SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Ok, so I’m rereading this book right now, and I am just- wow, I am just dying over here. God, I’m such a sap. First of all, the emails. Oh my god the emails. It’s the most romantic thing ever, writing love letters to each other via email and quoting famous love letters in them. I can’t decide on my favorite, but I just spend most of the time reading this book screaming and squealing.
Also, oh my god I love Alex but wow I feel bad for Liam. Like that’s got to suck. They had a legit relationship, and Alex didn’t even know. Hell, Alex didn’t even know he wasn’t straight. When Liam was first mentioned, I was like: why would you drop a friend like that just before he moved. Then, once Alex started having his identity crisis, I realized: oh. That was an actual break up. Ok, I got it now.
Continuing, I also love the Latinx representation in this book. I’m Argentine, and a lot of people assume that just because my dad is Latino, he’s homophobic. Which like, yes, some Latinx people are homophobic. So are people who are not Latinx. Anyway, so I love Alex’s dad’s reaction. He just very much takes it in stride. Actually, I love how he just tries to slip it into the conversation and progressively becomes less subtle when Alex doesn’t notice at first. Though Ellen Claremont’s “Exploring Your Sexuality: Healthy, But Does It Have To Be With the Prince of England?” slide will always be iconic.
Now, on to quotes. Because I am obsessed with quotes and this book has some of the absolute best. Not to mention, the lines: “Of course I want you-“ “Then fucking have me!” destroy me every time. Though, let’s be honest. Nearly every other line of this book, especially anything Alex and Henry say to each other, kind of destroys me. Also, “I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire.” That, that is absolutely amazing. It makes me want a love that would set me on fire. And “I love him on purpose,” is such a romantic line. How loving Henry is a choice Alex is making, something he wants.
Some other amazing quotes include “America, he is my choice,” and “History will remember us.” Honestly, the way this book looks at love and legacy is just really moving. Another quote on the topic is, “Henry’s smiling so wide and bright that Alex thinks his heart’s going to break trying to hold the size of this entire moment, the completeness of it, a thousand years of history swelling inside his rib cage.” I love how this quote makes me think about how, though we’ve certainly still got ways to go, our present is the result of our history, our rights a result of the fights our ancestors and previous generations fought.
Ok, now I’m done with the reread. Seriously, this book is peak escapism and is just beautiful. Isn’t it nice to read a book that’s so hopeful?
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