Focus on Me (In Focus #2) by Megan Erickson Review

Hey Readers, Ethan here on this Monday morning to bring you yet another review. This one is the sequel to a book I reviewed back in May that I absolutely loved. I'm so excited to share my thoughts on this one with you guys in anticipation of its' release day tomorrow. On the chopping block today? Focus on Me by Megan Erickson. Here's a bit about the novel and Megan before we get to my thoughts:

Colin Hartman can now add college to his list of failures. On the coast-to-coast trek home from California, Colin stops at a gas station in the Nevada desert, and can’t help noticing the guy in tight jeans looking like he just stepped off a catwalk. When he realizes Catwalk is stranded, Colin offers a ride.

Riley only intended to take a short ride in Colin’s Jeep to the Grand Canyon. But one detour leads to another until they finally find themselves tumbling into bed together. However there are shadows in Riley’s eyes that hide a troubled past. And when those shadows threaten to bury the man whom Colin has fallen in love with, he vows to get Riley the help he needs. For once in his life, quitting isn’t an option…

           

About the Author

Megan worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.

Find Megan Erickson

* Facebook * Twitter * Website * Goodreads *

*****

My Thoughts:

You guys may remember back in May when I reviewed my first ever Megan Erickson read, Trust the Focus where I spoke about how touching the story was and how it really changed me as both a person and a reader. I thoroughly enjoyed that first installment in the series and really didn't know how the rest would work for me. Trust the Focus was the perfect mix of everything I was looking for in a story of this genre, could Erickson strike gold twice? Yes. Yes she could.

Focus on Me is... entirely different than Trust the Focus. In fact, the stories are so different in terms of plot, characters, and content, it's almost hard to compare the two side by side. The only thing they truly have in common is that their the same series and that both have m/m content. Aside from that, it's almost as though you're viewing two sides of a coin on this one. Two sides of an awesome coin, at that.

Whereas Trust the Focus was more 'surface level' (not in any sort of bad way whatsoever), Focus on Me is such a deep story, I don't know how they found oxygen down there. Seriously. 

The first thing that really makes Focus on Me stand out in the crowd is the fact that it's the very first LGBT novel I have ever read that doesn't involve the characters 'coming out'. In this story, we see two homosexual males who are already 'out in the open' about their sexuality. It was a refreshing twist to the genre. As a reader who himself isn't a member of the community, it's really something different for me to read in the first place. While I haven't read many novels in this genre, each of them has been a 'coming out' story. Focus on Me not falling into that category makes this novel one that will always stand out for me. Getting past that initial 'coming out' and seeing the hardships that those in the community continue to face after that was really interesting. As another reader pointed out, it's nice to know that 'they have other problems too'. 

Now that being said, just because it wasn't a coming out story, doesn't mean it didn't have its' share of depth and dramatics. As I mentioned before, this story is deep. Covering topics such as depression, mental illness, insecurity, doubts, failure, and so many more. This one isn't for the faint of heart. It'll grip you close on page one and won't let you go until the very end. Though at that point, it may be you that's holding on. At this point I'm not entirely sure that Megan Erickson wasn't a psychologist in a former life because she knocked the new adult psyche out of the park in this one. Each of the character truly exemplified some hard hitting facets of what it's like to be a new adult in today's modern society. Life isn't easy, but Erickson has proved that there is hope out there for us all in this incredible read.

The plot line was pretty intriguing. Like Trust the Focus, Focus on Me is also a road trip novel, one of my favorite literary elements. I love me a good road trip novel and Erickson has knocked it out of the part twice. Traveling from coast to coast, Colin and Riley find so much more than memories on the open road. From sweat lodges to boardwalks, the storyline for Focus on Me was among the most unique I have read. There was a huge air of mystery in this story where you really didn't know what was going to happen at the end of the story, boy I never would have imagined how heart-wrenching the conclusion would be.

In true Erickson fashion, these characters are phenomenal. Anyone who was a huge fan of Trust the Focus will be pumped to hear that Justin and Landry make an appearance in a fairly large role. It was awesome to see them come back and to hear what they had been up to since the conclusion of book one. Riley and Colin were way different characters than I am used to reading. Each of these guys had enough internal conflict to warrant multiple books on their own, yet Erickson was able to find their resolutions through their love for one another. That was truly a touching aspect to this story, that their love for one another could conquer all of their outstanding issues. Each character was deeply flawed and missing something only the other could provide, it was the absolute perfect fit to see the two of them together.

As I mentioned earlier Focus on Me hits on some really true-to-life and emotional themes. It's a tear jerker. You've been warned. I won't go into specifics too much in an effort to avoid spoilers, but Erickson doesn't hold back. She tells the story in its' truest form with no sugar coating. The darkness, the depth of depression and mental illness are beautifully represented by Erickson who writes such themes with passion and a talent that shines.

In the end, Focus on Me has quickly made its' way to the top of my summer reads list and definitely has secured itself a spot on my bookshelf of all-time favorite NA LGBT reads. Through beautiful writing, complex characters, a gripping plot, and delicately crafted settings that accurately reflect the tone of the novel, Erickson has really raised the bar for this genre. It should come without shock that I thoroughly enjoyed this read, Erickson has really become and author to watch for me. All-in-all I am granting Focus on Me a well-earned 5-star review. While I didn't quite love it as much as Trust the Focus, it still stands on its' own as an incredible novel that I believe any reader will thoroughly enjoy! If this sounds like the read for you, don't hesitate to check this one out. Add this to your TBR, you won't be disappointed!

*****

Check out my 5-star review of book one by clicking the cover below!

Alright guys, that's all I have for you on the topic of Focus on Me by Megan Erickson. Another trip outside of my 'norm', Megan Erickson has quickly become my go-to author to open my eyes about social issues our generation is facing. Her writing is beautiful and her stories are oh-so-fulfilling. I'm a big fan of her work. Be sure to check out both this story and Trust the Focus from the links above. Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Pride Month Round-Up: Best of LGBT from BooksByMigs and One Guy's Guide to Good Reads

**Post written by Ashley from BooksByMigs through our collaboration**

 

Ethan messaged me last night with this wonderful idea. Because June is Pride month he was telling me how I should have done something special on the blog highlighting some of my favorite LGBT novels. I loved the idea so much we decided to collaborate and feature some of our favorites!

Ethan's Round-Up

As anyone who’s hung out over on my blog will tell you, it’s my goal in the book world to make an impact as a male reader. I review from a male’s POV, offering new insight to both authors and readers. Being a straight male blogger has really taught me multiple things about not only the book world, but about life itself. There is so much knowledge to be learned through the power of literature. I’ve had my eyes opened and my beliefs confirmed, all through the movement of the written word.

While not a member of the LGBT community myself, some of my closest friends are. Through them I have seen firsthand the struggles that those in their community have faced. The monumental movements and strides made this week will forever impact their lives for the better. It is with great honor that we support them here today. That being said, I was, understandably hesitant to read my first LGBT read. Especially an m/m read. It’s not something I have any experience with personally, so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about reading one. I’m so glad I took a chance and read my first LGBT novel, as it definitely changed my life. Each and every one of the incredible novels I am featuring in my list has made a positive impact on my life in a variety of reasons. This is really a special thing for me to say, as romance is among my very least favorite genre. These novels have really changed the way I read. While I have only read a handful of novels that fit into this category, I know that there are many more that will touch me the way these stories have. In no particular order, here are my top four LGBT reads:

• Stolen by Becca Vincenza
The very first LGBT book that I read. I remember I only took the plunge because it was a paranormal novel primarily. From page one I was hooked and couldn’t let go. The relationship between Drake and Xavier is also probably among the most unique I have ever read. While they don't "fall in love" in the traditional sense, the fall in love, nonetheless. They are 'life mates', each others' one true love. While they are both extremely resistant at first, their budding friendship and relationship is seriously a thing of beauty. Completely take the sexual element out of the equation and at its' base, their relationship is rock solid. It was really interesting to read about that. Becca opened my eyes to this sub genre and I am honored that her novel was my first read.

