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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This book started off rough. I did not think I’d like the main character at first but it turned around. This had some funny lines too. Really liked it.
What a sweet book with such a compelling main character. Izzy’s arc is absolutely lovely, and her friendship with Mo is gorgeous. There were a LOT of social justice lectures and maybe too many characters, but overall I really enjoyed this one and I think Izzy is a delight. Also, Chicago! (Although come on these people are traversing the entire city on random Tuesday nights…)
When deciding if I wanted to read this book, I saw that it was "the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel comes to high school." That description made my decision for me because I love comedy and the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (for 2.5 seasons).
Izzy's character development felt real to me as someone who was a teen in high school once upon a time and I loved how the book ended once I finally got there. However, I felt like a few chapters could've been left out/some of the plot points felt repetitive which frustrated me and I almost returned it to the library at one point. Call it delayed gratification or whatever but I really needed the plot to move forward more quickly (or am I really just that impatient?). Despite the frustration, I found myself rooting for Izzy and looked forward to the ending.
Overall I liked this book as well as Katie Henry's writing style. I'm glad I decided to read it.
Izzy's character development felt real to me as someone who was a teen in high school once upon a time and I loved how the book ended once I finally got there. However, I felt like a few chapters could've been left out/some of the plot points felt repetitive which frustrated me and I almost returned it to the library at one point. Call it delayed gratification or whatever but I really needed the plot to move forward more quickly (or am I really just that impatient?). Despite the frustration, I found myself rooting for Izzy and looked forward to the ending.
Overall I liked this book as well as Katie Henry's writing style. I'm glad I decided to read it.
Ah what a great read. Funny, heartwarming, encouraging and well written.
enjoyed
turns out i like reading about creating fictional stand up as much as watching actual stand up
turns out i like reading about creating fictional stand up as much as watching actual stand up
For a first read of this author, I am truly blown away and can’t wait to pick up more Katie Henry! This book was unputdownable for me.
While there are definitely trigger warnings with this book, it truly is a journey of growth and learning for Izzy.
Izzy is 16 and dealing with a lot of issues including neglectful (but not maliciously) parents, a gaslighting, emotionally (and sometimes physically) abusive boyfriend, and a general feeling of never being heard. When she stumbles into a comedy open mic night in an effort to avoid her boyfriend, she finds a group of supportive friends that encourage her to speak up and find her voice. Mo, Jonah, and Will are complex (each a minority that expresses how they are tokenized in comedy, marginalized in life and still speaking loudly to be heard as fully realized individuals) and being out a side of Izzy that she never knew before. As Izzy starts to speak out, she starts to approach her problems head on and finally discovers who she wants to be.
I loved the unique traits of Izzy, from the auditory disorder to her love of plants and Shakespeare to her inner voice. The writing is a huge help to discovering Izzy as everything feels very conversational.
Overall, loved the characters, loved the writing, loved the book!
While there are definitely trigger warnings with this book, it truly is a journey of growth and learning for Izzy.
Izzy is 16 and dealing with a lot of issues including neglectful (but not maliciously) parents, a gaslighting, emotionally (and sometimes physically) abusive boyfriend, and a general feeling of never being heard. When she stumbles into a comedy open mic night in an effort to avoid her boyfriend, she finds a group of supportive friends that encourage her to speak up and find her voice. Mo, Jonah, and Will are complex (each a minority that expresses how they are tokenized in comedy, marginalized in life and still speaking loudly to be heard as fully realized individuals) and being out a side of Izzy that she never knew before. As Izzy starts to speak out, she starts to approach her problems head on and finally discovers who she wants to be.
I loved the unique traits of Izzy, from the auditory disorder to her love of plants and Shakespeare to her inner voice. The writing is a huge help to discovering Izzy as everything feels very conversational.
Overall, loved the characters, loved the writing, loved the book!
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a hidden gem.
Henry did such a great job balancing heavy topics with personable, funny, complicated characters in a way that didn’t feel forced or preachy. The dynamics between Izzy and her family, her friends, her partner, and the audience were vivid and whole. Absolutely recommend reading if you’re looking for a solid and realistic YA read.
Henry did such a great job balancing heavy topics with personable, funny, complicated characters in a way that didn’t feel forced or preachy. The dynamics between Izzy and her family, her friends, her partner, and the audience were vivid and whole. Absolutely recommend reading if you’re looking for a solid and realistic YA read.
An insecure, Shakespeare-reading, plant-loving, teen stumbles upon the world of stand-up comedy. Yes, please! This latest offering by Katie Henry, which comes with a trigger warning about emotions abuse, packs in a lot. Family dynamics, toxic relationships, the longing to escape high school, and oh so much awesome feminism. This book is funny and serious and completely relatable. Loved it.