Phil Reyno, the rebellious “troublemaker,” is left humiliated after his seemingly perfect boyfriend, Cameron Ellis, dumps him and tarnishes his reputation. Desperate for revenge, he enlists his ex-best friend, Jackson Pasternak—the “good guy” junior class president—to infiltrate Cameron’s inner circle and dig up dirt. As Phil and Jackson rekindle their fractured bond and uncover long-buried feelings, they begin to question if exposing Cameron will truly fix anything—or if their real battle is with themselves.

James Acker has done it again! Teenage Dirtbags is a raw, emotional and unfiltered gem that cemented Acker as one of my favorite queer YA authors. This book delivers everything I love about Acker’s writing: deeply flawed, achingly real characters navigating the messiness of queerness, identity, and heartbreak. Phil and Jackson’s journey had me in a chokehold—Phil, the so-called “troublemaker,” is the kind of character you want to shake and hug in equal measure because underneath all his sharp edges, he just wants to be loved. Jackson’s struggle with self-discovery is painfully relatable, a reminder that coming into yourself takes time, and there’s no singular right way to do it. Their dynamic is beautifully messy, full of tension, longing, and those quiet, devastating moments that hit you like a punch to the gut. And then there’s Cameron—the demon twink from hell. I despised him with every fiber of my being, which only speaks to how well Acker crafts his villains.

Beyond the revenge-fueled antics and sharp humor, Teenage Dirtbags is a book that truly sees queer teens in all their complicated, imperfect glory. The story doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable parts of growing up—figuring out who you are, making mistakes, and realizing that life isn’t a neatly wrapped YA romance where everything falls into place. Phil and Jackson’s relationship isn’t simple, but that’s what makes it so compelling and real. If books like this had existed when I was a teen, they would have changed everything for me. This is the kind of queer storytelling that matters—bold, unapologetic, and willing to show the messy, beautiful truth of it all.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5