Book Review – By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery + Dream Cast + Giveaway – FFBC Tours

By Any Means Necessary is a young adult contemporary (LGBT) novel written by Candice Montgomery. The book is set to be published on October 8, 2019.

I want to thank the publisher and FFBC Tours for generously providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

An honest reflection on cultural identify, class, and gentrification. Fans of Nic Stone and Elizabeth Acevedo will eagerly anticipate Torrey.

On the day Torrey officially becomes a college freshman, he gets a call that might force him to drop out before he’s even made it through orientation: the bee farm his beloved uncle Miles left him after his tragic death is being foreclosed on.

Torrey would love nothing more than to leave behind the family and neighborhood that’s bleeding him dry. But he still feels compelled to care for the project of his uncle’s heart. As the farm heads for auction, Torrey precariously balances choosing a major and texting Gabriel—the first boy he ever kissed—with the fight to stop his uncle’s legacy from being demolished. But as notice letters pile up and lawyers appear at his dorm, dividing himself between family and future becomes impossible unless he sacrifices a part of himself.

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Author: Candice Montgomery
Publisher: Page Street
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Book Length: 320 pages
Genre: YA Contemporary (LGBT)

Review

By Any Means Necessary is a young adult contemporary novel (LGBT) written by Candice Montgomery. Published by Page Street, the book was released on October 8, 2019. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Torrey McKenzie is a young, black, and gay college freshman. As he settles into his San Francisco State University (SFSU) dorm, he receives troubling news about the beloved apiary he inherited. Taxes were not paid while the business was handled by his grandfather, and he has two months before the business, which is in his hometown of Los Angeles, is seized. He can’t lose this apiary. It is the only good thing he has in his life, and he uses its profits to pay for the facility his mother resides in.

As Torrey is now eighteen, he can legally act without permission. His struggle is how to address the problem at the apiary while attending SFSU. He can’t return to Los Angeles because he must attend his classes. In the midst of the chaos, Torrey reconnects with a former love interest. Armed with an eccentric roommate and good friends, he attempts to save the apiary and succeed at school without having to sacrifice a part of himself.

This book immediately grabbed my attention because the narrator, the main character, has a unique voice filled with humor. I found myself rooting for him early in the story. While Torrey faces many challenges to the point where he feels overwhelmed, he doesn’t give up. His passion is commendable. The secondary characters in this story all play important roles in Torrey’s development. His roommate, Desh, and his other four friends, a group anagrammed CAKE, are individuals who challenge him as much as they support him.

The chemistry between Torrey and Gabe is off the chart. They have an interesting relationship, as they are very different. The attraction is undeniably present, which makes this book a real page turner.

Throughout the story, humor is used to point out some harsh truths about our society. This book reflects on cultural identity, class, and gentrification. Homophobia is depicted in a way that is utterly heartbreaking. As a warning, the story contains some triggers with verbal abuse, racism, and homophobia.

This story hits all the right spots: social issues, love, friendship, and family. The writing is engaging, witty, casual, and on-point. I believe this book deserves a five-star rating. I highly recommend it.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About Candice Montgomery

Candice “Cam” Montgomery is an LA transplant now living in the woods of Seattle, where she writes Young Adult novels. Her debut novel, HOME AND AWAY can be found online and in stores now, and her sophomore novel, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY will be released October of 2019. By day, Cam writes about Black teens across all their intersections.

By night, she bartends at a tiny place nestled inside one of Washington’s greenest trees. She is an avid Studio Ghibli fan and will make you watch at least one episode of Sailor Moon and listen to one Beyoncé record before she’ll call you “friend.”

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