Week 24 Review: Pumpkin

From Goodreads:

Waylon Russell Brewer is a fat, openly gay boy stuck in the small West Texas town of Clover City. His plan is to bide his time until he can graduate, move to Austin with his twin sister, Clementine, and finally go Full Waylon, so that he can live his Julie-the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music-Andrews truth.

So when Clementine deviates from their master plan right after Waylon gets dumped, he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show, Fiercest of Them All. What he doesn't count on is the tape accidentally getting shared with the entire school. . . . As a result, Waylon is nominated for prom queen as a joke. Clem's girlfriend, Hannah Perez, also receives a joke nomination for prom king.

Waylon and Hannah decide there's only one thing to do: run—and leave high school with a bang. A very glittery bang. Along the way, Waylon discovers that there is a lot more to running for prom court than campaign posters and plastic crowns, especially when he has to spend so much time with the very cute and infuriating prom king nominee Tucker Watson.

Waylon will need to learn that the best plan for tomorrow is living for today . . . especially with the help of some fellow queens. . . .

My Review:
This was a really fun read! I really enjoyed meeting Waylon and his twin sister. And of course, we'd already met Hannah. Waylon is fat, he's gay, and he's flamboyant-he doesn't fit with this town-but maybe there's more people like him there then he knows.

The idea of him being elected for Prom Queen, basically as a prank, is a bit cruel. But he runs with it, and I really enjoyed the message that gave. That Hannah is also elected, was really great because then he's not alone, and there was more representation, even if it was mean in a negative way! 

There was a lot of interpersonal drama, between the prom court, college plans, not to mention Tucker. I really had a great time with their relationship, because Waylon really doesn't like him from their past interactions, and now they're forced to spend quality time together. 

Along the way, there are lessons of judgement and acceptance that are learned, romances bloom, and some really awesome teens are elected as Prom King and Queen. I loved that ending where we left these characters, and I wouldn't mind seeing them again! 

This was another great read from Julie Murphy, and I can't wait to read more! 

Author: Julie Murphy 
Series: Dumplin' #3
Read: June 15th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book!
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: May 25th 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars