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katereads2much's review
5.0
I was riveted by this coming of age story and I love how this developed. I'm so glad I came across this. I can't begin to say how happy it made me to read this.
edutton's review
4.0
I've been reading a lot of lesbian YA recently (as I work on writing one), and have seen everything from bad to great... and Dirty London comes much closer to the great side of the scale. Is it perfect? Not quite - I would have liked a little more depth to the whole situation with Trevor, but you can't have everything. I enjoyed the way she developed the relationship with London's eventual love interest, and thought London's family dynamics in particular were handled very well - and I appreciated the fact that her family WAS front and center for so much of the story. All in all, a good read!
megsbookishtwins's review
4.0
4.5
I really loved this. The main highlight of this book was London's relationship with those around her. I loved her dynamic with her sister Jasmine. I loved her relationship with Amber and Wade. Really cute f/f story - definitely recommend.
I really loved this. The main highlight of this book was London's relationship with those around her. I loved her dynamic with her sister Jasmine. I loved her relationship with Amber and Wade. Really cute f/f story - definitely recommend.
amaldae's review against another edition
3.0
(April 4th, 2016)
So, erm... I may have stayed up until 6 a.m. in my need to finish a book... again. *blush*
This one is a pretty standard coming-out YA contemporary, though more focused on the main character and her relationships during her last year of high school than actually coming out. Where it sets itself apart from the rest is that a) it's kind of not badly written at all and b) its protagonist is actually a fully developed character who is just fine with who she is - so instead of completely unnecessary angst, most of the conflict results from her last-minute attempts at making her time in a closed-minded school community matter, at least to herself.
I LOVED London. She isn't perfect, her family is far from it, but they try. There's nothing artificial about their love of each other, or their frustrations either, for that matter. London is perhaps one of the most relatable protagonists I've ever encountered in this genre, and her relationship with her little sister is so true to life my heart aches.
What didn't work for me, then, is that the book isn't content with simply portraying ordinary family drama - what befalls London in school when she decides not to blend in any more occasionally feels a bit overdone. It's even acknowledged multiple times in the narrative that some of it feels taken straight out of a cheap teen movie. If it really is a common HS experience, I really can't say anything other than I'm sorry; but personally, I would mostly recognize it from half-assed stereotypes.
By the end, that actually becomes quite a problem. The story itself is a nice, feel-good, everyday sort of story. It's a shame that it has to fit itself into a ready-made mold to create additional tension (and I don't mean just what L's bullies make her endure, I mean the entire structure of the novel and how it's fitted against her after-school drama club activities and the play they're making - it's just been done so many times). The whole thing would have felt so much more organic had it just, ehm, been what it was.
Maybe all that energy would have been better directed at developing the romance, which as it stands, is sadly rather bland. I appreciate that it wasn't sudden and all-consuming - York seems pretty aware of the pitfalls of the genre she's writing in - but having London remark time after time how she really can't read Amber honestly feels a tad lazy. Since A doesn't get half the character development as London, or even her mother, does, it's hard to care about them maybe getting together. I would be lying if I said I hadn't expected more based on how true-to-life most of the other relationships feel in the book.
Also, what's up with this shit when they do get together (again, not that there's a lot of conflict in this particular relationship - this really isn't a romance novel): 'Or we could sleep in my bed.' She says it quickly, in a single rush of breath. When I look at Amber, her cheeks are red. I’ve seen her angry, I’ve seen her upset, and a variety of other emotions. Embarrassed, though? Nervous?"
Followed by this gem:
"There is, oddly enough, nothing sexual about it. Intimate, yes. Sexual... not so much. I just want to touch her."
I mean, they're only 18! Of course nothing as crude as sexual desire could taint their beautiful, virginal love!
Oh, YA, secretly I'm just so over some of your quirks.
But overall, it does exactly what it sets out to do with surprising honesty and nuance. (BTW, I don't necessarily agree that there is bi-erasure in this novel - I think London had pretty good reasons for assuming what she did, and I really didn't see her assuming much to begin with. Not that this changes the fact that no one explicitly identifies as bi.although I think there's a pretty strong case to be made about that in Amber
I had a few niggles with it, but based on York's acknowledgements and what she says she wanted to do with this story, I'd say she pretty much nailed it for the target audience. I enjoyed it a lot and wish there was more quality queer girl fluff out there - this was nice now, but would have been sorely needed in my life some years ago - but at the same time, I'm pretty excited to check out the author's darker works.
