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A review by storykath
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
I came in expecting another silly lesbian romance, wonderful in its way but not remarkable. What I got was a one-day binge-read that had me laughing and crying and cheering the whole way through.
Each with their own motivations, basketball player Scottie and cheerleading captain Irene hatch a fake-dating scheme, despite their strong dislike for one another. As you might expect, their animosity soon gives way to other feelings, but each girl's past and emotional baggage challenge them to grow and heal.
What really struck a chord with me in She Drives Me Crazy was the real, messy, heart-aching depiction of breakups and healing. Scottie's relationship with her ex, Tally, is complicated and painful and undefined, and there's no attempt to oversimplify it or brush it away. It's something I've rarely seen in the romance genre, at least not in a way that's so centered and relatable. Scottie's pain and emotions are so human, in the sense that I was often frustrated with her but always rooting for her.
Sure, there are many cheesy high-school-romance moments in this book, and tropes like the mean girl bully and the cliquey-ness of high school can be over the top. Somehow, that didn't reduce my enjoyment of the story! I could suspend my disbelief and appreciate the wonderful narrative coming together.
Once again, She Drives Me Crazy has exceeded my expectations. Even with its fairly simple prose and neatly-wrapped storylines, it hit close to home and provided me with much-needed heartache, comfort, and joy.
Each with their own motivations, basketball player Scottie and cheerleading captain Irene hatch a fake-dating scheme, despite their strong dislike for one another. As you might expect, their animosity soon gives way to other feelings, but each girl's past and emotional baggage challenge them to grow and heal.
What really struck a chord with me in She Drives Me Crazy was the real, messy, heart-aching depiction of breakups and healing. Scottie's relationship with her ex, Tally, is complicated and painful and undefined, and there's no attempt to oversimplify it or brush it away. It's something I've rarely seen in the romance genre, at least not in a way that's so centered and relatable. Scottie's pain and emotions are so human, in the sense that I was often frustrated with her but always rooting for her.
Sure, there are many cheesy high-school-romance moments in this book, and tropes like the mean girl bully and the cliquey-ness of high school can be over the top. Somehow, that didn't reduce my enjoyment of the story! I could suspend my disbelief and appreciate the wonderful narrative coming together.
Once again, She Drives Me Crazy has exceeded my expectations. Even with its fairly simple prose and neatly-wrapped storylines, it hit close to home and provided me with much-needed heartache, comfort, and joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Car accident, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail