Happy Pride Month! I thought Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert would be a great way to kick off the month.
Conventionally Yours was a bit different for me in terms of contemporary reads. I’ve never been into card games, so I wasn’t sure that the card-tournament aspect would hold my interest. It was recommended after I devoured Red, White, and Royal Blue, though, so I grabbed it.
Conrad and Alden are members of a group of players who’ve gained some notoriety through their card shop’s YouTube station. Due to their popularity, the entire group gets invited to participate in a tournament in Las Vegas with a hefty cash prize for the winner.
For various reasons, only Conrad and Alden choose to make the trip to the tournament by car. What ensues is a cross-country road trip, during which they both get to know each other in new ways, learn things about themselves, and open up in ways they never have to other people. And, slowly, they move past their frenemies status and firmly into lovers.
In the end, I loved this one. It’s full of rep, but not in a way that felt like Albert was checking boxes. Book 2 in the series, Out of Character, follows Jasper, a friend of Conrad and Alden’s, is currently up for preorder and will release on July 6.
Author of all things fantasy 