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bookshelfmonkey's review against another edition
challenging
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
3.75
moolissabarney's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
beela's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
omg omg omg Read this book!
hayleybeale's review
4.0
Robin Talley is one of the premier authors of YA LGBTQ+ novels and has made something of a niche for herself by placing these stories in well-researched historical settings. Her latest is set in late 70’s California, mainly San Francisco, and niftily uses the story of two young women to show this pivotal time in queer history from a female perspective. See my full review here.
Thanks to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for the digital review copy.
Thanks to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for the digital review copy.
breezrose's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy of this from NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an honest review. This book is written through the correspondence between two high school students in different parts of California in the late 70's as pen pals for a required Catholic school project amidst growing political unrest around gay rights in the United States. The reader is introduced to the characters and their worlds not only through their letters to one another but through Sharon's diary entries and Tammy's letters to Harvey Milk (that function like diary entries). Both girls live in conservative religious communities, Tammy in Orange County and Sharon in San Francisco. The story seamlessly follow the girls' relationship to one another and themselves while grounding them in the historical context of the time with Harvey Milk running for city supervisor and propositions across the country banning and reversing gay rights. I found the format of the book being entirely written correspondences to be creative but hard to follow at times. The characters were well developed, and while I sometimes got lost between who was writing to whom, I thought it was an engaging and heartfelt read.
lattelibrarian's review
4.0
I don't normally read historical fiction, but when I do, it's gay. Tammy and Sharon become penpals thanks to their school. What they don't expect is to become lifelong friends. They swear an oath to each other, promising to never say anything about each other outside of their letters. Which is a good thing in conservative, 1970s, Orange Country. Which is a good thing considering that Tammy is a closeted lesbian, and Sharon's brother is gay.
As they discover themselves outside of their strict religious upbringings, they realize they have interests outside what is acceptable for them: punk shows, women's bookstores, Castro street. But as the school year drags on, so does the pressure. Especially as Tammy's aunt launders money and seems to know more about Tammy than Tammy does. Especially as Sharon's brother gets more and more liberal with what he does with his time, caring less and less that he returns to the house smelling like marijuana.
The one thing I do have to admit that jarred me was the occasional use of "queer" in a positive way. In the 1970s, I have a hard time that even the most liberal gay person was keen on calling themselves "queer" when it was a slur tossed around by politicians, celebrities, strangers, and family alike.
Their letters become lengthier, there's more time between them, letters aren't replied to. The noose gets tighter and tighter, and it gets harder to hide who they really and what they're doing.
Additionally, I absolutely love the cover design. It looks like a collage, and ties in perfectly with not only Tammy's art style, but also with the themes of this book. That you can take bits and pieces of yourself and the things you like and turn it into something beautiful.
This was a beautiful story of love, friendship, identity, acceptance, and growing up. It takes on themes such as facing one's guilt, facing one's shame, facing one's internalized homophobia. It's a wonderful narrative, and great for the times we're in currently.
Review cross-listed here!
As they discover themselves outside of their strict religious upbringings, they realize they have interests outside what is acceptable for them: punk shows, women's bookstores, Castro street. But as the school year drags on, so does the pressure. Especially as Tammy's aunt launders money and seems to know more about Tammy than Tammy does. Especially as Sharon's brother gets more and more liberal with what he does with his time, caring less and less that he returns to the house smelling like marijuana.
The one thing I do have to admit that jarred me was the occasional use of "queer" in a positive way. In the 1970s, I have a hard time that even the most liberal gay person was keen on calling themselves "queer" when it was a slur tossed around by politicians, celebrities, strangers, and family alike.
Their letters become lengthier, there's more time between them, letters aren't replied to. The noose gets tighter and tighter, and it gets harder to hide who they really and what they're doing.
Additionally, I absolutely love the cover design. It looks like a collage, and ties in perfectly with not only Tammy's art style, but also with the themes of this book. That you can take bits and pieces of yourself and the things you like and turn it into something beautiful.
This was a beautiful story of love, friendship, identity, acceptance, and growing up. It takes on themes such as facing one's guilt, facing one's shame, facing one's internalized homophobia. It's a wonderful narrative, and great for the times we're in currently.
Review cross-listed here!
leepetterson's review
5.0
This is my best friends favorite book and when she told me she thought I'd like it, I was sure she was totally wrong.
This book blew my freaking mind. I think it's historically accurate and touches largely on the Civil Rights movements in the 70s. I love that the romance was in addition to that and not solely focused on it.
Overall, LOVED it! 5 stars!
This book blew my freaking mind. I think it's historically accurate and touches largely on the Civil Rights movements in the 70s. I love that the romance was in addition to that and not solely focused on it.
Overall, LOVED it! 5 stars!
evahoulton's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
mijsfranssen's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 ✨ this book left a mark on me.
Wow. This book was awesome. The characters, including the side-characters, were worked out so well, which is rare given this book is written in letters and diary entries. I loved every second I spend in this book, I loved the activism, the spunk, and the historical background. And I loved Tammy and Sharon. Thanks Robin Talley, for writing this beautiful book!
Wow. This book was awesome. The characters, including the side-characters, were worked out so well, which is rare given this book is written in letters and diary entries. I loved every second I spend in this book, I loved the activism, the spunk, and the historical background. And I loved Tammy and Sharon. Thanks Robin Talley, for writing this beautiful book!