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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Reading this book reminded me why I loved Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda so much. Albertalli has a gift for capturing what it's like to be in high school, and not in a way that makes me cringe with painful memories, but in a way that causes me to look back with fondness on my younger self. Even though my experience wasn't exactly like Molly's (I had plenty of experience being rejected, thank you), I still related so well to her feelings of "Why does this seem to fall into place for everyone else but me?" And I loved the discussion of how when it does happen, you're kind of glad that you didn't have 500 experiences leading up to it.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book, even if it wasn't perfect. Albertalli did a nice job of showing how diversity is just part of life and doesn't have to be a big thing when crafting a story. (Also, when a character is white, she says that they're white. Everyone does not get to be white unless otherwise specified.) The characters still have to deal with crap (a homophobic sister, a racist and fat-shaming grandmother, taking daily anxiety medication) without it being the focus of the story. We get a happy love story, just like in Simon, but the larger story is really about Molly and her sister and how we deal with change in our closest relationships. Even though we didn't have texting when I was in high school, we did have IM, so I could relate to Molly's anxieties and thrills about text-based communication/flirting, and her habit of overthinking was also very relatable. But like I said above, in a way where I felt fondness for my younger self, not embarrassment.
What would I have changed?
-I wish Will's interaction with Molly at the beginning had been more involved. It was hard to take him seriously as part of a love triangle because their initial conversation was just him trying to figure out who she looked like.
-Sometimes the scenes cut too early. Like, we get a play-by-play of Molly taking a walk with Reid and being very aware of where her hands are and every pause in their conversation, and then he asks her to come work a shift with him, and then he gets invited to their sleepover and we immediately cut to the sleepover. What happened during that entire shift? Was it awkward? We never hear a thing about it.
-I was sad that Reid changed how he dressed after talking with Olivia, and Molly never affirmed him in wanting to wear what we wanted, which was one of the things she said she liked about him.
-This is more minor, but how old is Xavier?? They were talking about him like he was at least two, but he acted more like he was no older than a year and a half. This nagged at me as the mother of a two-year-old.
I love that this book takes place in the same universe as Simon and that we get to see some of the characters from that book. (Be aware of spoilers if you haven't read that one first!) I'm also very excited to see that Albertalli is writing a third book about these characters, or at least I assume so from the title Leah on the Offbeat just casually tucked into her book list at the end. You better believe I'm going to put a pre-hold on that one at the library just as soon as it's finished.
In conclusion: Well done, Becky Albertalli. You've solidified a spot as one of my favorite authors.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book, even if it wasn't perfect. Albertalli did a nice job of showing how diversity is just part of life and doesn't have to be a big thing when crafting a story. (Also, when a character is white, she says that they're white. Everyone does not get to be white unless otherwise specified.) The characters still have to deal with crap (a homophobic sister, a racist and fat-shaming grandmother, taking daily anxiety medication) without it being the focus of the story. We get a happy love story, just like in Simon, but the larger story is really about Molly and her sister and how we deal with change in our closest relationships. Even though we didn't have texting when I was in high school, we did have IM, so I could relate to Molly's anxieties and thrills about text-based communication/flirting, and her habit of overthinking was also very relatable. But like I said above, in a way where I felt fondness for my younger self, not embarrassment.
What would I have changed?
-Sometimes the scenes cut too early. Like, we get a play-by-play of Molly taking a walk with Reid and being very aware of where her hands are and every pause in their conversation, and then he asks her to come work a shift with him, and then he gets invited to their sleepover and we immediately cut to the sleepover. What happened during that entire shift? Was it awkward? We never hear a thing about it.
-I was sad that Reid changed how he dressed after talking with Olivia, and Molly never affirmed him in wanting to wear what we wanted, which was one of the things she said she liked about him.
-This is more minor, but how old is Xavier?? They were talking about him like he was at least two, but he acted more like he was no older than a year and a half. This nagged at me as the mother of a two-year-old.
I love that this book takes place in the same universe as Simon and that we get to see some of the characters from that book. (Be aware of spoilers if you haven't read that one first!) I'm also very excited to see that Albertalli is writing a third book about these characters, or at least I assume so from the title Leah on the Offbeat just casually tucked into her book list at the end. You better believe I'm going to put a pre-hold on that one at the library just as soon as it's finished.
In conclusion: Well done, Becky Albertalli. You've solidified a spot as one of my favorite authors.
Every once in a while you come across a book that you just can't put down. But you do. You put it down because you never want it to end. This was the Upside Of Unrequited. I could have easily read this in one sitting, but I found myself stopping, putting it down for a couple hours, reading a couple more pages, putting it down, etc. This book was so incredibly stunning. I don't even know where to begin.
