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fabell6's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wish I had something like this to read when I was a teen. It handled the topics of religion, sex, friendship, family, romance, race—so many things—in such a respectful and honest way while still being funny, entertaining, relatable, and believably from a teen perspective. It felt affirming to read, as if I could have a sense of closure and healing for my childhood wounds through Monique’s coming of age story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Cursing, and Chronic illness
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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: Medical content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Sexism
Minor: Racism, Ableism, and Alcohol
lmcarr0314's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
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
4.0
I enjoyed this book, One because it showed a lot of what some people go through in the heart of the south especially in bible country. Inadequate sex-ed leads to a whole different problem in itself. This book tackles a lot of different topics, and I believe it has done it well.
This book was thoughtfully laid out and made the experience of reading it a lot less hard, but also super insightful into what felt like a similar teenage mind to many.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol
psistillreadyou's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-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: Sexism
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Medical content
marns20_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Funny, wholesome and cute, whilst touching on deeper topics around sexuality, body image and consent. Essential read for any young girl, honestly wish i had read this when i was a teen. Another great read by Joya Goffney, i love her writing style, how she uses pop culture references and slang that i can identify with it just makes the characters more relatable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Misogyny
Minor: Cursing, Body shaming, and Sexism
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
At 17% and every thought Monique has expressed has been about how to let this boy into her pants. I appreciate the awareness being brought to her condition and the commentary on sexism/purity culture but wow her parents suck. Her dad is a grown man so deeply invested in perfection that he’s third wheeling a teenage romance. Her mom is holding her to an impossible standard and masking it with false empowerment language. Their daughter and the resident “bad boy” are disposable in every sense of the word to them and I want to bet Dom never gets what’s coming to him for being such an asshole. Nope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Growing up as a preacher’s daughter, 17 year old Monique, was taught absolutely nothing about sex other than that she should wait until she is married. If Dom, her boyfriend of 2 years, is the man she’s going to marry she feels like there no point in waiting. But after numerous failed attempts at completing the act, Dom breaks up with her. Heartbroken Monique tries to get to the bottom line of “what’s wrong with her” and maybe she’ll be able to win him back. With the help of 2 unlikely people, she finds about the reason why having sex with Dom had been so difficult for her. Will it be enough to win him back or will she even want to be with him anymore after her revelation?
I am so happy that the youth of today have so many diverse YA books that they can relate to. This story shows everything that can go wrong when you use religion to shield your children from the real world instead of being transparent and honest with them. This goes on in a lot of religious households including my own. Not as bad as Monique but I was still so uninformed all the same. As parents, we have to be open and honest with our children and trust that they hold onto the values we instill within them. Monique’s mother comes off as harsh and somewhat unloving in the beginning and all because she doesn’t want her daughter to make the same mistakes she did. But in the end, she realized that she’s failed her daughter by not talking to her about her past at all. <SPOILER>And let’s not get on them just up and ready to throw out their children over very petty and small disagreements. Like WTH! I wanted to throw my phone while listening to the audiobook lol. Parents have to stop trying to make their children live a certain life or live their life over through them. They are their own human beings and allowed to live their own life as they see fit.
This is a heart-wrenching coming of age story filled with difficult family dynamics, sexual liberation, and an unexpected love triangle. I would recommend this book to all the young ladies in my life to allow them to go on the journey with Monique of finding out that you are more than just your body and that you are enough just as you are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol
jodierose14's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Racism
Minor: Classism