(This was one of those free "Summer Reading" books I get from Audiobook Sync. I had so many books to listen to that I didn't listen to this one straight through, but set it aside for long periods of time.)
Despite the fact that this audio book was performed by a large cast of performers; because some of the young male characters had similar sounding voices, more than once I could not tell which character was speaking.
Hyperbolic characters gave this a theatrical musical feeling, like Grease, or more aptly, Glee. Conversations between high school friends about their approach to dealing, either with romance, or with religiously bound uncompromising parents, while probably realistic, felt didactic.
All that said, it's a fine depiction of how, no matter how you cut it, a teen's quest for true love is complicated, scary, and usually emotionally painful. Add the burden of feeling compelled to reject social mores to be oneself, and having to navigate that undercurrent . . .well, the author accomplishes telling that story, all the while, remaining upbeat.
And on a final note; it's really not a musical, as there was only one song, presumably entitled, "I'll Give You That, Boy" which was surprisingly well performed by Tremaine Ford as Zeak. Not "surprising" because I know anything about Tremaine Ford's abilities, but because most audio books with songs make me cringe as I reach to turn the volume down to barely audible when the narrator attempts to sing them. ( )

I'm tempted to tag this book "fantasy" because it takes place in small town where the PFLAG group is bigger than the PTA. It's not like this book pretends homophobia doesn't exist (in fact, one of the main characters has a very hard time with his parents) but it does seem unreal to me. I sort of thought of it as a hopeful vision of the not-so-distant future. Great for LGBTQ teens, or as a Gay Straight Alliance book club pick.

One picky thing about the writing, though: I've read some of Levithan's other books and this is by far the most precious. Some of the narrators poetical musings were hard to swallow (I think the word I'm looking for is "twee"), but to give the author credit, it's probably not far from how a real 15-year-old romantic would express himself. ( )

YA m/m romance in which, well, boy meets boy, boy has some questionable interactions with his ex-boy and so causes new-boy sadly to bolt, then boy makes romantic gestures to get new-boy back. On the surface it sounds…not great, and if it weren’t for the excellent characters that make up boy’s friends and the fun/funny takes on high school vibes, it would have been. But those good things are really good and make it not only a tolerable read, but a good one. I was recommending it to Charlie by describing it as a story that feels like it happens in the halls of Glee’s high school. ( )

This one started slow and went faster as I went. The thing I like about David Leviathan's characters is that they do a lot of interesting and unique things and they're loaded with quirky details. Yes, he created a bit of a gay utopia, but I liked how there's a promise of "Life could be like this." It's nice to see the trans star quarterback also be the homecoming queen. The only thing I wasn't happy with was how things went with Joni. I mean, they didn't end in a total dumpster fire, but they weren't completely resolved and I guess that makes me antsy. ( )

This book is very cute and quirky... perhaps a little too cute and quirky. Or maybe just not my kind of cute and quirky. Think of a cross between Juno, chick-lit, and any movie with Zooey Deschanel in it... that is basically this book. It's like an indie romantic comedy. Except gay. I can appreciate the social and political value of this book, it's certainly a step forward, but it's just not my kind of book. I found it too whimsical and over-the-top, and the angst too manufactured, although there are definitely some very sweet, heartwarming moments. I wanted to like it, but I just don't think Levithan's style is for me. ( )