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A review by saimab
Dirty London by Kelley York
5.0
5/5 stars wowwww
I read this book in one sitting because it was so good. It's been a while (okay fine a few weeks) since I read a book that revolved mostly about coming out, and Dirty London did it very well.
I refuse to think there's anything wrong with me. I am normal. I am a human being just as deserving of love and happiness as the next person. No, I am not the problem.
From the beginning I'm on board with the book. It's not about the shame of being gay, but the fact that other people will view it as shameful. London knows there's nothing wrong with her, but also is aware that other people may not see it that way, so she's turned to blending in. She was relatable character who was doing her best to blend into the crowd to get through high school unscathed. I've been there before, and it really stops you from being able to try new things, express yourself, and figure out who you are. London hasn't had the opportunity to do that, and in changing herself not to stand out she also disconnects from who she is.
"Which London is the real one?"
"I thought I knew... but I'm not sure anymore."
The wlw/mlm solidarity is what made me want to read the book, but it's not as big as I expected. I thought it would be more of a You Know Me Well esque book, but it wasn't, but I wasn't disappointed. Wade was still a great character, sweet and awkward and very much still in his shell. While London tried to disappear to hide her secret, Wade got into the popular crowd to hide in plain sight. And it got London to get out of her shell, which was lovely.
The family situation was not something I anticipated being a big part of the book, but I'm glad it was and it was done in a way that didn't make me annoyed about it taking away from the romance. Sure, I got very annoyed with Jazz multiple times, but as a little sister I had to remind myself that I've been in her place before too. She was just a naïve girl trying to help, trying to get through highschool like London but doing it differently.
The angsty bits with I didn't really expect until it happened, but oh boy did it make me mad. That's when I knew I had to finish the book there and then (even though it was nearing 4am) to find out how it ended - and what a great ending it was!
I read this book in one sitting because it was so good. It's been a while (okay fine a few weeks) since I read a book that revolved mostly about coming out, and Dirty London did it very well.
I refuse to think there's anything wrong with me. I am normal. I am a human being just as deserving of love and happiness as the next person. No, I am not the problem.
From the beginning I'm on board with the book. It's not about the shame of being gay, but the fact that other people will view it as shameful. London knows there's nothing wrong with her, but also is aware that other people may not see it that way, so she's turned to blending in. She was relatable character who was doing her best to blend into the crowd to get through high school unscathed. I've been there before, and it really stops you from being able to try new things, express yourself, and figure out who you are. London hasn't had the opportunity to do that, and in changing herself not to stand out she also disconnects from who she is.
"Which London is the real one?"
"I thought I knew... but I'm not sure anymore."
The wlw/mlm solidarity is what made me want to read the book, but it's not as big as I expected. I thought it would be more of a You Know Me Well esque book, but it wasn't, but I wasn't disappointed. Wade was still a great character, sweet and awkward and very much still in his shell. While London tried to disappear to hide her secret, Wade got into the popular crowd to hide in plain sight. And it got London to get out of her shell, which was lovely.
The family situation was not something I anticipated being a big part of the book, but I'm glad it was and it was done in a way that didn't make me annoyed about it taking away from the romance. Sure, I got very annoyed with Jazz multiple times, but as a little sister I had to remind myself that I've been in her place before too. She was just a naïve girl trying to help, trying to get through highschool like London but doing it differently.
The angsty bits with