jazzy0205 's review for:

Girls Girls Girls by Shoshana von Blanckensee

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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: Complicated

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 First a PSA - Do NOT read part three at work on your lunch. I think I scared everyone with the tears, they were looking at me like I'm crazy when I said it was because of the book, and nothing had happened to ME personally. This is probably one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time. It's a beautifully written coming of age story set in the 90's. It's emotional, with roller coaster ups and downs, as is life especially as a teen. It's family, friends, self-discovery, love, that freedom to just be but not be alone is so well captured in the writing and in the characters. Shoshana is brilliant in capturing that in between of child and adulthood, the way the world is seen, how the world see's you, and how things sometimes aren't what you thought it would be, and that's the moment you realize you're adulting. She not only embodies each character beautifully, but the turmoil and love that the real world is really about and finding your space in it. And while the book is focused on a Queer Jewish Girl, Shoshana has in multiple ways, made this relatable in some way to almost anyone here. (Ex Jehovah Witness here for all the same reasons as Billie). It's so beautifully done, you feel like you're growing with the characters, some nostalgic and some you'd rather forget. Well for me, I was not a well behaved teen lol Everything from addiction, learning about yourself and attractions, finding your place, bigotry, generational trauma, teen love and not so love, growing together and apart, learning to find the courage to be you and who you are, real friendships, respect, learning that death is a part of life and you can get through it with the right people by your side. You don't get to be young forever, so embrace it, the bad and the good, and love that is shapes the person you will be, so be brave, be free, and know that you are only as good as you allow yourself to be, and the people that love you for you. I can't rave about this book enough, it will definitely be a re-read for me, repeatedly. It's a brilliant ode to being young, being different, and learning that "different" is not always a bad thing. If you only read one book, read this one. You won’t regret it.