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

A queer twist on a bunch of tropes (think a wlw version of PAPER TOWNS meets Christian evangelical MEAN GIRLS) that is full of fire and the south and pink and smart kids saying smart things. I really enjoyed this, although I did feel there was more distance with these characters compared to CMQ's other work. Lower stakes, too. That said, this is the kind of book that probably couldn't have gotten published when I was a kid, and one I desperately would have loved to have read. CMQ is one of my absolute favorite writers for a reason.

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cozyreadsandcoffee's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I think this book fell short of what I know Casey Mcquiston can do.

I think Chloe was almost too whiny and superficial to enjoy her journey. [Don't get me started on her valedictorian speech] I think I would have enjoyed this more if given the perspectives of Rory and Smith because having it from just Chloe's viewpoint became almost superficial.

I think also being in a small town, the seriousness of kids getting outed to their families was not as much as it should have been. It just seemed there wasn't much on this topic as I thought there would be.

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starsnotshadows's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

Loved, loved, loved this book!! It was my first time really reading Casey McQuiston and I will absolutely read more from them. I haven't read Young Adult novels in a while, but this book may just have roped me back in.

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itsmeyseniab's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

This was my most anticipated 2022 release and I'm so happy to say that it did not disappoint! Casey McQuiston's characterization skills continue to be unmatched and, although I was nervous to read YA from them, I really enjoyed this one. The coming-of-age vibe was very well done and I was left wanting to give each and every one of the characters a hug by the end! Although I wasn't the biggest fan of the plot itself, the character growth, especially within the supporting characters, will have a lasting impact on me. I will say that if you are going into this one wanting it to be another romance-heavy book, I would proceed with caution - I personally consider this more of a contemporary with a heavy emphasis on friendships and relationship with self.

This truly was the coming-of-age novel that I wish I would've had in my hands growing up, and I'm so glad that it exists for younger generations as it discusses heavy topics such as sexuality, religious bigotry, and the societal pressures to be "perfect" that many of us face in our day-to-day lives (and with a diverse cast of characters? YES PLEASE!!)

I truly can't recommend this one enough :)

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bookcrushin's review

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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melaniereadsbooks's review

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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!

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fivecatsinacoat's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of the digital audiobook.

As always, the narration from Natalie Naudus is immaculate and the audio was so clean -- no awkward pauses, or breaths, or weird swallowing noises you often hear from other narrators. For the book itself, the pacing was a little slow, but that's probably my preference for fast-paced books, rather than a short falling of this book. It was a really fun story with wonderful characters. Another win from Casey McQuiston and Natalie Naudus!

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decklededgess's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

trigger warnings: homophobia, bullying, missing child, religious trauma, emotionally abusive parents, underage alcohol use, cheating mention, sexism, sexual harassment, outing

This was the book that finally made it click that I in fact do not relate to every tiny thing in YA books anymore. Like...I've officially outgrown them which is nice. I can relate to a lot of the emotional turbulence in a retrospective way but I cannot relate to any of these kids and their wild ass behaviours. Maybe that's also partly due to me being a teacher.

Oof this book was heavy on the closeted "went to caltholic school" queer kid trauma and that really hit close to home. A lot of the emotional epiphanies were a sort of balm to my younger self which was wonderful.

On the flip side I have never been more pissed of at a bunch of kids. I kept yelling at them to Not Do That but then we wouldn't have a book so that's neither here nor there. I really appreciated the unreliable narrator aspect, it led to a lot of moments that required reflection and critique but also empathy towards the 17-18 year olds making the choices in the book and towards Chloe who was running herself ragged on her own lack of objectivity.

This was a fun little mash up of Paper Towns, Booksmart, and Never Have I Ever. I loved how aspects of all three were blended into a uniquely Southern Queer Kid experience of high school.

Super fun!

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