Title: Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball
Author: Jason June
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: May 23, 2023
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Summary
It’s junior year, which means that it’s finally time for Riley Weaver to apply to be a part of the Gaybutante Society. An LGBTQ+ organization that helps teens make connections in the pop culture, arts, and activism industry. It’s a long process of volunteering, charity events, parties, and general gay chaos, leading up to the Gaybutante Ball. For which you need a date.
When Riley overhears Skylar saying that gay guys aren’t interested in femme guys, he decides to raise the stakes. Riley has to find a date with a masc guy before the ball or he’ll drop out of the society all together. He decides to document his journey on a podcast–but will that help him or hurt him?
Review: Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball
Thanks to HarperTeen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball by Jason June! We know that we can can expect fun gay adventures from Jason June, with a little bit of chaos, and I think that’s a great description for this book. And it’s coming out just in time for pride!
The overall concept for this book felt unique. I loved the concept of the Gaybutante Society, that helps teens make connections for the future as well as in the LGBTQ+ community. It was an overall fun idea and it’s what drew me to the story in the first place. I definitely think the general tone will make it a really fun summer read.
However, the pace of the novel made it so that some aspects felt glossed over. Giving some of the events leading up to the ball a little more breathing room not only would have helped with the world building, it also would have helped with character development. Riley’s bet at the beginning felt a little too high stakes, and kind of out of left field. Adding more character development for Riley and some of the side characters also would have helped make it feel more natural.
There were some good explorations of gender and the way gender was a spectrum, though. There are definitely teens that will relate to Riley’s journey, and I’m glad this book exists because of that.
All in all, this wasn’t my favorite of June’s books, but it will still make a fun summer read!
3/5 stars