Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

My edition: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Paperback
First published: 2012
Pages: 368
Source: Own book

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Thoughts: Sáenz perfectly crafts a unique and raw story about friendship, identity, and most importantly, self-acceptance. As a 15 year old boy of Mexican heritage, with a brother in prison and an emotionally fractured father, Aristotle was an interesting protagonist to follow. The story, from Aristotle’s point of view, is a refreshing and raw account of coming to terms with self-identity and most importantly, acceptance. From the very first encounter, reader’s discover that Aristotle’s heritage is one of significance to him yet a one he tries to exclude himself from. This element of heritage, and of Mexican stereotypes in particular, is one which Aristotle finds challenging throughout the entire novel and one which I found personally fascinating. Aristotle is a cynical, yet curious, character and his narrative is filled with questions and comparisons to greater perspectives.

Running parallel to Aristotle’s Mexican heritage and family life is his friendship with Dante. Ari and Dante meet when they are fifteen, during a summer of utter boredom, and their friendship is narrated over the course of a couple of years. Their friendship is a balancing act: sweet and tender, playful and serious, full of intellectual interactions and questioning about life, the universe and everything. It is a beautiful story of friendship – although their friendship does eventually develop into an awesome romantic relationship that comes from falling in love with a person you already love so much. I like just-friends story and they are so important but Ari and Dante’s friends-to-lovers story felt so right there is no resentment from this reader.

Aristotle and Dante is a smart, intelligent, engaging coming-of-age story and a deep, thoughtful exploration of identity and sexuality. This book positively deals with stereotypes, with sexuality, and with bullying. It’s raw, unique, and utterly wonderful. My rating: ★★★★★

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

-
My edition: eBook
First published: 2014

Pages: 307

Source: Own book

A love letter to the craft and romance of film and fate in front of—and behind—the camera from the award-winning author of Hold Still. A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world. Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.

Thoughts: A modern love story, Everything Leads to You follows Emi, a child of Hollywood and an intern set-designer who believes in the magic of cinema and the possibility of falling in love at first sight and being swept off your feet. At the start of the novel, the readers are shown Emi as a professional in her working place, behind the camera and working on the minor prop details, perfecting the environment she envisions as her role as an intern set designer. We know Emi is privileged to be in the position she holds as she is praised repetitively throughout the opening chapters on achieving this title at such a young age. Alongside her, her best friend Charlotte and older brother, Toby are also creating names for themselves in the film industry. So when Toby decides to pursue his career in London, he hands over the keys to his apartment to Emi and Charlotte under one condition; they have to do something epic while they're living there.

Before dropping this huge announcement on the girls, Toby declares that 'people were willing to spend mad cash to live here for a month' - which he doesn't accept and gives to his younger sister and her friend... for free. At this point of the novel, we've only just been introduced to the main characters and yet they already appear unrealistic. Another example of this flaw can be seen in Emi's character as she brags during the first few chapters about Laura, the girl who wanted to 'kiss and hold hands in the hallways' and make-out with Emi 'at parties in hot tubs while the other kids watched'. Laura remains an undeveloped and flat character throughout this novel but her existence and immaturity is highly significant in showcasing Emi's true personality perfectly. Following the uncovered truth of Laura's intentions, Emi later admits that she no longer talks to Laura but smiles at her in the hallways. This leads to Emi inappropriately declaring 'kissing you was really fun' - with an additional love heart and signature in Laura's yearbook - out of sympathy. Ironically, Emi believes that this attitude towards Laura is acceptable whereas when Morgan treats Emi the same way, Emi does nothing but complain. 

Regardless of it's glbt label, Everything Leads to You isn't a 'coming out story' but a love story between two girls, Emi and Morgan Ava, with a passion for cinema running parallel to the book's romantic plot. Emi's love for cinema and obsessive personality transfers to her personal life and is highlighted after we meet Ava, where Emi describes her perfect appearance, ranging from the way her hair shines in the natural light to the freckles that lightly dust her face. Furthermore, Emi's urging neediness to kiss Ava is present from the first time we meet her right to the end of the novel, Emi also notes that she can imagine which soundtrack's would play in key moments of her life. As a character, Emi's attention to detail is present in every aspect of her life, beginning with the perfect inanimate object, a couch Emi has found for the movie set, to eventually her love interest Ava. Although the character's can be obnoxious at times, the background for their personalities are built on solid foundations. 

I would recommend this book to those who adore cinema and romances. I'm a huge fan of contemporary novels but the character's in Everything Leads to You aggravated me to the point where I didn't want to finish the book. It's a quick and easy read, and if you can look past Emi's obsession and desperate need to love someone, alongside her narcissistic personality, this book holds a pretty interesting mystery case and the love of cinema brings a modern touch to the romance factor of the novel. 

My rating: ★★★½