Openly Straight

The award-winning novel about being out, being proud, and being ready for something else.

Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He's won skiing prizes. He likes to write.

And, oh yeah, he's gay. He's been out since 8th grade, and he isn't teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.

So when he transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret -- not so much going back in the closet as starting over with a clean slate. But then he sees a classmate breaking down. He meets a teacher who challenges him to write his story. And most of all, he falls in love with Ben... who doesn't even know that love is possible.

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Published Apr 28, 2015

336 pages

Average rating: 7.4

15 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Madeline Hillage
Jan 22, 2026
8/10 stars
The novel made me laugh a lot because Rafe, Toby, and Albie were constantly getting into stuff. I didn't really like the soccer team, and I don't like how Ben reacted to Rafe's eventual honesty. I never really got the point of Bryce's character. I really liked Mr. Scarborough. He gave a lot of good writing advice. Rafe's parents really embraced their hippy role, but I never got the whole "Oberlin" thing.
Wiccanth
May 15, 2025
8/10 stars
That's how you bait readers into reading your sequel you guys.

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