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yasidiaz's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ophelia After All is the story of a Cuban-American girl who has always been known to be a little boy-crazy (well, more like a lot) but it all changes when suddenly she finds herself thinking about Talia, a girl in her government class. Suddenly, Ophelia is scared about what this must mean for her and the expectations others have on her.
This book took me by surprise. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. And I am not saying this as a negative, instead, I see it as a positive. It made the book interesting and drove its message home.
I consider this a book about questioning, and coming to terms with our sexuality. How does that feel like, how does that look like? In a way, it reminds me a bit of Aristotle and Dante, especially how Ari struggled with his feelings for Dante. But that is where all the similarities start and end.
Ophelia After All is a book about not being afraid of change and discovering new things about ourselves. It is about friendship and family. It is about realizing that romantic love is not the end and all. That high school is not the end of the world.
I related a lot to Ophelia’s struggle, I was very much like her when I was in my Junior year of high school and even before. I have always been known to be a hopeless romantic, always having crushes on guys, but also on girls, I just didn’t want to acknowledge the latter. It sat at the back of my head for years, that’s why I say I accepted that I am bi at 17 instead of ‘realized’ because I always knew. I was just afraid to say it. I always knew I was queer, I was just afraid of how that would change everything.
But I also saw a lot of myself in Talia. From being Puerto Rican, for having a Black parent and the colorism in our community, to dealing with homophobic relatives. Although Talia not having Cuban food until Ophelia takes her to a Cuban restaurant feels wrong because our foods are so intertwined that I cannot believe that to be true. I love her and how she still tried to be there for Ophelia, knowing she has also been where Ophelia currently is.
This is a great book, but compared to my other favorites this year, I felt I wanted more. I wasn’t exactly sure why. I just didn’t find myself screaming and squealing the same way I usually do.At first, I thought it was my disappointment when I realized that Talia and Ophelia weren’t going to end up together, but I was having that thought even before that twist. Plus, I am a big advocate that happy endings don't always mean the MC getting the love interest. Actually, I am glad they didn’t end up together because it helped Ophelia grow more as a person. However, if you do expect them to end together… Well, this might not be the book for you. But I still urge you to give it a try.
I recommend this book for people looking for a fun book about self-discovery, expectations, and those struggling with not feeling queer enough or even Latine enough. This is another book I wish younger me had the opportunity (and courage because even if this had come out in 2015 I would have probably avoided it) to read this book, thus, I suggest this to those who are in a familiar place as 15-16-year-old Yasi, or even those who once were.
This book took me by surprise. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. And I am not saying this as a negative, instead, I see it as a positive. It made the book interesting and drove its message home.
I consider this a book about questioning, and coming to terms with our sexuality. How does that feel like, how does that look like? In a way, it reminds me a bit of Aristotle and Dante, especially how Ari struggled with his feelings for Dante. But that is where all the similarities start and end.
Ophelia After All is a book about not being afraid of change and discovering new things about ourselves. It is about friendship and family. It is about realizing that romantic love is not the end and all. That high school is not the end of the world.
I related a lot to Ophelia’s struggle, I was very much like her when I was in my Junior year of high school and even before. I have always been known to be a hopeless romantic, always having crushes on guys, but also on girls, I just didn’t want to acknowledge the latter. It sat at the back of my head for years, that’s why I say I accepted that I am bi at 17 instead of ‘realized’ because I always knew. I was just afraid to say it. I always knew I was queer, I was just afraid of how that would change everything.
But I also saw a lot of myself in Talia. From being Puerto Rican, for having a Black parent and the colorism in our community, to dealing with homophobic relatives. Although Talia not having Cuban food until Ophelia takes her to a Cuban restaurant feels wrong because our foods are so intertwined that I cannot believe that to be true. I love her and how she still tried to be there for Ophelia, knowing she has also been where Ophelia currently is.
This is a great book, but compared to my other favorites this year, I felt I wanted more. I wasn’t exactly sure why. I just didn’t find myself screaming and squealing the same way I usually do.
I recommend this book for people looking for a fun book about self-discovery, expectations, and those struggling with not feeling queer enough or even Latine enough. This is another book I wish younger me had the opportunity (and courage because even if this had come out in 2015 I would have probably avoided it) to read this book, thus, I suggest this to those who are in a familiar place as 15-16-year-old Yasi, or even those who once were.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racism
mayareadsxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Cursing
ghostlyprince's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Abandonment
Minor: Biphobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Abortion, and Misogyny
runes_reads's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book had so many great characters, with so much great character development! I loved seeing the main cast interact together, the friend group especially. Ophelia as a character was wonderful, I adored and related to her so much.
This is a great starter LGBTQ story, the book gave some definitions and explanations for different terms. It really show what it's like to figure out sexuality, and the book really captured the how in high school everything feels so much. It showed how high school can be so emotional and terrifying, with hormones and trying to figure out who you are at that age. I would say this is a YA book, maybe late middle grade, there are brief mentions of sex.
Spoilers:
I cried like a baby when Ophelia had that conversation in the car with her mom after being picked up from the LGBTQ center. I loved the ending, Sammie going to therapy was great. I really liked how Ophelia acknowledged that her and Lindsay probably wouldn't stay friends, and how that was okay. I adored Ophelia's character, she felt so alive and relatable. Agatha was definitely a great friend, I wish I had a friend like that at that age lol. I loved the part where Ophelia dumped her drink on that asshole, that was 10/10, very cathartic.
This is a great starter LGBTQ story, the book gave some definitions and explanations for different terms. It really show what it's like to figure out sexuality, and the book really captured the how in high school everything feels so much. It showed how high school can be so emotional and terrifying, with hormones and trying to figure out who you are at that age. I would say this is a YA book, maybe late middle grade, there are brief mentions of sex.
Spoilers:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, Biphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Alcohol, Islamophobia, and Infidelity
bmceleney's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
bruhbruh's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny
linnea1801's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is pure perfection
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Outing
void_uwulucinda's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
brynn_books's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was so good! it was a perfect representation of queer youth. I like that this book felt realistic about the queer experience.
Ophelia is one of my favorite main characters. I understood why she did what she did and I was on her side throughout the whole book. I really want to be her best friend. I feel like we would get along.
I love the focus on platonic relationships in the book. Normally, queer books tend to focus on romantic love, and while there was romantic love in this it wasn’t the main focus which I appreciated. I definitely got some flashbacks to my own high school experience of figuring out my sexuality.
This book felt like a warm hug and I think it was perfectly executed. I would highly recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
booksngrannies's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Biphobia and Racism