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melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
Thank you to Wednesday Books for an arc of this one!
Casey McQuiston has done it again with this sapphic academic-rivals-to-lovers romcom about an absolute disaster of a girl and her journey to prove that Shara Wheeler is not who she claims to be.
I am not going to lie and pretend I don't identify at least a little with Chloe Greene. She's an absolute disaster and so determined and really reminds me of myself when I was younger. Shara is also so interesting and complicated and I love how well this dove beneath the surface of the perfect dream girl and really got to the root of her.
The best part about this book is the side characters! Smith is truly the MVP for me. I love him so much and would pay a lot of money for McQuiston to write a book about him!
You will love this book. I don't care who you are or what you like, there will be something for you!
Casey McQuiston has done it again with this sapphic academic-rivals-to-lovers romcom about an absolute disaster of a girl and her journey to prove that Shara Wheeler is not who she claims to be.
I am not going to lie and pretend I don't identify at least a little with Chloe Greene. She's an absolute disaster and so determined and really reminds me of myself when I was younger. Shara is also so interesting and complicated and I love how well this dove beneath the surface of the perfect dream girl and really got to the root of her.
The best part about this book is the side characters! Smith is truly the MVP for me. I love him so much and would pay a lot of money for McQuiston to write a book about him!
You will love this book. I don't care who you are or what you like, there will be something for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Bullying, and Biphobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Racism, Infidelity, Outing, and Toxic friendship
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- I KISSED SHARA WHEELER is part mystery, part queer awakening, part coming of age. It takes a little bit to get going, but once it does it doesn't stop. And I loved that it didn't end where I thought it would, and took the story beyond where most YA novels would wrap things up.
- McQuiston's true talent lies not in quippy banter, but in creating tight, loving queer found families. I adored the central group in this book and would happily read full novels about any of them.
- I think this book will be wonderful for kids growing up in places where they feel like they might never be able to be their full selves. It shows that it will never be easy, but that your people are often there with you if you know where to look.
- I KISSED SHARA WHEELER is part mystery, part queer awakening, part coming of age. It takes a little bit to get going, but once it does it doesn't stop. And I loved that it didn't end where I thought it would, and took the story beyond where most YA novels would wrap things up.
- McQuiston's true talent lies not in quippy banter, but in creating tight, loving queer found families. I adored the central group in this book and would happily read full novels about any of them.
- I think this book will be wonderful for kids growing up in places where they feel like they might never be able to be their full selves. It shows that it will never be easy, but that your people are often there with you if you know where to look.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Biphobia, Bullying, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Racism
alexafuson's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
Think “Mean Girls” meets “Paper Towns.”
“I Kissed Shara Wheeler” is the type of book that teenagers need in the world. As someone who grew up in a small, Christian, conservative town, I strongly relate to the queer characters in this novel that feel like their voices are demonized. However, these characters take a horrible situation into their own hands, and they create change. Even as a adult, I learned from this novel that standing up for what you believe in is never a small feat. It takes bravery and cooperation, and this shows that teenagers have the power to create change, even when it feels like their voices are ignored. Although the beginning of this book relied heavily on high school stereotypes that demonized jocks, cheerleaders, and anyone else the main character felt inferior to, eventually these stereotypes are overturned. The characters learn to work together, and through that, multidimensional and complex characterization comes through to show that people are more than just what we can see on the surface. This is a powerful message for teenagers and adults alike.
McQuiston delicately handles complex topics that high schoolers are dealing with, like identity and religious trauma. As a Southern girl at heart, I appreciated that this book didn’t totally demonize Christianity. Instead, it highlights how a person can be queer and still practice Christianity, but it doesn’t undermine how the institution of Christianity has harmed so many LGBTQ+ people.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC. Another 5-star read from Casey McQuiston. May 3rd can’t come soon enough!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Deadnaming, Outing, and Biphobia
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