The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass is a modern day fairytale that puts a queer spin on Cinderella. I loved the idea of an Instagram account filled with sketches of imaginary boyfriends, and the main character is relatable as he sets off on a quest to find his first real love. This is an uplifting story about falling in love, and it is sure to leave readers with a smile.
Title: The 99 Boyfriends of Micah SummersAuthor: Adam Sass
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: September 20, 2022
Rating:
A charming YA rom-com perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and What If It’s Us.
Micah Summers runs a popular Instagram full of drawings of his numerous imaginary boyfriends (ninety-nine so far)—though he's never had a real boyfriend before. But when a meet-cute with Boy 100 goes wrong, Micah embarks on a Prince Charming-like quest throughout Chicago to find true love—for real this time.
Will Boy 100 be the One?
Micah is rich, dreamy, and charming. As the “Prince of Chicago,”—the son of local celebrity sports radio host known as the King of Chicago—he has everything going for him. Unfortunately, he’s also the prince of imaginary meet-cutes, since he’s too nervous to actually ask boys out.
Instead, Micah draws each crush to share on Instagram with a post about their imaginary dates. Ninety-nine “boyfriends” later, his account is hugely popular, and everyone is eagerly awaiting Boy 100. So is Micah. He’s determined that Boy 100 will be different. This time, Micah will sweep the boy off his feet, for real!
So when Micah flirts with a hot boy on the L who’s wearing a vegan leather jacket and lugging a ton of library books, he is sure this is Boy 100. But right before he can make his move and ask for the boy’s number, the guy rushes off the train, leaving behind his pumpkin-embroidered jacket. The jacket holds clues to the boy’s identity, so Micah and his friends set off on a quest to return it. Along the way, Micah will discover that the best relationships aren’t fairy tales. In fact, the perfect fit—and true love—might be closer than he thinks.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass
On his popular Instagram account, Micah draws imaginary boyfriends–99 of them to be exact. However, while he spends his time dreaming of romance, Micah has never had a boyfriend before and is determined to make boy 100 the one he’s actually going to ask out. Luck is on his side one day on the train, where he meets a cute boy, but when they’re suddenly separated, Micah must track him down with only his embroidered jacket as a clue. However, when their relationship goes viral and things between them start to shift, Micah must confront the reality of relationships and realize that true love is closer than he originally thought.
❀ Enjoyable Main Character
I enjoyed Micah’s character, and he learns a lot throughout the book. He dreams of his own fairytale romance and wants the same for his friends, and throughout the book, he gains the confidence to be in a relationship. Micah’s experiences are realistic and relatable, and I enjoyed watching him slowly learn that relationships can be messy and don’t always align with his romanticized visions. I have to admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the love triangle, but I still enjoyed the story as a whole.
❀ Heartwarming
Where this book really shines is in its take on fairytales. The reason why Micah runs his Instagram account is to create his own magical stories that he doesn’t see reflected in the world around him, and I loved the way the book itself reflects this as a modern, queer fairytale. It’s heartwarming to see Micah slowly start to find the true love he has been searching for–and to see the way this changes as he discovers more about himself along the way.
❀ A Charming Romcom
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass is a charming romcom about the kind of love we see in fairytales. I loved the idea of a modern quest to find true love, and the main character’s vision of romance changes throughout the book as he tries to make his fairytale ending come true. This is the perfect read for those looking for something that feels cinematic and sweet.
About Adam Sass
Adam Sass began writing books in Sharpie on the backs of Starbucks pastry bags. (He’s sorry it distracted him from making your latte.) His debut YA novel, Surrender Your Sons, was named a best book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews and Foreword INDIES, a best first novel for young readers by ALA Booklist, and one of the best YA murder mysteries of all time by Pop Sugar.
Adam has been featured in Teen Vogue and the Savage Lovecast. He is also a recurring co-host on the popular podcast Slayerfest98, where he recaps Marvel shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and other pieces of pop culture.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
This sounds like a really great rom com! It’s hard to find those sometimes these days.
It really is, isn’t it?!
What an interesting concept! I will keep it in mind for my niece.
I hope she loves it, Cathy! 🙂
This sounds like such a fun read! Adding it to my TBR! Thanks for the lovely review!! ❤️
Yay!! I can’t wait to hear what you think! 🙂
My nieces would like this book a lot!
I hope they love it if they give it a try! 🙂
This book sounds so cute! We hope Micah gets the romance he deserves.
It’s definitely one to watch for! 🙂
Great review, Olivia! I really like that the main character has an art instagram + the romance sounds really cute as well. Thanks for sharing!
It is super cute! 🙂
It indeed seems like a charming romance!
Absolutely! I think that you would love it! 🙂
This one sounds really good! I can’t wait to get a copy for my school library. Great review!
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Thanks! I think the students will enjoy it! 🙂
big numberr
LOL yes! 🙂
Sounds like a really good read.
I like the cover! It sets the tone for the book.
Looks like a fun book.
Thanks for the review.
I would love to read this one sounds like one that will keep me interested.
this is on my wishlist!
thanks for your review