     
• The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen
If you guys follow my blog, you know that I am a huge Sarina Bowen fan. Her Ivy Years series is among my all-time favorite NA Contemporary series. Each novel in this series hit me in a different way, but none hit me in the particular way that this one did. The relationship between Rikker and Graham was so incredibly hard for me to read. Their love story wasn’t an easy one. It was cringe-worthy at times and left me such an emotional wreck that few have topped since. Talking out the LGBT element out of the equation, you see two friends whose complicated relationship nearly cost them their happiness. To say it was emotional is a huge understatement. That being said, through this novel, I learned so much about what it means to be a New Adult member of the LGBT community. Sarina Bowen really helped to open my eyes to the issues faced by members in 2015.

      
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire-Saenz
This one was strictly a recommendation from my good friend Christina over at LuLo FanGirl. This is one of Christina’s all time favorite reads, with great reason. Oh man, get ready to catch the feels, I know I did. While the LGBT portion of this novel doesn’t present itself until the last part of the novel, the budding relationship between the characters of Dante and Aristotle was nothing short of literary perfection. Their character development was among the best I have ever read. Their love story was truly one for the ages. Full of emotion and triumph, watching them come into their own was such a rewarding experience.

    
• Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson
I only came across this novel thanks to the recommendation of our Ashley here from Books by Migs. She’s such a big Megan Erickson fan that I had been wanting to read one of her novels for months when I came across this one. I really didn’t know what to expect from the novel, but I can tell you that in the end I came out of it a better person. Justin and Landry’s relationship was one emotional roller coaster ride. And one that I really could relate to. They were both coming out of a very important part of their lives with some immense baggage on their shoulders. It was only through finding their relationship with one another that they were able to overcome their issues and make it through to the end. It was truly a beautifully crafter and incredible story of love, hope, and compassion. It was an honor to devour it.

Love is love and I am so proud to share with you guys these four LGBT novels that have changed my perspective on the genre. It isn’t one that I read often, but each novel I have read has changed me in some way, shape, or form. While romance will never be one of my favorite genres, novels such as these keep me coming back for more. It was truly an honor to experience each and every one of these reads. I highly recommend them to any and all readers, regardless of your beliefs or reading mindset. You won’t be disappointed! Huge congratulations to the LGBT community this week on their huge victory! Let’s all continue to work together to achieve equality for all and make the world a little brighter with each passing day! Happy Reading!

Ashley's Round-Up

June is a wonderful month for me. Not only does my daughter’s birthday fall in June, it’s also Pride Month. Everyone in the LGBTQ+ community gets together and celebrates us. We let the world know we are here and proud of who we are. We let them know that it’s okay to be us and we love just as much as they do. If you’ve never been to a Pride parade or festival I suggest you get to one next year. They are so much fun and can open your eyes to so much. Now that June has come to an end it’s such a blessing to be able to look back on this wonderful month and see all the good that has happened for our community. The biggest thing? The Supreme Court granted marriage to same sex couples in all 50 states! I didn’t think I’d see this or that it would even happen as quickly as it did. I love that my friends and family can marry, legally, and have it recognized all over the country. My heart is so full. Like I’ve said before, I adore reading LGBT novels. I get to see some of my favorite groups of people find love, be accepted and just live their lives. We are people too. We deserve recognition. Equality. Love. So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite novels. No particular order.

• Focus on Me by Megan Erickson
I love this book so much. Megan is so skilled in not just writing romance, but actually digging deeper into how people actually work. Focus on Me is no different. She created these two characters, Colin and Riley, and everything about them felt true and real. I lived their story with them and it wasn’t an easy one. Without getting into the story because it’s not out just yet (soon though! July 21st!) it’s not spoilery to say that mental illness plays a huge role in the plot of Focus on Me. That’s the big plot device on this story, not their being gay. I loved that. Both Colin and Riley were already out and proud and didn’t have any problems with being their true self. We need more of that in this world.

