Hey folks! So I totally picked up Date Me, Bryson Keller on a whim, and I really enjoyed it! It was a cute and quick read that proved to be a great escape from the world for a little bit.
Synopsis:
What If It’s Us meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this upbeat and heartfelt boy-meets-boy romance that feels like a modern twist on a ’90s rom-com!
Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new–the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he’s never really dated before.
Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.
Kai Sheridan didn’t expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there’s more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he’s awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this “relationship” will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?
Kevin van Whye delivers an uplifting and poignant coming-out love story that will have readers rooting for these two teens to share their hearts with the world–and with each other.
Review:
Things I liked:
- I loved all the cutesy, couple-y stuff that Kai and Bryson did on their dates! They always had super deep conversations, had breakfast together most mornings, and even went to a bomb-ass concert!
- Like I mentioned it earlier, Kai and Bryson have such an communicative relationship, whichI absolutely adored! They talk about all their feelings, and despite a little miscommunication in the end, they always make it abundantly clear what they feel and what they want out of their week-long relationship,
- I also loved the mixed race representation. Kai talks a lot about the struggles of being half black and half white in a predominately white and suburban neighborhood. Not only is he of mixed race, but he’s gay (obviously lol), so he faces twice the criticism.
- All the familial relationships were super complex and different. I loved how protective of Kai his little sister was. It was so heartwarming to see her understand the unfair judgement kai faces because of his sexual orientation. I also really loved Kai’s dad. He was empathetic and supportive, just like all parent should be when their child comes out to them.
- Brysons family was also super complex. He has a strained relationship with his father, but his mother and older sister are just the best!
Things I didn’t like:
- At some points, this book did feel a little preachy. I understand that this book was all about coming to terms with your sexuality and complexities of being mixed race, but I think it would have resonated more had the author been more subtle. Instead of having Kai talk and complain about how he’s not accepted because of his race or sexual orientation, and that love is love no matter what, I wish the author would show those types of interaction instead.
- I also felt like like the author didn’t give Bryson the character development he deserved. In the beginning of the book, Bryson believes he’s straight. But when he starts to spend more time with Kai, he begins to wonder if he could be attracted to boys. Despite the fact that Bryson has also been attracted to girls in the past, the author only mentioned the possibility that he could be bisexual only once briefly. Kai only categorized people as gay r straight, not talking about anything else that people identify as in the LGBT+ community.
Overall, Date Me, Bryson Keller may have a few minor issues, but it’s a great and fun read that does have a lot of positives too.
emelie's books 