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The Sky Blues
Pour Sky, "s'affirmer' n'a jamais voulu dire "s'exposer'. Mais tout cela va bientôt changer...
Sky Bakerest peut-être ouvertement gay, mais dans sa petite ville, s'assurer qu'il est invisible a toujours été plus facile que d'être lui-même. Déterminé à profiter de sa dernière année de lycée, Sky projette de faire sensation lors de la fête annuelle sur la plage en demandant à son crush, Ali, de l'accompagner au bal de promo, et il a trente jours pour s'y préparer. Son objectif est de pouvoir enfin s'affirmer fièrement.
Mais les plans de Sky sont divulgués par un pirate informatique anonyme dans un post profondément homophobe qui devient rapidement viral. Alors qu'il est prêt à abandonner et à quitter complètement la ville, ses camarades de classe lui donnent une raison de se défendre en transformant son compte à rebours en une traque pour exposer l'auteur de ce post horrible.
Que se passera-t-il au bout des trente jours ? Sky pourra-t-il conserver sa visibilité durement acquise ? Ou sa petite ville l'empêchera-t-elle d'être lui-même ?
Sky Bakerest peut-être ouvertement gay, mais dans sa petite ville, s'assurer qu'il est invisible a toujours été plus facile que d'être lui-même. Déterminé à profiter de sa dernière année de lycée, Sky projette de faire sensation lors de la fête annuelle sur la plage en demandant à son crush, Ali, de l'accompagner au bal de promo, et il a trente jours pour s'y préparer. Son objectif est de pouvoir enfin s'affirmer fièrement.
Mais les plans de Sky sont divulgués par un pirate informatique anonyme dans un post profondément homophobe qui devient rapidement viral. Alors qu'il est prêt à abandonner et à quitter complètement la ville, ses camarades de classe lui donnent une raison de se défendre en transformant son compte à rebours en une traque pour exposer l'auteur de ce post horrible.
Que se passera-t-il au bout des trente jours ? Sky pourra-t-il conserver sa visibilité durement acquise ? Ou sa petite ville l'empêchera-t-elle d'être lui-même ?
328 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
228 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,194 reviews
September 14, 2025
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Update: There’s gonna be a Netflix adaptation 🎉
Not in the mood for a long preamble, so here’s the straight deal — what I loved, what was mediocre, and what just plain didn’t work.
✅ Things I Absolutely Loved
The celebration of friendship and community. I AM GAY FOR ALL OF THEM. The way Sky’s friends (and teacher) stood up for him when he was being harassed? Heartwarming.
The subplot with Sky’s dad and his discovery — honestly, I’d read a whole book just about that. Please consider it, Robbie.
(view spoiler)
➖ What Felt Mediocre
The narration was overdone. Too many pop culture references, too-cheesy inner monologues, overflowing feelings. Might work for others, but it grated on me. (–⅓ star)
The ending was vague and unsatisfying. Felt like the author didn’t put in the effort to tie up all the loose ends. (–⅓ star)
The side characters were flat — more like props than people. Some felt included just for diversity points, without meaningful arcs. (–⅓ star)
Note: I did love the friendship as a group, but not the individual side characters.
✖ What I Actively Disliked
The club name “GLOW” (Gay Lesbian Or Whatever). I get it was meant to be funny, but nope. It felt uncomfy, not clever. Sorry. (–1 star)
Final verdict: A warm, page-turning YA with a great core message about friendship, but bogged down by uneven narration, undercooked characters, and one very iffy joke.
Update: There’s gonna be a Netflix adaptation 🎉
Not in the mood for a long preamble, so here’s the straight deal — what I loved, what was mediocre, and what just plain didn’t work.
✅ Things I Absolutely Loved
The celebration of friendship and community. I AM GAY FOR ALL OF THEM. The way Sky’s friends (and teacher) stood up for him when he was being harassed? Heartwarming.
The subplot with Sky’s dad and his discovery — honestly, I’d read a whole book just about that. Please consider it, Robbie.
(view spoiler)
➖ What Felt Mediocre
The narration was overdone. Too many pop culture references, too-cheesy inner monologues, overflowing feelings. Might work for others, but it grated on me. (–⅓ star)
The ending was vague and unsatisfying. Felt like the author didn’t put in the effort to tie up all the loose ends. (–⅓ star)
The side characters were flat — more like props than people. Some felt included just for diversity points, without meaningful arcs. (–⅓ star)
Note: I did love the friendship as a group, but not the individual side characters.
✖ What I Actively Disliked
The club name “GLOW” (Gay Lesbian Or Whatever). I get it was meant to be funny, but nope. It felt uncomfy, not clever. Sorry. (–1 star)
Final verdict: A warm, page-turning YA with a great core message about friendship, but bogged down by uneven narration, undercooked characters, and one very iffy joke.
January 21, 2024
rep: gay mc, mlm li, Black sc, Iraqi sc, trans sc, autistic sc, gay scs
tw: homophobia, racism, f-slur, past car accident, past death of a parent, vomiting
ARC provided by the publisher. Review also on Reads Rainbow.
The Sky Blues is, in my humble personal opinion, a little bit of a perfect book. A big part of that is thanks to the great writing, of course. You would not guess this is a debut, if you didn’t know. Not only is the style itself good, but Couch also nails the voice of the teenagers. Which, arguably, is the most important thing about writing YA books.
(I do have to note, for those of you who understand how big of a compliment it is, that the vibes here are reminiscent of a fic. Not even a specific aspect of the writing, though the cool humour & the dynamics between characters definitely help, but the energy of the style & the story itself. I mean this in a very good way, so if you don’t read fics yourself, just ignore this paragraph.)
I think the rating gave it away already, but I truly do not have anything that I would change in this book. So instead let’s talk about all the things that I absolutely loved:
The way the whole school stood together when Sky’s plans got outed. That overwhelming feeling of community, of belonging. Of being loved and being safe. It’s visible in other parts of the novel as well, but might be the most obvious right here, when teens literally unite for the sake of someone else’s mental well being.
That feeling of protection is also there in the form of adult people Sky meets. Because yes, his mother and brother aren’t supportive and that sucks. But! But there are other parental figures to be found, and lots of them: teachers, other parents. No spoilers but one of those figures is gay, and the concept of older gay people taking care of the younger generation is the most beautiful thing in the world.
That’s probably what makes The Sky Blues work so well. This understanding that even though a conflict is crucial for a story, that LGBT teens coming from shitty homes is still a reality for so many of us, there needs to be something to counter it off. There needs to be a balance, because at the end of the day this is a work of fiction designed to give readers hope. And it does. It tells you time and time again that no matter how many awful things happen to you, there will always be people who love you. That family isn’t just measured by blood.
