Saints of Augustine (Halloween week)

Prompt: Prompt: List at least two problems the characters faced? Which was the most life changing?
Pages read: All (in one night, three hundred pages, four hours; savage.)  Though I can't remember the character's names...

This book closely resembles Will Grayson, Will Grayson with its alternating narrators and LGBTQ theme.  The main difference is that this novel is way more realistic and better written.  This book is basically just about the two struggles of the almost legal adults, and takes place in a relatively short-amount of time.  Therefore, it is hard to say which character's problem was the most life-changing, as the problem is their lives'.

Sam Findley (the more interesting of the two, and a journalist) ~
His story so far (and the additional basic information): The oldest sibling who has a very impressionable younger sister.  His mother and father are divorced (technically, separated) because of his father's discovery of his sexuality.  This is where the conflict comes into play, because Sam realizes that he is in fact, gay like his father.  While this predicament is hard enough already, Sam's mother has a boyfriend who is extremely homophobic and in Sam's words, "a pig".  Then (in this very troubling time), Sam meets a charming man named Justin.  Out and proud, Justin is like a breath of fresh air to Sam.  Although through Sam's growing feelings toward Justin, we learn of his doubts as well.  Sam wishes to be as confident and clever as Justin, but is afraid of the repercussions.

Charlie Perrin (complex with a simple exterior) ~
His story so far (and the additional basic information):  Your typical high school jock on the outside, your average high school loner on the inside.  Charlie plays on the basketball team, with a group of guys who don't accept sensitivity.  This leads Charlie into trouble after the death of his mom and the falling into despair of his dad.  As an escape, the basketball player turns to pot, leading him into debt and eventual confrontation of all of his problems.  He becomes very lonely with no one to turn to.  Eventually, it takes the reuniting of two former best friends to set their paths straight (well..)

How they converge:  Both come to a consequent breaking down, and they meet in a challenging time for both of them.   By challenging, I mean one was running away from an interrupted make-out session and the other was discovering his car had been smashed by his dealer.  This leads to the powerful, if a bit cliché "troubled boys talking about their feelings" conclusion.  Well actually, the real conclusion is frustrating because I ship Same and Justin so much but then the author thought he was damn clever by putting in a cliff hanger.  Never to be resolved.. To summarize, Charlie Perrin and Sam Findley end up helping each other and reaffirming their friendship.