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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Khorram's YA books are unlike anything else I've read, and I'm so grateful he's out here telling new and authentic stories. Don't go into this book looking for a straightforward queer YA romance — there is a relationship that forms between two boys, but it's early on in the plot, and the book is about much more. Hunter has to grapple with being in the public eye after the band he formed with his friends in high school skyrockets to international fame. Alongside Hunter's first-person perspective, Khorram has authentically created everything from news articles to emails to documentary footage transcripts to show how everyone has a strong opinion about who Hunter, as an openly queer boy band member, should be — how he should dress, whether he should talk about sex, how much he should discuss his personal relationships, how he should give back to the community. The pressure to make everyone happy builds as the band moves from coast to coast on their North American tour.
I wondered why Khorram decided to make a red-headed white kid his protagonist for this book, but that soon became clear. Khorram runs headlong into the tensions and nuances of being a white queer icon, as Hunter's focus on the scrutiny he's under as a gay kid prevents him from acknowledging the ways that his non-white bandmates and new love interest deal with their own share of microaggressions and unwanted media attention. To be clear, Khorram isn't trying to say that one is better or worse, but that only when all the guys are open with each other about what they're dealing with can they feel less alone and work together to make things better.
The pacing is admittedly uneven – Hunter and Kaivan's relationship had to happen pretty quickly after they met in order for the rest of the plot to work, and then there's a long stretch of them publicly going on dates before a lot happens very quickly. The resolution with Aiden felt a little shoehorned in. But on the whole, I really enjoyed the book, and I thought all of the extra material — the tweets, the articles, the emails, the transcripts — was brilliantly done. I definitely recommend this one!
I wondered why Khorram decided to make a red-headed white kid his protagonist for this book, but that soon became clear. Khorram runs headlong into the tensions and nuances of being a white queer icon, as Hunter's focus on the scrutiny he's under as a gay kid prevents him from acknowledging the ways that his non-white bandmates and new love interest deal with their own share of microaggressions and unwanted media attention. To be clear, Khorram isn't trying to say that one is better or worse, but that only when all the guys are open with each other about what they're dealing with can they feel less alone and work together to make things better.
The pacing is admittedly uneven – Hunter and Kaivan's relationship had to happen pretty quickly after they met in order for the rest of the plot to work, and then there's a long stretch of them publicly going on dates before a lot happens very quickly. The resolution with Aiden felt a little shoehorned in. But on the whole, I really enjoyed the book, and I thought all of the extra material — the tweets, the articles, the emails, the transcripts — was brilliantly done. I definitely recommend this one!
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book should have a higher rating! So many important themes, without loosing nuance or making it caricatural.
Well written too, with many texts, emails and other small interludes that managed to hit the mark and sound authentic.
It had been a long time since I had a book that made me stay up later and later because "one more chapter".
I would rate it 4,5 and not a full 5 stars since I did miss a few things. For example the side characters were difficult to discern from one another. Even de band mates felt like the same person.
But don't let that stop you from reading it! It is only a very minor thing, that doesn't compare to how well this book addresses important issues in an expert but also very fun manner.
Well written too, with many texts, emails and other small interludes that managed to hit the mark and sound authentic.
It had been a long time since I had a book that made me stay up later and later because "one more chapter".
I would rate it 4,5 and not a full 5 stars since I did miss a few things. For example the side characters were difficult to discern from one another. Even de band mates felt like the same person.
But don't let that stop you from reading it! It is only a very minor thing, that doesn't compare to how well this book addresses important issues in an expert but also very fun manner.
lighthearted
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
A very solid young adult novel. While I'm not the intended audience, this is a good book for teens, and was well written.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was just straight ick. If I had known this book was just gonna be a game of who is the bigger victim I would have never started it. But also putting a teen in a night club where he is being preyed on by adults is just straight up disgusting. This book is a hard pass.
first novel in years, and i loved every second of it
queer struggles felt ... too real
queer struggles felt ... too real
It was good, but honestly I just kind of tired of it all. I liked it. But. It could have been better.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes