Bee reviewed Jay's Gay Agenda by Jason June
Review of "Jay's Gay Agenda" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Jay's Gay Agenda, the debut novel for Jason June is an incredible read and shines a genuine light onto the reality of what it is like for gay teens as they navigate the minefield that is dating and that goes with it.
Our protagonist, Jay dares to be flawed even if he may not necessarily realise he is at first because for far too long, Jay has been the only openly gay teen in his small town. Then the big city of Seattle beckons and Jay is without doubt; out of his depth and mistakes a-plenty occur as he attempts to find his place in a city that has a wonderfully diverse gay community. His agenda is wonderful in its blend of naivety and hope alongside the clear indication that Jay wants to make up for lost time and it is his naivity of how his world works, is where …
Jay's Gay Agenda, the debut novel for Jason June is an incredible read and shines a genuine light onto the reality of what it is like for gay teens as they navigate the minefield that is dating and that goes with it.
Our protagonist, Jay dares to be flawed even if he may not necessarily realise he is at first because for far too long, Jay has been the only openly gay teen in his small town. Then the big city of Seattle beckons and Jay is without doubt; out of his depth and mistakes a-plenty occur as he attempts to find his place in a city that has a wonderfully diverse gay community. His agenda is wonderful in its blend of naivety and hope alongside the clear indication that Jay wants to make up for lost time and it is his naivity of how his world works, is where the flaws in Jay's personality begin to show.
Jason June creates a world that is truly brought to life, I may have never been to Seattle but you can feel the bustle of the streets, hear the noise of the large city and the many places Jay and his friends go together. Then there's the diverse group of teens that you and Jay meet when he moves, I absolutely love the LGBTQ representation that shows its perfectly normal for teens to be exploring both their gender and sexuality from a young age but also knowing who they are even at 15 or so. (Both of which need to be acknowledged in the media soon so kids don't feel alone)
I don't like spoilers in reviews but I will say Jay does make some mistakes when he's trying to fulfil his agenda. He hurts people, and he's unwittingly very selfish but let's not forget? He's a teenager- and he's now in a metaphorical sweet shop after being truly alone. But he is innately a good boy, and you see that even when he messes up and is misguided and misled by his new friends at times and feels hurt by his BFF, Lu who he left behind - I didn't like how either of the two treated each other to be honest, but you can't help but root for their friendship to survive the distance and changes in their lives.
There is a realism to not only Jay's life, but those around him and I didn't want it to end as it's a book that truly draws you in.
Jay's Gay Agenda is perfect - I loved every moment of it and the best thing is Jason June is giving us a sequel so more chaos will ensue I imagine!
