Kindle
$9.99
Available instantly
Audiobook
$0.00
for membership
Hardcover
$16.79
Audio CD
$23.64
Kindle Price: $9.99

Save $10.00 (50%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

James Acker
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Teenage Dirtbags Kindle Edition

by James Acker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 70 ratings
See all formats and editions
From the author of The Long Run comes another unflinchingly raw and boldly hilarious novel about an unlikely group of teens coming together to exact revenge on the person who wronged them.

All’s fair in love and revenge…

Phil Reyno is a “troublemaker.” With a punk aesthetic and a quick temper, Phil knows that it’s surprising to see him dating universally beloved Cameron Ellis, whose viral coming out video made him an internet darling.

Jackson Pasternak is a “good guy.” Junior class president, star rower, and Ivy bound, Jackson is burnt out and misses the only person who ever truly knew him—his ex-best friend, Phil.

When Cameron dumps Phil and torpedoes his already-iffy reputation in the process, Phil hatches a plot to expose Cameron as the two-faced liar he truly is. And he finds the perfect weapon in his old pal Jackson, who agrees to infiltrate Cameron’s circle and uncover dirt.

But as Phil and Jackson rediscover their friendship—and more—they start to wonder… Will knocking Cameron off his pedestal really solve their problems?

Praise for The Long Run
“Written with equal doses of heart and ferocity, this is a fabulous debut.” —Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story and The Chandler Legacies
“Raw, real, electric, and unputdownable.” —Steven Salvatore, critically acclaimed author of And They Lived…
“James Acker is a splashy new voice with an unforgettable romcom about tough guys with soft hearts.” —Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons and The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers
* “A stunning novel.” —Bookpage, starred review
Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    Moorestown High
  2. Print length
    360 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Inkyard Press
  6. Publication date
    April 9, 2024
  7. Reading age
    13 years and up
  8. File size
    1754 KB
  9. Page Flip
    Enabled
  10. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  11. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  12. See all details
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
Shop this series
There are 2 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
$20.98
By clicking the above button, you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use

This option includes 2 books.

Something went wrong.
Please try again.
Bundle price: Kindle price
$20.98
By clicking the above button, you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use

Customers also bought or read

Is this feature helpful?
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. The Breakup Lists
    Kindle Edition
    $10.99
  2. Skater Boy
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99
  3. Another First Chance
    Kindle Edition
    $10.99
  4. My Fair Brady
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  5. The Only Light Left Burning
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  6. Spotlight
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  7. The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge
    Kindle Edition
    $10.99
  8. Subscribe to Me
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  9. Icarus
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  10. Prove It (Do or Die Book 1)
    Kindle Edition
    $6.49
  11. The Not So Secret Garden
    Kindle Edition
    $4.95
  12. I Like Me Better
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  14. Land On Him: A Sequel
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  15. Butterflies In the End Zone
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  18. They Hate Each Other
    Kindle Edition
    $8.99
  19. Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts
    Just released
    Kindle Edition
    $10.99
  20. The Boyfriend Subscription
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  21. Darkhearts: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  22. Wren Martin Ruins It All
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99
  25. The Prospects: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $1.99
  29. Endless Sky
    Just released
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
  30. Heartbreak Boys
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Teenage Dirtbags

“With Teenage Dirtbags, James Acker cements his status as one of the most authentic voices in queer coming-of-age fiction. What starts as a delicious revenge tale, masterfully unfolds into a rich and tender love story between two boys who deserve the world—and each other.”—Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country and My Fair Brady

“It’s a rare joy to spend time with queer characters who get to be messy and complicated—and it’s extra special when an author makes you want to root for them, flaws and all. Move over Mean Girls, it’s beyond time for James Acker’s devious and delicious Mean Gays.” —Zachary Sergi, author of Major Detours and This Pact Is Not Ours

“Bold, raw, and refreshing, taking delight in kicking down the doors of gay culture clichés and serving up something new, modern and sharply intelligent. Acker is a master of writing teens with attitude and heart in an authentic voice—I love his writing.” —Holden Sheppard, author of Invisible Boys and The Brink

“Acker shares the lurid secrets of adolescence with a burn-it-all-down-bluntness and aching sensitivity that makes your heart melt even as your head explodes. It’s yearning, gritty and unrelenting in the best way. These ‘Dirtbags’ know how to get dirty.” —Darren Stein, writer/director of Jawbreaker

“Teenage Dirtbags is smack dab, in your face, unapologetically queer with a diverse cast of characters that put the mess in messy.” —Anthony Nerada, author of Skater Boy

“Good gays are out this year—all hail the age of the dirtbag! Acker’s witty, hilarious gem celebrates the queer boys who feel too messy for love…and warns young readers that sometimes those golden retriever boyfriends are rabid!” —Adam Sass, award-winning author of The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers and Your Lonely Nights Are Over

