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nickoliver's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I kinda need to sit with this for a while. I can understand why people didn't like it, because the characters say and do very frustrating things. But I also kind of understood why they acted the way they did? Idk, a bit conflicted. It's probably somewhere between a 3 and 4 stars for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Grief, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Biphobia, and Blood
Re: homophobia and ableism, there's also use of the f-slur and the r-word.ungdlyhr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
well. i read it in one sitting. i despised jeremy for most of it and the events of this book stressed me out but whew. relief is not strong enough of a word for what i felt at the end. also sol and lukas are everything to me.
i’m honestly not sure if i loved this book or hated it
edit: i initially gave this book 4 stars and then i let it sit with me. it was just. not great. there’s no depth to the characters. they really don’t deserve their “happy” ending. i didn’t hate this book but i didn’t enjoy it.... i don’t know if that’s bc i thought it was gonna be a romcom or bc of how it’s written...
i’m honestly not sure if i loved this book or hated it
edit: i initially gave this book 4 stars and then i let it sit with me. it was just. not great. there’s no depth to the characters. they really don’t deserve their “happy” ending. i didn’t hate this book but i didn’t enjoy it.... i don’t know if that’s bc i thought it was gonna be a romcom or bc of how it’s written...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism and Blood
Minor: Vomit
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thanks to Macmillan and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy of this to review! It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting, but not in a bad way! Just much heavier than I was expected. But there are a lot of great issues discussed in here, and it has a lot of other great things going for it!
Let’s start with the good things! This book has a great cast of diverse characters (even if the main characters aren’t the most likeable, more on that below). I especially liked Sol; they were a great foil to Jeremy and Lukas and often a voice of reason. Ellor also captured the elite high school feel, down to the homecoming competition and the feel of the book. It felt authentic and gave the characters a great backdrop.
Ellor also focused a lot on character growth, and man, did these characters have so much room to grow. Jeremy was very angry for most of the book, internalizing a lot of toxic masculinity traits that are sometimes hard to read. I do think he changed by the end of the book, even if he still has a long way to go. He’s still just a teenager! Lukas is also angry, though not as fiery as Jeremy. They both have hurt feelings that could definitely use therapy, and maybe they’ll get it in the future!
Now, the negatives. One of my main complaints is the pacing. A lot of parts felt dragged out, while the ending felt a bit rushed to me. Especially the reconciliation between Jeremy and Lukas. I specifically wanted that aspect of the plot to be…slower? It’s scrunched into the last quarter of the book and I wanted more of them working out their problems. With each other and their friends.
Also, I absolutely loathed the AP Bio teacher. She deliberately makes tests that students can’t pass and I hate teachers like that. Like, how is any student learning anything? And she was so unwilling to work with Lukas when he said he needed his laptop to take notes. Lukas is autistic, and even though he hadn’t really informed the school, she still should have been willing to work with him. That’s what teachers do.
I’m not sure that I can comment on the authenticity of the representation of Lukas’s autism, so I would seek out own voices reviews for that. But al in all, even if this wasn’t the rom-com I was expecting, this is a strong debut and I can’t wait to read more from ZR Ellor in the future.
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That 100% wasn't what I was expecting based on the cover and the description. There is A LOT to unpack here, so stay tuned for a full review to come next week!
That 100% wasn't what I was expecting based on the cover and the description. There is A LOT to unpack here, so stay tuned for a full review to come next week!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Death, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
spearly's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC for review!
Do not let this incredible cover fool you. This is not a fluffy, easy story.
TW: Transphobia, dead naming, misogyny, bullying, attempted sexual assault, harassment, violence, homophobia, ableism
Exes Jeremy and Lukas have a lot on the line with the Homecoming king title. For Lukas, it means stepping out of his late brother's shadow and earning a sure acceptance into one of the ivy leagues that would finally make his parent's proud. For Jeremy, it means everyone has finally accepted what he's always known: he is a guy, and he's not gonna let his pseudo-progressive school and some transphobic classmates stand in his way. But before he came out, Jeremy used to be Lukas's girlfriend, and Lukas never understood why he ended things. Competition heats up as the two vie for the crown, and neither of them seem to care who they hurt in the process.
First and foremost, the audiobook was great. I did end up listening to it in 1.25 speed, but I loved the narrator, Avi Roque, and found the voices of all the characters easy enough to follow. I'm also very happy Avi is a member of the LGBTQ+ community themself. They were a great fit, and really brought the book to life!
Lets start with the good: I feel like I am better for having read this story. Ellor goes very into depth on several trans issues, and even though I wasn't a huge fan of Jeremy's character, I really understood where he was coming from. He has a truly great arc in the book, and his chapters definitely opened my eyes more to the trans experience. Ellor also delved into ableist issues with our other lead, Lukas, who is neuro-divergent. His chapters stuck out to me; Lukas's voice was so raw, so needing, so lost. I wanted to give him a big hug.
