Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Not Here to Be Liked

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! I’d been hearing some great things about this book and it was definitely right up my alley. This book not only has great characters, but it will also definitely make you think!

At the beginning, Eliza isn’t the most likeable character. However, this makes sense for her character arc. She doesn’t think she really needs to be liked by her fellow students in order to get where she wants to go. A lot of the book is her realizing that maybe letting people in is okay, and I loved the way her character was written. Everything about her journey felt so natural and worked well as a teenage character.

The secondary characters are just as fleshed out as Eliza. And they also bring some important points to the discussion of what we think of as feminism. Yes, this book takes place in a high school, but so much about what Eliza and her friends talk about regarding gender equality apply in a lot of different aspects of life. It really makes you think about your own version of feminism and whether it really includes gender equality of all kinds.

Eliza and Len also get to talk a lot about what it means to be Asian in America, and even though they both had different experiences, they find a lot of common ground. I think this is why their relationship feels natural in the book and they have such great chemistry.

The main reason this isn’t getting five stars is because I did think the pacing was a bit off in places. But overall, this was an enjoyable read and it will definitely prompt some good discussion!
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There are all sorts of things to love about this book. Engaging story, important discussions, great characters. More to come in a review next week!

Content Warnings

gem114's review

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emotional hopeful informative reflective 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

4.0

I can't wait to add this book to my classroom shelves! NOT HERE TO BE LIKED is a perfect book for a buddy read or a YA book club because it will lead to amazing discussions.

From the publisher:

"Eliza Quan is the perfect candidate for editor in chief of her school paper. That is, until ex-jock Len DiMartile decides on a whim to run against her. Suddenly her vast qualifications mean squat because inexperienced Len—who is tall, handsome, and male—just seems more like a leader.

When Eliza’s frustration spills out in a viral essay, she finds herself inspiring a feminist movement she never meant to start, caught between those who believe she’s a gender equality champion and others who think she’s simply crying misogyny."

This novel bolsters a fun YA enemies-to-lovers story with serious discussions about sexism, feminism, slut-shaming, social media/internet privacy, freedom of speech, racism, stereotyping, and more. There is SO MUCH packed into this book, but the author manages it all while also avoiding becoming too preachy. Some issues are covered more superficially than others (class/wealth, for example), but I don't feel like it took away from the book at all.

Quach did a great job writing relatable characters across the spectrum of high school cliques. I love that the students were shown finding common ground through their efforts to make their school a more equitable place. I hope teens that read this book feel empowered to fight for change in their own communities.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/Katherine Tegen Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

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