
Act Cool
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $24.29
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Shaan Dasani
-
By:
-
Tobly McSmith
About this listen
Named a Rainbow Book List title
A trans teen walks the fine line between doing whatever it takes for his acting dream and staying true to himself in this moving, thought-provoking YA novel from the acclaimed author of Stay Gold.
Aspiring actor August Greene just landed a coveted spot at the prestigious School of Performing Arts in New York. There’s only one problem: His conservative parents won’t accept that he’s transgender. And to stay with his aunt in the city, August must promise them he won’t transition.
August is convinced he can play the part his parents want while acting cool and confident in the company of his talented new friends.
But who is August when the lights go down? And where will he turn when the roles start hitting a little too close to home?
©2021 Tobly McSmith (P)2021 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
-
Stay Gold
- By: Tobly McSmith
- Narrated by: Theo Germaine, Phoebe Strole
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pony plans to fly under the radar this year. Tired of getting too much attention at his old school after coming out as transgender, he’s hoping for a fresh start as a Hillcrest High senior. But it’s hard to live your best life with the threat of exposure lurking around every corner. Georgia is beginning to think there’s more to life than cheerleading. She just wants to keep a low profile until graduation...which is why she promised herself that dating is a nonstarter for the foreseeable future.
-
-
Must Read
- By Khoula on 08-17-20
By: Tobly McSmith
-
And They Lived...
- By: Steven Salvatore
- Narrated by: Kirt Graves
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chase Arthur is a budding animator and hopeless romantic obsessed with Disney films and finding his true love, but he’s plagued with the belief that he’s not enough for anyone: he’s recovering from an eating disorder and suffers from body dysmorphia fuelled by his father and can’t quite figure out his gender identity. When Chase starts his freshman year of college, he has to navigate being away from home and missing his sister, finding his squad and contending with his ex-best friend, Leila, who is gunning for the same exclusive mentorship.
-
-
An incredibly written story of love and acceptance
- By Dennis on 09-17-22
By: Steven Salvatore
-
May the Best Man Win
- By: Z. R. Ellor
- Narrated by: Avi Roque
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jeremy Harkiss, cheer captain and student body president, won’t let coming out as a transgender boy ruin his senior year. Instead of bowing to the bigots and outdated school administration, Jeremy decides to make some noise - and how better than by challenging his all-star ex-boyfriend, Lukas, for the title of homecoming king?
-
-
Halfway through and trying
- By Segen on 05-30-21
By: Z. R. Ellor
-
In Deeper Waters
- By: F.T. Lukens
- Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel. Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen.
-
-
Highly recommend
- By Elisabeth on 07-29-21
By: F.T. Lukens
-
The Sunbearer Trials
- The Sunbearer Duology, Book 1
- By: Aiden Thomas
- Narrated by: André Santana
- Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the chaotic Obsidian gods at bay. Sol selects ten of the most worthy semidioses to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all—they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body melted down to refuel the Sun Stones, protecting the world for another ten years.
-
-
Another 'hit' for Aiden Thomas, but...
- By t on 09-11-22
By: Aiden Thomas
-
Cemetery Boys
- By: Aiden Thomas
- Narrated by: Avi Roque
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend, Maritza, he performs the ritual himself and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death.
-
-
Absolutely amazing!!!
- By Tam on 09-06-20
By: Aiden Thomas
-
Stay Gold
- By: Tobly McSmith
- Narrated by: Theo Germaine, Phoebe Strole
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pony plans to fly under the radar this year. Tired of getting too much attention at his old school after coming out as transgender, he’s hoping for a fresh start as a Hillcrest High senior. But it’s hard to live your best life with the threat of exposure lurking around every corner. Georgia is beginning to think there’s more to life than cheerleading. She just wants to keep a low profile until graduation...which is why she promised herself that dating is a nonstarter for the foreseeable future.
-
-
Must Read
- By Khoula on 08-17-20
By: Tobly McSmith
-
And They Lived...
- By: Steven Salvatore
- Narrated by: Kirt Graves
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chase Arthur is a budding animator and hopeless romantic obsessed with Disney films and finding his true love, but he’s plagued with the belief that he’s not enough for anyone: he’s recovering from an eating disorder and suffers from body dysmorphia fuelled by his father and can’t quite figure out his gender identity. When Chase starts his freshman year of college, he has to navigate being away from home and missing his sister, finding his squad and contending with his ex-best friend, Leila, who is gunning for the same exclusive mentorship.
