#will kostakis

[slaughter-books]

Day 23: JOMPBPC: Autumn Colours 🍂

[jetwhenitsmidnight]

We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis

Release date: 3 September 2024

Genre: young adult contemporary coming of age

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

Part coming-out story.

Part falling-in-love story.

Part falling-apart story.

Harvey's dads are splitting up. It's been on the cards for a while, but it's still sudden. Woken-by-his-father-to-catch-a-red-eye sudden. Now he's restarting his life in a new city, living above a cafe with the extended Greek family he barely knows.

Sotiris is a rising star. At seventeen, he's already achieved his dream of publishing a novel. When his career falters, a cute, wise-cracking bookseller named Jem upends his world.

Harvey and Sotiris's stories converge on the same street in Darlinghurst, in this beautifully heartfelt novel about how our dreams shape us, and what they cost us.

Content warnings

Divorce, toxic relationship

Dementia, chronic illness

Implied sexual content

Alcohol

Xenophobia

Homophobia

Grief

Review

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

I did not expect this book to hit me so hard in my feelings.

These characters are so human; they mess up a lot (Sotiris especially), but they are constantly trying their best at the same time, while struggling to figure out their dreams. I love how the author doesn't flinch from making these characters so complicated and messy, but at the same time he manages to keep them sympathetic and real.

I figured out the connection between the characters at about 20% but I think it's not supposed to be a huge plot twist anyway so it's fine. I loved how their stories paralleled each other's right up till the ending—and that ending was devastating.

I feel like Sotiris' story received more focus, which makes sense in the book, but it makes it feel like Harvey's story doesn't get enough precedence, not to mention that Harvey's story also involves Sotiris but not the other way around, which makes their narratives feel unbalanced.

Overall, this is an excellent story with realistic characters, one that will be sticking with me for sure.

[feetymcfeetface]

will kostakis and Daniel lammin

[beautifulpaxielreads]

I'm a bit behind on my reading atm, so I wanted some light-hearted, fun, and relatively short reads. I'm hoping that these will fit the bill!

[auslgbtqya]

We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis

(2023)

From the Publisher:

A wonderful emotional rollercoaster of a novel about two young men, each on a journey of discovery. It's part coming-out story, part falling-in-love story, part relationship breakdown story, part extended Greek family story. It's warm and funny, a little bit heartbreaking, and completely satisfying.

'The enormous heart of We Could Be Something beats with a rare, thrilling authenticity. Every funny, smart, tough word of it rings true. I loved this book.' - Patrick Ness, bestselling author of A MONSTER CALLS and the CHAOS WALKING series

Part coming-out story.

Part falling-in-love story.

Part falling-apart story.

Harvey's dads are splitting up. It's been on the cards for a while, but it's still sudden. Woken-by-his-father-to-catch-a-red-eye sudden. Now he's restarting his life in a new city, living above a cafe with the extended Greek family he barely knows.

Sotiris is a rising star. At seventeen, he's already achieved his dream of publishing a novel. When his career falters, a cute, wise-cracking bookseller named Jem upends his world.

Harvey and Sotiris's stories converge on the same street in Darlinghurst, in this beautifully heartfelt novel about how our dreams shape us, and what they cost us.

Goodreads

[teenageread]

Review: We Could Be Something

Initial Thoughts: Of the books I have read this year, this one is different, and where it may not be memorable in my mind, there were pieces of this novel that I will carry with me, despite forgetting the name of this novel. For started the duel perspectives between Harvey and, in which I felt so dumb for not realizing that Sotiris was Harvey’s father, and that his perspective was of a previous time, for I truly thought at one point that these two plotlines would be the love interest. In a way Kostakis did that with familial love. I felt there should have been more time pieces in Sotiris’s teenage years, I am assuming to be around the 90s, to let readers know that it was not the same period as Harvey, if Kostakis wanted to keep the actual connection a surprise. A trap Kostakis does fall into, which a lot of authors do, is that the main character is the least interesting one. Throughout the novel I gave absolutely zero cares for Harvey, or any of the drama that he put into his life, and only continue the novel to see how Harvey’s parents make out, Sotiris’s teenage love life, everything about Gina and Proyiayia. The setting of Australia was beautiful, and I love Kostakis integration of both the Greek and Australian culture within this novel. I just wish Harvey actually had something to contribute to the story, besides giving us filler chapters between his father's childhood, and current parental antics.

Characters:

Harvey is just uninteresting. A drifter, does not seem to have any friends, not good at making them, and does not seem to have any ambition out there to do something with their life. Things just happen to him, with Gina giving him a job at the cafe, Leah becoming friend-ly (I would not even call them friends actually), and even the failed Grindr hookup did not actually lead anywhere. Seriously, Harvey did not contribute anything to this story, except who he introduced us to within his family. With multi-generations living under one roof, Kostakis does a great job at portraying realistic relationships and family drama within the household. Covering the concept of dementia, as Harvey’s Proyiayia (Great-grandmother), begins to slowly fade in front of their eyes, was done beautifully, as Kostakis took the time to show how it affected everyone from Gina, Sotiris, “Dad” and Harvey. Sotiris plotline was far the most interesting, both in the teenage years and married life. With Sotrisis finding youth and fame in his teenage years with meeting Harvey’s father, and developing his career as a writer, to him mid-way through life trying to re-start his career and seemingly falling out of love. Where I do not think i would change the perspective, it was interesting to see Harvey watch his fathers romance fade as Sotiris seems to take everything from Dad and not give him anything back, showcasing the harms of giving one all to another. Still, this could be a plot issue, but I felt if there was more drama our characters could have developed more, instead they are almost exactly the same in the end as when the novel started 

Plot / Writing:

This novel is a slice of life of Harvey and his father as there is no real climax, conclusion, big blow out, the novel sort of just ends like how it started. Which makes it a cool concept, but also a boring read, and definitely no re-reading aspect within the story. Any drama would have caused major plot turns, character developments, heart string tugging, something to get a reaction out of me. Instead, Kostakis seem to kind of trudge along in this sad family tale, with the main couple (Ba and Dad) heading towards divorce, Proyiayia slowly going to dementia, Gina trying to hold everything together, and Harvey… Well Harvey is kind of just there. The novel just felt like it was going nowhere, even with my favorite plotline of Ba (Sotiris) and Dad, and their breaking up. However, Kostakis really dragged on and instead of getting hooked after knowing about their past, it just made me hate how Sotiris was, and made you wonder where that person went. Also, KOstakis was trying to make the novel relevant for the LGBTQ+ community, especially the gays, but please leave Grindr out of it, the apps need to stay away from the dinner table as that entire scene… still makes me shudder. 

Conclusion: 

This LGBTQ+ story with multiple generations, no romance, no triumph, and honestly not plot. A slice in life of teenager Harvey and the past teenager of his father, as they navigate life toughest challenges in the downunder country. Where I do not regret reading this novel. It has a whole lot of nothing to it, but was cozy at parts even if it was dull in others. 

[girlwhodoeskratom]

Dimitra Kostaki @ Moschino Fall/Winter, 1995 Ready-to-Wear

[marcdurm]

There’s something very poetic about Hector and Tsimi following each other on Instagram and I’m here for it

[bidamonalbarn]

I could never be noticed by a celebrity bc I'm far too worried about them thinking I'm annoying

[greekbooks-poll]

[fazcinatingblog]

I got halfway through We Could Be Something and have only just realised that one of the teenage protagonists is the dad in the alternative chapters???? Like the chapters are about the SAME FAMILY I'M SO MAD I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS, I GENUINELY THOUGHT IT WAS TWO DIFFERENT GREEK FAMILIES NO

also the guy who's *just* released his first book HE NEVER WRITES THE SECOND ONE?????? NO WTF

[slaughter-books]

Day 30: JOMPBPC: Read In September

My September, 2023 reading wrap-up! 💜

[jesncin]

First School Visit as published authors!!

we've done a handful of school visits before as comic artists, but this is the first time we've been invited as published authors (for a school's literature event no less!). These photos are a mix of being taken by me and the wonderful staff of British School Jakarta.

