Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte press for allowing me to read this book! I can almost guarantee that this novel is going to become a best seller. It most definitely lived up to all of its hype on bookstagram and I beyond thankful that I got to read it before it was published. This book is an open love letter to every queer kid out there and encourages you to always stand up for yourself. This is a book I needed when I was in high school… as someone who did not come out as gay until their senior year of high school, this book would have given me the confidence that I needed.

I appreciated and enjoyed the journey all the characters went on and loved the discussion of coming out and respecting people’s boundaries. No other book has mentioned the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” and I believe this book will be the first of many others to follow. This book and its message are what we need right now and I am thrilled to have been able to read it.

OMFG. While Matthew Hubbard's The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge totally drew me in with the AMAZING cover (I literally cannot resist a rainbow), I was absolutely hooked on this AMAZING novel from the very first page. I used to be a big YA reader, but so much of it makes me cringe these days - but y'all there is NOTHING cringy about this book (unless it's very intentionally meant to be). I loved the writing. The romance is SO sweet. And the messages in this book are going to be so meaningful to so many people.

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge follows three friends who have all been burned by their horrible ex boyfriends. They decide to get them back in pretty epic ways, beginning with Ezra burning his cheating ex's varsity jacket and posting a video to an anonymous TikTok account. The video goes viral and things escalate a LOT from there, but alongside the boys' personal drama is a background of a district-wide "don't say gay" policy that is just devastating. The story ends up being about Ezra's personal growth while also providing an extremely inspiring and empowering storyline about the power LGBTQIA+ students have to overcome these kind of obstacles. And, while navigating all of this, Ezra also manages to find love where he'd never thought to look - and it even involves hockey (you'll see, I LOVED it).

This book got me all up in my feelings, I cried off and on through the entire second half. I cannot believe this is a debut novel because it is so well put together and just beautiful. I don't want to get into too much detail because I really think it's more meaningful to just read it, but y'all. This book is IMPORTANT. It's not my lived experience, but it was for so many of my friends growing up and for so many young people today. It is making me want to go double check the school district policies for my daughter because seriously, this book is a call to action. And I absolutely loved that the final message, after all is said and done, is about having pride and believing that individuals can make a difference.

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is out in April, and you are going to want to get it on you TBR RIGHT NOW. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC, and to Matthew Hubbard for listening to me ramble about how much I loved the book as I read.

First of all, how amazing is this cover?? 😭 One of the prettiest things I've ever seen! The color choices, the flames, the three characters, everything is so accurate with the vibe and content of the book!

This book deals with a really pressing current issue of queer teens forced to stay silent about their queerness in school -- the backlash received by these students was heartbreaking, and the way they protested and fought back was absolutely inspiring.

While the above runs in the background throughout, the book is also about love and friendship and three teens (including the narrator/MC) taking revenge on their ex boyfriends for abusing/mistreating them. The revenge schemes were absolutely entertaining and satisfactory to read ahhh

TWs - active homophobia by people in power, fatphobia, (verbal) abuse in a relationship (there are multiple instances of this, but the scenes shown on page are similar to what happens in Heartstopper between Charlie and Ben)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Glitter bomb- I absolutely loved this! 10 ⭐️!

Ezra Hayes has just discovered his boyfriend is a lying cheater. Ezra, always feeling like a bridesmaid and never a bride, just wanted to be loved. However, it turns out everyone knew Presley was a player. Everyone but him. In a moment of hurt and anger, Ezra burns Presley’s letterman jacket and posts it anonymously on TikTok with the help of his best friends, Lucas and Finley, who have also recently been burned by their relationships. The post quickly goes viral and a revenge plot on their ex boyfriends is born. While he gets a little lost along the way, Ezra realizes this is about more than revenge. His school’s “Watch what you say” (read: don’t say gay) initiative must be stopped and Ezra and his friends are the ones for the job. And who knows, he might find that love was even closer than he thought.

Wow. This was ah-mazing! Witty, commanding, swoony and an absolute must read. As a super fan of drag race, I loved all the references. Overall, what a powerful and inspiring message written beautifully. I cannot say enough good things about this and I will never stop talkingu about it. This was fast paced and engaging. The characters were developed and strong. I loved how Ezra’s dad was so supportive and proud of Ezra and everything he did. Ms. Dion, a teacher, was also a supporting character who pushed the Last Boyfriends along and backed them up. My only hope is that every kid is so lucky. I loved following Ezra and his friends on their journey to finding their voices.

“When a group of survivors join forces, they become fighters.”

This made me angry in the best way. It’s insane that in 2024 we’re still fighting this fight. As a queer kid, I really wish there were books like this when I was growing up. With all of the negativity surrounding social media, it was refreshing to read something proving it could be something amazing and beneficial. The outpour of love, support and rallying together was truly spectacular and does happen from time to time in real life. There will always be haters out there, but “the best revenge is believing in yourself”.

