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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I have mixed feelings! Parts of this story were enjoyable, parts were frustrating.
Some not-that-spoilery stuff ahead: As another reviewer pointed out, Deidre isn’t just a drag queen—she’s a trans woman. I think? I say “I think” because it’s never named, which felt VERY odd. The main character refers to her only as a drag queen, but Deidre uses she/her pronouns and feminine honorifics and...definitely identifies as a woman, even when out of drag. Actually, the book leaving out pretty much any explicit discussion of trans people in general felt very strange. There were A LOT of moving parts and relationships in this story, some of which didn’t quite land for me. I did like Nima’s relationship with her dad—that could’ve been developed even further. And, again, like another reviewer mentioned, I was a little weirded out that Nima is 17 and her love interest is supposedly 21. That’s not that many literal years, but it’s definitely different life stages/experience. But that’s something I’m especially sensitive to, and may not be an issue for other readers.
Some not-that-spoilery stuff ahead: As another reviewer pointed out, Deidre isn’t just a drag queen—she’s a trans woman. I think? I say “I think” because it’s never named, which felt VERY odd. The main character refers to her only as a drag queen, but Deidre uses she/her pronouns and feminine honorifics and...definitely identifies as a woman, even when out of drag. Actually, the book leaving out pretty much any explicit discussion of trans people in general felt very strange. There were A LOT of moving parts and relationships in this story, some of which didn’t quite land for me. I did like Nima’s relationship with her dad—that could’ve been developed even further. And, again, like another reviewer mentioned, I was a little weirded out that Nima is 17 and her love interest is supposedly 21. That’s not that many literal years, but it’s definitely different life stages/experience. But that’s something I’m especially sensitive to, and may not be an issue for other readers.
Did not finish. I got to chapter 10, and I just realized I couldn’t stand the main character. Everything she did was a gigantic cringe to the point that it made anyone showing a romantic interest in her to be unbelievable. Seriously could not get beyond that, and it is a shame as I really loved the idea of this being a story about a black youth in the LGBTQIA+ culture.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s a good book and I loved the character of Deirdre. There are many unresolved storylines including Nima’s life and Gordon. I also questioned Winnow and Nima’s relationship and she difference. The absentee father also annoyed me. It had promise, it had some wonderful parts but it wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be.
Giving 5 stars because everyone should read this book, not because it's perfect. It's a great exploration of many queer identities - including drag kings, which I love! Some critiques mention lack of specific labels or 100% resolution for certain characters though that doesn't bother me much. Identify doesn't always fit into a tidy box and takes time to evolve. By omitting labels, Tanya Boteju leaves the door open for more people to identify with each character and avoids trying to fulfill a laundry list that checks off every possible identity, which might have felt contrived.
I did struggle a bit with Nima only being 17. While I understand why it made since to have Nima be in high school to make certain parts of the story work, I did feel I had to suspend belief at times for other parts to make sense. Even with this flaw, it's still well worth the read!
I did struggle a bit with Nima only being 17. While I understand why it made since to have Nima be in high school to make certain parts of the story work, I did feel I had to suspend belief at times for other parts to make sense. Even with this flaw, it's still well worth the read!
funny
hopeful
adventurous
challenging
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
I really wasn't sure what to think of this book at first, but once I got into the style and the story I really really really enjoyed it. (I think it deserves at least a 4.5 but that's not an option and it doesn't quite match all my favourite 'adult' books so a 4 it is)
I thought that the characters Boteju created were wonderfully awkward in all the right ways, and wonderfully confident when they needed to be.
I loved everything drag related as it was all done with a finesse of someone who has lived it and while the show is about the show, drag itself when talked about doesn't have to be too showy and I think she did a great job of making the reader want to either educate themselves more on the subject or get ready to get on stage.
Dee Dee's character came in at all the right moments and the twists (while some were rather predictable, this being a YA novel) felt right and made the plot propel along quite nicely.
I thought that Nima was the perfect cross of loveable and awkward and I only wish I could meet her in real life to tell her how awesome she is! And Winnow was the perfect love interest - caring, mysterious, older, wiser and a heck of a lot of fun.
This book had me smiling, cringing and wanting to dance along with them. It even had me imagining my old high school with its heavy metal doors and view outside.
If you are looking for a fun, awkward, adorable summer read than this is the book for you. While I know Ms. B quite well, and should have expected to love it, I went in with no expectations and came out gushing. I will also say that if you don't know much about the drag community then it will also be rather informative - I thought I knew quite a lot, but there were definitely some new fun facts to be discovered! :)
I thought that the characters Boteju created were wonderfully awkward in all the right ways, and wonderfully confident when they needed to be.
I loved everything drag related as it was all done with a finesse of someone who has lived it and while the show is about the show, drag itself when talked about doesn't have to be too showy and I think she did a great job of making the reader want to either educate themselves more on the subject or get ready to get on stage.
Dee Dee's character came in at all the right moments and the twists (while some were rather predictable, this being a YA novel) felt right and made the plot propel along quite nicely.
I thought that Nima was the perfect cross of loveable and awkward and I only wish I could meet her in real life to tell her how awesome she is! And Winnow was the perfect love interest - caring, mysterious, older, wiser and a heck of a lot of fun.
This book had me smiling, cringing and wanting to dance along with them. It even had me imagining my old high school with its heavy metal doors and view outside.
If you are looking for a fun, awkward, adorable summer read than this is the book for you. While I know Ms. B quite well, and should have expected to love it, I went in with no expectations and came out gushing. I will also say that if you don't know much about the drag community then it will also be rather informative - I thought I knew quite a lot, but there were definitely some new fun facts to be discovered! :)
At moments this book captured the painful awkwardness of teenagers so well I got secondhand embarrassment, but I did like it overall and enjoyed the characters figuring out who they are - and how by the end they’re still working on who they are.
The only big thing that bothered me was that Nima’s age only got in the way of being let into drag shows and not... like... all the drinking and hanging out with older people. I’d think you’d want to tell your crush you’re seventeen so she can reveal if that’s a legal relationship or if y’all would be in trouble, but what do I know?
The only big thing that bothered me was that Nima’s age only got in the way of being let into drag shows and not... like... all the drinking and hanging out with older people. I’d think you’d want to tell your crush you’re seventeen so she can reveal if that’s a legal relationship or if y’all would be in trouble, but what do I know?
