This book is is incredibly timely with the subject matter and the current political climate in this country.

My heart broke over and over for Zeke, every time he doubted himself or other people doubted him. He had so much insecurity and fear bottled up inside, mixed with so much anger at his father and the town.

In the beginning, it didn’t seem like Zeke really had a support system. Yes, he had his mom and the other kids in QSA, but they didn’t always seem to have his back, including his best friend. Thankfully, through his attempts to create a Pride celebration for his town, he found a lot of support.

Zeke is not a perfect character, some of his actions are not entirely smart and he does shut people out, but I think, in a lot of ways, he is a great representation of all of us. We all make huge mistakes and have misunderstandings, and we all feel insecure at times.

I liked most of the side characters, especially Cohen. I had a few issues with Sawyer and the way she treated Zeke at times. Granted, she didn’t know everything he was dealing with, but she didn’t have a lot of faith in him when he started trying to step up. Mason had some issues as well.

I don’t want to talk about the mayor. He was an irredeemable character and a bigoted homophobe.

Zeke’s dad is a complicated character and I’m not sure how I ultimately feel about him. He is painted in a very unlikeable manner throughout the majority of the story, and I’m not sure if he remains that way or not. There is some character growth, but I don’t think it outweighs everything that came before it.

Now, there are two romances in the story, a main one for Zeke, and a side one for Sawyer. I love the way the romances work out and wish them nothing but the best.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration though NetGalley, on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.