So, erm... I may have stayed up until 6 a.m. in my need to finish a book... again. *blush*
This one is a pretty standard coming-out YA contemporary, though more focused on the main character and her relationships during her last year of high school than actually coming out. Where it sets itself apart from the rest is that a) it's kind of not badly written at all and b) its protagonist is actually a fully developed character who is just fine with who she is - so instead of completely unnecessary angst, most of the conflict results from her last-minute attempts at making her time in a closed-minded school community matter, at least to herself.
I LOVED London. She isn't perfect, her family is far from it, but they try. There's nothing artificial about their love of each other, or their frustrations either, for that matter. London is perhaps one of the most relatable protagonists I've ever encountered in this genre, and her relationship with her little sister is so true to life my heart aches.
What didn't work for me, then, is that the book isn't content with simply portraying ordinary family drama - what befalls London in school when she decides not to blend in any more occasionally feels a bit overdone. It's even acknowledged multiple times in the narrative that some of it feels taken straight out of a cheap teen movie. If it really is a common HS experience, I really can't say anything other than I'm sorry; but personally, I would mostly recognize it from half-assed stereotypes.
By the end, that actually becomes quite a problem. The story itself is a nice, feel-good, everyday sort of story. It's a shame that it has to fit itself into a ready-made mold to create additional tension (and I don't mean just what L's bullies make her endure, I mean the entire structure of the novel and how it's fitted against her after-school drama club activities and the play they're making - it's just been done so many times). The whole thing would have felt so much more organic had it just, ehm, been what it was.
Maybe all that energy would have been better directed at developing the romance, which as it stands, is sadly rather bland. I appreciate that it wasn't sudden and all-consuming - York seems pretty aware of the pitfalls of the genre she's writing in - but having London remark time after time how she really can't read Amber honestly feels a tad lazy. Since A doesn't get half the character development as London, or even her mother, does, it's hard to care about them maybe getting together. I would be lying if I said I hadn't expected more based on how true-to-life most of the other relationships feel in the book.
Followed by this gem:
"There is, oddly enough, nothing sexual about it. Intimate, yes. Sexual... not so much. I just want to touch her."
I mean, they're only 18! Of course nothing as crude as sexual desire could taint their beautiful, virginal love!
Oh, YA, secretly I'm just so over some of your quirks.
But overall, it does exactly what it sets out to do with surprising honesty and nuance. (BTW, I don't necessarily agree that there is bi-erasure in this novel - I think London had pretty good reasons for assuming what she did, and I really didn't see her assuming much to begin with. Not that this changes the fact that no one explicitly identifies as bi.
I had a few niggles with it, but based on York's acknowledgements and what she says she wanted to do with this story, I'd say she pretty much nailed it for the target audience. I enjoyed it a lot and wish there was more quality queer girl fluff out there - this was nice now, but would have been sorely needed in my life some years ago - but at the same time, I'm pretty excited to check out the author's darker works.
kovost's review against another edition
4.0
Oh man, this book was so cute but so dramatic and angsty.
I think the rating is about a 3.5, rounded up to 4.
It dealt with a lot of realistic situations, such as drug abuse, homophobia (in a small, conservative town as I live in one of those), friendships and sexuality. I definitely didn't have anything against any of the representation and how things were handled as it felt pretty damn close to how it would be handled in real life. The character development was beautiful, well-paced and heartwarming. The relationships were built on good foundations and a lot of them grew to be something beautiful.
I liked it a lot. I live for cute lesbians ok.
I think the rating is about a 3.5, rounded up to 4.
It dealt with a lot of realistic situations, such as drug abuse, homophobia (in a small, conservative town as I live in one of those), friendships and sexuality. I definitely didn't have anything against any of the representation and how things were handled as it felt pretty damn close to how it would be handled in real life. The character development was beautiful, well-paced and heartwarming. The relationships were built on good foundations and a lot of them grew to be something beautiful.
I liked it a lot. I live for cute lesbians ok.
Spoiler
And no unhappy ending!!bookends_68's review against another edition
5.0
so cute!!! can't believe I didn't read this sooner, I liked that it was kinda short because it meant I didn't get bored with the high school #drama aspect
karentje's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful and heart-warming coming of age story!!
London is a wonderful protagonist. I really enjoyed her positive attitude and the way she doesn’t hold grudges when people let her down. Looking at you there, Wade… She doesn’t have it easy figuring out how best to survive high school and be true to yourself at the same time. I almost felt giddy when she made certain wardrobe changes. Seems like a small enough thing, but it really wasn't. You go girl!
