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e_179's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
i really enjoyed reading this book! i sped through this book in four days after being a reading slump for the last two months of the school year(that’s actually not over yet i still have two more exams tmrw that i should have been studying for but whatever). anyway, i really loved this book! i love reading the stories of each character in their journey to finding their identity. it was just a funny, different(in a good way), relatable, realistic(for the most part), cute, sweet, lovable book! i highly recommend!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Minor: Biphobia, Bullying, and Lesbophobia
hmatt's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don't tread into YA high school-centred stories lightly, but I trust CMQ, and they delivered. This is a trope-y, current, cute, funny read. It's almost over-the-top in how ridiculous it gets, but that's teenagers, right? As long as I kept in mind that the story is told from a specific teenager's perspective throughout, I was into it. Plus, Natalie Naudus could narrate a shampoo bottle and I'd enjoy it.
So, so many of the secondary and tertiary characters are incredibly fleshed out and lovely - this is something this author is really good at. The main characters are also really fleshed out, but we're so close to them that I almost liked them less because we get to see all their flaws and bad qualities, as well.
Things that took me out of it a little but that I still enjoyed:
So, so many of the secondary and tertiary characters are incredibly fleshed out and lovely - this is something this author is really good at. The main characters are also really fleshed out, but we're so close to them that I almost liked them less because we get to see all their flaws and bad qualities, as well.
Things that took me out of it a little but that I still enjoyed:
- I can't believe I'm saying this but um,
everyone is queer? Like I love that. Dream world. But potentially too convenient in this small Alabama cluster of students. - I was almost cheering when Shara revealed she really was just being a mean girl and trying to sabotage Chloe because I think that would have been an interesting turn of events to explore. I think Shara could have still had a redemption arc and she and Chloe still could have ended up friends. All the background pairings plus this main one were a bit too much for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying and Outing
Minor: Classism and Racism
patricktreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So this is my first book by Casey (yes I know), so I was really nervous that I would be really excited and then the work not meet expectation.
I was BLOWN AWAY! I’ve always loved a good mystery and I loved the character growth that came from this one. This book had the mystery, it had the drama, it had the representation, and it even had pre-read content warnings. That last one was also everything.
I had no clue that this book would be set in Alabama. That was a pleasant surprise. What was more exciting is the fact that this fictional town is actually only set about an hour from my hometown. It was exciting to have a story with parts of my home represented.
I also connected with the main characters experiences. A lot of these small towns in the south are very spot on to the description laid out by the author.
Last note to add is if you have the chance, the audio book is exceptional. I was given access to an arc by audio, and the narrator was spectacular. They didn’t just read the lines of the book, they absolutely performed the pages. At one point our main character cries and the narrator is so spot on that I could feel the pain in the words.
Absolute recommend!
I was BLOWN AWAY! I’ve always loved a good mystery and I loved the character growth that came from this one. This book had the mystery, it had the drama, it had the representation, and it even had pre-read content warnings. That last one was also everything.
I had no clue that this book would be set in Alabama. That was a pleasant surprise. What was more exciting is the fact that this fictional town is actually only set about an hour from my hometown. It was exciting to have a story with parts of my home represented.
I also connected with the main characters experiences. A lot of these small towns in the south are very spot on to the description laid out by the author.
Last note to add is if you have the chance, the audio book is exceptional. I was given access to an arc by audio, and the narrator was spectacular. They didn’t just read the lines of the book, they absolutely performed the pages. At one point our main character cries and the narrator is so spot on that I could feel the pain in the words.
Absolute recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, Bullying, and Gaslighting
mandkips's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Racism
cozyreadsandcoffee's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Transphobia, Abandonment, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Alcohol, Racism, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
mayareadsxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Most of the time, when i read, I see pieces of myself in words or character descriptions. Maybe I even see myself in a character or two. I’ve never read a book where I can look at over 4 characters and say “wow! that’s me.”…until now.
I honestly don’t have any words of my own. Read the book. It says all I could want to.
This is one for the books. I highly recommend it. Because of its nature, please be cautious and check the trigger warnings. They are there for a reason. 💕
I honestly don’t have any words of my own. Read the book. It says all I could want to.
This is one for the books. I highly recommend it. Because of its nature, please be cautious and check the trigger warnings. They are there for a reason. 💕
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Cursing
Moderate: Bullying
bookcasey's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
I thought I knew where this book was going, and I didn't. It kept on surprising me, rustrating me, and making me laugh.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler manages to develop and round out a surprisingly large and complex cast of characters, all figuring things out in that high school kind of way.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler manages to develop and round out a surprisingly large and complex cast of characters, all figuring things out in that high school kind of way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Bullying, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Dysphoria
emilypete17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
This book is like the chaotic queer lovechild of a John Green novel and all of your favorite coming of age movies from the past decade. Casey McQuiston knows just where to hit me to make me bawl my eyes out and snort-laugh every single page. I wish I had this book in high school, and I'm so glad there are other queer kids in the south who have it now and maybe will finally be able to see a piece of themselves on the page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Biphobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Classism, Dysphoria, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Outing, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
arthur_ant18's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Bullying, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Outing, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Racism, Infidelity, and Cancer