I loved, loved, loved this story so much!
Fake dating stories have become my new favorite. The characters were so lovable and adorable and I loved reading how their relationship flourished.
It had its heartwrenching moments (had been a while since a book had made me sob) and so many feel-good moments as well.
Will definitely getting a physical copy of this and reading it again just to leave a more thorough review in the end as I always have a hard time talking about the ones I basically devoured!

Bryson Keller has accepted a dare to date a new person each week, but he wasn't expecting Kai Sheridan to ask him out. Kai is waiting until college to come out and learn more about who he is as a person, and is equally as surprised when he asks Bryson to date him for the week. The discovery and evolution of the relationships and identity in this book are heart-warming and real.

Ok, so this one was cute. Kai asks super popular soccer player Bryson out because of the year-long dare Bryson got put up to. No one ever said boys couldn’t ask out Bryson. ⠀
What I liked: ⠀
•Kai is a relatable kid-awkward, blushing, passionate about music ⠀
•Kai and his friends have a goofy relationship ⠀
•Addresses religious homophobia, peer violence, and what’s it like growing up biracial ⠀
⠀
What I didn’t like: ⠀
•the drama teacher. I was a drama teacher, I’ve had a million drama teachers and directors. The teacher in this book was stereotypical, melodramatic, and annoying AF⠀
•likewise the constant references to Romeo and Juliet, but they weren’t relevant to the story. ⠀
•Public outing. Unfortunately, I’ve been seeing this a lot lately, especially in YA. It’s humiliating and traumatic, even secondhand. ⠀

"And just like that, I've kicked the closet door open."

Date Me, Bryson Keller kicks off with a suuuper spontaneous moment where Kai realizes that he's unintentionally, accidentally come out to Bryson. The mechanics of the dare and the students' conversations require some suspension of belief, but you'll get the hang of it. Most importantly: Bryson Keller is proper dreamy. The word 'swoon' was invented for the purpose of describing this fictional boy. He's kind, considerate and super cute. Among my Kindle notes are such gems as "DATE ME BRYSON KELLER!![crying emoji]" and "Bryson Keller Top 10 boyfriends of 2020 --also the only person on the list."

This ownvoices coming-out story feels expressly (and lovingly) written to give hope to queer teenagers. Kevin van Whye (a fellow South African!) depicts the nuances of navigating high school --including some of the spy-level techniques closeted teens use in order live and simultaneously hide their truth. Whether coming out is not a big deal to you, or you're concerned about being labeled 'the gay one', whether you're unsure of your safety if outed, or you're questioning your sexuality for the first time --there is a place in this story for you. This cover-all-bases approach, however, meant that some bits read more like a lecture set on presenting an all-inclusive gay teen experience than a narrative from one teenage boy's perspective.

I really loved this moment where Bryson acknowledges how his view of the world has opened up since spending time with Kai: "Even when you like someone, you can't just outright show them. Everything has to be subtle. Or announced. There's, like, no middle ground. You're either in the closet or you have to announce that you're gay and dating. You can't just do it. It's such bullshit."

I was disappointed that there is no real exploration of a concept outside of 'gay or not gay', and frustrated that Kai is outed twice in this story, but I did not find the darker moments of betrayal as crushing and infuriating as, for example, the Love, Simon movie (which I have still not forgiven). There's a heartbreaking heaviness when Kai's parents react as he imagined they would. But! Bryson's sister has the loveliest reaction to seeing them together, Kai's best friends are all-in already, and Kai's sister Yazz is fiercely supportive of him. She plays an integral part in his parents coming to the right place, and also created a gay superhero comic inspired by her brother.

Date Me, Bryson Keller deals with serious issues that hit hard, but the book's ending still leaves you caught up in the sweetness of their romance. The absolute swoon-worthiness of moments all over this book make the difficult times totally worth it. When things feel bright for Kai and Bryson, Kevin van Whye gives the reader hope, wherever they may be on their coming-out journey, for the joy and weightlessness that comes with finally being out, and the lasting knowledge that they are not alone.

