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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Noah's a shithead but I'm here for it - you will always have friends like this, and you might be the person like this.
I enjoyed the coincidence of Drew knowing about the Meet Cute Diary, and have seen and experienced similarly unlikely internet things before as well.
In fact, all the characters have some pretty awful flaws in how they treat each other, except... if they don't, it's because they treat themselves like dirt in response to how they feel the world's treated them. So I enjoyed how flawed everyone was. Emery isn't afraid of making you dislike something the main character says or does, and romance is only a part of life - there's so many other realizations that Noah's going to need to uncover to become a better person. It's pretty uncommon to become a better, evolved, ideal self, in one's lifetime, let alone over a summer.
I feel as though people criticizing the flaws, the brattiness, the entitlement that Noah has, were expecting, or wanting, a perspective they could mistake for their own, and Noah is an absolute rejection of that - you're a spectator in his mind, this is not a story for self-insertion, as fun and nice as those stories are. I was captivated by Noah's interesting voice and sense of direction in thought and behaviour that I absolutely could not relate to, but that I could understand seeing through his eyes. The internal dialogue was honestly a joy, which I frequently don't even notice in a lot of other first person narratives.
Noah might be insufferable, but he's still fun as hell. I wonder if I'd be able to write a character like him - a perspective that's clearly different from mine.
Plot narrative was also... slightly formulaic, but, it hid its intentions quite well, and the clues are there and sparse.
I probably won't recommend this book too often due to its "love-it or hate-it" nature.
I enjoyed the coincidence of Drew knowing about the Meet Cute Diary, and have seen and experienced similarly unlikely internet things before as well.
In fact, all the characters have some pretty awful flaws in how they treat each other, except... if they don't, it's because they treat themselves like dirt in response to how they feel the world's treated them. So I enjoyed how flawed everyone was. Emery isn't afraid of making you dislike something the main character says or does, and romance is only a part of life - there's so many other realizations that Noah's going to need to uncover to become a better person. It's pretty uncommon to become a better, evolved, ideal self, in one's lifetime, let alone over a summer.
I feel as though people criticizing the flaws, the brattiness, the entitlement that Noah has, were expecting, or wanting, a perspective they could mistake for their own, and Noah is an absolute rejection of that - you're a spectator in his mind, this is not a story for self-insertion, as fun and nice as those stories are. I was captivated by Noah's interesting voice and sense of direction in thought and behaviour that I absolutely could not relate to, but that I could understand seeing through his eyes. The internal dialogue was honestly a joy, which I frequently don't even notice in a lot of other first person narratives.
Noah might be insufferable, but he's still fun as hell. I wonder if I'd be able to write a character like him - a perspective that's clearly different from mine.
Plot narrative was also... slightly formulaic, but, it hid its intentions quite well, and the clues are there and sparse.
I probably won't recommend this book too often due to its "love-it or hate-it" nature.
Meet Cute Diary is a story about trans love and showing that love is not just about the meet cute. This books has amazing LGBT+ representation perfect for Pride Month.
I love the representation in the book. I couldn’t finish because the main character is insufferable.
Creo que lo habría disfrutado más si el prota tuviera "las grandes revelaciones" sobre sus relaciones antes y pudiera ver un poco más del desarrollo del personaje después de eso.
So… I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded really cute, there was going to be fake dating (which i love) and also, trans rep! But when i closed the book, I was just disappointed.
First of all, I feel like I was lied to, that the story I was sold and the story I got are 2 different stories. And there is nothing wrong with the second story but that’s not what I was sold. I was sold on a cute fake dating romance with a trans man as the main character. What I got is a story that subverts the fake dating trope and talks about toxic relationship and it really isn’t a cute romcom. And that second story is fine in itself, it’s more about Noah figuring out romance outside of the fantasy he has in his head but again, that wasn’t the book I was told I was going to read.
Second, Noah was kinda annoying. He was very entitled which was the worst thing about him. Like he spend 400$ in a week and then was upset when his parents cut his money? Dude! I grew up relatively well off and my mom would never have let me spend that much money in a week without a VERY GOOD reason. And then he acts so exasperated by the fact that he needs to get a job, which is only a result of his own actions. He is also very self centered which would not have bothered me if he kinda grew out of it but he never really did.
The romance was alright I supposed. Obviously Drew and Noah weren’t good for each other so this relationship wasn’t cute and I enjoyed that aspect of the book (even if I was expecting a more traditional fake dating romance). I like to see how Drew and Noah’s relationship got toxic. I thought this part was well done. And Devin and Noah were cute but I feel their relationship wasn’t given enough space to grow. But it was cute and Devin was a good character. And the fact that e uses neopronoun was pretty cool, that’s the first time i see that in a book and that was very neat.
And finally, the whole meet cute diary blog drama made 0 sense to me. First, I am a tumblr users and "comments" aren’t really a thing there, you either like post or reblog them and you can add something to the post but it’s not "comment" the way people means it online, which is pretty nitpicky but that bothered me a lot. But even without that, the whole drama made no sense: so Noah has this blog for trans meet cute but he makes everything up. But every story are mlm teens with a trans boy and he writes everything in Miami, how did anyone never figured out it was fake? And why didn’t he just open submissions in the first place, it’s very easy on tumblr! I don’t get it
So yeah, that was disappointing. It wasn’t horrible though like I know the review is pretty negative so far but there was good things. Most of the characters were good and even if Noah annoyed me, I didn’t hate him either. The whole summer camp thing was cute and I kinda wish we had dropped the whole fake dating thing to focus on that instead. But yeah, overall it was disappointing.
First of all, I feel like I was lied to, that the story I was sold and the story I got are 2 different stories. And there is nothing wrong with the second story but that’s not what I was sold. I was sold on a cute fake dating romance with a trans man as the main character. What I got is a story that subverts the fake dating trope and talks about toxic relationship and it really isn’t a cute romcom. And that second story is fine in itself, it’s more about Noah figuring out romance outside of the fantasy he has in his head but again, that wasn’t the book I was told I was going to read.
Second, Noah was kinda annoying. He was very entitled which was the worst thing about him. Like he spend 400$ in a week and then was upset when his parents cut his money? Dude! I grew up relatively well off and my mom would never have let me spend that much money in a week without a VERY GOOD reason. And then he acts so exasperated by the fact that he needs to get a job, which is only a result of his own actions. He is also very self centered which would not have bothered me if he kinda grew out of it but he never really did.
The romance was alright I supposed. Obviously Drew and Noah weren’t good for each other so this relationship wasn’t cute and I enjoyed that aspect of the book (even if I was expecting a more traditional fake dating romance). I like to see how Drew and Noah’s relationship got toxic. I thought this part was well done. And Devin and Noah were cute but I feel their relationship wasn’t given enough space to grow. But it was cute and Devin was a good character. And the fact that e uses neopronoun was pretty cool, that’s the first time i see that in a book and that was very neat.
And finally, the whole meet cute diary blog drama made 0 sense to me. First, I am a tumblr users and "comments" aren’t really a thing there, you either like post or reblog them and you can add something to the post but it’s not "comment" the way people means it online, which is pretty nitpicky but that bothered me a lot. But even without that, the whole drama made no sense: so Noah has this blog for trans meet cute but he makes everything up. But every story are mlm teens with a trans boy and he writes everything in Miami, how did anyone never figured out it was fake? And why didn’t he just open submissions in the first place, it’s very easy on tumblr! I don’t get it
So yeah, that was disappointing. It wasn’t horrible though like I know the review is pretty negative so far but there was good things. Most of the characters were good and even if Noah annoyed me, I didn’t hate him either. The whole summer camp thing was cute and I kinda wish we had dropped the whole fake dating thing to focus on that instead. But yeah, overall it was disappointing.
Delightful. Sweet. And gives teens such a lovely look at what it means to explore identities and pronouns for as long as it takes to find what fits.
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed this book, but definitely would have enjoyed it more if I were a teen reading it (such is the consequence of reading YA as an adult). But come on, a cute trans love story? No way was I passing that up.
My biggest issue (that I see many other reviewers agree with) is how unlikable the main character, Noah, is. Having actually finished the book, I did appreciate the author's attempt to give Noah a character arc where he overcomes how selfish he is, but it felt unjustified. I feel like everyone forgave him maybe a little too easily? I know the goal was to make Noah unlikable at the start, but I think Emery Lee did it a bit too well.
I also had trouble suspending disbelief when it came to the blog. All the problems in the novel would have been fixed by the blog being one about anonymous submissions. My 2011 tumblr heart couldn't take it.
I recommended this to my sister (13 yo), as I think she'd enjoy it much more. This is a YA book that definitely suits the YA demographic, moreso than others.
I would still read more by this author, and I cannot wait to see what other romcoms they come up with next.
My biggest issue (that I see many other reviewers agree with) is how unlikable the main character, Noah, is. Having actually finished the book, I did appreciate the author's attempt to give Noah a character arc where he overcomes how selfish he is, but it felt unjustified. I feel like everyone forgave him maybe a little too easily? I know the goal was to make Noah unlikable at the start, but I think Emery Lee did it a bit too well.
