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thebookishren's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด: 5 โญ๏ธ
๐โ๐ข ๐๐ฏ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐จ, ๐ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฎ๐จ๐๐ก๐. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎโ๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐ข.
What a masterpiece of pride, progress, and friendship. At the core of this story is the bond between Ezra, Lucas, and Finley. Three young, gay men who forge a path through their teenage years by supporting each other no matter what. Ezra does struggle at times feeling like a third wheel, but thatโs those teenage hormones talking.
All scorned by their exes, these friends pull a First Wives Club (a fave of mine!) and form the Last Boyfriends Club so they can create ways to get back at those loser exes. But what starts off as revenge quickly becomes a revolution within their high school as videos go viral and students begin to fight back against the school administration.
Such an inspiration! The care in expressing being vulnerable, wrong, mature, scared, sad, flirtatious, thrilled, lonely, isolated. So many emotions were felt and they were real. A very pleasant reading experience! Even the exes turned out to be pretty okay!
Kevin, aka Ezraโs dad, is the MVP side character. He was so cute and supportive. As was Ms. Dion, a teacher who supported the cause.
And yโall. We have a romance. A sweet, slow burn, friends to boyfriends little romance that meant so much! I absolutely adored this couple and all they stood for. The ending was just beautiful and while I always want more in the end, the bookโs message finished on its peak and I salute Matthew for a wonderful debut!
๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ฆ: April 30, 2024
๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ . ๐ผ๐ก๐ก ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฌ๐ฃ.
transportedlfl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to @getunderlined #GetUnderlinedPartner and Delacorte Press for the free book and to @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
I was intrigued immediately by this title and the cover. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge focuses on three queer high school boys in small town Alabama. They have been friends since childhood and share an experience of recent awful breakups. The book is primarily told from Ezra's perspective but equally highlights Lucas and Finley.
As I read, I was so excited to realize how much of the book was inspired by The First Wives Club. The boys band together to get "revenge" on their exes, but they do so in the modern time of social media accounts and hashtags.
I greatly appreciated some of the adults the book showed as supporting the boys, most notably Ezra's father. And I appreciated the multiple types of character growth the boys underwent.
While it starts with a focus on three boys, the book becomes a much larger commentary about the policies including "Watch What You Say" which is a fictional schoolboard initiative clearly inspired by current book banning and other anti-LGBTQ school policies to make queer students hide their identities.
Overall, I found this inspiring and emotional while simultaneously powerful and important. The audiobook was narrated by Lee Osorio who did an excellent job differentiating the voices on the multiple main characters.
I was intrigued immediately by this title and the cover. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge focuses on three queer high school boys in small town Alabama. They have been friends since childhood and share an experience of recent awful breakups. The book is primarily told from Ezra's perspective but equally highlights Lucas and Finley.
As I read, I was so excited to realize how much of the book was inspired by The First Wives Club. The boys band together to get "revenge" on their exes, but they do so in the modern time of social media accounts and hashtags.
I greatly appreciated some of the adults the book showed as supporting the boys, most notably Ezra's father. And I appreciated the multiple types of character growth the boys underwent.
While it starts with a focus on three boys, the book becomes a much larger commentary about the policies including "Watch What You Say" which is a fictional schoolboard initiative clearly inspired by current book banning and other anti-LGBTQ school policies to make queer students hide their identities.
Overall, I found this inspiring and emotional while simultaneously powerful and important. The audiobook was narrated by Lee Osorio who did an excellent job differentiating the voices on the multiple main characters.
cakt1991's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge piqued my interest thanks to the bright cover (Pride colors!) and the blurb. The story is also rooted in topics Iโve become increasingly passionate about, like combatting institutionalized homophobia, and the legislation promoting book bans and the stigmatizing of drag shows. But even beyond that, itโs not just a story of queer resistance, but also has time for queer joy too.
I love the central friendship between Ezra and his best friends, Lucas and Finley. I loved their bond, especially how commiserating over heartbreak brought them closer, coordinating plans for revenge, and how seamlessly that also tied into actively fighting against their school district for their homophobic policies.
I also really liked Ezra in his own right. He really comes into his own throughout the book,figuring out his place in the world. And having always been a bit of a romantic, I liked that he also found a guy who was actually a solid person, and their romantic moments were quite cute.
This is a delightful, timely, affirming read, and Iโd recommend it to readers interested in a queer coming of age story with strong threads of activism and romance.
jsncnrd's review against another edition
5.0
I have read a lot of Young Adult books in my life, the majority of which have been LGBTQ โ they are one of my comforts. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is, without a doubt, one of the best YA books I have ever read. Itโs a new all-time favorite in the genre of queer YA, and I will recommend it to everyone.
