Stevie‘s review of Trust the Focus (In Focus, Book 1) by Megan Erickson
Gay New Adult Romance published by InterMix 17 Mar 15

I have a certain affection for road trip stories, particularly those in which characters learn about themselves and each other along the way. So on the surface, this post-college story ought to have been exactly my thing. Justin has been in love with his gay best friend Landry for years, but has had multiple reasons not to come out, not even to Landry. I can understand his reasons: his mother is a conservative politician, his father was mostly absent for his teenage years and then died just when Justin most needed a more supportive parent, and the macho world of sports teams gave Justin fulfilment that he couldn’t get from his studies, but also kept him closeted. Now that college and sports are in the past, photography and his inherited Winnebago are the two ways that Justin can still feel close to his father, so he and Landry set off on a post-graduation trip to scatter Justin’s father’s ashes at twelve of his father’s favourite photography locations. So far, so good…

However, I really couldn’t warm to either of the guys, not helped by the fact that the whole story is told from Justin’s point of view, and I think he is the weaker and less interesting character. Sure, he’s also the one with the most development to get through and possibly the most angst (although there are plenty of angst-worthy moments in Landry’s past based on the few he actually tells Justin about). On the other hand, Justin seems to be overly bothered about his mother’s opinions in spite of not agreeing with them and not exactly being short of alternatives. He’s inherited a Winnebago. He obviously has money coming in from somewhere. Landry’s family like Justin, and are untroubled by Landry’s sexuality. I couldn’t sympathise with Justin’s ‘woe is me, I have to go work for Mummy once the summer is over’ attitude when he has so much else going for him. In fact, I really can’t figure out why Landry would put up with him.

Landry’s feelings are never fully explained. He posts in his blog about the road trip and shares the photos that Justin takes along the way with his blog readers; he tells Justin about a few less-than-happy incidents that he’s experienced while Justin has been elsewhere; but we never get to read his point of view. I want to know how he feels about Justin’s brattier outbursts and about the various people – mostly friends of Justin – that they visit on the trip.

A few more details about the locations they stop off at and about how Justin composes the pictures he takes at each wouldn’t have gone amiss either.

All in all, not a great introduction to a new-to-me author and not a series I’ll be following any further.

Grade: C

Summary:

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: