A review by cakt1991
Boys I Know by Anna Gracia

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review based on final copy. All opinions are my own. 

My interest was piqued by Boys I Know due to the cover and a brief scan of the blurb. I didn’t entirely expect the book would be so hard-hitting,  much less controversial, but indeed it is, per Anna Gracia’s Twitter, with it being on a list of books that are being heavily scrutinized in the wake of book bans in the US. 

But upon finishing it, I actually really appreciate that it doesn’t shy away from tough topics teens are navigating, like racism (along with the identity issues that come with being biracial) and sex. And she depicts these issues in all their messy glory, without sugar coating anything; it’s not overly explicit, but it’s blunt and to-the-point, instead of dancing around them. Like many of the characters, this book is unapologetically itself. 

I appreciate that June is messy and is allowed to make mistakes. A large part of the book is occupied either by her complicated relationship with her identity, which really resonated with me, and the messy, sometimes toxic  relationships she has with boys. As for the former, I really loved her relationships with her family, especially her mother, who has a vibrant personality, all her own. 

As for the latter: This is absolutely one of those books where you’ll either love or hate June for how she navigates love and sex, but I’m glad we’re pushing back on purity culture by allowing young women to be able to make mistakes (sometimes multiple times) on the road to finding themselves. I especially love the way she took charge of her sexuality and reproductive agency when a condom broke, procuring and taking a morning-after pill. Interestingly, this may be the first time I’ve ever seen emergency contraceptives used on-page, and as much as I love the representation here, I find that fact simultaneously disappointing. 

I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries with flawed protagonists. 

CWs: dubious consent, pregnancy scare, racism/microaggressions, toxic relationships

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