Autoboyography Hardcover – September 12, 2017

This review was originally posted on the Goldilox and the Three Weres blog.I've been finished with this book for hours and I'm still dazed and in awe of it. It's one of those books that had me smiling like a goofball while making me a bit uncomfortable. It's a book with a ton of heart, love, pain, and wanting. It's one of the most beautiful and poignant books I've read this year. It has easily made it into my top five books of 2017.I don't know the words to explain how important it is that a book like this exists. I grew up Mormon in a majority Mormon community similar to Provo. I had friends in a similar situation to Sebastian where they couldn't come out as gay/bisexual when we were in high school because we were Mormon and they didn't want to be rejected by everyone we knew and loved. They had a hard time accepting themselves for who they were and this book hit me hard even though over a decade has passed since I was in school. I was the bystander/confidant who could only watch my friends go through those heartbreaking situations but this book was so reminiscent of what they went through that it had me in tears for my friends again as well as the characters.This is the book that I wish they could have had access to when we were teens and I'm so glad that teens now will have it. It was beautiful and emotional and I need everyone to read it! It also kind of broke me but in a good way. I had to remind myself multiple times while reading that my friends are happy now with who they are outside of the closet and I could only hope the characters would get to that point too. I have a feeling I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

I was happily cruising along, enjoying the angsty ride, until the $hit show that was the Tanner and Autumn epically stupid drama happened. I had to reread that section a few times to make sure I hadn’t misinterpreted although it was plainly spelled out. I went from 😍🥰😭🏔👬 to WTF DID I JUST READ ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME I AM SO MAD I HATE THIS BOOK. 🙄 Perhaps my reaction was a tad dramatic, I’ll give you that. But REALLY. Totally unnecessary to the plot.I was moderately pleased with the way things unfolded afterwards so my rating is three stars. I felt like the epilogue should have been the last chapter and then an actual epilogue showing more of the future or growth/development as things progressed. I mean, did Sebastian move to LA? Does Tanner publish his book? Do he and Sebastian end up together long term? THIS IS WHY I DO NOT LIKE HFN ENDINGS. I want to see that Tanner and Sebastian are okay relationship-wise, and I want to know what happens with Sebastian’s relationship with his church and his parents. These 👏🏻 are 👏🏻 important 👏🏻 details 👏🏻. #HEALOVERFORLIFE

Such a great story! A MUST read for EVERYONE. Even if you don't read contemporary YA you still NEED to read this one. This should be added to reading lists for high schools across the country!I was so blown away by Christina Lauren’s Autoboyography that I emailed two of my former English professors to recommend the book to them for their YA Lit classes they have for teaching majors. I believe this book should be added to all high school reading lists across the world!!Why was I blown away?Book Hangover: Autoboyography is one of those novels I will be thinking about weeks after listening to it. This rarely happens to me. Sure I stay stuck on a book for a day or two maybe but weeks?! I can count on one hand how many books have stayed with me that long.This novel is so beautifully written. They layers to the story, romance and characters can be broken down into other stories or possibilities. Yes the core of the story is a romance between two teenagers. That in of itself has heighten emotions. That first crush or love is special, scary and in some case forbidden. We’ve all ready novels with a Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lover thing. Maybe one person is from a wealthy family and the other isn’t so they are divided by their classes. Others are forbidden (not to the level as a few decades ago) because they are not of the same race. Maybe the couple is from different religious beliefs. Then there’s the issue of gender or sexual orientation. The latter two are the big issues Tanner and Sebastian face.Tanner is bi-sexual and his family is supportive of it. His parents had their own issues when they were dating (different religious backgrounds) so they know some of the issues that can tear a family apart. Sebastian is a ‘straight’ LDS (Latter-Day Saints, aka Mormon) guy who is heavy into his church and family. So these two young men have many issues to deal with internally and externally if they are going to be together.I know little to nothing about LDS, just the typical stereo-types and I feel like I learned a lot by listening to Autoboyography (yes it’s fiction but the authors did their research to get the details right and I love that they didn’t demonize the church. Which if you listen to the authors/narrator interview at the end of the audio book which I highly recommend (the audio version and the interview) then you will know that was one of their main goals.)If you’re not into audiobooks but can get your hands on a copy from the library you really should listen to the bonus interview at the end. In any case you NEED to read and/or listen to the masterpiece by Christina Lauren. I don’t care if Contemporary, YA and/or GLBT is not your “thing”. You will enjoy this book on a human level. This romance, much like Tanner’s story he writes in the novel, could be edited to be set on the moon with two other characters falling in love, it wouldn’t matter. The love and heart the author duo put into their writing and characters would still shine through and WOW you all the same.

