Well-meaning but ultimately dull small-town America coming-of-age story involving two former best friends, one of whom happens to be gay and both of whom have their problems. As, indeed, who doesn't? Lazy characterisation: the gay boy just happens to have a female best friend who was born to be a stereotypical fag hag (can you still say that? Whatever the current term is, if not), and both characters' boyfriend and girlfriend respectively are too perfect, mature and understanding to ring remotely true to life. ( )

A small, though not short, novel about being gay in Florida. Unlike Freak Show, which also takes place in Florida, Saints of Augustine is much more realistic novel. P.E. Ryan gives us alternating chapters about two boys, Sam and Charlie, whose friendship has been inexplicably terminated by Sam. Ryan weaves the two independent plots together so that when they finally intersect, it's the only things that could possibly happen. And he does it all too well. There's just a slight bit of the novel that's not quite realistic, but what happened was exactly what I wanted to happen. I read this book all in one go because I just had to know what happened and I was rewarded. Highly recommended. ( )

A year ago Sam and Charlie had been best friends, until Sam cut Charlie off with no explanation. Since that time everything for Charlie has changed. His mother died, his father has stopped leaving the house to do anything, his girlfriend is unhappy because he has a little (in Charlie's opinion) drug addiction and now his supplier is threatening him for the $500.00 he owes for pot. The only bright spot in Charlie's world is his beloved car.

For Sam breaking off his friendship with Charlie a year before was the only resolution for his unreasonable crush on his best friend. He knows Charlie is straight and Sam wishes he were straight too, but the evidence to the contrary is too obvious. Since that time Sam's parents have separated and when Sam discovers that the reason, and his mother's feelings about it, he is more sure than ever that she will never be able to handle his being gay. Additionally, her new boyfriend is openly homophobic and that is only one of his more obnoxious qualities. Sam is still trying to cope with his self-revelation when he meets the new transfer student who is completely out himself and obviously interested in Sam.

This is a very interesting story told in alternating chapters about two teenagers trying to keep themselves together despite incredibly difficult home situations. The author has done a very good job of presenting the escalation of both major issues for each and it is with a breath of relief the reader sees these two former best friends come together to be able to support each other again. Although the portrayals seem mostly realistic, both Sam and Charlie are almost too responsible, mature and proper for being teenagers despite all of their respective problems. But, I think their maturity is part of what makes the characters so likeable to me. My only complaint is that it rather left off without letting us know the true resolution of some issues. Sometimes I like to see things tied up with a bow at the end and this case is certainly one I would have rather had less left to the reader's speculation.

This was a very compelling and interesting story about dealing with many varied and difficult issues. Overall a very good read I would certainly recommend. ( )

Sam and Charlie used to be best friends, until Sam stopped talking to him over a year ago. Then Charlie's mother dies, and his father drowns his sorrows in alcohol. Charlie starts smoking pot to relieve his pain and soon finds himself in debt. Meanwhile, Sam is struggling with the notion that he might be gay and that his father is too. ( )

Reviewed by Katie Hayes for TeensReadToo.com

Ever since Charlie's mother died, his father has been distant, drinking too much and never wanting to talk, least of all about the loss they've suffered. Charlie deals with things by smoking pot all the time--even though he now owes more money than he can come up with to a drug dealer, and even though his habit is threatening his relationship with his girlfriend. Things would be easier if his former best friend, Sam, was still around. But their friendship ended abruptly when Sam told Charlie, without explanation, that he no longer wanted to see him.

What Charlie doesn't know is that Sam has his own problems. His parents have split up, and his mom's horrible boyfriend has moved in with them. Sam's father, meanwhile, is in a relationship with another man, and Sam doesn't know what he'd do if anyone found out. But Sam is hiding an even bigger secret: he is also gay. When Sam meets a boy with whom he shares a mutual attraction, the truth he's tried to deny threatens to come out.

SAINTS OF AUGUSTINE is told from both Sam's and Charlie's points of view, in alternating chapters. Both of them seem very true-to-life, and the dialogue is realistic. The story also has a very honest resolution, and the plot kept me interested all the way through. It's also nice to see a young adult novel that deals so frankly with issues facing gay teenagers. All in all, this is a terrific book. ( )