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the_true_monroe's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racism
somnolentflower's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
4.75
might actually be my favorite book now, despite me saying this for a lot of new books i read. but seriously this was a really good book!!
i really liked the diversity of the characters and how when i read, they seemed to come to life. it was a realistic situation, how ophelia was scared of coming out to her friends and family to avoid shattering their image of a boy-crazy girl. it was relatable to a certain degree given that i am also a queer teenager that hasnt properly figured out labels.
my favorite character is definitely wesley. he is just a generally very lovable character, although i will admit i disliked him at the beginning. he kind of is like a precious cinnamon roll! i dont really know exactly why i love him, but he seems like the kind of person i would desperately want to be acquainted with.
a character that i mildly dislike is lindsay. shes one of those people that i would avoid being associated with, but thats just a personal opinion.im not over her telling only ophelia and agatha about having no interest in the boys after graduating, also that she jumped to conclusions so fast, but it was all resolved in the end so 🤷🏻‍♀️.
they really are just fictional people and a fictional plot, but it’s a lot like reality tbh
i have yapped for too long and i should stop procrastinating my assignments, but i absolutely love this book and would absolutely recommend reading this!!
i really liked the diversity of the characters and how when i read, they seemed to come to life. it was a realistic situation, how ophelia was scared of coming out to her friends and family to avoid shattering their image of a boy-crazy girl. it was relatable to a certain degree given that i am also a queer teenager that hasnt properly figured out labels.
my favorite character is definitely wesley. he is just a generally very lovable character, although i will admit i disliked him at the beginning. he kind of is like a precious cinnamon roll! i dont really know exactly why i love him, but he seems like the kind of person i would desperately want to be acquainted with.
a character that i mildly dislike is lindsay. shes one of those people that i would avoid being associated with, but thats just a personal opinion.
they really are just fictional people and a fictional plot, but it’s a lot like reality tbh
i have yapped for too long and i should stop procrastinating my assignments, but i absolutely love this book and would absolutely recommend reading this!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
mayareadsxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Cursing
a_sleepy_berry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Cursing, and Homophobia
amberinpieces'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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Biphobia, Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Racism
shelvesofivy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I already expected to be touched by this one, but by even about 15% in, I knew I'd need to get a physical copy for myself as well (since I borrowed the audiobook).
As someone who discovered their queerness later, I found myself so connected to Ophelia even though I'm past high school myself. This is, at its core, a coming of age story. It's the type of book I needed as a teenager, but it still holds weight reading it as an adult.
The main cast of characters are all so messy and real, and they're allowed to be because they're teenagers. That said, I found myself getting stressed out and frustrated by around the 60% mark due to things that could have been solved in a single conversation, but dragged on until the end. I don't think it retracts from the book itself because, like I mentioned, these are teenagers (and parents) making sometimes stupid decisions. It just retracted from my own enjoyment slightly.
I was also originally kind of upset once I realized thatOphelia wouldn't end up with Thalia. (Being a hopeless romantic is another way I closely related to Ophelia lol) Ultimately though, I liked that the story went this direction instead because not only does it put the focus back on Ophelia's other relationships with friends, family, and self, but it gives a very intentional message that momentary heartbreak doesn't have to define a lifetime. I think that Ophelia not ending up with her queer awakening makes this even stronger as a coming of age story.
I also have to say, I adored the ending when Ophelia finds herself attracted to another girl and being happy with it. The hopeless romantic in me wants to see how that crush develops as well, but I think it was still a very satisfying ending.
Ophelia and her story will definitely stick with me for a long long time, and even if I never give it a full reread, I can definitely see myself revisiting certain scenes and quotes for comfort ♡
As someone who discovered their queerness later, I found myself so connected to Ophelia even though I'm past high school myself. This is, at its core, a coming of age story. It's the type of book I needed as a teenager, but it still holds weight reading it as an adult.
The main cast of characters are all so messy and real, and they're allowed to be because they're teenagers. That said, I found myself getting stressed out and frustrated by around the 60% mark due to things that could have been solved in a single conversation, but dragged on until the end. I don't think it retracts from the book itself because, like I mentioned, these are teenagers (and parents) making sometimes stupid decisions. It just retracted from my own enjoyment slightly.
I was also originally kind of upset once I realized that
I also have to say, I adored the ending when Ophelia finds herself attracted to another girl and being happy with it. The hopeless romantic in me wants to see how that crush develops as well, but I think it was still a very satisfying ending.
Ophelia and her story will definitely stick with me for a long long time, and even if I never give it a full reread, I can definitely see myself revisiting certain scenes and quotes for comfort ♡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Biphobia, and Cursing
Minor: Outing
one non-consensual kissnatashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Cursing, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, Outing, and Misogyny
Minor: Toxic friendship and Sexual content
vaniavela's review
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Ophelia, a botany-loving girl who is known to her parents and friends as a "boy-crazy" girl, embarks on a journey to question her sexuality during her last time in high school.
