This was a really adorable, sweet rom-com. The characters were great and the theater/NYC stuff was fun. It felt younger than some of the other YA books I've read, which felt refreshing here. It's not a ground-breaking story, but it was cute and made me smile.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Such a cute and joyful queer YA romance! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This book is a cozy, low-stakes romp through New York with classmates Teddy, a theater kid's theater kid, and Sebastian, a stoic and thoughtful stage tech. While the pair start off on the wrong foot, Teddy's enthusiasm and drive make for a fun adventure in the city. I love how dedicated he was to his friend back home, Annie, even if she's little more than a PETA prop (as someone who works in research, this type of character is personally irritating to me). The romance is more of a slow burn and doesn't go anywhere until the book is almost over, but I liked seeing these two slowly become friends and get to know one another. The chapter titles named after different musical numbers was a cute touch too.

P.S. You must have a neutral to positive opinion of. musicals going into this book. If you don't like them, good luck.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I sadly DNFed this book at 60% because I found Teddy so annoying and childish. I honestly think he was scared to grow up. He felt pushy and very opinionated. Usually I’m okay with this but it was just to much. His school went to New York for a school thing. They have to scavenger around New York to win tickets to a back stage event. Teddy wants those tickets because it’s been said that one of his favorite singer / Broadway guy will be there.

I was so sad to not vibe with this book. I love me a good male/male romance. Maybe I will try another from this author.

This is the most fun book I’ve read in a while. It’s not the first field trip to New York City that I’ve read this year. There’s a Wednesday books title about a band trip that had some similarities to this one.

Teddy is a really fun narrator. He’s so in his head, which I appreciate as a person with a lot of mind spirals myself. I also liked that his identity wasn’t really a focus of the story. Don’t get me wrong– the books about coming out or grappling with identity are important, and I love them, too. But it was nice to read something that sidestepped those themes and simply told a story about unexpected romance without stopping to explain or justify itself.

The only thing that was hard was how often Teddy’s best friend and brother minimized his feelings. They tended to assume he was being dramatic and kind of roll their eyes at him in a loving way, but still. It makes sense within the context of the story, and it’s realistic. I guess it hit on some old wounds for me, so I really felt for him in those moments.

What is This Feeling? is the first book by Robby Webber that I’ve read, but I can tell you that it will NOT be the last! I can’t believe I’m just now discovering his books. I love the balance of sweetness and realism in this one. The relationships aren’t perfect. The characters are flawed but not so deeply that it interferes with my ability to connect with them. It’s a great fall romance.

This book is a fun ride through NYC, mixing friendship and unexpected feelings while chasing dreams and a popstar idol—definitely worth checking out!

⭐⭐⭐ - DNF @ 76%

My rule is to 3-star DNF's not to affect the overall rating.

☀️☀️☀️ cute read, but DNFed at 75%. I couldn't handle talking about the male Taylor Swift celebrity - Benji - that the MC was obsessed with anymore. I can't even remember the names right now 😅. By the point I put this down, I didn't care about the outcome of the competition or the mystery of what the other guy had going on.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 4 ⭐️ what a fun YA read! Definitely has its share of teenage angst as most YA does but I thought it was very well balanced and realistic in capturing the feelings common to the late high school experience. The New York setting and scavenger hunt premise were super fun and immersive. It made me miss the city so much! My only complaint was the OBSESSION the main character has with his music star idol, to the point where it seemed to be his entire personality. However, he did show a lot of growth in this area and I really credit the author with their dedication to so many descriptive details of a fictional character. This kind of characterization is so amazing to me!

Ok, as a former theater kid who was in high school at the time “High School Musical” was first released, I was immediately drawn into this story that opens with a Gabriella and Troy performance (starring a Gabriella who may actually be more of a Sharpay) 🤣

If you are into Taylor Swift type megastars, NYC, the grumpy/sunshine trope and young (gay) love, then this will be right up your alley. There were definitely some moments where I slightly cringed as an adult… but putting myself back into teenager shoes, the actions and thought processes of our MCs were so true to the way teens that age actually do behave and act.

