Drop Dead Handsome

by Matthew Hubbard

COMING FALL 2026. Drop Dead Gorgeous meets Miss Congeniality in DROP DEAD HANDSOME, about an outspoken senior who enters his high school's "Miss Spirit" pageant for his college essay, only to face sabotage; with the help of the nerdy but adorable student government president, he sets out to find the culprit while receiving a crash course in the pageantry of first love.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Queer, Contemporary, LGBT, M M Romance, Rom Com

Paperback

Expected publication December 22, 2026

About the author

Matthew Hubbard writes the kind of stories he wished he’d had as a teen in rural Alabama. He grew up on a mountaintop farm and knows more than he is willing to admit about small towns. He studied English, marketing, and psychology in college and has spent a majority of his life speaking up to make a difference.

Armed with a TARDIS tattoo, Matthew can be found on adventures when he isn't writing. He enjoys traveling to different countries, hiking in search of breathtaking views, reading as many books as he can get his hands on, and cheering for his favorite hockey team.

​He lives in Tennessee with his husband, their dogs, Layla and Phillip, and Jay Gatsby the cat.

Reviews

[Matthew Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi. I wrote this book, and it was the most fun I’ve had. I’m giving myself 5 stars because I worked very hard on it. 😌 But in all seriousness, writing Drop Dead Handsome healed something inside me. The idea came about after I watched Miss Congeniality five times during the 2024 election cycle and the political upheaval that ensued. The movie brought me joy and comfort, both of which I desperately needed. I wrote my first two books, The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge and The Rebel’s Guide to Pride, because I needed to find strength and hope to combat hate, but Drop Dead Handsome is my first-ever full-on romance. This third time around, I needed to find the light in the darkness—something effervescent and full of love. Typing “The End” on Parker and Dean’s story left my soul as comforted as it had been after watching one of my favorite movies. When you read Drop Dead Handsome, I hope you find some light—that effervescent feeling of love—along the way, too. 💖

[sophie]

DNF 56%. I thought I was going to love this. Parker is such an interesting character and Dean is absolutely adorable, clumsy and blushes so easily (he’s the cutest!). But sadly, what started as a cute, promising story quickly fell flat.

I was thoroughly enjoying the first few chapters, but Parker’s crush escalated way too fast for my liking. I get that this is YA, but Parker went a complete 180 from one page to the next, going from treating Dean like a normal guy to "I want to brush his hair" levels of obsession by like 25% in. I thought I wanted fluff, but this was just too fluffy and unearned.

Also, almost all the girls in this book are written as mean. I get that this is a pageant, but it’s also a boring, lazy stereotype that felt incredibly flat.

There is definitely a lot to like here and I can see people enjoying the sweetness, but I just wanted more.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: taking a break from the chaos of Dungeon Crawler Carl for a cute M/M romance 🥰

page one, line one: "real life wasn’t a video game." oh, the irony… 😂

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Hubbard has the power to make me smile. Constantly. And of his three YA stories so far, Drop Dead Handsome made me smile the most.

Parker is such an outspoken, sassy guy, but also such a softie at the same time with a heart of gold. He's basically a macaron: bright-colored, a little extra (or a lot extra), and so soft on the inside.

Also, can we talk about the side characters? Because Parker's (or Parks as his family calls him) parents are fantastic. Supportive and funny, and I loved how Parker and his sister talked so easily about their feelings with them. And Dean. Oh, Dean. You're the cinnamon roll of this story with all your blushes. A little dorky, a little shy, and so incredibly sweet. On paper a macaron and a cinnamon roll don’t fit together that perfectly, but it was so clear those two just belonged together. I see it this way; separately, a macaron and a cinnamon roll are delightful. Together they're the perfect recipe.

And beneath all the sweetness, wit, and romance, Matthew Hubbard still weaves in plenty of social commentary, as I've come to expect from him.

If you're looking for a ray of sunshine (or lots of rays, actually), read Drop Dead Handsome! You won't be disappointed, I promise.

Thank you, Delacorte Romance and NetGalley, for this delightful ARC.

Follow me on Instagram

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ]

[Katie Burton]

hey siri, play darren criss’ cover of teenage dream

[readwith.kloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC Review!!!

“It hadn’t always been scary, not until I’d realized how certain political signs were meant to tell me my worth when I was seven. They chased me down every street. Candidates yelled at me for daring to be myself, and hateful laws threatened to sew me into the folds of “normalcy”. It was a challenge just to exist…only I didn’t know how to put that all on paper.

Parker Ryland is on a mission to finish not only his college admissions essay to BU, but also to challenge the gender roles of his towns very own “Miss Spirit” Pageant. However, Parker knows absolutely nothing about pageantry, so Dean-the nice nerdy guy on the student committee-decides to show him the ropes, in exchange for some baking lessons. Their story unfolds in a tale of awkward but endearing moments, that will leave you giggling and maybe even shedding a few tears.

Title/Author: Drop Dead Handsome/Matthew Hubbard
Format Read: NetGalley Digital
Pub date: December 22, 2026
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Page Count: 368
Recommended for readers who enjoy: “What If It’s Us” and “Miss Congeniality”
Notable Tropes: MM Romance, Pageant, Baking Lessons, Teen Activism, Queer Joy, and Mystery Solving.
Minor complaints: Not much! I felt like the plot did drag a bit at first, but after that it flew by and was so good.
Favorite Aspects:
- Parker Ryland might just be one of my new favorite mc’s. I related to him deeply, and found his internal monologue very entertaining.
- I will be honest, I wasn’t expecting this book to give everything that it did, but I cannot complain at all. The detective-y sub plot near the end was so fun to read about, but also eye-opening about the lengths people will go to just to be bigots.
- Also, the family dynamics of the Ryland family made me giggle and gave such amazing sit-com vibes!!
Final recommendation: In terms of star ratings, this book gets 5/5🌟’s from me! I loved it and can’t wait for everyone else to get their hands on it!!

