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astooni's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Outing
Minor: Dysphoria and Death
tetedump's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Body shaming, Bullying, Transphobia, and Fatphobia
ollie_again's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Grief, Bullying, and Sexual content
Minor: Death
bumblemee's review against another edition
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
3.25
A lot of things I liked, some things I have mixed feelings about.
I really liked how diverse the cast was. It managed to spread a little awareness for different struggles of different identities, even if it was just a few sentences. That was included easily, which was cool. Everything theater and stage production was great, too! As well as the setting itself, where queer kids can just be themselves in a safer space accompanied by queer adults. It's just great. I would've loved this when I was a teenager. Oh, and I also liked the sex positivity.
Randy was a likeable protagonist, he's funny and very dramatic (a lot of exploding stars inside of him and the world applauding him while having sex or something? .. a man of big words). Sometimes I wanted to shake him, though. I know that him changing and hiding things about himself is the premise of this book, but it was still frustatring sometimes. His stoic determination to continue with this ludicrous plan of his, my god. Especially because he barely knows Hudson at all - yeah, he's an allosexual/alloromantic teenager, so maybe that's just normal, but it seemed so weird to me, because it's very different from what I experience. I don't really get why Randy is so set on Hudson, even though Hudson says and does things that should ring some alarm bells for Randy. Randy explains his reasoning, we get to see scenes from the past that shaped Randys perception of Hudson, but I don't know if I understand how that weighs out the experiences he has when actually getting to know Hudson. (Again, maybe just normal teenager behavior that contradicts how I would've acted as a teenager.)
I don't know how much I want to go into Hudsons character here. He has problematic views of course, which lead him to behave according to them, but since that is the center point of his character arc, I don't think there's much to say other than: prepare for internalised homophobia and some blatant toxic masculinity and infuriating statements as a result. Personally, I had empathy for him and I liked seeing him grow, but I understand everyone who can't look past that, since a lot of queer people have their own traume from people who behaved like Hudson. (Trauma doesn't excuse shitty behavior and so on.)
I really liked how diverse the cast was. It managed to spread a little awareness for different struggles of different identities, even if it was just a few sentences. That was included easily, which was cool. Everything theater and stage production was great, too! As well as the setting itself, where queer kids can just be themselves in a safer space accompanied by queer adults. It's just great. I would've loved this when I was a teenager. Oh, and I also liked the sex positivity.
Randy was a likeable protagonist, he's funny and very dramatic (a lot of exploding stars inside of him and the world applauding him while having sex or something? .. a man of big words). Sometimes I wanted to shake him, though. I know that him changing and hiding things about himself is the premise of this book, but it was still frustatring sometimes. His stoic determination to continue with this ludicrous plan of his, my god. Especially because he barely knows Hudson at all - yeah, he's an allosexual/alloromantic teenager, so maybe that's just normal, but it seemed so weird to me, because it's very different from what I experience. I don't really get why Randy is so set on Hudson, even though Hudson says and does things that should ring some alarm bells for Randy. Randy explains his reasoning, we get to see scenes from the past that shaped Randys perception of Hudson, but I don't know if I understand how that weighs out the experiences he has when actually getting to know Hudson. (Again, maybe just normal teenager behavior that contradicts how I would've acted as a teenager.)
I don't know how much I want to go into Hudsons character here. He has problematic views of course, which lead him to behave according to them, but since that is the center point of his character arc, I don't think there's much to say other than: prepare for internalised homophobia and some blatant toxic masculinity and infuriating statements as a result. Personally, I had empathy for him and I liked seeing him grow, but I understand everyone who can't look past that, since a lot of queer people have their own traume from people who behaved like Hudson. (Trauma doesn't excuse shitty behavior and so on.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Grief
magical_jess's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Sweet, funny love story that feels over the top and really grounded at the same time. So much fun to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Homophobia
traceyanderson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Mental illness, Grief, Outing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Biphobia, Blood, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
kshertz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was an excellent, excellent YA read. It is so realistic in terms of finding your safe space, your camp and what to do when you’re not in your safe space and camp and lgbtqia+. I think it does a great job talking about internalized misogyny within the gay community and with parents too. It was slightly cheesy so I couldn’t go 5 stars but I teach high school and run a safe spaces club and it helped me see my students and see myself in the camp counselors Mark and Connie. It helped me learn more what to say and do and I’m recommending it to every teen I meet that needs that advice too now. Wonderful book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Abandonment, Outing, and Sexual content
iane_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Classism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, Cursing, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Death, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Outing, and Physical abuse
fanboyriot's review against another edition
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
5.0
Read For:
Theater Kids
Summer Camp
Everyone is Queer
Wholesome Friendships
Destroying Toxic Masculinity
Absolutely loved the idea of a queer summer camp. This was really wholesome and there was SO much queer rep I can not get over how amazing the setting of this was. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it with the whole plot of being someone you’re not to get a guy but it was actually written really well. The characters were detailed and the character development was done really nicely.
(First Person POV)
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
Rep: Gay Jewish MC, Gay Half-Korean Jewish LI, Demisexual Lesbian SC, POC characters, Trans characters, queer characters
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia, Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
sbbailey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
this was so cute and now i’m gonna be randy and make someone fall in love with me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia