Monserrat Urena (Children's Literature)
At fifteen, Carlos Amoroso is not only the last remaining virgin among his friends, but he has a crush on Roxy Rodriguez. His friends keep telling him she’s out of his league, and they just might be right. But Carlos refuses to give up and while watching a TV makeover show one night he comes up with an interesting plan to change his non-love life. He’s going to ask Sal to make him over, just like on TV. After all, Sal is gay just like the guys on TV. There are just a couple of problems on the road to winning Roxy Rodriguez. Sal will only help if Carlos promises to help him start a Gay-Straight Alliance at school. In hanging out with Sal, Carlos is in danger of being labeled “gay” by the entire school. And there’s also something else that Carlos forgot--life isn’t like a TV show. Do not let this book’s pretty-boy, shopping spree--themed cover fool you. This is a deeply engrossing and accessible book about first love and the realization that life is more complicated than anything on TV. Underlying the relationship between Carlos and Sal, and several other relationships, is the all-too-current realities of gay-bashing and a deep misunderstanding of gay culture and life. 2006, Simon and Schuster, $16.95. Ages 13 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 18))
Acne-ridden, slightly pudgy Carlos is the quieter member of a quartet of cocksure, trash-talking high-school boys who've dubbed themselves "Los hornitos" since elementary school. Horny they are, and Sanchez captures their lusty, girl-crazy conversations with a humorously skeptical eye. Carlos talks the talk, but mostly pines after Roxy Rodriguez, the hottest and most popular girl in school. Inspired by the television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, he beseeches Sal, an openly gay guy at school, to make him over from pimply scrub to princely stud. Sal concedes-on the condition that Carlos promises to come to a Gay-Straight Alliance meeting-and soon Carlos's new haircut, diet, bedroom redecoration and cleanliness nab Roxy's attentions. All is not well in the house of love, however, and soon Carlos must face the fact that beauty is much more than skin deep. Sanchez spins an upbeat contemporary drama set against a colorful Latino culture. Tone and plot canter along at a cheerful, upbeat pace, but not without the subtly lingering sense of homophobia that pervades the characters' conversations. Sanchez acts on these cues successfully and non-didactically, ultimately conjuring a universe where young men can come together, regardless of sexuality, to support one another. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 224p, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 13 up. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Christine Poirier (Kutztown Book Review, Spring 2008)
Hoping to impress a sexy female classmate, fifteen-year-old Carlos secretly hires gay student Sal to give him an image makeover, in exchange for Carlos’s help in forming a Gay-Straight Alliance at their Texas high school. Great story told from a high school boy’s perspective. Carlos changes from being shy and mumbly to confident and assertive with help from a friend but more from realizing that he didn’t like being the jerk he had always been. This book is perfect for a high school collection and a good read for boys to pick up. Recommended! Category: Coming of Age/Realism, Humor. 2006, Simon Pulse, $8.99. Ages 14 to 18.

Esther Keller (Library Media Connection, February 2007)
To get the attention of the girl he likes, Carlos enlists Sal, the only known gay student in his high school, to help him with a makeover, just like they do on the popular TV show "Queer Eye." Carlos gets more than he bargained for, as the business arrangement turns into friendship. Suddenly, Carlos sees people a lot more clearly. Is Roxy really worth it? Are his long-time friends really people he wants to hang out with? Award-winning author Alex Sanchez churns out another tale with a gay character and gay issues in the forefront. While the short chapters and fast clipped pace of the novel will likely appeal to reluctant readers, it's hard to miss the not-so-subtle messages in the book. Still, humor prevails as readers follow Carlos along from dweeb to stud, and from a shallow teen to someone with depth and compassion. Recommended. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 224pp., $16.95 hc. Ages 14 to 18.

April Spisak (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, December 2006 (Vol. 60, No. 4))
Carlos is desperate for his beautiful crush to notice him, but his shy, awkward attempts and raucous, obnoxious friends are doing little for his chances. While idly watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, however, Carlos is certain he has stumbled upon the solution and he asks Sal, an out gay guy at school, to take him on as an improvement project. Sal agrees only after Carlos promises to help with the formation of a school Gay-Straight Alliance, and the makeover commences. The changes (both physical and emotional) seem to be paying off when his crush invites him over for a “hook-up,” but Carlos now realizes that he doesn’t want to be the secret make-out partner for a homophobic girl, even if she is gorgeous. The various transformations (all of Carlos’ friends but one are changed for the better as well) are realistically slow, and the resistances of the characters provide much of the humor. Unfortunately, this group of fifteen-year-old friends is so unlikable for the first third of the novel that some of the celebration at their emotional growth may be dulled by memories of their earlier exploits. In addition, the various female characters tend to be stereotypically reduced to either good or bad girls with little character development. In spite of the issues, readers will still cheer the success of the Gay-Straight Alliance as proof that teens can be the catalysts toward tolerance and acceptance over hatred and fear. Review Code: Ad -- Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2006, Simon, 210p., $16.95. Grades 9-12.

Donna Bode (The Lorgnette-Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 19, No. 4))
The latest novel continues with the gay theme that Sanchez is known for. Carlos enlists the help of Sal, the only openly gay student at school, to give him a changeover so that he can get the attention of Roxy, the most popular girl in school. Carlos is slightly pudgy and pimple-faced, and after seeing the program, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, he thinks that Sal can help him, which he does for the promise of Carlos helping him start a gay-strait alliance. After making changes in both his person and his environment, Carlos finds out that things are not always what they seem, and he gets a friend in the process. As with the other books written by Sanchez, this one is recommended and will be read by both gay students and strait students. Fiction. Grades 9-12. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 210p., $16.95.

Sophie Brookover (VOYA, October 2006 (Vol. 29, No. 4))
Carlos, fifteen, has never had sex. No girl has ever agreed to a one-night hookup with him. He has never even been kissed, and his dream girl, Roxy, does not even know he exists. Certain that it is his gangly, rumpled appearance that puts girls off, Carlos asks his gay classmate Sal to effect a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy-style total image makeover. Sal agrees but drives a hard bargain: in exchange for the makeover, Carlos must co-found a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at their high school with Sal. Carlos tries to keep the makeover, his budding friendship with Sal, and most of all, his involvement in the GSA a secret from his best friends-handsome jerk Playboy, supportive Pulga, and athletic Toro-but the difference in Carlos's appearance, behavior, and attitude are remarkable. As in his Rainbow trilogy-Rainbow Boys (Simon & Schuster, 2001/VOYA December 2001); Rainbow High (2004/VOYA December 2003); Rainbow Road (2005/VOYA October 2005)-Sanchez goes beyond common issues of anxiety surrounding sexuality and peer perceptions to get at deeper issues like male body image, how boys negotiate friendships and vulnerabilities in romantic relationships, sexuality in Latino culture, and the increasing number of GSAs in schools across the country. Sanchez's workmanlike but jaunty, conversational prose is well suited to his subject matter. This title's sexual frankness may make it a controversial choice, particularly for school libraries in more conservative communities, but its themes, appeal, and readability make it a nearly essential purchase. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Simon & Schuster, 224p., $16.95. Ages 11 to 18.

Adora Goldofsky, Teen Reviewer (VOYA, October 2006 (Vol. 29, No. 4))
Getting It teaches young teens to stand up for themselves, even if they get teased. It also teaches readers that friends will like you for who you are, whether you are gay or not. Otherwise they are not truly your friends. Overall I think this is a great book, and it will teach you a few life lessons. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2006, Simon & Schuster, 224p., $16.95. Ages 11 to 18.