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A review by jsncnrd
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge by Matthew Hubbard
5.0
I have read a lot of Young Adult books in my life, the majority of which have been LGBTQ – they are one of my comforts. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is, without a doubt, one of the best YA books I have ever read. It’s a new all-time favorite in the genre of queer YA, and I will recommend it to everyone.
There’s so much to love here. The characters are complex and dynamic. The plot is well-paced and absorbing. The romance is beautiful. The emotion is vivid. The humor is bold. The writing is excellent. The Taylor Swift easter eggs and references are plentiful.
The book explores so many important topics – friendship, identity, justice, strength, acceptance … and, of course, revenge. And it does so from a queer point of view.
The tone is managed so well. I found myself laughing, I found myself crying (a lot), I found myself enraged, and sometimes I was all of those things at the same time. It shifts from vigilantism and revenge plotting to meaningful discourse on a dime. And it makes it work.
The book encourages you to look within, and in turn, you see yourself in these characters that are so well-developed that they feel real.
Amidst real-world legislation that is targeting the existence of queer people, this book has never felt more relevant or necessary. If it finds its way into the hands of someone who needs that spark, that push, to finally speak up and fight back? Then this book can change lives. That is how strong and meaningful this story is.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is such an experience. It is a resounding chorus of voices encouraging us all to scream “We’re here.”
It’s also a reminder that not only are queer people here – but we’re here to stay.
What a debut. Matthew Hubbard is an author to watch.
Part of the magic of reading queer YA books when you’re older is that you reminisce on the times that you yourself were a young adult – and how you desperately wish that you had books like these. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is the book I needed when I was younger, and it warms my heart to know that the young adult audience who desperately needs books like this right now, has it.
“So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it – you’ve got no reason to be afraid. You’re on your own, kid – you can face this.” – Taylor Swift
Thank you to Matthew Hubbard and NetGalley for the eARC of the book!
There’s so much to love here. The characters are complex and dynamic. The plot is well-paced and absorbing. The romance is beautiful. The emotion is vivid. The humor is bold. The writing is excellent. The Taylor Swift easter eggs and references are plentiful.
The book explores so many important topics – friendship, identity, justice, strength, acceptance … and, of course, revenge. And it does so from a queer point of view.
The tone is managed so well. I found myself laughing, I found myself crying (a lot), I found myself enraged, and sometimes I was all of those things at the same time. It shifts from vigilantism and revenge plotting to meaningful discourse on a dime. And it makes it work.
The book encourages you to look within, and in turn, you see yourself in these characters that are so well-developed that they feel real.
Amidst real-world legislation that is targeting the existence of queer people, this book has never felt more relevant or necessary. If it finds its way into the hands of someone who needs that spark, that push, to finally speak up and fight back? Then this book can change lives. That is how strong and meaningful this story is.
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is such an experience. It is a resounding chorus of voices encouraging us all to scream “We’re here.”
It’s also a reminder that not only are queer people here – but we’re here to stay.
What a debut. Matthew Hubbard is an author to watch.
Part of the magic of reading queer YA books when you’re older is that you reminisce on the times that you yourself were a young adult – and how you desperately wish that you had books like these. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is the book I needed when I was younger, and it warms my heart to know that the young adult audience who desperately needs books like this right now, has it.
“So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it – you’ve got no reason to be afraid. You’re on your own, kid – you can face this.” – Taylor Swift
Thank you to Matthew Hubbard and NetGalley for the eARC of the book!