The Story Line
Molly and Cassie are twins. Twins with such a strong relationship. However, these twins are so innately different in every single way. The story is told from Molly's prospective. She is 17 years old, and has never had a boyfriend. She has, however, had twenty-six crushes. When Molly's twin sister Cassie gets a new girlfriend, a rift forms in the twin's relationship. Molly struggles with being her own person and finding a way to move past her own insecurities. Enter cute boys - Will and Reid. As for the rest of the story line, I will let you discover.
The Characters
Undoubtedly, the thing that sets this book apart from other YA contemporaries is it's authentic characters with such a wide range of diversity. We have Black, Asian, White, Gay, Straight, Pan-Sexual, Bi-Sexual. And what amazes me is how effortlessly the diversity was woven into the story line. It didn't feel forced. A lot of times in other novels, you get the vibe that an author just really wants to put in diverse characters just for the sake of having diverse characters. At times it can feel so forced and disingenuous. But Becky Albertalli wove in these unique and diverse characters so seamlessly, you almost don't even notice it. But you do. And it is beautiful.
Final Thoughts
The Upside of Unrequited is a book everyone needs to experience. There were so many laugh out loud moments. I felt like I was in high school, right there with these characters. So rarely do I read a YA book where I literally have nothing but good things to say. Everything in this book was so purposeful. Every single line in this book was so authentic. If I could rate this book higher, I would. Becky Albertalli knocked it out of the park with this one guys. Do yourself a favor. Pick up a copy when it comes out in April.
The Story Line
Molly and Cassie are twins. Twins with such a strong relationship. However, these twins are so innately different in every single way. The story is told from Molly's prospective. She is 17 years old, and has never had a boyfriend. She has, however, had twenty-six crushes. When Molly's twin sister Cassie gets a new girlfriend, a rift forms in the twin's relationship. Molly struggles with being her own person and finding a way to move past her own insecurities. Enter cute boys - Will and Reid. As for the rest of the story line, I will let you discover.
The Characters
Undoubtedly, the thing that sets this book apart from other YA contemporaries is it's authentic characters with such a wide range of diversity. We have Black, Asian, White, Gay, Straight, Pan-Sexual, Bi-Sexual. And what amazes me is how effortlessly the diversity was woven into the story line. It didn't feel forced. A lot of times in other novels, you get the vibe that an author just really wants to put in diverse characters just for the sake of having diverse characters. At times it can feel so forced and disingenuous. But Becky Albertalli wove in these unique and diverse characters so seamlessly, you almost don't even notice it. But you do. And it is beautiful.
Final Thoughts
The Upside of Unrequited is a book everyone needs to experience. There were so many laugh out loud moments. I felt like I was in high school, right there with these characters. So rarely do I read a YA book where I literally have nothing but good things to say. Everything in this book was so purposeful. Every single line in this book was so authentic. If I could rate this book higher, I would. Becky Albertalli knocked it out of the park with this one guys. Do yourself a favor. Pick up a copy when it comes out in April.
I'd say 4.5 is more accurate.
I felt myself really relating to Molly in a lot of ways. And it sometimes hit me harder than I thought it did.
I enjoyed most, if not all of the characters and how diverse they were. In both sexualities, looks, but also behaviors. The multiple main themes that were the core of this story were nice and well explored without them being in your face.
I really liked the self reflection Molly did, and that last chapter was just perfection.
I simply adore the way Albertalli writes young adults. Her characters resemble actual teens so much more than most books I've read. While I enjoy other books and the stories, what really pulls me into Albertalli's book - regardless of how much I like the plot - are the characters.
I'd say that plot wise the book was less strong for me than Simon VS, or Leah on the off Beat. Still, that does not take away from the fact that I would recommend this to any teen or young adult.
I felt myself really relating to Molly in a lot of ways. And it sometimes hit me harder than I thought it did.
I enjoyed most, if not all of the characters and how diverse they were. In both sexualities, looks, but also behaviors. The multiple main themes that were the core of this story were nice and well explored without them being in your face.
I really liked the self reflection Molly did, and that last chapter was just perfection.
I simply adore the way Albertalli writes young adults. Her characters resemble actual teens so much more than most books I've read. While I enjoy other books and the stories, what really pulls me into Albertalli's book - regardless of how much I like the plot - are the characters.
I'd say that plot wise the book was less strong for me than Simon VS, or Leah on the off Beat. Still, that does not take away from the fact that I would recommend this to any teen or young adult.
