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citrus_seasalt's review against another edition
2.5
Not in the mood to write a long or semi-eloquent review for this one. I enjoyed Leah Johnson’s debut and found it charming, can’t say the same about most of this one. Toni was easily the better of the two protagonists, and I don’t just mean this because of the “hey! I connect with her over having a dead dad who loved music!” deal. Olivia left her friend in the dust so many times that I was cheering Imani on when she called her out. (Olivia gets self-sabotaging towards the end, but somehow, that still feels selfish? And poor Imani should have gotten a better friend.) Many difficult topics are in this novel, but some are barely written about, not in a deft way but in a way that seems kind of careless..?
The beginning started off cute and very fluffy, but the instalove drove me up the wall, and that last half was rough…also Peter felt like he was trying a little hard to have golden retriever energy.
The beginning started off cute and very fluffy, but the instalove drove me up the wall, and that last half was rough…also Peter felt like he was trying a little hard to have golden retriever energy.
stargazer0330's review against another edition
3.0
This is such a wonderful story about trying to find yourself, falling in love and just being able to cope with being a teenager. Taking place in one weekend at a music festival, Toni and Olivia are searching for ways to be true to themselves and find each other along the way.
drphillgucci's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
Not as strong as Leah Johnson's debut young adult novel, but a nice follow up. Olivia and her best friend Imani go to a three day music festival and are determined to have a great best friend weekend. Olivia needs to escape a situation in Indianapolis with a boy and this is the perfect getaway. Imani makes her promise that this weekend is just for the two of them and not for falling in love (something Olivia likes to do on a frequent basis), but those plans quickly get de-railed. Toni and her best friend, Peter, have attended this festival yearly and are excited to hang out and enjoy the sunshine and music. For Toni, it's a last hurrah before she starts college at IU. When she rescues Olivia from a camping mishap and subsequent asthma attack, the two find themselves linked for the whole weekend. Together they are going to enter the talent show, find all the golden apples, and maybe fall in love. I loved the setting, and I loved their backstories - I just didn't appreciate how quickly they both threw off their best friends. Not cool. Other than that - good story!
graybulla's review against another edition
5.0
literally NO ONE is doing sapphic contemporary YA like leah johnson. no one!!!!
ajm2013's review
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? It's complicated
4.5
alexa_mariee's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A heartfelt summer queer YA love story that is equally light hearted music festival fun but also tackles some heavy issues from grief over the loss of a parent to gun violence to sexual assault/victim blaming. I was so there for this book about female friendship and first love between two young Black teens set against the backdrop of a Woodstock esque Music festival. Highly recommended for fans of Leah Johnson's other books and great on audio.
CW: gun violence, death of a parent, sexual assault/abuse
CW: gun violence, death of a parent, sexual assault/abuse