MAY THE BEST MAN WIN is an emotionally charged narrative following two teen boys as they compete for the Homecoming Crown. Both Jeremy and Lukas have pinned their expectations for the future on being Homecoming King: Lukas thinks it will ensure his access to an Ivy League school and stop his parents from splitting apart after the death of his older brother; and after coming out as trans, Jeremy wants to prove to himself and the entire school that he deserves the title. Both boys have a lot to learn, especially as they lash out at each other and their friends in destructive ways.

The first person narration allows the reader to immerse themselves in the experiences of Lukas and Jeremy, and in the complex thoughts both are having about their role in high school, in relation to each other, and whatever future college might bring. It works well as a lens into the messiness of teenage minds and experiences. I appreciated how early this was set in the boys' senior year; it wasn't a story that needed a neat wrap-up in the form of graduation and launching into the perfect college experience, because it's clear from the story that real life is anything but perfect.

It's a fascinating and important story but not one that should be read without first exploring what content warnings readers might need; the author has made them available on Goodreads.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. I did expect the enemies to lovers trope and feel that the author kept my interest alternating between the two perspectives. I will say this about the characters. They are toxic. But toxic in such a way that they are real. Jeremy is struggling with the dysphoria of being trans. Lukas is struggling with a broken family and his constant desire to make everyone feel better. He does have an autism diagnosis, but I don’t feel like that was handled deftly. We get the idea that he’s more on the high functioning side, merely lacking social skills. I did enjoy the story. I think that it’s great trans representation, and really delves into the struggles.

I loved this book so much, it was amazingly wonderful, and heartwarming. I also appreciated how well it tackled serious themes while staying very true to the young adult characters. I laughed and cried. It was a joyous celebration of young LGBTQ+ love, and I'm sure it will mean so much to so many.

Well, dang. I was SO excited about the premise of this one, but it fell flat in some areas.

Second chance romances and diverse rep are definitely my thing, and we need more books about trans/gay/autistic issues. Also, this is not a fluffy romcom - it's a serious book that covers deep issues like trauma, grief, homophobia, transphobia, autism, and ableism. These were all things that I enjoyed being incorporated into the story.

What fell short for me was the way the characters didn't seem to grow much - their story arc felt incomplete. There were SO many times where the MCs took advantage of their friends, or made hugely selfish choices, and didn't really reconcile that. The apologies were weak, and there wasn't character growth until (not exaggerating) 90% in. And SO much angst and miscommunication.

Bullying is also a huge theme in this, but I didn't care for how that plot line was (not) handled/resolved. I agreed with the underlying points that were trying to be conveyed about how hard it can be to be supported at school, but I felt that it was left unsatisfactorily unresolved.

Despite being excited by this premise, this book really fell flat for me. Instead, I'd recommend reading You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson. Queer high school students competing for the homecoming crown, a very well-written cast of characters, and POC actually in the spotlight.

CW: Death of family member, transphobia, homophobia, sexual harassment, bullying, assault (on and off page), ableism, misgendering, toxic masculinity

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Roaring Brook Press) for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

<b> I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</b>

Jeremy Harkiss has felt like there’s been something wrong with him his whole life. Trying to be the perfect “girl” everyone wanted him to be— popular, student body president, captain of the cheerleading team, beautiful. But during his senior year Jeremy finally gets to be himself. After dumping his ex and telling his mother he’s a boy, Jeremy is done pretending. He decides to run for homecoming king against his ex-boyfriend. It’s a challenge for him, as some in the school don’t see him for who he really is, but he’s not going to let that get in his way.

Lukas Rivers has been hiding something from everyone his whole life. Lukas is Autistic, but he doesn’t want anyone to know. Star player on the football team, head of the homecoming committee, and well-liked by the whole school, but only his family and his ex know his secret. Lukas is also struggling with the death of his “perfect” brother the prior summer. It doesn’t help that he was dumped by his best friend the day of the funeral, with no explanation why. His family is falling apart in front of his very eyes; Lukas needs to win Homecoming king— this will bring his family back together, or so he thinks. He’s got the crown in the bag, until his ex Jeremy announces his own run.