Welcome to Provo, Utah...home, as we all know, of the LDS [Latter Day Saints] or Mormons as they are more commonly known. Into this environment comes a laid back Cali boy Tanner Scott, together with his Goth sister, software designer mum and heart surgeon dad. Mum is a tad unhappy about the move back to the state of her birth, but as it's a huge promotion for her job, has accepted it. Unfortunately Tanner himself is not a happy bunny; you see, he's finally accepted that he's bisexual, and although only 18, knows that the LDS stance on homosexuality is radically different to the general acceptance he's used to back home in California. So yes folks, this is a coming out story for both of our MC's.I fell in love with the boys and the story, several puddle of goo moments and the feels, sighs.....superb. 5 stars. Yes, I tried to gloss over the LDS [Latter Day Saints] involvement and the indoctrination, you know...tie the little woman to the kitchen and make her have several babies, and as for gays, well conversion therapy sounds like a damn good idea!!I still can't comprehend why some parents think that what feels right for them must automatically be the right path for their children....they're your children, NOT mini versions of you to boss around and live your own life vicariously through them!! Tanner I loved right from the get-go, and a big thumbs up for Tanner's parents, for his bestie Autumn [really??]....even though I wanted to throttle her at one point and for the ever watchful eye of their teacher at school.Sebastian?? Well, not much of his life could have been called his own. The praying, the school work, the service to his church and his family/fellow churchgoers and looking after his siblings. He'd had to grow up quickly with no time to do his own thing, and had therefore repressed his obvious feelings for other guys, but when he caught Tanner's eyes across the classroom, they were both goners...classic coup de foudre. No, I didn't like the way he kept encouraging Tanner only to back off and do the silent routine BUT once he truly accepted who and what he was, knew that being with Tanner felt so right and made him so happy, and his feeling that God approved of this whatever it was, he began to understand that for Tanner and himself to have a real relationship and be actual boyfriends, he would have to rebel against his parents and some of his Church's longstanding rules and regulations. Enjoy!!

