TRIPPING OVER YOU

In this queer romance set in a boarding school, two boys tentatively find a connection.

British schoolboys Liam Schwartz and Milo Dunstan are good friends, who truly pay attention to each other and are always together at school. They typically go home at the weekends, but Liam’s dad doesn’t encourage “sleepovers”—he doesn’t think they’re manly enough—making it hard for them to visit one another. His dad’s toxic attitudes affect the way Liam sees the world, but as the teens finally stop dancing around the fact that their feelings venture into terrain that goes beyond friendship, it becomes clear that their attraction is reciprocal—and impossible to ignore. But some things are far too hard to talk about, especially when there’s a lot on the line. Liam doesn’t like to lie, and Milo isn’t the best at subterfuge himself, but if that’s what it takes to be together, it might be worth it. The boys’ chemistry is intense, and their fondness for each other is palpable throughout their funny, heartening, and ultimately satisfying journey. The slightly retro full-color illustrations portray a largely white-presenting cast that evokes the Archie comics. The British setting is minimally developed in the language and artwork and lacks cultural texture. Nevertheless, this feel-good story features appealing banter among the characters and touches upon important themes of coming out and good communication in relationships.

A charming series opener.