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Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay
The gayest story ever written about a straight teenage boy
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2002. Seventeen-year-old Cheeto-stained Asher is at his breaking point. A locker room brawl and a sick black eye push him over the edge. Luke, Palm Reef Prep's Abercrombie-clad frat boy fascist, needs to go. And Sam, Asher's vicious lust bunny, deserves better. So Asher does something totally he comes out as gay to get Luke expelled. Somehow, it works.
Suddenly Asher's a hot commodity, tangled up with his tragic, Austin Powers-quoting best friend, Robbie, and club-hopping with Ethan, an actual gay kid. It's all vodka Red Bulls, rainbow flags, and parking lot soul-gushing—until it's not. Night swims get sketchy. Dancefloor staredowns get dark. And grinding with Sam and Ethan gets way too real. The line between real and bullshit has officially disappeared, and Asher is one slip away from total nuclear destruction.
Who It’s For
Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is a YA crossover novel for anyone who’s ever been humiliated by a teenager. It’s got the juicy drama of Degrassi, the sad-boy spiral of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the hater energy of Daria: totally awkward, hilariously unhinged, and painfully honest.
Perfect for readers who loved Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’s charming vulnerability, Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop’s romantic absurdity, and the bittersweet pull of Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End. Fans of David Sedaris’s self-deprecating wit and Andrew Sean Greer’s tender, satirical humor will feel right at home.
About the Author
Andrew Extein is a psychotherapist and writer in Los Angeles. Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is his first novel.
Praise for Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay
“Finally, the book we a coming-of-age story that doesn’t sugarcoat the complications of being a teenager or smooth out the rough edges of high school. Sharp but ultimately moving. I’m rooting for Asher Diamond!” – Catie Disabato, author of U Up? and Rooting Interest
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2002. Seventeen-year-old Cheeto-stained Asher is at his breaking point. A locker room brawl and a sick black eye push him over the edge. Luke, Palm Reef Prep's Abercrombie-clad frat boy fascist, needs to go. And Sam, Asher's vicious lust bunny, deserves better. So Asher does something totally he comes out as gay to get Luke expelled. Somehow, it works.
Suddenly Asher's a hot commodity, tangled up with his tragic, Austin Powers-quoting best friend, Robbie, and club-hopping with Ethan, an actual gay kid. It's all vodka Red Bulls, rainbow flags, and parking lot soul-gushing—until it's not. Night swims get sketchy. Dancefloor staredowns get dark. And grinding with Sam and Ethan gets way too real. The line between real and bullshit has officially disappeared, and Asher is one slip away from total nuclear destruction.
Who It’s For
Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is a YA crossover novel for anyone who’s ever been humiliated by a teenager. It’s got the juicy drama of Degrassi, the sad-boy spiral of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the hater energy of Daria: totally awkward, hilariously unhinged, and painfully honest.
Perfect for readers who loved Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’s charming vulnerability, Casey McQuiston’s One Last Stop’s romantic absurdity, and the bittersweet pull of Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End. Fans of David Sedaris’s self-deprecating wit and Andrew Sean Greer’s tender, satirical humor will feel right at home.
About the Author
Andrew Extein is a psychotherapist and writer in Los Angeles. Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is his first novel.
Praise for Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay
“Finally, the book we a coming-of-age story that doesn’t sugarcoat the complications of being a teenager or smooth out the rough edges of high school. Sharp but ultimately moving. I’m rooting for Asher Diamond!” – Catie Disabato, author of U Up? and Rooting Interest
- GenresLGBT
314 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2025
21 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Extein
1 book2 followersAndrew Extein is a psychotherapist and author in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. His YA sensibility grew from corny Full House to painfully dark Welcome to the Dollhouse, Dennis Cooper's bleak beauty, and early David Sedaris's immediate wit, while work with kids and teens attempts to keep him grounded—building into biting dark comedy and embarrassing earnestness. Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is his debut novel. He can usually be found reading queer YA or streaming a genius international teen show Netflix buried. Follow him on Instagram @hategrime.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 5, 2025
Review: Asher Diamond is Definitely… Complicated
I have a lot of mixed feelings about Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay. Much like Dear Evan Hansen, it’s a story about a deeply flawed teen making a wildly selfish decision, and then continuing to double down on it in ways that hurt a lot of people. I felt sorry for for Asher… but I didn’t always root for him. I spent most of the book frustrated with him. Yes, he’s a teenager in survival mode, but he lies, manipulates, and hurts the people around him, and that’s hard to sit with.
There’s a lot here that worked: the writing is sharp, the voice is confident, and Extein nails the chaotic cocktail of adolescence: the desperate need to be seen and loved, the impulsive, “jello-brain” choices, the blurred line between survival and selfishness. That’s what makes Asher feel real, even when he’s unlikeable. The early 2000s setting felt incredibly specific, and as someone who was that age then, I appreciated the references (even the cringey ones). The book captures that time well, slurs, stereotypes, fat jokes, and all. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s accurate to that world.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Ethan and Robbie stood out for me as the best written characters in the book. Sam, Wade, Luke, and the rest of the high school crew felt like exactly what you’d expect from early 2000s stock characters (jocks, bratty girls, mean gays), and while it made sense for the time period, it also made it tough to stay engaged with some of them. Asher’s dad and his girlfriend are the kind of queer-affirming parents every kid should have, even though, of course, he sees them as the enemy (because: teen brain).
