L. C. Rosen

From the author of the acclaimed Jack of Hearts (and other parts) comes a sweet and sharp screwball comedy that critiques the culture of toxic masculinity within the queer community. Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim - who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists. This year, though, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as 'Del' - buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him. But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is?

Camp

Sarah Sammis

** spoiler alert **
           Uniformly the boys that Randy hangs with at camp call each other by terms of endearment like sweetie or darling. Their language and mannerisms might as well have been cut and pasted from Paris is Burning (1990). That documentary is thirty years old and the last time I heard banter like that was about twenty years ago when I first started working in San Francisco. No queer teen or adult under the age of 50 I know talks like the teens in Camp.

Then there is the premise that campers hook up every summer for sex (save for the few token ace characters). Of course some teens have sex but a camp that caters to children wouldn't stay open if it were as welcoming to sexual acts as Camp Outland appears to be. The fact that there is a tree that everyone knows about, where couples carve their relationships and it's heavily implied that these are sexual relationships makes this a camp that should be shut down.

On top of the adults failing utterly to provide a safe place for their campers, there is the ham-fisted addressing of toxic masculinity. Randy's complete makeover is taken as a sign that he's fallen victim to T.M. That might be true but it's presented as an either or / black and white situation. A gay boy can only be effeminate to be taken seriously, to prove his self love. Excuse me?

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2021/comm...

Flavia Louise

mia ¿

i truly don't have too much to say about this because it was just really, really good. i had high expectations for this book because i had heard so many good reviews of it, but it still amazed me with its realistic discussions and just funny dialogue. a perfect summer read. amazing. more people should read it. :)

Tatiana Alvarez 

I loved this book so much and thoroughly enjoyed the story!

For the past few summers, Randy has been going to a camp for queer kids and he loves it. Randy has a good set of friends, a talented actor and singer, as well as crafty. The one thing Randy does not have is a boyfriend, specifically the boy he has been in love with since he laid eyes on him, Hudson.

However there is only one problem. Everything that Randy is, is the exact opposite of Hudson and his preferences. Randy is a theatre kid who likes his hair long and his nails painted. Although Randy likes who he is, he knows that Hudson prefers masc men, straight passing men. So Randy comes up with an ingenious plan. Over the summer he works out and begins to get involved in sports, he cut his hair, and changes his style. If he can look like a guy that Hudson would go for, he could eventually make him fall in love with the real Randy.

Nothing can go wrong, right?

The entire story takes place over two weeks. The camp is such a fun setting where many queer kids get to be together and just be their authentic selves. I loved Hudson's character because he is not one we see a lot in young adult books. He's gay, but does everything he can to pass for straight. Everything other than liking girls. He has internalized homophobia from his parents and he projects that out. It also dictates every action he takes and how he views other gay men.

His growth was extremely satisfying to read about. He had to come to terms with his own trauma in order to change and free himself from the cage he placed himself in. Randy also learned a valuable lesson in truth and withholding information.

This was such a fun read and I'm so sad it is over.

Grace O'Callaghan

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a YA contemporary that is unashamedly queer, this is for you.

Randy has been going to Camp Outland, a summer camp for LGBTQ+ teens, since he was twelve. Every year is a riot of theatre, glamour and friendship. Not this year though. This year Randy is Del, a masculine teen that enjoys sports. It’s his plan to win the guy he’s been crushing on since he first joined the camp, Hudson. Giving up his feminine side is what he must do to win the heart of the masculine Hudson, or so he tells himself. But as Randy digs himself deeper into his role, he ends up losing sight of who he really is.

You could say that Randy is good at leading people, but compared to his friends he’s rather dull. George is over the top and sweet while Ashleigh is blunt but deeply cares about her friends. It’s no wonder they outshine Randy. I understand the purpose of his character is to show how you shouldn’t have to mask who you really are, but with no other qualities he feels like a tool to get the message across rather than an actual person. We also don’t learn much about him outside the summer camp, making it hard for me to imagine him in his usual life.

It seems people prefer Randy to Hudson, but I actually thought Hudson was more realistic. Without going into spoilers, I understood where he was coming from.

