KAYLAMy infatuation with Ezra Johnson started how all obsessions begin—with a simple crush. Over the years I silently soaked up every shy smile and random act of kindness, wrestling them away to a secret place in my heart meant for unrequited love.Because if it wasn’t for the fact that I tutor him once a week, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even know I exist.Then I find his sketchbook.And it changes … sketchbook.
And it changes everything.
EZRA
There are two certainties in my life: I’ve been in love with Kayla Reynolds since I was fourteen, and I can’t have her.
I’ve spent years settling for a two-dimensional fantasy world, capturing her beauty with a pencil and paper. She’s kind, smart, gorgeous…
And she belongs to someone else.
Or so I thought.
An interesting turn of events makes me realize things aren’t always how they appear on the outside, and now I’ve got my chance to be the man she deserves.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been called a loser. The cripple. An outcast.
But maybe—just maybe—this time the good guy won’t finish last.
Although OUTCAST is the fourth book in the Good Guys series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone.
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My favorite type of romance is the unexpected, where love isn’t straight forward and easy. A book full of billionaires and success and the girl who snags it all, tanned six-pack included, I won’t gravitate to without a reason.
I love to read people who are different in this world chockfull of different, more than same. Isn’t that how it is?
In Schlosser’s “Outcast” I got to be a part of the struggles of a couple who, separately and together, experienced and overcame real issues. I got a gorgeous portrayal of an animal, to the point of me wanting him in my family! Their road toward their happily-ever-after made me tear up.
I highly recommend this GOOD GUYS book in a book sphere where we get enough bad boys. I do love and write a few flawed ones myself, but damn, it’s nice to be hugged by a good guy for once.
Lastly: there are plenty of subtle messages in this book that I want you to look out for. They’re rare and stunning without being intrusive:
—The little man isn’t little.
—The outcast is anything but.
—Kindness pays off.
—Don’t walk past outstretched hands on street corners like they’re nothing!
Enjoy, friends. I sure did.
I loved this book so much! Ezra is book boyfriend material – and OUTCAST is now one of my favorite reads of 2018!
Enthralling
I can’t get enough of these Good Guys! Shy Ezra has had a crush on the beautiful Kayla since the day he saw her. Their love story was so emotional! This book had it all, sometimes heart-pounding, sometimes heart-melting, but always engaging!
I’ve only read a handful of YA/NA romances before but none of them hit on so many RL issues like this one did. Adult romances are usually pretty much fantasy to be honest. But this YA story put me right back in the boiling caldron of high school and college dynamics—the group mentality and peer pressure, as well as the idealism and hopefulness, and the confusion of trying to process it all while searching for your place and purpose in the midst of it.
Yikes. This was a lot to include in just one book but it does illustrate how bombarded young people are with issues of conscience. There’s tons of content in here—personal experiences like shaming, bullying, and hazing—but also broader social issues like homelessness, adoption, diversity, disabilities, LGBTQ issues, and the role that art can/should play in society. But overarching all of that is the theme of self acceptance and personal authenticity. This book could have been expanded into a whole series for this couple alone.
Why there was so much incorporated into this one book is still a mystery to me—but I was good with it. The big picture is impressive but at the same time, the romance should not be forgotten in all of this. With each other Ezra and Kayla can take on the world and there’s a lesson in that. We can make the world better one person at a time.
This book will stick with me for a while. The connection between the characters is so strong and the topics so relevant that it can’t be brushed aside as soon as you pick up your next book. It’s good thoughtful reading for those who like some substance with their happy endings.
I really loved their story. What a sweet romance! Great book.
How have I not heard of this book before? I absolutely adored this book, the love, the characters. I saw this book was on sale, and it caught my attention, went to get it, already had it. Sweet, decided to start it when I couldn’t sleep, well that was good and bad. I was hooked from the beginning.
This story has Ezra and Kayla meeting in high school at the beginning and then it’s fast forwarded to the end of senior year. Now, typically I’m not always so “invested” when the couple is that young. I don’t know what it is about these two that just stole my heart. I was just trying to read whenever I could. This story made me smile, chuckle, get a little teary eyed and it just brought this genuine warmth as I was reading. Definitely a favorite. Now, I need to go read the other books.
What a beautiful story of young love. Bullying in huge issue in the world that we live in. I have experienced it firsthand with my daughter who has Cerebral Palsy. This story touched me on so many levels.
Kudos to Jamie Schlosser for such a beautifully written story of how a young couple could persevere and overcome. Absolutely loved this book.
Outcast is my favorite Good Guys Novel so far!! Wow, Jamie has done it again. Every story is so sweet and sexy at the same time! The best of both worlds! Outcast is the 4th book in her Good Guys Series and can be read as a stand alone, but you will want to read them all since they are all so good!!
Ezra labels himself as an outcast; he is used to the name calling but it doesn’t hurt any less. He is a very strong person inside and out to be the better man but of course he doesn’t see that! He is in love with Kayla but as far as he knows, she is taken. But sometimes not everything is as it seems!
Kayla has been hiding her feelings for Ezra, she thinks he doesn’t return them..funny how sometimes people are so blinded with their own thoughts, they can’t see what is right in front of them! When all secrets are laid out, will they have a shot at a future together??
Really great heartwarming stories! This series has been really fun! Sweet with a huge side of steam!!