Where the book shines is its pacing and structure. The three-act build is spot-on, and even when I disliked Asher, I still wanted to know how his story would unfold. The tension is real, the stakes feel high, and the final act doesn’t try to give us a clean happily-ever-after. There’s no magical redemption, just a sense of hard-earned awareness and growth. And for a character like Asher, that might be the most honest ending he could’ve gotten.
I can’t say I loved this book in the traditional sense, but I did find it interesting. It challenged me. It unsettled me. It made me think. It’s messy, frustrating, and at times gross. It’s a story that doesn’t ask you to like the protagonist, it just dares you to stay with him. And in the end, Asher’s growth feels earned, even if the trail of damage behind him is hard to ignore.
I’d love to hear what others think because this is the kind of book that invites conversation.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay. Much like Dear Evan Hansen, it’s a story about a deeply flawed teen making a wildly selfish decision, and then continuing to double down on it in ways that hurt a lot of people. I felt sorry for for Asher… but I didn’t always root for him. I spent most of the book frustrated with him. Yes, he’s a teenager in survival mode, but he lies, manipulates, and hurts the people around him, and that’s hard to sit with.
There’s a lot here that worked: the writing is sharp, the voice is confident, and Extein nails the chaotic cocktail of adolescence: the desperate need to be seen and loved, the impulsive, “jello-brain” choices, the blurred line between survival and selfishness. That’s what makes Asher feel real, even when he’s unlikeable. The early 2000s setting felt incredibly specific, and as someone who was that age then, I appreciated the references (even the cringey ones). The book captures that time well, slurs, stereotypes, fat jokes, and all. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s accurate to that world.
The supporting cast is a mixed bag. Ethan and Robbie stood out for me as the best written characters in the book. Sam, Wade, Luke, and the rest of the high school crew felt like exactly what you’d expect from early 2000s stock characters (jocks, bratty girls, mean gays), and while it made sense for the time period, it also made it tough to stay engaged with some of them. Asher’s dad and his girlfriend are the kind of queer-affirming parents every kid should have, even though, of course, he sees them as the enemy (because: teen brain).
Where the book shines is its pacing and structure. The three-act build is spot-on, and even when I disliked Asher, I still wanted to know how his story would unfold. The tension is real, the stakes feel high, and the final act doesn’t try to give us a clean happily-ever-after. There’s no magical redemption, just a sense of hard-earned awareness and growth. And for a character like Asher, that might be the most honest ending he could’ve gotten.
I can’t say I loved this book in the traditional sense, but I did find it interesting. It challenged me. It unsettled me. It made me think. It’s messy, frustrating, and at times gross. It’s a story that doesn’t ask you to like the protagonist, it just dares you to stay with him. And in the end, Asher’s growth feels earned, even if the trail of damage behind him is hard to ignore.
I’d love to hear what others think because this is the kind of book that invites conversation.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2025
This book is funny, emotional, and somewhat addicting to read. Great characters who are relatable and make you root for them, even when they might not be making the best choices.
I was left with some unanswered questions and what felt like unfinished character stories in the end, but it's clear that it was an intentional choice on the author's part and doesn't take away from the enjoyment of reading the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was left with some unanswered questions and what felt like unfinished character stories in the end, but it's clear that it was an intentional choice on the author's part and doesn't take away from the enjoyment of reading the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 24, 2025
This book took me for an absolute RIDE.
Asher's narration voice took a minute to get used to, but within the first few chapters it felt perfectly natural. There are some dated terms that were more commonly used back in 2002 but are frowned upon now, but that's to be expected from a book so jam-packed with millennial references.
There were moments when I wanted to yell at Asher, shake his shoulders a bit. There were moments I was in his corner and ready to jump to his defense. I laughed out loud at so many moments that my dogs eventually stopped getting startled by the outbursts.
No spoilers, but one chapter in particular had me go through an entire array of emotions that I had to take a moment to recover from. I was squealing, I was gasping, I was accidentally summoning my husband all the way from the garage to check on me before seeing me facedown with the eReader dropped from my hands and figuring it out. I actually teared up in a few parts.
The writing perfectly conveys the angst and confusion that lies within Asher's still-developing teenage brain. He struggles to fully articulate his feelings out loud, but his internal voice is surprisingly profound. He is very reflective and observant, using his physical surroundings to make sense of his abstract experience and emotions. Sometimes his inner thoughts do give slight incel energy, but as he experiences more of the world and people around him you see his mind start to open.
Adolescence is a jungle for many of us. Even people that seem to be above you in some way (be they hero or villain) are still trying to figure themselves and the world out. Asher fumbles his way to this realization the same way he fumbles through his own chaotic journey. And his journey doesn't end with this book. I have no doubt that he will have even more figuring out to do in the next chapter of his life.
I've been looking forward to this one for so long that I was afraid I'd built it up too much in my head only to be let down. Let me tell you, it was everything I could have wanted from a book and more. Not for one second did it feel draggy or like I was missing anything. I immediately wanted to go back and read it again to experience it through a different lens knowing what I know now. I wanted to leave this review first, though.
I did receive an advance review copy for free, but I will be buying a physical copy to reread and highlight to my heart's content. I am also leaving this review voluntarily.
Asher's narration voice took a minute to get used to, but within the first few chapters it felt perfectly natural. There are some dated terms that were more commonly used back in 2002 but are frowned upon now, but that's to be expected from a book so jam-packed with millennial references.
There were moments when I wanted to yell at Asher, shake his shoulders a bit. There were moments I was in his corner and ready to jump to his defense. I laughed out loud at so many moments that my dogs eventually stopped getting startled by the outbursts.
No spoilers, but one chapter in particular had me go through an entire array of emotions that I had to take a moment to recover from. I was squealing, I was gasping, I was accidentally summoning my husband all the way from the garage to check on me before seeing me facedown with the eReader dropped from my hands and figuring it out. I actually teared up in a few parts.
The writing perfectly conveys the angst and confusion that lies within Asher's still-developing teenage brain. He struggles to fully articulate his feelings out loud, but his internal voice is surprisingly profound. He is very reflective and observant, using his physical surroundings to make sense of his abstract experience and emotions. Sometimes his inner thoughts do give slight incel energy, but as he experiences more of the world and people around him you see his mind start to open.
Adolescence is a jungle for many of us. Even people that seem to be above you in some way (be they hero or villain) are still trying to figure themselves and the world out. Asher fumbles his way to this realization the same way he fumbles through his own chaotic journey. And his journey doesn't end with this book. I have no doubt that he will have even more figuring out to do in the next chapter of his life.
I've been looking forward to this one for so long that I was afraid I'd built it up too much in my head only to be let down. Let me tell you, it was everything I could have wanted from a book and more. Not for one second did it feel draggy or like I was missing anything. I immediately wanted to go back and read it again to experience it through a different lens knowing what I know now. I wanted to leave this review first, though.
I did receive an advance review copy for free, but I will be buying a physical copy to reread and highlight to my heart's content. I am also leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2025
“Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay,” where do I even start? I suppose by admitting that I read this entire book in one day because I could not put it down. The pacing was good, slowing down and speeding up at the right places. The tension both within scenes and overall was addicting, snapping at the perfect moments. The descriptions were tangible, whether they were for settings or emotions. Finally, I loved how every character had depth. Everyone had something going on, whether or not we learned what it was. They all felt like high schoolers–messy, confused, and just trying to figure things out.
Asher was near-painfully relatable. I rooted for him the entire time, despite how harmful his lie was. As someone who is still discovering things about their identity, I understood his struggle to find who he truly was. The prose only strengthened this. The dark humor and casual tone reflected Asher’s age, a 17/18-year-old who’s angry at the world. His anxiety was incredibly well-represented through ruminating thoughts and realistic descriptions of physical symptoms. I truly saw things through Asher’s eyes, to the point where I teared up when he did. He was a wonderful main character, and his growth throughout the story was obvious.
Other than a few typos (ARC), I have no critiques. Some readers may find the language to feel like forced “edginess.” I felt it represented a slightly ignorant “teenaged dirtbag” well. My only issue was how most of this could’ve been avoided if Asher came out as bisexual instead of gay. Of course, we wouldn’t have such a great story if he did. All in all, I give “Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay” a 10/10 would 1,000% read again.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Asher was near-painfully relatable. I rooted for him the entire time, despite how harmful his lie was. As someone who is still discovering things about their identity, I understood his struggle to find who he truly was. The prose only strengthened this. The dark humor and casual tone reflected Asher’s age, a 17/18-year-old who’s angry at the world. His anxiety was incredibly well-represented through ruminating thoughts and realistic descriptions of physical symptoms. I truly saw things through Asher’s eyes, to the point where I teared up when he did. He was a wonderful main character, and his growth throughout the story was obvious.
Other than a few typos (ARC), I have no critiques. Some readers may find the language to feel like forced “edginess.” I felt it represented a slightly ignorant “teenaged dirtbag” well. My only issue was how most of this could’ve been avoided if Asher came out as bisexual instead of gay. Of course, we wouldn’t have such a great story if he did. All in all, I give “Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay” a 10/10 would 1,000% read again.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
September 28, 2025
Asher Diamond is definitely GREAT! Had a lot of fun flashing back to TRL’s heyday reading this one.
August 29, 2025
I wasn’t sure about this one at first. I’m generally not a fan of this narrative style, and I found Asher to be a terribly insufferable character from page one. However, the writer showed obvious skill right from the get-go, with a high-energy prologue that perfectly conveyed that intense dance haze. I knew he had to be going somewhere with this, and a third of the way in, I was hooked.
There are a number of amazing things about this story. The concept of having a straight guy get a good look at what it’s like living on the other side was a fresh, unique idea. Asher’s growth as a person felt steady throughout the book; he went from a character I vehemently hated, to someone I could personally relate to and cried for. The bittersweet ending was not at all the ending I desperately wanted, but it was the only right ending for this story, and I still tear up now thinking about it. And, of course, I am always a sucker for some good narrative symmetry. A story ending right where it began is one of the easiest ways to make me fall in love with it.
I believe this novel has the potential to be loved by a wide demographic. I’m long past high school, but Asher’s raw emotions and journey of compassion and self-discovery felt all too familiar. As a gay-leaning transman, I appreciated Asher’s deepening understanding of what it’s like for us queer kids, and I feel like any straight boy with the slightest open mind could easily be pulled along with him on his emotional rollercoaster, gleaning some perspective themselves.
My only regret is that I think a lot of people will miss the point, as they often do with good writing. A large portion of the audience won’t be able to look past Asher’s own perspective to see his parallels with Luke, they won’t understand his unresolved, complex feelings for Ethan and become frustrated, and the underlying message that everyone has demons they’re trying to survive will fly over their heads. This is not any fault of the author, only a sympathy I feel for him. I dearly hope his confidence in his story isn’t shaken by such criticisms.
That aside, I am eagerly looking forward to purchasing a physical copy of this book, which has earned its place on my shelves. If this is the author’s debut novel, then I dare say he has an incredibly bright career ahead of him. Congratulations, Andrew Extein, on your first book. I’ll be waiting for the next.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
There are a number of amazing things about this story. The concept of having a straight guy get a good look at what it’s like living on the other side was a fresh, unique idea. Asher’s growth as a person felt steady throughout the book; he went from a character I vehemently hated, to someone I could personally relate to and cried for. The bittersweet ending was not at all the ending I desperately wanted, but it was the only right ending for this story, and I still tear up now thinking about it. And, of course, I am always a sucker for some good narrative symmetry. A story ending right where it began is one of the easiest ways to make me fall in love with it.
I believe this novel has the potential to be loved by a wide demographic. I’m long past high school, but Asher’s raw emotions and journey of compassion and self-discovery felt all too familiar. As a gay-leaning transman, I appreciated Asher’s deepening understanding of what it’s like for us queer kids, and I feel like any straight boy with the slightest open mind could easily be pulled along with him on his emotional rollercoaster, gleaning some perspective themselves.
My only regret is that I think a lot of people will miss the point, as they often do with good writing. A large portion of the audience won’t be able to look past Asher’s own perspective to see his parallels with Luke, they won’t understand his unresolved, complex feelings for Ethan and become frustrated, and the underlying message that everyone has demons they’re trying to survive will fly over their heads. This is not any fault of the author, only a sympathy I feel for him. I dearly hope his confidence in his story isn’t shaken by such criticisms.
That aside, I am eagerly looking forward to purchasing a physical copy of this book, which has earned its place on my shelves. If this is the author’s debut novel, then I dare say he has an incredibly bright career ahead of him. Congratulations, Andrew Extein, on your first book. I’ll be waiting for the next.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
September 5, 2025
Page one of the prologue and there's a slur. Not the faggot/fag slurs, which are used often through the book -- framed to be insulting, hurtful, ignorant and wrong -- but spaz, used flippantly and in an effort to remind me that this book takes place in the early 2000s (as if the constant pop culture references didn't thrust that in my face near constantly.) While a book can take place in the 1800s, 1900s, or 2000s, this book is written in the 2020s when we know that some words are wrong.
Spaz, spzzing out, spaztic, these are slurs but the book chooses not to frame them as such.
As for the story, well I'm not a giant fan. I like complicated characters; I like assholes and brats, cowards and cruel monsters. Asher Diamond was all of these things, and well written. The book wanted me to dislike him just a little, and oh boy did I. I dislike him as a person, like him as a character, and I was looking forward to seeing how his redemption arc went.
After all, he's filled with guilt -- rightly so -- for lying, for using people, for being a shitty friend, and all of it really well done. So when the big reveal happened, I expected just as much care and storytelling to happen. It did not. The confrontation is a blip and the consequences even less. When the whole school finds out he was lying? Dunno. No one cared, I guess.
The focus then is on the people Asher has hurt -- Ethan, the other gay high school student (from a different school) who thought he found a best friend and Robbie, his childhood friend who came out to Asher as gay. So, apologies, of course, and a redemption arc. I'm here for that; I can live with the consequences being brushed over because the first half of the book has already been so miserable.
But no. It's an apology to each of them and then the book is over. This isn't a redemption arc. This is a book trying to make me feel bad for the kid who lied, with a token "Oh yeah, and he gets caught and he feels bad and stuff, the end." It's not an arc. It's a straight line.
One thing I do appreciate is Asher wondering if maybe he is, or could be gay as he explores his feelings towards love and sex with his friends and the people around him. Because he does love Ethan, just ... not the way Ethan wants him to. Because he does love Robbie, just ... not the way Robbie wants him to.
Just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for someone else.
Spaz, spzzing out, spaztic, these are slurs but the book chooses not to frame them as such.
As for the story, well I'm not a giant fan. I like complicated characters; I like assholes and brats, cowards and cruel monsters. Asher Diamond was all of these things, and well written. The book wanted me to dislike him just a little, and oh boy did I. I dislike him as a person, like him as a character, and I was looking forward to seeing how his redemption arc went.
After all, he's filled with guilt -- rightly so -- for lying, for using people, for being a shitty friend, and all of it really well done. So when the big reveal happened, I expected just as much care and storytelling to happen. It did not. The confrontation is a blip and the consequences even less. When the whole school finds out he was lying? Dunno. No one cared, I guess.
The focus then is on the people Asher has hurt -- Ethan, the other gay high school student (from a different school) who thought he found a best friend and Robbie, his childhood friend who came out to Asher as gay. So, apologies, of course, and a redemption arc. I'm here for that; I can live with the consequences being brushed over because the first half of the book has already been so miserable.
But no. It's an apology to each of them and then the book is over. This isn't a redemption arc. This is a book trying to make me feel bad for the kid who lied, with a token "Oh yeah, and he gets caught and he feels bad and stuff, the end." It's not an arc. It's a straight line.
One thing I do appreciate is Asher wondering if maybe he is, or could be gay as he explores his feelings towards love and sex with his friends and the people around him. Because he does love Ethan, just ... not the way Ethan wants him to. Because he does love Robbie, just ... not the way Robbie wants him to.
Just because this book wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for someone else.
