David Levithan

“Luckily, I always travel with a book, just in case I have to wait on line for Santa, or some such inconvenience.”

“I wanted to talk to someone. But who? It’s moments like this, when you need someone the most, that your world seems smallest.”

“I was attempting to write the story of my life. It wasn't so much about plot. It was much more about character.”

I originally came across the Dash & Lily series via the Netflix show based on book one, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. Therefore, I was really excited to read the actual series. Unfortunately, I found the first book a bit underwhelming. The story I was expecting was still there, but the enjoyment was a bit lower.… (plus d'informations)

Mark and Kate are in high school together, but are not friends, until they just so happen to meet up at a gay bar during San Francisco’s Pride week. It turns out that they are exactly the kind of person the other needs at this point in their lives.

Mark’s story had me in tears through the first half of the book. He’s in love with his best friend (with benefits) and has to face the fact that his friend doesn’t love him back. His goes through all the feelings: hope, heartbreak, betrayal, acceptance. Kate’s story is much weaker in comparison– while Mark’s relationship is ending, hers is just beginning, except that she keeps running away. I had less patience for Kate and her hold ups. Mark’s story overshadowed hers by far. The second half of the book is less powerful than the first, because it is more focused on Kate’s journey.… (plus d'informations)

The world inside Boy Meets Boy is the fantasyland where we all want to live, or at least visit whenever the mood strikes us. A place where kindness reigns supreme and hate just does not seem to exist. At. All. Main character, Paul, is unlike any teenage boy you will ever meet. He is sensitive, smart, funny, romantic, thoughtful, and a serious empath. His environment is a high school where students, dissatisfied with clubs of the cultural norms, create groups like the Joy Scouts, the French cuisine club, and the Quiz bowling team. The janitors are closet (pun totally intended) wealthy day traders. The parents form groups like P-FLAG (Parents and friends of lesbians and gays). The town itself is ultra-accepting - there is a bar called the Queer Beer bar where straight guys sneak in to hit on lesbians. It's like a paradise for the LGBTQ community: the perfect world where everyone is welcomed and joyfully accepted. Even insults are always playful and harmless. The quarterback can also be the homecoming queen - shoulder pads and manicured nails come together in one character, Infinite Darlene. Cheerleaders can afford Harleys. Mothers make pancakes that resemble the topography or states or continents. Imagine that.
But. In order to have an interesting story, you need conflict. Right? The conflict is love and all of its broken hearts. Paul was once dumped by Kyle. Now Kyle wants Paul back, but only after Paul has started something with a new boy, Noah. Noah has been burned himself. So when Noah finds out Paul kissed another boy, he's a goner. Now Paul wants Noah back while Kyle chases Paul. Then there is Ted who was dumped by Joanie for Chuck. Somehow, Paul tries to mend all these hearts, including the ones he has no business mending. The big question is, will he win Noah back or will Kyle win his heart?… (plus d'informations)