The Sky Blues

Sky Larson has a plan to ask his crush Brandon to prom at their small-town Michigan high school. His coming out happened by accident last year, but he's determined to make this promposal perfect. An anonymous cyberbully derails Sky's plans by leaking his personal text messages to the entire student body. Sky must navigate the fallout while dealing with his mother's absence, his strained relationship with his brother, and the daily challenges of being one of the only openly gay students at Rock Ledge High. Sky finds support from unexpected places as he works to unmask the person behind the cyberbullying. His close friend Bree and a few new allies help him stand up to discrimination at school while he pursues both justice and romance. The book addresses themes of self-acceptance, chosen family, and finding courage in the face of prejudice. Through Sky's story, the narrative explores how communities can either perpetuate or combat homophobia and cyberbullying.

Readers describe The Sky Blues as a sweet, lighthearted coming-of-age story with an authentic teenage voice. Most find main character Sky's journey relatable and appreciate the balanced handling of serious topics like homophobia alongside humor and romance. Liked: - Strong friendships and family dynamics - Representation of small-town LGBTQ+ experiences - Optimistic tone despite difficult subjects - Realistic high school setting and dialogue Disliked: - Some found the plot predictable - Several readers wanted more character development - A few noted the pacing felt slow in the middle - Minor complaints about the resolution feeling rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (230+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (40+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Perfect for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda who want another uplifting queer teen story." Notable criticism: "Sweet but plays it too safe with familiar YA romance tropes."

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli A closeted teen faces blackmail and navigates his first romance while trying to keep his email relationship with an anonymous classmate private.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson A queer Black teen runs for prom queen to win a scholarship and falls for her competition.

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye A closeted student participates in a dare where the most popular boy must date someone new each week, leading to an unexpected connection.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Two Mexican-American teens form a bond that grows into something deeper as they navigate identity, family, and sexuality.

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli Two boys meet at a post office and attempt to turn their chance encounter into a relationship despite New York City's challenges and complications.

🌈 The Sky Blues was Robbie Couch's debut novel, released in 2021, and was inspired by his own experiences growing up gay in rural Michigan. 💌 The promposal storyline was influenced by the author's own high school experience of never having the chance to ask someone to prom as his authentic self. 📚 The book addresses serious topics like cyberbullying and homophobia while maintaining an ultimately hopeful and optimistic tone that earned praise from critics. 🏳️‍🌈 Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda author Becky Albertalli endorsed the novel, calling it "a perfect balance of heart, humor, and truth." 🗺️ The story is set in the fictional town of Robertson, Michigan, which Couch based on several small Midwestern towns he knew growing up to create an authentic setting for Sky's story.