The State of Us

By: Shaun David Hutchinson

Narrated by: Dan Bittner, Vikas Adam

""Dre and Dean have got my vote!""—Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay

When Dean Arnault’s mother decided to run for president, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone, least of all her son. But still that doesn’t mean Dean wants to be part of the public spectacle that is the race for the White House—at least not until he meets Dre.

The only problem is that Dre Rosario's on the opposition; he’s the son of the Democratic nominee. But as Dean and Dre’s meet-ups on the campaign trail become less left to chance, their friendship quickly becomes a romantic connection unlike any either of the boys have ever known.

If it wasn’t hard enough falling in love across the aisle, the political scheming of a shady third-party candidate could cause Dean and Dre’s world to explode around them.

It’s a new modern-day, star-crossed romance about what it really means to love your country—and yourself—from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson.

Like it

Mel was a bad friend for 95% of the book, and the parents were kinda unsympathetic, and a bit slow to start, but I like the way Dre wasn’t totally in to politics, and I also liked that Dean was. I thought that it was a good teen novel, but that it was a bit young to be set in their senior year.

Conflicted and annoyed

There were many pros and cons to this book. The cons, however, heavily outweigh the bad. Heavily.
While being well written, as all of Hutchinson's novels are (which I highly suggest you check out - all of which are better than this), I don’t know which was worse: the predictability, Andre's voice actor, or the characters themselves. Probably Andre's voice actor, considering throughout the run time, I felt annoyed, I couldn't stop thinking about how much better the book would’ve been if I had just picked up a physical copy, which I probably would’ve exchanged the audiobook and done, if the story itself wasn't so investing.

pretty good, but kinda simplified

A little unrealistic in a few ways, but overall a really interesting look at differing views in a relationship and how people can grow

Blank:

Haven't even finished the book yet I'm not even halfway in. I just love the storyline of it, so far it's a great story and I would highly recommend it if your looking to expand your reading to your LGBTQ+ books

Given recent political messes…this was a great escape…

I truly wished a number of times that I lived in this version of the world, but alas I can keep hoping that people will act with integrity some day.