We also have a great cast of side characters, all of whom felt distinct and fleshed out, and all of whom had their own issues going on outside the main conflicts of the story. Ellor's diversity extended well beyond the two white male leads, and I was happy to see issues of race and the gender spectrum talked about as well.
All that said, I found the book a bit tough to get through because, obviously, it deals with some heavy themes. But more so because I really didn't enjoy Jeremy's character. Like I mentioned, I understand why he is the way he is. He's a small guy struggling to be seen in the world as he sees himself, constantly having to remind others of his gender identity and queerness. Fighting against transphobia, both overt and unconscious. So I get it. But like... he is also kind of an asshole. I won't go too much into detail (you'll have to read it for yourself!), but let's just say his arc is one of the most dramatic in the book.
Lukas. My sweet bb Lukas. I love that kid. An angel who just wants to keep his family together. A kid who struggles with social cues and nuance and has no idea why the guy he loves dumped him out of no-where before coming out. A boy who wants to be homecoming king so he can get into an ivy school and finally fill the shoes left behind by his perfect brother. I'm a bit bias... he's definitely not perfect. He makes mistakes. He takes things too far in his competition for the crown.
Complicated characters. Deep themes, troubling to some. Lots of ups and downs. A very relevant story in today's day and age; even as progressive as someone might think they are, there will always be things that cishet people can never understand. Thankfully we have people like Z.R. Ellor to tell the stories we need to hear.
Do not let this incredible cover fool you. This is not a fluffy, easy story.
TW: Transphobia, dead naming, misogyny, bullying, attempted sexual assault, harassment, violence, homophobia, ableism
Exes Jeremy and Lukas have a lot on the line with the Homecoming king title. For Lukas, it means stepping out of his late brother's shadow and earning a sure acceptance into one of the ivy leagues that would finally make his parent's proud. For Jeremy, it means everyone has finally accepted what he's always known: he is a guy, and he's not gonna let his pseudo-progressive school and some transphobic classmates stand in his way. But before he came out, Jeremy used to be Lukas's girlfriend, and Lukas never understood why he ended things. Competition heats up as the two vie for the crown, and neither of them seem to care who they hurt in the process.
First and foremost, the audiobook was great. I did end up listening to it in 1.25 speed, but I loved the narrator, Avi Roque, and found the voices of all the characters easy enough to follow. I'm also very happy Avi is a member of the LGBTQ+ community themself. They were a great fit, and really brought the book to life!
Lets start with the good: I feel like I am better for having read this story. Ellor goes very into depth on several trans issues, and even though I wasn't a huge fan of Jeremy's character, I really understood where he was coming from. He has a truly great arc in the book, and his chapters definitely opened my eyes more to the trans experience. Ellor also delved into ableist issues with our other lead, Lukas, who is neuro-divergent. His chapters stuck out to me; Lukas's voice was so raw, so needing, so lost. I wanted to give him a big hug.
We also have a great cast of side characters, all of whom felt distinct and fleshed out, and all of whom had their own issues going on outside the main conflicts of the story. Ellor's diversity extended well beyond the two white male leads, and I was happy to see issues of race and the gender spectrum talked about as well.
All that said, I found the book a bit tough to get through because, obviously, it deals with some heavy themes. But more so because I really didn't enjoy Jeremy's character. Like I mentioned, I understand why he is the way he is. He's a small guy struggling to be seen in the world as he sees himself, constantly having to remind others of his gender identity and queerness. Fighting against transphobia, both overt and unconscious. So I get it. But like... he is also kind of an asshole. I won't go too much into detail (you'll have to read it for yourself!), but let's just say his arc is one of the most dramatic in the book.
Lukas. My sweet bb Lukas. I love that kid. An angel who just wants to keep his family together. A kid who struggles with social cues and nuance and has no idea why the guy he loves dumped him out of no-where before coming out. A boy who wants to be homecoming king so he can get into an ivy school and finally fill the shoes left behind by his perfect brother. I'm a bit bias... he's definitely not perfect. He makes mistakes. He takes things too far in his competition for the crown.
Complicated characters. Deep themes, troubling to some. Lots of ups and downs. A very relevant story in today's day and age; even as progressive as someone might think they are, there will always be things that cishet people can never understand. Thankfully we have people like Z.R. Ellor to tell the stories we need to hear.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Cursing, Body shaming, Ableism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Misogyny and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Biphobia, and Suicidal thoughts
xoodlebooks's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Hate crime, Bullying, Ableism, Violence, Sexism, and Self harm
Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, Cursing, and Biphobia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Sexual assault, Death, Drug use, Racism, Cancer, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
rachrreads's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jeremy Harkiss has felt like there’s been something wrong with him his whole life. Trying to be the perfect “girl” everyone wanted him to be— popular, student body president, captain of the cheerleading team, beautiful. But during his senior year Jeremy finally gets to be himself. After dumping his ex and telling his mother he’s a boy, Jeremy is done pretending. He decides to run for homecoming king against his ex-boyfriend. It’s a challenge for him, as some in the school don’t see him for who he really is, but he’s not going to let that get in his way.
