Pages: 416
Published by Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: January 25 2022
Genres: LGBTQ+, YA
Source: Publisher
Format Read: ARC, eBook
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Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who's literally too hot to handle.
Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan's revelations of why he's like this, where he came from, and who's after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Young adult (YA) novels don’t always have to cater to readers in their teens. I am a firm believer that a YA novel can tackle adult situations and content with heavier emotional weight.
Young adult doesn’t address the reader’s age, but rather the characters. Typically, a YA novel takes place during the years when a character is figuring out who they are and where they fit.
Whereas a New Adult (NA) novel would happen when a character has already figured out their role, but it’s now changing, they have to reevaluate themselves and learn to like who they have become. It’s semantics, but it’s important.
The Temperature of You and Me is a decidedly YA novel.
Dylan is a teenager, in high school, is the only gay kid in his class, works at the local Dairy Queen and he has simply been existing. Afraid to branch out and let other people see who he truly is, Dylan keeps his circle of friends small and enjoys the view from his bedroom window. He has been happy with this particular set up for years, until a super cute boy who is hot to the touch comes in to Dylan’s work for a blizzard. Jordan is cute, from Arizona and he happens to have been in a freak accident that gave him the power to wield fire. He captures Dylan’s attention and accidentally pushes Dylan outside his comfort zone. Now, in order to keep his friends and family safe, Dylan has to step outside his circle and take down the school bully and Hydro Pro Corporation.
This book is an attempt at an LBGTQ+ teen super hero novel. Unfortunately it just misses it’s mark.
There was a lot I really loved about this book. But there was also a lot that didn’t quite work either.
The best best best part of this entire book was the interactions between Dylan and his friends. They were sweet and silly and sarcastic. Honestly, his friendships felt genuine and true to form as far as high school conversation goes. It was fun to take a walk down memory lane and remember the the dopey fights and the innocent ways that my own friends and I would pass time. Perry, Kirsten and Dylan were by far the most interesting part of this book.
I wouldn’t have been upset if it was just a true coming out and coming of age novel that focused solely on this trio.
Related but unrelated- I also loved the character arc for Savannah. I thought her change of heart was sincere and I enjoyed watching Dylan and his friends accept her into their fold.
My biggest problem was Jordan. WHICH IS A PROBLEM. Since he is simultaneously the catalyst, the main character and the love interest. (SMH).
I liked him and Dylan together. It was cute first love between the two of them. The wanting and the timidness was very adorable. Again, sent me down memory lane.
HOWEVER.
You give a guy a super power and you have some explaining to do… Brian Zepka did not do any explaining to his audience.
That is where my problem lies.
So I guess my issue is with the author, not with the character. LET ME EXPLAIN:
Jordan was so cryptic about the accident that changed his body chemistry, about how he was dealing with it, how the powers work etc etc etc, that there never felt like there was an actual threat to Dylan. Jordan was afraid of having a relationship with Dylan, but it never seemed like there was a legitimate reason behind his fear.
I just needed SO MUCH MORE from this particular part of the story…
More info on the boy’s powers.
More info on how Dylan got “infected” via Jordan. (spoiler- it wasn’t sex)
More on the “science” of how the boys chemistry got changed.
More on how these changes will affect them in the future!
More on why Hydro Pro is the bad guy, but only because they were experimenting on the boys. More about WHAT the experiments were that were being conducted on Jordan?
More about why were they testing Jordan and Dylan?
More about the entire goal of the experiments and testing!
ALSO, MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO DYLAN AND JORDAN NOW!?
I did like the reunion for Dylan and Jordan at the end of the book though. It was very cute.
There were a lot of moving parts in this novel. The Temperature of You and Me focused a lot on the boys relationship, Dylan’s sexuality and his relationship with his friends and family. The sci fi/super hero stuff took a backseat, and that was totally okay. But because it was included in the plot in the first place, the sci fi/super hero stuff needed further explanation (hence my lower star rating).
I really wanted to like this book more than I did…. It was a really cool idea, but I think the execution was a bit off if I am being honest.
Emily is a coffee loving, cat snuggling, hairstylist and book-a-holic.
Having always been a voracious reader and devouring books at a breakneck speed, joining the bookish and blogging community seemed like a natural next step. She loves giving recommendations to friends and family and then very gently (and not forcefully at all) asking for their opinions after they complete each chapter.
Her reviews tend to be goofy, a little sweary, on the more impassioned side and maybe sometimes a little self deprecating.
Emily typically enjoys reading almost every genre, including (but not limited to) monster romance, literary fiction, rom-com, contemporary, LGBTQ+, low/urban fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, sci-fi, gothic romance or basically any book that will make her cry.