New & Noteworthy - Young Adult Contemporary
Kevin van Whye Kevin van Whye is a gay writer of color born and raised in South Africa, where his love for storytelling started at a very young age. At four years old, he quit preschool because his teacher couldn’t tell a story. Kevin’s love affair with stories led him to film school, where he studied scriptwriting. Date Me, Bryson Keller is his first novel. Kevin lives in Johannesburg, and when he’s not reading, he’s writing books that give his characters the happy rom-com endings they deserve. Agent: Robert Guinsler Film agent: Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, The Gotham Group
Nate Plus One From the author of Date Me, Bryson Keller comes a new gay rom-com!
OPTION PUBLISHERS BRAZIL (INTRINSECA) DENMARK (ALVILDA) ITALY (PIEMME) WORLD SPANISH (PLANETA MEXICO)
PUBLISHER
Random House Children's Books (World English)
PUBLICATION
Spring 2022 (Final manuscript available: April 2021)
EDITOR
Polo Orozco
Seventeen-year-old Nathan Hargreaves has done the bravest thing a gay teen can do: he’s come out to all those around him. But when he and his Mom are invited to his extremely wealthy paternal Aunt’s wedding retreat in South Africa, he’s filled with dread because he knows that all eyes will be on him— the gay boy. Disaster strikes when his Mom can’t make it and Nate will be forced to brave his extended family alone. Enter Jai Patel. Jai is an indie musician whose band is hoping to get their big break through a talent competition. When Jai’s band loses their lead singer weeks before the big competition, Nate steps up to help his friend out. The truth is, Nate is starting to feel more than friendship for the other boy and he’s pretty sure that Jai feels the same way. So, when Jai volunteers to be his plus one to the wedding, Nate’s looking forward to what will be the most perfect first date ever. That is, until Nate’s secret ex-boyfriend enters the picture.
“One of the most adorable, big-hearted, charming books in existence.” —Becky Albertalli, author of Love, Creekwood and Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda on Date Me, Bryson Keller “Date Me, Bryson Keller is a gloriously satisfying gay teen coming-of-age love story with characters you’ll think about long after you put the book down (and you won’t want to put it down until you’ve read every word—I didn’t)… Highly recommended.” —IndieBound on Date Me, Bryson Keller
18
