An Adolescent Emotional Rollercoaster
This book is an emotional rollercoaster. Not because David Levithan puts unnecessary drama into the story, but because he digs deep into adolescent emotions. I have never read a book by this author before, although I’ve heard plenty of good reviews on them. I even gifted a friend with his book “Two Boys Kissing” in High School. Myself, I never read a single page written by David Levithan until now. Ryan and Avery did convince me that much though that it won’t stay my last experience with him.

10 Dates told a-chronologically
We get to meet Ryan and Avery on their fifth date, basically in the middle of the story. The author nonetheless chose this point of time as it is the catalyst of many conflicts to come. Then, we follow the development of their relationship forwards but also back to their very first meeting. We are allowed to witness both their individual lives and their internal conflicts while they get to know each other in the endearing way of first love. And we are taken on their struggles with the outside world. It was nonetheless very refreshing to find not their sexual orientation or Avery’s transness to be the reason for their conflicts with others. Instead, these two characters just happen to be queer. Their queerness does not present their whole being and acting.

First Love
Between conflicts and romantic and intimate moments, these two characters find themselves and each other. They make important decisions on their way of becoming adults. It appeared especially original to me that the protagonists were not in the same school or even town. This way, every one of their meetups needed to be planned and intended. They made some beautiful effort to be with each other and gave each other the support they needed whenever they needed it. We witness their first ten dates, but we are sure that this supportive and close relationship will go on for many more. Nonetheless, this book does not end in a full happy ending but in a realistic openness that perfectly represents adolescence and growing-up.

In conclusion
10 Dates, told achronologically, building warmth and proximity. My first book of the author already convinced me of his intimate and emotional style and his komplex characters. Avery and Ryan moved me immensely. Their story speaks of their coming of age and intergenerational conflicts as much as standing up for oneself.

This is only my second David Levithan book, and it’s really a crime that I haven’t read any more!

The story follows the first ten dates between Ryan and Avery, two boys from different high schools who meet at a dance for queer teenagers. The dates are told out of order, starting with their fifth date, and over the course of the book we get to know both of the boys, their relationship with each other, and their relationships with their friends and family.

Mixing up the dates order was such a great and unique approach. We started in the middle, with date number 5, and roughly worked outwards, so we got to know the backstory and what was going to happen next almost simultaneously. It was the like the plot and the characters were unwrapped bit by bit throughout the book and I loved it!

The book dealt with some really challenging topics really well, such as the difficult relationship Ryan has with his parents. I thought that Levithan did an excellent job of embracing the messiness and difficulties of real life, where not everything gets neatly fixed and tied up with a bow.

The star of the show though is, of course, Ryan and Avery’s relationship. Levithan really captured the intensity of that first teenage love, while still giving them a solid grounding that made the romance all the more satisfying. They complemented each other really well, and even though we knew they would stay together, there was still a sense of glorious inevitability about their relationship.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

This book was pure queer joy. It was sweet, it was romantic and it was filled with the joy of new relationships. I loved Avery and Ryan so much as characters, balancing their lives in high school with their relationship despite the roadblocks that Ryan’s parents put in their way.

It was really really good to see a trans boy in a queer romance book. Trans representation is still sorely lacking in LGBTQ+ fiction and it’s really good that in the last year there’ve been a couple I’ve come across. It makes me hope that we’re making progress.

Honestly, this book was just so relaxing to read. The narration was wonderful, really fitting the characters well and it was just a great audiobook to curl up and listen to.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this cute abd charming audiobook. It it we follow the first dates of Rysn and Avery, two boys (cis and trans) who will gradually get to know each other and fall in love. I really appreciated all the important subjects the authors deals with in this book, from coming out to bullying to mental health issues. The characters are extremely relatable and the story overall quite moving.

Ryan and Avery was an enjoyable audio book. Theirs is a sweet, heart warming love story with themes of family relationships and acceptance. I liked the split timeline switching between current time and their past dates in descending order, however I did find the book a little flat in places, but overall enjoyable.

this review is coming a little late but I was so excited to receive an arc of this audiobook.
David Levithan has been one of my favourite authors since I was a teenager and his work will always hold such a special place in my heart.
I'm definitely well grown out of the fiction he writes, but I still find his books so warm and comforting.
I read the book alongside listening to the audio and despite not being chronological and switching point-of-view, it was easy to follow along and definitely kept you waiting for their 10th and 1st date. The characters were familiar as a long time Levithan fan and it was nice to have a book of his that covered a lot of topical, societal issues today in an understandable way, which is great for the demographic.
Reading as my current almost 25 year old self, I would rate it 2.5 stars, but I put myself in the shoes of 14 year old moon who was only just discovering their queer identity while reading, so I have to rate it what they would have.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the audio arc

I found the third person narration a bit clunky and slow, and it made me feel somewhat removed from the action, which really made it harder for me to engage with the book. That said, it's a lovely story which covers important issues without lecturing, and it's a sweet read.

