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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I was really looking forward to this because I loved [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893] when I read it last year. I was also really looking forward to reading a book with such a variety of representation that's so different from my own experience. BUT this didn't quite live up to my expectations.
I really liked Winnie and her voice. She's kindhearted and emotionally aware. She takes time to communicate about her emotions and opinions with her family and friends. She's honest and funny and passionate. I liked being in her head, and I was really pulling for her throughout the whole book.
There are also a lot of really good side characters. They've got a lot of personality and impact Winnie's life in meaningful ways.
What I really didn't like was the plot. Because there was barely any. The premise is that Winnie is somehow chosen to be the Misty Haven Summer Queen. Basically, she's the face of her town's summer activities so she gets to do photoshoots and meet people and speak at all the events. But this storyline took a back burner to lots of interpersonal drama. I don't necessarily have a problem with that, but there was just so much going on that the book felt really unfocused. There's the summer queen storyline, the job at Goldeen's (the family diner) storyline, plus a potential new love interest, tensions with Winnie's ungirlfriend/partner, Winnie's fights with her grandmother, and the cooking competition. It just felt like a lot.
Don't get me wrong, I liked all these elements. They fleshed out the characters and world as something really and dynamic. But it felt like Kann was trying to make all of those things full-blown plots of this novel. That came at the expense of actually narrowing in on one or two plot lines to explore deeply. Instead, everything was dealt with pretty shallowly. Parts of the story got resolved quickly or dropped entirely. It just needed to be a little tightened up and it would have been far easier to read and appreciate.
In the end, I can't exactly say what the main plot was. Obviously, a large focus is how Winnie developed as a person and how her relationships matured/changed, and I love a character-focused growth story, but I need a lil bit of action too.
I also had a huge problem with Kara. She's Winnie's partner/un-girlfriend (they're in a platonic but committed relationship). But she does some things in this book that are really manipulative and awful. Winnie was very quick to forgive her, but I wasn't. She could have done a lot more emotional work to explore and deepen their relationship, but instead Winnie had to do it all and honestly she deserved better than that.
At times, I also felt like I got lost in Winnie's thoughts. Like I already mentioned there's a lot of minor plot threads and relationships throughout, so her mind is clearly very busy processing and resolving all of these issues. But sometimes spending so much time in her mind really got overwhelming and confusing. I'd forget where we were in the story and have to get back into. Sometimes I also got confused by how she jumped from one thought to the next.
Overall, I do think this book could have just used another set of edit to focus the plot a little more and trim excess thoughts and ramblings from Winnie's narrative. I still enjoyed my time reading about Winnie, and I'll definitely be reading Kann's future works, but I'm not sure that this was all it could have been.
I really liked Winnie and her voice. She's kindhearted and emotionally aware. She takes time to communicate about her emotions and opinions with her family and friends. She's honest and funny and passionate. I liked being in her head, and I was really pulling for her throughout the whole book.
There are also a lot of really good side characters. They've got a lot of personality and impact Winnie's life in meaningful ways.
What I really didn't like was the plot. Because there was barely any. The premise is that Winnie is somehow chosen to be the Misty Haven Summer Queen. Basically, she's the face of her town's summer activities so she gets to do photoshoots and meet people and speak at all the events. But this storyline took a back burner to lots of interpersonal drama. I don't necessarily have a problem with that, but there was just so much going on that the book felt really unfocused. There's the summer queen storyline, the job at Goldeen's (the family diner) storyline, plus a potential new love interest, tensions with Winnie's ungirlfriend/partner, Winnie's fights with her grandmother, and the cooking competition. It just felt like a lot.
Don't get me wrong, I liked all these elements. They fleshed out the characters and world as something really and dynamic. But it felt like Kann was trying to make all of those things full-blown plots of this novel. That came at the expense of actually narrowing in on one or two plot lines to explore deeply. Instead, everything was dealt with pretty shallowly. Parts of the story got resolved quickly or dropped entirely. It just needed to be a little tightened up and it would have been far easier to read and appreciate.
