The Dangerous Art of Blending In

Angelo Surmelis

Jan 2018 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

~Lambda Literary Award finalist for the best LGBT YA novel of 2018~

A raw, powerful, but ultimately uplifting debut novel perfect for fans of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe from debut author Angelo Surmelis.

Seventeen-year-old Evan Panos doesn’t know where he fits in. His strict immigrant Greek mother refuses to see him as anything but a disappointment. His quiet, workaholic father is a staunch believer in avoiding any kind of conflict. And his best friend, Henry, has somehow become distractingly attractive over the summer.

Tired, isolated, scared—Evan finds that his only escape is to draw in an abandoned monastery that feels as lonely as he is. And yes, he kissed one guy over the summer. But it’s Henry who’s now proving to be irresistible. Henry, who suddenly seems interested in being more than friends. And it’s Henry who makes him believe that he deserves more than his mother’s harsh words and terrifying abuse.

But as things with Henry heat up, and his mother’s abuse escalates, Evan has to decide how to find his voice in a world where he has survived so long by being silent.

This is a powerful and revelatory coming-of-age novel based on the author’s own childhood, about a boy who learns to step into his light.

Ratings and reviews

A heartbreaking, but yet beautiful story of Evan, a young man and son of Greek immigrants, trying to find his place as he grapples with being gay. Evan's life at home is far from easy--his mother is abusive and doesn't believe in his dreams, his father is passive toward his mother's behavior. His life at school becomes harder as suspicions arise regarding his sexuality and that of his friend. His safe place is an abandoned monastery and his greatest secrets are in his notebooks. His fear of being outed as gay becomes his saving grace when it happens--it sets him free to move on, love and accept himself, and pursue his dreams.

It's hard to read other romance novels after this because they dont bring the depth that this novel does.

so much heartbreak in this one. it really tugged on my heart strings.

About the author

Angelo Surmelis was raised in Greece until he immigrated to Illinois at the age of five. He currently lives in Los Angeles. An award-winning designer, Surmelis has been featured on over fifty television shows, including the Today show and Extra, as well as in magazines such as InStyle, TV Guide, and Entertainment Weekly. He has worked as a host on networks like HGTV and TLC. He can be found online at www.angelohome.com.