Ezra and Kayla met when she moved to his hometown when they were 14. It was love at first sight for Ezra, but she was immediately attached to a popular football player. Over the years he has loved her from afar. When they are graduating from high school things come to light and they learn they each have been fighting what they thought was unrequited love. I love how this book shows diversity. It shows the struggles people have to try to fit in to a certain mold they think society requires. This is a great series and all of the guys are truly good guys.
This series just keeps getting better! I fell a little bit in love w/ Jimmy’s younger brother, Ezra, in Dropout, and finding out his story was getting a book made me super happy! I fell even more in love with him, and Kayla, in their story.
I love the sweet, the sexy, and the pacing. We get to see their relationship from the beginning – and it has some bumps, but they’re not the focus. The focus is on their discovery of each other, and how they navigate their relationship – and the trials of college life – together. There is action & drama, but it’s outside of that relationship they’re building, and the focus is, again, how they work things out together, how they stand by & support each other. My favorite kind of story!
Also, this has a lot of diversity in the characters and the plot lines. Not PC, not “obligatory.” It’s the perfect blending of families and viewpoints and an example of what makes our world so amazing.
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This book was truly a surprise to me. I loved it. wonderful characters whose emotions comes through.
Enjoyed this story. Nice to see the nerds make it
Overall, just not a good book for me
Didn’t think I’d like it but a great book! So glad I finished it!
Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 5 stars
This was just the kind of book my heart was needing! Ezra and Kayla’s story was cavity inducing sweet as well as emotional and sexy too! Though this is book 4 in the Good Guys series, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone.
I think what I enjoyed most about Outcast is that it’s not a traditional romance. There isn’t an over the top, seasoned, alpha hero. In fact, it’s very much the opposite at its heart. We get to see the struggles and insecurities of our characters as they navigate new relationships and realities. I loved that from the start, our hero and heroine only have eyes for each other and there isn’t any unnecessary drama with OW/OM. I loved both Kayla and Ezra and I celebrated their victories, but hurt for them as well at times. The challenges they face are realistic and honest and I was glad the author addressed these in the story. Ezra and Kayla were so wonderful together and I loved how they were able to experience so many firsts with each other. Don’t let all young love sweetness fool you though. There are plenty of scorching scenes between these two and I don’t think I will look at a shower seat or automatic car wash the same way ever again! Outcast was as much a love story between Kayla and Ezra, as it was a love story with themselves. They each grew and matured and came into their own and loved themselves exactly as they are – imperfections and all.
Chris Chambers and Elizabeth Hart are new to me narrators, but I thought that they brought Ezra and Kayla to life beautifully. They both had a youthful and vulnerable quality to their performances, that really was perfect for our characters. The epilogue left me smiling ear to ear and you can’t go wrong reading and/or listening to this one. Without a doubt, this is my favorite book by Jamie Schlosser!
This book was well written. The story was interesting and very sweet.
Really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend.
great read
Great Small Town story that I consumed in one hit
With a small home town setting, this beautifully written young adult novel gives the story of Ezra and Kyla, two less than popular teenagers who come of age with more than their fair share of personal challenges. What sets both apart is the wonderful parental support that each of them have. I completely identified with Ezra in his philosophy that you can’t control what happens to you in life, but rather, in how you choose to respond. The difference is, at his tender college age, my outlook wasn’t quite so mature!!! As for Kayla, she was such a beautiful soul who almost missed out on a life with someone she’d crushed on for years but for taking a risk in putting her feelings out there. A great message for our young ones.
What stole my absolute admiration was the powerful message at the heart of this book, and I can’t even tell you about it because it is swirling with plot spoiling bunnies! Needless to say I also loved the hell out of our couple’s respective families.
Gorgeous hero and heroine who don’t fit the high school mould: check. Supportive family and friends: check. Strong social message and some wit: check. Sexual heat that caught me by surprise: check. And. Cute furry animal: check. See? Every reason in the world to be reading this book. I thought it was completely on the sweet side. Boy, I was wrong. 4 Stars and a recommendation that you want to read the next book about Ezra’s brother written with a concurrent storyline.
I am so in love with this book! Everything about it was SO good. More than good. From the beginning, this book grabbed me by the heart and didn’t let go. As soon as I finished, I wanted to go back to the beginning and start all over again.
The author did an excellent job writing this story, making me fall head over heels in love with both Ezra & Kayla. Ezra – full of so much kindness, love, passion, and trust… beautiful inside and out. Kayla – strong, charming, courageous & wise. These two were considered outcasts in the eyes of some, being the victims of bullying. The struggles these two went through broke my heart. The way the author covered this topic, the message that was delivered…perfect.
SO many swoon-worthy moments. My goodness, my heart was so full with all the romantic gestures. The things Ezra said and did….the letters and notes… GAH. Be still my heart.
For being so quiet and shy, Ezra definitely knows what it takes to capture someone’s heart. The love between Ezra & Kayla was powerful, when they were near each other, you could feel it. Sparks flew. Before I read this, Jimmy from Dropout (book #3) was my favorite from this series. Ezra definitely gave him a run for the money.
Beautifully written, full of so much emotion, I couldn’t love this book more if I tried. Outcast has it all – touching moments that melted my heart, wild & passionate moments that left me breathless, and many feel-good moments that put a smile on my face.
This is sure to be a top read for 2018!
As of right now, Ms. Schlosser… “You’re my favorite.”