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A review by ccwingreads
Something More by Jackie Khalilieh
medium-paced
3.75
Two love interests, a lot of drama, autistic and Palestinian rep, and all the struggles of growing up while feeling different. Khalilieh's debut book shows a promising writer who understands the complexity and confusion of growing up and being a teen who doesn't quite fit in. The author is also autistic and Palestinian-Canadian.
The characters have flaws and make poor decisions, which make them quite relatable. The explanations of the autism spectrum and Jessie pushing back on stereotypes feel pretty well-handled, but I defer to autistic reviewers on the accuracy of the representation. I really appreciated following Jessie on her path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Admittedly, I've never felt more grey-ace in my life because I struggled with understanding the level of physical attraction and constant hormones flying. Felt a little like watching a reality dating show. However, I had fun reading about Jessie's romantic and friendship interactions.
Most of the people surrounding Jessie, besides her family, seem to be white, straight, and cis. This may be a reflection of private schools in the setting or to highlight the experiences of being a minority and feeling out of place. Understandable, but from personal experience, private schools do have some diversity, especially in major cities.
I think this book would be great for YA romance lovers and those looking for more Palestinian and autistic rep! I had a pretty good time with the characters and the story itself. I would read more from this author.
The characters have flaws and make poor decisions, which make them quite relatable. The explanations of the autism spectrum and Jessie pushing back on stereotypes feel pretty well-handled, but I defer to autistic reviewers on the accuracy of the representation. I really appreciated following Jessie on her path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Admittedly, I've never felt more grey-ace in my life because I struggled with understanding the level of physical attraction and constant hormones flying. Felt a little like watching a reality dating show. However, I had fun reading about Jessie's romantic and friendship interactions.
Most of the people surrounding Jessie, besides her family, seem to be white, straight, and cis. This may be a reflection of private schools in the setting or to highlight the experiences of being a minority and feeling out of place. Understandable, but from personal experience, private schools do have some diversity, especially in major cities.
I think this book would be great for YA romance lovers and those looking for more Palestinian and autistic rep! I had a pretty good time with the characters and the story itself. I would read more from this author.