Jason Carrillo is a jock with a steady girlfriend, but he can’t stop dreaming about sex–with other guys. Kyle Meeks doesn’t look gay, but he is. And he hopes he never has to tell anyone–especially his parents. Nelson Glassman is “out” to the entire world, but he can’t tell the boy he loves that he wants to be more than just friends.Three teenage boys, coming of age and out of the closet.

In a revealing debut novel that percolates with passion and wit, Alex Sanchez follows these very different high school seniors as their struggles with sexuality and intolerance draw them into a triangle of love, betrayal, and, ultimately, friendship.

Nelson Glassman may have been exposed to the HIV virus and is terrified of testing positive. But what if being positive is the only way to keep the guy of his dreams? Kyle Meeks finally has the guy of his dreams and is ready to do anything to stay by his side, but will “anything” include sabotaging his own future? Jason Carrillo knows he has to face his future and is prepared to face it out and gay, but is he prepared to let go of the dream that has sustained him all of his life? As their high school days draw to a close and these three friends move toward one of life’s most defining crossroads, each will be compelled to choose his own direction–and prepare for the consequences.

Bold voice Alex Sanchez continues the story begun in his critically acclaimed debut Rainbow Boys with this captivating and straightforward depiction of living, loving, and losing that goes straight to the heart of what it means to be young and gay.

Jason Carrillo came out to his basketball team senior year and lost his university scholarship. Now, with graduation behind him and summer ending, he’s asked to speak at the opening of a gay and lesbian high school across the country. But after spending years in the closet and losing his scholarship dream, what message can he offer? Kyle Meeks is getting ready to go to Princeton in the fall and trying to see as much as possible of his boyfriend Jason before they have to separate. When Jason tells him about his speaking invitation, Kyle jumps at the chance to drive across country with him. Yet he can’t help worrying: Will their romance survive two weeks crammed together in a car?

Nelson Glassman is happy his best friend Kyle has found love with Jason. Now he’s looking for his own true love and hopes he might find his soul mate during the road trip. But will being the “third wheel” in a trio ruin his friendships with Kyle and Jason? During an eye-opening postgraduation summer road trip, each of the three very different boys also embarks on a personal journey across a landscape of love, sexuality, homophobia, and, above all, friendship.

Frederick is the shy new boy in school, and Xio is the bubbly chica who lends him a pen on the first day of class. They become fast friends–but when Xio decides she wants to be more than friends, Frederick isn’t so sure. He loves hanging out with Xio and her crew, but he doesn’t like her in that way. Instead he finds himself thinking more and more about Victor, the captain of the soccer team. But does that mean Frederick is gay? He hopes not–he sees how everyone makes fun of Iggy, a boy all the other kids think is gay. Frederick has to deal with some tough choices: even though he is curious about Iggy, he has just started fitting in at his new school, and he doesn’t want to lose Xio, his best friend.

In So Hard to Say, Alex Sanchez, acclaimed author of the groundbreaking novels Rainbow High and Rainbow Boys, of which School Library Journal said, “It can open eyes and change lives,” helps younger readers look at self-discovery, come to terms with being gay, and accept people who are different from them.