We’re here. 🌈

I have read a lot of Young Adult books in my life, the majority of which have been LGBTQ – they are one of my comforts. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is, without a doubt, one of the best YA books I have ever read. It’s a new all-time favorite in the genre of queer YA, and I will recommend it to everyone.

There’s so much to love here. The characters are complex and dynamic. The plot is well-paced and absorbing. The romance is beautiful. The emotion is vivid. The humor is bold. The writing is excellent. The Taylor Swift easter eggs and references are plentiful.

The book explores so many important topics – friendship, identity, justice, strength, acceptance … and, of course, revenge. And it does so from a queer point of view.

The tone is managed so well. I found myself laughing, I found myself crying (a lot), I found myself enraged, and sometimes I felt all those things at the same time. It shifts from vigilantism and revenge plotting to meaningful discourse on a dime. And it makes it work.

The book encourages you to look within, and in turn, you see yourself in these characters that are so well-developed that they feel real.

Amidst real-world legislation that is targeting the existence of queer people, this book has never felt more relevant or necessary. If it finds its way into the hands of someone who needs that spark, that push, to finally speak up and fight back? Then this book can change lives. That is how strong and important this story is.

The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge is such an experience. It is a resounding chorus of voices encouraging us all to scream “We’re here.”

It’s also a reminder that not only are queer people here – but we’re here to stay.

What a debut. Matthew Hubbard is an author to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of the book!

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. The title didn't really fit the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this debut novel that has the conniving of Mean Girls, the bildungsroman of Dear Evan Hansen, and yet— a fresh and heartening queer story all its own. I had no idea how much I needed the lessons and representation inside the covers of this book. Reading it, I saw myself… my friends… but even more importantly, I saw the ones who have hurt me in the past. It was reaffirming in the best way to be reminded that I was getting my best revenge by living out loud.

We are introduced to Ezra— hockey fanatic, high school ‘nobody’, and last of his friends to have a boyfriend… or so everyone believes. In truth, he’s been seeing the Harper Valley High School’s Golden Boy for five months on the down low. He has watched his friends, Finley and Lucas, drown in their own respective boy problems— thinking he was the lucky one. This secret triste takes a swift nosedive and sends all three boys on a mission… one to get back at the assholes who wronged them. What ensues is a collection of plots inspired by the best vengeance media the teens have collectively seen (think Carrie and First Wives Club) and a realization that maybe there’s more to retaliation than just getting even.

With a cast of characters that span the gamut of LGBTQ+ representation with their own individual struggles— there is someone for every reader to relate to. I personally saw myself in Jackson; another HVHS Lion who strikes up a friendship with Ezra. There are twists that will surprise and delight you, and great subversions of literary tropes to warm your heart. The author creates a safe space to feel, to explore, and to learn within these pages. From relationship drama to educational administration domination, there are obstacles galore that Ezra goes through. His strength will give readers renewed purpose; and I can’t wait for people of all ages to be inspired by this work.

Thank you to the author for letting me read this novel when i first saw it on instagram the cover really caught my eye irs stunning all the rainbow flames the artwork i just love it so going into it i was really excited to learn more about Ezra and all the other characters in this book firstly i just want to say i loved the friendship between all 3 of them it was so wholesome and this novel was such a fun read but also had such an important message behind it which we are dealing with today still in society and we need to use our voices. This novel also pays homage to The First Wives Club movie which i have on my DVR and now i definitely need to watch it. This novel had drag , pranks, revenge, a little bit of everything. It follows Ezra who gets burned by Presley who honestly i feel as we have either been presley or have met a presley growing up and at times i saw myself having empathy for him because you can tell he was struggling with himself. The friends decide to make a tiktok account and get revenge on the people who did them wrong but also use the platform for good and speak up against the corruption and the corrupted people in charge at school who are trying to silence them. THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Also one of my favorite things about this novel was seeing the support Ezras father had for him it honestly was so beautiful and wholesome. Ezra was a great lead. A little bit into the book Ezra catches another player on the team who also was burned by presley and keeps it a secret after catching them however that player feels comfortable with Ezra and comes out to ezra and after that a little romance blossums and honestly yall they were so cute.... Im telling you all you need to read this one especially if you love 🏳️‍🌈 novels with important messages and wholesome chosen family and cute romance. Thank you so much matthew for letting me read your novel please never stop writing YA novels you make great books! ♥️

PS: The woman who knew ezras father was a queen and the fact that she saw what was going on and pulled ezra aside to let him know she is with them and show she was an ally and willing to take down people with them was amazing as well ugh this book was perfect yall.

I also love how so many of the characters had different personalities and were all so lovable. Books like this are so important for the younger generation and im so glad so many amazing books like this are being written because someone whos reading it could relate to the story of Ezra,Presley,Jackson & friends.

