I almost put this book down because (learning the hard way) I cannot stand reading in present-tense. I struggled for quite a few chapters before I got used to it. At first it did not seem worth pushing through, but I am glad that I stuck by it. Once the drama builds up, it is hard not to get caught up in it and watch how the events unfold. 
 Now for the setting: The idea of a homophobic-free world was appealing and the reason I picked it up in the first place (originally because I was getting bored of YA novels centered on "coming out" and struggling with reactions). It has a nice concept behind it, but it seems like too far-away of a place for me to believe. The little stretch is manageable and was still fun to observe ...just not convincing. I got even more detached when the story makes countless references that I think my parents would understand before I do. The vintage style would have worked better if one character was attracted to it - not everybody. For example, I don't think a VCR shop would survive in a modern setting - especially when it is run by someone who does not organize the videos and has poor customer service. I don't understand how this could be the hot-spot where the main character crosses multiple classmates. 
 What I did like were the characters and their individual quirks. They took a while to grow on me, but once they did, they felt like people you could actually meet. This is what made the story real for me. How everyone interacts felt like authentic high school scenes; at times stressful but also had that juicy gossip that everyone secretly indulges in. 
 So this book was entertaining and it also had its flaws. I think I could recommend this book but only after setting out a few warnings ahead of time.