by Jason June
“The hero is really the guy at the controller,” Albert said. He motioned toward his fingers clutching the handle. “So, I guess that would be me.”
“My plumber in shining armor.”
Albert laughed, that dimple lighting up my soul. He stepped closer. Our noses nearly touched. “We missed you last night.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be there,” I said. “How was homecoming?”
Albert shrugged. “Eh. Actually, it isn’t over yet.”
“What do you mean?”
Albert threw the umbrella to the side, rain drenching us as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “There’s still one more dance.”
We stood there swaying, sopping wet, kissing softly, slowly, deeply, dancing to nothing but the sound of the rain.
I realized then that there was one other thing on the Gay Agenda I didn’t want to let go. It would make a great addition to my new and improved list.
JAY AGENDA
1.Become part of a super-queer, super-tight framily.
2.Make sure I get my daily dose of Lu.
3.Fall in love with a boy.
Fifty-five percent of all people fall in love for the first time between the ages of fifteen and eighteen. That day, kissing in the rain, was I ready to cross first love off my agenda?
Not quite.
But I didn’t think it would take too long.
Acknowledgments
In true Jay fashion, these acknowledgments wouldn’t be right unless we put them in a list.
JASON JUNE’S THANK-YOU AGENDA
1.Tear-soaked, ugly cry thank you to the people who made my novel dreams a reality
This book might just have my name on it, but it wouldn’t be here without the passion and guidance of so many people. To Brent Taylor, you are the dream hustler agent that I can always feel pushing me forward with love and ambition. Thank you for all the calls to chat about the little things (like our favorite reality shows and Coach bags to buy next) and the big (how that reality dating show can inspire my next work, and how we’ll accomplish every single item I have on my career agenda). To my brilliant editor, Megan Ilnitzki, for getting what I was trying to do with Jay’s story from the start. Every single note you gave rang in my soul, answering without question that editor soul mates are for sure a thing. To Ricardo Bessa, for this epic cover that made me gasp and cry and remember what it was like to fall in love for the first time simply through the look between Jay and Albert. To Ivan Leung, for making this a better story with your thoughtful feedback. To David DeWitt, Sabrina Abballe, Katie Dutton, Sam Benson, and to the whole Harper team for making Jay’s Gay Agenda a reality, from marketing to design to publicity to sales. I heart you all so much. Special shout-out to senior production editor Laura Harshberger for making sure the layout of this whole book filled with lists looked perfect, and to the fracking amazing Maya Myers and Lana Barnes for copy editing a whole treasure trove of mistakes.
2.Extra-long hugs to my loving and supportive framily
I don’t know how I ever could have gotten to this moment without the multitude of friends to talk me through the odd mood swings that come from grappling with people who only live in my head. To all my writer friends who have written with me, read my work, cheered me on, or given me the best critiques that I can put in nifty to-do lists: Shruti Saran, Cate Berry, Aimee Thomas, Christina Soontornvat, Gene Brenek, Andrew Thomas, Sean Petrie, Debbi Michiko Florence, Kim Turrisi, Mackenzi Lee, Carrie Jones, Cynthia Leitich Smith, all the AAWs, Lori Snyder, Kat Shepherd, Peter McCleery, Anthony Piraino, Deb Beauchamp, Laura Gehl, Lori Richmond (ohmigawd Porcupine!), Camille Andros, Tara Luebbe, and all the 21ders (we’re really doing it!). To the framily that’s been with me through the most transformative decade of my life, sharing in my successes and helping me grow after my failures: Andrew Gruver, Michael Calabro, Nic Marlin, Todd Williamson, Mike Belyea, Travis Sablas, Enrique Sapene, Danny Garcia, Candis Cayne, Katey O’Regan, Hannah Blaylock, Justin Wakefield, Benjamin Dougharty, Bayne Gibby, and Sara Sargent.
