Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by ladydewinter
Jack of Hearts by L.C. Rosen
5.0
This was excellent! I get why it would be compared to "Love, Simon", but honestly I liked this a lot better.
Jack is a 17year old gay boy who likes sex and is open about it. Not everyone likes that, however - and after he begins writing a sex advice columns, he starts getting notes from a secret "admirer" that become creepier and creepier.
I liked how sex positive this was, and how sensible and enlightened. It's another great example on how easy it is, really, to write (and talk) about consent, and a wonderful book about being yourself. It's funny, and felt more genuine to me than "Love, Simon" (which sometimes felt too full of "Buffy"-like quips). As a bookseller, I would expect some parents to get weird about the sex parts, but I do think it's a great way for young adults (16+) to read about the different ways to approach sex and sexuality.
I usually avoid YA because I feel like it's really not for me, anymore, but one sentence really resonated with me- well, no, actually it was two. The first is Jack's "It could be worse," and the way it's dealt with does a great job at revealing the many things LBGT people (and other minorities) still have to face. Like, even if you're not being beaten up or insulted, even if you have the same rights on paper, that doesn't mean you cannot be hurt by the majority in many different ways, some on purpose, some maybe by accident.
The second sentence is connected to that: "Straight people are the worst." Taken by itself, I suspect the sentence might make some people feel really defensive, but in the context of this book (and in the context of life), it does ring true sometimes. I think this resonated with me especially because I went on a date with a straight guy today and while he seemed smart and educated, he had that typical lack of awareness that comes with privilege sometimes. I don't want to go into a deep discussion of this, but sometimes straight people and their straightness are exhausting.
But anyway, to go back to the book! I didn't actually mean to read the whole thing today, but I literally only stopped reading because of the unsuccessful date. It's very difficult to put down and such a delight. I'm so happy I read it, and happy that such a book exists.
Jack is a 17year old gay boy who likes sex and is open about it. Not everyone likes that, however - and after he begins writing a sex advice columns, he starts getting notes from a secret "admirer" that become creepier and creepier.
I liked how sex positive this was, and how sensible and enlightened. It's another great example on how easy it is, really, to write (and talk) about consent, and a wonderful book about being yourself. It's funny, and felt more genuine to me than "Love, Simon" (which sometimes felt too full of "Buffy"-like quips). As a bookseller, I would expect some parents to get weird about the sex parts, but I do think it's a great way for young adults (16+) to read about the different ways to approach sex and sexuality.
I usually avoid YA because I feel like it's really not for me, anymore, but one sentence really resonated with me- well, no, actually it was two. The first is Jack's "It could be worse," and the way it's dealt with does a great job at revealing the many things LBGT people (and other minorities) still have to face. Like, even if you're not being beaten up or insulted, even if you have the same rights on paper, that doesn't mean you cannot be hurt by the majority in many different ways, some on purpose, some maybe by accident.
The second sentence is connected to that: "Straight people are the worst." Taken by itself, I suspect the sentence might make some people feel really defensive, but in the context of this book (and in the context of life), it does ring true sometimes. I think this resonated with me especially because I went on a date with a straight guy today and while he seemed smart and educated, he had that typical lack of awareness that comes with privilege sometimes. I don't want to go into a deep discussion of this, but sometimes straight people and their straightness are exhausting.
But anyway, to go back to the book! I didn't actually mean to read the whole thing today, but I literally only stopped reading because of the unsuccessful date. It's very difficult to put down and such a delight. I'm so happy I read it, and happy that such a book exists.