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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Negatives:
(Spoiler)
1. The second half of the novel Abby's name is mentioned so much, it was almost annoying at times.
2. Leah's personality was not by cup of tea (at times).
(Spoiler)
1. The second half of the novel Abby's name is mentioned so much, it was almost annoying at times.
2. Leah's personality was not by cup of tea (at times).
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
I've put off updating GoodReads that I'd even finished this for about two weeks because, honestly, what is there to say? There's only one thing I can say, actually. Leah On The Offbeat was a disappointment.
The first third was just Simon Vs. The Promposal, and the next third was Albertali having to do a lot of back-pedalling of what she'd set up in Simon, so Leah's love interest could no longer be perceived as 'aggressively heterosexual'.
I've seen lots of people getting excited about this because it's a book about a plus-size bisexual from a lower class background, but does it really cover any of those things? For about 50 pages cumulatively, maybe. The stand out scene for me was Leah andLorali from Gilmore Girls her mum in the changing room, and I wish this book had been full of that kind of thing.
I needed another 100 pages to develop the romance to fully get behind it, because I was so confused in the beginning where Leah and her LI stood. Were they friends? Frenemies? What happened between them in the time between Simon and this book? I liked where it was going but the mixed signals were crazy and Leah's opinions of bisexuality felt v. problematic, but I'm not the person you should listen to on that issue.
Also, I'm just going to go ahead and say it. I didn't like Leah as a person. Yeah, she was relatable with her pop culture references and teenagerisms, but she was horrible to her mum, Wells, and Garrett, and came off as pretty self-absorbed. It's her way or the highway on a lot of things. In general, this could have been fixed by stripping away the pop-culture loving facade so we could get to know her for real, and how she felt about poverty, body positivity, etc. I feel like after all that, I don't really know her.
Anyway, those are my ramblings. Glad to finally have that off my chest,
The first third was just Simon Vs. The Promposal, and the next third was Albertali having to do a lot of back-pedalling of what she'd set up in Simon, so Leah's love interest could no longer be perceived as 'aggressively heterosexual'.
I've seen lots of people getting excited about this because it's a book about a plus-size bisexual from a lower class background, but does it really cover any of those things? For about 50 pages cumulatively, maybe. The stand out scene for me was Leah and
I needed another 100 pages to develop the romance to fully get behind it, because I was so confused in the beginning where Leah and her LI stood. Were they friends? Frenemies? What happened between them in the time between Simon and this book? I liked where it was going but the mixed signals were crazy and Leah's opinions of bisexuality felt v. problematic, but I'm not the person you should listen to on that issue.
Also, I'm just going to go ahead and say it. I didn't like Leah as a person. Yeah, she was relatable with her pop culture references and teenagerisms, but she was horrible to her mum, Wells, and Garrett, and came off as pretty self-absorbed. It's her way or the highway on a lot of things. In general, this could have been fixed by stripping away the pop-culture loving facade so we could get to know her for real, and how she felt about poverty, body positivity, etc. I feel like after all that, I don't really know her.
Anyway, those are my ramblings. Glad to finally have that off my chest,
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Love the main character. Felt the story was a bit cliche and dragged in spots, but I think the strength of the character carries the plot deficiencies.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I can't even with all the drama and anguish in this book. I'm actually reasonably angry that this book centered on the chasing-a-straight-girl plot that populates so much of queer women's cultural texts. I'm glad Becky Albertalli gave us a bi character, but not at the expense of nuance or the integrity of her world in the previous book.
I blazed through this book. Really enjoyed re-visiting the world of "Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda," except from a different character's POV. I have no predictions on whether Albertalli will go back for a third time, but if she does, I'll read it.
hopeful
lighthearted
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