Milo and Marcos at the End of the World

I thought we were done with coming out trauma fest novels, and ready to move on to stories about queer people (including teens) where the plot is driven by fake dating, enemies to lovers, and other tropes that are currently in vogue for both straight and queer romances. But considering the “Don't Say Gay” backlash of 2022, it's unfortunately still timely to show the struggle that two teenaged boys raised in strict Christian homes in small town Florida face when they admit that they like each other.

Despite the title, this isn't a dystopian novel, although strange things happen whenever high school seniors Milo and Marcus are together. A sinkhole suddenly appears on the route to school, and there's a freak hailstorm on an otherwise sunny day. Are these celestial signs that God disapproves of their relationship or simply coincidence? Either way, what are the boys willing to risk to be together? That question is especially challenging for Milo, who has internalized his religion's homophobia, always keeping a low profile and being a good, quiet Christian boy. His behavior with Marcos can be frustratingly hot and cold, but it's hard not to empathize when he's been told all his life that God judges his feelings as wrong and unnatural.

Debut author Kevin Christopher Snipes uses humor, drama, and a bit of magical realism, never sugarcoating the very real challenges that the boys face but still providing a satisfying happy ending for them.