Thereโs so much to love here. The characters are complex and dynamic. The plot is well-paced and absorbing. The romance is beautiful. The emotion is vivid. The humor is bold. The writing is excellent. The Taylor Swift easter eggs and references are plentiful.
The book explores so many important topics โ friendship, identity, justice, strength, acceptance โฆ and, of course, revenge. And it does so from a queer point of view.
The tone is managed so well. I found myself laughing, I found myself crying (a lot), I found myself enraged, and sometimes I was all of those things at the same time. It shifts from vigilantism and revenge plotting to meaningful discourse on a dime. And it makes it work.
The book encourages you to look within, and in turn, you see yourself in these characters that are so well-developed that they feel real.
Amidst real-world legislation that is targeting the existence of queer people, this book has never felt more relevant or necessary. If it finds its way into the hands of someone who needs that spark, that push, to finally speak up and fight back? Then this book can change lives. That is how strong and meaningful this story is.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is such an experience. It is a resounding chorus of voices encouraging us all to scream โWeโre here.โ
Itโs also a reminder that not only are queer people here โ but weโre here to stay.
What a debut. Matthew Hubbard is an author to watch.
Part of the magic of reading queer YA books when youโre older is that you reminisce on the times that you yourself were a young adult โ and how you desperately wish that you had books like these. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is the book I needed when I was younger, and it warms my heart to know that the young adult audience who desperately needs books like this right now, has it.
โSo make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it โ youโve got no reason to be afraid. Youโre on your own, kid โ you can face this.โ โ Taylor Swift
Thank you to Matthew Hubbard and NetGalley for the eARC of the book!
Thereโs so much to love here. The characters are complex and dynamic. The plot is well-paced and absorbing. The romance is beautiful. The emotion is vivid. The humor is bold. The writing is excellent. The Taylor Swift easter eggs and references are plentiful.
The book explores so many important topics โ friendship, identity, justice, strength, acceptance โฆ and, of course, revenge. And it does so from a queer point of view.
The tone is managed so well. I found myself laughing, I found myself crying (a lot), I found myself enraged, and sometimes I was all of those things at the same time. It shifts from vigilantism and revenge plotting to meaningful discourse on a dime. And it makes it work.
The book encourages you to look within, and in turn, you see yourself in these characters that are so well-developed that they feel real.
Amidst real-world legislation that is targeting the existence of queer people, this book has never felt more relevant or necessary. If it finds its way into the hands of someone who needs that spark, that push, to finally speak up and fight back? Then this book can change lives. That is how strong and meaningful this story is.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is such an experience. It is a resounding chorus of voices encouraging us all to scream โWeโre here.โ
Itโs also a reminder that not only are queer people here โ but weโre here to stay.
What a debut. Matthew Hubbard is an author to watch.
Part of the magic of reading queer YA books when youโre older is that you reminisce on the times that you yourself were a young adult โ and how you desperately wish that you had books like these. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is the book I needed when I was younger, and it warms my heart to know that the young adult audience who desperately needs books like this right now, has it.
โSo make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it โ youโve got no reason to be afraid. Youโre on your own, kid โ you can face this.โ โ Taylor Swift
Thank you to Matthew Hubbard and NetGalley for the eARC of the book!
bookishvice's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge sounded like the perfect queer YA high school drama, full of diverse characters, a fun revenge plan, and lots of LGBTQ+ pride. AND IT IS, but it also didn't take long to realize it's also a hot dumpster fire mess of teen feelings, poor mental health not really addressed (?), and badly executed revenge plots with zero thought to consequences. I gave the story a chance to fully hook me in for longer than it was needed because I honestly wanted to like it, yet it never managed to do so. The MC becomes quite the unlikable character when he turns against his friends, and by the point that happens, I wasn't invested in him enough to want to follow the escalation of his teen drama. I get that the story revolves around his flaws and how he has to work things out with himself to become the real MC hero of the story, but his unlikability and his poor decisions were too much for me to want to continue cheering him on.
I'm still giving this a 3 star, because it is a well-executed book with a strong and wonderful message about LGBTQ+ rights and how our voices as just as valid. It's especially relevant now with all the anti-LGBTQIA+ propaganda and laws being passed. Plus, I'm sure there's an audience that will click better with the high school drama side of the story. Unfortunately, it didn't click with me. DNF at page 130. Might pick it back up at finish at some later date.
[Netgalley ARC]
I'm still giving this a 3 star, because it is a well-executed book with a strong and wonderful message about LGBTQ+ rights and how our voices as just as valid. It's especially relevant now with all the anti-LGBTQIA+ propaganda and laws being passed. Plus, I'm sure there's an audience that will click better with the high school drama side of the story. Unfortunately, it didn't click with me. DNF at page 130. Might pick it back up at finish at some later date.
[Netgalley ARC]
tristatereader's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
You know when Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda first came out in 2015 and the book community (especially the queer book community) was like, โStop everything youโre doing and read this book right nowโ? I had the same reaction while reading TLBRFR. This book made me feel like a new wave of queer defiance is being ushered in, and I am here ๐๐ผ for ๐๐ผ it ๐๐ผ. I think itโs more than serendipitous that Becky Albertalli blurbed for this book.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge tells the story of Ezra, Finley, and Lucas. These three Alabama-living besties are in relationships with the shittiest guys. I mean, their boyfriends are just the WORST. And as each of these toxic relationships begins to crash and burn, EF&L take solace in the fact that they're all "last boyfriends". At the same time, their school attempts to stifle their queerness under the guise of a "Watch What You Say" initiative, and the boys are not having it. They decide to fight back.
There were so many things about this book that I loved and the amount of diversity and representation was just the tip of the iceberg. The characters in this book were all so uniquely and unapologetically themselves, which is something I adore. I also loved the unwavering courage shown by all of the characters in the face of adversity. I adored Ezra, Fin, and Lucasโ friendship and the unshakable loyalty shown to one another throughout this story. And on top of all of that, there was romance ๐, a Zaddy named Kevin, a โCarrie momentโ, and a plethora of Sour Patch Kids.
TL;DR- Reading TLBRFR has made me feel like Iโm part of a movement. This book has lit a fire, fueled by queer-defiance. And we, as the readers, are helping to feed the flames. I am bursting with pride by that sentiment and I canโt wait to watch my community create an inferno ๐ฅ
BONUS: Please enjoy the following Kevinisms:
- "Don't be afraid of a fight"
- "Being brave is doing what's right when you know the consequences"
- "The best revenge is believing in yourself"
- "And wear a rubber if you're gonna have sex"
*The The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is out April 30th, but you can pre-order now and submit your receipt to www.lastboyfriends.com for some fun swag ๐*
Thank you so much to Underlined and Delacorte Press for an ARC of this book โค๏ธ
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge tells the story of Ezra, Finley, and Lucas. These three Alabama-living besties are in relationships with the shittiest guys. I mean, their boyfriends are just the WORST. And as each of these toxic relationships begins to crash and burn, EF&L take solace in the fact that they're all "last boyfriends". At the same time, their school attempts to stifle their queerness under the guise of a "Watch What You Say" initiative, and the boys are not having it. They decide to fight back.
There were so many things about this book that I loved and the amount of diversity and representation was just the tip of the iceberg. The characters in this book were all so uniquely and unapologetically themselves, which is something I adore. I also loved the unwavering courage shown by all of the characters in the face of adversity. I adored Ezra, Fin, and Lucasโ friendship and the unshakable loyalty shown to one another throughout this story. And on top of all of that, there was romance ๐, a Zaddy named Kevin, a โCarrie momentโ, and a plethora of Sour Patch Kids.
TL;DR- Reading TLBRFR has made me feel like Iโm part of a movement. This book has lit a fire, fueled by queer-defiance. And we, as the readers, are helping to feed the flames. I am bursting with pride by that sentiment and I canโt wait to watch my community create an inferno ๐ฅ
BONUS: Please enjoy the following Kevinisms:
- "Don't be afraid of a fight"
- "Being brave is doing what's right when you know the consequences"
- "The best revenge is believing in yourself"
- "And wear a rubber if you're gonna have sex"
*The The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is out April 30th, but you can pre-order now and submit your receipt to www.lastboyfriends.com for some fun swag ๐*
Thank you so much to Underlined and Delacorte Press for an ARC of this book โค๏ธ
proftoddreads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a 5 star debut novel by Matthew Hubbard! The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is a queer YA reimagining of First Wives Club following 3 high school best friends who are plotting revenge on their ex boyfriends while also secretly fighting their schoolโs new anti-gay policies via an anonymous TikTok account that quickly goes viral!
If you like:
โจQueer friendships
โจAlly communities
โจLGBTQ+ pride
โจStudent uprisings
โจRevenge
โจHumor
โจGlitter Bombs
โจDrag shows
This novel is for you!!