I also had trouble suspending disbelief when it came to the blog. All the problems in the novel would have been fixed by the blog being one about anonymous submissions. My 2011 tumblr heart couldn't take it.
I recommended this to my sister (13 yo), as I think she'd enjoy it much more. This is a YA book that definitely suits the YA demographic, moreso than others.
I would still read more by this author, and I cannot wait to see what other romcoms they come up with next.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Wow, where to even start?? I loved this book; it was pure, wonderful, emotional and also necessary,and if you disagree you're simply... wrong😤 (respectfully)
Noah was witty, funny and real asf, I really enjoyed his narrative voice. The humour honestly felt like it was written FOR ME because it was exactly my kind of humour.
The book has multiple transgender characters, and it portrays their very different experiences. Trans people aren't a monolith, and it was great to see that reflected in Meet Cute Diary.
There is asexual representation!! It wasn't a big part of the story, but it WAS in there, and ajdjsndbsn I felt loved🤭
I loved the plot. The directions, twists and turns it takes felt so fresh and original, and the concept of the meet cute diary itself was lovely. We get to read the blog posts themselves, dms and comments, which was super cool.
There were a couple of elements at the start that had me thinking 'hold up🤨'. I can't tell you what they were because you will probably put 2 and 2 together and make spoilers, but I do want to tell you to just trust the process - it all comes right in the end.
There is also anxiety/panic disorder representation, which I can't speak on personally. What I can say is it doesn't get 'fixed' when the character finds love, which is certainly a step in the right direction!!
People have critiqued Noah for being selfish and unlikeable, but honestly I think he's just autistic?? I'm autistic and he seemed normal to me whilst I was reading, and now thinking back I would argue he definitely has the traits. For example: yes he thinks of himself sometimes, but it's made clear he doesn't realise what he's doing is going to hurt other people. The Diary could be seen as a hyper fixation, he freaks out over familiar things changing, etc. I'm not a doctor, and this isn't confirmed (to my knowledge) but just my two cents🙈.
This review has been very all over the place ugh I am sorry😭. But hey, sometimes the thoughts have just got to be thunk. Anyways, this was basically a perfect book to me, and you should read it!!
Noah was witty, funny and real asf, I really enjoyed his narrative voice. The humour honestly felt like it was written FOR ME because it was exactly my kind of humour.
The book has multiple transgender characters, and it portrays their very different experiences. Trans people aren't a monolith, and it was great to see that reflected in Meet Cute Diary.
There is asexual representation!! It wasn't a big part of the story, but it WAS in there, and ajdjsndbsn I felt loved🤭
I loved the plot. The directions, twists and turns it takes felt so fresh and original, and the concept of the meet cute diary itself was lovely. We get to read the blog posts themselves, dms and comments, which was super cool.
There were a couple of elements at the start that had me thinking 'hold up🤨'. I can't tell you what they were because you will probably put 2 and 2 together and make spoilers, but I do want to tell you to just trust the process - it all comes right in the end.
There is also anxiety/panic disorder representation, which I can't speak on personally. What I can say is it doesn't get 'fixed' when the character finds love, which is certainly a step in the right direction!!
People have critiqued Noah for being selfish and unlikeable, but honestly I think he's just autistic?? I'm autistic and he seemed normal to me whilst I was reading, and now thinking back I would argue he definitely has the traits. For example: yes he thinks of himself sometimes, but it's made clear he doesn't realise what he's doing is going to hurt other people. The Diary could be seen as a hyper fixation, he freaks out over familiar things changing, etc. I'm not a doctor, and this isn't confirmed (to my knowledge) but just my two cents🙈.
This review has been very all over the place ugh I am sorry😭. But hey, sometimes the thoughts have just got to be thunk. Anyways, this was basically a perfect book to me, and you should read it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Transphobia
Moderate: Drug use
"I got so caught up in our meet cute -- in all the surface parts of our relationship -- that I never realized that, at a cellular level, we just aren't compatible. It was one of those perfect Instagram relationships, except beyond the pictures and the corny captions, we're just two people who have nothing in common and nothing holding us together. We're water and oil, but I kept trying to mix us because I'd gotten so caught up in an arbitrary measure of happiness."
Plot Points: Noah thinks he's figured out love -- he even has a 12-step list to guarantee how to lose a guy in ten days! Wait...that's not right...oh, yes. This 16 year old kid thinks he's developed a 12-step process to ensure true love. Because it's that easy, right? Of course not. But, Noah runs a Tumblr blog about the perfect meet cutes for trans people and then has his own meet cute when he meets Drew. On paper, Drew seems perfect -- especially compared to his coworker, Devin, who certainly makes a first impression. Shenanigans ensue, no character develops at all.
