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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to read this book as I've enjoyed Becky Albertalli’s joint projects and l love her solo work, so I was really intrigued and excited to see how this book was about. However, this book just didn’t work for me. I found it very long winded and very slow-paced.
This book has two points of views. The first one is Jamie Goldberg. He is cool with volunteering for his local state candidate as long as he is behind the scenes. There’s no way he’d ever knock-on doors to ask people for their votes . . . until he meets Maya. Maya Rehmen’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang with her, her summer trip is cancelled, her parents are separating, and her mother thinks the solution to all her problems is political canvassing with some awkward guy she hardly knows. Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural crush is another thing.
Okay, I'm going to try and start with what I liked about this book . . . Sophie, I wished we got more of her and the LBGT side of it and I just thought she was hilarious and so much better than the two main characters. I liked the awkward, flirting between Maya and Jamie but that was about it. I felt like the book could have explored more of the cross religion rather than the politics side of it. I find the UK government boring and stressful never mind the US government. I know the reasoning behind this book, but it just felt more of a political book with a bit of romance than a young adult romance book with a bit of politics. I felt like Gabe was a complete tool and I felt like they could have villainised him more or let him have a redemption arc which never happened.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential and it just never happened, it was very long winded with no sort of happy ending, but I just wanted more from this book that I never got.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and Racism
Moderate: Grief and Religious bigotry
annahamburger's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Police brutality and Genocide
erniedresser's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Islamophobia
Moderate: Grief
starrygoldeneyes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Racism, Homophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Cursing
gem114's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a PERFECT Valentine's read. Light and heartwarming, but still with an important message!
Jamie and Maya rekindle their childhood friendship the summer before their senior year of high school while canvassing for a state senate special election. Neither of them starts the summer wanting to knock on doors and talk to strangers, but as they grow to understand the stakes of local politics, they develop a passion for the cause, a comfort with campaigning, and possibly more. ;)
I could really relate to Jamie and Maya's passion for campaigning, actually DOING something to help make the world a better place. I hope and pray this book inspires more young people to learn about and get involved in local politics.
Jamie and Maya rekindle their childhood friendship the summer before their senior year of high school while canvassing for a state senate special election. Neither of them starts the summer wanting to knock on doors and talk to strangers, but as they grow to understand the stakes of local politics, they develop a passion for the cause, a comfort with campaigning, and possibly more. ;)
I could really relate to Jamie and Maya's passion for campaigning, actually DOING something to help make the world a better place. I hope and pray this book inspires more young people to learn about and get involved in local politics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Cursing, Grief, and Religious bigotry
pucksandpaperbacks's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Hands down a great young adult book and #ownvoices story. I've read Becky's other collaboration, What If It's Us and it wasn't my favorite. However, this is the best collaborative work I've read by Becky and cannot wait to pick up Aisha Saeed's work.
Jamie and Maya feel very much like teens in 2017. The subtle pop culture references to Fortnite, & Mario Bros games. The metaphor of Bowser vs the Koopa Troopas was brilliant.
They went above and beyond to even include clicking a message on iMessage and giving it a thumbs up. This is a novel that will show teens who are not eligible to vote because of their age that they can do something and make a change just like Jamie and Maya did. Stan culture references, I think went too far as Maya and her friend, Sarah mentioned they "stanned" Elmo... Could've been done in a different, more relevant way.
There's a nice balance of politics, family drama, and friendship issues as well as a slow burn romance aka a "slowmance".
I also really enjoyed how the book wrapped up it wasn't a happy ending which is what made it so realistic. . The book comes full circle at the end and the characters really grow.
Jamie and Maya feel very much like teens in 2017. The subtle pop culture references to Fortnite, & Mario Bros games. The metaphor of Bowser vs the Koopa Troopas was brilliant.
They went above and beyond to even include clicking a message on iMessage and giving it a thumbs up. This is a novel that will show teens who are not eligible to vote because of their age that they can do something and make a change just like Jamie and Maya did. Stan culture references, I think went too far as Maya and her friend, Sarah mentioned they "stanned" Elmo... Could've been done in a different, more relevant way.
There's a nice balance of politics, family drama, and friendship issues as well as a slow burn romance aka a "slowmance".
I also really enjoyed how the book wrapped up
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Grief, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Talk of Harry Potter - Jamie has two boxsets which Maya points out. There's also some Hogwarts house talk.
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