This book was okay. Just, okay. I had a very hard time getting into it and in the beginning picking it up felt like a bit of a chore, but I'm glad I pushed through because I did end up enjoying the second half of the book. Too bad it took me so long to actually start having a good time with this one.

LOTS OF HP references but besides that, I loved this. I love Julian Winters and how he writes such unique stories that queer teens NEED. I loved having a nerdy, argle vest wearing Black gay adoptee teenage boy as our main character. It was so refreshing. The conversation of labels and feeling like you don't know yourself (esp as a teen in HS) was done so well. Loved it. However, there are lots of pop culture references throughout the book, if that is something that will bother you while reading. Read on audiobook & really liked the audio

I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

Remy Cameron comes with a long list of labels and from the beginning, the core of what he's trying to understand is that if he's not a sum of his parts, who is he?

Great question.

Julian Winters does a bang-up job hosting the journey of Remy's discovery. He also puts Remy into some questionable circumstances in which a reader gets a look at any number of microaggressions over and above the overwhelming circumstances that come with simply being a teenager.

On the con side, there are a number of pop references that are used as shortcuts to sharing Remy's experience, which isn't entirely successful. Add to that the subtly patronizing voice of an adult author who seems to nudge Remy into making the decisions he would have made with the benefit of hindsight. In other words, he's a careful character who sometimes lacks agency...which results in a slightly weaker story.

Nevertheless, it's good. It's better than good. It's simply charming and wonderful.

And I'm so glad I got to read it.

Winters produces another excellent main character in his sophmore novel, How to Be Remy Cameron. As consistently charming as Running with Lions, Winters produces a vivid snapshot into the life of Remy Cameron as the titular character faces the question of who he is and what it means to be himself.

There are not enough words to describe the way I feel about Jullian Winters writing. I fell in love with running with lions and How to be Remy Cameron did not disappoint. Winters writes stories that need to be told with perspectives that are heart wrenching, compelling, and so relatable. Can't wait to read more from him! Also Remy, what a lovable character, flaws and all!

4/5 Stars

Julian Winters' second novel How to Be Remy Cameron is a wonderful story. It's quiet with mostly internal struggle but Remy's such a joy to read about. With supportive friends and family and his love of Reese's, it was so easy to turn the pages and fall deeper into this genuine high school tale. I would totally recommend this book and anything Winters' writes.

*~~*ARC kindly provided from the publisher/author to me for an honest review *~~*

Full review to come

5 stars

A wonderfully written evocative novel about identity, I love Remy Cameron, and I think you will too. You won’t regret picking this one up.

I included HOW TO BE REMY CAMERON in the Young Folks list "Book Buying Recommendations for Mood Readers." Here's the link: https://www.theyoungfolks.com/review/140005/book-buying-recommendations-for-mood-readers/

I loved Julian's first book - Running With Lions! And I was so excited to read Julian's next book. And it mostly didn't disappoint! I loved that we saw a narrative from the point of view of Remy, an adopted child, and the story did not involve around him figuring out his sexuality - he already figured that out for the most part - the conflict in the book has more to do with his sister from his birth mother getting in touch with him and him trying to include her into a part of his established social life. Also, soft queer boys represent! I just love Julian and his characters. The character chemistry between everyone - the family dynamics, Remy's love for his sister, his parents, his doggo - everything is just adorable!
Having said all of this, I did not connect with the book like I did with Running With Lions. And I thoroughly acknowledge that that is because I am not the primary person its meant for. And thats okay. If anything about the main character makes you feel like you relate with him - i definitely recommend reading this book! Or just read it for the soft boi <3

Overall I just love Julian Winters and was not disappointed by this one. Remy is a very likeable protagonist and his story is so full of both humor and heart. One of those wholesome reads that I would recommend to queer teens (or anyone, really).

This is definitely a book that will make young people think. It will get them thinking about who they are as a person just as Remy does throughout the book and the impact and influence they have on those around them. It will get them thinking about what future lies ahead of them and how they will handle what comes.. This book is more character focused on Remy rather than piled with plot but the writing style suits that type of story more and it done perfectly. This book needs to be in school libraries for all teens and other young adults to read, no matter if they are struggling with their own identity but to also learn what other people go through.

