My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mean Girls meets 10 Things I Hate About You meets Romeo & Juliet
You’ve got the snarky, cruel, and petty classmates and supposed friends; you’ve got the somewhat of an outcast sibling with the popular brother; and you’ve got the star-crossed lovers fighting against obstacle after obstacle to be together.
Even at just 150 pages, there’s a lot going on in this story. One can’t help but feel the pull of heartstrings for Holden. He’s coming to terms with his newly discovered sexuality while dealing with life-long friends turning their backs on him, a father who is hyper critical, and adults who should be…well, adults but aren’t.
Then you have sweet Aaron, new to the town and trying to fit in. I loved how awkward they are with each other and the bold moves Holden makes. Aaron is a great ally for Holden as he witnesses first hand the bigotry of the people he’s known his entire life. Aaron is also the voice of reason, reminding Holden of the reality of the people he used to trust. It seemed like Holden could never catch a break. Each chapter saw a different hurdle for Holden to navigate. Unfortunately, those obstacles are far too true to life.
While I enjoyed getting to know Holden and Aaron and their developing relationship, I did feel their pairing was a bit rushed. I wanted more build up between the two before the sexy times and the declarations of commitment.
Another issue (and I use that word lightly) I had was the ending. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME, MR. SUMMERS?! I will be waiting on pins and needles for the next installment of Holden and Aaron’s love story.