I had a lot of fun writing this list and even more fun reading the books.
I have since read another book that I would add: Skater Boy by Anthony Nerada, but I read it after I submitted to the website, so it missed out, sadly.
Crushing It is a queer YA cosy romance with low stakes. There are several other books that have a similar style, in one way or another, to my book. Here is the image I made with all the covers of the style comparisons.
Books and TV shows that have a similar style as Crushing It. Pictures of Heartstopper Vol 1-4 by Alice Oseman, And They Lived… by Steven Salvatore, Out of the Blue by Jason June, So This is Ever After by F. T. Lukens, Camp by L. C. Rosen, Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, Stuck With You by ‘Nathan Burgoine, Then Everything Happens at Once by M-E Girard, In The Key of Dale by Benjamin Lefebvre, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan, Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Disney’s High School Musical The Musical The Series, Young Royals, Sex Education, Love, Simon, and Love Victor all surround the image of the book Crushing It by Jen Desmarais.
Summary
After an epic grounding for some bad decisions with even worse friends, Tommy is lucky to even go to the Door Tech March Break camp. There, he crosses paths with Carter Batudev, and chemistry isn’t just for the classroom. With love and a renewed interest in STEM, Tommy returns home to Parry Sound, where, to the relief of his parents, he makes better friends, and joins the STEM club.
When the club goes to the province-wide competition in Toronto, he’s reunited with Carter, whose team is also competing. Thus ensues a wild long weekend full of romance, hijinks, STEM, and singing.
Includes a novelette from Carter’s POV at the dinner theatre show Knights of Everdome.
I’m certain that this topic could be discussed in WAY greater detail. A whole dissertation’s worth, in fact. However, I don’t have that kind of time and I’m not getting a PhD afterwards. Feel free to continue the comments.
Story time:
We watched Let it Snow on Netflix a couple weeks ago. (Super cute movie) In this movie, there is a lesbian relationship. I don’t think it’s spoilers to say that the girls kiss at some point during the movie. Our 3 year old daughter was very confused by this kiss. “Where’s the boy?” she kept asking. It took us a few tries to figure out what she was getting at. Apparently we’ve been watching too many Disney movies, because to her, relationships were a boy and a girl. I say were, because as soon as the movie was over, we corrected her. She didn’t believe us. So we pulled out a book that we haven’t read to her in a while (apparently). Promised Land. It’s a typical fairytale romance, with just the one slight change. The romantic leads are two men. She believed us after that, thankfully.
I’m not saying that Disney movies (or any other movie or book) is wrong to portray heterosexual relationships. Go for it.
But I’d like some diversity, please.
I’d like, for once, for a Christmas movie to have two men play the romantic leads. And I DON’T want the movie to be about them “finding themselves” or “coming out to the family” or any other trope.
I want the typical romantic movie. One goes home for Christmas to his family from the big city. Oh look, the guy he had a crush on is still super hot. Hijinks ensue. Due to Christmas magic, they end up together. You know, the Christmas movie we usually get on Hallmark channel.
And I know the perfect book to adapt. Faux Ho Ho, by ‘Nathan Burgoine, has ALL my favourite tropes. They were roommates, check. Fake relationship, check. There was only one bed, check.
So come on, Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime! I know the book was only released yesterday, but why haven’t you made a movie yet??
I want my children to grow up with movies and books that include all types of relationships. Gay, lesbian, poly, ace, you name it, I want it. And please use the same tropes as for the het relationships.
‘Nathan was a joy to meet at Can*Con! He was nominated for an Aurora Award for his YA novel Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks, incidentally up against my husband. I voted for both of them. 🙂
Learn more about ‘Nathan here, and you can buy his nominated book (and others) here!
(PS I just realized you get to see ‘Nathan twice in a row on our blog! Unintentional I assure you!)