About the Author

James Acker grew up in New Jersey, and he’s based his entire personality off that fact. He received his Bachelor’s in Screenwriting & Playwriting from Drexel University and won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship for his screenplay Sadboi. When he’s not writing, James lives in Los Angeles with his wonderfully supportive partner and his two recurring stress dreams. He is the author of The Long Run.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C4LLPVBN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Inkyard Press (April 9, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 9, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1754 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
James Acker

James Acker

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

James Acker grew up in New Jersey and he’s based his entire personality off that fact. A 2020 Nicholl Fellow and 2022 Outfest Screenwriting Lab pick for his feature script SADBOI, James is excited to continue writing young adult stories with confident, complicated, unapologetically queer voices. Like a bisexual John Hughes.

His debut novel THE LONG RUN released in February 2023 with Inkyard Press under a two-book deal under HarperCollins, with his follow-up TEENAGE DIRTBAGS releasing in 2024. When he’s not writing, James lives in Los Angeles with his wonderfully supportive partner and his two recurring stress dreams. Repped by Fuse Literary for fiction.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
70 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mark S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Read and Re-Read This Book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
I mean it. This is a second extremely worthy book written by James Acker, and it inspires me to tell you all to buy and read and then recommend and re-read this stunning story of discovery and true insights into how differently we each handle or manage our personal challenges.
The key to this story is that several focal characters manage or mismanage their coping skills with relating to other people and certainly themselves. We each find our own path to dealing with this, but the amazing key to this lovely story is when other characters recognize in themselves, and in others, that while intentions may be earnest and true to oneself, they are not always yielding either the intended outcome or the resolution hoped for.
The final overall tone of this book is so loving and care-filled that I feel optimistic, if not inspired, to try and delve deeper into where or why a person is treating me, or reacting to me, in a perhaps unexpected way…whether it be a freind or classmate, or a parent or school administrator, openness to discovery of oneself or another is the clearest message in this absolutely lovely and loving book!
Buy it, read it, ponder it, recommend it, repeat!
Helpful
 Report
Brady Rae
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book is so good! Phil is excited to see is boyfriend again after they spent the summer apart. Though his feelings are complicated because his boyfriend also outed him to the school last winter. Jackson misses his ex-friend Phil and would do just about anything to regain that friendship. So when Phil unexpectedly finds himself single and falsely accused of breaking his boyfriend’s heart, when it was the other way around, he decides to get revenge. This gives Jackson the opportunity to reconnect with Phil. He’ll connect with the Skwad, Phil’s ex and his friends, and together they will tear them apart from the inside. But can the two put their past behind them long enough for it to work? And is getting revenge really worth it? Also what happens when the two’s feelings for each other start to grow? I think what I love so much about this book, as well as James Acker’s other book, is the emotional depth to them. The characters are deep, complicated, dark, and angry. That’s embraced in both Jackson and Phil, though it shows up in different ways. But even with all of that they still find happiness and love! The complex emotions are very relatable! Teenage Dirtbags is deep, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and has the right touch of snarky humor! Highly recommend check this book out as well as James other book!
Helpful
 Report
Mark Jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
James Acker pulls off the feat of taking two initially unlikeable characters and digging into them and revealing why they were that way. In the process of untangling them and their misadventures, the author opens up these characters (and many of the supporting ones, too), and making them loveable. Good stuff!
Helpful
 Report
John Reyes
5.0 out of 5 stars There better be more!
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
James Acker better keep writing and never stop. This man can write and I freaking love his stories, his brilliant characters. I LOVED seeing our Long Run boys, before we met them and they met each other. It’s all so good.
Helpful
 Report
TeeReads
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a new favorite read
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2024
4.75 stars

This was a queer version of Mean Girls, and I was here for it. I loved this story. There's a lot going on, but it didn't overload the story. It just added to the layers. It's nice to see a YA story with multifaceted characters. Teenagers have their complications and struggles. Being a teen isn't always so easy. Life gets in the way sometimes. This book also addresses how, unfortunately, some adults do fall into the gossip trap and lean into their preconceptions. I liked how the author addressed Phil's mother's alcoholism. She has a problem, isn't always a great mom, but also not a bad mom. She is a human with struggles that is doing her best but could be better. We often only see the absolute worst end of the alcoholism spectrum with the absolute worst parents, so this was an interesting take. We also, of course, get to see the toxicity of social media and how not everything you see is what it seems. Like, Phil being seen as this bad boy villain, made worse by his sociopathic ex boyfriend Cameron, who everyone sees as a golden boy. As well as Jackson, the do-gooder class president who is friends with the teachers, but underneath it all he is full of anxiety and struggles with his sexuality. This book covered a lot, and the author handled it very well. I was hooked the entire time. This is such a great read, and I would definitely recommend.
Helpful
 Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report