An adorable and quirky romantic coming-of-age story, Whatever by S.J. Goslee will have you cringing, laughing, crying, and rooting for romance.
Hilarity ensues when a slacker teen boy discovers he’s gay, in this unforgettably funny YA debut.
Mike Tate is a normal dude. He and his friends have a crappy band (an excuse to drink cheap beer and rock out to the Lemonheads) and hang out in parking lots doing stupid board tricks. But when Mike’s girlfriend Lisa, who knows him better than he does, breaks up with him, he realizes he’s about to have a major epiphany that will blow his mind. And worse–he gets elected to homecoming court.
It’s like the apocalypse came, only instead of nuclear bombs and zombies, Mike gets school participation, gay thoughts, and mother-effin’ cheerleaders.
With the free spirit of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the raw voice of Winger, and characters reminiscent of Freaks & Geeks, this debut YA offers a standout voice and a fresh, modern take on the coming-out story.
Mike + Rook Wallace = 4EVER. Like, this is the cutest romance I’ve encountered in a book in recent memory. Mike is such a clueless tool sometimes, but oh my gosh is he adorable when he unwittingly falls for the guy he has deemed his “nemesis.” And Wallace is just … like, geez, he’s so wonderful. This is a couple you want to root for, and seeing them come together (or try to, at least) was one of the biggest driving forces for me in Whatever. It’s largely what kept me eagerly turning the pages and racing to pick up my book at the end of each day.
That’s not to say it was the only thing that engaged me. I really loved seeing the friendship between Mike and his buddies, and the struggles they go through as they each grow, change, and mature. Every friendship has growing pains, and Goslee illustrates that really nicely in the different obstacles Mike and his various friends face in their relationships.
And also, there’s Lisa, who may have a clue when it comes to Mike and his buddies and Rook Wallace, but obviously still has a few things to figure out for herself.
And Rosie, Mike’s sassy and sarcastic little sister, who is secretly the real star of this whole book.
Plus, it’s funny as hell. I mean, literally laughing out loud funny! So if you hate laughing, then turn away now. But Goslee also does a great job of balancing the humor with heart; there’s just so much to love about these characters, and her writing really helps you embrace each individual and their stories.
Whatever is sweet and funny and everything I look for in a YA novel, wrapped up in a really charming and adorable package. Look for it in stores now.
Novel Novice 
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