-
-
An incredibly written story of love and acceptance
- By Dennis on 09-17-22
By: Steven Salvatore
-
May the Best Man Win
- By: Z. R. Ellor
- Narrated by: Avi Roque
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jeremy Harkiss, cheer captain and student body president, won’t let coming out as a transgender boy ruin his senior year. Instead of bowing to the bigots and outdated school administration, Jeremy decides to make some noise - and how better than by challenging his all-star ex-boyfriend, Lukas, for the title of homecoming king?
-
-
Halfway through and trying
- By Segen on 05-30-21
By: Z. R. Ellor
-
In Deeper Waters
- By: F.T. Lukens
- Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel. Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen.
-
-
Highly recommend
- By Elisabeth on 07-29-21
By: F.T. Lukens
-
The Sunbearer Trials
- The Sunbearer Duology, Book 1
- By: Aiden Thomas
- Narrated by: André Santana
- Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the chaotic Obsidian gods at bay. Sol selects ten of the most worthy semidioses to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all—they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body melted down to refuel the Sun Stones, protecting the world for another ten years.
-
-
Another 'hit' for Aiden Thomas, but...
- By t on 09-11-22
By: Aiden Thomas
-
Cemetery Boys
- By: Aiden Thomas
- Narrated by: Avi Roque
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend, Maritza, he performs the ritual himself and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death.
-
-
Absolutely amazing!!!
- By Tam on 09-06-20
By: Aiden Thomas
-
Hell Followed with Us
- By: Andrew Joseph White
- Narrated by: Shaan Dasani, Graham Halstead, Avi Roque
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with. But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret.
-
-
Powerful violent intense
- By Fat Cat on 07-31-22
-
Red, White & Royal Blue
- A Novel
- By: Casey McQuiston
- Narrated by: Ramon de Ocampo
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.
-
-
Almost shockingly wonderful.
- By Leon Miller on 03-21-20
By: Casey McQuiston
-
Loveless
- By: Alice Oseman
- Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Elizabeth Schenk, Imogen Church
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it's okay if you don't have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone...since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection.
-
-
This is my favorite book
- By Charlie Woodside on 03-08-22
By: Alice Oseman
-
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth
- By: Andrew Joseph White
- Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
London, 1883. The Veil between the living and dead has thinned. Violet-eyed mediums commune with spirits under the watchful eye of the Royal Speaker Society, and sixteen-year-old trans, autistic Silas Bell would rather rip out his violet eyes than become an obedient Speaker wife. After a failed attempt to escape an arranged marriage, Silas is diagnosed with Veil sickness—a mysterious disease sending violet-eyed women into madness—and shipped away to Braxton’s Finishing School and Sanitorium.
-
-
an excellent body horror experience
- By Jamie W. on 04-03-24
-
They Both Die at the End
- By: Adam Silvera
- Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Robbie Daymond, Bahni Turpin
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There's an app for that. It's called The Last Friend, and through it Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure - to live a lifetime in a single day.
-
-
My heart..
- By Shay on 10-03-17
By: Adam Silvera
-
Hello, Molly!
- A Memoir
- By: Molly Shannon, Sean Wilsey
- Narrated by: Molly Shannon
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At age four, Molly Shannon’s world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.
-
-
Molly is a superstar!!!
- By Marlene on 04-29-22
By: Molly Shannon, and others
-
Icebreaker
- By: A.L. Graziadei
- Narrated by: Tom Picasso
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey legacy. With a father and a grandfather who have gone down in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed the league's top draft spot.
-
-
Honest about depression, hockey, and queerness
- By Melissa S Dittrich on 06-04-22
By: A.L. Graziadei
-
Meet Cute Diary
- By: Emery Lee
- Narrated by: Logan Rozos
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Noah Ramirez thinks he’s an expert on romance. He has to be for his popular blog, the Meet Cute Diary, a collection of trans happily ever afters. There’s just one problem - all the stories are fake. What started as the fantasies of a trans boy afraid to step out of the closet has grown into a beacon of hope for trans listeners across the globe.
-
-
I wish I liked it more than I did
- By Troy on 05-25-21
By: Emery Lee
-
The Passing Playbook
- By: Isaac Fitzsimons
- Narrated by: Jamie K. Brown
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fifteen-year-old Spencer Harris is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother, and a David Beckham in training. He's also transgender. After transitioning at his old school leads to a year of isolation and bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio. At Oakley, Spencer seems to have it all: more accepting classmates, a decent shot at a starting position on the boys' soccer team, great new friends, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his teammates.
-
-
Formulaic but cute
- By Iaah L on 02-03-24
By: Isaac Fitzsimons
-
So This Is Ever After
- By: F.T. Lukens
- Narrated by: Kevin R. Free
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next. As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead.
-
-
We Love the Mutual Pining Trope
- By moistkite on 03-30-22
By: F.T. Lukens
-
Someday, Someday, Maybe
- A Novel
- By: Lauren Graham
- Narrated by: Lauren Graham
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Lauren Graham, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood, comes a witty, charming, and hilariously relatable debut novel about a struggling young actress trying to get ahead - and keep it together - in New York City. It’s January 1995, and Franny Banks has just six months left of the three-year deadline she set for herself when she came to New York, dreaming of Broadway and doing "important" work. But all she has to show for her efforts so far is a part in an ad for ugly Christmas sweaters, and a gig waiting tables at a comedy club....
-
-
A Fun read
- By Elisa on 05-05-13
By: Lauren Graham
-
All the Right Notes
- By: Dominic Lim
- Narrated by: Aaron J Albano
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Quito Cruz might be a genius piano player and composer in New York City now but it doesn’t mean that he’s any closer to his Broadway dream. Although Quito knows what the problem is. Or rather who. Because ever since that night in college—with pretty-boy jock Emmett Aoki—his inspiration has been completely MIA . . . Now Quito’s dad wants him to put on a charity performance in his hometown. And there’s one hella big string attached: convince Emmett—now one of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities—to perform.
-
-
This Book Hit All The Right Notes With Me
- By Andre on 06-12-23
By: Dominic Lim
What listeners say about Act Cool
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Heather
- 12-16-22
Solid and Grounded Wish Fulfillment
I had a good time with this one, blitzed it in about 4 days. I think it'll hit different the closer you relate to August (religious parents gang rise up), but overall it was nice. It's the school you wanted to go to, with friends just like you that accept you instantly, and struggles that, while difficult, work out in the end as you succeed at the hobby you're passionate about. I had a lot of single "HA-!" moments at the audacity of some of these characters and their actions, but was also able to empathize quite strongly with the emotional moments, and felt like the book itself was calling me out in a couple of places.
There were a couple of parts that pulled me slightly out of the story (one of the background high schoolers was called out as being the Bachelorette, the classes felt like college classes), and I felt that the author was going for more of a college vibe while not wanting to sacrifice the hypothetical control August's parents would have over him as a minor. Overall though I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I felt that Ana was being set up as a slight commentary to people that get involved and more passionate about trans issues than trans people themselves, and was hoping for some resolution between her and August regarding the discomfort August felt at a couple of her comments, which either I did not see or I missed. I enjoyed August's growth overall, and it was fun following him through the story.
There were also a couple of parts where I feel like August was taking sidebars to specifically name drop and explain specific resources in the text itself, and some of the characters talked in a more manner of fact and knowledgeable way about certain issues and tips, it felt like they were dropping character to drop advice and adages I've heard a lot in the community. Not a bad thing though, just felt a bit odd.
There were also a couple of parts where the narrator seemed to not read ahead before delivering a line, a character would be said to be yelling a line and the narrator would deliver it in a singsong voice, or the text would say the character was upset but the narrator sounded a cheerful neutral, but it was only a couple of parts, on the whole Shaan did a wonderful job.
Overall I had a good time! Not the perfect book for me, but solid and worth the purchase and listen if you're looking for a pleasant, trans sensitive, and spunky New York romp where everything ends up ok.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jack Attack
- 12-29-24
representation matters
this book was good. it's for the cisgender people in your life. give them a copy.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LindsayPrower
- 05-04-22
Would recommend
This book was suggested to me by one of my closest friends with high praise and the book absolutely delivered. I enjoyed this book start to finish and really empathize with the August. His struggles as he tries to navigate his new life and grapple with his old are really compelling. I love many of the side characters and while I would have loved to see more about them I did love their interactions and the realness they added to the story.
Also really appreciated the resources and trigger warnings at the beginning. One of the most valuable things I've ever seen an author add.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jackson Theofore Keys
- 09-16-21
Superficial and dull
I really had hopes for this book. But, although the transgender representation was better than most, the book was a dud. August, a white, transgender boy runs away from his parents to his aunt and the bright lights of New York City. There his aunt, who is obviously well-to-do and connected, helps get August into the best drama high school in all off New York. There August proceeds to play versions of himself to match what he perceives the will make the people around him like him. Thus, we never get to really know August or his friends. But for August, everything is golden. He is cast into the prestigious school play and then to an off-Broadway play. And he does this in less than 6 months. So, except for his parents not accepting him as transgender, the whole world has bowed under his feet. So this book is really about a privileged, transgender youth who doesn't have to struggle much and gets all his dreams fulfilled by the age of 17 without much work. There was so little plot and so little character development and so much privilege that I was thoroughly bored. Nothing happened, August was a boring, egotistical lout, and all his friends were rich, entitled boy and girls who immediately love August. Happy trans endings are great; but trans people also deserve well written stories.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful