A 2008 YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults

A 2008 New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

A 2008 Lambda Literary Award Nominee

A Featured Alternate Selection, InsightOut Book Club
Special Hardcover Edition, May/June, 2007

"Even when Jonathan is making colossally bad decisions—a none-too-infrequent occurrence—it is easy to like the Kylie Minogue-obsessed, gay high school student who is at the center of Medina's debut novel. . . . Medina paints a vivid picture of Jonathan and his suburban world."
Publishers Weekly

"Jonathan is fabulously self-aware, and his running commentary . . . is canny and hilarious. His voice is campy without descending into stereotype . . . giddy but thoughtful. . . . Medina's ear for dialogue, colloquialisms, and accents is flawless . . . A well-written, thought-provoking, and welcome twist on the coming-out story."
School Library Journal

"Medina . . . hits on a perfect blend of snark and pop-culture references to give The Straight Road to Kylie a fresh, funny
perspective. . . . A smart, savvy coming-of-age story."
Orlando Sentinel - full review here >

"Best friends, booze, bodaciousness and bitch-slaps are the name of the game in this hilarious, full-on twist on the mistaken-identities conundrum. . . . Averaging at least a half-dozen yuks per page, Medina's first offering packs slick, Gossip-Girl-Goes-to-Orlando language stylings with realistic yet over-the-top situations that should have teen readers—gay or straight—doing the locomotion for more."
Kirkus Reviews - full review (pdf) here >

"Explores the many facets of friendship and romantic relationships."
KLIATT

"Deep introspection isn’t necessary to enjoy this book . . . it’s a lot of fun just taking a ride around Orlando with these hilarious characters."
Florida Book Review

"I can't get this book outta my head."
Rachel Cohn, best-selling author of Gingerbread and Cupcake.

"This book should be on your summer-in-the-shade reading list."
OutSmartMagazine, Houston.

"The Straight Road to Kylie offers an inventive and delightfully twisted journey through the Machiavellian politics of high school. Jonathan Parish is a smart, thoughtful, and kind-hearted narrator, and the book is hilarious, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable. And—it's got a good beat that you can dance to."
Leslie Margolis, author of Price of Admission and Fix

"The Straight Road to Kylie is NOT funny but is HILARIOUS. The journey that Nico Medina writes is one of a high school kid, trying to find out who he really is, and that is what makes The Straight Road to Kylie one of the greatest books that I have ever read. The obstacles that Jonathan faces will make you laugh out loud."
TeensReadToo.com - full review here >
Interview with TeensReadToo here >

"A hilarious debut, with loveable characters who make you feel like you've known them all your life."
TodaysTeenOnline.com / IlanaWrites.com
full interview here >