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jachnax's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
3.25
I didnt get this book until i was like 70% in. The writing was also not really doing it for me. I liked it overall but it had flaws for me and its not a fav.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Sexism, Racism, and Outing
lizard007's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Outing, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
I might not have the same deep love and intense attachment to this book as I do Casey’s adult novels, but I did still really enjoy it. This book is a collage of elements from other YA books I’ve enjoyed—the bittersweet feeling of high school ending from The Summer of Everything, the academic rivals to lovers slow-burn that may or may not have been simmering all along from Today Tonight Tomorrow, the self-discovery and acceptance of so many other queer stories—while still being its own unique thing.
It’s a story of ferocious girls and cinnamon roll boys and yet another iconic group of disaster queer friends, the sort of group Casey excels at writing. It’s a story of teens being messy, teens being teens, in the final moments they have before becoming adults; of all the stages of queerness and trauma and healing and love, of love in so many different forms and expressions. And it’s beautiful. It’s fun, it’s important, and it’s so very beautifully done.
It might not be a book I love with enough fervor to call a favorite, but nonetheless, I know I’ll be thinking about it for some time. Casey’s books tend to have that effect.
Representation:
It’s a story of ferocious girls and cinnamon roll boys and yet another iconic group of disaster queer friends, the sort of group Casey excels at writing. It’s a story of teens being messy, teens being teens, in the final moments they have before becoming adults; of all the stages of queerness and trauma and healing and love, of love in so many different forms and expressions. And it’s beautiful. It’s fun, it’s important, and it’s so very beautifully done.
It might not be a book I love with enough fervor to call a favorite, but nonetheless, I know I’ll be thinking about it for some time. Casey’s books tend to have that effect.
Representation:
- bisexual protagonist
- sapphic love interest
- Black gay dyslexic side character
- Black queer nonbinary side character
- Black bisexual side character
- other queer side characters (includes lesbian & nonbinary rep)
- sapphic main couple
- lesbian side couple
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
Minor: Outing and Alcohol
Contains in-depth discussions of religious bigotry in small towns—relating to homophobia, racism and misogyny—and the religious trauma that stems from it. Also mentions the outing of an adult side character, which occurred prior to the story, and contains one unrelated scene with underage drinking.rachelelouise's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Bullying, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
katndrsn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Outing, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
owliglot's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Misogyny, Bullying, and Outing
adrienreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A fun read - read this for a book club, and finished it, which is more than I could say for most fiction for a long time. I mostly listened to the audiobook.
The characters are often unlikeable, but in a sort of "I'm in this picture and I don't like it" way - definitely relatable to the ways teenagers can be flawed, at least retrospectively for me. That meant that sometimes it was cathartic, but a lot of the time I was just kind of miserable.
I don't usually enjoy this type of book, so don't take my review too seriously if you do. There is a lot of heart put into this book by the author, so if the premise appeals to you, might be worth giving it a try.
The characters are often unlikeable, but in a sort of "I'm in this picture and I don't like it" way - definitely relatable to the ways teenagers can be flawed, at least retrospectively for me. That meant that sometimes it was cathartic, but a lot of the time I was just kind of miserable.
I don't usually enjoy this type of book, so don't take my review too seriously if you do. There is a lot of heart put into this book by the author, so if the premise appeals to you, might be worth giving it a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism and Outing
tinysierra's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is my first Casey
McQuiston book. I love the Acknowledgements and Foreward.
“I’m writing this book to show you that you’re not alone. Also that you deserve ridiculous, over the top high school rom coms about teenagers like you, just like the straight kids have!”
That’s exactly what this book was. A ridiculous, over the top Looking for Alaska/Paper Towns type rom com with flawed high schoolers whose brains haven’t fully developed yet.
I liked the cast of characters that we got. I liked the fun little scavenger hunt where we get to see the Rory, Smith, and Chloe come together. I also loved that part of the setting was a family owned bookstore.
When you’re in high school, it really does feel like that’s your whole world.
Chloe is uptight and a bit mean. She’s not the greatest friend at some points. She’s flawed and honestly a little relatable. Rory and Smith were interesting characters as well, and it was nice to see their development. I liked that Chloe just casually picked up on the fact that Rory was dyslexic and no one infantilizes him or treats him differently about it.
Georgia makes a good point, that not everyone can leave their (small minded) hometown. Some people have to stay, or it will never get better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Stalking
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.5
This is my third Casey McQuinston novel, and I lover every second of it! Although this is their first YA novel, all of the staples which make this author such a fan favorite (strong friend groups, humor, joy) are all there, maybe even more so than ever!
There are a few plot holes, but it was such a fun read overall, and I would highly, highly recommend!
I think that the relationship between Smith and Rory was so well done as well! They were my favorites:)
There are a few plot holes, but it was such a fun read overall, and I would highly, highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Bullying, and Classism
amiraqualls's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
Obsessive sapphics. What’s not to love?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Outing