Reviews - It's Not Like It's a Secret

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1.09k reviews for:

It's Not Like It's a Secret

Misa Sugiura

3.4 AVERAGE

naturally_caffeinated_reader's review against another edition

3.0

Good book, seemed too wordy to me felt like it could've been a bit shorter. Like the messages in here and how characters overcame them

skk111321's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one sitting (I even took it into that bathroom with me!!) and I can’t remember the last time I did that. I haven’t read many books (will be changing that!!) where there is a Japanese main character, so I loved getting this glimpse into the life of Sana and her family dynamics. Even though I mainly bought this book for the YA version of a wlw romance, Sugiura brought in so many other topics that I wish more YA books tackled. Racism between POC as well as between friends, being unsure about your sexuality, adultery and more. I seriously could not get enough of Sana and Jamie’s love story, that was my only criticism is that we didn’t get more. Which really isn’t even one since I would have read 400 more pages if they existed! Can’t wait to read more of Sugiura’s work!

tayresendes's review against another edition

1.0

I have tried to read this book twice in the past year. The first time, I couldn’t even get past chapter 3. The second time I was forcing myself to get through the book.

This book was a mismatch of multiple topics that didn’t mesh well together.

Sana was interesting for the first portion of the book, typically YA and teenager thoughts. It was cute reading about her crush and navigating high school.
Once Sana settles down, the book gets dry. It’s like the author knew the book was going to be boring and tried to throw in random conflict to add interest - I’m talking about you random racial profiling scene - which doesn’t progress the characters or storyline in anyway. I won’t lie, the storyline relating to her family is very interesting, but there’s a lot along the way that takes away from the romance and family life which should have been the main focus and developed further.

wilermine's review against another edition

5.0

I gave this book 5 stars, which is a very rare occurrence. I didn't give it 5 stars because I believe this is the best book every written or anything like that but because this book did exactly what it needed to do which is also a very rare occurrence. There was so much I could relate to, the characters acted like my friends, Sana acted like me and her problems resembled my own. It's kind of scary actually how much I related to it, there are so many aspects of Sana's life that looked exactly like my own. It was a fun and easy read and didn't try to be faux-deep or anything but at the same time it definitely wasn't shallow. It was the type of book that, after you read it, you smile and move on with your day but the lessons stick inside with you whether you like it or not :)

sarahtonin_bby's review against another edition

3.5

i liked a lot about this novel but the ending felt a LOT like the ending of boy meets boy by david leviathan. like shockingly similar. i felt like the characters were all very really and understandable, which i think is the books biggest strength.

marahz's review against another edition

3.0

i liked this book. did not love, but it was pleasant. i like misa sugiura’s second book much better, but i’m not sure if that’s because she had more experience at that point or if the story was just more interesting to me.

however, this book raises a question in my head. is it okay to be a type writer (not a typewriter, a type writer)? i think it’s okay to be a type actor. some people’s physical feature just are more stereotypical to a certain personality, so they mostly get cast as that. although, only writing the similar stories with very similar progressions, is that okay? is it lazy? i’m not sure. i have no room to talk because i definitely am a type writer, but that’s from lack of experience. you’d think a published author would have the ability for more variety. sugiura is BY FAR not the worst with this, though. miles away from the worst. plus, her books are still quite enjoyable (unlike sarah dessen who is very guilty of type writing).

perhaps, i’m looking too far into this. people usually just write a mix of what they enjoy and what they can get good money for. misa sugiura has found that, i think. meaningful topics that are personal, but also are within the genre that ya readers just eat up. i can admire that.