I'm a little more picky on how I give five star ratings nowadays, but don't let that dissuade you because this really is one of the better books I've read lately. It took me so long to finally get ahold of a copy after it was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it was so good, so worth the wait. Don't let anyone say that YA doesn't need any more coming out stories because as someone who has always seen herself just a little in them, damn do we need good ones like this.

Usually, the trope of the "out guy" and the closeted guy dating ends in the one that's out being mad that the other can't just come out, and usually, it's very problematic and poorly written. I think Sophie Gonzales handled this really well, though, and kept it nuanced between Ollie respecting Will not being ready to come out and him being sad when Will pretended he didn't exist or made fun of him in front of his friends. Will could still be closeted and not be a jerk, basically. (But with that said, I do love Will, and I definitely see myself in him.)

Also thank GOD for a book that uses the word "bi" on page. And lets a bi girl date a boy. Finally we're getting some good stuff in these books.

But anyway, I really appreciated this and that it wasn't just about their relationship. Ollie's family situation with his aunt's cancer and the grief before losing someone was done really well, in my opinion. It was just really sweet.

My only qualm was that while I appreciated the flashbacks to the summer, I wish it had been fleshed out how Ollie and Will met and how their relationship developed. I was a little confused and I think that could have been clearer (and also would have established more of a stake in their relationship from the beginning.)

-Book Hugger