★★★★★

Young love is often messy. Think romantic entanglement, but real, where struggling against the bindings only makes the situation worse. And messy is the brilliant core of Jordon Greene’s How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend, a queer, sort-of retelling of that one movie where the MC lies about being in a relationship with someone in a coma (While You Were Sleeping, which I’ve never seen.)

Enter Kenzie, an enby barista who finds themselves instantly trapped behind a single, silly lie that quickly compounds until nearly everyone in their orbit is involved, including their comatose (not) boyfriend, Hayden. Kenzie isn’t exactly a conventionally likeable character, but they are eminently relatable. They embody that specific age of existential struggle, desperately trying to figure out identity in a variety of ways, including witchcraft, worshipping Norse gods, listening to K-pop, and exploring abandoned buildings. Ultimately, Kenzie’s search is one of profound connection, seeking the romantic and familial ties they feel their life is lacking. Who can’t relate to that fundamental human drive?

Kenzie’s impulse to lie is frustrating at times, in the same way I often found myself frustrated in real-life situations where I was forced to hide the truth for self-preservation. Anyone who grew up queer in a conservative household knows that pain of emotional concealment. Kenzie’s immediate context is different. Their community seems largely accepting of their non-binary identity. But I absolutely get their instinct to deploy that protective lie, even if I don’t agree with their choices.

Greene keeps the story light, despite the potentially dark premise, and surrounds Kenzie with a vibrant cast of loving, supportive characters. The book is filled with fun, pop culture references that give it a relatable energy. Yes, the situation is messy. But in Greene’s hands, messy becomes fun, charming, and undeniably relatable.