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amandatheactivist's review against another edition
2.0
it is a good thing to make a character have flaws, so they r relatable. however, there should really be a flaw limit, because all of naomi's characteristics were flaws. it seems to me that David levithan writes a lot more interesting stories when he's working alone.
kittenesque's review against another edition
3.0
Too many voices in too short a book to adequately get to know them all.
sidneyellwood's review against another edition
5.0
[review written 2011]
Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List was the second David Levithan and Rachel Cohn novel I have ever read, and I must say, it was quite as good as Dash and Lily. I loved it. Naomi’s writing with the symbols was great, Gabriel the Hot Doorman (I pictured Aaron Tveit) writing with songs narrating it … it was quite easy to tell their writing styles from each other, which marks talent, because usually first-person viewpoints that switch between two characters is hard enough for me. To be able to tell viewpoints between five, six characters, that was amazing.
It was also really funny, and I had a giggle fit at Ely showing the bouncer his dick in the middle of class, which lead to awkwardness. All in all, it was a great book. If you are a fan of either Rachel Cohn or David Levithan’s work, it would be a good idea to read this book (and Dash and Lily, and Nick and Norah) because they’re just so amazing.
Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List was the second David Levithan and Rachel Cohn novel I have ever read, and I must say, it was quite as good as Dash and Lily. I loved it. Naomi’s writing with the symbols was great, Gabriel the Hot Doorman (I pictured Aaron Tveit) writing with songs narrating it … it was quite easy to tell their writing styles from each other, which marks talent, because usually first-person viewpoints that switch between two characters is hard enough for me. To be able to tell viewpoints between five, six characters, that was amazing.
It was also really funny, and I had a giggle fit at Ely showing the bouncer his dick in the middle of class, which lead to awkwardness. All in all, it was a great book. If you are a fan of either Rachel Cohn or David Levithan’s work, it would be a good idea to read this book (and Dash and Lily, and Nick and Norah) because they’re just so amazing.
alex4allanimals's review against another edition
4.0
This could be a 5 star but I sadly read it over so long, I don’t remember the first half. I would occasionally get lost with the characters of the same name because of this.
A clever, witty story of two best friends, love, sexuality, and friendship- about finding yourself, your flaws, your truth.
The little emojis were cute!
I’m excited to watch the movie version now!
A clever, witty story of two best friends, love, sexuality, and friendship- about finding yourself, your flaws, your truth.
The little emojis were cute!
I’m excited to watch the movie version now!
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
2.0
I was looking forward to this book. I thought I'd just devour it. Teen-accessible GLBTI lit? I'm so there. But when I got to reading it... it just fell flat (and not just because I thought Ely was actually a girl and it would be a lesbian story. Ahem.)
The biggest problem for me was Naomi. She knew Ely was gay. She knew Ely was gay. This wasn't some secret hidden agenda that snuck up on her in the dark one day. She knew for a long time Ely was gay and refused to admit it to herself. Ely's kissing boys? Ely's touching boys? Ely's having sex with boys? Ely's ultimately very attracted to boys? No, it's all just a sham, they're going to run off and get married. Argh. It just infuriated me.
Ely is, of course, a close second. The fact he kissed Naomi's boyfriend isn't what bugs me. Yes, it's a horrible thing to do, but both Ely and Bruce the Second get a point from me for feeling guilty about it. Ely told Naomi about it shortly after it happened, too. The sneaking around... well, the deducts the point I gave them. What bugs me about Ely is his selfishness and inability to see beyond his world. He's a representation to me of some gay men I know. Stereotypical, yes, but also quite true. And I have a hard time believing this changes after the novel ends.
Gabrielle also reminds me of Ely. He's just as selfish and bland and annoying.
The only characters I liked were Robin(f) and Robin (m).
Here's another problem- bisexuality doesn't seem to exist in this book. Bruce the Second could have been a good bisexual character. He's attracted to Naomi but then, oh my, he finds Ely attractive, too. This book could have easily been about a young man finding his sexual identity and being caught between two best friends. Same book, similar plot, little need to change.
This book only gets two stars because it's more accessible to young teens, and they may not feel shy about reading it in public as it doesn't have a Big Gay Title like Naomi and Ely's Stereotypical Gay Adventures.
