An incredibly timely and swoony young adult romance following a QSA's quest to SAVE PRIDE MONTH by throwing a series of clandestine speakeasies after their small town mayor outlaws ANY pride celebrations in town. Zeke is a newly out teen who had previously lived in his dad's oppressive household, where he was not free to express himself or even think or act for himself. Finally free from his controlling lawyer dad, Zeke finds that not only does he not know who he is or what he wants, he also has no idea how to be a "good gay". I thought Zeke captures perfectly the character of a teen who is a bit confused but still trying his best, even if he keeps messing it up.

I loved Zeke's journey of figuring out what is happening in his town as well as figuring out himself, and the more he accepts himself, the more the people around him grow to accept and appreciate him for who he is. I also loved the community of this small town and how they each came together to help with pride. This book truly shows how anti-LGBTQ+ hate affects everyone in the community, not just Queer people being forced to quell or hide their identities. This book is full of mothers, fathers, aunts, public servants, and community members, who truly demonstrate what good allyship is.

The romantic beats here are a bit more predictable with a fun, enemies-to-lovers plot with former crush and fellow QSA member Cohen. The only issue I took with the book is the somewhat ambiguous ending. <spoiler>I would've loved a triumph over evil moment with every homophobic villain getting their comeuppance like we got in the previous book, while this book kept things a bit more open ended (although perhaps more realistically so.)</spoiler>

Big thank you to Delacorte Press for gifting me an eArc of this one! Thoughts are my own.

I requested and received an eARC of The Rebel’s Guide to Pride by Matthew Hubbard via NetGalley. After coming out and facing criticism from his father, Zeke Chapman is willing to do anything it takes to the tarnish the man’s reputation. He quit basketball, has been starting fights, and his grades have definitely seen better days. When his best friend, Sawyer, asks for his help in planning the QSA’s community Pride Day, he’s happy to help — anything to piss his dad. When the town’s mayor steps in and cancels their Pride Day, Zeke steps forward and urges the community to celebrate anyway.

The Rebel’s Guide to Pride features an awesome cast of characters. Zeke is a very well-written character for a young adult audience. His feelings toward his father and the way he reacts to him felt very natural and reflects a difficult relationship I’m sure many queer readers can identify with. Zeke is brave, but takes too many risks. Like a good YA protagonist, he character has a need to grow and is given the proper space and appreciation to do just that in Hubbard’s novel. I also really loved both Sawyer and Cohen. I like the way that they both challenge Zeke and the struggle over what it means to be a “good gay.”

This was the first book that I’ve ready Hubbard and I have to admit that I really quite enjoyed it! I think the messaging in this book, sadly, is more important than ever. So many young folk continue to live in fear and uncertainty, which is something that Hubbard doesn’t shy away from. What The Rebel’s Guide to Pride shows the reader, however, is the importance of community. Learning from one another, supporting each other, even if that means being afraid together. The novel remains faithful to the idea of pride, to resisting and protesting, and finding joy along the way.

This book was very important and a good way of spreading the message to the Young Adult audience it was written for. It shows how to fight and stand up for what you believe in and even how to show up for yourself. It held important and revolutionary messages that reflect our society today.
However, as much as I really wanted to like this book, some parts of it towards the end just felt like it fell flat, especially compared to the first book that held the same values. While everything wasn't completely tied up in a nice, happy bow, there were times where the relationships felt forced. While it shows the importance of standing together and did dive into the differences and arguments held in some relationships, it could have gone farther into exploring the depths of how sometimes not every person changes for the better.

What a creative idea that I wish I had thought of myself! If pride speakeasies aren't already a thing, they probably will be soon, as unfortunate as it is that we are in a place of such political and social upheaval where we need to have secretive pride events in some states. This book reminds us that the first Pride was NOT peaceful; it was a riot, a protest, a fight for our right to exist. It brings us back to the idea that pride is rebellious.

Zeke is a flawed main character who starts with a huge main character complex (in this case, he actually is the main character, LOL, but you know the type). The words "we" and "our" don't seem to be in his vocabulary; it's all "I" and "my." As annoying as this trait is, it's also endearing because he's trying to be a "better gay." For years, he felt suffocated by his dad forcing him to stay in the closet (under the guise of "safety"). When his parents separate and divorce, he finally feels comfortable enough to join his school's Queer Straight Alliance, where his best friend, Sawyer, is the president. He decorates his new room with a huge rainbow flag. He doesn't know the first thing about politics or pride, but he wants to try, at first to stick it to his dad, but then because he finds a real community in the space. When the mayor cancels Pride Day (he only lets the QSA have three hours, instead of thirty days) and launches his new "Family First" initiative (sponsored by none other than Zeke's dad and his law firm), Zeke comes up with the idea of having it in secret. The first pride speakeasy gives him such a rush that he immediately begins planning the next one.

