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afictionreality's review against another edition
4.0
Overview
Amelia Westlake Was Never Here is a book about two girls trying to fight against the sexists, misogynistic, homophobic and all over discrimination ways of their private school. Two girls who are complete opposites come together and though faced with opposing forces they try to bring down the schools old way and pave way for a new era.
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the plot of the story and what the two girls were trying to do. Though they face challenges throughout the book, they ultimately don't give up. Will and Harriet are two different people but they come together creating Amelia Westlake and try to take down their schools discriminatory ways. The romance in this book is a slow burn romance and it was cute to see it evolve over the course of the book.
Characters
Will Everhart. Will is really the only person who tries to take action against what the school is doing and really sees how the school is run long before Amelia Westlake comes along. Will is a social and political activist and she's a very outspoken person and this often gets her in trouble with the principle of the school as well as the faculty. I liked Will as a character and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Out of all the characters I felt like she was the most well-shaped character and most dimensional one. We learn about a fear she has that plays into how she lives her life and how it keeps her from doing something.
Harriet Price. Harriet Price is an overachiever, go getter, and all around a perfect student. But then Will enters her life and sort of shakes it up. We see a sort of change in Harriet and I definitely think it's for the better. In the beginning, Harriet sort of refuses to believe what is going on within Rosemead school. Though she still helps Will with fighting the injustice of their school, it was a nice character growth to see Harriet come to terms with her school and how the faculty treat the students. But overall I didn't fully love Harriet as a character. She didn't feel well-developed and dimensioned compared to Will. We don't really learn about her family life besides how her mother acts toward Harriet having a girlfriend but we don't even get much from that. Harriet is also a sort of bland character and we don't really get to see her personality I feel like.
Overall I felt like the only really formed character was Will. Everyone else sort of fell flat and were one dimensional.
Plot
I really loved the plot of this book. Two girls fighting against the injustices of their school, sign me up! I loved all the clever ways "Amelia Westlake" decided to bring to light the injustices going on in the school. The romance in this was a slow burn romance and it was nice seeing it being played out. The ending was a little frustrating in my opinion but I thought it ended on a good note. The school in this book is very frustrating because I understand that it is this elite private school and they don't want anything to ruin the image of the school. But what I can't understand it how it can sweep the things that happen in the school under the rug and not do anything about it and it was frustrating to see that happen. And I understand that having the principal sweep things under the rug is part of the plot but it was still quite frustrating to read about.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book and I found myself not wanting to put it down. Its a good book about teens fighting against all these very real issues and it left me feeling a little inspired. The romance was slow burn and was cute to see grow and happen. I defiantly think this a book everyone should add to their TBR!
Amelia Westlake Was Never Here is a book about two girls trying to fight against the sexists, misogynistic, homophobic and all over discrimination ways of their private school. Two girls who are complete opposites come together and though faced with opposing forces they try to bring down the schools old way and pave way for a new era.
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the plot of the story and what the two girls were trying to do. Though they face challenges throughout the book, they ultimately don't give up. Will and Harriet are two different people but they come together creating Amelia Westlake and try to take down their schools discriminatory ways. The romance in this book is a slow burn romance and it was cute to see it evolve over the course of the book.
Characters
Will Everhart. Will is really the only person who tries to take action against what the school is doing and really sees how the school is run long before Amelia Westlake comes along. Will is a social and political activist and she's a very outspoken person and this often gets her in trouble with the principle of the school as well as the faculty. I liked Will as a character and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Out of all the characters I felt like she was the most well-shaped character and most dimensional one. We learn about a fear she has that plays into how she lives her life and how it keeps her from doing something.
Harriet Price. Harriet Price is an overachiever, go getter, and all around a perfect student. But then Will enters her life and sort of shakes it up. We see a sort of change in Harriet and I definitely think it's for the better. In the beginning, Harriet sort of refuses to believe what is going on within Rosemead school. Though she still helps Will with fighting the injustice of their school, it was a nice character growth to see Harriet come to terms with her school and how the faculty treat the students. But overall I didn't fully love Harriet as a character. She didn't feel well-developed and dimensioned compared to Will. We don't really learn about her family life besides how her mother acts toward Harriet having a girlfriend but we don't even get much from that. Harriet is also a sort of bland character and we don't really get to see her personality I feel like.
Overall I felt like the only really formed character was Will. Everyone else sort of fell flat and were one dimensional.
Plot
I really loved the plot of this book. Two girls fighting against the injustices of their school, sign me up! I loved all the clever ways "Amelia Westlake" decided to bring to light the injustices going on in the school. The romance in this was a slow burn romance and it was nice seeing it being played out. The ending was a little frustrating in my opinion but I thought it ended on a good note. The school in this book is very frustrating because I understand that it is this elite private school and they don't want anything to ruin the image of the school. But what I can't understand it how it can sweep the things that happen in the school under the rug and not do anything about it and it was frustrating to see that happen. And I understand that having the principal sweep things under the rug is part of the plot but it was still quite frustrating to read about.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book and I found myself not wanting to put it down. Its a good book about teens fighting against all these very real issues and it left me feeling a little inspired. The romance was slow burn and was cute to see grow and happen. I defiantly think this a book everyone should add to their TBR!
godlizza's review against another edition
4.0
Where has this book been all my life? I knew going into it that it was gay but not that it was Australian! Big plus.
For real though, this book was great. The plot was fast-paced and engaging, Will and Harriet are both fun, flawed characters and I loved their relationship, and all the pranks of Amelia Westlake were great. Way more ballsy than anything I ever pulled in my private school days lol. This book takes care to talk about feminism in interactional ways. I think a lot of people will be put off by characters not challenging racist comments from their peers in the beginning but the book doesn't let them get away with it. Nat was great for that. And it really just shows how Will, and especially Harriet, evolve.
The only complaint I have is that there wasn't a whole lot of subtlety when it came to some side characters. We know right off the bat that Harriet's girlfriend is a butt and are just waiting for that situation to implode. Similarly with her mum. But it's minor so I'll let it slide.
Erin Gough, you are on my radar.
For real though, this book was great. The plot was fast-paced and engaging, Will and Harriet are both fun, flawed characters and I loved their relationship, and all the pranks of Amelia Westlake were great. Way more ballsy than anything I ever pulled in my private school days lol. This book takes care to talk about feminism in interactional ways. I think a lot of people will be put off by characters not challenging racist comments from their peers in the beginning but the book doesn't let them get away with it. Nat was great for that. And it really just shows how Will, and especially Harriet, evolve.
The only complaint I have is that there wasn't a whole lot of subtlety when it came to some side characters. We know right off the bat that Harriet's girlfriend is a butt and are just waiting for that situation to implode. Similarly with her mum. But it's minor so I'll let it slide.
Erin Gough, you are on my radar.
jacksonstorm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
alinaborger's review against another edition
Excellent new boarding school story with a level of contemporary-ness that neither John Green nor E. Lockhart have going for them.
lujein's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mirareadsalot's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ellelouisea's review
3.0
Really enjoyed this but felt some of the writing was a bit weak, especially in Harriet’s chapters. It was also a bit too expositional and didactic in parts. But a very fun read.