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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
nat_montego's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Outing, and Medical content
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
sophiesometimesreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was such a surprise. It did not go in the direction I thought it would at all, but it was excellent.
It was fun, educational, funny and emotional all at once and I really enjoyed my time with this book. I loved the exploration of sexuality and vaginismus aimed towards high schoolers, particularly those ingrained in church life, and I think this will be an important book for a lot of teenagers.
I loved Monique, and this was really a story of her coming of age and exploration of self, as opposed to the romance that I expected, though there is a bit of a romance plot in here too. I really liked that the romance wasn't the main focus in the book and we got a lot about Monique and her journey.
A wonderful story that I would recommend for a lot of people to read, particularly teenagers but not only teenagers.
It was fun, educational, funny and emotional all at once and I really enjoyed my time with this book. I loved the exploration of sexuality and vaginismus aimed towards high schoolers, particularly those ingrained in church life, and I think this will be an important book for a lot of teenagers.
I loved Monique, and this was really a story of her coming of age and exploration of self, as opposed to the romance that I expected, though there is a bit of a romance plot in here too. I really liked that the romance wasn't the main focus in the book and we got a lot about Monique and her journey.
A wonderful story that I would recommend for a lot of people to read, particularly teenagers but not only teenagers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
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
escapismforlife's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
I'm in love with the ease of how Joya Goffeny wrote this story. Every character is realistic in certain traits they have . Not to mention I read this knowing I was going to learn some things. But I mean even then, some of it was unexpected.
So as the main teen character, Monique, Or Mo for short, learned about her vaginismus I felt utter respect. Even though its YA and there were moments of lack of maturity on the MC and side characters, Reggie and Sasha decisions. In particular with Reggie, the wild and funny reform teen project for Mo's dad. But I'm okay with him as things were often hectic and upbeat. A necessary personality for a character in this type of setting to ease the things Mo faced. Also Sasha who if there was a next book I'd want to read from her point of view. She is everything and mature for how things unpack.
On to a more serious note since thats all my thought on the main characters trio.
Sometimes to firgure out sexual activity or concerns help comes in the most unexpected way. I mean the people in life who are seemingly the most religious. This storyline made it a reminder again that help comes in surprising moments. That and learning that not everyone can be trusted at first.
Anyways my emotions are wrecked into pieces. Then have rebuilt with new hope by the end of Mo's story. It was relatable in certain ways. But when it wasn't I felt genuine eagerness for Mo's self-discovery journey.
So as the main teen character, Monique, Or Mo for short, learned about her vaginismus I felt utter respect. Even though its YA and there were moments of lack of maturity on the MC and side characters, Reggie and Sasha decisions. In particular with Reggie, the wild and funny reform teen project for Mo's dad. But I'm okay with him as things were often hectic and upbeat. A necessary personality for a character in this type of setting to ease the things Mo faced. Also Sasha who if there was a next book I'd want to read from her point of view. She is everything and mature for how things unpack.
On to a more serious note since thats all my thought on the main characters trio.
Sometimes to firgure out sexual activity or concerns help comes in the most unexpected way. I mean the people in life who are seemingly the most religious. This storyline made it a reminder again that help comes in surprising moments. That and learning that not everyone can be trusted at first.
Anyways my emotions are wrecked into pieces. Then have rebuilt with new hope by the end of Mo's story. It was relatable in certain ways. But when it wasn't I felt genuine eagerness for Mo's self-discovery journey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Misogyny
alyrayj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While this book did feel a little bit too happily ever after for my tastes, it was one of the first times in a long long time that I have felt so seen and represented by a book. Vaginismus is so taboo to talk about and it is so important to talk about it. The author did an excellent job representing that experience, although it went kind of quick and, as I said, felt a little too happily ever after. But the religious side of that disorder is so very real and damaging. This is an important read for anyone within organized religion or purity culture. It does not shame the religion itself but provides the reader a framework for rethinking sex ed within that religious context.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content and Panic attacks/disorders
haley49's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I love Mo and her story. I related to a lot of aspects of her journey with self worth, fear of $€><, and an obligatory need to “be good”. I don’t say this often but this would make a good movie; particularly a coming of age movie. All the characters were fun with a sense of depth.
However, the adult characters of this story have messy characterization at best. They realize their mistakes way too quickly and are forgiven even faster. Monique shouldn’t be thanking her lucky stars for parents who take her to the doctor when she needs it. That is a necessity of parenting:/ I wish there was a better arc for her parents because the lack of deserved character development partially ruined my enjoyment
However, the adult characters of this story have messy characterization at best. They realize their mistakes way too quickly and are forgiven even faster. Monique shouldn’t be thanking her lucky stars for parents who take her to the doctor when she needs it. That is a necessity of parenting:/ I wish there was a better arc for her parents because the lack of deserved character development partially ruined my enjoyment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Outing, Cursing, and Death of parent