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joensign's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism and Outing
teabrewer's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
First, I have to recognize this was written to highschool aged teens, so I'm not it's demographic. This is about my experience, I'm sure this is someone's 5 star book and there are scenes here that could have changed my life if I read this when I was younger. That taken into consideration, the first part of this book felt to me like a watered down mix between a 90's teen romcom and The Inheritence Games, and that's not a compliment. Middle of this book is more interesting, showing characters discovering themselves and exploring both gender and orientation. The end of the book just decides to reprise the musical The Prom. And that's not a good thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Transphobia, and Racism
em_of_swags's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
ok so I actually really loved this??
while I found Chloe annoying at first, I've really grown attached to all those little gay characters.
this should kinda be mandatory reading for queer high schoolers who feel let down by the world
um also Smith's gender exploration got me gasping and giggling and kicking my feet fr
while I found Chloe annoying at first, I've really grown attached to all those little gay characters.
this should kinda be mandatory reading for queer high schoolers who feel let down by the world
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Transphobia, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Outing, and Bullying
violetbooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
lunep's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Biphobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Death, Racism, Infidelity, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, and Alcohol
joensign's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Minor: Outing and Racism
jachnax's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
3.25
I didnt get this book until i was like 70% in. The writing was also not really doing it for me. I liked it overall but it had flaws for me and its not a fav.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Sexism, Racism, and Outing
icarusandthesun's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
reading this book felt like an eternity; the longest 355 pages i've ever read, but i didn't hate it at all.
i'm usually not a big fan of young adult and ya romances, but this was one of those pleasant exceptions.
the characters were likable and funny; especially chloe who essentially just roasted the hell out of most of these characters. her unflinchingly unfiltered opinions were quite entertaining. never before have i read someone refer to someone else as an "indie soft boy" in a book before, but turns out that's exactly what i needed in my life.
besides chloe, the other characters were fine as well. i thought rory was good vibes, and also really relatable because who doesn't want a couple of expensive stratoscasters on their wall??
i'm gonna be honest here and say that half of the time, i had no idea where the plot was going. the plot was a mellow rollercoaster and i was just in there enjoying the ride, wherever it might take me.
as the plot and conflict neared their climax though, i became more and more unconvinved.
i didn't really like how the conflict was resolved.it didn't strike me as very realistic that every single important character would end up realizing they're queer. the jock, the stoner guy, the popular girl—all of their conflicts were rooted in the fact they're denying their being queer in one way or another. which is a little silly, not gonna lie, because it felt anticlimactic. shara started this whole mystery scavenger hunt just because she's an attention-seeking coward who can't deal with the fact she likes girls? what??
i wasn't a big fan of rory's and smith's relationship arc, either. it was esentially just fanservice for all the yaoi obsessed girlies (and i mean that in the most gender-neutral way) who believe two dudes can't have an intimate relationship with each other that's not romantic. simply didn't feel realistic.
i still enjoyed the book though, more because of the language and dialogue than the plot to be honest, but that's alright.
it was also really interesting to explore these themes in a christian small-town school typa setting.
a queer, lighthearted read.
i'm usually not a big fan of young adult and ya romances, but this was one of those pleasant exceptions.
the characters were likable and funny; especially chloe who essentially just roasted the hell out of most of these characters. her unflinchingly unfiltered opinions were quite entertaining. never before have i read someone refer to someone else as an "indie soft boy" in a book before, but turns out that's exactly what i needed in my life.
besides chloe, the other characters were fine as well. i thought rory was good vibes, and also really relatable because who doesn't want a couple of expensive stratoscasters on their wall??
i'm gonna be honest here and say that half of the time, i had no idea where the plot was going. the plot was a mellow rollercoaster and i was just in there enjoying the ride, wherever it might take me.
as the plot and conflict neared their climax though, i became more and more unconvinved.
i didn't really like how the conflict was resolved.
i wasn't a big fan of rory's and smith's relationship arc, either. it was esentially just fanservice for all the yaoi obsessed girlies (and i mean that in the most gender-neutral way) who believe two dudes can't have an intimate relationship with each other that's not romantic. simply didn't feel realistic.
i still enjoyed the book though, more because of the language and dialogue than the plot to be honest, but that's alright.
it was also really interesting to explore these themes in a christian small-town school typa setting.
a queer, lighthearted read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Transphobia
itsheyfay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I found it hard to root for the main couple just because they were both kinda awful people, and I really didn’t like Chloe as the lead character (but that may be due to the audiobook).
But I really liked how McQuiston wrote the friendships and developed the characters.
Not too bad for a YA romance, and not too bad for my first Casey McQuiston novel.
But I really liked how McQuiston wrote the friendships and developed the characters.
Not too bad for a YA romance, and not too bad for my first Casey McQuiston novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Transphobia, Cursing, Ableism, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Death, Racism, and Cancer
katndrsn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Outing, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia