I'm absolutely blown away by this series. Is it an adorable, sweet, SO STINKING CUTE queer coming-of-age romance with #FriendshipGoals and puppies and cuteness that will turn your heart to squish? Yes. Absolutely 100% yes.

But it is also this life-saving book that navigates heavy realities in such a gentle and authentic way. If I had discovered this book series in high school, it would have been an INVALUABLE tool for me; having the opportunity to watch literary characters go through something and seeing their responses would have given me hope and tools for when similar experiences inevitably happened to me. Seeing Nick and Charlie and other characters triumph through their struggle with mental health, coming out, learn how to ask/give help (and learning that you can't and don't have to save everyone yourself), and have this healthy relationship was just... so damn beautiful