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Simplemente Blaine
¿Qué harías si, de repente, el día más maravilloso de tu vida se convirtiera en un infierno?
Eso es lo que le pasa a Blaine cuando su novio perfecto corta con él en plena cena de aniversario, porque Blaine no es un Chico Serio.
Pero Blaine tiene un plan: dejar de pintar murales en las paredes, cambiar de vestuario, ponerse las pilas... y presentarse a presidente de su curso.
Aunque, tal vez, el intento de convertirse en un Chico Serio lo meta en líos aún más serios...
Eso es lo que le pasa a Blaine cuando su novio perfecto corta con él en plena cena de aniversario, porque Blaine no es un Chico Serio.
Pero Blaine tiene un plan: dejar de pintar murales en las paredes, cambiar de vestuario, ponerse las pilas... y presentarse a presidente de su curso.
Aunque, tal vez, el intento de convertirse en un Chico Serio lo meta en líos aún más serios...
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2022
80 people are currently reading
9712 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 531 reviews
April 13, 2022
Robbie Couch is the king of feel-good queer YA! This relatable, funny, and sweet story feels like a safety blanket, wrapping heavier stuff like mental health.
Whereas The Sky Blues was an insta love—I fell head over heels, Blaine for the Win was a slow burn. Chapter by chapter Robbie pulled me further into the story until I couldn’t do anything but surrender. And surrender I did! To his captivating writing. To Blaine’s journey to get Joey back by entering the senior class president election. To the wonderfully diverse cast of supporting characters. To aloha or aloe vera plants. To Aunt Star, everyone’s number one cheerleader. And let’s not forget sweet Danny. I fell in love with him, time and again.
’Let’s talk?’ It’s a brilliant way to start a campaign to become senior class president. I loved how Robbie showed us that Blaine, his friends, and his family all were anxious about something. I treasured those beautiful and vulnerable conversations about fears. Life isn’t always beautiful, and it’s so important to share our mental state with others. And although mental health is such a heavy topic, this book was happy and funny and fluffy at the same time.
Robbie, you’ve done it again! I can’t wait to read your next novel! Like I said: you really are the king of feel-good queer YA.
I received an ARC from Simon and Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Whereas The Sky Blues was an insta love—I fell head over heels, Blaine for the Win was a slow burn. Chapter by chapter Robbie pulled me further into the story until I couldn’t do anything but surrender. And surrender I did! To his captivating writing. To Blaine’s journey to get Joey back by entering the senior class president election. To the wonderfully diverse cast of supporting characters. To aloha or aloe vera plants. To Aunt Star, everyone’s number one cheerleader. And let’s not forget sweet Danny. I fell in love with him, time and again.
’Let’s talk?’ It’s a brilliant way to start a campaign to become senior class president. I loved how Robbie showed us that Blaine, his friends, and his family all were anxious about something. I treasured those beautiful and vulnerable conversations about fears. Life isn’t always beautiful, and it’s so important to share our mental state with others. And although mental health is such a heavy topic, this book was happy and funny and fluffy at the same time.
Robbie, you’ve done it again! I can’t wait to read your next novel! Like I said: you really are the king of feel-good queer YA.
I received an ARC from Simon and Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram
May 22, 2022
This is a sweet coming-of-age story with a great set of characters and a bit of romance. Just like with the first book I've read by this author, The Sky Blues, I found this story to be very positive and uplifting.
I really liked Blaine. He didn't always make the best decisions, but his character felt authentic and relatable. His friends were the best, and all relationships were pretty great in this one. I really appreciated the diversity and the subject matters discussed in the book. I was happy with how things played out for everyone in the end, it was very satisfying.
The audiobook is narrated by Michael Crouch, who also narrated this author's other book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Just to add, I think the cover is super cute and it perfectly represents the story and the characters.
I really liked Blaine. He didn't always make the best decisions, but his character felt authentic and relatable. His friends were the best, and all relationships were pretty great in this one. I really appreciated the diversity and the subject matters discussed in the book. I was happy with how things played out for everyone in the end, it was very satisfying.
The audiobook is narrated by Michael Crouch, who also narrated this author's other book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Just to add, I think the cover is super cute and it perfectly represents the story and the characters.
September 16, 2022
Audiobook- 4 stars
Story dnf - 1.5 stars upto where I stopped listening.
It's MEeehiiii!!! Not the Book!
I have seen this film before and I liked the other one better. Elle wouldn't approve of Blaine.
I found Blaine unlikable and selfish. I wish Danny was our main character he was more interesting.
I was like, if Blaine calls Aloe Vera plant Aloha one more time, I am going to lose it. He did and I lost it.
The pop culture references got annoying too fast.
Anyhoo, shit happens.
Story dnf - 1.5 stars upto where I stopped listening.
It's MEeehiiii!!! Not the Book!
I have seen this film before and I liked the other one better. Elle wouldn't approve of Blaine.
I found Blaine unlikable and selfish. I wish Danny was our main character he was more interesting.
I was like, if Blaine calls Aloe Vera plant Aloha one more time, I am going to lose it. He did and I lost it.
The pop culture references got annoying too fast.
Anyhoo, shit happens.
June 10, 2022
3.5 Stars
It was touch and go there for a while as I deliberated whether I was going to dislike the main character, Blaine, too much to continue reading. In the end he really grew on me in all his messy glory. This ended up being quite a fun LGBTQIA+ YA romance set in the vicious world of high school class president elections. After being brutally dumped by his ladder-climbing boyfriend, Blaine decides to become someone worthy of winning him back. Predictable and safe but charming none the less.
It was touch and go there for a while as I deliberated whether I was going to dislike the main character, Blaine, too much to continue reading. In the end he really grew on me in all his messy glory. This ended up being quite a fun LGBTQIA+ YA romance set in the vicious world of high school class president elections. After being brutally dumped by his ladder-climbing boyfriend, Blaine decides to become someone worthy of winning him back. Predictable and safe but charming none the less.
April 21, 2022
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing an ARC of Blaine for the Win in exchange for an honest review.
Since the book has been released, this is the full review!
⇢Description
Think: Queer, Legally Blonde, and although I haven’t seen the show, someone told me it seemed like Glee without the singing? Basically: iconic.
High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all—the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend— senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey—is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.
Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.
Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too…unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.
Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey’s new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.
But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?
⇢Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. There’s something so fun and heartwarming about YA contemporaries and despite some of the deeper themes within this book, it completely invoked those emotions in me. I really liked Blaine and his growth and I LOVED the side characters and how much of a role they played.
Another thing that may not be the most important to mention but that I want to really make a note of is how much I enjoyed Blaine’s passion for murals! I adore it when a character has a unique hobby or passion that you don’t see that often in books and the way that his love of painting tied into the themes of the book was super well done.
Not many critiques here, so I’ll just say that I wanted a bit more from some aspects of the book. There were a lot of great angles that were explored on the surface but not more than that, and I think the book could have really profited from being a bit longer because of that!
my carrd ❦
BOOKISH PRODUCTS: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS, BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK ETC: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS AND CANDLES: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
Since the book has been released, this is the full review!
⇢Description
Think: Queer, Legally Blonde, and although I haven’t seen the show, someone told me it seemed like Glee without the singing? Basically: iconic.
High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all—the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend— senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey—is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.
Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.
Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too…unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.
Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey’s new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.
But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?
⇢Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. There’s something so fun and heartwarming about YA contemporaries and despite some of the deeper themes within this book, it completely invoked those emotions in me. I really liked Blaine and his growth and I LOVED the side characters and how much of a role they played.
Another thing that may not be the most important to mention but that I want to really make a note of is how much I enjoyed Blaine’s passion for murals! I adore it when a character has a unique hobby or passion that you don’t see that often in books and the way that his love of painting tied into the themes of the book was super well done.
Not many critiques here, so I’ll just say that I wanted a bit more from some aspects of the book. There were a lot of great angles that were explored on the surface but not more than that, and I think the book could have really profited from being a bit longer because of that!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
my carrd ❦
BOOKISH PRODUCTS: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS, BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK ETC: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
BOOKMARKS AND CANDLES: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦
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October 22, 2022 Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a cute and lighthearted story about a teenager's journey in learning to find his own happiness. But it lacked a strong foundation.
As soon as I picked this up, I realized the problem with it. The story itself is promising and enjoyable. But frankly, I don't think it should have been a Legally Blonde retelling. What makes Legally Blonde so fantastic is its message about misogyny. Legally Blonde, at its core, is a feminist story about how women and feminine people are severely underestimated, because our passions and aesthetics and even the way we speak is systemically laughed at and put down. And by taking that story - the story of a woman who was always brilliant and just needed the world to see it - and centering men, it inherently diminishes - and kind of erases - what makes the original story so valuable. And it inherently doesn't mesh.
Now don't get me wrong, I love retellings, especially ones that shift the message or change it up. However, I have a firm belief that retellings need to be able to answer two questions: "Why does this story need to be told here and now?" and "What perspective are you adding to this story that was missing before?" And though I think this book is able to somewhat answer the first question, I don't think it can answer the second. The things that are added just deviate too far from the original story to elevate itself as a retelling. I'm not against using the story of Legally Blonde as a vehicle to discuss teenage mental health issues but the two don't seem to work together, causing a narrative friction between the message and its framework - again, maybe because the whole foundation of Legally Blonde is built upon the historical underestimation of women. Tbh, it felt a bit saddening to see a story that was groundbreaking for so many young women and feminine people rewritten by a man, changing its feminist message into one about teenage boys struggling with perfectionism and mental health.
Also Elle Woods would be HORRIFIED by the outfits Blaine wears.
CW: death of side character's parent (past, cancer, offscreen), mental health (anxiety, depressive episodes)
This book was a cute and lighthearted story about a teenager's journey in learning to find his own happiness. But it lacked a strong foundation.
As soon as I picked this up, I realized the problem with it. The story itself is promising and enjoyable. But frankly, I don't think it should have been a Legally Blonde retelling. What makes Legally Blonde so fantastic is its message about misogyny. Legally Blonde, at its core, is a feminist story about how women and feminine people are severely underestimated, because our passions and aesthetics and even the way we speak is systemically laughed at and put down. And by taking that story - the story of a woman who was always brilliant and just needed the world to see it - and centering men, it inherently diminishes - and kind of erases - what makes the original story so valuable. And it inherently doesn't mesh.
Now don't get me wrong, I love retellings, especially ones that shift the message or change it up. However, I have a firm belief that retellings need to be able to answer two questions: "Why does this story need to be told here and now?" and "What perspective are you adding to this story that was missing before?" And though I think this book is able to somewhat answer the first question, I don't think it can answer the second. The things that are added just deviate too far from the original story to elevate itself as a retelling. I'm not against using the story of Legally Blonde as a vehicle to discuss teenage mental health issues but the two don't seem to work together, causing a narrative friction between the message and its framework - again, maybe because the whole foundation of Legally Blonde is built upon the historical underestimation of women. Tbh, it felt a bit saddening to see a story that was groundbreaking for so many young women and feminine people rewritten by a man, changing its feminist message into one about teenage boys struggling with perfectionism and mental health.
Also Elle Woods would be HORRIFIED by the outfits Blaine wears.
CW: death of side character's parent (past, cancer, offscreen), mental health (anxiety, depressive episodes)
September 19, 2023
*inhales* BECAUSE ISN'T THE FIRST CARDINAL RULE OF PERM MAINTENANCE THAT YOU'RE FORBIDDEN TO WET YOUR HAIR FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS AFTER GETTING A PERM AT THE RISK OF DEACTIVATING THE AMMONIUM THIOGLYCOLATE
January 4, 2023
Blaine for the Win follows mural artist Blaine as he decides to run for senior student council president, after his boyfriend dumps him for being too 'unserious.' However, what started out as a way to win back his ex turns into a real campaign, with the help of his friends Trish, Camila, and Danny.
I loved the characters here and how complex they are. Blaine isn't the perfect hero of the story. He makes mistakes and is selfish at times, and while I got frustrated with him and the choices he made, he always felt realistic.
The plot focuses on the election, with some side of Blaine's murals and family. The plot was a bit predictable, I didn't mind as the journey and our character's relationships took precedence.
I would have liked a bit more romance. The bit of romance that we got did need more development. It was mainly suggested at, and then when we got it, it was more of a nod as the book's loose ends were tidied up at the end.
I loved the characters here and how complex they are. Blaine isn't the perfect hero of the story. He makes mistakes and is selfish at times, and while I got frustrated with him and the choices he made, he always felt realistic.
The plot focuses on the election, with some side of Blaine's murals and family. The plot was a bit predictable, I didn't mind as the journey and our character's relationships took precedence.
I would have liked a bit more romance. The bit of romance that we got did need more development. It was mainly suggested at, and then when we got it, it was more of a nod as the book's loose ends were tidied up at the end.
March 7, 2022
Robbie Couch's upcoming YA novel,
Blaine for the Win
, is a fantastic, heartwarming story about finding yourself and deciding what you want from life and love.
After loving Couch's first book, The Sky Blues (which was one of my favorites from last year, as you can see on this list), I was so excited to get an ARC of his new book, thanks to some arm-twisting by my dear friend Amy. Couch truly is the king of feel-good YA fiction!!
Blaine is creative, artistic, a bit of a daydreamer. He loves painting murals on buildings in his downtown Chicago neighborhood, and he loves his boyfriend Joey, who is a type-A overachiever with plans of becoming president one day.
When Joey breaks up with him—on their one-year anniversary and at the fanciest restaurant in Chicago—he tells Blaine he needs to date someone serious to be his partner in success. Blaine is too scatterbrained, too flighty, and he dresses too flamboyantly.
Blaine is devastated but he’s determined to win Joey back. To do that, he’ll become a serious guy—and to prove it, he’s decided to run for senior class president, to succeed Joey—and defeat Joey’s new, perfect boyfriend, Zach. Given that Blaine has never even been on student council (or cared), it’s an uphill battle which will require a lot of work, not to mention the support of his best friend…and some unexpected others. But will becoming a serious guy ruin what is best about Blaine? Will it close his eyes to those who truly care about him?
I loved this book x 1,000,000! It was sweet and fun, but there’s lots of discussion about teenagers’ mental health which is such an important topic to address.
Blaine for the Win publishes 4/12, and if you’re a YA fan you’ll want to pick it up!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
After loving Couch's first book, The Sky Blues (which was one of my favorites from last year, as you can see on this list), I was so excited to get an ARC of his new book, thanks to some arm-twisting by my dear friend Amy. Couch truly is the king of feel-good YA fiction!!
Blaine is creative, artistic, a bit of a daydreamer. He loves painting murals on buildings in his downtown Chicago neighborhood, and he loves his boyfriend Joey, who is a type-A overachiever with plans of becoming president one day.
When Joey breaks up with him—on their one-year anniversary and at the fanciest restaurant in Chicago—he tells Blaine he needs to date someone serious to be his partner in success. Blaine is too scatterbrained, too flighty, and he dresses too flamboyantly.
Blaine is devastated but he’s determined to win Joey back. To do that, he’ll become a serious guy—and to prove it, he’s decided to run for senior class president, to succeed Joey—and defeat Joey’s new, perfect boyfriend, Zach. Given that Blaine has never even been on student council (or cared), it’s an uphill battle which will require a lot of work, not to mention the support of his best friend…and some unexpected others. But will becoming a serious guy ruin what is best about Blaine? Will it close his eyes to those who truly care about him?
I loved this book x 1,000,000! It was sweet and fun, but there’s lots of discussion about teenagers’ mental health which is such an important topic to address.
Blaine for the Win publishes 4/12, and if you’re a YA fan you’ll want to pick it up!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 22, 2021
Whatever book Robbie Couch is releasing, I’ll be sure to read it from now on. I totally love The Sky Blues and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna love the next book more.