There’s also another message The Sky Blues sends: that you need to put yourself first. Not in a way that you can do whatever you want, even if it hurts other people. Instead it shows you that if someone hurt you, you don’t owe them anything. You don’t have to listen to their explanations, their apology. You don’t have to let them keep hurting you out of some imagined obligation. You only need to do what will help you, what will make you stronger and happier.
Also like, the romance is the cutest ever. And when it comes to actual relationships, Sky is incredibly oblivious.
I’m gonna close with my initial one-sentence review that I wrote right after finishing the book because it still just captures the energy of The Sky Blues: “many thoughts, head full (of love)”.
tw: homophobia, racism, f-slur, past car accident, past death of a parent, vomiting
ARC provided by the publisher. Review also on Reads Rainbow.
The Sky Blues is, in my humble personal opinion, a little bit of a perfect book. A big part of that is thanks to the great writing, of course. You would not guess this is a debut, if you didn’t know. Not only is the style itself good, but Couch also nails the voice of the teenagers. Which, arguably, is the most important thing about writing YA books.
(I do have to note, for those of you who understand how big of a compliment it is, that the vibes here are reminiscent of a fic. Not even a specific aspect of the writing, though the cool humour & the dynamics between characters definitely help, but the energy of the style & the story itself. I mean this in a very good way, so if you don’t read fics yourself, just ignore this paragraph.)
I think the rating gave it away already, but I truly do not have anything that I would change in this book. So instead let’s talk about all the things that I absolutely loved:
The way the whole school stood together when Sky’s plans got outed. That overwhelming feeling of community, of belonging. Of being loved and being safe. It’s visible in other parts of the novel as well, but might be the most obvious right here, when teens literally unite for the sake of someone else’s mental well being.
That feeling of protection is also there in the form of adult people Sky meets. Because yes, his mother and brother aren’t supportive and that sucks. But! But there are other parental figures to be found, and lots of them: teachers, other parents. No spoilers but one of those figures is gay, and the concept of older gay people taking care of the younger generation is the most beautiful thing in the world.
That’s probably what makes The Sky Blues work so well. This understanding that even though a conflict is crucial for a story, that LGBT teens coming from shitty homes is still a reality for so many of us, there needs to be something to counter it off. There needs to be a balance, because at the end of the day this is a work of fiction designed to give readers hope. And it does. It tells you time and time again that no matter how many awful things happen to you, there will always be people who love you. That family isn’t just measured by blood.
There’s also another message The Sky Blues sends: that you need to put yourself first. Not in a way that you can do whatever you want, even if it hurts other people. Instead it shows you that if someone hurt you, you don’t owe them anything. You don’t have to listen to their explanations, their apology. You don’t have to let them keep hurting you out of some imagined obligation. You only need to do what will help you, what will make you stronger and happier.
Also like, the romance is the cutest ever. And when it comes to actual relationships, Sky is incredibly oblivious.
I’m gonna close with my initial one-sentence review that I wrote right after finishing the book because it still just captures the energy of The Sky Blues: “many thoughts, head full (of love)”.
April 23, 2021
What I liked:
- Sky as the main character, even though some of his decisions weren't the best
- the friendships
- supportive characters
- the diversity
- some revelations throughout the story
What I had mixed feelings about:
- all the side characters felt a bit two-dimensional compared to Sky
- some characters seemed to be added to the story only because of diversity, they didn't serve any purpose in the plot
- certain things that happened seemed either too improbable or too convenient and easy
- there are a lot of subplots that felt rushed or unfinished
- pop culture references
Even though I had some niggles with the story, I really appreciated how positive and inclusive it is. I do feel that books like this one are very important, especially for younger readers.
I switched between the audiobook and e-book for this one. I liked the narrator's voice, except when he was shouting.
- Sky as the main character, even though some of his decisions weren't the best
- the friendships
- supportive characters
- the diversity
- some revelations throughout the story
What I had mixed feelings about:
- all the side characters felt a bit two-dimensional compared to Sky
- some characters seemed to be added to the story only because of diversity, they didn't serve any purpose in the plot
- certain things that happened seemed either too improbable or too convenient and easy
- there are a lot of subplots that felt rushed or unfinished
- pop culture references
Even though I had some niggles with the story, I really appreciated how positive and inclusive it is. I do feel that books like this one are very important, especially for younger readers.
I switched between the audiobook and e-book for this one. I liked the narrator's voice, except when he was shouting.
September 4, 2021
The Sky Blues
is a gorgeous, emotional book about chosen family, friendship, and love.
God, I loved this book. Robbie Couch has created a beautiful, unforgettable story with an incredibly diverse group of characters, and I’m so glad I got to buddy read it with a friend of mine.
It’s almost time for high school graduation. While Sky is worried whether he’ll have enough money to pay for community college since his religious mother kicked him out of the house once he came out to her as gay, his biggest focus is prom. He has decided to ask his crush, Ali, to prom—even though he’s not sure if Ali is into guys. He and his best friend, Bree, are brainstorming the best—and even some of the worst—promposal ideas.
When Sky’s plans are somehow broadcast to the entire school along with homophobic and racist messages, he’d like to just retreat into himself. But he quickly discovers that his friends and classmates are with him every step of the way—and want him to stand up for himself, so they can stand up with him.
As the end of the school year draws closer, Sky makes some unexpected discoveries about his long-deceased father, and realizes that sometimes the things you want and need most are right in front of you.
The Sky Blues gave me all the feels. My mom died when I was a baby so I identified with Sky’s feelings, and I, too, had plans for an event during high school (a party, not prom) ruined by some homophobic bullies. (And that was pre-internet, so they had to work HARD to ruin you then!)
I’m so grateful today’s youth have books like The Sky Blues and authors like Robbie Couch. Can’t wait to see what’s next in Couch’s career!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
God, I loved this book. Robbie Couch has created a beautiful, unforgettable story with an incredibly diverse group of characters, and I’m so glad I got to buddy read it with a friend of mine.
It’s almost time for high school graduation. While Sky is worried whether he’ll have enough money to pay for community college since his religious mother kicked him out of the house once he came out to her as gay, his biggest focus is prom. He has decided to ask his crush, Ali, to prom—even though he’s not sure if Ali is into guys. He and his best friend, Bree, are brainstorming the best—and even some of the worst—promposal ideas.
When Sky’s plans are somehow broadcast to the entire school along with homophobic and racist messages, he’d like to just retreat into himself. But he quickly discovers that his friends and classmates are with him every step of the way—and want him to stand up for himself, so they can stand up with him.
As the end of the school year draws closer, Sky makes some unexpected discoveries about his long-deceased father, and realizes that sometimes the things you want and need most are right in front of you.
The Sky Blues gave me all the feels. My mom died when I was a baby so I identified with Sky’s feelings, and I, too, had plans for an event during high school (a party, not prom) ruined by some homophobic bullies. (And that was pre-internet, so they had to work HARD to ruin you then!)