Content warnings: bullying, homophobia, underage drinking, blackmail and threats to out them, public outing, altercations leading to bruised faces. Kai's religious parents react badly to his coming out (but they come around), discussion of Bryson's dad's infidelity, side character in a car accident (minor injuries).

If you know me you are aware that I’m not much of a television watcher. Especially since the invention of subscription services - mainly because I’m terrified that I might develop a bedsore after becoming addicted to binge watching.

At this point in quarantine I’m finding myself easily getting through a book in a day and since I am an old lady my eyeballs be B.U.R.N.I.N.G. and begging for a reprieve. Now comes dilemma #2 – the husband and I have remained (fairly) happily married for nearly 25 years due to the fact that we accept that we are complete opposites and don’t attempt to fix things that aren’t broken. I’m the reader, he’s the television/movie watcher. We come together for the occasional Survivor episode, but he pretty much just wants to watch shoot ‘em ups or films where only about five other words aside from “fuck” are used in the dialogue and me???? Well, I love rom coms. And if you think there’s any chance of our old fat asses indulging in some “Netflix and Chill” you are sadly mistaken.

The good news? Kindle not only provides me easy breezy reading at the push of a button, but I just discovered there’s also a Netflix app. Now we can sit in the same room, he can watch his mafia hitman do their thing and I can watch movies meant for teenagers.

And when I find myself needing moremoremoremoremore of the light and love while I’m trapped at my computer waiting for work requests to be emailed? That’s where books like this come in. A tried and true trope of “dating on a dare” turned into a possible lurrrrrrv match. This time starring two boys. It’s just the thing my old miserly heart looks for in a teenage romcom so I thought it was adorable.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

This was a very fun romantic comedy and I simply had to read it.

3.5, but deserving of a round-up to 4.

Kai is still in the closet and he intends to remain there until he's free in college due to an incident that led him to lose his best friend. But he's so upset one morning he's made late by Bryson Keller's fanclub, and all the hysteria of girls wanting to be his date of the week, that he ends up being the first to ask him out. And Bryson accepts.

I read a manga that had a similar theme, although it is a dare in this book for Bryson to date a different person every week. In any case, it is still among my favorite LGBT mangas, so I couldn't not read this book. Of course it's very different, in case you have also read that manga, but I do think you'll like the book as well.

Kai is in a very difficult place, coming from an ethnic and culture mix, so even if it weren't from the trauma, he's not safe at all to be himself. Plus, he is super shy. But he gradually shows himself to Bryson, and the two are uber cute together.

I really like how Bryson treats this all, although I would have liked even more to see better how he changes his mind, considering he starts the week-long relationship stating he's not gay—and we know he isn't lying. To be honest, I would have loved to spend more time with this couple. They're very, very cute. I think that more than the similar books the publisher mentions (What if it's us, and To all the boys), the feels I had reminded me a little of Simon vs the homo sapiens agenda.

We do have the trope of nerdy and shy guy falling for the popular, it boy, but Bryson is nice enough that you even forget his "social status" in school. Except to remember he is a dream boy, because he is.

The story itself had differentials in the details. Not only is Kai mixed, but his father is from South Africa, his mother is very religious, so we have diversity elements to discuss. However, when you look at the full picture, the plot itself wasn't anything new and the twists and turns are predictable. It is a pity but we know from the second chapter all that is going to go wrong.

So this is a good book, it's also well written and the story flows well. but I don't think it's one you'll remember much after you're done. The best thing about it, despite being a story a million other already told, is that it's an own's voice. To be honest, the majority of the good stories about homossexual boys in high school are written by het women (about grown-up gay men too, by the way), so it's always a gem to find a well-written book by a LGBT author.

This is fun, this is cute; go ahead and read it.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Where's the com in this romcom?

I was waiting for it. I wanted it. But not one chuckle did I have.

