Title: Boyfriends with Girlfriends
Author: Alex Sanchez
Publisher: S & S Childrens
Published: April 19, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemps, LGBT
Pages: 224
Source: Galley Grab

Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences?

Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's gay? Does it mean she's bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.

Lance, Sergio, Allie and Kimiko are the teens next door living and loving in suburbia, doing their best to navigate high school, relationships and their identities all at the same time. Lance has been out for a while, Sergio swings both ways and has been comfortable with it, Kimiko can't believe a girl like Allie might be in her league after all. These four friends are on a collision course that will, inevitably, bring them together as friends or tear them apart based on stereotypes and prejudices in society. All the while though, the four must learn and come to terms with who they really are inside and what that means for those around them.

I'll just say this outright - Boyfriends with Girlfriends is far from my comfort zone in YA literature, but when I made the decision to read more contemporary fiction this year, I meant that in its entirety. I have no qualms with LGBT storylines and, in fact, find them to be some of the most poignant within the genre of YA fiction. Alex Sanchez takes a decidedly upfront approach in Boyfriends with Girlfriends, never mincing his words or hiding behind hidden agendas. Preaching tolerance, growth and the overwhelming need for everyone to be comfortable with who they are, Boyfriends with Girlfriends is brimming with a message that is powerful and needed in society today.

There are two sides to what I just said though. Some books take a delicate tone when directing a reader towards a message. Boyfriends with Girlfriends was not one of these books. It was extremely direct from page one, illustrating very vividly that whether one is bi, gay, curious or straight, we are who we are. None if it is a cop-out and none if it is a lie. In a book like Boyfriends with Girlfriends, I think this approach works, and though it's not my favourite take on literature, I got what I was supposed to get from the book. The characters were likable and approachable (especially Sergio - his confusion was accessible and believable), the relationships between families and friends were honest and true to form, but I have to say that it was all a bit overshadowed by the prominence of the message. It's not a bad thing, but I prefer subtleties, if you know what I mean.

All in all, Boyfriends with Girlfriends was a good book. No, it wasn't my favourite by a long shot, but it had a strong message that I think is often lacking in YA fiction. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy the YA genre, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and LGBT storylines.

I received this eARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

FOR REVIEW:

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury - (eARC - Thank you, Simon & Schuster Galley Grab) - Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.

Boyfriends With Girlfriends by Alex Sanchez - (eARC - Thank you, Simon & Schuster Galley Grab) - Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences? Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's lesbian? Does it mean she's bi?

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott - (eARC - Thank you, Simon & Schuster Galley Grab) - Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible. Until the accident. Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

FOR REVIEW

Stay by Deb Caletti - (eARC - Thank you, Simon & Schuster Galley Grab) - Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

BOUGHT

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-as-dishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

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Remember, I have two international giveaways going on now! Enter to be one of three winners for a choice of 6 ARCs in my Birthday Bash Giveaway (ends 3/30) and, while you're at it, enter to win an ARC of Awaken (ends 4/15)!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Boyfriends with Girlfriends
Author: Alex Sanchez
Publisher: S & S Children's
Published: April 19, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 224

Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences?

Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's lesbian? Does it mean she's bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.

Boyfriends with Girlfriends is Alex Sanchez at his best, writing with a sensitive hand to portray four very real teens striving to find their places in the world--and with each other.

Someone asked me the other day why I don't think contemporary fiction is my thing, and I told them that I thought so much of it is formulaic and the same-old, same-old. I really long to read books that take risks and step outside the box. So, in line with my personal contemporary challenge, I've been on the hunt for something different. I like that Boyfriends with Girlfriends isn't something I've read before. I don't think I've read enough LGBT story lines, and I'm interested to see how this is done. Plus, it sounds like there's a lot of internal struggles going on here, and I like watching those transitions. Colour me crazy. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

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Today is day 9 of The Long Weekend Blog Tour! Be sure to check out today's tour stop over at Savannah's blog, Books With Bite! She's got an awesome review, interview and international giveaway for you today, so be sure to enter!