An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys by Rob Costello is a Spring Into Books Festival pick #yalit #teengayfiction #yagayfiction #gayfiction #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Title: An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys
Author: Rob Costello
Genre: Young adult gay fiction
Book Blurb:
Self-styled “beautiful boy” Toby Ryerson dreams in stardust but lives in the dirt. Haunted by the specter of his mom’s overdose, he itches for a life of fun and fabulosity far from his backwoods Adirondack town. Toby knows his older brother Jimmy didn’t sacrifice everything to raise him so he could waste his life on men and partying like Mom did. But why can’t Jimmy see that he is their mother’s son? When Toby outs the boy who broke his heart in a fit of rage, the web of lies he’s spun to manage Jimmy’s expectations quickly unravels. A brutal beating leads to a campaign of cyberbullying, culminating in even greater disaster.
Enter Gabe, a sexy stranger from Mom’s past who seduces Toby with the keys to the Big Apple. But when Toby’s dreams of a fabulous life in the city quickly turn into a nightmare, will Jimmy's love be enough to save him, or will he end up just like Mom? An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys is a gritty and harrowing queer coming-of-age novel as well as a love story between two mismatched brothers coping with the burden of secrets and a legacy of shame.
Excerpt:
Gabe Fournier hovered over me in the Mini Mart bathroom, using a dampened wad of toilet paper to scrub away the streaks of dirt and blood from my face. He’d hooked his sunglasses on the collar of his wife-beater, and in the unforgiving fluorescent glare, I could see that his stormy blue eyes were puffy, tired, and rimmed in red. He looked as if he’d just come off a weekend bender, and despite the half-grin nudging the corner of his mouth, he gave off the impression of a dude who lugged sadness around on his shoulders like a mountain that would someday bury him. He reminded me an awful lot of Jimmy.
As he hunted through the dregs of Abe’s first-aid kit to find an alcohol swab that hadn’t dried out, I took the opportunity to reassemble what little armor I had left.
“So, you’ve rescued your damsel in distress for today,” I said.
“Achievement unlocked. I can take care of the rest from here.”
I tried to pull away as Gabe started to attack the last smear of filth on my cheek.
“Hold still,” he commanded, pincering my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“I’ll be fine.” I jerked my chin loose and flashed him my patented I-have-already-risen-high-above-this-bullshit grin. Then, I turned to the mirror to inspect the damage. It wasn’t pretty. The skin on my forehead looked shaved raw by a cheese grater. A nasty, weeping gash ran the length of my eyebrow, while the thin trails of black eyeliner I’d applied that morning had run into dark smears. My stomach and ribs still throbbed, and the cut in my lower lip had swelled into an Atomic Fireball.
Mom, your lovely coral camisole was bloodied and torn, but it would take more than a few love taps from Dylan Falcone to permanently mar my America’s-Next-Top-Model fabulosity. “As God is my witness, I shall be lovely again,” I said, shaking my fist in my best Scarlett O’Hara.
This drew a genuine smile to Gabe’s lips. “You’re tougher than you look.” He pasted the only good Band-Aid left in the first aid kit across the gash above my eyebrow.
“Don’t let my gorgeous face and killer fashion sense fool you. Nobody takes a hit around here better than me.”
“Why is that?” he said and tossed the bloody wad of toilet paper into the toilet behind us.
“Practice makes perfect.” I yanked up the spaghetti strap of your camisole back over my shoulder. “You like my look? I call it Guantanamo Queer.”
“I’d like it a hell of a lot better without the cuts and bruises. Does it hurt anyplace else?”
“Just my pride.”
“How about your ribs? That little prick got in a couple of good kicks.”
“They’re fine,” I lied and forced myself to straighten my posture without wincing.
He scowled. “You should have a doctor check you out.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Okay, okay.” Gabe threw up his hands. “So, what the hell was that all about anyway?”
“I’d rather not bore you with tawdry details.”
“Why not? The only thing I’ve got planned today is to sit by the lake and drink beer. Besides, I’d like to get my story straight for when the cops haul my ass away for assault with a deadly squeegee.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What’s your favorite thing about springtime?
Springtime is a time of opportunity, shrugging off the lethargy of wintertime.
Why is your featured book a must-read this spring?
Toby, the main character in my book is ambitious and eager to leave a small town to find himself in the city. In April, New Yorkers leave their cramped apartments and cubicles and enjoy the sun of the various parks and squares. I’d like to think Toby could use such a moment, too.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs April 1 – 30, 2025
Drawing will be held on May 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Rob Costello (he/him) is an author, teacher, book coach, & anthologist who writes dark fiction with a queer bent for & about young people.
Social Media Links:
Linktree https://linktr.ee/cloudbusterpress