Super quick read that will have you smiling and cheering (maybe singing?) throughout, check this out when you’re in the mood for your next MM YA book!

A big thank you to @robbyreads, @netgalley, and @harpercollins for providing me with a gifted advanced copy of this joyful story! Below is my honest review.

(4.5 stars) Teddy and his best friend Annie have been counting down the days until their drama club's annual trip to NYC, where the highlight is an intense multi-day scavenger hunt. The prize? A chance to meet Benji Keaton, pop sensation and Teddy's idol. But when Annie unexpectedly drops out at the last minute, Teddy finds himself paired up with Sebastian, a tech crew member he barely knows. With low expectations for his roommate and scavenger hunt teammate, Teddy prepares for disappointment.

Yet as they dive into over-the-top scavenger hunt tasks—like sampling overpriced ice cream, landing as extras on a film set, and conquering wild adventures—Teddy and Sebastian begin to open up to each other, sharing secrets and vulnerabilities. What starts as an awkward pairing soon transforms into a deeper connection, and over their time in the city, a heartwarming romance blossoms.

This book is absolutely charming—a tender, feel-good story about first love, personal growth, and finding those rare people who not only see you for who you are but also encourage you to push beyond your comfort zone. Weber beautifully balances fun, light-hearted adventure with deeper themes, making this an uplifting yet poignant read. I wish books like this had been around when I was younger—it's a perfect blend of positivity, joy, and meaningful moments.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to the ARC.

It took a little while for me to warm up to this one but, ultimately, I enjoyed the story. Teddy's anxious inner monologue is fairly EXTRA, which makes perfect sense for a drama club kid, but early on, I found myself wishing he'd relax and enjoy himself already. The weekend in New York is really a love letter to the city, seen through the eyes of a star struck teen artist, and the details and sensory experiences are fantastic. I really appreciated that Teddy's being gay was not a big deal (or even a significant plot point) and that there were several surprise twists and unexpected developments.

This is an enjoyable read for any artsy teens who stan pop stars, long to visit The Big Apple and dare to dream of maybe, possibly seeing their own names in lights one day.

I really enjoyed this book! It really romanticized being in New York and figuring out who you are. Teddy and Sebastian make quite the pair running through New York trying to finish the Drama Club scavenger hunt. I really liked the character arc of Teddy throughout the book. Teddy goes through a lot of reflection and I love the portrayal of a solid support system. Overall, this book is so cute and has amazing characters. It is great and so worth the read!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the eARC!

I really enjoy the work of Robby Weber. This might be last in my list of his work. I was unable to relate to main characters and found one of them just too much and at times unlikable. All that being said, it is a great story for an LGBTQ audience. It’s a great adventure in the big city.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It has some cute parts with Teddy and Sebastian getting to know each other during their scavenger hunt in NYC, small moments of putting each other’s desires before their own. However, despite the sweet scenes, we still have two teenagers who don’t know each other well despite being classmates for years, and they spend most of the book on their own selfish pursuits. Teddy is obsessed with the scavenger hunt, and Sebastian is secretive and always disappearing. It’s hard to imagine that short time together being enough to spark a relationship when they are graduating in about a week and have different post secondary plans.

This was so fun! I smiled my way through this whole book. It's a little silly and definitely far fetched at times, but it felt like being a little kid and watching a DCOM again. Teddy's insecurities around graduation and pursuing his hobbies is all too familiar even close to a decade out of high school. Sebastian is the sweetest little nerd. I loved their adventures through the city and how the boys were allowed even the most far fetched of happy endings.

An earnest, sweet book about a theater kid falling in love with New York City and simply falling in love for the first time. Excellent for readers who can't get enough romance, especially middle schoolers on the younger side.

Based on the cover, I thought the boys were around 13, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they were actually seniors in high school.

Teddy has been looking forward to this trip and the scavenger hunt for years, so it’s a sharp disappointment when he finds out that not only is his best friend not going, but that he’ll be paired with the brooding Sebastian.

