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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"i wish i had the kind of talent that emerged fully formed. i don't like people seeing me in progress. it's like stepping off a stage and finding out your underwear was showing."
the main character was painfully related but also at the same time equally annoying. this one was REALLY slow for my liking so i found it hard to get through it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
this book is a cute, fun, quick read and i like it for that. i don’t often read contemporary but this is definitely one of my comfort reads.
i don’t love the incessant pop culture references but i think this book is well written and brings ups some important issues for teenagers, like fatphobia, casual racism and stereotyping. all around a pretty good sweet book.
i don’t love the incessant pop culture references but i think this book is well written and brings ups some important issues for teenagers, like fatphobia, casual racism and stereotyping. all around a pretty good sweet book.
funny
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:
Complicated
I don't understand how Becky Albertalli has hit it out of the park for the third time in a row, but she has. Just wow. This is what I love about her:
-She reminds me what it was like to be in high school in a way that feels true but not painful. Like, yes, I remember being that dramatic, and I remember feeling like every other word and look had to be interpreted for meaning and how exhausting that was. I remember being the single person in a friend group of couples and feeling like I should like anyone who was interested in me, because what other options did I have? But she also captures the magic of being 18 and feeling like everything you did with your friends was epic and memorable because you were on the cusp of adulthood, and going out to eat together and having sleepovers and going to cast parties and on road trips. And that there's something magical about prom even if you're not going with a significant other, and how you can miss your friends before they're even gone just because you know it's going to happen soon.
-Also, even though Albertalli is herself an adult, she manages to capture not only what is universal about high school in the suburbs but also what it's like to be a high schooler today. I mean, I too am an adult, but working and living on a college campus I spend enough time around young adults that I feel at least partially clued in to the current culture, and none of the references Albertalli fits into her books feel forced or off-base.
-I laugh out loud reading her books way more than most books I read. For one particular scene in this book I was literally stretched out on our living room floor crying I was laughing so hard. This book also made me cry multiple times. I mean, "No one warns the babies"? Are you trying to kill me over here, Becky?
-Every straight, white author should look to Albertalli for a model of how you write genuine diversity into your books. When a character is white, she says they're white. She doesn't leave it as the default. Her characters are white, black, biracial, Jewish, gay, bisexual, non-binary, fat... They deal with bullshit because, hey, they live in suburban American in the 2010s, but it never becomes heavy or an Issues book. Being a black person or a gay person in the suburbs of Atlanta is clearly not 100% sunshine and rainbows, but the characters don't spend their whole lives thinking about racism and homophobia either. (As a straight, white person I am not the person to definitively declare when this is well done, but having read the Writing with Color site for several years now I feel like Albertalli checks all their boxes for good, diverse writing.)
OK, now to the spoiler tag to talk about what I loved about this book specifically.
First of all, I loved the reveal that Leah was jealous about Nick and Abby's relationship not because of Nick but because of Abby! What a testament to the difference that switching perspective makes, now that we're in Leah's head instead of Simon's.
Albertalli walked a very fine line with the affirmative action storyline, and I personally thought she did it masterfully. She showed both how white liberals can say terrible, racist things as soon as they're personally affected, AND how toxic it is when social justice-minded folks want to throw someone to the wolves the second they make a mistake. She also gave Abby a voice in the whole thing rather than just letting Leah decide whether Morgan was "redeemed" — Abby got to talk about how she could forgive this specific incident, but that it was by no means an isolated thing, and what the burden was like trying to be perfect so as not to give others ammunition.
She also waved a huge middle finger at bi erasure in this book. Not only was Leah bi, but Leah also called Abby out for wanting to "avoid labels" or just be "lowkey bi." This is in stark contrast to most bi representation in books in the past, which has tended to be along the lines of "I'm straight... except for you! But I'm not going to put a label on my identity or anything." And this book made it very clear that straight girls messing around with bi and gay girls for "experimentation" or the enjoyment of men is inappropriate.
This book definitely leaned a little too heavily on the Convenient Interruption, but that's really the only nitpick I had.
I loved the depiction of Leah's perfectionism and how her mom calls her out on it, telling her that she can't just burn everything to the ground the moment it's not perfect. I related very strongly to her hesitation about taking commissions for her art even when people were asking her to because she was afraid of disappointing them — that's why it's personally been difficult for me to actively pursue some of my own skill areas, like editing and career coaching, because I feel like too much is on the line once someone's paying me for it. I need to be braver!
I liked the storyline with Wells, and how he tries to encourage Leah to accept gifts for the things she needs but can't afford, and how she's able to relate better to him when she finds out that he came from a poor family.
Just like it was fun to have glimpses of the Creekwood characters in The Upside of Unrequited, it was fun to hear snippets about Molly and Cassie in this book.
It was so lovely seeing Simon from the outside in this book, and the relationship that he has with Leah. I love how he and Bram continue to be the cutest. Also, seeing Simon's parents from Leah's perspective was great — both in reminding me how much I love them as characters, and in showing how hard it is for someone struggling with her own family situation to see a "perfect" family like the Spiers.
Basically, this was everything I had hoped for and more, and I will read everything Becky Albertalli ever writes (but especially in this universe — please let us have more!).
-She reminds me what it was like to be in high school in a way that feels true but not painful. Like, yes, I remember being that dramatic, and I remember feeling like every other word and look had to be interpreted for meaning and how exhausting that was. I remember being the single person in a friend group of couples and feeling like I should like anyone who was interested in me, because what other options did I have? But she also captures the magic of being 18 and feeling like everything you did with your friends was epic and memorable because you were on the cusp of adulthood, and going out to eat together and having sleepovers and going to cast parties and on road trips. And that there's something magical about prom even if you're not going with a significant other, and how you can miss your friends before they're even gone just because you know it's going to happen soon.
-Also, even though Albertalli is herself an adult, she manages to capture not only what is universal about high school in the suburbs but also what it's like to be a high schooler today. I mean, I too am an adult, but working and living on a college campus I spend enough time around young adults that I feel at least partially clued in to the current culture, and none of the references Albertalli fits into her books feel forced or off-base.
-I laugh out loud reading her books way more than most books I read. For one particular scene in this book I was literally stretched out on our living room floor crying I was laughing so hard. This book also made me cry multiple times. I mean, "No one warns the babies"? Are you trying to kill me over here, Becky?
-Every straight, white author should look to Albertalli for a model of how you write genuine diversity into your books. When a character is white, she says they're white. She doesn't leave it as the default. Her characters are white, black, biracial, Jewish, gay, bisexual, non-binary, fat... They deal with bullshit because, hey, they live in suburban American in the 2010s, but it never becomes heavy or an Issues book. Being a black person or a gay person in the suburbs of Atlanta is clearly not 100% sunshine and rainbows, but the characters don't spend their whole lives thinking about racism and homophobia either. (As a straight, white person I am not the person to definitively declare when this is well done, but having read the Writing with Color site for several years now I feel like Albertalli checks all their boxes for good, diverse writing.)
OK, now to the spoiler tag to talk about what I loved about this book specifically.
Albertalli walked a very fine line with the affirmative action storyline, and I personally thought she did it masterfully. She showed both how white liberals can say terrible, racist things as soon as they're personally affected, AND how toxic it is when social justice-minded folks want to throw someone to the wolves the second they make a mistake. She also gave Abby a voice in the whole thing rather than just letting Leah decide whether Morgan was "redeemed" — Abby got to talk about how she could forgive this specific incident, but that it was by no means an isolated thing, and what the burden was like trying to be perfect so as not to give others ammunition.
She also waved a huge middle finger at bi erasure in this book. Not only was Leah bi, but Leah also called Abby out for wanting to "avoid labels" or just be "lowkey bi." This is in stark contrast to most bi representation in books in the past, which has tended to be along the lines of "I'm straight... except for you! But I'm not going to put a label on my identity or anything." And this book made it very clear that straight girls messing around with bi and gay girls for "experimentation" or the enjoyment of men is inappropriate.
This book definitely leaned a little too heavily on the Convenient Interruption, but that's really the only nitpick I had.
I loved the depiction of Leah's perfectionism and how her mom calls her out on it, telling her that she can't just burn everything to the ground the moment it's not perfect. I related very strongly to her hesitation about taking commissions for her art even when people were asking her to because she was afraid of disappointing them — that's why it's personally been difficult for me to actively pursue some of my own skill areas, like editing and career coaching, because I feel like too much is on the line once someone's paying me for it. I need to be braver!
I liked the storyline with Wells, and how he tries to encourage Leah to accept gifts for the things she needs but can't afford, and how she's able to relate better to him when she finds out that he came from a poor family.
Just like it was fun to have glimpses of the Creekwood characters in The Upside of Unrequited, it was fun to hear snippets about Molly and Cassie in this book.
It was so lovely seeing Simon from the outside in this book, and the relationship that he has with Leah. I love how he and Bram continue to be the cutest. Also, seeing Simon's parents from Leah's perspective was great — both in reminding me how much I love them as characters, and in showing how hard it is for someone struggling with her own family situation to see a "perfect" family like the Spiers.
Basically, this was everything I had hoped for and more, and I will read everything Becky Albertalli ever writes (but especially in this universe — please let us have more!).
Sweet and funny just like Albertalli’s Simon. I know a lot of girls who will love this book!
So thankful to have received an advanced reading copy of this book.
As with Simon, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! Once I started, I couldn't put it down, which led to an extremely late night for me, but was so worth it.
Leah is Simon's best mate and she has a secret that she hasn't shared with any of her friends. This is also a story of discovery, of self and a sweet, sweet romance to boot. Leah gives in to the classic peer pressure to date as she worries that her 'crew' is falling apart. Garrett does not set her heart on fire but there is someone else that gives her butterflies. Someone that Leah knows is out of range for her. Does Leah become so focused on the dramas playing out before her that she misses something special? That she can't see what is clearly in front of her?
Get ready for that aawwww moment and just enjoy the ride. I know I did :)
As with Simon, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! Once I started, I couldn't put it down, which led to an extremely late night for me, but was so worth it.
Leah is Simon's best mate and she has a secret that she hasn't shared with any of her friends. This is also a story of discovery, of self and a sweet, sweet romance to boot. Leah gives in to the classic peer pressure to date as she worries that her 'crew' is falling apart. Garrett does not set her heart on fire but there is someone else that gives her butterflies. Someone that Leah knows is out of range for her. Does Leah become so focused on the dramas playing out before her that she misses something special? That she can't see what is clearly in front of her?
Get ready for that aawwww moment and just enjoy the ride. I know I did :)
I love this book, it’s so funny. I loved how Leah went through the pressure of prom and how clichéd it’s made out to be. She also talked about leaving for college and how sad it can be to leave what was normal. I loved her character development and how she grew closer to her mom and accepting her moms boyfriend. I loved her character in Simon vs the Homo sapiens agenda and this book made me love her even more because her personality is so great and sarcastic and hilarious. I would definitely read this again. Only bad thing I have to say about this book is I didn’t like how rushed and quick the ending was because you could have seen so much after like them leaving for college.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
The first time I read it, I didn't like it. The second time, I absolutely loved it! It's one of my favourite re-reads now!
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes