I loved Kennedy's other book, A Little Bit Country, when I first read it and was so excited to receive the opportunity to read his new book, My Fair Brady, before its release. This story was a re-telling of My Fair Lady (and just like Elijah, I have never actually seen the movie/play, but I got the jist of it from the story!) and followed popular kid Wade as he helped shy, quiet Elijah transform into outgoing Brady. This book also gave me major Clueless vibes as well!

I really enjoyed these characters and I liked how they interacted with one another. There were also some interesting side characters (I really enjoyed Wade's friends). I enjoyed the dialogue and the storyline. The characters developed really well, and we got to see that first hand for both MC's since this book was written with a dual perspective (which I typically prefer).

If I had to complain about anything it would be how long it took Wade and Elijah to realize that they liked each other, but it still had a cute ending, albeit a little open ended. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and cannot wait for Kennedy's next book!

4 out of 5 stars

My Fair Brady is a charming story about learning to be comfortable in your skin and moving past the disappointments in life.

Elijah Brady is an invisible sophomore; shy and lacking confidence, he does not know how to interact with his peers. Wade Westmore is the opposite: popular, full of confidence, used to getting what he wants and being in the spotlight. The two boys’ worlds collide when their school puts on the musical My Fair Lady. Actor Wade does not get his desired role—which goes to his ex-boyfriend—and Elijah joins the tech crew to make friends. After an awkward encounter, Elijah proposes that Wade teach him to become popular, and Wade agrees, intending to use the situation to win back his ex. Over time, the two become close and begin questioning what they want.

If you enjoy classic teen romcoms like She’s All That and Easy A, this is the book for you. It has everything you would expect in a teen romcom: different levels of popularity, a makeover, teenage angst, prom, and more. Brian D. Kennedy shares a fun story about teenagers finding their place in high school and their everyday lives. He does a great job of showing how Elijah changes with Wade’s help and how Wade begins to see his life in a new light. Kennedy also does a good job showing what it is like to work on a spring musical: the chaos, the drama, the blooming relationships. I enjoyed the characters in this book. Some of them were unlikeable, but my opinion changed as they grew throughout the book.

My Fair Brady is a well-written and fun book that does not have significant depth but can provide a nice break. I recommend this book if you are looking for something light to read and want to experience those teen romcoms again.

A queer YA retelling of My Fair Lady.
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Wade is used to the spotlight at the private school he attends, but when his ex-boyfriend ends up getting the lead in their last senior production, it hurts big time. Wade’s ex accused him of being too self-absorbed so when Wade meets Elijah Brady the shy sophomore in tech crew he comes up with a way to help them both. Wade will help Elijah overcome his shyness and be more popular and then that will show Wade’s ex that he’s really changed, but the feelings he starts to have for Elijah aren’t an act.
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This book was perfection. I loved every page of it. First off, I want to teach at this super inclusive school! The characters all read so real and relatable. So many kids are going to love this novel as it deals with feelings of insecurity, standing up for yourself, humbling yourself, friends that feel like family and family that loves you no matter what. If you liked Becky Albertalli’s Kate in Waiting or When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord then this one is for you with all the theater vibes & love! This story releases January 23!

CW: alcohol, vaping, vomit

This was such a fun book to read. Elijah and Wade are not just involved in the theater performance of My Fair Lady at school, but take it to the next level of their own Eliza and Higgins. With a modern update, Wade starts mentoring Elijah to help him develop "Brady", a persona that exudes confidence and can help him find friends. Wade starts as this egotistical, narcissistic theater kid, but matures and grows so much through My Fair Brady. It was refreshing to see how Kennedy broke through the stereotypes of gay theater kids but showing the complexity and depth of three different characters. I also loved the stark contrast of Wade, who only thought of himself, and Elijah, who only thought of others and didn't really know himself. The cast and crew represented such a wide variety of human experiences, any reader will find a connection in My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy.

ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion.

Thank you so much to Harper/Balzer + Bray & Brian D Kennedy for the advance copy of this book!

I was such a fan of Brian's debut A Little Bit Country, that I knew I had to have this one and man he knocked it out of the park!!!! He does such a great job with getting inside the mind of teenagers and it felt believable.

This book will be published on January 23rd.

"Leading roles are not why I do theater. Theater is why I do theater."

