A review by shippychaos
If I Don't Ask by E.J. Noyes

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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? No

5.0

Noyes pulled off an incredible piece of fiction with this book — exceeding my expectations, though she is an author whose work I always approach with high expectations.

It is written to be completely separate from Ask, Tell but if you have read that already, you’ll feel all the familiar good things as they connect to its retelling here from Rebecca’s POV.

Notes on the audiobook: Abby Craden’s performances are generally great, but something about her acting just vibes SO well with Noyes’ writing. 

It's been a few weeks since I finished this book and I cannot stop thinking about how seamlessly Noyes integrates sexual consent into this story. These scenes between Sabine and Rebecca are probably the most deftly executed examples of casual but enthusiastic consent I've ever read.