The realities of being a teenage pop star

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From the author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay comes a novel about being queer in the public eye. Set to be published on March 22nd, Adib Khorram’s Kiss & Tell is a fun and binge-worthy book that still tackles tough topics that many teens can relate to.

This book really dives into what it’s like to always be in the spotlight and I loved how honest it was about fame and what it can do to a person. Readers see the way Hunter has to grapple with figuring out who he is as an artist and person, while the media, his record label, and his fans all try to tell him who he should and shouldn’t be. Not only does Hunter struggle being young in the public eye, but also with being queer in the public eye. The focus of this novel was more of a coming-of-age-in-the-spotlight story and how the media, the internet, and all these external people are now influencing and picking apart everything you do and Khorram does a great job of showcasing Hunter’s experiences in a fun, but also real, way.

Despite the tough topics, readers can’t help but root for Hunter and want to see him discover his true self. The little bits of romance sprinkled throughout the story were fun and seeing Hunter want to make things work with Kaivan, his friendships with his bandmates, and his grasping onto his Canadian Roots makes him such a fun and relatable character to read about.

What makes this novel really unique is the mixed media aspect of it. While most of the novel is in Hunter’s POV, there are snippets of news articles and transcripts from interviews that showcase the influence of the media on Hunter and the rest of his bandmates' lives.

If you were ever a fan of a boy band (or still are) then this is a great peek behind the curtain of what it’s like living the rockstar life and having everything you do picked apart. However, the glitz and glamor of stardom still shine and you’ll be wanting to go to a Kiss & Tell Concert by the time you’re done reading this book!

*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.