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A review by backlogbooks
Amelia Westlake Was Never Here by Erin Gough
5.0
Overall Vibe: I meant to read like fifty pages and ended up reading it in one day & staying up till 3 am to finish--definitely one of the top books I've read this year
What I liked:
* the characters had distinctive voices that fit their personalities
* Gay! Gay! Gay! From the start!
* Love me some rebellion & revolution (especially in a private school for some reason)
* Unlikely alliances! Are! My! Shit!
* None of the MCs feel like stereotypes- they pretty immediately get broken out of their boxes
* Harriet’s breathing exercises
* Harriet’s texting style lmao
* Will’s reaction to having a crush (damn girl do you have to be so relatable?)
* Nat!
* rom coms sustain me so all the rom com elements (enemies to lovers anyone??)
* the book didn't hesitate to call out the school administration as bigoted--Harriet did at first because she wasn't ready to see it, but the book itself didn't make excuses for them which I appreciate
* The character arcs! The development! ya know what that is? growth!
* The ending (mostly! I do have one note)
* All of the damn book tbh
What I didn’t like
* EDIE I mean not that I don’t think she should’ve been in it but I just didn’t like her so I’m putting her here. Also this note was written immediately after her first on-page dialogue. Not important just wanted you to know
* I wanted Nat to get more page-time/development earlier--I'm happy with what she got later on in the book, but she felt kind of missing from the first part, if that makes sense?
* *Slight possible spoilers* I have mixed feelings about the ending re: Nat & Will because on the one hand, I get that fully resolved endings are unrealistic, but on the other hand, I wanted a little more resolution between them
Especially recommended for: rom-com fans, wlws, and everyone ready to smash the patriarchy!
What I liked:
* the characters had distinctive voices that fit their personalities
* Gay! Gay! Gay! From the start!
* Love me some rebellion & revolution (especially in a private school for some reason)
* Unlikely alliances! Are! My! Shit!
* None of the MCs feel like stereotypes- they pretty immediately get broken out of their boxes
* Harriet’s breathing exercises
* Harriet’s texting style lmao
* Will’s reaction to having a crush (damn girl do you have to be so relatable?)
* Nat!
* rom coms sustain me so all the rom com elements (enemies to lovers anyone??)
* the book didn't hesitate to call out the school administration as bigoted--Harriet did at first because she wasn't ready to see it, but the book itself didn't make excuses for them which I appreciate
* The character arcs! The development! ya know what that is? growth!
* The ending (mostly! I do have one note)
* All of the damn book tbh
What I didn’t like
* EDIE I mean not that I don’t think she should’ve been in it but I just didn’t like her so I’m putting her here. Also this note was written immediately after her first on-page dialogue. Not important just wanted you to know
* I wanted Nat to get more page-time/development earlier--I'm happy with what she got later on in the book, but she felt kind of missing from the first part, if that makes sense?
* *Slight possible spoilers* I have mixed feelings about the ending re: Nat & Will because on the one hand, I get that fully resolved endings are unrealistic, but on the other hand, I wanted a little more resolution between them
Especially recommended for: rom-com fans, wlws, and everyone ready to smash the patriarchy!