8/22/21: IF EVER THIS BOOK BECAME A SERIES OR MOVIE, I'M POSITIVE THAT THIS WOULD BECOME A HUGE HIT ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
8/22/21: IF EVER THIS BOOK BECAME A SERIES OR MOVIE, I'M POSITIVE THAT THIS WOULD BECOME A HUGE HIT ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
January 21, 2024
rep: gay mc, Vietnamese American bi li, Black sapphic character, Latina sapphic character, gay side characters
rtc
rtc
August 27, 2024
APUNTA: una planta de Ahloe vera, un pote de pintura para graffitis y muchos problemas mentales...😁✨
🌸Y sí, lo sé, aparte de alucinar con lo que te estoy diciendo, seguro que te estás preguntando qué tienen en común estos tres ingredientes, ¿verdad?🤭
🌸Pues la respuesta es muy fácil: a BLAINE! Y es que, cuando su vida sentimental se va por el desagüe, estos tres ingredientes serán su salvación.🤔
🌸Sí, tal cómo oyes!
🌸Pero, espera, porque, por eso de liarla un poquito más, se presentará a presidente de su curso y…
🌸Representación LGBT+
🌸Amor
🌸Amistad
🌸Familia
🌸Romance
✨OJITO, es una lectura muy juvenil, con un mensaje muy importante para nuestros adolescentes.
🌸Y sí, lo sé, aparte de alucinar con lo que te estoy diciendo, seguro que te estás preguntando qué tienen en común estos tres ingredientes, ¿verdad?🤭
🌸Pues la respuesta es muy fácil: a BLAINE! Y es que, cuando su vida sentimental se va por el desagüe, estos tres ingredientes serán su salvación.🤔
🌸Sí, tal cómo oyes!
🌸Pero, espera, porque, por eso de liarla un poquito más, se presentará a presidente de su curso y…
🌸Representación LGBT+
🌸Amor
🌸Amistad
🌸Familia
🌸Romance
✨OJITO, es una lectura muy juvenil, con un mensaje muy importante para nuestros adolescentes.
April 10, 2022
I read and absolutely loved The Sky Blues last year. An easy 5 star read! As soon as I saw Robbie Couch had a new book up for request I jumped on it!! And guess what!? I LOVED Blaine For The Win!! And YES! 5 stars again!
What a fabulous, diverse cast of characters! My absolute favorite being Danny. He reminded me so much of my sixteen year old son. I'd love for my son to find himself a Danny someday, hehe! :)
I also really loved how the importance of mental health was such a big part of this story. *High Five!*
A heartfelt LGBTQIA+ story. YA fans! This one is for you! I adore a story of finding oneself.
Huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!!
What a fabulous, diverse cast of characters! My absolute favorite being Danny. He reminded me so much of my sixteen year old son. I'd love for my son to find himself a Danny someday, hehe! :)
I also really loved how the importance of mental health was such a big part of this story. *High Five!*
A heartfelt LGBTQIA+ story. YA fans! This one is for you! I adore a story of finding oneself.
Huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!!
September 11, 2021
Plot: gay YA Legally Blonde. Wonderfully executed. All the happy, funny, empowering stuff that you get from the movie. If you enjoyed The Sky Blues, you have to enjoy this one too (I enjoyed it even more). Robbie did that.
May 19, 2024
✰ 4 stars ✰
“You want to be senior class president?”
I grin. “What, like it’s hard?”
Never was the third time's charm proven truer than my third go with Robbie Couch! 😍 Even before the author confirmed that the inspiration for Blaine for the Win was his excuse to write a gay, young adult version of the 2001 cinematic masterpiece Legally Blonde - I already had my suspicions with the obvious tells that pointed out the similarities. 😄 I mean, you can't have seen the cinematic masterpiece (no argument there! 😆) as many times as I did growing up and NOT recognize the familiar tilt of the head with that coy smile that Elle Woods has when she speaks those iconic words in the above scene! I was disappointed that there was no equivalent to the much-loved bend and snap routine, but what I got was truly a treat! 😊💕
“Humans tend to do impulsive things when they’re in a slump.”
While Blaine's decision to run for senior class president weren't exactly of the most altruistic ones, aside from proving his jerk of an ex-boyfriend how he was going to rue the day he decided to dump him in the most extravagant and chic of restaurants, thus, forever cementing him in a wall of self-shame and pity, but also to see if he had the potential and capability of being someone different than who he was. 😥 The heartbreak actually helped him become a more confident and assured person. One who could connect and speak as the voice of the people, one who saw the potential in others, which he failed to see in himself. And despite the eventual results of the campaign, I was really gung-ho for Blaine to claim the top prize. Even to show up his boyfriend, Blaine never proved to be an unlikable character where I wanted to avoid at all costs. All the way I was cheering for him - rooting for him to come out on top with the support of his friends. 🫂💮
“Friendships are kind of like…” She thinks on the fly. “Gardens. You’ve got to nurture them. A plant might wilt, but that just means you need to give it a bit more water and sunshine.”
The cast of characters - even the villains - were really enjoyable. I didn't forgive Joey for what he did, but that final scene between Blaine and him kinda gives me hope and makes me curious if we'll ever get to see a redemption arc of his; even Zach earned his stripes in true Vivian-esque fashion that had me glad how it played out. Camilla and Trish, aka the mirrors of Elle's Margot and Serena, were a joy to read. 🥰 Their support, their candor, their kindness, everything I love to see in a friendship that shined in every way. Their guidance, assistance on the campaign, lending a helping hand - everything was so well done, that I never doubted the trust and honesty they shared with each other. Throwing Danny into the mix was a welcome touch - one that began in the most predictably amusing of ways, but one that developed in such an affectionate and real way that I felt really glad at how it ended not with romantic declarations of I love yous, but the tentative but hopeful promise that love can possibly find a way into their hearts for both of them. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“I paint murals for mom-and-pop stores around town,” I say, smiling. “It brightens up the town and supports local businesses, and I make a little money doing it too. I really love it.”
“I can tell,” she says. “Your face lit up just talking about it.”
But you know what I truly loved the most about it. It showed that you could still be a Serious Guy about the things that you are serious about. The things that make you happy and bring you joy. The hobbies that lift up your spirits or the interests that spark your fancy. You don't always have to be prim and proper, dapper and suited up with a nice trim and glasses to assert how disciplined you are, when you can still be the very best at what you are good at. Much like Elle who discovered her niche with her own true talents, I loved that Blaine recognized and remembered that special part of himself. A serious guy who is serious about his interests and has a passion to thrive and trust in his interests. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 That you don't have to sacrifice your own pursuits in the pursuit of others, because that's never worth it. How his painting murals was not only his passion, it was something he truly enjoyed doing. It was a gift and a pleasure to bring happiness into other's lives and trying to replace that with something else - simply for the sake of winning back the affection of another - made it all the more rewarding. 🥹🥹
“Never give someone else the authority to dictate your self-worth.”
Robbie C.'s writing was very warm and welcoming this time around; I felt at such ease as the story progressed, even with the challenges and hurdles Blaine faced, I --- kinda breezed through it - loving how smoothly it progressed and how the encouraging message resonated well with me. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The humor and dialogue was completely on point and even the conflict arose in a very natural and believable way that had me glad to see how it played out. He captured the YA spirit and voice in a very positive way, and it made me wish that there could be a market for YA films like these, too. 😔 I hope there will come a day when Hollywood will be more tolerant and accepting of having more coming-of-age stories belonging to those of the LGBTQ+ community. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 It does feel kinda odd that most of his stories seem to be inspired from already existing media; which is alright, I suppose, but I hope there will come a time where I can read an original idea of his. As much as I enjoyed noting the similarities - perhaps I ended up liking it a lot more was because of how true it stayed to the message that Elle Woods portrayed. Everything just flowed so naturally and seamlessly that when it ended as it did, I felt very much at peace. Content with the decisions and choices Blaine had settled with - the place where he stood romantically and an all-around sense of satisfaction that this read was very much for the win for me. 🌟💌🌟
And on a completely unrelated note, while I was writing this review, I just found out that it was just announced today that an Elle Woods' prequel series was in the works!!! Call it fate or coincidence, I'm just so curious and excited as to how it will play out! 🩷🩷
“You want to be senior class president?”
I grin. “What, like it’s hard?”
Never was the third time's charm proven truer than my third go with Robbie Couch! 😍 Even before the author confirmed that the inspiration for Blaine for the Win was his excuse to write a gay, young adult version of the 2001 cinematic masterpiece Legally Blonde - I already had my suspicions with the obvious tells that pointed out the similarities. 😄 I mean, you can't have seen the cinematic masterpiece (no argument there! 😆) as many times as I did growing up and NOT recognize the familiar tilt of the head with that coy smile that Elle Woods has when she speaks those iconic words in the above scene! I was disappointed that there was no equivalent to the much-loved bend and snap routine, but what I got was truly a treat! 😊💕
“Humans tend to do impulsive things when they’re in a slump.”
While Blaine's decision to run for senior class president weren't exactly of the most altruistic ones, aside from proving his jerk of an ex-boyfriend how he was going to rue the day he decided to dump him in the most extravagant and chic of restaurants, thus, forever cementing him in a wall of self-shame and pity, but also to see if he had the potential and capability of being someone different than who he was. 😥 The heartbreak actually helped him become a more confident and assured person. One who could connect and speak as the voice of the people, one who saw the potential in others, which he failed to see in himself. And despite the eventual results of the campaign, I was really gung-ho for Blaine to claim the top prize. Even to show up his boyfriend, Blaine never proved to be an unlikable character where I wanted to avoid at all costs. All the way I was cheering for him - rooting for him to come out on top with the support of his friends. 🫂💮
“Friendships are kind of like…” She thinks on the fly. “Gardens. You’ve got to nurture them. A plant might wilt, but that just means you need to give it a bit more water and sunshine.”
The cast of characters - even the villains - were really enjoyable. I didn't forgive Joey for what he did, but that final scene between Blaine and him kinda gives me hope and makes me curious if we'll ever get to see a redemption arc of his; even Zach earned his stripes in true Vivian-esque fashion that had me glad how it played out. Camilla and Trish, aka the mirrors of Elle's Margot and Serena, were a joy to read. 🥰 Their support, their candor, their kindness, everything I love to see in a friendship that shined in every way. Their guidance, assistance on the campaign, lending a helping hand - everything was so well done, that I never doubted the trust and honesty they shared with each other. Throwing Danny into the mix was a welcome touch - one that began in the most predictably amusing of ways, but one that developed in such an affectionate and real way that I felt really glad at how it ended not with romantic declarations of I love yous, but the tentative but hopeful promise that love can possibly find a way into their hearts for both of them. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“I paint murals for mom-and-pop stores around town,” I say, smiling. “It brightens up the town and supports local businesses, and I make a little money doing it too. I really love it.”
“I can tell,” she says. “Your face lit up just talking about it.”
But you know what I truly loved the most about it. It showed that you could still be a Serious Guy about the things that you are serious about. The things that make you happy and bring you joy. The hobbies that lift up your spirits or the interests that spark your fancy. You don't always have to be prim and proper, dapper and suited up with a nice trim and glasses to assert how disciplined you are, when you can still be the very best at what you are good at. Much like Elle who discovered her niche with her own true talents, I loved that Blaine recognized and remembered that special part of himself. A serious guy who is serious about his interests and has a passion to thrive and trust in his interests. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 That you don't have to sacrifice your own pursuits in the pursuit of others, because that's never worth it. How his painting murals was not only his passion, it was something he truly enjoyed doing. It was a gift and a pleasure to bring happiness into other's lives and trying to replace that with something else - simply for the sake of winning back the affection of another - made it all the more rewarding. 🥹🥹
“Never give someone else the authority to dictate your self-worth.”
Robbie C.'s writing was very warm and welcoming this time around; I felt at such ease as the story progressed, even with the challenges and hurdles Blaine faced, I --- kinda breezed through it - loving how smoothly it progressed and how the encouraging message resonated well with me. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The humor and dialogue was completely on point and even the conflict arose in a very natural and believable way that had me glad to see how it played out. He captured the YA spirit and voice in a very positive way, and it made me wish that there could be a market for YA films like these, too. 😔 I hope there will come a day when Hollywood will be more tolerant and accepting of having more coming-of-age stories belonging to those of the LGBTQ+ community. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 It does feel kinda odd that most of his stories seem to be inspired from already existing media; which is alright, I suppose, but I hope there will come a time where I can read an original idea of his. As much as I enjoyed noting the similarities - perhaps I ended up liking it a lot more was because of how true it stayed to the message that Elle Woods portrayed. Everything just flowed so naturally and seamlessly that when it ended as it did, I felt very much at peace. Content with the decisions and choices Blaine had settled with - the place where he stood romantically and an all-around sense of satisfaction that this read was very much for the win for me. 🌟💌🌟
And on a completely unrelated note, while I was writing this review, I just found out that it was just announced today that an Elle Woods' prequel series was in the works!!! Call it fate or coincidence, I'm just so curious and excited as to how it will play out! 🩷🩷
April 12, 2022
4.5 stars rounding up.
I couldn’t put down Blaine for the Win and finished it in two sittings. The vibe of it reminds me of TJ Klune’s The Extraordinaries (my review) but without superpowers.
Blaine Bowers (~16, achillean) cannot believe he got dumped by Joey Oliver (gay). On their one-year anniversary. At the fanciest restaurant ever. Joey said he didn’t want to date the mural painter who isn’t the kind of Serious Guy he needs to become President of the United States one day. Blaine will win him back by showing that he can ditch his mural painting gigs and be serious... by signing up to run for senior class president? Enlisting the help of his best friends Trish MacIntosh (sapphic, Black) and Camilla (sapphic) as well as the not-friend-only-acquaintance Danny Nguyen (bi, Vietnamese American) for an insider perspective from the student council, Blaine is ready to prove himself to be worthy of Joey. As the race kicks off, is winning Joey back still going to be Blaine’s goal?
First of all, Blaine for the Win has a great cast that includes cute supporting sapphics, in addition to lots of achilleans. And I mean lots of achilleans, which we love to see. This book is YA and tackles a lot of Messy Teenage Feels. Blaine is not the perfect boy and he messes up sometimes. Okay, a lot, but he is learning how to not quit on things and holding onto his passion. Sure, he probably didn’t get enough retaliation of all the mistakes he made, but I did get nervous and worried for him throughout the book, which is saying something about the realness of Couch’s storytelling.
The supporting cast is wonderful. Trish is amazing, and at one point, I wondered if she would become that BIPOC character who is just there to support the white main character without having her own story, but I think Couch did a pretty good job at giving her agency and power, too (you have to finish the whole book though). Camilla is mainly there to support Trish as the dinosaur-loving girlfriend. And Danny, the plant-loving sweet boy Danny. Even though his backstory was mentioned pretty early on in the book, I felt emotional, too.
There are little to no homophobia in BFTW and many achillean characters that I am sure would mean a lot to young readers. I love that there are beautiful family relationships: Blaine and his aunt Starr, Danny and his father Bao, and even Zach Chesterton (the egotistical but popular candidate, also achillean) and his parents. And while the Olivers are not as great, their issues have nothing to do with Joey being gay, either. Another plus side is that Blaine’s dog Fudge did not gradually disappear as the story went on (I find it very common that fictional pets just sort of fades into the background when the story is not centered around animals).
As much as I liked the book, it did bother me a little that one character felt out-of-character toward the end, which was plot-convenient. But it didn’t hinder my enjoyment by much.
BFTW is a mostly light-hearted story about the disaster queer that is Blaine, but it also touches upon some heavier topics like mental health and grief and unemployment. Overall, this book is a winner, and I’m already looking forward to future books by Couch.
content warnings: talks about mental health, anxiety, loss of family member (side character), unemployment
I received an advanced digital copy from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I couldn’t put down Blaine for the Win and finished it in two sittings. The vibe of it reminds me of TJ Klune’s The Extraordinaries (my review) but without superpowers.
