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graybulla's review
5.0
literally NO ONE is doing sapphic contemporary YA like leah johnson. no one!!!!
ajm2013's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
alexa_mariee's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
A heartfelt summer queer YA love story that is equally light hearted music festival fun but also tackles some heavy issues from grief over the loss of a parent to gun violence to sexual assault/victim blaming. I was so there for this book about female friendship and first love between two young Black teens set against the backdrop of a Woodstock esque Music festival. Highly recommended for fans of Leah Johnson's other books and great on audio.
CW: gun violence, death of a parent, sexual assault/abuse
CW: gun violence, death of a parent, sexual assault/abuse
ldyb's review against another edition
2.0
idk who wrote the second half of this book but it didn’t go well
readwithatlas's review
3.0
In this novel we follow Toni and Olivia with dual POVs throughout the span of 3 days at a music festival.
This was quite disappointing for me. There were many parts of this book that I enjoyed of course but there was also definitely a lot of room to expand. This being told within such a short amount of time definitely has a lot of impact on that. This also caused for insta love, one of my least favorite tropes, and it didn't really sell me on it.
I really liked day one and seeing how how the story was being set up but the other two were hard to connect to, same goes for the relationship.
Now onto the better aspects of this! This book is so important to queer poc, (more specifically black queers). These stories should be heard and boosted always.
The character development in this novel was definitely a highlight and seeing the self growth was so much fun.
Music is a huge part of my life so this being a "love letter to music" was a lovely aspect of the book.
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book but if you're a fan of instalove and want a quick sapphic summer read, definitely check it out!
Thank you to the Scholastic for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
3 stars.
—
guess who just got their first physical arc in the mail?! this is so exciting omg.
This was quite disappointing for me. There were many parts of this book that I enjoyed of course but there was also definitely a lot of room to expand. This being told within such a short amount of time definitely has a lot of impact on that. This also caused for insta love, one of my least favorite tropes, and it didn't really sell me on it.
I really liked day one and seeing how how the story was being set up but the other two were hard to connect to, same goes for the relationship.
Now onto the better aspects of this! This book is so important to queer poc, (more specifically black queers). These stories should be heard and boosted always.
The character development in this novel was definitely a highlight and seeing the self growth was so much fun.
Music is a huge part of my life so this being a "love letter to music" was a lovely aspect of the book.
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book but if you're a fan of instalove and want a quick sapphic summer read, definitely check it out!
Thank you to the Scholastic for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
3 stars.
—
guess who just got their first physical arc in the mail?! this is so exciting omg.
briannareadsbooks's review
DNF @ 18%. Just not connected to the writing, story line, and characters, and not a big fan of music festivals/singing plot lines that arent musicals lol. Just not for me rn!
lesbrary's review
4.0
This is an absorbing read that left my heart aching for Toni and Olivia (and Imani). I love how much depth there is to both characters and everyone’s interactions. This could easily have been a much simpler summer love story, and I would have enjoyed that too, but instead it felt much more messy and realistic. I appreciated Olivia’s journey to recognizing both her faults (and the damage they’ve caused) as well as her self-worth. I know I’m the last one on the Leah Johnson train, but let me just confirm what everyone’s been saying: she’s a star.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
shiloniz's review against another edition
5.0
I somehow love Leah Johnson's sophomore novel even more than her debut, which seemed like an impossibility. It's a love letter to black girls, to queer girls, to friendships and families we forge outside of blood. It's a love letter to music in all its forms: the way it heals us, gives us hope, breaks us, offers connection, resiliency, and unites us. Leah's book acknowledges the nightmares that wait for us, both inside and outside our own front doors and our own bodies, but it also shows us the myriad of ways that we can still reach for and find home in other people, places, and the way we choose to live our lives authentically. I just love this book so so much.