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4.5 stars
multiple trans protagonists!! neopronouns!! supportive family!! normalizing being unsure of ur gender/pronouns and quickly adjusting when they change!!!!!! this was truly a delightful book with a narrative voice so smooth and unique, it was a challenge to tear myself away. i'm only deducting half a point because there really was a lot going on in the book which i think led to some characters/storylines falling somewhat flat (and it's also worth noting that the plot was a very different than what the blurb led me to believe). my main concerns were: i wish there'd been more of a steady build-up with drew so we could get more of a sense of who he is before he and noah start constantly making out, and i also wish there'd been more of a resolution with becca. it didn't seem like noah gave her the space or genuine apology she was looking for, so i was kind of surprised when they both just moved on. i love love LOVE devin though and think e and noah were such lovely and well-developed characters <3 i definitely recommend giving this a read!!
multiple trans protagonists!! neopronouns!! supportive family!! normalizing being unsure of ur gender/pronouns and quickly adjusting when they change!!!!!! this was truly a delightful book with a narrative voice so smooth and unique, it was a challenge to tear myself away. i'm only deducting half a point because there really was a lot going on in the book which i think led to some characters/storylines falling somewhat flat (and it's also worth noting that the plot was a very different than what the blurb led me to believe). my main concerns were: i wish there'd been more of a steady build-up with drew so we could get more of a sense of who he is before he and noah start constantly making out, and i also wish there'd been more of a resolution with becca. it didn't seem like noah gave her the space or genuine apology she was looking for, so i was kind of surprised when they both just moved on. i love love LOVE devin though and think e and noah were such lovely and well-developed characters <3 i definitely recommend giving this a read!!
Why does a trans person constantly feel the need to make observations about other people's bodies? "Her lips were the thinnest in the world but she made it work with lip gloss"?! Seriously, wtf.
*e-arc provided by Netgalley and the publisher*
This was not at all what I expected, and I was so pleasantly surprised by the turn it took! It follows Noah, a trans boy navigating first loves, new jobs, and a new city over the course of a summer.
The writing of this story is very easy to read, very simple. I felt like a friend was telling me the story, it was so real to teenage feelings. Noah was a pretty flawed protagonist, sometimes I was angry at him for how he acted, but I never liked him as a character any less.
I think the highlight of this book, for me at least, is Devin, a camp counselor Noah befriends over the summer. E was so kind and e really made the turn of the stories plot seem realistic. (Also, the inclusion of a non binary character that experiments with pronouns and identities was SO VERY appreciated, love to feel repped in a book) I really loved the setting of the novel, the camp-summer vibe was perfect for this time of year, and it reminded me of my time as a camp leader.
Noah's relationship with his blog didn't interest me as much as his relationship with the other characters did, but I really appreciated what it represented for Noah and his followers. I almost wish something like that existed irl!
The highlights: Neopronouns! The romance! The friendship! The brother relationship! The humor!
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I highly encourage everyone to pick it up when it comes out next month!
This was not at all what I expected, and I was so pleasantly surprised by the turn it took! It follows Noah, a trans boy navigating first loves, new jobs, and a new city over the course of a summer.
The writing of this story is very easy to read, very simple. I felt like a friend was telling me the story, it was so real to teenage feelings. Noah was a pretty flawed protagonist, sometimes I was angry at him for how he acted, but I never liked him as a character any less.
I think the highlight of this book, for me at least, is Devin, a camp counselor Noah befriends over the summer. E was so kind and e really made the turn of the stories plot seem realistic. (Also, the inclusion of a non binary character that experiments with pronouns and identities was SO VERY appreciated, love to feel repped in a book) I really loved the setting of the novel, the camp-summer vibe was perfect for this time of year, and it reminded me of my time as a camp leader.
Noah's relationship with his blog didn't interest me as much as his relationship with the other characters did, but I really appreciated what it represented for Noah and his followers. I almost wish something like that existed irl!
The highlights: Neopronouns! The romance! The friendship! The brother relationship! The humor!
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I highly encourage everyone to pick it up when it comes out next month!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Moderate: Transphobia
First reviewed with thanks to Harper360 on Pretty Little Memoirs.
Noah, our MC, has been under the impression that he’s a complete virtuoso in the art of romance, but spoiler alert, he isn’t. On his blog, “The Meet Cute Diary”, he details a collection of trans happy ever afters, stories that are supposed to be based on truth. But all of them are fake, and after a mishap where a troll exposes him, Noah’s faux world of happiness is in turmoil. He realises the only way to actually get some kind of rebound from this is and save the Diary is to somehow prove they are real.
When Drew walks into Noah’s life in a magnetic kind of way as though fate were playing it’s hand, Noah thinks everything is finally going to be okay. Drew says he will “fake date” Noah so that they can save the Diary together. But then, obviously due to their connection, Noah’s fake feelings become very real. But because Noah has only known the fake kind of love, reality suddenly feels very surreal – and panic sets in as he realizes that he has no idea how to be in love.
Overall, this book made me melt. It was the kind of read that was easy and kept me turning pages for two days, immersing me in a world so comfortable that time seemed to slow. Although at times I felt Noah was quite self-centered and had a few bad habits (like being judgemental) that made him feel slightly unlikeable, he definitely redeemed himself by the ending. The author has written something that feels like a love letter to the Trans community, and I know this book will be beloved by so, so many people. Meet Cute Diary is a beautiful four-star novel that’s perfect for summer reading and young love.
Noah, our MC, has been under the impression that he’s a complete virtuoso in the art of romance, but spoiler alert, he isn’t. On his blog, “The Meet Cute Diary”, he details a collection of trans happy ever afters, stories that are supposed to be based on truth. But all of them are fake, and after a mishap where a troll exposes him, Noah’s faux world of happiness is in turmoil. He realises the only way to actually get some kind of rebound from this is and save the Diary is to somehow prove they are real.
When Drew walks into Noah’s life in a magnetic kind of way as though fate were playing it’s hand, Noah thinks everything is finally going to be okay. Drew says he will “fake date” Noah so that they can save the Diary together. But then, obviously due to their connection, Noah’s fake feelings become very real. But because Noah has only known the fake kind of love, reality suddenly feels very surreal – and panic sets in as he realizes that he has no idea how to be in love.
Overall, this book made me melt. It was the kind of read that was easy and kept me turning pages for two days, immersing me in a world so comfortable that time seemed to slow. Although at times I felt Noah was quite self-centered and had a few bad habits (like being judgemental) that made him feel slightly unlikeable, he definitely redeemed himself by the ending. The author has written something that feels like a love letter to the Trans community, and I know this book will be beloved by so, so many people. Meet Cute Diary is a beautiful four-star novel that’s perfect for summer reading and young love.
The main character was insufferable , entitled and like had 0 character growth. Noah get a fucking job.
Devin you deserve better
Devin you deserve better
Pretty cute! It was a little bland, but an overall very sweet read. It was pretty cliche though
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love the friend to lovers trope! I was very worried we wouldn’t get enough development for the main ship, but I still loved it so much!!
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Vomit
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Alcohol, Dysphoria
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Outing
This story is going to be important to and well loved by so many people and I loved seeing all the trans joy and representation here—especially the way it handled gender exploration, which I haven't seen much of in YA as it's presented here—but the execution of the story itself didn't work for me quite as much as I wanted it to. Even so, I loved the concept of Meet Cute Diary and the strong character voice throughout, so I'm definitely looking forward to whatever Emery Lee writes next.
Noah is the most annoying, entitled, childish character I've ever read and I can't stand him.