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A review by ridesthesun
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
OK. So. I have weird and complicated feelings about this one??
Casey has damn well done it again and created a beautiful cast of characters that I feel so deeply in love with. Their skill writing a Gang of Friends™ remains unparalleled. The background/supporting characters have such beautiful journeys built into the larger story, and I loved the growth and self-exploration happening with them. Also they're just absolutely ridiculous and lovely dumb high schoolers i LOVE them MWAH.
The larger themes of this book were stunning and so important to explore, especially in a YA setting. The intersection of home, queerness, gender, identity, and faith was explored with so much care and beauty. No place no faith no person is all one thing; our identities are not all one thing, and this story unpacked that so wonderfully. This more nuanced perspective, especially on faith, home, and queerness, is so vital to have in a YA story, and I'm really grateful that Casey chose to dive into this.
My one qualm with this book, and what makes my feelings on it complicated, is that... I just couldn't really bring myself to care much about the main two characters (one in particular). While I could not relate much to Chloe (ambitious and driven and confident are..... not who i am lmao), I did have fun with her POV, and seeing this from her eyes made for a really unique perspective. I appreciated her character growth so much, and love how much her eyes were opened. Also I need her to take a nap and also a break, this baby needs some REST.
Shara though....... I honestly just can't stand her. I think she's a fascinating character and she makes for a great catalyst for the story to turn around but.... I think I'm supposed to be more connected to her at the end of the book and i'm just.. really really not?I didn't feel any character growth from her outside of being like "woooo i realized i'm queer also i have a crush on you let's rebel!" it just did not do it for me. I never felt like she recognized the wrong stuff she did, and everyone just made excuses for her instead of her admitting and apologizing. It just really rubbed me the wrong way.
Complicated feelings aside, definitely recommend, a+++++++ supporting characters, let me give Smith so many flowers for his hair 🥰🥰🥰
Casey has damn well done it again and created a beautiful cast of characters that I feel so deeply in love with. Their skill writing a Gang of Friends™ remains unparalleled. The background/supporting characters have such beautiful journeys built into the larger story, and I loved the growth and self-exploration happening with them. Also they're just absolutely ridiculous and lovely dumb high schoolers i LOVE them MWAH.
The larger themes of this book were stunning and so important to explore, especially in a YA setting. The intersection of home, queerness, gender, identity, and faith was explored with so much care and beauty. No place no faith no person is all one thing; our identities are not all one thing, and this story unpacked that so wonderfully. This more nuanced perspective, especially on faith, home, and queerness, is so vital to have in a YA story, and I'm really grateful that Casey chose to dive into this.
My one qualm with this book, and what makes my feelings on it complicated, is that... I just couldn't really bring myself to care much about the main two characters (one in particular). While I could not relate much to Chloe (ambitious and driven and confident are..... not who i am lmao), I did have fun with her POV, and seeing this from her eyes made for a really unique perspective. I appreciated her character growth so much, and love how much her eyes were opened. Also I need her to take a nap and also a break, this baby needs some REST.
Shara though....... I honestly just can't stand her. I think she's a fascinating character and she makes for a great catalyst for the story to turn around but.... I think I'm supposed to be more connected to her at the end of the book and i'm just.. really really not?
Complicated feelings aside, definitely recommend, a+++++++ supporting characters, let me give Smith so many flowers for his hair 🥰🥰🥰
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Cursing
Minor: Outing