Literature & Fiction
![Robbie Couch - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B08CQGHW39.jpg)
Blaine for the Win
After being dumped so his boyfriend can pursue more "serious" guys, a teen boy decides to prove he can be serious, too, by running for senior class president in this joyful romp from the author of The Sky Blues.
High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all-the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend-senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey-is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.
Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.
Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too…unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.
Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey's new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.
But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?
High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all-the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend-senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey-is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas.
Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary.
Because, according to Joey, Blaine is too goofy, too flighty, too…unserious. And if Joey wants to go far in life, he needs to start dating more serious guys. Guys like Zach Chesterton.
Determined to prove that Blaine can be what Joey wants, Blaine decides to enter the running to become his successor (and beat out Joey's new boyfriend, Zach) as senior student council president.
But is he willing to sacrifice everything he loves about himself to do it?
Editorial Reviews
"Packed with empowering and relatable moments, with the perfect balance of humor and heart, Blaine for the Win has my vote." -- Rachael Lippincott, New York Times bestselling author of Five Feet Apart
"Blaine for the Win celebrates flighty, unserious gay boys everywhere! As one myself, I've never felt more seen. Robbie Couch has gifted us with an irresistible, lion-hearted rom-com about love, inspiration, and toxic queer optics. Don't miss this confection!" -- Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons
"A wonderful novel about the importance of being yourself and having friends who will follow you no matter where you go. Blaine and his fun-loving, absolute powerhouse circle of friends had me cheering for them the whole time. I'd vote for Blaine!" -- Loan Le, author of A Pho Love Story
"Blaine's conflict between remaining true to himself versus becoming a seemingly more mature, serious person forms a relatable backdrop to the plot....A good read with a clear message about authenticity." -- Kirkus Reviews ― January 26, 2022
"Couch (The Sky Blues, 2021) has written an engaging novel with likable characters and a clever plot...an altogether winning read." -- Booklist
"With panache and an upbeat tone, Couch (The Sky Blues) delivers a lighthearted rom-com pastiche that updates its source material, tackling issues of mental health and self-care, socioeconomic divides, and staying true to oneself." -- Publisher's Weekly ― March 2022
"Inspired by Legally Blonde, this novel ultimately shrugs off the restrictions of being a mere adaptation to offer a clever, fun, original story full of heart, awkwardness, and laughs...this is a clear win for readers who like their heroes loveable and imperfect." -- BCCB
"Blaine for the Win celebrates flighty, unserious gay boys everywhere! As one myself, I've never felt more seen. Robbie Couch has gifted us with an irresistible, lion-hearted rom-com about love, inspiration, and toxic queer optics. Don't miss this confection!" -- Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons
"A wonderful novel about the importance of being yourself and having friends who will follow you no matter where you go. Blaine and his fun-loving, absolute powerhouse circle of friends had me cheering for them the whole time. I'd vote for Blaine!" -- Loan Le, author of A Pho Love Story
"Blaine's conflict between remaining true to himself versus becoming a seemingly more mature, serious person forms a relatable backdrop to the plot....A good read with a clear message about authenticity." -- Kirkus Reviews ― January 26, 2022
"Couch (The Sky Blues, 2021) has written an engaging novel with likable characters and a clever plot...an altogether winning read." -- Booklist
"With panache and an upbeat tone, Couch (The Sky Blues) delivers a lighthearted rom-com pastiche that updates its source material, tackling issues of mental health and self-care, socioeconomic divides, and staying true to oneself." -- Publisher's Weekly ― March 2022
"Inspired by Legally Blonde, this novel ultimately shrugs off the restrictions of being a mere adaptation to offer a clever, fun, original story full of heart, awkwardness, and laughs...this is a clear win for readers who like their heroes loveable and imperfect." -- BCCB
Readers Top Reviews
J To
A very cute gay take on Legally Blonde set around a high school president election. Relatable characters, clever writing and a quick pace. This should be on your summer beach read list.
Becca F.
Yes Yes Yes! All around yes! I loved this book! It was very different from the sky blues but it was still so good! Such a feel-good story!! It was funny and super sweet and just all-around adorable. I liked that there was no homophobic parts within the storyline, it was just so pure. I also loved and appreciated that part of the storyline revolved around the importance of mental health for students. That is such an important thing that schools need to take seriously. Oh, and the side characters are amazing! Love them all. I thought it was a nice diverse group of characters. If you loved Legally Blonde then you will love this book. There are so many little things that bring forth the Legally Blonde vibes, from the characters to the plot, all of it. Legally Blonde but make it gay! What's not to love about that?
