Hi there! I'm Jay Bell and I like making up stories! I'm the guy who wrote 
So there’s this guy, and he takes a lot of slack from people. And then there’s this other guy, whose life kind of sucks. What they both want most is for things to change, because surely anything different would be better. Then comes the day they meet each other…
Kamikaze Boys marks my second foray into the gay romance genre. I know it’s what you guys have been waiting for, because I keep getting emails about Something Like Summer that say, “I can’t wait for your next book!” Well, my next book already happened. What most of you are really saying is you want more of that type of story. Honestly, I’m thrilled by your demands because I love writing romance! Not that Kamikaze Boys is quite the same as Something Like Summer. Ben and Tim, while we love them dearly, have one screwed up relationship. David and Connor, who I hope you’ll soon meet, are the perfect pair. It’s the messed up world around them that’s the problem. That can be even harder than being miserable on your own. It’s one thing when life gives you lemons, but when life squeezes citrus juice into the eyes of the one you love—that’s not cool!
So, my darling readers, I think you know the drill by now. Buy links are on the right, more information and sample chapters can be found on the Kamikaze Boys page. I hope you’ll judge this book on its own merits. It’s not easy having a famous older brother. I speak from experience. Surely you’ve noticed the family resemblance between Brad Pitt and me by now? No? Oh… Enjoy the book anyway. I’ll be here sulking in the corner if you need me.
Bought it and will read it tomorrow
This newsletter thingy is great! I wasn’t expecting the book to be released today so this was a nice surprise. Thank you for providing so many options where the book can be bought! As I live in Germany and own an Android tablet which doesn’t get recognized at the official app store, Smashwords is for me the only option that works.
Thanks for buying a copy, Enny! And I understand totally about having trouble getting what you want over here. Since living in Germany, I find myself importing all sorts of things from back home, or having to do IP address tricks to watch some videos or visit some sites. It’s crazy, but I love Germany anyway.
Since I hardly ever read a book in German, ebooks are a godsend. I remember the old days when you had to order paperbacks which took forever to get here and cost twice as much as the German edition. I once waited 6 month for a book and by the time it got here, I had forgotten why I wanted to read it.
Glad to hear you love Germany! I guess the Picadilly shop in Stuttgart isn’t much help when it comes to dealing with homesickness when you’re from the US but the we’re getting more and more of the American goodies over here. The other day I even found strawberry fluff at the local supermarket
The Picadilly shop is nice. Andreas bought tons of goodies there for my birthday—stuff like Betty Crocker frosting that is also big in the States. And you’re right that American things are slowly invading. Oreos are common now, as are Pepperidge Farm cookies. You know, lots of health food like that.
Just purchased it off of Amazon!!!! Thank you so much for releasing it early. I finally have something awesome to read again!!!! Jay, you are the BEST!!!!
My pleasure, Kym. Thanks for giving the book a shot. I hope you enjoy it!
I bought it on my kindle! It’s very nice of you to keep? the price low. Only 3.99!!! I think you can do better, but this is an improvement from SLS’s $2.99 debut.
Thanks, Eric. I’m glad you think the price is still fair. I don’t want to go any higher, even though a few people have suggested I could. Being able to undercut the competition is a good advantage, especially since I don’t have the pull of a publisher behind me. So far I’m not starving, so I’m okay.
wanted to save the book for spring break but couldn’t resist reading the whole thing last night.. ended up oversleeping for midterm this morning before spring break starts (lol)
the tiny little bits between David and Connor are so warm that I constantly felt like melting away
i guess i’ll have a hard time deciding which one is my favorite, something like summer or kamikaze, or perhaps simply both.
the only thing is that david’s being confined in a hospital came a bit too abrupt for me. i still found the fact that Dr Wolf (and maybe David’s father as well) tricked David into the hospital a bit ridiculous. how could they do that? shouldn’t David be outraged? or maybe it’s mandatory? – sorry if I didn’t get the facts right coz I was trying to flip through the pages fast for those chapters, too eager to find out when the lovers could reunite.
actually surprised the book itself didn’t say about its title “kamikaze” at all, which means “divine wind” by direct translation from Japanese and (if i’m not wrong) is the name for some suicide attacker pilots some decades ago. being able to understand the word made me feel that years of learning jap suddenly seem worth it after all (lol). i think i vaguely get the idea but may I ask why exactly Connor and David are seen as related to kamikaze?
thanks a lot. totally enjoyed the book.
Hey Julian!
Thanks for your feedback! It’s great to hear what you thought and that you enjoyed the story. As to your questions, the way David enters into the hospital is abrupt and immoral, and sadly based on a true story. I’m afraid minors in that situation don’t have many rights. As for the title, the reference is indeed to the suicide pilots, since so much of David and Connor’s behavior is increasingly self-destructive. Not that we can blame them for what they do, but their plane was definitely headed in a downward spiral. I didn’t know about the divine wind translation. Wish I had. I could have used that!
Thank you so much for reading!
Just finished the book and it was amazing!!
It’ll hopefully keep held over till the sequel of Something Like Summer.
I will say that if I ever have kids, I’m never putting them in a hospital like that.
Hey, Jamison! I’m so happy you liked the book. And I agree, putting your kid in a hospital like that is horrible, even if David’s dad had good intentions. Parents aren’t perfect either, but hospitalization should only be for extreme circumstances. I’m preaching the choir here, I know.
Finished Kamikaze Boys this morning!! Loved it very much. Thank you for another amazing book. Can’t wait for another one!!
That’s great to hear, Tara! Thanks for reading it. I’ll try not to keep you waiting too long on the next book.
Finished the book last night! I easily fell in love with Connor and his tough personality. I love how sweet he is to David and how we were able to explore his feelings more in depth.
The only feedback I have is that the hospital scenario seemed to be a little surreal. I read the comment above about it being a true story and that’s really tragic (I know a very similar story in my life), but with the characters leading up to their move and the situation that Connor gets himself in – it just didn’t seem to fit. I found myself more racing through those pages in order to find out what happens with Connor and David.
Ultimately, I love you as an author so please don’t think that I hated the book or anything like that. I think that you are very true to your characters and have a real gift for portraying emotions with your writing. “Something Like Summer” is still my favorite and I was hoping that this book would be comparable, but where would the fun be in having the same kind of book, right?
It was a very enjoyable read and I’ll definitely recommend it to all and I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.
Hey, Eric!
It’s cool that you fell for Connor. He was my favorite character to write this time around. Him and Gordon, although I like how David comes into his own toward the end. It’s interesting that the hospital scenes didn’t click with you. I’ve heard that from a few readers now. For me those parts ring true, maybe because of my past. I even considered writing an entire book with that setting, but for now I have way too many other plans.
Looking forward to hearing what you think of the next book! Thanks for continuing to read!
Just finished Kamikaze Boys. Thank you for another excellent book. I loved the characters, especially Connor. But even the minor characters were well crafted.
For me, personally, this is your best story so far. That is because this story was more about the two of them against the world than it was about the conflicts between the protagonists. So many stories are about the conflicts within the couple’s relationship, as they work out their issues and such. While I do enjoy those books (SLS was excellent), a story where the love and bond between the two is not the issue, but instead it is how they deal with the challenges the world throws at them is good to read. Thanks.
Thank you, Paul! Sounds like Connor is going to be the popular character of the book. I’m glad you thought the concept worked too. Writing about a relationship without all the internal conflict was fun. Maybe I’ll play with that concept again someday. Thanks for reading!
Wow, I’m just speechless after reading the book. I read it in 7 hours, and feel like I need to start over and read it more slowly. I also bought a copy for my 18 year old son to read who is gay and should read a “love conquers all” story. I loved the faith David and Connor had in each other and how they survived and triumphed in the end. I think this is an important book. Things are better for the gay community than even 20 years ago but there is so much fear and ignorance! Ok. Soapbox. Climbing down now. Thanks for the wonderful read and I’ll be looking for the Something Like Summer” movie!
Hi Lynn! Thank you so much for reading, and especially for passing the book on to your son. Reaching younger readers isn’t always easy, so it means a lot to me that you did this. And I agree that things are getting better. I’ve seen incredible changes since coming out at sixteen. The world your son will be spending his adult life in will be even better, due in no small part to cool parents like you. Come give me a hug!
Jay, Congratulations on the New Release, and I see already Very Positive Reviews, and Great Job on another Great Book!
Thanks, Richard! Keep your fingers crossed that the reviews stay positive!
Ok so I don’t normally write reviews on books, only because I am an artist and I am not good with my words. I just finished Kamikaze Boys and it was amazing!!!! I was thrown off in the middle but love every min of it and the end left me wanting more but the story felt complete at the same time. I have fallen in love with all of your books now and I have 2 more to go that I have not read yet, which are: The Cat in the Cradle: Loka Legends (which I am starting today) and Hell’s Pawn, which does not seem like something I would read but I know u wrote it so I can’t wait to read it. Anyway I wanted to say thank you for such amazing books. I first read something like summer almost a year ago and when I finished it I knew it was one of the best books I have ever read in this genre. I can’t think of any other book that took me on such a journey of love in the coming of age, YA romance genre. So thank you. I can’t wait for the next one!!
Wow, Julian! Thank you! You might not usually write reviews, but this one sure made me smile. Just out of curiosity, what about the middle of Kamikaze Boys threw you off? The trip to Florida? I hope you enjoy The Cat in the Cradle. It’s my first book, so it might not be as polished as the others, but hopefully you have fun with it anyway. Thanks for reading!