Wet Paint

I said this at the end of my review of 'Pitch' by Will Parkinson and I'm saying it again: even though I am not normally a reader of young adult, I will read anything by this author because I simply believe he is just that good. When I knew he was writing Benny and Addy's story I was over the moon. When I read it, I knew my confidence in this man and his stories was very well founded. 'Wet Paint' is everything I expected it to be and more.
Ever since Addy kissed Benny at summer camp, the year they were sixteen, they've belonged together. Benny, being the good, honorable young man that he is, didn't follow through with anything because he was Addy's counselor and that would've been inappropriate. Plus he wants Addy to be sure he knows what he wants and Benny wants to make sure that Addy follows through on getting the therapy he needs to help him deal with the traumatic abuse Addy suffered at the hands of his biological father. Six months after the kiss, Addy and Benny begin a relationship, although Benny struggles a little with reconciling his new feelings for a guy.
Addy and Benny return to Camp Care for the summer, with both of them as peer counselors. They get assigned a very difficult case, Liam. Liam's so-called father beat him and blinded him in one eye when he caught him with another boy. Since then Liam has had a lot of difficulty in foster care and at the camp due to his over-the-top suggestive innuendo and sexual come-ons. All of this causes serious stress in the still fragile new relationship which Benny and Addy have, since Liam focuses his sights on Benny and his snark on Addy. Addy becomes convinced that Benny would rather be with Liam who can give Benny more than Addy can at this time. Oh, Addy, you are breaking my heart! Luckily, Benny and Addy, together, manage to work their magic on Liam and the rest of the summer camp stay is learning and growing together.
Returning to the real world brings Addy around to attending public school for the first time ever. For the most part, between Benny, Taylor, and Jackson, the beginning of the school year goes smoothly. Of course, there are always one or two bad eggs who just can't stop with the hating. Benny finally comes out to his parents, and I'll just say, it's no wonder he told them last. It was the first time I felt sorry for Benny, but all things considered, it explains why Benny is so mature at his age. On the other hand, I was so very, very proud of Addy and the strength he found within himself during this time.
I won't say that this was the end of the drama. It wasn't. But, I'm not saying any more. I adored this book as much as I loved the first one. The author has a beautiful way with words and I truly enjoy reading his work. 'Wet Paint' is everything I wanted it to be and there were some lovely surprises that I wasn't expecting. Benny and Addy's story is beautiful, it's sweet, it's romantic, it's gentle, it's got a little drama, and it's got huge, heaping platefuls of love. What more could you want? Please keep writing, Will Parkinson, I would miss your words if they stop.

A sweet yet intense coming-of-age story.
We first met Addy in Pitch, where Benny and Taylor helped him cope with issues from his past. The author gives us a glimpse of how it all began with Addy and Benny and then picks up again when these two head off to camp to act as counselors.
When the story begins, we see that Addy has come a long way from the closed-off boy Benny and Taylor had first met, but as the story progressed we come to understand that he still has ways to go before he's healed from all the events that marred his past.
Even though he's in a relationship with Benny and they have made their their feelings known, Addy still feels like he isn't enough for Benny and that he never will be whole. This feeling of worthlessness increases once they get to camp and encounter Liam.
A troubled young man who has had to deal with rejection throughout his life, Liam is the complete opposite of Addy. Where Addy's ordeal has left him shy and withdrawn, Liam acts out. He flirts openly with Benny and speaks openly about sex. This is his way of dealing with his feelings of inadequacy and the very thing that has gotten him into trouble in the past.
As the story progresses we get to know more about Liam's story. But while Benny offers his support to Liam to try to make him open up about his problems, Addy's insecurities come to the surface. He feels threatened by Liam and as a result he retreats into himself.
Benny continues to be the smart and matured, all-around good guy. He offers his unconditional love and support to Addy, but when he notices Addy closing himself off he is clueless as to how to reach him. It isn't until their relationship is threatened that they realize the importance of communicating their feelings before things get out of hand.
I liked the way the author went about handling the heavier issues of the story. Will Parkinson didn't hold back when the time came to tell the more gruesome details of what Addy suffered through. I don't think the story would have had the same impact in me as a reader if he had pulled back in that regard. By doing it this way, the author made sure that the reader understood the extent of Addy's suffering, which only made me admire how far he had come along.
In regards to the romance, I have to say that it was sweet if a little idealistic. Personally, I don't think young people are that open about their emotions or plan so far ahead. But in a way, I think it fit Benny and Addy perfectly. I did enjoy how deeply connected Addy and Benny had become and how that connection never wavered in its intensity. With every passing moment, they became closer as a couple while still growing as individuals.
I also enjoyed the secondary characters and what they added to the story. Having Taylor and Jackson interact with Benny and Addy was always a treat. Especially since I liked seeing how far Jackson and Taylor had come from the previous book.
All in all, a sweet yet intense coming-of-age story that will tug at your heart-strings and will leave you wishing everything in life could be as attainable as Benny and Addy's HEA.