Jay's Gay Agenda
Written by Jason June
Narrated by Mark Sanderlin
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
From New York Times bestselling author Jason June comes a moving and hilarious sex-positive teen rom-com about the complexities of first loves, first hookups, and first heartbreaks—and how to stay true to yourself while embracing what you never saw coming, that’s perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon and Becky Albertalli.
There’s one thing Jay Collier knows for sure—he’s a statistical anomaly as the only out gay kid in his small rural Washington town. While all his friends can’t stop talking about their heterosexual hookups and relationships, Jay can only dream of his own firsts, compiling a romance to-do list of all the things he hopes to one day experience—his Gay Agenda.
Then, against all odds, Jay’s family moves to Seattle and he starts his senior year at a new high school with a thriving LGBTQIA+ community. For the first time ever, Jay feels like he’s found where he truly belongs. But as Jay begins crossing items off his list, he’ll soon be torn between his heart and his hormones, his old friends and his new ones . . . because after all, life and love don’t always go according to plan.
Editor's Note
Charming, purehearted novel…
Add this book to your weekend agenda for some laughter and fun. Jay is the only out kid at his small-town school, so he’s been keeping a list of gay firsts he’s excited to experience some day: first time meeting another (openly) gay teen, first kiss, first time going all the way. His chance to start checking things off comes sooner than expected when he and his family move to Seattle, where the queer community thrives. Revel in Jay’s joy in this charming, purehearted novel.
Jason June
Jason June (it's a two-name first name, like Mary-Kate without the hyphen or the Olsen twin) is a bestselling author of young adult contemporary rom-coms that celebrate queer love and lust and chaotically gay shenanigans. His works include Jay’s Gay Agenda, Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball, and the instant New York Times bestseller Out of the Blue. When not writing, JJ zips about Dallas, Texas, with his husband and their Pomeranian, Pom Brokaw. JJ is a tried and true Laura Dern stan, and he is actively looking for an Andalite friend. Find out more about JJ and his books at heyjasonjune.com.
More audiobooks from Jason June
Out of the Blue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Jay's Gay Agenda
274 ratings21 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I wanted to like this book. And the ending wasn't bad but everything else forget it. I was so close to DNFing this book but I really dont do that so I stuck it out and it really didnt get better.
I couldn't handle the repetitiveness of his list every time Jay made a slight change or crossed something off we repeated the whole freaking list. Just no... as a reader I do not need to be reminded of his list every chapter.
The way he treated people in general. Yes there were some cute moment and this book had potential but over all it was a poor attempt at a romantic comedy that in my case fell very flat.
I do believe some will like this book and great but know the main character is a jerk and that it gets very repetitive.4 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/53.5 stars
While I really enjoyed this, the constant repeating and revisions to Jay’s Gay Agenda throughout the audiobook got a little tiring. I’m sure in the print version, this would not be the case.3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5For a debut, it was a decent beginning. I keep telling myself not to judge Jay too harshly because he’s just a teenager trying to figure himself out. Mistakes will be made and there should be room for bad decisions. The key for me is that he learned from them and made amends.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I didn't know I need to hear this book until I did, but thank God I did.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The only “sex positive” thing about this book was that Jay was positive he wanted sex with another cis man. There was zero factoring for any other queer people in queer people to meet which he was also desperate to do. Queer girls exist but he was only concerned about meeting another gay boy and touching his penis.
This was such a let down and such a disappointment.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Damn cute! And completely relatable even as a straight girl :)
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wholesome. Feel-good. Angsty. And romantic! Loved it! Some people might not enjoy this a lot but I think I was the exact target audience!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I watched a chat with the author and knew I had to pick it up, because it sounded so cute and fun - and it delivered. The love triangle was a whole lot of drama, and I spent the whole time like "I KNOW WHO I'M ROOTING FOR!!" I loved seeing a sex-positive YA book, where it was also clear that you are allowed to not be ready too, and that's no big deal!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Very adolescent. It was okay Jay was not a very likable character in my opinion.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everything felt on point with this character. I love how the natural feel to his change in life went, even if it was a disaster for a minute. I feel like I wish I could be a character in this book, watching all the drama unfold.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love this book so much! Definitely one of my favorite reads this year. Also, the narrator did a great job as Jay. He sounded just like what I imagined Jay to sound like. Highly recommended!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It was a good book but ending rushed. I know it is a book but Jay was too messy for everyone to just forgive him like nothing at the end. Glad there was a happy ending though!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jay figures out he's gay after a Shawn Mendes concert, he immediately tells his aunt. Jay has an agenda of getting his first kiss, his first touch by a guy and his first boyfriend and since he's moving to Seattle, Jay thinks he'll be able to to achieve everything on his gay agenda. High school drama, I'm in heaven. This book is so funny. I can relate to Jay being awkward in high school and of course crushing on the hot guy in school. I watched an interview with Jason June and he is just so adorable. I love this book, it's just so great. i got so wrapped up in this book, it grabbed so hard from the beginning.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jay is messy, and that's the best part.
A candid story of coming of age and figuring out who one is in the midst of labels and narratives, Jay's Gay Agenda follows a boy trying to figure out who he is when being the "gay kid" is no longer an option. Filled with moments of laughter, heartache, anger, and disappointment, this book will take you on a ride that leaves you feeling like you also got a chance to grow up in a way you didn't get to. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I literally didn’t even notice when it was over. So good.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5it was ok, the story is sweet but the end was so fast
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/53.75
It was good book. I enjoyed the growth of the Jay and the rest of the characters. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This book feels very uncomfortable with all forms of queerness except for the monogamous cis kind. One of the major arch’s of the book is Jay learning not to make “Gay” his only personality trait (which is a fine message,) but it does this by putting down other forms of queerness. (Slight spoilers) First of all, the main antagonist is the only recurring gender-none-conforming character and the only non-monogamous relationship is caused a manipulation by that same character. One scene is particularly in bad taste. It has two older gay men sexualizing Jay and his love interest out of nowhere so the love interest can complain about how he feels gay men are obsessed with sex.
Also at the end some legitimately abusive behavior against the aforementioned non-binary character is hand-waved in order for the story to have a “neat” ending.
Would not recommend. However this is the author’s first published book, so I hope future books address these issues. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lovely and funny! It makes you rethink values and statusquo
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A lovely, heartfelt, queer coming-of-age story full of fun, vibrant characters that make this book well worth the read. All of the characters you meet seem to have their own lives, with perhaps the parents being the least fleshed out. Jay, Lu, Max, Albert, Reese, even Tony and Damon and the other tertiary characters have personalities jumping off the page. None of the character feel flat, or as if they only exist for plot purposes. Mr. Bogosian's puns are amazing. The beginning of the book seems to really push the Gay Agenda list a little too hard, but as the chapters get longer and the plot begins to move, the dependency on the list finds its place. Honestly, the hardest part was dealing with all the characters saying "gawd", mostly because it reminded me of my own teenage years and the cringey LiveJournal entries I wrote obsessively a little too much. Other than that, the book is a perfect delight, an easy read with characters that make it an enjoyable and memorable addition to the growing queer romance YA list.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jay is the only gay person at his rural WA high school. He endures seeing and hearing about his straight classmates' romances, especially that of Lu, his best friend. So when his family moves to big-city Seattle, Jay is thrilled to find himself in a gay-friendly paradise and determines to fulfill his gay agenda. But ticking items off his list ends up wrecking his friendships old and new, and Jay has to figure out who he really is and what is truly important. This is a lively rom-com with heart and humor.