adult Coming-of-Age Romance set in the early 1990s.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the second book in this series. It is not recommended as a standalone as the story picks up immediately from the point of the end of the first book.
Peter is on his own the summer after he graduates from HS. Adam is off to Rome with his siblings to spend the summer with their parents who have been moved to Rome from Jordan. Adam is going to a school in Atlanta – where his sister Sarah and his girlfriend Leslie and Sarah’s boyfriend are all going. Peter will be left in Knoxville going to UT where his father is a professor and living at home. He’s got his job with Robert/Renee and he’s making new friends. Daniel and his friends from UT hang out at the club where Robert works. Robert tells Peter he needs to make new friends. As soon as Robert knew about Adam keeping Peter as his dirty secret, he really soured on Adam and their relationship. He’s been encouraging Peter to make friends for himself that are also out.
Peter knows he needs take the reins of his life, but he’s spent the last year bending to Adam’s desires and putting up with coming in second. He feels terrible about the deceit and particularly about Leslie. She’s a nice person and doesn’t deserve to be two-timed When she tries to get him to hand out with the HS friend group, he declines. She practically hogties him to finally go to a movie with her alone, but he’s not comfortable. He’s jealous of Adam calling her more than him. There are cracks in his trust of Adam – and rightfully so. He also is dealing with a growing attraction for Daniel.
Daniel has a lot going on in his own life, but he likes Peter. Peter still is holding out for Adam though, so they don’t pursue anything. Peter does go to the club more and has fun – although at first his naivete does get him in over his head. Luckily he’s got friends to help him out. Peter is enjoying his work and getting to know Minty and Antonio and Daniel’s other friends and feels like he’s finally free to be himself.
When the gang goes to Nashville for a drag event, they all stay in a hotel room. Peter and Daniel get a bit carried away. Peter feels guilty and he’s still not willing to let go of the possibility of something real with Adam that can hold up to the light. No matter how much Robert and Daniel and everyone else try to warn him that is unlikely, he’s not ready to give up on that dream. Peter feels bad and he and Daniel don’t see each other for a while.
When Adam does return, well things don’t go the way Peter expects. He tries to feel the same way about Adam, but definitely things have changed. A college visit shine a spotlight on just how little Peter is getting from this relationship and it’s finally the last straw.
Whew! These guys really bring the drama 🙂 I liked this part of Peter’s story a lot better than the first book. The poor guy had been so starved for affection that he was really blinded to just how much he was giving and how little he was getting back. I continue to dislike Adam intensely. Mike comes through as the standup guy I though he was in the first book. I really love Daniel and I sure hope good things for him in the last book of this series. Robert and Barry are wonderfully supportive characters and really look out for Peter. Peter’s parents are still figuring out their way forward with his new identity and that’s going a lot better than it seemed. I loved the meeting with Robert 🙂 This was a much more hopeful story than Book 1 and I’m ready for part 3!
Michael Ferraiuolo does another fantastic job here. He’s really got Peter down. The vacillation between rage and love and the desperation to be seen is so well performed here. Adam is really a bit of a jerk and I thought the performance really provided a clear picture of his selfishness. Daniel is a sweetheart and I adored the voice and pitch of that character. I never have to wonder who is speaking and the depth of emotion always rings true. The first audio I ever listened to from Michael was another Leta Blake book and I was hooked. This is a perfect combination of author and narrator. Recommended!
RATING: 
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