“I want you to spend the night,” you said. And it was definitely your phrasing that ensured it. If you had said, “Let’s have sex,” or “Let’s go to my place,” or even “I really want you,” I’m not sure we would have gone quite as far as we did. But I loved the notion that the night was mine to spend, and I immediately decided to spend it with you.”

American YA author and editor of the 21st century, David Levithan writes fiction that explores queer identity and adolescent experience with honesty and warmth. His novels, including *Boy Meets Boy* and *Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist*, blend contemporary realism with lyrical prose, offering nuanced portrayals of young people navigating love, belonging, and self-discovery.