The biggest problem for me was Naomi. She knew Ely was gay. She knew Ely was gay. This wasn't some secret hidden agenda that snuck up on her in the dark one day. She knew for a long time Ely was gay and refused to admit it to herself. Ely's kissing boys? Ely's touching boys? Ely's having sex with boys? Ely's ultimately very attracted to boys? No, it's all just a sham, they're going to run off and get married. Argh. It just infuriated me.
Ely is, of course, a close second. The fact he kissed Naomi's boyfriend isn't what bugs me. Yes, it's a horrible thing to do, but both Ely and Bruce the Second get a point from me for feeling guilty about it. Ely told Naomi about it shortly after it happened, too. The sneaking around... well, the deducts the point I gave them. What bugs me about Ely is his selfishness and inability to see beyond his world. He's a representation to me of some gay men I know. Stereotypical, yes, but also quite true. And I have a hard time believing this changes after the novel ends.
Gabrielle also reminds me of Ely. He's just as selfish and bland and annoying.
The only characters I liked were Robin(f) and Robin (m).
Here's another problem- bisexuality doesn't seem to exist in this book. Bruce the Second could have been a good bisexual character. He's attracted to Naomi but then, oh my, he finds Ely attractive, too. This book could have easily been about a young man finding his sexual identity and being caught between two best friends. Same book, similar plot, little need to change.
This book only gets two stars because it's more accessible to young teens, and they may not feel shy about reading it in public as it doesn't have a Big Gay Title like Naomi and Ely's Stereotypical Gay Adventures.
jiggywithjordyn's review against another edition
3.0
Is this a good book? I have no idea, but apparently it was for my 15 year old brain. The movie was cute too.
_rebeccareads_'s review against another edition
3.0
Can't say I loved this book, and kind of confusing what with so many different characters, and the chapters going between the many different points of view. Couldn't help but be annoyed at the way Ely treated Naomi.
typesetjez's review against another edition
1.0
I absolutely adore David Levithan's writing and have on more than one occasion professed my desire to live inside his books, but I cannot finish this one. I detest every single character (for none of them have any redeeming qualities) and find the plot slightly offensive and thin. I love Levithan, but I hate this book. I highly doubt I will return to read the rest of it.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
4.0
"we always see our worst selves. Our most vulnerable selves. We need someone else to get close enough to tell us we're wrong. Someone we trust."
Okay, so I'm a little surprised. I really loved this one. When it first started I was worried... A girl who won't stop lying, symbols, multiple POV...all of these potentially annoying things set in one book. But no, it all worked so well together.
Now to say I loved the story does not mean I love all the characters in the story. But I loved the adventure of following a group of people through this huge moment of their lives.
I'm glad that this was told from so many POV and that the story is a little quirky and crazy. Because underneath is a wonderful story about survival. Surviving the crumbling of a family, a friendship, a relationship and more. It's realizing the lies we tell ourselves to get through today and tomorrow. And it's not for us to judge one person's coping style. We all try to just survive our challenges and this is how Ely and Naomi have gotten through theirs - together.
Okay, so I'm a little surprised. I really loved this one. When it first started I was worried... A girl who won't stop lying, symbols, multiple POV...all of these potentially annoying things set in one book. But no, it all worked so well together.
Now to say I loved the story does not mean I love all the characters in the story. But I loved the adventure of following a group of people through this huge moment of their lives.
I'm glad that this was told from so many POV and that the story is a little quirky and crazy. Because underneath is a wonderful story about survival. Surviving the crumbling of a family, a friendship, a relationship and more. It's realizing the lies we tell ourselves to get through today and tomorrow. And it's not for us to judge one person's coping style. We all try to just survive our challenges and this is how Ely and Naomi have gotten through theirs - together.
allmadhere106's review against another edition
4.0
Naomi and Ely have been best friends forever as they've been neighbors in an apartment complex in NY since they can remember. To ensure that they continue with their amazing friendship past their high school days they have created a No Kiss List for the both of them to follow where they announce people who are off limits. When Ely kisses someone who for whatever reason didn't make it on the list but is an obvious person to avoid, issues that the two friends have been ignoring are brought to each other's attention and their friendship becomes precarious. Told in various character points of view, Cohn and Levithan continue to show their amazing collaborative skills and personalities. Another book to add to the list of entertaining reads. (Also, with the characters mainly being of the age of early college goers, this book may be of interest to a wider variety than just the high school group.)