Not your usual love triangle.

Decatur, Georgia, teen Courtney “Coop” Cooper lives next door to his best friend, Jupiter “Jupe” Charity-Sanchez, a girl he’d be (even more) in love with if she weren’t gay—and crushing on new girl Rae (half white and half Chinese-Jamaican), who may or may not be straight. Coop agrees that Rae is pretty cute, and the three become close friends as they navigate difficult, mercurial feelings about crushes, sexuality, and friendship. Biracial (black/Latinx) Jupe has two dads: Cuban-American Papi and African-American Dad. Coop, who is black, has a single mother (his father died in a car crash) and regards Jupe’s dads as father figures. Rae feels like an interloper in the midst of this intimate friendship—Coop and Jupe have been snuggling at sleepovers for years. Just to make things more complicated, Rae is unsure if she has a crush on Courtney or Jupiter. Maybe both? In this novel that is divided into three parts and narrated first by Coop, then Rae, then Jupe, Stone (Dear Martin, 2017) has created well-rounded characters whose voices are distinct. The story’s authentic and honest depictions of sex, parent-free social interactions, and Gen Z’s highly critical take on gender roles and sexuality hit the mark.

A he said, she said story that stands out. (Fiction. 14-18)
(Kirkus Review)

Once again, Nic Stone knocked it way out of the park. Each of the three main characters has such a unique voice that when the story shifts perspective, you are never confused as to who is talking. The story is heartwrenching at times, especially as the three friends get more and more tangled up in the things they aren't saying to one another. I love the exploration of sexuality, as well as the frank discussions of multiple queer topics. Also, the fact that the group had two other guy friends who were just genuinely good dudes? Amazing! I love Stone's work and I can't wait to read more of it. ( )

Mentioned in my blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/07/08/starting-fresh/

I was never bored, but this very much felt like an adult writing for teenagers. The dialogue was weird, cringy and not realistic to how teens talk. The love triangle was far too messy and complicated for my liking. An entertaining read, but I never really gotten into the main plot/romance to be truly invested. ( )

Great teenage story of love and the spectrums of infatuation and chemistry and lust and friendship that can twist around any experiences at that age. ( )