Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - I Kissed Shara Wheeler

Wow, I inhaled this book. I needed to know the answer just as much as Chloe (and I’m so pumped I figured stuff out before it was revealed). I started off not liking most of the characters, but they really grew on me as their complex stories unfolded. Because McQuiston really did write a ton of complex, incredibly human characters. I really loved it.

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chrisljm's review against another edition

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funny hopeful 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

4.5

Casey McQuiston writes people and communities in a way that is so special to me. The relationships and dialogue are so realistic and funny. I also love how they forge unlikely friendships, like the way Chloe’s friends and Smith are definitely not friends, yet they still took the time to be a part in helping Smith make important life realizations because that’s how a community is and it was so touching for me to read that. In life there are little things and there are big things, and McQuiston knows how to make the little things just as important as the big things.

I think this is an especially good book for young adults who think they may be queer. But, I also think this is good for people to gain a different perspective into the bible belt because it’s so easy to disregard red states for being like That and to think that everyone living there are unanimous in thinking like That. But this book provides a look into how there are people and communities living within these tough places doing and dealing with it in a way they can while also calling it home.

The last thing I want to say is that something I love across all McQuiston’s books is that they impart this joy and feel goodness, leaving you hopeful for better even if you might’ve reacted otherwise in reality and I think it’s a good reminder for the times when you think that everything is hopeless.

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jjjreads's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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bi_n_large's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

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jazminnnnnnn's review

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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freshbatchofbooks's review

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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

5.0

Ngl I thunk this is Casey McQuiston’s best book to date!

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erikawynn's review

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adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Shara seems to be based on Quinn from Glee but it’s still a fun book! More of a Breakfast Club-style “teens from different cliques become friends” story than a romance though

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