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A review by apolloapproved
Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
My Book Blog — Apollo Approved
Thank you Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Review
This book was honestly a whole mood. LIke, if you're one who needs a book with a relatable character who even though is (kinda) self-centered you can't help but love because he just so happens to be thinking everything you're also thinking? This one's for you. Also, to all my contemporary lovers who want more than the high school romance, we've got time travel so, exciting! (It honestly is making me want to find a book that's completely set in the 80s [or such] with a really radical MC best friend, because how interesting would that be? Having that mindset and stuff.)
We're doing a character paragraph and worldbuilding in this one, just so you're aware (I wish I could sound formal in these reviews and not like I'm literally talking, so annoying). Anyway, Luis Gonzalez (literally had to check the summary for his last name, did they ever say it in the book…? They prolly did, my memory sucks). Describe him in three words you ask? Cuban, queer, confident (there are better adjectives, say "loud" or "this dude talks too much", but it didn't vibe the same and we know I'm all about the vibe [if I was extra enough an *eye roll emoji* would be here right now]). But seriously, just about everything our boy Luis uttered was a huge mood, and a better type of MC that was traveling into the future could not be asked for. What more could you need than someone who absolutely does not fit into the 80s to be thrown into the 80s, of course.
Chaz Wilson. The gay boy in the 80s that definitely was not born is the right family as far as acceptance, and definitely was born in the wrong century (or at least place). He's super charismatic and seriously the type of guy that if he was alive now, all those jock dudes would be like "Oh, but I'd be gay for him."
Okay, one word explanation of four random characters, go. Gordo (aka Luis' homophobic dad) — barf. Maria Elena (aka Luis' mother) — magnificent. Ms Silverthorn (aka Luis' English teacher) — radical (af). Mrs. Somboon-Fox (aka Luis' principal and top-tier flower lady) — (try-hard) rebel. That's all. The struggle it was to only write one word that I really went out of my way to add parenthesis to make it look like I did *eye roll emoji again*.
Worldbuilding, whoop dee doo. Good. I liked it. That's all that needs to be said. David Valdes really captured how a school made certain changes as time went on, showed how horrible those conditions were back in time, and then showed how much more changes were possible (with a little help from Luis, obviously). I think Valdes actually showed it really well in the short time that Luis was in his previous actual time, and in the even less time that he was in his new actual time (that sounds very confusing but I don't know how to reword it, oops).
Thank you Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Review
This book was honestly a whole mood. LIke, if you're one who needs a book with a relatable character who even though is (kinda) self-centered you can't help but love because he just so happens to be thinking everything you're also thinking? This one's for you. Also, to all my contemporary lovers who want more than the high school romance, we've got time travel so, exciting! (It honestly is making me want to find a book that's completely set in the 80s [or such] with a really radical MC best friend, because how interesting would that be? Having that mindset and stuff.)
We're doing a character paragraph and worldbuilding in this one, just so you're aware (I wish I could sound formal in these reviews and not like I'm literally talking, so annoying). Anyway, Luis Gonzalez (literally had to check the summary for his last name, did they ever say it in the book…? They prolly did, my memory sucks). Describe him in three words you ask? Cuban, queer, confident (there are better adjectives, say "loud" or "this dude talks too much", but it didn't vibe the same and we know I'm all about the vibe [if I was extra enough an *eye roll emoji* would be here right now]). But seriously, just about everything our boy Luis uttered was a huge mood, and a better type of MC that was traveling into the future could not be asked for. What more could you need than someone who absolutely does not fit into the 80s to be thrown into the 80s, of course.
Chaz Wilson. The gay boy in the 80s that definitely was not born is the right family as far as acceptance, and definitely was born in the wrong century (or at least place). He's super charismatic and seriously the type of guy that if he was alive now, all those jock dudes would be like "Oh, but I'd be gay for him."
Okay, one word explanation of four random characters, go. Gordo (aka Luis' homophobic dad) — barf. Maria Elena (aka Luis' mother) — magnificent. Ms Silverthorn (aka Luis' English teacher) — radical (af). Mrs. Somboon-Fox (aka Luis' principal and top-tier flower lady) — (try-hard) rebel. That's all. The struggle it was to only write one word that I really went out of my way to add parenthesis to make it look like I did *eye roll emoji again*.
Worldbuilding, whoop dee doo. Good. I liked it. That's all that needs to be said. David Valdes really captured how a school made certain changes as time went on, showed how horrible those conditions were back in time, and then showed how much more changes were possible (with a little help from Luis, obviously). I think Valdes actually showed it really well in the short time that Luis was in his previous actual time, and in the even less time that he was in his new actual time (that sounds very confusing but I don't know how to reword it, oops).
❝ And as we step out onto the lawn, the sun leaning late in the sky, two gay boys in fabulous attire, it hits me… ❞
(Searches up "In Conclusion" synonyms…) In closing, Spin Me Right Round is the gay Back to the Future book we all didn't realize we needed, but are definitely glad we now have. So read it. Now. Well, I guess not now, but in a month!
Read...If You Liked...
• One Last Stop
• Summer of '69
• Fahrenheit 451
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia