Critics' Opinion:
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Published Sep 2015
352 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
From William C. Morris YA Debut Award nominee Carrie Mesrobian, Cut Both Ways is an unflinching look at a high school senior who must come to terms with his attraction to both his girlfriend and his male best friend.
It took Will Caynes seventeen years to have his first kiss. He should be ecstatic…except that it was shared with his best friend, Angus, while they were both drunk and stoned. Will's not gay, but he did sort of enjoy whatever it was he felt with Angus. Unsettled by his growing interest in Angus, Will avoids his friend, and even starts dating a sophomore, Brandy. When he's hooking up with her, he's totally into it, so he must be straight, right? Then why does he secretly keep going back to Angus?
Confusing as Will's feelings are, they're a welcome distraction from his complicated home life. His father has started drinking earlier each day when he should be working on what seem like never-ending house renovations. And his mom - living in a McMansion with her new husband - isn't much help, just buying Will a bunch of stuff he doesn't need. Neither feels like much of a parent - which leaves Will on his own in figuring things out with his girlfriend and best friend. He loves them both, but deciding who to be with will ultimately hurt someone. Himself probably the most.
"Starred Review. In Will's unapologetic voice, Mesrobian's raw, sympathetic coming-of-age story uncovers the messy, painful, yet vitally important, process of self-discovery. A unique, imperative novel." - Booklist
"Starred Review. Pitch perfect, raw, and moving." - Kirkus
"Mesrobian writes about sex - what it feels like, its power to satisfy and confuse-bluntly and effectively." - Publishers Weekly
"Mesrobian once again employs a fearless and honest tone. Her portrayal of bisexuality is thoughtful, and realistic. The respect with which Mesrobian speaks to her teen audience adds weight and validity. A great addition for most libraries, and perfect for older teens looking for nuanced and realistic fiction." - School Library Journal
"Mesrobian's second novel is brutally honest and unsentimental. A rare examination of bisexuality in fiction for teens." - Voice of Youth Advocates
This information about Cut Both Ways was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Carrie Mesrobian teaches writing to teens in Minneapolis, where she lives with her husband and daughter. She has also worked as a teacher in both public and private schools. Her debut novel, Sex & Violence, was named a Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, in addition to being nominated for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award. She has also written another young adult novel, Perfectly Good White Boy.
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