Hsinju
I couldn’t put down BFTW and finished it in two sittings. This book has a great cast that includes cute supporting sapphics, in addition to lots of achilleans. And I mean lots of achilleans, which we love to see. This book is YA and tackles a lot of Messy Teenage Feels. Blaine is not the perfect boy and he messes up sometimes. Okay, a lot, but he is learning how to not quit on things and holding onto his passion. The supporting cast is wonderful. Trish is amazing, and I think Couch did a pretty good job at giving her agency and power, too (you have to finish the whole book though). Camilla is mainly there to support Trish as the dinosaur-loving girlfriend. And Danny, the plant-loving sweet boy Danny. Even though his backstory was mentioned pretty early on in the book, I felt emotional. There are little to no homophobia in BFTW and many achillean characters that I am sure would mean a lot to young readers. I love that there are beautiful family relationships, too. BFTW is a mostly light-hearted story about the disaster queer that is Blaine, but it also touches upon some heavier topics like mental health and grief and unemployment. Overall, this book is a winner, and I’m already looking forward to future books by Couch. * I received an advanced digital copy from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
David Rodriguez
A wonderful YA novel that showcased a realistic look at these high school kids dealing with breakups, student elections, high expectations, mental health, relationships, and so much more! Robbie Couch tugs at all the feels with this gem of a sophomore novel!
Johnny Giovati
Robbie has an incredible way of letting the story flow and move. With dynamic characters and just enough mystery to keep you eager to get through chapter after chapter. Charming, inspiring, and full of heart. Loved it.
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1
It's official: a more perfect Friday will never exist.
My spring break has begun. The mural in front of me is turning out to be one of my all-time favorite creations. And, in just a few hours, I'll be on the most magical date of my entire life. Does it get any better?
Days like today are an anomaly, I've learned in my sixteen years. Days like today will stay with me forever. There's no other way to explain a day like today other than to say the universe must be delivering a hefty batch of good karma that I stored up in a previous life.
I am paying back said universe by featuring it on the storefront of Susan's Stationery-and doing a pretty bang-up job, if I do say so myself. The mural is only about halfway done, give or take, but coming along much better than I anticipated, honestly. A bubble-gum-pink Saturn with rings of teal floating in cobalt-colored space; the perfect pick-me-up on a boring block like the one that Susan's Stationery calls home.
Ms. Ritewood, the owner, handed over full creative control to brighten up the greige facade, which has been in desperate, decades-long need of an "aggressive facelift"-her words, not mine (although I wholeheartedly agree). City code would probably call for the crumbly storefront to be bulldozed and built from scratch, but with Ms. Ritewood's limited budget, a high schooler with a big imagination and even bigger paint selection is the next best thing.
"Blaine!"
I jolt at Ms. Ritewood's voice, nearly dropping my brush.
She floats from her store entrance to the middle of the sidewalk to get a better view of my progress. After a good five seconds of contemplation, she breathes, "It's coming along wonderfully."
Relieved, I take a few steps back and attempt to see it through her eyes. "You think so?"
The cheery store owner, barely five feet tall, stands beside me, eyes wide and arms folded across her belly. "The colors are spectacular, Blaine."
"Yeah?"
She shakes her head in amazement, her sculpted, copper bob of hair unshakeable beneath a layer of hair spray. "The rings are mesmerizing."
"They're my favorite part."
"And… wait a minute. Is Saturn…" She leans forward, peering at the personified planet, with its emerald eyes, button nose, and oversized dimples. "Is Saturn supposed to be… me?" She rotates her head to get my answer.
I bite my lower lip, nervous now that the big reveal has finally made itself known. "Yes."
"Ah!" Ms. Ritewood lights up, arms shooting into the air. "I love it!" She goes in for a hug-
"Wait!" I jump back, showing the palms of my hands, which are covered with smudges of cobalt acrylic. "I don't want to ruin your clothes!"
"Oh, that's right," she says, glancing at my raggedy white shirt, splattered with teal. "Smart move." She turns her attention back to the wall with a grin and a sigh.
This moment-the thrill in her eyes, the hanging jaw, the pregnant pause filled with all the possibilities an aggressive facelift like this one could mean for Susan's Stationery-is a big reason why I paint murals for local businesses around town. I also enjoy the aesthetic rewards of sprucing up my weathered corner of northwest Chicago, of course, and getting lost in my own fictional worlds of color is a form of therapy for me. But watching a business owner in real time taking in their new storefront? I'm not sure if there's a more rewarding feeling in the world.
Ms. Ritewood looks up at me, cheeks flushed with excitement. "Was your-" But an L train zooms along on the rusted tracks above, rattling the liquid surfaces of my paint cans and blanketing our conversation in a deafening roar. Ms. Ritewood finishes her thought, but I don't hear a word.
"Sorry," I say with a grin. "You'll have to repeat that."
"I said"-she raises her voice-"was your anniversary dinner canceled?"
