I love Jason June and think this was a really great YA debut.

Jay is a the only out gay kid in his small town, and feels like he's on the sidelines watching as everyone around him experiences love. Jay compiles his own Gay Agenda, a list of "to-dos" in his own journey to finding romance, which he starts to work on when his family moves to Seattle. What follows is a new community, a new start, and new opportunities to cross the "firsts" off his list. But as he does so, he makes mistakes and navigates the changing relationships in his life.

I really appreciated this book because I feel like it really touched on some significant and relevant themes. As Jay experiences new aspects of his life, the reader is reminded of important lessons: that we learn through our mistakes, life is messy and doesn't always follow our laid-out "lists," and that we need to nurture the meaningful relationships in our lives. And this book accomplishes this with lots of humor, sex-positivity, and swoonworthy moments included.

There were elements of the book that I didn't love -- the storyline with Tony just made me feel like I couldn't be invested completely in the eventual romance with Albert. That whole thing just bummed me out. As did Lu's storyline and the whole idea of "just move to a big city and things will be better" element that was kind of overtly there (even if it wasn't intended). But overall, a really enjoyable read.

A big thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the e-ARC!

Lord and Taylor! I fracking love this book!

Sarah's List about Jay's Gay Agenda
1. It is a rom-com with the sweetest, funniest meet cute (Hello, PrinterBot!)
2. It's a multi-layered friendship drama. Will Jay be able to adjust to his thriving new life in Seattle while maintaining his connection to his BFF? Can he help his new friend Max to mend his damaged friendships?
3. It's a coming of age story that drives how the importance of being brutally honest. What might seem like a harmless lie of omission, can have major impacts.
4. It's a sweet and entertaining romance that will have readers racing to find out what happens to Jay and his agenda.

The representation in this book is fantastic. So many teens feel isolated and alone. Following Jay on his adventures and watching him learn from his mistakes will provide hope to all readers.

As many of you know, I am a sucker for a storyline where someone has to come to terms with who they are, while mixing in the lovely moments of young relationships. A book I recently finished fit this aspect and many more that make some of my favorite books my favorites.

Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June is a story of love, finding oneself, understanding others, and living in a new place. Jay has lived his life as the only LBGTQ+ student in his small town, leading to him not having any of his true firsts in romantic relationships. When Jay’s mom gets a new job in Seattle he has a chance to find himself and his identity and with that, he writes his Gay Agenda, a list of tasks and firsts that he wants to have with another man. Following Jay along on this story was a rollercoaster of emotions, from conflicts with friends, not knowing who you truly are and a new life. Any reader of YA would find some aspect of this story that they relate to.

The writing style of this novel and the moments the characters experience make you feel like you are walking alongside Jay, living a new life. Every moment of Jason June’s writing feels realistic and as if you the reader are being accepted into this world. There is never a dull moment and the pages will fly by, making you want to start from the beginning the second the story ends. This story is different than anything I had ever read before, it is a special read that I truly believe will change the YA book community.

While this novel isn’t out quite yet I would highly recommend you preorder it now.

It is out in stores on June 1st 2021

This book was a little rough. I felt that the dialogue was rather cringey (every time he said facepalmed I wanted to facepalm) and the internal monologue didn't feel like it was actually written by a teenager. I found the main character to be pretty annoying and the trope of miscommunication and scheduling conflicts is one that is pretty overplayed and I didn't like how it was resolved at all. Not my favorite. #NetGalley #JaysGayAgenda

This was a cute, quick read that I think could've been helped by just a little more <i>substance</i>. I read it in one afternoon but I wouldn't say that it was 'un-putdownable' -- it was just the right amount of cute and quirky. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was fine, but I found myself skimming portions of the book because I just couldn't get into some of it.

Characterwise, I don't think some of the characters were fleshed out enough. It felt like a few of them were just thrown in there to be the supporting characters that only appear once or twice throughout the whole book, while others, who were clearly made out to be the villains, were suddenly made out to be 'not so bad' in the end. Which is fine! But I think a little more backstory would've made things clearer.

I also felt like being stuck inside Jay's head was a bit much in terms of reading. Everything felt Very Fast All The Time and A Lot All The Time and Intense All The Time which was honestly distracting as I continued to read.

But it was fine. Quirky. Sex-positive. I'll read just about anything that's set in Seattle. I wish there'd been... MORE Seattle, but that's just me.


