Yes, that catchy electropop hit by Ellie Goulding from 2012 is the inspiration and anthem for this young adult novel from 2015. “Anything Could Happen” is a lighthearted, pleasant read filled with optimism and a bit of cheese.

To be honest, it was the title that brought this one to my attention. The cover is fun, too, but both can be a little misleading when it comes to reflecting what happens in the novel.

It follows Tretch Farm, who enjoys listening to music and dancing alone in his room. He’s comfortable with himself, but he still hasn’t come out, and he’s deeply in love with his straight best friend, Matt. It’s winter break, and a lot certainly does happen:

To Tretch’s disappointment, Matt falls in love with a girl who may or may not like him back. A pretentious girl who works at Tretch’s favorite bookstore comes on to him. Then there’s the bully who antagonizes Tretch and calls him out on his crush and a grandparent dying of cancer. On top of all that, Tretch learns that Matt may be moving away. Oh, and a cow gives birth to a breech calf.

I appreciated that, underneath all that’s happening, Walton’s novel is a coming out story that doesn’t entirely focus on that. By normalizing the experience, Walton demonstrates that it isn’t always a negative experience. Your friends and family can accept you for who you are. I also appreciate that the novel features a same sex couple, Matt’s dads, as decent parents who raise a well-adjusted teen.

“Anything Could Happen” is perfect for teen readers who may be dealing with coming out and accepting who they are. The plot of the story tends to wander. Some issues are resolved a little too easily, and others not all. But isn’t that life?

-William Otten is the Cataloging & Collection Development Coordinator at Lawrence Public Library.