Blaine Bowers (~16, achillean) cannot believe he got dumped by Joey Oliver (gay). On their one-year anniversary. At the fanciest restaurant ever. Joey said he didn’t want to date the mural painter who isn’t the kind of Serious Guy he needs to become President of the United States one day. Blaine will win him back by showing that he can ditch his mural painting gigs and be serious... by signing up to run for senior class president? Enlisting the help of his best friends Trish MacIntosh (sapphic, Black) and Camilla (sapphic) as well as the not-friend-only-acquaintance Danny Nguyen (bi, Vietnamese American) for an insider perspective from the student council, Blaine is ready to prove himself to be worthy of Joey. As the race kicks off, is winning Joey back still going to be Blaine’s goal?
First of all, Blaine for the Win has a great cast that includes cute supporting sapphics, in addition to lots of achilleans. And I mean lots of achilleans, which we love to see. This book is YA and tackles a lot of Messy Teenage Feels. Blaine is not the perfect boy and he messes up sometimes. Okay, a lot, but he is learning how to not quit on things and holding onto his passion. Sure, he probably didn’t get enough retaliation of all the mistakes he made, but I did get nervous and worried for him throughout the book, which is saying something about the realness of Couch’s storytelling.
The supporting cast is wonderful. Trish is amazing, and at one point, I wondered if she would become that BIPOC character who is just there to support the white main character without having her own story, but I think Couch did a pretty good job at giving her agency and power, too (you have to finish the whole book though). Camilla is mainly there to support Trish as the dinosaur-loving girlfriend. And Danny, the plant-loving sweet boy Danny. Even though his backstory was mentioned pretty early on in the book, I felt emotional, too.
There are little to no homophobia in BFTW and many achillean characters that I am sure would mean a lot to young readers. I love that there are beautiful family relationships: Blaine and his aunt Starr, Danny and his father Bao, and even Zach Chesterton (the egotistical but popular candidate, also achillean) and his parents. And while the Olivers are not as great, their issues have nothing to do with Joey being gay, either. Another plus side is that Blaine’s dog Fudge did not gradually disappear as the story went on (I find it very common that fictional pets just sort of fades into the background when the story is not centered around animals).
As much as I liked the book, it did bother me a little that one character felt out-of-character toward the end, which was plot-convenient. But it didn’t hinder my enjoyment by much.
BFTW is a mostly light-hearted story about the disaster queer that is Blaine, but it also touches upon some heavier topics like mental health and grief and unemployment. Overall, this book is a winner, and I’m already looking forward to future books by Couch.
content warnings: talks about mental health, anxiety, loss of family member (side character), unemployment
I received an advanced digital copy from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2023
Elections, Paint, Plants, Classes, Dreams, Dates, Debates, Love
Blaine is an average good student in high school with too many dreams and not enough friends to keep from being lonely and introverted. He gets too excited about many things and too worried about everything else. But his dog Fudge understands him and loves him.
His family is like most kids. Not enough time or money to do what is most needed...spend time together as a family. But with his mother's sister, Aunt Starr, currently living with his family after loosing her job and place to live, he realizes he is less lonely with someone to share with at home instead of just by himself.
Blaine's love of painting murals on neighborhood businesses to cover some of the deterioration in older parts of Chicago provides mutual art appreciation and chances to improve his artistry while making some money.
His boyfriend Joey comes from a high powered family that expects perfection from their kids and the two older ones set a high standard for Joey. But on Blaine and Joey's first anniversary date at a very expensive highly rated restaurant where Blaine expects to be invited to go with Joey's family on a Spring Break trip to Cabo, nothing goes right. Soon the break up is affecting everything at school.
Soon murals are ignored, friends are argue, emotions are exploding, school activities and events are disappointing, and everyone has gone mental over dreams. Somehow Blaine decides to run for Senior Class President for the next school year to win back Joey who was Senior Class President this year when Blaine was a Junior. Joey predicts his new boyfriend Zack who has been Class President of Blaine's class for three years will be the new Senior Class President.
As the election process quickly builds, Blaine is overwhelmed but gets great support from old and new friends. Yet nothing goes the way it is expected. Hang on for an exciting adventure as everything plots to educate and change the students lives in real life.
Blaine is an average good student in high school with too many dreams and not enough friends to keep from being lonely and introverted. He gets too excited about many things and too worried about everything else. But his dog Fudge understands him and loves him.
His family is like most kids. Not enough time or money to do what is most needed...spend time together as a family. But with his mother's sister, Aunt Starr, currently living with his family after loosing her job and place to live, he realizes he is less lonely with someone to share with at home instead of just by himself.
Blaine's love of painting murals on neighborhood businesses to cover some of the deterioration in older parts of Chicago provides mutual art appreciation and chances to improve his artistry while making some money.
His boyfriend Joey comes from a high powered family that expects perfection from their kids and the two older ones set a high standard for Joey. But on Blaine and Joey's first anniversary date at a very expensive highly rated restaurant where Blaine expects to be invited to go with Joey's family on a Spring Break trip to Cabo, nothing goes right. Soon the break up is affecting everything at school.
Soon murals are ignored, friends are argue, emotions are exploding, school activities and events are disappointing, and everyone has gone mental over dreams. Somehow Blaine decides to run for Senior Class President for the next school year to win back Joey who was Senior Class President this year when Blaine was a Junior. Joey predicts his new boyfriend Zack who has been Class President of Blaine's class for three years will be the new Senior Class President.
As the election process quickly builds, Blaine is overwhelmed but gets great support from old and new friends. Yet nothing goes the way it is expected. Hang on for an exciting adventure as everything plots to educate and change the students lives in real life.
April 24, 2022
read my review on reads rainbow
Rep: gay mc, Vietnamese American bi li, Black sapphic character, Latina sapphic character, gay side characters
Rep: gay mc, Vietnamese American bi li, Black sapphic character, Latina sapphic character, gay side characters
April 16, 2022
Another funny, heartfelt and sweet YA story from Robbie Couch!
Blaine For The Win is a book of self-discovery first and foremost. Blaine starts doubting every aspect of himself when his boyfriend Joey dumps him on their anniversary for not being "Serious" enough for his ultra-rich family's expectations. Blaine loves painting murals, wearing colorful clothes and doesn't fit the boxes of a "Serious Guy", as he mockingly calls Joey later. His parents work endless hours to make do and his company at home is his recently unemployed aunt.
In an impulsive decision, Blaine decides to run for senior student council president to show Joey (and himself) that he too, is a Serious Guy. During his journey, with the support of his best friend Trish, her dinosaur-loving girlfriend Camilla and his unexpected ally Danny, he campaigns on a mental health platform, reconsiders his choices and his real motivations, and finds out that happiness is different for everyone.
The side characters were an integral point of the story: Trish is a hurricane, a force of nature, Danny is a cinamonn roll and the absolute sweetest, Camilla and Aunt Starr are rays of sunshine, and there is a dog!
If you've read The Sky Blues , you'll notice some common themes and personality traits, like e.g. the default reaction of Blaine being more or less like the one of Sky: retreat to himself, hide in his room and enter a spiral of self-pity. Or the importance of friends when facing obstacles in life. And of course the sweet HEA romance plot!
There are also election shennanigans: intrigue, speeches, debates!
Blaine for the Win is a book that will make you smile!
Blaine For The Win is a book of self-discovery first and foremost. Blaine starts doubting every aspect of himself when his boyfriend Joey dumps him on their anniversary for not being "Serious" enough for his ultra-rich family's expectations. Blaine loves painting murals, wearing colorful clothes and doesn't fit the boxes of a "Serious Guy", as he mockingly calls Joey later. His parents work endless hours to make do and his company at home is his recently unemployed aunt.
In an impulsive decision, Blaine decides to run for senior student council president to show Joey (and himself) that he too, is a Serious Guy. During his journey, with the support of his best friend Trish, her dinosaur-loving girlfriend Camilla and his unexpected ally Danny, he campaigns on a mental health platform, reconsiders his choices and his real motivations, and finds out that happiness is different for everyone.
