A vibrant cover. Think of The First Wives Club. A bulky main character (as Ezra calls himself). Book banning. A cinnamon roll love interest. A fantastic friendship between three boys!

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge reminded me so much of Steven Salvatore’s Can’t Take That Away. Both books are about the courage to stand up for yourself and fight back. About friendship. About flawed and messy teens. And in the end about self-love.

TLBRFR has got many things to love, and it’s a very timely story with, on the one hand, out and proud queer teens and, on the other hand, the silencing of those same queer kids in a ‘perversion-free environment’ including book banning. What I loved most, though, was the friendship between Ezra, Lucas, and Finley. Close friendships are so precious and important in our lives, and stories about them are underrated, in my opinion.

I lOVED this book. The opening sucked me in and I was immediately invested in Ezra. This is a story full of hope, fun, love, and learning to take pride in yourself in all of your messy multitudes. Ezra finds his voice and raises hell alongside his ride-or-dies Lucas and Finley to take down bigots (and fall in love along the way!) and it's incredibly empowering to see. I also especially loved the father-son relationship between Ezra and his dad Kevin. Hubbard's writing is just so fantastic and I can't wait to inhale his next one! The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is an instant YA classic that needs to be on every shelf.

Thank you to netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this book. This was such a fun and cute queer coming of age story. I enjoyed each and every character

"The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge" is a coming-of-age story that follows the lives of three friends, Ezra, Finley, and Lucas. The trio has recently been dumped by their boyfriends and decides to come together to plan their revenge. As they embark on their journey, their friendship gets tested as one of them loses sight of the original goal. However, they all soon realize that their mission is bigger than just seeking revenge on their exes. It's a call to arms to stand up against a system that aims to prevent them from loving and being themselves unapologetically.

The story tackles various challenges that queer individuals face in their lives, including policies that seek to erase their existence. It's a timely story that resonates with many of us who are frustrated with the system that aims to rid us because of our love and pride. The message is clear: WE ARE HERE, and we will continue to love and live loudly and proudly.

A super fun queer coming of age YA story about a group of friends who band together to get revenge on their shitty exes. Full of heart, gay pride and characters who are unapologetically themselves. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it for fans of authors like Phil Stamper and Jason June. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for a complimentary digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have to admit that I struggled a bit with Last Boyfriends at the beginning. Hubbard begins with three sets of MCs and their three ex-boyfriends--a bit much to keep track of--and he uses a bit of tokenism with the three MCs. Also, there is alot of TikTok (appropriate for the age of the MCs but I have never been on it). The writing is not strong. particularly in the descriptions and the occasional usage issue: "I startled" without any object. One has to "startle" something. Occasional other lapses: "showed" for "shown" and Last Boyfriend's (in acknowledgements) rather than Boyfriends'. or Boyfriends. Just needed a bit more editing.

Interestingly, unlike other LGBT YA books, the action moves steadily and positively upward. The MCs never face consequences; every decision works in their favor: Jackson doesn't seem to miss the football team and Ezra doesn't mind not being "Lion King"--and even that works out for him. His father is perfect--in fact, all of the parents in the book are supportive. The book begins with revenge plots on the three exes (based on the First Wives Club--an odd choice of movie for teenagers) but soon morphs into a national movement to get rid of a "Don't Say Gay" initiative targeting queer high school students in Alabama and elsewhere. As the movement grows from an initial "spark," to a Good Morning America news item, Ezra learns to believe in himself. More than many LGBTQIA+ YA novels I have read, this one seems (laudably) laser-focused at queer youth currently suffering in conservative high schools, particularly in the South, where those students face erasure and harassment.

The book addresses a serious problem in our educational system and Ezra takes on the administration for its blatant homophobia. Nice to see a teen MC who is smart but not a skinny nerd, in fact he is "fat." I hope this is read by its target audience--queer high school kids in right-wing states. I couldn't help but cheer on Ezra(and his friends) who grows from feeling unseen to being interviewed by GMA. Hubbard tells his story with much heart and conviction. I look forward to reading Matthew Hubbard's next book. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley (Thanks!)and am providing my honest review.

This book is so unabashedly queer, which I love! There's a lot of great things about it, but I found that the writing style, and the sense of humor, just wasn't for me. I know the fat jokes are making a point and are not endorsed in any way, but it still made me feel a bit weird (a totally personal thing), and I just didn't love it.

I was all for "three teenage boys in small town Alabama who set out to get revenge on their ex-boyfriends and end up starting a student rebellion", but soon realized I may be a bit too old for the chaotic teen mess that ensued lol still a great read though!