    
• Captive Prince & Prince’s Gambit by C.S. Pacat
There’s so much that can be said about these novels, and probably the third when it finally comes out. Damen and Laurent are everything. The series is a little bit fantasy, a little bit romance and a whole lot of awesome. Damen and Laurent’s being gay or bisexual have no bearing on the story at all. The story is about so much more than that. It’s about friendship and trust. It’s about fighting for what you believe in and making sure those you care for are taking care of. Thanks to my lovely friend, Lia Riley, I was introduced to this series and I love her immensely for it.

    
• Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler
Lesbians! Do you know how hard it is to find good lesbian fiction? Especially in Young Adult? Very. But Dahlia did it and she did it so well. Vanessa and Brianna are amazing. I fell for them as they fell for each other. 

 During the story Vanessa realizes she’s gay and needs to come to terms with that. And she tells her family and friends who she really is as well. This is so important to see in a book because there are so many kids out there who my feel like her and need to know that it’s okay to be true to themselves. And then there’s Bri. She’s bisexual and is not afraid to be herself. She’s not afraid to love who she falls for and that’s wonderful.

     
• Rush by Nyrae Dawn
This book, you guys. This. Book. I cannot say enough about this book. It’s one of my favorites ever. I mean outside of it being about two guys. Brandon’s coming out and dealing with the fallout because he’s this big college football player and Alec’s standing by his friend and the man he loves. It’s beautiful. It’s not an easy story to read but one that many people live. And Brandon’s parents? I love them so much. They exemplify how parents should act. They love their child unconditionally and sadly that just seems to be rare these days.

*****

Ashley really blew this post out of the water and I am so pumped to share it with you guys. Ashley is another amazing bookish friend of mine and this is our first official collaboration. We're so glad you stopped by to heard our take on LGBT reads! What are some of your favorites? Have you read ours? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Trust the Focus (In Focus #1) by Megan Erickson Review

Hey readers! Ethan here on this beautiful Thursday evening (is it freezing where you are? Geez, you'd think it was November, not May!) bringing you yet another awesome review. This time we've got a review for a NA that was a bit off from my 'norm'. What are we raving about? Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson! Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding

About the Author

Megan worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.

Find Megan Erickson

* Facebook * Twitter * Website * Goodreads *

*****

My Thoughts:

I've been sitting on this review for a long time, because I honestly don't know how to put all my thoughts into words. I write, often, in my reviews that I don't like romance novels. That I don't like this, or that, or what have you. I write that I don't oftentimes devour novels with content such as 'fill in the blank', but you know. All of this is starting to change. I've been at this over a year now and I've learned that my bookish mind is constantly conforming to new things. Every day I'm able to better relate, to better grasp, to better appreciate the world an author is writing in. Even if it is one I have no knowledge or experience in, a few select authors are really pulling me into the fold. Showing me that reading shouldn't ever be about content, but about quality. Megan Erickson, you ma'am, are a literary goddess.

It's funny, you see, that I finally sat down and read this out of all the Megan Erickson novels out there. Do you guys ever have that feeling that an author is everywhere? Like every time you turn on your social media there is someone raving about them? Every ad you see is for their books? That's how I came across Megan Erickson. It was a sign, she was everywhere!

One of my closest bookish friends, the incredible Ashley from BooksbyMigs is one of the biggest Erickson fans I have ever spoken with. She pimps out Erickson and her works on a daily basis. It was finally through her ravings that I took the plunge. I was looking for something different. Something in an NA contemporary that I hadn't seen before. Something that was going to be equally thought-provoking and feels-worthy. Ashley pimped out this series like none other, I dove in and she was right: I've come out of it a changed reader!