This whole book was so much fun and I was rooting for both Elijah and Wade - together and in their own separate journeys. Wade was such a fun character and even though he had his bratty moments, his confidence was so strong and has that main character energy. And then you have Elijah who wants to have that confidence that Wade has. I love how Kennedy didn't have them interact right away but rather it build and then a messy run in after Wade accidentally joins the stage crew. I was not part of the theater group in any shape but this made me felt like I was there.

As a reader you were just waiting for it to click that they actually had feelings for each other. There is a moment when they were camping that I was screaming while reading. Also this may be a new favorite micro trope.

Just like with most YA romances, the communication isn't fully developed and it just makes you want to throw your book because you know things could have progressed a little faster if they just said something. Reese made me angry in this because he knew exactly what he was doing to both of them.

As I mentioned above, each character goes on a journey. Wade has to learn how he doesn't always get what he wants and that it is okay to be a side character. Elijah learns how to open himself up not only with love but with friendships as well.

I have never seen My Fair Lady but this made me want to watch movie! It is labeled as a My Fair Lady meets She's All That (I am not sure if I've seen this in full but I promise you I know the concept and how it ends) and I can totally see how it feels like She's All That.

If you are a fan of theater, opposites attract, and just love a queer rom com told in dual POV!
PS - If you are not following Brian on instagram, what are you waiting for! I love seeing his love for Dolly Parton (iykyk)!

PSS - Is it ironic that I was reading two books at the same time that had a My Fair Lady storyline?! WILD!

4.5

My Fair Brady is a cute, fun, queer YA book about high school drama (and musicals), relationships, and popularity.

Wade Westmore's the handsome, popular guy at school, who's set to graduate soon and was expecting his last few months of high school to be more or less perfect. But when his boyfriend breaks up with him on Valentine's Day, and then is given the lead in the musical Wade was sure would be his, Wade's floundering a bit. He has to come up with some way to get his ex back, so prom can be magical but he's not sure how.

Enter Elijah Brady, the shy nerdy sophomore who doesn't have any friends, and is too awkward to talk to anyone. He joins the spring musical tech crew in hopes of getting closer to the popular kids, and manages to convince Wade to help him to learn how to act like a cooler version of himself.

Elijah might not know that Wade's motivations have to do with appearing selfless and kind so his ex will see and be impressed enough to take him back, but that surely won't backfire. After all, Elijah and Wade aren't even friends, they're just helping each other out. As the musical prep progresses, the two guys start getting closer and things become more complicated than they anticipated.

The book was an easy read, and it reminded me how simple life was in high school though it doesn't feel like that when you're there. There's so much drama (pun intended) and while most of it could be resolved with a little bit of communication, teenagers aren't big on that. Elijah and Wade are both pretty self-centered but not off-puttingly so, and they felt like realistic depictions of teens. The book felt pretty formulaic but sometimes those stories are just really nice to read as was the case here.

A queer young adult take on My Fair Lady featuring a popular theater kid who gets passed up on the main lead... only to have his ex (who recently dumped him and who he isnt really over) get it only for him to decide to help a techie on the play in order to win his ex back... yet maybe he's falling for someone new. Wade Westmore is handsome and used to being in the spotlight, he dreams about being an actor and getting into theater at NYU. Yet his love of being in the spotlight takes a bit of a turn when he is passed for the lead role in the spring play of My Fair Lady... only to have his ex-boyfriend get it. Reese dumped Wade for being too self-involved and Wade isn't really over him. Elijah Brady is a shy sophmore who wants nothing more than to make a friend, he's socially awkward and a bit self conscious and wishes he had half the confidence that Wade has, so in an attempt to make friends Elijah accidentally signs up to work as a tech person for the play. Yet when he bumps into Wade, he asks him to help him become popular. Wade see's this as an opportunity to prove to his ex that he cares about more than himself and as a way to win back Reese. Yet the more time Wade and Elijah spend together the closer they become and Wade is beginning to realize that maybe the guy he wants isn't actually the one he's trying to get back. This was a really cute take on the classic. Wade and Elijah were a fun pair and they were really sweet together. It was a fast read and an overall really cute one.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Honestly? This is kind of a perfect YA rom-com. The characters are all fully-defined, the motivations make sense, and everyone acts their ages. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a young adult book, particularly one that's primarily a romance, this much.

This book is not meant for someone who is 28 like me. The writing seemed super young and I read a lot of YA. I literally had to stop reading because the characters were super childish. I feel like I would have loved this book when I was younger. But as an adult this did not work.

I absolutely LOVED the first half of this book. I really enjoyed the set up and the comparisons to My Fair Lady. However, once it got to the second half I started to lose interest. I think my issue was that in the second half Wade and Elijah spent far less time together, so it made their longing for one another a little less believable.

