You Are Not Me

'90s Coming of Age, Book 2

De: Leta Blake

Narrado por: Michael Ferraiuolo

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?

©2023 Leta Blake Books (P)2023 Leta Blake Books

Excellent series

While this series was triggering, immensely frustrating, and had me literally yelling out loud more than once, it is also true to life, endearing, beautiful, and took me back to my own high school years in the mid-90’s. I was a tattooed, pierced punk girl, and while difficult to believe in the 2020’s, these outward physical expressions were still very uncommon for high school girls. I was also straight, but I was bullied for being a lesbian because of my uncommon outward appearance. Man, this took me back. But the toxic relationship Peter and Adam share is almost unbearable to glimpse. One of my best friends in high school had a father who was gay. Unfortunately, nobody knew until he contracted AIDS and died a terrible death that for us to witness at that young age truly marked my psyche for life. His feeling like he needed to hide it so deep that he married a woman and had two daughters with her, only to die a slow and agonizing death because he still needed that basic human connection with someone he actually felt physically fulfilled with…it was heart shattering. This story was incredible, but please get ready to be viscerally affected, because it’s also a difficult read. Couldn’t recommend more.

I loved this story!

So many of us have had similar experiences. Thanks for helping us realize we need to be true to ourselves.

A Heart-wrenching Continuation

Leta Blake has perfectly captured the angst, confusion, naïveté, fickleness, hope and hopelessness: the discoveries of first love and coming out. Book Two is a flawless continuation of this beautiful, heart wrenching story about coming of age. Michael Ferriauolo delivers another extraordinary performance.

Wonderful NA

I’m not normally a of YA/NA but this is written so beautifully . There are definitely parts that are cringe worthy and it’s important to check for trigger warnings. But I do think it reflects the imperfection and vulnerability of the late teen early 20s. Michael Ferraiuolo is just perfect. Anxious to see where it leads.

Huge Cliffhanger!!

And our story continues. growing up in the 90's was brutal. this book is well written and narrated . you must listen to book one first. our main character finally gets the balls to do the right thing. I can't wait for book three.