Love Triangle: Ugh. Yes.
New Characters: N/A
Slow Sequel Syndrome: N/A
Okay. This book was *not* the book for me.
I could say it's a generational thing -- but that's a cop out. I'm a Xennial (not quite Gen X, not quite a Millenial), and this is clearly a YA book written for a Gen Z young adult audience. Noah just drips disdain for anyone older than him, throwing cheap shots at millenials (including saying they're all over 40 and married). Which...No. Just no. But more than that, Noah is *obsessed* with his phone and his online following, making posts for attention rather than connection (as evidenced by his "attempts" to respond to his DMs and answer questions from his league of adoring fans). And he gets right pissy when anyone calls him out for being obsessed with the blog and basically ignoring real life.
I could say it's a relatability/connection thing -- but that's an insult to readers. Yes, Noah is a tri-racial (I think...? His heritage/culture don't really come into play here, except in some references to food his brother cooks) trans boy. And I am a white, cis, hetero-female. But identifying with a character isn't the basis for enjoying a book. That would rather defeat the purpose of fiction as well as the perks of learning and cultivating empathy.
And here's the thing. I'm sure this book will have a legion of devoted fans -- much like I am with anything written by Anna-Marie McLemore. Or the way I am with Kacen Callender's Felix Ever After. But I am not a fan of this book.
Here's what I think the book did well:
✔︎ -- I think it is so important for trans visibility and telling trans stories. Many of the characters are genderqueer and I think Lee does a really good job at helping normalize the language and vocabulary and the fact that not everyone fits into a socially-constructed box or label. I loved that I learned new pronouns, and I thought the strongest part of the book was when Devin and Noah were talking about normalizing pronoun identification. I also thought Devin's journey to figure out the correct pronouns was enlightening to read.
✔︎ -- I also think that this will be a really illuminating book for any YA reader who has misconceptions / idealized notions about love, especially in this digital age of Instagram where a static picture can be manipulated to give a false sense of how things really are. The perfect person for you isn't the person who seems perfect on paper; it's the person who gets to know you and understand you.
✔︎ -- I also really appreciated Noah standing up to Drew. Drew kind of vanishes from the story near the end, and this isn't explicitly addressed (because most of the characters are SO FLAT), but I was getting major abuser vibes from Drew. We don't get much about his parents' relationship except to know that it's on the rocks, and that it's probably his dad's fault. Which, to me, seems like there's a pretty good chance Drew inherited his abusive tendencies from his father, either because he witnessed it repeatedly (best case scenario) or because he was on the receiving end of it (worst case scenario). And I appreciated that Noah shut it down and walked away.
BUT. There was a whole lot about this story that I couldn't get behind. (Spoilery thoughts below.)
First: the whole Meet Cute Diary blog. The "stories" that were shared in the book were vague and sketched-out at best; Noah even makes a reference to them changing the details to maintain that appearance. (Because it's ALL FAKE. Which makes Noah just as much of a liar as all the people he accuses of that behavior and THE IRONY KILLED ME.) So how on earth can a troll figure it out, down to statistics and locations and data and numbers? IDK. I know Noah's only 16 -- and a very self-centered, narcissistic 16 -- but was he really not smart enough to change up the location AT ALL?! EVERY story is set in Miami? Really?
And how come there were never any real submissions? I refuse to believe this. People on the Internet had no problem hounding him for questions about his personal life but NO ONE EVER sent him their own submission? Or whined about it not making on? No, "OMG I sent my meet cute story to the blog 12 hours ago and he hasn't responded to me!! Whyyyyyyy?????"
I have questions.
Second: All of the secondary characters -- Brian, Drew, Devin, Becca -- are FLAT. They exist solely to further Noah's story and to fuel Noah's pissiness. The one character we know the most about is Devin and even then, all I can recall is that he's Cuban, he likes Starbucks, and he's incredibly thoughtful. THAT'S IT. That's all I know. None of these characters seem to have anything going on outside of their connection to Noah.
And you'd think it might get better near the end, but nope: even at 86% of the way through the book, Noah has to get em a present and realizes, "I realize I know nothing about em. Does e like anime? Stuffed animals? Memes? I literally don't know."
Third: Noah is insufferable. If I hadn't received an ARC, I would have put this book down at about 20% -- he was that awful. All he does, throughout the ENTIRE story, is complain and judge and snipe. He hates everything: being outside, reading books (manga is okay, but that's a momentary plot point that isn't really returned to except once, to paint the trashy white people as awful because one of their exes liked anime and "ew gross anime!" is part of their aesthetic), kids, getting his own job, paying his own way, apologizing, saying thank you, generally being a decent human being.
