I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Loophole by Naz Kutub Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on June 21, 2022
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / General, Young Adult Fiction / LGBTQ, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / New Experience, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Prejudice & Racism
Pages: 336
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
A gay Muslim boy travels the world for a second chance at love after a possibly magical heiress grants him three wishes in this YA debut that's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda with a twist of magic.
Sy placed all his bets for happiness on his boyfriend, Farouk . . . who then left him to try and “fix the world.” Now, the timid seventeen-year-old Indian Muslim boy is stuck in a dead-end coffee shop job and all he can do is wish for one more chance . . .
Sy never expects his wish to be granted. But when a mysterious girl offers him three wishes in exchange for his help and proves she can grant at least one wish with an instant million-dollar deposit into Sy's struggling bank account, a whole new world of possibility opens up. Is she magic? Or just rich? And can Sy find the courage to leave Los Angeles and cross the Atlantic Ocean to lands he'd never even dreamed he could visit, all to track down his missing ex? With help from his potentially otherworldly new friend, will Sy go all the way for one last, desperate chance at rebuilding his life and refinding love?
Your wish is granted! Naz Kutub's debut weaves an engrossing whirlwind of an adventure with a journey to find love, home, and family.
This book is charming and really short. The cover feels more heartwarming than its actual contents (there is a forced outing and a character is kicked out of their house), but it is ultimately a story of found family and a note of hope for queer teens who feel like they don’t belong. It’s a really nice coming of age story. Four stars. Booksweet link. Storygraph link.
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