The side characters were an integral point of the story: Trish is a hurricane, a force of nature, Danny is a cinamonn roll and the absolute sweetest, Camilla and Aunt Starr are rays of sunshine, and there is a dog!
If you've read The Sky Blues , you'll notice some common themes and personality traits, like e.g. the default reaction of Blaine being more or less like the one of Sky: retreat to himself, hide in his room and enter a spiral of self-pity. Or the importance of friends when facing obstacles in life. And of course the sweet HEA romance plot!
There are also election shennanigans: intrigue, speeches, debates!
Blaine for the Win is a book that will make you smile!
May 15, 2022
This was a light and uplifting read. The Sky Blues is one of my favorite books and I’m really happy that this book lives up to its predecessor. Can’t wait to read the next books from Robbie Couch.
May 5, 2022
helllooooo this book was so good omgggg
felt like a warm blanket, the vibes were immaculate and i love how everything was handled
felt like a warm blanket, the vibes were immaculate and i love how everything was handled
March 31, 2022
Blaine for the Win is a super cute queer teen retelling of Legally Blonde. there was a few references in there that I enjoyed as well.
the cast is wonderful and they were enjoyable to read about. i enjoyed reading about all these characters, Blaine was particularly interesting to read about. The side characters were also engaging and well developed. the relationship was very slowburn and not my favorite but overall pretty cute!
the plot was kind of basic but still made for a nice read for a day. probably not something that will leave a huge impact on me but something I read in one sitting that i enjoyed. also it's perfect for spring!
thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
the cast is wonderful and they were enjoyable to read about. i enjoyed reading about all these characters, Blaine was particularly interesting to read about. The side characters were also engaging and well developed. the relationship was very slowburn and not my favorite but overall pretty cute!
the plot was kind of basic but still made for a nice read for a day. probably not something that will leave a huge impact on me but something I read in one sitting that i enjoyed. also it's perfect for spring!
thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 26, 2022
That. Was so. CUTE!!! ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR!!!
December 30, 2021
Blaine for the Win is a cute, lighthearted read that I'm sure many fans of YA will enjoy, but as I grow further and further away from the target demographic for YA, I find myself only really loving specific titles within the genre. I think a lot of YA books do great things in terms of conversations around diversity, sexuality, and mental health. Blaine for the Win fell short for me even though it's trying to engage in those same conversations. I know teenagers don't always make the best decisions, but Blaine's main motivator throughout the book is essentially just selfishness. His friends were constantly going out of their way to help him, and all he did was be really shitty to them for no reason? Which would be fine if the book didn't want you to root for him, even though his friends (who are not white) do all of the work for his campaign as he fails upward, in true white guy fashion. I think it would've been way more interesting to explore that dynamic in more depth at the end of the book, and have Blaine actually realize why his behaviour sucked, and how it would make his friends feel to negate all of the work they put in his campaign. Fleshing out his relationships with other characters, especially Trish and Danny, would have helped the book feel less like a two-dimensional Legally Blonde. All that said, the writing is solid and there are some fun moments throughout the book — I just wish Blaine for the Win gave me more than it did.
*This ARC was provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
*This ARC was provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
May 6, 2022
When I heard about the premise of Robbie Couch's second novel, Blaine for the Win, I knew I had to read it. As a high school student council member back in the day, there was no way I was going to be able to resist a book about a guy who jumps into the race for senior class president for all the wrong reasons but ends up on the ballot for many of the right ones. The story is masterfully told, and the unexpected twists toward the end of the book were really well-done -- and really enjoyable.
Aside from the story itself, one of the things I greatly enjoyed about Blaine was the fact that it was truly different from Robbie's debut novel, The Sky Blues. Make no mistake: Robbie's voice shines through loud and clear in this book, but the characters, the situations, and the settings are distinct from what he gifted us with in his first book. That's how you keep readers engaged and wanting more, and Robbie has deftly succeeded in doing that with Blaine.
Now to look forward to If I See You Again Tomorrow...
Aside from the story itself, one of the things I greatly enjoyed about Blaine was the fact that it was truly different from Robbie's debut novel, The Sky Blues. Make no mistake: Robbie's voice shines through loud and clear in this book, but the characters, the situations, and the settings are distinct from what he gifted us with in his first book. That's how you keep readers engaged and wanting more, and Robbie has deftly succeeded in doing that with Blaine.
Now to look forward to If I See You Again Tomorrow...
September 18, 2022
When I first read the premise for this novel, I thought Legally Blonde. I should have read the author's note first, as that was what Robbie Couch was going for. This novel pays a terrific homage to that movie and then goes in some new directions that I wasn't expecting at all!
I really just liked everything about Blaine for the Win. It's funny, heartfelt, entertaining, and there are even some parts that will just make you mad on Blaine's behalf. It's an overall clean story, as I don't recall any swearing and the most anyone does is kiss. So I'm totally fine letting my eleven year-old read it. I love that it takes place in Chicago as I grew up there (I lived in the suburbs, but still...). The city vibe in this novel adds to the overall essence. The characters and dialogue are great too. While one part felt a bit predictable, everything else in the story was a surprise once it veered from the Legally Blonde pattern. I found myself grinning and even getting teary at times.
Blaine for the Win is a winner for me! I already can't wait to read Robbie's next novel.
I really just liked everything about Blaine for the Win. It's funny, heartfelt, entertaining, and there are even some parts that will just make you mad on Blaine's behalf. It's an overall clean story, as I don't recall any swearing and the most anyone does is kiss. So I'm totally fine letting my eleven year-old read it. I love that it takes place in Chicago as I grew up there (I lived in the suburbs, but still...). The city vibe in this novel adds to the overall essence. The characters and dialogue are great too. While one part felt a bit predictable, everything else in the story was a surprise once it veered from the Legally Blonde pattern. I found myself grinning and even getting teary at times.
Blaine for the Win is a winner for me! I already can't wait to read Robbie's next novel.
June 15, 2022
I loved the Sky Blues so I was very much looking forward to the author's next book. And this absolutely did not disappoint. There was enough angst and drama to keep it interesting, while also being filled with heart and love. I loved that everyone was queer and it wasn't even a thing. It was an extremely satisfying ending and just a general happy hug. I can't wait to read whatever Robbie writes next!
April 27, 2022
Illegally Blaine.
So it's a gay retelling of Legally Blonde.... which is already raising some flags because Legally Blonde is about feminism and misogyny and etc.. so replacing the MC with a man is a bit questionable. But hey it has more rep than the 2001 film: LGBTQ and more POC so that's good! I mean the characters have about as much depth as an orange but they're more likable than the MC, Blaine, which brings me to my first point.
The Main Character: 2/10
I FCKING HATE BLAINE BOWERS OH MYGODJDIHIQKDA (minor spoiler ahead but it doesn't really matter to the plot)
He is so painfully selfish and narcissistic it is unbelievable. If any of the other characters were having emotions that didn't align with his, guess what? HE DOES NOT GIVE A SHIT. He'll be like: "I get she's trying... BUT SHE"S NOT BEING DEPRESSED WITH ME 33 WAAAAAAHHH" AND ALSO his unemployed aunt. She needs a job. One of Blaine's friends says she got his aunt an interview and that the job would be a really good fit for her, all his aunt needs to do is go to the interview. She gives him an info card. ANd guess what Blaine does?
HE DOESN"T FCKING TELL HER UNTIL THE LAST 90% OF THE BOOK. DUDE. His Aunt was staying with him and his parents and obviously he loves her and doesn't want her to leave. BUT HE PROCRASTINATED FOR SO DAM LONG. Maybe if he barely told her at 50% I'd be just a tad less upset, but HE DIDN'T EVEN TELL HER AT THE END EITHER! SHE FOUND THE CARD HERSELF OH MY GOD. And then when she left their relationship was still completely fine.
