This was my first intro to High-Low and it was amazing! This book made me emotional normalizing parental acceptance as a given. It counters the inherit machismo within the Latinx community, This was a great and tantalizing quick read. Loved it!

This novel is a beautifully simple yet powerful story. Told in verse, it’s a quick, one-sitting read that immerses readers in the lives of Samson and Domingo, two boys already in a relationship (I love that) yet constantly challenged by school and sibling rivalries, especially with Domingo’s older brother. Samson’s dedication to being with Domingo, despite the intense judgment and rivalry from his school, is both heartwarming and refreshing. This book feels like a gift for teens today, offering genuine LGBTQ+ representation that is deeply connected to the characters’ heritage and community, though I do wish the cover reflected that better.

Samson Montaña is the star quarterback on Weslaco North High School’s football team, known for the long gorgeous hair he somehow manages to stuff inside his football helmet. Domingo Paloma plays French horn in the marching band at Weslaco South High. Between their school rivalry and wildly different passions, they make for an unlikely couple, something Domingo’s brother, who plays football for Weslaco South, never lets Domingo forget.

Samson and Domingo love each other, but as tensions between their schools heats up, we’re left wondering if their relationship can survive.

Samson and Domingo is a quick, light novel-in-verse that plays cleverly with both Romeo and Juliet and the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. It’s a sweet love story from a refreshingly different perspective that feels very true to high school (minus the magic hair).

Thank you NetGalley, Rosen Publishing Group, and West 44 Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

3.5/5 stars

Will also be posted at https://threeheads.works/category/blog/ya-books/ on June 3.

Very cute and heartfelt gay story. I loved the characters and am looking forward to more from this author

This was such an easy read and a cute little YA romance,.The characters were easily likable and I think their love for each other was very clear right off the start. The little surprise to explain Samson’s strength and athleticism was so unique. A really great low grade low stakes YA romance.

I have not read anything by this author before, but I will definitely be looking out for their work in the future. I loved seeing the story unfold and seeing the characters grow.

As a Thank You to West 44 Books and Netgalley, I write this review of Gume Laurel III’s debut YA Verse novel “Samson and Domingo.” As a native South Texan, this novel brought much pride as its setting is placed in Weslaco, Texas. The story is akin to the Bible’s “Samson and Delilah” unlike that story this one ends in a happy ending. Their relationship blossoms during the summer of their junior year of High School. Their story is filled with many of the firsts that happen when you are a teenager. One is entering a relationship, and for these young queer men they are brought together despite being complete opposites. Samson is a football player for North Weslaco and Domingo is a French horn player for South Weslaco’s marching band. The story follows Samson and Delilah with some key differences. Is all I will say. I enjoyed this immensely and look forward to Gume’s next work. I gave this a strong four stars out of five on goodreads. I recommend it to fans of Aristotle and Dante and the Secrets of the Universe and Fifteen Hundred Miles to the Sun.

Samson & Domingo was such a pleasure to
read. In this short story, we’re able to feel the abundance of warmth and love they share for each other. Both main characters felt really thoughtfully written, and I loved how fiercely Domingo defended Samson anytime he had the opportunity. I really enjoyed this short and sweet story!

This time I decided to totally get out of my comfort zone to try something more different. This verse novel seemed like the right choice, and boy was it! It was a fairly light, simple read, easy to enjoy, and it made the time fly by. I admit that the beginning was not what I expected, but I was already immersed in reading after a few pages.

Full review to be published on February 7: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2024/02/aaaa-gracias-la-editorial-por-enviarme.html

This was a sweet story that I read really quickly.
Domingo is a French horn player in his high school marching band. Samson is the star football player of the rival school's team. The summer before junior year, they fall in love. But when school starts, they both get hassled for "fraternizing with the enemy." Especially from Domingo's big brother who plays on their school football team. As the boys come to trust each other, Samson shares a life-long secret that could change everything.