I’m so grateful today’s youth have books like The Sky Blues and authors like Robbie Couch. Can’t wait to see what’s next in Couch’s career!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
September 22, 2021
"I must have accidentally wandered into an alternate universe where Booksmart or To All the Boys I've Loved Before is my new reality."
Interesting and fun from page one, this was a cliché young adult filled with teen drama throughout. And that level of crushing gets too intense and hilarious at times.
Well, that's what first few chapters would make you feel.
But I can see from where all the insecurity and blabbing came from, trying to mask all the pain and insecurity with humour.
The story turns pretty serious soon and that's where the plot lies. And the story goes way, way back. And then expect tons of school teen drama!
And what happened to the lifecrushing crush? You bet.
I really like the writing. It's plain fun and full of humour. And so young adult.
One star less for the lack of proper representation of the adults and it's like there are only strict teachers, either strict parents or silly, eye-sparkling OTP shipping parents or "crazy" "homophobic" parents.
And I still cannot deal with the abandonment part. Like it's nothing.
Seriously, I needed a proper closure to the ending! Hey, give me that last scene dialogues between SB and C. Damn, why is it not there?!
I appreciate the multicultural representation, LGBTQIAP representation, also for handling handlinghomophobia and racism sensibly.
The best parts are the friends, especially Sky Baker's bestie Bree; the chemistry between the characters (forget the adults, bleh!), and the monologues.
For once, cute cover worked. Yes, I got this one for the cover.
Interesting and fun from page one, this was a cliché young adult filled with teen drama throughout. And that level of crushing gets too intense and hilarious at times.
Well, that's what first few chapters would make you feel.
But I can see from where all the insecurity and blabbing came from, trying to mask all the pain and insecurity with humour.
The story turns pretty serious soon and that's where the plot lies. And the story goes way, way back. And then expect tons of school teen drama!
And what happened to the lifecrushing crush? You bet.
I really like the writing. It's plain fun and full of humour. And so young adult.
One star less for the lack of proper representation of the adults and it's like there are only strict teachers, either strict parents or silly, eye-sparkling OTP shipping parents or "crazy" "homophobic" parents.
And I still cannot deal with the abandonment part. Like it's nothing.
Seriously, I needed a proper closure to the ending! Hey, give me that last scene dialogues between SB and C. Damn, why is it not there?!
I appreciate the multicultural representation, LGBTQIAP representation, also for handling handlinghomophobia and racism sensibly.
The best parts are the friends, especially Sky Baker's bestie Bree; the chemistry between the characters (forget the adults, bleh!), and the monologues.
For once, cute cover worked. Yes, I got this one for the cover.
April 29, 2021
This book is such a joy! It really would have meant a lot to me in high school, and I'm so happy for the queer teens who will soon get to enjoy a page-turning, funny, cute, adorable, heartfelt queer book. Bonus points for the small town Midwest vibes.
video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roOf8...
video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roOf8...
June 24, 2022
After several big disappointments this year, I was beginning to lose interest in YA contemporaries. Luckily The Sky Blues changed my mind for the better, delivering a realistic and touching rendition of the high school experience.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Openly gay Sky Baker has thirty days to prepare an extravagant promposal to his crush, Ali Rashid. When a hacker releases his plans to hundreds of students in a homophobic e-blast, however, he feels defeated and contemplates dropping out. It isn’t long before Sky discovers that his high school is actually really supportive of him, and willing to spend the days leading up to prom fighting to expose the perpetrator of the e-blast.
~★~
The Sky Blues is an undeniably well-rounded novel featuring great friendships, a relatable narrative and a ton of diversity. The standout for me was definitely the protagonist himself; I grew attached to Sky within few pages, and absolutely loved his close bond with Bree and Marshall. It was incredibly refreshing to see a genuine friendship between a queer boy and a straight boy, as its something thats scarcely represented in contemporaries. I also loved how funny and outgoing Bree was! The whole cast was really well fleshed out.
The writing oozes the essence of a teenage mind, which I loved. Despite being very different from him, I could relate to Sky’s train of thought a lot of the time. He warmed my heart, making me either smile or cry through his journey. Its hard to believe this is a debut, because everything about it was executed well. I’d definitely recommend this book to all!
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
Openly gay Sky Baker has thirty days to prepare an extravagant promposal to his crush, Ali Rashid. When a hacker releases his plans to hundreds of students in a homophobic e-blast, however, he feels defeated and contemplates dropping out. It isn’t long before Sky discovers that his high school is actually really supportive of him, and willing to spend the days leading up to prom fighting to expose the perpetrator of the e-blast.
~★~
The Sky Blues is an undeniably well-rounded novel featuring great friendships, a relatable narrative and a ton of diversity. The standout for me was definitely the protagonist himself; I grew attached to Sky within few pages, and absolutely loved his close bond with Bree and Marshall. It was incredibly refreshing to see a genuine friendship between a queer boy and a straight boy, as its something thats scarcely represented in contemporaries. I also loved how funny and outgoing Bree was! The whole cast was really well fleshed out.
The writing oozes the essence of a teenage mind, which I loved. Despite being very different from him, I could relate to Sky’s train of thought a lot of the time. He warmed my heart, making me either smile or cry through his journey. Its hard to believe this is a debut, because everything about it was executed well. I’d definitely recommend this book to all!
April 15, 2022
based on the book's description, i went into this expecting a tween-friendly romcom-y kind of story, but that's not what this book was at all. instead, it's a really sweet coming-of-age story. there really was very little actual romance here, but i think it worked in the book's favor, actually. keeping the focus solely on Sky's growth as a person and his learning to embrace his sexuality was an amazing decision imho.
y'know, i'm not -that- far removed from my own high school days, but there really were basically no books like this even ten-ish years ago when i graduated - at least none that i can think of. it warms my heart knowing queer kids have books like this today, with characters like Sky and Dan and , that they can see themselves in.
this was definitely refreshingly sweet and a real feel-good kind of read (with a realistic smattering of angst and drama, too). it's YA through and through, though, so if that type of writing is not to your taste, i think you'll struggle with this one. i personally enjoyed it, though. 4 stars.
(buddy read with mx. Parris, who made the experience 10x more enjoyable.)
y'know, i'm not -that- far removed from my own high school days, but there really were basically no books like this even ten-ish years ago when i graduated - at least none that i can think of. it warms my heart knowing queer kids have books like this today, with characters like Sky and Dan and , that they can see themselves in.
this was definitely refreshingly sweet and a real feel-good kind of read (with a realistic smattering of angst and drama, too). it's YA through and through, though, so if that type of writing is not to your taste, i think you'll struggle with this one. i personally enjoyed it, though. 4 stars.
(buddy read with mx. Parris, who made the experience 10x more enjoyable.)
April 22, 2021
A fantastic debut! So, so good! I adored this book from the very first page!
