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A review by richardleis
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
2.0
I really liked the idea of this novel (straight girl and gay boy best-friends have a falling out) and I really respect the authors' craft. Each chapter changes point-of-view between the two protagonists and many other characters. How the authors gave each character their own distinctive voice demands respect and appreciation!
But most of the characters are so unlikeable throughout much of the book that it was really difficult to get through. I think that is part of the challenge the authors gave to themselves, but it makes for a really tedious first two-thirds of the book. Some characters offered wonderful respite from the angst, including my absolute favorite characters: Kelly, the twin sister of Bruce the First. Unfortunately, she only has one chapter in the book. I would read a whole book about her; she was so funny, observant, smart, and fearless. The chapters from Bruce the Second's point of view resonated a lot with me, because I recognized so many of his fears and self-misconceptions in myself. I also liked when the two Bruces came together in a chapter. The two Robins (a man and woman) were often amusing.
In the last third of the book, the protagonists, to me at least, started to act a little more human and the emotional arc of the book started to enter more positive territory. It almost, but not quite, made up for the rest.
But most of the characters are so unlikeable throughout much of the book that it was really difficult to get through. I think that is part of the challenge the authors gave to themselves, but it makes for a really tedious first two-thirds of the book. Some characters offered wonderful respite from the angst, including my absolute favorite characters: Kelly, the twin sister of Bruce the First. Unfortunately, she only has one chapter in the book. I would read a whole book about her; she was so funny, observant, smart, and fearless. The chapters from Bruce the Second's point of view resonated a lot with me, because I recognized so many of his fears and self-misconceptions in myself. I also liked when the two Bruces came together in a chapter. The two Robins (a man and woman) were often amusing.
In the last third of the book, the protagonists, to me at least, started to act a little more human and the emotional arc of the book started to enter more positive territory. It almost, but not quite, made up for the rest.