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combeferre_01's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, and Homophobia
linnea1801's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so good!!! It really captures the experience of living as a queer person in a conservative and religious town and all the struggles that come with it. But it’s also just insanely cute. <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.25
What a beautiful YA romance!!! Knowing the synopsis of the book going in, I was actually surprised that it was told from Stevie's POV, but I think that really lended well to the development of the story. Nora's letters are devastating to read. A really stunning young adult queer romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
nerdy_booklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Homophobia
nat_montego's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Child abuse
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.5
What I thought was going to be a very sad novel (which it was at points), but it really ends on quite a hopeful note, taking a turn that I didn't expect. In a good way! It maybe wasn't the most realistic of endings, but it is a romance novel after all.
Stevie, our main character, is probably the best developed, as most of the side characters felt pretty one dimensional to me. We do get to hear some from Nora through the forms of letters, but we really only see her through Stevie's. That was really my only complaint about the story, though, that I wish some of the side characters would have been more developed.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the way Stevei's friendship with Ryan kind of happened because of her accident. He becomes such a great ally for her, and I imagine that their friendship will continue long after this story is over.
There was also a sense of tension due to Stevie's amnesia, because we know something happened between her and her parents but we don't really know what, just like Stevei doesn't know what. It adds to the plot and helps make it a better overall story, in my opinion.
All in all, this is a touching romance that will leave you with a sense of hope by the end.
Stevie, our main character, is probably the best developed, as most of the side characters felt pretty one dimensional to me. We do get to hear some from Nora through the forms of letters, but we really only see her through Stevie's. That was really my only complaint about the story, though, that I wish some of the side characters would have been more developed.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the way Stevei's friendship with Ryan kind of happened because of her accident. He becomes such a great ally for her, and I imagine that their friendship will continue long after this story is over.
There was also a sense of tension due to Stevie's amnesia, because we know something happened between her and her parents but we don't really know what, just like Stevei doesn't know what. It adds to the plot and helps make it a better overall story, in my opinion.
All in all, this is a touching romance that will leave you with a sense of hope by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
astraeal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Medical content, and Outing
kenzieburns's review
emotional
funny
medium-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
Let me start off by saying I'm not usually the romance type, but this book had me from the start. When Stevie Green can't wait to get out of her small Pennsylvania town and head to LA with her girlfriend, Nora. The catch is that she'll have to leave behind everything and everyone she's ever known, thanks to the unacceptable air of the Catholic church he mother is so involved in and the general anti-gay sentiments of Wyatt residents. But when Stevie has a horrible accident, wiping the last 2 years from her memory, her secret plans are, quite literally, forgotten. Now Stevie is left to puzzle her life back together, and Nora can only sit and hope that Stevie finds her way back to their love.
The first big surprise of this book for me was that it was from Stevie's perspective. Based on the published synopsis, I had assumed Nora's POV would be the focal point of the novel, and at first I was put off by knowing that Stevie would soon forget everything. I expected the memory loss to make the narration confusing, but it actually wasn't a problem, especially since the accident happens so early in the book, it's not like there is a bunch of back story that the reader is missing. I guess this is to say I actually really liked having Stevie's perspective, because as a reader, parts of her story were revealed to me as she relearned them herself, which made me feel really connected to her character.
I think Derrick did an amazing job of broaching some really complex topics throughout the novel, such as xenophobic and racist behavior and internalized homophobia. The nuances in Derrick's discussion of these topics was particularly striking, especially since she was writing through an 18-year-old's perspective. As an ex-Catholic and someone who also realized my sexuality in my late teens/early 20s, I really appreciated being able to relate to the complicated emotions Stevie experienced in her internal coming out, as well as the conflicts her sexuality created in relationships she cared about. While listening to this book, I was continuously reminded of the dedication, "To all the Queer kids in a place like Wyatt; hang in there, it gets better." I know that there are parts of this story that are idealized and that not everyone gets the ending Stevie does, but I do hope that kids in places like Wyatt will read this story and know that they can get out, and that they will find people who love them entirely as they are, even if those people are not their immediate family.
The first big surprise of this book for me was that it was from Stevie's perspective. Based on the published synopsis, I had assumed Nora's POV would be the focal point of the novel, and at first I was put off by knowing that Stevie would soon forget everything. I expected the memory loss to make the narration confusing, but it actually wasn't a problem, especially since the accident happens so early in the book, it's not like there is a bunch of back story that the reader is missing. I guess this is to say I actually really liked having Stevie's perspective, because as a reader, parts of her story were revealed to me as she relearned them herself, which made me feel really connected to her character.
I think Derrick did an amazing job of broaching some really complex topics throughout the novel, such as xenophobic and racist behavior and internalized homophobia. The nuances in Derrick's discussion of these topics was particularly striking, especially since she was writing through an 18-year-old's perspective. As an ex-Catholic and someone who also realized my sexuality in my late teens/early 20s, I really appreciated being able to relate to the complicated emotions Stevie experienced in her internal coming out, as well as the conflicts her sexuality created in relationships she cared about. While listening to this book, I was continuously reminded of the dedication, "To all the Queer kids in a place like Wyatt; hang in there, it gets better." I know that there are parts of this story that are idealized and that not everyone gets the ending Stevie does, but I do hope that kids in places like Wyatt will read this story and know that they can get out, and that they will find people who love them entirely as they are, even if those people are not their immediate family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
sleepyshelves's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse and Racism
midnightbelles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Im literally in tears. This is the book little teenage me needed but adult me is so grateful to have. I can’t explain how much I connected with this story and just how much knowing something like this exists for young teens like Stevie comforts me. This is a perfectly cheesy, heartbreaking, and sweet novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Homophobia, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content