Perfect for lovers of:
- London
- Fast-paced reads
- Whirlwind romances
- Music and jam sessions
As Far as You’ll Take Me was such a quick read that by the time it was over, I felt like I’d lived Marty’s story myself. Stamper writes in an accessible manner that makes the pages fly by without forfeiting humour or in-depth introspection. As you read, Marty’s anxiety about escaping from the clutches of his religious family to follow his dreams of becoming a gig-playing oboist in London without having to hide that he is gay raises the stakes as he falls head-over-heels in love with a guy named Pierce who’s not only known for being a trumpet player but also a player player. From the first moment they meet, we follow Marty as he goes on a wild ride of first love and first heartbreak.
The anxiety representation was top-notch! Marty’s struggles with socialising and playing in front of crowds made me want to give him a hug and protect him from the evil world outside. I also really liked that Marty has his own rules when it comes to anxiety; his fear of playing in front of others is often tied to the crowdedness of places and his inherent fear to be in the way of someone rushing for the train, which I could really relate to. His anxiety was worked seamlessly into the story instead of just being pulled out when it was convenient for the plot, which is a hard thing to master but Stamper definitely hit it out of the park here.
I would have loved a trigger warning for eating disorders because it’s a prevalent topic in this novel and though I think it’s handled quite well, it’s also very graphic and a little warning would have been nice. Nevertheless, it was a really authentic and gripping depiction of how one can so easily slip into eating disorders based on the opinion of others, whether it’s them commenting on your weight or your anxiety driving doubts about your appearance up a notch until you can’t ignore it.
Something I also really liked was the discussion of family vs. found family and church within this story. Initially, Marty escapes his family’s clutches by moving to London to live with his cousin Shane to get away from his parents who aren’t really okay with him being gay. But as the story unfolds, we get glimpses at how Marty arrived at this decision of leaving by referring to a school project that encompasses diary entries from Marty’s last visit to London and Pride. Back in London now, he begins to understand how caged in he was and finds people who accept him and are like-minded and eventually, realises that his parents weren’t the only ones to have power over him – so did his best friend. I also loved that the resolution wasn’t immediately over and done with and instead more of a process of reintegrating into his family and accepting that some friends are not right for you. It was a great portrayal of the struggles of growing up.
The one very minor issue I had with this book was also the same one I had with Stamper’s debut The Gravity of Us and that’s the insta-love. Now, I know that within this book, the insta-love had its reasons because it basically engendered a tour de force that overwhelms Marty and throws him into this out-of-body exploration of everything he could never do back in Kentucky. I think instant attraction is a real thing, but if two characters meet and one of them immediately starts talking about love and being emotionally invested, I’m going to have a hard time suspending my disbelief. Evidently, I know that this is a story about falling in love with the wrong boy, but there was also a lot of tell rather than show that rendered this toxic relationship frustrating. It’s a huge gamble Stamper takes with this story and the deterioration that Marty experiences, but it’s one that pays off in the end, yet getting there is a struggle at times.
With fast-paced travels and even faster friends, Stamper’s sophomore novel As Far As You’ll Take Me is a tour de force of venturing out on your own, first love and heartbreak, and learning to believe in yourself even when the going gets tough.
As Far As You’ll Take Me is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 9th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The author of The Gravity of Us crafts another heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding the people who become your home–perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli
Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he’s excited to start his new life–where he’s no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents’ disapproval.
From the outside, Marty’s life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he’s made new friends, he’s getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he’s even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can’t keep up the facade. He hasn’t spoken to his parents since he arrived, he’s tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn’t even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?
