Garrett’s debut was well-received in the book community, and all of the praise by readers and authors I admire had me eager to read it. I was a bit nervous since, in general, books have been rather hit or miss for me lately. However, I’m glad to say that I really enjoyed Full Disclosure.

The story has so many layers and deals with many topics, primarily living with HIV, though it also discusses sexuality, love, grief, adoption, and racism to varying extents. Garrett took all of these threads and carefully wove them into a relevant and entertaining story. I’m not qualified to discuss any of them further, but I’ll just say that I haven’t seen any problems discussed by other readers.

I’ve never read a book that talked so openly about HIV as this one. I also haven’t read many—if any—YA books that talked so openly about sex. Though I’m ace myself, I applaud Garrett for what she did in this book. It’s so important that books for teens really reflect teens, and even though I’m technically an adult now, I feel that Full Disclosure does.

On a similar note, I appreciate that the asexual spectrum was mentioned and respected in the conversations the characters had. Honestly, everything was just done so *well* in this book.

I also liked the characters. They’re all three-dimensional and so realistic, as well as quite relatable. Simone, her friends Claudia and Lydia, her love interest Miles, and her two dads—each one was their own person, and I grew attached to all of them.

I was especially invested in the variety of relationships present in the story. The love in each one—familial, platonic, and romantic—is obviously different, but clearly present. I enjoyed seeing the highs and lows as the story progressed.

Lastly, I enjoyed the emphasis on musicals. Though I’m sure there are others I’ve read that I can’t recall, in this way, Full Disclosure vaguely reminds me of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Rather than starring a school theater production, though, Simone is directing one alongside some teachers. She loves musicals, and there are many references to many both popular and lesser known ones throughout the book. Personally, I was pleased to see Hairspray mentioned, as it’s my favorite alongside Mamma Mia!. (I love the 2007 movie.)

If you’re wondering whether or not you should give this book a try, yes, you definitely should. It surprised me in so many ways, and I’m eager to see what Garrett does in the future.

Representation: