The Book High

Definitely feels very different from JCP's other books. I agree that this one is much more world-building driven than character-driven. Which would be fine, if I weren't left with so many questions about the world-building. Being left with questions that felt so crucial made me feel let down at the end of this one.

What I was shown of the world was fascinating. And horrifying. And beautifully well-done. Perhaps I'm left with so many questions because this sci-fi/futuristic/dystopian type setting is one that has fascinated me for a long time, and of which I've read quite a bit. This world simply didn't feel as fleshed-out as others in the genre.

This being one of the few m/m books I've read in this genre might have made up for that, if the romance were more believable. Unfortunately, I felt like that part of the story wasn't nearly as good as other JCP stories either. Finding out that Will had basically been hitting on any retiree who came into his coffee shop trying to convince them to stop shunting in and run away with him made Ernest simply seem convenient. And having Will be the very first person Ernest had ever been attracted to EVER also made the relationship simply seem convenient from his side as well. If they weren't heading off into unpopulated wilderness at the end, I would have no confidence in their relationship's likelihood of succeeding.

It was still an interesting read, with some deliciously-horrifying JCP moments. Just not quite what I was hoping it would be.