3.All kinds of gratitude to those who’ve shown me the way
I am so lucky to know a multitude of amazing women who saw something in me when I was trying to get my start as a writer. My whole trajectory into children’s literature wouldn’t have started unless the stars aligned and introduced me to Jen Rofé. Jen, you are my mentor, sister, and friend, and I look up to you more than you know. To Stacy McAnulty and Jill Esbaum for making me believe I could be published someday. To Erin Murphy and Tricia Lawrence for giving me that first chance and writer framily. To Annie Nybo for getting my humor and saying yes. To Bethany Hegedus for boosting me up and giving me the tools to become a better writer. To Tina Love and Jackie Stallcup for cheering me on not only through my master’s program, but to this very day.
4.Extra love to the booksellers and authors who inspire me
To Joy Preble for being such a vocal cheerleader and having my back. To the amazing booksellers at Brazos Bookstore, BookPeople, and Auntie’s Bookstore for making me feel like I was a part of your teams and welcoming me into your communities. To all the authors who took the time to read Jay’s story, blurb it, and share your soul-boosting feedback with me: Becky Albertalli, Kalynn Bayron, Ronni Davis, Mason Deaver, Emma Lord, L. C. Rosen, Phil Stamper, Aiden Thomas, and Julian Winters. I can’t thank you enough for making me feel so seen and supported. To all the queer writers out there, thank you for paving the way and welcoming me with open arms. It is an act of love and bravery to write openly about sexuality and gender identity, and I appreciate every word you’ve put to the page to make this a better world.
5.Don’t forget where you came from
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my amazing family who has been by my side since day one. To Ali, Andie, Cam, and Nina, for always being there, I still get that little-kid thrill when I get to see my cousins. To Krystal, Luke, Scott, and Sherra, for embracing our crew and becoming such important parts of it. To all the aunts and uncles, who are really just other versions of my parents, there is a bit of each of you in me, and I love being a puzzle of your zaniness. To Gramps, for being the ever-watching, always thoughtful, zinger-and-love-filled originator of our family. To Grandma Joan, I can still see you setting up that typewriter for me when I was eight. Zach, I’m so lucky to have you as a big brother. I know I didn’t say it a lot growing up when I screamed my head off at you or tried and failed to make you the victim of payback pranks, but I look up to you so much. At least half of the things I’ve accomplished so far are because of your example. To all the Murrays, who have made me a part of your family from day one, I love y’all so much and I’m so proud to be a part of your ranks. To my nieces and nephews, who make me so happy to be your Auntie Uncle. Dad, I will never forget the hours you spent reading Dinotopia to me. Those nights left me so amazed by made-up worlds and set me on the track to becoming a writer. Mom, I hope you can see that the badass that is Tami Collier is entirely inspired by you. Your determination to achieve everything you wanted in life, and your ability to bring as many people as possible along with you, set such a far-reaching example that influences every decision I make. Mom, you’ve had this innate ability to see my heart in every stage of life. When I told you I was gay, when I told you I was genderqueer, you only ever responded with love and instantly acknowledged how I was just being me. That understanding and knowing I could work through the messy stages of figuring myself out in front of you gave me the strength I needed to actually do it.
6.Shout-out to the amazing readers who picked up this book
I’m looking at you. Yes you, the one holding Jay and his world and these words in your hand. I am so unbelievably grateful to you for taking time out of your life to read what I wrote. When I was a lonely gay kid growing up in Eastern Washington, I never thought that it would be possible to write this story and share it. Know that no matter where you are on the planet, no matter what boxes or stereotypes society wants to force you into, no matter whether you’re cer
tain about your sexuality and gender or still figuring it out, your life is worthy of a story (or two or three or as many as your heart can contain). I see you, I’m so thankful for you picking up this book, and I can’t wait to read your stories someday too.
7.Realize there are no words to truly express how I feel about the love of my life
Jerry, this section is dedicated entirely to you. You have never once wavered in your support of my career and have always pushed me to make the decisions that are best for achieving my dreams. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be here making real-life books if I didn’t have you by my side. In any and every agenda I make, you will always be on it. I love you.
