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The Dangerous Art of Blending In
The Dangerous Art of Blending In | Angelo Surmelis
A raw, powerful, but ultimately uplifting debut novel perfect for fans of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe from debut author Angelo Surmelis. Seventeen-year-old Evan Panos doesnt know where he fits in. His strict immigrant Greek mother refuses to see him as anything but a disappointment. His quiet, workaholic father is a staunch believer in avoiding any kind of conflict. And his best friend, Henry, has somehow become distractingly attractive over the summer. Tired, isolated, scaredEvan finds that his only escape is to draw in an abandoned monastery that feels as lonely as he is. And yes, he kissed one guy over the summer. But its Henry whos now proving to be irresistible. Henry, who suddenly seems interested in being more than friends. And its Henry who makes him believe that he deserves more than his mothers harsh words and terrifying abuse. But as things with Henry heat up, and his mothers abuse escalates, Evan has to decide how to find his voice in a world where he has survived so long by being silent. This is a powerful and revelatory coming-of-age novel based on the authors own childhood, about a boy who learns to step into his light.
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Skeeterisme
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Pickpick

This book is as upsetting as it is heartbreaking and beautiful. You need to read it.

Come-read-with-me Stacked! 📚 4y
42 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

A teen is emotionally and sometimes physically abused by his mother. He is gay and in love with his friend and afraid to admit it. He has trouble talking about his feelings and what is happening to him. Of course, everything seems to come to ahead at the same time.

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kitteh_reads
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Pickpick

Such a good read! I wasn‘t sure if I would like it at first, but it was so heart wrenching I became absolutely engrossed! The story is about a boy in love with his best friend. He tries so hard to ignore his feelings so it doesn‘t ruin his friendship. Meanwhile, his mother is very religious and abusive to her son because he doesn‘t fit her idea of a perfect son 💔🥺

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TheLudicReader
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#sorrynotsorry Took advantage of Indigo‘s 30% off for teachers weekend. Because of course I did. All for my classroom.

Melissa_J Nice! If I were a teacher I‘d be taking advantage of the discount, too 😊 5y
21 likes1 comment
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BookNightOwl
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Pickpick

5️⃣⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story is heartbreaking and sad. This story deals with some heavy issues such as physical and mental abuse, suicide, and coming out. This coming of age book deals with Evan who comes home from camp confused about his sexuality and what he wants in life. Evan's mother is a strict immigrant greek mother who wants him to be a good christian boy.

BookNightOwl Evan feels like he has no support from his family or from his friends. This story tugged at my heart and I feel like it should be read by everybody. 5y
TrishB Great review 👍🏻 stacked. 5y
66 likes8 stack adds2 comments
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geekybookgirl2
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. A heartbreaking story dealing with coming out and domestic abuse. It was a hard read at times though still had a feeling of hope.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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msmckinney
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“The person who was supposed to love me hardest—the most unconditionally—has always wanted me gone. No matter how hard I tried to be perfect. Now, this boy—who knows all my imperfections and has seen all my hurt laid bare—wants me to stay.”

I‘m loving this book about sexuality, identity, and the importance of healthy love!

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Scattered_Thinker
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Pickpick

This book is so sweet. It tells a heartbreaking story of a boy in an abusive family. I was so into this book that I read it in two days. It‘s such a beautiful story.

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MattieH
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Heartbreaking to know this is truly how it is for some kids

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everlocalwest
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Pickpick

This book is heartbreaking. The second of the two YA books I've read about becoming yourself despite your parent's wishes. Serious abuse is outlined in this novel and it is hard to take, but the characters are so wonderful that your genuine care for their wellbeing pulls you through. Knowing that this is based on the author's life experience is almost unfathomable; I do not know Angelo Surmelis but honestly felt proud of him while reading this.

GondorGirl I second everything you said about this book. It was tragic, breathtaking, and ultimately hopeful. 6y
45 likes1 stack add2 comments
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jouleian
Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book was well written but I am posting a HUGE trigger warning on this bad boy due to the nature of the abuse and violence it contains and describes in such detail. All of the characters are very three dimensional which adds all the more to the trauma of the story. This book is a good read about finding your voice and freedom. Though I do not recommend it for just anyone. #triggerwarning

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jouleian

Oh sweet Mary mother of Jesus...it's SO easy to hate Voula. I legit wanna walk in and box her ears, this incredulous woman and all her self righteous indignation...I'm SO irrationally angry right now its unreal!!! 😤😤😤

#killheroffplease #irrationalanger #ohmyword

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jouleian

This book is rather graphic in is abuse scenes so MAJOR #triggerwarning to future readers.

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jouleian

"I have a difficult time letting people get away with shit..."

Hahahaha this girl gets me.

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Nutmegnc
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Get this awesome book on the cheap today!!!!

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Nutmegnc
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The book from the dude himself. This guy does everything! angelohome.com

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Nutmegnc
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This is a riveting story. There are vivid details of the physical abuse by his mom and its aftermath which make it not so happy. But I love the main character and I want him to win.

21 likes1 stack add
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Nutmegnc
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Just started this! Narrated by Michael Crouch of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Lovely narration. Well crafted story. A bit darker than Simon but based on the author's childhood.

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GondorGirl
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April was a weird month for me. With the increased anxiety I didn't really read many physical books. But audio books kept me sane.