"No…?" I reply slowly, confused. "Why would it be?"
She glances at her phone. "Well, it's already six o'clock, Blaine, and I thought-"
I gasp. "What?"
"Yes, dear." She checks her phone again. "It's 6:09, to be exact-"
"I've got to go!" I begin hammering on the lids of my paint and throwing items into my reliable utility cart-the four-wheeled metal wagon that I've been dragging around Chicago since my first mural.
The biggest dinner of my life is tonight, and I'm running behind.
"Can I help you pack up?" she asks, glancing around anxiously.
I consider requesting that she gather up my drop cloth, before reminding myself that Ms. Ritewood is a sixty-something-year-old with lower back pain, persist...
It's official: a more perfect Friday will never exist.
My spring break has begun. The mural in front of me is turning out to be one of my all-time favorite creations. And, in just a few hours, I'll be on the most magical date of my entire life. Does it get any better?
Days like today are an anomaly, I've learned in my sixteen years. Days like today will stay with me forever. There's no other way to explain a day like today other than to say the universe must be delivering a hefty batch of good karma that I stored up in a previous life.
I am paying back said universe by featuring it on the storefront of Susan's Stationery-and doing a pretty bang-up job, if I do say so myself. The mural is only about halfway done, give or take, but coming along much better than I anticipated, honestly. A bubble-gum-pink Saturn with rings of teal floating in cobalt-colored space; the perfect pick-me-up on a boring block like the one that Susan's Stationery calls home.
Ms. Ritewood, the owner, handed over full creative control to brighten up the greige facade, which has been in desperate, decades-long need of an "aggressive facelift"-her words, not mine (although I wholeheartedly agree). City code would probably call for the crumbly storefront to be bulldozed and built from scratch, but with Ms. Ritewood's limited budget, a high schooler with a big imagination and even bigger paint selection is the next best thing.
"Blaine!"
I jolt at Ms. Ritewood's voice, nearly dropping my brush.
She floats from her store entrance to the middle of the sidewalk to get a better view of my progress. After a good five seconds of contemplation, she breathes, "It's coming along wonderfully."
Relieved, I take a few steps back and attempt to see it through her eyes. "You think so?"
The cheery store owner, barely five feet tall, stands beside me, eyes wide and arms folded across her belly. "The colors are spectacular, Blaine."
"Yeah?"
She shakes her head in amazement, her sculpted, copper bob of hair unshakeable beneath a layer of hair spray. "The rings are mesmerizing."
"They're my favorite part."
"And… wait a minute. Is Saturn…" She leans forward, peering at the personified planet, with its emerald eyes, button nose, and oversized dimples. "Is Saturn supposed to be… me?" She rotates her head to get my answer.
I bite my lower lip, nervous now that the big reveal has finally made itself known. "Yes."
"Ah!" Ms. Ritewood lights up, arms shooting into the air. "I love it!" She goes in for a hug-
"Wait!" I jump back, showing the palms of my hands, which are covered with smudges of cobalt acrylic. "I don't want to ruin your clothes!"
"Oh, that's right," she says, glancing at my raggedy white shirt, splattered with teal. "Smart move." She turns her attention back to the wall with a grin and a sigh.
This moment-the thrill in her eyes, the hanging jaw, the pregnant pause filled with all the possibilities an aggressive facelift like this one could mean for Susan's Stationery-is a big reason why I paint murals for local businesses around town. I also enjoy the aesthetic rewards of sprucing up my weathered corner of northwest Chicago, of course, and getting lost in my own fictional worlds of color is a form of therapy for me. But watching a business owner in real time taking in their new storefront? I'm not sure if there's a more rewarding feeling in the world.
Ms. Ritewood looks up at me, cheeks flushed with excitement. "Was your-" But an L train zooms along on the rusted tracks above, rattling the liquid surfaces of my paint cans and blanketing our conversation in a deafening roar. Ms. Ritewood finishes her thought, but I don't hear a word.
"Sorry," I say with a grin. "You'll have to repeat that."
"I said"-she raises her voice-"was your anniversary dinner canceled?"
"No…?" I reply slowly, confused. "Why would it be?"
She glances at her phone. "Well, it's already six o'clock, Blaine, and I thought-"
I gasp. "What?"
"Yes, dear." She checks her phone again. "It's 6:09, to be exact-"
"I've got to go!" I begin hammering on the lids of my paint and throwing items into my reliable utility cart-the four-wheeled metal wagon that I've been dragging around Chicago since my first mural.
The biggest dinner of my life is tonight, and I'm running behind.
"Can I help you pack up?" she asks, glancing around anxiously.
I consider requesting that she gather up my drop cloth, before reminding myself that Ms. Ritewood is a sixty-something-year-old with lower back pain, persist...
