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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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 Stars
Hunter is just at the start of his band’s biggest tour when his ex-boyfriend publicly accuses him of cheating and posts salacious texts between them. How can he possibly save his good name, and what happens when another boy, Kaivan, catches his eye?
Kiss & Tell is more important than just a gay young adult romance. I don’t mean to discount the importance of stories about queer relationships because they are crucial, but this book goes deeper. The main plot line centers around media representation of celebrities, focusing on the slights and explicit hate showered on queer people, people of color, and basically anyone who isn’t a white cishet man. To this end the chapters about Hunter’s life are interspersed with news articles and interviews about Hunter and his friends. Some of these are painful to read as they are blatantly homophobic, while others are very positive. These add a very interesting dimension to the story, and allow us to better understand Hunter’s emotional state, even when some chapters are separated by a few days in Hunter’s universe.
The only negative thing is that this plot line about the treatment of celebrities by the media does not have a super clear conclusion. The ending of this plot is realistic, but not hopeful, and I am not exactly sure what message Khorram wished to send. However, the romance plot line still gives the book a cute, wholesome ending, even if it is not quite as satisfying as I would have liked.
Hunter is just at the start of his band’s biggest tour when his ex-boyfriend publicly accuses him of cheating and posts salacious texts between them. How can he possibly save his good name, and what happens when another boy, Kaivan, catches his eye?
Kiss & Tell is more important than just a gay young adult romance. I don’t mean to discount the importance of stories about queer relationships because they are crucial, but this book goes deeper. The main plot line centers around media representation of celebrities, focusing on the slights and explicit hate showered on queer people, people of color, and basically anyone who isn’t a white cishet man. To this end the chapters about Hunter’s life are interspersed with news articles and interviews about Hunter and his friends. Some of these are painful to read as they are blatantly homophobic, while others are very positive. These add a very interesting dimension to the story, and allow us to better understand Hunter’s emotional state, even when some chapters are separated by a few days in Hunter’s universe.
The only negative thing is that this plot line about the treatment of celebrities by the media does not have a super clear conclusion. The ending of this plot is realistic, but not hopeful, and I am not exactly sure what message Khorram wished to send. However, the romance plot line still gives the book a cute, wholesome ending, even if it is not quite as satisfying as I would have liked.
emotional
tense
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- representation: gay MCs; Iranian American love interest
- content: anti-queer; racist; alcohol use; body shaming; toxic relationship; outing; bullying; cultural appropriation; racial slurs
- quick review: This one was a quick, but overall just an in the middle read. I still don't understand the choice to have the MC be a white Canadian when the author is Iranian American (like the love interest); I feel like this book would have been more impactful had it been from the love interest's perspective.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
I was surprised @adibkhorram decided to write a book about a boy band - but now I understand. This isn't a fluffy celebrity romance: it's about gender politics, media representation, unconscious bias, and queer joy. The debate that was begun in Red, White and Royal Blue just found it's closing argument here.