I would still recommend this because it was cute enough, but it is not a new favorite and I would recommend this author's previous book over this one.

The story starts out very cute, the normal cliche of popular guy helps the social anxiety nerd. I enjoyed the beginning of the story but toward the end I got a little frustrated. Not because it was a bad, but because it was such a relatable high school experience. There's no bad guy to this story, and the only enemy is yourself and miscommunication. I really liked all the characters, and I understand that the focus was on Wade and Elijah, but I really wanted to get to know the techies more. They were so interesting to me, but we barely got to know anything about them. Obviously due to Elijah being bad at telling people no. Reese and Elijah's relationship in the middle did make me a little uncomfortable, which isn't resses fault. He did try to communicate but him not pushing it any further and Elijah's people pleaser tendacy plus not being able to say no did make it hard for me to read. Its hard to see a character in a book make the same mistakes as you growing up haha. I did love wade's character development and learning that sometimes good intentions may be the wrong move.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book. It was a fun romance novel.

Wade Westmore has big dreams: get cast as Henry Higgins in the spring production of My Fair Lady, get into NYU, and win his ex-boyfriend Reese back. When nothing seems to be going Wade’s way, he needs a plan. Enter shy, quiet Elijiah, who is thrust onto the tech crew with little knowledge or desire to be there. Elijah is in need of a confidence boost, Wade needs to prove to his ex that he isn’t just a selfish scene stealer, and the show must go on! What starts out as a far-fetched proposal from Elijah quickly blooms into a friendship, but can this unlikely duo understand their character’s motives before the curtain falls?

I could have read all night
I could have read all night
And still have begged for more!

As a theatre (correct spelling!) kid who started acting in high school but eventually made a career being on the business side, this charming novel spoke to me on the deepest level. It captured the over-the-top, dizzying, enchanting magic of high school theatre and transported me back to the throes of “hell week” while blushing at the thought of my own backstage showmances.

Watching these characters grow up and come into themselves on the page is an absolute delight. Kennedy wrote a novel that exudes warmth and light. Being a teenager is confusing, and messy, and often makes for a protagonist I don’t like very much. Here, Kennedy makes you root for every one of them, despite how complicated and flawed they may be. If you’re looking for a novel that will leave you feeling like you’re wrapped in a hug with a big smile on your face, then do yourself a favor and pick this up when it hits shelves this January 23, 2024.

(Trivia Fact: @bdkennedybooks delivers another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read)

Thank you Brian for the ARC!

Wade Westmore is accustomed to be the star of his school's theater program -- and all of his theater friends. So it comes as a particular disappointment when he loses the starring role in the spring musical his senior year to his ex-boyfriend, Reese, who dumped Wade for being too focused on himself and not on others. Instead, Wade is given a supporting role. On the first day of rehearsals, he runs into, literally, Elijah Brady, a shy sophomore who joined the stage crew for the musical in an attempt to make some friends. When Elijah later inadvertently overhears Wade complaining about his situation backstage, Elijah make a bold proposal: if Wade mentors Elijah about how to be popular, he can prove to Reese that he is not so self-involved ... and hopefully win Reese back in time for prom. Wade agrees and launches into a program to transform quiet and reserved Elijah into confident and popular "Brady." Awkward at first, the two each find themselves looking forward to their lessons and the opportunity to hang out. When Brady proves a hit and Reese seems to warm up to Wade, Wade finds himself surprisingly unexcited ... and less concerned with winning Brady back than losing Elijah.

This is a charming and heartwarming story. With two compelling characters at its center, it is a fun, funny, and thoughtful exploration of popularity, fitting in with both friends and family, and the gap between what people show others and their true selves.

Highly recommended!

Does your brain need something fun and fluffy after the wild whirl of year-end wackiness? Look no further for your reading slump-breaker! My Fair Brady, a gay high school musical retelling of My Fair Lady, is just the ticket. I loved both these boys and their drama (literal).

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book! The review will post to my blog on January 17, 2024. I will also post the review to Goodreads, retail sites and highlight the book on Instagram that same week.

Review:
I read "A Little Bit Country" by this author back in June and really enjoyed it, so as soon as I heard about "My Fair Brady," I immediately added it to my TBR. This is exactly the type of book I wish I'd had when I was in high school. I saw several versions of the younger me in so many of these characters, and I loved it. It made my theatre nerd heart very happy.

