Reviews with content warning for Outing - Ophelia After All

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.

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linnea1801's review

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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

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storielore's review against another edition

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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

3.5

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nerdysread's review against another edition

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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

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btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

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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

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a_sleepy_berry's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative reflective tense 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

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shelvesofivy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I already expected to be touched by this one, but by even about 15% in, I knew I'd need to get a physical copy for myself as well (since I borrowed the audiobook).
As someone who discovered their queerness later, I found myself so connected to Ophelia even though I'm past high school myself. This is, at its core, a coming of age story. It's the type of book I needed as a teenager, but it still holds weight reading it as an adult.
The main cast of characters are all so messy and real, and they're allowed to be because they're teenagers. That said, I found myself getting stressed out and frustrated by around the 60% mark due to things that could have been solved in a single conversation, but dragged on until the end. I don't think it retracts from the book itself because, like I mentioned, these are teenagers (and parents) making sometimes stupid decisions. It just retracted from my own enjoyment slightly.
I was also originally kind of upset once I realized that

Ophelia wouldn't end up with Thalia. (Being a hopeless romantic is another way I closely related to Ophelia lol) Ultimately though, I liked that the story went this direction instead because not only does it put the focus back on Ophelia's other relationships with friends, family, and self, but it gives a very intentional message that momentary heartbreak doesn't have to define a lifetime. I think that Ophelia not ending up with her queer awakening makes this even stronger as a coming of age story.
I also have to say, I adored the ending when Ophelia finds herself attracted to another girl and being happy with it. The hopeless romantic in me wants to see how that crush develops as well, but I think it was still a very satisfying ending.

Ophelia and her story will definitely stick with me for a long long time, and even if I never give it a full reread, I can definitely see myself revisiting certain scenes and quotes for comfort ♡

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literarylocd's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? No

5.0

full review: https://medium.com/@isareadssalot/ophelia-after-all-a-review-401b0661e707

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