A review by amandaplease50
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I have SO many good feelings about this book and the characters
except Gretchen
. As someone who lived my middle school years in the mid 2000s my queerness/bi ness was just so internalized I think. Much like Imogen (I don’t think that’s a spoiler) I viewed my attraction to the same gender as just how girls are. 

This books speaks so well about the bi experience especially for women. And I’m sure Becky’s own forced coming out made her the perfect author to write this. The amount of imposter syndrome I’ve experienced I can’t imagine how being a celebrity exasperates it especially when randos on the internet are telling you, you aren’t queer enough. Which the book touches on with a fictitious celeb. 

the fact that Gretchen is supposed to be one of Imogen’s best friends and is bi herself was SO infuriating to read. She gaslit and invalidated Imogen’s feelings because of her own trauma that had nothing to do with her friends. It was nice that there was no forced plot of them becoming friends again. I mean sometimes friendships are outgrown. And I think unless Gretchen grows they may never be the same but I’m glad it was left ambiguous for us the reader to draw our own conclusion.
 

I think at some point we all saw the above spoiler coming but thought I put it in there anyway. Such a quick read (pretty sure I read it in 24hours) the characters are fun and the plot doesn’t have a slow moment. I laughed and cried and my heart ached sometimes at once. Highly recommend 🩷💜💙
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