SOLVED. Funny YA novel set in New Jersey with LGBT characters [s]

[Emily]

I can recall quite a few details about the plot, but for the life of me can't remember what it's called.

I read this around 2005-2006 and believe it was newish, so it was likely published or republished in the early 2000s. I remember the cover being green, and think the title took up the whole cover (longish title, illustrated text sort of thing), though I can't be sure.

The book had a male protagonist who was in his last year of high school and trying to get into a competitive theatre program at a college in New York City. It's set in New Jersey and the characters travel to the city at least once for a broadway show, I think.

The main character's parents aren't together, and he lives with his dad who doesn't support him pursuing theatre for college and refuses to pay for it. I think he and his friends try to blackmail his dad for the money but I'm a little fuzzy on that part. In an effort to qualify for scholarships or student loans, he has to completely cut himself off from his dad's funding so he lives at a female friend's house for a while (she's an on-again-off-again girlfriend I think, who also has a girlfriend during the book). When his mom shows up at some point in the book it turns out that his father has to pay for any college he chooses, it's part of their divorce settlement or something.

Besides the protagonist, there's a male friend he has a crush on, a few things happen between them but they don't end up together. There's a female friend who I think is his best friend, she leaves for college in the city near the beginning of the book. She also likes to wear mismatched shoes as long as they're the same height. Then there's the aforementioned possible girlfriend and the girl she dates a bit during the book.

I also remember it being pretty humorous in tone, and I think it opens with the protagonist and the female best friend in a pool talking about her trying to lose her virginity before leaving for college.

Thanks!

[Tab]

Some of the points match up to
My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park

[Emily]

That's not it, although it was a good suggestion. The one I'm thinking of is definitely told from the perspective of just the one character.

[Kris]

How I Paid for College by Marc Acito?

[Emily]

That's it! Thanks so much.

[Kris]

You're welcome. :)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

That's the one I was thinking of too but could not think of the title! I could even see the cover (a different cover) in my head. Oh well.