Review: Without Chance by Christopher Bailey

Without Chance
by Christopher Bailey
Published by Phase Publishing
Ebook (received from author, thank you!)
YA, LGBT, contemporary

Ryan had lost everything. His mother recently died of cancer, and his father had completely shut down after her death. His father even dragged him away from the city he'd grown up in, forcing him to leave all of his friends to move to a tiny, backwater town called Turnbridge, hundreds of miles from anything remotely interesting. Even the school's social scene seemed to revolve around activities and sermons at the local church. Then he met Chance. Chance was quiet and friendly, and was an extreme social outcast due to his sexual orientation. He was also obsessed with an unsolved murder that had taken place two years previously. Everyone was convinced it was a suicide. Everyone except Chance, who believed the victim had been targeted due to his homosexuality. Ryan didn't believe him until the accidents started, all seeming to focus around Chance. With the local culture so hostile toward the gay population, there were too many suspects and not nearly enough time as they tried to stop a killer who hunted in the name of God.

Without Chance is a story about fourteen-year-old Ryan who just moved with his dad in a small town where he doesn't quite feel he fits after living in a big city. I don't usually read about characters this young but I have to say that I was positively surprised since Bailey managed to capture the voice of fourteen-year-old boy without him being whiny or uninteresting. In fact, despite his age Ryan was intelligent and he questioned the things most adult didn't even think about.

 

Bailey certainly broke the unsaid rule of young adult books - or at least that is almost in every other YA stories - since Ryan had a good relationship with his father and they actually spoke about things. Ryan told what happened in his life and what he though about things and his father listened to him and didn't dismiss him as being a teenager. I liked that aspect on the story, especially since Ryan's father was truly present in Ryan's life and involved a lot. It felt realistic and refreshing. Besides that relationship, Bailey succeeded with his characters. Ryan was easy to identify as he experienced a lot of new things after moving in a new town, and he was generally really nice person who stood up for the things he believed in. Chance was also a big part of the story and I totally fell in love with him; Chance was adorable, lovable and I just wanted to hug him and tell everything's going to be okay. Besides Ryan, Chance and Ryan's father there was lots of intriguing supporting characters and especially Katie is worth to mention. She was witty and funny and I loved the dynamic between her and Ryan. I do hope there would have been more moments between them.

 

Without Chance was full of mysteries and it had a plot twist I couldn't even imagine and it was truly heart breaking, in fact, I could almost hear my heart shattering into tiny pieces when I reached the end. It was truly painful but at the same time it made so much sense and I can't help but love this book even though it broke my heart and made me sob. Without Chance is truly exceptional story with heartfelt characters, interesting plot and life lessons that everyone should learn. I highly recommend this one to everyone. It's an experience you just have to have!

 

5 of 5 stars.

 

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Thank you, Christopher Bailey, for giving me a chance to read and review Without Chance!

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)