Admittedly, when I saw the title, I did think of the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. But I didn't make the connection until I was about halfway through the story. This story is so different that it stands completely on its own. Another great thing about this book is the hi-lo (high interest, low readability) verse style. I've never read this kinda of book before, but I think it makes it so accessible to a wider audience. The style will be especially good for teenagers who can really benefit from seeing queer BIPOC characters written by a queer BIPOC author in a positive light.
Personally, I loved the themes of family and sticking up for each other and taking care of each other. The boys are always so kind to each other. It's so sweet to read a low angst, healthy relationship. This was a short story, but it's made such a big emotional impact. I literally gasped at the last page because I was reading it digitally, so I didn't notice I was close to the end, and I wasn't ready for it to be over. Lol
I highly recommend it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @tx.author for sharing this copy with me.
Release Day: 02/01

Summary: Samson and Domingo find themselves head over heels in love during the summer before junior year, navigating the challenges of being star-crossed lovers from rival schools. Samson's mysterious strength and Domingo's musical passion create a unique backdrop for their budding romance. As they face opposition from those who disapprove of their schools mingling, the couple must navigate the dangerous waters of high school love while keeping Samson's extraordinary secret.


Pros:
🌟 Five stars for this delightful story! "Samson & Domingo" is like a love-filled touchdown, complete with the playful notes of a French horn serenade.

💑 The cuteness factor is off the charts! Samson and Domingo's love story is heartwarming, silly, and quirky, creating a perfect blend of romance and teenage antics.

🏳️‍🌈 Representation matters, and this book delivers! The diverse characters and the open acceptance of Samson and Domingo's relationship make for a refreshing and inclusive read.

📚 Written in verse, this hi-lo (high-interest, low readability) book adds a touch of poetic charm to the teenage romance, making it a perfect choice for students. It's a literary touchdown for inclusive storytelling!

Cons:
🤷‍♂️ If you're not a fan of adorable high school love stories, football antics, or musical interludes, this book might be as out of tune as a kazoo at a symphony. But really, who wouldn't want to root for Samson and Domingo?


📚 In conclusion, "Samson & Domingo" is a slam dunk (or should I say touchdown?) in the genre of heartwarming YA. Gume Laurel III, you've crafted a love story that's as endearing as it is entertaining! Bravo! 🏈🎺

Disclaimer: A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Rosen Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are as uniquely mine as Samson's secret strength. 💪📚

I remember reading about the story of Samson and Delilah. I also remember liking it a lot so when I realized that this book was a retelling of that story, I liked it even more. I think it's a sweet story between two people and I also love how their relationship is not a secret. Their love for each other is so innocent and wonderful.

A quick and touching love story written in Hi-Lo verse that feels especially important in today’s world. In this book we follow the love story of Samson & Domingo, from rival high schools in Texas, the band member and the football star are deeply in love. We follow them traverse what it looks like to be in love amidst the tension of being from rivaling schools especially when Samson’s brother plays for their school’s team. Domingo also has a secret, one that he has never trusted any with before. But as love does, it builds trust. Samson, on the other hand, has already had his heart broken before, as he falls for Domingo will it be enough to get through the pain? Will their love be their downfall? Samson & Domingo’s tale is simultaneously heartwarming and affirming.

Watching them both fall for each other, a queer BIPOC story by a BIPOC author is so important to see especially written in a way that is so accessible. Books like this bring gay stories to a wider audience, something that I didn’t see growing up. I hope books like this end up in schools so people can start seeing themselves reflected in art earlier than say college or even young adulthood. Samson & Domingo’s tale while a fast read, still takes you through the highs and lows of falling for someone and feeling like enough for them. Touching on both themes of love and family, this is a story that hits home. I hope you fall in love with Samson & Domingo like I have. A 5/5 read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Rosen Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Taylor Swift songs I associate with this book: Fearless, Love Story, Jump Then Fall, Sparks Fly, Our Song, Mine

This was a simple story, told in a simple way.... yet that doesn't describe it at all because it wasn't merely simple. These two boys are experiencing first love in the most beautiful way. I love their relationship and how deeply they care for each other.
I wish it had just been about the love story though, not the magical element at the end. Don't get me wrong I nearly teared up at the end because of the magic but I feel like the magic was added too late into the story for it to be cohesive. Despite that I still had an amazing time reading this and think it's an impressive work with a lot of potential.

Thank you NetGalley, Gume Laurel III, and West44 books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a sweet story! I've always been bothered by the Samson/Delilah story from the bible...Like, how annoying and horrible is Delilah!? And why did Samson put up with her for so long? Anyways, this (thankfully) is a great remix of that story (emphasis on REMIX) with MUCH better characters, plot, and ending!

The heroes, Samson and Domingo, are both super considerate, loving, protective, respectful, and caring (basically the opposite of Samson and Delilah from the bible). And their story is incredibly sweet and romantic with very, very low angst. Also, it's written in verse!

