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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
What I Liked: Yay for diversity! Yay for intersectionality! Yay for queer positivity! All of those things are great. Winnie (the MC) has a strong inner monologue.
What I Didn't Like: There was pretty much no plot. If you enjoy stories that are character-driven but not much happens, then this is definitely the story for you. If you are looking for a plot to carry the story along, you will be gravely disappointed.
This also joins a litany of YA books where the main character is already out of high school and thus the book is geared toward older teens / adults rather than younger teens. That's not necessarily a bad thing, per se, but YA books featuring actual teen characters are definitely needed. This read more like a new adult romance novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes.
What I Didn't Like: There was pretty much no plot. If you enjoy stories that are character-driven but not much happens, then this is definitely the story for you. If you are looking for a plot to carry the story along, you will be gravely disappointed.
This also joins a litany of YA books where the main character is already out of high school and thus the book is geared toward older teens / adults rather than younger teens. That's not necessarily a bad thing, per se, but YA books featuring actual teen characters are definitely needed. This read more like a new adult romance novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes.
This was such a cute and sweet book!! I loved the way that Kara and Minnie's "ungirlfriend" relationship was presented. The conflicts seemed very real and emotional, especially considering the ages of the cgaravters. I liked that the ending was somewhat ambiguous and did not try to make everything overly sweet and "everything's good now". This was just a fun and comforting read
This is book made me happy :) I enjoyed Claire Kann's first YA, but this one's a dream of a book. It's got strong sibling relationships, aromantic and bisexual rep, a queerplatonic relationship front and center, a quiet summer overturned by Shenanigans, figuring out life and identity and how to work through relationships and when it does more harm than good to keep trying, and a beautiful fat Black girl at the center of it all. Winnie's voice is so engaging, and her growth in handling her relationships / desires / family / ill treatment by authority figures is so satisfying. As is seeing a 3D aro-ace character on the page in Winnie's ungirlfriend Kara--their relationship isn't a perfect idyll by any means, but they work on it and support each other and know that they each put the other first, and it doesn't matter what that makes people think of them. The work also involves negotiating Winnie's romantic crush on Dallas, which while also not without its bumps in the road, is a sweet, earnest, and honest relationship. Winnie's familial dynamics are equally important to her life, from her inseparable brother to her younger cousin who needs her to her parents who both lecture and validate her to her granny, whom she adores and resembles. Her asserting her needs amid all these ties of genuine love is not entirely painless, and very relatable. I'd recommend If It Makes You Happy to any reader of contemporary YA; it's just a lovely reading experience.
Content notes: fat-shaming, some in a medical context (Winnie won't stand for it), panic attack, an asthma attack, betrayal of trust in a committed relationship
Content notes: fat-shaming, some in a medical context (Winnie won't stand for it), panic attack, an asthma attack, betrayal of trust in a committed relationship
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.
As an overweight person myself, I don't think snapping and calling names to a doctor who is trying to help (especially your first time visiting said doctor), and telling you the side effects of being overweight is an appropriate response. I really didn't like the girl's attitude in this book and that was where I DNF'ed.
After reading and enjoying The Marvellous by Kann, I was excited to get my hands (ears?!) on an ARC copy of the audiobook for If It Makes You Happy, thanks to NetGalley.
Kann does an incredible job of making realistic characters that you like, but not because they fit “likeable” molds.
The main character cares a lot about her friends and family, has love for herself, and definitely smarts and humour. Actually, I want you to read this book for her. I think this is lovely and imperfect young woman deserves a chance to be your next in-book friend.
Kann does an incredible job of making realistic characters that you like, but not because they fit “likeable” molds.
The main character cares a lot about her friends and family, has love for herself, and definitely smarts and humour. Actually, I want you to read this book for her. I think this is lovely and imperfect young woman deserves a chance to be your next in-book friend.
I don't feel like writing a review but I do want to give my thoughts on this book, so I will be writing a list:
-I can relate to Winnie hating running SO. MUCH. I kinda started a running program a few days ago (um I haven't actually done it since) and I was in PAIN.
-I cannot believe this book has a queerplatonic relationship. This is the first book with one of these that I've read and I'm just so excited.
-There were times that I could relate to Kara so much, in some things that she said. She was most certainly my favorite character
-I honestly don't understand why Winnie was so mad about Kara asking Dallas to stay away? I mean yeah, maybe she should have talked to Winnie first, but also Dallas was being low-key creepy? I don't know, it felt really weird to me for Dallas to be doing that.
-The relationship between Winnie and her brother, Winston, was AMAZING. Best sibling relationship I have EVER read.
-I can relate to Winnie hating running SO. MUCH. I kinda started a running program a few days ago (um I haven't actually done it since) and I was in PAIN.
-I cannot believe this book has a queerplatonic relationship. This is the first book with one of these that I've read and I'm just so excited.
-There were times that I could relate to Kara so much, in some things that she said. She was most certainly my favorite character
-I honestly don't understand why Winnie was so mad about Kara asking Dallas to stay away? I mean yeah, maybe she should have talked to Winnie first, but also Dallas was being low-key creepy? I don't know, it felt really weird to me for Dallas to be doing that.
-The relationship between Winnie and her brother, Winston, was AMAZING. Best sibling relationship I have EVER read.
Gilmore Girls vibes but with a queer, fat, Black main character. The plot was very all over the place and sometimes the dialogue seemed to jump from point A to point Z, but the characters and representation were great.