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tanaraynor's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Wait why was this so cute and FUN and GAYYYY??!!? Absolutely loved everything about this academic enemies to gay lovers. Phenomenal.
nikex36's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
maggiesasha's review against another edition
3.0
Would make a great movie. Kinda goofy and silly but cute.
lyakimov's review against another edition
2.0
I have tried so hard to get into Casey McQuiston but I just can’t do it. I don’t like her writing style or her plots at all. The other book I’ve read by her was Red White and Royal Blue, which I strongly disliked for similar reasons that I disliked this book.
One thing that strongly bothered me is the insane amount of pop culture and social media references. It does not make the book timeless. It’s like, if I read this two years from now, I would be feeling like all the references are so cringey and out of date. I’m class of ‘21 and I feel like this is one of the most inaccurate depictions of Gen Z or class of ‘22 or whatever the hell this is supposed to be depicting. The “trendy teen dialogue” just blew me away. Maybe it’s because I went to a ghetto school and not a private school with rich kids, but it just feels so unrealistic it’s insane. Like, what regular person can relate to this? Where are these peoples jobs?? Nobody has a job but they have enough money to go out and eat and do stuff? I guess I just don’t know any people from a country club, so maybe this is accurate, who knows.
The next thing that annoyed me was the plot. The whole thing with being valedictorian was so ridiculous. The fact that Shara and Chloe were not depicted as incredibly miserable due to competing and obsessing about getting ONE POINT HIGHER than the other is insane. Those are the kinds of things that cause someone extreme misery and depression, hyperfixating on something that really won’t affect them at all in the future. No school cares if you are a valedictorian and why would you drive yourself insane to get as close to 100% as possible in each class when it won’t do anything for you at all? The necessity of getting valedictorian was unexplained because it is completely irrelevant and it doesn’t seem like any other reason to get it other than giving Shara and Chloe a way to one-up each other.
My other issue with the plot was the whole obsession with Shara’s disappearance. There was absolutely no clear reason as to why Chloe kept going on this crazy scavenger hunt. All of it was just creepy obsession between Chloe and Shara and the relationship just seemed toxic as hell. All the relationships seem wayyyyy too underdeveloped and random. There were so many characters, and all of a sudden they all are randomly in love with each other!! And I couldn’t care less. Too many characters and too little character development and relationship development.
The last thing I wanted to discuss was the characters. All of the characters are extremely unlikable. Chloe’s friend group was so pretentious, always acting like they are so much better and more superior than everyone else. Like, relax, you’re rich private school theater kids. It’s not like you made the cure for cancer. I got so much High School Musical 1 vibes from this book. “Stick to the Status Quo” is shaking in its boots because this book is the EPITOME of high school stereotypes, and yes I know the whole point is to break the stereotypes but it was still ridiculous and close minded. Who even has jocks, geeks, etc like that in high school these days? How can Chloe’s friend group claim to be the most open-minded out of everyone and then simultaneously stereotype everyone else? And I love how nobody has ever talked about how you can do sports AND be extremely smart? The whole “dumb jock” thing is so ridiculous and it has always annoyed me. Multitasking exists. Okay, I’ve rambled on about this way too much.
I did like that the book made a point that you can still be religious and love your religion while also being LGBT or an ally. I think that was really important to note and appreciated that. I also liked that the book was easy to read & a very quick read.
One thing that strongly bothered me is the insane amount of pop culture and social media references. It does not make the book timeless. It’s like, if I read this two years from now, I would be feeling like all the references are so cringey and out of date. I’m class of ‘21 and I feel like this is one of the most inaccurate depictions of Gen Z or class of ‘22 or whatever the hell this is supposed to be depicting. The “trendy teen dialogue” just blew me away. Maybe it’s because I went to a ghetto school and not a private school with rich kids, but it just feels so unrealistic it’s insane. Like, what regular person can relate to this? Where are these peoples jobs?? Nobody has a job but they have enough money to go out and eat and do stuff? I guess I just don’t know any people from a country club, so maybe this is accurate, who knows.
The next thing that annoyed me was the plot. The whole thing with being valedictorian was so ridiculous. The fact that Shara and Chloe were not depicted as incredibly miserable due to competing and obsessing about getting ONE POINT HIGHER than the other is insane. Those are the kinds of things that cause someone extreme misery and depression, hyperfixating on something that really won’t affect them at all in the future. No school cares if you are a valedictorian and why would you drive yourself insane to get as close to 100% as possible in each class when it won’t do anything for you at all? The necessity of getting valedictorian was unexplained because it is completely irrelevant and it doesn’t seem like any other reason to get it other than giving Shara and Chloe a way to one-up each other.
My other issue with the plot was the whole obsession with Shara’s disappearance. There was absolutely no clear reason as to why Chloe kept going on this crazy scavenger hunt. All of it was just creepy obsession between Chloe and Shara and the relationship just seemed toxic as hell. All the relationships seem wayyyyy too underdeveloped and random. There were so many characters, and all of a sudden they all are randomly in love with each other!! And I couldn’t care less. Too many characters and too little character development and relationship development.
The last thing I wanted to discuss was the characters. All of the characters are extremely unlikable. Chloe’s friend group was so pretentious, always acting like they are so much better and more superior than everyone else. Like, relax, you’re rich private school theater kids. It’s not like you made the cure for cancer. I got so much High School Musical 1 vibes from this book. “Stick to the Status Quo” is shaking in its boots because this book is the EPITOME of high school stereotypes, and yes I know the whole point is to break the stereotypes but it was still ridiculous and close minded. Who even has jocks, geeks, etc like that in high school these days? How can Chloe’s friend group claim to be the most open-minded out of everyone and then simultaneously stereotype everyone else? And I love how nobody has ever talked about how you can do sports AND be extremely smart? The whole “dumb jock” thing is so ridiculous and it has always annoyed me. Multitasking exists. Okay, I’ve rambled on about this way too much.
I did like that the book made a point that you can still be religious and love your religion while also being LGBT or an ally. I think that was really important to note and appreciated that. I also liked that the book was easy to read & a very quick read.
natalie_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 been on my to read list for a long time bc I love everything else Casey mcquinston has written and this did not disappoint!! Addictive to read, surprising, and heart warming at times, a mystery an adventure what it’s like to grow up queer in the south and two absolutely crazy high school girls who just really care about their GPAs
fereldandoglords's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
wollstonecrafty's review against another edition
this was SO fun omg. mad at all the reviews i read that said it was mid; it was delightful!!
thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
5.0
Casey fucking McQuiston delivers again!!! I don't know how they do it every single time but holy shit man. This is the teen rom-com I wish I had when I was younger!
Also as always the side characters were solid gold. I love Rory and Smith with MY WHOLE DAMN HEART!!!!! Smith especially oh my god :') Oh and Ace!!! He is a golden retriever of a boy and it was delightful.
If you're into: enemies to lovers, academic rivalries, mysteries and clue solving, HIJINKS, and queer people coming into their own, then please pick this up!
#IndigoEmployee
Also as always the side characters were solid gold. I love Rory and Smith with MY WHOLE DAMN HEART!!!!! Smith especially oh my god :') Oh and Ace!!! He is a golden retriever of a boy and it was delightful.
If you're into: enemies to lovers, academic rivalries, mysteries and clue solving, HIJINKS, and queer people coming into their own, then please pick this up!
#IndigoEmployee
fantasig's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
emcmahe's review against another edition
5.0
Cried at the end, a beautiful book! I loved every character.