Except for Cough Drops - True Colors, #1

High school hallways hide deeper secrets than locker combinations. Cory: Average fifteen-year-old? Maybe before he realized butterflies erupt for guys, not girls. Now, confessing to his best friend Brian, feels like stepping off a cliff. But amidst the confusion, he finds an unexpected anchor in a kindred spirit who speaks the language of hidden hearts. Brian: Scoring goals is easier than navigating life's sudden curveballs.
His carefully controlled world spins wildly, leaving him scrambling for his footing. When tragedy strikes Brian cracks, revealing vulnerabilities he desperately tries to deal with. Travis: New kid, mid-year. The whispers follow him like shadows: "Why the move?" "Where'd you come from?" He longs to disappear, but as he carves his way through unfamiliar faces, he stumbles upon friendships as warm as stolen sunshine.
Together, they dive into a world where families shift like tectonic plates, love blooms in unexpected corners, and self-discovery hurts like growing pains. In a landscape painted with loss, first kisses, and whispered truths, they grapple with the messy, exhilarating chaos of finding themselves in a world obsessed with fitting in. Except for Cough Drops is more than a coming-of-age story. It's a raw, honest exploration of belonging, acceptance, and the courage it takes to be who you want to be in a world obsessed with fitting in.