In my Step Brother's Book

Zayne has dyslexia, but he loves writing. It's the only place where words don't fail him. Through his stories, he escapes the real world and lives out every fantasy he's too afraid to admit out loud.

Because Zayne is gay-and in his family, that's not something he can be.

In real life, he'd do almost anything to be straight. But inside the pages of his books, he can be whoever he truly wants to be.

At school, he's bullied for reading below grade level, and his slight stutter only makes things worse whenever he's forced to read out loud. At home, he's constantly compared to his stepbrother Bryant-the smart one, the effortless one, the golden boy who takes his talent for granted. Bryant has never known what it feels like to struggle, and it shows.

Then Bryant discovers Zayne's secret world.

At first, it's just curiosity. A few stolen pages. A few sarcastic comments. But soon Bryant can't stop reading. He starts leaving anonymous praise on Zayne's stories, feeding into his fantasies, even reenacting the romantic scenes for laughs.

Until it stops feeling funny.

Because somewhere between the pages, lingering touches, and late-night teasing, Bryant forgets he's only supposed to be a reader.

And worse-

he forgets he's just Zayne's stepbrother, too.