JACK OF HEARTS (AND OTHER PARTS)

When a secret admirer becomes a stalker, how much will Jack give up to make it stop?

Everyone at 17-year-old Jack Rothman’s private New York City high school knows he’s gay and that he has a lot of sex (though the gossip is often far juicier than the reality). When Jack, a white boy, starts getting pink origami love notes in his locker, he and his besties, Latinx Jenna and African-American Ben (who is also gay), speculate on who they might be from; but they are far more focused on Jack’s agreeing to write an “anonymous” advice column for Jenna’s news blog and partying. Jack keeps subsequent notes a secret when they start threatening Jenna, Ben, and Jack’s mom. Only when the stalker’s threats become explicit does he tell, and the trio start investigating. As the creep factor rises and the investigation falters, Jack realizes he will have to do something drastic to save the ones he loves. The only weakness in Rosen’s racy mystery-cum–sex manual is the deus ex machina discovery of the culprit. The characters are believable in their milieu of privilege. Jack’s frank (and responsible) advice in his columns may not be for the easily shocked, but it’s related as if from a peer. Booze, smoking, explicit language, and pot use make this one for mature readers.

A sex-positive and thoughtful romp with humor and heart.