Everything in the book revolves around Noah -- and if it's not, Noah makes it about him. He calls his best friend after texting her angrily because she won't pick up the phone the moment HE demands her to (never mind her own life, right?) and he dismisses whatever she's going through to vent about his life.
Fourth: At first, I thought Noah's awfulness was part of a larger character development arc -- that it was all okay because he was going to have some huge humbling moment and come out a better person. Nope.
There's one time, about 70% or so through the book, that Becca (his best friend) calls him out on his shit. She lets him have it, saying he makes everything about him, and is a terrible friend. (AND HE IS.) And, while he does acknowledge it, he doesn't change his behavior at all. At the end (92%!!!), Noah & Becca & Devin are all out for boba tea and Noah snaps, "No, it's not okay!...You're both abandoning me, and apparently I'm the only who cares." And when Becca has the audacity to point out that Noah is the one moving to California, this is what we get: "And God, I know she's right, but that's such a fucking low blow. Yes, I'm the one who left her in Florida, and I'm the one leaving Devin in Denver, but it's not like I did it on purpose, or even by choice."
It is, once again, all about Noah -- and it's like he hasn't learned anything at all.
Fifth: Finally, I think one of the biggest things that bugged me about the lack of character development, is that the book seems to excuse/justify Noah's behavior and say it's okay for him to act like this.
He is an absolute jerk to his brother's girlfriend -- primarily because Noah is insecure and jealous (even though all he wants is to fall into a fairy-tale romance and only seems to be interested in spending time with his brother when it's convenient for the story) -- and there isn't any evidence to justify that. The girlfriend seems nice and the biggest issue with her is that she's white and enjoys "exotic food" which Brian is happy to cook for her. But then, turns out, she's a transphobe! So it's okay that Noah was nasty to her, because she's awfuler and he's the real victim.
SAME thing with Drew: Noah thinks he's in love with him and is using him to get his blog back its popularity -- but once they start really dating, he quickly gets irritated with how clingy Drew gets. Now, Noah may think Drew is perfect (at least at first), but there are plenty of signs that Drew is Not A Great Guy. So, again, when Drew's secrets are revealed and his true colors come out, it's all okay because Noah hates liars, okay? Noah is bad, but Drew is worse. (Even though, and I cannot stress this enough, Noah is literally lying to everyone on the Internet and even to some people in his real life.)
And it's not just the "bad" people: he is *awful* to both his brother, Brian, and to Becca -- and they both just excuse everything away. Brian says it's okay that Noah was awful to him, "because they're family" and Becca say's "You got caught up in your five seconds of fame. I get it," and that's it. Noah is exonerated.
Which...UGH. NO. That may all be true, but that doesn't excuse Noah's behavior.
And, again, Noah is no different at the end.
It is still all about him: "Tears slip down my face and onto her shoulder and I feel kind of bad about it, but this is my time to cry. I deserve this.
Or, when it comes to Devin, who organizes that amazing scavenger hunt and keeps bringing Noah free coffee and tea and baked goods because he is way too good for him: "Someone who knew exactly what I needed better than I did and who forgave me before I ever knew how to start asking for forgiveness?" Honestly, I know what Noah sees in Devin, but I have ZERO idea what Devin sees in Noah.
And finally: one of the things that bugged me from the start was Noah's entitlement. He spends $400 in one week on Ubers and Boba Tea and Chai Lattes for his blog/Insta aesthetic and image, and gets PISSED when his parents freeze his credit card -- and is super pissy that they dare suggest he get a job.
And at the end? When Devin says he'll drive from SF to LA to visit him? Noah says, "I'll pay you for gas,' I say. Not that I'll have a job, but I'm sure the bank of Mom and Dad can figure something out."
Of course Devin will be the one to visit him. And Noah clearly hasn't grown or learned anything, as the entitlement is still very much there.
Which, to be fair, is probably extremely accurate for a 16-year-old, but is extremely frustrating in a main character.
Update #1: 10% done
Ooof, y'all. This review is going to be a doozy because we're only 1/10 of the way through and I have so. many. thoughts.
Things that are bothering me right now:
--One: MC is the worst kind of Gen-Z stereotype: he runs a blog (Tumblr?), is *always* on his phone, is obsessed over his followers, and is mad at a "troll" who's basically calling him out for being a liar and doesn't seem to be at all concerned with the fact that the alleged troll is 100% right. Also, he gets pissy when the "troll" is being mean and when his brother tells him to get off his phone because, you know, he's out with people
--Two: He is judgy AF. Not necessarily a character flaw, but among everything else, it's just not cool. He's super mean to his brother's girlfriend who, barring any other information, seems nice and is trying to help him get a job:
"I turn to see Maggie smiling at me. She's got the thinnest lips on this side of the Pacific, but she makes it work with a touch of lip gloss." (Also -- is that mildly racist?!)
