All an Act: MM Romance

This was a very heartfelt story. There are topics of abuse, angst but also a lot of support, healing and love! It’s a really great book!

This one hit a lot harder than I expected. All an Act reads like a classic coming-of-age romance on the surface, but there’s a lot more going on underneath, and it really leans into the heavier emotional beats in a way that stuck with me. Lachlan and Isak’s story is built on years of history, distance, and things left unsaid, and I loved watching them find their way back to each other. Lachlan especially is carrying so much beneath that “golden boy” image, and the way the book slowly peels back those layers felt really honest. There were parts of his journey that felt a little too real for me at times, in a way that made his growth and moments of vulnerability hit even harder. The theatre setting was such a fun addition for me! As a recovering theatre kid, I’ll always have a soft spot for anything involving school productions and rehearsal chaos. And it worked really well as a backdrop for their relationship. The forced proximity, the tension of performing together, and the blurred lines between acting and reality added a lot to the story. Overall, this was emotional, messy, and ultimately really hopeful. It’s about being seen for who you are, even when you’re trying your hardest to hide, and finding the courage to choose something better for yourself. I ended up really loving this one.

A familiar yet believable world is skillfully crafted by Leslie McAdam in this narrative of two high school seniors, born on the same day, at the same hospital, and who were close friends during their childhood. This camaraderie was disrupted when the homophobic mayor, who happens to be Lachlan Doyle's uncle, and who prohibits Lachlan’s association with Isak Hammond upon learning of Isak’s sexual orientation. Years pass, during which Isak and his mother, who live nearby, feel sympathy for Lachlan as they hear loud, violent arguments from his family each evening. Isak has a view into Lachlan’s bedroom, which helps him understand Lachlan’s habits and sympathize with him amid the dysfunctional household consisting of his mother, grandmother, sister, and the uncle, who is the mayor of the town. Once, their families were esteemed friends and neighbors; however, the mayor’s directive to his nephew to avoid contact with Isak severed that relationship. Lachlan, the football team’s quarterback, attracts the attention of cheerleaders and others seeking his company. Nevertheless, he shows no interest in them. Given the turmoil at home each night, Lachlan spends long hours at the gym, at school, at work, or elsewhere, rather than face the yelling and fighting involving his drug-addicted mother, his intoxicated uncle, and his younger sister, who is raising a child born when she was very young. Lachlan seeks refuge not only from his home environment but also from the company of…