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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Leah Johnson's sophomore novel does not disappoint! She writes beautiful heartfelt queer Black girl YA romances that deserve a place in every high school library. The dedication says it all, "To the Black girls who have been told they're too much and to the ones who don't believe they're enough: You are the world's most beautiful song."
While it wasn't You Should See Me In A Crown, I still thought this book was wonderful and I loved the two protagonists. I understand others' critiques, but they overall didn't bother me. Maybe because I might relate a little too much with Olivia
"Some people are the ones who get left, and some people are the ones who do the leaving."
I absolutely adore Leah's writing and enjoyed this book as much as her last one, You Should See Me in a Crown. Leah is easily an auto-buy author of mine!
If there's one thing that Leah is superior at, it's creating fantastic character arcs and development. While I love the characters on their own, watching the growth they go through is always a journey full of great life lessons and advice great for any age reader. I was captivated by both Toni and Olivia's story from the very beginning and how even as polar opposites, they found common ground together.
The only thing that prevented this from being a 5-star read for me was the insanely fast insta-love trope. The trope in itself irritates me, but when characters go from complete strangers to essentially ready to use the word "love" with each other within 72 hours, it kinda deters me a little bit. With Toni being as closed off as she is, it felt a little out of character, especially for someone whose character wasn't as versed with crushes and romantic relationships as Olivia. I would've liked the story more if the romance was dragged out a little more.
This book is certainly one you should look trigger warnings up for. It has parental loss, anxiety attacks, gun violence, and nonconsensual photo sharing with the latter two being extremely sensitive in today's climate in the United States. In fact, there is a quote that is painfully true. "These days, the danger of just being alive and in public is practically as American as fireworks on the Fourth or apple pie or voter suppression." How's that for a painful truth us Americans experience day in and day out?
Overall, you can't go wrong with a Leah Johnson book. With sapphic characters and phenomenal writing, I loved this book and will certainly recommend it to everyone.
I absolutely adore Leah's writing and enjoyed this book as much as her last one, You Should See Me in a Crown. Leah is easily an auto-buy author of mine!
If there's one thing that Leah is superior at, it's creating fantastic character arcs and development. While I love the characters on their own, watching the growth they go through is always a journey full of great life lessons and advice great for any age reader. I was captivated by both Toni and Olivia's story from the very beginning and how even as polar opposites, they found common ground together.
The only thing that prevented this from being a 5-star read for me was the insanely fast insta-love trope. The trope in itself irritates me, but when characters go from complete strangers to essentially ready to use the word "love" with each other within 72 hours, it kinda deters me a little bit. With Toni being as closed off as she is, it felt a little out of character, especially for someone whose character wasn't as versed with crushes and romantic relationships as Olivia. I would've liked the story more if the romance was dragged out a little more.
This book is certainly one you should look trigger warnings up for. It has parental loss, anxiety attacks, gun violence, and nonconsensual photo sharing with the latter two being extremely sensitive in today's climate in the United States. In fact, there is a quote that is painfully true. "These days, the danger of just being alive and in public is practically as American as fireworks on the Fourth or apple pie or voter suppression." How's that for a painful truth us Americans experience day in and day out?
Overall, you can't go wrong with a Leah Johnson book. With sapphic characters and phenomenal writing, I loved this book and will certainly recommend it to everyone.
I enjoyed this book, but somehow it didnt hit the mark for me. Maybe i just wanted more. But overall this was very adorable and brought back music festival feelings I never really experienced.
This book was amazing!!! It definitely made me miss going to concerts. I loved the love story between Olivia and Toni who were trying to find themselves and not only found that but each other. Peter was the perfect himbo and I loved him. Imani reminded me a little bit of myself and I realize that like me she's a Capricorn. Overall this was a great story and Leah Johnson has done it again.
A perfect queer girl romance that really encapsulates what it’s like being a teen girl in love—the whirlwind feelings, the intensity of emotions, the way you just FEEL everything so much!!! The backdrop of the music festival makes this a fantastic summer read, and definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a lighthearted yet epic (queer!) romance that doesn’t shy away from the harder, real-life moments
I loved this story of discovery for both main characters. Olivia has to find her worth without a boy. It's clear having and being in a relationship is the main goal to her. To the point of affecting her other relationships. Toni has to make amends with the changes happening in her life. A good story all in all.
CW: parent death, gun violence, slut shaming
This book had me giggling and wanting to go to a music festival (which actually sounds like a nightmare).
Music really is the thing that brings us all together. the fact that we as humans get together to share our thoughts, feelings, and energy through live music is one of the most beautiful things we do.
This book had me giggling and wanting to go to a music festival (which actually sounds like a nightmare).
Music really is the thing that brings us all together. the fact that we as humans get together to share our thoughts, feelings, and energy through live music is one of the most beautiful things we do.
I liked parts of this book but I found one of the two POV characters deeply annoying in a way that really reminded me I am not the target audience for YA books. She was a very realistic teenager! She also annoyed the shit out of me! I loved You Should See Me In A Crown but this one was much less engaging, in part I think because the romance was condensed into 3 days and I always feel a bit eye rolly about dramatic declarations of love for someone you’ve spent like two hours with. (I am also a buzzkill about Romeo and Juliet.)