We talked to secondary students of all ages! From "what's it like to make comics" to Career Talk for the seniors. We also had the absolute pleasure of befriending fellow visiting author Will Kostakis, a seasoned professional at school visits and prolific Aussie writer! I'm reading his book "We Could Be Something" and loving it. We're still blown away by his kindness and enjoyed bickering about the publishing industry together, haha.

We couldn't have asked for a better school to do our first author visit! Tightly organized, fun crowds of kids, and an incredibly supportive staff team. This has! Ignited me to the challenge of school visits! I really enjoy these, and I can't wait to make all the more books so I can do this all over again. Just a delightful week.

[bookshelvesandtealeaves]

🩷💛💙 PAN PRIDE DAY 💙💛🩷

QOTD: What’s a book you’ve enjoyed with a pan main character?

Happy Pansexual Pride Day to all my pan pals!

I still feel pansexuality is severely under represented in fiction (and when it’s there it’s often alluded to through wording rather than specifically differentiated from bisexual), but I’ve definitely come across way more (some intentionally and some by pure happy accident) since making my first ever pan post with only 5 books in it, some of the rep in that first post not even being main characters.

So here are some recs and some still on my tbr for you to add to yours if you’re looking for some pan rep to brighten your shelves!

[instagram]

Fantasy

- Of Knights and Books and Falling in Love by Rita A Rubin

- A Dowry of Blood by ST Gibson

- The Sound of Storms by Anya Keeler

- Evergreen by Devin Greenlee

- A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shittleworth

- Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Romance

- How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall

- Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

- Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

- Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

- Get it Right by Skye Kilaen

- Their Troublesome Crush by Xan West

Other

- Who Could Love You, Astor Price? by Amy Jane Lehan

- The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor

- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

- We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis

TBR

- We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchison

- We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds

- In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland

- Summer at the Scottish Castle by Rachel Bowdler

- Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min

- For Never & Always by Helena Greer

- Once & Future by AR Capetta and Cory McCarthy

- Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey

- A Song of Salvation by Alechia Dow

[thereadingchallengechallenge]

🦘 Booklr Reads Australian - Authors on My Shelves 🐨

so, I’ve been trying to think of a way to recommend a lot of Australian authors really quickly for Booklr Reads Australian. what I came up with was just to give y’all a giant list of all the authors I have at home! 

most of them are YA and/or fantasy authors, and I’ve marked my favourites with an asterisk (*) but if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an ask 😊

1. Sarah Ayoub 2. Eugen Bacon 3. Shirley Barber * 4. AJ Betts 5. Danielle Binks * 6. Cally Black 7. Steph Bowe * 8. Alice Boyle 9. JC Burke 10. Meg Caddy * 11. Frances Chapman 12. Wai Chim * 13. Claire Christian 14. Lyndall Clipstone 15. Claire G Coleman 16. Katherine Collette 17. Harry Cook 18. Cath Crowley 19. Robyn Dennison 20. Cale Dietrich 21. Lauren Draper 22. CG Drews * 23. Michael Earp 24. Kate Emery 25. Sarah Epstein 26. Alison Evans * 27. Fleur Ferris 28. Carly Findlay 29. Helena Fox 30. Lisa Fuller 31. Emily Gale 32. Meg Gatland-Veness 33. Sophie Gonzales 34. Erin Gough * 35. Leanne Hall * 36. Pip Harry 37. Sonya Hartnett 38. Adam Hills 39. Simmone Howell 40. Megan Jacobson 41. Amie Kaufman 42. Melissa Keil 43. Nina Kenwood 44. Sharon Kernot 45. Kay Kerr * 46. Will Kostakis 47. Jay Kristoff 48. Ambelin Kwaymullina 49. Benjamin Law 50. Rebecca Lim 51. Gary Lonesborough * 52. Kathleen Loughnan 53. Miranda Luby 54. Tobias Madden 55. Melina Marchetta 56. Ellie Marney * 57. Freya Marske 58. Jodi McAlister * 59. Margot McGovern * 60. Nikki McWatters 61. Anna Morgan 62. Jaclyn Moriarty 63. Liane Moriarty 64. Garth Nix 65. Lynette Noni 66. Carly Nugent 67. Poppy Nwosu 68. Kate O’Donnell 69. Shivaun Plozza 70. Michael Pryor 71. Alice Pung 72. Emily Rodda * 73. Autumn Royal 74. Omar Sakr 75. Holden Sheppard 76. AG Slatter 77. Jo Spurrier 78. Krystal Sutherland * 79. Jared Thomas 80. Hayli Thompson 81. Gabrielle Tozer 82. Christos Tsiolkas 83. Alicia Tuckerman 84. Ellen van Neerven 85. Marlee Jane Ward 86. Vikki Wakefield 87. Lisa Walker 88. Jessica Watson * 89. Allayne L Webster 90. Anna Whateley * 91. Samantha Wheeler 92. Jen Wilde * 93. Rhiannon Wilde 94. Lili WIlkinson 95. Gabrielle Williams 96. Rhiannon Williams 97. Fiona Wood 98. Leanne Yong 99. Suzy Zail 100. Nevo Zisin 101. Markus Zusak

