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emmieanna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
3.75
I went into this book with no expectations, as I don’t really read romance but this has always been on my radar and was chosen for a YA bookclub that I run. It is safe to say that I loved it! The Hamlet references were stunning but not too in your face and the cast of characters were all likeable in their own ways. Did not expect Ophelia’s greatest help to come from where it did and enjoyed that the characters surprised me by falling outside of the roles I had predicted for them at the beginning. I felt more attached to Ophelia than any protagonist in a romance novel, maybe because it fed into the ‘anti-romance’ trope that I love so dearly.
I think I really needed this book to open my eyes to some of my own internalised homophobia towards bisexuality, but didn’t realise it until I read it. Raquel Marie has a way of manipulating the characters’ experiences that made me look inward and such a beautiful understanding of character development.
I think I really needed this book to open my eyes to some of my own internalised homophobia towards bisexuality, but didn’t realise it until I read it. Raquel Marie has a way of manipulating the characters’ experiences that made me look inward and such a beautiful understanding of character development.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Toxic friendship, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
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
anniereads221's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
With all the good things said about this book let's just say I had a few expectations
And I can honestly say it surpassed them. The way I just ended up loving Ophelia and her friend group with so much love!!! The way I love that Ophelia has supportive parents.
I was just bawling my eyes out by the end. My younger self would have loved this book more than I do right now. Young people reading this book are gonna see a part of themselves in this book for the first time and realise they are not alone. You can still figure out yourself and not know exactly who you are.
And I can honestly say it surpassed them. The way I just ended up loving Ophelia and her friend group with so much love!!! The way I love that Ophelia has supportive parents.
I was just bawling my eyes out by the end. My younger self would have loved this book more than I do right now. Young people reading this book are gonna see a part of themselves in this book for the first time and realise they are not alone. You can still figure out yourself and not know exactly who you are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, and Lesbophobia
bersblue's review
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A lot of good things, but at the same time a lot of failures. I don't quite understand why the author decided to have so many plots. the characters are fine. they make mistakes and learn lessons, but sometimes they behave ridiculously. i don't understand this obsession with Ophelia and her infatuation with boys, or this absurd misunderstanding of her passion for flowers. The thread with Talia is also a bit strange. I don't understand why she didn't immediately tell Ophelia that she had a boyfriend. a bit toxic behavior. Other than that it was ok, such without being crazy, but you can see that the author knew what she was writing about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Sexism
shania_siobhan's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Racism
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A pretty good sexuality discovery and friendship-building narrative. I'd say this was perfectly average and sweet. Loved the gardening detail of Ophelia's life. I wish the characters were a bit more fleshed out, but enjoyed having characters with various sexualities, as well as with undefined/unlabeled ones. I don't often find books where a character is allowed to experience their sexuality and not find a label that fits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Islamophobia
nerdysread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
I thought it was going to be a cute coming of age rom-com. Well, nope. I cried. It broke my heart and put it back together
PS: Ophelia is a messy girl
PS: Ophelia is a messy girl
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Outing and Toxic relationship
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Islamophobia
thebookpaiges's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia and Acephobia/Arophobia
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Racism and Outing