"Oh," I thought, when I read the synopsis for this book, "it's Paper Towns, but make it gay." And yeah, I Kissed Shara Wheeler kinda is Paper Towns but make it gay, but it makes it gay in an expansive, big-hearted, updated way that is absolutely worth reading. This is the book and the high school experience I wish I'd had, but didn't for various reasons, mostly being in high school between 2003-2007 (when books like this did not exist) and being poor white trash (and thus the idea that I would even apply to NYU was so laughable as to be shut down by my parents immediately). I liked the mystery and the twists, I liked the characters with their flaws and preoccupations, I liked getting all misty-eyed over the ending and the acknowledgements, and I guess overall I forgive how goddamn old reading this made me feel.