Flash Burnout is an honest and engaging read. Blake is a jokester and a very relatable protagonist from a solid, supportive family. He can't keep his hands off of his girlfriend, and wants nothing more than to take their relationship to the next level. But in spite of the care he takes to make sure that he and his girlfriend are on the same page, he ends up sharing his first experience with someone else, and must deal with the ensuing hurt and betrayal. Blake's dad gives him a humorous, but very comprehensive "sex talk" including the topics of birth control, disease control, and the fact that "no means no." Subject matter with regard to Marissa's family is heavy (meth-addiction and its physical characteristics, implied death of a younger sibling due to neglect), but does not set the tone for the rest of the book. Blake's dad is a medical examiner and there are humorous work stories, plus a distressed late-night visit by teens to his office to attempt to identify a dead body. Physical interaction between the main characters is primarily making out, and the one sexual encounter is not detailed. Some language is graphic, but not overly frequent. The over-riding theme of this book is one that Blake's mom is fond of relaying: actions have consequences. Music lovers will enjoy perusing detailed play lists in the book's epilogue.
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