This is a book about finding your voice, even and especially when others try to silence you. It's about choosing not to live in fear. It's about pushing back against the systems that oppress us, sticking it to the man. While there is a lot of homophobia, it's not about that. It's about opposing the hate, but it also doesn't fault any queer people who don't feel safe enough to do so.

Pick up a copy of this book when it comes out in May, right in time for Pride Month!

Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this book! All thoughts are my own.

very cute, very empowering, i love the activism and the strong themes for fighting for your rights and your identity. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Zeke Chapman used to be his father’s perfect son. Newly out, Zeke quit the baseball team, where he had been the star, and almost flunked his junior year. Zeke now feels torn between the pressure from his father not to draw attention to himself and from his friends to do more to support the LGBTQ+ community in their town. When the mayor cancels all Pride celebrations, Zeke’s rebellious streak kicks in and he starts a serious of underground events to celebrate Pride.

Zeke’s events take off, and soon Zeke is spending almost all his time planning the events, especially after people begin referring to him as the “King of Pride.” But his efforts are creating tensions with both his friends and his ex and now rival, all while Zeke seems to be developing a new relationship with a mystery person. When the final party goes awry, Zeke has to confront what he really wants to accomplish — and who is most important in his life.

This was a charming and well-written story, exploring timely themes. The author perceptively portrays Zeke’s journey to figure out his place among his friends, his community, and his family.

Highly recommended.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the early copy of Hubbard’s sophomore novel! I had the opportunity to read and review his debut as well (which I loved) and I can confidently say that this author has yet another success on his hands. With plenty of hope to share in a tumultuous time— both in between the pages and outside of the novel itself— The Rebel’s Guide to Pride is a rallying cry to all of us who are saddened and scared by the current state of the world. It teaches us how to be brave and bold and exist outside of the box that ‘powerful’ people, our own families, or even we ourselves try to shove us in.

We follow Zeke (formerly Anthony) Chapman as he navigates his way through his parents’ messy divorce. Losing his father means gaining the ability to be himself for the first time… and it feels daunting. How can he be a ‘good gay’ when he has kept his true self in a shoebox for most of his young life? He tries to follow in the footsteps of his best friend, Sawyer, who has been out and proud for years. What he learns, however, is that pride is something you must instill within yourself.

A wrench is thrown in the gears of this process as the mayor of Zeke’s small Alabama town starts the ‘Family First’ initiative that will, at least outwardly, silence the thriving LGBTQ+ community of Beggs. Zeke has two choices— lay down and be shoved back into the strange shape he became trying to fit in, or to raise his voice and inspire the gays and allies around him to do the same. When he chooses the latter, he not only finds the courage to become more than the Zasshole he was, but also falls into and explores relationships that threaten to change his life forever.

As a pansexual woman who came out later in life, I both relate to and envy Zeke. I know what it’s like to be stuffed into a category that does not fit me, and how an outwardly disapproving father can absolutely tear you down and leave you in a state of perpetual imposter syndrome. I also wish I had been able to be myself at a young age with the support system I have now. Like Zeke, I have my mom, my friends, and the beautiful likeminded people of my community. Even so, we are in a state of emergency with our current administration. So the love that I feel is quickly being overrun by hate, but it’s works like Hubbard’s that gives me hope for the future. I will hold on to Zeke’s story as a light in the dark.

Matthew Hubbard's second novel is a strong sequel to his first. The characters are extremely relatable and the development that they go through throughout the story is strong. The conflict drives the plot and it's fun to see how all of the characters interact with each other based around the events.

Thank you SO much to @delacorteromance @loveunderlined @getunderlined for this amazing ARC of @matthewhubbard’s latest book! Enjoy my photoshoot with the book as I carried it around with me today.

Y’all, we KNOW that Matthew always brings the political realness to his stories. I am HERE for it. I absolutely adored this story and had to force myself to set it down a couple of times so I wouldn’t fly through it in one sitting.

Matthew knows JUST how to tug at all of my heartstrings. He always gives me characters that are real. Flawed. A little messy. Romantic. Full of ideas. Thoughtful. Kind (who also can be a little mean). But ALWAYS true to themselves.

I found myself captivated by the kids, particularly Zeke and Cohen (enemies to lovers realness). I also really loved Zeke’s relationship with his mom. It was lovely.

Also guys gals and non-binary pals, Matthew gave us the *swooniest* most romantic scene. Ah hell. Several scenes. But one in particular had me cheesin’ at the coffee shop.

He also made me as a millennial (ily Matthew) feel old with Spice Girls jokes. 😅😅 (and then old Great Gatsby from 2013!!!)

