Review by Booklist Review
Cameron, an all-out nerd who is very much into anime and manga, has been keeping a secret for several months: he's been hooking up with Karla, queen bee theatre enthusiast and class president. After starting over the summer, their meetings have continued into the school year and have remained secret since their friend groups don't (or can't) mix. Cameron wants to be in Karla's circle and begins to be someone else to fit in with her group of friends. However, he meets and becomes friends with Mackenzie, recent transplant to his school and fellow nerd. Seeing that there is more to Mackenzie, Cameron is now torn between Karla and Mackenzie but decides to continue to change himself for Karla and her friends. It's not until Cameron and Karla's secret is thrown into the public eye that he realizes what he truly wants. Readers will find a great mix of anime, manga, classic literature, and cosplay tied neatly in with romance and friendship that conveys a theme of self-identity. An insightful and entertaining new read from Ramos.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Cameron Carson, member of his Hilltop High School's Geeks and Nerds United (G.A.N.U.) club, spent his summer hooking up with cheerleader and student council president Karla Ortega. But when school starts up again, the two agree to keep their liaisons--a secret that both teens were "obviously ashamed" of--hidden from their respective friend groups. Karla is at the top of the social food chain, and Cam is "too nerdy" to be included in her social circle. Enter G.A.N.U. member and former nemesis Mackenzie Briggs, with whom Cam starts unexpectedly bonding over shared niche interests. Despite their antagonistic history, Cam develops feelings for Mackenzie; and though his and Karla's clandestine meetings continue, Cam is continually rebuffed by Karla, forcing him to decide what--and who--he wants to carry into his future. Via an unapologetically geeky protagonist whose infectious enthusiasm for nerd culture leaps off the page, Ramos (That Girl, Darcy) captures the sometimes all-consuming fear of trying to figure out who one truly is and the fear of letting go. A large, intersectionally diverse cast, tidy resolutions, and low-stakes conflict make for a spirited read. Ages 13--up. Agent: Emily Forney, BookEnds Literary. (Jan.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A high school senior finds himself at a romantic crossroads in a novel that mixes geeky content with Jane Austen. Cameron Carson's membership in Geeks and Nerds United, or G.A.N.U., a school club he's in with best friends D'Anthony and Jocelyn, is a source of pride and joy and a big part of his identity. But Cam has a potentially explosive secret that may well shake the foundations of his social circle and perhaps even of the whole school: his clandestine summer fling with super popular student council president and theater snob Karla Ortega. But as senior year starts and he and Karla continue to hook up behind everybody's backs while working together backstage on the school production of Pride and Prejudice, Cam starts to wonder if this is what he really wants--especially when he starts hanging out with Mackenzie, a new G.A.N.U. member. She has a penchant for snarky conversation and a shared obsession with all things anime. Ramos' delightful novel oozes an energetic, all-encompassing love for geek culture (especially Dragon Ball) and Austen. The main cast is Black and Latine, and some central characters are queer. Cam's romantic entanglements are developed upon the backbone of a story about identity, growth, and learning to connect with people across different sides of a school divide. A charmingly nerdy and romantic coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
