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LEO MARTINO STEALS BACK HIS HEART by Eric Geron

LEO MARTINO STEALS BACK HIS HEART

by Eric Geron

Pub Date: Jan. 14th, 2025
ISBN: 9781335147264
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

A chronically single teen boy plans to turn himself into the perfect boyfriend—but finding love where he least expects it wasn’t on his list.

Six failed crushes have left Leonardo Martino feeling rejected and unlovable. With his senior year just beginning, he needs to work on realizing his First Great Love Story before graduation. So Leo creates the Boyfriend Material Checklist, which includes tasks to accomplish such as developing “a powerhouse presence” and getting “a glam glow-up.” As he starts checking items off the list, people begin to take notice—including middle school best friend and crush Lincoln Chan, the Chinese American boy who ghosted him after eighth grade and who’s now one of the Fierce Five, their school’s social elite. White-presenting Leo’s best friends, Dillon and Varsha, have mixed opinions on the checklist. Varsha thinks it could be a fun experiment while Dillon is eager to assure Leo that he’s great the way he is. Leo’s attempts to change himself put a strain on his relationship with both his besties, making it hard for him to open up about troubles he’s having at home. Unfortunately, the lack of on-page development of some characters’ relationships makes it difficult to believe in their stories. Similarly, Leo’s motivations seem to oscillate throughout the story without clear explanation, which lessens his relatability as a lead.

A relationship-driven story that suffers from underdeveloped characterization.

(Romance. 14-18)