The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers
by Adam SassPublished by: Viking Books for Young Readers on September 20, 2022
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, LGBTQ
Pages: 344
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
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.
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Cinderella fairy tale retelling . . . but queer!
- Queer rom-com with two boys falling in love
- Friends-to-lovers
- Lots of flirting and banter
- Heartwarming family and friendship bonds
- Teen characters just doing their messy best and trying to discover themselves
I have returned, and I know you may be wondering, given my first review back, but no, I am not a changeling or a body snatcher. Of course, that’s exactly what a changeling or a body snatcher would say. So maybe that’s not great empirical evidence of anything.
Either way, I know that I always go on about not liking romance, but . . . can I tell y’all a secret? Come closer. *leans in* I kind of have been mood reading it lately? And not the stabby, dark kind, either. Don’t think lesser of me. Remember me fondly as I used to be. Honestly? It’s 100% Heartstopper’s fault, because after binging the Netflix series (once or twice . . . or five times), I’ve been dying for something sweet and cozy in the same way.
Which is precisely how I ended up picking up this lovely little rom-com that is so very different from the books I normally read. But difference is the spice of life, as they say. At least, I’m pretty sure that’s a thing they say. Well, I’m saying it, so it is now either way. I did a thing that librarians don’t do very often and asked a librarian friend of mine what I should read next, given I was clearly out of my league in this genre. Don’t worry, I made sure I had plenty of time. I sifted through the list of recommendations and ended up on Micah Summers, which sounded like just the sort of rom-com I was looking for.
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers is a queer Cinderella retelling. Micah is looking for his happily ever after . . . but what if he’s in the wrong fairy tale? Filled with friendship and family bonds, pining, friends-to-lovers, and lots of teen drama.
A bundle of plot twists and turns, this book is not. From the beginning, it’s fairly obvious the direction this story will go and how things will turn out in the end. However, the real joy of this book is the journey! Micah Summers is entirely relatable in the way he’s desperate to fit in and hit the dating scene (17 and no boyfriend yet!), so he fabricates scenarios in his head of the perfect boyfriend and the perfect date. And honestly, who hasn’t at some point? Especially at that age. The story, despite being predictable, is sweet and funny and romantic in a fairy tale sort of way. The only thing I would caution is prepare for there to be a lot of social media, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you’re into.
Micah Summers is a daydreaming artist who builds fantasies in his mind and believes in fairy tales. He’s an utterly, painfully relatable character . . . to a select group of readers.
Look, I realize not everyone is going to relate to Micah’s daydreaming, head-in-the-clouds, slightly stalkerish personality, and that’s fine. But some people will. Young Sammie was very similar, chasing daydreams in lieu of a real world that was messy and chaotic and utterly out of control. Micah hasn’t really had 99 boyfriends. He’s just had 99 crushes, and built a fantasy story around each one. Which, okay, I can relate to this so hard, when you want so badly for something “normal” and don’t yet know what that means or looks like for you.
Micah isn’t always a great person. Of course not. He’s 17 and still finding himself, and part of his journey is making mistakes and discovering himself. Heck, that’s still a journey I’m on and I’m in my 30s, so how can I possibly expect him to have it all figured out? I like the unique way Micah looks at the world, though, and the way exciting way it could be, rather than accepting things at face value. What can I say? I’m a real sucker for dreamers.
When I draw, I’m me.
This is a Cinderella retelling, where the fairy tale references are upfront and obvious, but also actually rather sweet and charming.
I mean, who doesn’t want to believe in fairy tales and happily ever after? That’s why I absolutely love the idea behind Micah’s Instagram account called Instaloves. Basically, he finds a boy he’s crushing on or thinks is cute and creates a fantasy background for them, sketches them, and puts the drawings and stories on Instagram. This is some next-level pining that I am 100% here for, because who does it hurt?! He draws them and moves on. Plus, in the meantime, he convinces thousands of followers to believe in love and happiness, all in one fell swoop.
Which is why, when Micah lands on Boy 100, he decides the sketch and story has to be perfect. He has to find his own happy ending. Which plays out exactly how you might think it does. As predictable as it is, it’s still freaking cute. What can I say? I’m in a sappy mood for a romance that just works. Until it doesn’t. Because sometimes the happy ending you want isn’t the happy ending you need. Except the fairy tales don’t tell you that, do they?
A weary world deserves a little dreaming.
Micah is not alone in his endeavors, and he has an amazing support group of friends and family rooting for him at every turn.
This is something I absolutely love to see in YA, because it’s so crucial at that age. Or at my age. Any age, really, to be honest. Micah has some friends who are there for him, even if they argue, and will support him while also telling him the hard truths. Because sometimes that’s what friends are for.
As for his family, he doesn’t always get along with his sister, but she’s always got his back when it matters. So do his parents, who are super cheesy but utterly adorable in their own right, which is also amazing to read. The family dynamic is a very fun one.
“I know.” His bass-y voice, so gentle and low, could lull me back to sleep.
“Also, this is embarrassing . . .” I cover my eyes. He poles me in the small of my back until I answer. “I didn’t go to the bathroom during our date. Any of our dates.” Grant wheezes out a puhhhh laugh. “I didn’t want you thinking that I go to the bathroom.”
Grant screws up his face in disgust. “You go to the bathroom?”
“I know, it’s a thing I do. It’s horrible.”
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 the year by Kirkus and Foreword INDIES, best first novel for young readers by ALA Booklist, won the Gold Medal for YA Fiction at the IPPY Awards, and was a selection for ALA’s Rainbow Book List for 2022.
His newest YA novel, THE 99 BOYFRIENDS OF MICAH SUMMERS, was named a Best Book of 2022 by Seventeen Magazine and The Children’s Book Council, as well as received rave starred reviews from ALA Booklist and School Library Journal. Adam has been featured in Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, and is a frequent guest on The Savage Lovecast. His upcoming teen slasher, YOUR LONELY NIGHTS ARE OVER, pitched as Scream meets Clueless, arrives everywhere September 12th. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband and dachshunds.
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