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A review by booksmelladdict
The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson
2.0
The State of Us was an irritating, tropey young adult romance book by Shaun David Hutchinson.
The cover is a close up illustration of two boys kissing in an outline of the United States, which is not only really cheesy, but not unlike many romance books, slightly humiliating.
Shaun Hutchinson is a queer author that currently lives in Seattle. He writes YA books, mostly LGBTQ+ romances. The State of Us was not one of Hutchinson’s most popular books, nor was it on any bestseller or recommendation lists. On goodeads, the book got a 3.4 average rating, with 3,000 ratings, and 600 reviews.
The plot was almost identical to the book Red, White, and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuinston. So similar in fact, that I think that McQuinston should contact Hutchinson’s team. Except Red, White, and Royal Blue was written well, and this book made me cringe. The politics were written horribly, with each debate sounding like people debating in movie, for some reason they go at each other and tear each other apart, and then their friends congratulate them? I’m no debate club junkie, but personally attacking the opponent feels like something that doesn’t really happen. Also the son of the white, republican woman running for president is portrayed as having democratic views, which is very confusing, because he “identifies” as republican, just doesn’t agree with pretty much every opinion they have? Super strange.
Another thing is that the characters, who are teenagers, do not feel real. They really pressed this with the character Dean, who’s mother is the republican candidate. His wearing of loafers, and his style which is described as “insurance agent” was really trying to be funny, pushing the fact that he is more uptight, but it felt awkward and clunky. He is also described as using full spelling and punctuation over chat messages, which isn’t unbelievable, but his use of the French word “ennui”, meaning feeling despair, was hilarious.
Not even mentioning how gross the QPOC rep is with a white republican boy and a liberal Mexican American boy, this book was a huge ick. It felt fake, annoying, and overall uncomfortable to read. Don’t waste your time, instead here are a couple other coming of age queer options: Red, White and Royal Blue, By Casey McQuiston, Aristotle and Dan-
te Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Little and Lion, by Brandy Colbert. Just to name a few.
The cover is a close up illustration of two boys kissing in an outline of the United States, which is not only really cheesy, but not unlike many romance books, slightly humiliating.
Shaun Hutchinson is a queer author that currently lives in Seattle. He writes YA books, mostly LGBTQ+ romances. The State of Us was not one of Hutchinson’s most popular books, nor was it on any bestseller or recommendation lists. On goodeads, the book got a 3.4 average rating, with 3,000 ratings, and 600 reviews.
The plot was almost identical to the book Red, White, and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuinston. So similar in fact, that I think that McQuinston should contact Hutchinson’s team. Except Red, White, and Royal Blue was written well, and this book made me cringe. The politics were written horribly, with each debate sounding like people debating in movie, for some reason they go at each other and tear each other apart, and then their friends congratulate them? I’m no debate club junkie, but personally attacking the opponent feels like something that doesn’t really happen. Also the son of the white, republican woman running for president is portrayed as having democratic views, which is very confusing, because he “identifies” as republican, just doesn’t agree with pretty much every opinion they have? Super strange.
Another thing is that the characters, who are teenagers, do not feel real. They really pressed this with the character Dean, who’s mother is the republican candidate. His wearing of loafers, and his style which is described as “insurance agent” was really trying to be funny, pushing the fact that he is more uptight, but it felt awkward and clunky. He is also described as using full spelling and punctuation over chat messages, which isn’t unbelievable, but his use of the French word “ennui”, meaning feeling despair, was hilarious.
Not even mentioning how gross the QPOC rep is with a white republican boy and a liberal Mexican American boy, this book was a huge ick. It felt fake, annoying, and overall uncomfortable to read. Don’t waste your time, instead here are a couple other coming of age queer options: Red, White and Royal Blue, By Casey McQuiston, Aristotle and Dan-
te Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Little and Lion, by Brandy Colbert. Just to name a few.