I really enjoyed this audiobook as the story was told in a way that I've never come across before. Despite not being chronological and having no one set point-of-view, it was easy to follow along and it even built suspense as you kept waiting for their 10th and 1st date. The characters were simple yet likeable and the story followed seamlessly from one chapter to another. It covered a lot of topical, important issues in society today in a way that felt effortless and was easy to understand. The only reason I didn't give this book more stars was due to my own personal reasons since this story would suit teenagers much better than adults, or even young adults, so I found it overly simplistic at times.

Really lovely narration here, the voice was strong and compelling. Both main characters were relatable and warm, a perfect YA audiobook.

tw. s*lf harm, homo- and transph*bia, vi*lence, eating disorder

I’m a hopeless romantic so I really, really enjoyed this very romantic book. This was so pure and cute!
It reflects countless fears and thoughts that teenagers have with their first love, and I found myself in many of those worries and thoughts and conflicts when I was younger and figuring out my sexuality, my preferences, what I want and don’t want. It deals with how your environment reacts to you as a queer individual, and the struggles that often come with it.

This book reminded me a lot of Heartstopper. It has an equally adorable and easy vibe to it with lots of representation, while dealing with mental health issues, even if only briefly.

For me, it was kind of tough at first to get into the book and understand Avery’s and Ryan’s dynamic, because it’s not told chronologically. I liked it that way, now looking back, because it felt like a little puzzle. And once you knew how things would develop, you’re really excited to find out how everything began.
The book begins with date 5, and then always switches between one after that and one before that. So after chapter 5 comes 6, then 4, then 7, then 3, and so on. It’s a rhythm I had to learn and get used to, but once I knew, I enjoyed it and was very excited to get to date 1 and 10.

I listened to the audiobook which NetGalley was so kind to send to me (thank you!), and I really loved the way it was read. The narrator switched voices between different characters, and after some time, I knew who was speaking without their names having been said.

The writing style is rather unusual, in my eyes, because it doesn’t have a concrete POV. Most of the books I’ve read switch between POVs only when the chapters change. This book changes the POVs sometimes in the span of just a few sentences. It’s very easy to follow, as it is always clearly stated. For example something along the lines of ‘While Avery felt excited to be here, Ryan was anxious.’
Like this, you have a very good overview of everyone’s feelings and thoughts at every moment of the book, which was unusual but amazing! You’re not left wondering what the other one’s thinking, because you know.

I can highly recommend this adorably queer book for everyone who’s looking for an easy book to read before going to bed or to listen to while doing chores or traveling. It’s entertaining and cute and romantic and sweet and so so so lovely

I listen to this via audiobook. The narrator did a fantastic job conveying the boy's emotions and relationship struggles. I think the way the set of parents for each boy was so different helped to show why Ryan and Avery are like they are. With blue hair, Ryan, the redhead Avery, and I met at a gay prom and clicked immediately. We accompany them on all their dates as they negotiate their emotions and the outside world, whether rowing along a river or being stuck in a snowstorm.

Avery deserves someone kind and considerate, so there were moments during this when I wanted to smack Ryan and tell him not to let his rage ruin everything. However, I believe it just made his path more complex, and given his parents' terrible lack of support, it seems sense that he has emotional difficulties. I'm happy he has Avery and his aunt to help him through it.

I think this book tackles transphobia and homophobia, which both boys have to go through I am happy that it also shows support through their friends. I feel this is a highly critical highlighted situation that happens within the LGBTQI+ community, offering the double edge sword. It can be a good and bad experience.

#ryanandavery #netgalley #LGBTQI+ #queer #teensandya #yougadult

This is a charming story of the blooming love between two queer teenagers in America. It tells the story of their first 10 dates in a non-linear fashion while also showing enough of their home lives and friends to get a feel for who they are.