I am so in love with this book and can’t wait to add the finished copy to my shelves (PS order from @parnassusbooks and get a signed/personalized copy!!)

Look, the fact is, we are in a wild time in the US. Stuff that happened in this book is happening everywhere. It’s up to us to fight for our pride. Will you? 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

Andrew 'Zeke' Chapman has spent his whole life being molded by his image-obsessed dad. But when Zeke comes out, everything changes: his parents divorce, he quits baseball, and start intentionally failing classes just to prove he's nothing like his dad. When the mayor cancels the QSA's Pride Day and any future LGBTQ+ gatherings, Zeke and his friends refuse to stay silent. Through a series of underground Pride speakeasies, a community of rebels is formed.

This book is *everything*.

Zeke struggles to figure out how to be a "good gay", which is hard when you're being told so many different things. Not only is he trying to figure out who he is, he's trying to stand up for what's right, a feeling I'm sure many people can relate to. 

There are moments where the characters are fearful and feel hopeless. But there are also moments of vulnerability and growth. Ultimately, we don't know what others are going through, and what may seem like a small act of kindness to you may inspire someone else to be brave. That's how communities are built. 

The overall message of just showing up and doing your best is so important. We can all be rebels if we work together.

Matthew Hubbard did it again and wrote another book that I adored from start to finish. Hubbard touched upon topics that are unfortunately very timely in this country right now because of the ruthless politicians slinging hate to minority groups. Zeke's coming out should have been full of happiness and celebration, but instead, the readers get to see what happens in a town filled with hatred for the LGBTQIA+ population. As I read the book, I found myself relating to Zeke in many ways -- both of us wanted to be a 'good gay' in a world where it's important to know everything that's going on, but it can be difficult to stay tapped in when all of the information coming at you hurts.

I think that Hubbard has done a fantastic job in showing how the actions of a small group can lead to big change -- a message we should carry on from this novel into our lives as we brace for an onslaught of hatred from the government now in charge of this country. I would encourage anyone who can to read this, if only because there's a small spot of brightness that comes with seeing Zeke change from someone relatively self-absorbed to someone interested in bettering the world.

I look forward to what Matthew Hubbard has in store next!

The Rebel's Guide to Pride is a feel good novel that I read in one sitting! I couldn't put this one down. I was instantly captured by Zeke and his friends. I really loved the character development in this one!

When the Mayor cancels all Pride events in his town Zeke and GSA (run by his bff Sawyer) have to come up with a new plan quickly. They decide to create speakeasy parties to celebrate Pride to skate around the unfair ordinances against Pride celebrations. What we get is a heartfelt story that reminds us that Pride was a riot and we have to continue to advocate in the face of injustice. Watching these teens build a community and advocate was beautiful.

This is a timely novel, and one that everyone should read. Absolutely recommend you pick it up! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5/5

I liked this take on a “coming of age” story where the main character is sorting through all the versions of himself to figure out who he is in the present. Not who others say he should be or who his parents want him to be—but who he wants to be. I LOVED the underground Pride celebrations and how they brought people together. I especially loved all the Doctor Who references. The hope this book brings to those fighting for their rights, especially right now, is so needed.

‘The Rebel’s Guide to Pride’ is the sophomore release of Matthew Hubbard and there is no slump in sight! This book was a whirlwind of emotions and left me grinning from ear to ear. It encapsulates the current anger us queer folk are harnessing towards leaders in government, while wading through the rough waters of teen love, friendship, and familial relationships.

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Matthew Hubbard is quickly become a must read for me! Zeke’s life has been in turmoil since he was outed by a teammate. It’s not that he wouldn’t have come out before but his father wouldn’t let him. Now his parents are divorced and he and his mom are living above a mechanic shop. He’s been getting himself into rebellious acts to get back at his dad and prove he’s not like him. Including helping his best friend Sawyer with the QSA as they plan their town’s first ever pride. The only problem is Cohen, his kind of ex current enemy, he’s helping along with his best friend Kennedy, who is Sawyer’s crush. But when the Mayor cancels the event at the last minute they’re all crushed. Zeke, however, is done allowing others to tell him what to do. He begins a series of underground Pride events. As the four work together tensions rise it town, the Mayor cracks down, and the four disagree on how to handle the events. Especially Zeke and Cohen, who thinks Zeke’s doing everything for the wrong reasons. And if they get caught it could mead the end of the QSA and worse then end of pride in their town. Will the Mayor find out what they are doing? Can Zeke ever be a good gay? Will it be a success or all fall apart? I loved the pride in this book! I love that so many in the town came together to support the queer community members! I loved the relationship dynamics both family and the maybe somethings to enemies to maybe somethings plot! Heartwarming, funny, charming, sweet, and passionate! A book every queer kid can relate to about standing up for yourself and refusing to be forced into a box! A must read!