Genderfluid Cinderella? Adorable HS Romance? Yes, I'll take this now.

I think I have to start simply by just sharing that I loved this book. Cinderella Boy is one of the books that I'd have to describe as "sweet but still savory." It has some "squee"-able moments and a sometimes awkward but adorable teen romance, but it's still savory and packed with depth that really gets you thinking. I am a sucker for books that entertain but still challenge me to think, and wow, Cinderella Boy will suck you in and push you to evaluate relationships, sexuality & social identity, the way we treat people who are different from us, and what we want our future to look like.

The book is kind of divided into two parts: Layla and Carter's whirlwind romance & Dex and Carter's journey to build a relationship.

After Carter is swept away by Layla's brutal honesty and fresh outlooks, the two of them go on several dates where they're both continually challenged. Carter starts to evaluate what love, respect, and trust really mean- how do you show them? How do you earn them? while Layla/Dex struggles to figure out who he really is. He knows that he's interested in boys, but is he just Dex? Why does he finally feel so free when he's out in the world as Layla?

This first half moves a bit slowly, but it has some great thought-provoking conversations, bittersweet romantic moments, and some great comedic relief when Layla schools Carter's jocktourage on what a girl's world is really like (and how to play paintball like a boss b*tch).

Even with a slower pace, I think those moments as Layla were completely essential- Dex is finally able to experiment and try to understand himself and how to live his best, most authentic life. He needs that time as Layla to help him in his own journey.

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The second half jumps quickly enough into some complicated school politics. Challenged by Layla and Dex, Carter also has his own journey of self-discovery ahead of him. He wants to be brave, be bold, be someone who makes a difference instead of just pleasing others. When the LGBTQ+ community is completely ignored and insulted by their principal and BOE, Dex and Carter bring out the best in each other as they fight to get some justice.

Meister has built such a rich cast of characters that are hard to resist.

Dex's wit, intellect, and raw honesty won me over in just a few pages. He's sincere and lonely and desperate to just be himself; regardless of sexual or gender identity, I think any reader can find pieces of themselves in Dex's struggles and triumphs.

Carter, our other leading man, is confident, open-minded, and charming. He's Mr. Popularity on the surface, but underneath he's a sweetheart-ed boy who's looking for someone to inspire him.

The rapport between the boys feels so genuine and smooth; the relationship between them is natural.

Cinderella Boy is a story about finding and fighting for yourself, but it's also a story where love comes from an unexpected place. Meister has written a beautiful story about two boys who will challenge you to think about your world as you laugh and cheer along with them.

I'm extremely excited to dive into whatever she writes next.