The Rebel's Guide to Pride
Matthew Hubbard
When the mayor of a small Alabama town starts targeting Pride events, bad boy Zeke begins hosting a series of “Pride Speakeasies” in this joyful queer coming-of-age!There’s nothing Zeke Chapman wants more than to tarnish the perfect reputation his father is so obsessed with. He quit the baseball team, started fighting at school, and nearly flunked junior year. Newly out as gay, Zeke isn’t sure where his queer identity fits in with his bad-boy persona. His father has always told him to stay quiet and not attract attention, but his friends are pushing him to be just as out and proud as they are. Most days, Zeke isn’t sure how to be a “good gay” or what that even means.When his best friend, Sawyer, begs him to help the QSA plan Pride Day, he obliges—mostly to piss his dad off. But then the mayor announces an ordinance that cancels all LGBTQ+ celebrations. Angered by the injustice—and his father’s support of it—Zeke decides to put his rebellious ways to good use and plans a series of underground “Pride Speakeasies”.As the speakeasies grow, and the community comes together to declare him “King of Pride”, Zeke finally feels like he’s doing something that matters. But friendship drama, a mysterious cyber-crush, and rising tension with his rival and ex Cohen “Coco” Fisher threaten to undermine his newfound pride. When his final party ends in near-disaster, Zeke must ask himself what he’s really trying to do. After all, there’s a reason that the first pride was a riot.
Publication Year: 2025
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Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press/Get Underlined for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Another five star read from Hubbard! Gosh, I knew I was going to enjoy this book going in, but it still exceeded expectations. I loved Zeke and Cohen and watching them realize the idea they have of the other person is so wrong. They are truly enemies to lovers, and it had me in my FEELS. Speaking of feels, Hubbard always seems to know how to say something in a way that I needed to hear, and how to get me so emotionally invested into his characters. I loved that this wasn't just about Zeke and Cohen, but also Zeke's friendship with Sawyer and how he overall wasn't the same person he was just a few months ago. I could relate to Zeke so much, though we sadly do not agree on our favorite Doctor (sorry, I'll always be a Tennant stan). Being able to read (and watch in my head, because a little movie plays in my head while I read) about Zeke coming into himself and realizing that "the perfect gay" doesn't exist was so heartwarming. And Hubbard also does a fantastic job at bringing topics into his books that are real life scenarios happening in the US right now. This book (and my recent read of Imogen, Obviously) has reminded me that even within the LGBTQ+ community, there is discourse and lack of understanding. But Hubbard also reminds us in this book that you can't stop fighting. Even if you don't "win," that doesn't mean you lost. Lost the battle, win the war (can't go wrong with a Paramore lyric). But seriously, this book is not just funny and romantic, it's powerful, inspiring, and can make or break the difference to teenagers who are too scared to speak up for themselves yet. If it isn't obvious, I 100% recommend this book to EVERYONE, not just queer people. It's a guide for rebels, both in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies surrounding them.
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