[Jace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me access to an advanced reader copy (ARC).

Unfortunately, Drop Dead Handsome just wasn’t for me.

Drop Dead Handsome is a YA novel about a bisexual teenage boy who enters a beauty pageant to challenge gender norms in his small town. Parker Ryland is a queer kid in a small town, trying to form his identity as an activist in his community, and write an essay good enough to get him into his dream college. He hopes the experience of challenging gender norms in a local beauty pageant will be good inspiration for his essay, but things go terribly wrong when someone begins sabotaging him.

When I started reading Drop Dead Handsome, I didn’t realize it was set in my state. Because I am a queer, gender non-conforming person in the state of North Carolina, this story felt especially personal to me. Because of how much talk there was about gender, I wish there had been more time discussing what gender identity means to Parker, why he’s so passionate about challenging gender norms besides “it’s affecting my community.” I felt his motivations hadn’t been fleshed out enough, especially since the author didn’t take the opportunity to make him anything other than a cis man. Additionally, this book made me realize I’m too old for YA. Maybe not all the time, but I’m definitely too old for this one.

Additionally, it bothered me that there’s all this talk about gender and gender norms and bathroom bills, but not once are trans people mentioned (to my memory). It very much feels like a story where the “trans issue” is the heart of the problem, and yet there’s no trans people to be seen. It honestly turned me off.

I’m disapointed because this story had a cute premise. The romance between Dean and Parker was cute, I liked them together. Under different circumstances I think I would have enjoyed the book. It just feels a little too close to home, being set in my home state and considering my own relationship with gender.

I give the idea an A, but the execution gets a D for me personally. I give it two stars.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Parker joins his school’s Miss Spirit pageant, initially it’s to give him something to write about for his college essay, though it quickly means so much more to him. It becomes a way to express himself, to push back on the small-minded bigots in his conservative town, and to build a community of friends who have his back, no matter what. Through the pageant, he falls for Dean, the student body president, who shows Parker a quiet, sweet support and love throughout the tumult of the pageant.

As a main character, Parker is funny, expressive, and unapologetically himself. On the outside, he is confident in who he is and what he stands for, though he still experiences insecurities and anxieties. Parker loudly calls out the misogyny and bigotry that the LGBTQIA community faces and demands change.

One of my favorite hallmarks of a Matthew Hubbard book is the exceptional parent characters. Parker’s mom and dad have provided him with the safety and support to be unapologetically himself. They are so funny and supportive, the kind of parent every teen, and especially queer teen, deserves.

Matthew Hubbard captures the experience of being a teenager, learning who you are, and fighting for what you believe in so beautifully in each of his stories, and especially in Drop Dead Handsome. I adored this combination of sweet teenage love story, the message of loud determination to be who you truly are, and standing up for what is right, not to mention the nods to the cinematic classic, Miss Congeniality.

Thank you so much to Matthew Hubbard, Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @delacorteromance for the digital copy to review!

Y’all, @matthewhubbard writes such funny, smart, sweet books with the *best* first kisses and crushes and “does he like me” vibes. And this one knocked it out of the park.

As a self-proclaimed member of the Matthew Hubbard fan club I have to say I think this is my favorite Matthew book yet. I loved watching Parker fall in love with Dean. It was so incredibly sweet and it took me back to those times in high school when you are really crushing on someone and you don’t even realize it until it’s too late…and then you’re playing the game of do they actually like me - what’s going on in their head - instead of just asking and it’s just so relatable, genuinely sweet, and adorable.

I loved the beauty pageant background of this - challenging gender norms and fighting against stereotypes. I thought that it was really iconic for Parker to compete the way he did and for him to stand up for what he really believed in. I really liked that he had so much support from not only his family, but also Dean.

Speaking of Parker‘s family they were so much fun and his parents and sister made me laugh so hard with their teasing. I loved that they were so on board with Parker falling for Dean and that they all kind of conspired to make it happen. It was very sweet.

Matthew is writing first kisses like no one else. He captures all of the feelings!! The butterflies, the sparks, the genuine excitement of kissing someone for the first time. It’s stunning. Honestly, a lot of the prose in this book is just gorgeous.

I love this book and I love Matthew. 🩷

[cuddlyhannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Random House Children’s Books, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for this ARC!

DROP DEAD HANDSOME was so much fun! This was my first (or maybe second, if memory serves, which it seldom does) read from this author, and I loved it. I absolutely adored Parker and Dean, and seeing their relationship blossom despite all the Miss Spirit pageant-related chaos felt so real and sweet. There were corny moments and tender ones, and all of it felt so authentically “high school.”

I look forward to the novel’s publication date (just before Christmas— 12/22/26)! Cheers!

[Jason Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A third home run from Matthew Hubbard!

I loved both of his previous books — they were timely, they were meaningful, and they were written with so much love and insight — so it’s no surprise that Drop Dead Handsome is as well.

The unique thing about Drop Dead Handsome is that it’s centered around romance, which is a bit different for Matthew’s writing. But even though the book is a romance, there is amazing social commentary happening alongside that plot.