October 4, 2025
Thanks Reedsy and Andrew Extein for sharing an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This was alright - not amazing, not revolutionary and not saying anything new. We follow the story of Asher Diamond, who after years of torment at the hands of his bully, decided to come out as gay in an effort to bring retribution to his bully, and consequences ensue.
It is a fairly easy read, in that every chapter is punctuated by an aspect in Asher’s coming-of-age exploration. The twist - the fact that he is secretly a straight man - works here because it puts him in the position of an outsider needing a gay guy who is more familiar with the scene to guide him through all the gayisms that define our community. We get to see this world through his eyes, and according to the author, I guess the gay men’s world is a little too much for a typical straight man.
This highlights the main flaw of this novel. Whether intentional or if it is a product of its time, this tropes are cliche-ridden and the portrayals of gay men lack nuanced and are often stereotyped - which are odd, because the author is a gay man himself. You would think that he understands that there is a spectrum of gay men who, to quote the author, do not “act girly” or worship at the altar of Britney Spears. Perhaps the author is trying to portray this world in the light of a teenager’s eyes, but we have a very well-adjusted gay man in Ethan that the author can use as a foil for these stereotypes - and yet, the author chooses to view this world - our world, with cringe and second-hand embarrassment. The entire time while I was reading Asher’s view of the gay world, all I can think of is that, “Yeah, we get it. You find this cringe. You’re much better than this” while hiding behind the safety of this facade - it weirdly makes me angry at Asher and consequently it makes Asher an unsympathetic read. For a story where the protagonist acts in such an unforgivable manner, making him so unlikeable makes it hard for us to relate with his choices and actions, and makes us want to forgive him less at the resolution of the novel.
I think it is a novel that one can enjoy as a light read with relatively light stakes and consequences, and will probably not take much from it. If anything, I am disappointed that it is severely lacking in the substance that makes all of our experience so uniquely beautiful.
This was alright - not amazing, not revolutionary and not saying anything new. We follow the story of Asher Diamond, who after years of torment at the hands of his bully, decided to come out as gay in an effort to bring retribution to his bully, and consequences ensue.
It is a fairly easy read, in that every chapter is punctuated by an aspect in Asher’s coming-of-age exploration. The twist - the fact that he is secretly a straight man - works here because it puts him in the position of an outsider needing a gay guy who is more familiar with the scene to guide him through all the gayisms that define our community. We get to see this world through his eyes, and according to the author, I guess the gay men’s world is a little too much for a typical straight man.
This highlights the main flaw of this novel. Whether intentional or if it is a product of its time, this tropes are cliche-ridden and the portrayals of gay men lack nuanced and are often stereotyped - which are odd, because the author is a gay man himself. You would think that he understands that there is a spectrum of gay men who, to quote the author, do not “act girly” or worship at the altar of Britney Spears. Perhaps the author is trying to portray this world in the light of a teenager’s eyes, but we have a very well-adjusted gay man in Ethan that the author can use as a foil for these stereotypes - and yet, the author chooses to view this world - our world, with cringe and second-hand embarrassment. The entire time while I was reading Asher’s view of the gay world, all I can think of is that, “Yeah, we get it. You find this cringe. You’re much better than this” while hiding behind the safety of this facade - it weirdly makes me angry at Asher and consequently it makes Asher an unsympathetic read. For a story where the protagonist acts in such an unforgivable manner, making him so unlikeable makes it hard for us to relate with his choices and actions, and makes us want to forgive him less at the resolution of the novel.
I think it is a novel that one can enjoy as a light read with relatively light stakes and consequences, and will probably not take much from it. If anything, I am disappointed that it is severely lacking in the substance that makes all of our experience so uniquely beautiful.
August 26, 2025
True rating is closer to a 3.5 star.
I have a LOT to say about this book.
I think, perhaps, I am not the target audience for this book.
I struggled through the first half of this book because I found Asher to be ABSOLUTELY INSUFFERABLE. And being inside the mind of a teenage straight boy with such an undisciplined and edgy voice about it (not a bad thing, the narrative works really well) just... grossed me out to put it simply. So there's that.
Here's a few other things I didn't like.
I feel like, to an extent, the characters were a little flat. This is a much more plot-driven story, which is fine, but I'm personally more of a character-driven person. The only character-driven aspect imo, was Asher's character development, which is more so a major aspect to the plot, honestly. Some of them felt trope-y; the male main character who desperately wants to seem cool and nonchalant, the dorky best friend who doesn't care about what others think, the jock bully, the hot, popular, mean girl who's got a big heart somewhere in there.
There is no shortness of millennial references, which just annoys me (I'm 28, I get the references, I'm just tired of them)
There's some fatphobia in this book and I'm not going to lie, I got really tired of reading straight people hurl slurs. But this book takes place in the early 2000's, and those two things were INCREDIBLY commonplace.
I feel like the ending wrapped up a little too quickly?
Now, here's what I did like:
The pacing (except that ending) was PERFECT. This has a three act structure, and it was spaced VERY well.
I honestly DID want to keep reading, no matter how much I hated Asher, because the plot was INCREDIBLY well written. It was somewhat predictable, but I wanted to know SO BAD how exactly it would all play out.
Even though that ending wrapped up a little quickly, it was PERFECT. It wasn't some happily-ever-after where everything and everyone is forgiven and everything is good between all parties involved. Asher DEFINITELY learned his lesson, and I think for any teenager who reads this novel, it's a perfect lesson for them.
