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seventhswan's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a fun, lighthearted read that I know I would have eaten up as a teen! It had the Casey McQuiston hallmarks of being very chaotic, full of side characters that were as well-developed as the MCs, and of course extremely gay. As McQuiston points out in the acknowledgements, it's important that LGBTQ teens have access to these kinds of stories, so I'm not bothered in the slightest that the plot was pretty predictable - and the writing was solid, anyway.
I didn't, though, enjoy this book as much as One Last Stop or Red, White and Royal Blue. Part of this is definitely that I'm not the target demographic for this story and found the high-school friendship dramas grating rather than relatable at this point in my life. Part of it was my frustration with Chloe, the main character - I liked just about every other character better, and found that she didn't get less annoying over the course of the book. And, sadly, part of it was that I feel parts of the plot were so unrealistic as to be dangerously hopeful. I wish it was possible to be nonbinary, date men, wear glitter eyeliner, and still get a full D1 scholarship for college football. I wish it was true that a group of LGBT students could effectively protest a homophobic Christian high school and have the support of the local press, and for the worst result of this to be some mean words and funny looks. Red, White and Royal Blue was just as unrealistic in this regard, but there are far fewer potential First Children in the world than ordinary queer teens in violently homophobic environments, and while the relentless optimism of this book was sweet, I don't feel able to fully endorse it.
I didn't, though, enjoy this book as much as One Last Stop or Red, White and Royal Blue. Part of this is definitely that I'm not the target demographic for this story and found the high-school friendship dramas grating rather than relatable at this point in my life. Part of it was my frustration with Chloe, the main character - I liked just about every other character better, and found that she didn't get less annoying over the course of the book. And, sadly, part of it was that I feel parts of the plot were so unrealistic as to be dangerously hopeful. I wish it was possible to be nonbinary, date men, wear glitter eyeliner, and still get a full D1 scholarship for college football. I wish it was true that a group of LGBT students could effectively protest a homophobic Christian high school and have the support of the local press, and for the worst result of this to be some mean words and funny looks. Red, White and Royal Blue was just as unrealistic in this regard, but there are far fewer potential First Children in the world than ordinary queer teens in violently homophobic environments, and while the relentless optimism of this book was sweet, I don't feel able to fully endorse it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism
luxxltyd's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Biphobia
jojothefool's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
If Kasey McQuiston has a million fans, I’m one of them. If she has one fan, it’s me. If she has zero fans, I’M DEAD.
Found all the characters super lovable despite their flaws. Thought Chloe was just SUCH a teenager but in a very relatable and admirable way. There book has a good balance of like accepting yourself and being open to growth and recognizing everyone’s coming out and coming of age stories are very different. Just a really fun silly time with like a genuinely interesting mini mystery throughout.
Found all the characters super lovable despite their flaws. Thought Chloe was just SUCH a teenager but in a very relatable and admirable way. There book has a good balance of like accepting yourself and being open to growth and recognizing everyone’s coming out and coming of age stories are very different. Just a really fun silly time with like a genuinely interesting mini mystery throughout.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Lots of religion based internalized homophobia but not from our main characterkeayra_'s review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
I am completely shocked how by the end I became a Smith Stan!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
margaretwaltemath09's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
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 really loved the book. Im glad about the ending and there was a lot of turn of events. It was a great book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexism and Cursing
Minor: Classism, Bullying, Outing, and Gaslighting
gabthebookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Racism
joensign's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism and Outing
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Racism and Bullying
wheremyproseat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry
literarypenguin's review against another edition
funny
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
I have read two books from Casey McQuiston and all of them I have loved for a variety of reasons. This book is now a part of my love for her writing and her story telling! This has so much queer joy and acceptance of oneself inside it's pages.
The characters in this book were all so well developed and each one was so likeable. Chloe was proud of who she was and bold in her words and actions. Shara was seen as the perfect girl in school but later on she was found to be hiding many more secrets then she let on. Smith was an athlete and Shara's ex boyfriend who was much more then he first appears and Rory was the school's bad boy who secretly has a big heart with a love for music. All of these characters followed a theme, that not everybody is as they seem. That you can't judge a person by who they are on the outside without finding out what they are like on the inside first.
The romance like the romances in her other books was very well done and sweet. I loved how Chloe and Shara realized that instead of hating each other they might have been developing feeling for each other for as long as they have known the other. That on one hand Chloe wasn't ashamed of being bisexual while Shara had to hide her feelings because of who her parents were in the community. My favorite romance in the book was Smith and Rory, who were friends as children but grew apart only to rekindle their friendship. Later they realized they had feelings for each other and have had them for most of their friendship.
The central themes of acceptance and how religion can affect people is portrayed well. I love how Chloe organizes an event where people can just be who they are without prejudice. Also how she has to learn that not everyone had an easy time coming out like she did and she has to put her own judgements on other people aside too. The effect of religion in some small towns is strong and sadly most young people have to hide themselves or find some way to be who they are without people knowing. It is something I hope one day that can be gotten rid of.
I enjoyed this book and I hope that the next book Casey comes out with is just as good as this or better then some she has already written.
The characters in this book were all so well developed and each one was so likeable. Chloe was proud of who she was and bold in her words and actions. Shara was seen as the perfect girl in school but later on she was found to be hiding many more secrets then she let on. Smith was an athlete and Shara's ex boyfriend who was much more then he first appears and Rory was the school's bad boy who secretly has a big heart with a love for music. All of these characters followed a theme, that not everybody is as they seem. That you can't judge a person by who they are on the outside without finding out what they are like on the inside first.
The romance like the romances in her other books was very well done and sweet. I loved how Chloe and Shara realized that instead of hating each other they might have been developing feeling for each other for as long as they have known the other. That on one hand Chloe wasn't ashamed of being bisexual while Shara had to hide her feelings because of who her parents were in the community. My favorite romance in the book was Smith and Rory, who were friends as children but grew apart only to rekindle their friendship. Later they realized they had feelings for each other and have had them for most of their friendship.
The central themes of acceptance and how religion can affect people is portrayed well. I love how Chloe organizes an event where people can just be who they are without prejudice. Also how she has to learn that not everyone had an easy time coming out like she did and she has to put her own judgements on other people aside too. The effect of religion in some small towns is strong and sadly most young people have to hide themselves or find some way to be who they are without people knowing. It is something I hope one day that can be gotten rid of.
I enjoyed this book and I hope that the next book Casey comes out with is just as good as this or better then some she has already written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Racism