So the setup here is great: there’s an Odd Couple vibe here with overeager Teddy determined to win the scavenger hunt and then Sebastian, who just wants to see the city on his own terms without the strict limits of the contest.

As would be expected, the boys learn from each other. Teddy learns to appreciate the small things and take in the here-and-now, and Sebastian learns that maybe the contest isn’t a silly waste of time. The boys also learn more about each other– they bond over Benji Keaton. And of course, there is even a little bit of romance to be found.

Teddy is the only narrator, which works well because there are several points in which Sebastian has gone off to do his own thing and it’s more impactful that the reader finds out what Sebastian is going at the same time as Teddy.

I would absolutely recommend What is This Feeling? This was a sweet coming of age story paired with a queer romance. I am definitely going to look for more books by Weber in the future!


I received a digital ARC of this book from HarperCollins/NetGalley.

What Is This Feeling? is an adorable quick paced YA romcom about two theater boys figuring out how to believe in themselves at the precipice of heading out into the real world after they graduate high school. The mood is lighthearted and funny, and even the heavier, deeper moments seem to carry hope through them. Teddy’s thought processes and dramatics while occasionally annoying were so very real to me considering I’m exactly the same way. I loved seeing songs from musicals as the chapter titles and often found myself singing and humming them to myself while I read or playing a game to see how quickly I could name what musical it was from. Overall, this book was cute and delightful to read. It was quick and fun and I recommend it if you need some of that endless positivity and hope that Teddy has in your life.

GUYS! It’s the big scavenger hunt in NYC for the senior theater kids and this year’s prize is a party where you might get to meet Benji Keaton - huge pop star!

And Teddy cannot wait! He and best friend, Annie, have been preparing for weeks. And not only will they win and get to meet their idol, they’ll also crush self appointed school it girl, Eden.

Until Annie gets suspended. Until Annie can’t go. Until Teddy gets paired up with tech crew nerd and all around cranky nerd Sebastian.

And so Teddy is forced to drag Sebastian from location to location - both partners need to be in each photo along the way on the hunt of course - while the two slowly, grudgingly get to know each other.

There’s a mystery here, too, with the buttoned up, serious Sebastian who, unlike Teddy, has experienced heartbreak. As Teddy pushes, trying to get to know his scavenger hunt partner, Sebastian sometimes shares, sometimes pulls inward. Both reactions force Teddy to question his beliefs, future, and blind adoration of a pop star.

But as the hunt comes to a close, Teddy will get not one, not two, but three surprises that turn his life upside down.

Overall I enjoyed it. The writing is smart and clean, the characters feel authentic to high school kids - Teddy can be a bit much with his obnoxious enthusiasm, but he never felt like a caricature. I had an issue with the NYC trip in which there seemed to be no supervision, which felt unrealistic, but was easy enough to overlook for what I did love.

It’s refreshing to read YA in which being queer is a fact accepted by friends and family, and while this doesn’t have the kind of depth as a book like the incandescent Imogene, Obviously, it was fun and sweet and is easily a book I could see middle and high schoolers enjoying.

Teddy McGuire, the long-time star of his high school's theater program, has been looking forward to the end-of-the-year theater program to New York for years. The trip features a scavenger hunt, and this year the prize is an opportunity to meet singer Benji Keaton, Teddy's all-time favorite musician.

Teddy has long planned to do the scavenger hunt with his best friend, Annie. But at the last minute Annie is prevented from going on the trip, and Teddy is forced to partner with Sebastian, a member of the tech crew who mostly keeps to himself. Sebastian seems largely uninterested in the scavenger hunt and instead seems to have a secret plan in New York all his own. But as Teddy and Sebastian spend more time with each other, Teddy discovers there may be more to Sebastian -- and to himself -- than he first thought.

This is a touching and funny story about trusting yourself, being open to new experiences, and what you may miss out on when making assumptions about other people.

Highly recommended!