Trust Me by Jeff Erno

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Trust Me is the Gay Young Adult story we would like to see in real world, meaning that it will give hope to a lot of bullied teenagers to see there is a prince charming also for you, and that the happily ever after is possible even if you are a misfit.

True, there are a lot of awful things happening to Shawn, terrible things no kid should face, gay or not; and unfortunately for Shawn, he finds support on his religion for all the wrong way. Like the imprinting he had for all his life taught him, if something bad happened to you, it’s probably the punishment for some sort of sin you committed. Shawn is a strong guy, despite his diminutive body, and it’s his strength that allows him to overcome everything, from the bullies at school to the sexual abuses when he was only a kid. Despite all this, Shawn is a kind and gentle soul, always ready to see the good in people, always questioning his own actions, but never those of who is around him and say to love him.

Bobby and Shawn have a lot in common, both with divorced parents, and both, likely them, with supporting step-parents; actually, Shawn’s stepfather and Bobby’s stepmother are almost better than the real parents, and they are able to understand and help the children where the real parent wasn’t. That is probably what will save both Bobby and Shawn, what will allow them an happily ever after instead of the tragedy that could have so easily struck them.

Other than a love story between teenagers, Trust Me is also a story about acceptance, and about how important is the family for two guys to feel safe and loved. I’m not sure why the author chose to set this story in the ’80, unfortunately I don’t think the time has changed much, and the same problem Bobby and Shawn are facing in those years, are still the same today. Society didn’t change, obstacles are still there, and the only help these guys can find is in their own family, in the love that family has to show to them, always and without condition.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1999

Amazon: Trust Me
Amazon Kindle: Trust Me
Paperback: 366 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (October 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1615815805
ISBN-13: 978-1615815807

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover art by Paul Richmond