I loved Parker and Dean — they were such a cute couple and I was rooting for them to fall in love with each other. Some of the strongest and most moving scenes were the ones where they were having small moments with each other.

I also love a good element of mystery, and this certainly delivered on that front. It was an extra layer of the plot that kept me turning the pages until I had answers.

What a delight this novel was. I was giggling, I was swooning, I was kicking my gay little feet in the air while I smiled at what I was reading.

Matthew is not only an amazing author, he is such a kind and genuine human. And that reflects in his writing, which is a ray of light in a world that is dark — and that’s why I always look forward to his books.

So, overall, this one did not disappoint! It’s Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? meets Sweet Nothing by Taylor Swift. And I love that.

Big thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

[Leah Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy!

Where do I even start? This book was a breath of fresh air. The Miss Congeniality inspiration shines though without it being an exact copy. (I also loved the meta experience of having the main characters watch and reference the movie!)

The writing is so smooth and easy to read that I found myself flying through the chapters. At times, YA books can sometimes feel a little too cringe as an adult reader, but this was not one of those times. Parker has very real wishes and fears that are relatable at any age.

The absolute sweetness between Parker and Dean had me grinning at my kindle in the middle of the gym (what, I like to read on the treadmill). It perfectly captures that feeling of falling in love as a teenager, when you’re also still trying to figure out how to be a person.

This book was just a joy to read, and I’m so glad I got to read it early.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC of this book and my thoughts are my own. Thank you Net Galley!

What happens when a guidance counselor tells you that your college essay into the school is your dreams is boring? You decide to enter the schools beauty pageant. That’s what starts us off on this crazy rom com adventure of this book for Parker.

I love the message that this book shows of not giving up and being true to yourself. I love the Miss congeniality vibes that this book gives. This rom com is definitely a five star for me.

This book brought me so much joy as I read it and I was kicking my feet at how cute it was. This book had me rooting for the characters every step of the way. I just wanted to give both Parker and Dean giant hugs especially with everything that Parker had to endure.

I loved how cute and fun Parker’s family was and how supportive they were of him how they believed in him.

This is a story of self acceptance proving that there is always room to be yourself and live authentically.

The romance between Parker and Dean is unbelievably sweet and every moment of them together had me feeling emotional. Their dynamic of awkward flirting is so real and grounded and the way their relationship develops is so genuine. I also loved that there was no 3rd act break up in this book as it really wasn’t needed and the support that Dean brought Parker through out this book really did bring them together end encourage Parker the way he needed.

I loved the parent story line and how it played into the Miss congeniality vibes even joking about it through the book.

The story telling in this book is world class and I’ll definitely be picking up more of Hubbard’s books in the future. I believe every queer kid should read this as it celebrates them and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and to live

[Hannah Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch out, Gracie Hart! There’s a new contestant in town ready to sweep us off our feet!
When Parker Ryland decides to enter the Miss Spirit pageant as fuel for his college admittance essay, he has no idea how his life will change in the following weeks. With a dream to leave Tennessee as quickly as he can, Parker is there to make it to the end and that’s it. He doesn’t expect a mysterious saboteur, an enemies to almost friends plot, and romance??? Surely not after he’s sworn off love forever!
Drop Dead Handsome is so much fun! With southern pageant girls reminiscent of Lemon in Hart of Dixie, an over invoked loving family à la Easy A, and a hilariously good time just like Miss Congeniality this book is sure to hook you from the very first page. The amount of pop culture references were so much fun and I may have laughed out loud while simultaneously feeling like an elder every time one popped up.
You won’t want to miss this sweet comedic romance (Parker and Dean forever!)

[Jessica Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an empowering and adorable story! I loved how Parker came into his power and really found out what was really important when it came to his expression. Also just the young love trying to figure out if someone actually likes you crazy mess parts were just so relatable and hilarious. 😊

[bookishmarcos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for this ARC!

Drop Dead Handsome by Matthew Hubbard was an absolute delight from start to finish. It is funny, heartfelt, and full of the kind of chaotic high school energy that makes the story feel both nostalgic and incredibly sincere.

Parker Ryland enters his school’s Miss Spirit pageant for what starts as a practical reason. After being told his college application essay is boring, Parker decides to do something unforgettable. Competing in a pageant that has always been reserved for girls certainly accomplishes that. But what begins as a strategy for standing out quickly becomes something bigger. Parker is not just doing this as a joke or a stunt. He is doing it for his future, but also for his principles. By stepping onto that stage, he is openly challenging the outdated gender rules his small town clings to, and that choice gives the story real emotional weight.

Parker is such an easy character to root for. He is loud, dramatic, and unapologetically himself, but underneath that confidence is someone who constantly feels like he might be too much for people. Watching him navigate that insecurity while still refusing to shrink himself is one of the most satisfying parts of the book. Even when the sabotage begins and the threats start piling up, Parker keeps pushing forward. He knows what he is standing up for, and he refuses to let intimidation stop him from challenging the system.

The romance between Parker and Dean is unbelievably sweet. Dean, the quiet and slightly awkward student body president, becomes Parker’s unexpected pageant coach. Their dynamic is full of awkward flirting, small moments of vulnerability, and that very specific high school tension where both people clearly like each other but are terrified to say it out loud. The way their relationship develops feels genuine and soft in all the right ways, and their scenes together are easily some of the best in the book.