Lukas Rivers has been hiding something from everyone his whole life. Lukas is Autistic, but he doesn’t want anyone to know. Star player on the football team, head of the homecoming committee, and well-liked by the whole school, but only his family and his ex know his secret. Lukas is also struggling with the death of his “perfect” brother the prior summer. It doesn’t help that he was dumped by his best friend the day of the funeral, with no explanation why. His family is falling apart in front of his very eyes; Lukas needs to win Homecoming king— this will bring his family back together, or so he thinks. He’s got the crown in the bag, until his ex Jeremy announces his own run.
This is a fight for the crown. May the Best Man Win.
This book was super cute and I loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend if you’re looking to read something fluffy, but also serious. You really get to feel everything Lukas is going through in his body dysmorphia and self doubt. Also, lovers to enemies to lovers is always a serve!
Jeremy Harkiss has felt like there’s been something wrong with him his whole life. Trying to be the perfect “girl” everyone wanted him to be— popular, student body president, captain of the cheerleading team, beautiful. But during his senior year Jeremy finally gets to be himself. After dumping his ex and telling his mother he’s a boy, Jeremy is done pretending. He decides to run for homecoming king against his ex-boyfriend. It’s a challenge for him, as some in the school don’t see him for who he really is, but he’s not going to let that get in his way.
Lukas Rivers has been hiding something from everyone his whole life. Lukas is Autistic, but he doesn’t want anyone to know. Star player on the football team, head of the homecoming committee, and well-liked by the whole school, but only his family and his ex know his secret. Lukas is also struggling with the death of his “perfect” brother the prior summer. It doesn’t help that he was dumped by his best friend the day of the funeral, with no explanation why. His family is falling apart in front of his very eyes; Lukas needs to win Homecoming king— this will bring his family back together, or so he thinks. He’s got the crown in the bag, until his ex Jeremy announces his own run.
This is a fight for the crown. May the Best Man Win.
This book was super cute and I loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend if you’re looking to read something fluffy, but also serious. You really get to feel everything Lukas is going through in his body dysmorphia and self doubt. Also, lovers to enemies to lovers is always a serve!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Transphobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Hate crime, Deadnaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Blood, Biphobia, Car accident, Child death, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
melaniereadsbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an arc of this book.
After dumping his long term boyfriend before transitioning, Jeremy Harkiss decides to throw everything he has into campaigning for Homecoming King his senior year. His confused ex-boyfriend, Lukas has his own reasons for running against Jeremy as he tries to navigate his crumbling family and confusion over the break up. The two boys go head to head as they tear their worlds apart to get what they think they want.
I loved this book with my whole heart. I was caught up instantly in the story, and so curious to find out why Lukas and Jeremy had broken up and what their lives would look like. Everything escalates so far, and there is so much drama. There were times when I wasn't sure how any of the characters in this book would be able to forgive each other, but it also read very true to the way teenagers can get over things that are important to them.
Jeremy and Lukas are definitely an opposites-attract couple, and there was so much fire and chemistry between them. I also loved the diverse cast of characters included in this book and their friends (and frenemies) and their families.
This book deals with heartbreak, gender and sexual identity, bullying and harassment, cheerleading and football, college applications and failed Biology Tests. The writing and details were so rich and everything came together in terrible and beautiful ways that absolutely broke me and then put me back together.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Pub date: May 18, 2021
After dumping his long term boyfriend before transitioning, Jeremy Harkiss decides to throw everything he has into campaigning for Homecoming King his senior year. His confused ex-boyfriend, Lukas has his own reasons for running against Jeremy as he tries to navigate his crumbling family and confusion over the break up. The two boys go head to head as they tear their worlds apart to get what they think they want.
I loved this book with my whole heart. I was caught up instantly in the story, and so curious to find out why Lukas and Jeremy had broken up and what their lives would look like. Everything escalates so far, and there is so much drama. There were times when I wasn't sure how any of the characters in this book would be able to forgive each other, but it also read very true to the way teenagers can get over things that are important to them.
Jeremy and Lukas are definitely an opposites-attract couple, and there was so much fire and chemistry between them. I also loved the diverse cast of characters included in this book and their friends (and frenemies) and their families.
This book deals with heartbreak, gender and sexual identity, bullying and harassment, cheerleading and football, college applications and failed Biology Tests. The writing and details were so rich and everything came together in terrible and beautiful ways that absolutely broke me and then put me back together.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Pub date: May 18, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Deadnaming, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Blood, Violence, and Vomit
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