The Wrong Kind of Weird - by James Ramos (Hardcover)

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure how to feel about this book. A few of the scenes and interactions put me off a bit. It kind of felt like The Big Bang Theory where “pretty popular girl dates nerdy boy and that’s weird and comedic” and that trope is so annoying to me. I’m so glad it wasn’t like that in the end. Cam is an anime nerd who has a group of friends who are also anime nerds. This book is definitely catered towards folks who like anime. There’s so many references that will probably be lost on those who aren’t into the anime culture as much. Cam begins hanging out and hooking up with Karla, one of the most popular girls in school. The levels of simp that Cam went through was annoying at times for me. Yes she was pretty and popular, but the way she treated him in the beginning got under my skin. Then it transforms into a love triangle where he begins to fall for Mackenzie, a new girl who has joined his nerd club and who he used to dislike. He begins to see there’s more of her then what he thought and begins to see her as an actual friend and love interest. As things start heating up with Karla, things start getting started with Mackenzie. I really liked the message at the end of this book. Everyone is weird. People may seem cool and popular and like they are in completely different worlds then you but they can surprise you in their interest. We aren’t all as different as we seem. Nobody is the wrong kind of weird.

The Wrong Kind of Weird gives the right kind of vibes for all the drama of romance in a modern high school. Cameron is a self-proclaimed anime superfan that peppers references to both old and new shows in his dialogue and internal musings, particularly the various iterations of Dragon Ball. I liked that his friends and fellow GANU members had different nerd areas of expertise. Jocelyn's high level cosplay was a fun side storyline that I haven't seen reflected in many "nerdy" books; her passion accurately reflected that of my friends who are very involved in cosplay. I liked the "stumbled into" nature of Cameron and Karla's relationship, the chapters going back in time to how they became sort of friends/make-out buddies added a lot of depth to Karla in particular, taking her beyond the stereotypical queen bee character she is first perceived as.

Cameron is generally pretty good about accepting himself as who he is. He loves anime and so he proudly wears anime shirts to school. Him and his friends even have a group called GANU (geeks and nerds United). His friends basically hate the “cool” kids though and they assume that the cool kids hate them. One particular cool kid, Lucas, has been picking on Cameron for years. But Cameron is keeping a secret from everyone. Cameron has been hooking up with one of the coolest girls in school for months in secret. Cameron would never even dream of dating Karla before this past summer. But then Karla and Lucas broke up (again) and Karla started working at the same coffee house as Cameron. They got to know and like each other away from school, away from their cliques. When school starts back up they either have to keep their situation secret or break things off. It’s not that Karla is embarrassed of Cameron. It’s not. Or is it? Because it’s hard to explain away her hesitation beyond he’s not cool and she is cool. But, the thing is, Cameron’s friends would hate them dating too. They think the popular kids look down on them and, as a result, they almost pre-emptively dislike all the popular kids. So Cameron gets the idea in his head that he just has to bridge the gap between the groups. If he can get the popular kids to like him then Karla will be able to admit that her and Cameron are together (not that it’s official, but it could be). In the meantime though he starts getting to know Mackenzie better. Mackenzie is an official member of GANU. She likes all the same things Cameron likes. He can be himself around her. At first he thinks she dislikes him but it turns out he’s wrong about that. He’s misread her sarcastic personality as unfriendliness. Which girl will he fall for in the end? I think there’s some good lessons here about accepting yourself. I think the biggest problem at the beginning for Cameron and Karla was how their secret hook ups made him feel about himself. If she wants to hook up with him but it’s not ok for anyone to know, then she’s probably not cool with how he comes off at school. And if he’s ok with being her secret then is he accepting himself as he is? It’s something to think about. There’s also another thought about being with someone you can be yourself around. Someone who likes you as you are and not the version of you that’s cool enough for their friends. But, at the same time, you don’t all have to like anime to be a good couple huh? I first received an early edition from NetGalley of this book and then won a physical book from BookishFirst. I liked the characters in this book and the storyline. I liked the subtle Pride and Prejudice comparisons. And I like that the book makes you think about what the characters are going through. The conclusion came on a bit suddenly, I felt like the book flew by.

The Wrong Kind of Weird is a coming-of-age story that follows Cameron, a nerdy high school senior who is struggling to mold himself into something he isn't because of a girl. Cameron has been having a secret physical relationship with the queen bee student council president Karla ever since they worked together as baristas over the summer. Cameron is a member of Geeks and Nerds United (GANU) along with his small group of anima and manga loving friends. Cameron and Karla occupy different high school social strata and, as such, can't be seen together. As Cameron tries to infiltrate the popular crowd, along comes confident nerdy Mackenzie, the sister of Karla's bullying ex. Just as Cameron is making decisions about who he wants to be with and how he wants to be treated, everything melts down due to an exposure on social media. Cameron is relatable and likeable, as are his GANU friends. There is an Austenesque quality to this book, because the reader knows, far before Cameron does, who and what is right for him. The Wrong Kind of Weird is entertaining, witty and fun, exploring the themes of self-acceptance, friendship, and the dangers of stereotypes. I appreciate the diverse and LBGTQ+ representation among the characters. Not a reflection on the quality of the book but it is incongruous that Karla is portrayed as blonde and white on the cover, yet the character definitely isn't.

"The Wrong Kind of Weird" by James Ramos rings true in a way few book about high-school aged characters are able to accomplish. The author has successfully combined his own relative youth with the writing style of a seasoned veteran in the literary field to yield an incredibly well-written and realistic story. The four main characters are high school students, and they act, speak, and dress like actual teenagers. The situations they find themselves in are typical of real high schools and high school social events. I found the whole dynamic refreshing. Cam is the main character and heart of the story. The reader will follow along as he navigates his friend group and a romantic relationship, as well as his interactions with a (former?) bully and the "popular kids". I can't say this enough....these characters seem very REAL. Some conversations remind me of ones I've overheard (or even participated in) with actual kids this age. The story itself was interesting, and I kept reading to find out what Cam would do next to try to get his personal life straightened out. The book kept my attention throughout, and I look forward to whatever Mr. Ramos decides to write next!

When geek club member Cameron and student council president Karla start hooking up over the summer, they think it’s just a fling between coworkers. But now it’s senior year and they’re hiding what they’re doing from their friends because each group does not mix well with the other. Cameron meets Mackenzie and is intrigued by her confidence in not caring what others think about her. Will he continue what’s going on with Karla or is there potential for something with Mackenzie? THE WRONG KIND OF WEIRD is full of teenage angst, nerdy fun, and romance. I liked that there was diversity amongst the characters. I wasn’t familiar with many of the anime references but from context could still grasp what was being conveyed. Someone who’s a fan of anime will likely have even greater enjoyment. The story bounces between fun rom-com, dramatic moments, and social commentary, ultimately leading to an ending with a meaningful message. Important topics that highschoolers face are discussed in a thoughtful manner. What didn’t work for me in the execution of this book was the amount of cursing found throughout. It didn’t seem necessary for plot or character development and after a while was making me cringe due to the volume. I found the writing to be enjoyable otherwise. THE WRONG KIND OF WEIRD is a nerdy YA rom-com, perfect for anime fans. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the giveaway copy.