As soon as I read the first words, I knew this would be a five-star read. It’s so easy readable. It’s funny. It’s heartfelt. It’s full of love. It’s real. It’s serious at times. It’s uplifting. And it’s so, so cute! I can gush for hours about this book! There’s a chosen family, a sweet romance, and wonderful best friends.
I should be allowed to wear the gay shirt. Carry the books like I want to. Walk the way I walk. But people in this town have a low threshold for different, and I don’t want to press my luck.
The writing is incredible! Showing, active, first person, present tense. Everything is just right. As a reader you’re drawn into Sky’s world. This is how YA books should be written. That first page just pulled me in, Sky gushing about his crush, shower-dreaming as he calls it.
You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn’t accept you for who you are.
I loved this story so much: the way Sky’s friends and classmates helped him when someone leaked his plans, the adults in this story who were so supportive, and of course Sky. Such a wonderful, positive and sweet boy, even after all he’s been through.
For your own state of mind, it’s important to take a second and remember the people who love you and support you. The people who make you happy. The people who make you one of the lucky ones.
I’m going to add Robbie Couch to my most favorite YA writers list. And I hate it that I have to wait for so long to read his next book! Did I already say I loved this story? Adored it? Okay, I did. Several times actually. But I really did: I LOVED, LOVED IT!!! And Winter ...! And that promposal ...! Oh, and that title ...!
As soon as I read the first words, I knew this would be a five-star read. It’s so easy readable. It’s funny. It’s heartfelt. It’s full of love. It’s real. It’s serious at times. It’s uplifting. And it’s so, so cute! I can gush for hours about this book! There’s a chosen family, a sweet romance, and wonderful best friends.
I should be allowed to wear the gay shirt. Carry the books like I want to. Walk the way I walk. But people in this town have a low threshold for different, and I don’t want to press my luck.
The writing is incredible! Showing, active, first person, present tense. Everything is just right. As a reader you’re drawn into Sky’s world. This is how YA books should be written. That first page just pulled me in, Sky gushing about his crush, shower-dreaming as he calls it.
You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn’t accept you for who you are.
I loved this story so much: the way Sky’s friends and classmates helped him when someone leaked his plans, the adults in this story who were so supportive, and of course Sky. Such a wonderful, positive and sweet boy, even after all he’s been through.
For your own state of mind, it’s important to take a second and remember the people who love you and support you. The people who make you happy. The people who make you one of the lucky ones.
I’m going to add Robbie Couch to my most favorite YA writers list. And I hate it that I have to wait for so long to read his next book! Did I already say I loved this story? Adored it? Okay, I did. Several times actually. But I really did: I LOVED, LOVED IT!!! And Winter ...! And that promposal ...! Oh, and that title ...!
September 27, 2021
"I must have accidentally wandered into an alternate universe where Booksmart or To All the Boys I've Loved Before is my new reality."
⭐⭐⭐. 5 stars
The Sky Blues is a story about Sky, an openly gay boy. His town is not accepting and neither is his family.
He is also deeply in love with Ali Rashid and wants to ask him to prom. But when someone reveals his big plans for the Promplosal, everything turns upside down. with a 30 day countdown left, his friends including Ali are determined to find out who leaked his personal information!
The book started off well, but near the end, I wasn't a huge fan. It was super obvious from the beginning who did it and I kept waiting for a big plot twist or something but it never came :|
I liked how close Sky was with his friends and the rep was good! I LOVE TEDDY AND OFC FRANCH FRIES.💖💖
The characters are super cute<3
Sky, Noah, Marshall, Garett and Bree! I love them all soo much
Except ofc one particular person :|
I did like the writing of the book. It was fun and super relatable!!
Apart from the very obvious shock, I wish that we had more time with Sky and Teddy. It was abrupt and I was very sad bcz I was rooting for them 🤧
And all that build up to prom, we never saw what happened. I was really disappointed
AND I MADE A SHIRT
She rocks💖💖
|Blog|Pintrest|
My rating system:
5⭐ - I loved it soo much! New favorite
4⭐ - It was really good! But something was missing
3⭐ - It was nice..but had more potential
2⭐ - I did not like it at all!... It could have been soo much better
1⭐ - Nope. Just No. I hate it
⭐⭐⭐. 5 stars
The Sky Blues is a story about Sky, an openly gay boy. His town is not accepting and neither is his family.
He is also deeply in love with Ali Rashid and wants to ask him to prom. But when someone reveals his big plans for the Promplosal, everything turns upside down. with a 30 day countdown left, his friends including Ali are determined to find out who leaked his personal information!
The book started off well, but near the end, I wasn't a huge fan. It was super obvious from the beginning who did it and I kept waiting for a big plot twist or something but it never came :|
I liked how close Sky was with his friends and the rep was good! I LOVE TEDDY AND OFC FRANCH FRIES.💖💖
The characters are super cute<3
Sky, Noah, Marshall, Garett and Bree! I love them all soo much
Except ofc one particular person :|
I did like the writing of the book. It was fun and super relatable!!
Apart from the very obvious shock, I wish that we had more time with Sky and Teddy. It was abrupt and I was very sad bcz I was rooting for them 🤧
And all that build up to prom, we never saw what happened. I was really disappointed
AND I MADE A SHIRT
She rocks💖💖
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My rating system:
5⭐ - I loved it soo much! New favorite
4⭐ - It was really good! But something was missing
3⭐ - It was nice..but had more potential
2⭐ - I did not like it at all!... It could have been soo much better
1⭐ - Nope. Just No. I hate it
April 19, 2021
Such an amazing book! Really made me think back on my friendships in high school and how important they were to getting me through the tough times! A full review will be up on my book tube channel at http://YouTube.com/peterlikesbooks
April 21, 2021
The Sky Blues
is the best YA novel that I've read in years. Legitimately years. The story is focused on Sky Baker's high school journey in a small, conservative town. Growing up in Rock Ledge, Michigan, Sky has had issues with other people, including his family, with accepting his sexuality. Sky is gay and out, a feat that is difficult in his hometown. As Sky prepares for prom, he starts to brainstorm on how the best prom-posal could be.
Sky plans to ask his crush out to prom, but is nervous that the fellow student doesn't share the same feelings. Right before Sky decides to make his move, he becomes the incoming joke from school bullies. His plans are leaked, with photos of Sky and his crush sent via the Internet for all to see. Sky is ashamed and unnerved as he becomes public fodder for everyone at school to laugh at. As the countdown to prom continues to get closer and closer, Sky and his friends decide that they need to find out who has gay bashed Sky and why.
Maybe I have a strong sense of connection to this book as something like this happened to me in college. A group of peers wrote a blog post on a website called Juicy Campus and gay bashed me before I was ready to come out to my friends and family. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I resonated so deeply with Sky's trauma, and I rooted for Sky and his friends. The Sky Blues has teachable moments when it comes to acceptance and queer pride. I loved that the author, Robbie Couch, included deep conversations about trans-people and gender identity. The Sky Blues is a heartfelt story about accepting who you are and making no apologies for it. I wish a book like this was here for me when I was younger. This is a must read and one of my favorite books of the year.
Sky plans to ask his crush out to prom, but is nervous that the fellow student doesn't share the same feelings. Right before Sky decides to make his move, he becomes the incoming joke from school bullies. His plans are leaked, with photos of Sky and his crush sent via the Internet for all to see. Sky is ashamed and unnerved as he becomes public fodder for everyone at school to laugh at. As the countdown to prom continues to get closer and closer, Sky and his friends decide that they need to find out who has gay bashed Sky and why.
Maybe I have a strong sense of connection to this book as something like this happened to me in college. A group of peers wrote a blog post on a website called Juicy Campus and gay bashed me before I was ready to come out to my friends and family. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I resonated so deeply with Sky's trauma, and I rooted for Sky and his friends. The Sky Blues has teachable moments when it comes to acceptance and queer pride. I loved that the author, Robbie Couch, included deep conversations about trans-people and gender identity. The Sky Blues is a heartfelt story about accepting who you are and making no apologies for it. I wish a book like this was here for me when I was younger. This is a must read and one of my favorite books of the year.
August 27, 2021
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The Sky Blues is a wonderfully wholesome YA coming of age that makes for the perfect summer read. The novel is narrated by Sky who is in his last year of high school. After coming out as gay Sky finds himself living with his best friend, Bree, and her supportive family as his own mother and brother aren't accepting of his sexuality. At his school, Sky tries not to act too 'gay' but even when he lies low he's still subjected to other student's taunts. Sky and Bree pour their energy into coming up with ideas for his promposal to his crush Ali. Most of their ideas are silly but that makes the experience all the more fun. Until someone leaks a photo of these plans at his school. Humiliated Sky struggles to come to terms with this huge invasion of his privacy. But when his best friends and other classmates reach out to him, showing their support and love, Sky decides to find out the culprit.
Sky's story was the perfect mix of fun and affecting. There were many moving moments (between him and his friends or him and Bree's parents) that truly make this book well worth a read. Sky's voice is incredibly authentic and compelling, and I truly appreciated the narrative's focus on his personal growth. He isn't perfect and as the prom approaches, he comes to realise that the people closest to him are also facing their own struggles. His character arc was truly satisfying and I loved that he learns from his mistakes. The novel also doesn't sugar-coat certain subjects or realities.
While the novel is very much about Sky and him navigating this particular period of his life, there is the lightest of romantic subplots that added a sweet note to Sky's story.
This was a truly engaging and heart-warming novel, one that I would definitely recommend to readers wanting a great lgbtq+ YA read. The Sky Blues was such a welcome surprise and I will for sure be checking out whatever Robbie Couch writes next!
The Sky Blues is a wonderfully wholesome YA coming of age that makes for the perfect summer read. The novel is narrated by Sky who is in his last year of high school. After coming out as gay Sky finds himself living with his best friend, Bree, and her supportive family as his own mother and brother aren't accepting of his sexuality. At his school, Sky tries not to act too 'gay' but even when he lies low he's still subjected to other student's taunts. Sky and Bree pour their energy into coming up with ideas for his promposal to his crush Ali. Most of their ideas are silly but that makes the experience all the more fun. Until someone leaks a photo of these plans at his school. Humiliated Sky struggles to come to terms with this huge invasion of his privacy. But when his best friends and other classmates reach out to him, showing their support and love, Sky decides to find out the culprit.
Sky's story was the perfect mix of fun and affecting. There were many moving moments (between him and his friends or him and Bree's parents) that truly make this book well worth a read. Sky's voice is incredibly authentic and compelling, and I truly appreciated the narrative's focus on his personal growth. He isn't perfect and as the prom approaches, he comes to realise that the people closest to him are also facing their own struggles. His character arc was truly satisfying and I loved that he learns from his mistakes. The novel also doesn't sugar-coat certain subjects or realities.
While the novel is very much about Sky and him navigating this particular period of his life, there is the lightest of romantic subplots that added a sweet note to Sky's story.
This was a truly engaging and heart-warming novel, one that I would definitely recommend to readers wanting a great lgbtq+ YA read. The Sky Blues was such a welcome surprise and I will for sure be checking out whatever Robbie Couch writes next!
April 14, 2021
Read the full review on my blog!
Overall, The Sky Blues is a hard-hitting contemporary novel that deals with themes present in today's society such as homophobia, racism, and just bullying as a whole. After both sobbing and completing tissue boxes whole, as well as laughing until I got hiccups, I can (from experience) tell you that this book is a wild ride (in the best way possible). Seeing found family, and great, loving, supporting friendships was one of the best parts of this book. But what really stole the show for me was the natural diversity. Through this novel, so many marginalised voices are uplifted, and it shows us how being from a specific ethnic minority can impact your identity, and your actions. It also shows us how deeply ingrained racism is in our society, and how a person of color, a queer person, or a disabled person just doesn't have the same freedom and safety as a straight, white, fit one. The Sky Blues tackled so many real-life issues high-schoolers face, such as misgendering, and basic shaming because of the minority they come from without looking back.
TL;DR -
go read this right now because it's perfect thank you; also brb i need to go re-read it again because it gave me ALL the feels!!!
Overall, The Sky Blues is a hard-hitting contemporary novel that deals with themes present in today's society such as homophobia, racism, and just bullying as a whole. After both sobbing and completing tissue boxes whole, as well as laughing until I got hiccups, I can (from experience) tell you that this book is a wild ride (in the best way possible). Seeing found family, and great, loving, supporting friendships was one of the best parts of this book. But what really stole the show for me was the natural diversity. Through this novel, so many marginalised voices are uplifted, and it shows us how being from a specific ethnic minority can impact your identity, and your actions. It also shows us how deeply ingrained racism is in our society, and how a person of color, a queer person, or a disabled person just doesn't have the same freedom and safety as a straight, white, fit one. The Sky Blues tackled so many real-life issues high-schoolers face, such as misgendering, and basic shaming because of the minority they come from without looking back.
TL;DR -
go read this right now because it's perfect thank you; also brb i need to go re-read it again because it gave me ALL the feels!!!
September 17, 2021
It's official: The Sky Blues is the cousin of Simon vs. and Felix Ever After.
It is a really good book. When I finished I gave it 4 stars. Because there is nothing wrong with it and objectively it's amazing. But it was so unmemorable for me that I remembered almost nothing of it the next day, so I couldn't even write a review.
Maybe I'll reread it next year.
It is a really good book. When I finished I gave it 4 stars. Because there is nothing wrong with it and objectively it's amazing. But it was so unmemorable for me that I remembered almost nothing of it the next day, so I couldn't even write a review.
