4.5 stars

I am so pleasantly surprised by this novel. From the cover and synopsis, I assumed this would be a typical YA romance with LGBTQ+ representation, but it's so much more!

Eli is such a likable character. When readers meet him, he has already been the victim of extreme bullying during middle school and - so far - all of his high school career. It's frustrating to watch this bullying escalate from verbal abuse to physical assaults of varying degrees. The adults - teachers, administrators, and parents - all know it is happening, but they have put the onus on Eli to say when it's okay to act, which I found completely infuriating but also totally realistic. The way bullying is handled here, from the escalation to the repeated failures of adults who could act but choose not to, is messaged really effectively for young readers. While adults should be able to step in and not only see but correct these issues, sometimes, the expectation falls on the victim to do the frightening and often unsafe work of outing their own bullies and standing up to them alone. On a related note, I liked the way the conversation turned from bullying to hate crimes when this became explicit and relevant.

The relationship between Eli and Jordan is extremely adorable. Eli's coming out process - his questions, his uncertainty, his discovery of romantic love and related physical feelings, and ultimately his connection to Jordan - were all incredibly endearing. Also, the conversations around identity are handled well: especially between Ellie and Eli. The varying ways in which the parents support (or don't) their LGBTQ+ children are also authentically written and articulated.

This is more than just a YA romance. The messaging here about bullying, coming out, and identity in general is powerful and well constructed. I'll be recommending this one to students for the foreseeable future.

High School senior Elliott Goldman has been a victim of bullying since middle school. He doesn't have any friends and has gotten used to being an outcast. When he meets his new lab partner Jordan Hughes, they form an instant friendship. As they continue to spend more time together outside of school, their friendship slowly turns into something more, leaving Elliott to question everything about himself.

I really enjoyed this book. The author's easy to read writing style quickly drew me into the story. Elliott and Jordan were relatable and likable characters. Jordon was definitely my favorite character. He was so kind and supportive of Elliott. I wish that every kid struggling with bullying or coming out has someone like him in their lives. It was very easy to root for them as individuals and as a couple. One of my favorite parts of this book is the moment when Elliott realizes that there's hope. That he doesn't have to silently endure all the bullying and that it's okay to ask for help. It was a very powerful and encouraging message. I definitely recommend this book. It's a heartwarming coming-of-age story that deals with some very important topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 30% - I liked the premise of this book, a sweet and super cute m/m romance who meet via a school lab partnership. Feelings grow, there's self-discovery, etc. I didn't mind the characters themselves and there's a lot of potential here in terms of theme and plotting. What I struggled with is the writing itself and that is what, ultimately, led me to throw in the towel. Some of the sentence structure felt awkward and difficult to read. Additionally, some of the most mundane actions received overly long descriptions. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate passages with lovely, flowing imagery, but I don't need that when it comes to opening a locker or plugging in a phone. There are times when brevity is best and these expansive expositions on making pasta or the Rolling Stones greatly affected the novel's flow, disrupting the narrative and taking away from the moments that would have truly benefited from more vivid descriptions.

While it feels unfair to give this title a star-rating as I didn't finish it - it was the concept that initially sold me and there is a lot of potential here, hence the two-star rating.