Blue haired Ryan and Pink haired Avery meet at a queer prom and immediately hit it off. We follow them through each of their dates, everything from rowing down a river to being trapped by a snowstorm, as they navigate their feelings and the world around them.

There were time in this when I wanted to shake Ryan and stop him from letting his anger jeopardise anything as Avery deserves someone soft and thoughtful, but I think that added to his journey and with his extremely unsupportive parents it's understandable he struggles with his emotions. I'm glad he has his aunt and Avery to support him through it.

I also appreciate that this book tackled the transphobia and homophobia that both boys had to deal with while also allowing them to feel happiness, joy and have the support of their friends. It's important to highlight the discrimination that the LGBTQ community faces but it's also equally important to show the LGBTQ youth that they get to feel joy too. I think this book balances that well.

this was such a sweet book!! David Levithan literally never disappoints!!
I loved the rep, the dates, and everything else. There were times when Ryan's POV hit a little too close to home and made me cry so that was great /s
Highly recommend this book!!!!

Ah man, these Ryan and Avery are adorable. Levithan writes with his usual sensitivity, insight and skill, easily making us love these two. Every part of it was believable and infused with Levithan’s wisdom. I listened to the audiobook which was excellent , well read and with the perfect choice of voice.

Although the story wasn`t chronologically (that is the one and only thing i thought was a bit annoying) it was a very sweet and heartful story.
You can see the development of their relationship in each of the dates and that was so cool to hear.
And despite the tangible love between Ryan and Avery you can feel the totally normal akwardness and the hesitation because their heart is at risk.
The problems they have to fight on their own are present, too, but both work up the courage to talk to each other.
In my opinion this is a very openminded and healthy presentation of a relationship between teenagers.
I liked every second of it. (Apart from the not chronologically story)

I loved this YA coming of age love story. Ryan and Avery stole a little bit of my heart today. A beautiful LGBTQ novel. There are a few trigger warnings for homophobia and bullying, but in all it’s a really sweet tender tale of first love. We follow Ryan and Avery over their first ten dates, albeit not in order they build the foundations of their love in a really stunning way.

One I’d definitely recommend. All the stars 🌟 #Jorecommends

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins audio for the permission to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request to listen to an audio book arc of this book.

This book tells the story of the dates between Avery and Ryan. I did find the way the book flipped backwards and forwards in time a bit confusing at times, but once I kept track of the number of dates they were on, it was easier to know if they were back when they’d recently just started dating, or had been dating for months.
Both boys are very different, from their home lives, experiences with growing up cis and trans, to their hobbies, but they are an example of opposites attract.
I enjoyed the story but I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style, so the audio book worked out well for this one.

This was a solid 3 star read. This is a YA, LGBTQ+ love story. There is no smut, just good clean fun. I would recommend to teenaged and YA readers to get a better understanding.

This was a joyous and moving read. David Leviathan has a way to my heart with his writing and here, he brings to life the most beautiful story with such class and style.

David Levithan comes across, as you know he will, with a wonderful and sensitive narrative style that captivates you and draws you into the story. However, it is personally too excessive for me at some points, but I think die-hard Levithan readers will handle it well. :)

Nevertheless, it is difficult for me to rate the book itself.
While listening to it, I just realized that this is no longer my genre. Or at least the story about Ryan and Avery. The book couldn’t carry me away - couldn’t captivate me and keep me enthralled.
But that’s okay because preferences change and at some point, you come across a work where it strikes you.

Nonetheless, I think Levithan has written a wonderful novel that will inspire many people. It is a subject that needs to be addressed and should be addressed and that has been done here. The book can certainly give many people courage, hope, and the feeling of „being right“.
And even though I have not fallen off my chair with enthusiasm, I can say that for people who like lgbtiaq+ and ya, the book is an excellent work that treats its protagonists sensitively and lovingly.

Jamie K. Brown did a wonderful job of narrating. At a comfortable pace, Brown breathed a lot of life and emotion into Ryan, Avery and the whole story. I enjoyed listening and could lose myself in Brown’s voice.

I give the audiobook three stars for that very reason, even though I can’t really rate the story itself. As I said above, I don’t think I’m the right audience after all, but that this book/audiobook is wonderful for people who love this genre and/or are perhaps in a similar phase of life as our protagonists. Brown has simply breathed a lot of life into the whole thing and that is why the audiobook deserves its fairly deserved three stars.