Speechless and hurting for both young men!

Tw: There are some areas in this book that have dub/con and some definite con/noncon. 

Speechless, and still hurting for for Jonah and Roman, but damn proud of them for getting their own back.

Andi Jaxon shows a very clear spotlight on what life is like for many in the South, where football is KING, and homophobia is served up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, beginning in pre-k.

My heart hurt so badly for Jonah and Roman, even though it is very easy to hate Roman, no matter what he is going through. 

I am thrilled that Jaxon didn't ever make it seem like it eventually would all be ok, that the town would change, because that is not the reality so many in the LGBTQ+ grew up with.

It is very easy to see why a young man like Roman would do everything in his power to keep people from seeing his truth, including some very uncomfortable scenes wherein Roman hurt those he professed to love the most. None of what Roman was dealing with outside football made his behavior ok, and I was glad when Jonah finally held him accountable for his behavior, even forcing him to realize how very wrong his hate generated toward his best friend was.

Jonah's pain throughout this book is immense, and coming at him from all sides. Bullied at school, by Roman, and most of all the hatred spewing forth from his father is gut wrenching to read. It was so sad to see him wrestle with the homophobia coming from his father, and the gospel as he's been taught his whole life pointing toward his eternal damnation.

This frank, honest, painful novel ends in a great way, just not anywhere near what I was expecting. The last minute, hair pin turns from Andi Jaxon kept me on the edge of my seat, and have ensured that Bully King will not be the last book I read from this new to me author. Four stars for this hones look at life from a young gay person in The American South, we can only hope that change is coming.