Maybe I'll reread it next year.
April 21, 2021
you're gonna cry but it's worth every tear!
May 3, 2021
I'm still considering bumping this up after deeper reflection, but guys, this book was so stinkin' cute. I wish it had been around when I was a senior in high school. I may have to do a video review to iron out my thoughts. I'll link it should I get around to it!
June 8, 2021
Audiobook review available. It did not transfer to GR.
Growing up has so many facets and components to explore. Friendship is intense and critical to dealing with life events and bullies. Family can be amazing in understanding or frightening if not supportive. Everything changes in our hearts, minds, bodies, and life in a few short years before this new being begins to realize all the changes and what they mean. The beautiful butterfly replaces the crawling worm and the sun helps spread the wings to dry and then fly. It is nature's process, but we must experience it to know what it really means. We are loved for what we are.
Friends are the anchor in the storm. A few good ones are much better than hundreds of fair weather friends that disappear when the weather gets rough. We are very dependent animals although we pretend to be brave. Be a friend to someone that you care about.
Growing up has so many facets and components to explore. Friendship is intense and critical to dealing with life events and bullies. Family can be amazing in understanding or frightening if not supportive. Everything changes in our hearts, minds, bodies, and life in a few short years before this new being begins to realize all the changes and what they mean. The beautiful butterfly replaces the crawling worm and the sun helps spread the wings to dry and then fly. It is nature's process, but we must experience it to know what it really means. We are loved for what we are.
Friends are the anchor in the storm. A few good ones are much better than hundreds of fair weather friends that disappear when the weather gets rough. We are very dependent animals although we pretend to be brave. Be a friend to someone that you care about.
August 14, 2023
I love the revenge plot and everything they plan out during that, it was so much fun seeing his Sky group of friends having his back during the week of E-Blast get outed, I loved how supportive everyone around him was despite his "family" being a bunch of asshole except his dad he seems like a great person I don't know why he ended up with his wife.
I just wished there were more romance, it was kinda my fault for picking this book expecting a romance but this is more of a story about coming of age and friendship which I still appreciate.
The ending felt anticlimactic.
I just wished there were more romance, it was kinda my fault for picking this book expecting a romance but this is more of a story about coming of age and friendship which I still appreciate.
The ending felt anticlimactic.
March 28, 2021
The Sky Blues hit me right in the feels, in the very best way possible! I absolutely adored this book and really didn't want it to end. It was such a positive and uplifting story. I loved every minute!
This story is like a warm hug. It was exactly what I needed right now. The friendships inside these pages are so beautiful, and the supportive adults in Sky's corner were so refreshing. Each character played such an important roll in the books events.
I definitely recommend this book!! Thank you so much Simon and Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!
This story is like a warm hug. It was exactly what I needed right now. The friendships inside these pages are so beautiful, and the supportive adults in Sky's corner were so refreshing. Each character played such an important roll in the books events.
I definitely recommend this book!! Thank you so much Simon and Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!
February 1, 2022
you know when you read a really good book and then can’t properly read anything for weeks and weeks after because you constantly compare everything to that amazing book you just finished? i am predicting, right now, that this will be now that i’ve finished this book
admittedly, going into this i didn’t have high expectations - not like i was preparing to dislike it or anything, but i’ve read a lot of books and a lot of those have been ya queer contemporary and the description of this book didn’t particularly stand out to me?? so i just thought yes ok that will be a nice quick read that will momentarily be a part of my life then i’ll probably not think about again
hah
so first of all, this had a really really nice atmosphere - there was something quiet about it? the atmosphere reminded me a little of felix ever after? i am terrible at describing atmospheres but like,,know that that is something i liked
also no one told me this had a found family?? strong friendship groups?? friendships i actually believed in?? i can’t tell you how much i adored the friendships that were at the heart of this book
cannot tell you how much i loved the characters like . they are my children (even if i am the exact same age as most of them . they are my children ok don’t argue with me). there was kinda a huge cast of characters but i still managed to care about all of them which is honestly rude because now i just want to read more about absolutely every character in this book
i can probably list the amount of ya books i’ve read where the characters actually felt like teenagers on one hand but?? i felt this so strongly with this one?? something combined with the atmosphere and the friendships and just the way the characters were written felt?? just right like . i’ve read a lot of ya books lately where, either, the characters are written as if they’re literal children to try and make them read younger OR it goes the other way and like wow why are all these thirty year olds still in high school!! BUT this book definitely got the good balance
i loved that there was a romance that wasn’t the centre of the story BUT i actually still cared about it?? like there are SO many books i’ve read where the romance isn’t the main point of the story and yes yes that is brilliant but it really just feels shoved in for no reason and i could . not . care . less . but hey this book didn’t do that!!!
so hey!! i thought this book would be fine!! but instead i just know it’s going to be a favourite release of the year so, like, you should read it and stuff
tw: car accident, past death of a parent, use of homophobic, racist and ableist slurs, homophobia
rep: gay mc, mlm li, autistic side character, Iraqi side character, Black side character, trans side character, gay side characters
admittedly, going into this i didn’t have high expectations - not like i was preparing to dislike it or anything, but i’ve read a lot of books and a lot of those have been ya queer contemporary and the description of this book didn’t particularly stand out to me?? so i just thought yes ok that will be a nice quick read that will momentarily be a part of my life then i’ll probably not think about again
hah
so first of all, this had a really really nice atmosphere - there was something quiet about it? the atmosphere reminded me a little of felix ever after? i am terrible at describing atmospheres but like,,know that that is something i liked
also no one told me this had a found family?? strong friendship groups?? friendships i actually believed in?? i can’t tell you how much i adored the friendships that were at the heart of this book
cannot tell you how much i loved the characters like . they are my children (even if i am the exact same age as most of them . they are my children ok don’t argue with me). there was kinda a huge cast of characters but i still managed to care about all of them which is honestly rude because now i just want to read more about absolutely every character in this book
i can probably list the amount of ya books i’ve read where the characters actually felt like teenagers on one hand but?? i felt this so strongly with this one?? something combined with the atmosphere and the friendships and just the way the characters were written felt?? just right like . i’ve read a lot of ya books lately where, either, the characters are written as if they’re literal children to try and make them read younger OR it goes the other way and like wow why are all these thirty year olds still in high school!! BUT this book definitely got the good balance
i loved that there was a romance that wasn’t the centre of the story BUT i actually still cared about it?? like there are SO many books i’ve read where the romance isn’t the main point of the story and yes yes that is brilliant but it really just feels shoved in for no reason and i could . not . care . less . but hey this book didn’t do that!!!
so hey!! i thought this book would be fine!! but instead i just know it’s going to be a favourite release of the year so, like, you should read it and stuff
tw: car accident, past death of a parent, use of homophobic, racist and ableist slurs, homophobia
rep: gay mc, mlm li, autistic side character, Iraqi side character, Black side character, trans side character, gay side characters
March 26, 2024
✰ 3 stars ✰
“...It’s important to take a second and remember the people who love you and support you. The people who make you happy. The people who make you one of the lucky ones.”
