thank you to viking books for young readers and penguin teen for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i know this has and will continue to be marketed as a enemies-to-lovers who fake date romance. but really, it’s so much more. it’s about two grumpy(ish?), bisexual teen boys, figuring their way out in a world that’s been more than a bit unkind to them. it’s about them growing beyond, developing their support groups, and also happening to find love along the way.

if it wasn’t already obvious, i adore this book. i adore dylan and jonah, their friends, their families, found and sometimes biological too. i'm beyond invested in these two himbos, who for some reason think that fake dating to eventually break up to prove a point to your friends is the best option for your love life. honestly, they share a single (often angry) braincell and it’s totally, absolutely, iconic of them.

like i mentioned, this book is about a lot more than just their fake dating ploy, it’s about their respective traumas and working through it together and apart. while, of course there are a lot of moments that will make you genuinely laugh out loud, this book will pull even more delicately at your heartstrings. and god, do your best to prepare because, oh boy, oh man, will you want to reach into these pages and give these boys the biggest bone-crushing hug.

anyways, i think i’m genuinely at a loss for any more words, or maybe that’s jet-lag brain after zooming through the latter half of this book on a plane. BUT, what i can say is that i cannot believe that this is just a debut. and i cannot wait for woody’s next release. okay, yeah that’s all my brain can currently handle apparently. i love this book. please consider reading it…

but also, as with all books, but especially with this book, please check a detailed list of content warnings before deciding to read this one if you’re worried. as much as i praise this book for handling the delicate subject matters well, i want everyone to stay safe first and foremost.