Outcast

De: Nicole Dykes

Narrado por: John Solo, Iggy Toma

Hayden

I’m the fun one. The loud one. The overly opinionated one with no filter. I’ve been unapologetically me since day one, and it hasn’t been easy.

Kicked out of my home when I was sixteen, I chose to be alone rather than not be my true self. I found my family now and a job I love. I have everything, and yet I’m still an outcast in so many ways...

Tristan

I’m not fun. I’m far too quiet. I keep to myself. I don’t really have a reason for it. I had a loving family who was loud enough for me to fade into the background.

And then, I stumbled into a friendship with the boldest human I’ve ever met. Beautiful and strong. He confuses me. He challenges me. He makes me want to come out of the shadows and discover who I want to be.

He may have been shunned by his family, but they didn’t deserve him. Hayden was meant to shine—not to be cast out by anyone. He makes the world brighter, and not even I can resist it.

©2022 Nicole Dykes (P)2023 Podium Audio

only ok.

I had trouble remembering who was who. I think bc their names are similar. that was a distraction. the plot doesn't get any deeper than what is found in the description. I'm tired of the bisexual guy who doesn't know he's into dudes. the many chapters with sex isn't justified by the tension (there is none). they were friends already who add sex to their relationship.

low angst biawakening

Outcast is a pretty low angst story which was a pleasant surprise for me as I thought it would be. Hayden was told to leave at 16 when his dad discovered he was gay. After a hard number of years we slowly learn about, Hayden and the friends he has made, have found their way to the idyllic lakeside town they now live and work in.. Despite being embraced by the town, as well as his found family, Hayden only ever feels like an outcast because he constantly hears his homophobic parents’ voices in his head denigrating him. Tristan is the “straight” hometown hero, a deputy who comes from a loving family within the community. Instantly upon meeting for the first time, they are both drawn to each other and become immediate best friends while Hayden daydreams about more. Slowly Tristan comes to realize his feelings are much deeper than just friendly and goes about trying to romance Hayden. If there’s ever a book character who needs a huge hug and unconditional love, it’s Hayden. He is wonderful but his head is so full of negative self-talk thanks to his upbringing that he’s standing in the way of his own happiness. Tristan is so sweet in the way he supports Hayden and tries to drown out those voices with unconditional love. Outcast is a sweet, steamy, low angst bi-awakening that I would highly recommend.

not her best

it was a ok story, kinda slow and not as funny as some of her other work. I'm only leaving this review because my name is Jacquelyn Rose lol and everyone calls me Jack. Just thought it was a cute coincidence.

Cute!

This one was pretty cute! It had a bit of the found family trope which is one of my favorites. :)