"I stare back at her blankly because working at a bookstore sounds boring as hell, and really, if I didn't want Brian getting me a job, the last thing I need is a hand-out job from his girlfriend."
OUCH.
--Three: He is wildly entitled and privileged -- and self-centered. His parents pay his "emergencies-only credit card" bill for him, and when he spends $400 in a week on "food" (re: rideshares, coffee, and boba tea -- so he can post it for the 'Gram), they freeze it. (Rightfully so.) Instead of apologizing or owning up or saying he'll cut back, he gets all indignant and outraged.
--Four: Again with the self-centeredness. He calls his brother and demands he come pick him up. (Despite living a mile or so away.) Brother is at orientation for his ACTUAL JOB and so, again rightfully so, says he'll pick him up when he's done. MC gets pissy that he has to wait. Instead of, you know, JUST WALKING HOME.
I really, really, *really* hope that this is part of a humbling character arc because right now, MC is so unlikable, it's hard to root for him. Definitely NOT the same vibes as Felix Ever After.
**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Plot Points: Noah thinks he's figured out love -- he even has a 12-step list to guarantee how to lose a guy in ten days! Wait...that's not right...oh, yes. This 16 year old kid thinks he's developed a 12-step process to ensure true love. Because it's that easy, right? Of course not. But, Noah runs a Tumblr blog about the perfect meet cutes for trans people and then has his own meet cute when he meets Drew. On paper, Drew seems perfect -- especially compared to his coworker, Devin, who certainly makes a first impression. Shenanigans ensue, no character develops at all.
Love Triangle: Ugh. Yes.
New Characters: N/A
Slow Sequel Syndrome: N/A
Okay. This book was *not* the book for me.
I could say it's a generational thing -- but that's a cop out. I'm a Xennial (not quite Gen X, not quite a Millenial), and this is clearly a YA book written for a Gen Z young adult audience. Noah just drips disdain for anyone older than him, throwing cheap shots at millenials (including saying they're all over 40 and married). Which...No. Just no. But more than that, Noah is *obsessed* with his phone and his online following, making posts for attention rather than connection (as evidenced by his "attempts" to respond to his DMs and answer questions from his league of adoring fans). And he gets right pissy when anyone calls him out for being obsessed with the blog and basically ignoring real life.
I could say it's a relatability/connection thing -- but that's an insult to readers. Yes, Noah is a tri-racial (I think...? His heritage/culture don't really come into play here, except in some references to food his brother cooks) trans boy. And I am a white, cis, hetero-female. But identifying with a character isn't the basis for enjoying a book. That would rather defeat the purpose of fiction as well as the perks of learning and cultivating empathy.
And here's the thing. I'm sure this book will have a legion of devoted fans -- much like I am with anything written by Anna-Marie McLemore. Or the way I am with Kacen Callender's Felix Ever After. But I am not a fan of this book.
Here's what I think the book did well:
✔︎ -- I think it is so important for trans visibility and telling trans stories. Many of the characters are genderqueer and I think Lee does a really good job at helping normalize the language and vocabulary and the fact that not everyone fits into a socially-constructed box or label. I loved that I learned new pronouns, and I thought the strongest part of the book was when Devin and Noah were talking about normalizing pronoun identification. I also thought Devin's journey to figure out the correct pronouns was enlightening to read.
✔︎ -- I also think that this will be a really illuminating book for any YA reader who has misconceptions / idealized notions about love, especially in this digital age of Instagram where a static picture can be manipulated to give a false sense of how things really are. The perfect person for you isn't the person who seems perfect on paper; it's the person who gets to know you and understand you.
✔︎ -- I also really appreciated Noah standing up to Drew. Drew kind of vanishes from the story near the end, and this isn't explicitly addressed (because most of the characters are SO FLAT), but I was getting major abuser vibes from Drew. We don't get much about his parents' relationship except to know that it's on the rocks, and that it's probably his dad's fault. Which, to me, seems like there's a pretty good chance Drew inherited his abusive tendencies from his father, either because he witnessed it repeatedly (best case scenario) or because he was on the receiving end of it (worst case scenario). And I appreciated that Noah shut it down and walked away.
BUT. There was a whole lot about this story that I couldn't get behind. (Spoilery thoughts below.)
First: the whole Meet Cute Diary blog. The "stories" that were shared in the book were vague and sketched-out at best; Noah even makes a reference to them changing the details to maintain that appearance. (Because it's ALL FAKE. Which makes Noah just as much of a liar as all the people he accuses of that behavior and THE IRONY KILLED ME.) So how on earth can a troll figure it out, down to statistics and locations and data and numbers? IDK. I know Noah's only 16 -- and a very self-centered, narcissistic 16 -- but was he really not smart enough to change up the location AT ALL?! EVERY story is set in Miami? Really?
And how come there were never any real submissions? I refuse to believe this. People on the Internet had no problem hounding him for questions about his personal life but NO ONE EVER sent him their own submission? Or whined about it not making on? No, "OMG I sent my meet cute story to the blog 12 hours ago and he hasn't responded to me!! Whyyyyyyy?????"
I have questions.
Second: All of the secondary characters -- Brian, Drew, Devin, Becca -- are FLAT. They exist solely to further Noah's story and to fuel Noah's pissiness. The one character we know the most about is Devin and even then, all I can recall is that he's Cuban, he likes Starbucks, and he's incredibly thoughtful. THAT'S IT. That's all I know. None of these characters seem to have anything going on outside of their connection to Noah.
And you'd think it might get better near the end, but nope: even at 86% of the way through the book, Noah has to get em a present and realizes, "I realize I know nothing about em. Does e like anime? Stuffed animals? Memes? I literally don't know."
Third: Noah is insufferable. If I hadn't received an ARC, I would have put this book down at about 20% -- he was that awful. All he does, throughout the ENTIRE story, is complain and judge and snipe. He hates everything: being outside, reading books (manga is okay, but that's a momentary plot point that isn't really returned to except once, to paint the trashy white people as awful because one of their exes liked anime and "ew gross anime!" is part of their aesthetic), kids, getting his own job, paying his own way, apologizing, saying thank you, generally being a decent human being.
Everything in the book revolves around Noah -- and if it's not, Noah makes it about him. He calls his best friend after texting her angrily because she won't pick up the phone the moment HE demands her to (never mind her own life, right?) and he dismisses whatever she's going through to vent about his life.
Fourth: At first, I thought Noah's awfulness was part of a larger character development arc -- that it was all okay because he was going to have some huge humbling moment and come out a better person. Nope.
There's one time, about 70% or so through the book, that Becca (his best friend) calls him out on his shit. She lets him have it, saying he makes everything about him, and is a terrible friend. (AND HE IS.) And, while he does acknowledge it, he doesn't change his behavior at all. At the end (92%!!!), Noah & Becca & Devin are all out for boba tea and Noah snaps, "No, it's not okay!...You're both abandoning me, and apparently I'm the only who cares." And when Becca has the audacity to point out that Noah is the one moving to California, this is what we get: "And God, I know she's right, but that's such a fucking low blow. Yes, I'm the one who left her in Florida, and I'm the one leaving Devin in Denver, but it's not like I did it on purpose, or even by choice."
It is, once again, all about Noah -- and it's like he hasn't learned anything at all.
Fifth: Finally, I think one of the biggest things that bugged me about the lack of character development, is that the book seems to excuse/justify Noah's behavior and say it's okay for him to act like this.
He is an absolute jerk to his brother's girlfriend -- primarily because Noah is insecure and jealous (even though all he wants is to fall into a fairy-tale romance and only seems to be interested in spending time with his brother when it's convenient for the story) -- and there isn't any evidence to justify that. The girlfriend seems nice and the biggest issue with her is that she's white and enjoys "exotic food" which Brian is happy to cook for her. But then, turns out, she's a transphobe! So it's okay that Noah was nasty to her, because she's awfuler and he's the real victim.
SAME thing with Drew: Noah thinks he's in love with him and is using him to get his blog back its popularity -- but once they start really dating, he quickly gets irritated with how clingy Drew gets. Now, Noah may think Drew is perfect (at least at first), but there are plenty of signs that Drew is Not A Great Guy. So, again, when Drew's secrets are revealed and his true colors come out, it's all okay because Noah hates liars, okay? Noah is bad, but Drew is worse. (Even though, and I cannot stress this enough, Noah is literally lying to everyone on the Internet and even to some people in his real life.)
And it's not just the "bad" people: he is *awful* to both his brother, Brian, and to Becca -- and they both just excuse everything away. Brian says it's okay that Noah was awful to him, "because they're family" and Becca say's "You got caught up in your five seconds of fame. I get it," and that's it. Noah is exonerated.
Which...UGH. NO. That may all be true, but that doesn't excuse Noah's behavior.
And, again, Noah is no different at the end.
It is still all about him: "Tears slip down my face and onto her shoulder and I feel kind of bad about it, but this is my time to cry. I deserve this.
