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vaniavela's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
Late to the Party is a novel about friendship, self-discovery and experiencing things for the first time in your life.
Codi is an introverted American lesbian teenager. But after befriending a popular boy she decides it's time for a new change.
I really enjoyed this book. I feel that the author managed to capture a stage of adolescence. That feeling of falling in love, the silly laughs, the awkward moments, the arguments, the embarrassments.
I would say that this is a character-driven novel, which I love. The characters are complex, though some are more three-dimensional than others, which makes them seem real. Codi was a character that grew as the story progressed and I enjoyed reading that development of personality and self-confidence. Reading how she started to stand up for herself and raise her voice was a great step. I love that she's openly lesbian and her sexuality isn't necessarily the central plot. There's a lot of representation; there are lgbtq+ characters in the book, and I liked the mention and attention brought to certain issues in society regarding them, like there are girls who kiss each other to get attention from boys and about how bad that is.
I love reading about lgbtq+ romances, especially ones that aren't solely focused on coming out and fighting against homophobic society. I loved reading a very tender wlw romance. I love seeing people in the community have happy endings, it makes me feel like I can have that too.
One problem I had was that I had a hard time picturing what some of the characters looked like, since not enough information was given when they were introduced in the plot. So I spent half the time imagining them to my liking.
Another problem was the need to make the characters drink so often. I got the feeling that it came across as the only fun and cool thing they could do. It makes it seem like being teenagers is just that, or that to come out of your shell you need to party and drink.
Mind you, I really liked the romance between Lydia and Codi. I loved how they fell in love with each other. They were so adorable and cute.
Overall, I loved the book. I personally would have changed a few things, but I definitely recommend it to others.
content warnings | drug and alcohol use
representation | lesbian mc, bisexual panamanian major character, two gay black major characters, bisexual side characters
Codi is an introverted American lesbian teenager. But after befriending a popular boy she decides it's time for a new change.
I really enjoyed this book. I feel that the author managed to capture a stage of adolescence. That feeling of falling in love, the silly laughs, the awkward moments, the arguments, the embarrassments.
I would say that this is a character-driven novel, which I love. The characters are complex, though some are more three-dimensional than others, which makes them seem real. Codi was a character that grew as the story progressed and I enjoyed reading that development of personality and self-confidence. Reading how she started to stand up for herself and raise her voice was a great step. I love that she's openly lesbian and her sexuality isn't necessarily the central plot. There's a lot of representation; there are lgbtq+ characters in the book, and I liked the mention and attention brought to certain issues in society regarding them, like there are girls who kiss each other to get attention from boys and about how bad that is.
I love reading about lgbtq+ romances, especially ones that aren't solely focused on coming out and fighting against homophobic society. I loved reading a very tender wlw romance. I love seeing people in the community have happy endings, it makes me feel like I can have that too.
One problem I had was that I had a hard time picturing what some of the characters looked like, since not enough information was given when they were introduced in the plot. So I spent half the time imagining them to my liking.
Another problem was the need to make the characters drink so often. I got the feeling that it came across as the only fun and cool thing they could do. It makes it seem like being teenagers is just that, or that to come out of your shell you need to party and drink.
Mind you, I really liked the romance between Lydia and Codi. I loved how they fell in love with each other. They were so adorable and cute.
Overall, I loved the book. I personally would have changed a few things, but I definitely recommend it to others.
content warnings | drug and alcohol use
representation | lesbian mc, bisexual panamanian major character, two gay black major characters, bisexual side characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug use
Moderate: Biphobia and Cursing
aspring's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i adored this book and no words i say about it will ever be enough. this was beautiful and made me feel so warm. the new found family was so important in this novel but so was the family that got left behind. the ending was so satisfying and the characters all felt like i could reach out and hug them. i loved how everyone had their own story and own battle and wowowowow i loved it so much. i almost cried several times but mostly i was hiding my grin behind my hands to stop looking like a maniac on the bus. read this. it helped me fall in love with being alive just that little bit more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug use
Moderate: Cursing
akuatsu's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Late to the Party is a contemporary novel that tells about Codi Teller, who is questioning her wallflower status.
I devoured 65% of this book in one day, this was hard to put down as I’m currently facing the same problem as Codi as I see myself in her. I feel like I’m becoming less happy with my current friends. I love having some adventure, I want to start exploring more in my life with new friends, new everything. Besides that, I really loved Codi and Ricky's friendship and how their first encounter managed to change each other's lives.
This was fun to read, the writing was easy to understand, and reading this book at the right time makes me feel so happy but emotional at the same time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
lily1304's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Very YA - I was a little disappointed that the primary conflict is the main character keeping up a dumb lie that she knows is dumb. I feel like that's the main conflict in a lot of lighthearted, realistic YA. But it's a cute story about trying to redefine and reinvent yourself, and how friends can help or hinder that. It gave me warm fuzzies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
emabooks's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
librariangeorgia's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Biphobia, and Homophobia
toriplen13's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
amo cuando los libros coming of age me dan una nueva perspectiva para enfrentar mi propia vida, Late to the Party fue hermoso y todo lo que necesitaba
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
flora_araruna's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug use
wonderlandbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug abuse
Moderate: Biphobia and Homophobia
nothingrhymeswithrachel's review
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
There was not a single unlikeable character in this book. Every single person had flaws, like normal people would. I love Kelly Quindlen’s writing. She manages to make the people in her stories seem real, it’s wonderful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Outing, and Panic attacks/disorders