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imandubose's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault
kai_ash's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Note: This is not a rom-com, no matter what it says on the back of the book. It's a coming of age story about two emotionally messy teenage boys who happen to adore each other in a very chaotic way.
Review:
It took me a few chapters to warm to this book. I did not like the main characters at first, particularly Jeremy. But page by page, things shifted, until I felt like I finally got where he was coming from. Understanding him better meant I became far more invested in his journey. Same with Lukas. It's not that I disliked Lukas from the first, but he seemed a bit one-dimensional. That also changed as the story progressed and we saw other shades of him.
I particularly liked the way this book dealt with anger. I feel like not enough queer books tackle the emotion of fury enough.
Note that the story is set in the US and the (very strange) traditions surrounding "homecoming" make up a big part of the plot. There are cheerleaders, homecoming kings and queens, and American Football (i.e., gridiron) players.
Review:
It took me a few chapters to warm to this book. I did not like the main characters at first, particularly Jeremy. But page by page, things shifted, until I felt like I finally got where he was coming from. Understanding him better meant I became far more invested in his journey. Same with Lukas. It's not that I disliked Lukas from the first, but he seemed a bit one-dimensional. That also changed as the story progressed and we saw other shades of him.
I particularly liked the way this book dealt with anger. I feel like not enough queer books tackle the emotion of fury enough.
Note that the story is set in the US and the (very strange) traditions surrounding "homecoming" make up a big part of the plot. There are cheerleaders, homecoming kings and queens, and American Football (i.e., gridiron) players.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism and Violence
megbee95's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Racial slurs and Toxic friendship
rayaufebay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
fanboyriot's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Read For:
Rivals to Lovers
Second Chances
Homecoming King
Cheerleader x Football Player
Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
The only thing that comes to mind when I think of this book is: “I love it and hate it at the same time” and really I kind of do.
The queer kids in this book were amazing, everyone else just kinda sucked. The trans rep in this was so painfully well written. The things Jeremy thought and the way he described how he felt was as heartbreaking as it was relatable.
But wow, were these characters so toxic.
Naomi was such a horrible friend it was laughable. She was jealous constantly and she just goes and asks out her best friend’s ex, who had made it clear he didn’t like her like that?? Like why?? All because of some banters that were messed up, I get being petty but bro have a good reason.
Lukas was so toxic. One minute he was fine, going through a lot at home and having to always be the best at everything. He had to get into an amazing college, he had to win homecoming king because if he did that then he would get into a good school, then his family would care about him like they did his dead brother… yeah, because that's how it’s going to work. So he took his anger out on Jermey.
Jeremy was also toxic, just not as bad in my opinion. He was selfish and breaking up with his boyfriend when and how he did it was so incredibly messed up but people acted like he was the worst person ever. He literally had no one. His mom was so desperate to have a daughter she failed her son in the process. Jeremy might have been a mess but wouldn’t you be when everyone failed you and had no problem telling you that they hated you, he was bullied, harassed, and misgendered constantly.
The last few chapters were the best. Everything coming together, the person who got the crown, the drama being resolved finally, and the relationships being settled.
(Switching, First Person POV)
Spice: Lightly Mentioned
Rep: trans (ftm) MC, Autistic MC, Non-Binary SC, Latinx SC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
shays's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Both Lukas and Jeremy are under intense pressure, and the race soon turns into a nasty battle that threatens to destroy friendships and perhaps even Homecoming itself. Jeremy and Lukas are lovers to enemies, and they’re making it everyone’s problem. But the biggest problem of all is that they still have feelings for one another. Unfortunately, it’s hard to root for any character that would go so far for a Homecoming crown, making May the Best Man Win a bit of a slog as their downward spiral intensifies.
https://shayshortt.com/2023/06/27/mini-reviews-lgbtqia-ya-sports-romances/
https://shayshortt.com/2023/06/27/mini-reviews-lgbtqia-ya-sports-romances/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol
While characters do deadname Jeremy in this book, the author elides it from the dialogue, so the reader never learns Jeremy's deadname.adamparrishlover's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
horrible main character, don’t think ive ever read about such an insufferable person
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Grief
dyamonddd's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
0.5
i dont usually find myself writing a review, okay? i am not a critic, i’m usually just here to vibe and move on. but THIS? this shit sucked fr. and i’m disappointed bc i went into this thinkin it was gonna be a cute little rivalry from a breakup turned into love again aka enemies (in some capacity) to lovers, but like literally that’s not what i got.
what i got was literally the most INSUFFERABLE main characters ever — actually, pretty much everyone in this book is SHIT — and a half assed plot that literally went into like 400 different other things and was just a mess. a mess! this also has lots of problematic elements like, it was just really jarring for this to be like a YA type of story for there to be like INSANE dark elements and animosity and like everyone in this story is just so unnecessarily ugly to each other, it’s just awful.