This is a fight for the crown. <I> May the Best Man Win. </i>

This book was super cute and I loved every minute of it. I would highly recommend if you’re looking to read something fluffy, but also serious. You really get to feel everything Lukas is going through in his body dysmorphia and self doubt. Also, lovers to enemies to lovers is always a serve!

TW/ Body dysmorphia, transphobia, homophobia, TERF, etc.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Roaring Brook Press, for the chance to read and review one of my most anticipated books of 2021!

TW: transphobia, misgendering, deadnaming, abuse, dysphoria, physical violence, ableist language, homophobic slurs and homophobia

Jeremy Harkiss is the cheer captain and student body president and he won't let his coming out as trangender boy define him and ruin his senior year. He's determined to be seen as he is, a boy and he's ready to battle against bigots and the outdated school administration, so he decides to run as Homecoming King, challenging his ex Lukas for the title.
Lukas is a football start and head of the Homecoming Commitee and he's struggling to put order in his life after being dumped by his long-term girlfriend, who turned out to be a boy and his own family falling apart and he won't let Jeremy steal his crown, after having broken his heart.
So they start an intense battle, made of sabotage, cheating, involving their friends and, soon, the whole school, in their rivarly, while struggling with their own fears, doubts and wounds. But when they are forced to work together in order to save Homecoming, Jeremy and Lukas have to face the hurt they are hiding and their mutual attraction.

May the best man win is such an amazing novel and I loved everything about it. Told by two POVs, Jeremy's and Lukas', the stoy is intense, wonderful and heartwrenching, tackling important themes as transphobia and homophobia, misgendering, deadnaming, violence, aggression and so much more.
The story focuses on Jeremy and Lukas and their complicated and intense journey in finding themselves and one other, their places and community, facing family's, school's and society's expectations.

Jeremy is struggling with the bigots at school, a complicated relationship with his mother, dysphoria and the desire to be finally seen as he is: a boy. Not Lukas' ex girlfriend, not a lesbian, not a pretender, but himself, but he's forced to face constant transphobia at school, above all from his ex friend Philip and to fight against the school administration, who doesn't want to do anything in order to protect him, not wanting to jeopardize Philip's father money donations.
His decision to run as Homecoming King is strongly connected with his desire to be seen as he is. At the same time Jeremy is acutely aware of how little the school is doing in order to protected the marginalized community and he's determined to change things. His battle with Lukas is also complicated by unresolved feelings, painful and intense past and their profound wounds and bonds.

Lukas' life is falling apart around him, since his older (and cruel) brother died and his family changed, stopping talking to one other. He wants to fix everything, to put order in his messy life and becoming a Homecoming King is the only way he's seeing to attract college's attentions and making his family proud of him, struggling to be seen by them. Lukas is autistic, even though few know about it and he's under the costant pressure of being the perfect football player, the perfect son, the perfect student, carrying his family's, his school's expectations on his shoulder. The author wrote skillfully his complicated relationship with his family and brother, the pain of losing him, but also the relief of not being hurt by him anymore, his need to salvage what he can and to keep his family together.
His painful breakup with Jeremy, the pain of having lost him, after years and years together, the knowledge of not knowing exactly why it happened weighs down on him, filling both of them with anger and pain, pushing them in all-out war, threatening to burn down everything and everyone around them.

Their journey is messy and complicated by intrusive thoughts, like feeling unwanted and unloved, heartwrenching past and interactions, bad days. Both Jeremy and Lukas show the world a front, what people want to see, a fake Jeremy and a fake Lukas, in order to be accepted, loved and included, at school and at home. But slowly the pressure of not being themselves threatens to destroy them both and Jeremy and Lukas have to face themselves and one other and be finally honest and happy.
Both of them feel unwanted and unloved and keep thinking everything (family's and their own's expectations) will be solved with the crown, while the whole world is crashing around them. Slowly they are forced to accept the reality and start loving themselves for who they are and not what the others want them to be, realizing the love and support from their friends and family members.
On this note, I have to say I loved the side characters, above all Sol and their constant energy and jokes and Ben and Naomi, with their support and love, even though they all were "forced" in the middle of Jeremy's and Lukas' breakup, aftermath and fights.

Jeremy and Lukas are intense, complex and amazing main characters. They are teenagers, they are messed up, desperate, filled with anger and pain. They make mistakes, hurt people, apologize, struggle to be better, to be and find themselves in a world, often, bent into put people in labeled boxes and in smothering them.