Another highlight is Parker’s family. His parents and sister completely steal the show whenever they appear. They are funny, supportive, and wonderfully chaotic in the best possible way. Instead of questioning Parker or asking him to tone himself down, they celebrate exactly who he is. The teasing, encouragement, and unconditional support they give him create the kind of home environment every queer kid deserves. Their presence adds so much warmth to the story.

The pageant storyline also brings an extra layer of tension through the mystery of who is sabotaging Parker behind the scenes. Between the glitter, rehearsals, and small town gossip, the competition becomes a surprisingly high stakes environment. The mystery element keeps the story moving while Parker continues pushing against the narrow expectations placed on him.

At its heart, Drop Dead Handsome is about refusing to shrink yourself to make others comfortable. It is about first love, finding confidence in who you are, and challenging traditions that should have been questioned a long time ago. It is funny, romantic, and full of heart, and Parker Ryland is the kind of character you cannot help but cheer for the entire way through.

Hubbard possesses that rare, essential quality in an author: he is exactly who every queer child needed to read while growing up. His storytelling is a masterclass in radical self-acceptance, consistently proving that there is no room for shame in living authentically. It’s more than just representation; it’s an inspiring reminder that your true self is something to be celebrated, not hidden.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books-Delacorte Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wholesome, endearing YA romance. I don’t read YA all the time, but I do find myself wondering why I don’t read it more every time I blast through a book that puts a smile on my face. While there were some definite flaws with this one, it was a cute and charming read and I can imagine it’ll be important for some younger readers.

The story revolves around a high school boy, Parker, entering a pageant via a loophole of the rules not specifying that the contestants have to be female because, in conservative Greensboro, TN, one could not even fathom anyone other than a girl entering a pageant. He does this in the hopes of strengthening his college admission essay, which is deemed “boring” by an advisor at school, at first to try and prove that he is anything but boring, but along the way trying to figure out what he really wants to prove.

The romance aspect of this book is its greatest strength by far. The student council president is a boy named Dean, who Parker has had a distant crush on for a while. Dean defends Parker to the homophobic (and transphobic and etc. etc.) organizers and ends up helping him compete in the pageant. Dean is just adorable in every single way (possibly a bit too perfect? But that didn’t bother me while reading): volunteers for the local LGBTQ+ youth organization, teaches swimming lessons, loves Miss Congeniality. He and Parker have great chemistry and they both felt very authentically high school-aged.

This book moves quickly, and even as a pretty close reader, I struggled a bit to get my footing in the beginning because so much information was thrown at you all at once. I think a lot of authors these days fear boring a reader on the first page, and so they start you right in the middle of the action, which is effectively pushing you into the deep end, not easing you into the water first.

The book also does what a lot of other modern books do, which is have a character whose sole existence in the story is predicated on the protagonist needing someone to talk the plot through with. In this case, it’s Parker’s sister, Marley. An important scene or development will happen, and then the next chapter will begin with Parker and Marley at their parents’ bakery, talking. Marley will ask Parker what’s going on, he’ll allude to some huge development, and she’ll say things like, “What? Why didn’t you tell me? Tell me more! What do you mean? How does that make you feel?” It’s heavy-handed to the point of farce and doesn’t allow the reader to extrapolate what Parker is thinking on their own, which isn’t even that hard with first-person narration.

There’s also the pageant itself, which is funny and appropriately satirical, but I don’t feel like the author really knew what he was trying to say about pageants and gender expectations with this book. Parker ultimately gains a lot of confidence throughout the process, but I think that the political messaging around gender expression, vague allusions to bathroom bills and transphobia, and the overt homophobia that Parker faces in the book (he is bi but most of the hate he receives is specifically around him being outwardly queer) could’ve been synthesized a little better.

Overall a sweet and entertaining read and I’m excited to see where Matthew Hubbard goes next!

[Aru · Rating 3 out of 5]

My feelings on "Drop Dead Handsome," are undeniably mixed. As a soft coming of age story of a boy who wants to define his own destiny and his own love it hits all of the right notes. You have Parker, a misunderstood teenager who wants to use his voice for others. To the people outside of his circle he's seen as too much - a troublemaker for the queer identity he has adorned.

When told that his college essay makes him look boring he throws his hat into pageantry - led by the gentlemanly hand of his totally-not-a-crush, Dean. The pageantry side of things is a very cute ode to the cult classic that is Miss Congeniality.

The romance is the high point of the book and it's sweet to watch the two boys deal with a crush that neither of them are quite sure what to do with.

... It's kind of the rest of it that I had problems really getting behind. As a once queer youth from Tennesse themselves I was excited by the premise. I wanted to see myself in the pages and to be quite honest it never quite hit the mark.

From the very beginning of the book it felt like every page needed "buzzwords" to show how queer it was. It didn't, by extension, feel organic by the end. While I love that Parker as a character is loud and proud of who he was this part of the book ironically felt like it was *too much*. Which is perhaps the point, I'll admit, in a book that's unashamedly itself and I can respect it. On the other hand, however, as opposed to making me feel more open and more seen it led me to feeling like a statistic that needed to be mentioned to show how inclusive it really was.

The love story was good and the pageantry had its moments - but it's the "villain" behind the story that had made me feel taken out of place. What starts as harassments quickly becomes pranks that leads into violence. And every time the adults in the situation blame the victim and not until sponsors considered pulling do they ever decide to cancel the competition. The fact that so much was allowed to happen was disheartening in the sense of - yes, of course it could... And narratively, it just felt so shallow.

But then the victim is always the one to take the heat in these kind of tales.

Finally, I have to relate back to my favorite TJ Klune books the Cerulean Chronicles and how much of the second book especially felt like a hamfisted description of discrimination by one of the main characters. The books try so hard to get its point across that the message, while certainly clear, loses it's impact in the narrative. I felt the same here with Drop Dead Handsome.

The message was clear. It lost some of its heart.

This is not to say I disliked the book as I previously mentioned. The ending made my heart warm. I wanted so much for the two male leads to get together, even if I felt the reaction from family to be over-the-top. This is Parker's story but I would have so loved to see more of Dean's. It was sweet in its understandings of first loves and first true loves - how things change when you find someone who really meets you. How you can be stronger together and beat the odds.

The fact is, I really could have loved the book but it does feel like in its effort to tell us to be your authentic self, to never tone it done, I lost some of the charm in the story itself. That said, I hope Parker and Dean have a very happy future in their universe.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Drop Dead Handsome
Matthew Hubbard

Thank you to Delacorte Romance, Random House Children's Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Drop Dead Handsome is one of those books that manages to be hilarious, heartfelt, and incredibly charming all at once. Between the pageant setting, the sweet romance, the family dynamics, and its message about challenging outdated expectations, this was such a fun read from beginning to end.

Parker Ryland is determined to make his college application stand out, so he enters his town's Miss Spirit pageant to challenge gender norms and prove that he is anything but boring. What starts as a strategic decision quickly becomes much more complicated when he finds himself spending time with Dean, the school's student body president, who offers to help him navigate the world of pageantry.

The romance between Parker and Dean was easily my favorite part of the book. Their relationship develops through awkward moments, growing friendship, baking lessons, and plenty of adorable tension. Matthew Hubbard captures that feeling of having a crush so perfectly—the overthinking, the butterflies, the constant questioning of whether the other person feels the same way. It felt authentic, sweet, and impossible not to root for.

Parker was also a fantastic protagonist. His voice is funny, relatable, and full of heart. I loved watching him grow more confident in himself and his convictions as the story progressed. His determination to challenge the expectations of his small town while still figuring out his own future made him incredibly easy to connect with.

The pageant storyline added so much fun to the book while also providing thoughtful commentary on gender norms and community expectations. There is also a mystery element involving someone sabotaging Parker's participation, which kept the story moving and added an extra layer of tension.

And Parker's family? Absolutely wonderful. Their teasing, support, and overall sitcom-level chaos brought so much warmth to the story and gave some of my favorite moments in the entire book.

What to Expect:
• M/M Romance
• Beauty Pageant Setting
• Small Town Tennessee
• Baking Lessons
• Queer Joy
• First Love
• Family Support
• Challenging Gender Norms
• Mystery & Sabotage
• Adorable Slow-Burn Romance

Matthew Hubbard has a real talent for writing heartfelt, funny stories with memorable characters and romances that make you smile the entire time you're reading. This was easily one of my favorite YA romances of the year.

A sweet, funny, and uplifting story that perfectly balances romance, humor, and heart.

[Lupin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet YA romance with representation I think LGBTQ+ youth deserve to have. It's a little on the nose sometimes with its use of slang and it sometimes errs very millennial in its humor, but it's perfect for a light read.

That said, there is a good amount of suspension of disbelief that's asked of when it comes to the main conflict of the book (escalating sabotage that becomes more and more life threatening).

I also felt the exploration of gender was very shallow for how much it seemed to be the selling point of the plot. I expected the pageant to challenge his gender identity in that he'd still dress non-conforming while participating and be challenged in presenting that way despite being cis. As the pageant never had rules for boys, he was never asked or expected to dress that way (and took it upon himself to do so).

This, paired with the other girls having to endure archaic traditions of femininity, made Parker's dilemma stick out like a sore thumb. I feel it would've landed better had he kept to dressing gender nonconforming but was held to the same standards as the other girls (letting him experience heteronormativity to a toxic degree, as well as further highlighting how ridiculous the traditions are). It would've made the backlash against him entering the pageant more impactful, since it would've shown him to be blatantly queer. To have the leaders of the program harp on having him act like the girls despite being told he's expected to act in the same gender roles for a man didn't make sense.

It made a very glaring disconnect for me in the times he complained about being upheld to these traditional male standards when he put himself in that gender role to begin with. There wasn't a clear line drawn in the sand about what gender expectations he was being forced under.

There's also some heavy handed throwaway comments like "toxic male" and "misogynist" that's spoken about Parker and never gets addressed. It felt like opportune moments for him to address his position being both GNC and a cis man, but it never comes to fruition. I also didn't like them being "buzzwords" to throw at Parker and would've preferred it had been taken more seriously.

Overall, it's a fun read and I loved Parker's family being so lovingly supportive (and cringe). I would've liked more follow through on Parker asking for help because learning to speak up involves that too. With how often he's given opportunities to let people know if he's being targeted, he turns it down each time that it doesn't add much to the story.

[Carrot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early ARC for an honest review!

Dean, I thought, hoping he could read my mind because I didn't know how to say it aloud. It felt like you were ruining my life, but now I think it's the opposite.

Overachievers who thought themselves burdens for asking for help, flock here!

This book was too, too cute. A fun, queer romcom with a Miss Congeniality-esque spin. I was drawn to this initially due to the cover and unique plot. I don't think I've ever read anything involving a cis boy joining a beauty pageant and the cover is everything. Cutie Dean is giving major Clark Kent vibes as usual. Parker looking adorable with his tiara and sash 🥹 And the colors! The pink title! The sparkles! All of it is further adding to the book's point about things not needing to be gendered. To whoever drew and designed this cover, 10 billion points to you!!

Onto my actual review: this was a great read for the political environment we are currently in. Thank you to the author for writing it. Parker is a great MC who advocates and isn't afraid to have a voice when it comes to topics that matter. He actually inspires me to become more involved. When the first chapter described him as wearing a skirt, I said hell yah. I never saw the point in labeling things such as fashion or hobbies as being for one gender/sex and not the other and the book does a great job discussing this.

What I loved too was Parker recognizing his privilege as a white cis male and how he would be essentially encroaching upon women's spaces, stealing the limelight, etc... and using his position to shed light on the misogynistic ideals of the beauty pageant world rather than being focused on winning. The fact that he was usually a confident dude with a plan, but also held insecurities about his self worth when it came to relationships made him feel real. And Dean...what can I say about Dean. His resolve to support Parker, his clumsiness, so shy and sweet always, ughhh my heart. He's just perfect for Parker <3

I also loved how the girls were portrayed and the whole "pageant girls stick together." I've read some unfortunate m/m books that villify the women or barely develop them as characters, but this book happily does neither. And his family! They were so supportive, healthy and funny. More of this please!

[Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book I’m happy exists for younger LGBTQIA+ people. I’m only in my late twenties, but I can see this book showing queer (and all) kids the exact messages it champions: being yourself, fighting for what you believe in, and realizing that finding the right people matters more than pleasing everybody.

A big takeaway I want to re-emphasize is the idea of breaking gender roles by entering the pageant as a guy. Parker doesn’t let traditional ideas of what he should wear, or do, or who he should date control him for long. He fully accepts his own sexuality, gender non-conforming fashion sense, etc. Even if he does backtrack out of fear with his appearance or decision-making, he comes back even more determined. The prose is full of his fiery, big heart, revealed in his snappy dialogue and inner thoughts. It’s admirable, and he’s a very strong story lead.

I also enjoyed Dean and Parker’s dynamic with him. He’s there for Parker no matter what and contrasts Parker’s self-doubt and spiraling. I also appreciated his goals and the shy, clumsy side of him that helped round him out. I sometimes felt that he came off a little too perfect/nice, but to be fair, he had his own flaws and fears, and he served an important, sweet role. Shoutout to Parker's family, too, for being phenomenally supportive right alongside Dean.

The mystery of who was trying to sabotage Parker was something I worried would end up being cliché. I had a wild theory that would have been interesting if it happened, but (thankfully) it didn’t. I give the book credit for sending readers down a twisting path to the answer, even if the answer seemed obvious in hindsight. It’s one of those mysteries with enough red herrings to throw you, and if that’s what we base a good mystery on, this book succeeded.

On another note, I figure it’s a symptom of YA books broadly, but there’s a lot of telling over showing. I realize that it’s for younger audiences, and I don’t feel that it messes up the landing. I also felt the ending could have been extended, with more time spent on the concluding scenes, so we could feel the fullest sense of victory and closure that the story and characters earned.

Overall, this was a fun, campy, energetic read with a dose of mystery that kept the momentum high. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC!

[Daniel Libatique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable queer YA romance perfect for fans of Miss Congeniality. Parker Ryland enters a Miss Spirit pageant at his high school to challenge gender norms and create a story worth writing about in his college application essay. Along the way, he falls for student body president and his pageant escort Dean Ackerley, deals with a bitter ex-girlfriend and over-enthusiastic family members, and attempts to outsmart a saboteur trying to take him out of the competition and a small-minded, bigoted organization of anti-LGBTQ+ parents.

This was such an adorably cozy read. Parker is a richly-drawn main character that you can't help but root for, with clear and compelling motivations. His ultimate willingness to stick to his own guns and be true to himself in terms of how he dresses, acts, and engages with the people around him is inspiring and the kind of example that I wish I'd had when I was growing up as a queer teenager. I also appreciated how the environment in all its aspects shapes Parker into who he is, from parents who brought him to his first LGBTQ+-support protest at age 11 and who taught him always to speak up for what's right, to a state (Tennessee) and a gender-normative pageant attempting to silence that voice and those of the members of his queer community.

The YA-appropriate romance hit all the right notes. Parker's sweet internal monologues about his burgeoning and conflicting feelings for Dean and his realizing that Dean was on the same journey as him put warm fuzzies in my belly, and their journey from the pageant to the bakery to the Social Vampire Slayers concert kept me smiling the whole way. May we all be so lucky to find our own Dopamine Daydream!

Matthew Hubbard has written an utterly charming novel that left me wanting more. What happens with Parker's application to BU (coincidentally, this reviewer's alma mater)? Do his plans to flee Tennessee and never come back change now that Dean and the Hearts of Gold organization are in his life? Does Parker end up watching Miss Congeniality more than once?! I'm so excited to dig back into Hubbard's previous two books (THE REBEL'S GUIDE TO PRIDE and THE LAST BOYFRIENDS RULES FOR REVENGE), and I'm looking forward to his first adult romance in Fall 2027 (HOW TO BREAK HIS HEART)!

[Sol✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Matthew Hubbard, Netgalley, and Random House Children's Books for access to this advanced reader's copy of Drop Dead Handsome. This is my honest and unbiased review.

