Title: Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts
Author: Adam Sass
Publisher: Viking Books
Publication date: July 16, 2024
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Summary
Grant Rossi has been cursed ever since making a wish on his family’s Wishing Rose. All of his romantic relationships don’t seem to last; they always come to an end. After his most recent breakup (and probably most public), he heads back to his family’s B&B for the summer. To help them refurbish it to hopefully reopen by the end of summer. Grant also hopes to get his creative spark back.
However, what he doesn’t expect is to find his childhood crush, Ben, also working at the Bed and Breakfast. His first crush who also lead to his first broken heart. Will Grant be able to bury the past and work with Ben? Or will he end the summer with yet another broken heart?
Review: Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advanced copy of Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts by Adam Sass to review! Adam Sass has shown that he can write a variety of genres, and I was enchanted by this book from the beginning. Though not necessarily a fairytale in itself, it does have sort of fairytale vibes with the curse. The descriptions of the little bed and breakfast his family owned sounded lovely, and definitely like a place that I’d visit!
At it’s surface, this is a book about curses. But it is also a book about Grant working through his anxiety and trauma with relationships and being queer. His emotional journey is so satisfying by the end. Done with high school, he is also trying to figure out what path he wants to take with the rest of his life. These are all emotional beats that teens will relate to as they read Grant’s story.
The relationship between Grant and Ben is so strained at first, but that also evolves throughout. They are honestly adorable together, and I enjoyed getting to see them grow. The other side characters, especially Grant’s family, are all fun additions, and just make the book generally fun to read.
All in all, if you’re looking for a queer romance to add to your docket this summer, definitely check this one out in July!
4/5 stars