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melancholymegs's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Biphobia, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Violence, and Alcohol
erins_bookshelf_'s review
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I've never read a book about a genderqueer character before so this was very interesting to me. I really liked it and it was really cool to see the point of view of a character like that, especially since it's an OwnVoices book. The storyline was really good and the representation of a couple other identities was really casual, but for a book like this that was definitely the best way to do it- showing that all identities are "normal". The drama was pretty good and the romance in this was sweet and soft, which is my favorite kind of romance to read because I''m not a fan of smutty stuff and they're just so fricking cute 🥰
I do kinda think the part when they arrest the transphobic/homophobic teacher (Johnson? Jackson? I can’t remember his name i wrote this review a little after I finished the book) that the sudden “hey wait he can’t teach he doesn’t have good credentials” wasn’t great since I’m not 100% sure how realistic that is…? I’m glad he got what he deserved but I think he would’ve gotten arrested for assaulting Carey in the human chain thing (idk maybe it’s more common to fake credentials than I thought).
I think this is definitely a good book to read if you're trying to read about more sexualities/identities of the LGBTQ+ community and if you're into reading about people coming together to make change.
I got this from my local library so I'm definitely going to be buying it soon because I need to own this book :)
I think this is definitely a good book to read if you're trying to read about more sexualities/identities of the LGBTQ+ community and if you're into reading about people coming together to make change.
I got this from my local library so I'm definitely going to be buying it soon because I need to own this book :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing and Violence
leahlovesloslibros's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
**Note: The MC in this book is genderqueer and alternates between using he/she/they pronouns; for this review, I will use they/them pronouns to refer to Carey.**
Carey identifies as genderqueer. They are an incredibly talented singer who longs to be a famous performer like their icon, Mariah Carey. Along with the "normal teen drama," they also regularly face discrimination and homophobic incidents at school. Combined with their grandmother's battle with dementia at home, Carey is struggling to make it through senior year. When auditions come for their high school musical, Carey wants to audition for the main character, Elphaba, who is traditionally played by a woman. After an encounter with a swoon-worthy classmate and several conversations with their supportive friends and family, Carey finds the confidence to audition for the lead role, which makes them a huge target of ridicule in their high school, and sparks a movement bigger than they could have ever anticipated.
I adored this book; it gave me all the feels. Carey's friend group is the most supportive group of individuals - what you can only hope for in a group of best friends. They have a fiercely supportive mother as well, whose unwavering love for her child is what all queer individuals hope for, but not all are so lucky to have. The rapid decline of Carey's grandmother in her battle with Alzheimer's is something that, sadly, I can sadly relate to, but I love that her character is written as Carey's main inspiration for their singing and performing.
Throughout the book there are many traumatic events that occur, some on-page and some just referenced. At times, it did seem a little bit too perfect how everything got wrapped up so nicely, but even so I still loved reading how the characters handled each and every curveball that was thrown their way. Without giving too much away, the ending seemed a little bit predictable, but I'm not complaining as it was pretty much everything I wanted in an ending, especially in a standalone novel.
I think it's really important that we see queer books that showcase both the struggles that LGBTQIAP+ individuals go through as well as the triumphs, and this book definitely had both. I read a library copy of this book and will purchasing my own copy ASAP. Additionally, I have already put Salvatore's next book on my TBR, and it doesn't even come out until next year. If you like musicals, queer romance, and activism, this book is for you.
Rep: non-binary MC, Filipino-American bisexual love interest, gay SC, pansexual black SC, Latina lesbian SC
Carey identifies as genderqueer. They are an incredibly talented singer who longs to be a famous performer like their icon, Mariah Carey. Along with the "normal teen drama," they also regularly face discrimination and homophobic incidents at school. Combined with their grandmother's battle with dementia at home, Carey is struggling to make it through senior year. When auditions come for their high school musical, Carey wants to audition for the main character, Elphaba, who is traditionally played by a woman. After an encounter with a swoon-worthy classmate and several conversations with their supportive friends and family, Carey finds the confidence to audition for the lead role, which makes them a huge target of ridicule in their high school, and sparks a movement bigger than they could have ever anticipated.
I adored this book; it gave me all the feels. Carey's friend group is the most supportive group of individuals - what you can only hope for in a group of best friends. They have a fiercely supportive mother as well, whose unwavering love for her child is what all queer individuals hope for, but not all are so lucky to have. The rapid decline of Carey's grandmother in her battle with Alzheimer's is something that, sadly, I can sadly relate to, but I love that her character is written as Carey's main inspiration for their singing and performing.
Throughout the book there are many traumatic events that occur, some on-page and some just referenced. At times, it did seem a little bit too perfect how everything got wrapped up so nicely, but even so I still loved reading how the characters handled each and every curveball that was thrown their way. Without giving too much away, the ending seemed a little bit predictable, but I'm not complaining as it was pretty much everything I wanted in an ending, especially in a standalone novel.
I think it's really important that we see queer books that showcase both the struggles that LGBTQIAP+ individuals go through as well as the triumphs, and this book definitely had both. I read a library copy of this book and will purchasing my own copy ASAP. Additionally, I have already put Salvatore's next book on my TBR, and it doesn't even come out until next year. If you like musicals, queer romance, and activism, this book is for you.
Rep: non-binary MC, Filipino-American bisexual love interest, gay SC, pansexual black SC, Latina lesbian SC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Biphobia, Cancer, Infidelity, and Misogyny
Additional TW/CW: misgendering, gender dysphoria, family member with Alzheimer's, death of a grandparent, strained parent relationship, brief Harry Potter reference, assault **Note: There is also one [side] character named Dr. Potter who makes many appearances and is often referenced, which may be triggering to some readers.**imstephtacular's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Hate crime
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
Minor: Death
kp_writ's review
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Dementia, Death, and Bullying
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Gun violence, and Adult/minor relationship
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for an advanced copy of this book to review! While this book was tough to read at times, given what Carey has to go through as a genderqueer teen, I still think it’s an important story to add to the YA genre. Plus, reading about music and musicals is always an added bonus.
Let me start by saving Salvatore's writing is fantastic. They suck you in with Carey's story and the voice throughout the book is phenomenal. Carey (he/she/them, I use they/them for the purpose of this review) feels so realistic and almost leaps off the page. Carey's friends are also well-rounded, giving the reader a full cast of diverse characters. This was probably my favorite aspect of the book overall.
However, while Cris and Carey's relationship felt mostly realistic, it does get a little tiring by the end. It's messy and back and forth, which totally fits a teen relationship. But the miscommunication, I felt, went on a little too long for the book. Mostly, the pacing for that aspect of the plot felt a little off to me. The rest of the plot, however, does feel right pacing wise.
Going in, readers should also be warned that there is a lot of queer trauma in this book. There are also mentions of suicide and suicide ideation. The main antagonist, Mr. Jackson, is one still seen too often in schools and the ending in relation to him felt a little too convenient. And maybe not quite realistic? It just didn't quite fit with the rest of the story.
All in all, if you're someone that reads for voice and character, I absolutely recommend this book for that. And the musical references! There's a playlist at the end of the book I really appreciated, too. Can't wait to see what else Salvatore comes up with!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Dementia, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Cursing
Carey is also mis-gendered quite a few times throughout the book.
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