Review Detail

Is it a book about coming out? The ambiguous sexual orientation of the cute new guy may make it seem so. Is it a book about the lives of the rich and famous? The setting, an elite private school, may lead us to believe so. Is it a book about not letting crushes get in the way of friendships? The plot about two best buds interested in the same boy may imply so. In truth, it's every one of these things, but above all, Is He or Isn't He? is a book about having a crush on someone but not having the courage to tell them how you feel.

The action is centered around best friends Anthony and Paige's attempts to figure out whether their crush object Max is gay or straight without asking him directly. Various parties, movie nights, weekends in the country and other projects allow the two to interact with the enigmatic cutie as he sends mixed signals and refuses to divulge the least bit of personal information. But the real interest of this novel isn't the various schemes the two cook up to analyze Max, it's the way their schemes force them to analyze themselves, which eventually gives both of them the confidence to be who they are.

This novel doesn't fall into the trap so many others do of focusing excessively on the wealthy characters' material existence, rendering them too superficial to be sympathetic. Through their words and actions and the 3rd-person narration (which includes some touching back-story anecdotes), these kids actually develop into profound, nice people. Talented, charming Anthony is just a normal guy who happens to be gay. Readers will appreciate a realistic novel about a queer teen who doesn't struggle with his sexuality--although he does deal with the problematic situation of liking someone who he's not sure shares his preferences. Paige sometimes takes a backseat to Anthony, but readers will be equally interested in the story of this pretty girl who acts like an ice princess and dresses like a frump to keep people from loving her just for her looks. Supporting characters such as plus-sized teen model Colleen, jock-turned-gentleman Paolo, and sympathetic waiter Roger are original, believable, and appealing. Romantic, fun, and much more substantial than expected, Is He or Isn't He? is sure to please.