Book Reviews

Book Blurb

In the hallowed halls of St. Ignatius Catholic Boys’ School, secrets fester behind spotless uniforms and polished shoes. Catholic School Boys in Trouble is a bold, emotional, and provocative coming-of-age novel that explores friendship, faith, identity, and forbidden love. Blair Cohen, a quiet Jewish teen from Congers, New York, is thrust into a world he doesn’t understand after being expelled from his public school under false pretenses. St. Ignatius, with its iron-clad rules and unspoken hierarchies, becomes the unlikely stage for Blair’s transformation—from outsider to the heart of a tangled web of loyalty, love, and betrayal.

There’s Luke Roberts, the golden boy with secrets of his own. Josh Alvarez, a slick heartbreaker who hides longing behind sarcasm. And Pickles—Blair’s messy, loud, fiercely loyal confidant who just might be the moral center of it all. As tensions rise and past mistakes echo through present choices, these boys must confront the truth of who they are—and who they want to become. Both heartfelt and scandalous, Catholic School Boys in Trouble is a fearless journey through the turbulence of adolescence and the courage it takes to live your truth—even when everything around you says not to.

 

Book Review

Note about Brett Butler: Trying something different, think of those people and the places that shaped us, and see how they had changed! The idea grew slowly, fueled by memories and 'what-ifs', until it became a tale I couldn't put down.

 

Note from Bob-O-Link: Years ago, I was in a long line to get into a busy, fancy New York ice cream parlor. As I finally reached the doorman (young, attractive, in yellow bib overalls!), a woman pushed forward and asked him: “Will it be long?”' Unabashed, he brightly responded: “How long would you like it?” Well, this review is unusually long, and the quartet of books may also seem so… but the reward is assured.

 

Chronology (though not necessarily in chronological order) is the touchstone of this series, and, oddly, it works. Also, given the relative brevity of each installment, and as the narrative continues over several years and varied acquaintances, the tale grows along with the principal characters. There is, for those addicted viewers of soaps, much that may be familiar in form. And as an aside, here we may recall the style of Charles Dickens, repeatedly able to write about youngsters, with fine inward understanding, yet totally capturing adult readers without discomfort. The narrative here singularly balances passage of time and development of character – so much so that the denouement of the story may seem out of narrative flow from the detailed revelation of character. There are moments when I wonder if the four parts could be reshuffled in some random order and still work. If the present configuration succeeds for you, or not, please let author Butler know.

 

Warning: The reader should be forewarned that by Bob-O-Link reviewing the entire series here, some salient facts may be prematurely revealed. Read this review with care (or skim sloppily). 

 

Starting with Book1, Catholic School Boys in Trouble, we are introduced to perhaps our principal character, Blair Cohen, a sixteen-year-old student from New Jersey. He first steps into St. Ignatius Catholic Boys' School after having been expelled from public school. And he is already becoming aware of his gay bent and the growing need to act upon it. In our changing world, most readers may quickly note the appeal to perhaps every gay person, open or closeted, as well as the merely curious. Oh, and yes, add that Blair Cohen is Jewish and somewhat out of his own milieu!

 

An incident at his former school has resulted in Blair's educational exile. He is succinctly described for us: “Blair felt small. He had always felt different – too loud, too quiet, too much, not enough.” But now, with added emotional conflict, he is in a new and strange community. The archetypical outsider, Blair nonetheless makes many acquaintances. There is Pickles, who takes pride in being socially different. There is Luke Roberts, the school's ideal golden boy in looks, athleticism, and popularity – though something didn't quite fit the image. Luke frequently seemed to “retreat into himself for just a moment before his public persona snapped back into place.” And Blair is attracted! Mixed feelings for Luke confuse Blair, though Pickles encourages him to, as they say, s**t or get off the pot! The adolescent angst is perfectly presented.

 

There is also Josh Alvarez, captain of the water polo team, with whom Blair initially shares some animosity. 

 

The interactions of the characters and their thoughts and conversations move this phase of Blair's life along with much interest. These aren't children, rather they're on the cusp of maturity. Why not, if it was good enough for Dickens? While the plot is as expected, the self-examination and discovery are wonderful, and as conflicts arise the issue is whether these “kids” can resolve them.

 

As this book in the series ends, Blair and Luke are off to college, where they will be – to Blair's inner concern – roommates, and maybe more. Were they good to/for each other? What was the status of their “relationship”? If there is a resolution, it seems to be that one isn't quite required. Though perhaps platitudinous, author Butler essentially leaves us awaiting the next installment: "Luke said softly, “It is okay not to have all the answers.'' 

 

Spoiler: This book ends with Luke and Blair off together to the University of Missouri. Perhaps as a teaser, or a sop to the reader, Luke exclaims: 'I love you, Blair. I always have. Even when I tried not to.”

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novella, 87 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	19-April-2025
Price	$7.00 ebook, $9.99 paperback, $14.99 hardcover
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-School-Trouble-Brett-Buttler-ebook/dp/B0F5P6J372