Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins
Synopsis
"What would you do if you had to spend the next 15 days with your lifelong crush?
Felipe gets it -- he's fat. Not chubby. Not big-boned. Fat. And he doesn't need anyone to remind him, which is, of course, what everyone does. That's why he's been waiting for this moment ever since the school year began: school break. Finally, he'll be able to spend some time far away from school and the classmates who tease him incessantly. His plans include catching up on his favorite TV shows, finishing his to-be-read pile, and watching YouTube tutorials on skills he'll never actually put into practice.
But things get a little out of hand when Felipe's mom informs him that Caio, the neighbor kid from apartment 57, will be spending the next 15 days with them while his parents are on vacation. Felipe is distraught because A) he's had a crush on Caio since, well, forever, and B) Felipe has a list of body image insecurities and absolutely NO idea how he's going to entertain his neighbor for two full weeks.
Suddenly, the days ahead of him that once promised rest and relaxation (not to mention some epic Netflix bingeing) end up bringing a whirlwind of feelings, forcing Felipe to dive head-first into every unresolved issue he has had with himself -- but maybe, just maybe, he'll manage to win over Caio, too."
My Thoughts
This book was so sweet and Felipe is one of the most relatable characters I've read about. Everything from the dedication at the beginning "For anyone who has ever gotten into a pool with their shirt on," to Felipe being uncomfortable with the idea of anyone looking at him, had me wanting to yell "ME TOO!"
I distinctly remember being a teen and so angry and resentful of anyone who was thin. Like being thin was a magical state that meant nothing could be too bad for you because at least you were thin. Felipe has a few moments in this book where he realizes, much as I did, that being thin does not automatically make you happy and it doesn't mean you can't be self-conscious either.
Felipe and Caio's friendship slowly growing stronger through this book brought me so much joy. And seeing Felipe grow as a character made me so happy to see as well. This book was so cute and I really enjoyed it. I was only sad because it felt like there was still so much up in the air at the end of the book. I wanted more, or maybe a sequel after I finished it. I definitely recommend this one!
Genre: lgbtqia+, ya, contemporary
Representation: fat MC, gay MCs, Latinx, lesbian
Content Warnings: fatphobia, assault, HP reference, homophobia, f-slur, underage drinking