The story follows and is told through the first-person narratives of Wade Westmore, a high school student who is used to being in the spotlight, and Elijah Brady, a shy sophomore who is accustomed to being overlooked by his classmates. Wade's life hasn't been great lately. His boyfriend, Reese, recently broke up with him, claiming that Wade was too self-centered and only cared about himself. Things just got worse for Wade when he was passed over for the lead role in the spring musical, and Reese was cast as the lead instead.

When Elijah joins the stage crew for the musical and has a chance encounter with Wade backstage, he proposes an arrangement that could benefit both of them. Elijah asks Wade to teach him how to be popular and more confident. At first, Wade balks at the idea, but then he realizes that this could be exactly what he needs to win Reese back. If Wade helps Elijah, then Reese will see that Wade went out of his way to help someone else. Intrigued by the possibility of proving that he cares about more than just himself, Wade agrees to the deal and thus begins the transformation of Elijah into the new and improved "Brady."

As Elijah starts to gain popularity and finds himself unexpectedly in the spotlight, Wade begins to question his motives. Suddenly, winning Reese back doesn't seem as important as losing Elijah. The dynamics between the characters are captivating, and the chemistry between Wade and Elijah is electric. Readers will find themselves rooting for their relationship to blossom and for Wade to realize what truly matters.

I thought the story was absolutely adorable, and I loved how it took a very familiar trope from a lot of 90s movies and made it feel fresh. The pacing is well-paced, with just the right balance of humor, drama, and romance, but what I really loved about the book was its diverse and multi-dimensional cast of characters. Each character, whether major or minor, is intricately developed and brings something unique to the story. Wade is a charismatic and flawed protagonist, while Elijah is a lovable and relatable underdog. The supporting characters, such as Ava (Wade's best friend), Reese, and the members of the stage crew, add depth and charm to the story. I could easily see several of my old theatre friends in many of these characters.

Overall, I thought this was a delightful and engaging read. Kennedy's ability to create realistic and relatable characters, combined with the charming and swoony romance, makes this book a must-read for fans of YA rom-coms. Whether you're a teenager navigating high school or an adult reminiscing about your own teenage years, this book will resonate with readers of all ages.

This book brought me right back to being a theater kid in high school. Not to mention I’ve been watching the movie version of My Fair Lady since I was 4 years old. I absolutely loved the theater references. I felt like I could have been watching the drama and relationships unfold in my own theater department. And as a wallflower type in high school I completely understood where Elijah was coming from at the beginning of this story. I loved seeing the relationship between Elijah and Wade turn from project to friendship to more. It’s the concrete ending we all wish My Fair Lady had.

So sweet! I love a good makeover and especially enjoy watching shy, anxious characters grow into their confidence. Add in a romance angle, and it’s like all my favorite feel-good stories. My Fair Brady captures the magic of that sweet combination with charming, three-dimensional characters you will absolutely want to hug, shake, and celebrate. It’s a YA queer variation on the classic My Fair Lady/She’s All That setup. I loved it and was rooting for them all from start to finish. Anyone who enjoys a good musical or ever did (or wished they’d done) theater will love the throwbacks. I highly recommend this one to anyone needing a smile.

My Fair Brady was such a great addition to the gay YA genre. I loved the author’s first book but this one was even better. The high school theatre department was such a great choice for a setting as all the drama felt just right. The characters were engaging and the modern take on the movie She’s All That wasn’t heavy handed. If you love broadway musicals and character driven YA, pick this up.

This was so cute! The perfect contemporary read for queer ex-theater kids. I loved the sweet romance, the diverse cast of characters and all of the musical references.

I loved Brian's first book, but I think I love this one more! I hope every book of his just gets better and better.

The setup here is adorable of course, as well as a solid teen classic situation. I loved the dual pov, it worked really well to see where the two characters minds were.

It can be so hard to execute two characters who have flaws while making them likable. Wade is a little self centered, Elijah has a lot of self confidence issues. Both of the flaws came through wonderfully, and left me rooting for the characters rather than being annoyed by them.

The drama of who is upset with who, who is talking to who, who has crushes on who, was all perfect to add to the tension of the story. A well versed reader will see where things are going and be so nervous for the characters to find out exactly how things will play out.

On top of that there is a lot of depth to the secondary characters and their world. No one feels like a chariacture. Which made the world leap off the page and feel authentic.

This is exactly the sort of story I wish was made into movies.

12/10!

Thanks Balzer + Bray for the Arc. :)