Review: Honestly Ben - Bill Konigsberg

Ben Carver is back to normal. He’s getting all As in his classes at the Natick School. He was just elected captain of the baseball team. He’s even won a big scholarship for college, if he can keep up his grades. All that foolishness with Rafe Goldberg last semester is over now, and he just needs to be a Carver, work hard, and stay focused.

Except…

There’s Hannah, a gorgeous girl who attracts him and distracts him. There’s his mother, whose quiet unhappiness he’s noticing for the first time. School is harder, the pressure higher, the scholarship almost slipping away. And there’s Rafe, funny, kind, dating someone else…and maybe the real normal that Ben needs.

"Honestly Ben" by Bill Konigsberg is the sequel to the acclaimed young adult novel "Openly Straight." It follows the story of Ben Carver, a high school student grappling with his sexuality, relationships, and the pressures of adolescence.

After spending a semester at an all-boys boarding school where he pretended to be straight, Ben returns to his co-ed school, hoping to resume a sense of normalcy. He's back on the baseball team, aiming for a college scholarship, and trying to put his confusing feelings for his former roommate, Rafe, behind him.

However, Ben's life is far from simple. He finds himself attracted to Hannah, a girl from a neighboring school, while still harboring unresolved emotions for Rafe, who is now dating someone else. Additionally, Ben's home life becomes strained as he notices his mother's quiet unhappiness.

Amidst these challenges, Ben struggles to define his identity and navigate the complexities of love and relationships. He questions his feelings for both Hannah and Rafe, unsure if he's truly bisexual or simply confused. The pressure to maintain his grades and secure a scholarship adds to his stress, making it difficult to focus on his personal life.

As Ben grapples with these internal conflicts, he also faces external pressures from his peers and society. The expectations of masculinity and heteronormativity weigh heavily on him, making it challenging to be honest about his feelings and desires.

Throughout the novel, Ben embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning to embrace his true self and accept the fluidity of his sexuality. He realizes that labels don't define him, and that love can take many forms.

"Honestly Ben" is a compelling and relatable story that tackles the complexities of teenage life, sexuality, and the search for identity. It's a story about honesty, acceptance, and the courage to be true to oneself.