In the end, I can't exactly say what the main plot was. Obviously, a large focus is how Winnie developed as a person and how her relationships matured/changed, and I love a character-focused growth story, but I need a lil bit of action too.
I also had a huge problem with Kara. She's Winnie's partner/un-girlfriend (they're in a platonic but committed relationship). But she does some things in this book that are really manipulative and awful. Winnie was very quick to forgive her, but I wasn't. She could have done a lot more emotional work to explore and deepen their relationship, but instead Winnie had to do it all and honestly she deserved better than that.
At times, I also felt like I got lost in Winnie's thoughts. Like I already mentioned there's a lot of minor plot threads and relationships throughout, so her mind is clearly very busy processing and resolving all of these issues. But sometimes spending so much time in her mind really got overwhelming and confusing. I'd forget where we were in the story and have to get back into. Sometimes I also got confused by how she jumped from one thought to the next.
Overall, I do think this book could have just used another set of edit to focus the plot a little more and trim excess thoughts and ramblings from Winnie's narrative. I still enjoyed my time reading about Winnie, and I'll definitely be reading Kann's future works, but I'm not sure that this was all it could have been.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Fantastic fat rep, queer rep, ace rep, queer platonic relationship rep. I live for found family and this was so sweet. The main character grapples with fatphobia and racism and generational differences but it isn't the main focus and really deepen an already rich story.
I feel like there could be another book (would love to read it) with the next steps Winnie would be taking. It didn't feel very complete to me. Still a fun read though
Claire Kann, you goddess. You have ruined me for all other literary works. This book was simply too perfect.
I can honestly say there was not a second of it that I did not like. I laughed hysterically at Winnie's antics, sighed fondly at Dallas' romance, and cried for the family dynamic between Winnie and Winston (and their astonishingly awesome and understanding parents too). I cannot properly articulate how much it means to me to have a read a story that I so myself mirrored in so much in so many ways. All I can say is: Claire Kann, thank you.
I can honestly say there was not a second of it that I did not like. I laughed hysterically at Winnie's antics, sighed fondly at Dallas' romance, and cried for the family dynamic between Winnie and Winston (and their astonishingly awesome and understanding parents too). I cannot properly articulate how much it means to me to have a read a story that I so myself mirrored in so much in so many ways. All I can say is: Claire Kann, thank you.
2.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for a free ALC of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
This book follows Winnie as she spends her summer working in her grandmother’s diner, as she always does. However, when she becomes the Misty Haven Summer Queen, things quickly get complicated.
There was a lot happening in this book. Winnie is trying to get people to accept her for who she is. There is also a lot of relationship drama, family drama, and of course the whole Summer Queen thing. On top of that, there was also a sub-plot involving a baking competition. I feel like the story would have been better if there were less elements, since then we could have explored them a bit more.
I really liked the fact that Winnie is black, fat, and queer. I also like that she is not ashamed about any of it. I do, however, feel like the characters did not always make sense to me. For example, Winnie and Cara’s approach to their relationship seems so mature, and yet they get into petty fights. I also did not like Cara’s character, although this might be because the narrator used a very high-pitched voice for her.
I liked the representation in this book, and I think that Winnie could be a character for many people to look up to. I just did not really gel with any of the elements – the characters, their relationships, the plot or the writing – so it made it harder for me to be invested in the story.
Overall, I think that this is an important read. While this was not the perfect read for me, I do think that a lot of people will be able to relate to Winnie’s struggles. There were a few heartwarming scenes as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for a free ALC of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
This book follows Winnie as she spends her summer working in her grandmother’s diner, as she always does. However, when she becomes the Misty Haven Summer Queen, things quickly get complicated.
There was a lot happening in this book. Winnie is trying to get people to accept her for who she is. There is also a lot of relationship drama, family drama, and of course the whole Summer Queen thing. On top of that, there was also a sub-plot involving a baking competition. I feel like the story would have been better if there were less elements, since then we could have explored them a bit more.
