Theoretically Straight

Theoretically Straight, Book 1

By: Amy Bailey, Alexander C. Eberhart

Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin, Jacob Bell

Theo Briggs is a rule follower.

He's a decent student in his junior year, an appeasing son, and a lifelong Christian, just trying to make it through high school unscathed… and maybe create a viral video in the process.

Caleb Raynard is a romantic. One of the few out-and-proud kids at Specter High School, Caleb's dating life has been hellish, to say the least—fraught with misread social cues and embarrassing situations—and Caleb is about ready to call the whole thing off.

When Theo and Caleb meet in the basement of an old Catholic church that's rumored to be haunted, an instant and electric connection forms between them. The more time Theo spends around Caleb, the more he suspects that something may have followed him home from that haunted church. But was it a ghost… or something else entirely? It can't be a crush. Theo is straight, right?

As Theo and Caleb find themselves drawn together at every opportunity, the two must overcome their own hesitations and decide if the feelings they have for one another are stronger than the obstacles set in their way.

©2023 Alexander C Eberhart and Amy Bailey (P)2024 Podium Audio

I wasn’t expecting this to be as enjoyable as it was

I have to admit that I didn’t have super high expectations. But I was pleasantly surprised. Was a very sweet funny story

Theoretically straight

If you guys are looking for for a play twist love , who supports each other through their is and down this is for you , being able to be there selves was the best part . Realizing that just because you like the opposite sex does not make you less of a Christian

Omg

SO GOOD WHY FIDNT I READ THIS SOONER I WABT MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Might read it again

I enjoyed this!

I can’t recommend it enough! The narrators, Mark Sanderlin and Jacob Bell, did a fantastic job of bringing the characters of Theo and Caleb to life. Their performances really enhanced the emotional depth of the story.

Theo’s character growth throughout the book is truly impressive. Watching him navigate his identity and feelings is both relatable and inspiring. The romance between Theo and Caleb is adorably cute, filled with sweet moments that made me smile. Their chemistry is palpable, and you can’t help but root for them.

I’m left eagerly anticipating the next installment! If you’re looking for a heartfelt coming-of-age story with strong character development and a delightful romance, this is the book for you.

Amazing

This was so amazing I can’t even process how much I love this book as a bisexual and finding this just makes me feel accepted and I just can’t express how much I love this book.

Cute Story

This is a cute and heartfelt coming of age story about two young boys who fall in love.

Surprisingly Good, Surprisingly Bad

First, the good: Theo is a really well-written character who is going through a lot in a short amount of time. He is written with surprising depth and complexity. His anxiety and panic attacks are explored and depicted with an accuracy that made this reader (who deals with the same thing) feel them deeply. The story as a whole was just the right amount of feel-good teen romance and fun, mixed with an exploration of the very real struggles that LGBT+ Christians are often faced with when contemplating coming out. The story is tied up with a cute HEA bow that makes the whole book an easy, sweet, and entertaining listen.

The bad: I wish Caleb was written with more... Just more. They're wasn't a lot to him. I wish we got to know him and what's going on inside his head with the same intimacy that we got to know Theo. Caleb was just too one-dimensional. This was Theo's book, Caleb was just along for the ride. Interestingly though, the narrator for Caleb (Mark Sanderlin I believe) was very good! He made the most of the lackluster material and kept me listening. I wish he'd been given more to work with. The narrator for Theo (Jake Bell I believe) was not good. His pacing and pauses were incredibly clumsy and there wasn't much effort to differentiate the different character's voices. He had the better material to work with, and did a poor job with it. After the first few chapters, I was seriously considering giving up and returning the book because it was so tedious listening to him. But Theo's story, and Sanderlin's narration kept me going. I eventually got used to Bell's narration and was able to happily enjoy and finish the book.

Overall, it felt like a new author's first attempt at writing, but it was enjoyable and fluffy and I'm glad I stuck with it.