The description of this book was that it was “A queer coming-of-age about three teenage boys in small town Alabama who set out to get revenge on their ex-boyfriends and end up starting a student rebellion”. And it was a delight to read. I sat down and read it almost in one sitting, started before bed, and finished it the next day. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I could imagine this book being a great movie one day too. It’s got a bit of a Heartstopper vibe to to it with a more activism theme.
What starts out as plan to get revenge on shitty ex boyfriends turns into a whole movement. The fictional school’s “Watch What You Say” program is basically the Florida “Don’t Say Gay” thing. It turns out well for these fictional students, I can only hope our reality will eventually reflect that too.

Favorite Parts - The skewering of toxic masculinity, body shaming, and femme hating culture, the supportive messages from Ezra’s dad around his body image, seeing queerness and sports coexisting happily - love that Ezra was a huge hockey fan. Basically Ezra’s dad the whole time, being ready to go to bat (or puck) for this kid.

Read This If You - Like seeing queer kids get justice, want to see a parent of a gay kid get it right, like drag shows, dig a good revenge tale, are looking for a diverse cast of characters with good character development.

Thank you to @netgalley, @randomhousekids, and @delacortepress for giving me a DRC copy!

Sometimes you read a YA book and realize you are to old for them. This was the case for me. The characters were super immature for me. This book has a good message about LGBTQ+ rights. But other than that it was not a book I enjoyed.

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge sounded like the perfect queer YA high school drama, full of diverse characters, a fun revenge plan, and lots of LGBTQ+ pride. AND IT IS, but it also didn't take long to realize it's also a hot dumpster fire mess of teen feelings, poor mental health not really addressed (?), and badly executed revenge plots with zero thought to consequences. I gave the story a chance to fully hook me in for longer than it was needed because I honestly wanted to like it, yet it never managed to do so. The MC becomes quite the unlikable character when he turns against his friends, and by the point that happens, I wasn't invested in him enough to want to follow the escalation of his teen drama. I get that the story revolves around his flaws and how he has to work things out with himself to become the real MC hero of the story, but his unlikability and his poor decisions were too much for me to want to continue cheering him on.

I'm still giving this a 3 star, because it is a well-executed book with a strong and wonderful message about LGBTQ+ rights and how our voices as just as valid. It's especially relevant now with all the anti-LGBTQIA+ propaganda and laws being passed. Plus, I'm sure there's an audience that will click better with the high school drama side of the story. Unfortunately, it didn't click with me. DNF at page 130. Might pick it back up at finish at some later date.

[Netgalley ARC]

Welp... this book was an absolute delight and I cannot wait to watch conservatives lose their minds over it 😈

You know when Simon Vs. first came out in 2015 and the book community (especially the queer book community) was like, "Stop everything you're doing and read this book right now"? I had the same reaction while reading TLBRFR. This book made me feel like a new wave of queer defiance is being ushered in, and I am here for it. I think it’s more than serendipitous that Becky Albertalli blurbed for this book.

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge tells the story of Ezra, Finley, and Lucas. These three Alabama-living besties are in relationships with the shittiest guys. I mean, their boyfriends are just the WORST. And as each of these toxic relationships begins to crash and burn, EF&L take solace in the fact that they're all "last boyfriends". At the same time, their school attempts to stifle their queerness under the guise of a "Watch What You Say" initiative, and the boys are not having it. They decide to fight back.

Reading this book made me feel like I was part of a movement. A movement that queer people have been fighting for centuries at this point. This book has lit a queer-defiance fire and I, as the reader, am helping to feed the flames. I am bursting with pride by that and I can’t wait to watch my community create an inferno.

There were so many things about this book that I loved. The amount of diversity and representation was just the tip of the iceberg for me. The characters in this book were all so uniquely and unapologetically themselves, which is something I adore. I also loved the unwavering courage shown by our 3 MCs (and several side characters!) in the face of adversity. I adored they’re friendship and the unshakable loyalty shown to one another throughout this story. And on top of all that, there was romance 😍, Zaddy Kevin, a “Carrie” moment, and Sour Patch Kids.

TL;DR- This isn’t just a book, but a protest piece. I’m proud to be a voice in this protest and I hope you’ll join me by reading this book.

BONUS: Please enjoy the following Kevinisms:
- "Don't be afraid of a fight"
- "Being brave is doing what's right when you know the consequences"
- "The best revenge is believing in yourself"
- "And wear a rubber if you're gonna have sex"

Thank you so much to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for a copy of this book ❤️

Fans of Becky Albertalli and John Green will enjoy this coming of age story of friendship and first loves. Set in a rural area, the author does a great job of balancing the tension of small towns and the reality of love in families and communities.

