ARC REVIEW : Starting from Scratch (Housemates #5) by Jay Northcote

 

Starting over isn’t easy, but Ben is ready to live his life as the man he was always meant to be.

Ben is transgender and back at university after hormone treatment and chest surgery. His new housemates have no idea about his history and Ben would prefer to keep it that way. He’s starting from scratch and his life is finally on track, except in the romance department. The idea of dating guys as a guy is exhilarating but terrifying, because if Ben wants a boyfriend he’ll have to disclose his secret.

Sid is drawn to Ben from the moment they meet. He normally gets what he wants—in the short term at least. Ben’s guarded at first, and Sid’s not used to guys rejecting his advances. He eventually charms his way through Ben’s defences and helps Ben on his journey of sexual awakening.

It doesn’t matter to Sid that Ben is trans. He’s attracted to the whole person, and isn’t worried about what is—or isn’t—in Ben’s pants. They’re good together, and both of them are falling hard and fast, but Ben’s insecurities keep getting in the way. If Sid can convince Ben he's committed, will Ben finally be able to put his heart on the line?

Although this book is part of the Housemates series, it has new main characters, a satisfying happy ending, and can be read as a standalone.
Length: 57,000 words approx.

Starting from Scratch by Jay Northcote
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I know this book means a lot to Jay Northcote, as a coming out shout out to the world.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Ben and Sid. As for Sid, he's s got all my respect for 'accepting', while so many people still struggling out there.

And I admired Ben's courage for coming out to Sid and the whole world about his gender, finally. I have a transgender relative close to my heart that still struggling to come out, so I really know how hard this is for all the transgender people to 'face' the world.

Telling your story would help a lot. Tell people, tell your family, don't try to kill yourself, because you are beautiful as you are, don't let people destroy your dreams to be what you really are.
This is a coming out story, but the story about Sid and Ben really touched my heart, and this is special to me too, Jay.
Read the book, read Ben's story, and you'll understand the real struggle being a transgender.
This book is an eye opener. Well done.


* I was given the ARC by the author for an honest and unbiased review.*

View all my reviews


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

   

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.