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A review by bookishpatricia
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just as I thought I was over YA’s, “Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry” by Joya Goffney found its way into my list. I heard a lot of positive reviews about it and I’d have to agree with the rave.
Quinn, our protagonist, is a list fanatic. She keeps a list of anything and everything in her red journal. This journal keeps her grounded and feeling safe. Until it goes missing. An anonymous person blackmails her into completing one of her lists within a deadline. Otherwise, the rest of her lists would be exposed to everyone.
This novel is cute, sweet, and mildly spicy. The diverse set of characters makes me feel like I’m back in HS and I’m witnessing all the scenes unfolding. But it also tackles serious themes such as racism, cyberbullying, senescence, and social anxieties (or mental health, in general).
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. On a personal level, I can relate to Quinn. But instead of lists, I have trackers. My trackers make me feel in control of things I can. It makes me feel that despite my shortcomings as a human being, I’m at the least capable of tracking things and I’m damn good at it. On the downside, it can be mentally exhausting and time-consuming.
Just like Quinn, I have many fears. And just like Quinn, I’m afraid of facing them. But I also understand that eventually, I’ll have to wear my big girl pants and face everything I don’t want to, so I can grow as a person.
Quinn, our protagonist, is a list fanatic. She keeps a list of anything and everything in her red journal. This journal keeps her grounded and feeling safe. Until it goes missing. An anonymous person blackmails her into completing one of her lists within a deadline. Otherwise, the rest of her lists would be exposed to everyone.
This novel is cute, sweet, and mildly spicy. The diverse set of characters makes me feel like I’m back in HS and I’m witnessing all the scenes unfolding. But it also tackles serious themes such as racism, cyberbullying, senescence, and social anxieties (or mental health, in general).
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. On a personal level, I can relate to Quinn. But instead of lists, I have trackers. My trackers make me feel in control of things I can. It makes me feel that despite my shortcomings as a human being, I’m at the least capable of tracking things and I’m damn good at it. On the downside, it can be mentally exhausting and time-consuming.
Just like Quinn, I have many fears. And just like Quinn, I’m afraid of facing them. But I also understand that eventually, I’ll have to wear my big girl pants and face everything I don’t want to, so I can grow as a person.