Ironic since this story bursting at the seams with social justice issues one of which being how queer kids never get the romcoms, HEAs and the like, instead being relegated to the funny friend or killed off. So I was surprised that not only was Date Me, Bryson Keller not funny but Kai, our protagonist, was put through the gauntlet.

Don't get me wrong the relationship between Bryson and Kai is sweet and romantic which I enjoyed and kept me engaged but (a) I wish it was more the focal point and (b) every time I turned around Kai was being subjected to yet another awful event in his short life.

Kai is the narrator and, though his narration is a bit choppy and oddly formal for a 17 yr old initially, he is likable which integral to this story. He's tenderhearted, loves his friends and family, is awkward in that adorable, blushing way and is terrified of being rejected once he comes out. Bryson is king of the school who was dared into "dating" anyone who asks him out on Monday for one week. Though we don't get his perspective it's clear he's kind, generous, honest, loyal and incapable of artifice. I liked him a lot. I also loved the secondary characters: Priya, Donny and Kai's amazing and possibly preternatural sister, Yazz.

Where the quibbles arose for me is... probably my annoyingly erratic inability to suspend disbelief. So the location of this story which is (as far as I can deduce) about 15-20 minutes outside Los Angeles in contemporary times. They attend a prestigious private academy wherein all the students are vying for spots at places like Stanford. California is arguably one of the most liberal and open-minded states in the union and these students are the new generation so the notion that the vast majority of the student body would not only be homophobic but viciously so was a bit hard to swallow in California. Maybe Alabama or Idaho but Cali? Big city, intelligentsia Cali????

I also found it far-fetched that Kai's parents didn't have an idea whatsoever given all the telltale signs pointing to his sexuality.

However, what I did appreciate about this story was the differing trajectories of Kai and Bryson coming to grips with their sexualities; the bit about there being no right way to get to the destination I thought an important one.

And did I mention how sweet they are? They are cute together so much so I wouldn't be averse to catching up with them in the future.

Even though Date Me, Bryson Keller wasn't perfect I did enjoy the journey and will be on the lookout for this author's sophomore offering.


Triggers: homophobia, violence




An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Opinions: Date Me, Bryson Keller was an adorable, witty, realistic novel that gives readers insight on the average queer teen's life. For the majority of queer teens, not everything is perfect, but not everything is detrimental either: this book shows us that some events are uncomfortable and upsetting but not always life-ending. That said, Date Me, Bryson Keller was very inclusive and understanding. Although Kai may represent the average queer teen whose parents call him a disappointment rather than beat him, it is discussed that other teens do in fact face this hatred. van Whye is a calm, respectful, inclusive activist and this shows in his new book. Date Me, Bryson Keller was also down-to-Earth in other ways, such as human tendencies and emotions. The characters of this book dealt with very trying times that brought up raw emotion, and instead of dealing with it by making out like some other YA characters might, these characters thought it through, talked to friends, and slept on their problems like normal teenagers would. Date Me, Bryson Keller gives teenagers insight on dealing with problems a safe and healthy way, how to feel comfortable with your sexual orientation at school, and the true variety of responses parents could have to coming out and ways to deal with them! There's nothing else I can say: this book is fun, loving, and inspirational!

My Favourite Thing: Normally, I am all about the themes, but as I rambled on about those already, I need to give some love to the romance in Date Me, Bryson Keller! It was all pure, comfortable, and innocent, like most high school relationships should be (also discussed in the book)! The relationship between Kai and Bryson is to die-for because it is so realistic and teaches teenagers what to expect when you fall in love. Kai and Bryson text, call, go on dates, meet each other's parents, and give each other rides to school, yet they aren't glued to each other! They have their respective boundaries and are honest when asking for space and time alone. Their communication skills are what make them adorable!

My Least Favourite Thing: Honestly, I don't like Kai very much. Either his character is inconsistent or he lies to himself, because he is described as liking things organized and on-time, yet he is always late and his room is constantly a mess. If Kai had to describe himself in one word, it would be responsible, yet he sent his school uniform to the dry-cleaner in the middle of a school week. How responsible is he really? That said, my disliking of Kai did not ruin the book at all!