4.5 starsI've seen a lot about Autoboyography everywhere; it's been mentioned as a favorite on many lists and has received a lot of praise. I've loved the majority of what Christina Lauren has written and this was no exception. Although I have to admit, I didn't initially love it as much as I thought I would, perhaps because I didn't connect to the characters as much and I sometimes found their attitudes/actions frustrating (hello, Autumn). The more I think about it though, the more I really appreciate Tanner and Sebastian's story and realize how much I enjoyed it.This is a coming-of-age love story, but it wasn't all butterflies, rainbows and all good things that normally feature in CLo's novels, and that made it more authentic and believable. Tanner is a bi-sexual high school senior who was out of the closet when his family lived in California, but had to "go back in" when they relocated to heavily Mormon Utah during his sophomore year. No one in town knows he's queer, not even his best and closest friend Autumn, and it's been easy to hide until Sebastian walks into his life. Tanner was easily my favorite character. He was immature at times and made some questionable (and typically high school) decisions, but he was also a cinnamon roll who has so much love to give. His parents and their support for him was just absolute goals, and their completely transparent relationship with each other was so enviable; their family dynamics were for real #familygoals. It brought so much comfort and happiness to the story and clearly played a very big role in making Tanner who he is: patient, kind, understanding and hopeful despite everything.On the other hand we have Sebastian, who comes from and was raised in a hardcore LDS home. He struggles with his identity and thinks that by denying who he is, it'll make him not gay and different from other queer people. He still loves and turns to the faith that he was raised in, but he's confused with how to reconcile that with what he feels for Tanner, especially when to him it feels completely right, but everyone and everything he loves and knows tells him otherwise. As I was reading Sebastian's struggles and vehement denials of being queer, my heart really broke for him. I want to say so much more but I also don't want to give more away. I will say: read it!I know there are probably many young teenagers/young adults and maybe even adults who struggle with reconciling their faith with how they identify, and although I can't speak to either Tanner's or Sebastian's experiences, I believe that CLo did a great job in researching and writing about such a sensitive and important topic. I think a lot of people will really be able to connect with their stories, especially (maybe) Sebastians' struggles of coming out, and they'll find comfort in knowing they're not alone; that they're not the only ones who are struggling, who are scared and don't know what to do because they don't want to lose everything and everyone they love just because of who they are. Here's a great quote from the book:"But missing him every day for the rest of my life was still easier than the fight Sebastian had: to stuff himself inside a box every morning and tuck that box inside his heart and pray that his heart kept beating around the obstacle. Every day I could go to class as exactly the person I am, and meet new people, and come outside later for some fresh air and Frisbee. Every day I would be grateful that no one who matters to me questions whether I am too masculine, too feminine, too open, too closed. Every day I would be grateful for what I have, and that I can be who I am without judgment. So every day I would fight for Sebastian, and people in the same boat, who don’t have what I do, who struggle to find themselves in a world that tells them white and straight and narrow gets first pick in the schoolyard game of life."Christina Lauren does it again! They really know how to write stories that are not only enjoyable, but cover important issues and make you think and feel all the feels. I'm really glad that I finally read this one!

Well this is nothing like any other Christina Lauren book I’ve read. NOTHING LIKE! I demand a refund and my memory to be erased so I can buy it again and read it for the first time. I LOVED it.My heart is still palpitating and it is nothing to do with the fact that I’m in the middle of making Christmas dinner. Actually hubs is making Christmas dinner and I’m watching Toy Story 3 with my apron on.And the reason why on Christmas Day I was reading? Because I am obsessed with Tanner and Sebastian. I could not put those boys down. So much so that I’m thinking I’m going to start writing fanfiction because I need more Tanner and Sebastian kissing and non of that fade to grey BS.I can’t imagine living a life where I’m not accepted. My palpitating heart goes out to those who suffer due to the mindless prejudice of others. Christina and Lauren write so beautifully of the pain and struggles those boys went through. I want to wear a rainbow tshirt and hug the bejesus out of them.Bravo!

This book is perfection. I put it down, cheeks slightly damp and just smiled.I felt such an amazing range of emotions whilst reading this. There was sadness, grief, hope, happiness and most of all, love. I felt for these characters in a way that I haven't for a very long time. All that mattered was that they were safe and loved.Some parts were hard to read, but they needed to be so, and I really enjoyed the way the different aspects of Tanner and Sebastian's lives were written. Both families adored their sons, that much is clear, but their different religions, family dynamics and past experiences are beautifully explained. None of the characters are perfect, but that made the book even more enjoyable to me. There was no 'bad guy', no hidden agenda to the story, it was just written from the heart, to the heart of the readers.I love this. Pure and simple. It has rapidly become one of my favourite books ever, let alone in 2019.

This book was so cute! And I cried soooooo many times D: I'm so glad I decided to continue this at home, because blubbering on the bus would not have been good! :DThe pacing of the friendship / relationship between our two main guys Tanner and Sebastian was perfectBisexual main character!The LDS church aspect was done really well and really respectfully. There was a nice contrast between the two characters relationship with the church. Tanner had a lot of his negative expectations quashed, while Sebastian had to look inwardly and outward to see if maybe some of the beliefs he had been taught were wrong. Both came away with different opinions as the ones they started with, but not once did it feel like the book was portraying the religion and it's followers in a harsh way.Tanners parents had a nice arc, they accepted his bisexuality from the get go, but had to learn to /really/ accepting him. If you liked the parent aspect of this book then I definitely recommend Openly Straight which has a very similar parent / main character relationship