Publisher:
Harper Collins
Children’s Books
Release
Date: 1st
August 2013
Edition:
UK paperback,
review copy
Other
Titles by this Author: The Realm of Possibility, Are
We There Yet?, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (with Rachel Cohn), Wide Awake, Naomi & Eli’s No-Kiss List (with
Rachel Cohn), Love is the Higher Law, Will
Grayson, Will Grayson (with
John Green), The Lover’s Dictionary, Dash
& Lily’s Book of Dares (with
Rachel Cohn), Every Day, Invisibility
(with Andrea
Cremer), Two Boys Kissing
He
looks up at me. And then, after a beat, he breaks out smiling. “Hey,” he says,
“I’ve been looking all over for you.” I don’t know what to say. I am so happy
and so scared.
Paul
has been gay his whole life and he’s confident about almost everything. He
doesn’t have to hide his feelings like best friend Tony. Or even cope with
loving the wrong guy like his other best friend Joni.
But
heartbreak can happen to anyone. Falling in love changes everything...
How on earth has this book been
out in the wild for ten years and I’ve only just read it?! I loved every word
of Boy Meets Boy.
This novel opens at the perfect
scene: a gig in a bookstore. That pretty much gives you an idea about Paul’s small,
American town. The town that Paul, Tony, Joni and Noah live in is mind-blowing.
The acceptance and normalcy of gay and lesbian relationships and transsexual (American)
football players in the town in general and in their high school is astounding,
but also how it should be. I hated that it was so weird and shocking to read as
it really shouldn’t be. Obviously there were a few people that didn't take it
in their stride, but they were in the minority and were clearly portrayed as
being wrong.
Before Boy Meets Boy I’d only ever read David Levithan alongside another
author and even then his writing shone. On his own, I was blown away. He captures
the most unconscious, internal thoughts in the most natural manner and he made
me think in a way that I wouldn’t usually. His prose is also strangely
self-aware. The novel as a whole is sweet, thoughtful and incredibly romantic
but so, so real. Can you tell I loved it yet?
When you throw in Infinite
Darlene (and absolute legend), the tension between Tony and his family, the
deterioration of life-long friendships and potentially damaging romances, Boy Meets Boy is so much more than a
novel about a boy falling in love with a boy. It’s a coming of age novel in the
truest sense. I novel that would be loved for its character development, quirks
and atmosphere regardless of the sexuality of the protagonist.
Boy
Meets Boy has
made me a life-long fan of David Levithan and I’m so glad I have a whole
backlist to work my way through. Gorgeous.
Thank you to Harper Collins for
sending me a copy to review.
Yes! I have literally loved this book for like, half my life. I got a hardback copy out of the library years and years and years ago and I still consistently quote it as one of my fave YA contemps. I highly recommend The Realm of Possibility which is a poetry book and so, so amazing
ReplyDeleteCait x
Isn't this AMAZING?! I love this book so much.
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