16 – I Was a Teenage Agony Aunt

Never the Twins Shall Meet

This week, Pie and Lulu leave the realm of fantasy and science fiction for new territory. Turning our attention to two young adult coming-of-age stories, we discuss Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales and Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen, two contemporary novels where the protagonist runs an advice column–yet is a bit of a disaster in their personal life. Topics include the exploration of LGBTQ+ identities in both novels, the difficulty of writing authentic teenagers, and the appeal of stories where the protagonist can seemingly fix any problems except their own.

Other media mentioned:

• How to be Ace: a Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess
• Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones
• The Vast of Night (2019)
• Moon Knight by Jeff Lemire and Greg Smallwood
• Shadow of the Batgirl by Sarah Kuhn
• Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
• Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast
• High School Musical
• Loveless by Alice Oseman
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Content warnings: discussions of homophobia, biphobia, stalking, blackmail, underage drinking, and drug use.