All in all, not a bad read! I would definitely recommend this to someone more high school/early 20s age.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have a LOT to say about this book.
I think, perhaps, I am not the target audience for this book.
I struggled through the first half of this book because I found Asher to be ABSOLUTELY INSUFFERABLE. And being inside the mind of a teenage straight boy with such an undisciplined and edgy voice about it (not a bad thing, the narrative works really well) just... grossed me out to put it simply. So there's that.
Here's a few other things I didn't like.
I feel like, to an extent, the characters were a little flat. This is a much more plot-driven story, which is fine, but I'm personally more of a character-driven person. The only character-driven aspect imo, was Asher's character development, which is more so a major aspect to the plot, honestly. Some of them felt trope-y; the male main character who desperately wants to seem cool and nonchalant, the dorky best friend who doesn't care about what others think, the jock bully, the hot, popular, mean girl who's got a big heart somewhere in there.
There is no shortness of millennial references, which just annoys me (I'm 28, I get the references, I'm just tired of them)
There's some fatphobia in this book and I'm not going to lie, I got really tired of reading straight people hurl slurs. But this book takes place in the early 2000's, and those two things were INCREDIBLY commonplace.
I feel like the ending wrapped up a little too quickly?
Now, here's what I did like:
The pacing (except that ending) was PERFECT. This has a three act structure, and it was spaced VERY well.
I honestly DID want to keep reading, no matter how much I hated Asher, because the plot was INCREDIBLY well written. It was somewhat predictable, but I wanted to know SO BAD how exactly it would all play out.
Even though that ending wrapped up a little quickly, it was PERFECT. It wasn't some happily-ever-after where everything and everyone is forgiven and everything is good between all parties involved. Asher DEFINITELY learned his lesson, and I think for any teenager who reads this novel, it's a perfect lesson for them.
All in all, not a bad read! I would definitely recommend this to someone more high school/early 20s age.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2025
Although this story didn’t end up being my cup of tea, it has a lot of highlights. I did enjoy the general coming of age themes of wanting to feel seen and accepted as you find out who you are. The story was structured well, the pacing was good, and I felt the prose was realistically written in the mind of an early 2000’s teenage boy. The ending, while a bit abrupt, was pretty good.
I found the pop culture references were a bit excessive, especially early on. Having some is fine to establish the setting, but too many of them make the novel feel already dated. I noticed a reference nearly every single page at first, I was glad it thinned out as the story continued. I also felt as if the story leaned too hard into high school sitcom-esque stereotypes, making the characters feel very flat. Out of everyone, Asher is really the only one with much depth and growth throughout the story.
I especially dislike the way Sam was written, she is just the stereotypical hot mean girl. There is a lot of telling instead of showing when it comes to her character. She has one or two moments of vulnerability which hint at her inner world, but we don’t get to know her very well. In that same vein, Luke is more of a plot device than an actual character. Although we see a small amount of change in him towards the end, he remains more or less the same throughout. I would have liked to see him fleshed out a bit more than he was.
One scene I did really love is a conversation between Asher and Piper which really shows his growth and has a good message to teens/young adults who may feel similarly. I overall felt Asher’s personality and character development was handled really well. He goes from an insufferable teenager to someone on a journey towards loving themselves.
Overall, while it wasn’t really for me, I think it will definitely have an audience and make a new generation feel understood.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found the pop culture references were a bit excessive, especially early on. Having some is fine to establish the setting, but too many of them make the novel feel already dated. I noticed a reference nearly every single page at first, I was glad it thinned out as the story continued. I also felt as if the story leaned too hard into high school sitcom-esque stereotypes, making the characters feel very flat. Out of everyone, Asher is really the only one with much depth and growth throughout the story.
I especially dislike the way Sam was written, she is just the stereotypical hot mean girl. There is a lot of telling instead of showing when it comes to her character. She has one or two moments of vulnerability which hint at her inner world, but we don’t get to know her very well. In that same vein, Luke is more of a plot device than an actual character. Although we see a small amount of change in him towards the end, he remains more or less the same throughout. I would have liked to see him fleshed out a bit more than he was.
One scene I did really love is a conversation between Asher and Piper which really shows his growth and has a good message to teens/young adults who may feel similarly. I overall felt Asher’s personality and character development was handled really well. He goes from an insufferable teenager to someone on a journey towards loving themselves.
Overall, while it wasn’t really for me, I think it will definitely have an audience and make a new generation feel understood.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2025
Books, to me, are about emotions. Mike McQuay, author of “Escape from New York” and 20+ other novels, once told me that good writers sit down at their typewriter (he was old school), slit a vein, and bleed onto the page so that their readers can experience emotions in new ways. I would later learn that the ancient Greeks had a word for what the readers experience: catharsis.
So, here I sit, having finished reading this story, wallowing in the happy/sad feeling that I have to say goodbye to Asher Diamond—like I was pulled back into high school and lived this drama with him, which, in a cathartic way, I did.
Asher Diamond is a mess—the character, not the book. From the first paragraph I was drawn into his jangly, teenaged brain. Geez, it was like having front row seats at a train wreck. The author captured this kid’s voice perfectly. His angst. His reasoning, such as it was. And every one of Asher’s poor decisions seemed normal—not like the author was checking the boxes on his plot, forcing his characters to mumble their lines. Not like that at all.
I don’t normally read YA novels. I thought I had revisited those yesteryears enough that I didn’t need to unpack any more emotional baggage. I was wrong.
The best part of this story is that the author did not try to tie everything up with a pretty bow. I kept expecting it, right up to the end. “Get ready,” I told myself, “for ‘x’ to happen.” Nope. The story ended, as most real life stories do, with closure and growth, but not the “prince and glass slipper” trope we expect from fairytales. I hope that isn’t a spoiler for anyone.
Finally, I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Andrew Extein (the author). I hope he’s sitting at his computer (or typewriter) right now, bleeding new stories into life, gifting us with more cathartic moments to come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, here I sit, having finished reading this story, wallowing in the happy/sad feeling that I have to say goodbye to Asher Diamond—like I was pulled back into high school and lived this drama with him, which, in a cathartic way, I did.
Asher Diamond is a mess—the character, not the book. From the first paragraph I was drawn into his jangly, teenaged brain. Geez, it was like having front row seats at a train wreck. The author captured this kid’s voice perfectly. His angst. His reasoning, such as it was. And every one of Asher’s poor decisions seemed normal—not like the author was checking the boxes on his plot, forcing his characters to mumble their lines. Not like that at all.
I don’t normally read YA novels. I thought I had revisited those yesteryears enough that I didn’t need to unpack any more emotional baggage. I was wrong.
The best part of this story is that the author did not try to tie everything up with a pretty bow. I kept expecting it, right up to the end. “Get ready,” I told myself, “for ‘x’ to happen.” Nope. The story ended, as most real life stories do, with closure and growth, but not the “prince and glass slipper” trope we expect from fairytales. I hope that isn’t a spoiler for anyone.
Finally, I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Andrew Extein (the author). I hope he’s sitting at his computer (or typewriter) right now, bleeding new stories into life, gifting us with more cathartic moments to come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
Asher Diamond is an asshole. He’s also a teenager dealing with constant bullying and harassment at school, the nonstop humiliation, the ostracization, and all the hormones that come with puberty. He’s trying to find himself, and doing a bad job at it. I honestly do not like him as a person, but I can appreciate him as a character. The story does an excellent job building up Asher’s confusion, fear, qualms, and giddy and illicit delight with his lie. It does an excellent job at making Asher unpleasant, spiteful, cruel, and thoughtless in keeping up with the charade, because it’s getting him what he wants.
The problem with a redemption arc is that you kind of have to show the arc. This book spent a great deal of time on the lie, trying to excuse it, to point out how Asher didn’t mean for any of it to happen … and then bails on having to show Asher not being a victim, but a perpetrator. I’m supposed to feel bad for him, not the friends he brushed aside, lied to, and led on, or the community that accepted him.
I don’t think the book accomplished what it was trying to say; the message is only half delivered and, while I don’t think Asher needed to suffer more abuse, I do think he needed to face the harm his actions did and the people they hurt.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
Asher Diamond is an asshole. He’s also a teenager dealing with constant bullying and harassment at school, the nonstop humiliation, the ostracization, and all the hormones that come with puberty. He’s trying to find himself, and doing a bad job at it. I honestly do not like him as a person, but I can appreciate him as a character. The story does an excellent job building up Asher’s confusion, fear, qualms, and giddy and illicit delight with his lie. It does an excellent job at making Asher unpleasant, spiteful, cruel, and thoughtless in keeping up with the charade, because it’s getting him what he wants.
The problem with a redemption arc is that you kind of have to show the arc. This book spent a great deal of time on the lie, trying to excuse it, to point out how Asher didn’t mean for any of it to happen … and then bails on having to show Asher not being a victim, but a perpetrator. I’m supposed to feel bad for him, not the friends he brushed aside, lied to, and led on, or the community that accepted him.
I don’t think the book accomplished what it was trying to say; the message is only half delivered and, while I don’t think Asher needed to suffer more abuse, I do think he needed to face the harm his actions did and the people they hurt.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
Read
November 12, 2025Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2002. Seventeen-year-old, Cheeto-stained Asher is at his breaking point. A locker room brawl and a sick black eye push him over the edge. Luke, Palm Reef Prep's Abercrombie-clad frat boy fascist, needs to go. And Sam, Asher's vicious lust bunny, deserves better. So Asher does something totally wild, he comes out as gay to get Luke expelled. Somehow, it works.
Suddenly, Asher's a hot commodity, tangled up with his tragic, Austin Powers-quoting best friend, Robbie, and club-hopping with Ethan, an actual gay kid. It's all vodka Red Bulls, rainbow flags, and parking lot soul-gushing, until it’s not. Night swims get sketchy. Dancefloor staredowns get dark. And grinding with Sam and Ethan gets way too real. The line between real and bullshit has officially disappeared, and Asher is one slip away from total nuclear destruction.
Who It’s For:
Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is a YA crossover novel for anyone who’s ever been humiliated by a teenager. It’s got the juicy drama of Degrassi, the sad-boy spiral of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the hater energy of Daria: totally awkward, hilariously unhinged, and painfully honest.
Perfect for readers who loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, One Last Stop, and They Both Die at the End. Fans of David Sedaris’s self-deprecating wit and Andrew Sean Greer’s tender humor will feel right at home.
Suddenly, Asher's a hot commodity, tangled up with his tragic, Austin Powers-quoting best friend, Robbie, and club-hopping with Ethan, an actual gay kid. It's all vodka Red Bulls, rainbow flags, and parking lot soul-gushing, until it’s not. Night swims get sketchy. Dancefloor staredowns get dark. And grinding with Sam and Ethan gets way too real. The line between real and bullshit has officially disappeared, and Asher is one slip away from total nuclear destruction.