I really liked the fact that Winnie is black, fat, and queer. I also like that she is not ashamed about any of it. I do, however, feel like the characters did not always make sense to me. For example, Winnie and Cara’s approach to their relationship seems so mature, and yet they get into petty fights. I also did not like Cara’s character, although this might be because the narrator used a very high-pitched voice for her.
I liked the representation in this book, and I think that Winnie could be a character for many people to look up to. I just did not really gel with any of the elements – the characters, their relationships, the plot or the writing – so it made it harder for me to be invested in the story.
Overall, I think that this is an important read. While this was not the perfect read for me, I do think that a lot of people will be able to relate to Winnie’s struggles. There were a few heartwarming scenes as well.
I loved this book so much!!! First of all yes for a big girl being represented in teen literature!!! I wish that I had this representation when I was a teen. Winnie was great and I could relate to her in multiple ways. I felt bad for her with her now fractured relationship with her grandma. I loved her little brother Winston. He was so snarky yet hilarious. Sam was annoying, but she has a good heart. Dallas was swoonworthy. Overall it was a good story.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. I DNFd multiple times but kept coming back to it months later because I really really wanted to like it. And tbh there is a lot to like! I've never read a book that offered what this one does and I'm glad it exists. I think my problem was the pacing - there's so much happening at once, and yet I felt like a lot is implied rather than explicit, so it feels simultaneously like nothing is happening. Maybe I'm not emotionally intelligent enough to appreciate this book! I expect I'll be thinking about it for a while, maybe time and a reread will teach me more.
(3.5)
The bittersweet ending of this definitely made me enjoy it more. It was such a risky ending to have but the author did it really well. However, the writing style is my biggest problem with this book as a whole. It’s kind of hard to digest at times. Overall, FUN AND CUTE
The bittersweet ending of this definitely made me enjoy it more. It was such a risky ending to have but the author did it really well. However, the writing style is my biggest problem with this book as a whole. It’s kind of hard to digest at times. Overall, FUN AND CUTE
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy free for review. All opinions are my own.
There was so much about this that I liked, but there was also enough that I did not enjoy that I think I have to leave it at a middle-of-the-road 3 star rating. Let's start with the things I did like!
THE REPRESENTATION. Winnie is self-described as queer, fat, and black, and she is living her best life and embracing all aspects of her identity! Winnie's self-confidence was contagious, and I could even feel my own self-esteem rising when reading about her. She's also incredibly giving and kind, and will absolutely throw down to defend those that she loves. I really enjoyed being inside her head through this story. This book also explores a queerplatonic relationship, which I had heard of but never read in a book before, so that was incredibly interesting and fun to read about. Speaking of relationships, Winnie's love interest was a baaaaabe. His name is Dallas and he was a really wonderful person who was there for Winnie and supported her through all the crazy things that were happening in the book. I think overall, the characters are what really shine in this book. They all feel fleshed out and the conflict between them feels realistic without being overdramatic.
Now onto what I didn't like as much: the plot. Or lack thereof. This is a very character-driven book, as I just mentioned above, but it has essentially no plot. For me, that just isn't enough. I need some sort of driving force in a book and this just didn't have it. So if you super enjoy character-focused books and don't really care about plot, this may be a really great fit for you! It unfortunately didn't have that oomph I look for in my books. I do also think that some of the characters didn't treat Winnie very well and then didn't really face any consequences for their behavior. I don't mind messy characters and conflict, but the resolution to said conflict felt a little wishy-washy to me. People just walked all over Winnie and didn't have to deal with the fallout of their actions and that didn't sit right with me.
