Rating: 
Summary: Well-Written
Review: This is as good and entertaining a book as I've read in quite a while. It has the warmth of Through The Ruins by Stephen Hart and the fun of Hunk House by Ben Tyler. While there are some areas where the novel gets washed out and inaccurate, you still love the characters and need to keep reading.
Rating:
Summary: A Utopian dream.
Review: This is not a perfect book. However, it is a book of a certain idealism which defies anybody to not wish for its world for just a moment, for a day, for a lifetime. This story of a young surfing boy coming to terms with the world around him and the world inside him, is built upon a certain Utopian world, where not a single character is totally without heart, or without a certain primal and primitive goodness. Where a 12 year old will tell an 18 year old that he needs to start trusting people more; where a fighter pilot and a high school senior love each other so much, they're willing to cut off all ties, suffer through divorce and child custody battles, willing to stow away on bomber planes just to spend an extra two days together, and through it all, get to happiness that only few may know. A world where a family of two gay men, a straight son, a gay nephew and a stray poor boy is happier than most conventional families are. Formulaic and often suffering from too many metaphors and straight-up lessons, this novel nevertheless pushes boundaries of what we're all willing to believe can happen and what so many of us wish would happen. In a world where even a glorified rapist can have tenderness, where your straight crush from high school can turn around and fall in love with you, where your father will support you through all of your falls, and where strangers are kind and those that are not are almost harmless, the characters of this lovely novel teach the readers that yes, good things can happen, even through all the fears and dangers that life has to offer. Set against the backdrop of one of the most conservative parts of this country - the South - with the contrast of the most freeing things a person can do - surfing, the novel juxtaposes the right and the wrong, the need and the will, and love and lust. As Matt, the main character, moves through his turbulent year - and even more turbulent memories of years previous - the reader gets sucked into this mind and his world, feeling that, as the end approaches, this world is the one that is the dream of almost every queer and even straight person out there. Though sometimes awkward, the style still flows beautifully and the frank and lively tone of the main character carries the story with dignity and life.
Rating:
Summary: A Utopian dream.
Review: This is not a perfect book. However, it is a book of a certain idealism which defies anybody to not wish for its world for just a moment, for a day, for a lifetime. This story of a young surfing boy coming to terms with the world around him and the world inside him, is built upon a certain Utopian world, where not a single character is totally without heart, or without a certain primal and primitive goodness. Where a 12 year old will tell an 18 year old that he needs to start trusting people more; where a fighter pilot and a high school senior love each other so much, they're willing to cut off all ties, suffer through divorce and child custody battles, willing to stow away on bomber planes just to spend an extra two days together, and through it all, get to happiness that only few may know. A world where a family of two gay men, a straight son, a gay nephew and a stray poor boy is happier than most conventional families are. Formulaic and often suffering from too many metaphors and straight-up lessons, this novel nevertheless pushes boundaries of what we're all willing to believe can happen and what so many of us wish would happen. In a world where even a glorified rapist can have tenderness, where your straight crush from high school can turn around and fall in love with you, where your father will support you through all of your falls, and where strangers are kind and those that are not are almost harmless, the characters of this lovely novel teach the readers that yes, good things can happen, even through all the fears and dangers that life has to offer. Set against the backdrop of one of the most conservative parts of this country - the South - with the contrast of the most freeing things a person can do - surfing, the novel juxtaposes the right and the wrong, the need and the will, and love and lust. As Matt, the main character, moves through his turbulent year - and even more turbulent memories of years previous - the reader gets sucked into this mind and his world, feeling that, as the end approaches, this world is the one that is the dream of almost every queer and even straight person out there. Though sometimes awkward, the style still flows beautifully and the frank and lively tone of the main character carries the story with dignity and life.
Rating: 
Summary: Sweet, romantic coming of age story!
Review: This is one of the best feel good coming of age stories I ever did read!
Don't miss out!
Rating:
Summary: Why not dive into this heartwarming story?
Review: This is truly a wonderful book. I could rant and rave and spend ages trying to describe how good this made me feel inside. The romance was there, the sweet engaging family dynamics, and positive image of gay men. I was left smiling as I turned the last page. What better way could you end a book?
Rating:
Summary: Realistic and memorable characters
Review: This novel stuck with me far longer than most, and made me shiver with recognition when I was reading it. Jay Quinn crafts characters with great skill and gives us people we can care about. The dialogue is stunning and rings true. For me, the occasional sex scene is entirely appropriate given the fact that the protagonist spends a lot of the time feeling horny. (This is one of the things that made the novel work for me. Maybe some readers are never horny, or have forgotten what it's like, but for some of us it's a pretty big issue! I totally understand how Matt is feeling in those sections.) I don't think the protagonist had it too easy. In my experience, it's realistic to have parents who both care about you AND give you a guilt trip over being gay. It's true that Matt deals with it in a self-assured way, but I view that as an admirable character trait. Even though I don't have a lot of time for reading, I definitely expect to re-read this novel down the road.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Every Penny
Review: This was a great read. I've never been to the south but after reading this book I feel like I have. Jay Quinn is a gifted author who's characters are unforgettable. The range of emotion and experience captured in this book is awesome. I found myself being caught up in Matt's life and feeling the struggles he faced in such depth. I really felt as though I had a special front row seat all the way through this book. It's a great read for anyone who really enjoys a good coming of age story.
Rating:
Summary: NICE STORY
Review: This was a very pleasant coming-out story. I got lost a few times because of the flashback style, and I was lost as well with reasons for behavior, but I loved the story, the background and the escape it offered me. Maybe I'll take a walk to the beach. . . I am a writer, too, and just finished my second book, "Camping in the Backyard: Going Forward," and I don't have much time to spend reading other author's stuff. However, I'm glad I picked up this book and spent a few hours being transported to another world. I loved spending time with Tiger and the rest. Thanks, Jay.
Rating:
Summary: Touching account of young gay love
Review: This was a very readable and memorable account of a young man coming to terms with his sexuality but with the love and support of family that is so often missing.How great it would be to have a member of your own family who models the compassion and patience that living is a gay man requires in this day and age. This is a great gift book for anyone (especially young guys) who is either thinking about coming out or is just beginning to understand who they are. A page turner with both a heart and a great sense of humor.
Rating:
Summary: A Finely Written Novel of the South, the Sea, and Love
Review: Though METES AND BOUNDS has been out for a year now, gathering awards and mixed reviews, I finally took it from the shelf and didn't put it down until it was finished. It's that good. I'm not sure why some readers find no substance here: Jay Quinn knows how to delineate three dimensional characters, how to tell a story with a North Carolina vocabulary and drawl without making it get in the way of the readers eye on the story, understands the ambiguities of coming of age and coming out sexually, and writes some of the most sensuous erotic scenes that are on a par with the best writers of gay fiction. No need for apology about the latter: in a time when many writers skirt the passions of life in favor of the penchants of self-loathing and pity, it is refreshing to read a writer who can celebrate the sensations of sexuality with the skill of Jay Quinn. This is a 'first novel' (though not a first writing venture) and some of the freshness of that station include a bit of overindulgence in side issues. There is much talk about the ins and outs of surfing that will possibly alienate the non-surfing crowd, but as with any good writing if you pay attention to the writer's descriptions of the technicalities of the sport, you may just learn something new. In the end this little novel has much to say about the importance of extended family. The beauty of the relationship of the men gathered under one roof as a union bonded by outside world rejection is very tender and inspiring. Would that more minds picked up on this 'global family unit' idea! Not only has Quinn written a fine novel, he has sent up a banner for self-acceptance and more - the acceptance of every variation of individual in our tense world.
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