It's short enough to read in a couple of hours and it really just lifted my spirit. Well done!

This book was short and sweet! I’ve never read a novel in verse before, but I ended up liking this format.

As a band nerd, I was so excited to read this story where the band nerd gets the quarterback. But - in the story Domingo is a french horn player in the marching band, and marching bands don’t have french horns in them.

Band mishap aside, this was a cute retelling of Samson and Delilah. I wish we got to see how Samson and Domingo got together in the beginning, but it was a very cute, quick read.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was short, but so so sweet. It's written in verse and focuses on an already established relationship, which was so nice to read about. The story is based on the Bible story of Samson and Delilah, but a modernized version with gay and Latine characters. I really loved the relationship between Samson and Domingo, they were incredibly sweet together.

This is a novel in verse that follows two high school students from neighboring rival schools: Domingo, the main character is a French horn player in the band at his school. Samson is the big, impossibly strong star football player at the rival school. The two fall for each other over summer break, and must deal with the fallout of their relationship as they return to school. The story is written to be of high interest with low readability, with accessibility in mind for English language learners, reluctant readers, or anyone let down by the education system. As an educator, I can absolutely see the value in a story like this, where ELL/ESL students need more engaging and relevant materials and those who are still working on their reading skills need the same. As some one who just loves good stories, I was able to enjoy it for myself too.
The prose is really lovely, and I feel like it captures the beauty of teenage love while getting across the larger points in the story as well. It’s a bit of a retelling of the Samson and Delilah story, and if you’ve been here for any amount of time, you know I LOVE queering up religious stories. It really just heals that religious trauma so nicely to read that classic Sunday school story told like this, it feels nourishing and fulfilling. And don’t worry, they don’t do Domingo dirty like the original does to Delilah.
Through the ups and downs as Samson and Domingo learn to trust each other and their love, the emotions are well conveyed through the writing and the imagery is just beautiful. It’s like a poetry, rival high school version of Heartstopper with a really sweet relationship between the characters as they navigate their young love. It’s really remarkable how in such a short story, with easy readability, so much is told. I can perfectly picture each scene with the vivid imagery. This was a really beautiful book, and I think it belongs in classrooms and personal shelves all over.

Gume Laurel III's Samson & Domingo is queer Latine heart song that challenges norms, verse by verse.

This isn't your typical Sunday school story. In the fertile ground of contemporary verse, Laurel cultivates a blossom of unexpected beauty. This lyrical work transcends the confines of the hi-lo label, offering a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of affection. Gone are the stoic hero and his damsel in distress. In their place, we find the titular lovers, navigating the trials of a new relationship filled with dueling anxieties and secrets. Yet, beneath the surface of this lyrical serenade, Laurel excavates deeper truths. Their love is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Wielded with wonderful simplicity, the vibrant verse becomes a conduit for raw emotions.

Laurel's brilliance lies in the very fabric of his storytelling. Samson & Domingo is a beacon for reluctant readers, written in a language that resonates beyond the confines of schoolwork. Its verse format, stripped bare of unnecessary embellishment, becomes a bridge, inviting those who might shy away from traditional prose to step into a world that reflects their own experiences. For young queer Latine readers, encountering a love story that mirrors their own developing feelings and seeing their identities reflected in the narrative is not a literary indulgence but a vital act of validation. Laurel doesn't shy away from the complexities of their existence but instead celebrates them, reminding readers that they are seen, worthy, and loved. This is not just a story for the well-read but a welcoming hand reaching out to those who might have felt excluded from the literary landscape, offering a safer space where their voices can bloom.

Forget the Bible's Samson and Delilah drama. This reimagining is the queer love story we deserve! That whole "haircut, betrayal, temple collapse" mess in Sunday School wasn't exactly relatable to young, queer me. But Laurel flips the script in this queer reimagining of the story, gifting us with Samson & Domingo, a tender, sun-kissed romance that'll melt your heart.

Laurel made magic with words, even when it comes to verse. Sparse lines paint vivid pictures of these two boys, their connection blooming like flowers along the Rio Grande. The river, a constant witness to their growing love, adds a layer of quiet poetry that had me swooning. Experiencing these two queer Latine boys living their best lives in a world that embraces them was pure joy. This book is a warm hug and a whispered promise: your love story is out there, waiting to be written.