3.5 stars.

This book is kind of in-your-face about sexuality and related topics, but it fits (Jack exemplifies “out and proud,” and he is literally writing a blog column about sex & relationship advice) and covers a lot of important issues: consent, virginity, BDSM, asexuality, and choice. The Jack of Hearts columns even double as legitimately good “what they don’t teach you in sex ed” Q&As.

And it wasn’t all about hookup/relationship drama, of course. I particularly appreciated Jack’s relationship with his working single mom — imperfect but accepting and indubitably loving — and the many interpersonal relationships displayed, including coed close friendships between sexuality-compatible guys and girls. I also got a laugh out of Jenna’s role as the “straight best friend,” flipping the usual trope on its head without being outrageous or offensive.

I had some early reservations since Jack is in some ways pretty stereotypically “gay” (makeup, fashion, promiscuity), as is Ben in other ways (clothing design, “girl”), but there are just so many mlm in this book (including at least one who’s explicitly bi!) that it ultimately doesn’t really bother me.

The plot is alright, nothing really groundbreaking but pretty well executed; it’s such a shitty but unfortunately believable thing for someone to do (though maybe I just read too much contemporary YA and I’ve become desensitized) and I genuinely sympathized with Jack and each of his friends. I didn’t predict the culprit but it was fairly believable. Again, people suck.