Positive People and Press

“An emotional story that’s true at heart.” – Kirkus

“It’s good to have her talent in the field.” — Claire Rossier, KLIATT

“It (TIPS) introduces fully three-dimensional characters facing and reacting to Dylan’s difficult decision to, by Belle’s observation, “be gay in a world where gay is dangerous…where gay means you can die because you’ve loved.” Jones offers an atypical perspective of the coming-out story by legitimizing the love that is not lost, but changed, when young people grow up and apart.” – S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston; School Library Journal

“Carrie Jones uses the cold hard truth, raw teenage emotions, loyal friendships, and a lot of terrific humor to make this a must-read. Teens will love the colorful and easy-to-relate-to characters. This is fiction that is fun and also rings true in today’s teen world.” – Reading Junky, Teen Reads Too

“This book was completely inspiring to me. Carrie Jones has a way of making you rethink how you see people who live life in a way that might not be your ‘normal’. I couldn’t put this one down.” — Kurtis, Boys Blogging Books

“From the first sentence of Carrie Jones’s novel I could tell that here was a bright new writer who was going to set the world of young adult letters aflame.” – Kathi Appelt

“Carrie Jones’s Tips on Having a Gay (ex) Boyfriend is a faithful head-on look at crumbling first love, right down to the crash and achingly funny postmortem. Read it and laugh. Have tissues on stand-by.” – Rita Williams-Garcia

“Carrie Jones is the real thing: a talented author. Her detailing is exquisite, her powers of observation, superb.” – Tim Wynne-Jones

“Carrie Jones peoples this dark romantic comedy with a large cast of delightfully mad characters.” – Ed Briant

“The writing in the book made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up from time to time, because some of the turns of phrase are pure genius, and Carrie’s use of compact imagery will delight you and make you think about your own writing, and how you might boost some of her techniques to improve it.” -Kelly R. Fineman, Edge of the Forest

“Tip for having a (really) great time: pick up this book!” – Michele Jaffe

“This is one the oddest, funniest, and most brilliant first novels that I’ve read in along time, with a teenage voice so authentic that as I read I kept wondering if Jones hadn’t actually written this story when she was seventeen and kept it hidden for a decade or so under her bed.” - Ed Briant

“This is one smart book with one smart heroine.” – Edge of the Forest reviewer Kelly Herald

“Tips explores the broader ramifications of homophobia and closetedness without resorting to stereotypes, however, and if it finds its way into the hands of more teens, LGBT and not, that will be a good thing for all families. Jones has a knack for storytelling, an ear for unadorned dialogue, and a respect for the ups and downs of adolescent life. Although much of the book is about the characters working through layers of deception and hurt, Jones manages to imbue it with humor.” – Dana Rudolph, Bay Windows

“The novel is written in evocative prose, and the action is kept taut by the compressed time period of the book—a single week, beginning with the day Dylan comes out to Belle, and ending at a school dance. What happens in the middle will keep you laughing, guessing, hoping, and turning pages.” - Kelly R. Fineman

“Carrie Jones writes a story that is at times humorous; and at other times wrenchingly sad. It’s a rich and satisfying read.” – Melissa Jaurequi

“I absolutely loved it. Tips is the type of book that will make you laugh and cringe (but cringe in a good way) at the same time. Belle is a sweetheart; a sweetheart you have to root for. And while I wanted to hate Dylan (like I think Belle did at first), Carrie really did a good job of showing him as a conflicted and compassionate three-dimensional character, not just a stereotypical gay guy that dumps his girlfriend. And–saying this in the most heterosexual way possible–if I was a girl, I would be all over Tom Tanner.”- Varian Johnson

“Jones deftly shows that homophobia is not so different from all the other hate our society has known: “Do you know what a faggot is?” Belle asks Dylan in her mind, after a fellow student uses the slur. “It’s the bundle of wood they used to burn gay men with during medieval times. . .” Belle, who has epilepsy, continues “They used to burn people with seizures, too, said the demon got to them. Some people just call us freaks. Maybe we were an appropriate couple after all. Five hundred years ago we’d have both died. . . from the hands of people in our lives. Burnt.”
At its heart, however, this is less a story about homophobia than personal discovery: Dylan coming out as gay Belle finding that the clues were there all along her own journey to learn who she really is, and her rediscovery of a relationship-on new terms-with Dylan. Jones casts a shrewd eye on how homophobia manifests itself, but makes the book more than just a tale of triumph over prejudice.
As a chronicle of self-discovery and the power of love, however, it will win many fans. Read it and enjoy, then get your local library and high school to stock it. It may help open hearts and minds in a way that mandatory diversity seminars can’t. More than that, though, it’s also just an insightful, funny read about first love and first heartbreak. All of us, gay, straight, bi, and questioning, can relate to that.” – Dana Rudolph, Bay Windows

“Jones weaves a believable cast of characters, which allows the reader to easily connect to the book. Fantasy used to be the major reading craze. Jones is breaking that tradition with this well written novel. Teens alike will gobble up this real life issue book.” — Faerie Drink Review

“Tips on Having a Gay ex-Boyfriend is a well written story with the forever current theme of being true to yourself.” — Lyn Seippel, Book Loons

“The author has a lot to work with–the loyalty of friends, the trickiness of memory, the cruelty that can lurk inside ordinary people, the fear of being different, the fear of seeing someone you love hurt (physically), the fear of being hurt yourself, etc. Carrie Jones manages to keep all these balls in the air and not let them get in the way of what, to me, felt like the main story — Belle falling in love again, with Tom, one of the hottest guys I’ve ever met in a fictional high school.” — Charlotte’s Library

“Belle’s voice is honest and funny. And Tips On Having A Gay (Ex) Boyfriend is an enjoyable read. I can’t say too much more without revealing any spoilers…but I really enjoyed this one.” — Becky’s Book Review

“I love Belle! She was a girl after my own heart. The moments she spent with Dylan were beautiful and amazing and i really thought it gave a whole new look at the teen world and small towns. It really a special book and everyone should read it.” – Bria, YA BOOKS CENTRAL

“At first I thought that I wouldn’t like Tips, but it turns out that I was wrong. I think this book is fabulous. It is truthful, clear and kept me interested to the last page. I think that Carrie Jones’ purpose is to accept people for who they are and not to make yourself something you’re not. You must be true to yourself.” — Shelby Garzes, 15, Texas for Teen Voices Online

“This book was amazing, fun and easy to read. I learned that even when life gets you down, you’re going to be OK. If you don’t give in things will get better. I think this book has a great message — and it was hard to put down! Outstanding.” – Miranda in Esopus for Health Information Project at Mid-Hudson Library System library