I loved how the author talked about Jeremy's anger and fire and the wonderful and supportive queer community he finally finds, where he can fit and be himself, how Lukas, after struggling for so long under the pressure of being someone he wasn't, learns to embrace and be himself.

Jeremy's and Lukas' relationship is truly intense, moving and heartwrenching, made of still open wounds, unresolved tension and questions, pain and desires. While facing one other in the battle for the Homecoming King, while struggling with their own problems at home and school, between lessons and friends and fights, Jeremy and Lukas slowly realize how much they still care and love about one other, under all the pain and misunderstandings. It was really beautiful reading how they fit, how much they are still in love and how to move from there.

"We fit together like puzzle pieces, my fire and his reason, my energy and his comfortable arms." (quote from the earc, so it can be subject to change)

May the best man win also tackles how often the powers, as the school administration, can turn a blind eye only for monetary gain, refusing to acknowledge and listen to victims denouncing harassments, sexual, physical, hate speech and so on, leaving more often than not people alone and afraid to speak, because they are afraid they won't get their justice. Even though it doesn't solve the problem with the whole school system at Jeremy's and Lukas' school, I was really moved and impressed by the community's support and love in defending their classmates and in their desire to change things for the better.

The novel also talks about stereotypical thoughts about being gay, trans and female, about what it means "being a man", misogyny and harmful behaviour.

I really loved reading May the best man win. The story is amazing, brilliant and I enjoyed so much reading about Jeremy's and Lukas' journey and their incredible and intense bond.

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

This is by far my biggest disappointment of 2021 so far. This book had so much promise to be an adorable romantic comedy with one of the cutest premises ever, but due largely to the fact that it is being disgustingly mismarketed as a cutesy rom com when it is, in fact, not funny and it is not a romance, it falls directly on its face when there is nothing but angst and hollow characters to hold it up.

To say that this book was a slog would be a bit of an understatement. I started this book on March 15th and it took me until today, April 30th, to drag myself across the finish line. It might have honestly taken me longer if my copy from NetGalley weren't expiring in just a few hours.

As I mentioned before, I did expect this book to have a completely different tone from what it ended up having, but it also didn't focus on Homecoming the same way I expected it to. I really expected this to be the two boys pranking back and forth throughout Homecoming week and any fun and trouble that might occur in between, but the conflict of this book barely involves the race for Homecoming King. Instead, it's about a bully at the school, the school's Code of Conduct, and Lukas's struggles to succeed despite his extra challenges due to the fact that he's autistic. This shift in focus wouldn't be so bad if it actually meant something at the end of the book, but so much is abandoned, shoved aside, or just plain ignored by the end that it really left me wanting for something.

This book really is just angst on wheels. While I do think this is an honest portrayal of a trans character in Jeremy, it also feels like there is nowhere near enough depth to him. He oftentimes reads as a bit of a parody of himself, though, especially in the parts that deal with the Code of Conduct and Philip, the school bully. All nuance is thrown straight out the window when it comes to Jeremy's conflicts in the story and it's extremely difficult to relate to him as a character when he feels like he's built purely of nothing but anger and being trans. And I say this knowing that a lot of trans folks are angry, and they have every right to be. I'm angry for a lot of trans folks who don't get the rights they deserve. So when their representation is boiled down to nothing but a hate filled boy whose friends all hate him, it sort of ends up feeling like an empty portrayal. If I didn't already know the author was trans, I truly might have thought this was written by someone who was cis. Someone well-meaning, perhaps, but misguided. Jeremy's personality is that he's angry and trans. Show me why Lukas loves him, why his friends care about him, because I don't get it. Ellor failed to write a compelling, believable trans character, which is a real damn shame, probably the biggest failing of this book, in my opinion.

Lukas's character is dealt with the same lack of care. Lukas is autistic and his family is grieving after the death of his older brother. I think Lukas's autism is handled the way I wish Jeremy's trans-ness had been handled: as a trait of his but not a defining character trait. It affects Lukas's schooling and even causes him to cheat, but his autism doesn't rule his storyline the same way Jeremy being trans rules his. I know these two things are not exactly comparable, but again, it just handles this completely normal thing, autism, and treats it like this completely normal thing. Why couldn't Jeremy being trans be like this?

I digress. The part of Lukas's story that annoyed me most was his issues with his family. We get maybe two or three full, real scenes including Lukas's parents, but in each one, we are never really shown the issues Lukas is having with them, other than perhaps the fact that they are distant. There is a really strange scene that comes out of nowhere in the latter half of the book involving Lukas's mother that gets absolutely no resolution by the end, it just happens, even appears to be a big, life-changing event for Lukas, but Ellor's major pacing issues leave no room for any conflicts to actually breathe, change, or resolve.

And, since I've mentioned it, let's discuss Ellor's issues with pacing! Have any of you ever gotten into a car with a 15-year-old who's preparing for their permit test? It starts a little rough; there's a lot of jolting, stopping and starting as they get used to the brakes and, once they get going, they might start to get the hang of it, but eventually they have to use those brakes again, so it's just a lot of stopping and starting, a lack of surety, and often no true sense of direction.

This whole analogy is to say: Z.R. Ellor's pacing feels exactly like a 15-year-old kid learning to drive. Scenes end suddenly and move along to the next bit, often in ways that makes it difficult for the reader to get their bearings or follow the extremely tenuous threads that string each scene together. Any time it seems like Ellor gains a little momentum, he shoots himself in the foot, hitting the brakes immediately before pivoting elsewhere. Lukas and Jeremy both seem to drift through scenes, telling us the things they're thinking without those thoughts having much bearing on the scenes at hand most of the time. Also, this book is written from the first person POV in the present tense, which only made it feel like I was reading a hollow What I Did Over the Summer essay a high schooler was forced to write.

It's so frustrating that this story is all about these two boys' hardships but the pacing and all-around average to poor writing quality make it impossible to hold onto anything. It feels every bit the debut that it is.

And, speaking of holding onto things, this book gave me absolutely no reason to root for Lukas and Jeremy to be together. None of the flashbacks or stories from before their breakup led me to believe the two of them really ever loved each other, which hurts the story greatly, since much of the drama comes from their lingering feelings for one another. They both seemed to admire one another, but they had next to zero chemistry, so when they're still pining over each other, it feels like actors reading a script, not two boys who have complicated yet sincere feelings for each other.

I honestly think I could go on, but I really have already wasted enough time with this one. It's boring, its marketing is misleading, and you can tell from just about every aspect of this book that it is a debut with shockingly little polish and utterly empty characters, apart from Sol, the best part of the book.

It's rushed, yet it somehow also feels agonizingly slow. I wanted this premise to work, I was so prepared to be swept away by this book. I legitimately pumped my fists in the air when I got approved for this one, so I really had high hopes for it to work. But you know what they say about high expectations: the higher they are, the longer and harder the fall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the e-arc of this book!

May the Best Man Win by ZR Elliot is full of messy queers, found community, and second chances. It's not a light romcom, although it has both romance and some funny bits. It's definitely more of a cautionary tale for what happens when society forces queer kids to wade through the waters of homophobia and abuse on their own.

Jeremy is a few things. He's a cheerleader, he's gay, he's popular. He's also trans but he's looking to make a mark on his high school in his senior year so that his trans-ness doesn't define him. He doesn't want to be a trans guy, he just wants to be a guy. His solution? Run and win homecoming King. The only problem is that his ex Lukas is also running in a desperate attempt to try and keep the pieces of his family together. They'll spend the school year locked in a battle to guarantee the outcome - may the best man win.

The first thing I want to touch on in this review is the main characters. Yes, they're awful in some parts. Yes, they do some truly stupid things in the name of proving their points. They're messy. They're scared. They're desperate. They're teenagers. That's what happens when kids are left to wade through the politics of privilege and identity completely alone. Jeremy comes off as an absolutely egotistical ass - and the really lovely thing about that is it's the suit of armor people sometimes wear in order to hide the soft bits underneath. He's scared and lonely and feels unworthy of love. Lukas is autistic and his brother has just passed away, so he's trying very hard to keep everything together and be both himself and the son his parents lost. I really loved his character. He's just trying his best to shoulder everything. But he also makes some really bad decisions and I think that's okay. He's a really loveable character and I think the author did a fantastic job here of letting them be flawed and angry at a system that denies them entry for being different.

The aspect of the found community of fellow queers that Jeremy finds is so important. It really is the only way safety and understanding are found for some people. But the author took that a step further to touch on the fact that although the community is supposed to be a safe haven, there's also those within that gatekeep identities and try to use their privilege as a way to decide who's queer enough, who's allowed to exist in certain spaces. It's hard when you have to watch your back inside the space you're supposed to feel safe.

The side characters were all fun to read, and I appreciate that their friends didn't let Jeremy and Lukas get away with their shenanigans easily. They definitely had to grovel a bit and go through the entire journey to realize the how's and why's of their behavior, and I'm glad we got to see that aspect of it. The storyline of the rich, privileged school who pledges equality and protection while also doing nothing to see that both of those are assured was such a good example of how lip service is well and good until action actually needs to be taken. So many times big institutions (and I don't just mean school, I mean all of them) preach equality and pledge to do better only to fail when it really matters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Definitely recommend it if you're a fan of enemies to lovers and second chance romance, with some commentary on queer kids dealing with societal issues.

CW: Death of family member, transphobia, homophobia, sexual harassment, bullying, assault (on and off page), ableism, misgendering, toxic masculinity

I really struggled writing this review. I wasn’t expecting May the Best Man Win to be so gut wrenching and emotional. Readers should definitely be aware that this is not a cute and lighthearted romcom. There are certainly tender and sweet moments, but the majority of the novel is an emotional rollercoaster of anger, pain, fear, and confusion. The overall tone was very dark, with the main characters doing anything and everything to achieve their own selfish goals. I understand that Jeremy and Lukas are flawed individuals, but they did some pretty unforgivable things to each other and their supposed friends. I didn’t feel that there was ever really any accountability or reckoning for those actions. This made it hard to root for Lukas or Jeremy individually and/or as a couple since they were so unlikeable. Ultimately, I think there was so much going on in the book that it felt overwhelming and disjointed. Readers are only allowed to skim the surface of many of the topics and issues. For example, Lukas’s autism is mentioned, but only to explain some of his actions. His internalized ableism is never fully addressed or given the proper attention. The pacing seemed to stall and meander a bit in the middle and then suddenly it was racing to the finish. The entire drama about financially saving Homecoming felt over the top and unbelievable. I enjoyed Ben, Naomi, and Sol a lot, but I felt like they were almost like props, only to be used when convenient to move the story along. I wish those characters had been explored more, especially Sol.

The writing kept me reading to see what would happen next though and the book brought up many interesting and thoughtful discussions about sexuality and queerness. I appreciated the raw honesty and vulnerability of the characters and I think many readers will find beauty and comfort in this novel.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

When high school senior Jeremy Harkiss comes out as transgender he finds himself running for homecoming king against his ex, Lukas. This one has a lot of angst, which made it hard for me to get into the story, but once I did I was in. This story highlights how difficult (read: dangerous) society makes life for transgender/nonbinary people and how we (read: cis) regularly harm them in so many ways. Jeremy’s transition was a joy to read because it was heartbreaking and illuminating. The story as a whole made so many poignant observations about sex and gender and how we need to normalize everything non-binary. Supporting everyone in their journey to live their best authentic life benefits communities as a whole. Lukus’s story was equally compelling as he came to understand his own sexuality and how to become the best version of himself. I appreciated how he is on the autism spectrum and that is unique to his experience, but it wasn’t written as the center of his identity. This book has so much important representation, everyone and anyone should read it.

CW: transphobia, biphobia, homophobia, parental discord, hate crimes within schools

This one was a doozy. In my opinion, the cover makes it seems like this very adorable queer romance between two exes and their enemies-to-lovers story but it's a lot more than that. This book covers some very emotionally tolling situations that trans folk have to encounter in high school. It sheds light on matters such as schools not taking the sides of victims/survivors and instead of standing on the sideline so as to not upset the white cis community.

At first, Jeremy came off as mean and just like a machine that was barreling down not caring who he hurt along the way. But as you continue to read, you begin to understand that it's okay for him to feel angry when his fellow classmates continue to misgender him or deadname him. I promise it all comes together. Lukas was a lot to handle emotionally, as well. He was the character that put everyone else's needs before his own no matter the situation. It was difficult to see him literally tearing himself apart to please this image and path he had conjured in his mind.

Overall, the story was amazing. It was brutally honest and emotionally charged.

Rainbows and Sunshine
April 23, 2021

I really enjoyed this exes-to-lovers novel. But first, I've got to say that this is not a rom-com. The cover and blurb made me think that but it's a lot more intense.

✔Second chance romance
✔lovers-to-rivals-lovers
✔Childhood friends
✔Autistic MC
✔Trans MC
✔Dual POV

Reading this was book was like going through every emotion twice. I was angry, happy and sad. Jeremy got on my nerves for the majority of the book. Both Lukas and Jeremy are wonderfully messy and angsty and most of the time I wanted to scream at them to think. They make it so hard to like them but the character growth and development was really meaningful and by the end I could see how they are perfect for each other.

I loved the side characters, especially Sol. The friendships were great but I wish Naomi and Ben had a little more development than the Asian bestfriends. I also wanted a chapter with Lukas and Jeremy being a couple and just, I don't know, dating. The ending just feels a bit rushed.

But overall it was really good and I definitely recommend it but don't expect a rom-com, because I did, and it really surprised me.

TR: transphobia, deadnaming (not mentioned), homophobia, ableism, death of a family member, sexual harassment

*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

I've been waiting for this book for months and I was very excited to get confirmed for the arc. I loved our main characters, I got a bit confused in the second chapter because I didn't realize it was a dual perspective but both voices were very distinctive and I could always tell who was who. I think a lot of what I loved was how messy the characters were, which made them super realistic. Both Jeremy and Lukas were messy and angry and made mistakes, but that didn't make them terrible people, we saw where they came from and why they did what they did. I especially loved Sol winning Homecoming Monarch, honestly, no one deserved the crowns more than Sol and Naomi. I absolutely adored this book and how it gave us trans and autistic main characters, and Jewish, Asian, poly, lesbian, and other side characters.

This is a harder review to write as I have a lot of thoughts about this book.

This book is about two senior boys, Jeremy Harkiss, and Lukas Rivers who had been in a relationship for years, and friends before that. But they recently broke up when Jeremy announced his transition at the same time as Lukas is dealing with the death of his brother. Now in their senior year, they are competing for homecoming king against each other and have a lot of unresolved feelings for each other.

I want to preface this review saying, this is not a lighthearted, moderately messy romcom about a trans boy and a cis boy who used to date falling back in love after teenage drama. That was the impression I had of the book based upon the cover and blurb. But This is a serious, heavy book that covers deep issues, trauma, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism to name a few things. If nothing else, know that before going it. It might have changed my impression of the book knowing what to expect.

There is nothing inherently wrong with writing flawed, messy characters. Often they add a lot to books. But in order for those characters to shine, they need just as many reasons for us to fall in love with them as characters. And Honestly, I didn't get that with Jeremy. Or Lukas really, but particularly Jeremy.

Jeremy is a very selfish person. And part of that selfishness comes from being early in your transition- and to be seen you often act over the top and come off as obnoxious. At least I felt like I did in highsight. So I can understand it. But so often in the book people still flocked to Jeremy despite his selfishness and drama that seemed to follow every one of his actions. And I just didn't understand that. I had a lot of trouble seeing the appeal to his character in this book.

This is a spoilery section of the review but I had some serious issues with a couple plot lines as well- though in different ways.

<spoiler> I might be misinterpreting actions wrong but I think some of the things Jeremy and Lukas did to each other were pretty unforgivable. Especially Lukas showing the video of himself with Jeremy pre-transition to the whole school and displaying it like Lukas was some kind of legendary figure. I honestly found that so terrible. And in the end it seemed to just be forgiven and swept under the rug with the explanation of "A cis guy wouldn't understand why that was bad." It might be true but it's not an excuse. Honestly I can't imagine anyone doing something like that with my pre transition pictures and being able to forgive them.

Also I had issues with how a big conflict happened towards the end of the book when $8000 of school funds is stolen right before the dance I couldn't figure out how that was going to be resolved. But the book had it that they sold $8000 worth of Candles in a single day? Like honestly? That's a stretch even for fictional books. I didn't like that plotline at all. But maybe I just didn't go to a rich high school so idk.

I actually didn't hate the character of Philip existing. (Don't get me wrong I hated him!) But people like him made this story actually more real for me anyway. </spoiler>

There were several things I loved in this book and loved a lot! The character of Sol is wonderful, and they were great. I really liked the role they played in both Jeremy and Lukas' lives. The other side characters seemed interesting too- I really liked Ben and Naomi. I also really, really loved how this book showed what it is like to be early in your transition. I'm not a transman like Jeremy, but a transwoman- but a lot of similar dysphoric feelings can be understood similarly. And I thought it was portrayed so well.

I also loved the GSA crowd and their community they carved out. It made me happy to see everyone standing for each other there. With one exception, but that seemed very intentionally placed. I liked how that all was handled.

This book has a lot of really great things to say about queerness, sexuality, and showing what it is like to be a baby trans- and how truly difficult that is. But unfortunately I couldn't get in to all the major characters as much or the story so this was tough for me. 2.5/5.

<i> Thank you to Netgally and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC of this book </i>

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2021; it lives up to the hype. From the cover, I thought this was a romcom, but it's so intense and dramatic, much more like a teen soap opera than a traditional romance. The emotions are raw and all-encompassing, just like how I remember the stress of identity in high school to be. Conversations about homophobia, transphobia, TERFs, losing community, and building support are all woven into the plot, as well as the difference between people making ignorant mistakes and having malicious intent. The side characters are fleshed out and more likeable than the main characters (Sol is my favorite). So, so well done.

I really enjoyed this YA enemies to lovers and second chance romance story. I felt the two main characters were complex with motivations that were understandable. Because of the multilayered approach to both main characters, I found myself fascinated with the story and where their overall journey would lead. The author meticulously wove together a complex story that appeared effortless in the topics and personal stories involved. I enjoyed this novel and cannot wait for more from this author.

A brutally realistic take about queer love and the trans, high school experience, May the Best Man Win is a book that manages to make you care about and root for both boys despite the hurt they have caused not just to themselves, but also people they care about, in their determination to win the crown, proving just how messy and wonderful in their imperfection humans can be.

Such a good one. MAY THE BEST MAN WIN is not a quirky cute romcom. But not every trans or LGBTQ story needs to be cute or inspirational.

I really liked that we got flawed characters who felt so real and authentic, who made mistakes, who kept fighting tooth and nail against people who don’t want them to be happy or even exist.

This is an intense YA read, and it’s definitely an anthem for the trans, queer, and nonbinary people who don’t quite fit (or don’t feel accepted by) with the rest of the community. I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on this book soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Jeremy just came out as trans just a couple months ago. It’s his senior year and he’s desperate for everyone to see him as the boy he is, not the girl that never really existed. He needs to be Homecoming king, to be seen as a boy in the eyes of his classmates, and to confirm to himself that he really is boy enough. He’s dealing with his own internalized issues as well as having a mother who is kind of accepting of who he is but is still struggling herself. As a feminist, she feels like Jeremy turned his back on her when he came out, no longer one of the girls. Jeremy just wants to be a guy, not a trans guy, just a guy. He doesn’t want to be singled out like that. Since he’s in the early stages of his transition, only three months into HRT, he doesn’t quite have the physical characteristics that identify him as a boy at first glance. Plus, he’s still in the same school, the same neighborhood, where people recognize him as what he used to look like.

Lukas is Jeremy’s ex-boyfriend. Jeremy broke up with him right when he was coming out and Lukas doesn’t know why. But he also wants to be Homecoming king. Maybe if he gets crowned, he’ll get into a good college. Maybe he’ll finally be good enough for his family, finally enough for them to stop comparing him to Jason, his brother who died just a few months ago. He’s spreading himself thin, between Homecoming committee, three AP classes, football, and trying to hold his family together, while also dealing (or not dealing) with his brother’s death and a breakup. He’s also struggling because he’s autistic, and almost no one knows. He’s failing AP Biology because his teacher won’t let him use a computer to take notes, instead making him use her own method. But he doesn’t want to tell the school he’s autistic and get an education plan and accommodations because he’s ashamed and doesn’t want to be singled out.