ALSO: the romance literally is kinda shoved down your throat, like throughout this whole thing there is NOOOOO basis for them to be together at all but somehow its just quickly made to happen at the tail end like???? i DONT UNDERSTAND.
the way i will never get my fucking two days back that i spent reading this is SAD. TRAGIC. HEARTBREAKING. i wanted to dnf so many times just spare yourselves if you’re thinking of reading it, i literally think finishing it has made me lose many brain cells and i’m so sad. it’s only getting a star for sol and another quarter bc of philip’s downfall, and even that wasn’t satisfying bc of all the other bullshit in this book.
what i got was literally the most INSUFFERABLE main characters ever — actually, pretty much everyone in this book is SHIT — and a half assed plot that literally went into like 400 different other things and was just a mess. a mess! this also has lots of problematic elements like, it was just really jarring for this to be like a YA type of story for there to be like INSANE dark elements and animosity and like everyone in this story is just so unnecessarily ugly to each other, it’s just awful.
ALSO: the romance literally is kinda shoved down your throat, like throughout this whole thing there is NOOOOO basis for them to be together at all but somehow its just quickly made to happen at the tail end like???? i DONT UNDERSTAND.
the way i will never get my fucking two days back that i spent reading this is SAD. TRAGIC. HEARTBREAKING. i wanted to dnf so many times just spare yourselves if you’re thinking of reading it, i literally think finishing it has made me lose many brain cells and i’m so sad. it’s only getting a star for sol and another quarter bc of philip’s downfall, and even that wasn’t satisfying bc of all the other bullshit in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
pernafet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was definitely fun to read. I found myself missing it whenever I wasn’t reading and itching to get back to it whenever I had to put it down. It was messy, hilarious, and cute.
However, Jeremy was quite an infuriating character. Though there was a point at the very beginning when I realized that you’re not necessarily supposed to love him, that didn’t make him much less insufferable at certain parts throughout this book. There are parts in the story where you kind of just want to crumple the page in your hand or even wish you could just dive into the story yourself and strangle him <3. But I do get what the author was trying to do with his character. Jeremy has built up this facade for himself throughout his transition whereas he will hurt others before they can hurt him. This is his coping mechanism. This is his way of hiding all his hurt, pain, insecurities, and gender dysphoria by making everyone around him think he’s overflowing with confidence when, really, he is the complete opposite. He is consistently drowning in his own self loathing throughout the book. There are parts of this story where he talks about his dysphoria that are so raw and real that my heart ached for him. Although Jeremy was a real a-hole for the most part, I actually appreciated him as a character. I found him quite interesting. Teenagers aren’t always good people.
I really liked Lukas. It was nice getting an insight into his mind and understanding why he does certain things. Seeing him really beat himself up for not being able to live up to his brother’s accomplishments and feeling like he isn’t good enough for his family really made me feel sad.
Both these characters make some really horrible and irritating decisions in this book but really…who doesn’t?? I’m sure everyone can look back on some point in their life where they made a series of god awful, humiliating, and downright horrendous decisions that they are able to laugh about now. Everyone experiences their own journey of navigating their insecurities, battling with self-loathing, and eventually learning how to appreciate and love yourself just the way you are. Especially as a teenager.
The ending of this book was also super cute :)
However, Jeremy was quite an infuriating character. Though there was a point at the very beginning when I realized that you’re not necessarily supposed to love him, that didn’t make him much less insufferable at certain parts throughout this book. There are parts in the story where you kind of just want to crumple the page in your hand or even wish you could just dive into the story yourself and strangle him <3. But I do get what the author was trying to do with his character. Jeremy has built up this facade for himself throughout his transition whereas he will hurt others before they can hurt him. This is his coping mechanism. This is his way of hiding all his hurt, pain, insecurities, and gender dysphoria by making everyone around him think he’s overflowing with confidence when, really, he is the complete opposite. He is consistently drowning in his own self loathing throughout the book. There are parts of this story where he talks about his dysphoria that are so raw and real that my heart ached for him. Although Jeremy was a real a-hole for the most part, I actually appreciated him as a character. I found him quite interesting. Teenagers aren’t always good people.
I really liked Lukas. It was nice getting an insight into his mind and understanding why he does certain things. Seeing him really beat himself up for not being able to live up to his brother’s accomplishments and feeling like he isn’t good enough for his family really made me feel sad.
Both these characters make some really horrible and irritating decisions in this book but really…who doesn’t?? I’m sure everyone can look back on some point in their life where they made a series of god awful, humiliating, and downright horrendous decisions that they are able to laugh about now. Everyone experiences their own journey of navigating their insecurities, battling with self-loathing, and eventually learning how to appreciate and love yourself just the way you are. Especially as a teenager.
The ending of this book was also super cute :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Dysphoria
Minor: Death and Grief