Boy Banned is a wonderfully different story from RJ’s usual books. One of the MCs (main characters) is “on the autistic spectrum.” If you don’t know it already, RJ’s son has autism. She’s written a very touching and personal Author’s Note at the end of this book.

Boy Banned is about a group of 5 singers who didn’t make the final cut on a fictional X-Factor type show. They are given one more chance to make the show if they are willing to ban together and form a group. They all decide to take the offer and see how things go.

Corey Dixon hates that he messed up his individual audition for the live show. Being “on the spectrum” makes a lot of things difficult for him. He especially has trouble reading emotions and expressing them which can work against him when it comes to performing live.

Angel Jacobs doesn’t want to go back to the life that’s waiting for him at home – working in the family business. He’s out and proud and giving up his dream will only prove the bullies in his life were right.

As the group comes together Angel has a calming effect on Corey and they form a tight bond – one that is threatened when the show insists that the band can have only one gay member – Angel – and that Corey has to pretend to be something he isn’t.

This story touched on all of my emotions. The relationship between Angel and Corey is sweet with a bit of heat. Everyone in the band just wants to go as far as they can in the competition. Each character plays an important part in the story but the relationship between Corey and Angel is the main focus.

It was great to see how the other band members came to care for and protect Corey as they moved along their journey in the competition. Corey’s struggles tore my heart out but it was worth it to take the journey with him and Angel.

If you are a fan of RJ Scott’s other stories please read this one, you will love it, if for no other reason than how personal it is to her. If you are new to her books this is a great place to start.

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“Filming in five, four….”Brianna was clearly the leader in this particular choice. “Hi, guys,” she said strongly, her tone belied by the fluttering of her hands around her face. She had assumed the “we have terrible news” expression. Both the male judges had relaxed back in their seats.

All five of the contestants said hello back; the other four were as worried and subdued as Corey sounded to his own ears.

“Okay,” she began, “boys, boys, boys… you all know that the auditions at boot camp weren’t so good. Mistakes, wrong song choices, emotions getting the better of you….” She trailed off and looked into the distance with a soft pout. She was acting out the whole disappointment thing and was a freaking expert at it.

Corey shifted from one foot to the other. His head was banded with the start of a headache, which he was convinced would deteriorate into a migraine if he didn’t get some meds soon. That would just be the perfect shitty end to the perfect shitty day.

“We’ve considered you a lot. You’re the hardest group of singers, and it took us a long time to come to a decision.”

Another dramatic pause, in which Corey imagined music would be inserted for added drama. He stopped breathing, waiting for her to finish what she was going to say. Maybe, somehow, they’d been given the chance to prove themselves again, and she would say they were through.

She shook her head slowly. “Sorry, boys. We’re not taking you through as solo singers to the live finals.”

And there it was. Corey’s dream gone. Finished.

He’d messed up worse than the worst fuck-up ever, and the disappointment was visceral, unforgiving, heartbreaking.

Double K let out a harsh sigh and then draped himself all over Angel, who didn’t push him away, simply held him gently.

At least Double K wasn’t crying.

Corey wanted to cry.

Not at the fact he’d come this close to getting to the live shows, but the fact it was all his own fault that he’d blown his audition. If only he’d stuck to Kasabian, or maybe another old Bon Jovi, he’d have made it through.

Corey didn’t cry, though. He let himself feel the pain of disappointment, then looked to the stage manager as to what they were going to do next. If the cameras caught him at that moment, they would see a man who’d been dealt a blow but was stubbornly determined not to give up.

“But—” Brianna was talking again, saying something about wildcards and judges’ choice and compromise. “We have our wildcard choice, and all five of you made the list as being just outside those we selected who made it automatically to the shows. You’re all good, but you just didn’t raise your game enough to make it through automatically.”

Corey tuned back in. Were they going to make the five of them repeat their performance? Was he still in with a chance? He was way better than Skinny, Puppy, and Double K. Only Angel was anywhere near his skills vocally. Angel, who was still supporting Double K, which made Corey’s skin itch with a prickle of resentment. He pushed it away.

Hope bloomed inside him at the thought he might have another chance. He wouldn’t mess up again. He could do this.

And then, as suddenly as hope began to grow, Brianna dashed it by using her serious tone, the one that had viewers falling for her all over again.

“We’d like you to consider grouping together, becoming one band, and going through to the live finals as our wildcard choice in the group category.”

Stunned silence.

Double K was quiet, and Puppy had even stopped swearing quietly under his breath.

“Go,” Brianna said. “Take some time. Talk it over.”

In a daze, his chest tight, Corey left the stage, the last of them to leave, following Double K back into the large room they’d just been sitting in. Cameras followed them in, and all of them stood looking at each other.

“Okay, guys, this is a big decision,” the showrunner said. “We’ll keep the cameras out of the room. Let me know when you’re done. You have an hour before we offer this to our next reserve.”

He turned to leave, but Corey needed to ask one thing.

“If we say no, does that mean one of us alone would become the wildcard?”

Hope sat in his chest, and he willed the man to say yes.

The producer checked his clipboard and shook his head. “No. It’s all or nothing, because we have a girl up on second reserve if you decide you want to call it a day.”

Silence.

The cameras left; the door shut.

Angel shook his head, Puppy cursed loudly, Skinny thumped the wall, and Double K burst into tears.

And all Corey could do was stand there and use every available ounce of energy to focus on what the hell had just happened.

Great.