Book Review: Trust the Focus

Book: Trust the Focus (In Focus book #1) by Megan Erickson

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Publisher: PEGUIN GROUP Berkley: InterMix

Description:

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I love when you're reading a book and you lose all track of time because it's so interesting. Trust the Focus is about 22-year-old Justin Akron and his best friend Landry Jacobs as they take off on a road trip in a silver Winnebago right after graduating from college. The reason for the trip was to not only pay respect to Justin's late father but also to take several pictures of the 12 locations his father, a professional photographer had used for a calendar. Justin also plans to scatter a little bit of his father's remains at each location.

This trip will also give Justin a chance to unwind and relax before he goes back home and start working for his mother's re-election campaign. Politics isn't something Justin really wanted to get into but he had been letting his mother control his life for so long that he's not sure how to just be himself. Which made it so difficult for him to finally come to terms with his sexuality as well as his long term denial of his crush on his best friend. Justin and Landry have been best friends since sixth grade and although Landry is out, Justin has been living a lie and this trip is making him wonder if he can continue living in the carefully controlled world his mother created for him or if he can finally live the life he wanted.

In the beginning of this journey, Justine was dealing with his feelings of grief for his father but also his feelings for Landry which turned him into a world class jerk before finally telling Landry the truth. Justin's revelation did ease some of his anxieties and it also changed the dynamics of his friendship with Landry but was he really ready for all of these changes.

Trust the Focus had drama, romance, emotional turmoil, sightseeing, humor as well as being sappy at times (but hey there's nothing wrong with a little bit of sappiness every now and then). This was a quick read because it was so interesting and I just couldn't help wanting to know how this trip was going to turn out for them or if Justine was going to finally do what he wanted to do with his life.