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thebluehaired_reader_'s review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this YA romance. It was sweet and deep and beautiful.
Dani and Prince! Gah! They were so cute together! I couldn’t get enough of them. I loved their first interaction and how badly it went haha but then the way they went from there was amazing. They had such great chemistry and banter and friendship. I loved the way they talked to each other. Each has hard things going on in their lives and hearing about it hurt my heart for them both. There is such great resolution though. Honestly it was perfect.
Then there were so many other elements that made me love this book, like the black history in it. I love learning new things I didn’t know before. It was just such an incredible journey of love and friendship and relationships of all kind. Plus the narrators NAILED it. They embodied those characters perfectly.
Side note- It touches on the topic of SA so just be aware of that as a trigger.
Dani and Prince! Gah! They were so cute together! I couldn’t get enough of them. I loved their first interaction and how badly it went haha but then the way they went from there was amazing. They had such great chemistry and banter and friendship. I loved the way they talked to each other. Each has hard things going on in their lives and hearing about it hurt my heart for them both. There is such great resolution though. Honestly it was perfect.
Then there were so many other elements that made me love this book, like the black history in it. I love learning new things I didn’t know before. It was just such an incredible journey of love and friendship and relationships of all kind. Plus the narrators NAILED it. They embodied those characters perfectly.
Side note- It touches on the topic of SA so just be aware of that as a trigger.
nickiitay's review
4.0
What made this such an enjoyable read for me, is that it was more of a coming of age story WITH romance than just a romance novel. Dani and Prince reminded me that being a teenager in highschool is no easy feat, and that the small decisions we make then, along with who with surround ourselves with at the time, are quite important to molding the individual we become.
All in all, this was a very cute book and I'm very happy I own a physical copy so I can reread it.
All in all, this was a very cute book and I'm very happy I own a physical copy so I can reread it.
abbbiess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kayeluh's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
katykelly's review
4.0
Celebratory, passionate Black love/friendship/family YA.
I have my eyes opened a little more each time I take a chance on a new title that isn't something I'd normally find within my typical scope. While I love YA, love stories can be quite 'samey' for me, so it takes something quite different to make me pick it up.
I've recently pushed myself to read titles that I know will question myself, my background, experiences I've never had. I'm British, caucasian, working class but university-educated, and from a multicultural area with mostly Asian friends.
The US Black experience is one I don't pretend to know much about. And I was thrilled to see LaDelle's title breaking through stereotypes from the first, and with a range of characters, giving us a love/family story that anyone can relate to, just with references that some readers will not recognise (including myself).
Two narrators share the story. Danielle and Prince attend the same high school as seniors. Dani has writers' block over her college admissions essay following a traumatic event that she slowly shares with us, having shied away from friends and family after it. She doesn't trust boys, she takes refuge in the Black feminist writers her father has encouraged her to read all her life. Prince DJs on a local radio station, giving out relationship advice to young people who call in. He cares for his mother with MS and a younger brother, and soon tells us about his long-term crush on Dani.
The two of them make an appealing pair. And those around them fill in a neighbourhood that we see to be based on values of community, support and loyalty. Prince has a friend with a one-year old daughter - but he makes time for Daddy Daughter days. Dani's group of friends includes those who are talented at hairstyling, but make it clear that they take great pride in the cultural history of these styles and are themselves strong role models and ambitious.
We see loving and supportive parents, friends who rally round and help, and a central pair who feel an attraction but must each grow themselves before plunging into something together.
There is a lot of talking, sharing and learning to be done. The language feels authentic (says someone who couldn't possibly 'know' this, I'm aware), I did recognise references - books (children's and adult), music, films, but know a lot went over my head. I did feel that the experience of growing up Black was conveyed in a positive light but with some of the negative aspects mentioned.
Feeling outside of the characters' lives and experiences was quite novel for me, their language so different at times to my own, I enjoyed feeling slightly discombobulated by references: I could imagine being Prince's younger brother Mook, seeing himself without representation in the books he reads.
Sometimes the talking and psychoanalysing felt a bit adult and out-of-character for Dani and Prince, but their journey through dates and trials was sweet and a YA audience deserve to see these creditable young people as role models and a pair to look up to in life and literature.
For ages 13 and above.
I have my eyes opened a little more each time I take a chance on a new title that isn't something I'd normally find within my typical scope. While I love YA, love stories can be quite 'samey' for me, so it takes something quite different to make me pick it up.
I've recently pushed myself to read titles that I know will question myself, my background, experiences I've never had. I'm British, caucasian, working class but university-educated, and from a multicultural area with mostly Asian friends.
The US Black experience is one I don't pretend to know much about. And I was thrilled to see LaDelle's title breaking through stereotypes from the first, and with a range of characters, giving us a love/family story that anyone can relate to, just with references that some readers will not recognise (including myself).
Two narrators share the story. Danielle and Prince attend the same high school as seniors. Dani has writers' block over her college admissions essay following a traumatic event that she slowly shares with us, having shied away from friends and family after it. She doesn't trust boys, she takes refuge in the Black feminist writers her father has encouraged her to read all her life. Prince DJs on a local radio station, giving out relationship advice to young people who call in. He cares for his mother with MS and a younger brother, and soon tells us about his long-term crush on Dani.
The two of them make an appealing pair. And those around them fill in a neighbourhood that we see to be based on values of community, support and loyalty. Prince has a friend with a one-year old daughter - but he makes time for Daddy Daughter days. Dani's group of friends includes those who are talented at hairstyling, but make it clear that they take great pride in the cultural history of these styles and are themselves strong role models and ambitious.
We see loving and supportive parents, friends who rally round and help, and a central pair who feel an attraction but must each grow themselves before plunging into something together.
There is a lot of talking, sharing and learning to be done. The language feels authentic (says someone who couldn't possibly 'know' this, I'm aware), I did recognise references - books (children's and adult), music, films, but know a lot went over my head. I did feel that the experience of growing up Black was conveyed in a positive light but with some of the negative aspects mentioned.
Feeling outside of the characters' lives and experiences was quite novel for me, their language so different at times to my own, I enjoyed feeling slightly discombobulated by references: I could imagine being Prince's younger brother Mook, seeing himself without representation in the books he reads.
Sometimes the talking and psychoanalysing felt a bit adult and out-of-character for Dani and Prince, but their journey through dates and trials was sweet and a YA audience deserve to see these creditable young people as role models and a pair to look up to in life and literature.
For ages 13 and above.
shyatt34's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
taty485's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
mutheu's review
lighthearted
relaxing
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