About the Author
PHOTO BY RYAN BILAWSKY
JASON JUNE is a gay, genderqueer, list-making, Virgo Sun, Taurus Moon, Pokémon-playing writer living in Austin, Texas. If he had a Gay Agenda, “Marry the love of your life,” “Be Mom to two extremely pampered Pomeranians,” and “Get accidentally kicked in the face by Kylie Minogue as an extra in her music video” would all be crossed off. Visit Jason June on his website at www.heyjasonjune.com.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Praise for Jay’s Gay Agenda
“Jason June, please feel free to check ‘conquering my heart’ off your agenda, because I’m so in love with this book, it’s ridiculous. Jay’s Gay Agenda is funny, sincerely romantic, and infused with love from start to finish, starring a vividly drawn cast of characters who don’t even try to play it cool. I’m beyond charmed.”
—BECKY ALBERTALLI, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
“Jay’s journey to finding his place in the world warmed my small-town heart.”
—MASON DEAVER, award-winning author of The Ghosts We Keep and I Wish You All the Best
“Brave, hopeful, and absolutely packed with joy, Jay’s Gay Agenda crosses every item off my list. I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with this powerful and heartwarming coming-of-age story.”
—PHIL STAMPER, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us and As Far As You’ll Take Me
“Fantastically hilarious and profoundly sincere, Jay’s Gay Agenda is a can’t-miss debut. Jason June pens a flawless letter to queer teens, a reminder that they are worthy of messy friendships, clumsy firsts, complicated feelings, and cinematic happy endings like anyone else. This book sparkles from start to finish.”
—JULIAN WINTERS, award-winning author of Running with Lions
“Jay’s Gay Agenda is exactly the kind of funny, upbeat, queer coming-of-age story readers crave. Full of laughs, heartbreak, fun, and tenderness, this story is an ode to first loves, friendships, and learning to embrace yourself exactly as you are because as Jay comes to understand, who you are is exactly enough.”
—KALYNN BAYRON, bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead
“Jay’s Gay Agenda is the literal definition of a romp: It’s funny, sexy, sweet, and swoony in all the best ways and somehow still manages to capture the delicious, disastrous, and overwhelming chaos and delight of suddenly getting caught up in a world of possibilities when there were none before. Honest and hilarious, this book should be on everyone’s to-read list.”
—L. C. ROSEN, author of Camp and Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts)
“Jay’s Gay Agenda is the charming, funny, sex-positive book I wish I had read growing up. Jason June does an incredible job of exploring messy teen relationships through Jay, a charming and deeply flawed protagonist. Painfully relatable and laugh-out-loud funny, Jay’s Gay Agenda is the teen rom-com of your dreams.”
—AIDEN THOMAS, author of the New York Times bestseller Cemetery Boys
“Jay’s Gay Agenda is a delightful and emotional exploration of what it means to focus so much on checking things off a list that you forget yourself along the way. Every character is complicated, messy, and lovable, and it should be on EVERYONE’S agenda to grab a copy of this wonderful book!”
—RONNI DAVIS, author of When the Stars Lead to You
“What an absolute delight of a debut! Relatable, hilarious, messy, earnest, and heartfelt, just the way the best coming-of-age stories are. Jay’s Gay Agenda tackles friendship, first love, and ~feelings~ so masterfully that readers will come back to read it time and time again.”
—EMMA LORD, author of Tweet Cute
Books by Jason June
Jay’s Gay Agenda
Out of the Blue
Back Ad
DISCOVER
your next favorite read
MEET
new authors to love
WIN
free books
SHARE
infographics, playlists, quizzes, and more
WATCH
the latest videos
www.epicreads.com
Copyright
HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
JAY’S GAY AGENDA. Copyright © 2021 by Jason June. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.epicreads.com
Digital Edition JUNE 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-301517-3
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-301515-9
Cover art © 2021 by Ricardo Bessa
Cover design by David DeWitt
2122232425PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida
Uttar Pradesh 201 301
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com