“No glove, no love.” ― Lauren Oliver
Title: Coffee Shops and Condoms
Author: Eden Winters
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages/Word Count: 7600 Words
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Blurb: Two teenaged boys, an unlimited supply of condoms, and too much time on their hands. What could possibly go wrong?
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Review: I consider Eden Winters one of my favorite authors. I love her style of writing and love where her stories take my imagination, so with this in mind, when I first spotted Coffee Shops and Condoms, with its unusual title…well, I just had to give it a read.
After coming out, Dave Preston has been relocated to Asheville, North Carolina. Even though Dave’s family still loves him, they felt it was safer for him to live with his cool Aunt Lisa in a more gay friendly city than to take another chance that he be seriously hurt by the small minded homophobes who lurk in his small, Podunk town. On Dave’s first day of school, he meets Billy Henderson, a computer geek, and quickly these two become best friends.
I really liked Dave and Billy from the moment I first met them in the coffee shop, as Dave is eyeballing “The Basket” of rainbow condoms sitting on the counter. Dave’s thinking is reminiscent of all teens that age who are trying to get their hands on condoms without it being obvious what they’re going to do with them once they get ‘em. What follows after Dave and Billy get the condoms is cute, funny, and rather sweet, especially the part where they’re teaching each other how to put them on. Banana’s anyone?
For a brief story, I connected rather quickly with the characters and even had an angst moment or two. But then again, Eden wrote this. The woman amazes me with how well she writes.
This one receives 4.5 Stars and comes highly recommended for those who love coming of age stories. My only problem with it…as with any short story…is I wanted more!
For me, it’s headed for my reread shelf.
You can buy Coffee Shops and Condoms here:
Eden gives us a message that can’t be repeated enough. Thanks Eden!