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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Actual 2.5 stars.
This book was just ok. I wasn't super thrilled with the storyline and it just wasn't that gripping, even as a contemporary goes. I have read other contemporaries lately that I felt drawn into a little more.
I really did enjoy the intersectionality of the main character and felt that it gave much needed representation: she was Asian and lesbian. I also liked the fact that this book touched on bigger issues, such as racism and racial profiling, which makes it a read that is more than just a story. It's a statement.
READ MY FULL REVIEW ON FRAYED BOOKS: https://frayedbooks.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/review-not-like-its-a-secret/amp/
This book was just ok. I wasn't super thrilled with the storyline and it just wasn't that gripping, even as a contemporary goes. I have read other contemporaries lately that I felt drawn into a little more.
I really did enjoy the intersectionality of the main character and felt that it gave much needed representation: she was Asian and lesbian. I also liked the fact that this book touched on bigger issues, such as racism and racial profiling, which makes it a read that is more than just a story. It's a statement.
READ MY FULL REVIEW ON FRAYED BOOKS: https://frayedbooks.wordpress.com/2017/06/21/review-not-like-its-a-secret/amp/
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- contemporary young adult coming-of-age set in the SF Bay Area, California, told in first-person POV
- 16-year-old Sana moves to California from the midwest & begins to realize how much racism she used to let slide in her hometown
- Sana meets Jamie, a Latina queer teen, & finds herself torn between Jamie's Latinx friends & her new Asian American friends
- Sana also suspects her father of having an affair
- the way these topics is handled is a bit sloppy & frustrating; my least favorite book by Misa unfortunately
- cw: racism, homophobia, outing, infidelity, annoying ignorant ass kids lmaoooo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Outing
I love that there are more lesbian YA novels coming out now. And I really enjoyed the love story arc of the book (and the relationship between Sana and her mother). However, since the author touched on the topic of racism and prejudice between different groups of POC, she could have delved in a bit deeper. There were a few times where characters butted heads and it raised some questions but never really showed a change in how the person felt. It wasn't completely defensive behavior but it was a bit in that it never went back to the situations, they were kind of left with we had an argument and that's that.
Other than that gripe, it was a good YA novel. Pleasantly long and entertaining, light and endearing and centering around LGTB+ characters, without making that the main plot.
Other than that gripe, it was a good YA novel. Pleasantly long and entertaining, light and endearing and centering around LGTB+ characters, without making that the main plot.
3.5 stars! Not a fan of the romance or MC, but the other characters and issues faced were well written and complex.
I enjoyed this book and appreciated the exploration of the complicated racial dynamics between Asian-American and Latin@ communities, something not often portrayed in fiction. The conversations sounded like real teens talking, and I felt like all the friends were 3-dimensional and not just there to make a plot point. I appreciated the plot about Sana's dad and the resolution of it was interesting and unexpected.
The actual central romance was a little thin. It started off sweet but once they got together there didn't seem to be much substance.
The actual central romance was a little thin. It started off sweet but once they got together there didn't seem to be much substance.
reading this made me miss my mother so much. but yeah, loved it.
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes