Instant Adult

In this engaging sequel to Maybe Next Year, 17-year-old Bryan suddenly finds himself on his own in Los Angeles, having narrowly escaped being sent to a gay conversion therapy camp by his fundamentalist father. Luckily, he finds a room to rent in a house owned by a gay attorney near UCLA. His housemates are a fabulous Black drag queen with an amazing voice, a hard-partying porn star, and a hunky Marine veteran with post-war baggage. This colorful crew becomes Bryan's new family, supporting him as he navigates his new life as an openly gay high school senior who must support himself and somehow save for college. Bryan struggles to fit in at his new high school, and he soon experiences homophobia and bullying. He befriends an out and proud Black lesbian named LaTanya, and together they inject fresh energy into the school's stagnant Gay-Straight Alliance and work to turn the school into a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ students. Along the way, Bryan learns how to deal with dating and sex, homesickness, financial challenges, and many other aspects of adulthood - all while staying on the down-low to avoid being discovered and sent back to his religious, homophobic parents in Kansas. Bryan's journey to becoming an Instant Adult is sometimes humorous and sometimes heartbreaking, but always compelling. You'll connect with the inherently lovable Bryan and cheer for him every step of the way. Content Advisory: This book contains adult language and references to homophobia, bullying in schools, pornography, and same-sex sexual activities. It does not contain graphic sex scenes. If it was a movie, it would be rated R.