Now we get to the ex-boyfriend he tries to win back. Joey. This man is an established asshole. We know. BUT BLAINE KNOWS VERY WELL AND HE DOES NOT CARE?? He ran for senior president or whatever to win him back but even when they broke up Blaine knew that the main reason for the break up was because Joey's parents made him insecure about dating him. But he tries to become serious?? Because that will magically change their mind? Yeah no, I wouldn't want my kid dating Blaine Bowers either, bro is emotionally unavailable.
Blaine's boyfriend was bad, obviously. But Blaine was SUCH a terrible boyfriend too. When Joey discussed any of the things in his life, Blaine blocks it out COMPLETELY. If it doesn't interest him HE DOES NOT CARE. Like.... why are you guys dating if you have no common ground nor do you even PRETEND to have an interest in the others' goals/accomplishments.
Ok, I'm done writing about why Blaine sucks. For now.
My main point is: When you write a retelling your man character has to be just as likable or even better than the MC of the original story. If they're worse at least make it intentional that they're the villain. 💀 Blaine was nowhere near as likable as Elle Woods
The Plot & Writing: 8/10
Horribly motivated. But not boring to read. A little painful but that's okay.
Most of the book revolves around Blaine's campaign and a lot of the time he's just winging it. I'll be honest I can relate to that. Realistically the book is more about Blaine having anxieties and insecurities. But when it focused on the election it was very thrilling and nerve-wracking like how an actual school election might be. I did actually enjoy the author's writing style. It was truly a rush reading about the things that got in the way of it, the ups and downs. BUT BLAINE WAS KINDA EMBARASSING when he gave his speech and was like,
"guys... I know I'm not perfect but-" no. you're not. we are aware.
That is really all I can say about the plot. It's fun and immersing to read, Blaine just makes it hard to process.
Speaking of which why did Blaine keep going for guys out of his grade 💀 Blaine is a sophomore, his ex is a senior, and I think his love interest Danny was a senior as well? I'm not entirely sure. But like bro... if your grades don't touch neither should y'all. It would have made more sense if Blaine was a junior because that detail would complement the fact that he was running for SENIOR class president. Him being a sophomore was just kinda awkward. Also, it would have closed that weird little gap between the ages of him and his lovers.
I guess the Legally Blonde part was the law part that comes after the book because mfs about to catch a case 💀
ALSO. HM. I cannot get over the god awful MISUSE of one of the movie's most iconic lines:
What, like, it's hard?
THE TIMING IS JUST SO WRONG. In the movie when Elle says that, she literally just got into Harvard.
Blaine says it too, after entering the running for the election. It's such a powerful girl boss line and then it's just used for... that.
Joey, jaw still ajar, looks from her to me. "You want to be senior class president?"
I grin. "What like it's hard?"
It was in fact, hard.
Blaine. Son. You haven't done ANYTHING. Had this line been used after Blaine completed some difficult task it would have been so much more satisfying. That awesome line felt so underwhelming and just made Blaine seem arrogant.
The Romance: 1.5/1o
I think I liked the romance a smidge more than Blaine's spongebob outfit. It's a complete shtshow though.
Blaine's love interest Danny is Vietnamese and works in a coffee shop that his father owns. Ok cool. He also came out as bi the year prior to these events. Awesome. He likes plants. Amazing. In the beginning, when we meet him for the first time, Blaine runs into him with his paint cart by accident, knocking Danny's newly purchased plant onto the plant, killing it. (Blaine is a plant murderer within the first ten pages. First red flag.) The plant was an Aloe Vera plant. Blaine proceeds to call this plant an "aloha" plant because he cannot pronounce the name.
He does this five more fcking times. Five. IT WAS NOT CUTE THE FIRST TIME NOR WAS IT THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, OR FIFTH.
Yeah anyway, I wasn't a fan of the romance. It was extremely underbaked. The only thing that really brought them close was Danny venting about his dead mother (because of course she's dead.) and Blaine desperately needing a man to validate his feelings.
It truly felt forced because the side characters were constantly saying "I see the way you two look at each other 🥺" No you're just blind. I felt like Danny only had like five paragraphs with Blaine. AND THE ENDING IS SO HORRIFICALLY HAPPY. The end completely forgives all of the conflicts just so Blaine can be happy (which I wish he wasn't). At about 85% in Danny explains to Blaine that he feels he's been "accidentally sending the wrong message." and that he doesn't want to be more than friends and this tears Blaine fanfic dominated heart into a million pieces. It's horrible. But I mean I was glad because this was one of the best twists of the entire book. The love interest doesn't like him back. I was actually shocked.
I mean it was so late in the book, how can this romance possibly come true? It can't! There's no way!
But it did. And I hated every fcking second of it.
In the very last pages, Danny finds Blaine after all the conflicts have been resolved, says that he lied about wanting to stay friends, and confesses his undying love for this selfish, horribly dressed, blond mess. And then they kiss.
THE ROMANCE WAS SO UNDESERVED. I WOULD HAVE RATHER HAD BLAINE END UP WITH ZACH, THE VIVIAN OF THE STORY. THE MF WHO DATED HIS EX. I DID NOT WANT HIM TO END UP WITH DANNY. #FreeDanny2022
So it's a gay retelling of Legally Blonde.... which is already raising some flags because Legally Blonde is about feminism and misogyny and etc.. so replacing the MC with a man is a bit questionable. But hey it has more rep than the 2001 film: LGBTQ and more POC so that's good! I mean the characters have about as much depth as an orange but they're more likable than the MC, Blaine, which brings me to my first point.
The Main Character: 2/10
I FCKING HATE BLAINE BOWERS OH MYGODJDIHIQKDA (minor spoiler ahead but it doesn't really matter to the plot)
He is so painfully selfish and narcissistic it is unbelievable. If any of the other characters were having emotions that didn't align with his, guess what? HE DOES NOT GIVE A SHIT. He'll be like: "I get she's trying... BUT SHE"S NOT BEING DEPRESSED WITH ME 33 WAAAAAAHHH" AND ALSO his unemployed aunt. She needs a job. One of Blaine's friends says she got his aunt an interview and that the job would be a really good fit for her, all his aunt needs to do is go to the interview. She gives him an info card. ANd guess what Blaine does?
HE DOESN"T FCKING TELL HER UNTIL THE LAST 90% OF THE BOOK. DUDE. His Aunt was staying with him and his parents and obviously he loves her and doesn't want her to leave. BUT HE PROCRASTINATED FOR SO DAM LONG. Maybe if he barely told her at 50% I'd be just a tad less upset, but HE DIDN'T EVEN TELL HER AT THE END EITHER! SHE FOUND THE CARD HERSELF OH MY GOD. And then when she left their relationship was still completely fine.
Now we get to the ex-boyfriend he tries to win back. Joey. This man is an established asshole. We know. BUT BLAINE KNOWS VERY WELL AND HE DOES NOT CARE?? He ran for senior president or whatever to win him back but even when they broke up Blaine knew that the main reason for the break up was because Joey's parents made him insecure about dating him. But he tries to become serious?? Because that will magically change their mind? Yeah no, I wouldn't want my kid dating Blaine Bowers either, bro is emotionally unavailable.
Blaine's boyfriend was bad, obviously. But Blaine was SUCH a terrible boyfriend too. When Joey discussed any of the things in his life, Blaine blocks it out COMPLETELY. If it doesn't interest him HE DOES NOT CARE. Like.... why are you guys dating if you have no common ground nor do you even PRETEND to have an interest in the others' goals/accomplishments.
Ok, I'm done writing about why Blaine sucks. For now.
My main point is: When you write a retelling your man character has to be just as likable or even better than the MC of the original story. If they're worse at least make it intentional that they're the villain. 💀 Blaine was nowhere near as likable as Elle Woods
The Plot & Writing: 8/10
Horribly motivated. But not boring to read. A little painful but that's okay.
Most of the book revolves around Blaine's campaign and a lot of the time he's just winging it. I'll be honest I can relate to that. Realistically the book is more about Blaine having anxieties and insecurities. But when it focused on the election it was very thrilling and nerve-wracking like how an actual school election might be. I did actually enjoy the author's writing style. It was truly a rush reading about the things that got in the way of it, the ups and downs. BUT BLAINE WAS KINDA EMBARASSING when he gave his speech and was like,
"guys... I know I'm not perfect but-" no. you're not. we are aware.