Together, I’m not too sure how I feel about Randy and Hudson. As it’s a YA contemporary set over a few weeks, it was pretty insta lovey, so I don’t fault it for that as a lot of teens act life this. However, I didn’t exactly buy into the relationship because of a different reason. As Randy is pretending to be someone he’s not, it’s pretty hard to root for them when he’s hiding a whole part of himself. 

Something I really enjoyed was the friendship in here. It’s just the most loving and supportive kind of friendship. It’s quite refreshing to read a YA contemporary where no one is mean, or a bully or blackmailing someone. I thought the platonic relationships felt more realistic than the romantic ones.

Even though the characters didn’t win me over, the setting certainly did. Call me basic, but I’m a sucker for summer camp stories. Probably because I’ve been to a few myself but I though Rosen brilliantly captured the heightened atmosphere of them. In this way, the relationship between Hudson and Randy is realistic as camps are emotional rollercoasters.

If you’ve read the synopsis, you know where the plot is going to go. Perhaps another reason that I didn’t like Randy is because he came up with the stupid plan that you know is going to blow up in his face and somehow work out in the end.

Despite not loving the plot and the main characters, I thought the messages are really important ones. There’s a lot of talk about stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people and how there are certain pressures to act in ways that fit them but also to break them so as to not be a stereotype. It boils down to the fact that you shouldn’t force yourself to be someone you’re not. However, something I deeply appreciate about this book is how it acknowledges that while you should be yourself, you shouldn’t jeopardise your safety. Especially for queer teens that rely on their unaccepting family, it’s not a good idea to come out. It’s better to be in the closet than out on the streets.

There’s also quite a lot of sexual themes in this book so I’d say it’s definitely for the older end of YA, 16+ in my opinion. I’m not sure how to feel about sex in YA books. It’s a topic that I don’t really want to discuss at length in a review, but it’s a tricky subject. Teens have sex and should be educated about how to be safe and consensual, but I’m not sure how much novels should be involved.

While it does seem that my review is rather negative, it was a quick read with important messages. I also recognise that some of my annoyances with the book hinge on the setup which I knew about before going into it.

Jasmin 

'The gay summer camp romp of my dreams' - Cale Dietrich, author of The Love Interest Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim - who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists. This year, though, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as 'Del' - buff, masculine and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him. But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is? Praise for Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) 'Jack of Hearts might be the most important queer novel of the decade' Gay Times 'Jack of Hearts won my heart' Courtney Act 'This book is filth' Julian Clary 'The affirming, sex-positive, brilliant new book that puts the "adult" into young adult literature' Attitude 'Humane, sex-positive writing of the funniest, filthiest and most heartening kind' The Guardian

iris

all i’m saying is: i’m not crying, you are.

Candyce Kirk

Camp was a book that I picked up and just couldn't put down. This book really hit me in all the feels and the author wrote this in a way that had me caring for all of these characters. I needed all of them to have a fun and happy summer! Let's just start off by saying that the setting in this book is amazing. A queer camp. Four weeks where everyone is queer and that's celebrated. Everybody can be who they are in a safe place without being judged. This camp needs to exist!

I really think Camp is the perfect summer read. Not only because it takes place during the summer, but it's a fast read you just can't put down. Our main character Randy has decided that this year is time for him to capture Hudson's heart (who he's had a crush on the past few summers). He has everything planned out. During the past year he's lost some weight, gained some muscles, cut his hair and is now "Del". Hudson only likes masc boys, so he thinks if he falls in love with him, he'll be okay with Randy going back to being himself.

If you've ever read a contemporary, you know this is just waiting to go wrong. And it does. The journey there though was so interesting to read. Del and Hudson have a fun few weeks and I really enjoyed them opening up to each other. Not only them falling in love, but also finding themselves. In the world these days there are so many stereotypes out there that these teenagers deal with. On top of that, I loved how sex positive this YA book was. They promoted safe sex, emotions, lust, etc. Also for a YA book this was definitely rather detailed, but not too much.

I think Hudson and Randy both have a really interesting summer that helps them both in many ways. It's so hard to hear Hudson having parents that say they accept him, but don't show that at all. So much so, he doesn't feel safe being himself. Camp really talks about these subjects in such a good and caring way. I have so much to say about this book, but I just really think it needs to be read. 

On top of a romance that puts a smile on your face, some camp drama, lots of fun activities and a theater show that sounds like so much fun to participate in, Camp has an amazing set of diverse side characters. I loved all the rep in this book and the characters were so much fun. Besides the main characters, George was my favorite and I wouldn't mind him getting a book! There were a lot of interesting side stories that fit this book perfectly.

I really think all teenagers need to read this book. Every subject this book talks about is something that should be understood by every teenager. We're in a world that still has too many stereotypes. Everyone should be accepted no matter what their sexuality or skin color may be. All I know is that this won't be the last book I read by this author. L.C. Rosen is on my author to watch list!

Sam Pulliam

Early in the month, I had a hold come through from my library for Camp by L. C. Rosen. This book is a YA contemporary that takes place at a summer camp for queer teens. Randy has been going to this camp for a few years and has a crush on a guy named, Hudson. Hudson definitely has a type and it’s masculine. Randy reinvents himself as “Del” to try and get Hudson’s attention and we follow their relationship over the summer. This story is definitely messy but there’s so much more to it than that. Both characters really grow over the course of the story and I really appreciate that. I also think Rosen is able to tackle a variety of issues in this story and that gives Camp so much depth. Not only does Rosen deal with the issue of some people thinking there’s a right and wrong way to be queer, but they also tackle supportive and unsupportive parents, homophobia and bullying, and the importance of “queer-only” spaces. I think the biggest conversation surrounding queer-only spaces is the fact that while they are important and can build confidence to be yourself at all times, some people, especially teens living with unsupportive parents, don’t have the luxury of or are safe in being their true selves at all times. It’s unfortunate but I’m glad this was talked about. While this is a YA book, there is one fairly descriptive sex scene so if that’s not your jam, I just wanted to give that warning. 

Trigger Warnings
Death (grandparent)
Death (family member)
Homophobia (internalized, challenged/discussed)
Homophobic slurs
Queerphobia (challenged/discussed)
Sex scene
Toxic masculinity

Jasper

It had an important message, I think, but I just did not like it.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Camp

Author: Lev A.C. Rosen

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: LGBT friendly! Gay, demi, trans, lesbian, non-bininary, Korean, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Black Brazillian, Black, etc.

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, mental health, toxic masculinity)

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 384

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim - who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists.

This year, though, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as 'Del' - buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him.

But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself how much is he willing to change for love. And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is?

Review: I was definitely worried about the book based on the blurb, but after reading it I thought it was handled excellently and the book was pretty good! The book had well developed characters with well done world building. The book also tackled the tough topics well and was very sex-positive!

My only issue is that the books pacing waned here and there. It was slow in a lot of places and it really took a bit for the book to pick up in my opinion.

Verdict: Definitely recommend!

Abi Baker

Cath

I don’t think I’ve ever picked up a queer novel in my life. I’ve definitely come across queer characters in various novels, but I’ve never read a book that was centred solely on the LGBTQ+ community, much less with a premise that’s entirely focused on a queer space (in this case, a queer summer camp)! That said, the characters and rep in this novel were so refreshing! The novel is super short and fast-paced, but being someone who’s not too familiar with the themes of the LGBTQ+ community, I learned a lot.

I have to admit, the premise of the novel didn’t sound too enticing when I first read the blurb. Summer camps aren’t exactly my thing, and the romance sounded way too cheesy for me, but I thought I’d give it a shot because I’ve also heard amazing things about the author’s voice in his stories.