This was a disappointment. I read this for a YA book club, and I'm worried about explaining why I didn't like it, when the majority of people on this site seem to love it.
It made me uncomfortable. It starts off with Molly, our main character, meeting a girl in a bathroom and having a hilarious and really cute interaction with her. I thought it was flirting. When she gets back, her friend and sister pester her about having a "girl crush", which set me up to think that Molly and this bathroom girl would end up together in the end after a whole bunch of cute hijinks.
But no. Molly's lesbian sister, Cassie steals the girl away, without even letting Molly get to know her, and then forces Molly to get with one of Mina (the cute girl, who happens to be pansexual!!!) straight male friends. It's just... queerbaiting as.
This book seems to shout "LOOK HOW DIVERSE I AM!" because it has people of colour, and queer people, and people with disabilities (Molly takes Zoloft for her anxiety which is one of the few things that I loved about this novel) and Molly is also fat (which I also loved, because fat people are people too, and they deserve love stories, too!). But this doesn't feel like much of a diverse book when the main character and her two love interests are typical straight white hipsters and it's the side characters who are diverse. It feels like this book wasn't written for a queer girl like me, but for a straight ally to talk about how intersectional they are for reading a book where the diversity is less important than the straight whiteness.
This was just not for me, and that upsets me, because I REALLY wanted to like it.
It made me uncomfortable. It starts off with Molly, our main character, meeting a girl in a bathroom and having a hilarious and really cute interaction with her. I thought it was flirting. When she gets back, her friend and sister pester her about having a "girl crush", which set me up to think that Molly and this bathroom girl would end up together in the end after a whole bunch of cute hijinks.
But no. Molly's lesbian sister, Cassie steals the girl away, without even letting Molly get to know her, and then forces Molly to get with one of Mina (the cute girl, who happens to be pansexual!!!) straight male friends. It's just... queerbaiting as.
This book seems to shout "LOOK HOW DIVERSE I AM!" because it has people of colour, and queer people, and people with disabilities (Molly takes Zoloft for her anxiety which is one of the few things that I loved about this novel) and Molly is also fat (which I also loved, because fat people are people too, and they deserve love stories, too!). But this doesn't feel like much of a diverse book when the main character and her two love interests are typical straight white hipsters and it's the side characters who are diverse. It feels like this book wasn't written for a queer girl like me, but for a straight ally to talk about how intersectional they are for reading a book where the diversity is less important than the straight whiteness.
This was just not for me, and that upsets me, because I REALLY wanted to like it.
2 1/2 rounded up.
it was a super easy read but wasn't that into the story. main character was really whiny
it was a super easy read but wasn't that into the story. main character was really whiny
The Upside of Unrequited follows twin sisters, one named Molly who's a plus-sized gal and the other named Cassie who's a Lesbian. So Cassie has snagged herself a girlfriend, so Molly's feeling a tad left out at the moment. It's also worth mentioning that Molly has never even kissed anyone and she's hoping at soon, she'll have the opportunity to enjoy that first kiss.
Now Molly's girlfriend Mina has a friend named Will who's kind of a cool hipster guy and Molly's starting to wonder whether she could win Will over. At the same time, Molly begins to realize her growing attraction for her coworker, Reid.
I quite enjoyed this story. It was sweet and endearing, with plenty of diversity and likable characters. I also loved all the representation in the book: the main character is plus-sized, her sister is a Lesbian as are their two moms, and there was a pansexual character as well.
The Upside of Unrequited is basically a fluffy romance of the "should I choose him or him?" variety so not really a lot of depth to it. Still, a fun novel if you're in the mood for a light contemporary romance with diverse characters.
Now Molly's girlfriend Mina has a friend named Will who's kind of a cool hipster guy and Molly's starting to wonder whether she could win Will over. At the same time, Molly begins to realize her growing attraction for her coworker, Reid.
I quite enjoyed this story. It was sweet and endearing, with plenty of diversity and likable characters. I also loved all the representation in the book: the main character is plus-sized, her sister is a Lesbian as are their two moms, and there was a pansexual character as well.
The Upside of Unrequited is basically a fluffy romance of the "should I choose him or him?" variety so not really a lot of depth to it. Still, a fun novel if you're in the mood for a light contemporary romance with diverse characters.
It is really, really refreshing to read such queer-normative fiction. And parts of Molly's character hit really, really close to home for me. But this book just didn't click with me like Albertalli's other books did. I loved a lot of elements in this, but the first third or so felt kind of forced, and it felt like some threads and characters were dropped toward the end.