The Friend Scheme

When the closeted son of a mob boss meets the boy of his dreams in Florida, he’s forced to juggle familial loyalty with the growing suspicion that his crush is part of a rival crime organization. For 17-year-old Matt Luciano, scared to reveal that he’s gay and increasingly uncomfortable with his violent family, spending time with 18-year-old Jason seems like the perfect opportunity to lead a normal life. The two become fast friends, bonding over movies and gaming, but there’s one rule: no discussion of family—it’s “just us, being our own men.” As their friendship blossoms into mutual attraction and a secret relationship, however, Matt discovers that Jason may actually be one of the Donovans, the family with whom the Lucianos have been at war for decades. And as that war heats up and Matt’s family expects that he join the enterprise, he wonders if Jason has been using him to infiltrate his family. Dietrich (The Love Interest) crafts a sympathetic love story that captures his protagonists’ insecurities and interests, but plot and underworld elements receive sparse treatment compared to the primary relationship, resulting in a romance-heavy thriller with an unearned resolution. Ages 13–up. (July)