This was such a fun concept for a book. I really appreciated the queer characters and how the 3 friends complemented each other.

This is a bittersweet novel about a high school whose motto becomes, "Watch What You Say" until The Last Boyfriends decide to model themselves after the movie, First Wives Club and stand up to assert themselves being gay. Ezra has a crush on football legend, Presley who then kisses him and promptly ignores and insults him. Humiliated, Ezra retreats into himself until he realizes the new motto is not enriching the school, but actually enraging the students who must pretend to be straight. And so he begins a "campaign" on TikTok that encourages students to stand up for who they really are. It's often funny, sometimes serious, but clearly it's a message to all of us to accept people for who they are, regardless of our own belief systems.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The premise of the story is hilarious perfection, the cover is sheer art, but it the prose felt overly narrative and left me wondering if it's a debut (it seems to be). I stopped after chapter 1 (4%). I can see this appealing to teens, but I don't see heavy crossover potential. I'd see it being a solid three stars, four for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I absolutely loved this book. I sped through it because it was just so good! I was so frustrated with everyone in the beginning but was quickly reminded of my awful high school boyfriend experiences. This was an inspiring and heartwarming read.

Ezra and his friends were so adorable and were so much fun to read. I loved them and rooted for them so hard. The exes were such ASSHOLES in the beginning I was gasping at all the audacity. I would have decked someone in the face with how much they made my blood boil.

While this book focuses on revenge and getting back at your toxic ex, we also get a very powerful plot line at getting back at the rampant homophobia in schools. The fact that they even had a policy in place like that is sickening!! When the revenge started getting more and more geared towards who the real villains were, I was hootin and hollerin for them to succeed. But in the back of my mind, this made me want to get back at my ex too. I could go for a little TikTok revenge myself.

This was an entertaining book filled with fun and relatable characters as well as inspiring messages. We are here and can not be erased. Being queer is not perverse or a bad thing. My heart got the warm fuzzies throughout this. And can I just say the hockey proposal made me go AWWWW for almost a full minute. My little heart. This was so cute and I can’t recommend it enough!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing access to this ARC! I enjoyed the empowerment angle as the plot evolved from revenge to advocacy. That’s when I became invested. Kevin and Jackson are endearing, fresh supporting (and supportive) characters, but I wish Lucas and Finley had more distinct voices. Great message and great main character growth

This is a great YA novel about coming out, standing up for yourself against homophobia, and finding love. I could have done with a little more action from Ezra and Jackson but it is YA so that would probably be inappropriate. :)

4.7 rounded up to 5/5.

In Matthew Hubbard's debut novel, "The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge," readers are transported to a small town in Alabama where three teenage boys navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and identity. This queer coming-of-age story is a vibrant celebration of courage, friendship, and the power of standing up for oneself.

At the heart of the narrative is Ezra Hayes, a character who yearns to step out of the shadows and be seen as a romantic lead in his own story. When his summer romance with Presley takes a heartbreaking turn, Ezra, along with his best friends Lucas and Finley, decides it's time for revenge. What ensues is a series of daring plans, from sabotaging a major party to entering a drag competition, all culminating in Ezra's unexpected run for Winter Formal King against his ex.

However, the story transcends mere revenge schemes as the trio finds themselves at the forefront of a student rebellion sparked by the school district's censorship of queer voices. As Ezra takes to TikTok to amplify their message, the rebellion becomes a rallying cry for change, challenging outdated norms and redefining what it means to be queer in their community.

Hubbard skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, self-discovery, and activism, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and empowering. From the very first page, readers are drawn into Ezra's journey of personal growth, rooting for him as he navigates the highs and lows of teenage life.

What truly sets this novel apart is its richly drawn characters, each with their own distinct personalities and struggles. The friendship between Ezra, Lucas, and Finley is a highlight, offering a heartfelt portrayal of loyalty and support in the face of adversity.

Moreover, Hubbard's storytelling prowess shines through in the emotional depth of the narrative. Moments such as Ezra's encounter with the ally who publicly supports him and the solidarity of the student rebellion resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on readers.

While some may find certain plot twists predictable, the strength of the storytelling lies in its ability to evoke genuine emotion and provoke thought. "The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge" is not just a story about getting even; it's a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of queer youth, reminding readers of the importance of standing up for what they believe in.

In conclusion, "The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge" is a necessary and timely read for young LGBTQ+ people and allies alike. It is a story that inspires and empowers, leaving readers with a renewed sense of hope and the courage to fight for change. With its vibrant cover, engaging plot, and unforgettable characters, this novel is sure to capture the hearts of readers everywhere.