Where There's a Will Deanes

February 18, 2019
The flimsy fourth and last book in Kennedy’s GetOut queer new adult romance series (which began with The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson), set in Australia, has Will Deanes still pining for Micah Johnson, now an openly gay Australian Football League player who has just returned to Melbourne. Will is Micah’s former bully and current best friend, and really just wants to be his boyfriend. But Micah has a boyfriend, Kyle—though they are in an open relationship. Will channels his frustration and bonds with Micah doing hot nude yoga, going ice skating, and taking a road trip. Eventually the two friends have sex and then fear they’ve ruined their relationship. Will makes efforts to move on from Micah by hooking up with another guy, and grapples with his complicated feelings about his estranged father; these subplots provide some depth to his character. Most heartwarming is his work with GetOut, an LGBTQ teen organization. However, despite all its good intentions, Kennedy’s barely post-adolescent romance is not very vigorous or satisfying.