This book had everything - humor, romance, teen angst, and the sort of coming-to-terms with your own mental health and your friendships that I wish I had done when I was in high school, all wrapped up in a hilarious First Wive's Club-esque plot. In this case, though, the reference to the beloved 90s classic wasn't just a marketing gimmick, but rather the book built on what the movie started. It wasn't just about revenge for these boys, it was about growth, about truly moving on and finding themselves. I'm so glad I started the year with this as my first read, and I know it will be one I recommend time and time again.

This book absolutely had everything you need in a YA coming-of-age novel. The Southern queer experience is not the same for everyone, but the coming out woes and worries of being a young queer kid are nerve wracking for nearly all. I loved this book, and its tapestry of characters that I found myself and my found family in. I will be recommending this to everyone I know and love!

WOW what an absolute BANGER of a book this is. i had some seriously high expectations for it that were shattered. everything about it exceeded my wildest dreams.

i want to start with Ezra and his friends. they're the perfect support group someone should have while navigating an upsetting situation like this. they helped each other, heard each other, and weren't afraid to be brutally honest with each other. they all felt so real. together, they are so funny. they have a dynamic and rhythm that jumps off the page and into your head. i was laughing throughout almost all of their scenes together.

and Ezra himself went on a beautiful arc, of which i won't get into the specifics because of spoilers, but i love how it ended with him finding himself to be worthy.

that's a huge part of this story: knowing your worth. and as these Last Boyfriends fight back, against people that wronged them AND leaders who are out to get them, they discover that they matter.

i love that it evolves far past the need for revenge. it channels queer rage and turns it into queer joy. it's a fight to be seen and heard.

it's really great. Matthew, who is VERY kind btw, did such an incredible job crafting this story and i know everyone is going to love it

This cover is SO colorful and SO queer, and Matthew Hubbard can honestly do no wrong. I love the revenge plot, the friendships, and the exploration of real-world themes like censorship. It feels super contemporary without being corny/running the risk of being dated, and teen readers will absolutely connect.

This really did not work for me. I found a lot of the dialogue to be cringe-inducing, and I didn't think the characters were distinct enough from each other. There was also SO much going on (ex-boyfriend revenge club, fighting the administration's homophobic policies, running from homecoming king, etc.) and I think this would've been a stronger book if it had more focus. Also on a cover design note, I do not love that the main character, who has a lot of body image struggles and is described as fat, is skinny/the same size as everyone else on the cover.

Actual rating 4.5 stars for a powerful and important story WITHOUT (!) an effing third-act breakup. So happy about that!!

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.

Of course, I also liked the romance in TLBRFR. I immediately knew who the Snapchatter was (still not sure if this is a word), and he was such a sweet cinnamon roll. People who have followed me for a longer time know I have a soft spot for cinnamon rolls, and my heart was overflowing with love when Ezra got that special message from Rolf Nyberg, a hockey player. Just know Ezra loves watching hockey!!

Matthew, I adored your debut and can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Thanks so much, Delacorte Press and NetGalley, for letting me read this book early!!

This book is an absolute must-read. It is so necessary for young LGBTQ+ people to be able to see that their voices matter and in spite of the vehement anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric out there today (book banning, don't say gay), we matter.

The Last Boyfriends Rules For Revenge was such a fun story and a powerful one. It was giving all of the "John Tucker Must Die" and "First Wives Club" realness. The pop culture references were tasteful as well.

There is an extremely emotional, personal, and triumphant story about our main characters taking on their school district's version of the "Don't Say Gay Bill". But this proves just how strong and powerful LGBTQ+ people and youth are. Especially when we are pushed around by bigots.

This truly gave me so much hope in the power of our next generation, I think this book will help and save LGBTQ+ kids. Save them from living afraid to stand up for themselves and their community against hate. A little noise and raising hell moves mountains.

"We're here, we're queer and we're not going any where" is the best way to describe this book. Well deserved 5 star review and read!

Ezra feels down after he finds out his boyfriend has been seeing other people and using him. He feels like he’s undateable and like no one will ever want him. He and his two best friends have all had their hearts broken and they form The Last Boyfriend’s Club. Not only that - but they’re dealing with a school administration that is trying to make them nonexistent.

Y’all - I’d been WAITING for this one. A YA book of queer people being themselves and figuring out how to make change? Revenge plot? Sassy friends? Sweet as pie romance? Supportive family?? Growth?? Flawed characters who apologize??!

This book was everything I want and more. Tell me why I messaged @matthewhubbard like he was my friend while reading because I was so blown away. This book is wonderful, and Matthew lets you into his brain, his experience, and shares a beautiful vulnerability with readers.

Glitter bomb: I relate to Ezra so much because I am that person. I’ve been that person, and my heart ached for him.

I cried twice reading this one. #Jazra!! So happy I preordered this one already. The copy will sit proudly on my shelf.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.