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sofiaxaguilar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Bullying, Chronic illness, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Vomit
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
2.0
This was rather a disappointment. Everyone in the book community was raving about this book recently, and I had high hopes based on what I'd heard about this. The first few chapters failed to grip me, though, if not for extreme curiosity to find out what made this book stand out to people, I would have dnfed it. Only after I got halfway through did I seem to enjoy myself while reading this, because the plot had finally picked up. Let's talk about the plot however; it was a string of unimaginative clichés piled on top of one another. Now I understand the author was probably trying to make a point here, using well-known tropes and plot devices but putting them in a story about people who don't usually get the spotlight they deserve. I wholeheartedly appreciate and encourage books with sapphic relationships and poc main leads, also (and maybe even especially) when they're cute, fluffy, hopeful young adult books. But the predictability and absolute lack of subtilty in this one did not provide me anything of real substance to love and envelop myself in, and this was worsened by the fact that none of the characters were fleshed out or nuanced, at all. I could not root for any of them, because they felt like copy-and-paste archetypes. Yet again, I can see the reason for it, I really do, but that does not mean that your characters should be boring. I felt like loads of side-characters got introduced only to play absolutely no important role in the narrative and it made me wonder why they were there at all.
There was an antagonist who was just plain evil. No character depth, no real addition to the story except to provide the nessicary dramatic turmoil here and there, and it made me figuratively roll my eyes. I mean, really? I expected more from you.
Personally I also didn't click with the writing style very much. It was very un-literary and gave me the impression that I was reading a wattpad fanfiction or a rough draft (no shame on wattpad fanfiction! but they often barely have any description of atmosphere and focus solely on the character interactions, which is why I draw the comparisation). This was unfortunate for me, because there was not anything else that could redeem this reading experience for me, since I already did not care for the plot or characters.
Now, on to the good things! Because yes, I did think this was not a problematic or even a very bad book.
I want to be clear that this rating is almost entirely based on my own opinions, but I might still recommend it to you if you feel like giving it a try.
The romance was cute. I didn't think it was swoonworthy, which for me had something to do with the build up and interactions between them prior to them getting together- I wanted more tension, obvious sparks, some pining, a few 'are-they-gonna-kiss-now?' moments.
The friendship between the mc and her male best friend was really nice and sweet (allthough, the whole discourse was s t u p i d as hell. I mean, I get that the letter got lost and bla bla bla but SERIOUSLY? you are gonna pretend like you didn't have one thousand opportunities to talk to each other and apologise in FOUR YEARS? that makes zero sense to me. It would imply that Jason was a huge coward but all his behaviour from te moment on that he is introduced to us suggests otherwise? Make it make sense. ).
Overall, though? I expected more from this book, these characters, and the relationships between them.
I don't regret reading it, but it is not my cup of tea.
There was an antagonist who was just plain evil. No character depth, no real addition to the story except to provide the nessicary dramatic turmoil here and there, and it made me figuratively roll my eyes. I mean, really? I expected more from you.
Personally I also didn't click with the writing style very much. It was very un-literary and gave me the impression that I was reading a wattpad fanfiction or a rough draft (no shame on wattpad fanfiction! but they often barely have any description of atmosphere and focus solely on the character interactions, which is why I draw the comparisation). This was unfortunate for me, because there was not anything else that could redeem this reading experience for me, since I already did not care for the plot or characters.
Now, on to the good things! Because yes, I did think this was not a problematic or even a very bad book.
I want to be clear that this rating is almost entirely based on my own opinions, but I might still recommend it to you if you feel like giving it a try.
The romance was cute. I didn't think it was swoonworthy, which for me had something to do with the build up and interactions between them prior to them getting together- I wanted more tension, obvious sparks, some pining, a few 'are-they-gonna-kiss-now?' moments.
The friendship between the mc and her male best friend was really nice and sweet (
Overall, though? I expected more from this book, these characters, and the relationships between them.
I don't regret reading it, but it is not my cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Bullying, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
parent death,laurasbestlife's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The first read of 2021 was fabulous. I loved this story of a Black girl in small town Indiana who ran for prom queen against her personal better judgement so that she could win a scholarship and go to her dream school. The relationship development between not only her and her crush, Mack, but also her friendships with Gabby and Jordan and her brother were the best type of YA, with all the typical high school drama just for fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Medical content, Vomit, and Homophobia
quasinaut's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Liz Lighty is wonderful. A delightful story about getting out of your shell and learning who you can rely on when you feel like you don't fit in in an Indiana town where everyone is obsessed with all things prom.
I would have liked to get to know some of the side characters and their stories more -- Liz's grandparents, Britt, Quinn, Emme -- but I'm also glad the story didn't get distracted from Liz and her perspective of the world. There's a lot she misses because she's focused on her problems, which is super realistic for a teenager dealing with some Big Stuff in her life!
I would have liked to get to know some of the side characters and their stories more -- Liz's grandparents, Britt, Quinn, Emme -- but I'm also glad the story didn't get distracted from Liz and her perspective of the world. There's a lot she misses because she's focused on her problems, which is super realistic for a teenager dealing with some Big Stuff in her life!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Death, Medical content, and Vomit
megj23's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
Forced Outingalexture's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
On m'avait dit "roman à scénario de comédie romantique avec deux lycéennes qui tombent amoureuses", j'ai pas attendu, j'ai signé. Et cette fois, j'ai bien fait ! Gros coup de cœur sur ce roman, à l'histoire simple et feel-good, malgré pas mal d'histoires imbriquées bien plus sombres sur le racisme (Liz est noire), les maladies (la mère de l'héroïne est morte de la drépanocytose et son petit frère en est atteint), l'homophobie, les relations amicales au lycée ou encore les crises d'angoisse, auxquelles Liz est sujette. C'était plus profond que ce que j'attendais, tout en gardant exactement ce que j'avais voulu lire. J'avoue, j'ai pleuré à la fin !
Je ne peux que recommander ce roman, en espérant qu'il sera bientôt traduit en français !
Je ne peux que recommander ce roman, en espérant qu'il sera bientôt traduit en français !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Vomit
dulcie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Medical content
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Chronic illness, Grief, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
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