Openly gay but under the radar, seventeen-year-old Sky Baker had one mission that he hoped to fulfill before graduation - make a splashy promposal to the boy of his dreams, Ali Rashid. But, when his overly zealous campaign gets leaked by an anonymous, homophobic hacker to the entire school, with a 30 day countdown stacked against them, it's up to him and his friends to find who the perpetrator is. The Sky Blues shows the beauty of friendship, the tenderness of first loves, and the vulnerability of learning to be true to yourself - that even when you're feeling blue, there is always a clear-blue sky to look up to. 🩵🩵
For even when Sky felt hurt or alone, when the thoughts got so dark in his head - 'I hate to say it, but I wish I had never been born' - his friends were there to pick him up. To bear the burden alongside him and not let him feel alone, celebrating what it means to be a friend. Sky's besties - Bree and Marshall - had his back always; supportive and caring, Sky really needed them when things got bad. 😥 I liked how his classmates rallied with him, not letting him feel small about what was exposed of him, especially Ali. It became a large-scale movement of celebrating who you are and not letting the vindictive person triumph over their humiliation. 🌈 It did feel like it got too much at times, almost exhaustive in keeping up with everyone, as we have to navigate our way through different personalities and hurdles to get to the bottom of things. But ultimately, that is friendship - 'I’ll remember that people in this not-so-terrible town actually had my back.' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 As much as it was nice to see everyone teaming up to bring down the bad guy, it felt a bit unfair at how it eventually played out. Call me petty, but I think a little retribution would not have hurt.
“I think you’re pretty damn tough, and I know your dad would think so too,” she continues. “But even the toughest people need to know they’re loved, need to know they have people in their corner.”
And that's why, I found myself more invested in the secondary story-line of Sky learning more about his father, who died in a car accident that also left him with an unbearable scar on his chest. 🥺 It was an unexpected addition to the plot, but I think it was an important one for Sky to have a bit more closure about himself - to understand his roots and see that with all the hatred that he faces from his own family and others, there had been someone who would not have turned away from him. It's a comforting reassurance to have and it was nice to see how it panned out; even though I did feel that it was rather rushed towards the end of the story 🤷🏻♀️
Suffice to say, it was a sweet and quick YA read - light on the romance, but still cute with how wholesome the friendships were, and heavy with its depiction of the emotional burdens that have weighed on Sky's shoulders. The writing captured the teen feelings quite believably so; there's drama and there's angst, there's warmth and there's hurt. The uplifting and positive vibes from his friends was enjoyable and I enjoyed the build-up around his father's past. Some of Sky's blues did feel a bit too much to wallow in misery, but I still don't blame him for why he feels so lost and feels that 'it’s not so much a boulder of gloom, though—more like a boulder of rage.' 😢 I mean, it's bad enough to see his sexuality used as not only a weapon, but a target against him, as well. It made for some rather unpleasant and uncomfortable interactions, but I'm glad that even through those rude awakenings - he was stronger for it. That scene with his brother - literally crushed me. But, knowing that one encounter made him stronger and more determined than ever to stand true to who he is and not bow down to expectations was a defining moment for him. 👏🏻👏🏻
The events that unfolded in his senior year taught him that even when the chips are down - things can look up, because he's not alone in his fight. He had forgotten that he wasn't alone in the ring; and that no matter when the blues hit, when you're feeling so down that you don't have the courage to pick yourself up, there is someone out there, who's cheering you on and giving you hope to fight on. Whether it's a friend or a parent, a teacher or a sibling, there will be someone who believes in you and has faith in you. 💕🫂
“...It’s important to take a second and remember the people who love you and support you. The people who make you happy. The people who make you one of the lucky ones.”
Openly gay but under the radar, seventeen-year-old Sky Baker had one mission that he hoped to fulfill before graduation - make a splashy promposal to the boy of his dreams, Ali Rashid. But, when his overly zealous campaign gets leaked by an anonymous, homophobic hacker to the entire school, with a 30 day countdown stacked against them, it's up to him and his friends to find who the perpetrator is. The Sky Blues shows the beauty of friendship, the tenderness of first loves, and the vulnerability of learning to be true to yourself - that even when you're feeling blue, there is always a clear-blue sky to look up to. 🩵🩵
For even when Sky felt hurt or alone, when the thoughts got so dark in his head - 'I hate to say it, but I wish I had never been born' - his friends were there to pick him up. To bear the burden alongside him and not let him feel alone, celebrating what it means to be a friend. Sky's besties - Bree and Marshall - had his back always; supportive and caring, Sky really needed them when things got bad. 😥 I liked how his classmates rallied with him, not letting him feel small about what was exposed of him, especially Ali. It became a large-scale movement of celebrating who you are and not letting the vindictive person triumph over their humiliation. 🌈 It did feel like it got too much at times, almost exhaustive in keeping up with everyone, as we have to navigate our way through different personalities and hurdles to get to the bottom of things. But ultimately, that is friendship - 'I’ll remember that people in this not-so-terrible town actually had my back.' ❤️🩹❤️🩹 As much as it was nice to see everyone teaming up to bring down the bad guy, it felt a bit unfair at how it eventually played out. Call me petty, but I think a little retribution would not have hurt.
“I think you’re pretty damn tough, and I know your dad would think so too,” she continues. “But even the toughest people need to know they’re loved, need to know they have people in their corner.”