One of my favorite things about this story was the romance, of course. I’m all about the hearts and flowers, the butterfly’s and the angst. I absolutely loved seeing these two girls fall for each other. Love certainly caught London by surprise, and in the sweetest way! All the feels!
It took me awhile to warm up to Jazz, London’s sister, but she grew on me and in the end she was there for London when it really counted. There’s a pivotal scene in the book that brought actual tears to my eyes. London loves her sister very deeply, and vice versa, and is very protective of her. Being a big sister myself, I could really relate to that. I loved how their relationship and its importance was portrayed in the story.
The story ends on a high note and leaves you with a smile on your face. Loved it so so much.
London is a wonderful protagonist. I really enjoyed her positive attitude and the way she doesn’t hold grudges when people let her down. Looking at you there, Wade… She doesn’t have it easy figuring out how best to survive high school and be true to yourself at the same time. I almost felt giddy when she made certain wardrobe changes. Seems like a small enough thing, but it really wasn't. You go girl!
One of my favorite things about this story was the romance, of course. I’m all about the hearts and flowers, the butterfly’s and the angst. I absolutely loved seeing these two girls fall for each other. Love certainly caught London by surprise, and in the sweetest way! All the feels!
It took me awhile to warm up to Jazz, London’s sister, but she grew on me and in the end she was there for London when it really counted. There’s a pivotal scene in the book that brought actual tears to my eyes. London loves her sister very deeply, and vice versa, and is very protective of her. Being a big sister myself, I could really relate to that. I loved how their relationship and its importance was portrayed in the story.
The story ends on a high note and leaves you with a smile on your face. Loved it so so much.
heresthepencil's review against another edition
4.0
rep: lesbian mc, gay side character
i wish i could just rate components of this book instead of the book itself as a whole. because the characters? 5 stars. the plot ideas? 5 stars. the parent/child relationships? 5 stars. the wlw/mlm solidarity? a bazillion stars. (honestly, i loved it so much!!!) the softness of the ending? again, a bazillion stars.
but then there comes the writing and here is where my trouble lies. bc I've read kelley's later book and i know for a fact how well she writes, but "dirty london" is abt five years old and just.... not on that level yet. which isn't to say it's badly written?? it's not! it's rly good! but im still sitting here imagining how much better it would be if kelley wrote it now & it fucks with my brain.
word of advice: read people's books in chronological order of how they've written them. don't be like me.
i wish i could just rate components of this book instead of the book itself as a whole. because the characters? 5 stars. the plot ideas? 5 stars. the parent/child relationships? 5 stars. the wlw/mlm solidarity? a bazillion stars. (honestly, i loved it so much!!!) the softness of the ending? again, a bazillion stars.
but then there comes the writing and here is where my trouble lies. bc I've read kelley's later book and i know for a fact how well she writes, but "dirty london" is abt five years old and just.... not on that level yet. which isn't to say it's badly written?? it's not! it's rly good! but im still sitting here imagining how much better it would be if kelley wrote it now & it fucks with my brain.
word of advice: read people's books in chronological order of how they've written them. don't be like me.
asphaltmonkey's review
4.0
It was a more straightforward YA as compared to [b:Everything Leads to You|18667779|Everything Leads to You|Nina LaCour|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389744233s/18667779.jpg|25626888] - high school setting, relationships. I loved the relationship between London and Jazz. High school is a bitch, and teenagers are so cruel. I was so angry at some points on London's behalf, and the things that they put her through. But she's a fighter.
kovost's review
4.0
Oh man, this book was so cute but so dramatic and angsty.
I think the rating is about a 3.5, rounded up to 4.
It dealt with a lot of realistic situations, such as drug abuse, homophobia (in a small, conservative town as I live in one of those), friendships and sexuality. I definitely didn't have anything against any of the representation and how things were handled as it felt pretty damn close to how it would be handled in real life. The character development was beautiful, well-paced and heartwarming. The relationships were built on good foundations and a lot of them grew to be something beautiful.
I liked it a lot. I live for cute lesbians ok.
I think the rating is about a 3.5, rounded up to 4.
It dealt with a lot of realistic situations, such as drug abuse, homophobia (in a small, conservative town as I live in one of those), friendships and sexuality. I definitely didn't have anything against any of the representation and how things were handled as it felt pretty damn close to how it would be handled in real life. The character development was beautiful, well-paced and heartwarming. The relationships were built on good foundations and a lot of them grew to be something beautiful.
I liked it a lot. I live for cute lesbians ok.