The story is told in alternating chapters, switching between Lukas’s and Jeremy’s point of view. I really enjoyed seeing the same events from both perspectives, as it puts their reactions into sharp relief.

Both Lukas and Jeremy hurt their friends immensely, using them and taking them for granted to get what they want. Jeremy is especially bad at this, acknowledging that what he is doing is wrong but putting off apologizing or justifying his decisions in such a way that makes them seem like the only choice. He’s so desperate to win the title of Homecoming king and he dosen’t care who he takes out while he does it, including his best friend, Naomi. Despite their terrible decisions, Lukas and Jeremy are likable, in the end. I definitely feel like I understand their motives, even if their actions were somewhat reprehensible.

There were so many things happening! The run for homecoming king, yes. But also Jeremy’s attempts to find new friends and cope with being a trans man. Lukas dealing with the death of his brother and his fracturing family. Naomi and her issues with Jeremy, how he makes everything about himself when she’s struggling, too. Applying for colleges: Jeremy wants to become a lawyer like his mom, attending Harvard and studying law. Lukas wants to go to Stanford, some big college that’ll make his family proud. Also, facing the transphobia at school. One of Jeremy’s old friends is super conservative, sure to join the army after he graduates, with a war profiteering father. Philip has it out for Jeremy, spouting transphobic nonsense, misgendering and deadnaming Jeremy on more than one occasion. Even physically attacking Jeremy. Philip inspires Jeremy, who is also student body president, by the way, to propose the revision of the code of conduct. The code of conduct as it stands doesn’t protect against verbal harassment, or sexual harassment. It barely protects against physical assault. It’s maddening!

Sometimes, tensions were dissolved too quickly. When I feel like characters would have been upset longer, the anger just disappears from one paragraph to the next, with no obvious cause. Also, there are a lot of conversations that are interrupted by internal thoughts, dragging what would have been a short conversation out into several pages full of internal reactions and flashbacks. The story focuses heavily on Lukas and Jeremy but their interactions are few and far between. It’s mostly arguments, sadly, not getting into the meat of their relationship until later, when everything was resolved so quickly.

I wish there was more focus on Sol, the trans non-binary person both Lukas and Jeremy are friends with. And Naomi, Jeremy’s best friend, who is Asian, as his her brother, Ben, Lukas’s best friend. Both of them deserved more than to be Jeremy’s and Lukas’s sounding board as regarded their fight for Homecoming king. Naomi, especially, did not deserve to get pushed aside as harshly as she was, not by Jeremy and definitely not by Lukas. Ben, at one point, is accused of cheating, and both Lukas and Jeremy let it happen, even though they are the direct causes of this misplaced blame.

Jeremy has some dangerous ideas as to what it means to be a boy, and I get that. You have to conform to societal gender ideals, to what society thinks a boy should look like. Like, boys don’t wear pink so Jeremy can’t wear pink or people will see him as a girl. He can’t claim to know how to sew because girls do that. He’s giving into toxic masculinity because he doesn’t want to be perceived as a girl. He also elevates himself above the other queer people at the school, particularly those in the GSA. He remarks that “they don’t even dress well,” showing how shallow he can be. He’s not shallow, not all the time. But he’s single minded and determined to be seen as a boy, no matter what.

I liked the two main characters, the inclusion of so many different queer identities, the variety of different relationships, and all the things that were happening. There was also an insane amount of resect shown towards Jeremy’s pronouns. Even when Lukas was speaking of Jeremy, something he did before he transitioned, he keeps to the same pronouns, with some minor stumbling in the beginning. The only time Jeremy is misgendered is when it’s by someone who doesn’t know he transitioned or when someone is being deliberately transphobic. Some parts of the story were a little unbelievable and tensions were resolved too quickly and easily at times but I was happy to suspend my disbelief to enjoy the story more.

My review will be posted on Goodreads and StoryGraph, with a blurb on my Instagram @bookish_bibliophage, posted closer to the date of publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an e-galley of May the Best Man Win!

I loved this book so much. It's the only book that I want to talk about this summer! May the Best Man Win is unapologetically queer -- and unapologetically messy. I'm so glad that I was able to read this ahead of time so that I can shout about it from the rooftops!