[qnewsau]

Vic bookshop owner wants books to be more white and less gay

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/victoria-bookshop-owner-wants-books-to-be-more-white-and-less-gay/

Vic bookshop owner wants books to be more white and less gay

The owner of a Victorian bookstore chain has apologised after she called for more picture books with “just white kids on the cover” and less “wheelchair, rainbow or Indigenous” representation.

Susanne Horman has owned the Robinsons Bookshop chain since 2007. There are a number of the indie bookstores across Melbourne.

At the weekend, a series of Susanne’s posts from her personal Twitter X account, written last month, circulated online.

In the posts, she called for Australian publishing to put out more “white family stories” with “white kids” on the covers, and less “wheelchair, rainbow or Indigenous” representation.

“What’s missing from our bookshelves in store?” Susanne Horman wrote in a now-deleted post, accompanied by the hashtag #weneedbetterstories.

“Positive male lead characters of any age, any traditional nuclear white family stories, kids picture books with just white kids on the cover, and no wheelchair, rainbow or indigenous art, non indig [sic] aus history.”

In another post, she also vowed not to stock diverse books that are “against white Australians” and “cause harm and make Australians hate each other”.

“Books we don’t need: hate against white Australians, socialist agenda, equity over equality, diversity and inclusion (READ AS anti-white exclusion), left-wing govt propaganda. Basically the woke agenda that divides people. Not stocking any of these in 2024.”

‘So wildly out of pocket’

At the weekend, an Instagram account coffeebooksandmagic shared the now-deleted social media posts, with hundreds of commenters calling them out.

The account owner clarified she’s “not one for willy nilly ‘cancelling’ but the comments … are so wildly out of pocket that I have no problem suggesting a widespread boycott would be appropriate”.

“[Susanne Horman] has not only said she wants more white people on covers and in books, but goes further to say that she won’t be stocking anything that … well, what, exactly? Isn’t about white people?” she wrote.

“And then somehow manages to claim that she’s fighting division.

“This kind of mentality has no place in the modern landscape and I truly hope it will eventually die out with the generation that’s as archaic as her website.”

Ouch.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Emily | books 📚 and magic ✨ (@coffeebooksandmagic)

Robinsons Bookshop apologises for comments

Speaking to The Age, Susanne Horman issued an apology to Robinsons Bookshop staff and “anyone who was offended by the comments”. She claimed they had been “taken out of context”.

In a Facebook statement, Robinsons Bookshop also apologised and said the posts “misrepresented the views” of the company.

“We clearly state, so there is no misunderstanding, that we fully support and encourage stories from diverse voices [and] minorities,” the post read.

“We are most definitely stocking these important topics and the authors that write them.

“As a business, we will continue advocating for positive hope-filled stories that bring out the best in all our community and make all people feel supported and fulfilled.

“We ask everyone to treat all of our staff with kindness and respect.”

Read also:

Gay author Will Kostakis invited to Catholic school, told not to say gay

Holden Sheppard’s queer novel Invisible Boys to become TV series

Brisbane’s Queer Readers recommend their must-read books this summer

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.