A 6 book series
The Letterman – 3.7.2025
Senior year at Verplain High should be smooth sailing for Taron Hillmayor. Judging his previous year from the outside, he was the perfect student: good grades, great friends, a solid job, and an out of his league girlfriend, Macy.
However, by the time his final fall semester starts, Macy’s out of the picture, and Taron’s left picking up the pieces of his old self after the abrupt passing of his grandfather, and loss of his friends. Isolated from everyone and everything he loves, he’s barely holding that image of perfect student together; as long as he stays guarded and numb, and as long as no one asks any questions about that night in the park or his missing letterman jacket, he might be able to get through this.
That is, until one perpetually bubbly, nosy cheerleader begins to wiggle her way into Taron’s life, and she’s just as good at hiding secrets as he is.
I can’t find the wound, despite feeling it, and I can’t patch it alone. But Aleese might be able to help. At least a little, at least with a band-aid. She could help.
I might be equipped with the strength, but I need help finding it. I can’t wield it on my own.
Reviews for The Letterman
Such a great novel with such great characters development! As you read, you really become attached to them and feel strongly about certain aspects of the ending… If you’re looking for something that pulls you in and won’t let go, read this book!
****
Regarding the plot, and Taron’s own story in particular, I really appreciated the fact that Coleman decided to write about a subject still considered taboo by far too many. Again, I am trying to avoid spoilers (for content warnings, please check the first pages of the book itself). But let’s just say that boys and men who experience what Taron goes through usually do not talk about their trauma, and when they do, they often become the butt of horrendously insensitive jokes. Coleman has managed to write about Taron’s horrendous experiences in a way that should be put in a textbook to teach society just how difficult it is to heal such wounds.
Alternate Ending – 7.18.2025
Russell Matthews is not one to brag, but he’s definitely got some things going for him. As a senior at Curt Grogan High, he’s a writer (barely), he’s keeping his mental health in check (hardly, ask Isaac and his black eye), and he’s a pretty darn good big brother (despite hiding key details about his parents’ divorce from his younger brother, Teddy).
Okay…all that aside, everything is mostly working out according to his spectacular plans. Even if, at this point, he has only one: get to the other side of his senior year moderately unscathed, and win a contest at the end of his writing class that’ll award him a hefty cash prize.
Tension begins to build when some of his old friends seem to be at each other’s throats. Not to mention, there’s a new competitor in town who loves to push Russell’s buttons. Pressure like that has a way of breaking at the worst time. Luckily, trash fires can make the best stories. And Russell needs some inspiration, ASAP.
When did I start carrying so much for my friends? Am I supposed to? Maybe I should put some of it down—but if I’m not caring for them, who is? I feel like I can’t trust their parents to care enough—I mean some of my friends have good parents.
I have good parents. For the most part.
But I’m heavy. I can’t expect anyone to carry me when they’ve got their own full buckets. I don’t need anyone to carry me. I’ll be fine.
Reviews for Altenate Ending
Loved this book! If you read The Letterman, this one gives more details about Russel — stuff comes together really nicely. Jay is probably my favorite character yet. This book addresses lots of mental health and family issues that are relevant to young adults today. Read it!!
****
Russell’s voice grabs you from the beginning. His is a story about healing from family trauma, coming of age, and more; but this is just as much about friend-groups and found family, about connections, and about endings. There’s a neat structural twist within the writing competition, and it binds the story together in a very satisfying way.
There are chapters that will have you laughing at certain characters’ quirks; others that will bring you to tears. All I can say is that Quinn Coleman writes with a lot of heart.
****
Russell, the narrator and MC, is a really good dude, and he tells his story in the same tone you’d expect from your best friend. Speaking of, although there’s definitely a love story here, it’s the friendships in this book (and the entire series) that stuck with me.
Quinn Coleman 