How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee

4*

Here’s a cute YA rom-com with a fresh take on the fake-dating trope. Nolan Grant, 16 and openly gay, just wants to fly under the radar, devoting his time to his art, his plants and his quirky adoptive family. However, after she’s dumped, his older sister Daphne makes it her mission to find him a date for prom and experience his first kiss. When his promposal to his secret crush Si O’Mara, a sweet, popular, gay jock, goes awry, it’s Ira Bernstein (Bern), a brooding tough kid who bullied him when he came out freshman year, who ends up agreeing to be his date. They both stand to gain something from it: Bern needs to send a clear message to scary ex-girlfriend Gia that he’s moved on and Nolan needs Daphne off his back. All of the elements that make fake-dating a popular theme are present: being convincing enough with awkward displays of affection that friends and family believe it’s real and the hilarious scenarios that arise from misunderstandings. The twist is that, although a true friendship develops between this unlikely pair, Nolan doesn’t know if the growing affection between them is manufactured or if he’s misjudged Bern from the start. If you’re looking for a funny, light-hearted romance that bypasses the typical teenage angst and keeps you guessing until the end, pick this one up.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Roaring Brook Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.