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hannahd_19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Vomit
sh0pgirl's review
emotional
funny
fast-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
5.0
Haley Jakobson broke me into a thousand tiny pieces and glued me back together. Feeling fragile and grateful to say the least.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
justnicole's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Transphobia and Biphobia
sapphicreaderlucy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Coming of age, coming into queerness, coming into feminism,,, this was an excellent book. This was a very well written ode to exploring queerness as a young adult and discovering who you are and who you want to be. There were so many different aspects of this book that I loved. The way that the gender and sexuality studies classes were written were my particular fav (as a GSS student). It was so accurate to the feeling of discussing feminist ideas with other people effected by the patriarchy and how powerful and life-changing that feels, especially for young people coming into their identity. I have genuinely never related to a character more than Sav. Another main theme of this book was trauma and specifically sexual assault. I thought this was discussed in such a thoughtful way that was survivor centered, authentic, and empowering. Going into college and starting to process trauma from high school as an adult is such a profound time where you learn so much more about yourself and your past, so we see Sav start to unpack her trauma in the context of new relationships, her classes, and her sexuality. I would totally recommend this to anyone, but especially young queer people. Also, there need to be more books about growing out of codependent women friendships because it is so common and so heartbreaking! I think a lot of young people could relate to the growing pain feelings that are characteristic of relationships like Sav and Izzie's. Though it does talk a lot about SA, it also talks a lot about queer joy and community. The balancing of these two feelings, of sadness and joy, is so much of what being queer is about. Finding joy despite oppression and queering your own life to what you want most out of it. I was honestly very surprised to learn that this is the author's first novel. I hope to read more from her.
Favorite Quotes!!
- "We found a worthiness in being tan, like being made anew, even with the warnings that it would ruin us one day. But we wanted to be ruined; all teenage girls do. A tan meant summer, and summer an endless promise. (p. 12)KE
- "But I would do anything to keep his attention on me, and on what I had been told were the best parts of me." (p. 17)KE
- "So everything we did had to be big enough and fun enough to distract us from the reality of what had happened between us, what had happened between me and her brother." (p. 153).KE
- "The lemonade scent was gone and what replaced it was unnamable. Essence of Wesley, I guess. A bodily thing, so human and delicious. It was the most intimate thing of all, to share breath like this. I dozed off again." (p. 310) KE
- "Because I think the promises that we made to each other were never really about weddings or forevers. They were about a commitment to each other. A commitment to each other’s joy. I think we both believed that joy could not exist without us being together, but we’re old enough now to know otherwise." (p. 320) KE
- "We found a worthiness in being tan, like being made anew, even with the warnings that it would ruin us one day. But we wanted to be ruined; all teenage girls do. A tan meant summer, and summer an endless promise. (p. 12)KE
- "But I would do anything to keep his attention on me, and on what I had been told were the best parts of me." (p. 17)KE
- "So everything we did had to be big enough and fun enough to distract us from the reality of what had happened between us, what had happened between me and her brother." (p. 153).KE
- "The lemonade scent was gone and what replaced it was unnamable. Essence of Wesley, I guess. A bodily thing, so human and delicious. It was the most intimate thing of all, to share breath like this. I dozed off again." (p. 310) KE
- "Because I think the promises that we made to each other were never really about weddings or forevers. They were about a commitment to each other. A commitment to each other’s joy. I think we both believed that joy could not exist without us being together, but we’re old enough now to know otherwise." (p. 320) KE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
getlitwithamy_'s review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.5
After reading the “big bisexual novel,” these are my thoughts:
OLD ENOUGH is a very thought-provoking debut about self-discovery and the journey one takes when dealing with, and accepting, trauma. The book mainly follows the trauma of sexual assault, so take this trigger warning into consideration and read with care.
I really liked the layout of Sav’s recovery process in dissecting what happened to her when she was sixteen. Haley Jakobson does a great job writing Sav’s internal monologue when she experiences flashbacks that make her anxious in the present day. The timeline switches were also very well placed so readers were able to understand why parts of the past are integrated into the present-day chapters.
The book was also very funny. While it did come off as cringy at times, it also made it relatable whenever Sav’s internal - and sometimes external - commentary during gay panic situations were pretty comical. This goes for other characters too, not just Sav. I loved Candace and Vera so much, and Wesley was also a delight whenever they were in a chapter.
I think the main turnoff was the first chapter or two. It seemed like there was more showing than telling, and since the first chapters of a book are the most important, it turned me off a little bit because I wasn’t sure if it was going to set the tone for the rest of the book.
Overall, OLD ENOUGH was a great debut, and I can tell that Jakobson’s writing and storytelling has nowhere to go but up.
OLD ENOUGH is a very thought-provoking debut about self-discovery and the journey one takes when dealing with, and accepting, trauma. The book mainly follows the trauma of sexual assault, so take this trigger warning into consideration and read with care.
I really liked the layout of Sav’s recovery process in dissecting what happened to her when she was sixteen. Haley Jakobson does a great job writing Sav’s internal monologue when she experiences flashbacks that make her anxious in the present day. The timeline switches were also very well placed so readers were able to understand why parts of the past are integrated into the present-day chapters.
The book was also very funny. While it did come off as cringy at times, it also made it relatable whenever Sav’s internal - and sometimes external - commentary during gay panic situations were pretty comical. This goes for other characters too, not just Sav. I loved Candace and Vera so much, and Wesley was also a delight whenever they were in a chapter.
I think the main turnoff was the first chapter or two. It seemed like there was more showing than telling, and since the first chapters of a book are the most important, it turned me off a little bit because I wasn’t sure if it was going to set the tone for the rest of the book.
Overall, OLD ENOUGH was a great debut, and I can tell that Jakobson’s writing and storytelling has nowhere to go but up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Bullying
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
julialeighreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, and Biphobia
Moderate: Transphobia
leefox's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Drug use
evawymer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Homophobia
phoebeeandjam's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Old Enough is a queer coming-of-age story about a bisexual college student. This isn’t the kind of thing I typically reach for because it can so easily become cringey (like when an author tries too hard to relate to young people but misses the mark) buut I found this genuinely relatable. It was a little bit YA and a bit cheesy at some points but overall I enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
scewart's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship