1.04k reviews for:

Dear Wendy

Ann Zhao

4.0 AVERAGE

emsmith's review

3.0

funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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It is so refreshing to see a queer book with two main aroace characters. Parts of this book really hit close to home, and you can tell the author is passionate about telling these stories. I thought the prose was funny and it kept me interested, I really fired through it!!

One criticism I do have is I wish the story was more focused. This book had a lot to say, and parts almost read as non-fiction, the way they were trying to impart information about queer issues. I think it would have benefitted from being more focussed on the two characters' story arcs and their relationship to each other. Sophie and Jo are such interesting characters, and I wish the book went a little deeper into their arcs, their own stories and relationship almost didn't seem like the centre of the story as they spent a large proportion of the book giving relationship advice to other people. 

The end did make me emosh though, and for a debut novel though, it's good read 

kandreachi's review

3.5

funny informative 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

madisonaf's review

4.0

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rororollinginthedeep's review against another edition

5.0

emotional 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: No

rockyroad444's review against another edition

3.75

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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: Yes

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I enjoyed this, felt like a Netflix special if Netflix specials actually did research about asexual/aromantic people lol. Not a lot of plot, mostly character exploration of identity and relationship building. As the author admits, a very romanticized version of the liberal arts college experience and too much Taylor Swift references in my opinion, but felt like a genuine and sweet portrayal of two aro/ace people finding each other and navigating their relationships. I wish the gender discussions had gone further and been more nuanced (kinda weird to me there was no mention of trans women / historical women’s college dynamics, if we were gonna go there lol. I had also thought there were hints that one or both of them was going to have more gender exploration by the end of the book, bus alas). For what it was though, it definitely hit some ace points I’d been seeking and definitely missed in my own college experience, so I thought it was sweet. 

strawberrypisces's review

4.0

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

penleguin's review against another edition

5.0

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Endearing, hopeful, and kind - this is a dual-POV YA novel about two first-year aroace college students meeting and bonding over their shared identities, while unknowingly feuding with each other online through their anonymous relationship advice Instagram accounts. Their friends, fellow classmates, and professors are all accepting and supportive of their identities, which left me feeling warm and wishing that this could be the experience of all queer students! Overall, this is such a positive, tender read, especially about the meaningfulness of platonic relationships - highly recommend!

nerdy_reader's review

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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: Yes

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OMG. This was exactly what I needed! Dear Wendy is such a heartwarming book, and it sheds much needed light on a-spec identities! Plus it takes place at a historically women’s college and as someone who goes to one as well, I can absolutely confirm the rep!! Plus, Pride and Prejudice was mentioned, and so was that one scene from Little Women that I’ll never forget. 1000/10

sumedha_singhrathor's review against another edition

3.0

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

amelia_megs's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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: Yes

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This story is so necessary and the characters are deeply real I just didn’t love the writing it felt slightly awkward and amateurish but I still thoroughly enjoyed the experience of this book and hope we continue to get stories like this.