Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Weber's lighthearted debut takes its cues from the cinematic rom-coms its 17-year-old protagonist adores. Harry Kensington plans on leaving Citrus Harbor, Fla., to study screenwriting at the University of Southern California. Sure that winning a prestigious screenplay competition will secure him USC admission, Harry is determined to stay focused on the writing, until he meets "adorkable" newcomer Logan, who works at one of Harry's usual writing spots. Further complicating things, ex-boyfriend Grant Kennedy, who broke Harry's heart the year prior, returns to town, rekindling old feelings and memories. Suddenly, Harry is fully consumed: falling for Logan over beach club breakfasts and surfing lessons, while navigating thoughts of what could have been with Grant. When it turns out that both have been keeping secrets that could derail Harry's carefully laid-out Hollywood future, he must decide whether it's worth sacrificing a picture-perfect movie ending for real life's sometimes-wonderful unpredictability. Action-packed excerpts from Harry's superhero screenplay, interspersed throughout, feel at odds with the novel's romantic conceit. Weber doesn't shy away from Harry's flaws, presenting them unapologetically and with empathy in this genuine and funny debut populated by classic romance tropes and plenty of summertime fun. Most characters cue as white. Ages 13--up. Agent: Kristy Hunter, Knight Agency. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Harry is a rising high school senior and has one goal in mind: acceptance into the University of Southern California program to study screen-writing. Due to a GPA drop after Harry's unexpected break-up with Grant, his popular boyfriend of the previous summer, Harry is convinced that the only way for him to get into USC is to win a screen-writing competition. To focus on his goals, he has sworn off boys for the summer, which Harry learns is easier said than done when he rescues Logan, who is visiting relatives for the summer, from an unfortunate hazing incident. Grant's unexpected return to their small Florida town for the season, a secret Logan is keeping, and a medley of other teen rom-com drama staples pepper the plot, eased along by Harry's romance trope awareness (courtesy of Nora Ephron movies). With snippets of Harry's screenplay slotted in between chapters, which have titles that take inspiration from well-known genre films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, the story remains fresh despite comfortable predictability. VERDICT A delightful mash-up of rom-com tropes and references come together to create a perfect queer teen beach read.--Austin Ferraro
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Soon-to-be high school senior Harry has to choose between his charming ex-boyfriend and the new boy in town. Harry doesn't have time for boys this summer--he is focused on writing a screenplay to help him get into college and begin his Hollywood career. Then he meets Logan, who is staying with his aunt and uncle in the small Florida town of Citrus Harbor for the summer and working at the beach club Harry's family frequents. Unfortunately, Grant, Harry's ex, is back in town, and even though Harry likes Logan, there are still sparks and memories between him and Grant. The story is both modeled on and heavily references romantic comedy films ranging from the 1970s to the 2000s. Weber sets out to capture the feel of those classic rom-coms and largely succeeds. Everything from the meet-cute to the makeup kiss is sweet and satisfying. The other narrative influence is, surprisingly, superhero movies, reflected in the excerpts from Harry's fictional screenplay that are interspersed between the chapters. This debut is a light beach read that scratches an itch for readers craving a gay romance that incorporates classic romance tropes. All main characters are implied to be White except for Harry's best friend, Hailey, who is Filipina. A cute story populated with appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
