#Review: JERKBAIT by Mia Siegert

JERKBAIT

Author: Mia Siegert
Source: Purchased from Chapters
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Publication Date: May 10, 2016
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary:
Even though they're identical, Tristan isn't close to his twin Robbie at all—until Robbie tries to kill himself.

Forced to share a room to prevent Robbie from hurting himself, the brothers begin to feel the weight of each other's lives on the ice, and off. Tristan starts seeing his twin not as a hockey star whose shadow Tristan can't escape, but a struggling gay teen terrified about coming out in the professional sports world. Robbie's future in the NHL is plagued by anxiety and the mounting pressure from their dad, coach, and scouts, while Tristan desperately fights to create his own future, not as a hockey player but a musical theatre performer.

As their season progresses and friends turn out to be enemies, Robbie finds solace in an online stranger known only as “Jimmy2416.” Between keeping Robbie's secret and saving him from taking his life, Tristan is given the final call: sacrifice his dream for a brother he barely knows, or pursue his own path. How far is Robbie willing to go—and more importantly, how far is Tristan willing to go to help him?

Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD

One of the best things about Jerkbait was that while it was dark and raw, it was also hopeful and witty -- oh, and super gay! I really enjoyed the look at how young sports athletes feel pressure to be The Best™ and To Succeed™. I also really liked that Tristan was trying to figure out his own shit while also helping Robbie deal with his. I loved how family dynamics were shown in this one.

I loved the writing style. It was so easy to be in Tristan's head and understand his thoughts -- and also why he couldn't quite understand what Robbie was going through. I feel like it was really well done. I also really enjoyed that we were in Tristan's head because I have read a lot of books being in the head of the closeted person who wants to come out but can't and, because we got to see Robbie from the outside, it allowed us to see him as a person before seeing him as his sexuality.

I have like nothing but praise for this one, tbh. I really enjoyed reading it and I would recommend it to everyone. The only thing I was meh about was the twin telepathy because I thought it was a bit hokey. But it wasn't enough to really take away from my reading, especially since this happened really only at the end.

Pick this one up folks! I really enjoyed it and think everyone will as well.