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rileymc_queen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Bullying
maggies's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is Casey McQuiston all over! Perhaps RW&RB and OLS are better, yes, but I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a wonderful addition to anyone’s library, exploring identity and first love with tenderness and a handful of mystery. The main characters/love interests are pretty selfish and immature, but their redemption arcs are *chef’s kiss* Oh and Natalie Naudus can narrate my life pls
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
jjjreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria and Racism
Minor: Chronic illness, Classism, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Death, Racism, and Cancer
rakl's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
claudiamacpherson's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Transphobia and Emotional abuse
fanboyriot's review against another edition
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
5.0
I seriously loved so many of the characters in this book. Chloe, Smith, Rory and at the end even Shara—which was surprising—were all my absolute favorites.
At first I wasn’t sure I’d like this story, kinda just seeing most of the characters as their stereotype, however, much like Chloe, I learned they were so much more. It was really nice to see so much queer rep with a small town setting (and in a typically queerphobic state as well).
I really enjoyed so many things about this book, Smith and his love for flowers, Chloe’s moms just being so adorable and wholesome the entire time, religious characters not shown in a totally toxic way, seeing the queen bee, popular girl, who everyone loved, not be as perfect as everyone thought, wanting to learn more about the side characters because they were that nice to read about, the humor was immaculate, and the ending was perfect; happy but leaving it open enough for the reader to have their own interpretation of some of the characters future. Not to mention the formatting and overall aesthetic of this book being absolutely stunning.
Good queer rep
Rivals to Lovers
Good Friendships
Wholesome Characters
Angst with a Happy Ending
At first I wasn’t sure I’d like this story, kinda just seeing most of the characters as their stereotype, however, much like Chloe, I learned they were so much more. It was really nice to see so much queer rep with a small town setting (and in a typically queerphobic state as well).
I really enjoyed so many things about this book, Smith and his love for flowers, Chloe’s moms just being so adorable and wholesome the entire time, religious characters not shown in a totally toxic way, seeing the queen bee, popular girl, who everyone loved, not be as perfect as everyone thought, wanting to learn more about the side characters because they were that nice to read about, the humor was immaculate, and the ending was perfect; happy but leaving it open enough for the reader to have their own interpretation of some of the characters future. Not to mention the formatting and overall aesthetic of this book being absolutely stunning.
Good queer rep
Rivals to Lovers
Good Friendships
Wholesome Characters
Angst with a Happy Ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Classism, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, and Outing
Minor: Racism, Alcohol, and Mental illness
studiouspoppy's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
It’s a really good YA book and I think it would have made my sixteen-year old-self really happy and hopeful, and it would have been really meaningful. Unfortunately, I read this at 24 and although it was funny and interesting, it was not that meaningful & it got way too dramatic for me.
I appreciated Chloe’s attitude and how she stood up for herself and for others, I think she’s very loyal and funny, and I love her relationship with her moms (it kinda reminded me of my relationship with my mom). She did get way to dramatic over nothing sometimes and that was annoying in my opinion.
I didn’t like Shara at all, I thought she was a psycho. I didn’t dislike her at the end, she got great development, but I didn’t love her either. Some of her changes felt sudden and rushed to me.
It got a little predictable at times, and the first 60% was a 3.25 for me. the last 0.5 goes for the ending because it felt really great, and for the character development of the secondary characters, because they felt like real people with their independent lives instead of just extras. Great representation!
I appreciated Chloe’s attitude and how she stood up for herself and for others, I think she’s very loyal and funny, and I love her relationship with her moms (it kinda reminded me of my relationship with my mom). She did get way to dramatic over nothing sometimes and that was annoying in my opinion.
I didn’t like Shara at all, I thought she was a psycho. I didn’t dislike her at the end, she got great development, but I didn’t love her either. Some of her changes felt sudden and rushed to me.
It got a little predictable at times, and the first 60% was a 3.25 for me. the last 0.5 goes for the ending because it felt really great, and for the character development of the secondary characters, because they felt like real people with their independent lives instead of just extras. Great representation!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Emotional abuse, Deadnaming, and Dysphoria
frantically's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thank god (literally) for the r.e. teachers at my catholic school who made me feel safe enough to come out to them. this book made me so so sad but so so hopeful at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Emotional abuse
cozyreadsandcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think this book fell short of what I know Casey Mcquiston can do.
I think Chloe was almost too whiny and superficial to enjoy her journey. [Don't get me started on her valedictorian speech] I think I would have enjoyed this more if given the perspectives of Rory and Smith because having it from just Chloe's viewpoint became almost superficial.
I think also being in a small town, the seriousness of kids getting outed to their families was not as much as it should have been. It just seemed there wasn't much on this topic as I thought there would be.
I think Chloe was almost too whiny and superficial to enjoy her journey. [Don't get me started on her valedictorian speech] I think I would have enjoyed this more if given the perspectives of Rory and Smith because having it from just Chloe's viewpoint became almost superficial.
I think also being in a small town, the seriousness of kids getting outed to their families was not as much as it should have been. It just seemed there wasn't much on this topic as I thought there would be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Transphobia, Abandonment, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Alcohol, Racism, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
ladyfaceplant's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
As always, Casey McQuiston’s writing is delightful. I enjoyed this. lot and raced through it. i
It felt like a love letter to the South and the queer kids growing up there. I think I still prefer McQuiston’s adult novels, simply because I am an adult and I’ve read so much YA at this point that I am somewhat over reading about teenagers, but that’s definitely a Me Problem. Overall, a fantastic read and it’s great to see flawed female characters getting to be kind of nasty but in a very loveable and understandable way. Look, I’ve got a lot of Chloe Green in me and a bit of Shara Wheeler too, especially when I was a teenager. It’s nice to see those kind of characters be accepted and loved by the people around them because at the end of the day, they’re just figuring stuff out.
It felt like a love letter to the South and the queer kids growing up there. I think I still prefer McQuiston’s adult novels, simply because I am an adult and I’ve read so much YA at this point that I am somewhat over reading about teenagers, but that’s definitely a Me Problem. Overall, a fantastic read and it’s great to see flawed female characters getting to be kind of nasty but in a very loveable and understandable way. Look, I’ve got a lot of Chloe Green in me and a bit of Shara Wheeler too, especially when I was a teenager. It’s nice to see those kind of characters be accepted and loved by the people around them because at the end of the day, they’re just figuring stuff out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia
Minor: Racism, Emotional abuse, and Outing