Know Not Why

Late to the party on this one but so glad it was recommended to me. Absolutely adorable story, with a 22 year old smartest-of-smart-asses narrator whose plot to get a job at a craft store so he can get laid by one of the female employees goes seriously awry when he finds himself attracted to his male boss. There's much more than the romance here, which is sweet and funny (and very much fade to black, in case that's important to you). Howie has to come to terms with his sexuality and learn to be honest with himself, his family and his long-time friends. At the same time, the girls he hoped to “nail” at the craft store turn out to be the new friends he didn't know he needed. And he is just starting to figure out what he wants out of life after several years of serious underachievement.

There are so many hilarious snarky lines and scenes that I can't even begin to list them as Howie realizes the wonder of falling in love with a special person even as he's freaking out about how everyone will react. The object of his affection, Arthur, is maybe a little too patient but that just makes it even more of a feel-good, destined t0 be re-read, book.

Loses a star for some tone-deaf use of the phases “slut” and “ho.” I know Howie is supposed to be immature, but those phrases just make me wince. Also there is some major mockery of romance novels, which I hope is meant to be ironic and meta.