I had an absolute blast reading every page of this book. It was a delightful romp with meaningful messages about friendship, love, adversity, and standing up against institutionalized hate. Hubbardโs characters show us what it means to wrestle with self doubt, find your voice, and gain the strength to fight back against oppression.
Equal parts delightful & empowering, this book offers important insights into the dangers facing queer youth and the sinister policies targeting them. Hubbard expertly blends wit and humor with social commentary, making this novel an absolute must read for all ages.
Thank you so much to Matthew Hubbard for sending me an ARC of this book. I will be enthusiastically joining the โglitter dusted revolutionโ and buying the print version on April 30!
If you like:
โจQueer friendships
โจAlly communities
โจLGBTQ+ pride
โจStudent uprisings
โจRevenge
โจHumor
โจGlitter Bombs
โจDrag shows
This novel is for you!!
I had an absolute blast reading every page of this book. It was a delightful romp with meaningful messages about friendship, love, adversity, and standing up against institutionalized hate. Hubbardโs characters show us what it means to wrestle with self doubt, find your voice, and gain the strength to fight back against oppression.
Equal parts delightful & empowering, this book offers important insights into the dangers facing queer youth and the sinister policies targeting them. Hubbard expertly blends wit and humor with social commentary, making this novel an absolute must read for all ages.
Thank you so much to Matthew Hubbard for sending me an ARC of this book. I will be enthusiastically joining the โglitter dusted revolutionโ and buying the print version on April 30!
ninergrl6's review
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for providing access to this ARC! I enjoyed the empowerment angle as the plot evolved from revenge to advocacy. Thatโs when I became invested. Kevin and Jackson are endearing, fresh supporting (and supportive) characters, but I wish Lucas and Finley had more distinct voices. Great message and great main character growth
matthewhubbard's review
5.0
Dear Reader,
โWeโre hereโ is a powerful reminder. These two words burned like a fire inside me as I wrote The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge. This story of queer teens in rural Alabama began as them seeking revenge for their heartbreak; however, while writing my heart was broken as Florida House Bill 1557, the infamous โDonโt Say Gayโ bill, began targeting my community. I cried tears of anger as events unfolded and turned to the document that would become this book to do the only thing I could: keep hope alive.
As I started writing to fight back, I thought of how helpless those affected by anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation must feel. It reminded me of my own struggles growing up in a small Alabama town. Just like the main character, Ezra, I felt alone and bullied by the world. After being harassed at school, I often begged the universe for answers: Will I always be alone? Will I ever belong? Do I even matter? Keeping that desperation in mind, I set out to write for anyone who might feel the same. Ezra is a younger version of me; I wrote my present-day self as his father to help him see himself clearly. As his father, I was able to finally answer those questions and heal the hurt Iโve carried for far too long. I hope youโll discover yourself in these pages, as I have discovered myself, and know that you arenโt alone and you belong and you matter.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge has been my story for so long, but now itโs our story. Together weโll learn to believe in ourselves like Ezra and his friends as they cause mayhem and have fun doing soโbelieving in yourself is the best revenge, after all. With great pride, I welcome you to join the fight and promise you that you arenโt alone. Weโre here, and weโre all โlast boyfriends.โ
Proudly,
Matthew
โWeโre hereโ is a powerful reminder. These two words burned like a fire inside me as I wrote The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge. This story of queer teens in rural Alabama began as them seeking revenge for their heartbreak; however, while writing my heart was broken as Florida House Bill 1557, the infamous โDonโt Say Gayโ bill, began targeting my community. I cried tears of anger as events unfolded and turned to the document that would become this book to do the only thing I could: keep hope alive.
As I started writing to fight back, I thought of how helpless those affected by anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation must feel. It reminded me of my own struggles growing up in a small Alabama town. Just like the main character, Ezra, I felt alone and bullied by the world. After being harassed at school, I often begged the universe for answers: Will I always be alone? Will I ever belong? Do I even matter? Keeping that desperation in mind, I set out to write for anyone who might feel the same. Ezra is a younger version of me; I wrote my present-day self as his father to help him see himself clearly. As his father, I was able to finally answer those questions and heal the hurt Iโve carried for far too long. I hope youโll discover yourself in these pages, as I have discovered myself, and know that you arenโt alone and you belong and you matter.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge has been my story for so long, but now itโs our story. Together weโll learn to believe in ourselves like Ezra and his friends as they cause mayhem and have fun doing soโbelieving in yourself is the best revenge, after all. With great pride, I welcome you to join the fight and promise you that you arenโt alone. Weโre here, and weโre all โlast boyfriends.โ
Proudly,
Matthew