That is really all I can say about the plot. It's fun and immersing to read, Blaine just makes it hard to process.
Speaking of which why did Blaine keep going for guys out of his grade 💀 Blaine is a sophomore, his ex is a senior, and I think his love interest Danny was a senior as well? I'm not entirely sure. But like bro... if your grades don't touch neither should y'all. It would have made more sense if Blaine was a junior because that detail would complement the fact that he was running for SENIOR class president. Him being a sophomore was just kinda awkward. Also, it would have closed that weird little gap between the ages of him and his lovers.
I guess the Legally Blonde part was the law part that comes after the book because mfs about to catch a case 💀
ALSO. HM. I cannot get over the god awful MISUSE of one of the movie's most iconic lines:
What, like, it's hard?
THE TIMING IS JUST SO WRONG. In the movie when Elle says that, she literally just got into Harvard.
Blaine says it too, after entering the running for the election. It's such a powerful girl boss line and then it's just used for... that.
Joey, jaw still ajar, looks from her to me. "You want to be senior class president?"
I grin. "What like it's hard?"
It was in fact, hard.
Blaine. Son. You haven't done ANYTHING. Had this line been used after Blaine completed some difficult task it would have been so much more satisfying. That awesome line felt so underwhelming and just made Blaine seem arrogant.
The Romance: 1.5/1o
I think I liked the romance a smidge more than Blaine's spongebob outfit. It's a complete shtshow though.
Blaine's love interest Danny is Vietnamese and works in a coffee shop that his father owns. Ok cool. He also came out as bi the year prior to these events. Awesome. He likes plants. Amazing. In the beginning, when we meet him for the first time, Blaine runs into him with his paint cart by accident, knocking Danny's newly purchased plant onto the plant, killing it. (Blaine is a plant murderer within the first ten pages. First red flag.) The plant was an Aloe Vera plant. Blaine proceeds to call this plant an "aloha" plant because he cannot pronounce the name.
He does this five more fcking times. Five. IT WAS NOT CUTE THE FIRST TIME NOR WAS IT THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, OR FIFTH.
Yeah anyway, I wasn't a fan of the romance. It was extremely underbaked. The only thing that really brought them close was Danny venting about his dead mother (because of course she's dead.) and Blaine desperately needing a man to validate his feelings.
It truly felt forced because the side characters were constantly saying "I see the way you two look at each other 🥺" No you're just blind. I felt like Danny only had like five paragraphs with Blaine. AND THE ENDING IS SO HORRIFICALLY HAPPY. The end completely forgives all of the conflicts just so Blaine can be happy (which I wish he wasn't). At about 85% in Danny explains to Blaine that he feels he's been "accidentally sending the wrong message." and that he doesn't want to be more than friends and this tears Blaine fanfic dominated heart into a million pieces. It's horrible. But I mean I was glad because this was one of the best twists of the entire book. The love interest doesn't like him back. I was actually shocked.
I mean it was so late in the book, how can this romance possibly come true? It can't! There's no way!
But it did. And I hated every fcking second of it.
In the very last pages, Danny finds Blaine after all the conflicts have been resolved, says that he lied about wanting to stay friends, and confesses his undying love for this selfish, horribly dressed, blond mess. And then they kiss.
THE ROMANCE WAS SO UNDESERVED. I WOULD HAVE RATHER HAD BLAINE END UP WITH ZACH, THE VIVIAN OF THE STORY. THE MF WHO DATED HIS EX. I DID NOT WANT HIM TO END UP WITH DANNY. #FreeDanny2022
December 1, 2021
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the arc!
I enjoyed this book! I liked the Legally Blonde references, and the book was easy to read (also the cover!! I love it so much). This was a relatively quick read, and it was very light-hearted. The drama in it is nicely resolved, and the book just has good vibes.
“Blaine For the Win” follows the main character, Blaine Bowers, and his friends through their senior class president election. It’s pretty much “Legally Blonde” adapted for high school students, and I really enjoyed it. There’s a diverse set of characters, and the author has also focused on mental health issues in schools as one of the issues the characters want to confront throughout their election campaign.
This book was well-written, but the second half of the book felt better to me than the first half. It felt like more of the story happened in the latter half, so the beginning fell kind of flat for me. I found the ending to be a very satisfying conclusion, but there’s not a lot of chemistry in the characters’ romantic relationships, which was a bit of a letdown. The friendships made up for it, though (Trish was definitely my favourite character).
Over all, this book is worth a read! :)
I enjoyed this book! I liked the Legally Blonde references, and the book was easy to read (also the cover!! I love it so much). This was a relatively quick read, and it was very light-hearted. The drama in it is nicely resolved, and the book just has good vibes.
“Blaine For the Win” follows the main character, Blaine Bowers, and his friends through their senior class president election. It’s pretty much “Legally Blonde” adapted for high school students, and I really enjoyed it. There’s a diverse set of characters, and the author has also focused on mental health issues in schools as one of the issues the characters want to confront throughout their election campaign.
This book was well-written, but the second half of the book felt better to me than the first half. It felt like more of the story happened in the latter half, so the beginning fell kind of flat for me. I found the ending to be a very satisfying conclusion, but there’s not a lot of chemistry in the characters’ romantic relationships, which was a bit of a letdown. The friendships made up for it, though (Trish was definitely my favourite character).
Over all, this book is worth a read! :)
November 17, 2021
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
2.6
Blaine's got a great life- a life he's sure is about to get even better once his boyfriend, Joey, invites him on his family vacation. Except, that's not what happens. Instead, Joey breaks up with him during their anniversary dinner. It turns out Blaine's not the right kind of guy for Joey and his family- he needs someone more serious than an artist with no interest in politics. So Joey makes a plan to show him how serious he can be- he runs for class president. Against Joey.
When I read the synopsis for this book I jokingly said something like "oh wow this is going to be a gay, teen Legally Blonde", but I should not have been joking, because this book is nothing except "gay, teen Legally Blonde". There are so many blatant references, the plot is so similar- I could not, past the first few pages, take this book seriously.
I didn't enjoy the reading experience, and I can't imagine anyone having much of a good time with the story unless they're huge Legally Blonde fans.
However, if you're someone who enjoys light hearted queer books, and feel good stories, then you might find something you like in this. There are moments where the main character is easy to root for- though, I admit, I found him unlikable the majority of the time-, and I think those who enjoy quick reads wouldn't dislike it.
Though I was also let down by the romance- there isn't much chemistry and the characters are flat enough that it just felt like the inevitable getting pushed around from point A to point B.
This book didn't leave much of an impact on me, but what it did I wasn't much of a fan of.
2.6
Blaine's got a great life- a life he's sure is about to get even better once his boyfriend, Joey, invites him on his family vacation. Except, that's not what happens. Instead, Joey breaks up with him during their anniversary dinner. It turns out Blaine's not the right kind of guy for Joey and his family- he needs someone more serious than an artist with no interest in politics. So Joey makes a plan to show him how serious he can be- he runs for class president. Against Joey.
When I read the synopsis for this book I jokingly said something like "oh wow this is going to be a gay, teen Legally Blonde", but I should not have been joking, because this book is nothing except "gay, teen Legally Blonde". There are so many blatant references, the plot is so similar- I could not, past the first few pages, take this book seriously.
I didn't enjoy the reading experience, and I can't imagine anyone having much of a good time with the story unless they're huge Legally Blonde fans.
However, if you're someone who enjoys light hearted queer books, and feel good stories, then you might find something you like in this. There are moments where the main character is easy to root for- though, I admit, I found him unlikable the majority of the time-, and I think those who enjoy quick reads wouldn't dislike it.
Though I was also let down by the romance- there isn't much chemistry and the characters are flat enough that it just felt like the inevitable getting pushed around from point A to point B.
This book didn't leave much of an impact on me, but what it did I wasn't much of a fan of.
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