I’m so glad I was wrong about the premise. Camp Outland sounds like an absolute dream. Spending a summer in a camp where you can just be yourself and hang out with wonderful people, participate in theatre and share stories at night together in a cabin sounds absolutely amazing. The stories and conversations shared between all the characters in the novel were all so heartbreaking, but important nonetheless

This book delves into the exploitation of toxic masculinity, queer stereotypes, and even the discrimination that arises from within the people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This book made me so angry and sad and frustrated, but it also made my heart swell with happiness. I ached for Randy (who went with the name ‘Del’ for the most part of the novel). Just reading about how he felt the need to change a crucial part of his identity for a crush was so painful and sad. In contrast, Randy’s friends were a delight to read about. Every character was absolutely loveable! They were brash and disappointed by Randy’s decisions, yet they always tried their best to support him whenever needed. I really appreciate the sexual transparency of each character and how distinct their voices were, which was a huge contrast to the fake shell that randy was hiding under throughout the majority of the novel.

The only reason why I docked down a star was because some parts of the novel were a little predictable. The romance was indeed cheesy, and I did not particularly like Hudson. He said a lot of nasty things, and though there were crucial reasons as to why he said them and made up for his actions, I’m still aggravated by his behaviour. Nonetheless, I was still rooting for Randy, even though his plan was nothing short of absurd.

That said though, none of it undermined the concepts highlighted in the novel, which are of gender conformities, toxic masculinity, and ultimately being unapologetic for being yourself. I was mostly excited to read about the side characters in the novel who were having a blast being themselves and doing what they love to do with the limited time they have at the camp. At the end of the day, I was just sad to read about how Randy wanted so badly to give up what made him feel happy and free for someone else. It’s just so not worth it 😦

One last thing that I thought that was worth mentioning was the promotion of safe sex in the novel! There was a normalcy within the premise where necessities were provided just in case anyone wanted to have safe and consensual sex in the camp, which is a big YES from me. I just love the positivity and support of the camp so much.

If you’re looking to read and learn more about the LGBTQ+ community, Camp has it all! It’s light, enjoyable, important, meaningful, and heartwarming. Definitely recommend picking this one up ASAP!

If you’ve read this book, please let me know your thoughts! Otherwise, thank you so much for reading my review! I also wanted to thank Penguin Teen Australia for sending me a copy of Camp in exchange for an honest review!

Bethany Phillips

Well, this book was adorable. I want to hug all of the characters and have long conversations with them where they continue to teach me. I love a summer camp setting, so that was definitely a point of interest for me, too. So many delightful and dramatic things happen at summer camp! I also love a book that throws in depth, too, and this one def delivered.

Tijdens Camp Outland kan Rory (16) helemaal zichzelf zijn, maar dit jaar is het anders. Hij wil de knappe Hudson voor zich winnen, dus dit jaar geen nagellak en musical, maar sport. Lukt het hem om Hudson te veroveren, zonder zichzelf te verliezen? Vanaf ca. 15 jaar.

Manon van Heumen

This was quite an okay book, but I was bored throughout.

Ocean

This book is a lesson in toxic masculinity and internalised homophobia. I think it's so important to address these issues as they can be quite prominent within the gay community. I really enjoy the way this story is told, and I think all the characters are unique and interesting in their own ways. There is a lot of diversity in this book, with pretty much every letter of the LGBTQ+ acronym being represented. Aside from the main storyline between Randy and Hudson, the other friendships and relationships are wonderful to read and I really love the background characters. The only thing that threw me off a bit is that this story is a little more sexual than I expected. Overall, a great story about queer kids at camp, I wish I'd been able to go to a camp like Camp Outland as a teenager.

Margo Lindner

I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t work out for me. I don’t understand how a relationship built on lies will ever work out. I don’t think we actually conquered the toxic masculinity that was present in this book, even though that was a goal. The rep was very good, it was decently written. I just didn’t vibe with the characters.

Mackenzie Cole

Drew Crespo

mars opal barry

A sweet and sharp screwball comedy that critiques the culture of toxic masculinity within the queer community. Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim -- who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists. This year, though, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as "Del" -- buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him. But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself: How much is he willing to change for love? And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is? p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #000000}

Lovisa Hallén

Shaq H

Set in a summer camp, this sweet and sharp screwball comedy set in a summer camp for queer teens examines the nature of toxic masculinity and self-acceptance. Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim—who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists. This year, however, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as 'Del'—buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him. But as he and Hudson grow closer, Randy has to ask himself: How much is he willing to change for love? And is it really love anyway, if Hudson doesn't know who he truly is?

Camp

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