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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
Thank you to Clarion Books (Harper Collins) for sending me this ARC to review!
4 Stars
I would summarise this novel as a short but sweet queer, genderbent retelling of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest - which I haven't read but kind of want to now.
Epically Earnest was more slice of life and less dramatic than I expected, but I actually really liked that. YA and romance as genres often have pretty melodramatic third acts, which can range from fun to absurd, but this book takes the gentler route, which works better for the story, especially given its shorter length.
You know what else surprised me? The writing style. It somehow managed to embody the loquaciousness of classic literature while being undeniably modern. Sometimes this had the effect of making the characters sound a little less realistic (as Gen Z kids) and more like, well, characters, but for me it worked really well and added depth to the retelling aspect of the story.
My one critique is that the book is very short, and I would have loved to have spent more time with the characters, especially Gwen, Janey's parents and Janey's long-lost aunt and cousin. Gwen has this pretty interesting family life which could have been explored more (what do her parents think of Janey?), and while what we do see of Janey's family is great, I just wanted more, especially as the adoption element of the story was really interesting. I could have seen more Raina too, actually - she stole the scene, the few times we got to see her!
It struck me about two thirds of the way through reading this book that the characters' queerness was never the cause of any suffering in the story. There's one point where Janey is worried what her long-lost relatives will think, but they're absolutely chill with her crush being another girl, and that's the end of this. Obviously queer kids do still struggle in real life, and it's important for there to be books which depict that struggle, but isn't it amazing that books like this now exist too? Books with teens confident and happy in their queerness, with supportive family and friends? I'm reminded of when the Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda adaptation Love, Simon came out, and people were discussing how great it was that there was finally a mainstream gay high school romance story, and how that helped normalise the queer experience. That was in 2018 and now, in 2022, we're getting books like this, where not only are the queer kids getting to have their own high school romances, but also have conflicts beyond their sexuality and stories that are ultimately built around queer joy. It's wonderful to see.
Overall, this book just made me happy. In terms of its prom-centred story, it wasn't anything revolutionary, but in a weird way that was kind of revolutionary in itself. A tender tale of an adopted girl trying to find the courage to ask her long-term crush to prom, simultaneously discovering more about her biological family and, through that, herself. Oh, and the romance just so happens to be sapphic, and her best friend is gay too, and it all feels so fabulously normal. We love to see it.
4 Stars
I would summarise this novel as a short but sweet queer, genderbent retelling of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest - which I haven't read but kind of want to now.
Epically Earnest was more slice of life and less dramatic than I expected, but I actually really liked that. YA and romance as genres often have pretty melodramatic third acts, which can range from fun to absurd, but this book takes the gentler route, which works better for the story, especially given its shorter length.
You know what else surprised me? The writing style. It somehow managed to embody the loquaciousness of classic literature while being undeniably modern. Sometimes this had the effect of making the characters sound a little less realistic (as Gen Z kids) and more like, well, characters, but for me it worked really well and added depth to the retelling aspect of the story.
My one critique is that the book is very short, and I would have loved to have spent more time with the characters, especially Gwen, Janey's parents and Janey's long-lost aunt and cousin. Gwen has this pretty interesting family life which could have been explored more (what do her parents think of Janey?), and while what we do see of Janey's family is great, I just wanted more, especially as the adoption element of the story was really interesting. I could have seen more Raina too, actually - she stole the scene, the few times we got to see her!
It struck me about two thirds of the way through reading this book that the characters' queerness was never the cause of any suffering in the story. There's one point where Janey is worried what her long-lost relatives will think, but they're absolutely chill with her crush being another girl, and that's the end of this. Obviously queer kids do still struggle in real life, and it's important for there to be books which depict that struggle, but isn't it amazing that books like this now exist too? Books with teens confident and happy in their queerness, with supportive family and friends? I'm reminded of when the Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda adaptation Love, Simon came out, and people were discussing how great it was that there was finally a mainstream gay high school romance story, and how that helped normalise the queer experience. That was in 2018 and now, in 2022, we're getting books like this, where not only are the queer kids getting to have their own high school romances, but also have conflicts beyond their sexuality and stories that are ultimately built around queer joy. It's wonderful to see.
Overall, this book just made me happy. In terms of its prom-centred story, it wasn't anything revolutionary, but in a weird way that was kind of revolutionary in itself. A tender tale of an adopted girl trying to find the courage to ask her long-term crush to prom, simultaneously discovering more about her biological family and, through that, herself. Oh, and the romance just so happens to be sapphic, and her best friend is gay too, and it all feels so fabulously normal. We love to see it.
4.5 stars!
This was so fun!!
Just gay teens running around the city with their friends and their crushes, with some learning about family and relationships and connecting to others in a flurry of pop culture references.
Very much here for more reimagined classics like this!
This was so fun!!
Just gay teens running around the city with their friends and their crushes, with some learning about family and relationships and connecting to others in a flurry of pop culture references.
Very much here for more reimagined classics like this!
This felt like the outline of a story or the beginning of something rather than a complete story in itself. The characters were very thin. I didn't really see any connection to the themes and content of Earnest.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Never been so happy to not have to read a book anymore. It was cute, wholesome, but also plot wasn’t great. The biggest obstacle the main character encountered was getting a seasonal flu
I love a good retelling, and this did not disappoint. Such a blast, it had me cracking up the whole way through. I also thought it was refreshing that Janey's bisexuality wasn't a source of trauma or struggle for her--just a given as she pursues her long-time crush.
Jane Worthing was a viral sensation when she was found abandoned as a toddler. It's not the only thing that defines her, but it definitely makes her question everything about her even though she has loving parents and supportive friends. She's at a point in her life where knowing the truth feels like something that could help define her future, but she's not sure if she actually wants to know. A not-so-gentle push by her best friend and exploring her feelings for the out-of-her-league Gwen is the start of an adventure of discovery that will force Gwen to bee earnest about her feelings and thoughts with her love ones and herself.
I really, truly wanted to like this because I love the overall message, but the characters are impossible to connect with. Jane questions everything to the point of not being a fully-formed character and those around her feel like they're only there to push her in certain directions. Plus, I found Algie to be a tad annoying so I didn't enjoy how he interacts with others.
Overall, I like the message and the writing isn't bad, but I can't get into a story when I don't care about the characters and that's what happened here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.
I really, truly wanted to like this because I love the overall message, but the characters are impossible to connect with. Jane questions everything to the point of not being a fully-formed character and those around her feel like they're only there to push her in certain directions. Plus, I found Algie to be a tad annoying so I didn't enjoy how he interacts with others.
Overall, I like the message and the writing isn't bad, but I can't get into a story when I don't care about the characters and that's what happened here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.
The Importance of Being Earnest is so hilarious and I love it, so I wanted to read this since it was inspired by it.
I know I am way older than the target audience but I enjoy some YA fiction so I gave it a go. I just did not enjoy it and I didn't really like any of the characters. It's hard to pick out specifics. Just not for me.
I know I am way older than the target audience but I enjoy some YA fiction so I gave it a go. I just did not enjoy it and I didn't really like any of the characters. It's hard to pick out specifics. Just not for me.