I know this is coming three months late, but I tried picking this up and while it wasn't poorly written, I was never ever to engage with the book on a level that really pulled me in.

I read and enjoyed Winters’ debut, Running With Lions, so I was excited to check out How to Be Remy Cameron. I loved this YA novel. Remy isn’t sure who he is – he’s gay, black, adopted, a friend, an ex-boyfriend. I liked that Remy is obviously not perfect, but he tries his best. You want to root for him. It’s not easy being a teenager, let alone one who came out at 14 and is the only black kid in his white family. Despite not having all the same experiences as Remy did growing up, it was easy to relate to him and I think this is a book that many should read, teen or not.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

I don't think there's a way to recommend this book enough. How to Be Remy Cameron is one of those books that makes you fall in love with every character. Everything was on point, from the sibling relationship, to the friendships, to the doubt Remy has about where he fits in when an assignment makes him start looking at himself introspectively. I loved Remy so much. Not only did I buy this for the library, I bought my own copy and then purchased the author's other books. Julian Winters is one to watch!

*ARC provided by Netgalley in return for an honest review*

I am very, very late reviewing this book and I feel so bad about it! This book is my first from Julian Winters and I did fall in love with it. Many of the minor characters felt fleshed out unlike many YA books I have read. I was amazed whenever I looked at how far I had already read because I was speeding through this book. It was a fun, thoughtful read on what it is like to try and figure out who you are as a person in a world that makes that quite hard to accomplish. I would recommend this for all who want a YA book that feels like a light read while also making you think quite a bit.

A very interesting core concept that goes beyond your standard YA read - definitely would recommend for those tiring of the standard titles and wishing to explore something a fresh take of old cliches.

Julian Winters has outdone himself. This book is a masterpiece of what it means to be at the intersection of several labels, and what impact that has on who we are, and how we think of ourselves.

How To Be Remy Cameron is Julian Winters's second novel and it explores identity, adoption, and how awkward new love can be.

Remy is one of a few openly gay students at his high school and one of 5 Black students. Additionally, he was adopted by white parents and doesn’t know much about his birth parents, despite it being an open adoption. The story examines transracial adoption in some really interesting and nuanced ways. I cringed when I read that Remy found out he was adopted when he was in kindergarten after a kid told him his family drawing was wrong because he couldn’t be brown and have parents who were peach. I would love to read more YA stories of Black children adopted by white parents because I know quite a few families like this and it would be great to point them and their kids to books like this.

Remy is figuring out exactly who he is. In part, because that’s the internal work of every teenager. But also because it’s his assignment for his AP Literature class and he feels like he has a lot riding on his essay. This brought me back to those days: how small things felt like the highest of stakes, the confusion about where I belonged, and so on. Remy has more layers of confusion than I did because of his marginalization. He may have a great group of friends and get along with most people at school but he has a lot of questions about where he fits in and why.

Out of nowhere he’s contacted by his half-sister…but he didn’t even know he had a half-sister. Getting to know Free gives him the opportunity to learn about his birth parents but he’s not sure he wants to. Nor is he sure how or what to tell his parents.

Add in one crush on Ian, a former classmate who is now back in town, and you can see just why Remy feels a bit stressed these days. They could be so sweetly awkward together and I absolutely loved it. Ian isn’t out and this limits Remy in what he can tell other people about Ian, no matter how many people ask about his crush. I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship.

The side characters were absolutely wonderful. Remy’s sister Willow was born when he was 10 and they have such a great dynamic. His best friend’s Lucy and Rio were fantastic and I would absolutely read books devoted to their stories. Brook and Chloe were a fun subversion of the usual high school couple trope, with Chloe as a female quarterback and Brook as a male cheerleader. There is effortless diversity with characters hailing from a number of different backgrounds.

A really solid and enjoyable story. I’m glad it exists in the world.

CW: adoption, past infertility, homophobia, homophobic bullying, racism, divorced parents, underage drinking, brief sexual harassment/racial fetishizing, alcoholism