And that's why, I found myself more invested in the secondary story-line of Sky learning more about his father, who died in a car accident that also left him with an unbearable scar on his chest. 🥺 It was an unexpected addition to the plot, but I think it was an important one for Sky to have a bit more closure about himself - to understand his roots and see that with all the hatred that he faces from his own family and others, there had been someone who would not have turned away from him. It's a comforting reassurance to have and it was nice to see how it panned out; even though I did feel that it was rather rushed towards the end of the story 🤷🏻♀️
Suffice to say, it was a sweet and quick YA read - light on the romance, but still cute with how wholesome the friendships were, and heavy with its depiction of the emotional burdens that have weighed on Sky's shoulders. The writing captured the teen feelings quite believably so; there's drama and there's angst, there's warmth and there's hurt. The uplifting and positive vibes from his friends was enjoyable and I enjoyed the build-up around his father's past. Some of Sky's blues did feel a bit too much to wallow in misery, but I still don't blame him for why he feels so lost and feels that 'it’s not so much a boulder of gloom, though—more like a boulder of rage.' 😢 I mean, it's bad enough to see his sexuality used as not only a weapon, but a target against him, as well. It made for some rather unpleasant and uncomfortable interactions, but I'm glad that even through those rude awakenings - he was stronger for it. That scene with his brother - literally crushed me. But, knowing that one encounter made him stronger and more determined than ever to stand true to who he is and not bow down to expectations was a defining moment for him. 👏🏻👏🏻
The events that unfolded in his senior year taught him that even when the chips are down - things can look up, because he's not alone in his fight. He had forgotten that he wasn't alone in the ring; and that no matter when the blues hit, when you're feeling so down that you don't have the courage to pick yourself up, there is someone out there, who's cheering you on and giving you hope to fight on. Whether it's a friend or a parent, a teacher or a sibling, there will be someone who believes in you and has faith in you. 💕🫂
May 8, 2021
The story really surprised me because I’ve read books with a similar storyline but the person sent the email blast to be known so early. I did not think the email was going to come from someone the main character didn’t like, I thought it was a friend so it really surprised me. The characters were great, there wasn’t a character I didn’t like. Also, loved the story really focused on Sky learning more about his father and overcoming feeling invisible and finding a way to accept the scar he has. And I really liked that there was the message that family isn’t just blood, but the people you chose to keep in your life. I also thought the author did a good job of discussing homophobia and racism. And the relationships were so cute, I loved that Sky was oblivious to the person who liked him. But when Sky started liking the guy who was into him it was very insta-love, but I didn’t hate it. Overall, I loved this story with the messages it presents and I highly recommend it.
May 21, 2021
the story was cute and easy to get hooked on. i think the praise is well deserved.
September 19, 2021
Fun, addicting book. Almost a little too neat on tying off the loose strings, but that didn't stop my small tears of joy as happy resolutions came true. Definitely YA with the constant references to teen speech, idols and ideas of today. The intended reader that wants and needs this book will find their wishes fulfilled.
Sky has the 17 year old high school senior inner turmoils, and Couch allows the characters to let these come thought come out with a balance of interior thoughts and dialogue. The diverse cast lets entirely different scenes develop: hallways, friends' houses, parties, the open yearbook classroom, car rides. The conversation changes when a very slight different mix of people are together - just like reality. College; boyfriend/girlfriend; parent relationships; sibling relationships; teachers/administrators; prom; parties; he said/she said (just a little - I appreciated this lack of drama actually).
There is reality to the early finding-out/called-out that can happen. That is a slight negative here. This is an idealized response to classmates 'finding out'. The coincidences of who-knew-who between parents could actually happen in a small town. The sad rejection by Sky's mother is also quite real (I've read 40% of homeless teens are queer).
For a fast-moving, happy, no-sex/barely-kissing teen novel, this was a joy to read. Some great honest dialogue that backed-off on getting preachy at just the right time.
4.5*YA that I'll happily round-up as I find this book easy to recommend and remember.
Sky has the 17 year old high school senior inner turmoils, and Couch allows the characters to let these come thought come out with a balance of interior thoughts and dialogue. The diverse cast lets entirely different scenes develop: hallways, friends' houses, parties, the open yearbook classroom, car rides. The conversation changes when a very slight different mix of people are together - just like reality. College; boyfriend/girlfriend; parent relationships; sibling relationships; teachers/administrators; prom; parties; he said/she said (just a little - I appreciated this lack of drama actually).
There is reality to the early finding-out/called-out that can happen. That is a slight negative here. This is an idealized response to classmates 'finding out'. The coincidences of who-knew-who between parents could actually happen in a small town. The sad rejection by Sky's mother is also quite real (I've read 40% of homeless teens are queer).
For a fast-moving, happy, no-sex/barely-kissing teen novel, this was a joy to read. Some great honest dialogue that backed-off on getting preachy at just the right time.
4.5*YA that I'll happily round-up as I find this book easy to recommend and remember.
March 11, 2023
Cute read and definitely not as tweeny as I thought. Definitely recommend
May 19, 2021
To start with, I know a lot of books get compared to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, but I feel confident in saying if you enjoyed that book, pick up this one (and you get to skip the traumatic forced outing!). I absolutely love this book. As a gay man who also grew up in a small Michigan lake town, I greatly related to Sky, though I did not have the courage he did to come out in high school. It was a little jarring to hear places I knew pretty intimately being mentioned casually, like Cadillac and Traverse City; is this what it feels like to live in New York or California where things are set, like, constantly? This book has truly everything I need: gays, a great sense of humor, family drama, found family, a cute romance, amazing friendships; I feel like this book was written with me in mind. Couch has solidified me as a huge fan, and Blaine for the Win has hopped up to one of my most anticipated reads of next year.
April 20, 2021
LISTEN. YOU CAN'T HYPE UP PROM AND NOT GIVE IT TO US? WTF.
But other than that, this is a fantastic debut I loved it so much and I want more.
But other than that, this is a fantastic debut I loved it so much and I want more.
May 22, 2021
this was too effing cute 🥺 i’m crying.
also now i have an urge to keep saying franch fries (iykyk)
rtc.
also now i have an urge to keep saying franch fries (iykyk)
rtc.
April 14, 2022
Excuse me while I check my phone screen for dents after slamming my finger on the 5 star rating button. WHAT A BOOK. Couch did everything right with this book; a perfect book does not exist but this book was perfect for me.
Where do I even start. The teenagers felt like teenagers, the dialogue was witty and reminded me of conversations I had with my own friends back in high school. I laughed out loud so much. Sky is such a lovable character, you’re rooting for him within the first 50 pages, easily. Each character is fully fleshed out, and the story moves at the perfect pace that I just couldn’t stop reading.
Found family? Check. Learning to love oneself? Check. AMAZING PLOT REVEALS that had me gay gasping, even if I saw some of them coming? CHECK. Tying up ALL lose ends? Check. Good people have good things happen to them? Check!!!
I will definitely be reading this again, and I feel it will become one of those comfy reads that I pull out whenever I’m needing a pick me up. Just wow. Thank you to my friend Drew for pair-reading it with me and putting up with my obnoxious overreactions as we made our way through!! Glad this was a winner for us💀
Where do I even start. The teenagers felt like teenagers, the dialogue was witty and reminded me of conversations I had with my own friends back in high school. I laughed out loud so much. Sky is such a lovable character, you’re rooting for him within the first 50 pages, easily. Each character is fully fleshed out, and the story moves at the perfect pace that I just couldn’t stop reading.
Found family? Check. Learning to love oneself? Check. AMAZING PLOT REVEALS that had me gay gasping, even if I saw some of them coming? CHECK. Tying up ALL lose ends? Check. Good people have good things happen to them? Check!!!
I will definitely be reading this again, and I feel it will become one of those comfy reads that I pull out whenever I’m needing a pick me up. Just wow. Thank you to my friend Drew for pair-reading it with me and putting up with my obnoxious overreactions as we made our way through!! Glad this was a winner for us💀
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