First and foremost, this novel is a m/m NA contemporary romance novel. This means that it is definitely not for everyone. On most days it wouldn't even be for me. I'll go ahead and touch on this part first. Yes, there are multiple m/m sex scenes. No, they are no 'dumbed down'. They are extremely well-written and emotionally driven. Erickson is one of those unique authors who can write sex and have it full of meaning and emotion. It doesn't have to be all fun, all the time. Erickson has a great balance of the fun and the emotional side of physical side of romance. I will admit there were a couple of pages that I skimmed, but overall, nothing was too graphic or uncomfortable for me to read in the least bit. Let this be a warning to anyone who isn't receptive to reading a m/m read that this may not be the novel for you.

In terms of plot, Trust the Focus wins props for being one of the most unique storylines I have ever come across in a work of New Adult literature. It's also a road trip novel, one of my favorites! I love a good road trip story. The story follows Justin and Landry, two best friends (with some more than friendly tension between them) traveling across the country to spread the ashes of Justin's recently deceased father. Along the way they find fun, adventure, and love. Crazy how that happens, right? I can't even hardly ride to Wal-Mart with my best friend. The story has lots of fun scenes involving amusement parks, big city escapades, and some beautiful scenery. Erickson has such a knack for writing settings, that I felt I was right alongside the roadtrip, taking in the country from the window of a Winnebago. While the novel focuses greatly upon the relationship between our two main characters, there are plenty of fun sub plots that make it about so much more than romance. By the end of the novel you definitely feel as though you've been on a road trip, in the best way possible! All the memories, without the crippling gas bill and leg pain from sitting upright in a vehicle for days! The only negative thing I'd like to add is that the novel really didn't end on the note I was hoping it did. I was a little confused by a few, very minor, details that seemed to come out of left field, but overall the plot was very fulfilling and left me with a great sense of hope for the future of the New Adult genre.

When it came to the characters, Erickson knocked it out of the park. The novel is definitely character driven and there was a lot of character development to be had. In the short span of a few hundred pages, we really get to know our main characters on an intimate level. It's crazy how real Erickson was able to make both Justin and Landry. I really appreciated that. When Justin gives in to his feeling for Landry, his entire life is turned on its' head. It was an incredible emotional and mental journey for Justin and I was both intrigued and impressed the entire time. Justin really does have a crazy story during this novel, but its' Landry who really balances out the crazy. Landry's character was written to perfection. His fun quirks and positive attitude were exactly what this novel needed to make it excel in my books. I love great character development, and Erickson killed it! There are tons of 'feels-worthy' moments here, so don't think you'll get off emotionally easy!

As with many novels of this nature, Erickson hits home with several important themes. The most important and prevalent one being to find yourself and stay true to yourself. A big part of this novel follows Justin's emotional journey to realize who he really is and way it will effect his life. For Justin, it's going to be a drastic change that will take years to acclimate to, but in the end the reader is left with many valuable life lessons about discovering one's true potential and the ability to find happiness and true love. Acceptance, coming of age, and family are also huge points in this novel that Erickson delivers to perfection. I was thoroughly impressed with her execution of this storyline and am anxious to see what she can accomplish next!

As you can see, I definitely had a lot of thoughts on the topic of Trust the Focus. It was an incredible read and I do believe I came out of it a better person. I am so glad that my friend recommended this series to me. Erickson has found herself another fan in me. I'm not quite sure what to add of hers to my TBR next, but I am pretty pumped to check out the second novel in this series, Focus on Me, releasing later this summer. I hope I like it just as much! Now I'm not here to say that I plan on reading a lot of m/m novels are here, but I have to say that all five I have read and reviewed so far have been amazing to me!

I am so excited to be giving Trust the Focus a very well-deserved 5-star review. Definitely outside my normal read, but an excellent addition to the NA spectrum. I can't wait to see what comes next for Erickson! I highly recommend this novel to any fans of the NA contemporary romance genre. You won't be disappointed!

*****

Be on the look out for 

Focus on Me

releasing 7/21/15! 

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson. As you can see, I really enjoyed this read! What did you think? Sound like the read for you? Sound off in the comments below. Also, if you've read some of Erickson's other works, let me know what I should check out next! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan