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piastri's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
“I take a deep breath and cut open that little box of feelings inside me. If she needs me to bleed for her, I’ll bleed”
I really can't get enough of the stories between a girl who's out and a girl who isn't, and this one is just beautiful. It's great to see it dealing with the complicated situations around coming and how that can affect others — like having to compromise your own truth for someone you love's reality. But yeah, if you don't want another book that centres on the queer-coming-out-experience, then this probably isn't for you. However, I eat this shit up.
(the classic pretty girl also being the car girl is probably one of my favourite things ever as well)
I really can't get enough of the stories between a girl who's out and a girl who isn't, and this one is just beautiful. It's great to see it dealing with the complicated situations around coming and how that can affect others — like having to compromise your own truth for someone you love's reality. But yeah, if you don't want another book that centres on the queer-coming-out-experience, then this probably isn't for you. However, I eat this shit up.
(the classic pretty girl also being the car girl is probably one of my favourite things ever as well)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
grace_alice's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Personally, I did not like this book and it was incredibly disappointing. This was my first time reading a WLW book and I was excited to find it at my bookstore as I struggle to find LGBTQIA+ books that aren’t MLM. Unfortunately, it reads like a Wattpad fanfiction and one of the characters, Morgan, was completely irritating throughout the book. She was completely self-entitled and arrogant but this all gets brushed over because she does things to better the LGBTQIA+ community. Just because you help a community doesn’t mean you have the right to try and dictate how much people express themselves. These flaws are “resolved” at the end of the book, but the way she outted Ruby and had the audacity to say she didn’t was the last straw. Also, the fact that this was just brushed over, is inappropriate especially for a young adult book. Teens shouldn’t read this and think it is okay. It can be extremely dangerous and harmful to the person being outted and should be taken seriously. Ruby I felt was a much better character and by the end of the book I was just waiting for her chapters to I could hear someone else’s thoughts other than Morgan’s.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
marleywrites's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
I love Ruby and Morgan. Their dynamic is great and I loved diving into Ruby’s character a lot. I related to her in so many ways and it was refreshing to see. This book was super cute but also tackled some hard issues like homophobia. This would have been a great read for me when I was in high school.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Outing
miyothecat's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
alicia231's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
cayleigh_sorella's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.0
This was okay. It was written weird, though. At times it felt like it was written by two different people - in the same way that you could tell multiple co-wrote the Cursed Child. At times, the narrative read like it was written by an adult, and then it would switch over to one written by a teenager.
The characters were good. It was important to see each other their perspective about themselves and how the rest of the world perceived them. I did find Morgan to be a little high and mighty about her queerness. However, that unrelenting acceptance of herself - which then gets pushed onto the queer people around her - fits with the teenager mindset. It was nice to see a Pride Club that wasn't hiding but rather was active in the school community. It allowed for the statement to be made that athletes, especially those wanting to play in college with the chance of going pro, hide their queerness. I did appreciate with Ruby's character that she neither hid her poverty nor was picked on for it, and that the author didn't shy away from the psychological abuse her mother inflicted upon her. It was obvious to see how debilitating constantly made to feel guilty for simply existing can be for someone. It was a nice contrast between the girls that they communicated differently and had different needs, which reflected the way in which they were raised.
For a queer YA book, this was good. The dialogue was fine, the stunted communication between the girls felt in-character and justified. However, the ending felt a little rushed. It was nice to see some sapphic representation. The YA market is saturated with mlm, this was refreshing.
The characters were good. It was important to see each other their perspective about themselves and how the rest of the world perceived them. I did find Morgan to be a little high and mighty about her queerness. However, that unrelenting acceptance of herself - which then gets pushed onto the queer people around her - fits with the teenager mindset. It was nice to see a Pride Club that wasn't hiding but rather was active in the school community. It allowed for the statement to be made that athletes, especially those wanting to play in college with the chance of going pro, hide their queerness. I did appreciate with Ruby's character that she neither hid her poverty nor was picked on for it, and that the author didn't shy away from the psychological abuse her mother inflicted upon her. It was obvious to see how debilitating constantly made to feel guilty for simply existing can be for someone. It was a nice contrast between the girls that they communicated differently and had different needs, which reflected the way in which they were raised.
For a queer YA book, this was good. The dialogue was fine, the stunted communication between the girls felt in-character and justified. However, the ending felt a little rushed. It was nice to see some sapphic representation. The YA market is saturated with mlm, this was refreshing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
jonnareads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
bagel_z's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Car accident
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Outing
rose_reads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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
4.75
An enjoyable fluffy quick read that touches on some deeper moments. If you enjoyed Heartstopper, I would recommend this but do check the TWs first. I can't wait to read more of Dugans books!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Outing
jodierose14's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol