“A funny and satisfying love story [that] challenges simplistic preconceptions.” —Publishers Weekly
Beckett Gaines, a gay teen living in South Carolina, has his world turned upside-down by a jock in this laugh-out-loud novel that’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets The Parent Trap.
Beck:
The Golden Girls-loving, out-and-proud choir nerd growing up in the “ass-crack of the Bible belt.”
Jax:
The Golden Boy, star quarterback with a slick veneer facing uncomfortable truths about himself and his past.
When Beck’s emotionally fragile dad starts dating the recently single (and supposedly lesbian) mom of former bully Jaxon Parker, Beck is not having it. Jax isn’t happy about the situation either, holding out hope that his moms will reunite and restore the only stable home he’s ever known. Putting aside past differences, the boys plot to derail the budding romance between their parents at their conservative hometown’s first-ever Rainbow Prom. Hearts will be broken, new romance will bloom, but nothing will go down the way Beck and Jax have planned.
In his hilarious and provocative debut, Greg Howard examines the challenges of growing up different in a small southern town through the lens of colorful and unforgettable characters who stay with you long after the last drop of sweet tea.
I thought this book was pretty hilarious. It's billed as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets The Parent Trap, and I agree to some extent, though this book is a lot less wholesome, than either of those stories. Nonetheless, I laughed a ton.
Irreverent at times, but also touching and heartwarming. Jaxon's relationship with his mom and Beck's relationship with his dad were awesome. Their interactions made me smile a whole lot, but it was Beck and Jaxon that gave me the warm fuzzies. I thought they had great chemistry and banter, but honestly, I think it was Jaxson, who won me over the most. He surprisingly wore his heart on his sleeve and was quite the swoony hero.
Overall: A rom-com with a lot of heart and humor, which also challenges readers to reassess some things they thought they knew.
