Enrique has big summer plans: 1) get buff, 2) get cultured, 3) get over his crush on his friend, Salem, - who doesn’t even know Enrique is bi - by getting with (in the sexual sense) one of guys around him that he senses might be interested in him in that way.

I enjoyed Enrique’s chaotic energy, which is heightened since he is dealing with anxiety and depression on top of being a horny and lonely 17yo. I also enjoyed the supporting cast (minus a certain someone that you aren’t supposed to like in the end). I especially liked that this book plays with the older and wiser queer mentor by having those characters not have it all together.

I also really appreciate that being Public out (or publicly outed) isn’t a part of this book. You don’t need to publicly out to be queer and I hate that being outed is such a big thing in ya lgbtiaq+ and it is nice to see some different experiences represented.

To be truthful, there is only one thing I didn’t care for in this book and it happens late enough that it feels like I should be able to overlook it but is such a big thing that I really can’t.

I don’t like that Saleem had a crush on Enrique and that they got together. I’m all for queer joy but I loved that moment when it was a I love you but not in that way and would have loved to see Enrique getting over his crush (what he was trying to do the whole time) by finally being able to be his whole self with his friends. Saleem having felt the same for nearly the entire book made me feel like the whole book was basically pointless even though it wasn’t because Enrique grew so much as a person in the middle.