I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
Initially, I was interested in this book with the themes of HIV/Aids epidemic. However, the author lost me after the first chapter as a really unnecessary and potentially offensive event takes place which kind of puts the reader off. I didn't really enjoy this book.

The Boy Made the Difference was an incredibly interesting read from the beginning. Chronicling a dark period in LGBTQ+ history, the AIDS epidemic, made this story stand out from others in my mind. At least initially. But it was really the character work that Matt Bishop put in that kept me there.

The story begins with our protagonist (and this word can be used lightly at points), Rex, making the kind of mistake that had my jaw literally on the floor as I began reading furiously to find out just how it was resolved and if it ever was. It hooked me, instantly. As for the resolution, I strongly advise that you read the book to find out.

It is Rex's entire family that makes this book what it is. His wife and her struggles felt incredibly real. The marriage they shared felt genuinely strained - for some obvious reasons. The love that Rex and his wife felt for their son also felt real.

The London setting, the London of the late 80s and early 90s, was a perfect backdrop for this tale. and I genuinely recommend that you take some time to read this book. I recognize that it is not for everyone, but simply the period that it covers alone should get people to give it a chance.

Even if you aren't an LGBTQ+ history nerd like me...

This was just not my type of book. Perhaps it was the time period, or the graphic sex. Not something I'd recommend.

The blurb for this novel was so mysterious I didn't know what to expect. And honestly, the first chapters were surprisingly dark. And when I say 'dark' , I don't mean 'concerned with the HIV epidemic', I mean that a very, very disturbing thing happens in chapter one.⁠
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It made me think about content warnings--including them would mean a spoiler and the reader wouldn't feel the same shock/confusion the main character is feeling. I'm surprised the author decided to start with something so dark. I'd be afraid I'd lose readers after that.⁠
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Suffice it to say, if any content warnings apply to you, you probably shouldn't read it. If you don't mind morbid content that leads to a lot of serious drama, go ahead.⁠
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Despite the dark topics, the tone of the book remains surprisingly light. It didn't feel trivializing, but instead, it made the book somehow easier to digest and the characters more human. I think the characters were just trying to cope.⁠
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The rest of the book is an exploration of sexual identities, of a teen and of an adult. The book deals with coming outs and relationships in times when being queer in the UK was penalized. It's also about life-changing mistakes and guilt.⁠
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Each character was handling their situation differently. Danny was just a teenager figuring out who he was. Jill was concerned. Kimberly was liberated and supportive of others, but also always honest. Rex was unreasonable and borderline perverse most of the time, and his life was just one huge accident. Kenny was the voice of reason, and he literally said out loud what I was thinking as a reader.⁠
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I still don't know how to rate this book. It made me think a lot, and I was curious what would happen next--but it was the same morbid curiosity we feel watching an accident happen.⁠