The Big Ask Book Reviews

The Big Ask by Simon James Green Book Summary

Alfie Parker has bagged the hottest date to prom … hasn’t he? Bestselling LGBTQ+ writer Simon James Green makes his Barrington Stoke debut with a life-affirming teen romance.

Harvey is popular, cool, plays football and has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Summer for as long as anyone can remember. Alfie is not popular, not cool, has a sick note so he doesn’t have to play any sport, and has been in a relationship with his Xbox since forever. So when Summer dramatically dumps Harvey just a few days before the school prom, no one is expecting Alfie to ask Harvey to be his date. Least of all Alfie. But sometimes amazing things can happen when you take a chance …

Reviews

"Delightfully funny, uplifting and sweet. The queer high school promposal drama I wish I'd had as a teen!" – Lauren James

"The Big Ask tells the hilariously heartwarming story of two boys and their foray into romance and bravery. Simon James Green possesses the unique ability to make his readers simultaneously swoon and laugh out loud all while tackling difficult subjects such as self-acceptance and bullying. Simon is one of my favourite contemporary fiction writers and his stories always remind me of why I love YA so much!” – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

"Fizzes with joy, wit and hope" – Ian Eagleton

"I was unable to keep the cheesiest grin off my face reading The Big Ask. No one is doing it like Simon James Green! NO ONE! Hilarious, hopeful, sweet and romantic, I cannot rave enough about how much of a superstar Simon is. Full of Simon's trademark wit and hilarity, The Big Ask is utterly gorgeous! There's no other word for it!" – George Lester

"I loved this charming, funny and incredibly sweet read … Set in the run-up to prom night, it’s packed with Simon’s trademark wit, emotion and chaos!" – Lisa Williamson

"Teenage is a scary time with a lot of pressure to answer every question about who we are. The Big Ask is a wonderfully sweet tonic to those woes. Accessible, smart, and immensely relatable, it resonates with those very real teenage anxieties of labelling who you are and being who you want to be. It is criminal I never got to read it myself as a dyslexic teen." – David Fenne

"Another gorgeous book from the best author of LGBTQ+ YA fiction writing today. There is no one to touch the genius of Simon James Green, and with The Big Ask we are presented with another masterfully written tale, full of Green’s trademark humour, warmth and generosity of spirit." – William Hussey

About the author

Simon James Green is an award-winning author and screenwriter who has written over twelve books for children and young people, including Life of Riley: Beginner's Luck, which was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award, Noah Can't Even, which was selected by WHSmith as one of the most important LGBT books of the last 50 years, and Gay Club!, which was nominated for the YOTO Carnegie Medal. He lives in London.

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The Big Ask (Simon James Green) Book Reviews 2024

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