I love stories written in first person POV. Being in a character's head , reading their feelings and thoughts, is an amazing experience. And this book managed to capture that in a great way.
I liked the realism of her fears. How she fears change, and that the world around her will change the way they see her, treating her differently.
I liked the group of friends. They all have realistic flaws and attitudes, especially as teenagers about to graduate. I loved getting to know about them and their backgrounds; they weren't just put there for the plot, they were three dimensional.
I also love the ending; we weren't given a typical ending where the main character has a certainty of who who they are and is happily ever after. It shows us that she is still on her journey of learning about herself, and that we are valid even with uncertainty and doubt.
The comment about the labels, was also a good element. I loved the mention of how it was not necessary to label oneself in one thing. Also, the mention of how biromantic or bisexual identities are often erased in straight-looking relationships, was appreciated. These issues were handled with great care and made me love this book even more.
It is a beautiful, gorgeous book.
Rep: Biracial Cuban queer-questioning female MC, Korean-American biromantic asexual male SC, Black Puerto-Rican bisexual female SC, Pakistani Muslim queer-questioning male SC, Fat Black aromantic female SC, Black pansexual male SC.
CWs: Homophobia, lesbophobia, racism, cursing. Moderate: Biphobia, sexism, outing, toxic friendship. Minor: Islamophobia, alcohol consumption, drug use, acephobia, fatphobia.
I love stories written in first person POV. Being in a character's head , reading their feelings and thoughts, is an amazing experience. And this book managed to capture that in a great way.
I liked the realism of her fears. How she fears change, and that the world around her will change the way they see her, treating her differently.
I liked the group of friends. They all have realistic flaws and attitudes, especially as teenagers about to graduate. I loved getting to know about them and their backgrounds; they weren't just put there for the plot, they were three dimensional.
I also love the ending; we weren't given a typical ending where the main character has a certainty of who who they are and is happily ever after. It shows us that she is still on her journey of learning about herself, and that we are valid even with uncertainty and doubt.
The comment about the labels, was also a good element. I loved the mention of how it was not necessary to label oneself in one thing. Also, the mention of how biromantic or bisexual identities are often erased in straight-looking relationships, was appreciated. These issues were handled with great care and made me love this book even more.
It is a beautiful, gorgeous book.
Rep: Biracial Cuban queer-questioning female MC, Korean-American biromantic asexual male SC, Black Puerto-Rican bisexual female SC, Pakistani Muslim queer-questioning male SC, Fat Black aromantic female SC, Black pansexual male SC.
CWs: Homophobia, lesbophobia, racism, cursing. Moderate: Biphobia, sexism, outing, toxic friendship. Minor: Islamophobia, alcohol consumption, drug use, acephobia, fatphobia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Outing, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Islamophobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Drug use
luananki's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
i don’t know how to put into words that i absolutely love this book. there wasn’t a single page i didn’t fall in love with. i did not want the story to end.
there is so much representation and not only queer representation but also the struggle of being an interracial child, i related to ophelia a lot. her not being able to open up and basically pushing everyone away even though she clearly needed someone to talk to and her being scared of destroying the “perfect” imagery her friends and family created of her in their heads and her feeling like she doesn’t truly belong with any culture. i get her, on almost every level.
wes is (like the author mentions in the acknowledgments) a precious cinnamon roll. i’m so glad he became friends with ophelia and supported her even though they didn’t even really know each other in the beginning. he also sounds like a very comforting person to be around. the development of their relationship was one of the thinks i enjoyed the most throughout this book.
i had fun with every single character. their friend group made so much sense. all of them felt real because they all had their own ongoing struggles and flaws to deal with. the emphasis on healthy communication, saying sorry and that queer relationships are about more than having sex, as well as friendship and that no relationship is more important than the other make me so happy.
sammie and agatha are amazing and also lindsay (i appreciate the relationship between her and ophelia so much, it’s sort of painful but also very real) and o’s parents and the youth center and the unexpected aro and ace representation - loved it
i was expecting it to be a full on romance book but i’m even happier it turned out the way it did. the ending fits the story perfectly.
this was a treat in so many ways. i wish i had this when i was younger.
i will hopefully come back to this one day and decide to reread because good queer latine representation is really something i need more of.
thank you racquel marie for writing this story and thank god for booktok for getting this on my fyp <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Cursing, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Biphobia
Minor: Mental illness, Alcohol, Acephobia/Arophobia, Islamophobia, Sexual content, and Drug use
trashboatwinter's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing, Biphobia, and Islamophobia