July 1, 2020
The summer before college is one to remember. Recent high school grad Wesley Hudson, 18 and gay, is home in Santa Monica after a few weeks in Italy with his parents, a noted chef and a successful YA author. Wesley now has the summer to work at an indie bookshop, hang out with his co-workers, and spend quality time with his best friends, caustic, proudly fat Ella and skater Nico, before entering UCLA. Or does he? Wesley's not really sure about college, leaving his home-away-from-home job, and being hours away from Nico, on whom he also has a crush. When Ella discovers the bookstore might be closing, it's up to the gang to save the day while Wesley pursues Nico (and is pursued by hunky Manu). Wesley is biracial with a white mom and light-skinned black dad; Ella is white, and Nico is Mexican American. The inclusion of a range of ethnicities and queer cultures enriches the novel; however, the identity of an aromantic asexual bookstore friend is mentioned without much development. One weakness is teen characters who reference Madonna, listen to music produced before the year 2000, and love Empire Records and Buffy the Vampire Slayer--in short, they feel like, and will appeal most to, Millennials. Fans of the friends-to-lovers trope will enjoy the amusing voice. A sweet beach read for adults but may not be as popular with teens. (Fiction. 14-adult)
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September 1, 2020
Gr 9 Up-Winters' latest novel is a coming-of-age romance that follows Wes during the summer between high school and college. Wes has no idea what he wants to study or do in the future, but he knows that he likes his life as it is. He loves living in Santa Monica, CA, his job at a local indie bookstore, his diverse group of friends who work with him, and he (secretly) loves his best friend Nico. He knows that falling in love with your best friend is a bad idea, especially since he does not know if Nico is gay or bi/pan. When Wes finds out that his beloved bookstore is likely closing at the end of the summer, he and his friends rally all their efforts to save the store. This novel is full of bookish, geeky pop culture references. While the characters' musical choices from the '90s and earlier may not be familiar to teen readers, the social media references place this book firmly in the present. The lovable cast of characters, their friendships, and their love for their bookstore make this a great choice. Discussions of race (Wes's mom is white and his dad is Black), privilege, and stereotypes about gender and sexual orientation come up naturally in the story as the characters support each other through whatever happens. VERDICT Hand this book to fans of realistic fiction looking for a quick, mostly light read that is full of heart.-Mindy Rhiger, Hennepin County Lib., MN
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Starred review from September 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* So here's the story: Eighteen-year-old, openly gay Wesley Hudson is secretly in love with his longtime best friend, Nico Alvarez, whose sexual preference is a frustrating enigma to Wes. But there's more to their story than that: the bookstore where they work and which Wes loves with all his heart is losing money and may have to close unless the two boys and the other young people who work there can contrive a way to spark an infusion of cash. Meanwhile, self-styled nerd Wes meets a to-die-for boy named Manu and finds himself drawn to him, leaving Wes wondering if it's time to let go of his agonizingly painful crush on Nico. What to do? This appealing book is hipper than hip (if it's still hip to say hip), replete with au courant words like dope, noob, rad, chill, and sick, and boasts-er, hella likable, no, make that lovable characters, who are complex and beautifully realized. Winters (How to be Remy Cameron, 2019) clearly covers his bases ethnically and sexually?Wes is Black and biracial and Nico is Mexican American, while other characters identify as lesbian, aroace, and bisexual?but believably and welcomingly so. The resulting combination of rom-com and coming-of-age novel is an absolute delight from beginning to end and is highly recommended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)