An e-arc was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. And my honest review is that I am disappointed. I'm disappointed in the plot, in the characters, in the writing. I don't like the POV, I don't [like (hide spoiler)] the cheating, I don't like the "ohmygawd" every three pages (spelled exactly like that) I don't like the friends or the side characters, I don't like the lying because there is so. much. lying. Just about the only part of this I enjoyed was the love interest who really could do a lot better. This book moved quickly enough which is good but the overall feeling I come away with is just disappointment. I wanted this to be a fun, pretty light read and for the first have it was. But then it really, really wasn't any more and [the backlash I felt when the cheating began was really frustrating. (hide spoiler)] I'm going to have to say this was a miss for me. I'd love some more sweet queer romances but sadly this one wasn't the fluffy feel good ya love story I was hoping for.

TW for this book include: Cheating, Adult/Teen relationship, Sexual Content, Vomit, and Racism

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3594043277

Very reminiscent of Love, Simon, but the writing style just didn’t hold me. Jay feels very immature for 17-18, even beyond his lack of dating experience. His inner monologue is repetitive, and the repeated full text of his Gay Agenda list every time he crosses something out or adds a bullet point feels unnecessary. I empathized with his journey, but felt more of a “you poor thing” than “I’m rooting for my new best friend!” reaction.

Adorable.

This story has our young Jay living the majority of his life in a small Washington town as the only out gay person. Not the only out gay teen boy, but only gay person. He fantasizes about what his life would be like if there were other gay people in his circle, so as the hyper organized list maker he is (I can relate), he makes what amounts to a to-do list of things, an agenda, he feels are important as part of an openly gay identity.

Quickly into the book, Jay's family gets to move to the big city of Seattle, where hopefully he'll get to start checking items off his

I'm sure you can imagine what happens when someone makes a list of super top secret goals. Humiliation? Yes. Hurt feelings? Yes. Misunderstandings? Yes.

I love seeing this type of own voices story for young adults. This is a story that incorporates both joy and challenges of being an LGBTQ teen, and in general navigating the teenage experience.

Pros: I loved the narrator, and in general the wide range of characters and representation in this story was fantastic. The setting (I'm a sucker for Seattle stories) and the cover pulled me in, and largely did not lie about whether or not I was going to enjoy this story! Although I wasn't always 100% there in Jay's choices, I did appreciate the honest and open way that he looked at what he did, and how he messed things up along the way and his work to try to repair relationships. It's a very relatable story, he's living a sort of fantasy life, and he gets carried away.

Cons: A complaint I frequently have with YA/Teen books is parents that just aren't around at all. In this case, his parents felt as if they were generally supportive, without providing any real support. This did improve towards the end of the book, and there were a few scenes where they did try to help with certain things. But there were a number of times when I felt as if an adult presence to provide a bit of guidance on relationships would have self-corrected. I realize a lot of kids don't have this, and there's less drama if someone sets you on a right path, but it was a frustration.

Overall, there's a lot of joy in this story, which made it really fun to read. And it makes it a great addition to LGBTQ literature available for young people.

As a result of my various committee appointments and commitments I am unable to disclose my personal thoughts on this title at this time. Please see my star rating for a general overview of how I felt about this title. Additionally, you may check my GoodReads for additional information on what thoughts I’m able to share publicly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this and any other titles you are in charge of.

This book felt very real. So many books feel similar to something that might happen, but this one felt like it nailed all of the parts that actually do happen. I'm not sure how parents will feel about some of the physical details, but I think it's important for teens to read. When I was that age, it would have been nice to read a book like this and feel like "oh good, it's not just me."

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Jay. I saw a LOT of this plot coming...but I think that's okay because the characters are so great. Max is amazing! We need more genderqueer characters like Max. He's a good friend. He's not perfect. He has his own character arc that isn't just about his gender identity. He's a real person.

And so is Jay. He makes many mistakes, but that's okay. He grows a lot in a very short period of time.

I also really appreciate the sex-positive message of this book.

I am really looking forward to June's other books!

A phenomenal YA, Jay’s Gay Agenda is honest, heartfelt, and funny. Jason June has crafted an engaging and vibrant cast of characters that readers will be rooting for. Queer readers will especially appreciate and enjoy a story focused on their joy. Highly recommended.

Feeling like the only gay student for miles isn't easy or fun for Jay, but when his biggest wish is granted and he moves to Seattle he can finally be his true self and connect with other people like him. Jay is ready for roman and finding his tribe, but having the opportunity to live and love like any other teen comes with the challenges that all young people face as they grow up. Jay leaves his small town and lifelong best friend, Lu, to move to Seattle where he hopes to have all of his gay firsts, first kiss with a guy , losing his virginity, joining a GSA and ultimately finding love. Theres friendship drama, relationship drama and all the challenges that go along with making it through high school.
This book really represented the struggles of growing up gay in a small town. Usually in books its not until the character goes away to college that they escape their small town life and get to explore their sexuality, but this book played out that storyline while Jay was still in high school and going through the struggles that go along with growing up as well. This book would be a good read for a teen struggling with coming to terms with living their most authentic life and it shows that even when you have the opportunity to live the life you want there are still learning curves and bumps in the road along the way.

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
JAY'S GAY AGENDA is a modern twist on a classic teenage dilemma of over extending yourself. Jay's transition to city life is full of new experiences and chances to check things off his "Gay Agenda." The character growth of the main character, Jay, shows teenagers how to enjoy the experiences and blessings life has given you. Max, one of Jay's new friends in Seattle, will be a reader's favorite character. I would be interested in a sequel to watch the characters bond in college.
As a note, this is a sex positive YA book and discusses sex in a candid way.

Such an entertaining read! I loved Jay's portrayal, and honestly, I kinda loved how he was a bit of a disaster. This is an easy read too, and it was a lot of fun getting to know Jay and his world.

Jay is a high-school senior and the only openly gay kid in his small Northwestern town. He's frustrated that everyone around him has experienced so many "firsts," but he hasn't even held a guy's hand. When his mom's job transfers her to Seattle, Jay suddenly finds the vibrant gay community he's been missing and sets out to check various firsts off a list -- his "gay agenda." But Jay soon finds himself torn between his life in Seattle and the people he left behind... and threatening to hurt both his old and new friends as a result.

JAY'S GAY AGENDA is a sweet, funny story that's extremely well-told. June portrays an experience that will be familiar to any gay person who grew up in a town without a large LGBTQ+ population -- the thrill of finally being around other queer people! the chance to finally date and hook up! -- and makes it feel fresh and uniquely 2021. (June even throws in a couple of clever, backward-looking references to COVID in one of the most organic ways that I've seen fiction handle the events of the past year.)

More than anything, I appreciated that Jay was allowed to make real mistakes and that his dilemmas were always authentic and compelling. He's a character operating at the height of his intelligence, and when he screws up, you may be yelling at him not to do something, but you always understand WHY he's doing it. He finds himself stuck in some genuinely no-win situations.

Likewise, the two objects of his affection (Albert and Tony) are both depicted in a way that takes you back to the heady rush of lust and first love. It's the rare book where the flirting is so vivid, funny and specific that you genuinely *believe* it would cause two people to fall for each other.

In the subplots, Jay's genderqueer best friend, Max, who is at once confident and vulnerable -- a character type we haven't seen enough in YA lit -- gets his own compelling relationship story. And Jay's other best friend, Lu, finds her family struggling with poverty in a very real way that we also don't get enough of in literature (without the struggle ever turning so bleak that the book loses its fundamental optimism).

My only complaint of the book is the number of times Jay's central list is reprinted, in its entirety, as various items are modified or crossed off. From a clarity/readability standpoint, it feels like it would've made more sense to simply reprint specific items as they were referenced. But that's obviously a minor critique.

Bottom line: JAY'S GAY AGENDA is a charming, fresh story that's very much worth reading.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review from @NetGalley.

Perfect for fans of Love, Simon, Love, Victor, and Becky Albertalli. This is a heartfelt coming of age story as Jay learns about who he wants to date and the kind of relationship he wants to have. This book talks about sex in a very candid way. I love reading about how Jay finally feels like he belongs and is in a welcoming place. He also deals with his first heartbreak. I teared up during certain chapters!

This is a fun book and an easy read. This is the kind of story teens are used to seeing from a straight perspective - (usually) a girl moves to a new town and wants to get a boyfriend and meet new people. It's fun seeing this from Jay's perspective and watching him engage with gay culture and other gay people for the first time.

“At this stage in your life, you’re supposed to be finding out who you are.”

I’ve been looking forward to Jay’s Gay Agenda for M O N T H S! As soon as I saw the cover, I KNEW I had to have it (insert *gimme* gif here).

Let me start off by saying it makes my heart SO happy to know there are diverse LGBTQ+ sex-positive novels being published. Oh, to have this kind of media when I was a teenager! And this story, the story of being open and being able to explore without judgment... it’s a beautiful thing!

The characters are fantastic, and you can’t help but love Jay and Max, and Albert is just a little too perfect (which means you love him and want him to be real). All of the little hints towards Jay’s love of statistics kept me smiling throughout the story; I love when a characters quirks are ingrained throughout and make you feel like you’ve really gotten to know the protagonist!

Although the characters were great and the story was good, it wasn’t as exciting as I had hoped for. It’s still a great read, and I would recommend it in a heartbeat! But it’s not something new. It’s a story many of us have read before that features new characters.

Overall, it was a win! There were some plot points that had me pulling my hair in frustration, but that can sometimes be a good thing (depending on who you are as a reader). Plus, you may love the plot points that irritated me! Personal preferences are a thing, you know. 😉 I will say this: you definitely want to grab it when it comes out this summer!