Best of the month was a tie between the tagged book and 'Wonder', but I'm giving it to TDAoBI because it's new and everyone should read it.

And that brings my yearly total to 90 books.

#AprilWrapUp #AprilStats #WrapUp

larah17 90 books by April is incredible, well done! 7y
Chelleo Great reading month!! 7y
66 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Between-the-Shelves
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Pickpick

Evan Panos doesn't fit in. His mom thinks he's a disappointment. His dad avoids conflict. And after his summer with Gaige, Evan can't stop thinking about his best friend Henry.

There were parts of this book that were hard to read--specifically the scenes with Evan and his mother. But the story itself is important and infused with deep, raw emotion that will make you root for Evan. An important read about finding family and identity.

asiriusreader Welcome to Litsy! 7y
22 likes2 comments
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Between-the-Shelves
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My current read! And my weakness, ice coffee. So far, I'm enjoying this book; there are a lot of strong emotions portrayed, as well as a sense of anxiety underlying the text.

#currentlyreading #BetweentheShelves

24 likes1 stack add
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Kaylamburson
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Pickpick

I felt a bit of the annoying teenager syndrome when I started this book, but I‘m so glad I continued after the first couple chapters. Evan is from a traditional Greek, Christian family. He grapples with his sexual identity and how to please his strict mother. There are a lot of abuse triggers in this book, and I felt infuriated that nothing was being done. But it was real. There is a sweet romance, too, which makes it all worth while.

Kaylamburson @swishandflick I think you woke love this one since you loved Simon! Definitely more intense, but still uplifting! 7y
swishandflick Thanks!! Stacked 🤗 7y
75 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GondorGirl
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Pickpick

What more do I say about this book? It was a brutally honest, heartwrenching, and ultimately hopeful book about love, family, and being true to who you are. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

#LGBTQ #YA

JoScho As Beyoncé said “it‘s the soul that needs a surgery” ?? 7y
81 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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GondorGirl
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JoScho 💕 7y
Austen_Nerd I so need to post this on my fridge, to remind my family!!! lol❤️💖❤️ 7y
QueenOfWands This is perfect! ❤ 💕 7y
63 likes3 comments
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GondorGirl
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We're an hour outside of Boston and I'm half way through this audio book. So far I'm loving it!

Evan is a gay teen in a super-religious Greek family who might be in love with his best friend. But he's got mountains full of dark secrets that he's afraid to share...

JoScho Love this picture ❤️ 7y
70 likes1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

On any given day, people exist on multiple levels. Take Evan. At home, he is abused by his mother while at school he is a klutz prone to accidents. At home he is closeted, afraid to even think of his growing feelings for his best friend & what it might mean while at school he finds it hard to keep his feelings secret. A raw, powerful story full of secrets, first love, acceptance, friendship, intolerance & finding the courage to save yourself.

Kaylamburson Ohhh I love the cover! This sounds so good! 7y
Kaylamburson Just put a hold on it at my library 😊 7y
TracyReadsBooks @Kaylamburson 🙌 You‘ll have to let me know what you think! Hope you enjoy it! 7y
16 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
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“Everything about this feels like that moment when you‘ve finally reached the top of the highest peak on a roller coaster and you‘ve just opened your eyes.”

13 likes2 stack adds
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TracyReadsBooks
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TracyReadsBooks
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Truth. Sometimes all you want is that delicious bowl of ice cream (yum). And sometimes (often?!?) life gets in the way and makes things much more complicated.

11 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
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Another new book to preview—definitely NOT the hardest part of the job!

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Lindy
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Pickpick

Evan (Evangello), the teenaged son in a family of Greek immigrants in Illinois, has two big secrets: his mother is violently abusive to him, and he‘s gay. At times this #audiobook is so raw and Evan is so awkward that it was difficult to continue listening. The story is loosely based on the author‘s own life and ends on a positive note. Narrated by the youthful-sounding Michael Crouch. #LGBTQ #YA

42 likes2 stack adds
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Lindy
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Maybe I'm not so ugly after all. Maybe no one is really ugly, and maybe no one has the right to call someone that or tell them that they are. Maybe the only real ugliness is what lives inside some people.

Suet624 Yes indeed. 7y
Lindy @Suet624 😊 7y
AmyG Yep 7y
Lindy @AmyG 👍 7y
60 likes1 stack add4 comments
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HelenFarch
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Disturbing. Heartbreaking. Hopeful.

2 likes1 stack add
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Apinlibraryland
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This book is intense. It‘s almost too intense to keep reading, but I want to make sure the main character ends up Ok. My heart breaks for him.

18 likes1 stack add
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ashleylovesbooks
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So much spine love in this section of books! So gorgeous. #spinelove #coverlove I‘m looking forward to reading The Dangerous Art of Blending In soon, too.

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GerardtheBookworm
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Pickpick

Loosely based on author and designer Angelo Surmelis's life, Greek American Evan attempts to 'blend in' by not displaying any flamboyant or homosexual inklings. This is especially difficult when his religious zealot of a mom abuses him mercilessly and his workaholic father is oblivious to his plight. A moving and emotional YA that represents LGBT youths struggling with their own coming out processes.

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Missusb
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TK421 Lovely pitcher plant! 7y
Missusb Thanks @TK421 it‘s just new to the garden. #greenthumbedhusband 7y
SilversReviews Nice photo. 7y
58 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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LibrarianRyan
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28 likes2 stack adds