Or, when it comes to Devin, who organizes that amazing scavenger hunt and keeps bringing Noah free coffee and tea and baked goods because he is way too good for him: "Someone who knew exactly what I needed better than I did and who forgave me before I ever knew how to start asking for forgiveness?" Honestly, I know what Noah sees in Devin, but I have ZERO idea what Devin sees in Noah.
And finally: one of the things that bugged me from the start was Noah's entitlement. He spends $400 in one week on Ubers and Boba Tea and Chai Lattes for his blog/Insta aesthetic and image, and gets PISSED when his parents freeze his credit card -- and is super pissy that they dare suggest he get a job.
And at the end? When Devin says he'll drive from SF to LA to visit him? Noah says, "I'll pay you for gas,' I say. Not that I'll have a job, but I'm sure the bank of Mom and Dad can figure something out."
Of course Devin will be the one to visit him. And Noah clearly hasn't grown or learned anything, as the entitlement is still very much there.
Which, to be fair, is probably extremely accurate for a 16-year-old, but is extremely frustrating in a main character.
Update #1: 10% done
Ooof, y'all. This review is going to be a doozy because we're only 1/10 of the way through and I have so. many. thoughts.
Things that are bothering me right now:
--One: MC is the worst kind of Gen-Z stereotype: he runs a blog (Tumblr?), is *always* on his phone, is obsessed over his followers, and is mad at a "troll" who's basically calling him out for being a liar and doesn't seem to be at all concerned with the fact that the alleged troll is 100% right. Also, he gets pissy when the "troll" is being mean and when his brother tells him to get off his phone because, you know, he's out with people
--Two: He is judgy AF. Not necessarily a character flaw, but among everything else, it's just not cool. He's super mean to his brother's girlfriend who, barring any other information, seems nice and is trying to help him get a job:
"I turn to see Maggie smiling at me. She's got the thinnest lips on this side of the Pacific, but she makes it work with a touch of lip gloss." (Also -- is that mildly racist?!)
"I stare back at her blankly because working at a bookstore sounds boring as hell, and really, if I didn't want Brian getting me a job, the last thing I need is a hand-out job from his girlfriend."
OUCH.
--Three: He is wildly entitled and privileged -- and self-centered. His parents pay his "emergencies-only credit card" bill for him, and when he spends $400 in a week on "food" (re: rideshares, coffee, and boba tea -- so he can post it for the 'Gram), they freeze it. (Rightfully so.) Instead of apologizing or owning up or saying he'll cut back, he gets all indignant and outraged.
--Four: Again with the self-centeredness. He calls his brother and demands he come pick him up. (Despite living a mile or so away.) Brother is at orientation for his ACTUAL JOB and so, again rightfully so, says he'll pick him up when he's done. MC gets pissy that he has to wait. Instead of, you know, JUST WALKING HOME.
I really, really, *really* hope that this is part of a humbling character arc because right now, MC is so unlikable, it's hard to root for him. Definitely NOT the same vibes as Felix Ever After.
**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ Pg 100
I wanted to love this SO DAMN BADLY, you have no idea. The premise was so many things I enjoy, and we do not get enough books with trans MCs, and I WANTED TO LOVE THIS.
Noah was the most irritating, obnoxious, unlikable sixteen-year-old. And I understand that at 16, everyone has personality flaws, things that are irritating as they grow up.
But really. Everything about Noah was irritating. Every. Single. Thing. The way he treats his friends, the way he thinks about life, his serious lack of ambition to do everything but want things dropped in his lap, the way he thinks about love.
Now, you might think, "Oh, well, you just didn't read far enough!". But I skim-read the entire rest of the book, hoping for something that would change my mind. And I can tell you, Noah never matures into a likable character.
I'm disappointed, but also kind of glad I only skimmed the rest, since I don't star rate things I don't finish 100%. I hope other people can enjoy this book in a way I couldn't. I really do.
I wanted to love this SO DAMN BADLY, you have no idea. The premise was so many things I enjoy, and we do not get enough books with trans MCs, and I WANTED TO LOVE THIS.
Noah was the most irritating, obnoxious, unlikable sixteen-year-old. And I understand that at 16, everyone has personality flaws, things that are irritating as they grow up.
But really. Everything about Noah was irritating. Every. Single. Thing. The way he treats his friends, the way he thinks about life, his serious lack of ambition to do everything but want things dropped in his lap, the way he thinks about love.
Now, you might think, "Oh, well, you just didn't read far enough!". But I skim-read the entire rest of the book, hoping for something that would change my mind. And I can tell you, Noah never matures into a likable character.
I'm disappointed, but also kind of glad I only skimmed the rest, since I don't star rate things I don't finish 100%. I hope other people can enjoy this book in a way I couldn't. I really do.