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mitta_girl452's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
This book was very fun to read. It is lighthearted and fluffy, and while it isn't hugely deep, I did find it emotional and enjoyable.
Becky Albertalli's pacing is glorious as always, and this book showcases a story that feel somewhat realistic.
There are so many things I love about this book, so here is a list:
1) The subtle disability rep (one background character has tics and another is in a wheelchair. While they are background characters, the way that they are described with their personalities being the forefront of their character is very refreshing)
2) Andy and Kate's friendship. I love that they are so close, it reminds me of my best friend and I. The way that Kate and Andy address their friendship being more important than their romantic relationships is very nice for me as a aro/ace person.
3) The way love is described. As mentioned, I'm aro/ace, and most descriptions of romantic love make no sense to me, but this one stuck with me. I love the use of Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, and the description of love being letting someone else have the spotlight and just enjoying their happiness. The watching them from the sidelines and just adoring them. It was so beautiful and actually made me understand some of what they were feeling.
4) Kate and Noah. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of romantic relationships that build up as quickly as this one did, but I actually really love these two. I love how they have flaws and muck up, but give each other chances to improve. I love the focus on their happiness when together and their spending time together actively trying to make it work, instead of the entire relationship being about kissing and physical attraction. They have (at least from my inexperienced perspective) a healthy and loving relationship that I find very cute.
Some issues I do have with this book are that the side characters, especially Matt, but also Raina, Brandie and Ryan to a degree, feel somewhat flat. I feel this the most with Matt, as he is technically the driving force of the conflict, yet by the end of the book, I felt as if I hardly knew him as a character at all!
I also feel that Kate loving Matt after barely knowing him seems a bit unrealistic and silly.
I did love the high school theatre focus, though. As a fellow theatre kid, I was very pleased.
I would definitely recommend this book as a good, lighthearted, refreshing romance novel.
Becky Albertalli's pacing is glorious as always, and this book showcases a story that feel somewhat realistic.
There are so many things I love about this book, so here is a list:
1) The subtle disability rep (one background character has tics and another is in a wheelchair. While they are background characters, the way that they are described with their personalities being the forefront of their character is very refreshing)
2) Andy and Kate's friendship. I love that they are so close, it reminds me of my best friend and I. The way that Kate and Andy address their friendship being more important than their romantic relationships is very nice for me as a aro/ace person.
3) The way love is described. As mentioned, I'm aro/ace, and most descriptions of romantic love make no sense to me, but this one stuck with me. I love the use of Rapunzel and Flynn from Tangled, and the description of love being letting someone else have the spotlight and just enjoying their happiness. The watching them from the sidelines and just adoring them. It was so beautiful and actually made me understand some of what they were feeling.
4) Kate and Noah. Usually, I'm not a huge fan of romantic relationships that build up as quickly as this one did, but I actually really love these two. I love how they have flaws and muck up, but give each other chances to improve. I love the focus on their happiness when together and their spending time together actively trying to make it work, instead of the entire relationship being about kissing and physical attraction. They have (at least from my inexperienced perspective) a healthy and loving relationship that I find very cute.
Some issues I do have with this book are that the side characters, especially Matt, but also Raina, Brandie and Ryan to a degree, feel somewhat flat. I feel this the most with Matt, as he is technically the driving force of the conflict, yet by the end of the book, I felt as if I hardly knew him as a character at all!
I also feel that Kate loving Matt after barely knowing him seems a bit unrealistic and silly.
I did love the high school theatre focus, though. As a fellow theatre kid, I was very pleased.
I would definitely recommend this book as a good, lighthearted, refreshing romance novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Bullying
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love Becky Albertalli and I love most of her work. I didn’t really enjoy Yes No Maybe So, but I love Simon v the Homo Sapien’s Agenda. I wanted to read more of her work and was hopefully for this book and . . . well, it just fell flat.
This book is based on Kate Garfield. She and her best friend Anderson Walker are not co-dependent, even though everyone thinks they are. They carpool together to and from theatre rehearsals, they consult each other on every single life decision, and they crush for the same guys. This isn’t usually a problem . . . until Matt Olsson shows up. He is Kate and Anderson’s long-distance crush, and he is now at their school. Matt is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him, really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson. Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.
I'll start with what I liked – Ryan and Noah – the F boys for the win. They were the only ones that didn’t annoy and that I didn’t want to kill. They were both real and I was rooting for them during this book. Ryan is the whole one who was willing to spit the truth and not care because he prefers the truth out in the open. Noah was a complete golden retriever who just wanted to make Kate happy (who didn’t deserve it by the way.)
Okay, Kate drove me nuts, I get it’s a YA and it’s not supposed to be serious, but it was very repetitive - I like Matt, he is flirting with me and Anderson, Anderson is breaking the rules so I'm gonna break the rules, my best friend now hates me, Noah is following me around. That was like the first ten chapters and then times that by eight – that's the story. This book could have been shortened by 100 pages if you cut Kate’s inner monologue down. Anderson was a hypocritic, he is ranting to Kate about keeping an open line of communication and then the second him and Matt start dating he runs and lets Kate believe Matt likes her – that was just a shitty thing to do, I understand why but it could have been done better. The communal crush thing just was weird and I would never do that with anyone. Kate and Anderson didn’t deserve the happy ending they got because they were just so toxic and annoying the whole way through this book. Matt could have disappeared, and I wouldn’t have noticed as he is barely in it for the big MMC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Body shaming
teacupalpaca's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying and Homophobia
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
omgitsyelhsa's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was fine, but not the normal quality and love I normally have for her books. Maybe I’m just really falling out of love with YA, who knows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Transphobia
mayareadsxo's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Minor: Bullying
readwithanne's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol and Homophobia
nitya's review against another edition
funny
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
3.0
Read for MLIS elective
I liked this a bit more than Simon versus the Homosapiens Agenda. And the theatre references made me miss high school drama club 😭 (I was on stage crew, but still!)
I liked this a bit more than Simon versus the Homosapiens Agenda. And the theatre references made me miss high school drama club 😭 (I was on stage crew, but still!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
cheye13's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
5.0
Albertalli is one of those authors that I'm afraid to read from, because I'm afraid I've hyped them up in my memories (the visual adaptations don't help this lol), and then is always as good as I remember when I actually set eyes to page.
For the majority, this is probably a run-of-the-mill, if above average, YA/coming of age novel. But for me specifically, there were events and emotions and situations – both in the synopsis and otherwisee – that rang far too true and formative. Stellar book.
For the majority, this is probably a run-of-the-mill, if above average, YA/coming of age novel. But for me specifically, there were events and emotions and situations – both in the synopsis and otherwisee – that rang far too true and formative. Stellar book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol and Homophobia
A character is estranged from their father bc of the father's view of homosexuality.