Who It’s For:
Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay is a YA crossover novel for anyone who’s ever been humiliated by a teenager. It’s got the juicy drama of Degrassi, the sad-boy spiral of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the hater energy of Daria: totally awkward, hilariously unhinged, and painfully honest.
Perfect for readers who loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, One Last Stop, and They Both Die at the End. Fans of David Sedaris’s self-deprecating wit and Andrew Sean Greer’s tender humor will feel right at home.
August 26, 2025
I hate profanity. And there's plenty of it in this book. I'm old enough to remember when it was said profanity was used by people who didn't have a string vocabulary and the wits to use it. Kids today use it like words don't matter. End of rant.
ASHER DIAMOND IS DEFINITELY GAY takes the high school revenge novel to the next level when its main character -- Asher Diamond -- gets his bully kicked out of the prep school because he bullied a gay kid. Except Asher's not really gay, though everyone seems to go along with it except for Sam, the bully's girlfriend. It's supposed to be satire, but I felt it fell flat in a lot of places and would have been a better novel if the author had gone for straight (pardon the pun) comedy instead.
3.5 stars raised to 4.
I received an advance reader copy from the author through BookSirens, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.
ASHER DIAMOND IS DEFINITELY GAY takes the high school revenge novel to the next level when its main character -- Asher Diamond -- gets his bully kicked out of the prep school because he bullied a gay kid. Except Asher's not really gay, though everyone seems to go along with it except for Sam, the bully's girlfriend. It's supposed to be satire, but I felt it fell flat in a lot of places and would have been a better novel if the author had gone for straight (pardon the pun) comedy instead.
3.5 stars raised to 4.
I received an advance reader copy from the author through BookSirens, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.
September 3, 2025
“Asher Diamond is Definitely Gay” a novel by Andrew Extein
This book takes a look at bullying, being heard, consequences, and moral responsibility all wrapped up in hormones of late teenage boys and girls.
It follows Asher Diamond through a lie told to protect him becoming his albatross. What ensues is a novel of what happens when you lie, what happens when you find some truth, and all rainbows in between.
I enjoyed this book even if the characters were all tropes. This YA novel explored the feelings and emotions of gay and straight youth wading through high school and making those core memories that will be with them forever.
September 11, 2025
Like most 'non-jocks' in country schools, I was bullied. Too naive to know what queer even meant. As a young man, I looked back with fury at the times I swore I wasn't like that, and at the teachers who were said, "you must have done something!"
Reading Asher's story was truly a cathartic experience for me. Suddenly, the straight guy was in the hot seat. This book truly made me wish I'd been born 25 years later than I was. I laughed my way through the situations he found himself in, most exactly the opposite of my experience.
It is almost embarrassing to admit, but at times, I felt more sorry for the bully than for Asher.
Reading Asher's story was truly a cathartic experience for me. Suddenly, the straight guy was in the hot seat. This book truly made me wish I'd been born 25 years later than I was. I laughed my way through the situations he found himself in, most exactly the opposite of my experience.
It is almost embarrassing to admit, but at times, I felt more sorry for the bully than for Asher.
October 24, 2025
I had a hard time with the premise of this book. I believe the author is gay and to use bullying as a humorous premise - and also the idea that somehow being gay is a device for the narrator to be treated better - when LGBTQ folks are harmed through bullying and physical violence is hard to swallow. This books attitudes are 50 years old - like the sit com Threes Company. Also I didn’t like the style and offensive use of words like retards. Sorry hard miss. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 10, 2025
Asher is a bullied teenager. After a certain incident in school & knowing he's the one who's going to end up responsible for the incident he shouts out he's gay. After his announcement his whole world gets turned upside down. Now everyone loves him, those that bullied him now are his friend, he's meeting new ones & losing old ones. This is a well written angsty YA book, it's different from most I've read which was a nice change of pace. Asher frustrated me to no end, yet in the end I understood him. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. This book felt very realistic as far as teenage boys and the time period go. I loved all the moments of 2002 nostalgia. I didn't really care for the amount of swearing, but it was realistic, I guess. I liked that Asher was a flawed/realistic character, even if I didn't always like him. It was refreshing in a way to read a story that felt gray and didn't get tied up in a neat bow.
I read an ARC of this book from Book sirens. All comments are my own.
I read an ARC of this book from Book sirens. All comments are my own.
September 11, 2025
This was very relatable as a late-bloomer, questioning, queer kid in the early-aughts. The anxiety felt by Asher throughout is a feeling every teenager has had. Sam Coolman is one of my favorite character names ever. It's so funny in it's simplicity.
The inner-monologue style of narration makes it a very easy read and puts the reader in Asher's shoes, for better or worse (often the worse).
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
The inner-monologue style of narration makes it a very easy read and puts the reader in Asher's shoes, for better or worse (often the worse).
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
October 15, 2025
Crazy things happen when Asher Diamond pretends to be gay. Andrew Extein is SO GOOD at recreating the drama of high school years, the highs and lows of friendship, and the experience of coming out in high school. Funny and wonderful!
October 21, 2025
This is a wild book. I grabbed it because it sounded like a good, fun, comedy type read. And it did not disappoint. This book is as wild as the cover is but that is what makes it so good.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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