Paint

College is such a drag!

How do you navigate your life when you can finally make your own decisions?

As Tucker Peterson moves away from home for the first time to attend college in Orlando, this is a question he must ask himself. He still hasn’t told his family he’s gay, he has no idea what he wants to do with his life, and now that he can do whatever he wants, he hasn’t the slightest clue what should come next.

Tucker, with the help of his new assertive friend Kiara, must learn to balance his newfound freedom with school and a job, and if he meets a cute boy on the way, then that’s just an added bonus. Paint is a story of self-discovery, of queerness outside the family-friendly safety net of a high school drama, and of drag queens when you need them the most.

If you grew up enjoying coming of age stories like Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and John Green’s Looking For Alaska, then you will enjoy the similar themes expressed through a more adult and queer lens in Paint.

Paint feels organic in its imperfection, particularly with the evolution of Tucker, who shifts from a self-centered and hesitant guy, to a more accepting and more accepted, confident person. Colin Brooks keenly captures a vulnerable period in the life of any young adult, but especially for a gay teen deciding the very direction of his future. Chock full jean shorts and sparkly drag queens, Paint speaks to the hearts of anyone looking for a sense of belonging.

IndiesToday.com

★★★★★
This book is a wonderful reminder to be your authentic self and to embrace the freedom to express yourself as you want, all while following your heart. A beautiful story… well done!

Amazon review

★★★★★
This was such a nice read. I loved getting to know the world through Tuck’s eyes, and seeing how not only he, but everyone around him grew.

goodreads review