Total Rating: PG-12
Language: PG-12
Adult Content: PG-12
Violence: PG-12+

Recommended For and Similar Reads: Date Me, Bryson Keller was a remarkable, influential, adorable story for teens who love queer romance! I recommend this book to any teen, but specifically those who are queer and need supportive guidance through coming out to parents, friends, and at school. Similar reads are Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia, They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, and Stranger than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer!

Reading the title of this book, you might think it’s a rom-com. But while there are elements of both rom and com, it’s really a coming out story.

That said, the setup is absolutely rom-com worthy. It involves a dare at a party: popular soccer player Bryson has to date the first person who asks him to out on Monday morning for one week, then date someone new the following week, for a total of three months. If he doesn’t go through with it or decides to keep dating the person who asks him out, he loses.

Kai has decided to remain closeted until he’s out of high school. Even though it chafes sometimes, he doesn’t want to deal with the inevitable harassment from kids at school that coming out would entail. Kai’s also not sure how his religious parents, especially his mom, will react, and he’s scared to find out. That all gets thrown out the window, though, when in a fit of irritation, Kai blurts out a demand that Bryson date him that week. Kai is shocked that he’s outed himself for the first time to a guy he barely knows, but when Bryson agrees to date him in secret, Kai decides he’d like to find out what it feels like to be able to have a boyfriend just like any other teenager. Secrets have a way of getting out, though, especially when emotions get involved.

In general, I thought this was a good read. In addition to being gay, Kai is also mixed race and the son of a South African immigrant, so he has other issues at play in his life that add dimension to his coming out story. The author does a good job of showing why someone might choose to remain closeted and the stresses involved in making that choice. It’s a bumpy road until Kai reaches the point that he can live his life openly, including a forced outing at school, but he ends the book a much happier person than he was at the beginning.

Part of the reason he’s happier is his relationship with Bryson, and that’s where the book wasn’t as successful for me. Bryson and Kai barely know each other before they decide to get serious for real, and it just felt too fast. Especially so because Bryson hasn’t even ever been attracted to a guy before, and he barely thinks about his orientation before he tumbles into his romance with Kai. Not that he’s required to angst about his sexuality, but it’s not a small thing to realize about yourself, either.

For a debut novel, though, this was a very good read, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Kai Sheridan immediately grabs your heart. He's a wannabe writer trying to get his play performed and get into Tisch. He's also trying to determine when he will come out to his friends and family. One thing Kai knows for certain, he wants to control his own narrative, much like the play he's trying to finish writing.

Kevin van Whye's characters feel like the sort of kids you'd meet in a high school. Most of them, anyway. I'll get to Bryson Keller in a bit. Kai, his best friends, his parents, his guidance counselor and teachers, though? They feel legit. I've taught students like Kai before, kids who write in their class journals about their struggles with coming out. I kept thinking of those students as I read this book and how they need it. How I need it in my class library.

I cried (more than once), and I also felt hopeful that people like Bryson Keller can exist in this world. He's the fantasy here, almost too good to be true. There is a subplot with one of his parents that sort of goes nowhere. I think it's intended to show us how it formed Bryson, but it doesn't work.

Still, though, this is a must-read for kids who feel hopeless, and it's also important for parents and friends of kids who come out. Kevin van Whye creates characters who live in this world, and it's important that we get to know them.

Going into this I thought this was going to be a light hearted, funny, puff piece. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of this book. It is very reminiscent of Simon vs. the Homo sapiens. I loved our main character and his relationship with his friends and family. While some of the relationship was bordering on cheesiness it still tugged on my heartstrings. Overall, a cute read.
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one is really cute. It's an unexpected rom com, involving two high school boys who end up in a weeklong relationship following a well-known dare.

