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readingwithtemperance's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
This book fully encapsulated the high school experience. There was so much nostalgia and drama throughout. I love how real these teenagers are.
I definitely felt for our MC. Friends/relationships and all of the social confusion that comes along with them can be hard to navigate, let alone on top of trying to keep your grades up AND your family happy.
It made me happy that Jessie found her people in the end though.
I absolutely saw my younger self in her. And this book really helped heal my inner teen a bit.
I definitely felt for our MC. Friends/relationships and all of the social confusion that comes along with them can be hard to navigate, let alone on top of trying to keep your grades up AND your family happy.
It made me happy that Jessie found her people in the end though.
I absolutely saw my younger self in her. And this book really helped heal my inner teen a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, and Death
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship
looseleafellie's review against another edition
5.0
This YA contemporary novel follows Jessie, a ‘90s-obsessed Palestinian-Canadian teen who receives an autism diagnosis shortly before starting high school. Determined to fit in with her classmates, Jessie creates a list of goals for the school year, but the attentions of two boys make her go off script.
I’m usually a reader who needs a high concept to get interested in a contemporary novel, and I’m also not a big fan of love triangles. So imagine my surprise when this book pulled me in, made me feel every emotion under the Sun, and ultimately left me wishing I could create a time vortex back to 2015 and give this book to my younger self!
A huge reason I couldn’t stop reading was Jessie herself. She’s one of the most charming, charismatic, relatable characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. The plot itself held my interest, but I’d read a book about her going grocery shopping.
This book joins the very short list of love triangle stories that don’t annoy me, and it’s largely cause it fits the themes so well. Plus, it was fun to see Griffin and Levi embarrass themselves over Jessie. I won’t spoil who Jessie ends up with, but it was who I hoped she’d choose in the end!
Fun fact: I read the last few chapters of this book on my local library’s patio, and I was so engrossed in finding out where Jessie’s story would go that I forgot the patio closed at 5pm, so I had to vault unceremoniously over a large planter in order to get free. So if that doesn’t tell you how gripping this story is, I don’t know what does.
Long story short, if you’re interested in a YA novel full of authentic teenage feelings, an engaging protagonist, and two boys being embarrassingly pathetic over said protagonist, you need to check this out!
CWs: Anti-Arab racism, ableism, toxic relationships and friendships, bullying, cheating, relationship between a minor and an adult, death of a family member, and underage alcohol and cannabis use.
I’m usually a reader who needs a high concept to get interested in a contemporary novel, and I’m also not a big fan of love triangles. So imagine my surprise when this book pulled me in, made me feel every emotion under the Sun, and ultimately left me wishing I could create a time vortex back to 2015 and give this book to my younger self!
A huge reason I couldn’t stop reading was Jessie herself. She’s one of the most charming, charismatic, relatable characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. The plot itself held my interest, but I’d read a book about her going grocery shopping.
This book joins the very short list of love triangle stories that don’t annoy me, and it’s largely cause it fits the themes so well. Plus, it was fun to see Griffin and Levi embarrass themselves over Jessie. I won’t spoil who Jessie ends up with, but it was who I hoped she’d choose in the end!
Fun fact: I read the last few chapters of this book on my local library’s patio, and I was so engrossed in finding out where Jessie’s story would go that I forgot the patio closed at 5pm, so I had to vault unceremoniously over a large planter in order to get free. So if that doesn’t tell you how gripping this story is, I don’t know what does.
Long story short, if you’re interested in a YA novel full of authentic teenage feelings, an engaging protagonist, and two boys being embarrassingly pathetic over said protagonist, you need to check this out!
CWs: Anti-Arab racism, ableism, toxic relationships and friendships, bullying, cheating, relationship between a minor and an adult, death of a family member, and underage alcohol and cannabis use.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Bullying
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death
ghostingarden's review against another edition
5.0
Jackie Khalilieh you are such a star!!!!
This is the kind of book that makes me wish time machines existed so that I could go back in time and let 15 year old me read this because she would've really needed it. I can't truly put into words how much Jessie means to me as a character but it's a lot!! Also, I'm not usually a fan of love triangles but this one didn't make me want to rage throw my phone at a wall so that's a win for sure!!! Khalilieh wrote such a beautifully sweet and honest story and I hope everyone who reads this book loves it as much as I did.
This is the kind of book that makes me wish time machines existed so that I could go back in time and let 15 year old me read this because she would've really needed it. I can't truly put into words how much Jessie means to me as a character but it's a lot!! Also, I'm not usually a fan of love triangles but this one didn't make me want to rage throw my phone at a wall so that's a win for sure!!! Khalilieh wrote such a beautifully sweet and honest story and I hope everyone who reads this book loves it as much as I did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death, Racism, and Ableism
kylosten's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Racism
jamie_cruz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
I enjoyed this book. It took me back to my high school year filled with angst and my not so great choices. Jessie is a 15 year old that makes mistakes, and it’s normal. She learns from them eventually, and it’s beautiful on how she finally moves forward in life. I wished there was an epilogue because I’m so nosy to know that the characters got a happily ever after, but it was truly perfect the way the book ended
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
annamay1021's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Bullying
Moderate: Death
hnagarne's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.25
this one is hard for me to rate because i didn't love it, but i also recognize this is extremely YA. the main character and her friends are all freshmen in high school, and they act like it (props to the author for that). i think this was a bit too romance-y for my tastes; there isn't too much going on in this book aside from the romance, and at times i thought the book dragged on unnecessarily.
however, there was still a lot in this i enjoyed. i loved the protagonist and her friendships with mel & odelia. i loved her talking about autism and masking. i loved her friendship with griffin, and how unabashedly teenager-y she was about her love for levi. the author did a great job, in my opinion, of depicting teenagers.
cw: ableism, racism, bullying, cheating, adult/minor relationship (not depicted), underage drinking/substance use, death of a grandparent
however, there was still a lot in this i enjoyed. i loved the protagonist and her friendships with mel & odelia. i loved her talking about autism and masking. i loved her friendship with griffin, and how unabashedly teenager-y she was about her love for levi. the author did a great job, in my opinion, of depicting teenagers.
cw: ableism, racism, bullying, cheating, adult/minor relationship (not depicted), underage drinking/substance use, death of a grandparent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
dragongirl271's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Ableism
Minor: Death
letsgolesbians's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-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
5.0
longer rtc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, and Drug use
manderz219's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Well this was cute as heck. As an adult reading this YA, it gave my heart freshman year-sized butterflies at some points. The ending was perfectly cheesy, and I enjoyed getting to spend time in Jessie’s head! Loved the relationship with her brother and sister.
Another review pointed out some out-of-place body talk - I totally agree! Like a comment about too many cookies around holiday times that just didn’t need to be there in my opinion. But they were super minor in the long run!
Another review pointed out some out-of-place body talk - I totally agree! Like a comment about too many cookies around holiday times that just didn’t need to be there in my opinion. But they were super minor in the long run!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death