Quick Pick book review: This is Kind of an Epic Love Story, by Kheryn Callender

• Opening lines: Riding a bike in the rain with a broken arm is never a good idea, but I'm the kind of guy who likes to make life more difficult, so that's exactly what I do. 
• Reason I picked up the book: I'm a sucker for YA love stories. 
• And what's this book about?
A fresh, charming rom-com perfect for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Boy Meets Boy about Nathan Bird, who has sworn off happy endings but is sorely tested when his former best friend, Ollie, moves back to town. Nathan Bird doesn’t believe in happy endings. Although he’s the ultimate film buff and an aspiring screenwriter, Nate’s seen the demise of too many relationships to believe that happy endings exist in real life.

Playing it safe to avoid a broken heart has been his MO ever since his father died and left his mom to unravel—but this strategy is not without fault. His best-friend-turned-girlfriend-turned-best-friend-again, Florence, is set on making sure Nate finds someone else. And in a twist that is rom-com-worthy, someone does come along: Oliver James Hernández, his childhood best friend.

After a painful mix-up when they were little, Nate finally has the chance to tell Ollie the truth about his feelings. But can Nate find the courage to pursue his own happily ever after?
• Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys a love story, a YA book, or LGBTQ-themed books. 
• Favorite paragraph: Flo didn't say anything else. We sat there in quiet for a long time. I was afraid to speak. She'd hear my voice breaking. My breath was too ragged. I forced myself to say something. "I just don't want to get hurt."
  
  She frowned. "No one wants to be hurt. No one wants to risk that. But if we don't risk it ... then we don't give ourselves the chance to fall in love. Then we don't have anything."
  
  I don't really know what's worse: living without love so that you don't get hurt, or getting hurt repeatedly in an attempt to find it. 

• Something to know: Nothing that I can think of. This would make a great movie a la Love, Simon style, though.
• What I would have changed: Nothing.
• Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5.
• Where can I find this book? Click here to order on Amazon.
  

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for reviewing purposes. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.