Starred Review Will is surprised when his best friend, Angus, kisses him one night, but he is more surprised that he likes it. But he also likes Brandy, and she likes him back. Will is not sure what to make of his equally strong feelings for both a boy and a girl. Is he gay? Is he straight? He doesn't land on either one, nor does he ever consider the word bisexual. It's confusing enough dealing with his silently feuding divorced parents, particularly his alcoholic father, who spends more time amassing materials and demolishing things than finishing his protracted home remodeling project. But the blissful haze of two sexual relationships is one hell of an escape, and, for better or worse, Will mostly succeeds in keeping them separate. Will's balancing act of secrets is troubled: his compartmentalization of both his relationships and his identity prevents him from shattering, but it's exhausting keeping those tenuous walls up. In Mesrobian's brazenly honest, nonjudgmental account, however, Will never comes across as willfully cruel. In his sometimes disaffected, vividly sexual, and earnestly emotional first-person narrative, Will tries to sort out his myriad, often contradictory feelings, which don't line up neatly with what he believes his options are. In Will's candid, unapologetic voice, Mesrobian's raw, sympathetic coming-of-age story uncovers the messy, painful, yet vitally important, process of self-discovery. A unique, imperative novel.

As his dad's addiction gets out of hand, Will starts fooling around with his male best friend Angus (even though Will is "not gay") and, at the same time, begins a relationship with female sophomore Brandy. The rounded, well-developed characters and their stories are captivating, but readers should be prepared for a mature tale of sex, obsession, and emotional turmoil.

Gr 10 Up-About to embark on his senior year, Will lives a divided life. He is split between his mother's suburban wealth and his father's growing instability, between his first girlfriend and a growing sexual relationship with his gay best friend. With her third novel, Mesrobion once again employs a fearless and honest tone, broaching the issues of sex and relationships with frank and sometimes crass language that rings true to the young male narrator. Her portrayal of bisexuality (though Will never specifically identifies with that word) is thoughtful, and realistic. The secondary characters are well developed, all the way down to Will's oft-absent stepfather. Despite several dramatic events, the book never feels sensationalized, and the respect with which Mesrobian speaks to her teen audience adds weight and validity. VERDICT A great addition for most libraries, and perfect for older teens looking for nuanced realistic fiction. Amy Diegelman, Vineyard Haven Public Library, MA