Another thing that bothered me is that some dialogue hints that a character is on the ace or aro (or maybe both?) spectrum, but they don't just say "asexual" or "aromantic" on the page. In Claire Kann's debut, [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893], it was a HUGE DEAL that the main character said she was asexual in no uncertain terms, so it just felt a little odd that this wouldn't be confirmed in the text in this book. I did read an arc so maybe it changed in the final copy, but based on other reviews I don't think that's the case. This particular character seems pretty confident in herself and her identity, so it felt a little out of character that she wouldn't talk about that identity.
Overall, I did enjoy this and would recommend it if you're looking for a fairly, though not entirely, light summery contemporary chock-full of diversity and small-town charm, along with a not-so-healthy dose of teen drama. Trigger and content warnings for fatphobia, emotional manipulation from friends and family, asthma attacks.
There was so much about this that I liked, but there was also enough that I did not enjoy that I think I have to leave it at a middle-of-the-road 3 star rating. Let's start with the things I did like!
THE REPRESENTATION. Winnie is self-described as queer, fat, and black, and she is living her best life and embracing all aspects of her identity! Winnie's self-confidence was contagious, and I could even feel my own self-esteem rising when reading about her. She's also incredibly giving and kind, and will absolutely throw down to defend those that she loves. I really enjoyed being inside her head through this story. This book also explores a queerplatonic relationship, which I had heard of but never read in a book before, so that was incredibly interesting and fun to read about. Speaking of relationships, Winnie's love interest was a baaaaabe. His name is Dallas and he was a really wonderful person who was there for Winnie and supported her through all the crazy things that were happening in the book. I think overall, the characters are what really shine in this book. They all feel fleshed out and the conflict between them feels realistic without being overdramatic.
Now onto what I didn't like as much: the plot. Or lack thereof. This is a very character-driven book, as I just mentioned above, but it has essentially no plot. For me, that just isn't enough. I need some sort of driving force in a book and this just didn't have it. So if you super enjoy character-focused books and don't really care about plot, this may be a really great fit for you! It unfortunately didn't have that oomph I look for in my books. I do also think that some of the characters didn't treat Winnie very well and then didn't really face any consequences for their behavior. I don't mind messy characters and conflict, but the resolution to said conflict felt a little wishy-washy to me. People just walked all over Winnie and didn't have to deal with the fallout of their actions and that didn't sit right with me.
Another thing that bothered me is that some dialogue hints that a character is on the ace or aro (or maybe both?) spectrum, but they don't just say "asexual" or "aromantic" on the page. In Claire Kann's debut, [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893], it was a HUGE DEAL that the main character said she was asexual in no uncertain terms, so it just felt a little odd that this wouldn't be confirmed in the text in this book. I did read an arc so maybe it changed in the final copy, but based on other reviews I don't think that's the case. This particular character seems pretty confident in herself and her identity, so it felt a little out of character that she wouldn't talk about that identity.
Overall, I did enjoy this and would recommend it if you're looking for a fairly, though not entirely, light summery contemporary chock-full of diversity and small-town charm, along with a not-so-healthy dose of teen drama. Trigger and content warnings for fatphobia, emotional manipulation from friends and family, asthma attacks.
Thanks to Netgalley and OrangeSky audio for the audioARC in exchange for my honest review! Since the ebook was already out when I grabbed this ARC I also had the ebook from the library to flip back and forth.
This was fantastic. I love seeing diversity in books, that I can relate to and that I can’t - in this case being fat, struggling with family expectations, and queerness that are all things I did, and being Black, polyamorous, and gluten-intolerant, which I felt like gave me fresh insights. Winnie was a fantastic character, I loved the romance(s) and the sibling bonds. The audio was well done, and the book consistently compelling me to pick it back up. I hope we get another book with more of Winston.
This was fantastic. I love seeing diversity in books, that I can relate to and that I can’t - in this case being fat, struggling with family expectations, and queerness that are all things I did, and being Black, polyamorous, and gluten-intolerant, which I felt like gave me fresh insights. Winnie was a fantastic character, I loved the romance(s) and the sibling bonds. The audio was well done, and the book consistently compelling me to pick it back up. I hope we get another book with more of Winston.