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A review by laurel00
Like Other Girls by Britta Lundin
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The only reason it took me a week to finish this book is that every time something happened to the MC, it was too much for me to handle and I had to set it down to calm my emotions. I love this baby butch so much and so dearly, she deserves the world.
I deeply appreciate Lundin for, first of all, writing characters that explicity use the terms "lesbian" and "butch". It's so rare to come across these identities spelled out so clearly in fiction these days, and it's always such a breath of fresh air for me when I find an author who doesn't shy away from them. Second of all, I commend Lundin for writing a story about queer and feminist liberation in a way that was both extremely inspiring, while still remaining grounded and realistic. It allowed me to truly connect with the characters and it echoed a lot of my feelings as a young, closeted girl who who was terrified of imperfection for fear that it would invalidate everything that I had ever worked for or any value and respect I hoped to have in the eyes of my peers.
I think Mara is a fantastic MC for a YA audience, specifically because she starts out as flawed in ways that are extremely common for young women or queer teens. Misogyny is something that is so deeply ingrained in our society, even those who are victims of the patriarchy can fall for the trap of upholding it at the detriment of others, in the hopes that it will save and protect them. Mara is one of these people, and I love that Lundin does not allow her MC's internalized misogyny to go unchecked. She undergoes a slow and difficult process of having her habits and beliefs be regularly criticized by the other girls in the group, and no matter how much she pushes back, the book as a whole doesn't allow that misogyny to be upheld. I think it's a great thing to teach young girls and queers, especially those who are masculine of center and struggle with rejecting the femininity that is imposed on them without simultaneously harboring misoginistic ideas and stereotypes towards others around them.
I also appreciated the way that the book teaches this lesson with, yes, hard truths, but also an incredible amount of love and care and community. The friendships that Mara develops throughout the story are so special and precious, and it's a true ode to found family and its power against institutions of oppression. We are nothing without the support with receive and give to those around us, and that is beautifully represented within the pages of this novel.
It really is, overall, a wonderful story that is not only incredibly important for its YA audience, but that can also be deeply emotional and healing for older, adult readers. I highly recommend picking it up!
I deeply appreciate Lundin for, first of all, writing characters that explicity use the terms "lesbian" and "butch". It's so rare to come across these identities spelled out so clearly in fiction these days, and it's always such a breath of fresh air for me when I find an author who doesn't shy away from them. Second of all, I commend Lundin for writing a story about queer and feminist liberation in a way that was both extremely inspiring, while still remaining grounded and realistic. It allowed me to truly connect with the characters and it echoed a lot of my feelings as a young, closeted girl who who was terrified of imperfection for fear that it would invalidate everything that I had ever worked for or any value and respect I hoped to have in the eyes of my peers.
I think Mara is a fantastic MC for a YA audience, specifically because she starts out as flawed in ways that are extremely common for young women or queer teens. Misogyny is something that is so deeply ingrained in our society, even those who are victims of the patriarchy can fall for the trap of upholding it at the detriment of others, in the hopes that it will save and protect them. Mara is one of these people, and I love that Lundin does not allow her MC's internalized misogyny to go unchecked. She undergoes a slow and difficult process of having her habits and beliefs be regularly criticized by the other girls in the group, and no matter how much she pushes back, the book as a whole doesn't allow that misogyny to be upheld. I think it's a great thing to teach young girls and queers, especially those who are masculine of center and struggle with rejecting the femininity that is imposed on them without simultaneously harboring misoginistic ideas and stereotypes towards others around them.
I also appreciated the way that the book teaches this lesson with, yes, hard truths, but also an incredible amount of love and care and community. The friendships that Mara develops throughout the story are so special and precious, and it's a true ode to found family and its power against institutions of oppression. We are nothing without the support with receive and give to those around us, and that is beautifully represented within the pages of this novel.
It really is, overall, a wonderful story that is not only incredibly important for its YA audience, but that can also be deeply emotional and healing for older, adult readers. I highly recommend picking it up!