This is a typical love story in atypical circumstances. Boy meets boy. Boy loses boy. Boy's ex-boyfriend wants to get back together. Boy has giant fight with best friend over her obnoxious boyfriend. Boy reunites with boy and all of them join together to help out a classmate. Sounds simple but there's a little more to it. All of these kids live in a place and attend a high school where just about everyone is open and accepting of everyone. The star quarterback on the football team is a drag queen named Infinite Darlene. The GLBT students are all out and there a few problems with this. Most with the exception of Tony who has parents who are not accepting of his sexuality and try to keep him away from his friends. Paul (the boy) meets Noah, the new boy in town, at a bookstore and is immediately smitten. Their relationship barely buds when Paul's ex, Kyle, causes complications. In the mean time, Paul's best friend, Joanie, has begun dating Chuck, an arrogant jerk and Infinite Darlene's ex. With the help of his friends, Paul woos back Noah. In the end the entire group and a few more help Tony stand up to his parents.
I like Levithan's books but wouldn't call this his best. He has a wonderful grasp of teens and the way they talk and relate to each other. And I wish there really was a town and high school that were as open and accepting as this one. Maybe someday (sigh).
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