Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June
Out Now from HarperCollins Publisher; 368 pages
Content Warnings: Mild language, sexual content, intimate scenes, infidelity
About the Author: “Jason June has been in love with love for as long as he can remember. When not writing, he’s sending Valentine’s cards to his husband, eating candy hearts, and officiating weddings. Jason June is the author of WHOBERT WHOVER, OWL DETECTIVE and PORCUPINE CUPID, and can be found online at HeyJasonJune.com.” (Bio taken from Amazon author profile.)
You can find Jason June on the following platforms:
Since his freshmen year of high school, Jay has been the only kid to come out as gay in his small, rural town in Washington. As his classmates are checking off the milestones of teenage romance, Jay creates his own “Gay Agenda” of events he wishes to achieve one day when he finally falls in love with another boy. Lonely and desperate to feel the woes of teenage romance, Jay couldn’t be happier when his mother is transferred to a job in Seattle the summer before his senior year. Jay is confident, due to his statistical probability calculations, that he will not be the only Queer kid in his class any longer and feels hopeful in achieving his agenda.
Jason Jude creates a strong voice for his main character Jay that invites the reader into everyday life and the struggles of learning about who he is when he has felt like an outcast for most of his life. You’ll find yourself laughing and squealing with delight as Jay begins to flourish in a community that he had not been able to be a part of for so long. The witty teenage comments and colloquial language makes this an easy read that feels personal and comforting, like a diary entry. However, the story tackles heavy topics like sex, love, and friendship. These topics challenge the picture-perfect idea Jay had created through his Gay Agenda. Besides understanding his queer identity, Jay must learn what’s most important to him and his integrity. He is far from a perfect character, but Jay’s flaws and struggles make him a relatable and enjoyable teenager to follow on his journey.
PRR Writer, Taylor Quinn