IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND

Soon-to-be high school senior Harry has to choose between his charming ex-boyfriend and the new boy in town.

Harry doesn’t have time for boys this summer—he is focused on writing a screenplay to help him get into college and begin his Hollywood career. Then he meets Logan, who is staying with his aunt and uncle in the small Florida town of Citrus Harbor for the summer and working at the beach club Harry’s family frequents. Unfortunately, Grant, Harry’s ex, is back in town, and even though Harry likes Logan, there are still sparks and memories between him and Grant. The story is both modeled on and heavily references romantic comedy films ranging from the 1970s to the 2000s. Weber sets out to capture the feel of those classic rom-coms and largely succeeds. Everything from the meet-cute to the makeup kiss is sweet and satisfying. The other narrative influence is, surprisingly, superhero movies, reflected in the excerpts from Harry’s fictional screenplay that are interspersed between the chapters. This debut is a light beach read that scratches an itch for readers craving a gay romance that incorporates classic romance tropes. All main characters are implied to be White except for Harry’s best friend, Hailey, who is Filipina.

A cute story populated with appealing characters.