----
"How will your being crowned as Miss Spirit help your community?"
"Easy", I said. "It'll force people to acknowledge me as a threat."
----

Drop Dead Handsome is a beautiful homage to the joy found in early 2000s romcoms. It's warm and effervescent with relationships that are built upon mutual trust. It's downright hilarious, even in the tensest of moments. And it's also gentle with the way it handles a budding tale of queer love and the ways that societal expectations and pressures bear down upon it.

Miss Congeniality was one of my favorite movies as a kid, so it's no surprise that Drop Dead Handsome resonated with me. Parker is such a loveable character, even when he thinks that he's being too much or, conversely, that he isn't enough. Growing up in Tennessee myself, I know exactly how hard it is to feel at home in your own skin as a queer individual. Feeling like Frankenstein's monster, to quote Parker, feels somewhat inevitable. Still, this story is one of hope. The genuine care with which Parker handles his own heart and the hearts of others, and the way that Dean reciprocates with hands as gentle as feathers, its truly a marvel in modern literature. They are such a beautiful example of what relationships should be ALLOWED to be.

Aside from a full cast of relatable, realistic, and memorable characters, Drop Dead Handsome has a LOT going for it. The plot is evenly split between Parker's inner turmoil and the disastrous mystery of who is trying to sabotage his chance to win the crown. The stakes are initially quite mild before skyrocketing into something that is much bigger than Parker participating in a traditionally female beauty pageant. And, of course, the setting is perfect for Parker's personality and inner (and also external) turmoil.

I honestly cannot recommend this book enough for those who love love. There's an innocence to Drop Dead Handsome despite its setting that is so very charming. Plus, the text changes throughout the book are so funny. Pleeeeasssseee pick up this book to read! You won't regret it!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely one of my favorite YA books I've read lately! I think so many young people will see themselves in these characters and I love that it is going to be there for those that need it!

Parks is such an outspoken, brave, sassy character, but also SO very sweet and just a romantic at the end of the day (even though he just wants to pretend he isn't).

There social commentary that was weaved through this story was beautifully done. Parks really faught for others as he said, but also himself. I absolutely loved the commentary between the lines but also in black and white.
"It hadn't always been scary, not until I'd realized how certain political signs were meant to tell me my worth when I was seven. They chased me down every street. Candidates yelled at me for daring to be myself, and hateful laws threatened to sew me into the folds of 'normalcy.' It was a challenge just to exist...only I didn't know how to put that all on paper."

The romance aspect between Parker and Dean was so sweet and very age appropriate. It went from 'no we're just friends' to 'wait I am obsessed.' The inability to just be open and tell their feelings/ask about the other person's feelings is very appropriate to high school crushes, so I appreciated how accurate that depiction was.

I LOVED the plot of having Parker join the Beauty pageant and challenging the gender norms and fighting against stereotypes. It truly is such an important lesson to learn that you can stand up for what you believe in and challenge things that you do not agree with in a peaceful manner and in a way that others, who may feel the same way as you, feel safe to join in that fight.

Lastly, I adored Parker's parents. Like come on. I was giggling at their scenes with Parks and just overall they were just a joy to read.

I will absolutely be reading more from Matthew Hubbard, because not only did I enjoy the plot and characters, but the writing was easy to read, bingable and really detailed in the best ways.

Def recommend!
The Vibes:
-YA Romance
-MM Romance
-Pageant
-Baking Lessons
-Teen Activism
-Challenging Gender Stereotypes
-Mystery Solving
-QUEER JOY!

[Holly Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book expecting a cute, lighthearted YA romance, and for a while it was exactly that. Dean was easily my favorite character. His awkwardness, constant blushing, and overall sweet personality made him incredibly lovable. Parker was also an interesting protagonist, and I enjoyed getting to know him throughout the story.

That said, I struggled with the romance. The chemistry was there, but the progression of Parker's feelings felt rushed. One minute he seemed casually interested, and the next he was completely consumed by thoughts of Dean. Because of how quickly everything developed, I never fully bought into the relationship the way I wanted to.

I also found the supporting cast a bit disappointing. Many of the girls involved in the pageant were portrayed in a negative light, and after a while it started to feel repetitive. I would have loved to see more variety in their personalities rather than relying on the same competitive, mean-girl dynamic.

Where the story lost me the most was in its handling of some of the bigger plot threads. Early on, Parker's motivation for participating in the pageant felt strongly tied to his future and college aspirations, but that storyline gradually faded into the background. Likewise, Dean's struggles with the expectations placed on him by his parents were introduced but never explored as deeply as I hoped. Both storylines had a lot of potential and could have added more emotional depth to the novel.

By the time I reached the end, I was left wanting more closure. The ending didn't quite provide the sense of resolution I was looking for, and several important questions about the characters' futures remained unanswered.

Overall, this was a sweet and easy read with two likable leads, but I wanted more development, stronger character exploration, and a more satisfying conclusion. While it wasn't a bad read, it ultimately didn't leave the impact I was hoping for.

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the chance to read this book early in exchange of an honest review.

Parker Ryland's world is torn upside down when he's told his college application is "boring" and his meticulous plans to get away from his small town are complicated. So he decided to enter his school's Miss Spirit pageant to spice up his application and challenge the town's gender ideals. Pageant life in a small Tennessee town is already stressing enough, but Parker is targeted by pranks and threats, hoping he will give up his spot to the pageant. Not only that. Everything is even more complicated by blossoming feelings for the nerdy and charming student body president Dean, who offers to give Parker an help with pageantry in exchange of baking lessons. Will Parker manage to survive his crush and this pageant?

I adored reading this book! Drop dead handsome is such a cute, heartfelt, funny and brilliant rom-com and I needed that in my life. Parker has always been unapologetic himself, Proud of being queer, out and shocking the southern small town with orange or blue air or tight shorts and t shirt with funny quotes on them. But after an hard breakup and an injury, after being told his college application is "boring", Parker decided to enter a completely different world, the pageant, but he's sabotated from the first day. In order to survive this world, to understand his feelings for Dean, to open up his heart again, Parker struggled to fit in the box they want him in, but to win he will have to be himself.
Fortunately, Parker may be hurt and unsure, but he's surrounded by his loving and supportive family, his sister Marley and a new friend and crush, Dean. With them, he will slowly learn to trust himself again, to open up his heart and to be exactly who he wants to be.
Funny, heartfelt and with a cute love story, this book is everything you could hope for in a rom-com. Crushes and first dates, embarassing parents and sisters, baked goods and sabotage, rules and how to defy them, how to be oneself without fear.
Loved it.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming of age LGBTQIA+ romance is a sometimes-outlandishly-grown-up suspense thriller, with moments of deep thought and serious themes, yet this sweet and fun read will have you feeling. Maybe feeling good, maybe feeling bad, but always feeling.

Parker (he/him) is a Senior in high-school whose trying to escape. Escape himself and the mistakes he blames himself for, escape the South and it's people that seem determined to hate him for existing, but especially the labels others place upon him. "Too much" being the label most often, and most harshly, slapped on him. He's so busy trying to escape he's forgotten about whats actually important to him; his family, fighting for his community, trying to always do better.
Dean (he/him) is trying to find his place in life. Between parents that excel to the max and expect the same of him, trying to do good in whatever way he can, and being queer while lacking the confidence to flirt, he's struggling in the background.
These two take a chance opportunity to spend time together and turn it into something more.

This book does a number of things really right, and I want to make sure I highlight them. This isn't a "I suddenly noticed you and instantly we're in love", these two started noticing and liking each other a year before (after Parker had broken up with LL). While physical attraction isn't ignored, it also isn't the grand total of their chemistry. While these characters end up with a mystery on their hands, they don't seek it out, it is inflicted upon them. And most importantly community comes in all shapes and forms, some more glittery than others.

Highly recommend for anyone who likes "who done its" without a DB, LGBTQIA+ individuals wanting a younger read, or any fans of Miss Congeniality.

TW: this isn't cozy. There are threats of violence, violence, implied hate speech, injury, injury detail, acts and speech of homophobia. Please use caution when approaching subject matter that may impact your mental health.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Delacorte Romance and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This was unbelievably sweet! Parker tries to live his life as his own, no matter what people say about him. And they have stuff to say, especially when his last protest didn’t go so well. He’s determined to get into Boston University and become a speech pathologist, only his guidance counselor says his essay is a little boring. Parker may be a lot of things but boring isn’t one of them! Now he just had to find another angle for his essay. What could be more perfect then entering the Miss Spirit pageant? He can challenge people’s antiquated views on gender and gender roles all while having an excellent experience to write about. But none of the other girls or the leaders want him their and it’s only a matter of time before hate groups find out and want him out as well. The only person who seems to want him to be there is Dean, the student body president and the guy who volunteered to be Parker’s escort. The only problem is that after his last break up Parker swore there would be no more relationships but he’s slowly falling for Dean, who is funny, sweet, and charming! As the competition heats up it’s clear that someone really doesn’t want Parker to enter, leaving him threatening notes, but how far are they willing to go in order to keep him out? Can he win? Will he embrace his feelings for Dean? An absolutely cute and warm and fuzzies story! Loved Parker and Dean, their slow burn forced proximity relationship made me smile! I also loved Parker’s family and how supportive they are but also how they gave each other crap, reminded me of my own! Matthew Hubbard delights with Drop Dead Handsome! It’s funny, romantic, heartwarming, hopeful, and so very queer!

[Jadyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raised on protest and advocacy, Parker is anything but boring—but you wouldn't know it from his college essay. To prove that gender stereotypes have affected him personally, not just his community, he enters his Tennessee town's Miss Spirit Pageant. Sparks fly as he's coached by Dean, the nerdy, adorable student body president. But as the first male contestant ever, Parker's presence also sparks outrage, protests...and sabotage. 

I loved this book's sense of humor, and I was obsessed with Parker's family—#parentinggoals. I was intrigued by Parker's journey back to romance after a bad breakup (been there!), but it took the shape of denial and self-flagellation for 50% of the book, which became tedious. The tension of the budding romance was undercut by a nothingburger: something to do with registering Dean as Parker's escort...? I didn't even understand what there was to be upset about/why there was any risk of betrayal or offense. Was Dean supposed to warn Parker ahead of time? When?? Was offering help-for-help supposed to be manipulative?

While I appreciated the lack of a third act breakup, it wasn't replaced with notable conflict from the pageant. Obstacles fell away as the other contestants were ruled out. Parker's flailing investigation, refusal to tell anyone of consequence what was going on (including his fabulous family), and ever-evolving motives for participating in the pageant weren't even a little logical. The villain was clear early on, but Parker's singlemindedness (didn't even consider them as a suspect) wasn't a credit to his intelligence.

Very cute book, but lacking in merit and consequence.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for review.