So...the moment I acquire funds, I'm buying this book. I've had my eyes on it forever and it finally showed up in my library's e-library (probably because of me—I think I requested it multiple times). I knew I was going to love this book and I was right. It's the #ownvoices Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda that y'all are sleeping on. The author is gay and mixed race (from South Africa!), same as the main character, and his author's note is all about what representation means to him and how important it is for gay kids to have #ownvoices stories to read.

(I would like to note that I originally wrote this review before Becky Albertalli came out. Simon Vs is still an important and relevant queer book! This just reminded me of it and isn't necessarily any more #ownvoices than Simon is!)

There's a call within the YA community for less coming out stories and while I respect the need for stories of queer people just existing, I think we need both. There can never be too many coming out stories because just one could help a queer kid do it themselves. I've always reached for coming out stories myself, probably because I've yet to reach the stage of being a queer person just existing. We can't really exist as queer until we come out as queer (well we can, but not publicly, ya know?)

But anyway, my point is that representation does matter.

I'm not going to shut up about this book ever am I?

It's wonderfully written, so romantic, and it doesn't feel like insta-love even though it kind of is. There are a few cheesy parts, especially the monologue Kai gives when he

comes out to his parents

but I can take a little bit of cheesiness if the rest of the book is *gestures* this good.

I highly recommend this, especially looking past the reviews saying we should be done with books about queer pain. One review in particular suggested that this book is preachy, that everything that happened was meant to be frowned upon, to which...I dunno. Yes, the things that happened happened so that the author could acknowledge them, but it didn't feel forced to me or preachy at all. It felt raw and real and news flash! it's not always rainbows and sunshine when someone comes out. I wish it were.

But anyway, sorry, that was besides the point. The point is that this book is amazing and I highly recommend it.

-Book Hugger