Bryson Keller is a popular, soccer star who boasts that he could probably date someone different every week; his friends dare him to do just this....with the stipulation that he has to say yes to the first person to ask him out every week. Kai Sheridan is gay but in the closet, and ends up asking Bryson out in a knee-jerk moment. The rest is all down to the dare.

The premise of this is strange but fun, and I adored how open-minded Bryson ended up being. Just an unexpectedly compassionate guy.

There are some darker, painful elements in this. Content warnings for homophobia, toxic christianity, and forced outing. Kai is part of a very Christian household, and exposed to homophobic rants at the behest of the church. Kai is mixed race, and the story does skim the edges of some of the experiences and stereotypes his family encounters; I was surprised to see that the parallels of this were never explored, but it did leave a lot of space for the reader to make connections.

One unexpectedly sweet element in this is that Kai and Bryson never betray each other. So many romantic story arcs find their tension in one of the characters really hurting the other (even unintentionally). But in this story, they're very kind and supportive of each other, and they few misunderstandings that they have are pretty compassionately handled and rapidly dissolved. It's just a very sweet story, and one I'm sure I'll return to!

One of my favorite book tropes is the fake dating trope so I was all with this twist on it and Date Me, Bryson Keller did not disappoint. This story was super adorable! I loved how Kai and Bryson's relationship developed over the course of this book. Part of me kept thinking that the worst might happen and that Bryson would turn into a jerk and really hurt sweet, blushing, cinnamon roll Kai. But he never did and I just feel so hard for these two. Yes there is drama and issues but there is also love and acceptance and communication and just all the heart eyes and feels. Parts of this story hurt my heart but it also made my cheeks hurt from smiling. A lovely slow burn read that I can't recommend enough.

It is no secret I love a good contemporary YA. There is something so comforting about the normalcy of it all. The high school setting, the friendships, the relationships. So when I heard about Date Me, Bryson Keller it was a must read for me. It seemed like it was going to be a fantastic book and I was so right. This book was EVERYTHING! It had all the things I love about a high school love story book and more.

I loved so much about it. Date Me Bryson Keller is probably one of the cutest, most heartbreaking YA contemporaries I have read in a long time. I went from swooning with love for Kai and Bryson and their relationship to sob crying for some of the things they went through. Honestly I don;t know if I was more in love with Bryson. Bryson’s family, or Kai, or a combination of all 3. It was the perfect emotional YA read that I just love and I know you will love it too. Make sure you read this book ASAP so you can too fall in love with this amazing boys and their crew of friends.

Kai was at the party where it all began: Bryson Keller, one of the most popular boys in school, said the reason he never dated anyone was because he didn't see the point in high school relationships and was promptly given a dare. Now every week the first person to say "Date Me, Bryson Keller" when he arrives at school gets to date him until the bell rings on Friday afternoon. Bryson has to keep the dare going until Spring Break; if he fails, he has to ride the bus instead of driving to school in his beloved Jeep. Everyone talks about it, there are pictures and hashtags, and it doesn't really directly affect Kai, who is a gay biracial teen in the closet, until on impulse he manages to be the first guy to say "Date Me" -- and to his surprise, Bryson accepts. It's new territory for both Bryson and Kai as they go through their week of being (secret) fake boyfriends and somehow, fake dating might just become...dating. Can they keep their secret? And is Kai the only one catching feelings, or could Bryson be not as straight as everyone thought he was?

Super adorable! I love cutesy romances, and the fact that this is an LGBT romance makes me like it even more! Also, Bryson Keller was the sweetest little soul. What a cute personality!

Fake dating is my jam. When the most popular boy in school, Bryson Keller, accepts a challenge: whoever is the first person to ask him out on a Monday will get to date him the entire week, Kai never expects to be included. Not officially out to anyone (after a disastrous confession to his former best friend years ago), Kai has kept his sexuality under wraps, so it's a shock to both Bryson AND Kai when Kai asks Bryson out. And an even bigger shock when Bryson accepts. This was a super cute read that had me turning the pages and was over all too soon.

Wow. I'll start with this...I don't normally read YA...like ever. But something about this book, when I saw it on NG told me that I needed to read it. I actually put it off, only reading it this past weekend, even though I've had the ARC for months. Then I devoured it in about 2 days, which with my book reading rate lately is like warp speed.This is such a great book for #ownvoices. This book was definitely told from the point of view of someone who has lived much of this, as well as someone who spends a lot of time overthinking things, much as Kai does in this book.I really loved this book, not just for the romance, although that was super sweet. However, the characters were rich, and still were just kids. The story spanned the easy stuff, hanging out at the local diner to learn more about each other, to the very real aspect of being outed when you aren't ready, and the consequences that go along with that. It spoke the truth about how people will do and say things that are with their own benefit in mind, and not for the greater good.In the end, though, it was about love. Not just love for someone else, but learning to love yourself, and who you were born to be. And the love of a family, complicated and messy as it always is. There isn't one right way to love, and we all make mistakes even when we love someone, mistakes that hurt.But love is love, and was proven in this book, by many of the characters. Fantastic side characters by the way! I would definitely like to see where this author takes his writing.4.5 pieces of eye candy

This has the perfect cheese filled Rom Com movie vibe that I love, balanced with a hefty helping of heart. It was predictable, in the way that most romances are, but in the best of ways. Many a time I had to put the book down and remind myself to chill, it was just a story, and that I shouldn't be getting this excited over the story. What can I say? I am a sucker for adorable situations. I think (from a completely outsider point of view), that this book handled some very deep and real topics very well. Specifically, the novel deals with issues that come with being mixed race, as well as the uncertainty and potential consequences that coming out as gay can have. Date Me, Bryson Keller was an amazing read that should not be overlooked. Also, Netflix? Please make this a movie.

Thank you soooo much NetGalley and the generous people at Random House Children's for providing me with this galley copy in exchange for an honest review.

#netgalley #DateMeBrysonKeller

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

The synopsis of the book tells everything you need to know and catch your attention.

Kai dreams of becoming a writer and tell stories, but he is shy and does not want the attention to fall on him. His best friends, Donny and Priya take him to a senior party over the winter break, where he witnesses and helps create the DARE. During the party, Bryson Keller argues that high school sweethearts don’t last or survive after high school, his classmates don’t agree with him and actually mention that he hasn’t dated anyone before. Bryson bragged that he could get a date easily and even have a new one each week, his classmates don’t believe him and dare him to try until spring break. If he fails, he will have to take the bus every day until graduation.

Two weeks before spring break, on Monday everything changes for Kai. It starts with a soda spill and a late detention. In a burst of anger, Kai asks Bryson to date him and by the term of the DARE, he has to do it.

A week can be long for some and short for others, but it only takes one week to change the perception of a person.

I liked the book; it was a great story with a fun and romantic twist to a first date in high school. Date Me, Bryson Keller! was a good coming of age story and coming out story. While it shows us the positive outcomes for LGBT students that come out during high school, it also shows the negative side, the backlash, and bigotry that young teenagers have and even adults still have. All this creates a compelling story that captures its audiences until the end.

While I liked the story, it brought back memories of high school, and that was not fun. The clubs, clichés, the jocks, and nerds, were somethings one of those things that one hopes to not relieve again. It was great reading about how Kai and his friends navigate the prestigious Fairvale Academy and grow up a little bit over that week.

One would believe that love stories that center around one week of school would be long, but it was actually short. Date Me, Bryson Keller! was a fast-paced read, it is easy to follow along with the characters, and the days dividing the chapters were a fun addition to the book.

“It’s true when they say that children aren’t born with hate or prejudice,” Dad says. “It’s us who teach them those things…”

If you are interested in coming of age stories, then I recommend you Date Me, Bryson Keller! In this story, a dare that is supposed to help two students with their project, but instead creates something new and liberates them.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*